Energy insulation pillows and system for installation

Abstract

Heat insulating air bags ( 10 ) are formed with heat reflective interior surfaces ( 13 ) and the bags are filled with gas. In a preferred embodiment, the bags are formed at a forming site adjacent a dwelling, in a continuous manner, and are fed to an air delivery system ( 56 ) that blows the bags into the building structure where they are directed to an insulation receiving site, such as the floor of an attic.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of installing heat insulation in a building structure, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of bags containing air at a bag supply site adjacent an insulation receiving site,    directing a stream of atmospheric air from the bag supply site to the insulation receiving site,    introducing bags into the stream of atmospheric air at the bag supply site,    moving the bags in the stream of atmospheric air to the insulation receiving site, and    distributing the bags about the bag receiving site.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , and further including the step of applying adhesive to said bags to stabilize the bags in the positions assumed in the receiving site.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of applying adhesive to the bags comprises spraying adhesive on said bags when the bags have been distributed about the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of bags containing air comprises providing at least two plies of material, placing the plies of material in superposed positions, trapping air pockets between the superposed plies, and sealing the plies of material together with air pockets trapped between the plies.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of sealing the plies of material together comprises heat sealing the plies together.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of sealing the plies of material together comprises adhesively sealing the plies together.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of providing plies of material comprises providing at least one of the plies of material that has a radiant heat reflective surface.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of placing the plies together comprises orienting at least one of the heat reflective surfaces of the plies toward the air trapped between the plies.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the bags comprises forming bags having reflective surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of bags comprises forming a plurality of bags in a connected series of bags.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , and further including the step of separating the bags from one another before the bags are distributed in the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         12 . A method of installing heat insulation in an insulation receiving site of a building structure, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of bags containing gas,    directing a stream of atmospheric air to the insulation receiving site,    introducing bags into the stream of atmospheric air,    moving the bags in the stream of atmospheric air to the insulation receiving site, and    distributing the bags about the bag receiving site.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , and further including the step of applying adhesive to the exterior of the bags to stabilize the bags in the positions assumed in the receiving site.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of applying adhesive to the.bags comprises spraying adhesive on said bags when the bags have been distributed about the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , and further including the step of applying a cover over the bags in the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of bags comprises forming a plurality of bags in a connected series of bags.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , and further including the step of separating the bags from one another before the bags are distributed in the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the bags containing gas comprises forming bags containing gas selected from the group of gasses having a humidity of less than 10%, consisting essentially of: nitrogen, Krypton, air, Argon, carbon dioxide, and Xenon.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , and further including the step of dehumidifying the gas.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of bags comprises forming the bags of a material having a reflective surface, the material selected from the group consisting essentially of: polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, with a reflective surface applied thereto, and aluminum foil.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the plurality of bags containing gas comprises forming the bags with the gas filling less than the full capacity of the bags.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the plurality of bags containing gas comprises forming the bags in a connected series of bags, and the step of moving the bags in the stream of air comprises moving the bags in a connected series.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of bags containing gas comprises forming the bags separated from one another, and the step of moving the bags in the stream of air comprises moving the bags separately.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of directing a stream of air to the bag receiving site comprises providing a flexible conduit, extending a delivery end of the conduit to the bag receiving site, and moving the stream of atmospheric air through the flexible conduit.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 12 , and further including the step of applying a cover of heat insulation material over the bags distributed about the bag receiving site.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of gas comprises forming the bags with sheet material having a radiant heat reflecting surface of the bags facing the gas.  
     
     
         27 . A method of installing heat insulation in a building structure, comprising: 
 forming a tube of sheet material,    filling the tube with gas,    dividing the tube and gas into a series of inflated bags,    distributing the inflated bags about a bag receiving site in the building structure.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the steps of forming the tube of sheet material and progressively filling the tube with gas is performed at the building structure.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of forming the tube of sheet material is performed away from the building structure, and further including the step of transporting the tube of sheet material to the building structure, and wherein the steps of progressively filling the tube with gas and dividing the tube into bags are performed at the building structure.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of forming a tube of sheet material comprises forming the tube with radiant heat reflective surface.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of forming a tube of sheet material comprises forming the tube with a radiant heat reflective surface facing the inside of the tube.  
     
     
         32 . A method of insulating a building structure, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of gas inflated bags at the building structure,    distributing the gas inflated bags into a insulation receiving site of the building structure.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of gas inflated bags comprises forming the gas inflated bags with a heat reflective surface facing the gas.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of distributing the gas inflated bags comprises moving the bags from a bag receiving site in a stream of air into the insulation receiving site.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of gas inflated bags comprises forming the bags in a connected series of bags and separating the bags from one another.  
     
     
         36 . A heat insulated building structure comprising: 
 a bag receiving site,    a plurality of bags,    said bags having a gas sealed inside,    said bags each including at least one ply of material having a heat reflective surface facing said gas, so that the bags protect the heat reflective surfaces from becoming occluded by dust, fibers and other materials, and    said bags randomly distributed about said bag receiving site.    
     
     
         37 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , wherein said gas occupies less than the full capacity of said bags.  
     
     
         38 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , wherein said bags are unconnected from one another.  
     
     
         39 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , wherein some of said bags are formed in a connected series.  
     
     
         40 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , wherein said bags are formed of a material consisting essentially of: polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, or aluminum foil, all bearing a heat reflective surface.  
     
     
         41 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , wherein said bags contain a dehumidified gas selected from the group consisting essentially of: Argon, Xenon, air, carbon dioxide, Krypton and nitrogen.  
     
     
         42 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , and further including a layer of fibrous heat insulation material extending about said bags.  
     
     
         43 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 36 , and further including means for holding said bags in place.  
     
     
         44 . The heat insulated building structure of  claim 43 , wherein said means for holding said bags in place comprises fibrous insulation applied over said bags and adhesive applied to the fibrous insulation.