Patent Application
20250122734
The field of the invention is decorative molding, particularly, tools and systems for installing decorative molding.
Decorative molding is used to add visual interest and detail to a room. It can be used to create dark and light patterns on an otherwise plain surface, and provides an aesthetic, easy transition between different surfaces or materials. Molding can easily make any interior more exquisite and eye-catching. Moldings are the decorative trim pieces that surround doors and windows, run along the bottom and tops of walls, and generally serve as a transition between building elements. From arts and crafts to colonial to Victorian, moldings contribute to the style of a house.
There are many types of moldings available, each designed for a specific purpose such as framing a door or providing a visual transition at the junction of walls and flooring. Molding can be used in all kinds of styles from a minimalist space to bold contrast. Of course, in refined contemporary or French-styled rooms, molding is an inseparable and very natural type of decor.
Functionally, moldings hide and help weather seal natural joints produced in the framing process of building a structure. As decorative elements, they are a means of applying light and dark shaded stripes to a structural object without having to alter the material or apply pigments. Depending on their function they may be primarily a means of hiding or weather-sealing a joint, purely decorative, or some combination of the three.
As decorative elements, the contrast of dark and light areas gives definition to the object. If a vertical wall is lit at an angle of about 45° above the wall (for example, by the sun), then adding a small overhanging horizontal molding, called a fillet molding, will introduce a dark horizontal shadow below it. Adding a vertical fillet to a horizontal surface will create a light vertical shadow. Graded shadows are possible by using moldings in different shapes: the concave cavetto molding produces a horizontal shadow that is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom; an ovolo (convex) molding makes a shadow that is lighter at the top and darker at the bottom. Other varieties of concave molding are the scotia and congé and other convex moldings the echinus, the torus and the astragal.
There are many types of decorative moldings available, each designed for a specific purpose such as framing a door or providing a visual transition at the junction of walls and flooring. Some common types of decorative moldings include, 1) casing: designed to cover the unfinished gap between walls and door or window frames; 2) baseboard: used to trim walls where they join flooring; 3) crown: the “crowning” architectural feature of a room, as it decorates the transition between walls and the ceiling; 4) dado rail: functional molding meant to protect walls from being damaged by furniture; 5) picture rail: allows artwork frames to be hung without nails having to be driven directly into the wall; 6) cove: plain, concave-shaped trim employed where walls and ceilings meet; and 7) dentil: an ornamental detail with a classical pedigree, dentil molding consists of small, evenly spaced blocks in a repeating pattern.
Crown molding is typically installed at the intersection of walls and ceiling, but may also be used above doors, windows, or cabinets. Crown treatments may be a single piece of trim, or a build-up of multiple components to create a more elaborate appearance. The main element, or the only element in a typical installation, is trim that is sculpted on one side and flat on the other, with standard angles forming 90° milled on top and bottom edges. When placed against a wall and ceiling a triangular void is created behind it. Cutting inside and outside corners requires complex cuts at standard angles, typically done with powered compound miter saws that feature detents at these angles to aid the user.
Fitting crown molding requires a cut at the correct combination of miter angle and bevel angle. The calculation of these angles is affected by two variables: 1) the spring angle (or crown angle, typically sold in 52°, 45°, 38° formats), and 2) the wall angle.
Pre-calculated crown molding tables or software can be used to facilitate the determination of the correct angles. Given the spring angle and the wall angle, the formulas used to calculate the miter angle and the bevel angle are:
Where:
Coping or scribing is the woodworking technique of shaping the end of a molding or frame component to neatly fit the contours of an abutting member. Coping is a two-step process that begins with cutting a simple miter on both mating trim ends, then to back-cutting at least one of the miters along its profiled edge to provide relief during installation. Coping is commonly used in the fitting of skirting and other moldings in a room. It allows for clean joints between intersecting members when walls are not square to each other. The other method of fitting these moldings that is commonly used is the miter joint, but this technique relies upon knowing the precise angle between the walls. Coping is only used for internal corners. External corners are typically mitered.
A baseboard (also called skirting board, skirting, wainscoting, mopboard, trim, floor molding, or base molding) is usually wooden or vinyl board covering the lowest part of an interior wall. Its purpose is to cover the joint between the wall surface and the floor. It covers the uneven edge of flooring next to the wall; protects the wall from kicks, abrasion, and furniture; and can serve as a decorative molding.
At its simplest, baseboard consists of a simple plank nailed, screwed, or glued to the wall; however, particularly in older houses, it can be made up of a number of moldings for decoration. A baseboard differs from a wainscot; a wainscot typically covers from the floor to around 1-1.5 m high (waist or chest height), whereas a baseboard is typically under 0.2 m high (ankle height).
Common problems generally arise during the installation of decorative molding such as: 1) incorrect measurements: measuring the placement and size of the frames is crucial to ensure that the frames look scaled to the rest of the room. Incorrect measurements can result in frames that are too large or too small for the space, or frames that are not evenly spaced; 2) lack of proper tools: installing decorative molding requires a miter-cutting saw, basic carpentry tools, and some basic woodworking skills. Without these tools, it can be difficult to achieve a professional-looking result; 3) difficulty with miter cuts: making accurate miter cuts can be challenging. Miter cuts are used to create the corners of the frames, and any errors in these cuts can result in gaps or misaligned corners; 4) difficulty with installation: installing decorative molding can be a complex process that involves measuring, cutting, and attaching the molding to the wall to avoid gaps and bowing of molding strips.
The prior art has attempted to solve some of these problems but has not been entirely successful.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,811 to Walker, et al., discloses a decorative trimming system for applying molded trim about the periphery of a room, where at least one prefabricated corner piece of decorative trim is adapted to extend around a corner of the room. The straight lengths of decorative trim abut and extend from the ends of the corner piece legs. The prefabricated unitary corner pieces match the straight lengths of molding between the opposed corner pieces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,485 to Murtagh discloses a device for forming a miterless joint from a pair of molding strips at a corner angle defined by intersecting walls, wherein each leg portion includes an abutment surface for engagement by the end of its corresponding molding strip. Each leg portion has a common cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the molding strip. The leg portions may be disposed to form an inside or an outside corner joint.
U.S. Publication No. 2009/0282775 to Vaes discloses a method of forming a trim molding around a window or door opening defined by a lintel and opposite jambs. The method uses at least two L-shaped corner trim pieces having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg that include mitered end surfaces on one end and an outer end. The abutment end of the casings are in direct abutment contact with an outer end of the legs.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,432 to Dloniak discloses a miterless corner molding, constructed of wood, which is adapted to adjust itself to any irregularities in the corner surfaces with which it is used.
Pre-cut corners can help avoid the need for precise cutting and fitting. But precut corners alone are still difficult to install due to the necessity to exactly position the molding strips. If not correctly aligned and accurately held in position during installation, the molding strips and precut corners are often misaligned and give a poor aesthetic appearance or require expensive replacement.
The invention solves this and other problems by providing a pre-manufactured molding corner piece made in an appropriate cross section to match the molding or doorframe. The precut corners include a novel angled guide system that accurately positions molding strips in correct alignment with each precut corner and holds them there during installation. A “bevel guard” securely centers the molding strips during attachment and then is easily removed to accommodate final finish work. In use, molding is no longer required to be cut to form miter or bevel angles, but rather cut to a flat joint to match the distance in between two pre-manufactured corner pieces. Importantly, the molding no longer requires mitered edges, but rather is cut square to engage the end of the preformed molding corner piece at a butt joint. In this way, a distinct advantage is created because all mitered corners are eliminated in favor of using the preformed molding corner pieces and the angled guide system.
Another distinct advantage to the invention is that the angled guide system is positioned at the precut corner thereby allowing the molding strips to be positioned accurately and held securely in place during installation, but then partially removed so as not to interfere with final finishing and paint. Just as importantly, in overhead molding applications, such as crown molding, the guide system uses gravity and the bevel guard to hold the molding strips by resisting a rotational moment exerted by the molding strip during installation, thereby greatly simplifying installation and reducing time and labor cost involved.
In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and figures with the same numerals, respectively. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The terms “about” and “approximately” indicate a tolerance of +10%, unless otherwise indicated.
Referring then to
Inside corner guide system 100 includes inside corner piece 102 fixed to angle guide 120 and angle guide 130.
Inside corner piece 102 is an example of a prefabricated mitered cabinetry corner having back side 109, front side 113, bottom side 115, exterior rounded surface 103 and interior right-angle corner 105. Importantly, inside corner piece 102 further comprises flat ends 104 and 106, suitable for forming butt joints. This example has rectangular cross-section 107 with a vertical oriented aspect ratio, suitable for use as a baseboard corner, crown corner or dado rail corner. Inside corner piece 102 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material is used such as MDF, OSB or a suitable wood plastic composite. Those of skill will recognize that inside corner piece 102 can have any cross-section and include rounded or right-angle interior or exterior corners. Interior angle “a” is shown to be approximately 90°. However, those of skill will also recognize that interior angle α can assume any acute or obtuse angle, ranging from about 15° to about 345°, depending on the application in which it is employed. Those of skill will further recognize that when α is 180°, the system serves as a means to connect linear molding strips of various lengths together.
Angle guides 120 and 130 are positioned adjacent back side 109 and flat ends 106 and 104, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the inside corner piece by a suitable adhesive, or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 120 generally takes the form of a rigid “L” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 120 is preferably formed from back section 122 connected to bottom section 124 at preferably about a right angle. Likewise, bevel guard 126 is connected to bottom section 124, by perforated joint 125, at preferably a right angle. Angle guide 120 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Other materials may be used for the angle guides, such as resin impregnated fiberboard, which have sufficient rigidity, but which can still be fractured or torn about the perforated joint. Perforated joint 125 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 125 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 110 is positioned adjacent back section 122, bottom section 124 and bevel guard 126 with flat end 111 positioned against flat end 106 to form a butt joint. Once the corner piece and the molding strips are in place and secure, bevel guard 126 is removed, as will be further described.
Angle guide 130 also generally takes the form of a rigid “L” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 130 is preferably formed from back section 132 connected to bottom section 134 at preferably about a right angle. Likewise, bevel guard 136 is connected to bottom section 134, by perforated joint 135, at preferably a right angle. Angle guide 130 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 135 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 125 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 108 is positioned adjacent back section 132, bottom section 134 and bevel guard 136 with flat end 133 positioned against flat end 104 to form a butt joint, such as butt joint 150. Once the corner piece and the molding strips are in place and secure, bevel guard 136 is removed by breaking the perforated joint away from the bottom section, generally in direction “A”. Depending on the material from which the angle guard is made, breaking the perforated joint may include fracturing along a break line, or tearing the material along a perforation.
In another embodiment, the inside corner piece and the angle guides are integrally formed of the same wood plastic composite material. Alternatively, the angle guides may be fused to the back side of the inside corner piece by inductive welding or fixed to the inside corner piece by a suitable industrial epoxy.
Referring then to
Inside corner guide system 151 includes inside corner piece 152 fixed to angle guide 170 and angle guide 180.
Inside corner piece 152 is another example of a prefabricated mitered cabinetry corner having back side 159, front side 163 and bottom side 165. Inside corner piece 152 further comprises flat ends 154 and 156, suitable for forming butt joints. This example includes rectangular cross-section 157, but other cross-sections are possible. Likewise, other embodiments may include an inside corner with any interior angle, or any outside corner with any interior angle. Inside corner piece 152 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material is used such as MDF, OSB, or suitable wood plastic composite.
Angle guides 170 and 180 are positioned adjacent back side 159 and flat ends 156 and 154, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the inside corner piece by suitable adhesive or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 170 takes the form of a rigid, “L” shaped support for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 170 is preferably formed from back section 172 connected to bottom section 174 at preferably about a right angle. Angle guide 170 is ideally formed from about 8-gauge to about 10-gauge, (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). In use, a molding strip (not shown) is positioned adjacent back section 172 and bottom section 174 with the flat end of the molding strip positioned against flat end 106 to form a butt joint.
Angle guide 180 also generally takes the form of a rigid “L” shaped support for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 180 is preferably formed from back section 182 connected to bottom section 184, preferably about a right angle.
In use, a molding strip (not shown) is positioned adjacent back section 182, and bottom section 184 with the flat end of the molding strip positioned against flat end 154 to form a butt joint.
Referring then to
Outside corner guide system 181 includes outside corner piece 183 fixed to angle guide 190 and angle guide 191.
Outside corner piece 183 is another example of prefabricated miter cabinetry corner back side 189 and front side 193. Outside corner piece 183 further comprises flat ends 188 and 186, suitable for forming butt joints. This example includes rectangular cross section 187, but other cross sections are possible. Likewise, other embodiments may include an inside corner with an interior angle or an outside corner with any interior angle. Outside corner piece 183 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material such as MDF, OSB, or suitable wood plastic composite.
Angle guides 190 and 191 are positioned adjacent back side 189 and flat ends 188 and 186, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the outside corner piece by a suitable adhesive or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 190 takes the form of a rigid flat support for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 190 is preferably formed from back section 192. Angle guide 190 is ideally formed from about 8-gauge to about 10-gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm), cast acrylic or suitable rigid PVC material. In use, a molding strip (not shown) is positioned adjacent back section 192. With the flat end of the molding strip positioned against flat end 188 to form a butt joint and secure by use of an adhesive between back section 192 and the molding strip.
Angle guide 191 also generally takes the form of a rigid flat support for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 191 is preferably formed from back section 198.
In use, molding strip (not shown) is positioned adjacent back section 198 with the molding strip positioned against flat end 186 to form a butt joint and secured by the use of an adhesive between back section 198 and the molding strip.
Referring to
Outside corner piece 202 is another example of a prefabricated mitered cabinetry corner having back side 209, front side 213, bottom side 215, exterior rounded surface 203 and interior right-angle corner 205. Importantly, outside corner piece 202 further comprises flat ends 204 and 206, suitable for forming butt joints. This example also has rectangular cross-section 207 with a vertical oriented aspect ratio, suitable for use as a baseboard corner, crown corner or dado rail corner. Outside corner piece 202 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material is used such as MDF, OSB or a suitable wood plastic composite. Outside corner piece 202 can have any cross-section and include rounded or right-angle interior or exterior corners. Interior angle “B” is shown to be approximately 90°. Interior angle β can assume any acute or obtuse angle, ranging from about 15° to about 345°, depending on the application in which it is employed. When β is 180°, the system serves as a means to connect linear molding strips of various lengths together. Importantly, outside corner piece 202 includes flat ends 204 and 206 to accommodate butt joints between molding strips.
Angle guides 220 and 230 are positioned adjacent back side 209 and flat ends 206 and 204, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the inside corner piece by a suitable adhesive, or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 220 generally takes the form of a rigid “L” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 220 is preferably formed from back section 222 connected to bottom section 224 at preferably about a right angle. Likewise, bevel guard 226 is connected to bottom section 224, by perforated joint 225, at preferably a right angle. Angle guide 220 is ideally formed from about 8-gauge to about 10-gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 225 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 225 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 210 is positioned adjacent back section 222, bottom section 224 and bevel guard 226 with flat end 211 positioned against flat end 206 to form a butt joint. Once the corner piece and the molding strips are in place and secure, bevel guard 226 is removed by breaking the perforated joint, as previously described.
Angle guide 230 generally takes the form of a rigid “L” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 230 is preferably formed from back section 232 connected to bottom section 234 at preferably about a right angle. Likewise, bevel guard 236 is connected to bottom section 234, by perforated joint 235, at preferably a right angle. Angle guide 230 is ideally formed from about 8-gauge to about 10-gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 235 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 225 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 208 is positioned adjacent back section 232, bottom section 234 and bevel guard 236 with flat end 239 positioned against flat end 204 to form a butt joint. Once the corner piece and the molding strips are in place and secure, bevel guard 236 is removed by breaking the perforated joint, as previously described.
In another embodiment, the inside corner piece and the angle guides are integrally formed of the same wood plastic composite material. Alternatively, the angle guides may be fused to the back side of the outside corner piece by inductive welding or fixed to the outside corner piece by a suitable industrial epoxy.
Referring then to
Inside crown guide system 300 includes inside crown corner piece 302 fixed to angle guide 320 and angle guide 330.
Inside crown corner piece 302 is another example of a prefabricated mitered cabinetry corner having back side 309, front side 313, vertical side 317, top side 319, bottom side 315 and interior right-angle corner 305. Importantly, inside crown corner piece 302 further comprises flat ends 304 and 306, suitable for forming butt joints. This example has a typical elongated “S” profile 307, suitable for use as a crown molding corner. Inside crown corner piece 302 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material is used such as MDF, OSB or a suitable wood plastic composite. Inside crown corner piece 302 can have any cross-section and include rounded or right-angle interior or exterior corners. Interior angle “y” is shown to be approximately 90°. However, interior angle γ can assume any acute or obtuse angle, ranging from about 15° to about 345°, depending on the application in which it is employed. When γ is 180°, the system serves as a means to connect linear crown molding strips of various lengths together.
Angle guides 320 and 330 are positioned adjacent back side 309 and flat ends 306 and 304, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the inside corner piece by a suitable adhesive, or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 320 generally takes the form of a generally “C” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 320 is preferably formed from bottom section 324 connected to vertical section 323 at about a right angle. Vertical section 323 is connected to back section 322 at a predetermined angle “ε”. Back section 322 is connected to top section 325 at a predetermined angle “ζ”. Angle ε and angle ζ are preferably about complimentary angles, thus forming about a 90° angle considered together. However, typically, & is about 52°, 45° or 38°, while ζ is, correspondingly, about 38°, 45° or 52°. Top section 325 is connected to bevel guard 326 at about a right angle. Bevel guard 326 is connected to top section 325, by perforated joint 327. Angle guide 320 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) flat cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 327 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 327 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 310 is positioned adjacent bottom section 324, vertical section 323, back section 322, top section 325 and bevel guard 326 with flat end 311 positioned against flat end 306 to form a butt joint.
Importantly, when the molding strip is positioned against the wall, the molding exerts a moment, acting about an axis generally parallel to bottom section 324, shown as direction “B”, which tends to rotate the molding strip away from the wall. Bevel guard 326 resists this moment, thereby maintaining the molding strip against the wall and correctly positioning it against inside crown corner piece 302. Once the corner piece and the molding strip(s) are in place and secure, bevel guard 326 is removed by breaking the perforated joint, as previously described.
Angle guide 330 also generally takes the form of a generally “C” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 330 is preferably formed from bottom section 334 connected to vertical section 333 at about a right angle. Vertical section 333 is connected to back section 332 at a predetermined angle “v”. Back section 332 is connected to top section 335 at a predetermined angle “0”. Angle v and angle θ are preferably about complimentary angles, thus forming about a 90° angle considered together. However, typically v is one of about 52°, 45° or 38°, while 0 is one of about 38°, 45° or 52°, respectively. Top section 335 is connected to bevel guard 336 at about a right angle. Bevel guard 336 is connected to top section 335, by perforated joint 337, at preferably about a right angle. Angle guide 330 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) flat cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 337 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 337 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In use, molding strip 308 is positioned adjacent bottom section 334, vertical section 333, back section 332, top section 335 and bevel guard 336 with flat end 339 positioned against flat end 304 to form a butt joint.
Importantly, when the molding strip is positioned against the wall, the molding strip creates a moment about an axis generally parallel to bottom section 334 in direction “C”. Bevel guard 336 resists this moment, thereby maintaining the molding strip against the wall and correctly positioning it against inside crown corner piece 302. Once the corner piece and the molding strip(s) are in place and secure, bevel guard 336 is removed by breaking the perforated joint, as previously described.
Referring to
Outside crown guide system 400 includes outside crown corner piece 402 fixed to angle guide 420 and angle guide 430.
Outside crown corner piece 402 is another example of a prefabricated mitered cabinetry corner having back side 409, front side 413, top side 419, vertical side 421, bottom side 415 and interior right-angle corner 405. Importantly, outside crown corner piece 402 further comprises flat ends 404 and 406, suitable for forming butt joints. This example has a typical elongated “S” profile 407, suitable for use as a crown molding corner. Outside crown corner piece 402 may be formed of hardwood, but preferably an engineered material is used such as MDF, OSB or a suitable wood plastic composite. Outside crown corner piece 402 can have any cross-section and include rounded or right-angle interior or exterior corners. Interior angle “A” is shown to be approximately 90°. However, interior angle λ can assume any acute or obtuse angle, ranging from about 15° to about 345°, depending on the application in which it is employed. When λ is 180°, the system serves as a means to connect linear crown molding strips of various lengths together.
Angle guides 420 and 430 are positioned adjacent back side 409 and flat ends 406 and 404, respectively. The angle guides are securely fixed to the inside corner piece by a suitable adhesive, or inductive welding. Alternatively, the angle guides may be integrally formed with the corner piece.
Angle guide 420 generally takes the form of a generally “C” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 420 is preferably formed from bottom section 424 connected to vertical section 423 at about a right angle. Vertical section 423 is connected to back section 422 at a predetermined angle “φ”. Back section 422 is connected to top section 425 at a predetermined angle “π”. Angle φ and angle π are preferably about complimentary angles, thus forming about a 90° angle considered together. However, typically v is one of about 52°, 45° or 38°, while π is one of about 38°, 45° or 52°, respectively. Top section 425 is connected to bevel guard 426 at about a right angle. Bevel guard 426 is connected to top section 425, by perforated joint 427. Angle guide 420 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) flat cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 427 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 427 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In another embodiment, angle guide 420 is provided with perforated joint 490, between bottom section 424 and vertical section 423.
In use, molding strip 410 is positioned adjacent bottom section 424, vertical section 423, back section 422, top section 425 and bevel guard 426 with flat end 411 positioned against flat end 406 to form a butt joint.
Importantly, when the molding strip is positioned against the wall, the molding strip exerts a moment, about an axis generally parallel to bottom section 424, shown as direction “D” which tends to rotate the molding strip away from the wall. Bevel guard 426 resists this moment, thereby maintaining the molding strip against the wall and correctly positioning it against outside crown corner piece 402. Once the corner piece and the molding strip(s) are in place and secure, bevel guard 426 and, optionally, bottom section 424 are removed by breaking the perforated joint, as previously described.
Angle guide 430 also generally takes the form of a generally “C” shaped hook for temporarily supporting a molding strip during installation. Angle guide 430 is preferably formed from bottom section 434 connected to vertical section 433 at about a right angle. Vertical section 433 is connected to back section 432 at a predetermined angle “p”. Back section 432 is connected to top section 435 at a predetermined angle “σ”. Angle ρ and angle σ are preferably about complimentary angles, thus forming about a 90° angle considered together. However, typically p is one of about 52°, 45° or 38°, while σ is one of about 38°, 45° 75649.0104.060223.17 21 or 52°, respectively. Top section 435 is connected to bevel guard 436 at about a right angle. Bevel guard 436 is connected to top section 435, by perforated joint 437, at preferably about a right angle. Angle guide 430 is ideally formed from about 8 gauge to about 10 gauge (about 3.2 mm to about 4.1 mm) flat cast acrylic or a suitably rigid PVC material (polyvinyl chloride). Perforated joint 437 is preferably a series of holes through the material and generally perpendicular to the surface of the corner, of about 1 mm placed at a distance of about 0.5 mm, and preferably formed by laser etching. Alternatively, perforated joint 437 may be a scoring line having a depth equal to approximately half of the thickness of the angle guide material.
In another embodiment, angle guide 430 is provided with perforated joint 492 between bottom section 434 and vertical section 433.
In use, molding strip 408 is positioned adjacent bottom section 434, vertical section 433, back section 432, top section 435 and bevel guard 436 with flat end 439 positioned against flat end 404 to form a butt joint.
Importantly, when the molding strip is positioned against the wall, the molding strip creates a moment about an axis generally parallel to bottom section 424 in direction “E”. Bevel guard 436 resists this moment, thereby maintaining the molding strip against the wall and correctly positioning it against outside crown corner piece 402. Once the corner piece and the molding strip(s) are in place and secure, bevel guard 436 and, optionally, bottom section 434 are removed, as previously described.
Referring then to
At step 502, the method begins.
At step 504, if the corner piece and angle guide are not integrally formed, each of the angle guides is fixed to the corner piece. In one embodiment, the angle guides are fixed to the corner piece by a suitable industrial epoxy.
At step 506, the corner piece is secured to the corner, as known in the art, through use of construction adhesive or a brad nailer.
At step 510, each molding strip is measured to the proper length.
At step 512, each of the molding strips is cut to length, forming flat ends.
At step 514, the molding strips are positioned adjacent the angle guide(s) and secured in place adjacent the bottom section(s) and the bevel guard(s).
At step 516, each molding strip is secured to the wall using construction adhesive or a brad nailer.
At step 518, optionally, after waiting a suitable period for the construction of adhesive to set, each bevel guard and each bottom section is removed by fracturing or tearing the perforated joint.
At step 519, the corner piece and the molding strips are sealed and painted, or otherwise appropriately finished.
At step 520, the method concludes.
