AU2003101009A4 - A skirting board - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: GUENTER QUISKAMP Invention Title: A SKIRTING BOARD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 A SKIRTING BOARD Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a skirting board.

Background of the Invention Various approaches have been made to joining members together such that a first surface of a first member abuts a second surface of a second member in a predetermined correct relative alignment. For example, it is known to join members such as wood pieces together by forming a hole which extends into each wood piece from each abutting surface, inserting a dowel into the holes, and fixing the dowel, for example using glue.

However, it is often difficult and cumbersome to fit and fix the dowels in position.

Also, it is often difficult to achieve accurate alignment of the two members since it is necessary to form the holes accurately relative to each abutting surface. This is particularly so for members such as skirting boards wherein the members are relatively long and the abutting surfaces are relatively small.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a skirting board comprising: a front surface, a rear surface, a first longitudinal end surface, a second opposite longitudinal end surface, and at least one channel portion extending inwardly of and completely across the rear surface, the at least one channel portion being accessible from the first and second longitudinal end surfaces; H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc 3 the arrangement being such that two skirting boards are joinable endwise by inserting a joining device into respective adjacently disposed channel portions of two adjacently disposed skirting boards.

In one arrangement, a plurality of channel portions are provided.

Preferably, two channel portions are provided.

Preferably, the transverse cross sectional shape of the or each channel portion is substantially rectangular.

Preferably, the joining device suitable for use with the skirting board is resiliently deformable so as to restrict disengagement of the joining device from a channel portion during use, and the joining device includes a plurality of projections extending in a substantially transverse direction relative to the body portion. Preferably, the projections include at least one barb which may be of generally saw tooth-like configuration. In one arrangement, the joining device includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture being associated with a projection and being disposed adjacent a projection inwardly of the body portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective front view of two skirting board portions in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective rear view of the two skirting board portions shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc 4 joining device for use with the skirting board portions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 there is shown first and second skirting board portions 10, 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention joined using a joining device 14. The joining device 14 is shown more particularly in Figure 3.

As best seen in Figure 2, each skirting board portion 12 includes two elongate channels 16, 18 for receiving a joining device 14. Each channel 16, 18 extends inwardly of a skirting board portion 10, 12 from a rear surface 19 of the skirting board portion 10, 12 and may be formed by any suitable fabrication method, for example by routing.

However, it will be understood that any number of channels 16, 18 may be provided, the important aspect being that at least one channel is provided for receiving a joining device 14.

As shown in Figure 3, the joining device 14 includes an elongate body portion 20 formed of any suitable material such as plastics material, a plurality of projections, in this example first and second barbs 22, 24, extending in a transverse direction from the body portion 20, and a corresponding plurality of apertures 26, each of which is disposed adjacent a barb 22, 24 inwardly of the body portion 20. It will be understood that providing such apertures enables the barbs 22, 24 to flex inwardly of the body portion to thereby provide the joining device 14 with a degree of resiliency in a direction transverse to the body portion 20. Providing the joining device 14 with a degree of resiliency serves to facilitate insertion of the joining device into the channels and to generate friction between the inserted joining device 14 and the channels 16, 18.

H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc 5 The apertures 26 may also facilitate fixing of the joining device 14 to one or both of the two members by receiving fixing means such as screws. The screws also serve to prevent twisting of the members relative to each other.

The barbs 22, 24 define a saw tooth-like arrangement which serves to assist insertion of the joining device 14 into the channels 16, 18 and to increase resistance to withdrawal of the joining device 14 from the channels 16, 18.

It will be understood that although in this embodiment the required resiliency and friction are achieved using the barbs 22, 24 and apertures 26, it will be understood that these features are not essential and other arrangements are possible, the important aspect being that the joining device 14 is engageable with a suitable open channel formed in the members, and the joining device is formed of a material and configured so as to exhibit a degree of resiliency in the transverse direction suitable for enabling insertion of the joining device into the channels and causing sufficient friction to restrain withdrawal of the joining device from the channels.

In order to join together two skirting board portions 12, the joining device 14 is first inserted into a channel 16, 18 of a first skirting board portion 10 by inserting the joining device endwise and urging the joining device 14 to move longitudinally relative to the first skirting board portion 10. Insertion continues until approximately half of the joining device 14 is engaged in the channel 16. This action causes the barbs 22, 24 to move inwardly of the joining device and the aperture 26 to thereby reduce in size. By virtue of the resiliency of the joining device 14, the barbs 22, 24 are urged into contact with sides of the respective channel to thereby provide a degree of friction sufficient to restrict withdrawal of the joining H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc 6 device from the channel. Optionally, a fixing device such as a screw may be inserted through an aperture 26 and into the first skirting board portion 10 with which the joining device 14 is connected. This serves to ensure that the joining device 14 is securely fixed relative to the first skirting board portion 10 prior to insertion of the joining device 14 into a second skirting board portion 12.

The joining device 14 is then engaged with the second skirting board portion 12 by inserting the joining device 14 endwise into the channel 16 of the second skirting board portion 12 and urging the joining device 14 to move longitudinally of the channel 16 until the second skirting board portion 12 abuts the first skirting board portion Optionally, fixing means such as a screw may be inserted through an aperture 26 and into the second skirting board portion 12 so as to securely fix the joining device 14 relative to the second skirting board portion 12. Glue may also be applied between the abutting surfaces of the first and second skirting board portions 10, 12. To facilitate a clear join free of glue on outward facing surfaces of the skirting board portions 10,12, the abutting surfaces of the skirting board portions 10, 12 may be formed such that each abutting surface tapers slightly inwardly from a front facing surface of the skirting board portion to a rear facing surface of the skirting board portion.

It will be appreciated that although the present invention has been described in relation to a joining device and channels of generally rectangular shape, other configurations of joining device and channels are possible, the important aspect being that the joining device is engageable with a channel and is capable of generating a frictional force when engaged which resists withdrawal of the joining device from the channel.

It will also be appreciated that by joining two members H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc 7 together using the joining device in accordance with the present invention, an important advantage is obtained which arises as a result of the properties of the type of glue used to fix together the two members. These properties are such that as the glue dries, a force is exerted by the glue which tends to draw the joined surfaces together.

Therefore, by applying glue between abutting surfaces of the members being joined using the present joining device, the force exerted by the glue can be utilised to bring the two members together as close as possible. This occurs because the joining device is longitudinally movable relative to the channel portions. With conventional joining techniques using a dowel, this effect is not achieved because glue is applied to both the dowel and the abutting surfaces.

It will also be appreciated that other configurations of joining device are possible instead of elongate. For example, the joining device may be of a generally L-shape configuration. Such an alternative joining device may be used to join two members in a mitre-type join. An advantageous effect of using such an L-shaped joining member is that it ensures that the mitre join has the desired angle.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (5)

1. A skirting board comprising: a front surface, a rear surface, a first longitudinal end surface, a second opposite longitudinal end surface, and at least one channel portion extending inwardly of and completely across the rear surface, the at least one channel portion being accessible from the first and second longitudinal end surfaces; the arrangement being such that two skirting boards are joinable endwise by inserting a joining device into the respective adjacently disposed channel portions of two adjacently disposed skirting boards.

2. A skirting board as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of channel portions are provided.

3. A skirting board as claimed in claim 2, wherein two channel portions are provided.

4. A skirting board as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a transverse cross sectional shape of the channel is substantially rectangular.

5. A skirting board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. Dated this 11th day of December 2003 GUENTER QUISKAMP By His Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\jnelson\keep\speci\A SKIRTING BOARD DIV P51626.doc