Implementations of a wall appliqué are provided. In some implementations, a wall appliqué may be used to decorate and/or accent a wall or other suitable surface of a building. In some implementations, a wall appliqué may be used in lieu of traditional shoe moulding, panel moulding, ceiling moulding, door moulding, stair brackets, chair rails, and/or window moulding. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be applied to a wall or other suitable surface with an adhesive. In some implementations, the wall appliqué comprises a body portion having a front side and a back side. In some implementations, the body portion may have a decorative shape. In some implementations, the front side may have a three-dimensional relief thereon. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a flexible, polyurethane material. In this way, the wall appliqué may be applied to both flat and irregular surfaces.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of a wall appliqué.

BACKGROUND

Old homes, castles, commercial buildings, and estate homes from the 1300's through the 1900's were frequently adorned with one or more architectural embellishments such as trim or moulding. Architectural moulding can include panel moulding, ceiling moulding, scrolls, rosettes, fleur-de-lis, urns, medallions and/or other suitable designs, shapes and symbols. Architectural moulding and embellishments were used alone, or in combination, to add an elegant look to an interior room and thereby elevate the appearance and value of the building. Traditional architectural moulding typically is made of wood, plaster, or stone. Accordingly, the manufacturing and installation of traditional architectural moulding can require relatively expensive machinery and skilled labor. Many homes built in the 20thand 21stcentury do not include architectural moulding or other embellishments because they are expensive and difficult to install.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,284 (“'284 patent”) discloses a decorative wall and ceiling device having a base member comprised of a cross-linked polyethylene foam wherein an adhesive layer is located on the back side of the base member to attach the base member to a wall. The '284 teaches that the cross-linked polyethylene foam is for manufacturing large wall and ceiling devices, for example, a head board for a bed.

However, the decorative wall and ceiling device disclosed in the '284 patent has several disadvantages. First, the cross-linked polyethylene foam may not be suitable for cutting because a cut edge of the foam may expose its porous nature. Second, the decorative wall and ceiling device may not be suitable for cutting with a pair of scissors due to the thickness and/or rigidity of the cross-linked polyethylene foam material. Third, the cross-linked polyethylene foam material has limited flexibility and may not be suitable for use on curved surfaces or to form curved structures after its initial manufacture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of a wall appliqué are provided. In some implementations, a wall appliqué may be used to decorate and/or accent a wall or other suitable surface of a building. In some implementations, a wall appliqué may be used in lieu of traditional shoe moulding, panel moulding, ceiling moulding, door moulding, stair brackets, chair rails, and/or window moulding. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be applied to a wall or other suitable surface with an adhesive.

In some implementations, the wall appliqué comprises a body portion having a front side and a back side. In some implementations, the body portion may have a decorative shape. In some implementations, the front side may have a three-dimensional relief thereon. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a flexible, polyurethane material. In this way, the wall appliqué may be applied to both flat and irregular surfaces.

To use a wall appliqué having an adhesive pre-applied to the backside thereof, the protective covering may be removed from the backside of the body portion. The back side of the wall appliqué may then be positioned on a wall or other suitable surface to which the user desires to apply the wall appliqué. The wall appliqué may then be pressed against the wall or other suitable surface so that the adhesive located on the backside of the wall appliqué may adhere thereto.

In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be cut to a desired length. In this way, the user may fit the wall appliqué into a desired space or construct a structure of specific dimension.

FIGS. 1A-1Cillustrate an implementation of an example wall appliqué100according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, the wall appliqué100may be used to decorate and/or accent a wall or other suitable surface of a building. In some implementations, a wall appliqué may be used in lieu of traditional shoe moulding, panel moulding, ceiling moulding, door moulding, stair brackets, chair rails, and/or window moulding. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be applied to a wall or other suitable surface (e.g., furniture) with an adhesive. In this way, the installation of the wall appliqué does not require tools and/or skilled labor to install. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be used in various craft activities. In this way, the wall appliqué may be used to accent and/or decorate a creative project.

In some implementations, the wall appliqué100comprises a body portion105having a front side110and a back side115.

In some implementations, the front side may have a three-dimensional surface thereon. In some implementations, the front side may have a relief thereon. In some implementations, the front side of the body portion may have a design thereon. In some implementations, the front side may have a three-dimensional design thereon. For example, as shown inFIG. 1A, the front side110has a rosette thereon (see, e.g.,FIG. 1A). In some implementations, the front side may have a two-dimensional design thereon. In some implementations, the front side may have any shape, symbol, pattern, and/or design thereon. In some implementations, the front side of a wall appliqué may have no shape, symbol, pattern, and/or design thereon.

In some implementations, the body portion105of a wall appliqué100may be circular (see, e.g.,FIG. 1A). In some implementations, the body portion may have a rectangular shape. In some implementations, the body portion may have any shape. In some implementations, the body portion may be constructed to have the same or similar shape as any shoe moulding, panel moulding, ceiling moulding, door moulding, stair brackets, chair rails and/or window moulding presently known or developed in the future.

In some implementations, the back side115of the body portion may be flat. In some implementations, the back side of the body portion may be curved. In some implementations, the back side may be any suitable shape or texture that facilitates the wall appliqué being attached to a suitable surface.

In some implementations, the back side115of the body portion105may have an adhesive116applied thereto. In this way, the wall appliqué may be applied to a suitable surface, without the use of tools, by simply pressing it into place. In some implementations, a wall appliqué100having an adhesive116on the back side115may have a protective cover120thereon for storage prior to use (see, e.g.,FIG. 1C). In some implementations, the back side of a wall appliqué may not have an adhesive applied thereto. In this case, an adhesive may be applied to the backside of the wall appliqué by the end user prior to positioning the wall appliqué on the wall or other suitable surface to which the user desires to affix the wall appliqué. In some implementations, a laminated adhesive may be applied to the back side of the body portion. In some implementations a non-laminated adhesive may be applied to the back side of the body portion. In some implementations, a permanent adhesive may be used to attach the wall appliqué to a wall or other suitable surface. In some implementations, a semi-permanent adhesive may be used to attach the wall appliqué to a wall or other suitable surface. In this way, the user may be able to remove the wall appliqué at a later time.

In some implementations, a wall appliqué according to the present disclosure, may be manufactured from a synthetic, a semi-synthetic, a natural material, or a combination of such materials. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from an elastomer. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from any flexible material. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from polyurethane material. In this way, the edges of the wall appliqué will be smooth and nonporous when cut and/or the wall appliqué may be applied to curved and/or irregular surfaces. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness of 30 on a Shore A scale. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness of between 10 and 29, inclusive of 10 and 29, on a Shore A scale. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness of between 31 and 60, inclusive of 31 and 60, on a Shore A scale. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness such that the wall appliqué may be cut with a pair of handheld scissors. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness such that the wall appliqué is flexible enough to be applied to a curved surface. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be manufactured from a material having a Shore (Durometer) hardness such that the wall appliqué may be cut with a pair of handheld scissors and flexible enough to be applied to a curved surface.

In some implementations, a wall appliqué according to the present disclosure may be ⅛″ to ½″ thick. In this way, the wall appliqué may be relatively easy to cut with a pair of common scissors. In some implementations, the wall appliqué may be thinner than ⅛″ or thicker than ½″.

In some implementations, a wall appliqué according to the present disclosure may be white. In this way, the wall appliqué may be painted any suitable color or combination of colors by the end user, if so desired. In some implementation, the wall appliqué may be any suitable color or combination of colors.

FIGS. 2A-2Billustrate another implementation of an example wall appliqué200according to the present disclosure. In some implementation, the wall appliqué200comprises a body portion205, having a front side210and a back side215. In some implementations, the wall appliqué200is similar to wall appliqué100but having a different front side and body shape.

FIG. 5illustrates another implementation of an example wall appliqué500according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, the wall appliqué500comprises a body portion505having a front side510and a backside515. The wall appliqué500is similar to wall appliqué100but having a different front side and body shape. More particularly, in some implementations, the wall appliqué500may have a long, rectangular shape similar to conventional wood trim.

FIGS. 3A-3Billustrates another implementation of an example wall appliqué300according to the present disclosure. As shown inFIGS. 3A-3B, in some implementations, the wall appliqué300comprises a body portion305having a front side310and a back side315. The wall appliqué300may include many of the features of wall appliqué100including the material of which it is made. As shown inFIG. 6B, in some implementations, the wall appliqué300may be configured to cover a seam which may exist between two pieces of abutting wall applique (e.g., wall appliqué500).

In some implementations, a wall appliqué300may be used to decorate and/or accent a piece of trim, a wall, and/or other suitable surface of a structure. In some implementations, the wall appliqué300may be applied to a wall or other suitable surface with an adhesive. In this way, the installation of the wall appliqué does not require tools and/or skilled labor to install.

In some implementations, the body portion305of the wall appliqué300may have one or more rounded surfaces. In some implementations, the body portion of a wall appliqué may have no rounded surfaces.

In some implementations, the back side315of a wall appliqué300may be contoured to fit over a front side of a wall appliqué500or other trim. In some implementations, the back side of a wall appliqué300may be any suitable shape or texture that facilitates the wall appliqué300being attached to a suitable surface. In some implementations, the wall appliqué300may be any suitable shape that facilitates attachment to a piece of moulding and/or trim.

FIGS. 4A-4Billustrate another example implementation of a wall appliqué400according to the present disclosure. In some implementation, the wall appliqué400comprises a body portion405having a front side410and a back side415. In some implementations, the wall appliqué400is similar to wall appliqué300but may be configured to cover a seam and/or gap which may exist between two pieces of wall appliqué (e.g., wall appliqué500) meeting at an angle (e.g., the inside corner where two walls meet). In some implementations, the wall appliqué400illustrated inFIG. 4Amay include many of the features of the wall appliqué100illustrated inFIG. 1Aincluding the material of which it is made.

As shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, one or more wall appliqués constructed according to the present disclosure may be used to decorate a wall or other suitable surface.

To use a wall appliqué according to the present disclosure having an adhesive pre-applied to the backside, thereof, the protective covering may be initially removed from the backside of the body portion. The back side of the wall appliqué may then be positioned and pressed on a wall or other suitable surface so that the adhesive located on the backside may adhere thereto. For example, the wall appliqué may be positioned and pressed on a mantel located above a fire place (see, e.g.FIG. 6B) or any other wall or surface as shown inFIG. 6B.

To use a wall appliqué according to the present disclosure that does not have an adhesive pre-applied to the backside, thereof, an adhesive may be initially applied to the backside of the body portion. The back side of the wall appliqué may then be positioned and pressed on a wall or other suitable surface so that the adhesive located on the backside may adhere thereto. For example, the wall appliqué may be positioned and pressed on a mantel located above a fire place (see, e.g.FIG. 6B) or any other wall or surface as shown inFIG. 6B.

In some implementations, the wall appliqué (e.g., wall appliqué500) may be cut to a desired length. In this way, the user may fit the wall appliqué into a desired space or construct a structure of specific dimension (see, e.g.,FIG. 6B).

In some implementation, the wall appliqué (e.g., wall appliqué300) may be positioned over a seam which may exist between two pieces of abutting wall appliqué (e.g., wall appliqué500) prior to being pressed against the two abutting pieces wall appliqué300(see, e.g.,FIG. 6B).

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.