초록 ▼

A thermal window insert includes at least two substantially parallel, substantially transparent sheets of flexible polymer material having a gap therebetween. The two sheets are bonded together at deformations formed in at least one of the sheets, and have a size approximately corresponding to the d

A thermal window insert includes at least two substantially parallel, substantially transparent sheets of flexible polymer material having a gap therebetween. The two sheets are bonded together at deformations formed in at least one of the sheets, and have a size approximately corresponding to the dimensions of a window opening in a building. A strip of resilient material is directly bonded to the sheets around the perimeter thereof, so as to seal the gap between the transparent sheets and to provide a seal between the window insert and the window opening. The invention is similar to storm windows, but is of a simpler and less expensive construction, and is easy to install, remove and store.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An insulative window covering, configured to be frictionally inserted into a window opening in a building, comprising:a) a first sheet of substantially transparent material, having an inner and outer surface, a perimeter, and comprising at least one inwardly extending, flat-topped deformation; b)

1. An insulative window covering, configured to be frictionally inserted into a window opening in a building, comprising:a) a first sheet of substantially transparent material, having an inner and outer surface, a perimeter, and comprising at least one inwardly extending, flat-topped deformation; b) an oppositely facing second sheet of substantially transparent material, having an inner and outer surface in parallel alignment with the first sheet, having a perimeter aligned with the perimeter of the first sheet, and comprising at least one flat-topped deformation extending inwardly toward and in alignment with the inwardly extending flat-topped deformation of the first sheet, the flat-topped deformations of the first and second sheets being bonded together; and c) a strip of resilient, compressible material, bonded around the periphery of the first sheet and the second sheet, configured to provide a substantially airtight enclosure envelope between the two sheets, and to provide a substantially airtight seal between the window opening and the window covering. 2. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one flat-topped deformation in the first sheet and in the second sheet comprise a plurality of opposingly oriented elongate ridges, configured to divide the enclosure envelope into a plurality of discrete volumetric regions, and to create the appearance of separate window panes.3. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 2, wherein the plurality of opposingly oriented ridges comprise a plurality of perpendicularly oriented rows and columns, configured to give the appearance of rectangular window panes.4. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 3, wherein the plurality of rows and columns are disposed at generally equally spaced-apart intervals across the opposed faces of the first and second sheets.5. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 2, further comprising intersections between ridges, and gaps between the two sheets at the intersections, so as to allow fluid communication between the discrete volumetric regions.6. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an inert gas disposed in the enclosure envelope between the first and second sheets.7. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 6, wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon.8. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a coating disposed on at least one of the first and second sheets, the coating being selected from the group consisting of a reflective coating, a scratch-proof coating, and a UV inhibitor.9. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the first sheet is bonded to the perimeter of the second sheet.10. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are bonded along a folded-down tab disposed along the perimeter of each sheet.11. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the first sheet and the perimeter of the second sheet are embedded into the strip of resilient, compressible material.12. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 11, wherein the strip of resilient, compressible material comprises an inner layer into which the first sheet and second sheet are embedded, and an outer layer configured to press against the window opening, the first layer having a higher density than the second layer.13. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the strip of resilient, compressible material is selected from the group consisting of antibacterial polymer foams, and UV-resistant polymer foams.14. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sheets of substantially transparent material are selected from the group consisting of PET, PETG, and PVC.15. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 14, wherein the sheets of substantially transparent material are about 0.03 inches in thickness.16. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 14, wherein the sheets of substantially transparent material having flat-topped ridges are formed using a process selected from the group consisting of cold stamping, roll forming, hot forming, and press forming.17. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a third sheet of substantially transparent material, disposed between the first and second sheets, having a perimeter that is substantially coextensive with the perimeter of the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets being bonded to the third sheet.18. An insulative window covering in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are bonded together using a method selected from the group consisting of adhesives and thermal bonding.