GB2457532A

GB2457532A - Cladding system

Info

Publication number: GB2457532A
Application number: GB0902594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Garrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-29
Filing date: 2009-02-17
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-17
Also published as: GB0815708D0; GB2457532B; GB0902594D0

Abstract

An article 2 and method of use of the article to form a covering or providing cladding to surfaces or frames is provided. The article 2 may be a board and includes a receiving member located along one edge thereof and an insert member located along another, typically opposing, edge. The receiving member may be a groove and the insert member a tongue. In use, the insert member and receiving member of adjacent articles are engaged to form a covering and the articles can move in at least one direction relative to the other so that if any movement occurs the appearance of the covering and/or cladding is substantially unaltered and the integrity of the covering is maintained. The groove may be stepped. The board may be fibre board. The insert member may have a recess 18 for receiving a part 16 of the groove.

Description

Covering Article with Engagement Means The present invention relates to articles and a method of producing said articles to provide a covering for one or more surfaces and/or frames.

Although the following description refers to decorative coverings for mobile homes, static caravans and the like it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is suitable for use with any mobile building or modular accommodation unit. It is also possible that the covering articles may be used for other purposes.

The transport of mobile home units and static caravan units and the like is well known. Typically the transportation of these structures requires the unit to be hoisted onto a transport trailer and said trailer towed to the required destination before the structure is hoisted from the trailer to the ground. It is recognised that the hoisting to and from the trailer, as well as the transport itself, places stresses on the structure and components of the same can move relative to other components, typically by flexing and/or bending during hoisting, positioning and re-positioning. This can cause gaps and/or cracks to appear between interior and exterior panels used for decoration and insulation of the unit. Typically these gaps and/or cracks appear between panels, planks and the like which are fixed in position with respect to one another. Therefore, as the structure bends or flexes, adjacent panels can move apart exposing gaps, or alternatively can be forced together which causes damage in the form of cracks and/or gaps.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a decorative and/or functional article which overcomes the abovementioned problems in that the articles and coverings formed by joining the same together which are resistant to their appearance being altered by movement of the units.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide panels which allow some degree of movement between adjacent panels without exposing the gap and/or crack between said adjacent panels In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an article, said article including engagement means including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, said insert and receiving members respectively located on the article at differing edges such that a receiving member is able to receive at least a portion of an insert member of an adjacent article.

I'ypically the insert and receiving members are provided so as to disguise and/or conceal the gap and/or join formed by the engagement means between the two or more adjacent articles.

Typically the insert and receiving members are respectively located at opposing edges of the article.

In one embodiment at least one direction of movement is accommodated within a given range by the reception of the insert member in the receiving member of the adjacent article and movement within said range does not visibly alter the decorative appearance of the said articles.

Typically, an article has at least one insert member, at least a portioii of which can overlap and/or interconnect with an adjacent receiving member to provide a flexible join between two or more adjacent articles wherein the appearance of the join between the two adjacent members is improved or otherwise disguised and/or concealed by the overlap and/or interconnection of at least a portion of the members.

Furthermore, typically the interconnection and/or overlap of the adjacent receiving and insert members provides a floating join between the adjacent articles wherein movement in at least one axis can be accommodated whilst maintaining the join and/or appearance of, and/or disguising and/or concealing the gap and/or join between adjacent members.

Tn one embodiment the articles are joined together to form a planar covering. Typically the articles are decorative panels which have at least one surface which is to be viewed and which surface has a decorative finish. Furthermore the articles are typically decorative panels for modular accommodation units and/or mobile structures such as a mobile home or static caravan and/or the like.

In one embodiment the planar covering is for a ceiling of a structure.

In an alternative embodiment the articles are for use to form wall and/or cladding coverings. Typically the articles are decorative exterior panels for a mobile structure such as a mobile home or static caravan and/or the like.

In one embodiment the articles are substantially planar.

Typically the articles are provided in substantially planar pre-formed lengths.

Iii one embodiment the article includes at least one decorative surface. Typically the decorative surface substantially covers at least the outward facing surface when the article is in position as part of the covering.

In one embodiment the at least one insert member has an outward facing surface and a decorative surface substantially covers the outward facing surface of the article and outward facing surface of the insert member. Preferably the decorative surfaces of the insert member and the article are complimentary and/or match and thereby help to improve the appearance of the join between two or more adjacent articles.

In one embodiment when the articles are to be used as part of a ceiling covering the outward facing decorative surfaces of the article and the insert member are textured. Typically the decorative surfaces are lightly textured to improve the appearance of the articles.

In one embodiment the articles are constructed from fibreboard.

Typically the articles are constructed from medium density fibreboard (MDF) and the decorative surfaces are attached by adhesive or the like.

Further typically the construction of the articles from fibreboard addresses a number of problems associated with using sections of wood or one or more pieces of wood to make up the article, such as; cutting and manipulation of the same is improved, swelling and or shrinking of wood due to changeable moisture content is reduced, defects are reduced, non-uniform areas such as knots, and reduction in weight and the like are eliminated.

In one embodiment when the articles are to be used as exterior wall cladding and/or the like, the outward facing decorative surfaces of the article and the insert member arc decorated with a wood effect foil.

In one embodiment when the articles are to be used as external cladding said articles are constructed from particle board.

Typically the particle board is medium density fibre board and/or the like.

In one embodiment when the articles are to be used as external cladding said articles are constructed from softwood. Typically the softwood is substantially pine wood and/or the like.

In one embodiment the external article has been treated with one or more preservatives. In an alternative embodiment the Preferably a decorative foil is attached to the article with one or more adhesives.

In one embodiment at least a portion of the receiving members is provided with the decorative surface.

In one embodiment at least a portion of the inward facing surfaces of the articles and/or the insert members and/or the receiving members have a decorative surface attached thereto.

In one embodiment the receiving member is a channel, said channel defined by an inner wall and an outer wall and shaped to receive at least a portion of an insert member. Typically, the inner wall is formed integrally with the inward facing surface of the article to form a continuous surface, and preferably the outer vall of the channel is formed integrally with the outward facing surface of the article to form a continuous surface.

In one etnbodiment the inner and outer walls extend from the article in a direction parallel to one another. Typically the inner and outer walls are a spaced distance from one another and shaped to receive the insert member of an adjacent article.

Preferably the spaced distance between the walls, and hence the width of the channel, is larger than the width of the insert member to be received therein. The width of the channel is typically larger than at least the width or thickness of at least the portion of the insert member to be received, such that a range of movement is possible between the insert member and the channel which assists in fitting the articles together and also allows a degree of flexing between the articles and hence the covering in use without affecting the integrity or appearance of the covering.

Typically, when the article is to be used for interior decoration such as a ceiling covering, the inner wall extends away from the article further than the outer wall.

Typically when the article is to be used for exterior decoration and/or cladding or the like the Outer wall extends away from the article further than the inner wall.

In one embodiment when the article is to be used for exterior decoration the reception of the insert member into the receiving member is fixed and therefore does not provide a floating join between two adjacent articles. Typically ad3acent members are fixed in position.

In one embodiment the insert member has a recessed portion, said recessed portion extending from the bottom edge of the insert member. Typically the recessed portion is of similar dimensions to the inner wall receiving member or is of a size to at least receive a portion of said inner wall, thereby accommodating and/or interlocking and/or overlapping adjacent articles In one embodiment the recessed portion extends from the edge of the inner surface of the insert member and into the article, thereby creating a recess in the inner surface of an article.

Typically the recessed portion extends into the article when the article is to be used for indoor decoration such as a ceiling covering and the like.

In an alternative embodiment the recessed portion only extends along and/or into the inner surface of the insert potion and not into the article.

Typically the articles are supplied in lengths and are cut to fit on site. Alternatively the lengths can be preformed off site.

In one embodiment at least a portion of the article is shaped to reduce in cross sectional width towards the insert member.

Typically the insert member is thinner in cross section than the article. Further typically the article is thicker than the insert member. Preferably at least the surface of the article tapers down and/or forms a step which defines the common edge shared by the insert member and the article.

In one embodiment the degree of reduction in cross sectional width from the article to the insert member substantially matches the thickness of the Outer wall of the receiving member.

Typically the matching of the thickness of the outer wall of the receiving member with the dimensions of the reduction of thickness between the article and the insert member provides adjacent articles with outer surfaces which are aligned in at least one portion. Typically the portion which is aligned between the adjacent articles is the edges and/or the insert and outer wall members.

In one embodiment the dimensions of the inner wall portion of the receiving member matches the recessed portion of the insert member or the recessed portion of the insert member and the article.

In one embodiment the dimensions of the receiving member substantially match and/or arc complimentary to the recessed portion of the insert member or the recessed portion of the insert member and the article.

In one embodiment the reduction in cross sectional width from the article to the insert member substantially matches and/or is complimentary to the thickness of the outer wall of the receiving member.

Tl'ypically, the matching and/or complimentary dimensions of adjacent articles and/or the respective engagement means improves the appearance of the join or otherwise disguises and/or conceals the gap between two adjacent articles.

Typically the appearance and/or integrity of the covering is maintained whilst adjacent articles move and/or flex with respect to one another.

In one embodiment the movement between adjacent articles is in the same plane as at least one of the articles is situated. For example articles can move apart and/or closer together and/or move substantially parallel to one another. The provision of the outer wall of the receiving member overlapping the insert member means that the gap between the members is disguised and/or the appearance of the join is improved.

In one embodiment the movement between adjacent articles is in a different plane to which the articles are located.

Typically, the difference in lengths of the inner and outer walls of the receiving member extend from the article and/or the distance between said walls and/or the length the insert member extends from the article gives adjacent articles this degree of movement and/or flexibility with respect to each other.

Preferably by providing the outer wall of the receiving member to overlap the insert member the join between the members is disguised and/or the appearance of the join is improved.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing a covering formed of a plurality of articles, said articles including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, locating said articles such that at least one receiving member on a first article receives at least a portion of an insert member on an adjacent article to form a join between the adjacent articles and repeating the same with respective articles to form the covering.

In one embodiment said method includes the steps of attaching at least one surface covering or foils to at least a portion of the articles to form an external decorative surface of the covering..

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a covering for a surface and/or frame, said covering including a plurality of articles, said articles including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, said insert and receiving members respectively located such that a receiving member is able to receive at least a portion of an insert member of an adjacent article to form the covering and said articles can move in at least one direction and/or in a direction along at least one axis within a pre-determined range without altering the decorative appearance of the covering.

In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of covering at least part of a surface and/or frame using a plurality of articles, said articles including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, said insert and receiving members located on the article such that at least one receiving member is able to receive at least a portion of an insert member on an adjacent article thereby disguising and/or concealing the gap and/or join between the two or more adjacent articles and said method including the steps of: a) attaching a first article to a surface and/or frame to be covered, b) arranging a second article adjacent to the first article, c) engaging the insert member of the first article with the receiving member of the second adjacent article, and d) attaching the adjacent article to the surface and/or frame whereby the adjacent articles can move in at least one direction relative to the other article without altering the appearance of the covering.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures 1 a-c show an article in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2a and 2b show the interlinking of two articles to form part of a covering in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 3a and 3b show a number of articles in use as a ceiling covering in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 4a-c show an article in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The following description describes embodiments of an article suitable for use in forming a covering and/or cladding. In one embodiment movement between adjacent articles is possible to allow movement of the structure to be accommodated without affecting the integrity of the structure and whilst the appearance of the covering/cladding remains substantially unaltered.

Turning firstly to Figures Ia-c, there is shown various views of an article 2, which includes engagement means in the form of an insert member 4 and a receiving member 6. The article 2 also includes an outer surface 8 and an inner surface 10. The article 2 in this embodiment is intended for use as part of a ceiling covering for a mobile home structure. In use, the outer surface 8 will face into the room of the structure and the inner surface will be attached to and/or abut against at least a portion of the ceiling of the structure. The outer surface 8 of the article and the insert member 4 of the article are covered in a decorative foil 12. The foil is coloured and textured to improve the appearance of the article, which primarily is constructed from medium density fibre board (MDF). The foil is typically attached to the article using adhesive. In this embodiment the articles 2 are panels and the covering is formed by allowing the insert members 4 and the receiving members 6 on adjacent panels to interlink and/or overlap to form the continuous covering such that, if the structure in the form of a mobile home moves/bends/flexes or the like, the articles can move with respect to one another to absorb the movement and the integrity of the covering is maintained and not damaged.

Jt can be seen from Figures la-c and Figures 2a and 2b that the articles can move in a variety of directions with respect to one another, such as parallel to one another as indicated by direction arrows AA and AB, and/or away or towards one another, as indicated by direction arrows BA and BB, and or in directions non-parallel to one another as indicated by direction arrows CA and CB. Attention is drawn to the fact that in this embodiment the articles 2 can move with respect to one another without exposing the gap between adjacent articles and hence the join between the articles is maintained by providing that the insert member 4 remains engaged to some degree with the receiving member 6.

Figures 2a and 2b show a particular embodiment of the invention wherein adjacent articles 2 and 2' are shown to be interlinked by the engagement of the insert and receiving members. It can be seen that outer 14 and inner 16 walls of the receiving member 6 are a spaced distance apart. This spaced distance forms a channel in which the insert member 4 is received. Providing the outer wall 14 to overlap the insert member 4 to some degree means that the gap between the articles 2, 2' will be disguised or at least improved. To provide stability and to improve the interlocking nature of the insert 4 and receiving 6 members, it can be seen that the inner wall 16 extends from the article 2' a distance further than the outer wall 14 and is received in a recessed portion 18 on the adjacent article 2. It can also be seen that the outer surface 8 and the inner surface 10 are continuous with the outer wall 14 and the inner wall 16 of the receiving member 6 respectively. The inner surface 10 however tapers down to the insert member 4, reducing the thickness of the article to match the thickness of outer wall 14 thereby ensuring that the outer surfaces of the articles are aligned at at-least one point.

Figure 3a shows the articles in use as panels of a ceiling covering for a mobile home structure 20. The outer surfaces 8 of the articles face into the room of the structure and it can be seen that the interlocking and/or overlapping of the adjacent articles disguises the gaps between said articles whilst maintaining the join. Figure 3b shows a close up view of the panels and it can be seen that they have the appearance of Figures 4a-c show another embodiment of the invention wherein the article 2 is intended for use as part of a covering for an exterior decoration for a structure in the form of a mobile home, static caravan, modular accommodation or the like.

Firstly, the similarities are the articles 2 have insert 4 and receiving 6 members. Also, the outer surface 8 is covered with a foil 12 which is attached by adhesive. In this embodiment the differences are that the article 2 is substantially made from pine wood. The foil also has a wood grain effect, typically tailored to the environment in which the structure such is to be situated.

Other differences include the outer wall 14 of the receiving member 6 extending further from the article 2 than the inner wall. In addition the outer wall 14 in Figure 4 is thicker than in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3. As a result of these differences the taper down to the insert member 4 is larger and the recessed portion 18 does not extend into the article itself to accommodate the inner wall 16.

Claims

Claims 1. An article including engagement means comprising at least one insert member and at least one receiving member located on substantially differing edges of said article wherein the receiving member is positioned to receive at least a portion of an insert member of one or more adjacent articles in use.
2. An article according to claim I wherein at least a portion of at least one insert member overlaps and/or interconnects with a receiving member on an adjacent article.
3. An article according to claim 2 wherein the articles are used to cover at least a portion of the outer surface of a modular and/or mobile structure.
4. An article according to claim 2 wherein the articles are used to cover at least a portion of an interior surface of a modular and/or mobile structure.
5. An article according to claim 4 wherein the articles are engaged to form a covering.
6. An article according to claim 2 wherein the articles are substantially planar and provided in pre-formed lengths.
7. An article according to claim 6 wherein the articles are substantially constructed from fibreboard.
8. An article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one receiving member is a channel defined by an inner and outer wall at an edge of the article.
9. An article according to claim 8 wherein the inner and outer walls are integrally formed with the inward facing and outward facing surfaces of the article respectively.
10. An article according to claim 8 wherein the width of the channel is larger than the width of the portion of the insert member to be received therein, so as to allow movement between the receiving member and the insert member in at least one axis.
11. An article according to claim 8 wherein the inner wall extends away from the article further than the outer wall.
12. An article according to claim 2 wherein the insert member includes a recessed portion.
13. An article according to claims 8 and 12 wherein the recessed portion is formed to receive at least a portion of the inner and/or outer walls.
14. A covering for a surface and/or frame wherein said covering comprises a plurality of adjacent articles according to claim 1.
15. A covering for a surface and/or frame according to claim 14 wherein adjacent articles can move in at least one direction with respect to each other within a predefined range of movement without substantially altering the appearance of the covering and maintaining the integrity of the covering.
16. A covering for a surface and/or frame according to claim 15 wherein the covering is decorative and the articles forming the covering can move in one or more directions without substantially altering the appearance of the decorative covering.
17. A covering according to claim 14 wherein the join between the adjacent articles is maintained during movement in the predetermined range.
18. A method of producing a covering formed of a plurality of articles, said articles including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, whcrcin said articles located such that at least one receiving member on a first article receives at least a portion of an insert member on an adjacent article to form a join between the adjacent articles and repeating the same with respective articles to form the covering.
19. A method of covering at least part of a surface and/or frame using a plurality of articles, said articles including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, said insert and receiving members located on the article such that at least one receiving member is able to receive at least a portion of an insert member on an adjacent article thereby disguising and/or concealing the gap and/or join between the two or more adjacent articles and said method including the steps of: a) attaching a first article to a surface and/or frame to be covered, b) arranging a second article adjacent to the first article, c) engaging the insert member of the first article with the receiving member of the second adjacent article, and d) attaching the second article to the surface and/or frame whereby the articles can move in at least one direction relative to the other article without altering the appearance of the covering.
20. An article according to claim 18 or 19 wherein said method includes the steps of attaching at least one surface covering or foils to at least a portion of the articles to form an external decorative surface of the covering.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. An article including engagement means comprising at least one insert member arid at least one receiving member located on substantially differing edges of said article, the receiving member being positioned to receive at least a portion of an insert member from one or more adjacent articles thereby forming a covering in use, said article including a surface, at least a portion of which is provided with a covering sheet material, wherein said article can move within a predefined range of movement with respect to another adjacent article inUSC2. An article according to claim I wherein at least a portion of at least one insert member overlaps and/or Interconnects when it is received by a receiving member on an adjacent article, when forming a covering in use.3. A plurality of articles according to claim 2 wherein the articles arc used to cover at least a portion of the outer surface of a modular and/or mobile structure.4. A plurality of articles according to claim 2 wherein the articles arc used to cover at least a portion of an interior surface *I..of a modular and/or mobile structure.5. An article according to claim 2 wherein the article is substantially planar and provided in pre-formed lengths.*S....* 6 An article according to claim 5 wherein the article is substantially constructed from fibreboard.7. r\n article according to claim I wherein the at least one rcccivlng mcrnber is a channel defined by an inner and outer val1 substantially located at an edge of the article where inner va1l refers to the wall furthest from the outward surface of the covering and outer wall refers to the wall closest to the outward surface of the covering..8. An article according to claim 7 wherein the inner and uLiter walls are integrally formed with the inward facing and outward facing surfaces of the article respectively.9. An articlc according to claim 7 wherein the width of the channel is larger than the width of the portion of the insert member to be received therein, so as to allow movement l)etWcCfl the receiving member and the insert member in at least one axis.10. An article according to claim 7 wherein the inner wall extends away from the article further than the outer wall.11. An article according to claim 2 wherein the insert member includes a recessed portion.1 2. An article according to claims 7 and 11 wherein the ... recessed portion is formed to receive at least a portion of the * *r* inner and/or outer walls of the receiving member.1 3. A covering for a surface and/or frame wherein said covering comprises a plurality of adjacent articles according to * claini 1. * *14. A covering for a surface and/or frame according to claim 1 3 wherein adjacent articles can move in at least one direction with respect to each other within a predefined range of movcmcnt without substantially altering the appearance of the covering and maintaining the integrity of the covering.1 5 A covering for a surface and/or frame according to claim 14 vhcrcin the covcring is decorative and the articles forming thc covering can move in one or more directions without substantially altering the appearance of the decorative covering.16. A covering according to claim 13 wherein the join between the adjacent articles is maintained during movement in the predetermined range.17. A covering according to claim 16 wherein the range of movement is predetermined by the relationship between receiving means of adjacent articles.1 8. A covering formed from a plurality of articles, said articles each including at least one insert member and at least one receiving member, said articles are located with respect to each other such that at least one receiving member on a first article receives at least a portion of an insert member on an adjacent article to form a join between the adjacent articles and repeating the same with respective articles to form the covering wherein the articles can move in at least one direction with respect to said one or more adjacent articles within a predefined es. range of movement.19. A method of covering at least part of a surface and/or * frame using a plurality of articles, each article including at least S.....one insert member and at least one receiving member, said insert and receiving members located on the article such that at least one receiving member is able to receive at least a portion of an iiiscrt member on an adjacent article thereby disguising and/or concealing the gap and/or join between the tvo or more adjacent articles and said method including the steps of: a) attaching a first article to a surface and/or frame to be covered, 1)) arranging a second article adjacent to the first article, c) engaging the insert member of the first article with the receiving member of the second adjacent article, and d) attaching the second article to the surface and/or frame vhercby an article can move in at least one direction relative to another adjacent article without substantially altering the appearance of the covering.20. An article according to claim 18 or 19 wherein said method includes the steps of attaching at least one surface covering or foils to at least a portion of the articles to form an external decorative surface of the covering.
21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the movement between adjacent articles is within a predefined range of move rn c n t.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the preclefineci range of movement is defined by the relationship *S.S : l)ctwecn the engaging means of the respective articles. *... * a * Se. a S. * a.. S. e. a *S*05SS*S