GB2337774A

GB2337774A - Mutually nesting wall cladding

Info

Publication number: GB2337774A
Application number: GB9811238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Arthur Lovering
Original assignee: ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH; Sheffield Hallam University
Current assignee: ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH; Sheffield Hallam University
Priority date: 1998-05-27
Filing date: 1998-05-27
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Also published as: GB9811238D0; GB2337774A8

Abstract

A cladding member (1) comprising a longitudinally extending main portion (2) having upper and lower marginal edges (3 and 4), a first co-operating formation (5) formed along the lower marginal edge and a second co-operating formation (6) formed along the upper marginal edge, wherein the first co-operating formation (5) of a first cladding member is adapted to nest with the second co-operating (6) of a second cladding member.

Description

2337774 IMPROVW= IN OR RELATING TO WALL COVERINGS I- ---- The present

invention relates to protective surfaces, coverings or cladding, in particular for use on walls above kitchen worksurfaces. The cladding or coverings (hereafter referred to as "cladding") may also find use in bathrooms and other such environments.

Cladding of this type is often referred to as a 11splashback,' as it serves to protect the wall from contact with liquids, such as may occur in a bathroom or in the course of preparation of food in a kitchen or where regular cleaning (such as to maintain hygiene standards) is required. The cladding should also provide a surface which is robust and easily cleaned. This sort of protection has conventionally been achieved by applying ceramic tiles to the wall, and grouting between the tiles. In order to achieve a satisfactory and aesthetically pleasing result using ceramic tiles, considerable skill is required. Also, the grout may deteriorate and harbour potentially harmful bacteria, and it can be difficult to achieve a durable seal between the tiles and, for example, a worksurface. Ceramic tiles are brittle and easily damaged, and for this reason it can be difficult to mount objects on the wall after it has been tiled.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a cladding member comprising a longitudinally extending main portion having upper and lower marginal edges, a first co -operating formation formed along the lower marginal edge and a second co-operating formation formed along the upper marginal edge, wherein the first co-operating formation of a first cladding member is 1 adapted to nest with the second co-operating formation of a second cladding member.

In preferred variations of the invention, the member comprises a metal which may be roll-formed or extruded, or a substantially rigid plastics material which may be moulded or extruded.

Preferably, the main portion in its normally-intended attitude of use, is forwardly-angled away from the vertical.

Preferably, the upper marginal edge is further provided with 10 an exteriorly convex ridge of substantially semi-circular cross-section, from which kitchen utensils, for example, may be hung.

Preferably, the first and second co-operating formations each comprise a ridge of substantially semi-circular cross-section.

Ideally, each of said ridges is exteriorly convex.

According to a second aspect of the invention, provided a cladding arrangement comprising cladding members substantially as described cladding member being releasably mountable on wall-mounted support members having protrusions complementary shape to the first and/or second formations and on which support members the or member can hang.

there is one or more above, each one or more thereon of a co-operating each cladding Preferred embodiments of the inventions will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cladding member embodying the present invention; 2 Figure 2 is an end view of the cladding member of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the wall-mounted support member; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cladding arrangement 5 according to the second aspect of the invention; and Fig 4a shows detail from Figure 4, to an enlarged scale.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cladding member 1 comprises a longitudinally extending main portion 2, which is ideally forwardly angled away from the vertical when in its normally- intended attitude of use (as shown in Figure 2).

The main portion 2 has upper and lower marginal edges (3, 4 respectively) which are designed to co-operate with adjacent cladding members (this arrangement is described below).

The lower marginal edge 4 is provided with a first co- operating formation 5 which is substantially circular in cross-section and is exteriorly concave (ie the front or exterior surface of the co- operating formation is concave).

The upper marginal edge 3 of the cladding member is provided with a second co-operating formation 6 which is exteriorly convex and is of suitable dimensions to enable the second cooperating formation 6 of one cladding member to nest with the first co-operating formation 5 of another cladding member.

The upper marginal edge 3 is further provided with a second ridge of substantially semi-circular cross-section which is also exteriorly convex as shown in Figure 2. This ridge 7 is of suitable dimensions to allow kitchen utensils, such as ladles, stirring spoons etc to be hung by their handles and supported thereon. The kitchen utensils can hang freely 3 because the main portion 2 of the cladding member 1 is angled away from the vertical as shown in figure 2.

The cladding member 1 comprises a single piece of metal on which the above-described formations are integrally-formed. It will be envisaged that the cladding member could be formed from a planar main portion 2 having attached thereto separately formed co-operating portions 5, 6, 7.

Referring to figure 3, the cladding is mounted on a wall, in use, by means of a number of wall-mounted supports 9. One such support is shown in figure 3. Each support 9 comprises a back piece 10 made from 18-gauge galvanised steel, which is mountable on a kitchen wall by means of fixing holes 11. Regularly- spaced protrusions 12 are cut and folded outwardly from the back piece 10. Each protrusion 12 is suitably shaped to receive either the concave ridge of the first co-operating formation 5 or the convex ridge of the second co-operating formation 6. A number of cladding members 1 can thus be supported on wall-mounted supports 9 and, since the supports 9 can be made in modular lengths, any desired number of cladding members may be mounted on the wall, depending upon the desired wall area to be covered in cladding.

Figure 4 shows a cladding arrangement comprising a number of nested cladding members 1 supported on wall-mounted supports 9 (not shown). Owing the modular nature of the cladding members 1 and the manner in which co-operating formations 5 and 6 can nest together, it will be appreciated that any desired number of cladding members can be mounted on a wall. The lowermost cladding members 13 rest upon a moulding 14 which is mounted on or integral with a work surface 15. This moulding 14 is provided with a shaped formation 16 which is of substantially 4 the same shape and dimensions as the second co-operating formation 6, so that the lowermost first co-operating formation 5 can nest therewith.

With the cladding arrangement in place (as shown in Figure 4), a cladding or,a splashbackll is provided which protects the wall from contact with liquids, for example, from cooking splashes. Any liquid which does come into contact with the splashback is prevented from penetrating behind the cladding members and tends to either run off or collect in gutter 8, as it is prevented from penetrating by the nesting arrangement of the cooperating formations 5, 6.

The splashback can be used as a conduit for electrical cables or the like whereby the cables for lighting or electric sockets (for example) can be conveniently routed and concealed behind the splashback.

The metal splashback also provides a robust and easily cleaned surface, from which any splashes and liquid can be easily removed in a hygienic manner.

The splashback has the added convenience of allowing kitchen utensils to be hung from ridge 7 so that they are easily available for use.

Claims

1. A cladding member comprising a longitudinally extending main portion having upper and lower marginal edges, a first co-operating formation formed along the lower marginal edge and a second co-operating formation formed along the upper marginal edge, wherein the first co-operating formation of a first cladding member is adapted to nest with the second cooperating formation of a second cladding member.

2. A cladding member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cladding member comprises a metal which may be roll-formed or extruded.

3. A cladding member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cladding member comprises a substantially rigid plastics material which may be moulded or extruded.

4. A cladding member as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the main portion, in its normally-intended attitude of use, is forwardly-angled away from the vertical.

5. A cladding member as claimed in claim 4 wherein the upper marginal edge is further provided with an exteriorly convex ridge of substantially semi-circular cross-section, from which kitchen utensils, for example, may be hung.

6 6. A cladding member as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the first and second co-operating formations each comprise a ridge of substantially semi-circular crosssection.

7. A cladding member as claimed in claim 6 wherein the ridge on the first co-operating formation is exteriorly concave.

8. A cladding member as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the ridge on the second co-operating formation is exteriorly convex.

9. A cladding member substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.

10. A cladding arrangement comprising one or more cladding members substantially as described in any of the preceding claims, the or each cladding member being releasably mountable on one or more wall-mounted support members having protrusions thereon of a complementary shape to the first and/or second co-operating formations and on which support member(s) the or each cladding member(s) can hang.

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11. A cladding arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.

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