AU653276B2 - Plasterboard reveal - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Christopher John Neech Actual Inventor: Christopher John Neech Address for Service: H.R. HODGKINSON CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 26A Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 Invention Title: Plasterboard Reveal Details of Associated Provisional Application: Nos: PL4624 dated 10 September 1992 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: r 2 THIS INVENTION relates to reveals and like surrounds for openings in walls, particularly doorways.

Whilst the invention is particularly suited to construction methods utilising timber or metal frame walls upon which is fixed sheeting or cladding such as gyprock or the like, the invention is equally suited to masonry construction methods in which concrete blocks or bricks are subsequently rendered. Therefore, any reference to wall frames and cladding may also be taken as a reference to rendered S o10 masonry construction.

Similarly, whilst the reveal of the invention is especially suited to being manufactured from metal, it is not necessarily intended that the invention be limited thereto as other suitable materials, particularly those which may be extruded, would lend themselves equally well to being used in the invention. However, for convenience, the following description relates primarily to the use of steel reveals, but it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Any reference to a reveal whether steel or otherwise, is meant to encompass materials which might be usefully substituted for steel.

I

S Again, whilst the invention is generally described in terms of openings in walls such as doorways, such reference is meant to encompass any similar opening in a wall, such as a window or indeed any other access, where a face is required to be formed across the thickness of the wall the opening) between the respective surfaces of the wall adjacent the opening on both sides thereof. Any reference 3 to a doorway therefore is meant to encompass all such openings. It should also be noted that the invention will find equal applicability in both open doorways and windows (including archways) as well as in doorways or windows fitted with conventional jambs, window frames and the like.

One situation in which the invention will find distinct advantages is in the construction of internal walls or partitions in office blocks and the like. Currently, plasterboard partition systems utilise so called set reveals to form door and glazing openings as well as bulkheads, nibs and stepped walls etc. A typical office fit out may involve upwards of between 20 and 100 set reveals, each reveal being 0*.o to between 2700 mm to 3000 mm long.

to to• o Whilst there are currently available several types of reveal 15 finishes, the most popular is a set reveal using two lengths of metal external bead. The set reveals are utilised to prepare each corner independently each edge of the doorway between the face thereof and the respective adjacent wall surface). As will be readily appreciated, these 20 require arduous and accurate setting up in order to facilitate the installation of door jambs and glazing •oo•• S0 frames. Even where no jam or frame is to be fitted the •,eo• reveals are difficult to align so that an accurate opening is achieved. Plasterboard strips have to be cut and fixed to the wall studs which in this application are typically S steel. External beads have to then be installed on either side of the opening each being plumb, straight and in whine.

Three applications of setting compound then have to be made to the three faces, i.e. each side of the wall as well as the face of the opening itself.

4 Alternatively, many installations require jambs and glazing frames to be fixed before the plasterboard can be set which has led to the development of preformed plasterboard and customised profiles in lieu of metal external beads.

However, these products require the contractor to exercise special care when handling. They also provide difficulties in warehousing and transport generally since they are both fragile and bulky. Furthermore, the end result after installation is a finished product with soft corners which is prone to crack.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous if a reveal were available which would result in an effective means of overcoming the disadvantages of previously known methods.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a 15 reveal having a unitary structure which may be more S...conveniently fitted to the opening prior to applying the plasterboard setting compound or cement render as the case may be. Such a reveal has now been developed and at the o ""very least provides an alternative to previously known 20 methods.

ooooe: Therefore according to the invention there is provided a ee o S" reveal in the form of a cover strip lining member for forming the face of an opening in a wall, the strip having a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a first cenral S" 25 section being the base of the U for forming the said face of the opening and two side edges or wings linearly coextensive therewith and extending substantially at right angles from the outer edges of the central face portion to form the arms of the U, the wings having perforations therethrough to receive plaster setting compound or render, setting beads being provided linearly along the junction of each wing and the corresponding edge of the face section, so that in use the strip may be affixed to a wall opening to provide a face therefor, the wings extending away from the opening and generally in the plane of each respective outer surface of the wall adjacent the opening, plaster setting compound or render being applied over each wing and adjacent wall surface as required up to the thickness provided by the setting bead.

It will therefore be appreciated that no further preparation is required for the face of the opening itself, the central portion of the reveal itself forming the face. The reveal would thus provide an immediate face suitable for the installation of jambs or glazing frames prior to setting or where no jambs or frames are required, the reveal could be o 15 painted or given some other surface treatment as required after setting.

There are specific advantages in having the strip of sufficient rigidity so that it may easily form conventional rectangular openings, since it will remain straight and in whine by virtue of its shape. Installation of such a rigid strip would only require that it be fixed plumb. On the other hand, however, it will also be apparent that where :curved surface are required, as is the case with arches and the like, the strip may be manufactured from material which 25 is sufficiently flexible so as to allow the formation of such curved arches.

Thus, according to the particular requirement, the reveal may be manufactured from a light gauge steel section coated to resist corrosion. Alternatively, the reveal could be manufactured from other suitable materials which lend 6 themselves to being formed into sheets by extrusion, rolling or pressing, such as aluminium, brass or one of many suitable plastics.

Not only will use of the reveal provide substantial savings in time due to the ease with which it may be affixed, but it will also result in a superior finish having greater integrity. In addition, there will be associated savings in labour and material by not having to further prepare the face of the opening. Such reveals would be easily sourced, warehoused, transported and installed and would provide durable corners at less cost than existing systems.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which; FIGURE 1: is a perspective view of a strip according to one S"embodiment of the invention and FIGURE 2: is a cross sectional view through a wall to which 0•e e S"the strip illustrated in Figure 1 has been affixed.

S 20 Referring generally to Figure 1 there is illustrated a i°r continuous length of reveal generally referenced 11 in the form of a strip comprising a central face portion 12 and a pair of side wings 13 each extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the face 12. The wings 13 are perforated with holes 14, whilst a setting bead 15 in the form of a raised protrusion is provided along the junction of each wing 13 and the respective adjacent edge of the face 7 12.

The use to which the reveal may be put is illustrated in Figure 2, wherein like components to those illustrated in Figure 1 are referenced with the same numerals. The reveal 11 is fixed to the stud 16 of a plasterboard partition generally referenced 17 by suitable means. As illustrated plasterboard 18 is first affixed to the stud and screws 19 are inserted through both the wing 13 of the reveal and the board 18 for attachment to stud 16. In a timber frame wall for example nails could be substituted for the screws 19.

In other applications the reveal could be glued in place or 2ven fixed by means of render in masonry/render applications. The wings 13 are then set over with a plasterboard setting compound or cement render (not illustrated) as required.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof.

No limitation with respect the specific embodiment is 20 intended or should be inferred.

Claims (8)

1. A reveal in the form of a cover strip lining member for forming the face of an opening in a wall, the strip having a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a first central section being the base of the U for forming the said face of the opening and two side edges or wings linearly coextensive therewith and extending substantially at right angles from the outer edges of the central face portion to form the arms of the U, the wings having perforations therethrough to receive plaster setting compound or render, setting beads being provided linearly along the junction of each wing and the corresponding edge of the face section, so that in use the strip may be affixed to a wall opening to provide a face therefor, the wings extending away from i 8* .o the opening and generally in the plane of each respective outer surface of the wall adjacent th opening, plaster setting compound or render being applied over each wing and adjacent wall surface as required up to the thickness provided by the setting bead. tol

2. A reveal according to claim 1, in which the strip is of sufficient rigidity so as to resist flexing and thereby assist installation by remaining straight so that installation thereof would only require that it bei fixed plumb.

3. A reveal according to claim 1, in which strip is of sufficient flexibility to allow the formation of curved arches.

4. A reveal according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reveal is manufactured from extruded, rolled or pressed material.

A reveal according to claim 4, in which the material is steel, brass, aluminium or plastic.

6. A method of producing a finished opening for a doorway or the like in which a reveal according to any one of the previous claims is affixed to a stud of a plasterboard partition or other masonry construction by suitable means, the wings thereof being then set over with a plasterboard setting compound or cement render .I as required.

7. A method according to claim 6, in which the means of fixing is selected from amongst nailing, screwing and gluing.

8. A reveal for forming a face of an opening in a wall substantially as described herein in conjunction with the accompanying Figures. a DATED this 17th day of November 1992 CHRISTOPHER JOHN NEECH BY.: I fo th A Patent Attorney for the Applicant ABSTRACT A reveal for use in the construction of openings in walls such as doorways and windows is described. The reveal comprises a strip of generally U-shaped cross-section corresponding to the thickness of the wall. The reveal provides a generally flat face for the opening together with wing elements which may be used to affix the reveal to the stud nf a timber or metal frame wall or otherwise to a wall of masonry construction. A set bead is provided along the junction of the flat face and wing elements so that once affixed, plaster setting compound or render as required may be applied over each wing and adjacent wall surface to provide a smooth finish along the wall surface. 4 4 S* 4* 0 o•