Flexible reflective insulating structures

Abstract

A flexible reflective insulating structure includes a layer of flexible fiber-based material ( 10 ), and a flexible metallic layer ( 12 ) having a first surface of emissivity ( 14 ) less than 0.1. The metallic layer is attached to the layer of fiber-based material with its first surface facing towards the layer of fiber-based material. The fiber-based material is preferably attached to the metallic layer in a manner such that the emissivity of at least about 85% of the first surface, and preferably at least about 95%, and most preferably at least about 97%, is substantially unaffected.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flexible reflective insulating structure comprising: 
 (i) a layer of substantially non-dust-generating, flexible fiber-based material; and    (ii) a flexible metallic layer having a first surface of emissivity less than 0.1, said metallic layer being attached to said layer of fiber-based material with said first surface facing towards said layer of fiber-based material in a manner such that said emissivity of at least about 85% of said first surface is substantially unaffected.    
     
     
         2 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said first surface-has an emissivity of no more than 0.05.  
     
     
         3 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is attached to said layer of fiber-based material by adhesive, said adhesive being present on less than about 15% of said first surface.  
     
     
         4 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is attached to said layer of fiber-based material by minimal-pressure localized welding of fibers of said fiber-based material such that they contact less than about 15% of said first surface.  
     
     
         5 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is attached to said layer of fiber-based material in a manner such that said emissivity of at least about 95% of said first surface is substantially unaffected.  
     
     
         6 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is attached to said layer of fiber-based material in a manner such that said emissivity of at least about 97% of said first surface is substantially unaffected.  
     
     
         7 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material is a non-woven material.  
     
     
         8 . The insulating structure of  claim 7 , wherein said non-woven material is configured to be compressible to a compressed state for rolling to a rolled storage configuration and to recover when unrolled to an uncompressed state, said non-woven material occupying a volume when in said uncompressed state which is at least about two times a volume occupied by said non-woven material when in said compressed state.  
     
     
         9 . The insulating structure of  claim 8 , wherein said non-woven material has a bulk density of no more than about 4 kg/m 2  per 10 cm thickness when in said uncompressed state.  
     
     
         10 . The insulating structure of  claim 8 , wherein said non-woven material has a bulk density within the range from about 0.9 to about 2 kg/m 2  per 10 cm thickness when in said uncompressed state.  
     
     
         11 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material is formed primarily from polyester fibers.  
     
     
         12 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material includes crimped fibers.  
     
     
         13 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material exhibits a reduced density of fibers in a layer adjacent to said metallic layer relative to an average density of fibers in said fiber-based material.  
     
     
         14 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material includes a first component of fibers having a first diameter and a second component of fibers having a second diameter, said second diameter being at least twice said first diameter.  
     
     
         15 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of fiber-based material is a woven material, said woven material being processed to provide a plurality of raised fibers projecting outwards from said woven material for supporting said metallic layer.  
     
     
         16 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is a sheet of metal foil.  
     
     
         17 . The insulating structure of  claim 16 , wherein said sheet of metal foil has a second surface opposite to said first surface, the insulating structure further comprising a substrate layer attached to said second surface.  
     
     
         18 . The insulating structure of  claim 17 , wherein said substrate layer is formed primarily from polymer material.  
     
     
         19 . The insulating stricture of  claim 18 , herein said polymer material has a thickness of at least about 50 μm and contains at least one additive chosen to enhance weatherproof properties of said polymer material.  
     
     
         20 . The insulating structure of  claim 18 , wherein said polymer material is selected to be a non-tearing material, said polymer material, said metallic layer and said fiber-based material being sewed together.  
     
     
         21 . The insulating structure of  claim 20 , further comprising a sealant applied to said structure so as to seal regions which are sewed together.  
     
     
         22 . The insulating structure of  claim 18 , wherein said layer of polymer material includes a plurality of reinforcing elements.  
     
     
         23 . The insulating structure of  claim 17 , further comprising a second metallic layer associated with a rear surface of said substrate layer.  
     
     
         24 . The insulating structure of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic layer is implemented as a layer of metal deposited onto a surface of a flexible substrate layer.  
     
     
         25 . The insulating structure of  claim 24 , wherein said substrate layer is formed primarily from polymer material.  
     
     
         26 . The insulating structure of  claim 25 , further comprising a second metallic layer associated with a rear surface of said layer of polymer material.  
     
     
         27 . A tent comprising it least one wall formed from the insulating structure of  claim 1.