GB2240561A - Ornamental or decorative coving member - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an ornamental member 10 (110, Fig. 2) adapted to be inserted into the angle between a ceiling G and a wall W, the ornamental member being capable of being applied in front of existing coving 11. The invention also provides a method of changing the appearance of the angle between a ceiling and a wall, by inserting such an ornamental member into said angle. In preferred embodiments the member is capable of being applied either to the front of existing coving (Fig. 1), or directly to the ceiling/wall (Fig. 2). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Ornamental Member" Description of Invention This invention relates to an ornamental member and to a method of use of such a member.

There exist large numbers of properties, such as houses and other dwellings, which were provided, at the time of building, with coved ceilings i.e. in which the junction between a ceiling and a wall or walls has the form of a concave, typically quadrantal, curve.

Such existing coving tends to be of uninteresting appearance, however, and in recent years there has developed a trend to remove such coving, such as by chiselling it away by hand, and then to replace it by an ornamental moulding, of the nature of a "cornice", mounted so as to run round the wall of the room concerned (or other like interior space) immediately below the ceiling.

Considerable work, and hence considerable time and potential labour cost, is involved in this process, not only in removing the existing coving, and mounting the cornice, but also in making good damage suffered by the basic wall and ceiling decoration during the coving removal operation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ornamental member adapted to be inserted into the angle between a ceiling and a wall, the ornamental member being capable of being applied in front of existing coving.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the ornamental member is adapted to be applied to the front of existing coving.

It is to be understood that the "front" of existing coving includes the main exposed surface of such existing coving, and also, where present, and if appropriate, the external surfaces of any step or steps where such existing coving meets the ceiling or wall.

An important feature of preferred embodiments of the invention is that of providing an elongate ornamental member having a generally rigid three-dimensional form, preferably such that the member may be adhered to existing coving and/or wall and ceiling through contact over a limited area.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of changing the appearance of the angle between a ceiling and a wall, by inserting into said angle an ornamental member in accordance with the invention. Such method may for example be a method of changing the appearance of existing coving, comprising the step of applying an ornamental member in accordance with the invention to the front of the existing coving.

By applying the member to the front of the existing coving, a resultant appearance which corresponds at least very closely to that of a cornice may be achieved, whilst requiring a minimum of work, time and expense.

Ornamental members in accordance with the invention, and the manner in which they may be utilised in putting the method of the invention into effect, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows in transverse cross-section a first representative ornamental member in accordance with the invention, applied to existing coving; and FIGURE 2 shows in similar manner a second ornamental member in accordance with the invention, applied in front of existing coving.

The general form of such existing coving,and the considerable work, time and potential labour cost which have hitherto been involved in changing its appearance, are as set out in the introductory part of this specification, to which reference is expressly directed.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, an ornamental member 10 which is expressly in accordance with the present invention, is adapted to be applied to the front of existing coving 11 at the junction between a ceiling C and a wall W. The member 10 is moulded, in this example from plaster, although for example it could alternatively be moulded from foam plastics (e.g. expanded polystyrene) material. Alternatively the member 10 may be a foam-plastics backed plaster moulding. (It will be appreciated that use of foam plastics is conducive to manufacture of such members by machine.) The member 10 is generally elongate (the illustrated cross-section being on a plane transverse to its length), having a generally flat back 12, an upper edge surface 14 and a lower edge surface 16.The member 10 has a front surface 18, carrying features 20 of pattern or ornament moulded thereon, which surface 18 is slightly convex whereby the area of the pattern or ornament-carrying surface is increased.

The edge surfaces 14 and 16 are inclined to each other at an obtuse angle.

In an example of the method in accordance with the invention, the member 10 is used to change the appearance of the existing coving 11, by being applied to the front of the existing coving 11.

The existing coving 11, in this example has a concave, generally quadrantal, curved front profile, and the member 10 is adapted, by virtue of its cross-sectional size and the obtuse angle between said edge surfaces, to be mounted on a portion of the front surface of the existing coving, lying between the upper and lower boundaries of the existing coving, with said edge surfaces at least generally conforming to the front profile of the existing coving. The member 10 in this example is secured to the existing coving using an adhesive e.g. a rubber solution "contact" adhesive or any other adhesive capable of providing a fast-sticking action, so that the member does not shift due to flow of the adhesive.

It will be appreciated that by applying the member in the above way, a resultant appearance may be obtained which corresponds at least very closely to that of a cornice, yet with a minimum of work, time and expense.

It will be noted that the member 10 is provided with supplementary upper and lower edge surfaces 22 and 24 which substantially increase the extent to which the mounted insert appears to project from the junction between the ceiling and the wall, in the manner of a cornice.

Members such as the member 10 in accordance with the invention are produced in a variety of standard lengths, with a "repeat distance", in respect of the features of pattern of ornament thereon, of about 0.5 metre enabling high quality sophisticated and sizable patterns to be provided. The members, where moulded from plaster, are made using silicon rubber moulds, the moulds themselves being made from an original master model or models. The generally flat back surface 12 corresponds to the uppermost level of the plaster, when the plaster has been put into the mould, and it will be appreciated that said generally flat back surface helps to reduce the weight of the member and does not interfere, in terms of ease of mounting of the member, with the concave front surface of the existing coving.

It will be appreciated that the task of mounting the member 10 is readily within the scope of the average "do-it-yourself" person, so that the present invention provides not only a useful and efficient alternative for trade use, but also represents a substantial potential "D I-Y" market.

It will be appreciated that the pattern or ornament on the front surface on the member may be adapted to conform to such pattern or ornament as may be provided e.g.

on ceiling tiles and/or on a ceiling "rose" decoration around a lamp fitting.

Whilst the member 10 is designed to be applied to the front of existing coving, this does not preclude direct mounting of the member in the angle between a ceiling and a wall, such as directly between the ceiling and the wall in circumstance where there is no existing coving.

Although an adhesive having a fast-sticking action is preferred, if desired small nails or tacks could temporarily be used to hold the insert in place, while the adhesive is setting.

Referring next to Figure 2 of the drawings, a second ornamental member 110 in accordance with the invention has a generally rigid three-dimensional form, being elongate and being illustrated in transverse crosssection in the drawing. The member 110 has a main web 50, and upper and lower edge portions affording respective upper and lower edge surfaces 114 and 116, analogous to the respective edge surfaces 14 and 16 of the insert 10 described above, but has a back surface 112 shaped [in this example being recessed] so as to afford additional edge surfaces 114a and 116a. The surfaces 114 and 116 are inclined to each other at an obtuse angle, as in the insert 10 and for the same purpose [when the insert 110 is used on coving larger than that presently illustrated], but the additional edge surfaces 114a and 116a are inclined to each other at least substantially at a right angle.The insert 110 is of such a size that in use, with the surfaces 114 and 116 against the ceiling C and wall W respectively, the surfaces 114a and 116a abut respective steps 130 of the existing coving illustrated [which coving serves as a convenient guide for mounting the member 110], and the member 110 is secured in this position, in which it spans the angle between the ceiling and the wall by way of an adhesive applied to the surfaces 114, 116, 114a and 116a, which in combination afford a substantially greater contact area than the surfaces 114, 116 alone.

It will be appreciated that the ornamental member 110 is also capable of being secured so as to span the angle between the ceiling and the wall in situations where there is no coving already present, through adhesion only of the surfaces 114 and 116 to the ceiling and wall respectively, and thus the member 110 is able to serve a dual purpose, namely modifying, or providing, the basic decoration.

Further points relating to my invention are as follows: The invention may for example be utilised in properties which have had coving fitted at any time during their life, as well as to properties where coving has been fitted from the start.

Any ornamental member in accordance with the invention may for example have a foam plastics back and a plaster face, or a plaster back and a foam plastics face, or may include wood, or may include any combination of such materials.

The front surface of the ornamental member may in fact be convex or concave or straight.

The rear face of the ornamental member may have any profile suitable for enabling a sufficiently large adhesion surface to be achieved.

The supplementary surfaces 22 and 24 of the first embodiment 10 are optional.

The repeat distance may for example be of about 0.5 metre or more.

If desired, the pattern on an ornamental member in accordance with the invention may be adapted to conform to that of a dado.

The material of the ornamental members 10 or 110 may be fibre-reinforced, such as by inclusion of staple fibre in the substrate or incorporation of fibre mat supports.

The ornamental member, viewed as a whole, may be generally convex, concave or flat.

The pattern on the ornamental member, may be of a multi-coloured design, e.g. flowers with differently coloured stems and petals.

A preferred material for ornamental members in accordance with the invention is expanded polyurethane foam which, by virtue of expanding during production is capable of reproducing fine mould detail, and which is economical and which by choice of its constituents and their relative proportions, may be arranged to be rigid enough to retain its shape, flexible enough to facilitate handling, and, most importantly, of sufficient strength to avoid damage in transit and due to handling in general. Furthermore, members of polyurethane foam are sufficiently light to be adhered to walls/ceilings/coving by use of simple paste, without preliminary pinning or nailing.

An alternative preferred material for the ornamental members is papier mache', for example incorporating cellulose resins, formed from paper pulp pressed into moulds, and then heated in an oven or the like, for drying. This material is suitable for coving, cornices and ornamental mouldings in general.

The suitability of plaster and/or polystyrene foam has already hereinbefore been described.

In some members in accordance with the invention the decorative surface may comprise a plurality (for example two or three) of individually patterned longitudinally extending zones, and if desired such zones may be severred from each other, for example by longitudinal cutting with a band saw, to provide patterned elongate sub-members for specific purposes e.g. to provide a "dado" or "panel bead" which can be adhered or secured individually to a wall and ceiling, to "match" such members (i.e. said ornamental members, per se) applied, intact, in the angle between a wall or ceiling. This is highly advantageous, enabling essentially three or more distinct products to be afforded by such a member, with correspondingly reduced production costs through reduction of the number of production lines required.

It will be appreciated that any members in accordance with the invention may be cut with mitred end surfaces inclined at substantially 450 to their lengths, to cope with corners between successive walls of a room or the like, and that such mitred members may be provided in relatively short lengths for convenience of use.

Conveniently, the members in accordance with the invention may be provided at least initially with rightangled back surfaces, as seen in transverse cross-section, which if required can be supplied for direct use as cornices, but which, preferably, are then cut, such as with a band saw, in one or more planes longitudinally of their lengths, to afford surfaces such as the surfaces 12, 14 and 16 hereinbefore described, or for example just surfaces corresponding to the surfaces 14 and 16, without a further cut corresponding to the provision of the surface 12, to suit intended purposes.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms or means for performing the desired function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. An ornamental member adapted to be inserted into the angle between a ceiling and a wall, the ornamental member being capable of being applied in front of existing coving.

2. An ornamental member according to Claim 1, adapted to be applied to the front of existing coving.

3. A member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the member is moulded, such as from plaster and/or foam plastics material, or from papier mache'.

4. A member according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 being generally elongate and having a generally flat back, further having an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface, which edge surfaces in use may be mounted against the existing coving in the vicinity of the ceiling and in the vicinity of the wall respectively.

5. A member according to Claim 4 wherein said edge surfaces are inclined to each other at an obtuse angle, such as to be capable of at least generally conforming to existing coving of a generally concave front profile.

6. A member according to any one of the preceding claims having a front surface, carrying features of pattern or ornament, which is at least slightly convex.

7. An ornamental member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of changing the appearance of the angle between a ceiling and a wall, by inserting into said angle an ornamental member according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. A method according to Claim 8, adapted for changing the appearance of existing coving, comprising the step of applying such ornamental member to the front of the existing coving.

10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein the member is secured to the existing coving using an adhesive.

11. A method of changing the appearance of the angle between a ceiling and a wall, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.