GB2055924A

GB2055924A - Skirting board assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2055924A
Application number: GB7927936A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MCNAMARA Ltd PETER
Current assignee: MCNAMARA Ltd PETER
Priority date: 1979-08-10
Filing date: 1979-08-10
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: GB2055924B

Abstract

The assembly comprises a channel-section retaining member 1-5, arranged to be secured to a wall, and a skirting board 6, one longitudinal edge 11 of which is received in and covered by a retaining member. Preferably the retaining member is an extrusion e.g. of metal or plastics, and a skirting board is made from timber with a covering 7 of a decorative plastics material. The board may be additionally grooved, 15, to receive surface media e.g. electric wiring. Edge 11 may be fitted with an elastomeric strip. Bottom edge 13 may be chamfered. A groove 8 may be provided to accommodate head of screw 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to skirting board assemblies The present invention relates to skirting board assemblies for fitting to dwellings, shops, hotels and so on.

Conventionally, skirting boards are made from timber and are secured directly to a wall surface by pins, screws or the like which often produce blemishes difficult to cover by the usual making good procedure adopted in the trade.

It is an object of the invention to provide a skirting board assembly which can be affixed to a wall without any fixing means being present on the visible surfaces thereof and be readily replaceable if desired.

According to the invention a skirting board assembly comprises two main parts viz a channelsection retaining member arranged to be secured to a wall and a skirting board, one longitudinal edge of which is arranged to be received in and covered by a portion of the retaining member.

Preferably the retaining member is made by the extrusion process and advantageously is of metal, particularly aluminium or alloy thereof, although it may be of a suitable plastics material.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment thereof by way of example and in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a retaining member, Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a skirting board, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2 fitted to a wall, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly as fitted and showing how a carpet can be laid in proximity thereto.

Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a retaining member which is of channel shape having a long arm 1 and a short arm 2 and a bridging piece 3. The ends of the arms have contact lugs 4 and 5 respectively.

The member is preferably made from an aluminium alloy extrusion, a material susceptible of any desired finish by e.g. anodising or coating.

The member may, however be made from a plastics material extrusion which has the additional advantage of relative cheapness although it is not so strong.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a skirting board made from timber 6 provided with any desired coating 7: this may advantageously be a suitable plastics material such as those known under the Registered Trade Marks MELAMINE or FORMICA which can carry any desired surface design or pattern e.g. a simulated wood-grain finish. Such a material can be bonded to the timber.

On the rear of the timber face is provided a longitudinal groove 8 to accommodate the head of a screw 9 which may stand a little proud of the surface of the retaining member when the latter is screwed to the wail 10 as shown in Fig. 3. The screw holes are made in the long arm below the bottom edge of the short arm to facilitate manipulation of the screwdriver. The groove 8 is made wide and deep enough to locate the lug 4 acting as a distance piece to space the board 6 from the wall.To fit the board to the secured retaining member 1 its upper edge 11 is slipped under the lug 5 and behind the short arm 2 and laid back towards the wall 1 0. To assist in clearing the bottom edge 12 of the board it may be bevelled or chamfered at 1 3. If desired before installation, a bead of mastic or the like may be applied to the wall at 14. The board is then held substantially parallel to the wall, being located by lug 5 and mastic bead 14.

The upper edge 11 of the board 6 may be fitted with an elastomeric strip to give a slightly springy fit for the board behind the lug 5 and also to promote grip. Thus the strip may take the form of any grip-promoting material. It may be applied directly to the timber board 6 as shown, for which purpose the coating 7 stops just short of the upper edge of the board, or it may be applied on top of the coating 7.

If desired, a further longitudinal groove 1 5 may be formed in the board 6 to accommodate service media e.g. electric wiring,enabling surface sockets to be applied at desired places to the skirting board conveniently on the work bench before installation.

It is intended to supply the assembly in modules of standard lengths to enable sections to be fitted removed easily e.g. for replacement. One section can be removed by pulling out and other sections can be slid along toward the gap thus formed. This feature is useful if the sections require to be changed e.g. when decor is altered different designs of board can be employed and it is also useful e.g. when installing carpets as illustrated in Fig. 4. After fitting the module, a carpet gripper strip 1 6 of any conventional kind is laid and fixed, then the carpet underlay 1 7 and finally the carpet 18, the latter being held by the prongs 1 9 in the gripper strip.

It will be seen that the whole assembly can be prefinished before installation and packed for sale in module lengths, making installation easier and more convenient than conventional techniques.

1. A skirting board assembly comprising two main parts viz, a channel-section retaining member arranged to be secured to a wall and a skirting board one longitudinal edge of which is arranged to be received in and covered by a portion of the retaining member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retaining member consists of a length of extruded material.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the material is metal or an alloy of metals.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the skirting board is made from timber

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to skirting board assemblies The present invention relates to skirting board assemblies for fitting to dwellings, shops, hotels and so on. Conventionally, skirting boards are made from timber and are secured directly to a wall surface by pins, screws or the like which often produce blemishes difficult to cover by the usual making good procedure adopted in the trade. It is an object of the invention to provide a skirting board assembly which can be affixed to a wall without any fixing means being present on the visible surfaces thereof and be readily replaceable if desired. According to the invention a skirting board assembly comprises two main parts viz a channelsection retaining member arranged to be secured to a wall and a skirting board, one longitudinal edge of which is arranged to be received in and covered by a portion of the retaining member. Preferably the retaining member is made by the extrusion process and advantageously is of metal, particularly aluminium or alloy thereof, although it may be of a suitable plastics material. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment thereof by way of example and in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a retaining member, Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a skirting board, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2 fitted to a wall, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly as fitted and showing how a carpet can be laid in proximity thereto. Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a retaining member which is of channel shape having a long arm 1 and a short arm 2 and a bridging piece 3. The ends of the arms have contact lugs 4 and 5 respectively. The member is preferably made from an aluminium alloy extrusion, a material susceptible of any desired finish by e.g. anodising or coating. The member may, however be made from a plastics material extrusion which has the additional advantage of relative cheapness although it is not so strong. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a skirting board made from timber 6 provided with any desired coating 7: this may advantageously be a suitable plastics material such as those known under the Registered Trade Marks MELAMINE or FORMICA which can carry any desired surface design or pattern e.g. a simulated wood-grain finish. Such a material can be bonded to the timber. On the rear of the timber face is provided a longitudinal groove 8 to accommodate the head of a screw 9 which may stand a little proud of the surface of the retaining member when the latter is screwed to the wail 10 as shown in Fig. 3. The screw holes are made in the long arm below the bottom edge of the short arm to facilitate manipulation of the screwdriver. The groove 8 is made wide and deep enough to locate the lug 4 acting as a distance piece to space the board 6 from the wall.To fit the board to the secured retaining member 1 its upper edge 11 is slipped under the lug 5 and behind the short arm 2 and laid back towards the wall 1 0. To assist in clearing the bottom edge 12 of the board it may be bevelled or chamfered at 1 3. If desired before installation, a bead of mastic or the like may be applied to the wall at 14. The board is then held substantially parallel to the wall, being located by lug 5 and mastic bead 14. The upper edge 11 of the board 6 may be fitted with an elastomeric strip to give a slightly springy fit for the board behind the lug 5 and also to promote grip. Thus the strip may take the form of any grip-promoting material. It may be applied directly to the timber board 6 as shown, for which purpose the coating 7 stops just short of the upper edge of the board, or it may be applied on top of the coating 7. If desired, a further longitudinal groove 1 5 may be formed in the board 6 to accommodate service media e.g. electric wiring,enabling surface sockets to be applied at desired places to the skirting board conveniently on the work bench before installation. It is intended to supply the assembly in modules of standard lengths to enable sections to be fitted removed easily e.g. for replacement. One section can be removed by pulling out and other sections can be slid along toward the gap thus formed. This feature is useful if the sections require to be changed e.g. when decor is altered different designs of board can be employed and it is also useful e.g. when installing carpets as illustrated in Fig. 4. After fitting the module, a carpet gripper strip 1 6 of any conventional kind is laid and fixed, then the carpet underlay 1 7 and finally the carpet 18, the latter being held by the prongs 1 9 in the gripper strip. It will be seen that the whole assembly can be prefinished before installation and packed for sale in module lengths, making installation easier and more convenient than conventional techniques. CLAIMS

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the skirting board is made from timber having an external coating layer of a plastics material bonded thereto.

5. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the rear face of the skirting board is longitudinally grooved to accommodate the head of screws or the like used to secure the retaining member to a wall.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said rear face carries a second longitudinal groove to accommodate service media such as electric wiring.

7. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower edge of the rear face of the skirting board is bevelled or chamfered to facilitate installation.

8. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the upper edge of the front face of the skirting board carries a strip of grip-promoting material to facilitate retention after installation.

9. A skirting board assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.