GB1569893A - Simulated constructinal members - Google Patents

Description

(54) SIMULATED CONSTRUCTIONAL MEMBERS (71) I, RONALD CREASES, a British subject, of 51, Goddington Road, Strood, Near Rochester, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to means for simulating the appearance of old beams or the like of the kind used, for example in Tudor buildings, and to a method of producing such simulated beams.

Such simulated beams are used in the restoration of Tudor buildings when it is necessary to provide means that will harmonise with the existing woodwork. They may also be used in modern buildings to lend a decorative effect to an otherwise plain appearance.

According to the invention, a simulated beam or other constructional member, comprises a rigid foundation layer having at least one of its edges carved to the typical contour of an old beam or other member, and a coating of plastics material applied to one or more surfaces of the foundation layer, the outer surface of the plastics coating having been treated by staining and graining to simulate the appearance of old wood.

The foundation layer may consist of any suitable rigid material such as plasterboard, insulating and polyurethane foam board, but preferably consists of the latter material.

A suitable form of polyurethane foam material for use according to the invention consists of that sold under the Registered Trade Mark PURLBOARD P and consisting of a layer of polyurethane foam faced with chipboard paper.

A suitable plastics material consists essentially of butyl rubber, glyoxal and plaster.

Particularly suitable is the material sold under the trade name ARTEX and consisting of butyl rubber, whiting, glyoxal, asbestos, plaster, Dacron, Courtelle, mica and perlite. Dacron and Courtelle are Registered Trade Marks.

In a beam suitable - for use as a cross beam, the foundation layer may consist of two lengths of foundation material that have been secured together by means of an adhesive, at least one outer edge of one of said lengths having been carved as described above.

A beam suitable for use as a main beam may consist of four lengths of foundation material that have been secured together by means of an adhesive to form a box structure, at least one edge of said structure having been carved as described above.

A suitable adhesive for use according to the invention is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark EVOSTIK.

According to a further feature of the-invention, a layer of scrim may be provided between the foundation layer and the plastics coating to assist the adhesion of the plastics coating.

The treatment of the surface of the plastics coating to simulate the appearance of old wood involves essentially the steps of staining the outer surface of the coating and treating it to produce a grain effect.

This grain effect is advantageously achieved by brushing the surface of the coating and then lightly moving a mica sheet thereover.

A woodworm effect may be produced by treating the surface of the plastics coating with a spiked roller.

The method of producing simulated beams and other members according to the invention will be more fully understood from the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 illustarte the production of a simulated cross beam.

Figure 4 to 6 illustrate the production of a simulated main beam, and Figure 7 is a cross-section of a finished beam.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a simulated cross beam according to the invention is produced in the following manner.

Two strips 10 and 11 of polyurethane foam material, such as PURLBOARD P, are secured together by adhesive 12, as shown in Figure 1. The outer edges of the strip 11 are then carved, preferably by hand, as indicated at 13, to the typical contour of an old beam. A coating of suitable plastics material, such as ARTEX, is then applied to the outer surface of the strip 11 and to the edge surfaces 14 of the strip 10, a layer of scrim being placed between the strips and the plastics coating to assist adhesion of the latter. The outer surface of the plastics coating is finally treated to simulate the appearance of old wood by staining and graining as hereinbefore described.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, a simulated main beam according to the invention is produced in the following manner.

Four strips 15 to 18 of polyurethane foam material such as PURLBOARD P, are secured together by means of adhesive 12 to form a box structure as shown in Figure 4. The edges of the strip 17 are then carved, preferably by hand, as indicated at 19, to the typical contour of an old beam. A layer of scrim is applied to the outer surfaces of the box structure and said surfaces are then coated with a suitable plastics material, such as ARTEX, and the outer surface of the coating is treated to simulate the appearance of old wood by staining and graining as hereinbefore described.

A cross-section through a finished simulated beam is shown in Figure 7 wherein 20 and 21 are strips of polyurethane foam material, such as PURLBOARD P, secured together by adhesive 22, the outer edges of the strip 20 having been carved as above described, as indicated at 23, 24 is a layer of scrim, and 25 is the plastics coating the surface of which has been treated as above described.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A simulated beam or other constructional member, comprising a rigid foundation layer having at least one of its edges carved to the typical contour of an old beam or other member, and a coating of plastics material applied to one or more surfaces of the foundation layer, the surface of the plastics coating having been treated by staining and graining to simulate the appearance of old wood.

2. A simulated member according to claim 1, wherein the rigid foundation layer consists of a polyurethane foam material.

3. A simulated member according to claim 2, wherein said polyurethane foam material is faced with chipboard paper.

4. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the plastics material consists essentially of butyl rubber, glyoxal and plaster.

5. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-4, wherein a layer of scrim is located between the foundation and the plastics coating.

6. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-5 suitable for use as a cross beam, consisting of two lengths of foundation material secured together by means of an adhesive, at least one outer edge of one of said lengths having been carved as aforesaid.

7. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-5 suitable for use as a main beam, consisting of four lengths of foundation material secured together by means of an adhesive to form a box structure, at least one edge of said structure having been carved as aforesaid.

8. A method of forming an element simulating the appearance of an old beam or other constructional member, comprising carving at least one edge of a foundation layer to the typical contour of an old beam or other member, applying to one or more surfaces of the foundation layer a coating of plastics material, and treating the outer surface of the plastics coating by staining and graining to simulate the appearance of old wood.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the foundation material consists of polyurethane foam material.

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said plastics material consists essentially of butyl rubber, glyoxal and plaster.

11. A method according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the graining effect is achieved by brushing the surface of the plastics coating and then lightly moving a mica sheet thereover.

12. A method according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein a woodworm effect is created by treating the surface of the plastics coating with a spiked roller.

13. A method according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein a layer of scrim is applied to the surface of the foundation material before the application of the plastics coating.

14. A simulated beam or other constructional member and a method of producing same substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a simulated cross beam according to the invention is produced in the following manner. Two strips 10 and 11 of polyurethane foam material, such as PURLBOARD P, are secured together by adhesive 12, as shown in Figure 1. The outer edges of the strip 11 are then carved, preferably by hand, as indicated at 13, to the typical contour of an old beam. A coating of suitable plastics material, such as ARTEX, is then applied to the outer surface of the strip 11 and to the edge surfaces 14 of the strip 10, a layer of scrim being placed between the strips and the plastics coating to assist adhesion of the latter. The outer surface of the plastics coating is finally treated to simulate the appearance of old wood by staining and graining as hereinbefore described. Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, a simulated main beam according to the invention is produced in the following manner. Four strips 15 to 18 of polyurethane foam material such as PURLBOARD P, are secured together by means of adhesive 12 to form a box structure as shown in Figure 4. The edges of the strip 17 are then carved, preferably by hand, as indicated at 19, to the typical contour of an old beam. A layer of scrim is applied to the outer surfaces of the box structure and said surfaces are then coated with a suitable plastics material, such as ARTEX, and the outer surface of the coating is treated to simulate the appearance of old wood by staining and graining as hereinbefore described. A cross-section through a finished simulated beam is shown in Figure 7 wherein 20 and 21 are strips of polyurethane foam material, such as PURLBOARD P, secured together by adhesive 22, the outer edges of the strip 20 having been carved as above described, as indicated at 23, 24 is a layer of scrim, and 25 is the plastics coating the surface of which has been treated as above described. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A simulated beam or other constructional member, comprising a rigid foundation layer having at least one of its edges carved to the typical contour of an old beam or other member, and a coating of plastics material applied to one or more surfaces of the foundation layer, the surface of the plastics coating having been treated by staining and graining to simulate the appearance of old wood.

2. A simulated member according to claim 1, wherein the rigid foundation layer consists of a polyurethane foam material.

3. A simulated member according to claim 2, wherein said polyurethane foam material is faced with chipboard paper.

4. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the plastics material consists essentially of butyl rubber, glyoxal and plaster.

5. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-4, wherein a layer of scrim is located between the foundation and the plastics coating.

6. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-5 suitable for use as a cross beam, consisting of two lengths of foundation material secured together by means of an adhesive, at least one outer edge of one of said lengths having been carved as aforesaid.

7. A simulated member according to any of claims 1-5 suitable for use as a main beam, consisting of four lengths of foundation material secured together by means of an adhesive to form a box structure, at least one edge of said structure having been carved as aforesaid.

8. A method of forming an element simulating the appearance of an old beam or other constructional member, comprising carving at least one edge of a foundation layer to the typical contour of an old beam or other member, applying to one or more surfaces of the foundation layer a coating of plastics material, and treating the outer surface of the plastics coating by staining and graining to simulate the appearance of old wood.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the foundation material consists of polyurethane foam material.

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said plastics material consists essentially of butyl rubber, glyoxal and plaster.

11. A method according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the graining effect is achieved by brushing the surface of the plastics coating and then lightly moving a mica sheet thereover.

12. A method according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein a woodworm effect is created by treating the surface of the plastics coating with a spiked roller.

13. A method according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein a layer of scrim is applied to the surface of the foundation material before the application of the plastics coating.

14. A simulated beam or other constructional member and a method of producing same substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.