Environment Localizing Barrier, Heat Retaining Barrier and Method

Abstract

An environment localizing barrier, such as a heat retaining barrier, is provided having a flexible elongate, a magnet, and one of a magnet and a magnetizable component. The flexible elongate panel has a pair of opposed ends and comprising a thermally insulative layer and an exposed radiant layer affixed to an inner surface of the thermally insulative layer. The magnet is provided proximate one end of the panel at an elevational location. The one of a magnet and a magnetizable component is provided proximate another end of the panel at the elevational location and is configured to mate in magnetic attraction with one another to affix opposed ends of one or more adjacent panels together into a thermal barrier. A method is also provided.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat retaining barrier, comprising:
 a flexible elongate panel having a pair of opposed ends and comprising a thermally insulative layer and an exposed radiant layer affixed to an inner surface of the thermally insulative layer;   a magnet provided proximate one end of the panel at an elevational location; and   one of a magnet and a magnetizable component provided proximate another end of the panel at the elevational location and configured to mate in magnetic attraction with one another to affix opposed ends of one or more adjacent panels together into a thermal barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one anchor retainer provided along a bottom portion of the flexible elongate panel. 
     
     
         3 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least two magnets are affixed at vertically distinct and spaced-apart elevations proximate the one end of the panel and corresponding one of a magnet and a magnetizable component are provided proximate the another end of the panel each at one of the vertically distinct and spaced-apart elevations. 
     
     
         4 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongate panel further comprises an outer flexible fabric layer affixed to an outer surface of the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer radiant layer affixed to an outer surface of the thermally insulative layer beneath the fabric layer. 
     
     
         6 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stay retainer provided at a discrete location on the panel configured to affix to a structural stay to support the panel in an erected configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The heat shield of  claim 6 , wherein the stay retainer comprises a tubular clip configured to affix to one of a cylindrical post and a vertical cylindrical chair member. 
     
     
         8 . The heat shield of  claim 6 , wherein the structural stay is a webbing loop configured to receive a vertical post. 
     
     
         9 . The heat shield of  claim 1 , further comprising an array of spaced-apart stay retainers provide at discrete locations along the panel configured to affix a plurality of stays to the panel to retain the panel with a desired geometric configuration. 
     
     
         10 . An environment localizing barrier, comprising:
 a flexible panel having a pair of opposed ends and comprising a barrier layer;   a magnet provided proximate one end of the panel at an elevational location; and   one of a magnet and a magnetizable component provided proximate another end of the panel at the elevational location and configured to mate in magnetic attraction with one another to affix opposed ends of one or more adjacent panels together into a barrier.   
     
     
         11 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a thermally insulative layer and an exposed radiant layer affixed to an inner surface of the thermally insulative layer. 
     
     
         12 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 11 , further comprising an outer radiant layer affixed to an outer surface of the thermally insulative layer. 
     
     
         13 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible elongate panel further comprises an outer flexible fabric layer affixed to an outer surface of the panel. 
     
     
         14 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one stay retainer provided at a discrete location on the panel configured to affix to a structural stay to support the panel in an erected configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible panel comprises a wind barrier. 
     
     
         16 . The environment localizing barrier of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible panel comprises a heat retaining barrier. 
     
     
         17 . A method for retaining heat is provided, comprising:
 providing an environment localizing barrier having an elongate flexible panel with opposed ends, a magnet affixed proximate to a first end of the panel, and one of a magnet and a magnetizable component affixed proximate a second end of the panel;   erecting the barrier into a vertical encircling configuration presenting the first end of the panel overlapped with the second end of the panel; and   magnetically affixing the magnet with the one of the magnet and the magnetizable component to affix the first end of the panel to the second end of the panel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, providing a heat retaining barrier and retaining heat from a heat source within the erected barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the heat retaining barrier comprises a thermally insulative layer and an exposed radiant inner layer, and reflecting outwardly radiating heat from a heat source inwardly within the erected barrier. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing at least one stay retainer on the heat retaining barrier, and securing the at least one stay retainer onto an external stay to support the erected barrier.