GB2479171A

GB2479171A - Covering strip for covering gap between screen and wall

Info

Publication number: GB2479171A
Application number: GB1005414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tim Powell
Original assignee: CHENIN Ltd
Current assignee: CHENIN Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-31
Filing date: 2010-03-31
Publication date: 2011-10-05
Also published as: GB201005414D0; WO2011121335A1

Abstract

An elongate cover strip 14 is arranged to cover part of the side of a screen 10 and part of a space between a screen and an adjacent wall 20. The screen may be a shower or bath screen and the strip may be used to provide a seal to prevent water from escaping. The strip may be attached via a recess 22 (figure 2) and may include adhesive. Two strips 14 may be used to enclose a portion of sealant such as silicon and the strips 14 may exert compressive force on the silicon. The strips may have corrugations 26 (figure 2).

Description

COVER STRIP ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cover strip, a screen arrangement including a cover strip and a method of covering a space between a side of a screen and an adjacent wall. The screen may be a shower screen or a shower enclosure and may comprise a panel of plastic or glass, for instance.

Description of Related Art

As claimed in Figure 1, when installing a shower in a bathroom it is necessary to seal between a screen 10 and a wall 20, thereby providing an enclosure to prevent water leaking. It is known to abut the part of the screen with the wall and to seal a gap between them using silicon based sealant. However, as shown in figure 1, it is common for the wall to be uneven, or inclined at angle a. Over a vertical distance of 2000 mms the wall can be out as much as mms. This is particularly common in older buildings. Consequently, there can be a large gap that requires filling by the sealant. A large mass of sealant filling the gap is unsightly. A large mass of sealant can also be difficult to manipulate into the gap and effect a long-lasting seal.

It is an object of the current invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a means to cover and seal a gap between a screen and a wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a cover plate, and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but several embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a glass screen 10 and a wall 12; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an extruded cover strip 14; Figure 3 is a view of the strip 14 in position with the screen and wall; Figure 4 is a view of two cover strips on each side of the screen and the wall, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the strip being in two parts spaced along one wall.

As shown in Figure 1, the space between the edge 16 of the screen and the wall 12 is filled with gel or adhesive 17. The screen is a barrier between the wet area of the shower and a dry area of the room. The silicon stops water leaking out of the shower through the gap.

However the fact that there is a gap between the screen 10 and wall 12 is apparent.

Accordingly the strip 14 is located over the side 18 of the screen and an edge 20 of the strip may abut the wall for instance along their complete coextent. This is done preferably prior to adding the gel or adhesive 17. The strip 14 is of constant width along its length. Thus when the shower is viewed from either side the fact that there is a gap between the wall and the screen is not apparent.

The strip 14 may be held in place by silicon gel or adhesive, which may be at the location of the gel 17 that is located in the gap between the edge 16 and the wall 12.

Alternatively or additionally, gel may be located in a channel 22 of the strip that faces the screen 10. Alternatively or additionally, adhesive may be located in the channel 22 to adhere the strip to the screen. When adhesive is used, prior to applying the strip tape may cover the adhesive which tape is removed prior to sticking the strip in place. The tape may be double sided tape with adhesive being exposed when the covering tape is removed.

The channel 22 is 0.3 deep and, is defined at its end away from the wall 12 by a rib 24 of 2 mm width. The rib 24 prevents the material in the channel from being viewed by internal reflection through the screen when the screen is viewed from the side having the strip.

The extent of the strip from the channel to the edge 16, on the side that faces the glass, is textured by a textured surface such as corrugations 26 that are in total 11 mm wide. The corrugations 26 afford a good grip with silicon in the gap between the screen and wall. It will be appreciated that at least part of the elongate extent of the strip the corrugations will face both the screen and the silicon in the gap.

The strip is 23 mm wide and 3 mm deep. Accordingly the presence of the strip is minimised.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the exception that two strips 14 are applied on opposed sides of the screen. Silicon between the facing underlations 26 may be slightly compressed to enhance the seal. The second strip is applied after the first strip and the gel have been applied. The strips enhance the seal by urging the gel more firmly against the edge and the wall.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the exception that one screen is provided by separated extents 14A, 14B that abut a border 28.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An elongate cover strip arranged, in use, to cover part of the side of a screen and part of a space between a screen and an adjacent wall.
2. A strip as claimed in Claim 1 in which the strip is of constant width along its elongate extent.
3. A strip as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the strip is arranged to overlap the side of a screen at a greater extent at one elongate extent of the strip than at a different spaced elongate extent.
4. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which the strip is arranged to contact the screen along at least part of its elongate extent.
5. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim including a recess extending along at least part of the elongate extent of the strip, the recess, in use, being arranged to face the side of a screen, the recess including attachment means arranged, in use, to assist in attaching the strip to the screen.
6. A strip as claimed in Claim 5 in which the recess is arranged to include adhesive.
7. A strip as claimed in Claim 6 in which the strip is arranged, in use, to have a cover, the cover, in use, being arranged to be removed to expose the adhesive.
8. A strip as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7 in which the portion of the strip that defines one end of the recess arranged in use to be furthest away from a wall is arranged, in use, to at least partially obscure visibility of the recess by internal reflection of the light through the screen from the side of the screen that the strip is attached to.
9. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim including a textured surface on the same face of the strip that is arranged, in use, to face the side of the screen.
10. A strip as claimed in Claim 9 in which the textured surface is arranged, in use, to extend over at least part of the gap between the screen and the wall over at least part of the elongate extent of the strip.
11. A strip as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in which the textured surface is arranged, in use, to extend over at least part of the screen over at least part of its elongate extent.
12. A strip as claimed in Claim 11 in which the textured surface is arranged to contact the screen at the or each location that they are co-extensive.
13. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim arranged, in use, to contact the wall over at least part of its elongate extent.
14. A strip as claimed in Claim 13 in which the strip is arranged to contact the wall along the complete elongate extent of the strip.
15. An elongate covering strip as claimed in any preceding claim together with a further elongate covering strip as claimed in any preceding claim, the strips being arranged, in use, to cover opposed sides of a screen and part of a space between the screen and an adjacent wall.
16. A screen arrangement including a screen having an edge that is spaced from an adjacent wall over at least part of its elongate extent and an elongate covering strip as claimed in any preceding claim extending over part of the side of the screen and part of a space between the edge of the screen and an adjacent wall.
17. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 16 including sealant in the space between the screen and the adjacent wall.
18. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 in which the distance between the edge of the screen and the wall varies along the edge.
19. A screen as claimed in Claim 18 in which the rate of increase of the gap along the edge of the screen increases at a constant rate along the edge of the screen.
20. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19 including two covering strips extending over opposed faces of the screen and extending over at least part of the space between the screen and the adjacent wall.
21. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 20 when dependent on claim 17 in which the opposed covering strips are arranged to exert a compressive force on the sealant in the space between the screen and the adjacent wall.
22. A method of covering a space between a side of a screen and an adjacent wall comprising locating an elongate covering strip over the side of the screen and at least part of the space between the screen and the adjacent wall.
23. A method as claimed in Claim 22 comprising locating sealant in the space between the screen and the adjacent wall to seal that space.
24. A method as claimed in Claim 23 comprising locating the sealant in the space after attaching the elongate covering strip.
25. A method as claimed in Claim 23 or 24 comprising locating covering strips over opposed sides of the screen and part of a space between the screen and the adjacent wall and causing the strips to exert a compressive force on the sealant.
26. A method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 25 when using an elongate covering strip as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 or when forming an arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 21.