GB2326429A

GB2326429A - Decorative embellishment for the walls of a building

Info

Publication number: GB2326429A
Application number: GB9712804A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael David White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-19
Filing date: 1997-06-19
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Also published as: GB9712804D0

Abstract

The assembly comprises at least one support member (10) including means (12) for securing the support member (10) to a wall (11), and an elongate facing member (14) having a lateral dimension greater than the width of the support member (10) and having an exposed front face (16). Co-operating snap-fit releasable connectors (18, 20) are formed on the support member (10) and on the rear face (13) of the facing member (14). The facing member (14) is thereby releasably connected to the support member (10) in such a manner as to obscure the support member (10). The assembly provides a beneficial replacement for skirting boards and the like formed of wood. The facing member (14) can be removed when decorating and can be replaced, or substituted as desired.

Description

DECORATIVE EMBELLISHMENT FOR THE WALLS OF A BUILDING Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decorative embellishment for the walls of a building, in particular as a replacement for wooden skirting boards.

Background of the Invention Skirting boards used in many houses to cover the meeting between a wall and the floor and serve to provide a neat decorative finish while reducing any drafts which may occur as a results of gaps between the wall and the floor.

Skirting boards are usually formed of wood and are fixed in place by nailing through into the wall and then painting over the nail heads. When decorating the walls, for example by painting or papering, it is not usual to remove the skirting board. In fact it is not usually easy to do so.

the securing nails may be difficult to remove and damage may be done to the wall, to the skirting board or to both.

The same problem exists with other decorative embellishments such as dado rails and cornices, especially when formed of wood.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative embellishment for the walls of buildings, whereby these disadvantages are reduced or overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a decorative embellishment for the walls of a building, in the form of an assembly comprising: (i) at least one support member including means for securing the support member to a wall; (ii) an elongate facing member having a lateral dimension greater than the width of the support member and having an exposed front face; (ii) co-operating snap-fit releasable connectors formed on the support member and on the rear face of the facing member, whereby the facing member is able to be releasably connected to the support member in such a manner as to obscure the support member.

The assembly has the advantage that, when it is desired to decorate the walls, the facing member may be easily removed.

because the support member is less wide than the facing member, paint or paper may be applied to the wall right down to the support member. When the facing member is replaced, the paint or paper edge is obscured by the facing member, so that a neat finish is achieved. The releasable snap-fit connection enables the facing member to be removed and replaced without damage to the wall or to the facing member.

Furthermore, it is possible to remove and replace one facing member with another of a different design on the exposed face if desired for aesthetic reasons.

The facing member is preferably formed of a water-proof, rot-proof material such as a plastics material, especially PVC. It is preferred to use a material which is generally shape retaining although, where the wall is not exactly flat, a degree of elasticity enables the facing member to fit more closely. The material of the facing member should be easy to cut through using do-it-yourself tools such as a knife or jig-saw, enabling the facing member to be cut to a desired length. Partially cutting through of the facing member with a V-shaped groove, may enable it to be bent around corners in a manner generally impossible to achieve with wooden skirting boards.

The releasable snap-fit connectors may be of any suitable form, but preferably comprise a tongue formed on one member and a retaining clip formed on the other member and adapted to releasable retain the tongue. Ideally, the tongue is integrally formed with the facing member and the retaining clip is integrally formed with the support member. In a preferred embodiment, the tongue extends in the elongate direction of the facing member is preferably substantially straight.

The facing member releasably connects to the support member in such a manner as to obscure the support member. This may be achieved by the provision of a deep top edge portion on the facing member having a depth substantially equal to the total depth of snap-fit connectors when connected. Where the embellishment is a cornice, a deep bottom edge may be provided for the same purpose. Similarly, where the embellishment is a dado rail, both top and bottom deep edges may be provided.

The facing member may be so shaped that when connected to the support member and the latter is secured to a wall, a continuous obscured space exists between the rear face of the facing member and the wall suitable, for example, for the location of utilities such as electricity and telephone cables, central heating pipes and the like.

The support member preferably also has an elongate configuration, although where a number of support members are provided for each facing member, an alternative configuration may be possible.

Where a number of support members are provided for each facing member, each support member will usually have a length less than the length of the facing member. The facing member may be of any suitable length. Short lengths can be used to provide a tile-effect skirting. With longer lengths, each free end of the facing member may be so shaped to match with the free end of an adjacent facing member.

The decorative embellishment may be in the form of a skirting board, dado rail, architrave or cornice. When formed of a weather-proof material, it is also possible for the embellishment to be used on an outside wall of a building. The facing member will usually be provide with a decorative exposed face, and/or an exposed face which is capable of being painted with oil-based paint, water-based paint or other forms of paint.

The invention will now be further described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a skirting board according to the invention, in an unconnected condition; and Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the skirting board in a connected condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a decorative embellishment assembly in the form of a skirting board for the internal walls of a building.

The assembly includes an elongate support member 10 formed of PVC having laterally extending drilled lugs 12 for securing the support member 10 to a wall 11, for example with screws.

The assembly also includes an elongate facing member 14 of constant cross-section having a height H greater than the width W of the support member 10 and having an exposed front face 16. A decorative moulding 17 is provided on the front face 16. The facing member 14 is formed of PVC. Both the support member 10 and the facing member 12 are thus waterproof and rot-proof.

Co-operating snap-fit releasable connectors are formed on the support member 10 and on the rear face 13 of the facing member 14. The connectors are made up of a tongue 18 integrally formed on the rear face 13 of the facing member 14, extending in the elongate direction of the facing member 14, and an integrally formed spring-loaded retaining clip 20 on the support member 10 so sized and positioned as to releasably retain the tongue 18. Both the tongue 18 and the retaining clip 20 are substantially straight in the elongate direction. The material of which the support member is formed, should be so chosen to provide the desired spring force between the jaws 21 of the clip 20.

As shown in Figure 2, the facing member 14 releasably connects to the support member 10 in such a manner as to obscure the support member 10. This is achieved in particular by the provision of a deep top edge portion 22 having a depth substantially equal to the total depth of the tongue 18 and retaining clip 20 when connected. The facing member 14 is so shaped that when connected to the support member 10 and the latter is secured to the wall 11, a continuous obscured space 24 exists between the rear face 13 of the facing member 14 and the wall 11 suitable for the location of utilities such as electricity and telephone cables, central heating pipes and the like.

When it is desired to decorate the wall 11, the facing member 14 may be pulled away from the support member 10 to release the connection between them. The wall 11 can then be decorated by papering or painting, for example, down to a line 26. The facing member can thereafter be replaced, obscuring the decorating line 26, thereby producing a neat finish.

Claims

1. A decorative embellishment for the walls of a building, in the form of an assembly comprising: (i) at least one support member (10) including means (12) for securing the support member (10) to a wall (11) i (ii) an elongate facing member (14) having a lateral dimension (H) greater than the width (W) of the support member (10) and having an exposed front face (16); (ii) co-operating snap-fit releasable connectors (18, 20) formed on the support member (10) and on the rear face (13) of the facing member (14), whereby the facing member (14) is able to be releasably connected to the support member (10) in such a manner as to obscure the support member (10).

2. A decorative embellishment according to Claim 1, wherein the facing member (14) is formed of a water-proof, rot-proof material.

3. A decorative embellishment according to Claim 2, wherein the water-proof, rot-proof material is polyvinyl chloride.

4. A decorative embellishment according to any preceding claim, wherein the releasable snap-fit connectors (18, 20) comprise a tongue (18) formed on one member and a retaining clip (20) formed on the other member and adapted to releasably retain the tongue (18).

5. A decorative embellishment according to Claim 4, wherein the tongue (18) is integrally formed with the facing member (14) and the retaining clip (20) is integrally formed with the support member (10).

6. A decorative embellishment according to Claim 5, wherein the tongue (18) extends in the elongate direction of the facing member (14).

7. A decorative embellishment according to any preceding claim, wherein the facing member (14) is so shaped that when connected to the support member (10) and the latter is secured to a wall (11), a continuous obscured space (24) exists between the rear face (13) of the facing member (14) and the wall (11).

8. A decorative embellishment according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member (10) has an elongate configuration.

9. A decorative embellishment according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of support members (10) are provided for each facing member (14), each support member (10) having a length less than the length of the facing member (14).