GB2450861A - Coving system for use at a floor wall junction - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a coving system for completing a junction at floor level between an internal wall section (8 figure 1) and the face of a side wall (4 figure 1) so as to provide a smooth continuous surface from the wall to the floor (2 figure 1). The system is preferably for use in a wet room or shower. The system comprises a coving body 12 that fits at a lower corner of the internal wall section, and an insert 18 which is coupled to the coving body, wherein the insert has a profile compatible with the predetermined profile of the junction between the floor and the side wall. The insert will normally be one of a number of inserts each having a profile compatible with a particular boundary profile (6 figure 1). A later embodiment relates to a method of using said coving system.

Description

I

COVING SYSTEM

This invention relates to internal wall sections, and particularly the junction at floor level between an internal wall section and the face of a side wall. Where the junction between the floor and between the side wall is defined by a right angle, then the fitting of a internal wall section thereto is generally quite straightforward. However, even a small variation from a right angle can lead to fitting problems. The present invention seeks particularly to address such problems.

While substantially perpendicular junctions between floors and side walls are stilt most commonly used, increasingly one, normally the floor, is adapted to form a smooth continues surface merging with the other. Such profiling at the boundary between the floor and the side wall reduces the tendency for dust and debris to accumulate, and facilitate cleaning generally. Such profiling is particularly suitable in so called "wet rooms" in which water is to be diverted from such boundary lines.

Where an internal wall section is to be fitted against a side wall where the boundary with the floor has been so profiled, the respective corner of the internal wall section can be adapted to match that boundary profile.

Coving systems have been proposed in which a corner piece is fitted to an internal wall section, and then cut to match the profile of the boundary between the floor and the respective side wall. The present invention seeks to avoid the need to cut an internal wall section or a corner piece thereon. According to the present invention, a separate insert is provided for coupling to a coving body which is itself fitted at the lower corner of an internal wall section. The insert is selected to have a profile compatible with the profile of the boundary between the respective floor and side wall.

More particularly, the present invention is directed at a coving system for completing the junction at floor level between an internal wall section and the face of a side wall.

The system comprises a coving body for fitting at the lower corner of the internal wall section; and an insert for coupling to the coving body. The insert has a profile compatible with a predetermined profile of a boundary between a floor and a side floor. The coving body would normally have a pair of flanges for overlaying the sides of a respective internal wall section, with the flanges extending to define a recess for receiving the insert. The insert will normally couple to the coving body by means of a sliding fit. This will preferably include a dovetail joint on a suitable face of the coving body.

Systems according to invention will normally include a plurality of inserts, each having a profile compatible with a different predetermined profile of a boundary between a floor and a side wall. The system will also provide for a degree of experimentation to ensure that a selected insert is the best match to a floor/wall boundary, before being fully coupled to the coving body. The insert may be formed with a spigot which is initially aligned with a socket in the coving body, but only engaged when the desired match has been found. Such a spigot may have a taper and cruciform cross section which, once engaged in the complementary socket, secures the insert relative to the coving body.

Coving systems of the invention may be incorporated into internal wall sections provided substantially ready for installation. Thus, a wall section may be provided with a coving body of the invention which is at a lower corner thereof, and an insert or plurality of inserts being provided with one being coupled thereto prior to the wall section being fitted. Such a wall section can be a wall compensator, adapted for assembly with adjacent wall sections, or to support an internal door.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described prior way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a wall compensator attached to a side wall, and supporting a low level internal door; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the coving system of the invention, fitted to the wall compensator shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the coving system of Figure 2 with the insert separated from the coving body; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the coving body showing the recess in which the insert is received; Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side views of the coving body and two alternative inserts having different profiles.

Figure 1 shows a section of floor 2 and of a tiled wall 4 and a boundary 6 aiong which they meet. A wall compensator 8 is fitted to the tiled wall 4, and a low lever shower door 10 is hingedly mounted on the wall compensator 8.

The profile of the boundary 6 between the floor 2 and the wall 4 is curved to provide a smooth continuous surface from the wall to the floor. In a wet room or shower environment it is important that the junction between the wall compensator and the boundary and adjacent regions of the floor and wall is substantially sealed. This is accomplished according to the invention by the fitting at the respective lower corner of the wall compensator, of the coving system illustrated in figures 2 and 3.

The primary component of the coving system illustrated in figures 2 is the coving body 12. It has two flanges 14 which when fitted, extend along either side of the wall compensator 8, and a projection 16 for insulation in a complementary opening (not shown) in the wall compensator. The wall compensator will normally comprise a hollow aluminium execution, with an opening for receiving a projection such as that illustrated in a friction fit. The components of coving systems according to the invention will normally be moulded plastic elements made from example PA6 (Nylon) having appropriate flexibility and resilience to fit securely to aluminium exclusions of the kind referred to.

The other element of the coving system illustrated in figures 2 and 3 is insert 18. It has a mount 20 with parallel sides to be received between the flanges 14 where they extend to form the recess 24 (see figure 4). Attached on either side 22 of the mount are wings 26, each having an upper edge which matches and is adapted to engage the lower edge of extended portion of the respective flange 14. The lower edge of each wing matches the profile of the boundaries 6 between the floor 2 and waIl 4 in figure 1. Thus, when the insert 18 is fitted into the recess 24 of the coving body 12, itself attached to the wall compensator 8, and the wall compensator is fitted to the wall 4, the wings 26 sits neatly in the boundary 6 to complete the junction at floor level between the wall compensator and the face of the waIl 4.

In order to accurately fit the insert 18 in the recess 24 of the coving body 12, the insert is formed with an elongate projection 28 which slides in a complementary recess 30 formed in the wall 32 of the recess 24, in the form of a dovetail joint. This ensures that the wings 26 and the flanges 14 are in proper juxtaposition when the insert is coupled to the coving body. In order to secure the coupling, a spigot 34 is formed at the top of the mount 20, which engages a corresponding socket 36 formed in the coving body 12. The spigot is typically formed with a taper and cruciform cross section such that it makes an interference fit with the socket 36. In this way, once the insert is properly coupled to the coving body, the coupling is secure.

As noted above, coving systems according to the invention will normally include a plurality of inserts 18, each exhibiting a different profile for matching different boundary profiles between a wall and a floor. Two such inserts are illustrated in figures 6 and 7, although it will be appreciated then in some circumstances the main curving body itself can be used without an insert if its own profile matches a particular boundary. As shown in figure 5, the main curving body has a profile based on a 50mm radius. The profile of the insert illustrated in figure 6 is based on a 25 mm radius. The profile of the insert illustrated in figure 7 is a 5mm radius; almost, if not quite a right angular boundary. It will be appreciated of course that a wide variety of different profiles may be provided on various inserts for coupling to the same curving body, without necessarily having to have uniform curvature. For example, the boundary between a wall and a floor could be defined by a flat surface which an insert in the curving system according to the invention can readily match. Even if an exact match cannot be made, it can normally be sufficiently close to enable a seal to be completed.

Claims (12)

1. A coving systems for completing the junction at floor level between an internal wall section and the face of a side wall, which system comprises a coving body for fitting at the lower corner of a said wall section; and an insert for coupling to the coving body, the insert having a profile compatible with a predetermined profile of a boundary between a floor and a side wall.

2. A system according to Claim I wherein the coving body has a pair of flanges for overlaying the sides of a said wall section, the flanges extending to define a recess for receive the insert.

3. A system according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the insert couples to the coving body by means of a sliding fit.

4. A system according to Claim 3 wherein the sliding fit is defined by a dovetail joint on a face of the covering body.

5. A system according to any preceding Claim wherein the insert is formed with a spigot for engaging a socket in the coving body to secure the insert relative thereto.

6. A system according to Claim 5 wherein the spigot has a tapered cruciform cross-section.

7. A system according to any preceding Claim wherein the coving body has a projection for installation in a complementary opening in a said wall section for fitting the body thereto.

8. A system according to any preceding Claim including a plurality of said inserts, each having a profile compatible with a different predetermined profile of a boundary between a floor and a said wall.

9. An internal wall section for fitting against the face of a said wall, which wall section has the coving body of a system according to any preceding Claim fitted at a lower corner thereof, and an insert for coupling to the coving body, the insert having a profile compatible with a predetermined profile of a boundary between a floor and a side wall.

10. An internal wall section according to Claim 9 comprising a wall compensator with the coving body fitted at a lower corner thereof, the wall compensator being adapted to support an internal door.

11. An internal wall section according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, for defining a boundary of a shower region in a wet room.

12. A method of completing the junction at floor level between an internal wall section and the face of a side wall, using a coving system according to any of Claims 1 to 8, comprising fitting the coving body of the system to a lower corner of the wall section; coupling an insert to the coving body, which insert has a profile compatible with the profile of the boundary between the side wall and the floor; and securing the internal wall section against the side wall with the insert juxtaposition to the boundary between the side wall and the floor.