AU2004100408A4 - Cornice Corner Member - Google Patents

Description

CORNICE CORNER MEMBER FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to building structures and is, in particular but not limited to a corner member for use with prior art cornices for ceilings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of cornices and their installation in ceilings is well known. The installation of cornices meeting at an internal or external corner of a ceiling is a highly skilled task usually undertaken by qualified tradesmen, typically plasterers.

Corner joins usually involve the shaping of the end of one or both of the cornices with a coping saw or similar tool. When the cornices are joined together as small a gap as possible or no gap at all is intended.

In an alternative installation, prior art corner members can be used. These prior corners merely provide a flat surface for the cornices to abut against. Any gaps due to the movement or shrinkage of materials are usually filled or plastered over.

As all buildings experience some movement over time especially new buildings, which are settling on their foundations, the appearance of cracks or gaps is 2 inevitable and a common occurrence. This is especially common where cornice members are joined at a corner or are abutted against a prior art corner member.

Repairs to such cracks and gaps that appear well after the warranty period on a building has expired is a costly and time consuming activity often involving the reengagement of the skilled tradesmen involved.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved corner member for ceiling cornices that seeks to overcome or ameliorate some of the limitation or the disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention resides in a corner member for cornices, the corner member having corresponding rabbeted portions on opposing sides for the insertion of cornices therein, such that gaps or cracks produced as a result of movement between the cornices and the corner member are hidden from view by the rabbeted portions that overlap the cornices.

Preferably the corner member is either an internal or an external corner member depending on the location and configuration of the rabbeted portions of the corner member.

In a version where the corner member is used with cornices having an ornamental surface or an irregular profile, the rabbeted portions of the corner member can be of a corresponding configuration to conform with the surface or profile of the ornamental cornices.

Preferably the corner member has plain surfaces, however, ornamental patterns can be applied or moulded into the surfaces of the corner member to match or complement the patterns of ornamental cornices where used.

The corner members are preferably made by casting plaster in a latex mould, however, may be made of fibreglass, plastic or even wood.

Preferably the corner members for internal corners are fixed to the corners by means of adhesive or a silicone filler.

Preferably the corner members for external corners are fixed to the corners with by means of steel brackets and screws The corner members can be configured to suit corners of any angle provided the rabbeted portions are also correspondingly angled to allow the insertion of the cornices.

Preferably there can also be a stop member comprising a rabbeted portion on one side with a blank portion on the opposing side adapted for abutting up against a flat wall surface In another aspect, the invention resides in a method of installing ceiling cornices in a building with a corner member as herein disclosed including the steps of 1. installing the internal or external corner member in an internal or external corner respectively, 2. inserting the cornices into the rabbeted portions on the opposing sides of the corner member, and as an optional step, 3. applying an adhesive or filler to secure the cornices in the rabbeted portions, and, 4. applying an ornamental pattern to the corner member if the corner member has not already been manufactured or passed with a pattern where ornamental cornices are being used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention be better understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There is shown a plan view of an array of corner members 10, 20, 30, 40 and of the invention to show the relationship between the different types of corner member with existing cornices.

Corner member 10 is an end corner member for abutting against a wall 12 and ceiling surface 14 having a single rabbeted portion 10Oa for the insertion of a cornice 11.

Corner member 20 is a 45-degree internal corner member according to the invention for the insertion of two cornices 11, 13 into the opposing rabbeted portions 20a, 20b. The rabbeted portions 20a, 20b are also positioned at degrees to one another.

Corner member 30 is a 90-degree external corner member according to the invention. The 90-degree external member allows the insertion of cornices 13, an external right-angle corner, 17.

Corner member 40 is a 90-degree internal corner member with rabbeted portions 40b on opposite sides for the insertion of cornices 15, 19 meeting at an internal right-angle corner 21.

Corner member 50 is an external 45-degree corner member for the insertion of cornices 19, 20 meeting externally at a 45-degree angle. Figures 2C and 2D are perspective views of the corner member 50 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows detail of an end corner member 10 viewed from the rear showing the insertion of the cornice 11 into the rabbeted portion 10a together with a bracket 22 for attaching the cornice member to wall 12. The bracket 22 and screw 23 has a portion, which inserts into a slot 106 in the corner member.

Figures 2A and 2B show front and rear perspective views of the internal corner member 20 of Figure 1. Slots 20c, 2d for brackets (not shown) used for attachment of the corner member to the wall are shown. Rabbeted portion 20a, 2b for the insertion of corner are also shown.

Figure 3A shows an external 90-degree corner member 30 showing the opposed rabbeted portions 30a, 30b for the insertion of cornices. The external corner member is fixed to a wall or a stud by means of the brackets 31, 33 with screws 37. The brackets have a portion 31a, 33b for insertion into slots 30c, the corner member.

Figure 3B shows the corner member 30 of Figure 3A in perspective from the bottom showing the front surface 30f of the corner member and the rabbeted portion 30b and slot 30c for abutting against a wall or stud.

Figure 4 shows an internal 90-degree corner member 40 with opposed rabbeted portions 40a, 40b. There are also shown slots 40c for fixing the corner member to the wall.

Figure 5A and Figure 5B show a perspective and plan view of the assembly of an external right-angle corner member 30f for use with external cornices 13,15. The corner member is fixed by means of stepped brackets 31, 33 screwed 35, 37into the external corner wall lining 300, 301 into a supporting corner stud 302. The corner member has slots 30c, 30d for insertion of the brackets 31, 33. External cornice members 13, 15 are then inserted into the rabbeted portions 30a, and an adhesive or filler to further secure the external cornice member is preferably used to fix the cornice members to the corner member.

Figure 6A and Figure 6B show a plan and a side elevation of an internal right angle corner member 40 for use with cornices 15, 19. The corner member is fixed to the internal studs 400, 401 of the walls by means of brackets 41, 43 which are inserted into slots 40c, 40d in the corner member. The brackets are screwed 45, 47 to the supporting studs. Cornice members 15, 19 are inserted into the rabbeted portions 40a, 40b of the internal 90-degree corner member and are preferably fixed with and adhesive or a suitable filler. The side elevation shown in Figure 6B shows the corner member 40 fixed to the ceiling lining 403 by means of bracket 405 and screw 406. The side elevation of the cornice member fitting into the rabbet 40b is shown in cross-hatching.

Figure7 shows a perspective view of the assembly of a right angle internal corner member 40 wherein the cornices 15, 19 are inserted into the rabbeted portions 40b. Also shown is a slot 40c for the inclusion of a bracket and screw (not shown) for fixing the corner member to the wall,

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (10)

1. A corner member for cornices, the corner member having corresponding rabbeted portions on opposing sides for the insertion of cornices therein, such that gaps or cracks produced as a result of movement between the cornices and the corner member are hidden from view by the rabbeted portions that overlap the cornices.

2. A corner member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the corner member is either an internal or an external corner member depending on the location and configuration of the rabbeted portions of the corner member.

3. The corner member as claimed in claim 1 used with cornices having an ornamental surface or an irregular profile, wherein the rabbeted portions of the corner member are of a corresponding configuration to conform with the surface or profile of the ornamental cornices.

4. The corner member as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein however, ornamental patterns can be applied or moulded into the surfaces of the corner member to match or complement the patterns of ornamental cornices where used.

The corner member as claimed in anyone of the above claims made by casting plaster in a latex mould, or made of fiberglass, plastic or wood.

6. The corner member as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the corner members are fixed to the corners by means of adhesive or a flexible filler. 9

7. The corner member as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the corner members are fixed to the corners with by means of steel brackets and screws

8. The corner member as claimed in any one of the above claims configured to suit corners of an angle wherein the rabbeted portions are correspondingly angled to allow the insertion of cornices.

9. A corner stop member wherein there is a rabbeted portion on one side for the insertion of a cornice, and a blank portion on an opposing side, said blank portion adapted for abutting up against a flat wall surface

10.A method of installing ceiling cornices in a building with a corner member as herein disclosed including the steps of installing the internal or external corner member in an internal or external corner respectively, inserting the cornices into the rabbeted portions on the opposing sides of the corner member, and as an optional step, applying an adhesive or filler to secure the cornices in the rabbeted portions, and, applying an ornamental pattern to the corner member if the corner member has not already been manufactured with a pattern where ornamental cornices are being used.