DECORATIVE MOULDING FOR A BUILDING WALL

Abstract

A decorative moulding for a building wall comprises a profiled body with a back side for attachment to the building wall and a front side, the profiled body having a recess on the back side for accommodating a LED ribbon and a coating film attached on the front side. The profiled body is made of translucent light-diffusing material.

Claims

1. A decorative moulding for a building wall, comprising a profiled body with a back side for attachment to the building wall and a front side, the profiled body having a recess on the back side for accommodating a LED ribbon and a coating film attached on the front side, the profiled body being made of translucent light-diffusing material.

2. The decorative moulding as claimed in claims 1, wherein the profiled body consists of closed-cell extruded polymer foam, the base material of the extruded polymer foam preferably being selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane.

3. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extruded polymer foam is devoid of pigment and/or filler, or comprises less than 5 wt % of pigment and filler.

4. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coating film comprises a transparent base film and a print layer, the print layer a really modulating the transmittance of the coating film.

5. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coating film comprises or consists of a releasable tape attached on the front side opposite the recess, the releasable tape extending in the longitudinal direction of the decorative moulding.

6. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 5, wherein the releasable tape covers only a part of the height of the front side.

7. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 5, wherein releasable tape comprises at least two separate portions for individual removal from the profiled body.

8. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least two portions are separated from one another by one or more separation lines defining a contour of a decorative pattern.

9. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 5, wherein the profiled body comprises a translucent film permanently attached to the front side, and wherein the releasable tape is a release liner on top of the translucent film.

10. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decorative moulding is a baseboard.

11. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decorative moulding is a crown moulding, a chair rail or a decorative door or window casing.

12. The decorative moulding as claim in claim 1, wherein the profiled body consists of closed-cell extruded polymer foam, the base material of the extruded polymer foam preferably being selected from the group consisting, of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane. wherein the extruded polymer foam is devoid of pigment and/or filler, or comprises less than 5 wt % of pigment and filler, wherein releasable tape comprises at least two separate portions for individual removal from the profiled body, wherein the at least two portions are separated from on another by on or more separation lines defining a contour of a decorative pattern, and wherein the decorative moulding is a baseboard.

13. The decorative moulding as claimed in claim 1, comprising a LED ribbon accommodated in the recess.

14. A method of decorating a building wall, comprising: providing a decorative moulding as claimed in claim 5, placing a LED ribbon into the recess or onto the building wall in a location destined to come into opposition with the recess; arranging the decorative moulding on the building wall to be decorated and connecting the LED ribbon to a power supply; painting the decorative moulding; and, when the paint has been applied, removing the releasable tape.

15. The method claimed in claim 14, wherein the decorative moulding is a decorative moulding, wherein releasable tape comprises at least two separate portions for individual removal from the profiled body, and wherein at least one of the separate portions is removed before painting and at least one of the separate portions is removed after painting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] By way of example, preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1: is a cross-sectional view of a decorative moulding according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2: is a trimetric view of the decorative moulding of FIG. 1 when applied in the corner between a wall and the floor, before painting;

[0027] FIG. 3: is a trimetric view of the decorative moulding of FIGS. 1 and 2, after painting and removal of the releasable tape;

[0028] FIG. 4: is a cross-sectional view of a first variant of the decorative moulding of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 5: is a cross-sectional view of a second variant of the decorative moulding of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 6: is a cross-sectional view of a third variant of the decorative moulding of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 7: a trimetric view of a decorative moulding according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 8: a trimetric view of a decorative moulding according to a yet a further preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 9: a trimetric view of a decorative moulding according to still another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIGS. 1-3 show a decorative moulding (a baseboard) 10 for arrangement in the angle between a building wall 12 and a floor 14. The baseboard 10 essentially consists of a profile 16 of extruded closed-cell polymer foam. The profile 16 has a back side 18 to be applied against the building wall 12 and a front side 20 facing the room delimited by the building wall 12. The profile 16 has a recess 22 on the back side 18, wherein a LED ribbon 24 is arranged. Approximately at the same height as the recess 22, the profile 16 comprises, on its front side 20, a releasable (adhesive) tape 26. Both the releasable tape 26 and the LED ribbon 24 extend alongside of the baseboard 10. The closed-cell polymer foam of the profile 16 is translucent light-diffusing material.

[0035] Installation of the baseboard 10 is effected as follows. When the LED ribbon 24 is in place within the recess 22, the baseboard 10 is applied (e.g. glued, screwed or clipped) on the building wall 12 and the LED ribbon 24 is connected to a power supply (not shown). When the moulding 10 is in place (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), it is painted using opaque paint 28. After the paint has been applied, the releasable tape 26 is removed from the profile 16, leaving a clearance 30 through which light 32 emitted by the LED ribbon 24 may diffuse.

[0036] FIGS. 4-6 show variants of the baseboard of FIGS. 1-3. The variants of FIGS. 4 and 5 differ from the baseboard described above only in different positions of the LED ribbon 20 within the recess 22. In the variant of FIG. 6, the recess 22 is deeper and has undercut. The LED ribbon 24 is arranged on the surface delimiting the recess 22 to the back. It shall be noted that the LED ribbon could also be fixed on the wall 12, at the height of the recess 22.

[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates a decorative moulding 10 wherein the releasable tape 26 on the front side of the profile 16 comprises plural portions. Tape portions 26a and 26b run parallel, at a distance from each other. Tape portion 26b is subdivided into sub-portions 26b1 and 26b2, which lie directly adjacent each other and are separated only by an undulating separation line 34.

[0038] All tape (sub-) portions 26a, 26b1 and 26b2 may remain in place for painting the profile 16. In this case, after removal of the releasable tape 26, one obtains two parallel light strips. Alternatively, one or more of the tape (sub-) portions 26a, 26b1 and 26b2 are removed prior to applying the paint. The customer may thus achieve different decorative effects using the same product. In the illustrated case, one may, for instance, remove sub-portion 26b1 before painting and thus obtain a straight light strip at the position of tape portion 26a and an undulated light strip at the position of tape sub-portion 26b2. It will be appreciated that the separation line 34 defines the contour of a very simple decorative pattern and that more complicated decorative patterns may be generated in that way. Such patterns could be periodic or not. Furthermore, it is not necessary that each (sub-) portion of the releasable tape is continuous on the entire length of the decorative moulding: the releasable tape may, in particular, have interruptions and/or islands.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a decorative moulding 10 according to yet a further embodiment of the invention. Like the previously described baseboards 10 and 10, the baseboard 10 essentially consists of a profile 16 of translucent, light-diffusing, extruded, closed-cell polymer foam. The profile 16 has a back side 18 and a front side 20. A recess 22 on the back side 18 accommodates a LED ribbon 24. On its front side 20, opposite the recess 22, the profile 16 comprises a transparent or translucent tape 25. The transparent or translucent tape 25 comprises a transparent or translucent film 25a, which is attached to the front side 20 by a layer of permanent adhesive 25b. The front side of the film 25a is protected by a release liner 26 (which may itself be translucent or opaque).

[0040] Installation of the baseboard 10 is effected as follows. When the LED ribbon 24 is in place (within the recess 22 or on the wall 12), the baseboard 10 is applied (e.g. glued, screwed or clipped) on the building wall 12 and the LED ribbon 24 is connected to a power supply (not shown). When the moulding 10 is in place it may be painted using opaque paint and the release liner 26 is removed, leaving the transparent or translucent tape 25 exposed. Preferably, the paint is applied with the same or approximately the same thickness as the transparent or translucent tape 25, so as to achieve a high-grade finish.

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a decorative moulding 10 according to still another embodiment of the invention. The baseboard 10 essentially consists of a profile 16 of translucent, light-diffusing, extruded, closed-cell polymer foam. The profile 16 has a back side 18 and a front side 20. A recess 22 on the back side 18 accommodates a LED ribbon 24. On its front side 20, opposite the recess 22, the profile 16 carries a coating film 27, consisting of a transparent base film 29 and a print layer 31. The print layer 31 spatially modulates the transmittance of the coating film 27 as a whole. Specifically, the print layer 31 comprises opaque portions that delimit a clearance 33 in the printed layer (here: in the form of a strip). Printed layers resulting in a more patterned clearance are of course possible.

[0042] While specific embodiments have been described herein in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.