GB2194567A

GB2194567A - A draught-proofing device

Info

Publication number: GB2194567A
Application number: GB08719812A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Stephen Merry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-30
Filing date: 1987-08-21
Publication date: 1988-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-21
Also published as: GB8621049D0; GB8719812D0; GB2194567B

Abstract

A draught-proofing device (1) for sealing the junction between a wall (2) and a floor (3) is of L-section and comprises: first and second elongate substantially flat strips (4, 5) joined along respective first longitudinal edges at an angle of about 91 DEG ; a sealing member (8) along the free longitudinal edge of the first strip, adjacent the wall; and an optional sealing member along the free longitudinal edge of the second strip, adjacent the floor. The device stops draughts which otherwise deposit dirt on the edges of the carpets (23). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A draught-proofing device This invention relates to draught-proofing devices.

Devices for excluding draughts from a room are well known. For example, a device exists for excluding draughts which enter a room via the gap between a door and a floor. This device comprises an elongate member the elongate member to the floor and act to exclude draughts. The bristles also permit the door to be opened and closed with relative ease.

Draughts may also enter a room via a junction between a wall and a floor. This has not been considered to be a problem, because a carpet placed at the junction will partly seal it.

However, some air still passes through and, as draughts usually carry dirt, the edge of the carpet will collect this dirt.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for sealing a junction between a wall and a floor.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a draught-proofing device for sealing a junction between a wall and a floor, the device being generally of L-section and comprising: first and second elongate substantially flat strips for securance respectively to the wall and the floor, said strips being attached to or integral with one another along first longitudinal edges; and a sealing member along the opposite free longitudinal edge of the first strip.

Preferably, sealing members are provided along the opposite free longitudinal edges of both strips.

Advantageously, the first strip is provided with a first adhesive securing means to permit securance to the wall. Preferably, the securing means is protected by a removable backing sheet.

Desirably, the second strip is provided with a second adhesive securing means to permit securance to the floor. Preferably, the securing means is protected by a removable backing sheet.

Alternatively, the second strip may be capable of being pinned to the floor.

It will be appreciated that the second strip may be secured to the floor by the second adhesive securing means and it may also be capable of being pinned to the floor.

The first strip may be reinforced by means of a thicker portion adjacent the first longitudinal edge.

The or each sealing member is preferably a lath formed integrally with the adjacent strip and may have a width corresponding to 10 to 30%, conveniently about 20%, of that of the strip. The lath is preferably flexible, either wholly or at the junction with the adjacent strip.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least one longitudinal recess in the first strip, preferably adjacent the sealing member. A longitudinal recess may also, or instead, be formed in the said sealing member.

The device may comprise adhesive means to adhere the carpet to the adjacent face of the second strip. Alternatively, or as well, means may be provided on the said face to engage a carpet gripper.

Typically, a wall in a room comprises a skirting board at the junction between the wall and the floor. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the first strip is secured to the wall at the skirting board.

There may be a gap between the skirting board and the floor. In order to seal this gap a lip may be provided on the first strip attached at the side thereof disposed adjacent the wall. The lip is preferably attached near the first longitudinal edge of the first strip, and may extend along the length of the first strip.

It is an advantage of this invention that it has been found to provide a device to seal a junction between a wall and a floor that will exclude draughts therefrom and will enable a carpet placed on the floor to be kept cleaner at the junction than would otherwise be the case.

The device may be made from a one piece extruded plastics material that is economical and simple to manufacture. Furthermore, the fact that the device is in one piece avoids the necessity of attaching the different parts of the device together and provides a more satisfactory seal.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section of a device in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a section of the device of Figure 1 shown in engagement with a skirting board and a floor; Figure 3 is a section of the device of Figure 1, shown in engagement with a skirting board and a floor with a carpet and carpet underlay; and Figures 4 to 7 are respective sections of second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention.

The device 1 illustrated, for sealing a junction between a wall 2 and a floor 3, is a unitary plastics extrusion (for example of uPVC) of generally L-shaped section and comprises a first strip 4 and a second strip 5 joined to one another along longitudinal edges 17, 18 at an angle of about 91". The wall 2 comprises a skirting board 8 attached at the junction between the wall 2 and the floor 3.

The first strip 4 carries first adhesive securing means 7 by which the strip is secured along the skirting board 6. The first adhesive securing means 7 may be provided by a dou ble sided adhesive tape. A flexible sealing member 8 is integrally formed with the first strip 4 along the free longitudinal edge 9 thereof.

The second strip 5 extends along the floor 3 secured thereto by second adhesive securing means 12, (e.g. defined by a double sided adhesive tape) attached to the second strip. A flexible sealing member 13 is integrally formed with the second strip 5 along the free longitudinal edge 14 thereof.

The second strip 5 is capable of being pinned to the floor 3. Hence, the second adhesive securing means 12 may be omitted where gripper rods are being used.

A thicker reinforcing portion 19 of the first strip- 4 extends from the junction between the first strip 4 and the second -strip 5 to a position 21 substantially halfway up the first strip 4, where a step 20 is defined.

The reinforcing portion 19 reinforces the first strip 4 in order to impart rigidity thereto and to help support it in order to help provide a satisfactory seal 11 between the skirting board 6 and the sealing member 8.

A lip 22 may be provided at the rear and on the bottom of the first strip 4. The lip 22 is attached along the length of the first strip 4 and is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal edge 17. The lip 22 is adapted to be received by the gap 29 between the skirting board 8 and the floor 3.

Referring to Figure 3, the device 1 is shown, in use, with a carpet 23 and a carpet underlay 24 which abuts a gripper rod 26.

The second adhesive securing means 12 has been omitted. The end 25 of the carpet 23 is bent over the gripper rod 26 adjacent the reinforcing portion 19. The gripper rod 26 is secured by pins, such as 27, which pass through the second strip 5 and into the floor 3.

The -device 1, in accordance with this invention, seals junction 2g between the wall 2 and the floor 3 to exclude draughts which may carry dirt and enter the room via junction 27.

Hence, the edge of the carpet 23 will be kept cleaner than would otherwise be the case.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The lip 22 and reinforcing portion 19 of the first embodiment are omitted, the flexible sealing members 30 and 32 are larger than those of the first embodiment (namely about 5 mm from the edge to main portion) and a small longitudinal recess 34 is provided adjacent the line where the sealing member 30 of the first strip joins the rest of the first strip 36. The recess 34 may facilitate the flexing of the sealing member 30, but its primary function is decorative: a pleasing moulding-like effect is achieved when the sealing member 30 is flexed flush against the wall or skirting board. The device is otherwise similar in form and function to that of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a similar device adapted for use with foam-backed carpets on wood, concrete and pitchmastic floors. Because foambacked carpets are not as thick as traditional carpets used with an underlay, the first strip 40 is not as hi9h from top to bottom, namely about 25 mm instead of 30 mm (including the 5 mm width of the sealing member 42). Double-sided adhesive tape 44, 46 is applied to the top and bottom surfaces of the second strip 48, although pins could be used instead.

Figure 6 shows a similar device to that of Figure 4, but including a channel-section formation 50 on the upper surface of the second strip 52, adapted to accommodate a conventional carpet gripper 54. The channel formation 50 comprises, spaced about 5 mm from the join between the first and second strip, an upright first wall 56 about 10 mm high which terminates in a level lip 58 extending away from the first strip, and an upright second wall 60, spaced about 31.5 mm from the said join and about 8.5 mm in height. The gripper 54 may be held in the channel, thus avoiding the use of pins which might ruin the dampproof effect of pitch-mastic flooring or puncture pipes buried in concrete flooring.

Finally, Figure 7 shows a device similar to that of Figure 6 but lacking the double-sided tape on the second strip. A suitable adhesive may be used instead, which may be more suitable than tape when a relatively rough and possibly friable concrete floor is present, in contrast to a smooth pitchmastic surface.

The various features of the respective embodiments described above may be combined with one another at will, within the scope of the invention, subject only to the limits of what is technically feasible.

Claims

1. A draught-proofing device for sealing a junction between a wall and a floor, the device being generally of L-section and comprising: first and second elongate substantially flat strips for securance respectively to the wall and the floor, said strips being attached to or integral with one another along first longitudinal edges; and a sealing member along the opposite free longitudinal edge of the first strip.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein sealing members are provided along the opposite free longitudinal edges of both strips.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the first strip is provided with a first adhesive securing means to permit securance to the wall.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second strip is provided with a second adhesive securing means to permit securance to the floor.

5. A device according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the securing means is protected by a removable backing sheet.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each sealing member is a lath formed integrally with the adjacent strip and has a width corresponding to 10 to 30%, conveniently about 20%, of that of the strip.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the lath is flexible.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the device comprises at least one longitudinal recess in the first strip.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising adhesive means to adhere a carpet to the adjacent face of the second strip.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means provided on the second strip to engage a carpet gripper.

11. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A device according to Claim 1 and sub stantiaily as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of at least partially sealing the junction between a wall and a floor, comprising positioning a device according to any one of the preceding claims such that the said first longitudinal edges of the strips are adjacent the said junction and the sealing member is snugly against the wall, and securing the device in piace.