Insulation Spacer and Methods of Use Thereof

Abstract

An insulation spacer for marine vessel insulation. In one embodiment, the insulation spacer comprises a circularly-shaped top face comprising a locking means; a side wall extending from a perimeter of the circularly-shaped top face at a first angle measuring between about 90° and about 180° relative to an internal surface of the top face, thereby forming a bottom opening; a flange portion extending from a perimeter of the bottom opening at a second angle measuring equal to the first angle relative to an external surface of the side wall, whereby the flange portion is parallelly oriented to the circularly-shaped top face, wherein the side wall provides at least a ½-inch space between the circularly-shaped top face and the flange portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulation spacer for marine vessel insulation, comprising:
 a circularly-shaped top face comprising a locking means;   a side wall extending from a perimeter of the circularly-shaped top face at a first angle measuring between about 90° and about 180° relative to an internal surface of the top face, thereby forming a bottom opening;   a flange portion extending from a perimeter of the bottom opening at a second angle measuring equal to the first angle relative to an external surface of the side wall, whereby the flange portion is parallelly oriented to the circularly-shaped top face,   wherein the side wall provides at least a ½-inch space between the circularly-shaped top face and the flange portion.   
     
     
         2 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation spacer is galvanized metal such as iron or steel. 
     
     
         3 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the circularly-shaped top face is dimensioned to provide a substantial footprint for contact with a substrate surface or a standard insulation surface. 
     
     
         4 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the circularly-shaped top face has a diameter measuring between about 10 mm and about 100 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the locking means is a hole disposed through a center of the circularly-shaped top face. 
     
     
         6 . The insulation spacer of  claim 5 , wherein the hole is dimensioned to receive an insulation pin or stud. 
     
     
         7 . The insulation spacer of  claim 5 , wherein the hole has a diameter measuring between about 1 mm and about 10 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least ½-inch space is capable of providing an air gap between a coating and standard insulation that allows for compliance with United States Coast Guard regulations. 
     
     
         9 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the flange portion is dimensioned to provide a substantial footprint for contact with a substrate surface or a standard insulation surface. 
     
     
         10 . The insulation spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the flange portion extends from the perimeter of the bottom opening by a length between about 5 mm and about 30 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A method for insulating a marine vessel, comprising:
 (A) adhering one or more insulation pins to a marine vessel substrate;   (B) applying a coating onto the marine vessel substrate;   (C) installing an insulation spacer onto each of the one or more insulation pins over the coating via a locking means, wherein each insulation spacer comprises:
 a circularly-shaped top face comprising the locking means; 
 a side wall extending from a perimeter of the circularly-shaped top face at a first angle measuring between about 90° and about 180° relative to an internal surface of the top face, thereby forming a bottom opening; 
 a flange portion extending from a perimeter of the bottom opening at a second angle measuring equal to the first angle relative to an external surface of the side wall, whereby the flange portion is parallelly oriented to the circularly-shaped top face, 
 wherein the side wall provides at least a ½-inch space between the circularly-shaped top face and a flange portion; 
   (D) installing standard insulation onto the one or more insulation pins over each insulation spacer;   (E) installing an insulation pin cap onto each of the one or more insulation pins over the standard insulation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each insulation spacer is galvanized metal such as iron or steel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the circularly-shaped top face is dimensioned to provide a substantial footprint for contact with the marine vessel substrate or the standard insulation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the circularly-shaped top face has a diameter measuring between about 10 mm and about 100 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the locking means is a hole disposed through a center of the circularly shaped top face. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hole is dimensioned to receive each of the one or more insulation pins. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the hole has a diameter measuring between about 1 mm and about 10 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least ½-inch space is capable of providing an air gap between the coating and the standard insulation that allows for compliance with United States Coast Guard regulations. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flange portion is dimensioned to provide a substantial footprint for contact with the marine vessel substrate or the standard insulation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flange portion extends from the perimeter of the bottom opening by a length between about 5 mm and about 30 mm.