Material

Abstract

A material ( 1 ) for installation over a plurality of regularly spaced joists ( 12 ) to insulate a floor structure ( 10 ), the material ( 1 ) having a plurality of spaced apart sets of linearly arranged holes ( 3 ) extending across the width of the material ( 1 ), the holes ( 3 ) intended to overly the joists so that once the material ( 1 ) is in place, flooring material ( 90 ) can be adhered to the joists ( 12 ) through the holes ( 3 ), each set of linearly arranged holes ( 3 ) allowing access to 50 to 98 percent of the length of the joist ( 12 ) overlain by the set of holes ( 3 ).

1 . A material for installation over a plurality of regularly spaced joists to insulate a floor structure, the material having a plurality of spaced apart sets of linearly arranged holes extending across the width of the material, the holes intended to overly the joists so that once the material is in place, flooring material can be adhered to the joists through the holes, each set of linearly arranged holes allowing access to 50 to 98 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes. 
     
     
         2 . A material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each set of linearly arranged holes allows access to 65 to 90 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes. 
     
     
         3 . A material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing of the sets of holes from one another is greater than the spacing of the joists such that, in use, the material between adjacent joists hangs below the top of the joists to define an insulating air gap between the material and the flooring material once the flooring material is installed. 
     
     
         4 . A material as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising fold lines either side of each set of holes to enable the material to be formed into a rectangular trough. 
     
     
         5 . A material as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising indicia either side of each set of holes to indicate where the material should be folded to be formed into a rectangular trough. 
     
     
         6 . A material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said material is heat reflective or has a heat reflective layer. 
     
     
         7 . A material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the holes are circular or oval such that the regions around the holes are held taut to lie flat against the joists. 
     
     
         8 . A material as claimed  claim 1 , formed into a roll so that it can be rolled out across the joists during installation. 
     
     
         9 . A material as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising indicia set in from the edge of the material indicating a desirable overlap with a neighboring length of the material. 
     
     
         10 . A method of installing a floor on a plurality of regularly spaced joists, the method comprising:
 locating a material having a plurality of spaced apart sets of linearly arranged holes extending across the width of the material such that respective ones of the sets of holes overly individual ones of the joists, each set of linearly arranged holes allowing access to 50 to 98 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes; and   adhering a flooring material to the joists with adhesive applied along the length of the joists where the holes overlie the joists.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each set of linearly arranged holes allows access to 65 to 90 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising attaching the material to the joists. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , comprising applying the adhesive in continuous beads extending along the length of the joists after locating the material in place. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spacing of the sets of holes from one another is greater than the spacing of the joists such that, in use, the material between adjacent joists hangs below the top of the joists to define an insulating air gap between the material and the flooring material once the flooring material is installed. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprising folding the material between each set of joists to define an air gap having a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising folding the material along indicia indicating where the material should be folded. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising folding the material with a tool having a substantially u-shaped cross-section by locating an open end of the tool over the material where it overlies the joists and pressing downwards to form the folds in the material. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising fastening said flooring material to said joists with one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , comprising rolling the material out across the joists. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19  comprising mounting a roll holder to one end of the floor structure and placing a roll of the material on the roll holder for rolling out across the joists. 
     
     
         21 . A floor structure comprising:
 a plurality of floor joists;   a layer of insulation material placed on top of the floor joist, the material having a plurality of spaced apart sets of linearly arranged holes extending across the width of the material such that respective ones of the sets of holes overly individual ones of the joists, each set of linearly arranged holes allowing access to 50 to 98 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes; and   flooring material placed on top of the insulation material and adhered to the joists with adhesive applied along the length of the joists where the holes overlie the joists.   
     
     
         22 . A floor structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each set of linearly arranged holes allows access to 65 to 90 percent of the length of the joist overlain by the set of holes. 
     
     
         23 . A floor structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the spacing of the sets of holes from one another is greater than the spacing of the joists such that, in use, the material between adjacent joists hangs below the top of the joists to define an insulating air gap between the material and the flooring material once the flooring material is installed. 
     
     
         24 . A floor structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the material is folded to be formed into a rectangular trough below the flooring material. 
     
     
         25 . A floor structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said material is heat reflective or has a heat reflective layer. 
     
     
         26 . A floor structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the holes are circular or oval such that the regions of the material around the holes are held taut to lie flat against the joists. 
     
     
         27 . A tool for installing a material over a plurality regularly spaced joists to insulate a floor structure, the material having a plurality of spaced apart sets of linearly arranged holes extending across the width of the material, the spacing of the sets of holes from one another being greater than the spacing of the joists, the tool comprising:
 a top wall; and   a pair of side walls extending from the top wall such that the tool has a generally u-shaped cross-section and an opening opposite the top wall, such that the tool can be located on top of the material where it overlies a joist and pressed downwardly with the side walls on opposite sides of the joist to fold the material against the sides of the joists.   
     
     
         28 . A tool as claimed in  claim 27 , sized so as to be operable by hand. 
     
     
         29 . A tool as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at the opening, each side wall terminates in a portion around which the material can be folded so as to form the material into a substantially rectangular trough. 
     
     
         30 . A tool as claimed in  claim 29 , the portion of each side wall around which the material can be folded extends outwardly of the side wall. 
     
     
         31 . A tool as claimed in  claim 27 , comprising a triangular cut-out at least one end of the top wall, the apex of the cut-out evenly spaced from each side wall such that it corresponds to the centre of the joist. 
     
     
         32 . A roll holding apparatus for installing a roll of material over a plurality regularly spaced joists to insulate a floor structure, the roll holding apparatus comprising a pair of leg members, each having a hole therein for receiving a respective end of a spindle around which the material is rolled, each leg member having a foot adapted to be mounted to a beam of the floor structure such that the legs are supported in an upright configuration. 
     
     
         33 . A roll holding apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein each foot is of inverted u-shaped cross-section adapted to be placed over the beam. 
     
     
         34 . A roll holding apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein each leg member comprises a connection portion adapted to be connected to a connector whereby the leg members can be joined together. 
     
     
         35 . A roll holding apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein each connection portion is a sleeve adapted to receive a connector in the form of a rail.