IE86312B1

IE86312B1 - A sealing strip

Info

Publication number: IE86312B1
Application number: IE20120104A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Gerard Francis Robinson
Original assignee: Gerard Francis Robinson
Priority date: 2011-03-01
Filing date: 2012-02-29
Publication date: 2013-12-04
Also published as: GB2488627A; GB201103460D0; GB201103959D0; GB201200815D0; GB2488627B

Abstract

A sealing strip (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). The outer face (15) has an upper region (18) and a lower region (19). Flexible adhesive tape (20) has an upper boundary (21) and a lower boundary (22), an inner face (23) and an outer face (24). Adhesive tape releasing liner (30) has an inner face (33) and an outer face (34). Flexible adhesive tape inner face (23) is releasable from adhesive tape releasing liner outer face (34). <Figure 1>

Description

A SEALING STRIP The present invention relates to a sealing strip 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.

In some prior art relating to sealing strips (GB2467428 A and EP1891877 A2) an adhesive tape bonds to an up-stand strip on one side and engages a release liner on the opposite face. During installation the adhesive tape release liner is removed and the exposed adhesive tape is then bonded onto the perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath.

One problem with such combinations is that when rolled up for transport, differential stresses develop between the up-stand strip (on one side of the 2mm thick adhesive tape) and the release liner (on the other side) resulting in kinks and crease lines. The problem would be further exacerbated with adhesive tapes of around 3/4mm in thickness.

Another problem is joint movement between the shower tray and wall creates tension in the up-stand strip and the ‘pulling’ effect risks the up-stand strip de-bonding tiles from wall.

During installation, such sealing strips require the installer to progressively remove the adhesive tape liner before bonding it to the perimeter side wall. The installation process would be easier if this task was eliminated.

In FR2914548 A1 fig. 1 the release liner part 5A touch engages but is clearly not attached to non-woven band 3B. Release liner part 5A requires its connection with release liner part 5 (along dotted line 6) or it would instinctively remain releasably engaged to adhesive tape 2A when unrolled. A more direct and independent means of providing a release liner to engage exposed adhesive tape face 2A would simplify the product and eliminate the need for the removal of liner 5A during installation.

In FR2914548 A1 silicone sealants can react aggressively with butyl adhesive membrane (2). The non-woven band laminated onto the butyl is only 0.1 mm thick fleece and will not prevent deformation of the butyl layer due to reactive silicones bleeding through the fleece onto the butyl. Also a problem is that butyl adhesive membranes (2) remain soft and pliable and are subject to ‘creep’ under the load of wail tiles. 863 7 2 It is the object of this invention to limit or eliminate the aforementioned problems associated with prior art up-stand seals.

According to the present invention there is provided a sealing strip adapted to be fixed 5 onto a substantially vertical perimeter side wali of a shower tray or bath before final installation against an adjacent wall as a means to seal the joint between the shower tray or bath and the adjacent wall, the sealing strip comprising; a flexible longitudinal up-stand strip which in use has 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 facing the shower tray or bath and an up-stand strip outer face facing the adjacent wall which up-stand strip outer face has an up-stand strip outer face upper region and an up-stand strip outer face lower region and which up-stand strip inner face has an up-stand strip inner face upper region and an up-stand strip inner face tower region; and at least one flexible longitudinal adhesive tape which in use has an adhesive tape upper boundary and an adhesive tape lower boundary between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends an adhesive tape inner face facing the shower tray or bath and an adhesive tape outer face facing the adjacent wall; and an adhesive tape releasing material which in use has an adhesive tape releasing material upper boundary and an adhesive tape releasing material lower boundary between which adhesive tape releasing material boundaries there extends an adhesive tape releasing material inner face facing the shower tray or bath and an adhesive tape releasing material outer face facing the adjacent wall; when assembled in a pre-use roil format; the adhesive tape outer face is bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region, the adhesive tape releasing material inner face is bonded to the up-stand strip outer face in location to oppose said adhesive tape: and said adhesive tape inner face is engaged to the adhesive tape releasing material outer face and said adhesive tape inner face is also releasable off the adhesive tape releasing material outer face.

In a first embodiment, said adhesive tape releasing material is an adhesive tape releasing film integrated into or coated onto the up-stand strip outer face or parts thereof.

In a second embodiment, said adhesive tape releasing material is an adhesive tape releasing liner bonded onto to the up-stand strip outer face or parts thereof.

Preferably, said adhesive tape releasing material may be of or include a silicone ingredient or the like.

Ideally, said adhesive tape releasing material is bonded to the up-stand strip outer face lower region or part thereof in location to oppose the adjacent adhesive tape inner face.

Preferably, said adhesive tape releasing material upper boundary extends outside the adhesive tape upper boundary and said adhesive tape releasing material lower boundary extends outside the adhesive tape lower boundary.

Ideally, said adhesive tape releasing material is a one sided adhesive tape releasing liner with the opposing side non-releasing when engaged with an adhesive.

Alternatively, said adhesive tape releasing material is a two sided adhesive tape releasing liner with sides of different release ratings.

Preferably, said adhesive tape releasing material may be a stretchable siliconized polyethylene material.

Ideally, said adhesive tape is a high tack material such as butyl with a thickness of between 2-4mm.

Alternatively, said adhesive tape may be a composite material such as a foam tape with an adhesive bed on each side.

Preferably, said up-stand strip has at least one impermeable layer.

Ideally, selected surfaces of the up-stand strip may be laminated with non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials or the like.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, embodiments of the seal according to the invention: In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective cut away view of a first embodiment of the current invention in roll form, detailing adhesive tape outer face 24 bonded to up-stand strip inner face lower region 17, adhesive tape inner face 23 releasably engaged to adhesive tape releasing film 30 coated onto up-stand strip outer face lower region 19, sealing strip alignment material 190 bonded onto the adhesive tape upper boundary 21 and adhesive bed 185 longitudinally bonding sealant isolating membrane 180 to the up-stand strip inner face 14 adjacent to adhesive tape upper boundary 21; Figure 2 represents a perspective extended cut-away section view of the first embodiment as shown in Figure 1 but in an upright position as if ready to be installed; Figure 3 represents a section view of the first embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2 after installation between a shower tray and adjacent wall; Figure 4 represents a perspective cut away elongated view of a second embodiment wherein adhesive bed 50 bonds adhesive tape releasing liner 60 to the up-stand strip outer face lower region 19, and adhesive beds 130 bond non-woven hydrophobic fabric materials 120 to the up-stand strip upper regions 16 and 18; Figure 5 represents a blow up section view ofthe second embodiment as shown in Figure 4 after installation between a shower tray and adjacent wall; Figure 6 represents a perspective extended cut away view of the current invention wherein adhesive bed 40 extends substantially the width of the up-stand strip outer face 15, and the releasing liner is of two overlapping parts 60 and 70; Figure 7 represents a perspective extended cut away view of the current invention wherein rough textured fabric materials 120 engage substantially the entire up-stand strip inner and outer faces 14 and 15 respectively via their respective adhesive beds 130; Figure 8 details a combination assembly of Figures 6 and 7 wherein the adhesive tape releasing liner 60 and adhesive bed 50 in Figure 7 has been replaced by the adhesive bed 40 and adjacent liners 60 and 70 in Figure 6; Figure 9 details the current invention in a format similar to Figure 7 but wherein an adhesive bed 80 ensures a strong bond between the adhesive tape outer face 24 and adjacent non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric material inner face 122; Referring firstly to Figure 1 wherein a first embodiment of the invention in roll form is disclosed: the sealing strip 10 comprises an impermeable up-stand strip 11, and adhesive tape 20, an alignment material 190, sealant isolating materials 180/185 and an adhesive tape releasing material of the type that is an adhesive tape releasing film 30.

The up-stand strip 11 has upper and lower boundaries 12 and 13 respectively between which up-stand strip boundaries there extends up-stand strip inner and outer faces 14 and 15 respectively, and which up-stand strip inner face 14 has upper and lower regions 16 and 17 respectively, and which up-stand strip outer face 15 has upper and lower regions 18 and 19 respectively. The adhesive tape 20 has adhesive tape upper and lower boundaries 21 and 22 respectively between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends adhesive tape inner and outer faces 23 and 24 respectively.

The adhesive tape releasing film 30 has adhesive tape releasing film upper and lower boundaries 31 and 32 respectively between which adhesive tape releasing film boundaries there extends adhesive tape releasing film inner and outer faces 33 and 34 respectively. The sealant isolating materials 180 is coated with adhesive bed 185.

In face to face parallel iongitudinal engagement, the adhesive tape outer face 24 is bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region 17, the adhesive bed 185 bonds the sealant isolating material 180 to the up-stand strip inner face 14, the circular alignment material 190 is bonded to the adhesive tape upper boundary 21, the adhesive tape releasing film inner face 33 is bonded to the up-stand strip outer face lower region 19.

In this first embodiment of the invention the adhesive tape inner face 23 releasably engages adhesive tape releasing film outer face 34 when the sealing strip 10 is provided in roll format.

The adhesive tape releasing film 30 may be applied as an uncured silicone liquid strip that flexibly hardens during the curing process (like paint) and may extend longitudinally along the up-stand strip between its upper and lower boundaries 31 and 32 respectively and preferably outside the adjacent respective adhesive tape upper 21 and lower 22 boundaries. Thus, the sealing strip roll 10 can be unwound and installed while the adhesive tape releasing film 30 remains bonded to the up-stand strip outer face 15.

Figure 2 shows the sealing strip 10 in Figure 1 in an unrolled upright position.

Figure 3 details the upright sealing strip shown in Figure 2 after installation between a shower tray 90 and adjacent wall 91. The adhesive tape inner face 23 is bonded to the shower tray side wall 96. The up-stand strip inner and outer face upper regions 16 and 18 respectively are sandwiched in tile adhesive bed 93 between the wall tile 92 and wall 91.

The joint between the bottom of the wali tile 92 and adjacent shower tray ledge 95 is filled with sealant 94. The up-stand strip outer face upper region 18 is bonded to the wall with an adhesive mastic bed 97. The sealant isolating membrane 180 prevents sealant 94 making contact with up-stand strip 11.

Figure 4 discloses a second embodiment of the invention wherein the adhesive tape releasing material is of the type that is an adhesive tape releasing liner 60 bonded to the up-stand strip outer face lower region 19 by adhesive bed 50. The adhesive tape releasing liner 60 has adhesive tape releasing liner upper and lower boundaries 61 and 62 respectively between which adhesive tape releasing liner boundaries there extends adhesive tape releasing liner inner and outer faces 63 and 64 respectively. The adhesive bed 50 has adhesive bed upper and lower boundaries 51 and 52 respectively.

In this second embodiment of the invention, the adhesive tape inner face 23 releasably engages adhesive tape releasing liner outer face 64 when the sealing strip 10 is provided in roil format.

The adhesive tape releasing liner 60 may be a single sided adhesive tape releasing liner wherein the inner face 63 plasma/corona etched to allow an adhesive bed 50 permanently engage it to up-stand strip outer face 15, and adhesive tape releasing liner outer face 64 siliconized to releasably engage the adhesive tape inner face 23.

Alternatively, the adhesive tape releasing liner 60 may two sided adhesive tape releasing liner wherein the inner face 63 is siliconized to require a medium/moderate pull force to disengage it from the adjacent up-stand strip outer face 15, and an outer face 64 is siliconized to accommodate comparable low/easy releasable engagement with adhesive tape inner face 23 during unrolling for installation.

This adaptation facilitates the adhesive tape releasing liner 60 remaining engaged with up-stand strip outer face 15 during the unrolling and installation process while being thereafter releasable from the up-stand strip outer face 15 after the adhesive tape 20 has been bonded to the intended shower tray/bath or worktop side wall 96. Naturally, both the adhesive bed 50 and adhesive tape releasing liner 60 could be adapted to release off the up-stand strip outer face 15 together, after installation and achieve the same goal.

In Figure 4 adhesive beds 130 extend longitudinally to permanently engage non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials 120 onto the impermeable up-stand strip inner and outer face upper regions 16 and 18 respectively to allow a mechanical grip of the up-stand strip with tile adhesive. The non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials 120 have an inner face 122 and an outer face 121. This non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric material 120 may alternatively be sonic welded to the impermeable up-stand strip 11.

Figure 5 represents a blow up section view detailing the second embodiment shown in Figure 4 after installation between a shower tray 90 and adjacent wall 91 wherein nonwoven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials 120 are both sandwiched in tile adhesive 93 between the wall tile 92 and wall 91.

In the event of joint expansion between the wall tile 92 and adjacent ledge 95 wherein the level of the ledge drops down, the potential problematic tension stress developed in the up-stand strip 11 is released through an acceptable level of transverse shear deformation in the 3/4mm thick adhesive tape 20. This 3/4mm thick adhesive tape 20 is also a good acoustic insulator against the noise of water hitting the shower tray 90 and water running through the waste pipe (not shown).

Figure 6 details the sealing strip shown in Figure 4 but wherein an adhesive bed 40 engages the up-stand strip outer face 15. Adhesive bed 40 has adhesive bed upper and lower boundaries 42 and 43 respectively, and between which adhesive bed boundaries there extends adhesive bed inner and outer faces 44 and 45 respectively, and which adhesive bed outer face 45 has adhesive bed outer face upper and lower regions 46 and 47 respectively.

Adhesive bed 40 is engaged by release liner 70 along its outer face upper region 46 and by adhesive tape releasing liner 60 along its outer face lower region 47. Release liner 70 has release liner upper and lower boundaries 71 and 72 respectively.

Release liner lower boundary 72 overlaps adhesive tape releasing liner upper boundary 61 to accommodate its removal after the sealing strip has been bonded to the sanitary ware side wall and the sanitary ware is located in its final position against the wall. Release liner 70 is peeled off to expose adhesive bed outer face upper region 46 which is then bonded to the adjacent wall to form a permanent engagement. Overlapping release liners also eliminate the potential problematic effects of the adhesive bed 40 bleeding through non-overlapping release liners.

Figure 7 details the sealing strip shown in Figure 4 but wherein adhesive beds 130 extend longitudinally to permanently engage non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials 120 onto the whole impermeable up-stand strip 11 inner and outer faces 14 and 15 respectively.

Figure 8 details a combination assembly of Figures 6 and 7 wherein the adhesive tape releasing liner 60 and adhesive bed 50 in Figure 7 has been replaced by the adhesive bed 40 and adjacent liners 60 and 70 in Figure 6.

In Figure 9 an adhesive bed 80 ensures a strong waterproof bond between the adhesive tape outer face 24 and adjacent non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric material inner face 122. The adhesive bed 80 has upper 81 and lower 82 boundaries respectively.

In this embodiment the alignment material 190 is rectangular and is further enhanced by a line 191 (line shown broken). Preferably the adhesive tape releasing liner upper boundary 61 will extend outside the adhesive bed upper boundaries 51 and 81 when rolied.

In Figures 1-9, the up-stand strip lower boundary 13 extends outside the adhesive tape lower boundary 22 to prevent problematic undesired adhesion due to the adhesive tape lower boundary 22 migrating outward under compression after rolling. For the same reason, the adhesive tape releasing materials 30 (film) and 60 (liner) upper boundaries 31 and 61 respectively and lower boundaries 32 and 62 respectively, extend outside the adjacent adhesive tape upper boundary 21 and lower boundary 22 respectively.

The adhesive tape 20 may alternatively be a composite material such as close celled foam (not shown) with an adhesive bed on both sides. One impermeable up-stand strip layer material that will accommodate the bonding of non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric materials 120 disclosed in Figures 4-9 is polyethylene.

There are two embodiments disclosed in this invention. The adhesive tape releasing material may take the form of a film 30 such as a silicone liquid applied to a surface and cured thereafter, or liner material 60 that requires an adhesive means of attachment to the sealing strip.

Problem solving benefits of this invention are by locating the adhesive tape releasing materials (both film 30 and liner 60) on the up-stand strip outer face 15, the adhesive tape inner face 23 can without the restriction of an attached liner, freely compress during the rolling up process and thereafter freely expand during the unrolling and installation processes without kinks or creases.

This particular assembly is further advantageous because the sealing strip can be wound around a small core (25mm) without kinks or creases, the product therefore requires less space, less packaging material and this reduces transport costs.

Without the restriction of an attached release liner on the adhesive tape inner face23, the thickness of the adhesive tape 20 can be increased without limit. A 4mm thick adhesive tape can absorb the tensile stresses generated by joint expansion through acceptable level of ‘shearing’ without ill effect and thus eliminating problematic stresses being built up in the up-stand strip 11 bonded to the wall.

This 4mm thick body of butyl tape but would also act to provide an acoustic barrier between the shower tray 90 and the wall 91.

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 mixes, modifications and combinations of the features disclosed herein are possible within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sealing strip adapted to be fixed onto a substantially vertical perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath before final installation against an adjacent wall as a means to 5 seal the joint between the shower tray or bath and the adjacent wall, the sealing strip comprising; a flexible longitudinal up-stand strip which in use has 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 facing the shower tray or bath and an up-stand strip outer face facing the adjacent wall which up-stand strip outer face has an up-stand 10 strip outer face upper region and an up-stand strip outer face lower region and which upstand strip inner face has an up-stand strip inner face upper region and an up-stand strip inner face lower region; and at least one flexible longitudinal adhesive tape which in use has an adhesive tape upper boundary and an adhesive tape lower boundary between which adhesive tape boundaries there extends an adhesive tape inner face facing the 15 shower tray or bath and an adhesive tape outer face facing the adjacent wall; and an adhesive tape releasing material which in use has an adhesive tape releasing material upper boundary and an adhesive tape releasing material lower boundary between which adhesive tape releasing material boundaries there extends an adhesive tape releasing material inner face facing the shower tray or bath and an adhesive tape releasing material 20 outer face facing the adjacent wall; when assembled in a pre-use roll format; the adhesive tape outer face is bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region, the adhesive tape releasing material inner face is bonded to the up-stand strip outer face in location to oppose said adhesive tape: and said adhesive tape inner face is engaged to the adhesive tape releasing material outer face and said adhesive tape inner face is also releasable off 25 the adhesive tape releasing material outer face.

2. A seating strip as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material is an adhesive tape releasing film integrated into or coated onto the up-stand strip outer face or parts thereof.

3. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material is an adhesive tape releasing liner bonded onto to the up-stand strip outer face or parts thereof.

4. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material may be of or include a silicone ingredient or the like.

5. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adhesive tape 5 releasing material is bonded to the up-stand strip outer face lower region in location to oppose the adjacent adhesive tape inner face.

6. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material upper boundary extends outside the adhesive tape upper boundary and 10 said adhesive tape releasing material lower boundary extends outside the adhesive tape lower boundary.

7. A sealing strip as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material is a one sided adhesive tape releasing liner with the opposing side non15 releasing when engaged with an adhesive.

8. A sealing strip as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material is a two sided adhesive tape releasing liner with sides of different release ratings.

9. A sealing strip as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, wherein said adhesive tape releasing material may be a stretchable siliconised polyethylene material.

10. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape is a 25 high tack material such as butyl with a thickness of between 2mm-4mm.

11. A sealing strip as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the adhesive tape may be a composite material such as a foam tape with an adhesive bed on each side. 30

12. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the up-stand strip has at least one impermeable layer.

13. A sealing strip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein selected surfaces of the up-stand strip may be laminated with non-woven hydrophobic rough textured fabric 35 materials or the like.

14. A sealing strip substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.