Trim piece
A trim piece for installing at a corner, either inside or outside, which has a bullnose corner bead. An exemplary embodiment of the trim piece includes a body that wraps over the convexly curved portion of the bullnose corner bead and at least one flange extending parallel to the edges of the flanges of the corner bead. The two flanges are attached to the trim piece at the two edges respectively. The trim piece has an interior surface matching closely the exterior surface of the corner bead and an exterior surface which is both convexly curved to match the convex bullnose corner bead and molded to match the exterior profile of the trim such that a smooth transition from trim board around the corner to the outer trim board results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/506,856, filed on Sep. 30, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/515,551, filed on Oct. 30, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/536,835, filed on Jan. 16, 2004.
The present invention relates generally to construction, and, more particularly, to a trim piece installed at a corner.
In wall board (e.g. drywall) construction practice, a corner joint, formed where wall board of a first wall surface meets wall board of a second wall surface, may be covered with a corner bead. The corner bead is typically made of steel, formed as a single strip held in place against the wall boards of the two wall surfaces by nails or by a thin layer of joint compound between flanges of the corner bead and the wall surfaces. When the corner bead has been secured in position, joint compound is applied over the flanges of the corner bead and the adjacent wall surfaces to provide a smooth finish.
After the drywall has been installed and finished, trim may be installed along each wall, such as, for example, baseboards, chair rails, crown molding, and/or the like. At a typical right angle corner, two strips of trim material that meet are typically mitered to a forty-five degree angle to provide a uniform external surface profile up to the point where the trim strips meet.
This technique for installation of drywall and trim has worked well when the corner bead has a substantially right angle profile because the exterior configuration of the corner bead, after the joint compound has been applied, matches the interior configuration of the baseboard at the corner.
However, bullnose corner bead, in which the corner bead includes, between two planar flanges, an intermediate portion having a radius of curvature, such as, for example, one inch, has come into favor. If conventional forty-five degree miters are used in the trim material at an external corner provided with bullnose corner bead, there might be an unsightly gap between the exterior of the bullnose corner bead and the strips of trim material.
Several techniques have been developed for avoiding the problem created by the difference between the external configuration of the drywall corner and the internal configuration of the trim strips. One technique involves use of a trim piece that provides a transition between the curved exterior surface of the bullnose corner bead and the right angle internal corner of the trim strips. This trim piece is made of a hard synthetic polymer material. At its upper end, the trim piece has a tongue that is shaped and sized to fit under the bullnose corner bead. Just below the tongue, the exterior surface of the trim piece substantially matches the exterior surface of the corner bead. There is then a transition area, about ½ inch high, over which the configuration of the exterior surface changes from one that matches the exterior surface of the corner bead to a right angle, which matches the internal configuration of the baseboard corner. The corner bead is installed at the corner so that its lower end is slightly above the upper edge of the baseboard that is to be used. The trim piece is installed with its lower end resting on the floor and the tongue at its upper end is inserted under the lower end of the bullnose corner bead. The trim strip is then installed and the trim piece provides a smooth transition from the external configuration of the corner bead to the internal configuration of the trim corner.
In practice, the known technique using a transition trim piece as described above may be subject to several disadvantages. For example, the lower end of the corner bead must be accurately positioned to within about ¼ inch above the upper edge of the baseboard material. Also, the height of the lower end of the corner bead determines the height of the baseboard and it is costly and inconvenient to use baseboard material of different height. Additionally, the trim being mitered against a corner having a radius may not be aesthetically pleasing.
In another technique commonly used in practice, the trim strips are cut so that they end just before the corner. One or more thin pieces of the trim strip are fitted in the gap between the trim strips and over the bullnose corner bead. Filler, such as putty, caulk or the like, is then placed in the gaps between the fitted piece of trim material and the trim strips. This method is undesirable because it produces geometric angles at the bullnose corner and may render a non-uniform surface, which may detract from appearance, and it is also time consuming and expensive for the trim installers, and thus for the building owner or purchaser.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed toward a trim piece for trim work that may be easily installed and creates a smooth and uniform transition at a corner. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a molded trim piece having a body and two flanges is installed at a corner. Corner, as used herein, refers to an edge where two, or more, surfaces meet. The corner can be angular, curved, or any other geometry. The exterior profile of the trim piece body matches the exterior profile of the trim board, both mechanically and visually, and the interior of the trim piece matches the exterior profile of the corner, so that the trim piece fits snuggly against the corner of the walls and visible gaps are reduced or eliminated. When the trim boards are butted against the trim piece, a smooth, even appearance of the transition of the trim around the corner is created.
In use, the exemplary trim piece is attached to the wall. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention the trim piece may be attached to the wall using an adhesive. In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the trim piece is attached to the wall using nails, brads, screws, or the like.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the trim piece may be attached to the trim using tongue and groove, dovetail, or the like. In this embodiment, when the trim boards are then secured to the wall, the trim piece will be secured to the wall by virtue of the mechanical joint between the trim piece and the trim boards.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the trim piece is held in place solely by the flanges resting underneath the trim boards. The force of the trim boards being attached to the wall and thus applying pressure to the flanges, holds the trim piece in place.
The exemplary trim piece may be utilized on an outside corner (i.e. where the corner is formed outwardly) or on an inside corner (i.e. where a corner is formed inwardly) with equal effectiveness. The trim piece may be used in interior and/or exterior trim construction applications.
The exemplary trim piece may be used for various sizes, shapes, and types of trim, including, for example, baseboard, chair rail, crown molding, or the like. However, it should be appreciated that the exemplary trim piece may be molded to fit the mechanical and visual profile of any type of known or later developed trim style, shape, size, or placement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In several figures of the drawings, the thickness of various elements may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn an exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is provided a trim piece for installing at a drywall external right angle corner where two drywall boards meet and which is provided with a bullnose corner bead having first and second flanges extending over the two drywall boards respectively and a convexly curved portion joining the first and second flanges, the first and second flanges having respective mutually parallel free edges, said trim piece comprising a body portion which wraps over the convexly curved portion of the bullnose corner bead and has first and second flanges with edges extending parallel to the edges of the flanges of the corner bead. The exemplary trim piece is attached to the wall by nails, brads, screws, or the like being driven through the flanges, and wherein the trim piece is held in position relative to the corner bead, and the body of the trim piece includes a region having a first end at one end of the body portion and a second end spaced from the first end, the region having an interior surface at said first end matching closely the exterior surface of the corner bead at said first end and an exterior surface which closely matches the exterior profile of the trim board.
While the exemplary embodiments may be described in relation to a corner having an essentially right angle, it should be appreciated that the trim piece of the present invention may be formed to fit over corners of any angle from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. However, exemplary embodiments of the trim piece may be formed over standard corner angles, such as, for example, angles ranging from 22.5 degrees to 167.5 degrees. Particular embodiments of the trim piece may be formed having standard angles to meet the demands of the construction industry. Further, the trim piece may be formed to fit corners ranging from a very small radius (e.g. less than one inch) to a very large radius (e.g. several feet).
The trim piece is discussed in terms of corners for purposes of illustration. However, it should be appreciated that the trim piece of the present invention may be used in other applications where it may be desirable to continue the trim onto a surface that is not flat, such as columns, fixtures, doors, cabinets, moldings, carvings, outlets, switches, furniture, and/or any other objects where trim may be affixed.
The corner trim piece of the present invention may be manufactured using injection molding, die stamping, compression molding, and/or the like. However, it should be appreciated that the trim piece can be manufactured with any known or later developed technique(s) that will produce a similar result in accordance with the present invention.
The exemplary trim piece can be manufactured from a variety of materials, including, for example, plastics, metals, composites, ceramics, and/or the like. However, it should be appreciated that any known or later developed material(s) that has similar physical properties and is capable of being used to make a corner trim piece in accordance with this invention.
The body 40 has a back with a back radius substantially equal to and adapted to fit around the wall corner. The front surface of the body 40 has a radius substantially equal to the back radius. The top surface of the body extends between the top edges of the back and front. The bottom surface of the body 40 extends between bottom edges of the back and front. The body 40 has a left surface extending between left edges of the back, front, top and bottom, and a right surface extending between right edges of the back, front, top and bottom, each of the left and right sides defining substantially equal cross-sections of the body.
The flanges 52 extend away from each of the left edge and the right edge of the back in substantially planar alignment with the back. In an exemplary embodiment, the flanges 52 may be substantially thinner than the body. Thus, allowing the flanges 52 to be positioned beneath the trim boards 14.
In use, the trim piece 20 is placed over the bullnose corner bead. The two flanges 52 of the trim piece 20 are positioned between the trim boards 14 and the dry wall boards 12. The trim piece may be attached to the drywall boards 12 by adhesives, nails, brads, screws, and/or the like (not shown). The trim boards 14 abut the trim piece body 40 and may be attached to drywall boards 12 in a conventional manner. Thus, creating a smooth and continuous transition of the trim work around the corner.
In the exemplary embodiment of
In use, the trim piece 20 is placed over the bullnose corner bead. The two flanges 52 of the trim piece 20 are positioned between the trim boards 14 and the dry wall boards 12. The trim piece may be attached to the drywall boards 12 by adhesives, nails, brads, screws, and/or the like (not shown). The trim boards 14 abut the trim piece body 40 and may be attached to drywall boards 12 in a conventional manner. Thus, creating a smooth and continuous transition of the trim work around the inside of the corner.
In the exemplary embodiment of
In use, the trim piece 20 is positioned over a corner. The trim piece 20 may be securing to the walls using fasteners. The fasteners may be inserted through the holes 72 thereby securing the trim piece 20 to the wall.
In use, the trim piece 20 is positioned over a corner. The trim piece 20 may be securing to the walls using fasteners. The fasteners may be inserted through the flanges 52 thereby securing the trim piece 20 to the wall.
The height, width, and thickness of the trim piece 20 body may conform to a trim board that the trim piece has been designed to mate with. Additionally, the exterior profile of trim piece body 40 may match the exterior profile of the trim board in order to provide a visually uniform appearance. However, it should be appreciated that the exterior of trim piece body 40 may be molded in various shapes, sizes, and profiles, and may be different than the trim board.
An advantage of this embodiment may be that the hollow molding process with reinforcing ribs may result in reducing or eliminating shrinkage of the material and warping that may be associated with shrinkage. However, it should be appreciated that the trim piece may be molded, depending on the material used, as a solid piece, as a hollow piece with reinforcing ribs, as a hollow piece without reinforcing ribs, or with other known or later developed molding technique, provided that the molding technique yields a part that is suitable for use as trim in accordance with the invention. The trim piece 20, if molded as a hollow piece may have a closed back surface, a partially open back surface, or a completely open back surface.
In the event that nails are used for installation, the trim piece 20 is placed in position over the corner and nails are driven through the flanges 52 into the underlying wall structure. Due to the positioning of the flanges 52, it is not necessary to drive the nail through the steel corner bead. In fact, it is not even necessary to use nails that will penetrate the lumber structure, because shorter nails inserted through flanges 52 may be held in place by firm frictional engagement with the free edges of the flanges of the corner bead.
As shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the trim piece is attached to the wall by adhesive. Alternatively, the trim piece 20 can be attached to the wall by nail, brad, screw, or the like placed directly through the flanges 52 and into the wall. Alternatively still, the trim piece 20 may be attached using a nail, brad, screw, or the like placed through holes 70 provided in the flanges 52. Then, the trim boards are attached to the wall using conventional methods.
The left and right surfaces of the body 40 are formed having angled left and right surfaces 802 allowing for the trim boards 14 to overlap the body 40 at a front surface. The construction of the trim piece shown in
The left and right surfaces of the body 40 are formed having left and right surfaces 902 essentially parallel with the edges of the trim boards 14. Thus, allowing for the trim boards 14 to substantially abut the left and right surfaces of the body 40. The construction of the trim piece shown in
The left and right surfaces of the body 40 are formed having dovetailed left and right surfaces 1002 allowing for the trim boards 14 to engage the left and right surfaces of the body 40. The construction of the trim piece shown in
In use, the trim piece is installed by mechanically mating the edges of the body 40 with the edges of the trim boards 14. Next the trim boards are attached to the wall. The trim piece is then held in place by the mechanical joint attachment to the trim boards. The mechanical joint may be, for example, dovetail, tongue and groove, or the like. However, it should be appreciated that any method of joining the trim piece 20 with the trim boards 14 such that the trim piece 20 is securely attached to the trim boards 14 may be used with equal success in accordance with the invention.
It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided in accordance with the present invention, a trim piece for installing at corners. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, applicants intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A corner trim piece comprising:
- a body having a back with a back radius substantially equal to and adapted to fit around a wall corner having a radius, a front surface with a front radius substantially equal to the back radius, a top surface extending between top edges of the back and the front surface, a bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the back and front surface, a left surface extending between left edges of the back, and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, and a right surface extending between right edges of the back, and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, each of the left and the right surfaces defining substantially equal cross-sections of the body; and
- at least one flange extending away from each of the left edge and the right edge of the back in substantially planar alignment with the back and the at least one flange being substantially thinner than the body.
2. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the left and the right surface cross-sections are sized such that when a side of a trim board having a similar cross-sectional configuration is abutted against either of the left or the right surfaces and positioned over the at least one flange, a front of the trim board is substantially in alignment with the front surface of the body.
3. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the wall corner is an outer wall corner.
4. The corner trim piece of claim 3, wherein the outer wall corner has a back angle ranging from about 22.5 degrees to 167.5 degrees.
5. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the wall corner is an inner wall corner.
6. The corner trim piece of claim 5, wherein the inner wall corner has a front angle ranging from about 22.5 degrees to 167.5 degrees.
7. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the left and the right surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
8. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein each of the left and the right surfaces define an interlocking portion and are substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
9. The corner trim piece of claim 8, wherein each interlocking portion is a partial dovetail joint.
10. The corner trim piece of claim 1 wherein the left and the right surfaces are substantially non-perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
11. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the back has a back curve and the front surface has a front curve that is substantially parallel to the back curve.
12. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the back is partially open exposing a back edge of the top surface, a back edge of the bottom surface, a portion of a back side of the front surface, and at least one vertical reinforcing rib, wherein the reinforcing rib is attached to the back side of the front surface at a substantially right angle to the front surface.
13. The corner trim piece of claim 12, further comprising at least one horizontal reinforcing rib attached to the back side of the front surface.
14. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein the corner trim piece is injection molded.
15. The corner trim piece of claim 14, wherein the corner trim piece is made of plastic.
16. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein each of the flanges is provided without holes.
17. The corner trim piece of claim 1, wherein each of the flanges is provided with at least one hole.
18. A corner trim piece comprising:
- a body having a back with a back radius substantially equal to and adapted to fit around a wall corner having a radius, a front surface with a front radius substantially equal to the back radius, a top surface extending between top edges of the back and the front surface, a bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the back and the front surface, a left surface extending between left edges of the back and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, and a right surface extending between right edges of the back and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, each of the left and the right surfaces defining substantially equal cross-sections of the body.
19. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the left and the right surface cross-sections are sized such that when a side of a trim board having a similar cross-sectional configuration is abutted against either of the left or the right surfaces, a front of the trim board is substantially in alignment with the front surface of the body.
20. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the wall corner is an outer wall corner.
21. The corner trim piece of claim 20, wherein the outer wall corner has a back angle ranging from about 22.5 degrees to 167.5 degrees.
22. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the wall corner is an inner wall corner.
23. The corner trim piece of claim 22, wherein the inner wall corner has a front angle ranging from about 22.5 degrees to 167.5 degrees.
24. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the left and the right surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
25. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein each of the left and the right surfaces define an interlocking portion and are substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
26. The corner trim piece of claim 25, wherein each interlocking portion is a partial dovetail joint.
27. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the left and the right surfaces are substantially non-perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
28. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the back has a back curve and the front surface has a front curve that is substantially parallel to the back curve.
29. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the back is partially open exposing a back edge of the top surface, a back edge of the bottom surface, a portion of a back side of the front surface, and at least one vertical reinforcing rib, wherein the reinforcing rib is attached to the back side of the front surface at a substantially right angle to the front surface.
30. The corner trim piece of claim 29, further comprising at least one horizontal reinforcing rib attached to the back side of the front surface.
31. The corner trim piece of claim 18, wherein the corner trim piece is injection molded.
32. The corner trim piece of claim 31, wherein the corner trim piece is made of plastic.
33. A method of manufacturing a corner trim piece, said method comprising:
- forming a body having a back with a back radius substantially equal to and adapted to fit around a wall corner having a radius, a front surface with a front radius substantially equal to the back radius, a top surface extending between top edges of the back and the front surface, a bottom surface extending between bottom edges of the back and the front surface, a left surface extending between left edges of the back, and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, and a right surface extending between right edges of the back, and the front surface, the top surface and the bottom surface, each of the left and the right surfaces defining substantially equal cross-sections of the body; and
- forming at least one flange attached to the body and extending away from each of the left edge and the right edge of the back in substantially planar alignment with the back and with each of the at least one flange being substantially thinner than the body.
34. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming the left and the right surface cross-sections to a size such that when a side of a trim board having a similar cross-sectional configuration is abutted against either of the left or the right surfaces and positioned over the at least one flange, a front of the trim board is substantially in alignment with the front surface of the body.
35. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming the left and the right surfaces substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
36. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming each of the left and the right surfaces to define an interlocking portion, and wherein each of the left and the right surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
37. The method of claim 36, further comprising forming each interlocking portion as a partial dovetail joint.
38. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming the left and the right surfaces substantially non-perpendicular to the back and the front surface.
39. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming the back to have a back curve and the front surface to have a front curve that is substantially parallel to the back curve.
40. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming a partially open back exposing a back edge of the top surface, a back edge of the bottom surface, a portion of a back side of the front surface, and at least one vertical reinforcing rib, wherein the reinforcing rib is attached to the back side of the front surface at a substantially right angle to the front surface.
41. The method of claim 40, further comprising forming at least one horizontal reinforcing rib attached to the back side of the front surface.
42. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming the corner trim piece by injection molding.
43. The method of claim 42, further comprising forming the corner trim piece of plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2004
Publication Date: May 3, 2007
Inventor: Kevin Young (Lutz, FL)
Application Number: 10/573,836
International Classification: E04C 2/38 (20060101);