This application is a National Stage entry under § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/058532, filed on Apr. 4, 2018, and which claims the benefit of European Application No. 17166404.8, filed on Apr. 13, 2017.
The present invention relates to a sealing strip for sealing of connecting joints in drywalls. These are situated, for example, in the region of connection of drywalls to connecting elements, such as inter-story ceilings, floors, massive walls or other load-bearing elements.
For fastening of drywalls to connecting elements, channel profiles are generally fastened to the corresponding connecting elements. The channel profile may be part of a studwork. At a well-defined spacing relative to the connecting element, gypsum boards may be attached thereto. It is known that, for reasons of fire-protection capability and for sound insulation, any gap remaining between the gypsum boards and the connecting building parts must be filled with sealing compound. However, this process suffers from some disadvantages. Firstly, it is very work-intensive and therefore costly. Furthermore, sealing requires access to the walls from both sides and can be performed only after the gypsum boards have been mounted. In addition, the method is error-prone, since the user himself or herself must dose the correct quantity of material. The underlying surfaces must be adhesive. If they are not, the danger of detachment of the sealing compound exists. If the sealing compound is overloaded, cracks may develop. Moreover, the correct spacing of the gypsum boards relative to the connecting element must be adjusted with additional aids.
Sealing strips are known that can be mounted between a ceiling rail in the form of a channel profile and a connecting element during the mounting of drywalls. These sealing strips are designed substantially as channel profiles. The legs of the U-shaped sealing strip have a rectangular cross section with constant thickness. However, these sealing strips are unable to eliminate all disadvantages described in the foregoing. An aid is likewise necessary for adjustment of the spacing of the gypsum boards relative to the connecting building part. Moreover, further disadvantages exist. The gypsum boards are mounted on the legs of the sealing strip, whereby the sealing strip is greatly compressed in the region under the boards. If the legs of the sealing strip are too thick, the gypsum board may become curved, with a tendency to break. The maximum possible leg thickness of the sealing strip is therefore limited. This has the disadvantage that the insulating material present in the gap to be sealed is also limited, which in turn adversely affects the fire-protection and sound-insulation properties. In addition, due to the pressure exerted by the gypsum board, the original leg thickness is also reduced in the region of the gap.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to specify an improved sealing strip for sealing of connecting joints in drywalls.
The object is solved by a sealing strip for sealing of connecting joints in drywalls that is provided with a central web having two longitudinal rims, wherein a sealing profile is disposed along each longitudinal rim. The sealing profile has a first profile portion, which is disposed along the associated longitudinal rim and in transverse direction of the central web has a first thickness, and a second profile portion, adjoining the first profile portion, which forms the end of the sealing profile remote from the central web and in transverse direction of the central web has a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is smaller than the first thickness.
One advantage of the inventive sealing strip is that the sealing profile does not have to be compressed as greatly in the region of the second profile portion. In this way, the danger that a board will become curved or broken is minimized. In contrast, by virtue of the greater thickness of the first profile in the region of the gap to be sealed, adequate material is present to achieve the desired fire-protection and sound-insulation properties.
The sealing strip may be designed as an elongated profile.
Furthermore, the sealing profiles may be disposed symmetrically relative to a central plane of the sealing strip. The plane of symmetry is aligned perpendicularly relative to the central web and it extends along a longitudinal direction of the sealing strip.
The sealing strip is preferably made in one piece.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sealing strip is made in multiple pieces. In particular, the central web and the part of the first profile portion that corresponds to the second thickness d2, and the second profile portion corresponding to the second thickness d2, is formed in one piece from one material, preferably as a U-shaped sealing strip, and wherein the part of the first profile portion that corresponds to the thickness d1-d2 is formed from another material. In this embodiment, the central web and the part of the first profile portion that corresponds to the second thickness d2, and the second profile portion corresponding to the second thickness d2, is precompressed, so that the material of the part of the first profile portion that corresponds to the thickness d1-d2 consists of foam or is formed as a foam part, in order to permit absorption of movement of the sealing profile. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the central web and the part of the first profile portion that corresponds to the second thickness d2, and the second profile portion corresponding to the second thickness d2, is formed in one piece from one material, which is not thicker than less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and/or the second profile portion may have a substantially rectangular cross section.
Furthermore, the first profile portion may merge into the second profile portion via a wedge-shaped intermediate portion. Due to this thickness difference and the intermediate portion, it is ensured that, if the sealing profile is squeezed only in the region of the second profile portion, the first profile portion is not also compressed to the effect that it would acquire a smaller thickness, whereby the connecting joint would become more difficult to seal.
According to a further embodiment, the first and/or second profile portion may have an outer side that is convex (e.g. bulbous or semicircular) or undulating.
A concave portion, which merges into the second profile portion, may adjoin the portion of the first profile portion that defines the convex or semicircular outer side.
According to a preferred embodiment, the transition from the first to the second profile portion forms a shoulder. This shoulder is dependent on the different thicknesses of the first and second profile portions. A height of the shoulder is therefore given by the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness. The height of the shoulder extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sealing strip. Here also the shoulder is able to ensure that the first profile portion is compressed less greatly when the second profile portion is squeezed, so that the connecting joint is filled more completely by the sealing strip.
In the case that both the first and second profile portions are rectangular, the shoulder has the form of a step. However, depending on geometry of the profile portions, the shoulder may also have an undulating shape or be formed as a chamfer.
The shoulder serves as an aid in the positioning of structural elements for drywalls, for example of gypsum boards.
A sealing strip having such a shoulder has the advantage that no further aids are needed for positioning of gypsum boards on drywalls. The boards merely have to be aligned on the shoulder. The boards may be aligned particularly accurately when the shoulder has the form of a step, wherein a corner of a gypsum board may be aligned accurately on a corner of the step. For other geometries, the user may easily vary the position of the gypsum board without impacting the appearance or the function. On the whole, boards can be mounted simply and securely without losses of sealing properties. In particular, gypsum boards, for example, may be mounted without measuring work at an optimum joint spacing relative to a connecting element, for example a ceiling. The optimum joint spacing corresponds substantially to a height of the first profile portion. The height of the first profile portion extends in the direction perpendicular to the central web.
According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing strip is U-shaped on the whole in cross section, wherein the legs of the U merge into the central web and are formed by the two profile portions. Due to the U-shaped geometry of the sealing strip, it can be mounted particularly rapidly and easily. For example, the sealing strip may be laid over a likewise U-shaped building beam, onto which the drywall boards are bolted in place, wherein the dimensions of the sealing strip can be adapted to those of the beam. The U-shaped beam may then be mounted on further structural elements of the building, wherein the sealing strip may be clamped between the U-shaped beam and the further structural element. Thus the sealing strip is fixed in a well-defined position. Thereby mounting of further building parts may be facilitated.
An end face of the sealing strip is preferably formed by an upper side of the central web and by an upper side of the first profile portion, wherein the upper sides lie in one plane. Thereby the sealing strip is able to function particularly well on plane connecting building parts during mounting. By virtue of the flexible design of the sealing strip, however, it is also able to adapt to irregularities.
In an alternative embodiment, the end face of the sealing strip is formed by an upper side of the central web and by an upper side of the first profile portion, wherein the upper side of the central web may have a recess, which preferably extends centrally in the sealing strip.
The region of the central web located between the two sealing profiles, or more accurately between the two points of attachment of the central web to the sealing profiles, defines a support region, which consists only of the central web. This support region is dimensioned such that it corresponds approximately to the width of the web of the channel profile. Hereby the installation and especially the positioning of the sealing strip on the web of the channel profile is facilitated. Preferably, the support region of the inventive sealing strip has a width in the range of approximately 30 mm to approximately 300 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 50 mm to 250 mm, and more preferably in the range of approximately 90 mm to 155 mm. Particularly preferably, the support region of the inventive sealing strip has a width of 67 mm for a 2½ inch (64 mm) rail, of 95 mm for a 3⅝ inch (92 mm) rail, of 105 mm for a 4 inch (102 mm) rail, of 155 mm for a 6 inch (152 mm) rail, of 206 mm for an 8 inch (203 mm) rail or of 257 mm for a 10 inch (254 mm) rail. Most preferably, the support region of the inventive sealing strip has a width of 95 mm for a 3⅝ inch (92 mm) rail or of 155 mm for a 6 inch (152 mm) rail.
In order to obtain various profile dimensions, especially various widths of the support region, the central web of the inventive sealing strip may further have at least one width-extending element. Preferably, the width-extending element exists in the form of a loop. The width-extending element consists of a deformable material, of a plastic film, of a fabric, of a nonwoven or the like, preferably of a plastic film.
This width-extending element is fastened on the upper side or underside of the central web, in such a way that a loop 50 (e.g., see
Furthermore, the inventive sealing strip may have one or more additional width-extending elements in the form of loops. These additional width-extending elements may be obtained in that the loops of the at least one central web are subdivided still further one or more times with a weld seam, so that several profile widths may be covered with one product by appropriate cutting apart of the seam or seams. In particular, the common channel profiles having profile widths of 2½ inch (64 mm), 3⅝ inch (92 mm), 4 inch (102 mm), 6 inch (152 mm), 8 inch (203 mm) and 10 inch (254 mm) may be covered by the one or by the several width-extending elements. Hereby the installation and especially the positioning of the sealing strip on the web of the channel profile is facilitated. To facilitate selection of the desired width of the sealing strip for a particular profile, the width-extending elements may be provided with markings for the particular profile sizes. Due to the flexibility of the width-extending element, however, it is also possible to cover other profile widths of channel profiles of a drywall studwork with the inventive sealing strip and to seal the joint.
In an alternative embodiment of the sealing strip, the central web has a perforation. The perforation of the sealing strip preferably extends in the middle of the central web, i.e. in longitudinal direction of the sealing strip. The perforation permits easy separation (tearing apart) or alternatively pulling apart of the two sealing-strip halves. By tearing apart without the use of tools, two separate sealing-strip halves can be easily obtained, each of which has a sealing profile and which may be used with the aid of a gluing means, such as a separate adhesive tape or adhesive spray, for example, and either for one-sided sealing or for broader channel profiles, especially channel profiles with profile widths of more than 10 inch (254 mm). It is also possible that the sealing strip is provided prior to separation with self-adhesive means, so that two half-strips, which may be mounted immediately without further aids, are obtained after it has been torn apart. The sealing-strip halves are therefore universally usable for different profile dimensions.
The inner sides of the legs of the U may be designed to be plane. The inner sides are formed by inside faces of the profile portions. In particular, one face of the first profile portion and one face of the second profile portion are able together to form the inner side of a leg.
The inner sides of the legs extend in particular perpendicular to an inner side of the central web.
In an alternative embodiment, the inner sides of the legs extend at an obtuse or at an acute angle relative to the inner side of the central web. In particular, a geometry of the sealing strip may be adapted, depending on application situation, to particular profiles. By virtue of the flexible formation of the sealing strip, however, it is also able to adapt to many geometric conditions without change of shape of the sealing strip.
According to a further alternative embodiment, the inner sides of the legs may be designed to be convex or concave. As an example, a concave design is suitable for the sealing of tubular profiles.
The central web is preferably designed to be plane. By virtue of the flexibility of the sealing strip, and since the central web is relatively thin, it may also be adapted without problems to curved profiles, and so a curved structure of the central web is actually not required. Nevertheless, such embodiments are in no case to be ruled out.
In particular, the central web may also have a recess. Preferably, a perforation or seam, with the help of which the sealing strip may be separated into two halves if desired, extends in this recess. The recess preferably extends over a width of the support region of the central web that is shorter than the total width of the support region of the central web, and so it permits, on the one hand, savings of material during manufacture of the sealing strip and, on the other hand, easier separation of the sealing strip if desired. The central web may be provided with the recess either on the upper side or on the underside.
Both the sealing profiles and the central web may be compressible.
Furthermore, the sealing strip may be designed to be flexible on the whole.
The sealing strip may be provided with a foam or be designed as a foam part. In particular, the sealing strip may be provided with an open-celled foam. Thereby high absorption of movement of the sealing profile is possible.
The sealing strip may be provided with a material that is impermeable to air, noise-absorbing or soundproof, fire-resistant, impervious to smoke and/or thermally insulating, or it may consist of such a material. For protection against damage during storage or transportation of the sealing strip, the sealing strip may be coated with a tear-resistant film.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter and from the attached drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings:
Each sealing profile 2 has respectively a first profile portion 4 and a second profile portion 5. For better understanding, first profile portion 4 and second profile portion 5 are separated from one another in
In the embodiment of sealing strip 1 shown in
First profile portion 4 has a first thickness d1. Second profile portion 5 has a second thickness d2. The first and the second thickness extend in the direction of a cross-sectional extent of sealing strip 1, i.e. in a transverse direction of central web 3. The longitudinal direction of central web 3 extends in the plane of the drawing.
Second thickness d2 is smaller than first thickness d1. Thereby sealing profile 2 has the form of a step. In particular, the transition from first profile portion 4 to second profile portion 5 forms a shoulder. The shoulder has a width bA. Width bA extends in the direction of a transverse extent of sealing strip 1 and is equal to the difference between first thickness d1 and second thickness d2. The step shape of the sealing profiles is used, for example, for alignment of gypsum boards, which will be explained in more detail in connection with the following figures.
Inner sides 7, 8 of the legs of the U are respectively designed to be plane and are formed by inside faces of profile portions 4, 5. Inner sides 7, 8 of the legs extend perpendicular to an inner side 9 of central web 3.
Sealing strip 1 has an end face 10 opposite inner side 9. End face 10 is formed by an upper side of central web 3 and by an upper side of first profile portion 4. The upper sides of central web 3 and of first profile portion 4 lie in one plane.
Sealing strip 1 is designed to be flexible on the whole. Thereby the individual sealing profiles 2 are compressible. Sealing strip 1 is manufactured by foaming. In particular, the sealing strip may be provided with a material that is impermeable to air, noise-absorbing or soundproof, fire-resistant, impervious to smoke and/or thermally insulating. For example, sealing strip 1 may be provided with a polyurethane foam.
Sealing strip 1 is pre-mounted between a connecting element 12 and a channel profile 13 of the building. Channel profile 13 may be part of a load-bearing structure of the building. Connecting element 12 may be, for example, a room ceiling or a mounting element for fastening the drywall to an inter-story ceiling, a floor or a wall.
Sealing strip 1 is mounted in such a way that central web 3 is disposed between connecting element 12 and channel profile 13. In a mounted condition of sealing strip 1, sealing profiles 2 are disposed laterally relative to channel profile 13.
In the diagram according to
Due to the shoulder having width bA, especially due to its step shape, sealing strip 1 may be used as a mounting aid for the mounting of board 14, especially a gypsum board. This board 14 is positioned in such a way that an edge of board 14 is aligned against the shoulder of sealing profile 2. Thereby a well-defined spacing e of board 14 relative to connecting element 12 is obtained. A spacing e, which is also referred to as the joint width, corresponds substantially to a height h1 of first profile portion 4. Height h1 of first profile portion 4 extends in a direction perpendicular to central web 3.
During bolting of board 14 in place onto the load-bearing structure, sealing strip 1 is compressed in the region of second profile portion 5. Thereby a region between board 14 and channel profile 13 is sealed. For this purpose, thickness d2 of second profile portion 5 is chosen such that board 14 does not become curved or broken while it is being bolted in place.
Thickness d1 of first profile portion 4 is chosen such that sufficient sealing of the gap between 14 and connecting element 12 is ensured.
Thereby adequate thermal insulation, sound absorption and fire protection may be achieved.
During mounting of board 14, a cross-sectional change may occur in an upper region of sealing strip 1 due to the compression of sealing strip 1 in the region of second profile portion 5. In particular, the thickness d1 of first profile portion 4 may be reduced to a value d. This occurs because, while board 14 is being bolted in place, the material of sealing strip 1 is compressed, especially in the region of second profile portion 5, and thus the adjoining material in first profile portion 4 is also compressed. It is therefore recommended that the thickness d2 of second profile 5 be kept as small as possible, since the cross-sectional change in first profile portion 4 becomes less the smaller d2 is.
Sealing strip 1 according to
Sealing strip 1 according to
In the variants described in
The foam part of sealing strip 1 may be surrounded on all sides, for example by a film-like outer skin.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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17166404 | Apr 2017 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/058532 | 4/4/2018 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/188999 | 10/18/2018 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190376300 A1 | Dec 2019 | US |