2355994 EDGINGS This invention relates to edging strips for floor
coverings, and more specifically to edging strips that will readily provide for the transition of thresholds 5 such as doorways.
Many types of floor covering are used in dwellings and other such buildings. It is a requirement that these floor coverings may be fitted over the floor of the building in which they are to be used and finished at the edges in a practical and aesthetically pleasing way. When fitting soft coverings such as carpet this does not present a problem, because the covering may be easily cut to shape in situ and finished by turning down the edges between previously fitted battens and the edge of the wall, or skirting board. However, problems arise when a hard floor covering, such as a laminate panel, is desired.
Laminated floor coverings are supplied in large panels, approximately 3. 66 m 2 for example, which Gan be of a substantial thickness and rigidity. As such, the fitting of these panels to the periphery of a room proves difficult, because each panel must be cut to size and shape prior to being laid. If a panel is cut to a size smaller than that required, or in an incorrect shape, that panel may not be used to cover the intended section of floor. To make the fitting of such floor coverings more easy, it is known to use edgings. Such edgings are conventionally in the form of strips which fit between the wall and the flooring, abutting the wall and covering the edge of the floor covering. In this way, edgings reduce the difficulty of fitting hard floor coverings, by removing the requirement that the covering abuts the wall or skirting board. In addition, such edgings provide a small space between the edge of the hard floor covering and the wall to accommodate any expansion or contraction that the floor covering may be subject to.
Problems arise when using the edging strips mentioned above to finish a hard floor covering. When the floor covering is to be laid up to a doorway, it is particularly difficult to ensure that a good fit is achieved around the door frame.
2 Further, the stretch of floor covedng traversing the threshold must either be left bare across the doorway, or a finishing strip or carpet gdp must be used. Such finishing strips are generally of solid construction, and have a D-shaped crosssection. Fitting such strips around and across a doorway would necessitate a large amount of cuffing and joining to accommodate the conventional doorframe footprint.
It is clear from the above that problems exist in the fitting of hard floor coverings to doorways, and in providing an acceptable finish traversing the doorway. Therefore, there is a need for improved apparatus for and methods of finishing floor coverings, particulady around the footprints of doorframes.
The present invention provides an edging strip for floor covedngs which is easily fitted to provide an aesthetically pleasing and practical finish. Further, there is provided an edging strip which will span doorways providing an easily fitted -threshold.
According to the present invention there is provided an edging strip for floor coverings. The strip is suitable for hard floor coverings such as laminate and tiles, or soft floor coverings such as carpets.
There is further provided in accordance with the preferred embodiments, an edging in the form of a strip, comprising at least one strip of substantially L-shaped cross-section. There may be two separate strips attachable to one another. The strip of L-shaped cross-section may comprise a side, a top surface and a nose extending from the top surface. A shoulder may be provided between, and joining, the top and the side. The first strip may overlap a floor covering edge, and the side and nose may be of a length whereby the top will present a substantially horizontal surface when the side rests upon the floor and the nose upon the floor covering. Separate lengths of the strip may be joined by means of rods insertable in grooves formed in the top or side of the stHp. The grooves may break the underneath surface of the top. Adhesion may be by means of a clip fit, adhesive, or otherwise 3 The second strip may comprise a riser, an angled surface attached to the riser at one end, and a lip extending away from the angled surface substantially perpendicularly to the riser. When connected, the lip of the second strip may abut the shoulder of the first strip causing a snug joint to be made. Alternatively, the lip may be tapered along its bottom surface and a corresponding taper may be formed in place of the shoulder on the first strip so that, when fitted together, a snug joint is formed. In this position, an outside surface of the riser of the second strip may be attached to an outside surface of the side of the first strip by means of an adhesive strip inserted therebetween. The adhesive strip may be provided attached to one or other of the surfaces, or may be separate. When attached to the first strip, the second strip stands upon the floor to provide a smooth transition between the floor coverings of rooms accessed through a doorway or other such portal.
In an alternative embodiment, the second strip may comprise a flat top surface and a surface downwardly angled from one end thereof. There may be a support strip with an inverted top hat shaped cross-section, which comprises a bottom section, two side sections, and possibly two brim sections. The bottom section may be located in a position raised with respect to the foot of each side section to accommodate an adhesive strip. The support strip may be attached to the underside of the top surface of the second strip by adhesive strips in a position abutting the outer surface of a first side of the first strip, and may be screwed to the floor through apertures placed generally centrally and along the length of the strip. Alternatively, the support strip may be fixed to the floor by means of an adhesive strip attached thereto in the recess formed between the side sections and the raised bottom sections.
The strips may be provided in different lengths and may be easily cut to size and shape. They may be molded from aluminium or any other suitable material, alternatively they may be machined. They may be provided in various colours, and patterned foils may be adhered to them.
4 The first strip may be attached to the wall or skirting board by an adhesive strip sandwiched between the outside surface of the first side and the wall or skirting board, thereby concealing the edge of the floor covering. A second strip may be attached thereto to finish the floor covering on the other side, thus creating a door sill (or threshold) or an aesthetically pleasing edging bounding an uncovered area of floor.
Another aspect of the present invention consists of a method of finishing a floor covering. A first strip may be attached to a wall in a position so as to conceal the edge of a floor covering laid substantially up to the wall, and to present a top surface thereof in a substantially horizontal plane. A second strip is then attached to the first strip in such a way as to provide a substantially horizontal then angled profile, and showing almost no sign of a join between the first and second strips. The fist strip may be attached directly to a wall in a "new build" room or indirectly, via a skirting board, in a room being renovated or improved Three specific embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure la is a cross-sectional view of an edging strip of the present invention; Figure lb is a cross-sectional view of an alternative to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 1c is a view depicting a method of positioning the embodiment of Figure 1 a for adhesion; Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of an alternative to the embodiment of Figure 2a; Figure 3a is a perspective view of means for joining the striips of the present invention; Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view along the lines III - III in Figure 3a; Figure 4a is a view of the present invention fitted in a recess beneath a skirting board; Figure 4b is a view of the present invention attached to the outwardly facing vertical surface of a skirting board; Figure 4c is a view of the present invention in use with different height floor coverings; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an expansion joint in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to Figure la of the accompanying drawings, a combination edging strip generally designated as 2 comprises a first strip 4 and a second strip 6. When positioned to finish a floor covering edge, the first and second strips abut one another along their respective outward facing vertical surfaces 8 and 10 and are fixedly attached one to the other by means of a foam adhesive strip 12 sandwiched between their surfaces 8,10.
The first strip 4 is of a substantially L-shaped cross-section. It comprises a first side 14, a top 16 and a curved nosel 8. As may be seen in Figure 1 b, the interior surface of the second side 16 may be tapered from the joint 20 to the foot thereof. The curved nose 18 is of a shorter length than the first side 14 and may even be machined away to provide a flat surface level with the underside of the top surface 16, and providing a downwardly curved finish to the end of the top 16 distal to the first side 14. The first side 14 is joined to the top 16 by way of a rebated shoulder 22 provided therebetween and the surface of the joint resident inside the strip 4 is curved. The shoulder has a depth that is substantially identical to the thickness T of the material from which the strip 4 is molded.
The second strip 6 is formed with the cross-sectional configuration of a wedge. The strip 6 comprises a riser 24, a top 28 and a downwardly angled surface 26, the riser and angled surface being attached to opposite ends thereof. The distal end of the downwardly angled surface 26 is linearly and inwardly tapered on the underside, by the machining away of unwanted material to provide a sharpened wedge shaped end piece. The strip 6 is configured so that the flat top 6 surface 28 is oriented substantially horizontally when attached to the first strip 4 as will be described below. In addition, top 28 extends to define a lip 30 that overhangs the riser 24 by amount substantially equal to the combined thickness T of the strip 4,6 and the thickness t of the foam adhesive strip 12.
The first 4 and second 6 strips may be attached to one another as follows. As previously stated, the outside vertical surface 8 of the first strip 4 and the outside vertical surface 10 of the riser 24 of the second strip 6 are positioned so as to abut the foam adhesive strip 12 positioned therebetween. When so positioned, the lip 30 of the secondstrip is positioned to abut the upright surface of the shoulder 22 and to rest upon the surface perpendicular thereto, thereby forming a snug fit. One method of achieving this positioning is for the lip 30 to be located in the shoulder 22 with the second strip 6 upwardly angled from the top surface of the first strip 4. The second strip is then pivoted, as shown in Figure 1c, around this point of contact between the two strips 4,6 until they are positioned as described above. As may be seen from Figure 1 a, when connected in the above described manner the flat top surface 28 of the second strip 6 and the top surface of the top 16 of the first strip 4 form a substantially horizontal surface with little evidence of a joint therebetween. In this position, the riser 24 of the second strip is of a shorter length than the first side 14 of the first strip 4 to ensure that a good fit is not prevented by uneven flooring beneath the riser 24.
The edging strip 2 may be used to finish a floor covering as described below. The first strip 4 is positioned with its first side 14 in a small gap that will exist between the edge of the floor covering 32 and the skirting board or wall up to which it is being laid. The first strip is attached to the wall or skirting board using the foam adhesive strip 12, so that the bottom surface 34 of the first side 14 abuts the floor being covered. The top 16 of the strip 4 extends outwardly from the, wall or skirting board passing over the edge of the floor covering 34. The curved nose 18 extends therefrom to contact and rest upon the outer surface of the floor covering 32. The curved nose 18 is of a length to ensure that, when positioned in this way, the top surface of the top 16 is substantially horizontal. I n this way, the edge of a floor covering may be finished around the walls of a room in an 7 aesthetically pleasing and practical manner. To further improve the quality of the finish, a bead of filler, such as an acrylic filler, may be adhered between the top surface of the top 16 of the first strip 4 and the wall or skirting board where they abut one another, to mask any irregularities in the wall or skirting board, and to soften the transition between the two surfaces. This bead may be located in the shoulder22 or a flexible seal may be applied to the extrusion.
When the floor covering must be finished across a doorway or portal, the first strip 4 extends across the doorway and is attached to the wall as described on either side of the opening. The first strip thus extends across the opening leaving an outward vertical surface 8 exposed. The second strip 6 is cut to fit the footprint of the doorframe, or inserted beneath it as will be described later, and attached to the exposed surface 8 of the first strip 4 as already described, thus providing a finish to the floor covering that gives an acceptable transition between the two rooms accessed through the doorway or portal, that may replace the traditional wooden sill (threshold).
The strip 2 is molded or extruded from a lightweight material such as aluminium, which may be easily handled and readily cut to the size and shape required. The edging strip 2 is supplied in lengths along with the adhesive strips 12 required for its mounting. Further, to increase its aesthetic appearance, the strip may be provided in v.arious colours, and may be decorated by the application of a patterned foil thereto. Such foils are attached by way of hot adhesives or are laminated to the strip in the desired location prior to any machining that may be carried out thereon.
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in Figure 1b, the shoulder 22 is replaced by a 300 chamfer. Similarly, the lip 30 of the second strip is tapered in the opposite sense to that described above in order that when the two strips are joined, as has already been described, the two chamfered surfaces abut one another providing a horizontal, seemingly joint free, surface comprised of the top 16 of the first strip 4 and the top surface 28 of the second strip 6.
8 A second embodiment of the present invention providing an edging strip of greater width is described with reference to Figure 2a of the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment like parts are indicated by the same numerals used in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the first strip 4 is identical to that described for the first embodiment. However, the second strip 6 comprises a flat surface 28 extended in length, and a downwardly angled surface 26. In this embodiment, the edging strip 3 further comprises a support strip 36 with an "inverted top hat" cross-sectional configuration. Such an edging strip 2 provides a broader cross piece for location at the foot of a doorframe.
When fitted, the end 38 of the flat top surface 28 of the second strip 6 is fitted to the shoulder of first strip 4 in the same manner as the lip 30 in the first embodiment. The expanse of the top surface 38 requires that support is provided in order to prevent deformation or damage to the strip when a weight or pressure is applied. Support strip 36 comprises a bottom section 38, two side sections 40a, 40b and two top or brim sections 42a, 42b. Each of the brim sections 42a, 42b is fixedly attached to the underside of flat top surface 28. Fixing is by means of foam adhesive strips 44a, 44b. The support strip may be positioned at any point beneath the second strip 6 so as to provide support thereto. The support strip is attached to the floor in this position by a plurality of screws or nails inserted through holes in the bottom section 38. The holes are located generally centrally across its width, and spaced along its length. Additionally, the support strip 36 and second strip 6 are configured so that, when assembled with the first strip 4, the top surface 28 of the second strip and the top surface of the first strip 4 provide a substantially horizontal flat surface, with little evidence of the joint therein. The dimensions of the strip are not crucial to ensure that this is so, variation in height to accommodate various floor and floor covering levels may be obtained by varying the thickness of adhesives strip used.
An alternative support strip 36 is shown in Figure 2b. This support strip is adhered to the floor using a foam adhesive strip 48. To accommodate this strip 48, the bottom surface 38 is configured in a raised position with respect to the foot of each of the two side sections 42a, 42b.
9 The means for joining successive lengths of the first or second strips of any of the above embodiments are described with reference to Figures 3a and 3b, which depict joints made in lengths of the first strip 4. Each length of strip 4,6 is 5 provided with a tubular groove 50 located in the lower surface 52 of the top section 16. The tubular groove 50 is configured so that it breaks the lower surface 52 of the strip 4,6 in such a way as to give the groove 50 a cross-sectional configuration of a circle with a small symmetrical section clipped therefrom. Small rods or dowels 54, which outside diameter fit snugly within the inside diameter of the groove 50, are inserted therein, firstly in one section 401 of the strip, and then in a second section 402. The two strip sections 401,402, are then positioned abutting one another, forming a joint therebetween. In addition, rods manufactured at predetermined angles, such as 900, are provided for joining strips at those angles when they are appropriately shaped to be so joined.
Alternative methods of fitting are described with reference to Figure 4a to 4c of the accompanying drawings. As may be seen in Figure 4a wherein a new build skirting board is depicted, the first strip 4 of the present invention is fitted against the plastered wall and the new skirting board is applied over the strip 4. This provides for a lesser protrusion of the strip into the room and allows the use of cheaper and more attractive slimline skirting boards. Such a method is ideally for use in the construction of new properties, although it may be readily used in the refurbishment of existing properties. However, the previously described method of adhering strips to the skirting board, as shown in figure 4b, would involve less work Additionally, such a method may be used to accommodate different floor heights in different rooms, as depicted in Figure 4c. The floor covering 46 of a second room may be raised to be level with the top surface of top 16 of the first strip using conventional stackers laid therebeneath. The first strip to which the floor covering 46 of a second room is raised to be level with, is that finishing the floor covering 32 laid in a first room. In this situation, the first strip 4 is used as described previously, but without the second strip 6 of any of the above embodiments.
A further embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings. This embodiment of the present invention provides for a joint to be made between two panels or sections of floor covering. An expansion joint comprises a substantially rectangular channel 102 open at its top. Along the inside of the channel 102 and located along the sides 104a, 104b thereof, are serrations running parallel to the bottom surface of the channel 102. There is also provided a finishing plate 106 comprising a top panel 108 and two downwardly projecting legs 110a, 110b. Panel 108 is provided with ends that have a downwardly tapered or curved finish, and the legs 11 Oa, 11 Ob project downwardly from its underneath surface. The legs 11 Oa, 11 Ob are provided with serrations on their outwardly facing sides which will grip the serrations provided within channel 102 when placed in contact herewith. The legs are spaced apart so as to provide a firm fit with the sides 104a, 104b of the channel 102 when pushed therein to form the joint. 15 To assemble the strip, the channel 102 is screwed to the floor in a gap between two sections of floor covering and the plate 106 is pushed into it. The plate 108 extends over the edges of each floor covering panel providing a finish thereto, and allowing for expansion and contraction of the panels.
Although the present invention has been described as consisting of extruded or molded aluminiurn strips, many other materials may be used for its manufacture. In addition, other forms of adhesive and fixings than the foam adhesive strips and screws described, may be used.
It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.