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(11) | EP 0 069 532 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A composite material |
| (57) A composite material consists of two ultraviolet stable film layers enclosing an
air bubble film layer, the layers being sealed together at their peripheral edges
and being especially useful. for energy conservation purposes. The composite material
can, for example, be adhered or otherwise secured to a glass layer to provide a cheap,
light-weight double glazed window or door. |
[0001] This invention relates to a composite material having a variety of uses including, for example, use in energy conservation.
[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite material which is simple and relatively economic to produce, light in weight and easy to handle, and which has application, inter alia, in the field of double glazing.
[0003] According to the present invention the composite material comprises a layer of air bubble film sandwiched and sealed between two layers of ultra- violet stable film (hereafter and in the claims simply called "uv" film).
[0004] The composite material thus comprises two layers of "uv" film spaced apart by the layer of air bubble film and with a volume of air entrapped therebetween.
[0005] The peripheral edges of the layers of "uv" film and the air bubble film are preferably sealed together, and are then preferably covered by a separate sealing tape.
[0006] The sealing together of the layers of "uv" film and the air bubble film may be adhesively sealed together but a preferred alternative is to seal them together ultrasonically.
[0008] The composite material preferably has secured to one= surface at its peripheral edges a double-sided adhesive tape to permit the composite material to be bonded and sealed to, for example, a glass surface for double glazing purposes.
[0009] The double-sided adhesive tape may be a foam tape so that when the composite material is bonded and sealed to, for example, a glass surface there is also a volume of air trapped between the latter and the composite material.
[0010] Cther known and convenient means may be employed to secure the composite material to a surface whether the surface be glass or otherwise.
[0011] It is envisaged in the field of double glazing that the composite material may be especially but not exclusively useful for double glazing industrial roof light areas.
[0012] A specific application of the present invention is, therefore, a double glazed window or door unit comprising, in spaced parallel relationship, a glass window or door and a layer of composite material comprising a layer of air bubble film sandwiched and sealed between two layers of "uv" film, the window or door and the composite material layer being sealed together at their peripheral edges.
[0013] The window or door and composite material layer are preferably secured together and spaced apart by a double-sided adhesive foam tape.
[0014] The composite material may have adhered to that surface which is its under or inner surface when secured to a surface a solar control/energy film or a tinted film to reduce the effects of solar heat and/or glare.
[0015] As a result of the present invention there is provided an effective double glazed unit which is substantially cheaper to produce than conventional double glazed units (possibly as much as six times as cheap) and which is much lighter in weight than such conventional units and therefore easier to handle.
[0016] A double glazed unit according to the invention has particular advantages in the case of roof lights since its relative light weight overcomes problems in increased roof loading which often with conventional units prevents installation of the latter.
[0017] An alternative use for the composite material is use as a reflector behind radiators, a reflective film being adhered to the rear surface of the composite material which is appropriately secured to a wall behind the radiator.
[0018] The composite material may also be employed as an internal insulation in prefabricated wall or roof panels, or even be incorporated in a building construction for insulation purposes.
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a window double-glazed'by the composite material of the invention; and,
Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of Fig. 1.
[0020] The composite material comprises three transparent film layers bonded together to form a sandwich. The middle layer 5 is a layer of air bubble film, while the two outer layers 6 and 7 are ultra-violet stable film such as is sold by I.C.I. under the Trade Name "MELANEX". The air bubble film layer 5 has a flat surface from which upstand a multiplicity of cylindrical bubbles with air trapped therein. This is a known material and no claim is made thereto per se. Alternative air bubble films well known to those skilled in the art may be employed in the present invention.
[0022] These three layers 5 to 7 are sealed together at their peripheral edges as shown in Fig. 2 possibly adhesively but preferably ultrasonically, and they are further sealed together by a peripheral sealing tape 8.
[0023] The composite material, it will be appreciated, has a volume of air trapped therein between the layers 5 to 7 additional to the air trapped in the bubbles.
[0024] The composite material 5 to 7 has, in this instance, secured to its peripheral edges a double-sided adhesive foam tape 9 by means of which it is bonded and sealed to'the glass 10 of a window, the composite material 5 to 7 completely overlying the glass 10. Due to the use of the foam tape 9 there is also a volume of entrapped air between the composite material 5 to 7 and the window glass 10.
[0025] A further peripheral sealing element such as for a U-strip may be provided to embrace the peripheral face of the double glazed unit and overlap the tape 8 and the edge of the glass 10.
[0026] It will be manifest that the glass 10 will in almost all instances be on the interior of the double glazed unit.
[0027] Thus effective double glazing of the window is achieved. Glass doors may be double glazed in the same manner.
[0029] It will be manifest that in any application of the present invention there may be employed more than one layer of composite material.
1. Composite material comprising a layer of air bubble film sandwiched and sealed
between two layers of ultra-violet stable film.
2. A composite material as claimed in claim 1 in which the layer of air bubble film
is also ultra- violet stable.
3. A composite material as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the peripheral edges
of the layers of "uv" film and the air bubble film are preferably sealed together,
and are then preferably covered by a separate sealing tape.
4. A composite material as claimed in claim 3 in which the sealing together of the
layers of "uv" film and the air bubble film is either adhesively or ultrasonically
sealed together.
5. A composite material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the composite
material has secured to one surface at its peripheral edges a double-sided adhesive
tape to permit the composite material to be bonded and sealed to, for example, a glass
surface for double glazing purposes.
6. A composite material as claimed in claim 5 in which the double-sided adhesive tape
is a foam tape so that when the composite material is bonded and sealed to, for example,
a glass surface there is also a volume of air trapped between the latter and the composite
material.
7. A double-glazed window or door unit comprising, in spaced parallel relationship,
a glass window or door and a layer of composite material comprising a layer of air
bubble film sandwiched and sealed between two layers of "uv" film, the window or door
and the composite material layer being sealed together at their peripheral edges.
8. A double glazed unit as claimed in claim 7 in which the window or door and composite
material layer are secured together and spaced apart by a double-sided adhesive foam
tape.
9. A double glazed unit as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the composite material
has adhered to that surface which is its under or inner surface when secured to a
window or door, a solar control/ energy film or a tinted film to reduce the effects
of solar heat and/or glare.
10. A double glazed unit as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in which a peripheral
sealing element such as for a U-strip is provided to embrace the peripheral face of
the double glazed unit and overlap the tape and the edge of the glass.
11. A composite material, substantially as hereinbefore described with_reference to
the accompanying drawing.
12. A double glazed unit, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawing.