Skirting board

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a skirting board (1) comprising event detection means (2), power supply means (3) and communication means (4). Preferably, the skirting board is adapted to cover the joint between wall surface and floor covering and/or ceiling. Preferably, the event detection means are adapted to detect traffic, fall, vibration, light, liquid leakage, moisture release, gas release, smoke release, fragrance release, nuclear release, chemical release, biological release, movement or sound.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a skirting board, or wall base, comprising event detection means.

Prior art and related technical background

[0002] A skirting board, also known as a baseboard, wall molding or a wall base, is generally a board covering the lowest part and/or the upper part of a wall, usually covering the joint between the wall surface and the floor and/or ceiling.

[0003] A skirting board generally covers the uneven edge of flooring next to the wall. It has an aesthetical purpose serving as a decorative molding, but installed between the wall surface and the floor it protects also the wall from kicks, abrasion, and furniture.

[0004] A skirting board is generally made of wood or plastic, and is nailed, screwed or glued to the wall.

[0005] However, skirting boards are usually simple panels having only aesthetical and wall protection purposes.

Aims of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a skirting board which does not have the drawbacks of the prior.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a multifunction skirting board which is an alternative to traditional skirting boards.

[0008] The invention aims to provide a multifunction skirting incorporating detection means, power supply and communication means.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a solution to cabling and cable connections issues.

Summary of the invention

[0010] The present invention discloses a skirting board comprising event detection means, power supply means and communication means.

[0011] According to particular embodiments, the skirting board may comprise one, or a suitable combination of one or several, of the following characteristics:

• the power supply means are autonomous power supply,
• the autonomous power supply comprise at least one photovoltaic cell and at least one battery,
• the event detection means comprises an ultrasonic detector, a passive infrared detector or a combination thereof,
• the event detection means comprises a gas detector, a multiple gas detector, a smoke detector, a liquid detector, an audio detector or a combination thereof,
• the communication means comprise means to produce audible and/or visual alarms,
• the communication means are wireless means,
• the skirting board comprises data interpretation means and/or data storage means,
• the skirting board comprises cooling means,
• the skirting board comprises coupling means enable to couple adjacent skirting boards and/or means to fix said skirting board to the wall and/or to the floor or ceiling.

[0012] The present invention discloses also the use of the skirting board according to the invention to detect traffic, a fall, a liquid leakage, moisture release, gas release, smoke release, fragrance release, nuclear, chemical or biological (NBC) release, movement or sound into a wall, a floor and/or a ceiling

[0013] The present invention discloses also a skirting system comprising at least one skirting board according to the invention.

[0014] The present invention discloses also the use of the skirting system according to the invention to cover the lowest and/or the upper part of the wall of a construction.

Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Figure 1 represents schematically the front face of the skirting board.

[0016] Figure 2 represents schematically the inside of the skirting board.

Detailed description of the invention

[0017] The present invention relates to a skirting board 1 able to detect at least one event, preferably a plurality of events of the same or different nature. The skirting board 1 is thus multifunctional.

[0018] The skirting board 1 comprises detection means 2, power supply means 3 and communication means 4. All the means are embedded in the skirting board body 5.

[0019] The detection means 2 comprise at least one detector preferably a plurality of detectors, able to detect any suitable event.

[0020] The detectable event may occur near the floor, the wall, the ceiling and/or within the space covered by the detector or detectors, but also on the surface or within the floor, the wall and/or the ceiling.

[0021] As for example, the event detectable can be a traffic, a fall, a vibration, a light, lights, a liquid leakage, moisture release, gas release, smoke release, fragrance release, nuclear, chemical or biological (NBC) release, movement or sound into the wall, the floor and/or the ceiling.

[0022] The event can be an horizontal and/or vertical movement of a body of an object, an animal or a person, for example a person which is moving or falling in the space covered by the detector, or detectors, embedded in the skirting board.

[0023] The event can be the leakage of water or oil for example, onto or from the wall, the ceiling and/or the floor.

[0024] The event can be the release of moisture coming from the wall, the floor and/or the ceiling.

[0025] The event can be the release of at least one gas coming from the wall, the floor and/or the ceiling. The gas may be for example butane or propane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and/or exhaust fumes.

[0026] The event can be the release of smoke from the combustion, or pyrolysis, of a material, for example of a furniture during a fire.

[0027] The event can be the release of nuclear, chemical and/or biological particles or components. For example, the event may be the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from PVC floorings.

[0028] The event can be the movement or sound coming from the wall, the floor and/or the ceiling, for example the sound produced by termites, rats or mice.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the detector may be for example an ultrasonic detector, a passive infrared detector or a combination thereof.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the detector may be for example a gas detector, a multiple gas detector, a smoke detector, a liquid detector, an audio detector or a combination thereof.

[0031] The power supply means 3 comprise a power supply coupled to the electric network of the place wherein the skirting board is installed. In this case, the skirting board 1 may also comprise the electric cables.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the power supply means 3 comprise autonomous power supply. Preferably, the power supply means 3 comprise at least one photovoltaic cell 6, preferably a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and/or at least one battery, more preferably a plurality of batteries.

[0033] The communication means 4 are means to communicate that an event, or a plurality of events, detected by detection means, occurred. The communication means 4 may be either by wire or wireless.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the communication means 4 comprise means to produce an audible and/or visual alarm, preferably audible and visual alarms. The communication means 4 may comprise a speaker, or a plurality of speakers, to produce a sound or a plurality of sounds, music, and/or a light or lights, of a single colour or multiple colours, which may also be flashing.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment, the communication means 4 comprise wireless communication means.

[0036] The wireless communication means may comprise Wi-Fi means, RFID means, Bluetooth means, mobile phone means and/or access to internet means.

[0037] The wireless communication means may enable the skirting board to communicate to a computer.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the communication means 4 comprise wireless communication means in combination with means to produce audible and/or visual alarm.

[0039] The skirting board 1 may further comprises data interpretation means 7 and/or data storage means.

[0040] The data interpretation means 7 may comprise a central processing unit, memory means, for example, ROM or RAM.

[0041] The data interpretation means 7 interpret the event, or plurality of events, detected by the detection means. For example, for an event "falling", it can discriminate between the fall of a person and a dog, a child or a bag, being simply laid on the floor.

[0042] The skirting board 1 may further comprises cooling means.

[0043] The cooling means may be either air-conditioning means or means to cool the different means embedded within the skirting board.

[0044] The skirting board 1 may further comprises coupling means enable to couple adjacent skirting boards according to the invention and/or means to fix the skirting board to the wall and/or to the floor or ceiling.

[0045] The skirting board 1 according to the invention is made of wood or plastic, preferably, it is made of PVC or rubber.

[0046] The skirting board 1 according to the invention has any suitable shape and dimension.

[0047] The skirting board 1 according to the invention present the advantage of being easy to install discreetly and fully integrated in the wall.

[0048] The skirting system comprises at least one skirting board 1 according to the invention, preferably a plurality of skirting boards 1 according to the invention. In this last embodiment the skirting system may comprises at least one skirting board, preferably a preferably a plurality of skirting boards being simple boards, or panels, not multifunctional boards, for example made of wood or plastic, without any electronic embedded therein. However, the skirting system may also comprise a board which is no multifunctional but comprises the electric cables from the power supply means.

[0049] The skirting system may be used to cover the lowest and/or the upper part of a wall.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the wall comprising the skirting system according to the invention is an inside wall of a construction, preferably a building.

[0051] In another preferred embodiment, the wall comprising the skirting system according to the invention is an outside wall of a construction, preferably a building.

Claims

1. A skirting board (1) comprising event detection means (2), power supply means (3) and communication means (4).

2. The skirting board (1) according to claim 1, wherein the power supply means (3) are autonomous.

3. The skirting board according to claim 2, wherein the autonomous power supply (3) comprise at least one photovoltaic cell (6) and at least one battery.

4. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the event detection means (2) comprises an ultrasonic detector, a passive infrared detector or a combination thereof.

5. The skirting board according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the event detection means comprises a gas detector, a multiple gas detector, a smoke detector, a liquid detector, an audio detector or a combination thereof.

6. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication means (4) comprise means to produce audible and/or visual alarms.

7. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication means (4) are wireless means.

8. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims comprises data interpretation means (7) and/or data storage means.

9. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims comprises cooling means.

10. The skirting board (1) according to any of the preceding claims comprises coupling means enable to couple adjacent skirting boards and/or means to fix said skirting board to the wall and/or to the floor or ceiling.

11. Use of the skirting board (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, to detect traffic, a fall, a vibration, a light, lights, a liquid leakage, moisture release, gas release, smoke release, fragrance release, nuclear, chemical or biological (NBC) release, movement or sound into a wall, a floor and/or a ceiling.

12. A skirting system comprising at least one skirting board (1) according to the claims 1 to 10.

13. Use of the skirting system according to claim 12 to cover the lowest and/or the upper part of the wall of a construction.

Drawing