Plank for Wall or Surface Covering and Methods Thereof

Abstract

A plank and plank system for covering a wall or other surface is provided. Each longitudinally extending plank comprises a generally planar front façade and a back member. The back member comprises multiple plateaus interspersed with channels. Each plateau provides a flat surface that will be adjacent to the wall/surface when the plank is installed and onto which, optionally, a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive tape may be applied. The channels or an allocation feature within the channels provide a predetermined location and predetermined holding capacity to regulate the location and amount of construction adhesive to be applied by a user. In an aspect of the invention, the channels also provide a degree of flexibility that allows the plank to adhere securely to the wall and that allows the depth of the plank to be greater than conventional wood wall covering panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A decorative covering for a wall or surface, comprising:
 multiple planks, each plank of said multiple planks comprising:
 a façade; and 
 a plank back member opposing said façade; wherein said plank back member is configured with multiple channels interspersed within multiple plateaus; wherein at least a portion of said multiple channels provide a recess into which a quantity of construction adhesive can be received for adhering said plank onto said wall or surface; and wherein said multiple channels provide a degree of flexibility to said plank. 
   
     
     
         2 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an allocation feature within at least one of said multiple channels that marks a region to indicate an area for application of adhesive.   
     
     
         3 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , each plank of said multiple planks further comprising:
 a first set of multiple rows of regulating delineations disposed on said first plank end to facilitate shortening of said plank; wherein said plank does not have regulating delineations disposed on a center portion of said plank.   
     
     
         4 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 multiple pressure-sensitive adhesive strips, each of which is applied onto one of said multiple plateaus; and   release lining applied to an underside of said multiple strips.   
     
     
         5 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said multiple channels extend longitudinally between opposing first and second plank ends; and wherein each of said multiple plateaus extend longitudinally between opposing first and second plank ends. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said each of said multiple channels do not extend longitudinally between opposing first and second plank ends but wherein said multiple channels are distributed periodically along said plank back member. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said multiple channels comprise an angled channel. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said façade has a width less than a width of said plank back member; wherein said plank back member comprises a back member forward-facing section; and wherein, after installation of said plank, at least a portion of said back member forward-facing section is viewable and is not concealed by said façade. 
     
     
         9 . The decorative covering for a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first plank lateral edge is straight; wherein said second plank lateral edge is straight and is parallel to said first plank lateral edge; and wherein said first plank end is not straight but comprises multiple parallel end portions offset from each other; and wherein said second plank end is not straight but comprises multiple parallel end portions offset from each other. 
     
     
         10 . A plank for use in covering a wall or surface, comprising:
 a façade;   a plank back member opposing said façade; wherein said plank back member comprises multiple channels interspersed within multiple plateaus; wherein said multiple channels comprise concave grooves for receiving adhesive and for providing a degree of flexibility to said plank; wherein each of said multiple channels is disposed at a location that is satisfactory for adhering said plank onto said wall or surface.   
     
     
         11 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first set of multiple rows of regulating delineations disposed on said first plank end to facilitate shortening of said plank; wherein said plank has no regulating delineations in a center area of said plank.   
     
     
         12 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 multiple pressure-sensitive adhesive strips, each of which is applied onto one of said multiple plateaus.   
     
     
         13 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of said multiple channels extend longitudinally between opposing first and second plank ends; and wherein each of said multiple plateaus extend longitudinally between opposing first and second plank ends. 
     
     
         14 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising an allocation feature within at least one of said multiple channels that marks a region to indicate an area for application of adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first plank lateral edge is straight; wherein said second plank lateral edge is straight and parallel to said first plank lateral edge; and wherein said first plank longitudinal edge is not straight but is formed of multiple parallel segments that are not aligned; and wherein said second plank longitudinal edge is not straight but is formed of multiple parallel segments that are not aligned. 
     
     
         16 . The plank for use in covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said façade has a width less than a width of said plank back member; wherein said plank back member comprises a back member forward-facing section; and wherein, after installation of said plank, at least a portion of said back member forward-facing section is viewable and is not concealed by said façade. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a plank system for covering a wall or surface, comprising:
 (a) identify or create a reference line;   (b) apply a controlled amount of construction adhesive into at least a portion of a channel disposed within a back member of a plank;   (c) align said plank with said reference line;   (d) press said plank firmly onto said wall or surface to cause said plateaus to be juxtaposed against said wall or surface; and   (e) install additional planks using method steps (b), (c), and (d), with each of said additional planks positioned adjacent to said plank or to a previously installed one of said additional planks, to create a first plank row.   
     
     
         18 . The method of installing a plank system for covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising removing a release liner from a back surface of a strip of adhesive tape that is fixedly attached to one of said plateaus before aligning said plank with said reference line. 
     
     
         19 . The method of installing a plank system for covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising shortening said plank by removing a portion of a plank end by using regulating delineations disposed at said plank end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of installing a plank system for covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said back member comprises plateaus and said channel; wherein said controlled amount of construction adhesive corresponds to a predetermined volume of said channel; wherein said predetermined volume is defined by the length, width, and depth of said channel; and wherein said predetermined volume has been tested or calculated to assure said controlled amount of construction adhesive is adequate for plank adherence. 
     
     
         21 . The method of installing a plank system for covering a wall or surface, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein at least one allocation feature is disposed within said channel; wherein said allocation feature indicates an area into which a volume of construction adhesive is to be dispensed to adhere said plank onto said wall or said surface.