Vapour barrier corner element and method of installing a vapour barrier membrane in a corner

Abstract

A vapour barrier corner element is provided. The vapour barrier corner element comprises a first elongated flat sheet having a predetermined length, a predetermined first width, and a predetermined first thickness A second elongated flat sheet extends from the first sheet along the length thereof and is oriented at a predetermined angle thereto. The second elongated flat sheet has a predetermined second width and a predetermined second thickness. The first sheet and the second sheet are adapted such that an exterior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet align with a respective interior facing surface of a corner of a building frame. The first width and the second width are determined such that a vapour barrier membrane can be mounted thereto in a substantially airtight manner. The first sheet and the second sheet are made such that the vapour barrier corner element is semi-rigid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vapour barrier corner element comprising:
 a first elongated flat sheet having a predetermined length, a predetermined first width, and a predetermined first thickness; and,   a second elongated flat sheet extending from the first sheet along the length thereof and oriented at a predetermined angle thereto, the second elongated flat sheet having a predetermined second width and a predetermined second thickness;   wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are adapted such that an exterior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet align with a respective interior facing surface of a corner of a building frame, and wherein the first width and the second width are determined such that a vapour barrier membrane can be mounted thereto in a substantially airtight manner, and   wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are made such that the vapour barrier corner element is semi-rigid.   
     
     
         2 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 1  comprising an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet, the adhesive layer being adapted for mounting the vapour barrier corner element to the respective interior facing surface of the corner. 
     
     
         3 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 2  wherein the adhesive layer is disposed in proximity to a dividing line between the first sheet and the second sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 1  comprising an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the interior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet, the adhesive layer being adapted for mounting the vapour barrier membrane to the vapour barrier corner element. 
     
     
         5 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 4  wherein the adhesive layer extends the length of the first sheet and the second sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 1  wherein the second sheet is oriented at a right angle to the first sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 1  wherein the second sheet is oriented at an angle to the first sheet other than a right angle. 
     
     
         8 . The vapour barrier corner element according to  claim 1  wherein the first width and the second width are same, and wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are same. 
     
     
         9 . A method of installing a vapour barrier in a corner of a building frame comprising:
 providing a semi-rigid vapour barrier corner element, the vapour barrier corner element comprising:
 a first elongated flat sheet having a predetermined length, a predetermined first width, and a predetermined first thickness; and, 
 a second elongated flat sheet extending from the first sheet along the length thereof and oriented at a predetermined angle thereto, the second elongated flat sheet having a predetermined second width and a predetermined second thickness; 
   placing the vapour barrier corner element into the corner of the building frame such that an exterior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet align with a respective interior facing surface of the corner of the building frame and is in contact therewith;   mounting the vapour barrier corner element to the corner of the building frame;   placing an end portion of a vapour barrier membrane onto each of the first and the second sheet and mounting the same thereto in a substantially airtight manner.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element is stapled to the corner of the building frame. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the end portion of the vapour barrier membrane is mounted to each of the first and the second sheet using adhesive tape or caulking. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element comprises an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet and wherein each of the first and the second sheet is pressed onto the respective interior surface for adhering the same thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element comprises an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the interior facing surface of each of the first sheet and the second sheet and wherein the end portion of the vapour barrier membrane is pressed onto each of the first and the second sheet for adhering the same thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element is placed into the corner of the building frame with the corner being between two adjacent walls. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element is placed into the corner of the building frame with the corner having a right angle and wherein the second sheet is oriented at the right angle to the first sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the vapour barrier corner element is placed into the corner of the building frame with the corner having a corner angle other than a right angle and wherein the second sheet is oriented to the first sheet at the predetermined angle with the predetermined angle being equal to the corner angle.