Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Processes – Sealing
Patent
1997-10-16
1999-08-03
Kent, Christopher
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Processes
Sealing
52 24, 522871, 522881, 5271703, 5271705, 527461, E04F 1904
Patent
active
059309733
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to the fitting of carpets and in particular to the prevention of soiling at the perimeter of a fitted carpet. While the invention is applicable to the fitting of any carpet in any room of a domestic or multi-purpose building it is seen to particularly good advantage in the case of carpets of lighter colours especially on floors composed of wooden floorboards.
It is necessary to allow a draught of air under wooden floor boards. The air invades the room through the gap present between the floor and the wall skirting board. When the carpet is close fitted the passage of air is restricted but not avoided. As a consequence of the air movement dust particles present in the air are filtered by the edge of the carpet and leave a visible dirt mark along the edge. Regular vacuum cleaning around the edge of the carpet draws more air from under the edge of the carpet and accordingly increases the amount of dust filtered into the carpet. It is impossible to clean a carpet soiled in this way, and dependant on the draught and colour of the carpet can be spoiled in a short time. It is an object of this invention to provide an object to solve this problem, and a method of installing the object.
It is known from GB-A-2198941 to locate an L-shaped carpet protector in the angle between a wall and a floor of a building. The device is not intended to be urged into the corner to seal a gap.
According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a method of sealing a carpeted room against ingress of dust by closing the gap between a skirting board on a vertical wall and the wooden floor boards of the floor by placing an L-shaped flexible gasket in between the board and the carpet, characterised by engaging one limb of the gasket with the adjacent wall or floor surface, urging that section of the gasket where the two limbs connect into the gap whereby the gasket matches the perimeter contours of the room and then securing the other limb to the respective floor or wall surface.
It is an important feature of this invention that the gasket be formed of flexible material. This makes it easy to bend or fold the gasket in such a way that it can match the perimeter contours of the room caused for example, by uneven skirting board joints, curved bays, etc. (If the gasket were made of a rigid material it would not be possible to apply the gasket effectively to such areas). Preferably the gasket is formed of a sheet material such as polyethylene, having a pre-creased bend so that the gasket can be provided in roll form, and opened up will form an `L` shaped. The vertical limb of the gasket would be applied to the skirting board, the foot or horizontal limb opened against the floor. If the polyethylene is of a low gauge then electrostatic force would be sufficient to locate the gasket against the underlying surfaces or a narrow strip of weak peel-off adhesive applied to the gasket during manufacture would suffice. The gasket is applied to the skirting board before any carpet fixing devices.
Preferably the base limb is adapted to be secured to the underlying floor when gripper fixing strips are present or adhesive is to be applied. For this latter purpose the base limb is perforated so that when adhesive is applied over the base limb (by way of trowel, spray, or adhesive tape), sufficient floor area is available through the base limb to the adhesive to allow the required bond between carpet or carpet gripper and the floor. It is an especial advantage of the invention that where the carpet has a foam backing, and is fixed with adhesive, the edge of the carpet can be uplifted from the floor along with the polyethylene which considerably reduces damage normally associated with contact adhesive installations.
The gasket of the invention provides a high degree of protection to skirting board finishes from the abrasive backing of the carpet, and the scraping action of bolster chisels, when used.
Preferably the gasket is made of an opaque material.
The height of the vertical is preferably equal to or greater than that of th
REFERENCES:
patent: 3092869 (1963-06-01), Stump
patent: 3430402 (1969-03-01), Gaiser
patent: 4114346 (1978-09-01), Kelly
patent: 5481845 (1996-01-01), Koenig, Jr.
patent: 5584149 (1996-12-01), Wilson
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