GB2467428A

GB2467428A - Up-stand sealing assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2467428A
Application number: GB201001322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Francis Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-30
Filing date: 2010-01-27
Publication date: 2010-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-27
Also published as: EP2391253A2; WO2010086428A3; WO2010086428A2; GB0911576D0; IE20100049A1; GB201001322D0; GB2467390B; GB0901524D0; GB2467390A; GB2467428B8; GB2467428B

Abstract

An up-stand sealing assembly 10 comprises of a flexible up-stand strip 11 having an upper boundary 12 and a lower boundary 13 an inner face 14 and an outer face 15. The inner face 14 has an upper region 16 and a lower region 17. Flexible adhesive tape 20 has an upper boundary 21 and a lower boundary 22, an inner face 23 and an outer face (24, Fig 3). Flexible adhesive tape liner 30 is releasable off the adhesive tape 20. An isolating membrane 52 longitudinally engages with the sealing assembly to prevent sealant (55, Fig 4) and waterproofing materials chemically reacting with other parts of the up-stand sealing assembly. Preferably the isolating membrane is a tape coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side that engages the up-stand sealing assembly.

Description

UP-STAND SEALING ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to an up-stand sealing assembly adapted to be fixed onto a substantially vertical perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath before final installation against a wall as a means to seal the joint between the shower tray or bath and an adjacent wall.

Prior art relating to retro-fit up-stand seals often involve a pre-formed high tack adhesive tape bonded to a strip such as PVC or EPDM on one side with a releasable liner on the other.

Through the removal of the adhesive tape release liner, the adhesive tape (and strip) is bonded to the shower tray or bath perimeter side wall so that an upper section of strip forms an up-stand above a ledge typically sandwiched between a tile and wall covering.

Up-stand seals, that include up-stand strips formed from rubber like elastomers and synthetics, may present problematic reactions with sealants and other waterproofing membranes. One such problem is plasticizer migration resulting in the discoloration of sealant between the ledge and adjacent bottom edge of the tile.

Another problem with the above seals, is that the high tack nature of the adhesive tape attracts dirt and finger contact during installation which is disruptive to the installation process.

It is the object of this invention to limit or eliminate the aforementioned problems

associated with prior art up-stand seals.

The present invention provides an up-stand sealing assembly comprising a flexible longitudinal up-stand strip having an up-stand strip upper boundary and an up-stand strip lower boundary between which up-stand strip boundaries there extends an up-stand strip inner face and an up-stand strip outer face which up-stand strip inner face has an up-stand strip inner face upper region and an up-stand strip inner face lower region; and a flexible longitudinal adhesive tape having an adhesive tape upper boundary and an adhesive tape lower boundary between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends an adhesive tape inner face and an adhesive tape outer face; and a flexible longitudinal releasable adhesive tape liner; wherein in pre-installed face to face parallel longitudinal engagement, the adhesive tape outer face is bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region and the adhesive tape inner face is releasably engaged with the adhesive tape liner; and an isolating membrane longitudinally engages the up-stand sealing assembly.

Preferably, the isolating membrane s strategically located to prevent reactive sealants, adhesives and waterproofing materials making contact with other parts of the up-stand sealing assembly.

In a first embodiment, the isolating membrane engages the up-stand strip inner face and longitudinally extends adjacent to, and substantially above, the adhesive tape upper boundary.

In a second embodiment, the isolating membrane engages the adhesive tape inner face and longitudinally extends adjacent to, and substantially below, adhesive tape upper boundary.

Alternatively, the isolating membrane engages both the up-stand strip inner face and the adhesive tape inner face.

Ideally, the isolating membrane is a tape coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side that engages the up-stand sealing assembly.

Preferably, the isolating membrane is not releasable from the up-stand sealing assembly.

Alternatively, the isolating membrane has a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side that releasably engages the up-stand strip.

Ideally, the adhesive tape is a tacky waterproof adhesive such as, but not exclusively, a butyl rubber compound.

Ideally, the adhesive tape extends up above the ledge to support the isolating membrane and act as a sealant backing face.

Preferably, the adhesive tape liner is aligned and releasably engaged with the adhesive tape.

Ideally, the up-stand strip is a stretchable compressible durable waterproof material that when assembled with the isolating membrane, the adhesive tape and adhesive tape release liner may be longitudinally rolled up to facilitate packaging and transport and later unrolled for installation.

Preferably, after installation, the up-stand strip and isolating membrane transversely extends above a shower tray or bath ledge and is sandwiched between a wall and wall covering to seal the ledge wall joint.

Ideally, the adhesive tape liner is releasable off the adhesive tape in two or more separate overlapping longitudinal strips.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, four embodiments of the seal according to the invention: In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the current invention, an up-stand sealing assembly in roll form detailing a sealant isolating membrane and adhesive tape bonded to an up-stand strip and a releasable adhesive tape liner (peeled back) bonded to the adhesive tape; Figure 2 represents a perspective extended cut-away view of the first embodiment detailing from left to right an up-stand strip to which is bonded a sealant isolating membrane and an adhesive tape to which is bonded a releasable adhesive tape liner; Figure 3 represents a front sectional view of an elongated up-stand sealing assembly the components of which are detailed in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 represents a sectional view of the first embodiment detailed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 when installed onto the perimeter side wall of a shower tray subsequently located adjacent to a wall, the wall having a wall covering, the bottom edge of which is sealed to the ledge with sealant; Figure 5 represents a perspective view of a second embodiment of the current invention, an up-stand sealing assembly in roll form detailing a sealant isolating membrane (cut away view) and releasable adhesive tape liner (peeled back) bonded to an adhesive tape on one side with an up-stand strip bonded to the adhesive tape on the other side; Figure 6 represents a perspective extended cut-away view of a second embodiment shown in Figure 5 detailing from left to right an up-stand strip to which is bonded an adhesive tape to which is firstly bonded a sealant isolating membrane and thereafter a releasable adhesive tape liner; Figure 7 represents a front sectional view of the second embodiment detailed in Figures 5 and 6 wherein an adhesive tape with a sealant isolating membrane attached is sandwiched by an up-stand strip on one side and a releasable tape liner on the other; Figure 8 represents a sectional view of the second embodiment detailed in Figures 5, 6 and 7 when installed onto the side wall of a shower tray subsequently located adjacent to a wall, the wall having a wall covering, the bottom edge of which is sealed to the ledge with sealant; Figure 9 represents a front sectional view of a third embodiment of an elongated up-stand sealing assembly similar to Figure 7 wherein the up-stand strip height is reduced to extend marginally over the adhesive tape upper boundary; Figure 10 represents a sectional view of the third embodiment detailed in Figure 9 when installed onto the side wall of a shower tray subsequently located adjacent to a wall, the wall having a wall covering, the bottom edge of which is sealed to the ledge with sealant; Figure 11 represents a perspective extended cut-away view of a fourth embodiment of an up-stand sealing assembly detailing from left to right an up-stand strip to which is bonded an adhesive tape, a sealant isolating membrane engaging both the up-stand strip and the adhesive tape, and a releasable adhesive tape liner engaging the remaining near side of the adhesive tape; Figure 12 represents a perspective view of a variation of the first embodiment of the up-stand sealing assembly as shown in Figure 2 with the exception that there are two releasable adhesive tape liners; Referring to common features of the four embodiments shown in Figures 1-12, the up-stand sealing assembly 10 comprises an up-stand strip 11, a sealantlwaterproofing isolating membrane 52, an adhesive tape 20 and where the up-stand sealing assembly 10 is not shown installed, a releasable adhesive tape liner material 30.

The up-stand strip 11 is stretchable and compressible and has an up-stand strip upper boundary 12 and an up-stand strip lower boundary 13 between which up-stand strip boundaries there extends an up-stand strip inner face 14 and an up-stand strip outer face 15. The up-stand strip inner face 14 further comprises of an up-stand strip inner face upper region 16 and an up-stand strip inner face lower region 17.

The adhesive tape 20 is flexible and has an adhesive tape upper boundary 21 and an adhesive tape lower boundary 22 between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends an adhesive tape inner face 23 and an adhesive tape outer face 24.

The isolating membrane 52 is flexible and stretchable and has an isolating membrane upper boundary 58 and an isolating membrane lower boundary 59. The isolating membrane 52 engages those parts of the up-stand sealing assembly 10 not desired to engage sealant 55 and other reactive sealing/waterproofing materials.

The releasable adhesive tape liner 30 is a protective film releasable from the adhesive tape 20.

In pre-installation assembly, the up-stand strip inner face 14 longitudinally engages the adhesive tape outer face 24, the isolating membrane 52 longitudinally engages the up-stand strip inner face 14 (Figures 2/3) or the adhesive tape inner face 23 (Figures 6/7) or both the up-stand strip inner face 14 and the adhesive tape inner face 23 (Figure 11) while the releasable adhesive tape liner 30 longitudinally engages the adhesive tape inner face 23.

The pre-installation up-stand sealing assembly 10 may be wound in a roll as shown in Figures 1 and 5 for packing and carriage and can later be unwound on site for installation.

Figures 1-4 and 12 detail a up-stand sealing assembly 10 wherein the sealant isolating membrane 52 extends longitudinally on the up-stand strip inner face 14 substantially above, adjacent to and parallel with the adhesive tape upper boundary 21. To install, the releasable adhesive tape liner 30 is progressively back peeled to expose the adhesive tape inside face 23. The adhesive tape upper boundary 21 is then aligned level with the ledge 57 and the exposed adhesive tape inside face 23 below is pressed onto the perimeter side wall 56 leaving the upper part of the up-stand strip 53 and isolating membrane 52 to form an up-stand above the ledge 57. The sealant isolating membrane 52 prevents the sealant 55 between the ledge 57 and wall covering 51 making direct contact with the up-stand strip 11.

Figures 5-1 1, detail a sealant isolating membrane 52 extending longitudinally on the adhesive tape inner face 23, below, adjacent to and parallel with the adhesive tape upper boundary 21. To install, the releasable adhesive tape liner 30 is progressively back peeled to expose the adhesive tape inside face 23 and isolating membrane 52. The isolating membrane lower boundary 59 is then aligned level with the ledge 57 and the exposed adhesive tape inside face 23 below is pressed onto the perimeter side wall 56 leaving the upper pad of the up-stand strip 53, the isolating membrane 52 and an adjacently sandwiched part of the adhesive tape 20 to form an up-stand above the ledge 57. The sealant isolating membrane 52 prevents the sealant 55 making contact with the up-stand strip 11.

In Figures 5-11 the adhesive tape 20 is also employed as a backing material behind the isolating membrane 52 to limit the volume of sealant 55 applied into the joint between the ledge 57 and wall covering 51 as highlighted in Figures 8 and 10.

Figures 9-10 detail a sealing assembly wherein the up-stand strip upper boundary 12 and lower boundary 13 extends only marginally outside the adhesive tape upper boundary 21 and lower boundary 22 respectively1 to facilitate the adhesion of small mosaic tiles to the wall 50 and accommodate other circumstances where a low up-stand is preferred. In this embodiment the adhesive tape outer face 24 engages both the up-stand strip upper region 16 and up-stand strip lower region 17.

Figure 11 details a sealant isolating membrane 52 extending longitudinally both below and above and parallel with the adhesive tape upper boundary 21. The sealant isolating membrane 52 engages both the up-stand strip inner face 14 and the adhesive tape inner face 23. The up-stand sealing assembly is installed as explained in Figure 8.

Figure 12 represents a perspective view of the up-stand sealing assembly as explained in Figure 2 with the exception that there are two releasable adhesive tape liners. The upper tape liner strip 31 overlaps and conceals the lower tape liner strip upper boundary 35 to prevent viscous adhesive tapes 20 in compression bleeding out between the upper tape liner 31 and lower tape liner 32.

The removal of the upper release liner 31 accommodates hanging the sealing assembly in position on the perimeter side wall 56 prior to removal of the lower release liner 32 which accommodates a full engagement of the adhesive tape inner face 23 with the perimeter side wall 56.

As detailed in Figures 4, 8 and 10, sealant 55 being pressure applied into the joint between the wall covering 51 and shower tray ledge 57 is forced against the up-stand sealing assembly 10. Without the isolating membrane 52 in position, this sealant 55 would make direct contact with the up-stand sealing assembly 10. Some sealants react on contact with rubber like elastomeric and synthetic materials. The isolating membrane 52 is strategically located on the up-stand sealing assembly 10 to oppose this sealant joint and act as a barrier between the sealant 55 and up-stand sealing assembly 10 to prevent such reaction.

The isolating membrane 52 may be a polythene tape with an adhesive face bonded to the up-stand strip inner face 14 and/or adhesive tape inner face 23. Where the adhesive tape extends up over the ledge 57, the isolating membrane 52 also acts a bond-breaker to prevent debris sticking to the adhesive tape inner face 23 during the installation of the up-stand sealing assembly 10 and the subsequent installation of the wall covering 51. The bond-breaker properties of the isolating membrane 53 also accommodate slippage of the sealant 55 off the up-stand sealing assembly 10 in the event of joint expansion between ledge 57 and wall covering 51.

It should be understood that isolating membrane 52 is not limited to a polythene tape or the exact location detailed herein. The isolating membrane 52 may be extended (not shown) to cover a greater part or the entire up-stand strip inner face upper region 16.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAI MS: 1. An up-stand sealing assembly adapted to be fixed onto a substantially vertical perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath before final installation against a wall as a means to seal the joint between said shower tray or bath and adjacent wall, an up-stand sealing assembly comprising of a flexible longitudinal up-stand strip having an up-stand strip upper boundary and an up-stand strip lower boundary between which up-stand strip boundaries there extends an up-stand strip inner face and an up-stand strip outer face which up-stand strip inner face has an up-stand strip inner face upper region and an up-stand strip inner face lower region; and a flexible longitudinal adhesive tape having an adhesive tape upper boundary and an adhesive tape lower boundary between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends an adhesive tape inner face and an adhesive tape outer face; and a flexible longitudinal releasable adhesive tape liner; wherein in pre-installed face to face parallel longitudinal engagement, the adhesive tape outer face is bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region and the adhesive tape inner face is releasably engaged with the adhesive tape liner; and an isolating membrane longitudinally engages the up-stand sealing assembly.
2. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the isolating membrane is strategically located to prevent reactive sealants, adhesives and waterproofing materials making contact with other parts of the up-stand sealing assembly.
3. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane engages the up-stand strip inner face and longitudinally extends adjacent to and substantially above the adhesive tape upper boundary.
4. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane engages the adhesive tape inner face and longitudinally extends adjacent to and substantially below adhesive tape upper boundary.
5. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane engages both the up-stand strip inner face and the adhesive tape inner face.
6. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane is a tape coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side that engages the up-stand sealing assembly.
7. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane is not releasable from the up-stand sealing assembly.
8. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the isolating membrane has a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side that releasably engages the up-stand strip.
9. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape is a tacky waterproof adhesive such as but not exclusively a butyl rubber compound.
10. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape extends up above the ledge to support the isolating membrane and act as a sealant backing face.
11. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape liner is aligned and releasably engaged with the adhesive tape.
12. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the up-stand strip is a stretchable compressible durable waterproof material that when assembled with the isolating membrane, the adhesive tape and adhesive tape release liner may be longitudinally rolled up to facilitate packaging and transport and later unrolled for installation.
13. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein after installation, the up-stand strip and isolating membrane transversely extends above a shower tray or bath ledge and is sandwiched between a wall and wall covering to seal the ledge wall joint.
14. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape liner is releasable off the adhesive tape in two or more separate overlapping longitudinal strips.
15. An up-stand sealing assembly substantially in accordance with any of the embodiments as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
16. An installation method as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.