WO2001061138A1

WO2001061138A1 - Sealant

Info

Publication number: WO2001061138A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/000078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Charles Ratcliffe
Original assignee: Adshead Ratcliffe & Company Limited
Priority date: 2000-02-16
Filing date: 2001-01-10
Publication date: 2001-08-23
Also published as: GB0100597D0; AU2001223878A1; GB0003425D0; GB2360312A

Abstract

A sealant (10) for sealing a closure member (12), such as a door, across an opening (14), or reversibly sealing openings such as ventilation passages, the sealant (12) being readily selectively removable when a seal is no longer required. The sealant comprises a non-expanding polyurethane form which may be produced from two components mixed together as the sealant is applied prior to application. The sealant cured from a relatively soft consistency and conforms to produce a seal for instance as a closure member (12) is closed over the opening (14). The sealant is applied to one or both of the closure member (12) or the opening (14), or is applied over an opening or gap to be sealed.

Description

Sealant

The present inventior. relates to sealants, and particularly but not exclusively to a sealant for sealing against the ingress of water around a door and the like.

Damage caused by the ingress of water, such as flood water into a property is often considerable. Attempts to prevent flood water entering a property currently involve building a barricade of sandbags across the front of doorways to act as a barrier against the water. However the use of sandbags in this manner has many disadvantages. Firstly, the effectiveness of barriers produced using sandbags is dependent upon the ability of the person building the barrier to produce an effective structure and oftentimes ineffective barriers are erected.

Further, sandbags are unsightly, and moreover require storage when not in use.

According to the present invention there is provided a sealant for sealing a closure member in a closed condition across an opening, the sealant being readily selectively removable when the member is moved to an open condition.

Preferably the sealant is mouldable to adapt to the contours of the member and means defining the opening whereby to form a seal therebetween upon closure of the member across the opening.

The sealant may be curable and may set or substantially set from a relatively soft consistency in which it is applied for sealing.

The sealant is preferably water-resistant, and may comprise a plurality of components which are mixed together prior to application for use.

The sealant may comprise a foam which foam is preferably non- expanding. The sealant may comprise two components which when mixed produce a foam structure. The sealant may comprise polyurethane. Alternatively or in addition the sealant may comprise a mastic or similar sealing material, such as a plastics material.

Preferably the sealant seals a closure member over an opening to substantially prevent the passage of liquid, in particular water, therepast when the closure member is in the closed condition.

Preferably the sealant seals between a door and a frame with which the door is associated, whereby to substantially prevent the ingress of water, in particular flood water therepast. The sealant may be applied over a generally lower region of the door and/or frame.

Preferably the sealant is releasably adherent over an opening or gap to provide a seal against water ingress.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a closure member in a closed condition across an opening, the method comprising applying sealant to one or both of the closure member and means defining the opening, closing the closure member across the opening to sandwich the sealant therebetween to form a seal, which seal is readily selectively removable from the closure member and/or means when the closure member is moved from the closed condition.

The method may comprise the use of a sealant substantially as described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Preferably the sealant is applied in a mouldable state to mould between the closure member and means defining the opening to form the seal. The sealant is preferably applied in a continuous bead or in any other suitable pattern whereby to provide for the formation of a continuous seal around the desired region of the opening. Sealant may be appli ed over an opening and/or a gap to provide a seal. Sealant may be applied over at least a part of a gap or opening against which water trying to pass may bear,

The sealant is preferably applied using an application tool. The sealant may be mixed from different components before being applied. The sealant may be mixed from a plurality of components prior to application whereupon application the sealant is in the form of a foam and desirably a non-expanding foam.

The method preferably provides a sealant resistant to the ingress of liquid, such as water, past the seal formed thereby. The method preferably provides a seal around the lower portion of a door to prevent the ingress of liquid, in particular storm water, past the seal through the door opening.

The sealant may be readily selectively removable by a peeling action. Preferably the sealant is removable so as to leave little or no residue on the means and member.

The invention further provides a method of reversibly sealing an opening by applying a sealant thereover, which sealant is readily selectively removable from over the opening to enable selective re-opening of a sealed opening.

Preferably the method seals an opening against the passage of liquid therethrough, in particular water such as flood water.

The method preferably uses a sealant substantially as defined in any of the preceding paragraphs.

.An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of sealant applied to a door for the formation of a seal in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a seal formed around a lower region of a door in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a sealant 10 for sealing a closure member 12, such as a door, across an opening 14, the sealant 12 being readily selectively removable when the member 12 is moved to an open condition (Fig. 1).

In more detail, the sealant comprises a non-expanding polyurethane foam which is produced from two components which are mixed together as or prior to the sealant being applied as will be explained. Following application the sealant cures from a relatively soft consistency which facilitates application and seal formation as will be described, to a harder consistency in which the sealant 10 is readily selectively removable.

The sealant 10 is water-resistant and cures over a relatively short period of time.

One particular application of the sealant 10 of the present invention is to seal against the ingress of flood water around the lower region of a door. It will be appreciated however that the selectively removable nature of the sealant gives it usefulness for other applications.

The invention also provides for a method of providing a seal. To apply the sealant 10, the sealant 10 is first of all prepared and the surfaces of the door 12 and the door frame 16 defining the opening 14 are prepared to accept the sealant for releasable adhesion thereto.

A continuous bead 18 of sealant 10 is applied around the desired region over which the seal is required. In the figures, the region is indicated as approximately the lower third of the door 12. The sealant 10 is applied using a tool if necessary in a continuous bead when the door 12 is in the open condition as shown in Fig. 1. The bead is applied sufficiently close to the edges of the door 12 to ensure the sealant is sandwiched between the door 12 and the frame 16.

The door 12 is then closed over the opening 14 (Fig. 2) such that the sealant 10 is sandwiched between the door 12 and the frame 16. The relatively soft state of the sealant 10 allows it to mould between the door 12 and the frame 16 to fill all the contours thereof to form an effective seal around the desired region. Preferably the sealant cures to a less soft, and preferably resilient consistency. The seal thereformed is resistant to the passage of water from one side of the door 12 to the other side past the seal.

A seal according to the present invention can therefore be easily and quickly formed when news of a flood or other such phenomenon breaks. The seal remains in place providing protection against the ingress of water and the like whilst the door 12 remains in the closed condition.

However an important characteristic of the sealant 10 and method of the present invention is that the seal 10 can be readily selectively removed, for example when the flood has passed, for example by simply peeling or rubbing the seal away from the closure member 12 and/or frame 16.

The present invention therefore provides a relatively easy to create and simple to remove temporary seal for use in sealing against temporary flood waters and the like.

Various modifications may be made within the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, the sealant may comprise a mastic, resin or suitable plastics material. The sealant may be pre-mixed for storage prior to application or alternatively can be mixed immediately prior to or upon application of the sealant from two or more component parts. Application of the sealant has been described as being to the closure member. It will however be appreciated that the sealant can be applied to the frame defining the opening 14 in addition to or as an alternative to application to the closure member 12.

Sealant can also be applied over the gap between a closure member and a frame, for instance on the side facing the direction from which water is likely to contact the closure member and frame, which would normally be the outside of the enclosure for which the closure member is provided. This provides for further sealing against flood ingress.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to apply sealant over the inner side gap, or indeed over the gap on both the inside and outside of a closure member.

The sealant can also be used to seal over relatively small openings such as holes or openings in ventilation means such as air bricks, to provide further security against water ingress for example in the instances of flood.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Sealant for sealing a closure member in a closed condition across an opening, the sealant being readily selectively removable when the member is moved to an open condition.

2. A sealant according to claim 1, in which the sealant is mouldable to adapt to the contours of the member and means defining the opening whereby to form a seal therebetween upon closure of the member across the opening.

3. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant is curable.

4. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant sets or substantially sets from a relatively soft consistency in which it is applied for sealing.

5. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant is water- resistant.

6. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant comprises a plurality of components which are mixed together prior to application for use.

7. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant comprises a foam.

8. A sealant according to claim 7, in which the foam in a non-expanding foam.

9. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant comprises polyurethane.

10. A sealant according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the sealant comprises a mastic or similar sealing material, such as a plastics material.

11. A sealant according to any preceding claim, in which the sealant seals a closure member over an opening to substantially prevent the passage of liquid, in particular water, therepast when the closure member is in the closed condition.

12. A sealant according to claim 11, in which the sealant seals between a door and a frame with which the door is associated, whereby to substantially prevent the ingress of water, in particular flood water therepast.

13. A sealant according to claim 12, in which the sealant is applied over a generally lower region of the door and/or frame.

14. A sealant according to any preceding claim in which the sealant is releasably adherent over an opening or gap to provide a seal across the opening or gap.

15. A method of sealing a closure member in a closed condition across an opening, the method comprising applying sealant to one or both of the closure member and means defining the opening, closing the closure member across the opening to sandwich the sealant therebetween to form a seal, which seal is readily selectively removable from the closure member and/or means when the closure member is moved from the closed condition.

16. A method according to claim 15, in which the sealant used is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14.

17. A method according to claim 15 or claim 16, in which sealant is applied in a mouldable state to mould between the closure member and means defining the opening to form the seal.

18. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which sealant is applied in a continuous bead or in any other suitable pattern whereby to provide for the formation of a continuous seal around the desired region of the opening.

19. A method according to any of claims 15 to 18, in which sealant is applied over an opening or gap to provide a seal.

20. A method according to any of claims 15 to 19, in which the sealant is applied using an application tool.

21. A method according to any of claims 15 to 20, in which the sealant is mixed from different components before being applied.

22. A method according to any of claims 15 to 21, in which the sealant is mixed from a plurality of components prior to application whereupon application the sealant is in the form of a foam.

23. A method according to claim 22, in which the foam is substantially non- expanding.

24. A method according to any of claims 15 to 23, in which is used a sealant resistant to the ingress of liquid, such as water, past the seal formed thereby.

25. A method according to any of claims 15 to 24, in which a seal is provided around the lower portion of a door to prevent the ingress of liquid, in particular storm water, past the seal through the opening.

26. A method according to any of claims 15 to 25, in which sealant used is readily selectively removable by a peeling action.

27. A method according to any of claims 15 to 26, in which the sealant used is removable so as to leave little or no residue on the means and member.

28. A method of reversibly sealing an opening or gap by applying a sealant thereover which sealant is readily selectively removable from over the opening or gap to enable selective re-opening of a sealed opening or gap.

29. A method according to claim 28, in which a seal is provided against the passage of liquid through the opening.

30. A method according to claim 29, in which a seal is provided against the passage of water, in particular flood water therepast.

31. A method according to any of claims 28 to 30, in which the sealant used is substantially as defined in any of claims 1 to 14.

32. A sealant substantially as hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. A method of sealing a closure member substantially as herebefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.