Environment Localizing Barrier, Heat Retaining Barrier and Method

Examples disclosed herein are generally related to shields, walls and barriers, and more particularly related to thermal barriers, heat shields, heat retention devices, environmental barriers, wind breaks, and/or reflectors usable for recreational and work activities such as with heaters or under windy conditions.

It was previously known to use radiant barriers when insulating the interior of recreational vehicles. Recent designs incorporate insulating panels having reflective surfaces that are affixed within inner walls of a camper or travel trailer. In addition, heat focusing reflectors are also known on round natural gas and propane patio heaters and fireplaces. In both cases, a dome or round reflector is provided above the heater source. In some cases, a semi-circular drop-down reflector has also been used on patio heaters, typically made from aluminum. Furthermore, metal hinged panel fireplace reflectors are known for outdoor wood fireplaces. However, improvements are needed when localizing an environment to increase portability, change length, improve retention, and increase fuel efficiency of such heat retaining, wind blocking and heat focusing reflectors and environment localizing barriers for use with outdoor and recreational heat sources or under windy conditions.

An environment localizing barrier, such as a thermal barrier, is provided for concentrating and retaining heat. The environment localizing barrier provides a heat or wind, or soil retaining barrier that is flexible, elongate and can be affixed to other barriers to lengthen or shorten size of a barrier using building block elements, such as for a thermal barrier assembly. Retention and stowage mechanisms are also provided, along with decorative exterior features.

According to one aspect, a heat retaining barrier is provided having a flexible elongate panel, a magnet, and one of a magnet and a magnetizable component. The flexible elongate panel has a pair of opposed ends and comprises a thermally insulative layer and an exposed radiant layer affixed to an inner surface of the thermally insulative layer. The magnet is provided proximate one end of the panel at an elevational location. The one of a magnet and a magnetizable component is provided proximate another end of the panel at the elevational location and is configured to mate in magnetic attraction with one another to affix opposed ends of one or more adjacent panels together into a thermal barrier.

According to another aspect, an environment localizing barrier is provided having a flexible panel, a magnet, and one of a magnet and a magnetizable component. The flexible panel has a pair of opposed ends and comprises a barrier layer. The magnet is provided proximate one end of the panel at an elevational location. The one of a magnet and a magnetizable component is provided proximate another end of the panel at the elevational location and configured to mate in magnetic attraction with one another to affix opposed ends of one or more adjacent panels together into a barrier.

A method is also provided for retaining heat. The method includes: providing an environment localizing barrier having an elongate flexible panel with opposed ends, a magnet affixed proximate to a first end of the panel, and one of a magnet and a magnetizable component affixed proximate a second end of the panel; erecting the barrier into a vertical encircling configuration presenting the first end of the panel overlapped with the second end of the panel; and magnetically affixing the magnet with the one of the magnet and the magnetizable component to affix the first end of the panel to the second end of the panel.

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

is a perspective view from above of a portable environment localizing, or heat retaining barrieraccording to one aspect usable for recreational activities both vocational and avocational including recreational activities. According to one barrier assemblyshown in, a pair of 16 foot long portable heat retaining barriersare joined together at opposed ends with a magnetic latch assembly, or retainercomprising a vertically equally spaced-apart array of magnetsprovided at one end configured to align and magnetically affix to a respective array of magnetizable metal disks, so as to join together such barriers. Optionally, diskscan be magnets. Either magnetic latch assemblycan be opened and closed to enable entry/exit with the resulting array of barriers. An inner surface of each barriercomprises an aluminum radiant heat reflective barrier layer, whereas an outer surface comprises a camouflage print fabric layer. Another radiant heat reflective barrier layer can be provided between the fabric layerand the bubble thermal insulation layer.

More particularly,illustrates barrier assemblyhaving a stayed rectangular, or square configuration surrounding a heat source, or propane fireplaceusing a pair of portable heat retaining barriersaffixed together magnetically via magnetic latch assembliesat each end. Any other heat source such as wood fires, alcohol fires, stoves, or radiant LP heat sources can be substituted for fireplace, including user body heat. Vertical rods or staysare provided at each corner where they are inserted through a nylon base loop on a nylon clip, or support stay retainer. Retainers can be formed from any fabric ribbon, cord, rope, or guy material, and can be provided on either a front side or a back side of barrier. Further optionally, retainercan omit a clip and just form a fabric or rope tie. Additionally, or optionally a vertically arranged pair of clipsare attached to vertical tubular members on individual folding chairsin order to stay certain corners of assembly. Although shown in a square, or rectangular configuration, it is understood that barrier assemblycan be configured as a trapezoidal, triangular, octagonal, or even approximate round configuration by modifying positions of staysor adding more stays. Further geometries are also envisioned using one or more barriers.

As shown in, barrierseach have a configuration of anchor retainers, or tabsspaced-apart at discrete locations horizontally along a bottom edge of each barrier. Such tabscan be constructed from fabric, plastic, or other material and can include a central metal grommet or a simple aperture, or hole. Optionally, such tabscan be affixed or sewn at higher elevations along barrier, such as along a top edge or a mid-level location, on either a front side or a back side of barrier. In operation, a stake or guy rope is affixed to each tabin order to anchor each barrierat a location. A pair of elastic webbing loopsare also provided to retain one or more barriersin a rolled, or stowed configuration similar to one shown in.

Optionally, or in addition to barrierused in assembly, such barrierscan be assembled individually or in series to construct wind, heat retention, and physical barrier assemblies. For example, barrierscan be used to form hunting blinds, sporting blinds or heat retention barriers, such as barriers used for beach use, camping, hiking, and fishing. Furthermore, such barrierscan be used in military operations, as weather, wind and/or heat barriers for construction sites such as utility crews accessing manholes in roadways, for protection when working around an outdoor electrical box, near recreational vehicles, or in ski hill parking lots or other recreational sites when using a recreational vehicle (RV). Even furthermore, such barriers can be used in an assembly to provide a wind and thermal barrier that is affixed to deck railings or railings on boats, such as pontoon boats, or gazebos. Further uses can be for retaining pets and animals, or farm animals particularly for warming baby chickens. Even further, such barriers can be used on construction sites or as riparian or soil barriers on constructions sites, or at sporting events and tailgating events for participants and spectators to warm them as a personal heat retainer. Yet even further, such erected barriers can be placed around a vehicle or piece of machinery in order to locally warm the vehicle or machinery in an effort to better enable engine startup or battery charging under extremely cold conditions. For example, in use, the assemblyofhas been found to save as much as half the fuel use over propane heaters used in the open without such a barrier because the propane heater can be run at a low setting with the barrier retaining and reflecting heat toward a contained user.

is a vertical side view of two different unique length portable heat retaining barriersandeach capable of being used in the assembly of. More particularly, barrieris sixteen feet long, whereas barrieris eight feet long. Barriersandare each shown with an inner thermally radiant inner surfacein plan view and depict locations of clips, tabs, magnetsand magnetizable metal disks. Clipsand tabscan be provided on a front side, a back side, or both sides of each barrier. Magnetsand metal disksare affixed with adhesive on an opposed outer surface of each paneland. Metal disks can be optionally provided as magnets that have opposed polarity to magnets. It is understood that length and height of a given barrier can vary depending on final configuration and intended use.

is an enlarged view of a magnet, or magnetic latch membertaken from encircled regionof. According to one construction, magnetseach comprise a Pack Strong Neodymium Disc Magnet with Double-Sided Adhesive, 1.26 inch D×0.08 inch H Super Strong Rare Earth Magnets, available on Amazon.com from Mikede Store. Such magnetis adhesively affixed onto an outer surface of barrier. Optionally, magnet(and metal disk) can be affixed onto an inner surface of barrier.

is an enlarged view of a barrier retainer tab, or anchor devicetaken from encircled regionof. Such tabcomprises a flexible fabric elliptical tab having a metal grommet affixed therein sewn along a bottom edge of the barrier(see). Optionally, a semi-circular fabric tab, or a webbing loop can be provided.

is an enlarged view of a barrier retainer cliptaken from encircled regionof. More particularly, retainer clipcomprises a folded loop of nylon or polypropylene webbing and a tent pole C-Clip made from Polyoxymethylene (POM), nylon, or some other suitable flexible plastic material that has a webbing slot for receiving the nylon webbing loop. Other clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, and ties can optionally be used. The webbing loop of retainer clipis sewn onto barrier(see) according to one construction. Clipcan be sewn on any vertical location of barrier(see) in single or multiple elevational and elongate locations.

is a partial peeled away perspective view of the portable heat retaining barrierofillustrating a layered construction. More particularly, barriercomprises an adhesively bonded sandwich with a decorative fabric visual camouflage outer skin, an outer radiant heat reflective aluminum layer, a central plastic bubble thermal insulation layer, and an inner radiant heat reflective aluminum layer. A fabric camouflage trim pieceis folded over and sewn onto outer peripheral edges of barrierusing stitches. Optionally, trim piececan be eliminated. Insulative layercan be constructed from any of a number of plastic sheet materials, foamed plastics, bubble plastics, or any other thermally insulative materials, or just a sheet of plastic used to carry one or more thermally reflective layers.

is a partial perspective view in breakaway of a magnetic attachmentbetween ends of one or more heat retaining barriers. As shown, a pair of heat retaining barriersare joined together at respective ends by a plurality of spaced-apart magnetsand magnetizable steel buttonswhich align for magnetizable interlock together in order to form magnetic attachment. Optionally, magnetizable steel buttonscan be replaced by opposed polarity magnets that affix magnetically with magnets.

is perspective view from above of an alternative portable heat retaining barrierhaving an alternative T-handle loop elastic cord closure comprising a pair of T-web handlesand a corresponding pair of elastic webbing loopspaced-apart sufficiently to provide an elastically stretched engagement between respective pairs of t-web handlesand loopsto retain together barrier roll, as shown inbelow. T-web handlesare formed from hard plastic or wood and have a central hole through which a corresponding webbing loop is received. A localized enforcement fabric panelsupports webbing handleon barrierproximate t-web handlesto facilitate carrying when rolled or stowed.

is the alternative portable heat retaining barrierofhaving the T-handle loop elastic cord closure comprising a pair of T-web handlesand a corresponding pair of elastic loopsshown in a rolled and stowed configuration. T-web handleseach on a cord sewn to an end of rolland elastic loopsare each sewn onto rollat a spaced-apart location to mate with a respective t-web handlesuch that loopsis stretched to retain together rollin a stowed configuration. Handleand panelare positioned so as to facilitate carrying of barrierin such configuration as a roll.

is an alternative magnetic/magnetizable closure devicefor an alternative rolled and stowed portable heat retaining barrier. Rollincludes handleand an array of magnetsand magnetizable metal disksprovided spaced from magnetssufficiently such that magnetic attraction between magnetsand magnetizable disksretains together rollof barrierwhen stowed.

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one”.

In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise example embodiments. The claims are thus to be afforded full scope as literally worded, and to be appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.