Units insulated with foams and having flexible outer skins

1. An insulation unit, comprising:

an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulation unit;

an insulating foam disposed on the outer face of the inner lining, wherein the insulating foam comprises an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face of the insulating foam is adhered to the outer face of the inner lining; and

an outer lining disposed on the outer face of the insulating foam, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of the insulation unit and is adhered to the outer face of the insulating foam; and

a plurality of reinforcement structures arranged in a manner selected from at least one of parallel to an edge of the insulation unit and diagonally across a vertical or horizontal side of the insulation unit,

wherein the inner lining and the outer lining are connected by at least a ball and socket joint.

2. The insulation unit of claim 1 , wherein the insulating foam is a rigid foam.

3. The insulation unit of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structures are disposed in proximity to at least one of the inner face of the inner lining, the outer face of the inner lining, and the outer surface of the insulation unit.

4. The insulation unit of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement structures comprises reinforcement bars arranged to form a frame disposed within the rigid insulating foam.

5. The insulation unit of claim 1 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin comprises at least one layer of at least one flexible polymers, natural fibers, or artificial fibers.

6. The insulation unit of claim 5 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin comprises a layer selected from at least one of a spray polyurethane layer, thermoplastic polyolefin layer, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride rotomolded layer.

7. The insulation unit of claim 6 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin further comprises a gas barrier layer.

8. The insulation unit of claim 7 , wherein the gas barrier layer comprises at least one of polyethylene, styrenic alloys, and aluminum.

9. The insulation unit of claim 1 , further comprises a layer disposed between the outer face of the rigid insulating foam and the flexible skin.

10. A method for assembling a insulating unit, comprising:

providing an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulating unit;

providing an outer lining disposed around the outer face of the of the inner lining in a space apart arrangement, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of the insulating unit, and wherein there is a space defining a volume between the outer face of the inner lining and the outer lining;

securing the inner lining and non self-supporting flexible skin together using a ball and socket joint;

placing reinforcement structures in a manner selected from at least one in proximity to and parallel to an edge of the insulating unit and diagonally across the surfaces of the unit, the reinforcement structures disposed in proximity to at least one of the inner face of the inner lining, the outer face of the inner lining, and the outer surface of the insulation unit; and

injecting a foam forming formulation into the volume between the outer face of the inner lining and the outer lining, wherein the foam forming formulation is allowed to foam and cure into an insulating foam.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the insulating foam is a rigid foam.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reinforcement structures comprises reinforcement bars arranged to form a frame disposed within the rigid insulting foam.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin comprises at least one layer of at least one of flexible polymers, natural fibers, or artificial fibers.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin comprises a layer selected from at least one of a spray polyurethane layer, thermoplastic polyolefin layer, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride rotomolded layer.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the non self-supporting flexible skin further comprises a gas barrier layer.

16. The insulation unit of claim 1 as an appliance device.

17. The insulation unit of claim 16 in which the appliance device is one of a refrigerator, a freezer, a cooler, a dish washer, and a water heater.

18. An article of manufacture, comprising:

an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulation unit;

foam disposed on the outer face of the inner lining, wherein the foam comprises an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face of the foam is adhered to the outer face of the inner lining; and

an outer lining disposed on the outer face of the foam, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of an insulation unit and is adhered to the outer face of the foam; and

a plurality of reinforcement structures arranged in a manner selected from at least one of parallel to an edge of the insulation unit and diagonally across a vertical or horizontal side of the insulation unit,

wherein the inner lining and the outer lining are connected by at least a ball and socket joint.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 , wherein the article of manufacture is at least one of a headboard, a footboard, a seat, a couch, a futon, a door, a pantry, and a cupboard.