U.S. patent application number 11/413865 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for cable and overlay moldings.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multilink, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven E. Kaplan.
Application Number | 20070251167 11/413865 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38646986 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251167 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaplan; Steven E. |
November 1, 2007 |
Cable and overlay moldings
Abstract
A cable molding primarily intended to be installed on a wall
structure of a common hallway of a multiple dwelling unit below
pre-existing molding, and an overlay molding attachable to the
cable molding to conceal both the cable molding and the
pre-existing molding. The overlay molding includes a panel molding
having upper and lower edges and a flange extending rearwardly from
the panel member intermediate the upper and lower edges. The flange
defines with a lower portion of the panel member a lower channel
shaped to provide a snap fit onto the cable member, and defines
with an upper portion of the panel member an upper channel that
receives the pre-existing molding.
Inventors: |
Kaplan; Steven E.; (Elyria,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RENNER OTTO BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
1621 EUCLID AVENUE
NINETEENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44115
US
|
Assignee: |
Multilink, Inc.
Elyria
OH
|
Family ID: |
38646986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/413865 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/287.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2019/044 20130101;
H02G 3/0425 20130101; E04F 2019/0454 20130101; E04F 19/0436
20130101; H02G 3/0431 20130101; E04F 19/0463 20130101; E04F
2019/0413 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/287.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 2/00 20060101
E04B002/00 |
Claims
1. An overlay molding comprising a panel member having upper and
lower edges, and a flange extending rearwardly from the panel
member intermediate the upper and lower edges, the flange defining
with a lower portion of the panel member a lower channel for
receiving a cable molding, the flange and lower portion of the
panel member being shaped to provide a snap fit of the overlay
molding onto the cable molding.
2. The overlay molding of claim 1 wherein the flange defines with
an upper portion of the panel member an upper channel for receiving
at least one other molding.
3. The overlay molding of claim 2 wherein the other molding is a
crown or cove molding.
4. The overlay molding of claim 2 wherein the other molding is
another cable molding.
5. The overlay molding of claim 2 wherein the flange has a
downwardly stepped inner end.
6. The overlay molding of claim 5 wherein the lower portion of the
channel member has an upwardly extending rib.
7. The overlay molding of claim 6 wherein the rib includes an
outwardly facing channel.
8. In combination, a cable molding attachable to a wall of a
building structure adjacent a ceiling of the building structure,
and an overlay molding adapted to be snap fitted onto the cable
molding for concealing the cable molding when attached to the
building structure wall, the overlay molding comprising a panel
member having upper and lower edges and a flange extending
rearwardly from the panel member intermediate the upper and lower
edges, the flange defining with a lower portion of the panel member
a lower channel for receipt of the cable molding, the flange and
lower portion of the panel member being shaped to provide a snap
fit of the overlay molding onto the cable molding with the upper
and lower edges of the overlay molding in close proximity to the
ceiling and wall, respectively, of the building structure.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the flange defines with an
upper portion of the panel member an upper channel for receipt of
at least one other molding attached to the wall of the building
structure above the cable molding.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the other molding is a crown
or cove molding or another cable molding.
11. The combination of claim 8 wherein the cable molding is channel
shaped including a back side that is attachable to the building
structure wall, upper and lower sides, and an open front that is at
least partially closed by a flexible flap to permit cable to be
placed within the cable molding and removed therefrom without
cutting or otherwise damaging the cable.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the cable molding including
the flexible flap are made of plastic, and the flexible flap is
co-extruded onto an edge of the open front of the cable
molding.
13. The combination of claim 8 wherein the flange of the overlay
molding has a downwardly stepped inner end that is receivable in a
correspondingly shaped step in an upper side of the cable
molding.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the lower portion of the
panel member has an upwardly extending rib that is engageable with
a step in a lower side of the cable molding to provide a snap fit
of the overlay molding onto the cable molding.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the lower portion of the
panel member has an upwardly extending rib that is receivable in a
recess in a lower side of the cable molding to provide a snap fit
of the overlay molding onto the cable molding.
16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the lower side of the cable
molding has a slot communicating with the recess into which the rib
on the lower portion of the panel member of the overlay molding is
received.
17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the rib includes an
outwardly facing channel that receives a rearwardly facing edge of
the cable molding slot.
18. A cable molding comprising a molded plastic channel including a
back wall that is attachable to a wall of a building structure,
upper and lower sides, and an open front that is at least partially
closed by a flexible flap to permit cable to be placed within the
channel and removed therefrom without cutting or otherwise damaging
the cable, the flexible flap being coextruded onto an edge of the
open front of the channel.
19. The cable molding of claim 18 wherein the upper side of the
channel has a rearwardly facing step adjacent the back wall and the
lower side of the channel has a slot communicating with a
recess.
20. The cable molding of claim 18 wherein the upper and lower sides
of the channel have rearwardly facing steps adjacent the back wall
of the channel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a cable molding for installation
along a common hallway of a multiple dwelling unit for running
cable to provide network or broadband cable service to one or more
of the units and to an overlay molding that is attachable to the
cable molding for concealing or covering the cable molding and any
pre-existing molding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Whenever a network or broadband cable service provider is
called upon to provide cable service to a number of multiple
dwelling units in a building structure, cable molding is typically
run along common hallways in the building to the different units
for housing the cable. The hallways may already have crown or cove
molding, and in some cases, some other type of molding such as
cable molding installed by another network service provider,
necessitating that the new cable molding be installed below the
existing molding to create a parallel pathway below the existing
molding. In most cases this may be considered objectionable because
of the potentially unsightly appearance of having two or more
exposed moldings of possibly different colors, shapes and/or styles
running along the same hallways.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention addresses the foregoing objections by
providing a cable molding which, after installation on a wall
structure of a common hallway of a multiple dwelling unit below
pre-existing molding, may have an overlay molding attached thereto
for concealing both the newly installed cable molding and the
pre-existing molding.
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the overlay
molding includes a panel member having upper and lower edges and a
flange extending rearwardly from the panel member intermediate the
upper and lower edges that defines with a lower portion of the
panel member a lower channel for receiving the cable molding.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
flange and lower portion of the panel member may be shaped to
provide a snap fit of the overlay molding onto the cable molding
with the upper and lower edges of the overlay molding in close
proximity to the hallway ceiling and wall structure, respectively,
to which the cable molding is attached.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
flange may define with the upper portion of the panel member an
upper channel for receiving at least one other molding attached to
the wall structure above the cable molding.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
cable molding may be in the shape of a channel or keeper including
a back side that is attachable to the wall structure, upper and
lower sides, and an open front that is at least partially closed by
a flexible flap that is sufficiently rigid to keep cable within the
channel but may be flexed enough for easy insertion of the cable
into the channel and removal therefrom without cutting or otherwise
damaging the cable.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
cable molding including the flexible flap may be made of plastic,
and the flexible flap may be co-extruded onto an edge of the open
front of the cable molding.
[0009] These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of
the present invention will become apparent as the following
description proceeds.
[0010] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter more fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following
description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail
certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being
indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which
the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the annexed drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of
cable molding and overlay molding of the present invention showing
the overlay molding snap fitted onto the cable molding.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the cable molding and
overlay molding of FIG. 1 schematically showing the cable molding
attached to a wall structure below a pre-existing molding and the
overlay molding snap-fitted onto the cable molding to cover both
the cable molding and the pre-existing molding.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an end elevation view similar to FIG. 2 but
showing another form of cable molding and overlay molding of the
present invention with the cable molding attached to a wall
structure below a pre-existing molding and the overlay molding
snap-fitted onto the cable molding to cover both the cable molding
and the pre-existing molding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein
like reference numerals are used to designate like parts, and
initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one form of cable
molding 1 and overlay molding 2 of the present invention. The cable
molding 1 is primarily intended to be installed along a common
hallway of a multiple dwelling unit below pre-existing molding 4 to
create a parallel pathway below the pre-existing molding for
running cable to provide network or broadband cable service to one
or more of the units. The pre-existing molding may simply be crown
or cove molding, but could also be cable molding installed by some
other cable service provider for providing cable service to other
units in the same building.
[0016] Having two (or more) exposed moldings running along the same
hallway may be objectionable for any number of reasons, including
for example differences in color, style, size and/or shape. To
eliminate any possible objections, once the cable molding 1 of the
present invention is installed below the pre-existing molding 4,
the overlay molding 2 of the present invention may be snap fitted
onto the newly installed cable molding 1 with its upper and lower
edges 5, 6 in close proximity to the ceiling 7 and wall 8,
respectively, to conceal both the newly installed cable molding 1
and the pre-existing molding 4 as schematically shown in FIG.
2.
[0017] Cable molding 1 is in the shape of a molded plastic channel
or keeper 10 having a back wall 11 that is attachable to the
building wall 8, upper and lower sides 12, 13 and an open front 14
that is at least partially closed by a flexible plastic flap 16
that is sufficiently rigid to keep the cable (not shown) within the
channel 10 but may be flexed enough for easy insertion of the cable
into the channel and removal therefrom without cutting or otherwise
damaging the cable. Also the flap 16 may be flexed outwardly to
expose a substantial portion of the channel back wall 11 through
the open front 14 for ease of attaching the channel back wall to
the wall structure 8 using suitable fasteners such as screws or
nails or the like (not shown).
[0018] The flexible flap 16 may be co-extruded onto the bottom edge
18 of the open front 14 of the channel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or
onto the top edge 19' of the open front 14' as shown in FIG. 3. If
co-extruded onto the top edge 19', the flexible flap 16' desirably
closes virtually the entire open front 14', whereas if co-extruded
onto the bottom edge 18, a larger gap 20 may be left between the
upper edge of the flexible flap and the top edge 19 of the open
front as shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] The overlay molding 2 comprises a panel member 25 including
the upper and lower edges 5, 6 that are maintained in close
proximity to the ceiling 7 and wall 8, respectively, of the hallway
once the cable molding 1 is properly installed on the wall below
the pre-existing molding 4 and the overlay molding is properly snap
fitted onto the cable molding 1 as described hereafter. Panel
member 25 may have different shapes depending on the molding style
desired, for example, colonial, traditional, modern, etc. The upper
and lower edges 5, 6 of the panel member may have downturned and
inturned lips 26, 27, respectively, to facilitate attachment of
corner pieces to the overlay molding where needed.
[0020] Extending rearwardly from panel member 25 intermediate the
upper and lower edges 5, 6 is a flange 30 that defines with a lower
portion 31 of the panel member a lower channel 32 for receiving the
cable molding 1. In addition, flange 30 defines with an upper
portion 33 of the panel member an upper channel 34 for receiving
the pre-existing molding 4 attached to the wall structure 8 above
the cable molding 1.
[0021] Both the flange 30 and lower portion 31 of the panel member
may have stepped surfaces or ribs extending toward each other to
provide a snap fit with corresponding mating surfaces on the upper
and lower sides of the cable molding. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, flange 30 has a downwardly stepped inner end 35 that
is mateable with a correspondingly shaped step 36 in the upper side
12 of the cable molding 1 and the lower portion 31 of the panel
member has an upwardly extending rib 37 adjacent its inner end that
is engageable with a step 38 in the lower side 13 of the cable
molding 1 to provide a snap fit of the overlay molding onto the
cable molding.
[0022] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the flange 30' also has a
downwardly stepped inner end 35' that is receivable in a
correspondingly shaped step 36' in the upper side 12' of the cable
molding 1' and the lower portion 31' of the panel member 25' has an
upwardly extending rib 37' adjacent its inner end. However, cable
molding 1' has a slot 40 communicating with a recess or groove 41
in the lower side 42 of the cable molding to provide a snap fit of
the overlay molding 2' onto the cable molding. Also the rib 37' may
include an outwardly facing channel 43 at its uppermost end that
matingly receives a rearwardly facing edge 44 of the cable molding
slot 40. Otherwise, the cable molding 1' and overlay molding 2'
shown in FIG. 3 are substantially the same as the cable molding 1
and overlay molding 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the same
reference numbers followed by a prime symbol (') are used to
designate like parts.
[0023] If need be, the overlay molding 2 or 2' can easily be
removed by pulling the overlay molding off the cable molding 1 or
1' onto which it has been snap fitted, to allow access to either
the pre-existing molding 4 (which may be a cable molding installed
by another cable service provider) or the newly installed cable
molding 1 or 1' by a second cable service provider.
[0024] Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent
alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the
art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. In
particular, with regard to the various functions performed by the
above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a
"means") used to describe such components are intended to
correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which
performs the specified function of the described component (e.g.,
that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally
equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function
of the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.
In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have
been disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature
may be combined with one or more other features as may be desired
and advantageous for any given or particular application.
* * * * *