Cove former

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cove corner former ( 10, 40 ) for creating a corner between lengths of coving material ( 35 ) running along the wall-floor interface of two adjacent differently angled walls ( 31, 32, 61, 62 ). There is provided first and second portions ( 11, 12, 41, 42 ) each having an upper section ( 20, 49 ) that matches the profile of the walls and a lower section ( 21, 50 ) that defines the desired cove shape. The former ( 10, 40 ) also includes a floor engaging part ( 51 ) defined by the lower ends of the first and second portions ( 11,12, 41,42 )) and wall engaging means ( 14, 44 ), defined by the upper sections of the first and second portions, which fit in or around the apex of the corner formed between the walls ( 31, 32, 61, 62 ). The upper and lower portions ( 20, 21, 49, 50 ) of each section define a surface ( 13, 43 ) to which the floor covering material ( 35 ) is mounted and the upper portions of those surfaces are arranged such that the angle between them corresponds to the angle between the two walls. In a preferred arrangement the lower portions ( 21, 50 ) are arcuate such that the covering material ( 35 ) mounted thereto adopts a curved profile. In one embodiment the former ( 10 ) is adapted to be mounted in an internal corner ( 30 ), but in an alternative embodiment the former ( 40 ) is adapted to be mounted around an external corner ( 60 ).

1 . A corner former for creating a corner between lengths of coving running along a wall-floor junction of two adjacent walls defining a corner therebetween, the corner former comprising:
 a generally rigid first portion and   a generally rigid second portion conjoined to the first portion along a common edge of said first and second portions, each of said first and second portions including an upper section having a generally planar rear surface for engaging a wall and a lower section for engaging a floor and defining a desired cove shape, the upper and lower sections of the first portion defining a first front surface and the upper and lower sections of the second portion defining a second front surface, and each upper section having tapered free peripheral edges, the lower sections of the first and second portions being adapted to abut said lengths of coving,   wherein the common edge of the upper sections of the first and second portions is arranged to engage the corner between the two adjacent walls such that the angle between the rear surfaces of the upper sections corresponds to the angle between the two adjacent walls.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each lower section extends forward of the respective upper sections. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein search lower section has a rear surface for engaging the floor, said lower section rear surface being perpendicular to the rear surface of the respective upper section. 
     
     
         7 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each lower section is curved. 
     
     
         8 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the curvature of the lower section of the first portion is substantially equal to the curvature of the lower section of the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the radius of curvature of each lower section is in the range of 2 cm to 4 cm. 
     
     
         10 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the upper section of the first portion surface and the upper section of the second portion is substantially 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the upper section of the first portion surface and the upper section of the second portion is substantially 270 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are moulded. 
     
     
         15 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the corner former is made from a plastics material. 
     
     
         16 . A corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the corner former is made from metal. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A floor assembly comprising:
 a floor cove corner former as claimed in  claim 1 , fitted to the wall-floor interface of two adjacent walls defining a corner therebetween; and   lengths of coving material overlying the first and second surfaces of the cove corner former.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing floor covering material on a floor region including a corner between adjacent walls upstanding from the floor, comprising the steps of:
 mounting a corner former as claimed in  claim 1  to the walls and floor at said corner, such that the former lower sections engage the floor and the rear surfaces of the upper sections engage the walls at the corner; and   laying the floor covering material on the floor and part-way up said walls to conceal the corner former.   
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , and further comprising the step of adhering the corner former to one or both of the floor and walls. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , and further comprising the step of mounting strips of coving along the junctions between the floor and upstanding walls, the elengate each strip of coving having an end face adapted to abut a lower section of the corner former.