Thermal Barrier for Building Foundation Slab

Abstract

A device for insulating the slab foundation of a building, said device comprising: a generally horizontal insulating section disposed between the slab foundation and a footer of a building, said horizontally disposed insulating section comprising a generally elongated cuboid shape having at least one cutout through which a concrete column is disposed; said prefabricated device further comprising a generally vertical insulating section disposed adjacent to said horizontal insulating section and attached to said building.

1 . A device for insulating the slab foundation of a building, said device comprising: a generally horizontal insulating section disposed between the slab foundation and a footer of a building, said horizontally disposed insulating section comprising a generally elongated cuboid shape having at least one cutout through which a concrete column is disposed; said prefabricated device further comprising a generally vertical insulating section disposed adjacent to said horizontal insulating section and attached to said building. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is prefabricated and comprises a material selected from the group consisting of extruded foam, polyisocyranurate foam, expanded foam, insulated foil bubble wrap, and blown insulation. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of an insecticide, an herbicide, a fungicide, and a water repellant. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical insulating section further comprises a semi rigid external sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical metal bar disposed through at least one column, where the bar comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal metal bar disposed across the device through and perpendicular to the at least one column, where the bar comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each concrete column is capable of bearing a vertical load of at least about 20,000 pounds. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has an R-value of at least about 5 per inch of material thickness. 
     
     
         9 . A device for insulating the slab foundation of a building, said device horizontally disposed between the slab foundation and footer of a building, said device comprising a generally elongated cuboid shape having at least one cutout through which a concrete column is disposed. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the device is prefabricated and comprises a material selected from the group consisting of extruded foam, polyisocyranurate foam, expanded foam, insulated foil bubble wrap, and blown insulation. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the material comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of an insecticide, an herbicide, a fungicide, and water repellant. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a vertical metal bar disposed through at least one column, where the bar comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a horizontal metal bar disposed across the device through and perpendicular to the at least one column, where the bar comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein each concrete column is capable of bearing a vertical load of at least about 20,000 pounds. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the device has an R-value of at least about 5 per inch of material thickness. 
     
     
         16 . A method of insulating the slab foundation of a building, said method comprising the steps of: providing a footer for a building; providing a horizontally disposed insulating device, said device comprising a generally elongated cuboid shape having at least one vertically disposed cutout therethrough; pouring a concrete slab foundation for the building such that structurally supportive columns for the slab are created through the cutouts. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the device is prefabricated and comprises a material having an R-value of at least about 5 per inch of thickness and wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of extruded foam, polyisocyranurate foam, expanded foam, insulated foil bubble wrap, and blown insulation. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the material comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of an insecticide, an herbicide, a fungicide, and water repellant. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: a vertical metal bar disposed through at least one column; and a horizontal metal bar disposed across the device through and perpendicular to the at least one column, where the bars comprise a material selected from the group consisting of steel, iron, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein each concrete column is capable of bearing a vertical load of at least about 20,000 pounds.