U.S. patent number 3,740,908 [Application Number 05/105,248] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-26 for wall paneling.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Swan Corporation. Invention is credited to John W. Moore.
United States Patent |
3,740,908 |
Moore |
June 26, 1973 |
WALL PANELING
Abstract
An assembly of interfitting wall panels adapted for covering the
surfaces of perpendicularly disposed walls; and being so
constructed as to permit of relative adjustment for accommodating
walls of varying extent while obscuring any imperfections in
intervening joints. Said paneling may be easily and securely
mounted upon any conventional support structure.
Inventors: |
Moore; John W. (Creve Coeur,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Swan Corporation (St. Louis,
MO)
|
Family
ID: |
22304795 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/105,248 |
Filed: |
January 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/261; 52/35;
52/390; 52/420; 156/71; 156/257; 428/77; 428/189; 428/192 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F
13/0889 (20130101); Y10T 428/24752 (20150115); Y10T
156/1064 (20150115); Y10T 428/24777 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E04F
13/08 (20060101); E04b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/149,36,37,38,39,40,41,145,148,167,406,147,44,108,126
;156/157,291,71 ;52/420,173,35,261 ;160/235 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lesmes; George F.
Assistant Examiner: Bell; James J.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Wall paneling comprising a central panel and a pair of side
panels, each of said panels being of sturdy, integral construction
and being fabricated from molded material, each of said side panels
being of angle configuration in cross-section having a main section
and an extended section in mutually, substantially planar
perpendicular relationship, said side panels being so mutually
related that the respective extended sections are substantially
coplanar, the extended sections of said side panels each being free
in its side edge remote from the associated main section, said
central panel disposed overlyingly of the extended sections of said
side panels in their mutually adjacent portions, obscuring the free
side edges thereof, the plane of said central panel being
substantially parallel to the plane of said side panel extended
sections and the plane of said central section being substantially
perpendicular to said side panel main sections, and adhesive means
securing the said central panel and its free side edge portions to
the overlain portions of said side panel extended sections.
2. Wall paneling as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by
the extended sections of said side panels being spaced-apart, said
central panel having a central portion presented between the
extended sections of said side panels, said central panel having
side marginal portions protruding from the plane of said central
portion overlying the free side edges of said extended
sections.
3. Wall paneling as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by
said central panel marginal portions returning in their edge
extremities toward the proximate extended section of said side
panels developing a fluid-proof joint therebetween.
4. In combination with a wall recess having parallel spaced-apart
side walls and an intervening intermediate wall in substantially
perpendicular relationship to said side walls, wall paneling
comprising a central panel and a pair of side panels, each of said
panels being of sturdy construction and being fabricated from
molded material, each side panel being of angle shape in
cross-section having a main section disposed against a side wall of
said recess and an extended section disposed against the proximate
portion of said intermediate wall, each extended section being free
in its end margin remote from the respective main section, said
central panel having an inner face and an outer face and having a
transverse extent sufficient to overlie the portions of said
extended sections of said side panels adjacent the free ends of the
latter, the plane of said central panel being substantially
parallel to said side panel extended sections and being
substantially perpendicular to said side panel main sections, first
securing means fixing said side panels flatwise upon the proximate
portions of said recess walls, and second securing means fixing
portions of said central panel substantially flatwise on its inner
face upon underlying portions of said side wall extended
sections.
5. In combination with a wall recess having parallel, spaced-apart
side walls, and an intermediate wall in substantially planar
perpendicular relationship to said side walls, wall paneling
comprising a central panel and a pair of side panels, each of said
panels being of sturdy construction and being unitarily fabricated
from molded material, each side panel being of angle shape in
cross-section having a main section and an extended section, said
main sections being areawise commensurate with said recess side
walls and being disposed thereon, each of said extended sections
having a vertical height commensurate with that of said
intermediate wall and a transverse extent equal to one-half or less
of the width of said intermediate wall, each extended section
having a free end edge remote from its main section for edgewise
mutual confronting disposition, said central panel having an inner
face and an outer face having a height commensurate with that of
said recess intermediate wall and a transverse extent no greater
than the width thereof, the plane of said central panel being
substantially parallel to the planes of said side panel extended
sections and substantially perpendicular to the planes of said side
panel main sections, said central panel mounted on its inner face
overlyingly of the mutually proximate portions of said side panel
extended sections obscuringly of the free end margins thereof, and
means for securing portions of said central panel substantially
flatwise upon said side panel extended portions.
6. Wall paneling as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by
said first securing means being pressure sensitive material
provided upon the wall-directed faces of said side panel extended
and main sections.
7. Wall paneling as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by
said pressure sensitive material being of band-like configuration,
extending vertically upon said side panel sections, and being
located adjacent the mutually remote edges thereof.
8. Wall paneling as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by
said second securing means being pressure sensitive material
provided on the inner face of said central panel.
9. Wall paneling as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by
said central panel having lateral, forwardly protruding portions
for overlying the adjacent portions of the extended sections of the
related side panels, said pressure sensitive material on said
central panel being disposed upon the inwardly directed face of
said lateral forwardly projecting portions.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to wall construction and, more
particularly, to panels adapted for interfitting relationship upon
mutually perpendicular surfaces.
It is an object of the present invention to provide paneling
adapted for disposition upon the adjacent surfaces of
perpendicularly related walls for obscuring any imperfections in
the joints between such walls and thereby obviating the need for
plumbing of the underlying support structure as has been heretofore
requisite.
It is another object of the present invention to provide wall
paneling comprised of interfitting components so constructed as to
allow for relative adjustment for accommodating wall surfaces of
varying extent, while assuring of snug coverage of the support
structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide wall paneling
of the type stated which may be most economically manufactured,
rapidly installed in operative position, by a workman without
requiring complex tools and instruments.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
wall paneling of the type stated which is particularly useful for
bathtub surrounds being so related as to be leakproof.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide wall
paneling of the type stated which is productive of cost reduction
in labor and material in building construction; which is adaptable
for presentation in a multiplicity of materials of construction,
varying colors, and surface ornamentation to provide a versatility
in usage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of wall paneling constructed in
accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating
the same in mounted condition as constituting a bathtub
surround.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the side panel at the left side of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the side panel at the right
side of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the center panel.
FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6--6 of
FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line
7--7 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 8 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line
8--8 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line
9--9 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which
illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A
indicates generally wall paneling for a wall recess 1, such as
developed for receiving a bathtub 2, which recess, upwardly of said
bathtub, is constituted of side walls 3,3' and an intermediate wall
4. Said walls 3,3' and 4 may be of conventional construction,
comprising drywall, such as, wallboards 5, secured, as by nailing,
upon studding, designated 6. The aforesaid wall construction is
presented for purposes of illustration only since the present
invention may be utilized with equal facility with other wall
structures.
As shown in FIG. 2, wallboards 5 of side walls 3,3' form joints
with the adjacent edges of the wallboard of wall 4, as at 7,7'. It
is not imperative that the adjacent edges of the related wallboards
form a snug joint, since any inadvertent spacing therebetween
resulting from lack of plumb, or the like, is without moment in
view of the present invention; all as will be shown hereinbelow.
Thus, the need for careful cutting of wallboards 5, or the
necessity of effecting mitering of the edges thereof for joint
formation, is obviated.
Wall paneling A includes a pair of side panels 8,8' for disposition
upon side walls 3,3' , respectively, and the proximate portion of
intermediate wall 4. Each side panel 8,8' is of angle configuration
comprising a main section 9 and an extended section 10 which are
mutually perpendicular with said main sections 9 being
commensurately dimensioned for covering side walls 3,3' of recess 1
and with said extended sections being of a transverse extent less
than half the length of intermediate wall 4 whereby when said side
panels 8,8' are in mounted position the outer edge portions of said
extended sections are spaced apart for reasons presently appearing.
Side panels 8,8' are of identical construction and configuration,
being produced from the same die, so that the same may be readily
interchanged, as in an end for end manner. Said side panels 8,8'
being most economically produced are fabricated of preferably
moulded material such as fiberglas; being relatively thin yet
sturdy and durable. Each side panel 8,8' is provided with a
continuous marginal flange 11 for tight joint formation with the
adjacent wallboard; there being an enlargement of such flange at
the juncture of said main and extended sections, as at 12, for
assuring snug abutment with the corner developed by side walls 3,3'
and intermediate wall 4. As marginal flange 11 is turned inwardly
toward the adjacent wallboard a spacing is developed between said
wallboard and the inner face of the confronting side panel section
(see FIG. 8); with such spacing being enhanced in the outer
marginal portion of each main section 9 as by the development of a
slight protrusion thereto as at 13 (see FIG. 9) which allows for
the disposition against the rearward face of each of said sections
10, 11 of each side panel 8,8' proximate their outer edges of a
vertically extending continuous strip of pressure sensitive
adhesive as at 14,14', respectively, (FIGS. 8 and 9) for effecting
firm adherence of said side panels upon the related wallboards
whereby said panels 8,8' are stable in mounted disposition; being
reliably anchored so as to be proof against accidental displacing
or shifting; and with such stability being further increased by the
reception of the corner portions 12 of marginal flange 11.
For completing the decorative covering of wall recess 1 there is
provided a central panel 15 for disposition upon intermediate wall
4 and with its side portions in overlapping relationship to the
free edge portions of extended sections 10 of each side panel 8,8'.
Central panel 15 is of general rectangular configuration having
upper and lower parallel transverse edges 16, 17 which are in
substantial alignment with the upper and lower edges 18, 19,
respectively, of the extended section 10 of each side panel 8, 8'.
Central panel 15 is provided with inwardly turned vertical side
flanges 20 (FIG. 8) and with its upper and lower transverse edges
16, 17 being each also provided with an in turned flange 20' with
the latter forming a leak-proof joint with the underlying top
surface of bathtub 2. Central panel 15 is surface-wise contoured to
present a primary planar intermediate zone being parallel to the
proximate wallboard 5 and lateral, slightly forwardly projecting
portions 21,21' the main surfaces of which are planarwise aligned
and parallel with the intermediate zone. The depth of lateral
portions 21, 21' is slightly greater than the thickness of the free
edge portions of extended sections 10 of side panels 8,8' to permit
of ready overlap thereof. The extent of lapping will manifestly be
dependent upon the relative length of intermediate wall 4 and the
transverse dimension of side panel extended sections 10. However,
lateral portions 21,21' are of sufficient transverse extent to
permit of accommodation of the intervening wall space within a
relatively extensive range (see FIG. 8). The superimposition of
lateral portions 21,21' upon the underlying edge portions of
extended sections 10 of side panels 8,8' conduces to an approximate
joint between central panel 15 and the companion side panels 8,8'.
A continuous band of vertically extending pressure sensitive
material 22 is provided upon the inner face of each lateral portion
21,21' of central panel 15 and immediately next to edge flange 20
for assuring of adherence to the confronting surface of the related
side panel 8,8' (FIG. 8). Thus, despite the extent of lapping, the
location of pressure sensitive material 22 is presented for
engaging respective side panels 8,8' for creating a liquid-proof
seam.
In view of the foregoing it will be readily apparent that central
panel 15 and side panels 8,8' coact in a unique and wholly
sufficient manner for accommodating tub recesses 1 of varying
extent whereby a home owner or a builder may easily utilize such
panels of predetermined dimensions with full assurance that the
same will interrelate for effective paneling of the wall portions
of such recess. By means of pressure sensitive materials as at
14,14', 22, central panel 15 and side panels 8,8' may be easily and
firmly mounted upon walls 3,3' and 4 as well as reliably
interengaged so that the same will remain fixed in operative
position. The unusual application of pressure sensitive material to
panels of the present invention obviates the historically accepted
resort to bolts, nails and like extraneous securing devices with
the involved tedious effort, time consumption, and potential for
marring or otherwise damaging the decorative character of such
panels.
To enhance even further the utilitarian nature of the panels of the
present invention, central panel 15 is provided with an outwardly
extending soap dish 23. Main section 9 of side panel 8' may be
suitably apertured, as indicated in phantom lines at 24 in FIG. 3
for reception of the customary hardware such as a faucet suggested
at 25 in FIG. 1.
* * * * *