Prefabricated insulation panel

Claim 1

A prefabricated insulation panel adapted to be assembled in overlapping relationship with other like panels upon the outside of a support member of a heating apparatus comprising: a. a planar face member made of imperforate sheet material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front exterior surface, and a rear interior surface, b. a top flange fixed to and projecting rearward from said top edge, c. an attaching flange fixed to, and projecting upward above, said top flange, said attaching flange being spaced behind said face member and having a fastener opening therethrough, d. a fastener member adapted to project through said opening and secure said attaching flange to and in front of a support member, said fastener member being substantially behind said face member when secured to said support member, e. a connecting flange integrally connected to the bottom edge of said planar face member comprising a reversely bent extension of said face member and projecting upward immediately behind and parallel to said face member, said connecting flange having an upper end portion, f. a foot flange fixed to and projecting rearward from the upper end portion of said connecting flange substantially parallel to said top flange, said foot flange comprising a bent extension of said connecting flange, g. said foot flange terminating in a rear edge spaced substantially forward of said attaching flange to minimize heat conduction from the support member to the face member, h. said foot flange being spaced above said bottom edge a distance substantially less than the distance between said foot flange and said top flange so that the lower portion of said face member between said foot flange and said bottom edge comprises a lapping portion, i. said lappping portion being adapted to overlap and extend downward in front of the upper portion of the face member of a subjacent panel when said foot flange is seated upon the top flange of said subjacent panel, j. an insulation member received snugly between and against said top flange and said foot flange and against the interior surface of said face member in an insulating position, k. said insulation member having a substantially uniform thickness at least as great as the front-to-rear dimension of said top flange and substantially greater than the front-to-rear dimension of said foot flange, and l. securing means retaining said insulation member in said insulating position.