Resiliently deformable construction element covering

Abstract

The invention provides a resiliently deformable construction element covering ( 10 ) which permits a structure constructed using said covering to deform in sympathy with weather and other natural forces and to recover to substantially to its original state. The covering ( 10 ) includes a resiliently deformable film ( 12 ) having at least a portion ( 46 ) extending beyond the surface of the construction element ( 40 ) onto which the film is to be applied thereby to a define a flap ( 46 ) which overlaps onto an adjacent construction element, and an adhesive ( 16 ) for applying the film ( 12 ) to the construction element. The covering ( 10 ) also includes a coating composition or system ( 22 ) capable of being applied to the film and of dissipating, most of any decorative damage over an area around a stressed area of the film which is causing the decorative damage thereby to form individual cracks in the coating composition that are substantially invisible to the naked eye. The invention also extends to a pre-manufactured construction element ( 40 ) for use in assembly of structures using semi-skilled labour.

1 . decorative damage dissipating construction element covering which permits a structure constructed using said covering to deform in sympathy wit weather and other natural forces and to dissipate decorative damage, said covering including: 
 a resiliently deformable film having at least a portion extending beyond the surface of the construction element onto which the film is to be applied thereby to a define a flap which overlaps onto an adjacent construction element;    an adhesive for applying the film to the construction element; and    coating composition or system including a particulate inorganic material for dissipating most of any decorative damage over an area around a stressed area of the film, to which said composition is applied, which is causing the decorative damage thereby to form individual cracks in the coating composition that are substantially invisible to the naked eye.    
     
     
         2 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable film is an elastomeric film.  
     
     
         3 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the resiliently deformable film is a thermoplastic elastomeric film.  
     
     
         4 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric film is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) film having upto 1000% elongation.  
     
     
         5 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein suitable compounding agents such as inorganic fillers are added to produce a resiliently deformable film which is suitable as a wall covering in that it has sufficient stiffness so that it does not sag under its own weight nor is it tacky to the touch while also having adequate elastic memory of about 100% deformation, to stretch and recover with movement of the construction elements to which it is applied.  
     
     
         6 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 4  or  claim 5 , wherein the resiliently deformable covering also serves as a sound and/or thermal insulation.  
     
     
         7 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating composition or system includes a polar inorganic material which is applied to the film and which is receptive to paint and ink thereby to permit paint and/or ink to be applied to the inorganic material and thus to the film.  
     
     
         8 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the polar inorganic material includes particles of quartz, marble, limestone, or the like.  
     
     
         9 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the particles are in the form of fine granules or powder,  
     
     
         10 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in any one of  claims 7  to  9 , wherein the polar inorganic material is pressed into the surface of the film which is to be painted after tat surface has been heated to above the glass transition temperature of the species in the film having the highest glass transition temperature but below the melting point of the film so that the film loses its elasticity and becomes plastic thereby retaining the inorganic material in the surface.  
     
     
         11 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 8  or claims  9 , wherein the surface layer of the film is plasticly reformed about the particles providing a mechanical key for each particle thereby retaining the particles in the surface.  
     
     
         12 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap of film which extends beyond the edges of the surface onto which the film is applied, together with the inorganic material and any paint or ink which has been applied thereto, is tapered in the plane of the thickness of the covering so that it overlaps with a complementary tapered section on an adjacent construction element to form a resiliently deformable covering spanning a joint between the adjacent construction elements while limiting the thickness of the covering in the overlap region to substantially that of the covering on the remainder of the construction elements.  
     
     
         13 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the width of the resiliently deformable covering spanning the joint is variable and limited only by the width of the tapered portions of the flap.  
     
     
         14 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the overlapping of the flap from one construction element onto an adjacent construction element, permits an otherwise visibly imperfect joint to be covered and to appear perfect due to the complementary tapered portions overlying each other to form a uniform covering over the joint.  
     
     
         15 . A construction element having a peripherally extending joint arrangement for attaching the construction element to adjacent construction elements, the construction element being covered with a resilienty deformable covering, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the resiliently deformable covering having a flap portion tapered in the plane of thickness extending beyond the joint arrangement.  
     
     
         16 . A construction element as claimed in  claim 15 , including a complementary tapered portion at another edge of the construction element for receiving the flap portion of an adjacent construction element thereby to permit the joint arrangement to be imperceptibly covered in use.  
     
     
         17 . A resiliently deformable construction element covering, substantially as herein described and illustrated.  
     
     
         18 . A construction element, substantially as herein described and illustrated.  
     
     
         19 . A new resiliently deformable construction element covering or a new construction element substantially as herein described.