Sealing strip

Abstract

 There is disclosed a sealing strip adapted to form a seal between a wall or vertical panel surface and a horizontal surface of a member that meets the vertical surface such as the surface of the rim of a bath, basin or shower tray rim or a kitchen work top, comprising, in transverse section

• a rigid, upstanding portion adapted to be held against the vertical surface above the horizontal surface;
• a rigid, depending portion adapted to be held between the vertical surface and the member;
• the upstanding and depending portions being connected by a nose-like portion adapted to cover the edge of the horizontal surface.

Description

[0001] This invention concerns a sealing strip to form a seal between a vertical surface which abuts a horizontal surface, such as the ledge of a bath or shower tray or a kitchen work top for example.

[0002] Generally the vertical surface will be covered by tiles, but other coverings such as sheets of perspex, glass, steel or Corium (RTM) are possible.

[0003] Conventionally a seal between such surfaces is formed by a bead of caulking material. This can be somewhat unsightly unless applied with particular skill. Furthermore its integrity can be lost after time, particularly when there is repeated movement between the two surfaces as is inevitable with such as shower trays and bath tubs.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a sealing strip which overcomes, at least to some extent, the problems aforesaid.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a sealing strip adapted to form a seal between a wall or vertical panel surface and a horizontal surface of a member that meets the vertical surface such as the surface of the rim of a bath, basin or shower tray rim or a kitchen work top, comprising, in transverse section

• a rigid, upstanding portion adapted to be held against the vertical surface above the horizontal surface;
• a rigid, depending portion adapted to be held between the vertical surface and the member;
• the upstanding and depending portions being connected by a nose-like portion adapted to cover the edge of the horizontal surface.

[0006] The nose-like portion may comprise a rigid base flange extending forwardly from the upper edge of the depending portion and an angled part joining the forward edge of the flange and lower edge of the upstanding portion.

[0007] The angled part may be flexible.

[0008] The angled part may be hingedly connected with the upstanding portion and depending portion.

[0009] The forward edge of the angled part may be provided with a shallow lip depending from the forward edge of the flange adapted to be pressed against the horizontal surface to accommodate slight irregularities therein.

[0010] The sealing strip may be formed as an integral extrusion.

[0011] The invention also comprises a method for sealing between a wall or vertical panel and a horizontal surface of a member that meets the vertical surface such as the surface of the rim of a bath, basin or shower fray or a kitchen work top, comprising placing a sealing strip with its depending portion between the wall or vertical panel and the member and securing the upstanding portion against the wall or vertical panel with the nose-like portion projecting over the horizontal surface.

[0012] The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example only, one form of sealing strip embodying same and located between a tiled wall and a shower tray.

[0013] Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the sealing strip, generally indicated at 10, comprises an upstanding portion 11, a depending portion 12 having a forwardly directed flange 13 at its upper edge and an angled part 14 joining the lower edge of the upstanding portion 11 and forward edge of the flange 13,

[0014] The parts 13 and 14 form a nose-like structure extending forwardly between the portions 11 and 12.

[0015] The portions 11 and 12 and flange 13 are rigid whilst the angled part 14 is flexible.

[0016] A shallow lip 15 is provided on the forward edge of the angled part 14 to depend from the forward edge of the flange.

[0017] In use the rear face of the portion 11 and forward face of the portion 12 are adhered to the wall "W" (which is subsequently covered with tiles "T" in known manner) and vertical rear edge of the ledge of the shower tray "S" respectively with the lip 15 pressed firmly against the horizontal surface of the ledge. The adhesion is conveniently effected by means of double sided adhesive tape. A thick (e.g. 1mm), cushion-like tape 16 is shown adhered to the portion 12. The sealing strip may be supplied with this tape 16 in place and covered with a protective release layer.

[0018] It will be appreciated that a comprehensive seal between the wall and shower tray is provided whose integrity will be maintained notwithstanding repeated relative movement between the two.

[0019] It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

[0020] Thus, for example, the part 14 need not be flexible and may instead be hingedly connected with the portion 11 and flange 13.

[0021] Again, for example, the lip 15 need not be provided, a thin seam of caulk being laid if desired at the junction between the forward edge of the part 14 and ledge of the shower tray.

Claims

1. A sealing strip adapted to form a seal between a wall or vertical panel surface and a horizontal surface of a member that meets the vertical surface such as the surface of the rim of a bath, basin or shower tray rim or a kitchen work top, comprising, in transverse section

• a rigid, upstanding portion adapted to be held against the vertical surface above the horizontal surface;

• a rigid, depending portion adapted to be held between the vertical surface and the member;

• the upstanding and depending portions being connected by a nose-like portion adapted to cover the edge of the horizontal surface.

2. A strip according to claim 1, in which the nose-like portion comprises a rigid base flange extending from the upper edge of the depending portion and an angled part joining the free edge of the flange and the lower edge of the upstanding portion.

3. A strip according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the connection between the upstanding and depending portions is flexible.

4. A strip according to claim 2, in which the angled portion is flexible.

5. A strip according to claim 4, in which the angled part hingedly connects between the upstanding and depending portions.

6. A strip account to claim 1, in which the free edge of the flange has a depending shallow lip adapted to be pressed against the horizontal surface to accommodate any slight irregularities therein.

7. A strip according to any one of claims 1 to 6, formed as an integral extrusion.

8. A strip according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising adhesive for securing it in position.

9. A strip according to claim 8, the adhesive comprising a double sided tape with a release layer.

10. A method for sealing between a wall or vertical panel and a horizontal surface of a member that meets the vertical surface such as the surface of the rim of a bath, basin or shower tray or a kitchen work top, comprising placing a sealing strip according to any one of claims 1 to 9 with its depending portion between the wall or vertical panel and the member and securing the upstanding portion against the wall or vertical panel with the nose-like portion projecting over the horizontal surface.

11. A method according to claim 10, in which the upstanding portion is located against the wall or vertical panel by tiling or other wall covering.

12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which a thin seam of caulk is applied between the nose portion and the horizontal surface.

Drawing