IE20100049A1

IE20100049A1 - Up-stand sealing assembly

Info

Publication number: IE20100049A1
Application number: IE20100049A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Gerard Francis Robinson
Original assignee: Gerard Francis Robinson
Priority date: 2009-01-30
Filing date: 2010-01-29
Publication date: 2010-08-04
Also published as: EP2391253A2; WO2010086428A3; WO2010086428A2; GB0911576D0; GB201001322D0; GB2467390B; GB0901524D0; GB2467390A; GB2467428A; GB2467428B8; GB2467428B

Abstract

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). Flexible adhesive tape liner (30) is releasable off the adhesive tape (20) in two or more strips (31,352) to provide a tack free up-stand seal support and manipulation zone over one longitudinal portion of the adhesive tape. This facilitates an easy releasable alignment and engagement of a portion of the adhesive tape onto the perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath, and the full engagement of the adhesive tape onto the wall. <Figure 1>

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 sea! the joint between the shower tray or bath and an adjacent wall.

Relevant prior art relating retro-fit up-stand seals often details 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 progressive removal of the adhesive tape release liner the adhesive tape (and strip) is pressingly adhered 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, Up-stands seals such as disclosed in EP1891877 and GB2387626A (being of the type described) can be difficult to install because of the high tack nature of the adhesive. If such up-stand seals are inadvertently misaligned on the side wall of a shower tray or bath during installation, it is virtually impossible to disengage the adhesive because the bond formed is not releasable without irrecoverable distortion in the strip and/or the adhesive rendering the seal un-usable thereafter. The greater the width of the bed of adhesive tape being applied to a fixture side wall the greater the potential problem.

Another problem with the above seals is that inadvertent finger contact with exposed high tack adhesive tapes during installation is disruptive and the resulting finger oil residue deposited on the adhesive tape diminishes the bond strength between the adhesive and side wall of the shower tray or bath. This is particularly problematic where the exposed adhesive tape lower region and boundary is inadvertently engaged by the fingers and obstructs the easy handling and manipulation of the up-stand seal during installation.

A problem with up-stand seals such as disclosed in GB2387626 when supplied in roll format, is the more viscous the non-setting adhesive tape used, the greater the problem of compression causing the adhesive tape to bleed out between non-overlapped tape liners and bond with the adjacent face whereby the roll internally bonds to itself.

IE 1 00 049 Up-stand seals such as disclosed in EP1891877 in roll format can have compression crease lines extending transversely across the adhesive bed. This problem is apparent in adhesive beds sandwiched between a non-stretchable release Siner and a non-stretchable up-stand strip that in combination act as laminates on each side of the adhesive. Crease lines increase the risk of air pockets and water gateways developing at the interface between the adhesive and side wall of the shower tray or bath and consequently the risk of seal failure.

Up-stand seals that include a backing layer formed from elastomers, synthetic rubbers and rubber-like plastics such as described in EP1891877 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.

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 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, the up-stand sealing assembly comprising a flexible longitudinal up-stand strip having an up-stand strip upper boundary and an upstand strip lower boundary between which up-stand strip boundaries there extends an upstand 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 on 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; characterized in that the adhesive tape liner is releasable off the adhesive tape in two or more separate longitudinal strips as a means to simultaneously provide a tack free up-stand seal support and manipulation zone over one longitudinal portion of the adhesive IE 1 0 0 04 9 tape while faciiitating an easy releasable alignment and engagement of another exposed portion of the adhesive tape onto the perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath, and thereafter the full engagement of the adhesive tape onto same side wall.

In another embodiment, the adhesive tape liner is aligned and releasably engaged with the adhesive tape in parallel longitudinal precut or perforated strips that do not overlap.

Advantageously, the releasable tape liner material comprises an upper tape liner strip and lower tape liner strip.

Preferably, the adhesive tape is a tacky waterproof adhesive.

Conveniently, the adhesive is a waterproof butyl rubber compound.

Ideally, the up-stand strip is a stretchable compressible durable waterproof material that when engaged with the adhesive tape and adhesive tape release liner may be longitudinally rolled up to facilitate packaging and transport.

Conveniently, the rolled up tape is a later unrolled for installation.

Ideally after installation, the up-stand strip transversely extends above the adhesive tape to form a flexible durable up-stand seal above the shower tray or bath perimeter side wall to which the adhesive tape is bonded.

In another embodiment an isolating membrane extends longitudinally over the up-stand strip inner face to create a barrier between the up-stand strip inner face and a joint sealant or alternative waterproofing membrane.

In another embodiment, an isolating membrane extends longitudinally over the adhesive tape to create a barrier between the adhesive tape and a joint sealant.

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: IE 1 00 04 9 In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the current invention, an up-stand sealing assembly in roll form detailing an adhesive tape bonded to an up-stand strip on one side and two releasable adhesive tape liners on the other; Figure 2 represents a perspective cut-away view of an extended up-stand sealing assembly detailing from left to right an up-stand strip to which is bonded an adhesive tape to which is bonded two releasabie adhesive tape liners; Figure 3 represents a front sectional view of an elongated up-stand sealing assembly showing an adhesive tape sandwiched by an up-stand strip on one side and two releasable tape liners on the other; Figure 4 represents a sectional view of an up-stand sealing assembly installed onto the side wall of a shower tray subsequently located adjacent to a wall subsequently tiled or panelled; Figure 5 represents a perspective view of an up-stand sealing assembly undergoing an initial first-fix releasable engagement on the side wall of a shower tray; Figure 6 represents a perspective view of an up-stand sealing assembly undergoing a second-fix process wherein a second adhesive release liner is being removed prior to permanent engagement with the shower tray side wall; Figure 7 represents a perspective view of an up-stand sealing assembly undergoing a permanent engagement with the side wall of shower tray, the installers thumb pressing down and out potential air pockets to ensure a solid adhesive bond is formed with side wall; and Figure 8 details a side view of an up-stand sealing assembly similar to fig. 2, wherein the adhesive tape liner is partially removed to expose a bond-breaker material extending across the up-stand strip inner face.

IE 1 00 04 9 Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the up-stand sealing assembly 10 comprises of an up-stand strip 11, an adhesive tape 20 and a releasable adhesive tape liner material 30. The up-stand strip 11 is flexible 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 releasable adhesive tape liner 30 is releasable from the adhesive tape. The releasable adhesive tape liner 30 comprises of an upper tape liner strip 31 and a lower tape liner strip 32.

The upper tape liner strip 31 has an upper tape liner strip upper boundary 33 and an upper tape liner strip lower boundary 34. The lower tape liner strip 32 has a lower tape liner strip upper boundary 35 and a lower tape liner strip lower boundary 36.

In pre-installation assembly the up-stand strip inner face lower region 17 longitudinally engages the adhesive tape outer face 24 and the adhesive tape liner 30 (and therefore 31 and 32) longitudinaliy releasable engages the adhesive tape inner face 23 respectively.

The pre-installed up-stand sealing assembly 10 may be wound in a roll as shown in Figure 1 for packing and carriage and can later be unwound on site for installation. 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. Less viscous adhesive tapes 20 may negate the necessity to overlap the upper and lower tape liners 31 and 32 respectively wherein they may be butt jointed.

It should be understood that the up-stand strip 11 is both stretchable and compressible and consequently not a cause of compression crease lines that may otherwise extend IE 1 0 0 0 4 9 transversely across the adhesive tape 20 when the up-stand sealing assembly is wound in a roll as in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 details a sealing assembly 10 installed on a shower tray 40 wherein the adhesive tape upper boundary 21 is aligned with the external corner between the shower tray side wall 56 and shower tray ledge 57 (corner 41 in Fig 5). The upper part 53 of the up-stand strip 11 extending above the adhesive tape upper boundary 21 is sandwiched in the void 54 between the wall 50 and wall covering 51 in a bed of flexible sealant 55 to prevent water seepage between wall 50 and shower tray ledge 57.

The up-stand strip 11 is flexible and can transversely stretch to prevent leaks in the event of differential joint movement between the shower tray ledge 57 and wall structure 50.

Figure 8 details a perspective cut-away view of an extended up-stand sealing assembly similar to figure 2 but different in that a bond-breaker material 52 extends across the upstand strip inner face 14.

As detailed in Figure 4, sealant 55 is applied into the joint between the wall covering 51 and shower tray ledge 57 and comes in contact with the up-stand strip inner face 14. Some ingredients in some sealants may react in contact with the up-stand strip inner face 14. In Figure 8 the bond-breaker material 52 serves as a barrier between the sealant 55 in Figure 4 and up-stand strip inner face 14 to prevent such a reaction.

In Figure 8 the bond-breaker material 52 may be a polythene tape with an adhesive face bonded to the up-stand strip inner face 14. Polythene has a low energy surface allowing the sealant 55 to disengage in the event of joint expansion thus reducing the chance of the sealant 55 splitting due the three side adhesion between the ledge 57 the up-stand strip inner face 14 and the bottom edge of the wall covering 51.

It should be understood that bond-breaker material 52 is not limited to a polythene tape or the exact location detailed in Figure 8. The bond-breaker material 52 may be extended (not shown) to cover a greater part or all the up-stand strip inner face upper region 16 to facilitate in a like manner the application of a sealant 55 or other alternative waterproofing membrane between the up-stand strip inner face upper region 16 and wall covering 51.

IE 1 0 0 0 4 9 Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, an installation method for this invention will now be described using a shower tray by way of example. Other possible fixtures include baths and worktops. Preparatory action requires the up-stand sealing assembly 10 be unrolled and the shower tray side wall surfaces to which the adhesive tape is being attached be cleaned with alcohol wipes or methylated spirits. The installer must complete the first and second fix procedures herein described on each side of the shower tray before commencing the next.

In a first-fix stage of the installation as illustrated by Figure 5, with fingers 45 under the 10 sealing assembly for support shielded from adhesive tape inner face 23 by the lower tape liner strip 32, the upper tape liner strip 31 is peeled back to part expose the adhesive tape inner face 23, the adhesive tape upper boundary 21 is then aligned level with the uppermost outermost corner edge of the shower tray 41 and pressingly engaged thereon with the thumb 44 and progressively onward along corner edge 41 tilt this first side of the shower tray 40 is complete.

In the event of an initial misalignment of the sealing assembly 10 on the perimeter side wall 56 of said shower tray or bath 40, the upper tape liner strip 31 may be of such a limited width as to accommodate a release of the adhesive tape 20 off the perimeter side wall 56 and a subsequent realignment thereon.

In a second-fix stage of installation as illustrated by Figure 6, the hanging unattached sealing assembly 10 is raised approximately 90 degrees off the shower tray perimeter side wall 56 and the lower tape liner strip 32 progressively peeled back 100mm beyond the end of the perimeter side wall 56 to expose the remaining adhesive tape inner face 23. As illustrated in Figure 7, the exposed adhesive tape 20 is then permanently bonded to the adjacent perimeter side wall 56 by pressing downward from the top with the thumb 44 (or seam roller) expelling potential air pockets out in the process. The up-stand sealing assembly is installed onto the remaining perimeter side walls 56 in a similar fashion.

It wili 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. An up-stand sealing assembly adapted to be fixed onto a substantially verticai perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath before final installation against a wall as a 5 means to seal the joint between said shower tray or bath and adjacent wall, the 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 up10 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 on preinstalled face to face parallel longitudinal engagement, the adhesive tape outer face is 15 bonded to the up-stand strip inner face lower region and the adhesive tape inner face is releasably engaged with the adhesive tape liner; characterized in that the adhesive tape liner is releasable off the adhesive tape in two or more separate longitudinal strips and the adhesive tape liner is aligned and releasably engaged with the adhesive tape in parallel longitudinal precut overlapping strips, whereby the adhesive tape liner provides a tack free 20 up-stand seal support and manipulation zone over one longitudinal portion of the adhesive tape while facilitating an easy releasable alignment and engagement of another exposed portion of the adhesive tape onto the perimeter side wall of a shower tray or bath, and thereafter the full engagement ofthe adhesive tape onto same side wall. 25

2. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adhesive tape liner is aligned and releasably engaged with the adhesive tape in parallel longitudinal precut or perforated strips that do not overlap.

3. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the 30 releasable tape liner material comprises of an upper tape liner strip and lower tape liner strip.

4. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive tape is a tacky waterproof adhesive. IE 1 0 0 04 9

5. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in Claim 4 in which the adhesive is a waterproof butyl rubber compound.

6. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the up5 stand strip is a stretchable compressible durable waterproof material that when engaged with the adhesive tape and adhesive tape release liner is longitudinally rolled up to facilitate packaging and transport.

7. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in Claim 6 in which the rolied up tape is 10 later unrolled for installation.

8. An up-stand seating assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein after installation the up-stand strip transversely extends above the adhesive tape to form a flexible durable up-stand seal above the shower tray or bath perimeter side wall to which 15 the adhesive tape is bonded,

9. An up-stand sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an isolating membrane material extends longitudinally over the up-stand strip inner face to create a barrier between the up-stand strip inner face and a joint sealant or alternative 20 waterproofing membrane.

10. An up-stand sealing assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 25

11. An installation method as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.