GB2049012A

GB2049012A - Improvements in and relating to wall panelling

Info

Publication number: GB2049012A
Application number: GB8004145A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-02-12
Filing date: 1980-02-07
Publication date: 1980-12-17

Abstract

A method is provided for panelling a wall surface. The method comprises attaching a bottom horizontal element 14 to the wall surface so as to present an upwardly facing horizontal surface having a groove therein and a plurality of prefabricated and grooved vertical elements 19, 20, 21, are then placed in spaced relationship on the bottom element. A plurality of panel elements 28 are then slotted into the horizontally extending and vertically extending grooves and a plurality of transverse groove struts 29 are positioned between vertically adjacent panels. Finally, a top horizontal element 34 is attached to the wall surface so as to partially overlap the uppermost panels and retain the composite wall panel structure in position against the wall surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to wall panelling The present invention relates to a method of panelling a wall surface with prefabricated components and to a kit of components for carrying out the method.

In order to panel a wall surface hitherto it has been the practice to fix battens to the all surface and then attach large rectangular panels to the battens. A plurality of vertical and horizontal transverse struts were then attached to the outer surface of the panels to create the appearance of a rectangular lattice arrangement of small panels divided by horizontal and vertical transverse mouldings.

This known method of panelling a wall surface is time consuming and labour intensive. It also necessitates the cutting and fixing of the materials on site and does not lend itself to prefabrication.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of panelling a wall surface which minimises the number of operations, which lends itself to the use of prefabricated components and which substantailly reduces the time and labour involved.

In one of its aspects the present invention provides a method of panelling a wall surface in which a bottom horizontal element is attached to the wall surface so as to present an upwardly facing horizontal surface having a groove therein, a plurality of prefabricated and grooved vertical elements are placed in spaced relationship on the bottom element, a plurality of panel elements are slotted into the horizontally extending and vertically extending grooves, a plurality of transverse grooved struts are positioned between vertically adjacent panels and a top horizontal element is attached to the wall surface so as to partially overlap the uppermost panels and retain the composite wall panel structure in position against the wall surface.

More specifically the present invention provides a method of panelling a wall surface comprising the steps of: attaching to the wall surface a horizontal bottom strut formed with a groove in its upper horizontal face; positioning a first end vertical strut having a groove in a vertical side face adjacent one end of the bottom strut: .

positioning a plurality of intermediate vertical struts each having grooves in both vertical side faces and:a second end vertical strut having a groove in an end vertical face sequentially in horizontally spaced apart relationship on the bottom strut; slotting a plurality of prefabricated rectangular panels into the facing grooves of adjacent vertical struts, with the bottom most panels located in the groove in the bottom strut; alternating each panel with an intermediate transverse strut formed with grooves on its upper and lower horizontal faces which receive the edge portions of vertically adjacent panels and: attaching a horizontal upper strut to the wall surface in such position that portions of the upper strut overlap portions of the uppermost p-anels to retain the uppermost panels closely adjacent the wall surface.

In order to carry out the ethod of the present invention there is also provided a prefabricated kit for panelling a wall'surface comprising a plurality of rectangular panels, a plurality of intermediate transverse struts each having grooves in their horizontal side faces, two end vertical struts each having a groove in at least one vertical side face, a plurality of intermediate vertical struts each having a groove in each vertical side face, a bottom transverse strut having a groove in its upper horizontal face and a top transverse strut having a groove or a rebate in its bottom horizontal face, the width of the grooves in the struts in relation to the thickness of the panels being such that the panels are an easy slide fit into the grooves.

The struts may beof any cross sectional shape desired and the front faces'may be moulded or shaped to form any desired pattern or ornamentation. It is envisaged that the struts and the panels normally be formed from wood but this is not essential and both the struts and the panels may be formed from a synthetic plastics material if this is desirable.

If the wall panelling is built up to ceiling level then the uppermost horizontal strut willie formed with a rebate. If on the other hand the panelling stops well short of the ceiling the uppermost horizontal strut may be formed with a groove which receives the edge portions of the uppermost panels to locate and hold these panels in position adjacent the.wall surface.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure T is a front elevation of wall panelling built in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3-isa section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section taken on the line lV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a mounting bracket for fixing a top or bottom horizontal strut in position, the strut being shown in section; and Figure 6 is a front view of the fixing bracket shown in Figure 5.

In the drawings wall panelling of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and shown attached to a ceiling surface 11 which extend sbetween a floor surface 12 and a wall surface 1 3.

The wall panelling 10 comprises a horizontal bottom skirting strut 14 which is attached to the wall surface 11 by a plurality of screws 1 5. The bottom skirting strut 14 has an upper surface 1 6 which is formed with a continuous longitudinally extending groove 17. The upper front edge of the strut 14 has a mitred corner 1 8.

Resting on the upper surface 16 of the skirting strut 14 are two end vertical struts 1 9 and 20 and a plurality of intermediate vertical struts 21. The vertical end struts 19 and 20 are similar and each is formed with an inwardly facing vertical side face 22 formed with a longitudinally extending groove 23. The intermediate vertical struts 21 are all similar and each is formed with vertical side faces 24 and 25 formed with similar longitudinally extending grooves 26 and 27 respectively.

Slotted into the longitudinally extending grooves 23, 26, 27 in the vertical faces of adjacent vertical struts 19, 20, 21 are a plurality of similar rectangular panels 28. The bottom most panel 28a of each vertical row of panels is also slotted into the groove 1 7 in the skirting strut 1 4.

A plurality of intermediate transverse struts 29 are located between vertically adjacnet panels in each row of panels. Each transverse strut 29 is provided with upper and lower horizontal faces 30 and 31 respectively each of which is formed with a groove 32 and 33 respectively.

An upper fixing strut 34 is attached to the wall surface 11 across the top of the panelling 10 by screws 35. The upper fixing strut 34 has a downwardly facing horizontal surface 36 formed with a rebate 37. The rebate 37 forms a vertically extending shoulder face 38 which overlaps the upper portions of the uppermost panels 28b which project upwardly beyond the upper ends of the vertical struts 19, 20 and 21. Thus, when the upper fixing strut 34 has been attached to the wall surface 11 by the screws 35, the retaining shoulder 38 holds the uppermost panels 28b in position closely adjacent the wall surface 11 and the whole assembly is located and secured in position solely by the skirting strut 14, the fixing strut 34 and the inter-engagement of the panels in the grooves of the vertical and horizontal struts.

The wall panelling 10 is assembled fixed in position in the following manner. Initially, the skirting strut 14 is attached to the wall surface 11 along the bottom of the wall surface to be panelled. The end vertical strut 1 9 is then placed on the upper surface 1 6 of the skirting strut 14 and held in position. The bottom panel 28a is then slotted into the grooves 17 and 23 and the first transverse strut 29 slotted into position on the upper edge of the bottom panel 28a. Successive panels and transverse struts are then slotted into position so as to complete the first vertical row of panels. The first intermediate vertical strut is then placed in position against the erected vertical row of panels with the adjacent edge portions of the panels located in the receiving groove of the intermediate vertical strut 21.A second vertical row of panels and transverse struts is then built up and a further intermediate vertical strut is located in position. This process is repeated until the wall surface has been completely covered and the end strut 20 placed in position.

Normally, the vertical end strut 20 will not be butted tight against an adjacent wall surface and will be packed against the adjacent wall surface after assembly. However if the arrangement is such that the vertical end strut 20 fits closely against an adjacent wall surface then the end strut 20 may be formed with a rebate in place of the groove 23 so that it can be slid into position and then fixed by means of screws to the wall surface 11.

When all of the vertical struts and panels have been located and slotted into position, the upper horizontal fixing strut is slid into position between the ceiling surface 13 and the upper ends of the vertical struts 1 9, 20 and 21 and fixed into position with the aid of the screws 35. Since the upper edge portions of the uppermost panels 28b project above the end of the vertical struts 1 9, 20 and 21, the retaining shoulder 38 on the fixing strut 3-4 will overlap the upper edge portions of the panels 28b and retain the whole structure securely in place against the wall surface 11.

If the panelling does not extend up to the ceiling, the upper horizontal fixing strut 34 may be formed with a groove instead of a rebate to receive the edge portions of the uppermost panels 28b.

The vertical end struts 19 and 20 may be provided with a groove in only one side face or alternatively may be identical to the intermediate vertical struts 21, that is with a groove in each side face.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the bracket 39 which is of steel comprises a flat rectangular portion 40 having a first retainer 41 and a second retainer 42 spaced from retainer 41. The retainer 41 comprises a portion 43 bent at right angles to portion 40 and formed with an inwardly projecting flange 44 bent at right angles to the portion 40.

The second retainer 42 comprises a portion 45 welded to rectangular portion 40 and projecting normally therefrom, the portion 45 having a flange 46 at right angles thereto facing retainer 42.

Rectangular portion 40 is provided with an aperture 47 formed in a wing portion 48 of portion 40 for receiving a screw for securing the bracket 39 to a wall.

An uppermost horizontal strut 49 is shown in Figure 7, being provided with two continuously extending grooves 50 and 51 on opposed faces 52 and 53. Flanges 44 and 46 respectively fit within grooves 50 and 51 so that, in use, the strut 49 can be mounted on the bracket 39 via the retainer 41 and 42. The bracket 39 is best positioned midway along the length of strut 49 although if required two or more brackets 39 can be used to mount the strut 49. Once the wall panels 28b have been placed in position, the screw in aperture 47 is hidden from view. While not described it will be appreciated that the bracket 39 can be used to mount similarly grooved bottom horizontal struts in a similar fashion. While also not described it will be appreciated that if required the brackets can be modified for mounting any upright or cross member, that is, not just the top and bottom horizontal struts. In this case the bracket may have two wings, one adajcent each retainer and each wing provided with a screw fixing aperture.

All of the vertical struts and the transverse struts are preferably of the same thickness, as shown, but this is not essential. The bottom skirting strut 14 may be substantially thicker than the vertical and transverse struts as shown but again this is not essential.

The width of the grooves formed in the struts in relation to the thickness of the panels is such that the panels are an easy slide fit into the grooves and the position of the grooves in all of the struts is such that all of the panels are located in substantially the same plane without any warping or twisting.

The vertical and transverse struts may be shaped and decorated in any manner to provide a moulded appearance and the dimensions of the rectangular panels may be varied to suit the particular pattern or effect required.

A major advantage of the wall panelling of the present invention is that all of the components, that is the vertical struts, the transverse struts, the skirting strut, the upper fixing strut and the panels can be prefabricated to the precise dimensions required thus eliminating the necessity for any measuring or cutting on site. Furthermore, the method of assembly and fixing requires a minimum of labour on site since oniy the skirting strut and the upper fixing strut have to be attached permanently to the wall which is being panelled.

It is envisaged that the struts and the panels will normally be made from wood but this is not essential and all of the components of the wall panelling of the present invention may be prefabricated from a synthetic plastics or any other suitable material.

Claims

1. A method of panelling a wall surface in which a bottom horizontal element is attached to the wall surface so as to present an upwardly facing horizontal surface having a groove therein, a plurality of prefabricated vertical elements having vertically extending grooves in their side faces are placed in spaced relationship on the bottom element, a plurality of panel elements are slotted into the horizontally extending and vertically extending grooves, a plurality of transverse grooved struts are positioned between vertically adjacent panels and a top horizontal element is attached to the wall surface so as to partially overlap the uppermost panels and retain the composite wall panel structure in position against the wall surface.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the faces of the panels is moulded.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the faces of the panels is shaped in a desired pattern or ornamentation.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the elements and/or struts and/or panels are formed from a synthetic plastics material.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the elements and/or struts and/or panels are formed from wood.

6. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the panelling is built up to the ceiling level and the top horizontal element is formed with a rebate to overlap portions of the uppermost panels to retain the uppermost panels closely adjacent the wall surface.

7. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the panelling is stopped short of the ceiling and the top horizontal element is formed with a groove which receives the edge portions of the uppermost panels to locate and hold the panels in position adjacent the wall surface.

8. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the bottom and top horizontal elements are attached to the wall surface by bracket means secured to the wall.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the bracket means are secured to the wall by screws, the screws, in use, being located behind the panels.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the bracket means and the elements are shaped so that the bracket means can locate within a portion of the elements and hold them in position.

11. A prefabricated kit for panelling a wall surface comprising a plurality of rectangular panels, a plurality of intermediate transverse struts each having grooves in their horizontal side faces, a plurality of intermediate vertical struts each having a groove in each vertical side face, a bottom transverse element having a groove in its upper horizontal face and a top transverse element having a groove or rebate in its bottom horizontal face, the width of the grooves in the elements in relation to the thickness of the panels being such that the panels are an easy slide fit into the grooves.

12. A kit as claimed in claim 11 in which at least one of the faces of the panels are moulded.

13. A kit as claimed in claim 11 or 12 in which one of the faces of the panels is shaped in a desired pattern or ornamentation.

14. A kit as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 in which the elements and/or struts and/or panels are formed from a synthetic plastics material.

1 5. A kit as claimed in claim 11 to 13 in which the elements and/or struts and/or panels are formed from wood.

16. A kit as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15 in which the top horizontal element is formed with a rebate to overlap the portions of the uppermost panels to retain the uppermost panels closely adjacent the wall surface so as to enable the panelling to be built up to the ceiling level.

1 7. A kit as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16 in which the top horizontal element is formed with a groove adapted to receive the edge portions of the uppermost panels to locate and hold these panels in position adjacent the wall surface to enable the panelling to be stopped short of the ceiling.

1 8. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bracket means are provided to mount the top and bottom horizontal elements on the wall surface.

1 9. A kit as claimed in claim 1 8 in which the bracket means have a portion with a screw receiving aperture.

20. A kit as claimed in claim 18 or 19 in which the bracket means and the elements are shaped so that the bracket means can located within a portion of the elements and hold them in position.

21. A method of panelling a wall surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A prefabricated kit for panelling a wall surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.