Patent Application
20250237062
The disclosure concerns a foldable wall panel, a method to attach a foldable wall panel to a wall or a ceiling, a folded wall panel.
Surface design using strip-shaped lamellae, which usually have the same width and are arranged at regular intervals, is becoming increasingly popular for influencing the visual impression of surfaces. Such designs can be used, for example, to emphasize the impression of length in the case of horizontal lamellas or the impression of height in the case of vertical lamellae. Lamellae with a wood look are particularly popular, e.g. with real wood surfaces or wood-like synthetic surfaces.
Such lamellae are typically combined with suitable fasteners during installation. For example, they must be fastened to a substrate with nails or screws or a mounting adhesive applied to the substrate or lamellae. The installation of these lamellae is, however, time-consuming, and cumbersome since the alignment of the lamellae is critical for the visual impression of the wall or ceiling. Even small misalignments may be detrimental for the visual impression.
As an alternative to single lamellae, wall panels can be used, which comprise a base layer with a plurality of lamellae attached to it. The lamellae are fastened to the base layer, such that their alignment relative to each other is already determined before the wall panel is attached to a wall. In addition, the base layer can serve, for example, for insulation purposes. The lamellae can increase the stability of the base and therefore simplify the installation of the base layer, in case the base layer is elastic, for example. The base layer and the lamellae therefore mutually support each other.
For example, EP 3 112 544 B1 shows an acoustic panel for use as a wall or ceiling covering with a base plate and an absorber unit. The base plate comprises a wood material plate and a plurality of cut-outs that pass completely through the base plate for conducting ambient sound into the absorber unit.
A drawback of such panels (which are also known as “acoustic panels”) is that the dimensions of these wall panels are limited by commonly used transport means, such as containers, transporters and pallets, or cars, for example. In addition, the wall panels need to fit through doors or windows before they are finally attached to a wall. Therefore, typically multiple wall panels are used per wall or ceiling to cover the surface accordingly. However, in between two neighboring panels joints occur within the wall covering. These joints have a number of disadvantages. Through the joints water or water vapor can penetrate into wall covering and accumulate either in between the panels or between the wall and the panels. This moisture accumulation can lead to various issues, including wood rot, mold and mildew growth, swelling and further damages of the panel leading to an aesthetic and functional degradation. In addition, the panels need to be aligned to one another precisely to ensure that the lamellae are uniformly aligned across the individual panels. A misalignment of the panels is therefore detrimental for both the visual impression and the integrity of the wall covering.
FR 2 646 455 A1 shows a wall covering with lamellae and a flexible carrier. The lamellae are attached to the flexible carrier and are arranged parallel, such that the wall covering can be bent in between two neighboring lamellae along a longitudinal direction of the lamellae. The wall covering is consequently curved in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axes of the lamellae. This suffers from the drawback that a length of the lamellae determines the length of the wall covering, which is limited by requirements for transport. The alignment of lamellae along their longitudinal direction across two (e.g. vertically) neighboring wall covering elements depends on the correct installation of these elements.
It is therefore an object of the invention to alleviate or eliminate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable wall panel, a method to attach a foldable wall panel to a wall or a ceiling, and a folded wall panel, which enable a simplified and reliable installation.
This object is solved by a foldable wall panel for use as a ceiling or wall covering, comprising:
Furthermore, the object is solved by a folded wall panel for use as a ceiling or wall covering, comprising:
In addition, the object is solved by a method for attaching a foldable wall panel according to the invention on a wall or a ceiling as a wall covering with the steps:
The foldable wall panel comprises a carrier layer. The carrier layer may comprise a rectangular, in particular a quadratic, shape. The carrier layer has a front side and a back side opposite of the front side. In the intended use as a wall covering, the back side of the carrier layer is attached to a surface of the wall, such that the front side of the carrier layer faces, for example, the inside of a room. The carrier layer may be flexible. The front side of the carrier layer comprises at least a first lamellae section, a second lamellae section and at least a first folding line.
The foldable wall panel comprises a first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and a second plurality of strip shaped lamellae. The strip-shaped lamellae of both the first and the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may be rods or slabs with an essentially rectangular, in particular square, cross-section. The strip-shaped lamellae comprise a wood-based material, such as wood veneer and/or a MDF (medium-density fiber) material and/or a HDF (high-density fiber) material based on wood. Each lamella comprises a longitudinal axis. The mechanical properties of wood-based materials are particularly suitable for producing strip-shaped lamellae. In the following, the terms “strip-shaped lamella” and “lamella” are used synonymously. The term “lamella” therefore refers to the “strip-shaped lamella” and vice versa. The strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have essentially the same properties (e.g., with respect to dimensions and material) as the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae. Alternatively, the strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have different properties (e.g., with respect to dimensions and material) as the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae. The lamellae may, for example, comprise a body made of wood-based material. The body may have a rear side and a front side opposite the rear side and two longitudinal side surfaces. A decorative layer may be arranged on the body, whereby the decorative layer may extend at least over the front side of the lamella. In addition, the decorative layer may extend over at least one longitudinal side surface of the lamellae. For example, the decorative layer may comprise a wood veneer. Alternatively, the decorative layer may comprise a printed film.
The strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae are arranged spaced apart and parallel to each other in the first lamellae section of the front side of the carrier layer. The rear side of the lamellae may be glued to the carrier layer in the first lamella section, such that the front side of the lamellae faces the inside of a room in intended use of the wall panel.
By arranging the lamellae on the front side of the carrier layer, which forms the visible side of the wall panel in the intended use, the lamellae are visible and accessible in an interior space. Wood-based materials contribute to a pleasant indoor climate and are safe to use, for example with regard to toxic properties.
The first plurality of lamellae may comprise at least three, in particular at least five or at least ten, strip-shaped lamellae. The strip-shaped lamellae may be arranged equidistantly in the first lamellae section. The strip-shaped lamellae effect an improved mechanical stability of the wall panel in the first lamellae section. An equidistant arrangement of the lamellae improves the homogeneity of the mechanical properties of the wall panel in the first lamella section. In addition, equidistant visible lamellae are perceived as aesthetically pleasing, therefore, an improved decorative effect is achieved in addition to the improved mechanical properties.
The strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae are arranged spaced apart and parallel to each other in the second lamellae section of the front side of the carrier layer. The rear side of the lamellae may be glued to the second lamellae section carrier layer, such that the front side of the lamellae faces the inside of a room in intended use of the wall panel.
The second plurality of lamellae may comprise at least three, in particular at least ten, strip-shaped lamellae. The strip-shaped lamellae may be arranged equidistantly in the second lamellae section. Similar to the lamellae in the first lamellae section, the equidistantly arranged strip-shaped lamellae in the second lamellae section effect an improved mechanical stability and provide an improved decorative effect.
For example, the lamellae of the first and/or the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have a cross-sectional area of at least 36 mm2 (square millimeters), in particular exactly 105 mm2, whereby the cross-sectional area is normal to a longitudinal axis of the lamella. The cross-sectional area of the lamellae has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the lamellae and consequently on the mechanical properties of the wall panel. A cross-sectional area of at least 36 mm2, in particular exactly 165 mm2, leads to mechanical properties of the wall panel that favor a simple installation. In particular, this cross section leads to sufficient mechanical stability without increasing the weight of the wall panel excessively. The lamellae can, for example, comprise a cross-section of 1.8 mm (millimeters) by 20 mm. The lamellae may, for example, have a width in the transverse direction of 20 mm to 40 mm. The lamellae may comprise a cross section of 3 mm by 35 mm. The lamellae may have a thickness of 1.8 mm to 12 mm, in particular 3 mm, for example. The lamellae may have a length of at least 20 cm (centimeters). In particular, the lamellae may have a length of at least 85 cm. A ratio of width to thickness of the lamellae may be at least two, in particular at least five or at least ten, for example. A ration of length to width of the lamellae may be at least ten, in particular at least twenty or at least fifty, for example. All lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have the same dimensions. All lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have the same dimensions. The lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may have the same dimensions. Alternatively, the dimensions of the lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may differ from the dimensions of the lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae.
For example, a distance between two adjacent lamellae (orthogonal to their longitudinal axes) may be at least 0.1 times and at most 1.5 times the width of the lamellae. The width of the lamellae is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the thickness of the lamellae. It is advantageous if the distance between two adjacent lamellae of adjacent wall panels (in intended use) corresponds to the distance between two adjacent lamellae on the same wall panel. The wall panel can have a first outer lamella and a second outer lamella in the first lamellae section. The first outer lamella is the lamella that has the smallest distance to a first end face of the carrier layer. The second outer lamella is the lamella with the smallest distance to a second end face opposite of the first end face. If two wall panels are adjacent to each other, the first end face of one wall panel is in contact with the second end face of another wall panel that is already attached to the wall. Consequently, the first outer lamella of the wall panel is adjacent to the second outer lamella of the other wall panel that is already attached. In order to define the distance between these two lamellae to correspond to the distance between two lamellae on a single wall panel, the distance between the first outer lamellae and the first end face and the distance between the second outer lamella and the second end face of the (same) wall panel can correspond to the distance between two adjacent lamellae (of the same wall panel). The same applies mutatis mutandis to the lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae attached to the second lamellae section.
The at least one first folding line separates the first lamellae section from the second lamellae section, such that the wall panel is foldable along the folding line. The carrier layer of the wall panel may be flexible and foldable in general. However, the lamellae may prevent folding in the first and the second lamellae section, at least in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the respective lamellae. The folding line may be a straight line. The folding line is transverse to the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae. The first and the second folding line may be referred to as “transverse folding line” since the folding is transverse to the lamellae of the wall panel.
The first folding line may be orthogonal to the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae.
An angle between folding line and the longitudinal axis of the lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae (attached to the first lamellae section) may be at least 45 degrees, in particular at least 60 degrees or essentially 90 degrees. An angle between folding line and the longitudinal axis of the lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae (attached to the second lamellae section) may be at least 45 degrees, in particular at least 60 degrees or essentially 90 degrees.
The lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may be arranged parallel to the lamellae of the second plurality of strip shaped lamellae, such that the longitudinal axes of all lamellae attached to the carrier layer are parallel to each other.
The first lamellae section, the second lamellae section and in particular the folding line enable the wall panel to be folded such that the dimension of the folded wall panel is not limited by the length of the individual lamellae. The wall panel comprises a length in longitudinal direction of the strip shaped lamellae of the first plurality and/or of the second plurality of strip shaped lamellae and a width orthogonal to the length. The length relates to the greatest lateral extension of the wall panel in an unfolded state. The length of the wall panel is not limited by the length of either the lamellae of the first lamellae section or the length of the lamellae of the second lamellae section. Due to the folding line, the overall length of the wall panel may be (at least) the sum of the length of the lamellae of the first lamellae section and the length of the lamellae of the second lamellae section. Therefore, transportation requirements and limits can be met by folding the foldable wall panel while the (overall) length of the wall panel may be increased significantly on order to minimize the number of joints in between wall panels in intended use on a wall or ceiling. In addition, the wall panels enable a particularly simple installation on the wall or ceiling. First of all, the alignment of the lamellae of the first and second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae relative to each other is predetermined due to their arrangement on the carrier layer in the first and second lamellae section respectively. In addition, the lamellae in the first and second lamellae section provide mechanical stabilization of the wall panel in the respective sections.
The foldable wall panel can be attached to a wall or a ceiling as a wall covering with the steps:
Attaching may comprise applying an adhesive to the wall and/or the first and second application section. Alternatively, the wall panel may be attached to the wall (or ceiling) by means of mechanical fastening means, such as screws or nails, for example. Due to the mechanical stabilization effected by the lamellae, attaching the first application section and the second application section is particularly simple. For example, the carrier layer may comprise mechanical properties similar to a wall paper, i.e., flexible, and instable (e.g., paper-like). The installation of such wall papers on a wall is cumbersome and it is difficult to avoid air pockets and/or wrinkles in the final wall covering. The lamellae enable a simpler installation since the two sections of the wall panel can be attached at once respectively. Due to the mechanical stability of the sections, the wall covering is less prone to wrinkling. For example, a section of the wall panel can be attached to the wall by holding the two outermost lamellae of the respective section and moving the section to the wall (where adhesive may have been applied previously).
The application of the second application section is particularly simple, since the wall panel is already attached to the wall (or ceiling) in the first application section. The second section is hinged to the first section (and consequently the wall or ceiling) by means of the folding line.
The wall panel may be applied to the wall such that longitudinal axes are vertically aligned. For example, the first application section may be applied to the wall such that the second application section is below the first application section when the panel is mounted or vice versa.
The foldable wall panel may be folded to obtain a folded wall panel. By unfolding the folded wall panel, an unfolded wall panel can be received. Both the folded and the unfolded wall panel are foldable. Therefore, the specifications of the foldable wall panel apply-mutatis mutandis—also to the folded wall panel according to the invention.
Optionally, the first lamellae section lies within a first plane and the second lamellae section lies within a second plane. The first lamellae section and the second lamellae section may comprise essentially no curvature. There may be a residual curvature due to a tension within the lamellae, which can be neglected. The wall panel may not be foldable in the first lamellae section and the second lamellae section. In the unfolded state of the foldable wall panel, the first plane and the second plane coincide.
Optionally, the first plane and the second plane are parallel and spaced apart for the folded wall panel. In the folded state of the foldable wall panel, the first lamellae section may be parallel to the second lamellae section. Both the first and the second lamellae section may comprise essentially no curvature. This way, the folded wall panel may be essentially box-shaped (i.e., rectangular cuboid), which is especially favorable for transportation and stacking of folded wall panels. The folded wall panel may be wrapped with a protective cover, for example, comprising a plastic sheet. The protective cover may protect the folded wall panel from dust and dirt. In addition, the protective cover may prevent an unintended unfolding of the folded wall panel, for example, during transportation. The protective cover may be removed before unfolding the folded wall panel.
Optionally, the front side of the carrier layer is unobstructed in the at least one first folding line (or, generally, any one folding line of a plurality of folding lines). For example, there may not be any lamella arranged on the carrier layer in a way that the folding line is obstructed by the lamellae. Alternatively, the folding line may be obstructed by lamellae. For example, at least one lamella may protrude over the folding line of the foldable wall panel. However, the folding line (i.e., the carrier layer at the position of the folding line) is not attached, e.g. glued, to the lamellae.
The carrier layer may comprise an insulation material. The insulation material may comprise an acoustic insulation material and/or a thermal insulation material. The insulation material may comprise rubber (insulating rubber, e.g. insulating natural rubber) or polyurethane, which offer excellent thermal insulation properties.
The carrier layer may comprise a felt material. Felt materials offer enhanced acoustic insulation. The carrier layer may comprise a wool. The carrier layer may comprise a multi-layer structure. For example, the carrier layer may comprise a layer of thermal insulation material and a layer of acoustic insulation material. The acoustic insulation material may form the front side of the carrier layer.
The carrier layer may comprise a thickness in a range of 1 mm to 10 mm. In particular, the carrier layer may comprise a thickness between 2 mm and 6 mm. In particular the thickness of the carrier layer may be 4 mm.
The strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and/or of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may comprise a thickness in between 1 mm and 10 mm. In particular, the strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and/or the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may comprise a thickness in between 2 mm and 5 mm. In particular, the thickness of the lamellae may be 3 mm.
The foldable wall panel comprises a length in longitudinal direction (i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis) of the strip shaped lamellae of the first plurality and/or of the second plurality of strip shaped lamellae and a width orthogonal to the length, wherein the length of the foldable wall panel is greater than the width. For example, the length of the foldable wall panel may be at least twice the width. The lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the lamellae of the second strip-shaped lamellae may comprise the same length each. Consequently, when the foldable wall panel is folded, the effective length of the folded wall panel is essentially equal to the length of a single lamella.
The wall panel may, for example, comprise a length of 0.4 m (meters) to 5 m. For example, the wall panel may have a width of 0.2 m to 1 m.
At least one strip-shaped lamella of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and at least one strip shaped lamella of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may be longitudinally aligned, such that their respective longitudinal axes coincide. Such an alignment is aesthetically particularly favorable but also rather cumbersome to achieve by independently installing single lamellae on a wall, for example. However, by aligning the lamellae accordingly on the wall panel, i.e., in the two sections of the wall panel, the alignment of the lamellae on the wall is predetermined.
Optionally, the front side of the carrier layer comprises a third lamellae section and a second folding line, wherein the wall panel comprises a third plurality of strip-shaped lamellae, wherein the strip-shaped lamellae of the third plurality of strip-shaped lamellae are arranged spaced apart and parallel to each other in the third lamellae section of the front side of the carrier layer, wherein the strip-shaped lamellae of the third plurality of strip-shaped lamellae each comprise a longitudinal axis of extension and a wood-based material, wherein the second folding line separates the second lamellae section from the third lamellae section, such that the wall panel is foldable along the second folding line, wherein the second folding line is transverse to at least the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the third plurality of strip-shaped lamellae, wherein the at least one first folding line and the second folding line are parallel to each other.
Optionally, the second folding line is orthogonal to the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the longitudinal axes of the strip-shaped lamellae of the third plurality of strip-shaped lamellae.
By providing a third (or any number of further) lamellae sections and further folding lines, the overall length of the wall panel can be further increased, without changing the effective length of the folded wall panel.
The second folding line may be parallel to the first folding line. The second folding line may be spaced apart from the first folding line. For example, a distance between the second folding line and the first folding line may be equal to a length of the lamellae of the second plurality of lamellae.
The first and the second folding line may extend along the width of the wall panel, such that by folding the wall panel in the first and the second folding line, the length of the wall panel is decreased. In lateral direction, the wall panel may be rectangular and comprise four sides. A first side is opposite of a second side. The distance between the first side and the second side is equal to the length of the wall panel. The first folding line and the second folding line may be parallel to the first side and the second side. The first, the second and the third lamellae section are separated by the first and the second folding line respectively. Each of these lamellae sections comprises a length (in direction of the length of the wall panel). The lengths of the first lamellae section, the second lamellae section and the third lamellae section may be equal, i.e., essentially a third of the overall length of the wall panel (if an expansion of the folding line is neglected). The length of the first lamellae section may be equal to the length of the second lamellae section, wherein the length of the third lamellae section may be shorter. The foldable wall panel may be folded such that the third lamella section is in between the first and the second lamellae section in the folded state of the wall panel. This may be done by folding the wall panel along the second folding line, thereby pivoting the third application section (opposite of the third lamellae section) towards the second application section, such that the third application section is in contact with the second application section. Then the wall panel can be folded along the first folding line, such that the first application section is pivoted on top of the third lamellae section. The wall panel is therefore folded such that no lamellae are in contact with each other, thereby preventing any potential damages due to lamella friction on lamella within the wall panel. Since the third lamellae section is shorter than the other two sections, the third lamellae section is not wedged excessively due to the folding. This leads to a particularly compact folded wall panel. The folded wall panel may comprise a spacer wedged in between the first application section and the second application section next to the first folding line. The spacer may comprise a thickness equal to the thickness of the foldable wall panel. The spacer protects the third lamellae section as well as the second application section from potential damages due to excessive pressure. Once the folded wall panel is unfolded, the spacer is not wedged anymore and hence separated from the foldable wall panel.
The lamellae of the first lamellae section may extend over the folding line, such that the lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae and the lamellae of the second plurality of lamellae are positioned end to end in the unfolded state of the foldable wall panel. However, the first lamellae are not attached to the first folding line, such that the wall panel can be folded accordingly. This way, a distance between the lamellae of the first and the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae can be arbitrarily small, which improves the visual impression of the resulting wall covering, since two adjacent lamellae visibly form a single continuous lamella across the first and the second lamellae section. The lamellae of the first and the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may be overlapping. The lamellae of the first and the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae may comprise chamfers such that two adjacent lamellae visibly form a single continuous lamella across the first and the second lamellae section.
A quantity of lamellae in the first lamellae section may be equal to a quantity of lamellae in the second lamellae section. For each lamella in the first lamellae section there may be a corresponding lamella in the second lamella section, wherein the longitudinal axis of the two corresponding lamellae may coincide.
Optionally, the carrier layer may comprise a back side opposite of the front side, wherein the foldable wall panel comprises an adhesive layer arranged on the back side of the carrier layer for attaching the foldable wall panel to a surface of a wall or a ceiling, wherein a releasable protective film is arranged on the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer may comprise a double-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive layer is suitable for permanently fixing the wall panel to a surface of a wall or ceiling. The adhesive layer with the protective film can significantly simplify the installation of the wall panel, as no separate adhesive needs to be applied to the wall and/or the wall panel during the attachment of the wall panel. The mechanical stabilization of the wall panel board due to the lamellae also simplifies the installation of the wall panel in connection with the adhesive layer. The mechanical stabilization simplifies the removal of the protective film from the adhesive layer on the wall panel. In addition, the lamellae prevent the carrier layer from rolling up on its own, which also prevents parts of the carrier layer from sticking to other parts of the (same) carrier layer. Accordingly, attaching may include removing the protective film of the adhesive layer, such that the adhesive layer can be used to attach the panel to the wall.
By way of example, the disclosure is further explained with respect to some selected embodiments shown in the drawings. However, these embodiments are for purposes of illustrating the present invention shall not be considered limiting for the invention.
In this exemplary embodiment, the first folding line 6 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axes 8 of the strip-shaped lamellae 7 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and the longitudinal axes 10 of the strip-shaped lamellae 9 of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9.
The front side 3 of the carrier layer is unobstructed in the first folding line 6. There are no lamellae arranged on the carrier layer 2 in a way that the first folding line 6 is obstructed by the lamellae.
The carrier layer 2 comprises an insulation material. In this example, the carrier layer 2 comprises rubber, which acts as a thermal insulation material. In addition, the carrier layer comprises a felt material, which provides enhanced acoustic insulation. The carrier layer 2 comprises a layer of thermal insulation material, in this example rubber, and a layer of acoustic insulation material, in this example the felt material. The felt material may form the front side 3 of the carrier layer 2.
The carrier layer 2 comprises a thickness of 4 mm.
The strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 comprise the same dimensions in this exemplary embodiment. The strip-shaped lamellae of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 comprise a thickness of 3 mm.
The foldable wall panel 1 comprises a length in longitudinal direction (i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axes 8 of the strip shaped lamellae 7 of the first plurality and of the second plurality of strip shaped lamellae 9) and a width orthogonal to the length, wherein the length of the foldable wall panel is greater than the width. In this example, the foldable wall panel 1 comprises a length of 244 cm (8 ft) and a width of 30.5 cm (1 ft).
The lamellae 7 and 9 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 have a cross-sectional area of at least 36 mm2 (square millimeters), in this example exactly 105 mm2, whereby the cross-sectional area is normal to a longitudinal axis of the lamella. The cross-sectional area of the lamellae has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the lamellae and consequently on the mechanical properties of the wall panel. In this example, the lamellae 7 and 9 comprise a cross section of 3 mm (thickness) by 35 mm (width). All lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 have the same dimensions. The lamellae 7 and 9 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and the lamellae of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 have the same dimensions.
A distance (i.e., a spacing) between two adjacent lamellae (orthogonal to their longitudinal axes) may be e.g. 1.5 cm.
At least one strip-shaped lamella 7 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and at least one strip shaped lamella 9 of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 are longitudinally aligned, such that their respective longitudinal axes 8 and 10 coincide. In this exemplary embodiment, the first plurality of strip shaped lamellae 7 comprises six strip shaped lamellae 7. The second plurality of strip shaped lamellae 9 also comprises six strip shaped lamellae 9. For each of the strip-shaped lamellae 7 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7, there is a strip shaped lamellae 9 of the second plurality of strip shaped lamellae 9, which is longitudinally aligned. Therefore, the longitudinal axes 8 of the first plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 7 and the longitudinal axes 10 of the second plurality of strip-shaped lamellae 9 coincide with one another.
The folded wall panel 11 comprises the carrier layer 2 with the front side 3 comprising the first lamellae section 4, the second lamellae section 5 and the first folding line 6 (see also
The first lamellae section 4 lies within a first plane (not indicated) and the second lamellae section 5 lies within a second plane (not indicated). The first plane and the second plane are parallel and spaced apart (in the folded state of the foldable wall panel 1). When the folded wall panel is unfolded, the first plane and the second plane may coincide, which is shown in
The carrier layer 2 comprises a back side opposite of the front side 3. The foldable wall panel 1 comprises an adhesive layer arranged on the back side of the carrier layer 2 for attaching the foldable wall panel 1 to a surface of a wall or a ceiling. A releasable protective film is arranged on the adhesive layer.
The first folding line 6 and the second folding line 13 extend along the width of the wall panel 1, such that by folding the wall panel 1 in the first folding line 6 and the second folding line 13, the length of the wall panel 1 is decreased. In lateral direction, the wall panel 1 is rectangular and comprises four sides. A first side 16 is opposite of a second side 17. The distance between the first side and the second side is equal to the length of the wall panel 1. The first folding line 6 and the second folding line 13 are parallel to the first side 16 and the second side 17. The first lamellae section 4, the second lamellae section 5 and the third lamellae section 12 are separated by the first folding line 6 and the second folding line 13 respectively. Each of these lamellae sections comprises a length (in direction of the length of the wall panel 1). The length of the first lamellae section 4 is equal to the length of the second lamellae section 5, in this example 93 cm. The length of the third lamellae section 12 is shorter, in this example shorter by 5 cm, i.e., the length of the third lamellae section 12 is 88 cm. The foldable wall panel 11 is folded such that the third lamella section 12 is in between the first lamellae section 4 and the second lamellae section 5 in the folded state of the wall panel 1. This is done by folding the wall panel 1 (of
Each of the three foldable wall panels 1 was attached on the wall 19 as a wall covering 24 with the following steps:
The method furthermore comprises the following step:
The wall panel 1 was applied to the wall 19 such that the longitudinal axes 8, 10 and 15 are vertically aligned. The first application section was applied to the wall 19 such that the second application section is below the first application section when the wall panel 1 is mounted. Consequently, the third application section is below the second application section when the wall panel 1 is mounted.
The distance between two adjacent lamellae 7, 9 and 14 (respectively) of adjacent wall panels 1 (in intended use, as shown in
