Insulation element and a system comprising the insulation element

Abstract

An insulation element and a structural system including such an element, wherein the insulation element includes: pedestals, the top surface of which is suitable for bearing a floor panel to be placed on top of the pedestals; and a substantially continuous surface between the pedestals. The continuous surface and the pedestals are fabricated in one piece in the same process from at least one heat insulating material. The mutual layout of the pedestals and the continuous surface is implemented in such a way that onto the substantially continuous surface, through spaces between the pedestals, at least on top of the substantially continuous surface can be pulled installation cables and, in addition, possibly also installation hoses or tubes across the support foundation.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An insulation element, such as an insulation board ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 ,  1500 ,  1800 ), said insulation element comprising a substantially continuous surface ( 101 ) as well as first and second pedestals associated with the surface, wherein
 at least some of first pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) are adapted to emerge from a first surface of said insulation element, the top surface of said pedestals being appropriate for bearing a panel, for example a floor panel ( 530 ,  1530 ) to be placed on top of the pedestals; and   at least some of second pedestals ( 103 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ) are adapted to emerge from said insulation element's second surface opposite to the first surface;   
       wherein
 the mutual layout of the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) and the continuous surface ( 101 ) is implemented in such a way that onto the substantially continuous surface, through spaces between the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ), at least onto a first side of the substantially continuous surface ( 101 ) can be pulled installation cables ( 41 ) and, in addition, possibly also installation hoses or tubes ( 42 ) across the insulation element, 
 the continuous surface ( 101 ) and the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) are fabricated in one piece in the same process from at least one heat insulating material; and 
 the pedestals ( 103 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ) are adapted to raise a bottom edge of the continuous surface higher up than what is a mounting level of the insulation element ( 400 ). 
 
     
     
         19 . An insulation element ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 ,  1500 ,  1800 ) of  claim 18 , wherein at least some of the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ) comprise or make up at least one mounting element ( 102 ,  104 ,  105 ,  107 ,  211 ,  212 ,  305 ,  1001 ,  1002 ,  1108 ,  1503 ,  1504 ,  1701 ), wherein
 the mounting element is or comprises an attachment hole ( 105 ) or threading on top of a pedestal for an insert attachment, especially a bolt or screw attachment, or an insert ( 102 ), especially an attachment bolt or screw, on top of a pedestal, and/or   wherein the mounting element is or comprises a groove ( 211 ,  212 ) or a channel ( 1108 ).   
     
     
         20 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element, most preferably its edge or mounting element, comprises at least one laterally form-limited retaining element ( 1001 ,  1002 ), especially a dovetail joint and/or a matching part therefor, or wherein the insulation element, its edge and/or mounting element, comprises in its edge zone a tongue-and-groove, for example a male tongue or a female groove, substantially co-directional with the insulation element's edge. 
     
     
         21 . An insulation element of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting element is or comprises a groove or slot ( 1504 ) on at least one wall of at least one pedestal ( 103 ) for retaining an edge ( 1531 ) of the panel ( 1530 ) to be placed on top of the pedestals. 
     
     
         22 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element comprises or especially the insulation element's mounting element is or comprises at least one tablet type element ( 305 ) for changing the friction coefficient of a pedestal surface with respect to the friction coefficient of the pedestal's own surface, such that the static friction of a panel type block ( 530 ,  1530 ) either decreases or increases. 
     
     
         23 . An insulation element ( 800 ,  900 ) of  claim 18 , which has its pedestals ( 103 ) in such a configuration that the insulation element is stackable with another similar insulation element by turning one of the support foundations upside down and by offsetting this substantially across a distance substantially about equal to a width (a, b) of one pedestal ( 103 ), whereby the pedestals ( 103 ) become interlaced with each other and support the resulting stack against a push or pull applied at least in a lateral direction of the stack. 
     
     
         24 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element is adapted, jointly with ventilation elements arranged in connection therewith, to generate an airflow into a space defined by said second pedestals and the continuous surface for ventilating said resulting space. 
     
     
         25 . An insulation element of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting element is adapted, by way of said mounting panel, to mount on said insulation element features, such as partitions, doors, electrical and lighting solutions, HVAC equipment, structures and fixtures, which are separate from the insulation element. 
     
     
         26 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element comprises at least in one of its edge zones a feature for providing a firebreak in the process of assembling the insulation elements, wherein the feature comprises a substantially incombustible material, such as metal, concrete or stone, and/or a fire retarding material different from the insulation element's material in terms of its fire characteristics. 
     
     
         27 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element comprises at least one ventilation element, the ventilation element being a blower, an exhauster, a valve, an opening and/or a channel comprising at least one of the above. 
     
     
         28 . An insulation element of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation element comprises at least on one of its sides a firebreak, the firebreak comprising a substantially incombustible material, such as metal, concrete or stone, and/or a fire retarding material different from the insulation element's material in terms of its fire characteristics. 
     
     
         29 . A structural system, such as a floor or wall system, which comprises a plurality of insulation elements ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 ,  1500 ,  1800 ), such as an insulation board ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 ,  1500 ,  1800 ), wherein said insulation element comprising a substantially continuous surface ( 101 ) as well as first and second pedestals associated with the surface, wherein
 at least some of first pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) are adapted to emerge from a first surface of said insulation element, the top surface of said pedestals being appropriate for bearing a panel, for example a floor panel ( 530 ,  1530 ) to be placed on top of the pedestals; and   at least some of second pedestals ( 103 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ) are adapted to emerge from said insulation element's second surface opposite to the first surface;   
       wherein
 the mutual layout of the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) and the continuous surface ( 101 ) is implemented in such a way that onto the substantially continuous surface, through spaces between the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ), at least onto a first side of the substantially continuous surface ( 101 ) can be pulled installation cables ( 41 ) and, in addition, possibly also installation hoses or tubes ( 42 ) across the insulation element, 
 the continuous surface ( 101 ) and the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ,  1503 ) are fabricated in one piece in the same process from at least one heat insulating material; and 
 the pedestals ( 103 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ) are adapted to raise a bottom edge of the continuous surface higher up than what is a mounting level of the insulation element ( 400 ), 
 
       wherein
 said insulation elements are joined to each other and on top of which is mounted at least one panel type component ( 530 ,  1530 ) for constructing a floor or a wall. 
 
     
     
         30 . A system as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein at least some of the pedestals ( 103 ,  210 ,  303 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414 ,  901 ,  902 ,  1103 ,  1291 ) comprise or make up at least one mounting element ( 102 ,  104 ,  105 ,  107 ,  211 ,  212 ,  305 ,  1001 ,  1002 ,  1108 ,  1503 ,  1504 ,  1701 ), and wherein
 the mounting element is or comprises an attachment hole ( 105 ) or threading on top of a pedestal for an insert attachment, especially a bolt or screw attachment, or an insert ( 102 ), especially an attachment bolt or screw, on top of a pedestal, and/or   wherein the mounting element is or comprises a groove ( 211 ,  212 ) or a channel ( 1108 ), and   
       wherein insulation elements are attached to each other with the following features of side-by-side and/or corner-to-corner insulation elements
 by using a bolt or screw attachment in an attachment hole ( 105 ) and/or by using an attachment bolt ( 107 ) or attachment bolts ( 107 ) or screws, and/or 
 by using a retaining element ( 632 ,  1300 ,  1400 ) set in a channel ( 1108 ), such that the panel type component ( 530 ,  1530 ) prevents a removal of the retaining element ( 632 ,  1300 ,  1400 ) from the installed floor system. 
 
     
     
         31 . A system of  claim 29 , wherein at least some of the insulation element, most preferably its edge or mounting element, comprises at least one laterally form-limited retaining element ( 1001 ,  1002 ), especially a dovetail joint and/or a matching part therefor, or wherein the insulation element, its edge and/or mounting element, comprises in its edge zone a tongue-and-groove, for example a male tongue or a female groove, substantially co-directional with the insulation element's edge, and wherein said insulation elements are attached to each other by means of at least one laterally form-limited retaining element ( 1001 ,  1002 ). 
     
     
         32 . A system of  claim 29 , wherein at least some of the insulation elements comprises the mounting element, which is or comprises a groove or slot ( 1504 ) on at least one wall of at least one pedestal ( 103 ) for retaining an edge ( 1531 ) of the panel ( 1530 ) to be placed on top of the pedestals, and wherein insulation elements are immobilized relative to each other by means of the panel type component ( 530 ,  1530 ). 
     
     
         33 . A system of  claim 29 , wherein the system comprises at least one elevation adjustment element associated with the insulation element for adjusting a position or angle of the insulation element. 
     
     
         34 . An insulation element of  claim 19 , wherein the insulation element, most preferably its edge or mounting element, comprises at least one laterally form-limited retaining element ( 1001 ,  1002 ), especially a dovetail joint and/or a matching part therefor, or wherein the insulation element, its edge and/or mounting element, comprises in its edge zone a tongue-and-groove, for example a male tongue or a female groove, substantially co-directional with the insulation element's edge. 
     
     
         35 . An insulation element of  claim 20 , wherein the mounting element is or comprises a groove or slot ( 1504 ) on at least one wall of at least one pedestal ( 103 ) for retaining an edge ( 1531 ) of the panel ( 1530 ) to be placed on top of the pedestals.