Insulated attic access enclosure

Abstract

An insulated attic access enclosure is formed from at least one side case, preferably two, and a top case that are adapted to receive an insulating material. The side case is wrapped around the attic access opening to define a sidewall enclosure. The top case is positioned atop the sidewall enclosure and may be attached to the sidewall to define at least one hinged access panel in the top case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating enclosure for an attic access portal, comprising:
 at least one side case defining a pocket adapted to receive a length of insulating material, the side case having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal length corresponding to a perimeter of the attic access portal, the side case having a plurality of complimentary fasteners attached at an opposed end of the at least one side case; and   a top case defining a pocket adapted to receive a length of insulating material, the case having a length corresponding to a length of the attic access portal and a width corresponding to a width of the access portal.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulating material received within the pocket of the side case and the pocket of the top case.   
     
     
         3 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first opening defined in the at least one side case,   a fastener operable to close the first opening to contain the insulating material within the side case pocket;   a top case opening defined in the top case; and   a fastener operable to close the top case opening to contain the insulating material within the top case pocket.   
     
     
         4 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 3 , wherein the complimentary fasteners are secured to hold the opposed ends of the side case in sealing abutment to define an enclosure sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the top case is positioned in sealing abutment with the enclosure sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a hinging fastener attached to the top case and disposed intermediate a first end and a second end of the top case;   a complimenting hinging fastener attached to the side case to an opposing face of the enclosure sidewall; wherein the hinging fastener is fastened to the complimenting hinging fastener to define at least one top case hinging panel.   
     
     
         7 . The insulating enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first side case and a second side case.   
     
     
         8 . A method of insulating an attic access portal, comprising:
 providing an insulating enclosure, comprising;
 at least one side case defining a pocket adapted to receive a length of insulating material, the side case having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal length corresponding to a perimeter of the attic access portal, the side case having a plurality of complimentary fasteners attached at an opposed end of the at least one side case; 
 a top case defining a pocket adapted to receive a length of insulating material, the case having a length corresponding to a length of the attic access portal and a width corresponding to a width of the access portal; 
   installing an insulating material within the pocket of the side case and the pocket of the top case;   forming the side case around the attic access portal;   fastening the complimentary fasteners to join the opposed ends of the side case to define an enclosure sidewall.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 positioning the top case in sealing abutment with the enclosure sidewall.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising;
 providing a hinging fastener to the top case and disposed intermediate a first end and a second end of the top case;   providing a complimenting hinging fastener to the side case to an opposing face of the enclosure sidewall.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 connecting the hinging fastener to the complimenting hinging fastener to define at least one top case hinging panel.