Prefabricated Removable Molding System

Abstract

A pre-fabricated decorative moulding system which can be temporary, semi permanent or permanent, requiring no tools other than a tape measure or rule and a pencil or pen to install. An embodiment could be made of wood, plastic, or any material suitable for moulding, wainscot or appliqués. The system includes one or more devices, typically square or rectangular in shape. A device may also be of other shapes, angles or curves. A device would include a pre-applied double sided adhesive tape attached to the backside of the device with the removable adhesive side exposed which is capable of adhering the device to a surface and later easily removed without damage. The device can then be adhered to another desired surface.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system for installing architectural details such as mouldings without tools or construction experience.

BACKGROUND

It is known for centuries to apply carved or shaped wainscot, moulding, medallions, appliqués, and other architectural details to surfaces such as walls, ceilings, doors, cabinetry, etc. Historically, such decorative details have been made from wood, plaster, stone, concrete or other such materials requiring expertise and equipment to create and install. Once installed, destructive means are required to remove and/or replace these applications, requiring skilled labor for repair and restoration with new architectural elements.

Some, more user friendly systems have been suggested for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,800 (Shinkosky) which provides a removable panel system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,175 B1 (Cook) provides a plastic decorative device which includes a built in leveling device and a concave channel to receive a mounting adhesive.

The problems with existing systems are several. Conventional methods require skilled labor, equipment as well as considerable time, disruption and clean up. Improvements on the conventional methods remain either bulky (i.e. difficult and expensive to ship and store). The known prior art also includes a plurality of parts, inter connections and exacting tolerances that would require a skilled person to cut and fit parts of a system.

Other known art, although removable, is not reconfigurable without causing damage to either the apparatus or the applied to surface. Still other existing art is exclusively made of limiting material such as plastic which is difficult to effectively paint and is widely known to be an undesirable material for use in certain upper scale applications such as moulding and other architectural details.

Some of these products also include “break away” parts for removal after installation which leave inconsistencies in the finished surface.

While known systems address some of the issues and challenges associated with the installation of decorative wainscot, mouldings, medallions, appliqués and other architectural details, there is not a known apparatus which effectively resolves the issues in aggregate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the limitations of existing systems, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of varying shapes and sizes that effectively resolves the significant challenges associated with the installation of similar or related devices in aggregate.

An exemplary aspect of the invention is to provide a prefabricated system requiring no hazardous labor, exceptional skill, noise, fumes, dust or damage to property. Only a tape measure or ruler and a pencil or pen are required for installation.

Another exemplary aspect of the invention is to provide a wainscot, moulding, medallion, appliqué and architectural detail system which by its design and plurality of sizes can be adapted to adorn any size surface from ¼″×¼″ or smaller to 100′×100′ or larger, wall ceiling, cabinet, door, window, etc without the need for cutting or modifying the device or plurality of devices in any way.

Another exemplary aspect of the invention is to provide a light weight system which may include large embodiments that are easy and inexpensive to transport or ship and easy for any grown person of sound body to handle while working alone.

Another exemplary aspect of the invention is to provide a system of architecturally acceptable (i.e. professional looking results) wainscoting, mouldings, appliqués, and architectural details that is either temporary, semi permanent or permanent at the same time and can be reconfigured, repurposed and or reinstalled with no additional materials or additional expense.

Another exemplary aspect of the invention is to provide a system which includes no additional parts or hardware, but is a complete device within it's self.

It is still another exemplary aspect of this invention to provide a system of attachment and removal which leaves the device entirely intact and causes no damage to the surface previously applied thereto.

The invention may include numerous shapes, sizes, configurations, patterns and applications including prepared groupings and patterns to accommodate a range of typical surface (i.e. wall, ceiling, door, cabinet, window, etc.) dimensions.

Numerous additional objects, features and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, also from what is claimed and from the included drawings.

SPECIFICATIONS

The present invention FIG. 1 relates to a pre-assembled moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural detail/architectural feature/appliqué wainscoting/appliqué wall trim/architectural mouldings/ornamental mouldings/carved appliqué/carved in lays/carved frieze system with pre-applied adhesive 10 that can be permanent or temporary/removable with minimal to zero damage to surfaces.

The device is comprised of the following elements:

The device {FIG. 1} is designed and configured to allow a human person to semi permanently attach it to a wall, door, cabinet, ceiling or other firm, smooth or semi smooth surface 8 as a decorative or functional feature because the adhesive 10 is sturdy, durable yet easily removable. It may comprise of flat, carved or moulded, hard, flexible or soft material including but not limited to wood, Eco Friendly Wood, Bamboo, MDF, PVC, aluminum and/or any other type of material that can be formed or shaped into moulding or other decorative architectural appliqués. The picture wainscoting device FIG. 1 is typically rectangular or square but could take any other shape such as an oval, circle or other decorative design, shape or details including but not limited to rosettes, carved appliqués, carved inlays, ceiling medallions, friezes, etc FIG. 1, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5. The device is also typically flat to be applied to a flat surface such as a wall but can also be curved or angular. Each piece will vary in size from ¼″×¼″ or smaller to 20′×20′ or larger. The device may or may not include mitered corners 6 held together by any known connector including but not limited to adhesives, nails, screws, bolts, tabs, wood tabs, wafer tabs, interlocking tabs, biscuits 18 or by another suitable connector. The device includes finishes that are unfinished, primed, and/or painted by hand, spray painted, baked on, foiled, therma foiled or any other suitable decorative color, finish or detail 2B.

The flat back of the device FIG. 2 includes pre-applied temporary, semi permanent and/or permanent adhesive 10. The adhesive 10 allows a human person to apply the moulding device FIG. 1 to any suitable surface 8 including but not limited to walls, ceilings, doors, cabinets, glass, stucco, wood, metal, plastic, plaster etc and remove it at anytime without harming the wall, paint or any other firm surface 8.

The adhesive protector backing 12 is removed when ready to apply the device to the wall 8 or desired surface 8 in order to secure the moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural details device appliqué wainscoting/appliqué wall trim/architectural mouldings/ornamental mouldings/carved appliqués/carved in lays/carved frieze device FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 to the desired surface 8. Upon removing the device from a surface the adhesive protector backing 12 can again be reapplied to the semi permanent face of the adhesive 10 on the device FIG. 2 The device can then be stored or the adhesive protector backing 12 can again be removed and the device FIG. 1 can be reused by reapplying it to another surface 8. For permanent adhesion consumer simply caulks the edge 4 of the device FIG. 1 to the desired surface 8. When clear caulking is used, no additional paint or other finish touch up is required.

The necessary elements of this invention are the prefabricated moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural mouldings/details appliqué wainscoting/appliqué wall trim/architectural mouldings/ornamental mouldings/carved appliqué/carved in lays/carved frieze device 22, FIG. 1, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 and the adhesive 10 which is removable/temporary, semi permanent adhesive or permanent adhesive. Optional elements could include but are not limited to the multiple types of moulding that could possibly be used, paints/finishes/stains/therma foil/foils 2b, varying degrees of permanency and non permanency, number of devices FIG. 6 used and size of devices.

The typically flat back FIG. 2 of the device includes pre-applied removable, temporary, semi permanent and/or permanent adhesive 10.

The invention allows a homeowner and/or renter to have temporary, semi permanent or permanent moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural moulding/architectural detail/appliqué wainscoting/appliqué wall trim/ornamental mouldings/carved appliqué/carved in lays/carved frieze device FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 that has been pre-made, pre-finished 2B in a painted, powder coated, stained, therma foiled, foiled or natural finish in their home that can be removed from the wall 8 or any other suitable surface 8 easily, quickly without damaging surface 8 from which it is removed because of the temporary adhesive 10 that is applied to the back FIG. 2 of the device. These components come together to allow for temporary/removable moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural moulding details/appliqué wainscoting/appliqué wall trim/ornamental mouldings/carved appliqués/carved in lays/carved frieze device 22, FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 at a fraction of the time and cost of other methods. This invention FIG. 1 also does not require tools other than a tape measure or a ruler and pencil or pen.

This invention FIG. 1 can be made using moulding, nails, glue, biscuits 18, paint 2B, and specialized removable/reusable adhesive 10. A skilled carpenter and painter would be able to produce this device based on detailed description and drawing.

Multiple shapes, sizes, FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 finishes FIG. 2B and combinations thereof along with multiple possible surfaces 8 for application make the possibilities of shuffling & reconfiguring virtually limitless FIG. 6 {FIG. 6 shows just one example}. Virtually any clean, firm, smooth, semi smooth surface can receive the device

For the temporary or semi permanent version a person would select from sizes available from manufacturer or reference manufacturer suggested design layout included in packaging, measure the wall 8 or surface 8 that the mouldings would be applied to. Apply the measurements to the “easy design kit” included with purchase in the packaging. Draw or mark moulding design layout using manufacturer's pre-designed layout or by referencing various pre-sized moulding options and create their own layout. Based on the “easy design kit”, measure and mark the wall 8 or surface to indicate desired placement of device FIG. 1. Remove protective backing 12 from the adhesive 10 and place moulding FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 on desired surface according to markings made on the surface. Apply gentle pressure to all the edges 4, of device FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5. For a permanent solution, follow the above steps and caulk along the edge 4 or edges 4, of the device which are adjacent to the applied to surface 8 using a caulking gun or “toothpaste” tube type caulking dispenser, use clear caulking if no painting is desired. Paint or stain moulding if unfinished version of device FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 is being used.

The invention FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 can be used by interior designers, set designers, home staging professionals, seasonal decorators, store vendors, retail/temporary store displays, photographic backdrops, and contractors etc. It can also be used on various surfaces 8 such as ceilings, doors, glass, cabinets, exterior walls and surfaces, etc.

Rather than paying a carpenter and painter to permanently effect a structure or surface 8, this product FIG. 1 provides an economical way for an individual, particularly a renter, to decorate in an architectural fashion with the unique feature of being able to remove the mouldings/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural detail device FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 without damage to the surface 8 or the device and thereby being able to reinstall the device in a new location 8.

The current system for installing moulding/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural details is that it requires someone with skill to install it, it is permanent and expensive. The invention FIG. 1, FIG. 2 improves on this because the mouldings/wainscoting/picture frame wainscoting/architectural details of the device FIG. 1, FIG. 2 are prefabricated, have a temporary self adhesive 10 on the back FIG. 2 allowing for easy removal from the surface 8 with minimal to zero damage to the surface 8 and because they are prefabricated it greatly reduces the cost to the consumer. The only tools required for installation of the device FIG. 1, FIG. 2 are a tape measure or ruler and pencil or pen. There are known prefabricated systems, however they are complicated with many parts, required much more time and effort to install, are more cumbersome and costly to ship due to size and weight. They are not nearly as user friendly. An adolescent could install the invention FIG. 1, FIG. 2 safely without any help. Prior art does not have options that apply to doors, cabinets, glass, stone, ceilings or other firm surfaces.

The above description of specific embodiments has been given by way of example. From the disclosure given, those skilled in the art will not only understand the general inventive concept and its attendant advantages, but will also find apparent various changes and modifications to the structures and methods disclosed. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the frame FIG. 1 could comprise four sides or five or six sides or be rounded 26 or curved 20. A device could be thicker or thinner. And yet another example, a variety of angles 24 could be used at mitered joints with a variety of fastening options 18, or a device could be carved or extruded in one piece 22. It is sought, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a preferred system according to one embodiment of the invention viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a preferred system according to one embodiment of the invention viewed from the back.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view according to one embodiment of the invention viewed fro the side.

FIG. 4 is a preferred system according to another embodiment of the invention containing curves and non 45 degree mitered joints.

FIG. 4B is a preferred system according to yet another embodiment of the invention comprising monolithic or extruded construction.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of four additional embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of embodiments of the invention in an exemplary grouping viewed from the front.

Claims

1. A pre-fabricated removable wainscot, moulding appliquésystem comprising:

(a) A device having a front and a back, a left side and a right side, a top and a bottom which can be attached with an integrated adhesive to a smooth or semi smooth surface.

(B) wherein said adhesive is affixed to the backside periphery of the device and is indented from inner and outer edges of device.

(C) wherein one side of the integrated adhesive is attached to the back of the device and one side is protected by a removable film.

(D) wherein any conjoining parts of the device not withstanding the adhesive contain corresponding mortised slots.

(E) wherein any conjoining parts are connected by a conjoining biscuit type tab received by said corresponding mortised slots and secured by an appropriate adhesive.

2. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is flat.

3. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is angular.

4. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is curved.

5. The system of claim (1A) wherein said adhesive is pre-applied two face tape.

6. The system of claim (5) wherein said pre-applied two face tape is comprised of one permanent side factory applied to the back of the device and one side which is easily removed from chosen surface without damage to surface or device.

7. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is made of wood.

8. The system of claim (1E) wherein said biscuit type tab is made of wood.

9. The system of claim (1E) wherein said adhesive is wood glue.

10. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is finished by paint or by some other means and is complete and ready to install.

11. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is monolithic.

12. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is comprised of conjoining parts.

13. The system of claim (1A) wherein said smooth or semi smooth surface is one of a wall, ceiling, door, cabinet, window or other suitable surface.

14. The system of claim (1A) where in a plurality of devices are arranged with appropriate spacing to accommodate the dimensions of a chosen surface.

15. The system of claim (14A) wherein a device or a plurality of devices accommodate a surface of ¼″×¼″ or less to 100′×100′ or more.

16. The system of claim (1E) wherein said biscuit tab is made of wood or any other suitable material.

17. The system of claim (9) wherein said adhesive is any suitable adhesive for the purpose of the device.

18. The system of claim (1A) wherein said device is made of wood, plastic, aluminum, composites, fire retardant composites and/or any other suitable materials for the purpose of the device.