Simulated stone structures, insulative assemblies including the simulated stone structures, and related methods

Abstract

A simulated stone structure comprises a simulated stone body, and at least one attachment structure embedded within and protruding from the simulated stone body. In addition, an insulative assembly comprises an insulative structure, an adhesive material overlying the insulative structure, and at least one simulated stone structure partially overlying the adhesive material and comprising a simulated stone body and at least one attachment structure embedded within the simulated stone body and extending from the simulated stone body, through the adhesive material, and into the insulative structure. A method of forming an insulative assembly is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A simulated stone structure, comprising:
 a simulated stone body; and   at least one attachment structure embedded within and protruding from the simulated stone body.   
     
     
         2 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment structure is oriented substantially perpendicular to the simulated stone body. 
     
     
         3 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment structure partially extends through the simulated stone body, the at least one attachment structure extending at least about 10 percent of the way through a maximum thickness of the simulated stone body. 
     
     
         4 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises:
 a head region completely embedded within the simulated stone body; and   a stem region integral and continuous with the head region and partially embedded within the simulated stone body, the head region extending beyond a lateral periphery of the stem region.   
     
     
         5 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 4 , wherein an upper portion of the stem region distal from the head region extends upwardly and inwardly to an apex. 
     
     
         6 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 4 , wherein the stem region exhibits at least one textured section. 
     
     
         7 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one textured section comprises at least one of a grooved section, a ringed section, a threaded section, a spiraled section, a notched section, and a barbed section. 
     
     
         8 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 4 , wherein the stem region exhibits a barbed tip. 
     
     
         9 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises a plurality of attachment structures. 
     
     
         10 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of attachment structures exhibits substantially the same geometric configuration, the same material composition, the same orientation, and the same embedded depth within the simulated stone body as each other of the plurality of attachment structures. 
     
     
         11 . The simulated stone structure of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of attachment structures exhibits at least one of a different geometric configuration, a different material composition, a different orientation, and a different embedded depth within the simulated stone body than at least one other of the plurality of attachment structures. 
     
     
         12 . An insulative assembly, comprising:
 an insulating structure;   an adhesive material overlying the insulative structure; and   at least one simulated stone structure partially overlying the adhesive material and comprising:
 a simulated stone body; and 
 at least one attachment structure embedded within the simulated stone body and extending from the simulated stone body, through the adhesive material, and into the insulative structure. 
   
     
     
         13 . The insulative assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the insulative structure comprises a closed-cell polymeric foam material. 
     
     
         14 . The insulative assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one attachment structure extends only partially through each of the simulated stone body and the insulating structure. 
     
     
         15 . The insulative assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises at least one of a nail, a screw, a rivet, a bolt, a stud, a pin, and a staple. 
     
     
         16 . The insulative assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one simulated stone structure comprises a plurality of simulated stone structures. 
     
     
         17 . The insulative assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one attachment structure of at least one of the plurality of simulated stone structures exhibits substantially the same geometric configuration, material composition, orientation, and embedded depth within the simulated stone body of the at least one of the plurality of simulated stone structures as the at least one attachment structure of at least one other of the plurality of simulated stone structures. 
     
     
         18 . The insulative assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one attachment structure of at least one of the plurality of simulated stone structures exhibits at least one of a different geometric configuration, a different material composition, a different orientation, and a different embedded depth within the simulated stone body of the at least one of the plurality of simulated stone structures than the at least one attachment structure of at least one other of the plurality of simulated stone structures. 
     
     
         19 . The insulative assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional simulated stone structure overlying the adhesive material and comprising another simulated stone body substantially free of attachment structures embedded therein. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming an insulative assembly, comprising:
 forming a simulated stone structure comprising a simulated stone body and an attachment structure embedded within and protruding from the simulated stone body;   forming an adhesive material over at least one of an insulating structure and the simulated stone structure;   positioning the simulated stone structure over the insulating structure, the adhesive material and at least a portion of the attachment structure of the simulated stone structure intervening between the simulated stone structure and the insulating structure;   driving the attachment structure of the simulated stone structure into the insulating structure to form a preliminary insulative assembly; and   subjecting the preliminary insulative assembly to at least one curing process to substantially cure the adhesive material.