GB2357963A

GB2357963A - Seal for a joint between a tiled wall and a bath or shower tray

Info

Publication number: GB2357963A
Application number: GB0000359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Francis Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-10
Filing date: 2000-01-10
Publication date: 2001-07-11
Also published as: GB0000359D0; AU2001227009A1; WO2001050932A1

Abstract

Receptacle (10) e.g. a bath or shower tray, has an up-stand which is adapted to aid the sealing of a joint between the receptacle (10) and relatively adjacent vertical surfaces (A) and tile 30 to accommodate differential joint movement. Up-stand extends along the upper outer boundary of the receptacle (10). Outer and inner surfaces are layered with a bond breaker (13) to enable a whole or partial release between the up-stand and sealing materials (31,32) used to form the joint between the up-stand and vertical surface (A) and tile (30).

Description

2357963 RECEPTACLE UP-STAND The present invention relates to a seal for

sealing the joint between two contiguous surfaces disposed at an angle to each other, such as, but not limited to the horizontal joint between a tiled wall and a receptacle, whereby there extends longitudinally along the upper outer perimeter of the receptacle an integrated up-stand adapted to aid the formation of a seal with the vertical surface.

The main prior art methods of sealing the joint between a receptacle with an up-stand (such as a shower tray or bath) and a vertical surface (such as a wall) are as follows.

METHOD A: The receptacle up-stand is recessed behind the outer wall surface (typically tiles) and a sealant is used to form a seal between the up-stand and the outer wall surface.

There are disadvantages with the above arrangement. The up-stand is integrated solid into the wall (typically behind tiles), differential joint movement between the wall and the receptacle usually results in the up-stand prising, deflecting or breaking the tiles off the wall. Where the receptacle is installed adjacent to two or more existing walls at right angles (in a corner), in many cases the walls are not parallel or immediately adjacent to the integrated up-stand resulting in the bottom row of tiles being splayed into the receptacle, or the flanges being removed. Receptacles with up- stands around their boundary are generally limited to being integrated behind the adjacent vertical surfaces.

It is the object of this invention to provide an up-stand adapted to overcome or substantially reduce the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is a receptacle up-stand adapted to both aid sealing the joint between the receptacle and relatively adjacent vertical surfaces and accommodate differential joint movement therein, the receptacle up-stand acting either independently with the receptacle or as a component of a sealing assembly, whereby the receptacle up-stand extending longitudinally along the upper and/or outer boundary of a receptacle is wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to enable a whole or partial release between the receptacle up-stand and complementary sealing materials that may be employed to seal the joint between the receptacle up-stand and the adjacent vertical surfaces.

In addition, the receptacle surfaces adjacent to the receptacle up-stand may be wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to enable a whole or partial release between the receptacle and complementary sealing materials that may be employed to seal the joint between the receptacle and the adjacent vertical surfaces.

Preferably, the up-stand is pre-installed to form an integral part of the receptacle.

Preferably, the receptacle up-stand is adapted to be combined with a sealing member and/or a sealing/adhesive material.

Optionally the sealing member is partially layered with a bond breaker to enable partial release between the sealing member and complementary sealing materials that may be employed between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or receptacle up-stand.

The bond breaker is typically though not exclusively a polythene tape, and/or an anti-stick film spray, and/or a co-extruded material and/or a complementary extrusion and/or a flexible foam type material.

Advantageously, the bond breaker may be coated on one side with pressure sensitive adhesive that enables it to be applied onto the receptacle and up-stand.

Preferably, the sealing member comprises of at least one upper limb adapted to accommodate fixing and/or sealing to a vertical surface and wholly or partially encompass the receptacle up-stand.

Alternatively the sealing member comprises of at least one upper limb to which is attached at least one outer limb whereby the upper limb is adapted to accommodate fixing and/or scaling to a vertical surface and the outer limb is adapted wholly or partially encompass the receptacle up-stand.

Preferably, the lower outermost section of the sealing member is adapted to be flexible and allow lateral movement after the sealing member is fixed to a vertical surface.

Preferably, the sealing member upper liinb outer face is adapted to be fixed and/or sealed to a vertical surface through the provision of ridges and/or recesses and/or holes and/or contact points to accommodate mechanical fixing and/or sealing and/or adhesive materials.

Advantageously the sealing member upper limb outer face and/or outer limb upper face is adapted to discharge water into the receptacle.

In one embodiment the sealing member outer face is partially layered with a bond breaker to form a whole or partial releasable shuttering from sealing materials that may be applied between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or up-stand.

In a preferred embodiment the sealing member upper limb inside face and/or the outer limb lower face is wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to form a whole or partial releasable shuttering from sealing materials that may be applied into the sealant reservoir formed between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or up-stand.

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 these drawings -:

Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively two sectional views of typical upstands located along the upper outer boundary of two receptacles.

Figures 3 represent a typical sectional view of a receptacle up-stand sandwiched between a wall and a tile.

Figures 4 and 5 represent sectional views of two typical sealing members.

Figures 6 represents a sectional view of a sealing assembly detailing the receptacle upstand located inunediately adjacent to a wall whereby the receptacle up-stand is partially encompassed by a sealing material and a sealing member with the sealing member being installed between the wall and a tile.

Figures 7 represents a sectional view of a sealing assembly detailing the receptacle upstand (in comparison to fig. 6) is offset from a wall whereby the receptacle up-stand is partially encompassed by a sealing material and a sealing member with the sealing member being installed between the wall and a tile.

Figures 8 represents a sectional view of a sealing assembly with the receptacle up-stand offset from a wall whereby the receptacle up-stand is partially encompassed by a sealing material and a sealing member with the sealing member being installed over a tile.

Figure 9 represents a sectional view of a single limb sealing member.

The invention will now be described in detail.

Figure 1 details a receptacle 10 to which is attached an up-stand 11. The receptacle upstand 11 extends along the upper outer boundary 12 of the receptacle. The up-stand 11 may be cast using the same material as the receptacle 10.

The receptacle up-stand outer and inner surfaces 15 and 16 respectively are layered with a polythene membrane 13 (an anti-adherent material) which forms a barrier between the upstand 11 and silicone type sealing materials employed adjacently (not shown).

The polythene membrane 13 is coated on one side with pressure sensitive adhesive that bonds upon contact with the receptacle up-stand 13. The exposed side of the polythene tape 13 has a low energy surface that will not bond with silicone.

Figure 2 details a receptacle 10 to which is attached an up-stand 14. The receptacle upstand 14 in this case is relatively thin in section as compared with receptacle up-stand 11 in fig. 1 and is typically flange like in appearance. Receptacle up-stand 14 is typically a PVC member adapted to be bedded into the receptacle.

The remaining details pertaining to fig. 2 are respectively described in fig. 1 Figure 3 details a sectional view of a receptacle 10 resting on a horizontal surface B and located immediately adjacent to a vertical surface A. Tiles 30 are attached to the vertical 10 surface A with tile adhesive 3 1.

The receptacle up-stand 14 is sandwiched between the vertical surface A and the tile 30. The cavity formed between the tile 3 0 and the receptacle 10 is filled with a sealing material 32. The receptacle up- stand is layered with a polythene membrane 13.

In the event of the receptacle 10 moving down, the sealant 3 2 will experience tensile stress. Because the bond between the sealant 32 and polythene tape 13 is releasable, it will separate from the polythene tape 13 and remain bonded to the tile 30.

Figure 4 and 5 details sealing members 40 and 50 respectively wherein the sealing members are adapted to be combined with an up-stand to seal the joint between a receptacle up-stand and relatively adjacent vertical surfaces. Both seal members 40 and 50 have upper limbs 41 and 51, and outer limbs 42 and 52, respectively. Both sealing members 40 and 50 have cavities or sealant reservoirs 27 and 28 respectively 25 Sealing member 40 is adapted to be optionally installed behind or over tiles through the extension of limb 41 above the outer limb 42, accommodating an engagement between a vertical surface and tile. Sealing member 50 is adapted to be installed over tiles whereby outer limb 52 is attached to the upper boundary of upper limb 5 1. 30 Both seal members 40 and 50 have their respective upper limb outer surfaces 43 and 53 adapted to engage a vertical surface through the provision of their respective ribs 44 and 54, and their respective recesses 45 and 55.

Both seal members 40 and 50 have their respective outer limb lower surfaces 46 and 56 partially adapted for a releasable engagement with a sealing material through the provision of a polythene membranes 47 and 57 layered onto their respective surfaces. The lower most part 69 and 29 of the outer limbs 42 and 52 respectively are relatively flexible and allow lateral movement in the event of lateral movement in the adjacent surface to which 10 attached. Both seal members 40 and 50 have their respective upper limb inner surfaces 48 and 58 partially adapted for a releasable engagement with a sealing material through the provision of a polythene membranes 49 and 59 layered onto their respective surfaces. 15 In both seal members 40 and 50 the respective surfaces 64, 65, and 67,68 are not layered with the anti-adherent polythene tape and so will bond with sealing materials. Both seal members 40 and 50 have their respective outer limb upper surfaces 25 and 26 adapted for discharging liquid into the receptacle through having a downward gradient. 20 The cavity 27 formed between limbs 41 and 42 in sealing member 40, and the cavity 28 formed between limbs 51 and 52 in sealing member 50 are sealant reservoirs that will accommodate sealing material. 25 Figure 6 details a sealing assembly of a receptacle 10 with an up-stand 14 positioned immediately adjacent to a vertical surface A. The receptacle up-stand 14 is layered an antiadherent polythene tape 13. Limb 41 of sealing member 40 is located substantially above the up-stand 14 between a vertical surface A and a tile 30. As detailed in fig. 4, the sealing member 40 is partially layered with a polythene membrane 47 and 49. 30 The sealing member 40 is fixed and sealed onto vertical surface A with an adhesive/sealing material 61 which grips onto the upper limb 41 outer face 43 irregular surfaces of the sealing member.

The cavity between the sealing member 40 and the tile 30 is filled with sealing material 62. The sealant reservoir 27 is filled with sealing material 63. In the event of the receptacle 10 moving down or the vertical surface A moving left, the sealant 63 will experience tensile and/or shear stress. Because the bonds between the 10 sealant 63 and the surrounding polythene tapes 13, 47 and 49 are releasable, the sealant is able to separate from the polythene tapes as required, stretch and relieve the tensile or shear stress. The sealant remains bonded to the scaling member 40 at surfaces 64 and 65, and to the receptacle surface at 66. The lowermost part 69 of limb 42 is laterally flexible to accommodate movement of the vertical surface A to the left. 15 Figure 7 details are very much similar to fig 6 details. The receptacle 10 and up-stand 14 in this instant is located adjacent to the vertical surface A, but differs from fig. 6 because it is off set from vertical surface A giving rise to a gap 71. 20 Figure 8 details are very much similar to fig 7 details. The receptacle 10 and up-stand 14 in this instant is located adjacent to but off set from the vertical surface A, but differs from fig. 7 because the receptacle 10 and up-stand 14 are located outside the tiles 30 with limb 41 of sealing member 40 fixed over the tiles 30 with adhesive sealant 61. 25 In cases where the vertical surface A and the receptacle up-stand are off set or they are not parallel the sealing members 40 or 50 can still accommodate the receptacle up-stand 14 inside the sealant reservoir 27. Figure 9 details a sealing limb 90 with an inner and outer face 92 and 93 respectively. The 30 outer face 93 is adapted to be fix and/or sealed to a vertical surface through the provision of ribs 94 and recesses 95.

The outer face 93 of upper limb 91 is partially adapted for a releasable engagement with a sealing material through the provision of a polythene membrane 96 that will not form a permanent bond with a scaling material. The inner face 92 is adapted to discharge water into the receptacle.

Typical locations for this seal in are in shower and bath surrounds, wherein the seal is installed longitudinally over the joint created by the tray or bath and adjacent walls.

A typical installation method will now be described, taking by way of a subject, a shower tray installation. Our installation details will relate to a corner shower tray with an integrated up-stand on two sides as detailed in fig. 2, combined with sealing member as detailed in fig. 4, and a silicone sealant. The sealing member will be installed behind the tiles. Refer to fig. 6 for additional explanation.

The shower tray is installed into the corner and made stable on the floor. The shower tray is manoeuvred so that the 2 up-stands are equally as near as possible to the adjacent vertical surfaces.

Two lengths of seal are required. Each length will have a 45 degree mitre cut and these will be butt jointed together in the corner. Measure the left hand side length required. First cut a mitre on the right hand end, measure back and cut the left hand end square.

Measure the right hand side length required. First cut a mitre on the left hand end, measure back and cut the right hand end square. Lay the sealing members loose over the up-stand and adjust further if required. Clean the shower tray surfaces to ensure strong adhesion of the sealing material.

Starting with the left hand side sealing member fill the sealant reservoir with sealant. Lay a bead of sealant between the up-stand and the shower tray.

Lay a heavy bead of sealant longitudinally along the wall midway behind the proposed end location of the sealing member. Offering the sealing member into it's proposed location, press it simultaneously against the wall and down onto the shower tray squeezing out the surplus sealant. Remove surplus sealant and rub smooth with a wetted spatula.

Carry out the same procedure for the right hand side sealing member ensuring that the sealant runs solid throughout the corners. The tiles may now be laid, but ensure sealant is used to fill the cavity between the tiles and the sealing member.

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

CLAIMS:

1. A receptacle up-stand adapted to aid sealing the joint between the receptacle and relatively adjacent vertical surfaces and accommodate differential joint movement therein, the receptacle up-stand acting either independently with the receptacle or as a component of a sealing assembly, whereby the receptacle up-stand extending longitudinally along the upper andlor outer boundary of a receptacle is wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to enable a whole or partial release between the receptacle up-stand and complementary sealing materials that may be employed to seal the joint between the receptacle up-stand and the adjacent vertical surfaces.

2. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in 1, wherein the receptacle surfaces adjacent to the receptacle up-stand may be wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to enable a whole or partial release between the receptacle and complementary sealing materials that may be employed to seal the joint between the receptacle and the adjacent vertical surfaces.

3. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the up stand is pre-installed to form an integral part of the receptacle.

4. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member and/or a sealingladhesive material.

5. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member is partially layered with a bond breaker to enable a partial release between the sealing member and complementary sealing materials that may be employed between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or receptacle up-stand.

6. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the bond breaker is typically though not exclusively a polythene tape, and/or an anti-stick filin spray, and/or a co-extruded material and/or a complementary extrusion and/or a flexible foam type material.

7. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the bond breaker is coated on one side with pressure sensitive adhesive that enables it to be applied onto the receptacle and/or up-stand.

8. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member comprises of at least one upper limb adapted to accommodate fixing and/or sealing to a vertical surface and wholly or partially encompass the receptacle up-stand.

9. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member comprises of at least one upper limb to which is attached at least one outer limb whereby the upper limb is adapted to accommodate fixing and/or sealing to a vertical surface and the outer limb is adapted wholly or partially encompass the receptacle up-stand.

10. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the lower outermost section of the sealing member is adapted to be flexible and allow lateral movement after the sealing member is fixed to a vertical surface.

11. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member upper limb outer face is adapted to be fixed and/or sealed to a vertical surface through the provision of ridges and/or recesses and/or holes and/or contact points to accommodate mechanical fixing and/or sealing and/or adhesive materials.

12. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member upper limb outer face and/or outer limb upper face is adapted to discharge water into the receptacle.

13. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member outer face is partially layered with a bond breaker to form a whole or partial releasable shuttering from sealing materials that may be applied between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or up-stand.

14. A receptacle up-stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sealing member wherein the sealing member upper limb inside face and/or the outer limb lower face is wholly or in part layered with a bond breaker to form a whole or partial releasable shuttering from sealing materials that may be applied into the sealant reservoir formed between the sealing member and the receptacle and/or up- stand.

15. A receptacle up-stand or a receptacle up-stand in combination with a sealing member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.