Patent Publication Number: US-8123231-B2

Title: Seal

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a §371 national stage filing of PCT International Application No. PCT/GB2006/003607 filed on Sep. 28, 2006 and published in English on Apr. 5, 2007 as PCT publication WO 2007/036726 A1, which claims the benefit of priority from British application number GB 0519681.1, filed on Sep. 28, 2005, and British application number GB 0619102.7, filed on Sep. 28, 2006. The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     This invention relates to a seal for providing a liquid-tight barrier between two surfaces lying generally perpendicular to each other. The invention is directed especially, but not exclusively, to a seal for application between a sanitaryware item, such as a bath, basin or shower tray, to prevent, or at least substantially reduce, seepage of water between the item and an adjacent wall or other upright surface against which the item is installed. The seal of the invention can also be used for sealing between a work surface or skirting and an adjacent wall or other upright surface. 
     In my British Patent No. 2289924, there is described and claimed a seal for sealing between two surfaces lying at substantial right angles to each other, with the seal comprising two preformed, liquid-impervious strips having respective interlocatable members. One of the strips is generally L-shaped with its interlocatable member being constituted by one limb thereof, with the other limb providing a first outer surface and sealing edge. The interlocatable member of the other strip comprises a surface which overlies the first limb of the one strip to form a second outer surface for the seal, with the first and second outer surfaces of the two strips being contiguous with each other. 
     Experience has shown that this known seal is both complex in structure and has been found to be difficult to install satisfactorily, particularly at corners. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,731 discloses a complex device for forming a transition between two perpendicularly-adjoining surfaces, the device having first and second angled legs, an elastic sealing strip moulded to and extending the first leg, a hard plastics fitting leg moulded to the strip and facing away from the second leg and an adhesive profile with a support bridge moulded to the fitting leg. 
     This known device allows for compensation of the different stresses occurring in the surfaces bounding the jointing. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,376, there is described a finishing strip or moulding for engaging between a wall and an article, which has first and second rigid profiles and first and second flexible profiles joined to their respective rigid sections, with the rigid profiles folded upon each other and latched together by an ear and tab. 
     All the known types of seal and other devices discussed above are complex in nature and tend to be difficult to install, whilst the components thereof which perform the sealing function tend to lose their resilience over time or are insufficiently resilient in the first place, thereby having a deleterious effect on the integrity of the installed seals. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a seal which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, the disadvantages associated with the known seals discussed above. 
     Accordingly, the invention resides in a seal for sealing between two surfaces lying generally perpendicular to each other, the seal comprising a first profile which has a base adapted to be fixed sealingly to a first surface and an upstand which projects from the base and which defines respective inner and outer opposed surfaces, and a second profile which overlies the upstand of the first profile and which, when viewed in section, comprises inner and outer depending limbs which engage slidably respective ones of the opposed inner and outer surfaces of the upstand of the first profile, wherein at least one of the inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile bears resiliently against the respective surface(s) of the upstand of the first profile in sliding engagement therewith. 
     Preferably, both the inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile bear resiliently against the respective surfaces of the upstand of the first profile in sliding engagement therewith. 
     Preferably also, it is the free end of the or each inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile which engages slidably the respective surface(s) of the upstand of the first profile. 
     In practice, and when the seal is installed, the first profile may represent a lower profile which can be secured to, say, the generally horizontal rim of a sanitaryware item or a worktop, whilst the second profile may represent an upper profile secured to, say, a wall or other generally vertical support surface to which the sanitaryware item or worktop is installed. In such an event, the upstand of the lower profile would project upwardly from the base thereof and the inner and outer limbs of the upper profile would extend downwardly. 
     In an embodiment of seal to be described in more detail hereinbelow, the two profiles are preformed and at least the inner depending limb of the second profile is inclined inwardly of the seal, such that, when the seal is installed, a space for adhesive is defined between that inner limb and the surface engaged by the second profile. On installation of the seal, the inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile may bend, due to inherent resilience and as they bear resiliently against respective inner and outer surfaces of the upstand of the first profile. 
     Preferably, the outer surface of the outer depending limb of the second profile and the outer surface of the upstand of the first profile which is engaged slidably by that outer limb, define at least part of the outer surface of the seal when installed. 
     The upstand of the first profile may comprise one or more upstanding ribs. If, for example, the upstand comprises one upstanding rib, then the opposed inner and outer surfaces thereof are engaged respectively by the inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile, preferably by the free ends of those limbs. 
     If, however, the upstand comprises two spaced upstanding ribs, preferably generally parallel with each other, then the inner surface of the inner rib is engaged by the inner depending limb of the second profile and the outer surface of the outer rib is engaged by the outer depending limb of the second profile. 
     The upper regions of the respective inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile may be connected integrally together by means of a cover portion whose juncture with the upper region of the inner limb is adapted to engage sealingly one of the two perpendicular surfaces to which the seal can be installed. 
     Preferably, the base of the first profile of the seal has an inner heal and an outer toe adapted to be adhered sealingly to the other of the two surfaces to which the seal is installed. 
     In another embodiment to be described in more detail below, the free end of the outer limb of the second profile is arranged to engage the outer surface of the upstand of the first profile at a different level, usually a lower level, than the free end of the inner limb of the second profile engages the inner surface of the upstand. In this arrangement, such different levels of engagement of the free ends of the outer and inner limbs of the second profile with the respective outer and inner surfaces of the upstand tends to apply a moment to at least the second profile which urges it toward the surface to which it is secured when the seal in installed and during installation. 
     The inner surface of the upstand may be provided with a stop which is engaged by the free end of the inner limb of the second profile when the seal is in its fully contracted condition. 
     Preferably, the seal is a two-part seal. 
     Thus, the invention provides a seal whose first and second profiles can, when the seal is installed between two generally perpendicular surfaces, move relative to one another, to allow for movements between the two surfaces, whilst retaining the required watertight seal between the two surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment of seal in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional elevation of a seal in its contracted condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional elevation of the seal shown in  FIG. 1  but in its expanded condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, in partial section of the seal of  FIGS. 1 and 2  installed between the rim of a bath and below tiling on a wall generally perpendicular thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view, again in partial section, of the seal shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  installed between a bath rim and tiles secured to a wall perpendicular thereto; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view, yet again in partial section, of the seal of  FIGS. 1 and 2  installed between a working surface of a kitchen unit and an upstand secured to a wall perpendicular thereto; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional elevation of a modified form of seal in its contracted condition; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional elevation of another modified form of seal, again in its contracted condition; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional elevation of a further modified seal in its contracted condition; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional elevation of yet a further modified seal in its contracted condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the accompanying drawings, a two-part seal, indicated generally at  1 , for sealing between the generally horizontal rim of a sanitary-wear item, such as a bath, and an adjacent wall comprises a first, lower profile  2  and a second, upper profile  3 . 
     The lower profile  2  comprises a base  21  having respective outer toe and inner heal portions  22 ,  23 , and an upstand, indicated generally at  24 , comprising a pair of spaced inner and outer ribs  25 ,  26  upstanding from the base  21 . Respective inner and outer surfaces  27  and  28  of the inner and outer ribs  25 ,  26  define respective inner and outer surfaces of the upstand  24 . 
     The upper profile  3  comprises an inner, downwardly depending limb  31  and an outer downwardly depending limb  32  whose respective lower free ends  33 ,  34  engage the inner and outer surfaces  27 ,  28  of the upstanding ribs  25 ,  26  of the lower profile  2 . 
     The lower free ends  33 ,  34  of the limbs  31 ,  32  engage slidably and bear resiliently against the respective inner and outer surfaces  27 ,  28  of the ribs  25 ,  26  and are connected together by a cover portion  36  whose juncture  35  with the upper end of the inner, downwardly depending limb  31  is adapted to engage at  38  a vertical wall, as will be described hereinafter. 
     The outer, downwardly depending limb  32  is arcuate, whilst the inner, downwardly depending limb  31  is generally linear, when viewed in cross-section, but, when the two profiles  2 ,  3  are assembled and installed, at least the outer limb  32  tends to bend to a certain extent, due to its resilient engagement with the outer surface of the upstanding rib  25 . 
     Also, the inner, downwardly depending limb  31  is inclined inwardly of the seal  1 , such that a space is defined between that limb  31  and the vertical wall with which the juncture  35  of the upper profile  3  engages and is secured adhesively thereto after installation. Upon installation, that limb  31  may also bend as it engages resiliently against the inner surface  27  of the inner rib  25 . 
     Recesses  29 ,  29 ′ are provided on the underside of the base  21  of the lower profile  2  adjacent respective inner heel and outer toe portions  22 ,  23  thereof. These recesses  29 ,  29 ′ can accommodate adhesive for securing the lower profile  2  to the rim of a bath. Alternatively, the recess  29 ′ may accommodate an adhesive tape for securing at least the outer toe portion  23  of the base  21  of the lower profile  2  to a bath rim, whilst adhesive applied to the bath rim and accommodated in the recess  29 , cures. 
     Thus,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the seal  1  in its respective contracted and expanded conditions, with conditions intermediate those extreme conditions resulting from movement between two generally perpendicular surfaces to which the profiles  2  and  3  are secured. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  of the accompanying drawings, here is shown the seal  1  installed in a watertight manner between the generally horizontal rim  101  of a bath, indicated generally at  100 , and an adjacent vertical wall, indicated generally at  200 , with the seal  1  being located beneath a tile  201  secured by adhesive  202  to the surface of the wall  200 . 
     In this particular arrangement, a bead of adhesive  102  has been applied to the bath rim  101  adjacent the wall  200  and the lower profile  2  of the seal  1  has been pressed on to the adhesive  102  which is accommodated within the recess  29 . 
     A double-sided adhesive tape  103  pre-applied to and accommodated within the recess  29 ′ was provided to hold the toe portion  22  of the base  21  of the lower profile  2  firmly against the bath rim  101 , whilst the adhesive  102  located between the lower profile  2  and the edge of the bath rim  101 , cured. 
     Then, a bead of adhesive  203  was applied to the wall  200  and the upper profile  3  of the seal  1  positioned with respect to the lower profile  2  by straddling that profile  2 , with the inner and outer downwardly depending limbs  31 ,  32  resiliently engaging respective opposed, inner and outer surfaces  27 , 28  of the pair of upstanding ribs  25 ,  26  of the upstand  24  of the lower profile  2 . 
     Because the inner downwardly depending limb  31  of the upper profile  3  is inclined inwardly of the seal  1 , a space  204  is defined between that limb  31  and the surface of the wall  200  for accommodating the adhesive bead  203 . 
     Subsequently, the upper profile  3  has been urged downwardly with respect to the lower profile  2 , such that the disposition between the two profiles  2 ,  3  shown in  FIG. 1  was assumed. 
     After that, tiles  201  were applied to the surface of the wall  200  by means of adhesive  202 , to partially overlie the seal  1 , after which sealing adhesive  205  was applied between the lower edge of the tiles  201  and the cover portion  36  of the upper profile  3  of the seal  1 . 
     Because the lower free end  34  of the outer limb  32  engages the outer surface  28  of the outer upstanding rib  26  at a lower level than the lower free end  33  of the inner limb  31  engages the inner surface  27  of the inner upstanding rib  25  of the upstand  24 , and also due to the resilient engagement of those lower free ends  34 , 33  of the respective outer and inner limbs  32 , 31  with the outer and inner surfaces  28 , 27  of the respective outer and inner upstanding ribs  26 , 25 , an anticlockwise moment, when the seal installation is viewed in section, tends to be generated to urge the upper profile  3  of the seal  1  towards the adjacent wall  200 , thereby tending to increase the integrity of the watertight seal between the bath rim  101  and wall  200 . This has been found to be applicable for intermediate states of the seal  1  between its contracted and expanded conditions. Also, such a moment assists installation of the seal  1 , in that at least the upper profile  3  tends to be urged against the wall  200  and retained in position whilst the other installation steps are completed. 
     In this manner, the seal  1  provides a watertight seal between the bath rim  101  and wall  200 , which can accommodate not only vertical movement of the bath rim  101  with respect to the wall  200  and tile  201  but also a degree of longitudinal movement of the seal  1 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4  of the accompanying drawings, here, the seal  1  has been applied between the bath rim  101  and a row of existing tiles  201 . 
     The lower profile  2  of the seal  1  has been installed to the bath rim  101  in substantially the same manner as that described above in relation to  FIG. 3 , using the adhesive bead  102  and/or adhesive tape  103 . 
     Adhesive  202  has then been applied to the wall tiles  201  and the juncture  35  of the upper profile  3  has been applied at  38  to the surface of the tiles  201  and moved downwardly with respect to the previously-applied adhesive  203 , to wipe at least some of that adhesive  203  into the space  204  defined between the inner, downwardly depending limb  31  of the upper profile  3  and the surface of the tiles  201 . 
     In a similar manner to the arrangement discussed above with reference to  FIG. 3 , the upper profile  3  straddles the upstanding ribs  25 ,  26  of the lower profile  2 , in resilient and sliding engagement therewith. 
     Thus, once again, the seal  1  provides a watertight seal between the bath rim  101  and tiles  201 , with any generally vertical movement between the bath rim  101  and the tiles  201  being accommodated by corresponding relative movement between the lower profile  2  and upper profile  3  of the seal  1 . 
     Again, the seal  1  may also accommodate some relative horizontal movement between its lower and upper profiles  2 ,  3 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , a modified form of the seal  1  is shown in combination with a worksurface, bath or shower rim  400  and a wall  500  to which the worksurface, bath or shower rim  400  is installed. The seal  1  is substantially the same as those described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the components having been numbered correspondingly, but is provided with an integral upstand  300  which extends upwardly from the upper profile  3  and which is secured to the wall  500  by a mechanical and/or adhesive fixing (not shown). 
     Tiles or a showerboard  201  (only one tile shown) are secured to the wall  500  by adhesive (also not shown) but overlap the upstand  300 . The mechanical and/or adhesive fixing secures the upstand  300  to the wall  500 , with the tiles or showerboard  201  abutting the top of the upper profile  3 , whereby those upstand fixings support the weight of the tiles or boards  201 , rather than the seal  1  itself. 
       FIG. 6  shows another modified form of seal  11  which is substantially the same as the seals  1  described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 5  and which comprises lower and upper profiles  12 , 13 . The components of those profiles  12 , 13  are generally the same as those of the seal  1  and are numbered correspondingly. 
     However, the cover portion  36  of the upper profile  13  is provided with an upstanding rib  40  which, when the seal  11  is installed between the generally horizontal rim of a sanitaryware item, such as bath or shower tray, and an adjacent vertical wall, sealing adhesive (not shown) can be applied between the wall and rib  40  for sealing the lower edge of, say, a shower board to the cover portion  36  of the upper profile  13  of the seal  11 . 
     Yet another modified form of seal  111  is shown in  FIG. 7 , in which lower and upper profiles  112 , 113  are provided. In this case, the lower profile  112  is substantially identical to the lower profiles  2 , 12  of the seals  1 ,  11  described above in relation to respective  FIGS. 1 to 5  and  FIG. 6 , with the upper profile  113  also including the rib  40  upstanding from the cover portion  36  of the upper profile  113 . Again, the components of the seal  111  which are common with those of the seals  1 , 11 , are numbered correspondingly. 
     However, in this modified form of seal  111 , the upper profile  113  is provided adjacent the juncture  35  of its cover portion  36  and the upper end of its inner, downwardly depending limb  31 , with a generally vertical upstand  41  which facilitates the securement of at least the upper profile  113  to an adjacent vertical wall or other support. 
     In this particular case, adhesive may be applied between the upstand  41  and rib  40  for sealing the bottom edge of, say, a shower board to the cover portion  36  of the upper profile  113  of the seal  111 . 
     In yet a further modified form of seal  211 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , the lower and upper profiles  212 , 213  thereof are substantially similar to those of the seal  1  described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     However, in this particular form of seal  211 , the upper ends  236 , 237  of the outer and inner ribs  225 , 226  which constitute the upstand  224  of the lower profile  212 , are barbed at  240  and  243  at the respective inner and outer surfaces  227 , 228  thereof. 
     Similarly, the inner and outer downwardly depending limbs  231 , 232  of the upper profile  213  are barbed at  241 , 242 , respectively, adjacent their lower ends  233 , 234 . 
     In this manner, respective pairs of complementary and engageable barbs  240 , 241  and  243 , 242  are provided such that, when the seal  211  approaches its fully expanded condition, the barbs  240 , 243  on the ends  237 , 236  of the inner and outer ribs  225 , 226  of the lower profile  212  are engaged by the respective barbs  241 , 242  of the inner and outer limbs  231 , 232  of the upper profile  213 , to prevent separation of those profiles  212 , 213 . 
     It is to be noted that the inner upstanding rib  25 , 225  of the lower profiles  21 , 112 , 212  of the seals  1 , 11 , 111 , 211  described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , are, in the fully contracted condition of the seal, inclined slightly out of the vertical away from the outer ribs  26 , 226 . In the fully expanded conditions of the seals  1 , 11 , 111 , 211 , those inner ribs  25 , 225  have been urged into the vertical or very close thereto, by the action of the respective inner depending limbs  31 , 231  of respective upper profiles  3 , 113 , 213 . 
     Yet another further modified form of seal  311  is shown in  FIG. 9 . This seal  311  is similar to the seals  1 , 11 , 111  and  211  described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , in that it comprises a lower profile  302  and an upper profile  303 , with the lower profile  302  comprising a base  321  having respective outer toe and inner heal portions  322 , 323 . Also provided is an upstand  324  comprising a pair of spaced inner and outer ribs  325 , 326  upstanding from the base  321 . The upper profile  303  comprises an inner, downwardly depending limb  331  and an outer downwardly depending limb  332  whose respective lower free ends  333 , 334  engage the inner and outer surfaces  327 , 328  of the upstanding ribs  325 , 326  of the lower profile  302 . These lower free ends  333 , 334  engage slidably and bear resiliently against the respective inner and outer surfaces  327 , 328  of the ribs  325 , 326  and are, again, connected together by a cover portion  336  whose juncture  335  with the upper end of the inner limb  331  is adapted to engage at  338  a vertical wall, as described hereinbefore. 
     However, in this modified seal  311 , a stop  340  is provided at the lower end of the inner rib  325  and is engageable by the lower end  333  of the inner depending limb  331  of the upper profile  303 , when the seal  311  is in its fully contracted condition as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Also, the base  321  of the lower profile  302  has on its underside a recess  329  which extends over substantially the whole of the width of the base  321  and which accommodates the thickness of a double-sided tape  304  adhered to the upper surface of the rim  301  of a sanitaryware item or the like and to the underside surface of the recess  329 . In this manner, the lower profile  302  is secured and sealed to the rim  301 . 
     Thus, it is to be appreciated that the invention provides a seal whose upper and lower profiles, when installed between a pair of generally perpendicular surfaces, are able to move with respect to each other when viewed in the section and, to a certain extent, longitudinally, whilst retaining the required watertight seal between the two surfaces. 
     It is to be appreciated also that other modifications may be made to the seal which fall within the scope of the following claims, without detracting from the integrity of the seal. For example, the upstand in the seals  1 , 11 , 111 , 211  and  311  described above have a pair of upstanding spaced ribs which constitute the upstand of the lower profile but may be replaced with a single rib or even more than two ribs. Further, the components of the seal may be made from any suitable material, preferably, a plastics material which can be extruded. 
     Further, it is to be understood that the embodiments of seal described above are two-part seals, which facilitate installation and reduce production costs.