Wall Surround System with Tile Inlays
Provided is a wall surround system for use in a room having at least one existing wall. The system includes at least one wall surround panel configured to be installed along the existing wall, the wall surround panel defining at least one recessed portion. The system also includes at least one tile inlay configured to be received within the recessed portion. The system can be a remodeling system for remodeling a bathroom or kitchen in a residential or commercial building. Also provided are methods for remodeling a room having at least one existing wall. The method includes providing at least one wall surround panel that defines at least one recessed portion and at least one tile inlay, securing the wall surround panel to the wall, and securing the tile inlay in a respective recessed portion.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/495,250, filed Jun. 9, 2011, entitled “Wall Surround System with Tile Inlays,” which application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONProvided are systems and methods for remodeling a bathroom or kitchen using one or more wall surround panels with recessed portions for receiving one or more tile inlays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is often significant cost and inconvenience associated with remodeling a bathroom or kitchen. Many home owners, building owners and/or business owners would like to achieve an updated look, without the significant expense and inconvenience associated with a typical remodel.
Various systems are available that provide for a relatively inexpensive remodel with quick installation. Many of these systems include wall surround panels designed to cover existing walls or existing wall coverings.
However, when using these systems, the remodeler must simply select one of a limited number of wall surround panel designs manufactured and provided by the seller. There is little or no opportunity to further customize the look to fit with the decor of the surrounding areas or the remodeler's unique taste.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an inexpensive, easy to install, aesthetically pleasing and customizable system for remodeling a bathroom, kitchen or other room.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a wall surround system for use in a room having at least one existing wall. The system can include at least one wall surround panel configured to be installed along the existing wall, the wall surround panel defining at least one recessed portion. The system can also include at least one tile inlay configured to be received within the recessed portion. The system can be a remodeling system for remodeling a bathroom or kitchen in a residential or commercial building.
Also provided are methods for remodeling a room having at least one existing wall. The method includes providing at least one wall surround panel that defines at least one recessed portion and at least one tile inlay. The method also includes securing the wall surround panel to the wall, and securing the tile inlay in a respective recessed portion. The method can also include removing a portion of the wall that corresponds to a position of the recessed portion when the wall surround panel is installed along the wall. Securing the wall surround panel to the wall can then comprise positioning the wall surround panel such that the recessed portion extends into the removed portion of the wall.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “wall surround panel” or a “tile inlay” can include two or more such wall surround panels or tile inlays, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Ranges may be expressed herein as from “approximately” one particular value, and/or to “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “approximately,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
According to various embodiments, a wall surround system is provided for use in a room having at least one existing wall. For example, but not meant to be limiting, the wall surround system can be used in a bathroom or kitchen. If used in a bathroom, for instance, the wall surround system can be used on walls that surround a bathtub or shower, and/or on walls that do not surround a bathtub or shower. In a kitchen, exemplary wall surround systems could be used on portions of walls that form a backsplash between lower and upper cabinets.
According to one embodiment, the wall surround system has at least one wall surround panel configured to be installed along the at least one existing wall in the room. More specifically, the at least one wall surround panel is configured to cover at least a portion of the existing wall. Each wall surround panel has a face surface and at least one edge. Each wall surround panel can also define at least one recessed portion in the face surface. According to various embodiments, the wall surround panels are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, and may consist of one or more designs created by indentations, protrusions, surface textures, and/or color. The system can also comprise at least one tile inlay configured to be received within the at least one recessed portion.
For example, with reference to
According to further embodiments, each wall surround panel can define at least one linear indentation extending along at least a portion of the face surface of the wall surround panel. For example, with reference to
According to one embodiment, the each indentation can have a width wi of approximately ⅛ inch, and a depth of approximately 1/16 inch to approximately ¼ inch. Because the wall surround panels are designed for aesthetic purposes, these dimensions do not need to be machined to tight tolerances, and need not be exact. Additionally, because the face surface of the wall surround panels can be textured, the edges of each indentation can also be textured or dimpled, such that the width of depth of the indentation is not uniform along its length. The indentations can be designed to have an appearance similar to that of a grout line, such as can be seen in
According to a further embodiment, the first indentations can be spaced at approximately 12 inches from each other. The second indentations can also be spaced approximately 12 inches from each other. Thus, in one embodiment the portions of the wall surround panel can have an appearance of a standard 12-inch tile. In other embodiments, the indentations can be spaced from each other at other distances, such as, but not limited to 4 inches, 6 inches, 15 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, or any other desired distance. The indentations can also be spaced in a non-uniform manner, such that an uneven grid or other pattern could be created.
In yet another embodiment, each recessed portion can be substantially square in shape, with approximately equal dimensions in width and height, and have a length dimension l as shown in
As discussed above, and with reference to
The at least one tile inlay is designed to add aesthetic appeal to the wall surround system. Thus, tile inlays can be any size, color and/or texture, and are selected based on the tastes and preferences of a customer. The at least one tile inlay, in one embodiment, is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stone, ceramic, glass, metal, and laminated plastic with a metal surface sheet (sold under the name DECOMETAL® by Formica Corporation). Optionally, the tile inlays can be manufactured of any material or method known in the art. Additionally, in a system in which a plurality of tile inlays are used, each tile inlay can be provided in a combination of materials. For example, some tile inlays can be glass and others can be stone, or some other combination. The tile inlays can be arranged in a uniform or random pattern within the recessed portions, or any pattern that a customer desires. According to a further embodiment, each tile inlay can have a size and shape that enables it to be received within a respective recessed portion. Thus, if the recessed portion is approximately 4 inches in height and width, and approximately ½ inch in depth, the tile inlay can be approximately 3⅞ inches in height and width, and approximately ¼ inch in depth.
With reference to
With reference to
According to another embodiment, and with reference to
Thus, according to the various embodiments described herein, wall surround panels can be provided that can be installed along a wall surrounding a bathtub or shower, as well as wall surround panels that are configured to be installed along a non-bathtub or non-shower wall. While reference has been made to the one or more wall surround panels necessary to fit the specific bathroom layouts shown in
The systems described herein can also include means for securing the at least one tile inlay in a respective recessed portion. Such a means can be any adhesive known in the art, such as double-sided tape, a silicone-based adhesive, or other known adhesives. In a further embodiment, the one or more adhesive used to secure the tile inlay in the recessed portion can be any adhesive that can stand up to the moist environment of bathrooms, including bathtub or shower enclosures.
According to one embodiment, the wall surround panels are comprised primarily of acrylic. According to other embodiments, the one or more wall surround panels are comprised of any thermoplastic material or combination of thermoplastic materials.
According to one embodiment, the one or more wall surround panels are manufactured by heating a sheet of raw material to approximately 330 degrees in a thermoforming oven for approximately two and a half minutes. The heated sheet is then placed over a male mold and vacuum formed to the shape of the mold. The formed wall surround panel is cooled for approximately 45 seconds. The wall surround panel is then removed from the mold and trimmed.
Provided herein are methods of remodeling a room having at least one wall, such as a bathroom or kitchen. The method in one aspect comprises providing at least one wall surround panel, such as those described herein, and providing a tile inlay. The method can comprise, before installing the at least one wall surround panel, ensuring that the existing wall is in clean and good condition. The existing wall can be cleaned using chemicals including, but not limited to, acetone and denatured alcohol. If the existing surface is not in satisfactory condition, it can be repaired as understood in the art. For example, if the existing surface is not flat, portions of the wall can be built-out using any American Society for Testing (ASTM) approved board including, but not limited to, fiber cement, fiber mat reinforced cement, glass mat gypsum backers, or fiber-reinforced gypsum backers, such as those known in the art.
The installer must then determine where the recessed portions of the wall surround panels will be located with respect to the existing wall or wall covering. The method can then comprise removing a portion of the at least one wall that corresponds to the position of the at least one recessed portion when the wall surround panel is installed against the respective wall. Thus, in one example, the installer can cut the existing wall or wall covering in those locations such that the existing wall or wall covering will accommodate the one or more recessed portions of the wall surround panels. Alternatively, the installer can build-out the existing wall in a manner that accounts for the location of the recessed portions of the wall surround panels.
The at least one wall surround panel can be trimmed to ensure an exact fit on the desired surface. This includes trimming to account for the height, width and depth of the wall to be covered. It may further include trimming or cutting the wall surround panels to account for windows, hardware (faucets, shower heads, etc.) and other accessories, including soap dishes and shelves. The installer must further account for the location of grout line simulating indentations, decorative trim and other pattern features to ensure an aesthetically pleasing result.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall. This can comprise, in one example, adhering the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall. Thus, in one non-limiting example, to install the one or more wall surround panels, the installer applies silicone primer to the existing wall or wall covering. The installer then applies double-sided tape, such as butyl tape, over the primed areas of the existing wall or wall covering, as known in the art. The installer removes the paper from the tape and applies a thick bead of silicone in the areas surrounding the tape. The wall surround panel is then placed against the existing wall and/or wall covering and pressed to ensure that the panel has made complete contact with the adhesive. According to another embodiment, the installer further applies a silicone primer to the back of the wall surround panel before adhering the wall surround panel to the existing wall or wall covering.
According to one embodiment, once each of the wall surround panels is adhered to the existing wall and/or wall covering, the joints between two or more wall surround panels are sealed by applying silicone to each joint. The plumbing access holes are also sealed using silicone. In one example, the room in which the wall surround panels are installed can have a first wall and a second adjoining wall, such that a first wall surround panel can be secured to the first wall, and a second wall surround panel can be secured to the second wall such that the first and second panels abut at a corner joint. The joint can then be sealed, such as with silicone.
Once the one or more wall surround panels are installed, the one or more tile inlays are secured in the recessed portions of the one or more wall surround panels in any configuration desired by the customer. In one embodiment, the tile inlays can be secured in the recessed portions by adhering each tile inlay to a surface of a respective recessed area 130, such as shown in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A wall surround system for use in a room having at least one existing wall, comprising:
- at least one wall surround panel configured to be installed along the at least one existing wall, wherein each wall surround panel has a face surface and at least one edge, and wherein each wall surround panel defines at least one recessed portion in the face surface; and
- at least one tile inlay configured to be received within the at least one recessed portion.
2. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein each wall surround panel defines at least one linear indentation extending along at least a portion of the face surface of the wall surround panel.
3. The wall surround system of claim 2, wherein the at least one linear indentation comprises at least two linear indentations that extend substantially perpendicularly to each other.
4. The wall surround system of claim 2, wherein the at least one linear indentation comprises a plurality of first indentations spaced from each other and a plurality of second indentations spaced from each other, wherein each first indentation extends substantially perpendicularly to at least one of said second indentations.
5. The wall surround system of claim 4, wherein the first indentations are spaced approximately 12 inches from each other and wherein the second indentations are spaced approximately 12 inches from each other.
6. The wall surround system of claim 4, wherein the at least one recessed portion is defined at an intersection of a first indentation and a second indentation.
7. The wall surround system of claim 2, wherein the at least one indentation has a width of approximately ⅛ inch, and a depth of approximately 1/16 to ¼ inch.
8. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein each recessed portion is substantially square in shape and has a width of approximately 4 inches, a height of approximately 4 inches, and a depth of approximately ½ inch.
9. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall surround panel comprises a decorative trim along the at least one edge.
10. The wall surround system of claim 1, further comprising means for securing the at least one tile inlay in the at least one recessed portion.
11. The wall surround system of claim 10, wherein the means for securing comprises an adhesive.
12. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein the at least one surround panel is acrylic.
13. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein the room has at least one first wall surrounding a bathtub or shower and at least one second wall that does not surround a bathtub or shower, and wherein one or more of the at least one wall surround panels is configured to be installed along the at least one first wall.
14. The wall surround system of claim 13, wherein one or more of the at least one wall surround panels is configured to be installed along the at least one second wall.
15. The wall surround system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tile inlay is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stone, ceramic, glass, metal, and laminated plastic with a metal surface sheet.
16. A method of remodeling a room having at least one existing wall, comprising:
- providing at least one wall surround panel, wherein each wall surround panel has a face surface and at least one edge, and wherein each wall surround panel defines at least one recessed portion in the face surface;
- providing at least one tile inlay;
- securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall; and
- securing the at least one tile inlay in a respective recessed portion.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing a portion of the at least one wall that corresponds to the position of the at least one recessed portion when the wall surround panel is installed along the at least one wall, wherein said step of removing occurs prior to the step of securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall, and wherein securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall comprises positioning the at least one wall surround panel such that the at least one recessed portion extends into the removed portion of the at least one wall.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein securing the at least one tile inlay comprises adhering the tile inlay to a surface of the recessed portion.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall comprises adhering the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the room has a first wall and a second adjoining wall, and wherein the at least one wall surround panel comprises a first wall surround panel and a second wall surround panel, wherein securing the at least one wall surround panel to the at least one wall comprises securing the first wall surround panel to the first wall and securing the second wall surround panel to the second wall such that the first and second wall surround panels abut at a corner joint, the method further comprising sealing the joint between the first and second wall surround panels.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 11, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 24, 2013
Inventors: Norman A. Murdock (Scottsdale, AZ), John Mark Wathen (Foothill Ranch, CA)
Application Number: 13/493,913
International Classification: E04F 13/21 (20060101); E04F 19/00 (20060101);