EP1899554A1

EP1899554A1 - Improvements in passageway sealing means

Info

Publication number: EP1899554A1
Application number: EP06743935A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicki Parsons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2006-05-18
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Also published as: GB2426530B; WO2006125957A1; GB2426530A; GB0510835D0; GB0609840D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a passageway sealing means comprising a flexible tube (2) of impermeable plastic material for use between opposite outer doorways (4, 6) of a terraced house (12) having no side access thereby facilitating the movement of detritus from the rear (10) of the house (12) to the front (8) thereof for disposal. The flexible tube (2) is reinforced by spaced ribs (16), each being provided by a wire frame that extends peripherally about the flexible tube (2). Means are provided at opposite end portions (2a, 2b) for attachment and sealing of the flexible tube (2) to the doorways (4,6). Means are provided for extending the length of the flexible tube (2) and for sideways extension thereof.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN PASSAGEWAY SEALING MEANS

This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to passageway sealing means and is particularly concerned with improvements in passageway sealing means for sealing a passageway of a building to prevent detritus from exiting the passageway and contaminating the rest of the building.

By detritus where used herein, it is meant any air borne dust, asbestos and/or any other contaminants and garden residues that may be carried through a house from one external doorway to another in order to load a skip for transporting the detritus away.

Terraced houses do not normally have side access; therefore, when gardening or renovation is taking place at the rear of a terraced house it is often the case that the rubble and other detritus, resulting from the gardening or renovation, will have to be transported through the house and out of a front door.

As a result, there is a considerable contamination of the house caused by dust, dirt and spillage of rubbish, etc. In addition damage may be caused to soft furnishings, floorings, carpets and other coverings unless extra care is taken when transporting the rubble and other detritus through the house.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to prevent or at least reduce the amount of damage that may be caused within a house when effecting gardening or renovation at the rear of a terraced house.

Thus, the present invention conveniently provides a passageway sealing means comprising a tube of flexible material for sealing a passageway between at least two portals of a building to prevent, in use, egress of detritus, as hereinbefore defined, from said passageway sealing means into parts of a building adjacent the passageway sealing means. Preferably, the tube of flexible material is supported, in use, by a framework, said tube of flexible material being fixedly attached at entrance and exit portals of said passageway by fixing means to provide sealing of the passageway as aforesaid.

In one convenient embodiment provided by the present invention the tube of flexible material is made from an impermeable or substantially impermeable material.

Preferably, the flexible material is plastic sheeting and may conveniently be thin gauge polymer sheeting.

In a further preferred embodiment provided by the present invention the framework of the flexible tube comprises a plurality of spaced ribs arranged there-along in use.

Conveniently, the spaced ribs may each comprise a wire frame extending peripherally about the flexible tube at intervals commensurate with providing adequate support therefor.

hi a still further embodiment provided by the present invention the flexible tube is made up of several sections connected in line one to another by fastening means, midsections of the flexible tube, between the sections of the flexible tube attached to the portals of a building, comprise fastening means at each end thereof.

Preferably, the fastening means comprise zipped edge portions provided at end portions of each of said mid-sections and at opposites end portions of the sections of the flexible tube attached to the portals of a building in use.

Conveniently, the fixing means comprises inflatable sealing means to provide, in use, air-tight seals between said flexible tube and edge portions surrounding the portals of a building. Preferably, the flexible tube is provided with internal and external handles to facilitate insertion and removal of the flexible tube within a passageway.

In another preferred embodiment provided by the present invention the flexible tube is provided with a removable sidewall portion to facilitate, in use, attachment of an extension thereto.

Conveniently, the removable sidewall portion is attached to the flexible tube, in use, by zipped edge portions provided along adjacent edges of the sidewall portion and the flexible tube to enable them to be attached one to the other.

There now follows, by way of example of the present invention, a detailed description, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention in use between doors at opposite sides of a house;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective of the invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the invention shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of ancillary means for use with the invention on steps or stairs of a house.

The passageway sealing means provided by the present invention generally comprises a flexible tube 2 for use between portals, viz. doorways 4 and 6 at opposite sides 8 and 10 respectively of a house 12, see Figure 1.

Specifically, the flexible tube 2 is made from an impermeable or substantially impermeable material, for example plastic sheeting such as thin gauge polymer sheeting, which is supported along the length of the tube 2 by a framework 14 comprised of a plurality of spaced ribs 16. The spaced ribs 16 each comprise a wire frame that extends peripherally about the flexible tube 2, the spaced ribs 16 being provided at intervals along the length of the flexible tube 2 commensurate with providing adequate support therefore, see Figures 2 and 3.

At each end of the flexible tube 2 fixing means 18, not shown in detail, are provided whereby, in use, the flexible tube 2 may be secured to a doorframe or the like of the house 12. The fixing means 18 may be of any convenient form although it is preferred that inflatable sealing means, not shown, are incorporated into the structure at each end portion 22 and 24 of the flexible tube 2 to ensure that, in use, the fabric of the house 2 is fully protected from the ingress of dust and the like. Irrespective of what form the fixing means takes, it is also desirable to provide appropriate padding, not shown, at the end portions of the flexible tube 2 in order to protect the woodwork surrounding the doorways 4 and 6.

It will be realised that in order to keep the weight and size of the flexible tube 2 within manageable proportions, it will be necessary for the length of the flexible tube 2 to be such that it presents no difficulties to the end user. Thus, where the distance between the doors to which a flexible tube 2 is to be attached are separated by a distance somewhat longer than the nominal length of the flexible tube 2, the length of the flexible tube 2 may be altered by insertion of one or more subsidiary tube portions, not shown.

The subsidiary tube portions may be fastened between the end portions 2a and 2b of a flexible tube 2 at zipped separation zones, not shown, of the flexible tube 2. By such means it will be appreciated that the length of the passageway sealing means may be altered to suit any application.

The flexible tube 2 also comprises a removable wall portion 26, see Figure 3, which facilitates the attachment of an extension, not shown, at right angles to the line of the flexible tube 2. From this it will be understood that the renovation of a room within the house 12 may also be isolated thereby preventing dust, etc. from reaching the fabric within the rest of the house. Attachment of an extension at right angles to the line of the flexible tube 2 may be facilitated by associated zipped portions, not shown, provided on said extension and the flexible tube 2.

The flexible tube 2 further comprises internal and external handles or straps 30 for use in the installation and removal of the flexible tube 2 from a passageway. These handles or straps 30 are particularly useful in the case of an emergency when there is the need to remove the flexible tube 2 without undue delay.

In order to facilitate the use of the passageway sealing means over steps or a stairway, appropriate wedge elements 32 may be provided as shown in Figure 4. The wedge elements 32 are made from non-slip rubber or rubber like material and be in various sizes to suit any step or stair case riser size. As shown in Figure 4, the lowermost wedge element 32 may be configured to facilitate the use of a wheelbarrow. In a further modification, the wedge elements 32 are made from rubber and covered with latex coated polyester underlay to prevent damage to the step, stair or floor on which they are used.

The flexible tube 2 may be used as a corridor between rooms in a house other than the outside doors thereof.

It is envisaged within the scope of the present invention that the flexible tube 2 of the passageway sealing means may be made in different materials and of different sizes to suit the many applications for use. Thus, heavy duty products could be made available for general building work while lightweight products could be made available for the DIY market.

It will be appreciated that use of the passageway sealing means of the present invention is in line with various health and safety regulations that have to be met when building anew or renovating an established building, especially in relation to air borne dust, etc.

Instead of the inflatable sealing means provided at each doorway, it may be more advantageous to provide clamp means to secure and seal the flexible tube 2 in situ. In addition, each open end of the flexible tube may be sealed by an end element, not shown, that may be attached to the ends of the tube by any form of fastening means, for example, 'Velcro' RTM or by a zip. Thus, a closed environment may be provided to facilitate the mixing of building materials and/or the machining, e.g. the drilling, of building elements while preventing the spread of dust, etc. to the rest of a building. Such an arrangement may be utilised anywhere in a building where renovation or new build was being effected.

It is also envisaged within the scope of the invention that the framework 14 may be strengthened by the addition of bar-like elements, not shown, attached to the spaced ribs 16. The bar-like elements may be of similar construction to those used for tents and comprise sections that when conjoined are tensioned by an elastic string running therethrough.

After use and removal from a house, the passageway sealing means may be hosed down inside and out to remove any detritus. When not in use the passageway sealing means is readily folded for storage, especially the lightweight version thereof.

Claims

1. A passageway sealing means comprising a tube of flexible material for sealing a passageway between at least two portals of a building to prevent, in use, egress of detritus, as hereinbefore defined, from said passageway sealing means into parts of a building adjacent the passageway sealing means.

2. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the tube of flexible material is supported, in use, by a framework, said tube of flexible material being fixedly attached at entrance and exit portals of said passageway by fixing means to provide sealing of the passageway as aforesaid.

3. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tube of flexible material is made from an impermeable or substantially impermeable material.

4. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the flexible material is plastic sheeting.

5. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 4, characterised in that the plastic sheeting is thin gauge polymer sheeting.

6. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the framework comprises a plurality of spaced ribs arranged there-along in use.

7. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 6, characterised in that the spaced ribs each comprise a wire frame extending peripherally about the flexible tube at intervals commensurate with providing adequate support therefor.

8. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the tube is made up of several sections connected in line one to another by fastening means, mid-section of the flexible tube, between the sections of the flexible tube attached to the portals of a building, comprise fastening means at each end thereof.

9. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 8, characterised in that the fastening means comprise zipped edge portions provided at end portions of each of said mid-portions and at opposites end portions of the sections of the flexible tube attached to the portals of a building in use.

10. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the fixing means comprises inflatable sealing means to provide, in use, air tight seals between said flexible tube and edge portions surrounding the portals of a building.

11. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the flexible tube is provided with internal and external handles to facilitate insertion and removal of the flexible tube within a passageway.

12. A passageway sealing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the flexible tube is provided with removable side wall portion to facilitate, in use, attachment of an extension thereto.

13. A passageway sealing means according to Claim 12, characterised in that the removable side wall portion is attached to the flexible tube, in use, by zipped edge portions provided along adjacent edges of the wall portions and the flexible tube to enable them to be attached one to the other.

14. A passageway sealing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.