AU2010201523A1

AU2010201523A1 - A Floor Trim System

Info

Publication number: AU2010201523A1
Application number: AU2010201523A
Authority: AU
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-16
Filing date: 2010-04-16
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant: Richard Pang Invention Title: A Floor Trim System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me: -2 A FLOOR TRIM SYSTEM Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a floor trim system. Background of the Invention Floor trim systems are often used to protect or finish the edge of a floor 10 covering, or enable a transition between one floor covering and another. Floor trim systems are also used to provide a neat finish of a flooring material against skirting about a perimeter of a room. One type of known floor trim comprises an elongate strip of aluminium provided 15 with a plurality of holes along its length and inboard of edges of the strip. The strip may be used to overlie the respective adjacent edges of two floor coverings. For example consider a building with a passage way and a room leading from the passage way. The passage way may have for example a wooden floor covering while the room a carpet floor covering. The elongate 20 strip is laid to overlie adjacent edges of the wooden carpet floor coverings and is fastened to the underlying surface by screws or other mechanical fasteners which pass through the holes in the elongate strip. This provides both protection to the edges of the floor covering, while also minimising the risk of people tripping over or injuring their feet on otherwise exposed edges of the two 25 floor coverings. Other types of floor trim systems are known which comprise for example two interlocking strips, namely a base strip and a cover strip. The base strip is fastened to the ground between the edges of adjacent floor coverings and the 30 cover strip is engaged with the base strip and is dimensioned to overlie edges of the adjacent floor coverings. 2252142_1 (GHMattes) 16104/10 -3 Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention provides a floor trim system comprising a first elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel first ribs and 5 a second elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel second ribs, wherein the first and second elongate members are releasably interlockable with each other by engagement of at least one of the first ribs with at least one of the second ribs, and wherein at least some of the first ribs have an arcuate transverse cross-sectional profile. 10 In one embodiment each of the first ribs has a width D1 and each of the second ribs has a width D2, wherein D1 0 D2. The second ribs may have an arcuate or rounded profile. 15 In addition or alternately, at least some of the second ribs may have a profile comprising an acute angled edge portion. The first elongate member may comprise a first engaging portion, wherein the 20 first ribs are provided on two surfaces of the first engaging portion; and the second elongate member may comprise a second engaging portion, wherein the second ribs are provided on two surfaces of the second engaging portion; wherein the first and second elongate members are interlocked by inserting one 25 of the first and second engaging portions into the other of the first and second engaging portions wherein the first ribs engage the second ribs. The first engaging portion may comprise a channel having two substantially parallel spaced walls wherein the two surfaces on which the first ribs are 30 provided comprise either respective inwardly facing surfaces of the two parallel spaced apart walls, or respective outwardly facing surfaces of the two parallel spaced apart walls. The second engaging portion may be configured to fit into the first engaging 35 portion, the second engaging portion having two oppositely facing walls wherein the two surfaces on which the second ribs are provided comprise respective surfaces of the opposite facing walls. 2252142_i (GHMatters) 16/04/10 -4 The second engaging portion may comprise a second channel having two parallel spaced apart walls, wherein the respective surfaces of the opposite facing walls comprise respective surfaces of the walls of the second channel 5 that face outwardly of the second channel. A second aspect of the invention provides a floor trim system comprising a first elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel first ribs and a second elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel 10 second ribs, wherein the first and second elongate members are releasably interlockable with each other by engagement of at least one of the first ribs with at least one of the second ribs, and wherein each of the first ribs has a width D1 and each of the second ribs has a width D2 wherein D1 does not equal D2. 15 Each of the first ribs may have an arcuate profile. Each of the second ribs may have an arcuate profile. Alternately or in addition, at least some of second ribs may have a profile 20 comprising an acuate angled edge portion. The first elongate member and the second elongate member may be made from a metal or a metallic alloy, such as aluminium. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 30 Figure 1 is a section view of an embodiment of a floor trim system in a disengaged state; Figure 2 is a section view of the floor trim system shown in Figure 1 when in use; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a first elongate member of the floor trim system 35 shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a second elongate member the floor trim system shown in Figures 1 and 2; 22521421 (GHMaters) 16/04/10 -5 Figure 5 is a section view of a second embodiment of the floor trim system; Figure 6 is a section view of a third embodiment of the floor trim system; and Figure 7 is a section view of a fourth embodiment of the floor trim system. 5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular Figures 1 - 4, an embodiment of a floor trim system 10 comprises a first elongate member constituting a base 12 and a second elongate member constituting a cover 14 10 which are releasably interlockable with each other. The first elongate member or base 12 is provided with a plurality of first ribs 16 while the second elongate member or cover 14 is provided with a plurality of second ribs 18. In this particular embodiment, the first ribs 16 have an arcuate or rounded profile. The base 12 and cover 14 releasably interlock with each other by engagement of at 15 least one of the first ribs 16 with at least one of the second ribs 18 as shown in Figure 2. Looking more closely at the embodiment of the system 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that while the first ribs 16 have an arcuate or rounded 20 profile, the second ribs 18 have a profile comprising a substantially acute angled edge portion 20. Thus the second ribs 18 have a tooth or a saw tooth like profile. Further, with particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that each of the first ribs 16 has a width corresponding to a dimension D1 which is not equal to, and in this example is smaller than, a width of each of the 25 second ribs 18 corresponding to a dimension D2. The base 12 comprises a first engaging portion 22 on which the first ribs 16 are formed. Similarly, the cover 14 comprises a second engaging portion 24 on which the second ribs 18 are formed. 30 The first engaging portion 22 is in the form of a channel comprising two substantially parallel spaced apart walls 26. The first ribs 16 are formed on opposite inwardly facing surfaces of the walls 26 and thus are disposed inside the channel. The first ribs 16 on the opposite walls 26 are in horizontal 35 alignment with each other in that the first ribs 16 lie on successive parallel horizontal planes. 2252142_1 (GHMatters) 16/04/10 -6 The second engaging portion 24 is also in this embodiment in the form of a channel having a pair of.substantially parallel spaced apart walls 28. However, the second ribs 18 are formed on outwardly facing surfaces of the walls 28. 5 The base 12 and cover 14 are interlocked by insertion of the second portion 24 into the first portion 22 so that one or more of the first ribs 16 engage with one or more of the ribs 18. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the channel or first engaging portion 22 has 10 a minimum transverse width W1 while the second engaging portion 24 has a maximum transverse exterior width W2. In order to provide interlocking between the base 12 and the cover 14, the dimension W2 must be greater than the dimension W1. Thus in order to facilitate interlocking of the base 12 and cover 14 together when the engaging portion 24 is inserted into the channel 22, 15 the base 12 and/or the cover 14 are configured such that the walls 26 and/or the walls 28 are capable of flexing. The edges 20 "click" past each of the ribs 16 during this insertion. This corresponds with the edges 20 of the second ribs 18 snapping into successive troughs 30 between adjacent first ribs 16 as the cover 14 is pushed into the base 12. Providing the first ribs 16 with an arcuate 20 or curved profile enables a firm and stable interlocking to occur between the base 12 and cover 14 while also allowing relatively easy decoupling by either hand or by using a small tool such as a screw driver to apply a force in a direction to lift the cover 14 away from the base 12. As this occurs, the edges 20 of the second ribs 18 are able to slide over the first ribs 16 accompanied by 25 a successive flexing outward of the walls 26 and/or a flexing inward of the walls 28. It will be understood that this arrangement is different to systems known hitherto that may incorporate ribs having saw tooth type profiles on both the 30 cover and base. In such arrangements, it is in practice impossible to separate the two members without stripping or damaging the ribs on one or both of the base and cover to the extent that they cannot be effectively reused. The releasable interlocking ability of the floor trim system 10 is further 35 enhanced by dimensioning the first and second ribs 16 and 18 so that D1 does not equal D2. As a consequence of this difference in the widths of the ribs, not all first ribs 16 engage with a second rib 18. That is, not all of the second ribs 2252142_1 (GHMatters) 16/04/10 -7 18 have their respective edges 20 engaged in a trough 30. Depending on the specific relationship between the dimensions D1 and D2 it may well be for example that only one or at most two pairs of ribs 18 on opposite walls 28 have their respective edges 20 seated in respective troughs 30. 5 In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 - 4, the cover 14 comprises a strip 32 which extends laterally to both sides of the engaging portion 24. Thus, during use the strip 32 can overlie adjacent flooring substrates 34 and 36 which are located on sides of the base 12. Additionally, in this embodiment the base 12 is 10 provided with first ribs 16 of an arcuate or rounded profile while the cover 14 is provided with second ribs 18 having a profile comprising an acute angled edge portion. However, alternate embodiments of the floor trim system may have ribs of alternate configuration. For example, as shown in Figure 5, a floor trim system 10A is shown wherein the configuration of the first and second ribs 16 15 and 18 have been reversed so that the base 12 is provided with first ribs 16 having a profile comprising an acute angled edge portion while the cover 14 is provided with second ribs 18 having an arcuate or rounded profile. Figure 6 depicts a further embodiment of a floor trim system 1OB wherein the 20 configuration of the engaging portions is reversed so that the engaging portion 22 of the base 12 is inserted into or fits inside the engaging portion 24 of the cover 14. In this embodiment, the first ribs 16 are formed with a profile comprising an acute angled edge portion, while the second ribs 18 have an arcuate or curved profile. In yet a further alternate arrangement (which is not 25 shown), the first ribs 16 of Figure 6 can be formed with an arcuate or rounded profiles while the ribs 18 in Figure 6 can be formed with acute angled edge portions. Figure 7 depicts a further embodiment of a floor trim system 1 OC in which both 30 of the first and second ribs 16 and 18 are formed with an arcuate or rounded profile. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the first and second ribs 16 and 18 are formed with the same transverse dimension D1. It will be well understood by those skilled in the art that the shape and 35 configuration of the strip 32 on the cover 14 may vary depending on the specific application. For example, Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the floor trim system 10D wherein the strip 32 extends laterally to one side of the engaging 2252142_1 (GHMatters) 16/04/10 -8 portion 24 by a greater distance than its lateral extension to an opposite side of the engaging portion 24. Figure 8 depicts yet a further embodiment of the floor trim system 1 OE wherein 5 the strip 32 has a curved ramp like profile. It is envisaged that the base 12 and cover 14 may be made from a metal or metallic alloy. One material that may be particularly well suited for manufacture of the members 12 and 14 is aluminium. 10 Now that embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, both of the engaging portions 22 and 24 are 15 depicted as comprising two parallel spaced apart walls forming respective channels. However, the narrower of the engaging portions 22 and 24 may be formed as a single solid strip with the ribs formed on outwardly facing surfaces of the strip. Further, the base 12 is depicted as comprising a substantially planar strip 38 extending perpendicular to the walls 26 and to one side of the 20 engaging portion 22. However alternate configurations are possible. For example, the base 12 may be formed without the strip 38. Alternately, the strip 38 may extend to both sides of the engaging portion 22. All such variations and modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the 25 present inventions the nature of which is to be determined from the above description and the appended claims. 2252142_1 (GHMatter) 16104/10

Claims

1. A floor trim system comprising a first elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel first ribs and a second elongate member 5 provided with a plurality of substantially parallel second ribs, wherein the first and second elongate members are releasably interlockable with each other by engagement of at least one of the first ribs with at least one of the second ribs, and wherein at least some of the first ribs have an arcuate transverse cross sectional profile. 10

2. The floor trim system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first ribs has a width D1 and each of the second ribs has a width D2, wherein D1 0 D2.

3. The floor trim system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some of 15 the second ribs have an arcuate or rounded profile.

4. The floor trim system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some of the second ribs have a profile comprising an acute angled edge portion. 20

5. The floor trim system according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the first elongate member comprises a first engaging portion, the first ribs being provided on two surfaces of the first engaging portion, and the second elongate member comprises a second engaging portion, the second ribs being provided on two surfaces of the second engaging portion; 25 wherein the first and second elongate members are interlocked by inserting one of the first and second engaging portions into the other of the first and second engaging portions such that the first ribs engage the second ribs.

6. The floor trim system according to claim 5, wherein the first engaging 30 portion comprises a channel having two substantially parallel spaced walls, and wherein the two surfaces on which the first ribs are provided comprise either respective inwardly facing surfaces of the two parallel spaced apart walls, or respective outwardly facing surfaces of the two parallel spaced apart walls. 35

7. The floor trim system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second engaging portion is configured to fit into the first engaging portion, the second engaging portion having two oppositely facing walls, and the two surfaces on 2252142_1 (GHMatler) 16/04/10 -10 which the second ribs are provided comprising respective surfaces of the opposite facing walls.

8. The floor trim system according to claim 7, wherein the second engaging 5 portion comprises a second channel having two parallel spaced apart walls, and the respective surfaces of the opposite facing walls comprising respective surfaces of the walls of the second channel that face outwardly of the second channel. 10

9. A floor trim system comprising a first elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel first ribs and a second elongate member provided with a plurality of substantially parallel second ribs, wherein the first and second elongate members are releasably interlockable with each other by engagement of at least one of the first ribs with at least one of the second ribs, 15 and wherein each of the first ribs has a width D1 and each of the second ribs has a width D2 wherein D1 does not equal D2.

10. The floor trim system according to claim 9, wherein the first ribs have an arcuate profile. 20

11. The floor trim system according to claim 10, wherein the second ribs have an arcuate profile.

12. The floor trim system according to claim 10, wherein each second rib has 25 a profile comprising an acuate angled edge portion.

13. The floor trim system according to any one of claims 1 - 12, wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member are made from a metal or a metallic alloy. 30

14. A floor trim system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. 2252142_1 (GHMatters) 16/04/10