Corner guard for covering a wall corner junction
A corner guard providing protection for tiles attached proximal of a corner junction formed by an intersection of side walls. The corner guard includes an edge guard bent to cover a portion of the intersection of side walls proximally above the corner junction. The edge guard includes a base end configured to be releasably attached to each side wall proximal to the tiles. A ledge is formed integrally with said edge guard base end with the ledge extended a sufficient width laterally for protective covering of an upper portion of the tiles. A tile cover integrally depends from the ledge and is sized and angled to substantially cover the tiles proximal of the corner junction. The tile cover protectively covers the tiles and deflects impacts directed toward the tiles while the edge guard protects the wall edges above the corner junction from impacts directed toward the wall edges.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a corner guard for covering a corner of a baseboard. More particularly, this invention pertains to a corner guard installed over tiles attached proximal of a corner junction of side walls.
2. Description of the Related Art
In congested indoor areas, such as in commercial facilities including restaurants and convention meeting facilities, ceramic or plastic tiles are positioned to cover corner junctions along the baseboard of the intersection of walls. For areas experiencing a significant amount of cart traffic, the ceramic or plastic tiles are bumped by cart wheels and cart corners and are readily damaged if not protected. Once damaged, the tiles covering the corner junction will crack and/or separate from the wall, thereby allowing adjacent tiles to separate from the wall and allowing further damage to the baseboard and corner junction of side walls until repaired.
Prior art tiles are configured to fit in abutting end-to-end or overlapping relationship along the exterior base of a wall surface. Prior art tiles are positioned to cover a corner junction of the intersection of walls and typically have a base portion resting on a floor surface or on carpet extended proximal to the corner junction. Prior art tiles are frequently bumped by cart wheels to create cracks therein, and/or become separated from the corner junction by repeated impacts from cart wheels and cart corners. When prior art tiles separate from the corner junction, the adjacent tiles are disrupted in a domino-type effect and are dislodged from covering the baseboard of either or both walls adjacent the corner junction.
A need exists for a protective corner guard configured to cover tiles attached to and extending outwardly from a wall corner junction while providing a corner guard that does not detract from the aesthetics of the tiles. A need also exists for providing a protective corner guard constructed of a resilient material sufficient to deflect repetitive impacts from cart wheels and cart side supports, and/or other impacts directed against a corner junction of the adjacent walls in a commercial facility.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment of the present invention, a corner guard is disclosed for providing protection for tiles attached proximal of a corner junction formed by an intersection of side walls. The corner guard further provides protection for the wall edges above the corner junction. The corner guard includes an edge guard bent to cover a portion of the intersection of side walls proximally above the corner junction. The edge guard includes a base end configured to be releasably attached to each side wall proximal of the corner junction. A ledge is formed integrally with the edge guard base end, and the ledge is extended a sufficient width laterally for protective covering of an upper portion of the corner tiles. A tile cover integrally depends from the ledge and is sized and angled to substantially cover the tiles attached proximal of the corner junction. The tile cover protects the corner tiles by deflecting impacts directed toward the corner tiles, thereby minimizing tile damage and maximizing the useful life of the tiles. The edge guard is attached to cover the intersecting surfaces side walls above the corner junction, thereby protecting the covered edges from impacts by cart side supports pushed against the intersecting side walls above tiles covering the corner junction of the walls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSThe above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:
A corner guard 10 is disclosed for providing protection for tiles 12, 14 attached proximal of a corner junction 12 formed by an intersection of side walls 20, 20′. Protection of the tiles 14, 16 attached proximal of each corner junction 12 in a commercial facility such as a restaurant is needed to minimize damage and separation of the tiles 14, 16 attached at the corner junctions 12 in areas where carts may frequently impact the tiles 14, 16.
A typical wall corner intersection is illustrated at 18 in
The corner guard 10 includes the following features that provide a readily installed protective cover for tiles attached proximal of the corner junction 12. A cover guard upper portion includes an edge guard 30 that is bent in an angled configuration to form sides 32, 34 of sufficient width to cover a portion of the intersection 18 of the side walls 20, 20′ above the corner junction 12. A base of the edge guard 30 is extended laterally to form a ledge that extends a selected width to a tile cover 22 that is integrally depending from the ledge. The width of the ledge includes first and second surfaces 24″, 26″ that are laterally extended from each respective base end 32′, 34′ of the edge guard 30. The tile cover 22 includes side segments 24, 26 that are angled apart from each other and are sized to substantially cover the respective tiles 14, 16 adjacently positioned at the intersection 18. The tile cover 22 provides a protective cover for the tiles 14, 16 in order to deflect impacts directed toward the tiles by a cart wheel 50 of a portable cart typically utilized in a restaurant or a convention meeting facility. Upon proper installation of a corner guard 10 with the tile cover 22 covering each corner tile 14, 16, recurring impacts from cart wheels and cart corners are deflected away from the tiles 14, 16, thereby minimizing damage to the tiles, minimizing separation of tiles from each corner junction 12, and maximizing the useful life of the tiles 14, 16.
Additional benefits of the configuration of the edge guard 30 include the following elements as illustrated for the first and second attaching members 32, 34 in
A preferred angle of orientation between the respective interior surfaces of the side members 32, 34, and between the respective interior surfaces 24′″, 26′″ of the tile cover side segments 24, 26, is approximately ninety degrees as illustrated at 28 in
Additional benefits of the configuration of the ledge and tile cover 22 include the following elements that provide protection from impacts for the corner tiles 14, 16. The upper portion of each tile is protected by the ledge surfaces 24″, 26″ that are laterally extended as illustrated by offset 38 in
The tile cover 22 is preferably composed of a generally continuous layer of metal having a thickness of approximately 18 gauge steel. Alternative gauges and materials for tile cover 22 and/or edge guard 30 can be utilized to provide a generally rigid guard while allowing cutting to various sizes. The preferred material is stainless steel in order to provide a protective cover for the tiles 14, 16, while providing aesthetically pleasing exterior surfaces and also allowing for limited trimming and bending to accommodate curved, squared, or multi-faceted corner tiles (not shown).
The positioning and orientation of the corner guard 10 provides protection for the tiles 14, 16 from being impacted by cart wheels 50. The orientation of the tile cover exterior surfaces 24′, 26′ have an adequate offset 38 from the respective connecting members 32, 34 to cover a variety of widths of the upper portions of tiles 14, 16 installed at the corner junction 12. Additional benefits provided by the corner guard 10 include an easily installed device for covering tiles 12, 14 adjacently disposed at a corner junction 12 of two adjacent walls 20, 20′ composed of plasterboard or similar building materials. Further, the corner guard 10 is composed of a generally rigid material such as metal that can be appropriately bent and angled to protectively cover the tiles 12, 14 regardless of whether the angle of separation of the respective tiles is greater than, or smaller than about ninety degrees. In addition, if the tiles covering the corner junction are arcuately shaped, the curvature of the tile cover 22 can be adjusted by bending each side segment 24, 26 to a curvature that provides for adequate coverage of each tile 14, 16 connected at corner junction 12.
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
Claims
1. A corner guard providing protection for tiles attached proximal of a corner junction formed by an intersection of side walls, comprising:
- an edge guard bent to cover a portion of the intersection of side walls proximally above the corner junction, said edge guard having a base end configured to be releasably attached to each side wall proximal of the tiles covering the corner junction;
- a ledge formed integrally with said edge guard base end, said ledge extended a sufficient width outwardly from said base end to provide protective covering of an upper portion of the tiles; and
- a tile cover integrally depending downwardly from said ledge, said tile cover being sized and angled to substantially cover the tiles attached proximal of the corner junction;
- whereby said tile cover protectively covers the tiles thereby deflecting impacts directed toward the tiles and minimizing damage to the tiles while said edge guard protectively covers the intersection of side walls proximal of the tiles thereby deflecting impacts and minimizing damage to the corner junction and the intersection of side walls proximal of the tiles.
2. The corner guard of claim 1 wherein said edge guard includes two strips having elongated lengths extending from said base end to respective upper ends, said two strips being angled to separately attach along each respective side wall surface proximal of the intersection of side walls.
3. The corner guard of claim 1 wherein said tile cover includes side segments each having a sufficient width and a sufficient angle therebetween for covering the tiles, said sufficient width being between about two inches and about three inches.
4. The corner guard of claim 3 wherein said tile cover side segments further include each side segment having a lengthwise dimension of between about five inches and about six inches.
5. The corner guard of claim 2 wherein said edge guard strips include a sufficient width to cover at least one inch of each side wall surface proximal of the intersection of side walls, each edge guard strip having a length of between about ten inches and about twenty inches extended longitudinally from each respective base end.
6. The corner guard of claim 5 wherein said ledge includes a width forming a set-back depth of between about one quarter inch to about three quarters inch between said longitudinally oriented edge guard strips and said downwardly oriented tile cover.
7. A corner guard providing protection for tiles attached proximal of a corner junction formed by an intersection of side walls, comprising:
- an edge guard bent to cover a portion of the intersection of side walls proximal of the corner junction, said edge guard having a base end configured to be releasably attached to each side wall proximal of the tiles covering the corner junction;
- a ledge formed integrally with said edge guard base end, said ledge extended a sufficient width outwardly from said base end for protective covering of an upper portion of the tiles; and
- a tile cover integrally depending downwardly from said ledge, said tile cover being sized and angled to substantially cover tiles attached proximal of the corner junction;
- whereby said tile cover protectively covers the tiles thereby deflecting impacts directed toward the tiles and minimizing damage to the tiles while said edge guard protectively covers the intersection of side walls proximal of the tiles thereby deflecting impacts and minimizing damage to the wall edges of the intersection of side walls proximal of the corner junction.
8. The corner guard of claim 7 wherein said edge guard includes two strips having elongated lengths extending from said base end to respective upper ends, said two strips being angled to separately attach along each respective side wall surface proximal of the intersection of side walls.
9. The corner guard of claim 7 wherein said tile cover includes side segments each having a sufficient width and a sufficient angle therebetween for covering the tiles, said sufficient width being between about two inches and about three inches.
10. The corner guard of claim 9 wherein said tile cover side segments further include each side segment having a lengthwise dimension of between about five inches and about six inches.
11. The corner guard of claim 8 wherein said edge guard strips include a sufficient width to cover at least one inch of each side wall surface proximal of the intersection of side walls, each edge guard strip having a length of between about ten inches and about twenty inches extended longitudinally from each respective base end.
12. The corner guard of claim 11 wherein said ledge includes a width forming a set-back depth of between about one quarter inch to about three quarters inch between said longitudinally oriented edge guard strips and said downwardly oriented tile cover.
13. A corner guard for protecting adjacent tiles attached proximal of a corner junction formed by intersecting side wall surfaces, comprising:
- a tile cover including first and second laterally oriented segments joined at a corner edge, said tile cover segments being sized and angled relative to each other to substantially cover the adjacent tiles attached proximal of the corner junction, said tile cover having a ledge integrally formed to extend inwardly from an upper surface of said tile cover, whereby said ledge extends over the-adjacent tiles when said tile cover is positioned to cover the adjacent tiles, thereby protecting the adjacent tiles from impacts directed against said tile cover; and
- an edge guard having base ends integrally formed with said ledge to extend a set-back depth upwardly from said tile cover upper surface, said edge guard is bent in width and longitudinally extended from said base ends to cover respective side wall surfaces proximal of the intersection of side walls above the corner junction;
- whereby said tile cover protectively covers the adjacent tiles thereby deflecting impacts directed toward the tile cover and minimizing damage to the tiles while said edge guard protectively covers the side wall surfaces proximal of the intersection of side walls above the corner junction thereby deflecting impacts and minimizing damage to the intersection of side walls covered by the edge guard.
14. The corner guard of claim 13 wherein said edge guard includes two strips having elongated lengths extending from said base end to respective upper ends, said two strips being angled to separately attach along each respective side wall surface -proximal of the intersection of side walls.
15. The corner guard of claim 14 wherein said tile cover includes side segments each having a sufficient width and a sufficient angle therebetween for covering the tiles, said sufficient width being between about two inches and about three inches.
16. The corner guard of claim 15 wherein said tile cover side segments further include each having a lengthwise dimension of between about five inches and about six inches.
17. The corner guard of claim 16 wherein said edge guard strips include a sufficient width to cover at least one inch of each side wall surface proximal of the intersection of side walls, each edge guard strip having a length of between about ten inches and about twenty inches extended longitudinally from each respective base end.
18. The corner guard of claim 17 wherein said ledge includes a width forming a set-back depth of between about one quarter inch to about three quarters inch between said longitudinally oriented edge guard strips and said downwardly oriented tile cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2003
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2005
Applicant: Kalthoff, Inc. (Knoxville, TN)
Inventor: David Dugger (Knoxville, TN)
Application Number: 10/612,124