GB2278502A

GB2278502A - Metallised wallcovering and installation method for electrically shielding rooms

Info

Publication number: GB2278502A
Application number: GB9311208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jose-Maria Vaquero-Guerri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-29
Filing date: 1993-05-29
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Also published as: GB9311208D0

Abstract

A metallised wallcovering for electromagnetically screening a room comprises a conventional wallcovering sheet 1 such as wallpaper provided on its bottom surface with electrically conducting metallic foil or layer and a wallpaper strip 4 provided on its top surface with an electrically conducting metallic foil or layer. Means 6 are provided to reliably connect the strip 4 and hence wallpaper sheets 1 to earth. <IMAGE>

Description

METALLIZED WALLCOVERING AND INSTALLATION METHOD FOR ELECTRICALLY SHIELDING ROOMS This invention relates to metallized wallcovering, in particular to metallized wallpapers, for electrically shielding rooms and a method of installing such metallized wallcovering.

Recent studies have shown there is a causal relationship between exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields and some types of illness such as cancers, genetic abnormalities and central-nervous-system alterations. It has been reported that these fields can affect some organs of the human body, such as the pineal gland, which regulate the body's biological cycles.

Because these cycles are linked to the presence of melatonin, which is an active chemical substance secreted by the pineal gland, there are important consequences in the immune system of human beings and animals.

Such exposure to environmental electromagnetic fields can be specially high in some places near to electric-power lines and in offices located beside workshops and factories wherein there are electric machinery and motors in use.

On the other hand, the increasing use of electromagnetic appliances in our homes, microwaves, television sets, personal computers, etc., can be biologically harmful specially to our children. Many people are discovering that they are highly hypersensitive to the electromagnetic environment and some have to move to remote rural areas far away from the main cities. Many cases have been reported in some countries like USA, UK and Sweden.

One way of reducing exposure from such electromagnetic fields and low ionising radiation is shielding the interior of offices and houses, specially the bedrooms, with an earthed metallic foil, but this can be relatively complicated and expensive.

The present invention provides a simple and cheap means to overcome the problem of shielding rooms.

According to the present invention there is provided a metallized wallcovering comprising a conventional wallcovering sheet, such as wallpaper or similar, embodying a metallic foil conductor of electricity such as aluminium, chromium, copper, etc., a metallized wallpaper strip, and means for reliable electric connection to earth, the metallic foil of said wallcovering being laminated to the rear side of the wallcovering remaining on the front side the ornamental pattern of paper, the metallic foil of said wallpaper strip being laminated to the front side of the strip allowing electric contact with the metallic side of the wallcovering sheets and the earthed electric means when they are glued to the wall.

It will be appreciated that, arranged the different sheets of shielded wallcovering so that they are joined to each other and electrically earthed, the walls of the rooms become shielded against external electromagnetic fields and low level ionising radiation. Overall shielding may be improved with shielded ceiling panels and shielded floor covering.

Preferably, the metallic foil of the sheets is aluminium, but other materials can be considered instead.

It can be replaced by a metallized film deposited onto a synthetic substrate layer by any known method, such as sputtering, vacuum deposition or electroplating.

The metallic foil can be provided perforated with small holes to allow the wall to breathe.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be explained in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a metallized wallpaper sheet according to the invention, illustrating the structure of the first embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a metallized wallpaper strip according to the invention, illustrating the structure of the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the earthed electrical means; Figure 4 illustrates the method of installation.

Referring to the drawing 1 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the metallized wallpaper sheet 1 according to the invention. This wallpaper has a metallic foil 2 conductor of electricity laminated on the rear side of the paper remaining the ornamental pattern 3 on the front side when the said wallpaper is glued on the wall.

Referring now to figure 2 there is shown a metallized wallpaper strip 4 in which the metallic foil 5 is laminated to the front side of the strip. When the said strip is glued along the wall, parallel to the floor, the metallic foil 5 remains on the front side enabling a good electric contact with both the metallic side 2 of the sheets of wallpaper and the earthed electric means 6 This said strip is not absolutely necessary and can be replaced by a metallized wallpaper border glued on the wall and nailed with ornamental pins. Also can be replaced by metallic ribbons.

The electric means shown in figure 3 comprises a small metallic sheet 7 and terminals 8 for connection to earth.

Referring next to figure 4 there is shown a schematic perspective view illustrating the method of installation, in which some wallpaper sheets 1 are glued on the wall and the strips 4 enable the said wallpaper to be interconnected to each other and to earth.

It is also to be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. The following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiment disclosed herein. Other arrangements and further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure and the appended claims. The term "wallcovering" relates not only to the wallpaper mentioned in the illustrated embodiment, but also to any sort of material used to cover walls.

Claims

1. A metallized wallcovering comprising a conventional wallcovering sheet, such as wallpaper or similar, embodying a metallic foil conductor of electricity such as aluminium, chromium, copper, etc., a metallized wallpaper strip, and means for reliable electric connection to earth, the metallic foil of said wallcovering being laminated to the rear side of the wallcovering remaining on the front side the ornamental pattern of paper, the metallic foil of said wallpaper strip being laminated to the front side of the strip allowing electric contact with the metallic side of the wallcovering sheets and the earthed electric means when they are glued to the wall.

2. A shielded wallcovering as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the metallic foil embodied in the wallcovering sheet is provided perforated with small holes to permit the transmission of air and moisture from the wall.

3. A shielded wallcovering as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 wherein the metallic foil embodied in the wallcovering sheet is provided a little wider and sticks out on one edge in order to facilitate electric interconnections between adjacent sheets.

4. A method for installing metallized wallcoverings for shielding room, comprising placing at least one metallized wallpaper strip glued to the wall, parallel to the floor, remaining the metallic foil of the said strip on the front side, connecting electrically the said strips to the earth by the electric means, placing multiple sheets of wallpaper, gluing the said sheets onto the wall, making electric contact with the said strips.

5. A method according to Claim 4 wherein the wallcovering sheets, as described in Claim 3, are glued onto the wall facilitating the electrical interconnections between adjacent sheets.

6. A method according to Claims 4 and 5 wherein the wallcovering sheets, as described in Claims 1 to 3, are electrically interconnected by means of a metallized border glued on the wall and nailed with ornamental pins.

7. A method according to Claims 4 and 5 wherein the said wallcovering sheets are electrically interconnected by means of metallic ribbons.