Shape-conforming surface covering

Abstract

A shape-conforming surface covering useful for covering any type of surfaces, and including planks or sheets of a plastic or flexible material adapted to be interconnected aside of each other thereby forming an assembled surface covering of optional length and width, and which planks or sheet are of a material that can be brought to curved formations, and which at the upper surface of the covering is roughened, for instance sanded or filed so as to imitate any unique grain effect of wooden material. Preferably the planks or sheet are formed with a connection arrangement at the longitudinal edges thereof. The surface covering may be an assembled unit including planks and caulking elements between each pair of planks.

1 . A surface covering comprising planks of a flexible shape-conforming material interconnectable to form a surface, said planks being formed from a material that can be laid in curved formations, said planks having a roughened upper surface and having longitudinal slots on a surface opposite said upper surface for facilitating the curving of the planks and providing a base for a glue or adhesive material for mounting the surface covering on a surface recipient.  
   
   
       2 . The surface covering of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface comprises a simulated wood grain.  
   
   
       3 . The surface covering of  claim 1 , wherein the planks comprise one or more additives selected from the group consisting of additives for providing UV protection, fire retardance substances, natural fibers and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The surface covering of  claim 1 , wherein each of the planks includes a longitudinally extending male connecting portion and a longitudinally extending female connecting portion.  
   
   
       5 . The surface covering of  claim 1  including caulking strips between pairs of adjacent planks.  
   
   
       6 . A surface covering comprising at least first and second shape-conforming planks, said first plank being conformed to the curved edge of a surface to be covered and the second plank being conformed to the curved edge of said first plank.  
   
   
       7 . The surface covering of  claim 6  including shape-conforming caulking strip between said first and second planks.  
   
   
       8 . The surface covering of  claim 6  wherein said first and second planks are interconnected.  
   
   
       9 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein said caulking strip is connected to at least one of said first and second planks.  
   
   
       10 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein said first plank is formed from PVC.  
   
   
       11 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein said first plank has a wood grain texture.  
   
   
       12 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein said first plank has a roughened surface.  
   
   
       13 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein said first plank, said second plank, and said caulking strip are co-extruded.  
   
   
       14 . The surface covering of  claim 7  wherein each of said planks and said caulking strip includes a male interconnecting portion and a female interconnection portion, the male interconnecting portion of said first plank being connectable to a female interconnecting portion on the second plank or the caulking strip.  
   
   
       15 . A method of covering a surface having a curved edge comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of planar planks;    placing a first planar plank on a surface to be covered;    heating the first plank;    bending the first plank to conform it to the curved edge of the surface to be covered;    placing a second plank on the surface to be covered;    heating the second plank; and    forcing the second plank against the first plank to conform the second plank to the curve of the first plank.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 providing a plurality of planar caulking strips;    bending a first one of the caulking strips and placing the bent caulking strip against the first plank before forcing the second plank against the first plank.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional step of attaching the first plank to the surface.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional step of forming a simulated wood grain in the first plank by sanding or brushing the surface of the first plank.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional step of forming a simulated wood grain in the first plank by sanding discrete portions of the first plank at an oblique angle to a length of the plank.