Magnetic Building Trim System
A building trim system includes one or more trim members and one or more second magnetically attractive members. The magnetically attractive members are secured to a building structure, usually outside building siding. The trim members include a rear side with first magnetically attractive members attractive to the second magnetically attractive members. The trim members are attached to the building structure via magnetic forces of attraction between the first magnetically attractive members and second magnetically attractive members. The first magnetically attractive members may be magnets and the second magnetically attractive members may be pieces of metal or vice versa.
The disclosed embodiments relate to a trim system, and in particular a magnetic building trim system.
Building trim is typically installed around windows and doors to protect against water damage to the underlying building structure and/or provide an aesthetically pleasing face or surface. In the field, installation of trim can be labor intensive and time consuming. Accordingly, there is a need to provide enhanced arrangements having improved ease of installation while maintaining robust and reliable trim product configurations.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, a building trim system includes a trim member with a front side and a rear side. The rear side includes one or more first magnetically attractive elements. One or more second magnetically attractive elements are fixed to a building structure. The one or more first magnetically attractive element and one or more second magnetically attractive element are magnetically attractive to one another. The trim member is configured to be attached to the building structure via attractive magnetic force between the one or more first magnetically attractive element and the one or more second magnetically attractive element.
In some embodiments, the one or more first magnetically attractive elements are magnetic members and the one or more second magnetically attractive elements are metallic members, or vice versa.
In another embodiment, a method of installing a building trim system includes a step of attaching a first magnetically attractive element to a building structure. A trim member is provided and has a rear side with one or more second magnetically attractive elements that are attractive to the first magnetically attractive element, and an opposite front side. The trim member is attached to the building structure via magnetic attractive force between the first magnetically attractive element and the one or more second magnetically attractive elements.
Among the benefits and improvements disclosed herein, other objects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the following wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the figures. Detailed embodiments of magnetic building trim system are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.
Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase “in some embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), although it may. The phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
Further, the terms “substantial,” “substantially,” “similar,” “similarly,” “analogous,” “analogously,” “approximate,” “approximately,” and any combination thereof mean that differences between compared features or characteristics is less than 25% of the respective values/magnitudes in which the compared features or characteristics are measured and/or defined.
With reference to the Figures wherein like numerals identify like elements throughout, a preferred embodiment of a magnetic building trim system 10 are disclosed. Referring now to
Referring now also to
Referring now also to
The trim members 14 are configured such that the magnetic members 22 in the rear are aligned with the strip members 16 when the trim members 14 are placed around the corresponding building portion (the door 12 in
Referring to
As shown in
The specific embodiment of the window trim system 110 in
While various exemplary embodiments have been described in connection with the trim member(s) comprising magnetic members so as to be aligned opposite the metallic strip members on the building structure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the various exemplary embodiments are not necessarily so limited and that in alternate embodiments the relative configuration may be reversed. That is, magnetic members may be attached to the building structure and the metallic strip members may be attached to the trim members. Further, the metallic elements need not be provided in the form of a singular elongate strip of metallic material. Separate and distinct metallic elements such as metallic blocks or discs may be used in place of the strips. Additionally, in other alternate embodiments any suitable configuration where trim members are attached to an underlying building structure via magnetic forces may be provided.
Referring to
Similar to the connection via magnetic forces in the embodiments shown in
According to various exemplary embodiments it should be understood that any additional suitable method for connecting a trim member 214 to the connecting end trim member 230 may be provided (i.e. in addition to magnetic forces). For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in
It should be noted that although
According to various exemplary embodiments, the trim members 14, 114, 224 or separate trim elements that form the trim members may be provided in pieces of predetermined lengths which can be cut to an appropriate length for a given installation. In other embodiments the trim members are fabricated to be sized and shaped so as to arrive on the job site ready for installation.
It should be understood that components of the invention can be operationally coupled or connected and that any number or combination of intervening elements can exist (including no intervening elements). The connections can be direct or indirect and additionally there can merely be a functional relationship between components.
Still further, while the depicted embodiments of
It should further be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.
Claims
1. A building trim system comprising:
- a trim member having a front side and a rear side with one or more first magnetically attractive elements on the rear side; and
- one or more second magnetically attractive elements fixed to a building structure, wherein
- the one or more first magnetically attractive element and one or more second magnetically attractive element are magnetically attractive to one another, and
- the trim member is configured to be attached to the building structure via attractive magnetic force between the one or more first magnetically attractive element and the one or more second magnetically attractive element.
2. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first magnetically attractive element is a magnetic member and the one or more second magnetically attractive element is a metallic member.
3. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the one or more first magnetically attractive element is a metallic member and the one or more second magnetically attractive element is a magnetic member.
4. The building trim system of claim 3, wherein the one or more second magnetically attractive elements is a plurality of magnetic members substantially equidistantly spaced from one another on the rear side of the building trim member.
5. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second magnetically attractive member is a strip of metal configured to be fastened to the building structure.
6. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the trim member is configured to surround at least a portion of a window.
7. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the trim member is configured to surround at least a portion of a door.
8. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the front side of the trim member has a decorative appearance.
9. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the trim member has an unfinished outer side edge with a third magnetically attractive element, comprising an end trim member with an inner side edge having one or more fourth magnetically attractive elements attractive to the third magnetically attractive element.
10. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the trim member is formed from a pair of trim elements configured to be attached to the building structure with adjacent edges abutting one another.
11. The building trim system of claim 10, further comprising a seam cover member configured to attach to the building structure over the respective adjacent edges of the trim elements.
12. The building trim system of claim 1, wherein the trim member comprises a plurality of separate trim elements, each having a front side and a rear side with one or more first magnetically attractive elements on the rear side that combine to form the trim member.
13. The building trim system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of trim elements comprises at least one laterally extending trim element and at least one longitudinally extending trim element that is attached to the building structure substantially perpendicular or oblique to the laterally extending trim element.
14. A method of installing a building trim system, comprising:
- attaching a first magnetically attractive element to a building structure;
- providing a trim member having a rear side with one or more second magnetically attractive elements that are attractive to the first magnetically attractive element, and an opposite front side; and
- attaching the trim member to the building structure via magnetic attractive force between the first magnetically attractive element and the one or more second magnetically attractive elements.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first magnetically attractive element is a metal strip secured to the building structure and the one or more second magnetically attractive elements are magnets.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the trim member is attached circumscribing at least a portion of a window or door in the building structure.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the front side has a decorative finish.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first magnetically attractive element is a metal strip secured to an outer portion of the building structure.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the trim member is formed from multiple trim elements, each trim element having a rear side with one or more second magnetically attractive elements that are attractive to the first magnetically attractive element.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2022
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2022
Inventor: Daniel J. Cashman (Suffield, CT)
Application Number: 17/726,621