CONDENSATION TAPE FOR USE ON METAL WINDOW FRAMES

RUBAN ANTI-CONDENSATION POUR CADRES METALLIQUES DE FENETRES

English Abstract

THIS INVENTION is intended for use on metal window frames to prevent
condensation
from occurring on the inside surfaces of the frame when warmer moisture-laden
air
contacts the cooler metal frame. An aggressive waterproof adhesive holds a
strip of
open-core foam against the metal frame. Attached to the exterior surface of
the foam
strip is a flexible cloth material with aggressive waterproof adhesive on one
side and a
smooth surface on the other side suitable for cleaning or painting. The
thermal insulation
properties of the condensation tape provides an average temperature
differential of 4 to 5
degrees Celsius between the metal surface of the window frame and the surface
of cloth
material.

Claims

CLAIMS:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed
are defined as follows:
(1) An open-cell foam strip which adheres to a metal window frame and is
covered
with a flexible cloth material, thus creating a temperature differential
between the
cooler frame surface and the exposed surface of the material.
(2) The foam strip defined in Claim 1 may be constructed of rubber, plastic,
wood,
composites or other materials.
(3) The foam strip defined in Claim 1 may be attached to surfaces other than
metal
window frames, such as plastic frames of windows or doors.
(4) The foam strip defined in Claim 1 may be cut to various sizes and attached
to
various surfaces where the prevention of condensation is a concern.
(5) The cloth material referred to in Claim I may be constructed of plastic,
rubber,
composites, or other flexible materials with or without pores.
(6) The foam strip and cloth material defined in Claim 1 may be coloured brown
or
white or any other possible colour to match the surface upon which it is
attached.
3

Description

CA 02548043 2006-05-29
TITLE:
CONDENSATION TAPE FOR USE ON METAL WINDOW FRAMES

CA 02548043 2006-05-29
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF TITLE
Condensation Tape
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to foam thermal-insulation strip with a smooth cloth
surface on one
side, the entirety of which creates a temperature differential between the
metal window-
frame surface upon which it is applied and its own exterior cloth surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commonly available foam tapes are designed for various situations in which two
adjoining surfaces do not fit together tightly, allowing a transfer of
unwanted heat, cold,
dust, light, or sound. Such tapes are not being used to prevent condensation
from
occurring on the surface of inetal window frames. When indoor humidity exceeds
40%
during cold weather, moisture forms on cold inside surfaces such as metal
window
frames. The condensation tape described in this application prevents the
formation of
moisture by creating an average temperature differential of 4 to 5 degrees
Celsius
between the metal surface of a window frame and the cloth surface of the foam
strip.
A search of both Canadian and United States Patent Offices located no
inventions which
are designed or intended to reduce condensation from occurring on the inside
surfaces of
metal window frames. Several inventions have addressed the problem of
insulation or
sealing, for example Canadian Patent #'s 1171349, Roberts; 2095388, Weinberg;
700479,
Rossman & Frank, and United States Patent #'s 7,022,631, Schmid; 6,875,496
Roosen &
Deroost; 5,104,701, Cohen et al. These devices generally consist of layers of
material,
including adhesives, but have not been used to create a temperature
differential between a
cooler window frame and the exterior surface of the material.
1

CA 02548043 2006-05-29
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The condensation tape interferes with the thermodynamic process whereby warmer
moist
air in a confined room comes in contact with the cooler surface of a window
frame,
reducing the ambient air temperature to the dew point causing condensation to
form on
the frame. The strip of open-core foam adheres to the surface of a window
frame
creating a temperature barrier so that warmer moist air cannot contact the
cooler frame.
The cloth material adheres to the external surface of the foam, presenting an
esthetically
pleasing surface suitable for cleaning and painting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a cross section view of the condensation tape
Figure 2 shows a section of condensation tape applied to a window frame
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawing in Figure 1, the condensation tape is composed of a
strip of
open-core foam 1, 1.9 cm to 2.5 cm wide and 0.7 cm thick, one side of which is
coated
with an aggressive waterproof adhesive 2. The other side of this foam strip is
also coated
with an aggressive waterproof adhesive 2, which bonds the flexible cloth
material 3
firmly to it.
Referring to the drawing in Figure 2, showing a window frame 4 with a glass
window 5,
the appropriate width of condensation tape, depending on the width of the
window frame,
adheres to the frame. The surface of cloth material 3, shown rolled back, is
exposed to
the ambient air within the room.
While the invention has been described as useful for providing a temperature
barrier
between a cooler metal window frame and the warmer moisture-laden room air, it
will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various materials can be used to
construct the
open-cell substrate and the cloth surface in contact with the air; it is
intended therefore in
the appended claims to cover all such modifications.
2

Representative Drawing