GB2439075A

GB2439075A - Wall corner trim strip

Info

Publication number: GB2439075A
Application number: GB0611706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Goff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: GB0611706D0

Abstract

A wall corner trim strip 51, 52 comprises a substrate 511, 521 having a first side 515, 526 and a second side 510, 520. At least one engaging portion 512, 522 is formed on the first side of the substrate 511, 521 for engaging with a lining strip 6, 7 for one of an inner wall corner and an outer wall corner. The second side of the substrate has a pattern or colour. The substrate 511, 521 includes a bending portion 514, 524 which allows the substrate to be bent to form two wings at an angle with each other. The bending portion may allow the wings to be bent away from the engaging portion or back on the engaging portion. The engaging portion may include at least one plate extending from the substrate and having teeth on at least one face. The second side of the substrate has a pattern or colour. A method for manufacturing the trim is also disclosed. The pattern or colour may be provided by pressing, printing or bonding a patterned or coloured strip to the substrate. The bending portion and substrate may be provided simultaneously. The substrate may be formed of rigid synthetic resin, the bending portion may be formed of soft or semi-rigid synthetic resin.

Description

Trim for inside and outside corner

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a trim for a wall corner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a trim for an outer wall corner or an inner wall corner.

Background of the invention

Decorative board are widely used in decoration for a house or the like, and a trim is generally used to cover edges of two adjacent decorative boards at an inner or outer wall corner. Thus, the burrs on the edges of the decorative boards and/or the gap between the edges of the decorative boards are covered by the trims, providing an aesthetic wall corner. This allows easy and convenient decoration work, for the workers may ignore the gap between the edges of the decorative boards as well as verticality of the edges of the decorative boards.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a trim for a wall corner comprises a substrate including a first side and a second side. At least one engaging portion is formed on the first side of the substrate and adapted to be engaged with a lining strip for one of an inner wall corner and an outer wall corner. The substrate includes a bending portion allowing the substrate to be bent to form two wings at an angle with each other. The second side of the substrate has a pattern or a colour.

In an example, the at least one engaging portion of the trim includes a plate having two sides, with a plurality of teeth being formed on at least one of the sides of the plate.

In another example, the at least one engaging portion of the trims includes two spaced plates having two mutually facing inner faces, with a plurality of teeth being formed on each of the inner faces of the plates.

Preferably, the bending portion is located on an intermediate portion of the first side of the substrate, allowing the substrate to be bent inwardly or outwardly.

In an example, the bending portion is adjacent to the at least one engaging portion of the trim. In another example, the at least one engaging portion extends outward from the bending portion.

Preferably, the substrate is formed of rigid synthetic resin.

Preferably, the bending is formed of soft synthetic resin or semi-rigid synthetic resin.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a trim for a wall corner comprising the steps of: * Providing a substrate having a first side and a second side, with at least one engaging portion formed on the first side of the substrate; * Providing a pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate; and bending on the substrate to form two wings at an angle relative to each other.

Preferably, the step of providing a pattern or colour includes pressing the second side of the substrate, printing the pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate, or bonding a strip with the pattern or the colour to the second side of the substrate.

Preferably, the method further includes a step of forming a bending portion on the substrate before the step of providing a pattern or colour.

Preferably, extrusion or injecting moulding simultaneously forms the bending portion and the substrate.

Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawin

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional trim for an inner wall corner.

Fig.2 is a sectional view of a conventional trim for an outer wall corner.

Fig.3 is an exploded perspective view of a trim assembly comprising a lining strip and a first example of a trim in accordance with the present invention for an inner wall corner.

Fig.4 is a sectional view of an inner wall corner and the trim assembly comprising a lining strip and a first example of a trim in accordance with the present invention for an outer wall corner.

Fig.6 is a sectional view of an outer wall corner and the trim assembly in fig.5 after mounting.

Fig.7 is an exploded perspective view of a trim assembly comprising a lining strip and a third example of the trim in accordance with the present invention for an outer wall corner.

Fig.8 is a sectional view of an outer wall corner and the trim assembly in fig.7 during mounting.

Fig.9 is a sectional view similar to fig.8, wherein mounting of the trim assembly in fig.8 is finished.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Fig.1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional trim 1 for an inner wall corner. The trim 1 comprises an inner strip 12, an outer strip 13, and a connecting section 11 between the inner strip 12 and the outer strip 13. The inner strip 12, the outer strip 13, and the connection section 11 are integrally formed with one another. The inner 12 is substantially L-shaped and includes two sections that are respectively mounted to and in intimate contact with two adjacent wall faces 31 of an inner wall corner 3. The outer strip 13 is also substantially L-shaped and includes two sections that are respectively parallel to the sections of the inner strip 12, defining two compartments 14 each for receiving an end of an associated decorative board 4.

Fig.2 illustrates a conventional trim 2 for an outer wall corner. The trim 2 comprises an inner strip 22, and outer wall corner. The trim 2 comprises an inner strip 22, an outer strip 23, and a connecting section 21 between the inner strip 22 and the outer strip 23.

The inner strip 22, the outer strip 23 and the connecting section 21 are integrally formed with one another. The inner strip 22 is substantially L-shaped and includes two sections that are respectively mounted to and in intimate contact with two adjacent wall faces 32of an inner wall corner 3. The outer strip 2 is also substantially L-shaped and includes two sections that are respectively parallel to the sections of the inner strip 2, defining two compartments 24 each for receiving an end of an associated decorative board 4.

The trims 1 and 2 are generally made of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride by extrusion or injecting moulding. The trim 1, 2 can be easily nailed to the wall faces 31, 32 and provide two compartments 14, 24 for accommodating the ends of the decorative board 4.

However, the trims 1 and 2 are angled (e.g. L-shaped) and thus detrimental to embossing, colouring by printing and veneering, which are sometimes required for matching the colours of patterns on the associated decorative boards 4. As a result, the exposed sides of the trims 1 and 2 could not always match with the exposed sides of the associated decorative boards 4.

Trims with separated components on an inner or outer corner have been proposed, in which the inner strip is separate from the outer strip, and engaging members are provided on the inner strip and the outer strip to allow engagement there between.

However, the inner strip and the outer strip are also angled and thus have the same disadvantages.

Fig.3 is an exploded perspective view of a trim assembly comprising a lining strip 6 and a first example of a trim 51 in accordance with the present invention for an inner wall corner 3. Fig.4 is a sectional view of an inner wall corner 3 and the trim assembly in fig.3 after mounting.

The trim 51 of this example comprises a substrate 511 having a first side 515 and a second side 510. The substrate 511 includes an engaging portion 512 formed on the first side 515. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 512 includes an engaging plate 516 having two sides, with a plurality of teeth 513 formed on each side of the engaging plate 516. The second side 510 of the substrate 511 includes a pattern or colour matching that of the associated decorative boards 4 (fig.4).

The substrate 511 further includes a bending portion 514 allowing the substrate 511 to be bent along a longitudinal direction of the substrate 511 and forming two wings at an angle with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the bending portion 514 is on an intermediate portion of the first side 515 of the substrate 511, allowing the substrate 511 to be bent inwardly or outwardly. Further, the engaging portion 512 extends outwards from the bending portion 514.

Referring to fig.14, the trim 51 can be used with a lining strip 6 to provide an aesthetic inner wall corner after decoration using decorative boards 4. The lining strip 6 is an angled member having respectively fixed to adjacent wall faces 31 of an inner wall corner 3. An engaging 61 extends from an inner corner of the lining strip 6 for engaging with the engaging portion 512 of the trim 51. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 61 includes two spaced engaging plates 63 that define a coupling groove 62 for receiving the engaging plate 516 of the trim 51. Each engaging plate 63 has a plurality of teeth 64 on an inner face thereof for engaging with the teeth 513 of the engaging plate 516 of the trim 51.

In mounting, the lining strip 6 is nailed to the wall faces 31 of an inner wall corner 3.

Then, the trim is bent at the bending portion 514 to form an angled member having two wings. The engaging plates 516 of the trim 51 is then inserted into the coupling groove 62 of the lining strip 6, with the wings of the trim 51 respectively parallel to the section of the lining strip 6. Two compartments 9 are thus defined between the trim 51 and the lining strip 6 for accommodating the associated ends of the decorative boards 4.

Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of a trim assembly comprising a lining strip 7 and a second example of the trim 52 in accordance with the present invention for an outer wall corner 3. Fig.6 is a sectional view of an outer wall corner 3 and the trim assembly in Fig. 5 after mounting.

The trim 52 of this example comprises a substrate 521 having a first side 526 and a second side 520. The substrate 521 includes an engaging portion 522 formed on the first side 526. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 522 includes two engaging plates 525, with a plurality of teeth 523 formed on an outer side of each engaging plate 525.

The second side of the substrate 521 includes a pattern or colour matching that of the associated decorative boards 4 (Fig.6).

The substrate 521 further includes a bending portion 524 allowing the substrate 521 to be bent along a longitudinal direction of the substrate 521 and forming two wings at an angle with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the bending portion 524 is on an intermediate portion of the first side 526 of the substrate 521, allowing the substrate 521 to be bent inwardly or outwardly.

Referring to Fig. 6, the trim 52 can be used with a lining strip 7 to provide an aesthetic outer wall corner after decoration using decorative boards 4. The lining strip 7 is an angled member having two sections respectively fixed to adjacent wall faces 32 of an outer wall corner 3. An engaging portion 71 extends from an outer corner of the lining strip 7 for engaging with the engaging portion 522 of the trim 52. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 71 of the lining strip 7 includes two spaced engaging plates 73 that define a coupling groove 72 for receiving the engaging portion 522 of the trim 52. Each engaging plate 73 has a plurality of teeth 74 on an inner face thereof for engaging with the teeth 523 of the associated engaging plate 525 of the trim 52.

In mounting, the lining strip 7 is nailed to the wall faces 32 of the outer wall corner 3.

Next, the trim 52 is bent at the bending portion 524 to form an angled member having two wings. The engaging plates 525 of the trim 52 together form the engaging portion 522, which is then inserted into the coupling groove 72 of the lining strip 7, with the wings of the trim 52 respectively parallel to the sections of the lining strip 7. Two compartments 9 are thus defined between the trim 52 and the lining strip 7 for accommodating the associated ends of the decorative boards 4.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a trim assembly comprising a lining strip 8 and a third example of the trim 53 in accordance with the present invention for an outer wall corner. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of an outer wall corner 3 and the trim assembly in Fig. 7 during mounting. Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar in Fig. 8, wherein mounting of the trim assembly in Fig. 8 is finished.

The trim 53 of this example comprises a substrate 531 having a first side 536 and a second side 530. The substrate 531 includes an engaging portion formed on the first side 536. In this embodiment, the engaging portion includes two engaging plates 532, with a plurality of teeth 533 formed on each of an inner side and an outer side of each engaging plate 532. The second side 530 of the substrate 531 includes a pattern or colour matching that of the associated decorative boards 4 (Figs. 8 and 9).

The substrate 531 further includes a bending portion 534 allowing the substrate 531 to be bent along a longitudinal direction of the substrate 531 and forming two wings at an angle with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the bending portion 534 is on an intermediate portion of the first side 536 of the substrate 531, allowing the substrate to be bent inwardly or outwardly.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the trim 53 can be used with a lining strip 8 to provide an aesthetic outer wall corner after decoration using decorative boards 4. The lining strip 8 is an angled member having two sections respectively fixed to adjacent wall faces 32 of an outer wall corner 3. An engaging portion 81 is provided on an outer side of each section of the lining strip 8 for engaging with the engaging plate 532 of the trim 53. In this embodiment, each engaging portion 81 of the lining strip 8 includes a coupling groove 82 for receiving the associated engaging plate 532 of the trim 53. Each coupling groove 82 has a plurality of teeth 84 on an inner face thereof for engaging with the teeth 533 of the associated engaging plate 532 of the trim 53.

In mounting, the lining strip 8 is nailed to the wall faces 32 of the outer wall corner 3.

Then, one of the engaging plates 532 of the trim 53 is engaged with the coupling groove 82 of one of the engaging portions 81 of the lining strip 8, as shown in Fig. 8. Next, the trim 53 is bent at the bending portion 534 to form an angled member having two wings.

The other engaging plate 532 of the trim 53 is inserted into the other coupling groove 82 of the lining strip 8, with the wings of the trim 53 respectively parallel to the sections of the lining strip 8. Two compartments 9 are thus defined between the trim 53 and the lining strip 8 for accommodating ends of associated decorative panels 4.

The trim 53 of this example is particularly useful when the trim has a considerable length.

The end of two adjacent decorative panels 4 at an inner or outer wall corner can be covered by the trim 51, 52, and 53 in accordance with the present invention. Thus, the burrs on the end of the decorative panels 4 and/or the gap between the end of the decorative panels 4 are covered by the trim 51, 52, 53, providing an aesthetic wall corner. This allows easy and convenient decoration work, for the workers may ignore the gap between the ends of the decorative panels 4 as well as verticality of the ends of the decorative panels 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, the substrate 511 of the trim 51 after bending slightly springs back in a direction reverse to the bending direction, which firmly presses the trim 51 against the decorative panels 4, thereby improving the decoration quality.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 9, the bending portion 524, 534 of the trim 52, 53 is preferably located between the engaging plated 525, 532. The substrate 521, 531 of the trim 52, 53 after bending slightly springs back in a direction reverse to the bending direction. Since the bending portion 524, 534 of the trim 52, 53 is located between the engaging plates 525, 532 and since the engaging plates 525, 532 are securely engaged in the coupling groove 72, 82 of the lining strip 7, 8, the springing back action of the substrate 521, 531 of the trim 52, 53 results in an inward force pressing against the decorative panels 4, thereby improving the decoration quality.

The trims 51, 52, and 53 can be mounted before mounting of the decorative panels 4 and after mounting of the lining strips 6, 7 and 8. Alternatively, the trims 51, 52 and 53 can be mounted after mounting of the lining strips 6, 7 and 8 and the decorative panels 4.

A method for manufacturing the trims 51, 52 and 53 in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

A method for manufacturing a trim for a wall corner in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a first side and a second side, with at least one engaging portion formed on the first side of the substrate; providing a pattern or colour on the seconds side of the substrate; and bending the substrate to form two wings at an angle relative to each other.

By manufacturing a trim in accordance with the method of the present invention, the exposed sides of the trim 1 may match with the exposed sides of the associated decorative panels 4 in pattern and/or colour, at the trim 1 is bent after providing a pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate of the trim.

The pattern or colour may be provided by pressing the second side of the substrate, printing the pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate, or bonding a strip with the pattern or colour to the second side of the substrate (i.e. veneering).

The method may further include a step of forming a bending portion on the first side or the second side of the substrate.

The method may further include a step of forming a bending portion on the substrate before the step of providing a pattern or colour.

Preferably, the step of forming is a bending portion and the step of providing a substrate are carried our simultaneously.

Preferably, the substrate is forming a rigid synthetic resin.

Preferably, the bending portion is formed of soft synthetic resin or semi-rigid synthetic resin.

Preferably, the bending portion and the substrate are simultaneously formed by extrusion or injection moulding.

Although, specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention.

Claims

Claims: 1. A trim for a wall corner, the trim comprising: a substrate

including a first side and a second side, at least one engaging portion being formed on the fist side of the substrate and adapted to be engaged with a lining strip for one of an inner wall corner and an outer wall corner, the substrate including a bending portion allowing the substrate to be bent to form two wings at an angle with each other, the second side of the substrate having a pattern or colour.

2. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one engaging portion of the trim includes a plate having two sides, with a plurality of teeth being formed on at least one of the sides of the plate.

3. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim I wherein said at least one engaging portion of the trim includes two spaced plates having two mutually facing inner faces, with a plurality of teeth being formed on each of the inner faces of the plates.

4. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim I wherein the bending portion is located on an intermediate portion of the first side of the substrate, allowing the substrate to be bent inwardly or outwardly.

5. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bending portion is adjacent to the at least one engaging portion of the trim.

6. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim I wherein the at least one engaging portion extends outward from the bending portion.

7. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is formed of rigid synthetic resin.

8. The trim for a wall corner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bending portion is formed of soft synthetic resin or semi-rigid synthetic resin.

9. A method for manufacturing a trim for a wall corner, comprising the steps of: a. providing a substrate having a first side and a second side, with at least one engaging portion formed on the first side of the substrate; b. providing a pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate; c. bending the substrate to form two wings at an angle relative to each other.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of providing a pattern or colour includes pressing the second side of the substrate.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of providing a pattern or colour includes printing said pattern or colour on the second side of the substrate.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of providing a pattern or colour includes bonding a strip with said pattern or colour to second side of the substrate.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a step of forming a bending portion on the substrate before the step of providing a pattern or colour.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the step of forming a bending portion and the step of providing a substrate are carried out simultaneously.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the substrate is formed of rigid synthetic resin.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the bending portion is formed of soft synthetic resin or semi-rigid synthetic resin.

17. The trim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 3 through 9 of the accompanying drawings.

18. The method for manufacturing a trim for a wall corner as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 3 through 9 of the accompanying drawings.