SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART Existing rubber seals are generally made of an extruded length of material which is shaped to give the appropriate sealing effect. The resilience of the rubber is then used to provide sealing properties, and where the seal involves a channel it has been assumed that part of the seal conforming to the channel can be pushed into the channel to give appropriate connection between the seal and the channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to modify known elastomeric seals, to provide more satisfactory sealing between two bodies, each of which has a channel into which part of the seal is received.

When joining objects both to each other and to the surface on which they rest, there is a particular problem at the lower corners. There, there must be a three-way seal since each object must be sealed to the other and also to the surface. This is a complex issue because corner joints tend to make the seal more rigid at that point, making it more difficult to provide a satisfactory sealing effect.

Therefore, the present invention proposes a corner joint for a sealing assembly comprising two components, one of which is a corner seal and the other is an end seal. The corner and end seals are of elastomeric material such as rubber. The corner seal has at least one edge with a convexly curved outer surface, that outer surface having projections projecting therefrom. The corner seal is hollow immediately inward from that convex surface so that the convex surface is deformable. The end seal then has a concave surface generally conforming to the convex surface of the corner seal. Thus, when the convex and concave surfaces are brought together, the projections on the convex surface seal to the concave surface at multiple locations. Note that it is possible, as an alternative or in addition, to provide projections on the concave surface of the end seal.

An advantage of this arrangement is that it permits the orientation of the corner seal and end seal to be adjusted in more than one direction, since the concave and convex surfaces can be pivoted about an approxable common centre or can be slid linearly relative to each other. Thus, satisfactory sealing will still be achieved.

The end seal may be shaped, in cross-section parallel to the axis of curvature of the concave surface discussed above, so as to define first and second seal parts, each seal part being hollow and having projections on its outer surface which will abut the walls of respective channels. The first seal part has a box- shaped cross-section, and the second seal part has a curved surface remote from the junction of the two seal parts. The end seal may then be abutted to or joined to an elongate seal of the same or possibly different cross- sections. If joining is needed, this may be achieved by projections on the end seal being received in the hollow interior of the elongate seal, or vice versa.

The corner seal defines a corner, and therefore will have two mutually perpendicular edges which themselves are mutually perpendicular to the concave surface or surfaces discussed above. Those edges may then have

cross-sections similar to the end seal, so that they define first and second seal parts. The corner moulding may then be abutted to or joined to two elongate seals, so that those elongate seals, extend in mutually perpendicular directions. An L-shaped seal is thus provided. Again, as with the end seal, this may be achieved by projections on the corner seal being received in the hollow interiors of the first and/or second seal parts of the respective elongate seals or vice versa.

When the end seal, with an attached elongate seal is abutted against the corner seal with two attached elongate seals the resulting structure is in the shape of an inverted T.

Normally the elongate seals will have the same cross-section as the surface of the end and/or corner seal to which they are attached.

As has been discussed above the end and/or corner seal has a cross-section such as to define first and second seal parts of elastomeric material joined together, each seal part being hollow and having projections on its outer surface which will abut the walls of respective channels. The first seal part has a box-shaped cross-section and the second seal part has a

curved surface remote from the junction of the two seal parts, the projections on that curved surface then engaging the other channel. Normally, the two seal parts will be integral, so that they can be extruded from a common extrusion. Moreover, the thickness of the elastomeric material at the join may be selected so as to give a degree of flexibility to the seal at the junction of the two seal parts. The projection on the box-shaped seal part may be on opposite sides, although it is also possible to provide projections on the side which is remote from the other seal part. Where the end and/or corner seals are used with elongate seals, the elongate seals may then have a cross-sectional slope corresponding to that described above.

With such a seal, the hollowness of the two seal parts allows each to deform when it is received in the corresponding channel. However, the projections enables the two seal parts to provide a satisfactory sealing effect with their respective channels. The radius of the curvature of the hollow interior of the second sealed part may have a larger radius of curvature remote from the first seal part than its radius of curvature adjacent that first seal part.

As has been mentioned before, the seal is of elastomeric material. Many different sorts of rubber material may be used, such as EPDM or nitryl rubber.

Natural and artificial rubbers may be used. However, the invention is not concerned with seals of plastics material. A development of this first aspect proposes that this aspect of the invention includes the seal discussed above when joining two objects, each of which has a respective channel and the objects are positioned so that the open mouths of the channels face each other.

The seal is then received into the channels, with the first seal part being received in one channel and the second seal part being received in the other, to join the two objects.

The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with providing a water barrier between two objects. It is known to provide a barrier to provide flood defence, or similar water resistance, in which the barrier is formed by a plurality of barrier parts sealed together, and sealed to the surface on which the barrier parts rest, such as a road or pavement having a channel therein for receiving the seal. Seals of the invention may then be used with such barrier parts to seal the barrier parts to each other and also to seal the barrier parts to the surface on which they rest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a general schematic view of a sealing assembly embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an elongate seal of the assembly of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing how the seal of Fig. 2 is received into respective channels; Figs. 4a and 4b are side and sectional views through a corner seal of the assembly of Fig. 1; Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c are top, side and sectional views of an end seal of the assembly of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to Fig. 1, the sealing assembly as shown comprises five components. Three of those components 10,12, 14 are elongate seals, all which have the same cross-sectional shape. The elongate seals 10, 12 are joined by corner seal 16, and the elongate seal 14 is joined to the corner seal 16 by an end seal 18. Thus, the elongate seals 10,14 extend in the same direction (although they need not be exactly aligned as will be

described in more detail later), and the elongate seal 12 extends generally perpendicular to the other elongate seals 10,14.

It should be noted that with such a seal assembly the elongate seals 10,12 will be sealed to one object, with parts of those seals being received in respective channels in that object, and seals 12 and 14 will be sealed to another object, again being received in respective channels. Seals 10 and 14 may then be sealed to the surface on which the two objects are to rest.

The cross-sectional shape of the elongate seals 10, 12 and 14 is illustrated in Fig. 2. Each seal comprises a first seal part 20 and the second seal part 21 which are integrally formed and joined at a join 22. Each seal part 20,21 has a hollow interior 23,24.

The first seal part 20 is of generally square-shape (although it may be rectangular), one side of that square forming the join 22 to the second seal part 21. The sides 24,25 of the first seal part have respective projections 26,27 thereon. The projection, 26,27 will abut the walls of the channel into which the first seal part 20 is received.

The second seal part 21 has a curved surface 28 remote from the first seal part 20, and that surface 28 has projections 29 thereon which will engage the channel into which the second seal 21 is received. It can be seen that the hollow interior 24 of the second seal part 21 is somewhat egg-shaped, with the interior surface 29 remote from the first seal part 20 having a larger radius of curvature than the interior surface 30 adjacent to the first seal part 20. There are also recesses 31,32 in the outer surface of the seal part 21 adjacent the first seal part 20.

Fig. 3 shows the seal of Fig. 2 received in respective channels 40,41 of two bodies 42,43. Fig. 2 illustrates how the projections 26,27 engage the walls of the channel 40, and the projections 29 engage the walls of the channel 41. Fig. 3 illustrates that the second seal part 21 makes a three-point contact with the walls of the channel 41, so that there is sealing both to the side walls 44,45 and to the end wall 46 of the channel 41. This ensures that there is no fluid leakage path around the seal. It can also be seen from Fig. 2 that the end 34 of the first seal part 20 remote from the second seal part 21 has radiused corners 33,35 which provides clearance for suitable seating of the seal part into the channel 40.

The shape of the seal illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the fact that it is made of an elasticomeric material offer several advantages. The projections 26,27 accommodate variation in width of the channel 40, to ensure a watertight seal. Moreover, as can be seen from Figs 2 and 3, the projections 26,27 project backwardly from the base 47 of the channel 40, to provide adequate retention strength of the seal part 20 within the channel 40. The hollowness of the seal part 20 allows it to deform as it is inserted into the channel 40, to provide easy assembly.

The hollowness of the first seal part 20 has two functions. Firstly, it lightens the weight of the seal part. Secondly, the size of the hollow interior 23 determines the stiffness of the side walls 24,25 and 31 to allow a firm fit, while having a good degree of flexibility. Similarly, the hollowness of the second seal part 21 also provides flexibility and reduces the weight of that part of the seal. The projections 29 provide a deformal seal with multiple contact points, (normally at least a three-point contact) and have the advantage that the seal will not be compromised by small bodies between the seal part 21 and the channel 41.

Thus, for example, a small stone or other particulate

matter may be present between the seal part 21 and the walls of the channel 41, but the curved surfaced 28 will deform around that stone and adequate sealing will still be achieved.

The recesses 31,32 also have a function, primarily to permit a degree of movement between the two seal parts 20,21 which may be needed, if, for example, the respective channels 40,41 are slightly misaligned. The recesses 31,32 also have the advantage of controlling the direction of the force which a curved part 28 and its projections 29 exert on the walls of the channel 41.

Each of the elongated extrusions forming the elongate seals 10,12, 14 of Fig. 1 may have the shape illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. They may thus be formed of a continuous extrusion of elastomeric material cut to length to fit the size of the objects to which the seals are to be attached.

The corner seal 16 joining the elongate seals 10,12 will now be described with reference to Figs 4a and 4b.

Referring first to Fig. 4a, the end seal 16 has four edges 50,51, 52 and 53 forming a generally square-shape.

The edges 50,51 abut against, and match the ends of the elongate seals 12,10 and thus their shape is as

illustrated in Fig. 4b. The shape of the edges 50,51 is the same and indeed corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the elongate seals 10,12 as illustrated in Fig.

2. Thus, description of the full details of those end surfaces 50,51 will be omitted since the details have already been discussed with reference to Fig. 2.

However, it can be seen from Fig. 4 that projections 54, 55 project from edge 50, and projections 56,57 project from edge 51. The projections 54,55 are received into the openings formed by the hollow interiors 23,24 of the elongate extrusion 12, and the projections 56,57 are received into the corresponding openings in the ends of the elongate seal 10.

The edges 52,53 are then convex, and correspond to the surface 28 of the second seal part 21 in Fig. 2.

They have projections 59 corresponding to the projections 29. Again, the edges 52,53 are the same, albeit at right angles.

The elongate seal part 14 is sealed to the corner seal 16 by an end seal 18 illustrated in Figs. 5a to 5c.

That end seal 18 has one edge 60 which conforms to the end of the elongate seal 14, and thus has the shape illustrated in Fig. 2. Projections 61,62 extend from that edge 60, and are received in the hollow interior 23,

24 of the elongate seal 14. The bottom edge 63 of the end seal 18 is convex, corresponding to the edge 28 of the second seal part 21. However, as can be seen from Fig. 5a, the edge 68 of the end seal 18 remote from the edge 60 is concave. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, that edge 68 abuts against the edge 53 of the corner seal 16 so that the projections 59 press against the interior of the concave edge 68, thereby sealing together the corner seal 16 and the end seal 18.

Fig. 5c illustrates that the projection 61,62 are hollow, and bores 64,65 extend into the body 66 of the end seal thus the material 67 immediately inwardly of the edge 61 is readily deformable, due to the presence of those bores 64,65. This ensures that satisfactory sealing can be achieved.

The configuration of the corner seal 16 and the end seal 18 allow a measure of adjustability of the position of the elongate seal 14 relative to the elongate seal 10.

For example, their directions of elongation need not be exactly parallel, since any slight inclination between their axes of extension can be accommodated by the relative positioning of the edges 53 and 61. The fact that the projections 59 extend around the edge 53 means that a satisfactory multi-point seal may be achieved even

if the end seal 18 is displaced around the end seal 16.

Moreover, the end seal 18 permits a degree of linear displacement of the elongate seal 14 relative to the elongate seal 10. Although they are shown aligned in Fig. 1, it can be seen that if the elongate seal 14 and end seal 18 are raised, to be displaced in the direction of elongation of the elongate seal 12, the end seal 18 will still abut at least partially along the edge 53 of the corner seal 16, and may also abut against the curved end 28 of the second part 21 of the elongate seal 12.

Thus, where the object sealed by seals 10 and 12 is vertically displaced relative to the object sealed by elongate seals 12 and 14, this can be accommodated by the relative positioning of the corner seal 16 and end seal 18. The corner seal 16 has a symmetrical design along a 45° axis. Therefore the projections 59 which extend along face 53 also extend along face 52, allowing the projections 59 to reside in face 68, providing a seal in conditions of linear displacement and angular misalignment. Thus, the corner seal 16 may be used in either orientation relative to the end seal 18.

The assembly shown in Fig. 1 may be repeated to form sealing structure. Thus, the end of the elongate seal 14 remote from the end seal 18 may be terminated by a corner seal 16, with another elongate seal upstanding there

from. A further end seal may then abut against that corner seal, and a further elongate seal extend from that end seal. This arrangement of perpendicular elongate seals, corner seal, end seal and elongate seal can be repeated indefinitely.