Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
- 1 -
DEVICE FOR CONCEALING CAULKING JOINT AND METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for
concealing the caulking joint or the like between adjoining
surfaces. More specifically, the present invention is
directed to a device concealing the caulking joints
typically found in the water rooms of households.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a bathroom, joints need to be properly sealed
against water infiltration, for example the joints between a
tile wall and an adjoining bathtub or the joint between a
similar wall and a counter. These joints are usually sealed
using a caulking compound such as silicone or latex based
products. Over time, the high humidity level in the
bathroom can stimulate the growth of mildew on the caulking
joints. Also, these joints can be damaged.
To improve the appearance of these joints, a
number of moldings have been introduced to replace caulking.
Such devices as taught by US Patent No. 4,706,427, issued on
Nov. 17, 1987 to Zeilinger, are often rigid and are designed
to be installed, with an adhesive, on an unprotected joint
to seal it. While these devices isolate the joint from
water exposure and resist deterioration better than a
caulking joint, their installation requires the removal of
the existing caulking, a process that can be very difficult
and time consuming.
Another kind of molding has been proposed to
protect a bathroom joint. Such a molding, taught by US
Patent No. 2,541,768, issued on Feb. 13, 1951 to Kelley, is
installed by being pressed on a fresh joint of caulking
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
- 2 -
before it is cured. It is often flexible and is maintained
in place by the cured caulking, effectively protecting it
against deterioration. Unfortunately, this device also
requires the removal of the existing caulking before
S installation in order to be able to apply a fresh caulking
joint.
Other kinds of protectors are described in the
art, such as the drywall finishing edge strips taught by US
Patent No. 5,045,374, issued on Sep. 3, 1991 to Tucker.
Such finishing strips are adapted to cover corners of
various configurations, such as straight and arched wall
corners as well as exterior and interior wall corners.
These finishing strips are however limited to drywalls, as
they are either too rigid to adequately conform to irregular
wall and bathtub surfaces or include a plurality of slits
making them unsuitable for use in a bathroom joint.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can
improve and preserve the appearance of bathroom joints while
being easily and rapidly installed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a
device that can conceal an existing caulking joint between
two adjacent surfaces.
It is another aim of the present invention that
the device forms a watertight joint to prevent water
infiltration between the surfaces and the device.
It is another aim of the present invention that
the device be relatively easy and quick to install over the
existing caulking joint.
It is yet another aim of the present invention to
provide a method for concealing a joint between adjacent
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
- 3 -
surfaces that does not involve the removal of the existing
caulking.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a device for concealing a caulking joint formed
between adjacent first and second surfaces comprising an
elongated central strip of flexible material having first
and second edges and the strip having first and second
sides; a first flap longitudinally connected to the
elongated central strip along the first edge, the first flap
having a first side adapted to be adhered to a first of the
adjacent surfaces such that the first flap conforms to the
first of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; a
second flap longitudinally connected to the elongated
central strip along the second edge, the second flap having
a first side adapted to be adhered to a second of the
adjacent surfaces such that the second flap conforms to the
second of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; and
the central strip being adapted to cover the caulking joint
with the first side of the central strip facing the caulking
joint when the first flap is adhered to the first surface
and the second flap is adhered to the second surface,
whereby the caulking joint is concealed by the device.
In another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a kit for concealing a pair of intersecting
joints between adjacent surfaces, comprising a device having
an elongated body adapted to have parts of a first side of
the body connected to surfaces defining a joint in a
watertight manner such that a central strip of the body
encloses the joint, the device being adapted to be
transversally cut in segments in order to conform with
lengths of joints; and a cutting template for shaping ends
of a pair of segments of the device in order to obtain
complementary ends between the pair of segments meeting at a
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
- 4 -
pair of intersecting joints so as to conceal the pair of
intersecting joints.
There is also provided a method for concealing a
caulking joint between two adjacent surfaces with an
S elongated body having a central strip with elongated first
and second flaps, comprising the steps of: a) placing and
adhering the first flap to one of the surfaces, adjacent to
the caulking joint; b) placing and adhering the second flap
to the other of the surfaces, adjacent to the caulking
joint; such that the central strip is over the caulking
joint so that the central strip encloses the caulking joint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features comprising this device are
established in the claims presented below. This invention
is detailed in the following description of the preferred
embodiment interpreted in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. lA is a perspective view of a device for
concealing caulking joints according to the invention in a
flat configuration thereof;
FIG. 1B is an end view of the configuration
presented in FIG. lA;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the device of the
invention in an installation configuration thereof;
FIG. 2B is an end view of the configuration
presented in FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of the
invention installed on consecutive caulking joints between
adjacent bathroom walls and a bathtub;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a template used to cut
the device of the invention; and
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the installation
of FIG. 3 with the addition of the device of the invention
on the caulking joint between the two adjacent bathroom
walls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown in FIG. lA to 2B and will now be described. A device
generally shown at 10 is composed of a transversally convex
elongated central strip 12 linking two flaps l4a,b. Each of
the flaps l4a,b is terminated by a tapered edge l6a,b
slightly inclined towards a back side thereof. The flaps
l4a,b are connected to the central strip 12 through hinge
joints l8a,b. Each joint l8a,b acts as a hinge to allow
easy folding of the flaps l4a,b from a flat configuration
illustrated in FIG. lA-1B to an installation configuration
illustrated in FIG. 2A-2B. An adhesive strip 20a,b is
preferably installed on the back side of each flap l4a,b. A
backing strip 2la,b protects the exposed side of each
adhesive strip 20a,b.
In order to protect the covered caulking joint
from water infiltration, the device must be made of a water-
resisting and watertight material. In a preferred
embodiment, the device is made of a flexible water-resisting
and watertight plastic including, but not limited to,
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, thermoplastic olefin
(TPO) and thermoplastic rubber (TPR). It is also possible
to use a more rigid material such as aluminum, as long as
the joints to be covered are straight and hinge joints l8a,b
allow the flaps l4a,b to reach an appropriate installation
configuration. Depending on the material used, the device
can be white or beige to form a relatively discreet joint or
it can be of any color necessary to obtain a decorative
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
- 6 -
effect with respect to the tile, bathtub or wall color. It
is also preferable that the device has a smooth finish to
facilitate cleaning. The device must be thick enough so as
to withstand the risks of puncture occurring in normal use
yet thin enough so as to form an esthetically pleasing
joint.
Also, the adhesive strips 20a,b are preferably
composed of a water-resisting adhesive to form a barrier
helping to stop the water from reaching the enclosed
caulking joint. It is also possible to manufacture the
device 10 without the adhesive strips 20a,b installed on the
back of the flaps l4a,b. In this case, an adhesive (e. g.,
strips) can be provided in a kit along with the device 10.
Before installation, it would be preferable to
clean the adjoining surfaces and the caulking joint to be
covered in order to ensure a good adhesion of the device
10. It is also possible to cut the device 10 to obtain a
length or an end geometry needed for a particular caulking
joint to be covered. An installation process for the device
will be described in the following, the results of which are
illustrated in FIG. 3 where two pieces of the device lOA,B
are installed on consecutive caulking joints 22,23 between
adjacent bathroom walls 24,25 and a bathtub 26. Since it is
necessary in this case, devices lOA,B are cut to obtain the
end shape needed for an adequate joint where the caulking
joints 22,23 meet (details will be given on this process in
a following paragraph). Starting with device 10A, the
backing tape 21a of the adhesive strips 20a (as shown in
FIG. lA to 2B) is removed. The flap 14a is pressed against
the bathroom wall 24 until the adhesive 20a is sufficiently
cured. The central strip 12 is then placed so as to cover
the existing caulking joint 22. The procedure described for
flap 14a is repeated for flap 14b, i.e., the backing tape
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
21b of the adhesive strips 20b is removed before pressing
flap 14b against the bathtub 26 until the adhesive 20b is
sufficiently cured. The procedure is then repeated for the
installation of the device lOB on caulking joint 23 where
flap 14a is set against the bathroom wall 25 and flap 14b is
set against the bathtub 26.
During use, the tapered edge l6a,b will deflect
water to minimize water infiltration between the device and
the wall and tub surfaces. The tapered edges l6a,b are
advantageous when the device is made of a relatively thick
material. However, they can be omitted if the material is
thin enough so that a straight edge is sufficient to deflect
incoming water.
A difficulty often encountered in sealing a joint
is forming adequate corner joints, such as shown in FIG. 3.
It can be hard to find the appropriate cutting angle needed
for adjoining pieces of sealer material in order to obtain
an esthetic, watertight junction between the pieces.
Accordingly, a cutting template 28, a preferred embodiment
of which is presented in FIG. 4, can be provided in a kit
with the device 10 in order to facilitate its installation
in corner joints. The template 28 is composed of two parts
30, 32. To form an appropriate corner joint, one of the
adjoining members l0A (refer to FIG. 3) must be cut
transversally according to template part 30 and the other
member lOB is cut transversally according to template part
32. The flap 14a and central strip 12 of the member lOB
will be installed overlapping the flap 14a and central strip
12 of the member 10A. Overlapping of the flaps 14a and
central strips 12 will insure a better watertight joint.
The flaps 14b of members l0A and lOB can be installed in an
adjacent manner or overlapped as well. The template 28 is
designed for perpendicular surfaces, but it is contemplated
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
to design other templates for other junction angles.
Alternatively, the template may consist of a single member
having the different edges on opposite sides, or having a
single guide edge suitably used to shape ends of opposed
strips to a single complementary shape. It is also
contemplated to offer the device 10 in pre-cut strips of
standard bathtub lengths and also with ends already cut for
a corner joint to further facilitate installation.
The device can also be used to conceal the
vertical caulking joint between shower walls, as shown in
FIG. 5. In this case, a piece of the device lOC is
adhesively connected at the junction of the two walls 24,25
in a similar way as the one described for pieces 10A and
lOB. There are a number of different ways to insure a
watertight joint at the junction of pieces 10A, lOB and 10C.
For example, device lOC can be installed over the horizontal
junction of devices l0A and lOB after cutting the edge in
contact with devices 10A,B to an appropriate shape. One
appropriate shape can be seen in FIG. 5 where the flaps
l4a,b of device lOC have a straight transversal edge aligned
with hinge joints 18a of devices l0A and lOB and the central
strip 12 has a rounded pointed shape to conform to the front
side of the central strips 12 of pieces l0A and lOB.
The device is not only adapted to be installed on
joints between bathroom walls or between walls and bathtub,
but can also be used over similar joints, including, but not
limited to, joints between a bathtub and a bathroom floor
and joints between a bathroom counter and a wall.
It will be appreciated that the invention is not
limited to the specific embodiments described. In
particular, the central strip 12 can be transversally
straight but very flexible in order to be able to conform to
the shape of the existing caulking joint 22. Also, the
CA 02442220 2003-09-23
_ g _
whole device 10 can be continuous, with no apparent
demarcation between the flaps l4a,b and the central strip
12, as long as the device is flexible enough to conform to
the joint and adjoining surfaces. Furthermore, other water-
s resistant adhesive means can be used to replace the adhesive
strips 20. These variations and other that are apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be
included in the present invention.
