Ventilated translucent block with solar reflective panel

Abstract

A vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block for use in wall construction includes a sheet of solar radiation reflective material disposed therein to define two compartments within the plastic block. A vent is disposed in a side wall of the plastic block in fluid communication with each of the compartments to alleviate any pressure increase/decrease within the plastic block and for discharging any condensation within the plastic block that may occur.

1 . A vented hollow plastic block for use in a wall section or panel, said plastic block comprising in combination; 
 a) a pair of members, each of said members including a continuous side wall, said side wall of one of said members including a lip and said side wall of the other of said members including a shelf for receiving and mating with said lip and forming a junction;    b) a sheet of material adapted for partly reflecting solar radiation, said sheet of material being located interior of and extending across said plastic block; and    c) a vent extending through one of said side walls.    
   
   
       2 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the said vent has an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       3 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said vent has an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.012 inches to about 0.015 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said members is of translucent plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said members is of transparent plastic material.  
   
   
       6 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet of material defines two compartments within said plastic block.  
   
   
       7 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said sheet of material includes a slot adapted to provide fluid communication between said two compartments.  
   
   
       8 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said slot is essentially coincident with said vent.  
   
   
       9 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet of material is disposed at said junction.  
   
   
       10 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the peripheral edge of said sheet of material is coincident with said shelf and retained thereagainst by said lip.  
   
   
       11 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 10  including an adhesive for securing said sheet of material in place.  
   
   
       12 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 9  including an adhesive for securing said sheet of material in place.  
   
   
       13 . A vented hollow plastic block for use in a wall section, said plastic block comprising in combination; 
 a) a pair of members, each of said members including a continuous side wall and defining an edge, said edge of one of said members being mated with said edge of the other of said members to form a junction;    b) a vent disposed in at least one of said side walls, said vent having an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.025 inches;    c) a sheet of material disposed within said plastic block and supported by said side wall of at least one member of said pair of members and adapted to define two compartments within said plastic block; and    d) a further vent disposed in said sheet of material for providing fluid communication between said two compartments.    
   
   
       14 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said aperture has an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.012 inches to about 0.015 inches.  
   
   
       15 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said vent and said further vent are substantially coincident.  
   
   
       16 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said vent and said further vent are juxtaposed with one another.  
   
   
       17 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each of said members is of translucent plastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each of said members is of transparent plastic material.  
   
   
       19 . The vented hollow plastic block as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each of said members is square in planform and wherein said sheet of material is square in planform.  
   
   
       20 . A vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block of use in a wall section, said plastic block comprising in combination; 
 a) a pair of members, each of said members including a continuous side wall;    b) a sheet of material extending across the interior of said plastic block;    c) said side wall of one of said members being in sealed engagement with said side wall of the other of said members; and    d) a vent disposed in one of said side walls and adapted to be in fluid communication with the interior of said plastic block.    
   
   
       21 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said vent having an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       22 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said vent has an area equivalent to a circle having a diameter in the range of about 0.012 inches to about 0.015 inches.  
   
   
       23 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said sheet of material defines two compartments within said plastic block.  
   
   
       24 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said sealed engagement is adapted to support said sheet of material.  
   
   
       25 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said vent is formed at the junction of said side walls including a further vent disposed in said sheet of material.  
   
   
       26 . The vented hollow translucent/transparent plastic block as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said further vent is substantially coincident with said vent.