GB2445917A

GB2445917A - A bath tape

Info

Publication number: GB2445917A
Application number: GB0613252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Edward Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-04
Filing date: 2006-07-04
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-04
Also published as: GB2445917B; GB0613252D0

Abstract

A bath tape 1 comprises an elongated flexible waterproof member 2, with an adhesive layer 3, 4 provided on either side of the major surfaces of the waterproof member 2, to provide a seal between the edge of a bath and a wall. Preferably the layers of adhesive 3, 4 are selectively provided at the top and bottom regions of the major surfaces of the waterproof member 2. The adhesive layers may have removable cover strips 3A, 4A, to protect the adhesive layer3, 4 prior to use. The waterproof member may be made from plastics material such as a polymer that may be adapted to bond with tile cement. The adhesive may be butyl adhesive or may be made from bitumen. The member conforms to any irregularities in the wall shape and also accommodates some movement of the bath.

Description

* 2445917 Title: Bath Tape The present invention relates a bath tape,

and more particularly to a bath tape which can be used to seal the edge of a bath to a wall.

It is common practice to install a bath with one or more edges of the bath abutting the wall of a bathroom. In order to make a watertight seal between the bath edge and the wall, a horizontal recess is often made in the wall into which the bath edge/s can be inserted. The wall can then be tiled adjacent the bath edge with the tiles abutting the top lip of the bath, and sealant applied around the bath lip and the bottom edge of the tiles. A problem with this arrangement is that the sealant can degrade or the bath can move slightly causing a crack between the bath lip or edge and the wall through which water can migrate and deteriorate the wall and the bonding of the tiles to the wall.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath tape comprising: a) an elongate flexible waterproof substrate having first and second opposing faces between first and second edges, b) a first layer of adhesive along the length of the first face near or adjacent the first edge, and c) a second layer of adhesive along the length of the second face near or adjacent the second edge, in use the first layer of adhesive being bondable to the edge of a bath, and the second layer of adhesive being bondable to a wall against which the bath edge abuts and said substrate forms a waterproof seal between the bath edge and the wall.

Preferably the first and second layers of adhesive have a removable cover strip to protect the adhesive layer prior to use of said tape.

Preferably first and second layers of adhesive are spaced apart in the plane of the substrate.

The substrate may be of plastics material. The plastics material may be a polymer. Said first face of said substrate may be adapted to bond with tile cement. The substrate may be a polymer dpc sold under the trade name "homeguard" by the Marley company.

The first and second layers of adhesive may be a butyl adhesive. Alternatively they may be a bitumen.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a short length of tape, Figure 2 show a perspective view of a longer length of tape bonded along two bath edges and wall of a bathroom.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a bath tape 1. Tape 1 comprises an elongate flexible waterproof substrate 2 having first and second opposing faces 2A,2B between first and second edges 2C,2D. Substrate 2 may be formed from a plastics material such as a polymer. First face 2A of substrate 2 may be adapted to bond with tile cement. Substrate 2 may be a polymer dpe such as sold under the trade name "homeguard" by the Marley company which has a face to bond with cement.

A first layer of butyl adhesive 3 is provided along the length of the first face 2A adjacent the first edge 2C. A second layer of butyl adhesive 4 is provided along the length of the second face 2B adjacent the second edge. The first and second layers 3,4 of adhesive are spaced apart in the plane of the substrate by a distance "D", e.g. 10mm. Instead of butyl, other adhesives could be used such as bitumen.

The first and second layers 3,4 of adhesive each have a removable cover strip 3A,4A respectively to protect the adhesive layers 3,4 prior to use of the tape.

Tape substrate 2 may typically be around 100mm wide and each layer of adhesive 3,4 may be 45mm wide.

In use (see Figure 2) cover strip 3A is peeled off adhesive layer 3, and the adhesive layer 3 is bonded along two edges of a bath "X" so connecting strip 2 along two edges of the bath "X".

Cover strip 4A is then peeled off adhesive layer 4, and the bath pushed into the corner between two wall as shown. The tape is then pushed against the wall so that second layer of adhesive 4 bonds to the wall against which the bath edges abut. Substrate 2 then forms a waterproof seal between the bath edge and the wall. The exposed surface of the tape can be tiled over if desired with the tiles bonding to surface 2A.

Because the substrate 2 is flexible, so it conforms to any irregularities in the wall shape and also accommodates some movement of the bath itself.

If desired the wall could be primed with primer to make adhesive layer 4 bond better to the wall.

As shown in the drawing, a single length of tape i is shown which extends along two sides of a bath. If desired two strips of tape could be used, with one along each side of the bath. Also only one side of the bath could abut a wall so tape could extend just along one side of the bath.

Face 2A is adapted to bond with tile cement. As an alternative construction, face 2A could be coated or covered with a material which bonds to tile cement.

Tape 2 could be packaged in a roll, or in a package containing one or more length of tape.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. *

Claims

1. A bath tape comprising: a) an elongate flexible waterproof substrate having first and second opposing faces between first and second edges, b) a first layer of adhesive along the length of the first face near or adjacent the first edge, and c) a second layer of adhesive along the length of the second face near or adjacent the second edge, in use the first layer of adhesive being bondable to the edge of a bath, and the second layer of adhesive being bondable to a wall against which the bath edge abuts and said substrate forms a waterproof seal between the bath edge and the wall.

2. A bath tape according to claim I, wherein the first and second layers of adhesive have a * * removable cover strip to protect the adhesive layer prior to use of said tape. *.S.

* **

3. A bath tape according to claim I or 2, wherein the first and second layers of adhesive are ** * spaced apart in the plane of the substrate. S..

4. A bath tape according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the substrate is of plastics material. P.S

5. A bath tape according to claim 4, wherein the plastics material is a polymer.

6. A bath tape according toy preceding claim, wherein the first face of said substrate is adapted to bond with tile cement.

7. A bath tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is a polymer dpc.

8. A bath tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second layers of adhesive are a butyl adhesive.

9. A bath tape according to any of claims I to 7, wherein first and second layers of adhesive are a bitumen adhesive.

10. A bath tape substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. I. ***. * ** ** * *

S I. .*

S * *S. I., * p..