U.S. patent application number 11/149636 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for crown molding with improved mounting surfaces.
Invention is credited to Hahn, Richard.
Application Number | 20050252121 11/149636 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46304712 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050252121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hahn, Richard |
November 17, 2005 |
Crown molding with improved mounting surfaces
Abstract
A crown molding unit for engagement with a ceiling surface and
an adjacent wall surface of a room has a first surface positioned
for flush contact with a ceiling surface and simultaneously, a
second surface positioned for flush contact with a wall surface.
Each of the first and the second surfaces provide a plurality of
side-by-side parallel longitudinal grooves and a plurality of
side-by-side parallel lateral grooves, the lateral grooves lie
orthogonal to the longitudinal grooves and converge to a depression
in the apparatus.
Inventors: |
Hahn, Richard; (Pomona,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENE SCOTT; PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
3140 RED HILL AVENUE
SUITE 150
COSTA MESA
CA
92626-3440
US
|
Family ID: |
46304712 |
Appl. No.: |
11/149636 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11149636 |
Jun 11, 2005 |
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10359381 |
Feb 5, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/287.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 19/0436 20130101;
F21V 33/006 20130101; F21V 7/0016 20130101; E04F 19/0495 20130101;
F21V 11/12 20130101; E04F 19/0477 20130101; E04F 2019/0418
20130101; E04F 2019/044 20130101; F21S 4/22 20160101; F21V 9/08
20130101; F21V 7/0008 20130101; E04F 2019/0454 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/287.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A crown molding apparatus for engagement with a ceiling surface
and an adjacent wall surface, the apparatus comprising: an integral
unit having a length establishing a longitudinal direction of the
apparatus, lateral directions of the apparatus defined as
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the unit further having a
first surface for contact with the ceiling surface; the first
surface interrupted by a plurality of longitudinally directed first
grooves and a plurality of laterally directed second grooves; the
laterally directed second grooves each providing a uniformly
varying groove width and a depth greater then the first
grooves.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the uniform variance of the
second grooves converges toward an outside edge of the
apparatus.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the second grooves
provides a depression adjacent the outside edge.
4. A crown molding apparatus for engagement with a ceiling surface
and an adjacent wall surface, the apparatus comprising: an integral
unit having a length establishing a longitudinal direction of the
apparatus, lateral directions of the apparatus defined as
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the unit further having a
second surface for contact with the wall surface; the second
surface interrupted by a plurality of longitudinally directed first
grooves and a plurality of laterally directed second grooves; the
laterally directed second grooves each providing a uniformly
varying groove width and a depth greater then the first
grooves.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the uniform variance of the
second grooves converges toward an outside edge of the
apparatus.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the second grooves
provides a depression adjacent the outside edge.
7. A crown molding apparatus for engagement with a ceiling surface
and an adjacent wall surface, the apparatus comprising: an integral
unit having a length establishing a longitudinal direction of the
apparatus, lateral directions of the apparatus defined as
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the unit further having a
first surface for contact with the ceiling surface and a second
surface for contact with the wall surface; the each of the first
and second surfaces interrupted by a plurality of longitudinally
directed first grooves and a plurality of laterally directed second
grooves; the laterally directed second grooves each providing a
uniformly varying groove width and a depth greater then the first
grooves.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the uniform variance of the
second grooves converges toward an outside edge of the
apparatus.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the second grooves
provides a depression adjacent an outside edge of the apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Related Applications
[0002] This application is a Continuation In Part Application of a
prior filed application having serial number 10359381 and filing
date of Feb. 5, 2003 and entitled: Wall Molding Mounting Structure
And Method; and is related to serial number 10810936 filed on Mar.
26, 2004.
[0003] 2. Field of the Present Disclosure
[0004] This disclosure relates generally to crown molding systems
for the improvement of appearance and decoration of interior living
spaces, and more particularly to a crown molding system having
improved installation and durability features.
[0005] 3. Description of Related Art
[0006] The following art defines the present state of this field
and each disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference:
[0007] Reeves et al., U.S. 2002/0050104, discloses a eave closure
for tile roofing has a nailing flange having a surface extending
along a length of the closure, a planar riser potion contiguous
with the nailing flange at an angle to the surface of the nailing
flange, the riser portion conforming on an upper edge to the shape
of the underside of adjacent installed tiles, and a lip
reinforcement along the shaped upper edge of the riser portion, the
lip extending substantially at a right angle to the plane of the
riser portion. In some embodiments the nailing flange has weep
passages formed along a width of the flange, such that air may
circulate between inside and outside an installed closure. In some
of these embodiments the weep passages are grooves formed in the
width of the nailing flange and following a center line, with at
least one change in direction across the width of the nailing
flange. In preferred embodiments the material for molding is a
UV-resistance polymer material
[0008] Hahn, U.S. 2003/0014931, discloses a plaster crown molding
tile that has an upright body portion providing a front decorative
surface and, in opposition thereto, a rear wall-engaging surface.
Integral with the body portion, a topper portion extends angularly
upwardly. The wall-engaging surface provides spaced apart
horizontally oriented planar strips and between the strips plural
grooves spaced apart by ribs. Peaks of the ribs define a first
selected depth relative to the horizontal strips, and valleys of
the grooves define a second selected depth relative to the
horizontal strips. These surface features enable the tile to be
more easily shaved to a desired depth for custom fitting the tile
for improved butt seams.
[0009] Hahn, 2003/0115813, discloses a plaster crown molding tile
and a base support foundation beam provide mating nesting surfaces
such that with the beam mounted to a wall surface, the tile may be
placed securely onto the beam. A space is provided for a lighting
fixture between the beam and the tile. Preferably, the nesting
surfaces comprise orthogonal surfaces.
[0010] Bonnell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,114,044, discloses a new article of
manufacture, an extruded metallic corner strip form mounting wall
panels, comprising a pair of longitudinally extending plate-like
wings disposed in planes substantially 90 degrees apart, a
transverse web integrally and rigidly uniting the wings contiguous
to their adjoining edges, the web being provided with a curved
outer surface extending the full length of the wings, flanges
formed with the outer longitudinal edge portions of the web and
spaced from the wings to produce longitudinal grooves for the
reception of the vertical edge portions of wall panels, the ribs
being inwardly spaced from the outer longitudinal edges of the
wings so that when the panels are positioned in the grooves, the
major portion of the wings will be concealed from exterior view,
the inner portions of the wings and web being provided with
longitudinally extending weight diminishing slots and a detachable
cap member being formed with an attaching shank received within one
of the slots.
[0011] Gallo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,854, discloses an anchoring
device particularly suitable for anchoring members such as moldings
to a wall and comprising; an anchor plate adapted for being fixed
to a wall, spaced parallel slits in the plate, an engagement bar
adjacent to the plate and extending transversely to the slits, the
bar being substantially trapezoidal in cross sectional shape with
the smaller base of the trapezoid near the plate and the larger
base thereof remote from the plate, and a fastening means secured
to the bar and projecting through the slits and having heads
thereon on their outer ends to secure the bar to the plate while
permitting the bar to slide on the plate in the direction of the
length of the slits, the trapezoidal shape of the bar adapting it
for engagement with a dovetail groove in the member to be mounted
on the wall to which the plate is fixed.
[0012] Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,830, discloses an invention that
relates to a corner fillet by which is meant members which are
adapted to lie across and occupy corners of, for example, rooms
where a floor joins a wall or a skirting board attached to the
wall, the corner fillet being used to screen or conceal the edge of
the carpet laid on the floor, or to properly finish off the
floor/wall joint so as to enhance its appearance. A corner fillet
according to the invention is also usable as a glazing strip in
place of the conventional glazing systems using putty or beading.
Other uses of a corner fillet according to the invention will
become apparent from the following description.
[0013] Loos, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,753, discloses an elongated
molding for covering the corner at the junction of a wall and a
ceiling that has a pair of longitudinally extending margins each of
which is provided with a recess. Both recesses are bordered by a
pair of longitudinal surface portions, and the surface portions
flanking one recess are to abut or be bonded to the wall while the
surface portions flanking the other recess are to abut or be bonded
to the ceiling. The molding has a front side which is to face away
from the wall and the ceiling, and the surface portion of each pair
nearest the front side adjoins a bevel which is located between the
respective surface portion and the front side. The molding is
bonded to the wall and the ceiling by joint compound or spackling
compound placed in the recesses. The bevels define gaps with the
wall and the ceiling, respectively, and such gaps are filled with
joint compound or spackling compound to enhance bonding. A plaster
coating may be run in place on the molding and the molding is then
provided with guide surfaces for the shaping tool which contours
the coating. The front side of the molding can be formed with
anchoring elements for the coating.
[0014] Hahn, U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,507 describes a prefabricated
crown molding strip designed to facilitate one-person installation
and composed of plaster that is reinforced by two layers of fiber
reinforcement, one of bulk fiberglass intermixed throughout the
outer portion of the strip and the ornamentation thereon and a
second of a sheet of fiberglass netting generally centrally located
as a spine in the strip and substantially coextensive therewith.
Two side surfaces of the strip are disposed generally in
perpendicular planes for engagement with a wall and a ceiling, and
have patterns of longitudinally extending ribs and grooves of
predetermined depths for facilitating adhesive mounting of the
strip, and also facilitating selective removal of plaster to
accommodate irregularities on supporting surfaces. Pre-formed nail
holes are molded in preselected nailing locations. Also the method
of making crown molding strips in steps providing the above
characteristics, in a sequence of pours of plaster in fluid state,
the addition of the reinforcing fiber, and formation of the
patterns of ribs and grooves.
[0015] Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches
molding systems with longitudinal grooves, but fails to teach a
lateral groove system used with the prior art longitudinal grooves.
The present disclosure teaches such cross groove systems
distinguishing over the prior art and providing heretofore unknown
advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY
[0016] This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and
use which give rise to the objectives described below.
[0017] Crown molding strips are manufactured in a wide range of
sizes, decorative styles, and are made of various materials. Common
materials are wood, plaster and plastics. However, the installation
and durability of such crown moldings suffer from three
deficiencies; first standard moldings, even those with longitudinal
grooves do not have adequate groove structure for uniformly
spreading bonding agents, as such agents need to be able to move
laterally on the contact surface as well as longitudinally, second
wall and ceiling surfaces often have rough textures and the use of
longitudinal grooves only often results in the grooves sitting up
on such textures so that added manicuring must be attended to in
order to fill all gaps around the molding, and finally, it has been
found that dual orthogonal grooves has the effect of retarding
shrinkage of the molding, which is often a major cause for
concern.
[0018] A crown molding unit for engagement with a ceiling surface
and an adjacent wall surface of a room has a first surface
positioned for flush contact with a ceiling surface and
simultaneously, a second surface positioned for flush contact with
a wall surface. Each of the first and the second surfaces provide a
plurality of side-by-side parallel longitudinal grooves and a
plurality of side-by-side parallel lateral grooves, the lateral
grooves lie orthogonal to the longitudinal grooves and converge to
a depression in the apparatus.
[0019] A primary objective inherent in the above described
apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by
the prior art.
[0020] Another objective is to provide a crown molding having
surfaces that conduct bonding agents both longitudinally and
laterally as the molding is applied to wall and ceiling
surfaces.
[0021] A further objective is to provide such a molding having
grooves on its contact surfaces configured for conducing a fluid
bonding agent preferentially.
[0022] A still further objective is to provide such a molding
having significant groove depth for accepting textured mounting
surfaces so that the molding sits intimately against the mounting
surfaces.
[0023] A yet further objective is to provide such a molding that is
able to retard shrinkage of the unit after installation.
[0024] Other features and advantages of the described apparatus and
method of use will become apparent from the following more detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
presently described apparatus and method of its use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings illustrate at least one of the
best mode embodiments of the present apparatus and method of it
use. In such drawings:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the
present apparatus;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view thereof shown mounted
against a ceiling and a wall surfaces; and
[0028] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along cutting plane line
3-3 in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The above described drawing figures illustrate the described
apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred,
best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the
following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may
be able to make alterations and modifications what is described
herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it
must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for
the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a
limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of
use.
[0030] The apparatus described below and shown in the accompanying
drawing figures is a crown molding which is mounted at the
intersection of a ceiling surface 10 and an adjacent wall surface
20 of a room, as is well known in the art. The apparatus is
preferably a molded unit 30 made of plaster or plastic materials
and having a length "L", shown in FIG. 2, establishing a
longitudinal direction of the unit 30, and a width "W" establishing
a lateral direction of the unit 30 as seen in FIG. 1. Preferably,
the length "L" is much greater then the width "W", with a length
"L" typically 8 to 12 feet and a width "W" of only 6 to 10 inches.
In the following, any direction that is orthogonal to longitudinal
directions is a lateral direction as defined herein. Other
dimensions and sizes of crown moldings will be recognized by those
of skill in the art as being obvious substitutions for the
presently described molding. In the figures, the unit 30 is shown
as having a relatively short length for clarity only. Clearly,
other parts of such a crown molding system including short joiner
pieces, outside corner pieces and inside corner pieces, as well as
specialty parts, may be constructed in accordance with the present
description and achieve the same advantages as for the long
sections which form the bulk of a crown molding system.
[0031] The figures and descriptions herein address the long strips
of crown molding but one of skill will know how to adapt the novel
features described to all of the typical parts of a crown molding
system.
[0032] The unit 30 has an outside decorative surface 40 and an
opposing rear surface 50 part of which is used to mount the unit 30
to the ceiling 10 and wall 20 surfaces. A first surface 32, part of
the rear surface 50, is positioned for flush contact with the
ceiling surface 10 and a second surface 34, again, part of rear
surface 50, is positioned for flush contact with wall surface 20.
The unit 30 may include either surface 32 or surface 34 or both,
but when both are present, the benefits of the present apparatus
are maximized.
[0033] In the following, both surfaces 32 and 34 are described as
having the advantageous features of the present apparatus. Each of
these surfaces provide a plurality of side-by-side parallel
longitudinal grooves 56, and a plurality of side-by-side parallel
lateral grooves 58, the lateral grooves 58 orthogonal to the
longitudinal grooves 56. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0034] The laterally directed second grooves 58 each provide a
uniformly varying groove width and this groove width converges
toward an outside edge 60 of the apparatus. Grooves 58, as shown in
FIG. 1, have surfaces 37. It should be noticed that these surfaces
37 are placed below the corresponding surfaces of grooves 56, i.e.,
they have a greater depth. When bonding agent hardens in grooves 58
it tends to retard shrinkage of the apparatus in that it prevents
movement of those portions with grooves 56 toward each other as the
apparatus in general tends to shrink. This minimizes shrinkage
especially at the interface of the apparatus with ceiling 10 and
wall 20 surfaces, where such localized shrinkage is normally the
cause of debonding.
[0035] In use, the crown molding apparatus 30 described here is cut
to length, in a typical installation, and a bonding agent is
applied to surfaces 32 and 34 and within grooves 56 and 58. Next,
the apparatus is pressed into place with surface 32 pressed against
the ceiling surface 10, and surface 34 pressed against the wall
surface 20. As pressure is applied the bonding agent tends to
spread out on surfaces 32 and 34 and travels within grooves 56 and
58. It is desired to prevent bonding agent from spilling onto edges
60, and this is accomplished in that the convergent conformation of
grooves 58 tend to direct excessive 5 bonding agent away from edges
60. Also, to insure that bonding agent is not able to move onto
edges 60 depressions 36 tend to accumulate and catch excessive
bonding agent that may travel toward the edges 60, thereby
preventing spill-out. The longitudinal grooves 56 tend to permit
excessive bonding agent to travel longitudinally and to distribute
itself evenly.
[0036] The enablements described in detail above are considered
novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to
the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its
method of use and to the achievement of the above described
objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the
instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of
their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special
definition in this specification: structure, material or acts
beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an
element can be understood in the context of this specification as
including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as
being generic to all possible meanings supported by the
specification and by the word or words describing the element.
[0037] The definitions of the words or drawing elements described
herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements
which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
material or acts for performing substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements described and its various embodiments or that a single
element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
[0038] Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a
person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised,
are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope
intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious
substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the
art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually
equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what
incorporates the essential ideas.
[0039] The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here,
that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter
is what is intended to be patented.
* * * * *