Wall and ceiling repair products and methods

Abstract

A patch system and methods for using a patch system are described herein. The patch system has an elastomeric central portion configured to expand and contract over the types of distances commonly found in homes and other buildings that can result in opening and closing cracks in walls, for example. By applying the patch system across a crack under pre-tensioned conditions, opening and closing of the crack will not cause a visible defect in the wall or other surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A patch comprising:
 a first portion having adhesive properties,   a second portion having adhesive properties, and   a third portion that is elastic and conformable, wherein the third portion is interposed between the first portion and the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The patch of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion is made of a butyl rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The patch of  claim 1 , wherein the patch is pre-tensioned such that the third portion is in a stretched state. 
     
     
         4 . The patch of  claim 3 , wherein the patch further comprises a structural support coupled to both the first portion and the second portion and configured to hold the third portion in the stretched state. 
     
     
         5 . The patch of  claim 4 , wherein the patch further comprises a liner arranged on the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the liner is arranged opposite the first and second portions from the structural support. 
     
     
         6 . The patch of  claim 5 , wherein the liner is selected from the group consisting of a paper tape, a mesh tape, or a coated plastic film. 
     
     
         7 . The patch of  claim 5 , wherein the structural support is a lattice. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a first patch portion having adhesive properties,   a second patch portion having adhesive properties,   a third patch portion that is elastic and conformable, wherein the third portion is interposed between the first patch portion and the second patch portion, and   a structural liner coupled to the first patch portion and the second patch portion and configured to hold the third patch portion such that it is under tension.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first patch, the second patch, and the third patch are made from a material that compatible with a paint having a similar elasticity as the third portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first patch portion and the second patch portion are separated from one another by at least 6.35 mm (0.25 inches) whilst the third patch portion is under tension. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the third patch portion is made from a butyl rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a release liner arranged on the first patch portion and the second portion and opposite from the structural liner. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the release liner is selected from the group consisting of a paper tape, a mesh tape, or a coated plastic film. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the structural liner is a lattice. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 removing a liner from a patch system, the patch system having:
 a first patch portion having adhesive properties, 
 a second patch portion having adhesive properties, 
 a third patch portion that is elastic and conformable, wherein the third portion is interposed between the first patch portion and the second patch portion, 
 the liner, and 
 a structural liner coupled to the first patch portion and the second patch portion and configured to hold the third patch portion such that it is under tension; 
   adhering the first patch portion and the second patch portion to a surface; and   removing the structural support from the first patch portion and the second patch portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying joint compound across the first patch portion and the second patch portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising smoothing the joint compound such that the surface, the joint compound, and the third patch portion form a smooth continuous surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising painting the patch system while it is under tension. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the third patch portion comprises butyl rubber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , the first patch portion and the second patch portion are separated from one another by at least 6.35 mm (0.25 inches) whilst the third patch portion is under tension.