GB2441217A

GB2441217A - Trim assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2441217A
Application number: GB0716301A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bryan Alexander Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-21
Filing date: 2007-08-21
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Also published as: US20090013636A1; CA2598150A1; GB0616553D0; GB0716301D0

Abstract

Plastic spline-clips 60 are used to attach a trim assembly 78 to a door/window frame and to attach a split jamb 70 72 to the wall. The spline-clips 60 have two splines, which engage slots in the wood trim 78, forming a dovetail connection between the trim 78 and the splines. A web 107 joins the two splines and is fastened to the wall (Fig 1). Also disclosed is a corner-cover, which masks the ends of converging baseboards and other trim, on both inside corners and outside corners. The corner-cover is profiled to fit the profile of the baseboard. Also disclosed is a system for attaching skirting trim 165, e.g baseboards, chair rails, to a wall. This includes a hook-clip (Fig 22a), the hook of which engages a slot cut in the trim 165. The hook is biased and thus the top of the trim is pressed against the wall.

Description

Title: SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING WOOD TRIM [0011 This invention relates Lo

trim, especially wood Lrim, of the k nd as used in houses for finishing the edges and frames of doors and windows, chair rails, baseboards or skirting-boards, framing around panelling, and Lhe like.

[0021 Examples will now be described with reterence to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l is a cross-secLional plan view of parL of an opening in a wall, of a doorframe secured into that opening, and of a wood trim attachment system for use therewiLh.

Fig.2 is the same view as Fig.l, showing another trim attachment sys tern.

Fig.3 is a cross-secLional plan view of a whole doorframe, and opening, having the trim aLtachment system of Fig.2, shown during a sLage of assembly.

Fig.4 is the same view as Fig.3, but shows an alternative manner of assembly.

Fig.5 is Lhe same view as Figs.3,4 and shows the completed assembly.

Fig.6 is a similar view to Fig.5, but shows an another trim aLtachmenL system.

Fig.7 is a view like Fig.6, but shows Lhe componenLs partly assembled.

Fig.7a is a partly-exploded view of the components of the Lrim attachment system of Fig.5.

Fig.8 is a view like Fig.7a of anoLher trim atLachment system.

Fig.9 is pictorial view of a jamb-piece component of the system of Fig.8, shown with spline-clip components attached.

Fig.lO is a view like Fig.8 of another trim attachment system.

Fig.ll is a view of a corner of a room, in which two converging baseboards have been attached to the walls.

Fig.l2 is the same view as Fig.ll, except thaL a cover has been placed over the convergence of the baseboards.

Fig.l3 is the same view of the cover itself.

Fig.14 is a view of the reverse or back side of the cover.

Fig.15 is a plan view of the cover.

Fig.16 is a side elevation of the cover.

Fig.16a is a side elevation of part of another cover.

Fiq.17 is a plan view of two baseboards converging on a corner of a room.

Fig.18 is Lhe same view as Fig.17, excepL thaL a corner-cover has been placed ovcr the convergence of the baseboards.

Fig.19 is a side elevation of another corner-cover, placed over baseboards in a corner of a room.

Fig.19a is a close-up of an area of Fig.19.

Fig.20 is a view of an external corner of a room, in which a corner-cover has been placed over two converging baseboards.

Fig.2l is a sectioned elevation of the foot of a wall and the floor of a house, showing a baseboard aLLached to the wall by a hook-clip system.

Fig.22 is a close-up of part of Lhe view of Fig 1.

Fig.22a is Lhe same view as Fig 22 of a component of the system.

Fig.22b is the same view as Fig 22 of another component of the system.

Fig.23 is a similar view to Fig.21 of another hook-clip sysLem.

Fig.24 is a pictorial view of hook-clips being installed on a wall.

Fig.25 is an elevaLion of a chair rail aLLached Lo a wall using a hook-clip system.

Fig.26 is the same view as Fig.12, but shows a corner-cover in use wiLh baseboards LhaL have been aLLached by means of the system shown in Fig.2l.

[003] The apparaLuses and procedures shown in Lhe accompanying drawings and described below are examples. The scope of the patent protection sought is defined by the accompanying claims, and not necessarily by specific features of the examples.

[0041 In this description, some of the components in the drawings have been given numerals with letter suffixes. The same numeral without the suffix is used to indicate the component generically.

[005] Fig.l shows a basic installation, which makes use of some of the innovaLions described herein.

[006] A door opening in a wall 21 includes a conventional upright two-by-four doorframe stud 23, to which sections of conventional drywall or plasLerboard 25 are attached. A door jamb 27 fits across LI-ic width eL Lhe wall. Apart from its function as a component of the doorway, the jamb 2/ serves to hide the unsightly stud 23, and to hide the cut ends of the plasterboards 25.

[007] The jamb 2/ has a surface 29 which, being visible, should be finished in a suiLable manner, using e.g stain, varnish, painL, etc. The jamb 27 may be of a solid decorative wood, such as oak, or may be e.g fibre board, or solid particle board, to which a decorative veneer might be applied at least to the visible surface 29. The system as described herein applies when the jamb is made from oLher wood-based materials, or even from (e.g recycled) plastic materials. It is also known to make door jambs from bent/folded sheeL metal, and Lhe sysLem is applicable in LhaL case Loo, provided provision can be made for attaching the clip to the jamb.

[008] The jamb 27 is supported and secured with respect to the wall 21 by means of spline-clips 30i,30o (collectively 30). The spline-clips 30 are formed as plastic extrusions, having an extruded profile as shown in Fig.l. The profile of Lhe spline-clip includes a web 32, which straddles across the gap between the edge 34 of the jamb 27 and Lhe surface of Lhe plasterboard 25 of Lhe wall 21. A lug 36 protrudes from Lhe web 32, and serves as a locaLiori stop, enabling Lhe spline-clip 30 to be positioned correcLly with respect to the jamb 27. A jamb-staple 38 is used to attach the spline-clip immovably to the jamb 27. A wall-staple 40 is used, likewise, to attach the spline-clip 30 to the wall 21. WIth Lhe inside and outside spline-clips 301,30o bridging their respective gaps between the jamb 2/ and the wall 21, it will be understood that the inside and outside spline-clips 30i,30o, when stapled in place, serve to hold the jamb 2/ immovably with respect to the wall 21.

[009] To install the assembly as shown in Fig.l, the following sLeps can be performed. First, Lhe door 41 is fixed inLo the assembled doorframe of which Lhe jamb 27 is a component. (Often, the door, when purchased, is already factory-assembled into the doorframe.) The door and doorframe sub-assembly is then presented inLo Lhe opening in Lhe wall 21. The ouLside spline-clips 30o are stapled to the jamb 27, but are not yet stapled to the wall 21. The outside spline-clips 30o are spaced one every forty or fifty cm, for example, over the heights of both the left and right sides of the door, and across Lhe lintel. (Rerein, the fasLeners are described as staples, and that is the preferred choice. However, nails etc, and even screws, could be used.) [0010] when all Lhe ouLside spline-clips 30o are properly stapled to the jamb 27, now the installer makes a final check as Lo Lhe positions of Lhe door jambs and lintel. When Lhey are square and Lrue, wiLhin the door opening, now the wall staples 40 can be applied. Now, the doorframe stands secured, square and true, at least as to its outside, to the wall 21. It is usually possible for a reasonably skilled insLaller Lo perform Lhe task, without assistance, of securing a door and doorframe into the wall opening, with a perfectly accepLable degree of accuracy, in jusL a minute or two.

[0011] It cannot be ruled out that an installer might leave the jambs not quite vertical, or otherwise not perform the door installation properly --but, so long as the insLaller is noL over-casual, and has the right tools to do the job, the installer can leave every door they install squaro and true, ropoatably, in very short order, by the use of the spline-clips in the manner as described.

[00121 The same steps can now be performed with respect to the other side (the inside) of the door. That is to say, the inside spline-clips 30i are now stapled to the inside edge 34i of the jamb 27. Again, the lug 36 is used to position the clip correctly with respect to the jamb. With all the spline-clips 30 attached to the jamb 27, and wiLh Lhe insLaller checking once again, now from the inside, LhaL everyLhing is square and Lrue, Lhe spline-clips 30i can be stapled to the wall.

[00131 Now, as shown in Fig.1, Lhe jamb 27 is secured to the wall 21, both inside and outside, by means of the stapled splinc-clips 30, and is held in place very rigidly and securely --as of course it is required to be, since the jamb 27 provides all the supporL for Lhe door 41 and its operational movements.

[0014] The task of squaring up Lhe door and doorframe wiLhin Lhe door opening in the wall is thus accomplished very quickly and easily. And Lhe installer, wiLh a minimum of skill and aLtention, has been able Lo ensure LhaL the nstallaLion is square and true.

[0015] The insLaller preferably should pre-atLach Lhe outside spline-clips 300 to the jamb 27, but should not pre-attach the inside splinc-clips 30 (or vice versa, if the door is to be ins Lalleci from the inside) . IL would be impossible (or aL least very awkward) to assemble the door and frame into the opening in the wall if both the inside and the outside spline-clips were pre-attached.

[0016] Now, wiLh Lhe installation of the spline-clips 30 finished, the installer can turn to assembling the wood trim. The trim 43 Is formed wiLh a profile as shown in Fig.l, having Lwo sloping slots, and the middle cut away to accommodate the web of the clip. As shown in respect of the inside of the door, in Fig.l, the jamb-spline-slot 43 of the wood trim is placed over the jamb-spline 4/ of the spline-clip 30.

[0017] At the other end of the wood trim 43, the wall-spline 49 of the spline-clip 30 is snagged on the entry to the wall-spline slot 50 of the wood trim 43. Now, if the installer pushes the wood trim 43 towards the wall 21, the entry-chamfer S2 on the end of the wall-spline 49 directs the wall-spline 49 to bend (leftwards, in Fig.l), Lhereby enabling Lhe wall-spline 49 to enter Lhe wall-spline-slot 50. Thus, installaLion of the wood trim is a simple two-step operation for the installer; first, the wood trim is positioned so the jamb-spline 47 is entered into the jambspline-slot 45; then, the insLaller simply taps or strikes the wood trim 43 towards Lhe wall, by hand, whereby the wall-spline 49 enters the wall-spline-slot 50.

[00181 It will be understood that the two jamb pieces and the lintel that make up the doorframe are manufactured in-factory, and are accurately cuL and finished. (The botLom ends of Lhe left and right jambs might have to be trimmed by the installer in some cases, but that is a task that requires very little skill and attention from the installer.) Equally, the wood trim pieces 43 are factory-cut and finished, including the mitres thereof, whereby again no craft-Lype skill is required on the part of Lhe installer.

[0019] It will be understood also Lhat no nails or other fasteners are required in respect of Lhe wood trim pieces themselves. The wood trim can be quickly and accurately installed by a non-skilled person. There is no need for patching or other remediation, such as filling, sanding, painting, etc, of any kind, to be done after installation. All required finishing of the trim can be done in-factory --although it is not ruled out, of course, that painting etc might be done after installation. It will also be noted that the trim can be removed, in the future, if desired, and then re-fitted, all by hand, in order to facilitate the task of painting, for example, or applying wallpaper to, the walls.

[0020] Many home-owners want to make use of a decorative hardwood, not only for the trim 43, but also for the jambs 27 and lintel. To cater for such cusLomers, the jamb and lintels, together with the required six pieces of wood trim 43 (two upright-pieces and one cross-piece, both inside and outside the door) and the associated spline-clips 30, may be done up for sale as a kit. It is also helpful for customers to be able to purchase a set of the three pieces of wood Lrirn, and an appropriate set of spline-clips, as required to Lrim one side of a door. The pieces again are facLory-made and finished (including mitred corners).

[0021] The door iLself might or might noL be included in a kiL.

It is customary for doors to be manufactured to very tight tolerances as to dimensions, squareness, and so on. This fact means that it is possible to sell the kits containing the janibs, trim, eLc, separaLely from the doors, knowing Lhat Lhe kit will be bound Lo accuraLely fit any door of the nominal size for which IL has been prepared. Thus, Lhe designer really can arrange for Lhe wood trim pieces, in the kit, to be mitred in-factory, whereby the mitres can be done perfectly accuraLely, and compleLely finished, before being added to the kiL. This leaves Lhe installer with Lhe task of simply pressing Lhe wood trim pieces into place, and the job is finished.

[0022] In the above-described cases, the system of spline-clips and trim can in fact be used with already existing doors and jambs.

Thus, a kiL comprising just the (pre-miLred and pre-finished) wood trim, without the jambs and lintel, may be offered for sale.

[0023] The following variant requires that the spline-clips be secured to Lhe edges of the jamb using a groove in the jamb. As such, the following variant system canneL he used with jambs that have not been suitably grooved.

[0024] Fig.2 shows another finished insLallation. Here, the splinc-clip 60 has a barbed lug 61, which enters the prepared groove 63 in the edge 65 of the jamb 67. The groove 63 is a tight fit over the barbed lug 61, whereby no staples or other fasteners are needed in order to secure the spline-clip 60 to the jamb 67.

[0025] Now, the installer lines up the door and doorframe with the opening in the wall, and, when all is square and true, staples the spline-clips 60 to the wall in the manner as previously described with reference to Fig.l. It will be appreciated that., when Lhe jamb 67 is secured by several of the spline-clips 60, the jamb 67 is now held with respecL to the wall 21 no less securely and rigid'y in Fig.2 than was the case in Fig.l.

[0026] Figs.3,4,5 show Lhe preliminary sLages of Lhe assembly.

In Fig.3, thc left and right outside splinc-clips 6Ool,6Oor havc been inserted into the respective grooves 63 in the edges 6 of the jambs 67, and now the outside spline-clips 6Ool,6Oor are being stapled Lo the wall. The lefL and righL inside spline-clips 6Oil,6Oir have not been inserLed into their respective grooves during this phase, Lo enable the door and doorframe sub-assembly to be inserted into the opening, from the outside. Once the outside clips 60o have been stapled to the wall, now Lhe inside clips 60i can be placed and Lapped into Lheir respective grooves 63, and stapled Lo the wall, in turn.

[0027] Fig.4 shows a somewhat different manner of inserting the door and doorframc sub-assembly into the opening. here, the inside and ouLside spline-clips 6Ooh,6Oih at the hinge end of Lhe door are inserted first. Now, it is a little more awkward to manoeuvre the door and doorframe sub-assembly inLo Lhe opening, buL it usually can be done. Once the inside and ouLside hinge end clips 6Ooh,6Oih have been sLapled to Lhe wall, now Lhe inside and outside clips at Lhe handle end of the door can be inserLed into their grooves, and stapled, in turn, to the wall.

[0028] Fig.5 shows the finished assembly, arising from boLh the Fig.3 and the Fig.4 cases.

[0029] Whether the installer chooses to go with (preferred) Fig.3 or the Fig.4 installation sequence, the point is that the system of spline-clips as described is versatile enough Lo cope with both, and still yield an installation in which the door is secured perfectly adequately from the strength and rigidity standpoints, and perfectly adequately also from the accuracy of squareness standpoint, and yet the installation still requires only a minimal degree of skill and attenLion, and time, from the installer. This is even more Lrue of Lhe barbed lug 61 and groove 63 arrangement of Figs.3,4,5 than of the plain location lug 36 arrangement of Fig.l.

[0030] Once boLh Lhe inside and Lhe outside spline-clips are stapled to thc wall, there is no tendency for the barbed lugs 61 to work loose from the grooves 63, even over many years of service. Of course, if the door were to be abused, e.g by repeated heavy slamming, no doubL some failure or parLial failure might occur --but Lhat is true of any door installaLion.

[0031] It is traditional for installers to insert tapered shims beLween the door jamb and Lhe wall sLud, whereby the jamb can be held solidly and securely with respect to the wall. An aspect of Lhe insLallers tradiLional skill has been the arL of selecLing and placing suitable shims, wiLhin the very short Lime which is all that can be economically allocated for the task. If the installers have not got the shims quite right, in that allocated time, they tend to move on anyway to the nexL door insLallaLion, and poor door jamb shimming is all too common a fault in the building trade.

[0032] IL will be undersLood that the system of spline-clips, as described herein, can do away with the need for shims and shimming, in many cases, and still Lhe door jamb is secured to Lhe wall jusL as, if not more, securely and rigidly than when shims were used.

There is a shorter Lime per insLallaLion, and Lhe installaLions are more nearly pertecL, more often. In some jurisdictions, the provision of shims in door jambs is a code requirement, and in that case, the installer should of course provide them.

[00331 The spline-clips system, as described, does not preclude the use of shims. In fact, Lhe use of the spline-clips sysLem makes the task of shimming easier, in that the shims can be inserted after the door jambs have been secured to the wall. When using the spline-clips system, as described, some installers prefer to add shims at critical points, e.g around the door hinges and at the latch and at or near Lhe mitred joinLs. Thus, the insLaller might shim above and below the hinge area.

[0034] Indeed, door installers often prefer to provide a shim acLually behind Lhe hinge, and then run a long screw through one of the hinge screw-holes, right through the jamb, the shim, and into the door stud 23. This measure couples the strength and rigidity of the stud to that of the jamb, at the critical points. If the insLaller were Lo insert such a long screw wiLhout shimming, thaL might cause the jamb to distorL, and shimming is therefore recommended for Lhe Lhrough-screw case. Again, the facL Lhat Lhe jambs (and the whole doorfraxne) are already fixed in place, as a result of using Lhe spline-clips system, means that the shimming task is noL even slightly onerous or skill-demanding. Of course, if shims are to be inserted, thaL musL be done when Lhe trim is not presenL.

[0035] In the further varianL as shown in Figs.6,7,7a the jambs are each in two pieces. The completed split-jamb arrangement is shown in Fig.6. The two pieces of the split-jamb may be termed the door piece or outside piece 70, and the inside piece 72. Both left and right jambs, and the lintel, are split in this way.

[0036] The ouLside and inside jamb pieces 70,72 are held together with a key 74, and the grooves 76 that receive the key correspond to the grooves 63 in Lhe edges of Lhe jambs thaL receive the barbed lugs 61 of the spline-clips 60. That is Lo say, the outside jamb pieces can be reversed, in that both edges of the outside jamb pieces are equally grooved. Likewise, the inside jamb pieces. This can be advantageous when it comes to a choice of fiLting the door with the hinge end either to the left or to the right. The hinges, and the latch socket, can be built one into the left, and the other into the right, outside pieces of the jamb, which can easily be switched around if need be.

[00371 One of the benefits of the split-jamb arrangement is that it permits Lhe spline-clips Lo be pre-assembled, in Lhe facLory, to all the jamb pieces. Indeed, Lhe clips can be permanenLly secured into the grooves in the jamb pieces, in-factory, e.g with adhesive.

(Of course, the wood trim 78 is kept separate (i.e is not pre-assembled) , and is only assembled and Lapped onLo Lhe spline-clips once the clips have been stapled to the wall.) [0038] There is an argument against pre-attaching the spline-clips to the jambs, which is that the resulting sub-assembly is of a form that might make it vulnerable to being damaged during shipping.

For Lhose who wish La avoid Lhis danger, and ship Lhe jambs and spline-clips separately, it is an advantageous aspect of the spline-clip system that the spline-clips are so easily assembled to the jambs by the installer, on the job --and not only easily, but in a manner whereby even an inept installer can hardly misplace or misalign Lhe spline-clips on the jambs. Also for Lhose who fear damage to the jambs during transit, the presence of the slots in the edges of the jambs means Lhat suiLable proLecLors can be easily fixed over the edges of the jambs.

[0039] Fig.7 shows the first phase of assembly of the door and doorframe sub-assembly into the door opening in the wall. As before, an installer with little skill, and not much attention, can sLaple Lhe door and doorframe sub-assembly into Lhe opening, leaving the assembly square and true, more or less perfectly every time. It is a simple maLLer also for the.LnsLaller Lhen Lo assemble Lhe inside pieces of Lhe jambs, and sLaple Lheir respective spline-clips also to the wall, to give the result as shown in Fig.6.

[0040] Fig.7a shows a close-up of some of the components, and iilusLraLes Lhe assembly sLages.

[0041] As mentioned, the split-jambs variant is advantageous because it enables all the spline-clips to be glued into, or to be otherwise pro-assembled to, their respective jamb-pieces, while enabling the two pieces of the jamb to be assembled into the opening in Lhe wall from opposite sides of the wall.

[0042] The spliL-jamb varianL is advanLageous also because iL accommodates walls of different thickness. Generally, in the case of a wall made from plasterboard panels secured over sLuds, the two opposite surfaces of wall are, for practical purposes, perfectly parailol. Thus, tho thickness of the finished wall, around tho door opening, is the same over the whole area of the wall surrounding the opening.

[0043] However, even though a given wall is (usually) consistent as to thickness, it does not follow that all walls, though made to the same nominal dimensions, have exactly the same thickness. Thus, jambs (and lintols) made in-factory to the nominal thickness, do not always exactly fit the actual wall. The split-jamb variant readily accommodates itself to walls that differ slightly in thickness.

[0044] The split-jamb variant, however, does not so easily accommodate variations of thickness within one particular wall.

Plasterboard walls are commonly finished by taping over the joints and corners and nail/screw heads, and then applying filler compound to conceal the tape and heads. When the walls have been finished in this way, it is not uncommon for there to be slight thickness variations, i.e variations in the thickness of the grout. Usually, if a wall does vary in thickness, it does not do so in a regular manner, but rather the variations take the form of ripples.

[0045] In one common form of thickness-variation, the wall is of uniform thickness from top to bottom, except that at the very bottom of the wall, the filler compound is slightly thicker. The split-jamb variant of the spline-clip system, as described herein, cannot accommodate thickness bumps and ripples, as such; but it has been found that it can, in typical cases, substantially reduce the effects of those bumps and ripples, by halving, for example, the amplitude thereof.

[0046] Fig.8 shows another variant. In Fig.8, the extruded plastic spline-clip 80 is provided wiLh a locaLion-and-securement lug 81. The door jamb piece 83 is also provided with a location-and-securement groove 85. A toe 87 on the end of the lug 81 engages the groove 85. To permit assembly to the jamb piece, a spline-clip profiled as in Fig.8 of course has Lo be distorted. (IL mighL be possiblo to slide the clips lengthwise along the jamb pieces, but that is not preferred as they are (or they should be) a tight fit.) It is simple enough for the designer to provide that the distortion is small enough noL Lo damage Lhe clip, and yeL is sufficienL, once the Loe 87 is in Lhe groove 81, Lo render the spline-clip more or less compleLely permanently locked, mechanically, to the jamb piece 83 --and to remain so even if the door were to be repeatedly and abusively slammed.

[00471 The use of a location-and-securemenL lug and groove, as in Fig.8, is preferred for use with spliL-jambs, because, with split-jambs, the spline-clips 80 can be pre-attached to the jambs 83 in-factory, when it can be assured that the required distortions do noL damage the clips (or the jambs) . If the assembly of Lhe spline-clips to the jambs is left to the installer, that task might be too Lroublesome and demanding, especially given the simplicity and foolproof ease that characterises Lhe sysLem as a whole.

[0048] The door jamb piece 83 of Fig.8 is seL up with Lhe laLch socket 89, as shown. The lower location-and-securement groove 85a is provided in order Lo enable the jamb piece wiLh Lhe laLch socket in it to be reversed. Thus, Lhe same jamb-piece can be used wheLher the door is to open on the left or on the right. The same applies to the complementary outside jamb-piece of the door-set, to which are attached the door hinges.

[0049] Fig.9 shows a length of the outside jamb 83, with some spline-clips 80 pro-attached.

[0050] Another variant on the split-jamb theme is shown in Fig.lO. here, there is no separate key, like 74, but rather, the function aLLribuLable Lo Lhe key here is performed by a Longue 90 of Lhe lower piece of Lhe jamb. The doorstop is formed inLo the door piece 92 of the jamb.

[0051] Also shown in Fig.l0 is a varianL on Lhe manner of attaching the spline-clip 94 to the jamb. Again, a location-and- sccurcment lug 8/, with a toe 85, is fitted into a complementary groove in the jamb 92. The spline-clip includes a platform to the right of Lhe lug 87, which rests on the edge 96 of Lhe jamb, and serves Lo posiLion and support Lhe spline-clip with respect Lo Lhe jamb. The spline-clip is secured Lo Lhe jamb by means of sLaples 98 through the lug 87.

[0052] There is no access to the region from which Lhe staple 98 is inserted, once Lhe jamb has been assembled and applied to the wall, so a design in which a fastener passes Lhrough the lug 81 can only be used with split-jambs. If the jamb is in one unitary piece, at least the set of either the inside clips or the outside clips must be left La the insLaller to attach La the jamb, after the jamb has been positioned in the opening --and of course the staple 98 cannoL be inserted at that stage.

[00531 The designer might wish to arrange the spline-clip to extend the full height of the door jamb, and the full widLh of the door lintel, as respective long lengths of the spline-clip extrusion. However, it is preferred Lhat the spline-clips be in separaLe pieces, spaced some forty or fifty cm apart, as illustrated in Fig.9.

[00541 Each individual spline-clip should be long enough to allow ample room for the staples or other fasteners that will secure them Lo Lhe wall. Each piece of the spline-clip preferably should be about three cm long or more (long" being in the direction of the extrusion) , and about five cm long is preferred. Preferably, the spline-clip should be sized and dimensioned to encourage the installer to put the staples where they will enter the studs. [0055] As Lo widLh, door Lrim mouldings vary as Lo Lheir width,

typically between about five and ten cm. The width of the spline-clip has to be less than the width of the trim, so as to leave respecLive engagemenL dands 101,103 (Fig.7a) aL the wall end and the jamb and of the trim. Apart from thaL, the spline-clip preferably should be as wide as the trim allows, for good stability and holding power.

[0056] The designer need not seek every scrap of width available, however, and a manufacLurer of trim might prefer Lhe emphasis that several different trim profiles all use a single spline-sLrip exLrusion..

[00571 The designer should also see Lo iL LhaL the spline-clip profile is so dimensioned LhaL Lhe sLaples or other fasLeners LhaL are used to secure the trim to the wall are assured of passing into the door frame stud 23, and not into the space beyond. Securing the spline-clip to Lhe plasLerboard, rather Lhan La Lhe sLud, is inadvisable.

[0058] The profile of Lhe trim has Lo be maLched to Lhe profile of Lhe spline sLrip (or vice versa) . In facL, the profile of the spline strip imposes some limiLaLions La Lhe flexibility of design of the profile of the trim. Again referring to Fig.7a, the central area 105 of Lhe non-visible side of Lhe Lrim has Lo be cuL away, to provide room for the web portion 107 of the spline-clip 60. This is not difficult; in fact, there is typically ample room for the cut away area to be large enough for electrical wires (e.g speaker or telephone cables) to be run along the length of the trim, and thus pass around a door.

[0059] Preferably, the two splines (i.e the jamb-spline and the wall-spline) are positioned right at the very ends of the spline-clip. The splines on the spline-clip define a dovetail shape. It should be regarded that a male dovetail structure exists between the Lwo spline sloLs in the wood Lrim, while the two splines on Lhe spline-clip define a female doveLail sLructure.

[0060] It might be thought that it would be equivalent if the male and female roles were reversed; however, reversal of Lhese roles is not preferred. Tf the wood trim wcrc to form thc female dovetail structure, the wood material between the slots would than be subjected to tensile stresses, rather than to the preferred compressive sLress, which could lead Lo premaLure failure.

[0061] There is anoLher reason also why IL is advantageous for the splines on the spline-clip to be arranged as the female dovetail, which is LhaL the female-doveLail splines, upon being urged aparL by the presence of Lhe male dovetail of Lhe wood Lrim, insofar as Lhe plasLic spline-clip is flexible and capable of deflecting, tend to curl or rotate (slightly) into closer conLact with the wall and with the jamb. This rotation of the ends of the splinc-clip is desirable, because it urges a tighter degree of conLact between the engagemenL lands 101,103 of Lhe wood trim Lo the wall and to the jamb.

[0062] The profile of Lhe plastic spline-clip is formed by extrusion, and therefore Lhe designer is at liberty La call for re- enLranL features, if desired. On the other hand, the wood trim profile is formed by cutting, using rotating saws, which practically forbids the formation of re-entrant shapes in the profile. The dovetail format, using flat- sided slots, is preferred because Lhat shape enables forces to be exerted onto the wood trim, without having to resort to re-entrant features in the profile of the wood trim.

[0063] The flat-sided dovetail form is preferred also in that components can vary slightly dimensionally, due to tolerances, and the flat-sided dovetail form allows the springiness of the splines (or at least of the wall-spline) to maintain the force urging the wood trim against the wall and jamb, even though the dimensions of Lhe components might vary slightly.

[0064] Even so, the requiremenL for accurate cutting of the wood trim is rather high, with the system as described herein, and the sysLem should noL be considered unless high tolerance standards can be assured and maintained during manufacture of the wood trim.

Howover, using modern profile cutting machinos, and with reasonably careful tool-setting, the required accuracy can be attained with roasonablo oaso. Tho flat-sidod male-dovotail form contributes to this easo.

[0065] For economical cutting of the wood trim profile, preferably the axes of the rotating saws should be all vertical.

That is to say, dofining the diroction of movement of the wood trim through the cutters as horizontal and north-south, the axes of all the cutters should appear to be vertical when viewed from east or west, and should all appear to be east-west when viewed from above the table. Preferably, the axes should be kept stationary, while the wood is being fed through the saws. The slots as required in the trim, in order to make use of the spline-clips system, are perfectly in keeping with this preference for economical cutting.

[00661 It is not required that the axes of the saws be all parallel when viewed from the north or south. Preferably, the two slots in the wood trim, as illustrated, are cut by saws the axes of which are angled mutually aL Lhe required muLual angle of the slots.

[0067] It is not necessary, in the spline-clip sysLem, for the slots in the wood trim to be parallel-sided, i.e for the slots to be of constant width along their depth. However, making the slots parallel- sided does make for slightly simpler Looling and preparation of the cutting saws. Also, the bottoms of the slots need not be square with sharp corners, as illustrated; the sharper the bottom corners of the slots, the more there might be a problem of a premature crack starting at the (most stressed) corner.

[0068] The steeper the slope of the splines, the more they tend to urge their respective ends of Lhe wood trim inLo conLact with the wall and jamb. In facL, it is Lhe slope of the wall of Lhe sloL in the wood trim, at the contact point, that determines the force with which the trim is held against the wall or jamb. The wall of the slot in the wood Lrim, at the poinL where contact is made beLween the wall and the engaging spline, lies at an angle with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the wall. Preferably, the angle should be about ten degrees or more.

[0069] The angle AJ in respecL of the jamb-spline-sloL may be sLeeper than the angle AW in respecL of the wall-spline-sloL, since the jamb-spline does not have to deflect, or does not have to deflect as much as the wall-spline. More particularly, preferably the angle AJ should be about thirty degrees or more, while the angle AW preferably should be about twenty degrees or more.

[0070] As mentioned, the jamb-spline 49 is provided with a lead-in chamfer 52. As shown in Fig.l, the jamb-splinc 4/ on the clip 30i receives Lhe jamb-spline-slot 45 in the trim 43. During installation of the wood trim, it is required, as mentioned, that the wall-spline 49 should bend (i.e bend Lo the left in Fig.l) when it is being is engaged by the corner of Lhe wall-spline-slot 50.

The lead-in chamfer 52 on the wall-spline 49 should be dimensioned such thaL Lhe corner of the wall-sloL 50 sLrikes the sloping surface of the lead-in chamfer, and not, for example, the very end of the wall-spline 49, which might cause Lhe wall-spline simply to buckle.

[00/1] There is no need for the jainb-splinc, at the other end, to be formed with a corresponding lead-in chamfer. The jamb-spline 4/ on the spline-clip 30 can be entered into the jamb-splino-slot 45 in the wood trim 43, by simple positioning of the wood trim 30 , as shown in Fig.l, without needing the jamb-spline Lo bend or deflect.

[0072] Thus, the two splines perform different functions, and can be shaped differently to reflect this. Since the jamb-splino is not required to bend (although it is not detrimental if the jamb-spline can bend somewhaL) , Lhe jamb-spline can be short and sLumpy, while Lhe wall-spline must be flexible enough (which means long and thin enough) to deflect far enough to permit installation without damage to the wall--spline.

[0073] The di.EferenL roles as described for Lhe deflecLion of the jamb-spline, and the non-deflcction of the wall-spline, could be reversed. That is to say, the designer might arrange for the wood trim to be assembled wall-spline first, and then be tapped down onto the jamb-spline, rather than jamb-spine first, as shown.

[0074] As to both the jamb slot and the wall slot, in the wood trim, only one side of each slot is functionally effective, being the side of the slot that is closer to the other slot. The respective splincs press against those functional sides of the sloLs, and the pressure urges the wall end of the wood Lrim firmly against the wall 21, and urges the jamb end of the wood trim firmly againsL Lhe jamb 27.

[0075] The other sides of the slots in the wood trim are not contacted by their respective splines. In fact, the slots should be wide enough to ensure that such contact does not happen, since contact of the splinc with both sides of the slot would probably make it impossible to assemble the wood trim to the spline-clip.

Similarly, the designer should see to it that the tips of the splines cannot make contact with the bottoms of the slots. Apart from that, the slots should be as narrow and as shallow as possible, since the slots can only weaken the mechanical integrity of the wood trim profile.

[0076] Regarding Lhe groove 76 (see Fig.7a) in Lhe edge of Lhe jamb, preferably the groove should be in Lhe middle of Lhe edge of the jamb, for strength-in-symmetry reasons. The designer should also see to it that there is enough room for the jamb-end engagement land 103 to engage the remaining surface of the edge to the right of the groove, and that consideration might lead the desigiier to place the groove slighLly to Lhe lefL of cenLre of the jamb edge 34.

[00771 The groove in the edge of Lhe jamb should preferably be parallel to the overall width of the jamb, i.e at right angles to the edge of the jamb; if the groove were to lie aL an angle, forces acLing on Lhe jamb, e.g due Lo norrnl (and abnormal) operaLion of the door, might cause the barbcd lug 61 to tend to ride out of the groove 76.

[00/8] The material of the wood trim may be solid wood, having an attractive decoraLive grain, such as oak. Such woods tend Lo be strong, and resistive to cracks. However, cutting slots into what is inevitably a rather thin profile is bound to lead to an increased risk of cracking, especially during assembly (and dis-assembly, since it is a feature of the described trim-attachment system that the Lrim can be removed, e.g for the purposes of decorating the wall) [0079] As mentioned, placing the female dovetail form in the (plastic) spline-clip, rather than the wood trim, minimises this increased risk. Still, the designer of the wood trim profile should see to it that an ample thickness of the wood material lies over and around the cut slots. Also, the type of wood should be selected in deference to the form or profile of the particular wood trim, and if a particularly-favoured profile should require the wood to be rather thin, over and around the slots, a wood that is especially resistant to cracking should be selected for that profile.

[0080] Even so, wood and wood producLs do have a tendency to split and crack, and it is an advantage of the system as described that the wood, though slotted, is substantially not subjected to forces which might tend to apply Lensile stress to the corners of Lhose sloLs.

[00811 On the other hand, if the material of the trim were, for example, plastic, there would be little point in employing the aLtachment system as described herein. Where trim is formed as a plastic exLrusion, Lhe exLruded profile can readily be formed wiLh intricate re-entrant features of shape, as can the spline-clips, such that really almost any shape would do to secure the profile.

IL is mainly because wood is so liable to spilL and Lo crack, when subjected to tensile stresses, that the system as described, with its avoidance of tensile stresses in the profile of the trim, is advantageous.

[0082] The same shortcoming LhaL wood has, i.e iLs Lendency Lo split and crack, is present also in many manufacLured wood-based materials. Thus, manufactured materials such as particle board, and especially the fibre boards, are, like wood iLself, also liable Lo split and crack if overstressed in Lension. (Such materials are sometimes used as a base for Lrim profiles, ofLen being wrapped wiLh a veneer of a decorative wood) -The layered-paper type of wood-like products are, if anything, even more likely to split and crack.

[0083] The system as described is most advantageous when used with materials that do indeed tend to split and crack if and when subjected to tensile stresses. Materials like (most) plastics and metals, by contrast, tend to stretch and yield when subjected to excessive tensile stress. The prior art is replete with attachment systems suitable for use with Lhose non-crackable maLerials, which are highly unsuitable for use with wood and wood-based liable-to-split materials.

[0084] The system has been described herein as it applies Lo doors requiring wood trim on both sides, i.e both in the room inside the door, and in the room outside the door. In some cases, wood Lrim mighL only be required on one side of the door, e.g because Lhe other side of the door faces an unfinished room. In that case, the installer should not seek to secure the jamb to the wall by placing the spline-clips just on the one side of the door.

{0085] One function of the spine clips, as described, is to support the jamb relaLive to Lhe wall, and if spline-clips were provided just one side of the door, the door jamb would noL have proper support. So, where it is desired to apply trim just to one side of the door, still the spline-clips should be provided on both sides of the door; eiLher LhaL, or Lhe jambs (and lintel) could be shimmod in the conventional manner.

[00861 Although described for doors, the system can also be used for windows --especially in cases, again, where wood trim is required both inside and outside the window. This is not a common siLuation, however, in that usually the outside of a window is exposed to the elements.

[008/] The system can however be used advantageously with outside windows, in some cases. For new installations, the as- manufactured jamb of the windowframe can be provided with a groove, for receiving a key, e.g the kind of groove as shown in Figs.6,7a,8.

Fig.lOa shows such a windowframe 110, having a groove 112.

[0088] It should be understood that the windowframe 110 is already secured into the opening in the wall, being shimmed and (rigidly) attached to the stud 23, in the conventional manner.

Fig.lOa shows a key /4 entering the groove 112, as the jamb-piece 114 is being pressed outwards.

[0089] The spline-clip 60 is already secured into its groove in the split-jamb-piece 114. When the spline-clip 60 makes contact with the wall surface 116, the installer can then staple the spline-clip 60 Lo the wall. After that, IL only remains for the installer to assemble and tap home the (already pre-mitred) wood trim onto the spline-clips, and the installaLion is finished.

[0090] This may be contrasted with what has to be done when wood trim is installed around a window in the conventional manner.

Windowframes, though square and accurate as to their in-factory manufacture, after installation very rarely reside accurately sLraight and upright in the opening in Lhe wall. In parLicular, the distance from Lhe (grooved) inside edge 111 of the windowframe 110 t-.n the inside surface 116 of the wall is not constant around the whole perimeter of the window.

[0091] Typically, when convenLionally finishing a window, Lhe installer first attaches jamb-pieces (similar to 114 in Fig.lOa) to the inside edges 111 all around the windowframe 110. These jamb-pieces extend inwards, the installer having seen to it that the pieces are cut so as to project inwards slightly beyond the wall surface 116. Next, Lhe installer shaves down Lhe projecting portions of the jamb-pieces 114 until their front edges are all flush with the inside surface of the wall, all around the window.

Now, the installer has flat surfaces to which he can attach the wood trim.

[0092] By the use of the system as described, the front edges of the spliL-jamb-pieces automaLically align themselves flush and straight with the wall surface 116, simply as a consequence of the spline-clip 60 making contact with the wall-surface.

[0093] After installation, there will probably be a non-constant gap between the jamb-piece 114 and the windowfrane 110. A piece of corner Lrim 117 readily conceals Lhis gap.

[0094] The system can also be used wiLh exisLing windowframes (which do noL have grooves 112), as shown in Fig.lOb. Here, a separaLe grooved-strip 118 is first attached Lo Lhe inside edge of the existing windowframe. Now, the jamb-piece 119, again with its spline clips 60 pre-attached to it, is inserted into the groove in Lhe grooved-strip 118 atLached Lo Lhe windnwframe. Installation of the jamb-pieces and spline-clips is completed by stapling the spline-clips to the wall, as before. Then, it only remains for the installer to finish the job by tapping home the pre-mitred wood trim.

[00951 It should be understood that this variant of the system, as described in relaLion to outside windows, can also be used for ouLside doors.

[0096] A craftsman carrying out [he task of applying lengths of baseboard moulding aL the foot of the walls of a room generally finds it a simple matter to apply long straight lengths of baseboard moulding to a long wall. The difficult part of the craftsman's task arises aL Lhe corners. Indeed, if IL were not for Lhe difficulLies posed by the corners, the job would hardly require Lhe skill and experience LhaL meriLs Lhe term crafLsman".

[0097] Generally, aL the corners of Lhe room, Lhe lengLhs of baseboard moulding have to be miLred togeLher. AlLernaLively, one of Lhe baseboards can be coped aL its end Lo Lhe profile of the other, buL LhaL Leo is a skill-and Lime-consuming task. The Lask of forming perfect mitres and copings is rendered the more difficult in that corners of rooms in houses are very rarely perfectly square.

The crafLsman knows, however, LhaL the householder will noL accepL that badly-mitred baseboards can be excused because of the difficulLies caused by the ouL-of-squareness of Lhe walls. The crafLsman is expecLed to produce perfecL-looking miLres, in Lhe baseboard mouldings, whaLever Lhe squareness condiLion of Lhe corners of Lhe walls of Lhe room.

[0098] The degree of ouL-ol-squareneSs of any one parLicular room corner is not, predictable. Therefore, it is pracLically noL possible for the mitred joints to be prepared ahead of time, e.g in a factory. Therefore, it falls to the craftsman himself, on the job, to assess the degree of out-of-squareness, and to assess the compensatory compoundangle cuts that will be required, and generally Lo deLermine just how besL [0 maLch Lhe ends of the baseboard mouldings so as to achieve the appearance of perfectly-mitred joints. And this task falls to the craftsman on the basis of starting afresh in every single corner of every single room.

[0099] Fig.ll illustrates how the job of applying baseboard mouldings to a room could be hugely simplified, if only the ends of Lhe baseboard mouldings could be lefL a l.LLL1e distance shorL of the (un-square) corner. If Fig.ll were all that were required, the job of affixing baseboards could be left to the most inept, casual, unskilled, worker.

[0100] In the present case, it will be understood that, as far as the baseboards themselves are concerned, leaving the baseboards 120, 121 shorL, as in Fig.ll, is, indeed, all LhaL is required. The savings in labour costs --at crafLsman rates --will be clearly apparent.

[0101] Of course, merely Lo leave Lhe ends of Lhe baseboards open, and uncovered, as in Fig.il, is unsighLly and unacceptable.

Fig.l2 shows how the open ends of the baseboard mouldings may be effectively, and eleganLly, concealed. The cover 123 is simply placed and secured into the corner, over the mouldings.

[01021 The cover 123 is shown in detail in Figs 13-16. The cover 123 is simply a shell, which has been moulded to fit over the baseboard mouldings 120,121. That is to say, the cover 123 is profiled to complement the profile of the particular baseboard moulding.

[01031 Another baseboard moulding profile would require a different profile of trim. 1-lowever, this is not particularly onerous in terms of marketing and stock-keeping. A baseboard moulding stockist can only stock so many baseboard profiles, and it is a simple maLLer Lo locaLe respecLive boxes of corresponding covers alongside the stocks of the baseboards.

[0104] The cover 123 should be quiLe Lhin, as to iLs maLerial thickness. However, it is recognised Lhat, wiLh a cover of Lhe form as illusLrated, it is not necessary Lo make Lhe cover 123 50 thin that the cover practically disappears when placed over the baseboard mouldings 120,121. It is recognised that, so long as the cover is roughly (or exactly) of Lhe same appearance and finish as the baseboards themselves, Lhe cover makes a decoraLive (Lhough noL obtrusive) feature of the corner. It is recognised that, without having to make the cover so thick and chunky as to be obtrusive, the designer has ample scope to specify an adequaLe Lhickness for Lhe material of the cover, from the standpoint of strength and rigidity, without compromising appearance.

[0105] It is preferred that the cover be made out of wood, or wood products. Thus, the cover may be formed as a compression moulding, comprising wood chips in an adhesive matrix. Manufactured thus, a thickness of about one-and-a-half or two millimetres would give rise to a product having sufficient strength and resilience as to survive reasonably careful installation. The prudent installer would make sure to provide a number of spare covers, in case of accidental breakages. (Baseboard mouldings themselves are not completely free of the danger of breakage and spoilage, and the installer would provide some spare lengths of that, also.) [0106] As may be seen in Figs.l3-l6, the cover 123 is (inevitably, given its function) of an awkward and fragile-seeming shape. The ability not to have to skimp on material thickness is important, given that shape.

[0107] The visible outer surface of the cover (seen in Fig.13) can be painted to match the baseboard. Or, the visible outer surface can be wrapped with glued-on veneer, again to match the baseboard.

[0108] The cover 123 can alternatively be manufactured as a plastic injection-moulding. Now, the thickness can be reduced, e.g down to a minimum of about one-half millimetre, although one millimetre would be preferred.

[0109] A variant manner of manufacture of the cover, when it is done in plastic, would be as an extrusion. Now, the cover described herein would be formed as a miLred corner comprising Lwo pieces of Lhe extruded profile, glued together aL a miLred joint. The miLred joint would be manufactured in-factory, whereby the joint could be perfectly aligned, and could be assured of being stronger than the extruded form iLsell.

[0110] Alternatively again, the cover could be manufactured as a pressing in sheet metal, and be thinner still. However, metal is less preferred, in thaL iL can be difficult Lo procure a finish, in metal, that has Lhe appearance of wood. ThaL difficulty would noL arise if the baseboards were to be painLed, of course. On the oLher hand, metal ages and settles differently from wood, and a metal cover mighL be more likely Lo become obtrusive afLer a Lime.

[0111] As illustrated, the cover 123 is formed wiLh an upper platform 125. The plaLforrn 125 is provided in order to serve the following function. It is all too common, especially in rooms in which the walls are plastered, for the profile of the intersection of two walls 129,130 to have the form as shown in Fig.17. That is to say, even though the walls might be approximately at right angles, Lhere is a bump 132 or bulge or promontory in one (or both) walls, right at the corner --due to a build-up of plaster in the corner. Such a bump 132 is especially likely to be present aL the foot of the wall, i.e right where the baseboards 120, 121 are to be installed. When such a bump is present, the task of producing a neatly-mitred corner joint is especially difficult.

[0112] The cover 123, with its platform 125, can ease this difficulty. First, the baseboard mouldings 120,121 are installed into the corner (that is to say, just short of the actual corner, as in Fig.ll). Then, the installer assembles the cover into the corner. Now, the bump or bulge 132 will prevent the platform from being installed to its full extent. The installer therefore notes which places along the edge of the platform 125 need to be trimmed back, in order to allow the cover 123 to fit snugly against the wall, around the whole corner.

[0113] It is a simple maLter [or the insLaller to remove those places on the thin material of the platform 125 of the cover 123 with a trimming knife, file, etc. In tact, the installer can very quickly learn how Lo Lrim the plaLforms 125 in Lhis manner, and thereby can enable the cover 123 to fit reasonably perfectly into the corner, in just a few moments with a trimming knife or file.

Pig.18 shows how the platform 125 has been trimmed to exactly follow Lhe profile of the bulge or bump 132.

[01141 It s also noL unheard of for one of Lhe walls at a corner to be indented at the corner, rather than to protrude. To cater for that case, Lhe designer should provide for Lhe platform 125 Lo overhang the profile of Lhe baseboards, by a couple of millimeLres.

[0115] As illusLrated in Fig.l6, and in Lhe alternaLive Fig.l6a, the material of the platform 125 itself is rather thinner than the main profile of the cover 123. This allows the installer to quickly cuL or shave such material from Lhe platform edges as might need Lo be removed.

[0116] Fig.l4 is a pictorial view of Lhe back side of Lhe cover 123, i.e Lhe side LhaL makes conLacL with the baseboards 120,121.

IL will be undersLood Lhat Lhe formed profile of Lhe surfaces shown in Fig.l4 is a negative" of the profile of the visible surface of the baseboards.

[011/] Provision for enabling the cover 123 to be adhered to the already-in-place baseboard mouldings 120,121 takes the form of the adhesive patches 136, as shown. The cover 123 is attached to the baseboards after the baseboards have boon installed on the wall, and therefore Lhe task of applying (or activaLing) Lhe adhesive, falls to the installer. The adhesive patch preferably uses the type of glue that sticks on contact. Prior to application, the patch 136 is protected by a covering strip, which is removed just before (final) assembly of the cover into the corner, over the baseboards. The designer mighL specify Lhe kind of glue Lhat. holds Lhe corner-cover firmly Lo Lhe baseboards, buL yeL allows Lhe user Lo remove Lhe corner-cover (by carefully pulling it off) from the baseboards.

Some glues also are, upon the corner-cover being replaced, capable of re-sLicking Lhe corner-cover 10 Lhe baseboards.

[0118] The designer might also wish to secure the corner-cover to the baseboards by driving a nail through the corner-cover, and inLo Lhe sLuds of l.he wall, in Lhe corner. However, Lhis is noL preferred, for a coupleof reasons:-Lhe nail holes would Lhen have Lo be filled and finished; and Lhe driving of Lhe nail mighL cause distortion of the corner-cover, or might cause the material of the corner-cover (or of Lhe baseboard) to spliL.

[0119] OLher kinds of adhesive rnighL be preferred. InsLead of providing localised paLches, Lhe designer may prefer to provide adhesive over the whole area of the back (i.e the area visible in Fig.14) of the cover. Two-part adhesives can be used, especially of Lhe kind in which the parL on Lhe back of Lhe cover is noL sticky until activated, and the activator is in a form that the installer can apply La Lhe face of Lhe baseboards, just prior La assembly.

[0120] In Lhe alLernaLive of Fig.19, shown in Lhe close-up Fig.19a, Lhe cover 138 includes a layer 140 of resilienL foam or other compressible material, applied to the back (i.e non-visible) surface of Lhe ouLer cover 141. The ouLer cover 141 itself can be made of wood producLs (including solid wood), or plasLic, or meLal, and finished as appropriate. The layer 140 of soft material is about one millimetre thick or more. The compressible layer 140 assists conformance of the profile of the cover 138 to the profile of the baseboard 142, even if (slightly) mis-aligned.

[0121] Upon assembly of the cover, the thickness of the layer would be visible between the material of the outer cover 141 arid the baseboard 142. However, the foam may be suitably coloured, so the layer 140 is practically invisible --or rather camouflaged --when the cover 138 is in place. The presence of Lhe layer 140 thus enables Lhe cover to appear Lo fiL perfectly Lo Lhe baseboards 142,143 even in cases where there might be some slight mis-alignment.

[0122] The layer 140 is pre-glued inside Lhe wood maLerial of the outer cover 141, in-factory. Tho adhesive by which tho layor 140, in turn, is adhered to the baseboards 142,143 is applied to the surfaco of the material of the layer, and again this adhesive is activated by the installer.

[0123] The covers as previously described were for internal corners. The described style of structure can also be used for external corners, as illustrated at 149 in Fig.20. Again, the platform 150 on top of the cover may be quickly trimmed by the insLaller to conform to Lhe acLual shape of Lhe corner 151 of the wall. (External corners of walls are even more likely than internal corners to be out of square, especially aL Lhe foot of the wall, where the baseboards 152,153 are located.) The details of the form of the external corner cover not shown in Fig.20 correspond to those of the internal corners.

[0124] The two arms or limbs of the corner piece are set at right angles. The limbs should be equal in lengLh. (There mighL be cases where the designer might wish to make the two limbs unequal in lengLh, or Lo seL Lhe limbs aL some angle oLber Lhan a right angle.

For example, a stockist might wish to make covers wiLh Lhe limbs set aL l35 available as a stock item.

[0125] The lengths of the limbs would typically be three cm.

Preferably, the limbs should not be less than abouL fifteen mm in length, or the cover could hardly be expected to fulfil its function of covering the ends of the baseboards; or, even if it did at least cover the ends of the baseboards, such short limbs might make installation requirous of almost as much craftsmanship as mitring the joints.

[0126] The limbs should preferably not be more than about six cm long, because covers longer than that would probably be regarded as too obtrusive. That is just an aesthetic aspect, however, since Lhere is no technical reason why Lhe limbs cannoL be longer. The longer the limbs, also, the greater the possibility that covers in closely adjacent corners might interfere with each other.

[012'!] As noted, one of the aspects of wall construction, in houses, is that the very bottoms of the walls tend to be provided with an abundance of filling compound, and to sLand slightly proud of the surface of the rest of the wall. This is disadvantageous from the standpoint of conventional baseboards. If a baseboard were to stand even slightly away from the surface of the wall, the resulting gap is very noticeable and obtrusive; and a bulge at the fooL of Lhe wall has Lhe effect of exacerbaLing such a gap between the wall and the top of the baseboard. Conventional installers therefore Lend Lo cuL Lhe mitres beLween baseboards aL a slight compound angle, so that the baseboards, at least at the corners, where the problem is likely to be worst, lie with the bottoms of the baseboards slightly further out from the wall than the tops of the baseboards. The usc of the covers, as described, eliminates this aspect, as a practical problem.

[0128] Fig 21 shows the foot of a wall of a room. The wall surface is formed by a sheet of plasterboard 160, which is screwed to a stud 161, attached to a sole plate 163, attached to the floor in the conventional manner. CarpeL 164 is secured to the floor.

[0129] In Lhe baseboard aLLachmenL sysLem shown in Fig.21, the baseboard 165 is formed wiLh a sloL or groove 167 (Fig 22) . The baseboard has a wall side and a room side 170 (which is visible from within the room), and the groove 167 is formed in the wall side.

The groove 167 in the baseboard 165 is defined by a wall-facing surface 172 and a room-facing surface 174.

[0130] The system included a hook-clip 176. The hook-clip is formed as an extrusion in plastic, and its extruded profile is shown in Fig 22. The profile includes a flat attachment-element 178, via which Lhe clip is aLLached Lo Lhe wall. The aLLachment-element 178 presents a fastener-receiving facc when ready for attachment to tho wall. Nails, staplos 180, etc, can be driven through the attachment element 178, through the plasterboard 160, and into the stud 161 behind.

[0131] Above Lhe attachment-element 178, Lhe profile of the hook-clip 176 includes a hook-element, comprising a hook 181 and a hook-extender 183. Below Lhe attachment-element 178, Lhe profile of the hook-clip 176 includes a buffer-elemenL, comprising a buffer 185 and a buffer-extender 187.

[0132] The hook-element is springy. The nominal (i.e unstressed) profile of the hook-clip 176, is shown in Fig.22. Thus, in Fig.22, Lhe hook 181 of the hook-clip is shown interfering wiLh the room-facing surface 174 of the baseboard 165. Thus, the hook element is forced, by Lhe complemenLary shape and dimensions of Lhe hook and of the room-facing surface 174, Lo bend in Lhe direction into Lhe room, away from Lhe wall.

[0133] The surface of the hook 181 is indented, as shown, so that Lhe hook can engage both sides of the groove 167, and noL become jammed LherebeLween. The indenLaLions or ripples mean Lhat the baseboard is reLained quite firmly on the hooks of Lhe hook-clips, against accidental dislodgement, but the baseboard can be lifted off the clips without undue effort.

[0134] The buffer-elemenL also is springy. Again, in Fig 22, the buffer 185 of the hook-clip is shown interfering with the wall-facing surface 172 of the baseboard 165. Thus, the buffer element is forced, by the complementary shape and dimensions of the buffer and of the wall-facing surface 172, to bend in the direction towards Lhe wall.

[01351 The forces generaLed by bending Lhe hook-element and Lhe buffer-element are reacted against the baseboard 165. Together, the hook-force and Lhe buffer-force produce a turning momenL or couple or torque on Lhe baseboard, urging Lhe baseboard to roLaLe in a counter-clockwise direction. The baseboard 16.E is, however, prevented from so rotating by the engagement of a land 189 against the surface of the plasterboard 160.

[0136] Thus, Lhe resilience of Lhe hook, and Lhe resilience of the buffer, combine together to urge the baseboard into what can be regarded as a very tight contact between the top edge of the baseboard and the wall. it is recognised that this tight contact is very effective in creating a very good appearance of the baseboard relative to the wall.

[0137] WiLh conventional baseboard aLtachment systems, it is all too common for gaps Lo appear between Lhe baseboard and the wall.

Even though very small, these gaps can be unsightly.

[0138] Because the force or pressure of the baseboard against the wall is the result of resilience, the system as described provides some margin whereby, even if the baseboard should change its position, or its size, slightly, still the top edge of the baseboard is pressed tightly against the wall surface.

[01391 And, of course, changes can take place in the dimensions of the components. Components of houses seLtle, dry out, shrink, warp, and undergo many other changes. Most of these are very small, but Lhey can be enough to make Lhe trim in a room, which appeared perfect when it was firsL insLalled, look raLlier shabby afLer a few years.

[01401 With the attachment system as described, however, such changes can be accommodated. The system makes it possible for the changes Lo take place, but not Lo lead Lo any tiny, buL unsightly, gaps. What happens is that the baseboard roLates slightly (counter-clockwise in Fig 21), whereby the very top of the baseboard remains pressed firmly against the wall. The change of angle of the baseboard Is subsLantially comp'etely unnoticeable --by contrast with the describcd gaps, which, if they occur, can bc very obtrusively noticeable.

[0141] On the other hand, if the baseboards are indeed allowed to rotate, the tcndcncy is for any mitred joints between adjacent baseboards now Lo sLart to open up, aL Lhe bottom. However, combining the hook-clip system with the joint covers 123,149, as described, can mask such opening-up of the mitres that might result from a slight rotation of the baseboards.

[0142] The baseboard 170 Is supporLed as to its height on Lhe wall by the contact of a nose 190 of the baseboard onto the ledge formed by Lhe hook extender 183. Preferably, Lhe thing Lhat defines the rest position of the baseboard should not be the engagement of the top of the hook 181 with the end of the groove 167, as that might interfere with the force arising from the hook element urging the baseboard towards the wall.

[0143] The baseboard Is assembled over Lhe hook-clips 176 simply by placing the baseboard flat against the wall, slightly above the clips, and Lhen lowering the baseboard down unLll Lhe nose 190 abuts the ledge 183. That is the end of the installation process. The chamfer 184 at the entrance La the groove 167 ensures LhaL the hook 181 easily enters the groove.

[0144] To remove the baseboards, all LhaL Is required Is Lo IIfL them off. When they are replaced, they immediately adopt the position whereby the tops of the baseboards are pressed firmly against the surface of the wall. This aspect is very convenient when it is desired to re-decorate the wall, either with paint or with a covering such as wallpaper.

[01451 The dimensions of Lhe profile of the hook-clip 176 are important. The clip should be of such dimensions and form as to hold the baseboard firmly against the wall, so that the baseboard is noL dislodged by everyday impacts LhereagainSL. The clip should noL be so tight that the installer might find it difficult to assemble the baseboard over the clip.

[0146] The profile of the plastic hook-clip preferably should be between /2mm and 2mm thick. The distance apart of the hook element and the buffer element (as measured between Lheir respective points of contact with the baseboard) should be between 2cm and 6cm. The top of the hook 181 should be between 1cm and 5cm below the very top of the baseboard.

[0147] IL will be observed that Lhe foot 192 of the baseboard is not touching anything. Thus, if a person were to press against the foot of the baseboard, the baseboard would rotaLe --clockwise, in Fig.21. When the pressure was released, the elements of the clip 176 being resilient, the baseboard would immediately rotate back, until the land 189 was once again pressed firmly against the wall.

[0148] IL will be understood that, if the boLtom of Lhe baseboard were to be secured to the wall, that would prevent or impede the very top of the baseboard from pressing tightly against the wall. Thus, the absence of restraint at Lhe boLLom of the baseboard is in fact a contributory factor regarding the capability of the baseboard to move to rotate and thus to maintain the pressure of the top of the baseboard against the wall.

[01491 It is not required that there be no resLraint at all, at the bottom of the baseboard, but rather that any restraint experienced by the bottom of the baseboard should be small. In the case as shown in Fig.23, the carpet 164 has been replaced with tiles 192 (or other hard surface flooring) . The presence of the carpet 164 meanL LhaL whatever gaps Lhere mighL be beLween the bottom of Lhe baseboard and Lhe floor would be masked by Lhe carpeL. The use of tiles instead means that the gaps (if there are any --which there usually are) will therefore be visible and apparent. A channel-strip 194 serves Lo mask the gaps.

[0150] The channel-strip 194 exerts only a very small force tending to press the bottom of the baseboard against the wall. The profile of Lhe channel-sLrip includes a long arm 196 LhaL fiLs behind Lhe baseboard 165, and Lhe channel-sLrip is secured Lo Lhe wall by means of staples 197 thaL lie at or near the Lop of Lhe long arm.

[01511 Dimensioned and secured in Lhis manner, the channel-strip really does noL resLrain Lhe bottom of Lhe baseboard from adopting iLs own position relative Lo Lhe wall. AL the same Lime, Lhe channel-strip effectively does mask any gaps there might be between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor. Of course, the channel-strip is installed on the wall prior to Lhe baseboard being installed. (If the channel-strip 194 were omitted at the time the baseboard was installed, it could easily be put in laLer, simply upon lifting the baseboard off Lhe clips 176.) [0152] Fig.24 shows the clips 176 in the form of individual lengths (e.g five to ten cm) of extruded plastic. The task of positiOflirIg the clips on Lhe wall aL Lhe correct height above the floor can be simplified in the manner as shown in Fig.24. The installer rests a length of the baseboard on the floor, close to the wall, and makes a line 198 on the wall, along the top of the resting baseboard. The installer also prepares a spacer 200, which is of a width (i.e its height in Fig.24) that, when the baseboard is set thereon, will position the baseboard so thaL the bottom of the baseboard just brushes the carpet 164. Holding the spacer 200 against the line on the wall, as shown, and holding the clip against the spacer, the installer then places a couple of staples through the clip and into the wall.

[0153] The installer mighL prefer La locate the clips 176 such that the staples go through into the stud 161 behind.

Alternatively, the installer might prefer to locate the clips 176 between Lhe studs such LhaL Lhe staples go through only the plasterboard 161.

[01541 This can be advantageous for the following reason. It often happens that plasterboard bends inwards slightly, between the studs. When the clips are placed between the studs, therefore, the clips can serve Lo draw the baseboard and the plasterboard together, in the areas between the studs, where the gaps would otherwise be largest.

[0155] The clips can be attachcd to thc plasterboard by means of so-called expanding staples, which engage the remote or distal surface of the plasterboard, and thus draw the clip and plasterboard together very strongly. It may be noted that iL is not pracLical to attach regular baseboard to plasterboard, between the studs, using expanding staples, because the heads of the staples are visibly highly obtrusive --but the heads are not visible when used on the clips.

[01563 Fig.25 shows the use of an alternative hook-clip 205, shown here in connection with a chair rail 207 rather than a baseboard. Here, the buffer-element of the clip has been omitted.

Thus, all the needed resilience now has to come from the hook 209 itself.

[0157] Now, because there is no buffer, the lower part of the chair rail 207 has to touch against something (in this case, against wainscot panels 210 attached to the wall) in order to provide a reaction to enable the forces arising from the hook 209 to be exerted upon the chair-rail 207. Particularly in the case of a chair rail, which is generally shorter in height than a baseboard, there can be enough resilience just in the hook to hold the chair rail firmly againsL Lhe wall.

[0158] Also, there is more reason for wanLing the botLom of a chair rail to touch the surface of the wall than there is for wanLing the boLLom of a baseboard to Louch the surface of the wall.

And, it should noL be ruled out thaL, in some cases, the designer might be able to omit the buffer in the case also of a baseboard.

[01591 Fig 26 shows the corner-cover 123 now used with baseboards 220,221 that have been attached to the wall using the system shown in Fig.2l. This use of the corner-covers can be especially advantageous for the following reasons.

[0160] The baseboard attachment system illustrated in Fig.2l is aimed mainly at ensuring a tight fit between the top of the baseboard and the wall --i.e, at ensuring no gaps appear, even after a period of years, between the top of the baseboard and the wall. This on-going LighL contact aL Lhe Lop of the baseboard is achieved, IL can be regarded, at the expense of allowing Lhe boLtom of the baseboard to find its own position. That is to say, the springiness of the hook and of the buffer cause the baseboard to rock or rotate (slightly) , if it needs to, in order to keep the top of the baseboard tight against the surface of the wall.

[01611 This rotation, if it occurs, could cause the mitres at the corners of converging pieces of the baseboard to open up, near the bottom of the baseboards. The designer might regard it as a pity if the excellent visual effect of the tight fit of the tops of the baseboards were to be marred by mitres that have cracked open; and fortunately this all-too-possible condition can be alleviated by using the corner-covers 123,149 at the corners, when the baseboards are atLached by the Fig.2l system.

[01621 In this specification, reference is made to walls having outside and inside surfaces. This is for identification. In the terminology of split-frame window or doorframes, the outside frame is Lypically the half of Lhe frame in which Lhe door or window is acLually mounLed, which is usually regarded is being Lowards Lhe outside of the room. Outside with respect to one room is inside with respect to the other room, and, although the terms should be applied consisLently, Lhe use of Lhe terms should noL be regarded as being limiting in scopc.

Claims

Claims Claim 1. Procedure for fixing a doorframe or windowframe, termed

a frame, in an opening in a wall, the wall have an inside surface arid an outside surface, and for applying wood trim around the frame, including: [2] providing an inside set of plastic spline-clips, each spline-clip having the following characteristics:- [3] -the spline-clip has a unitary cross-sectional profile that includes a wall-spline and a jamb-spline, the two splines protruding from a connecting web of the clip; and [4] -the web has a wall-contact surface, and the spline-clip is so structured that the wall-contact surface of the web can make touching contact with the flat surface of the wall; [5] providing the frame as a split-frame, comprising an inside-frame that includes left and right inside-jambs, and a separable outside frame that includes left and right outside-jambs, wherein:- [6] -the split-frame includes an engageable split-guide, which is so structured that, when the split-guide is engaged, the inside-frame is movable relative to the outside-frame, being guided and constrained by the split-guide for relative movement only towards and away from the outside-frame, being the inside-outside direction; [7] -the structure of the split-guide is such that the inside-frame can be assembled to the outside-frame, in the inside-outside direction, and when assembled thereto the split-guide is effective to prevent relative movement between the inside and outside frames in the left-right and up-down directions; and [8] -the outside-frame lies assembled into the opening in the wall, and is rigidly fixed to the wall; [9] attaching the inside set of spline-clips to the inside-frame, thereby forming an inside sub-assembly comprising the inside-frame and the inside spline-clips attached thereto; [10] positicniriq the inside sub-assembly in the opening in the wall; [11] engaging the split-guide, and moving the inside sub-assembly towards the outside sub-assembly until the respective wall-contact-surfaces of the inside spline-clips lie flat against the inside surface of the wall; [12] then driving fasteners through the webs of the inside spline-clips, thereby fastening the inside spline-clips and the inside-frame to the wall; and [13] then assembling wood trim onto the inside spline-ciLips.

Claim
2. As in claim 1, wherein the outside-frame is a windowframe, and includes a window. *1

Claim
3. As in claim 1, including, prior to assembling the inside frame into the opening, assembling the outside-frame into the opening by the following procedure: [2] providing an outside set of the plastic spline-clips; [3] attaching the outside splirie-clips to the outside-frame, to form an outside sub-assembly comprising the outside-frame and the outside spline-clips attached thereto; [4] positioning the outside sub-assembly in the opening in the wall; [51 with the wall-contact-surfaces of the outside spline-clips fiat against the outside surface of the wall, adjusting the orientation of the outside-door-frame until the outside door-frame is aligned squarely within the opening; [6] then driving fasteners through the webs of the outside spline-clips, thereby fastening the outside spline-clips and the outside-frame to the wall; and [7] then assembling wood trim onto the outside spline-clips.

Claim
4. As in claim 3, wherein: [2] the outside-frame is a doorframe, and includes a door; and [3] the door is hinged to one of the left and right inside-jambs, and latched to the other.

Claim
5. As in claim 1, including: [2] providing the wood trim with the following characteritsics:- [3] -the wood trim has a unitary cross-sectional profile that includes a wall-spline-slot and a jamb-spline-slot; [4] -the respective proximal walls of the slots together define a male dovetail form, being of a maximum overall width DM; [5] the profile includes a wail-land, beyond the wall-spline-slot, for making contact with an outer flat surface of the wall; and [6] -the profile includes a jamb-land, beyond the jamb-spline-slot, for making contact with an edge face of a jamb component of the frame; and [7] providing the spline-clips with the following characteristics: - [8] -the two splines of the spline-clip are so angled relatively, and both so angled relative to the web, as to define a female dovetail shape between the two splines; [9] -the two splines converge together, the further away from the web, to a minimum distance apart DF, where DF is smaller than DM; and [10] -the spline-olip is elastically deflectable, to the extent that the splines can be separated to the distance DM by the application of a separating force, and can recover resiliently, without damage, upon the separating force being no longer applied.

Claim
6. As in claim 1, wherein: [2] the inside-jambs and the outside-jambs have respective edge-faces facing each other; and [3] providing the engageable split-guide by forming respective key-grooves formed in the respective edge-faces, and providing a key which engages both key-grooves.

Claim
7. As in claim 1, including attaching the inside set of spline-clips to the inside-frame by the following procedure: [2] the inside-jambs having respective inside edge-faces lying in substantially the same plane as the inside surface of the wall, forming respective inside spline-clip grooves in the inside edge-faces of the inside jambs; [3] providing respective barbed lugs on the webs of the inside spline-clips, the barbed lugs protruding towards the inside-j ambs; [4] engaging the barbed lugs into the spline-clip grooves; [5] designing the lugs on the inside spline-clips to be a tight fit in the spline-clip grooves in the inside jambs, whereby, when the lug is present inside the spline-clip groove, the spline-clip is thereby secured firmly to the jamb.

Claim
8. As in claim 1, including: [2] in the left-right sense, by so moving the sub-assembly that the web of the inside clip moves horizonally over the inside surface of the wall; [3] in the up-down sense, in that the flat of the web of the inside clip is movable vertically over the flat inside surface of the wall, while remaining in contact with that surface; CLAIM
9. Combination of wood-trim and spline-clips, wherein: [2] the spline-clips are effective to attach the wood-trim around a door or window installation, being an installation that includes an opening in a wall; [3] the wall, in respect of a cross-sectional profile of the opening in the wall, includes parallel opposite outer surfaces, and includes also a jamb-piece; [4] the jamb-piece has respective outer surfaces which are at least approximately co-planar with the outer surfaces of the wall; [5] the spline-clips of the combination are of plastic material, which is capable of being pierced by a pointed fastener such as a staple or nail; [6] each spline-clip is configured as follows:- [7] the spline-clip is in one piece, which has a profile having an overall width W; [81 the width W of the spline-clip includes a web-portion, which is shaped to lie flat against one of the outer surfaces of the wall; [9] the web-portion is shaped to bridge a gap between one of the outer surfaces of the wall and the co-planar outer surface of the jamb-piece; [10] the web-portion of the spline-clip has a wail-end and a jamb-end; [11] at or near the wall-end of the web, the spline-clip includes a protruding wall-spline; [12] at or near the jamb-end of the web, the spline-clip includes an protruding jamb-spline; [13] each spline has an inner-side-face, being, in respect of each spline, the face that faces the other spline; [14] the respective inner-side-faces of the splines on the spline-clip lie spaced apart a distance DC; [15] the inner-side-faces slope inwards with respect to the web- portion, in such manner that the respective inner-side-faces of the two splines of the spline-clip together create a female dovetail form; [16] the distance DC is measured parallel to the wall, and the female dovetail form is so configured that the distance DC decreases in proportion to the spacing of the distance DC from the wall; [171 the splines have tips, and the minimum value of the distance DC, termed DC-mm, occurs at or near the tips; [18] the wood-trim has the following characteristics: [19] the wood-trim is made of rigid solid material; [20] the wood-trim has a profile that includes a wall-side face, being a face of the trim that lies against the wall, and is thereby hidden from view, when installed; [21] formed into the wall-side face of the trim are two spline-slots, being a wall-end spline-s.tot and a jamb-end spline-slot; [22] the two spline-slots are angled inwards, at angles corresponding to the respective slopes of the two splines; [23] the two spline-slots in the wood-trim have respective inner-faces, which lie spaced apart a distance DT; [24] the two inner-faces slope inwards with respect to the web-portion, in such manner that the two inner-faces of the slots in the wood-trim together create a male dovetail form; [25] the distance DT is measured parallel to the wall, and the male dovetail form is so configured that the distance DI decreases in proportion to the spacing of the distance DT from the wall; [26] the slots have entry corners, and the maximum magnitude of the distance DT, termed DT-max, occurs at or near the entry-corners;

4-1- [27] the distance DC-mm of the female dovetail form is smaller than the distance CT-max of the male dovetail form; [28] the plastic material of the spline-clip is flexible and pliable enough that, when the splines are forced apart with a force F of such magnitude that the minimum distance DC-mm between the splines is increased to the distance DT-max, and then released, the splines spring back resiliently without taking a permanent set; and [29] the solid material of the wood-trim is rigid enough that a force of the same maqntude as the force F, when applied between the entry-corners, causes substantially no reduction in the distance DT-min.

Claim
10. As in claim 9, wherein: [2] the distance DT-max of the solid material of the trim is greater than the distance DT-min measured when the plastic material is unstressed, by an interference distance ID millimetres; [3] ID is at least 4'min.

Claim
11. Procedure for fixing a doorframe or windowframe, termed a frame, in an opening in a wall, and for applying wood trim around the frame, including: [2] providing wood trim having the following characteritsicS: [3] -the wood trim has a unitary cross-sectional trim profile that includes a wall-spline-slot and a jamb-spline-slot; [4] -the respective proximal walls of the slots in the trim profile together define a male dovetail form, being of a maximum overall width DM; [5] -the trim profile includes a wall-land, beyond the wall-spline-slot, for making contact with a flat surface of the wall; and [6] -the profile includes a jamb-land, beyond the jamb-spline-slot, for making contact with an edge face of a jamb component of the frame; [7] providing an inside set of plastic spline-clips, each having the following charaoertsitiOs: [8] -the spline-clip has a unitary cross-sectional spline-clip profile that includes a wall-spline and a jarn.b-spline, the two splines prctruding from a web of the spline-clip, which joins the two splines; [9] -the web has a wall-contact surface, and the spline-clip is so structured that the wall-contact surface of the web can make touching contact with the flat surface of the wall; [10] -the two splines are so angled relatively as to define a female dovetail shape between the two splines; [11] -the two splines converge together, the further away from the web, to a minimum distance apart DF, where DF is smaller than DM; and [12] -the spline-clip is resiliently deflectable, to the extent that the splines can be separated to the distance DM by the application of a separating force, and can recover elastically, without damage, upon the separating force being no longer applied; [13] making a sub-assembly of the frame and the inside set of plastic spline-clip; [14] fixing the spline-clips to the frame, in the sub-assembly; [15] placing the sub-assembly in the opening; [16] adjusting the position of the sub-assembly in the inside-outside sense relative to the opening in the wall by moving the sub-assembly in the inside-outside direction until the flat of the web of the clip lies in contact with the flat inside surface of the wall; [17] with the web of the spline-clip in contact wth the flat wall surface, driving a fastener through the web and into the wall; [18] with the spline-clip attached to the wall, and the two splines of the spline-clip protruding out from the wall, assembling the wood trim onto the spline-clip by placing one of the grooves in the wood trim over one of the splines of the spline-clip; [19] so positioning the wood trim, and so applying a manual force to the wood trim in the direction towards the wall, that the male dovetail in the wood trim, in moving towards the wall, bends one of the splines outwards relative to the other spline, with such deflection as to enable the male dovetail to enter between the splines; [20] pressing the wood trim so far towards the wall that the elasticity of the spline-clip causes the spline to move back, over the male dovetail; [21] whereby the splines apply a force to the male dovetail urging the wood trim in the direction towards the wall.

Claim
12. Corner cover apparatus, for covering corners at which two pieces of profiled trim converge, in combination with the trim, wherein: [2] the trim is of the same cross-sectional trim profile at all points along its length; [3] the trim has an outside or front face, which is formed with a front face profile; [4] the two pieces of trim converge at an angle A; [5] the corner-cover includes two limbs, set at the angle A to each other; [6] the two limbs are joined rigidly together at the apex of the angle A; [7] the limbs have respective inside faces, having respective inside face profiles; [8] in respect of each limb of the corner-cover:-[9] -the inside face profile of the limb is the same at all points along the length of the limb; [10] -the front face profile of the limb is the same at all pcints along the length of the limb; [11] -the limb is shaped and dimensioned to fit against the trim; and [121 -when so fitted, the inside face profile of the limb lies against the front face profile of the trim and the front face profile of the limb is visible; and [13] the apparatus includes a fastening means, which is effective to urge the inside faces of the limbs into contact with the respective front faces of the two converging pieces of trim, and thus to attach the cover to both pieces.

Claim
13. As in claim 12, wherein the profile of the trim is so configured that, when the pieces of trim are fitted to converging walls, with the lengths of the pieces disposed horizontally along the walls, the height or vertical dimension of the profile is much greater than the thickness or horizontal dimension of the profile.

Claim
14. As in claim 12, wherein the two limbs of the corner-cover are indentical as to their profiles, dimensions, and materials.

Claim
15. As in claim 12, wherein the two limbs of the corner-cover are formed together as a unitary structure.

Claim
16. As in claim 12, wherein, in respect of the two limbs, the crcss-sectional thickness of the limb, being the smallest distance between the inside face profile and the front face profile of the limb, is the same at all points along the length of the limb.

Claim N. As in claim 12, wherein the cross-sectional thickness of the limb, being the smallest distance between the inside face profile and the front face profile of the limb, is at least approximately the same over the whole extent of the face profiles.

Claim 18. As in claim 12, wherein the inside face profile of the limb is formed as an accurate negative of the front face profile of the trim, in that, when the limb of the corner-cover is placed against the front face of the limb, the inside face profile of the corner-cover conforms closely to the front face profile of the limb.

Claim 19. As in claim 12, wherein, in respect of the two limbs, 4-7 the front face profile of the limb conforms at least approximately to the inside face profile of the limb, to the extent that the visible appearance of the corner-cover, when viewed with the trim, merges unobtrusively with the visible appearance of the trim.

Claim 20. As in claim 12, wherein the corner-cover apparatus includes an outer cover of relatively hard rigid material on which the front face profile is formed, and a lining of relatively soft, flexible, deformable material, such as a foam or sponge material, on which the inside-face profile is formed.

Claim 21. As in claim 12, wherein: [2] the fastening means comprises patches of adhesive present on the inside faces of the limbs of the corner-cover; and [3] the adhesive is protected with respective protectors which can be peeled away just before applying the corner-cover to the pieces of trim.

Claim 22. As in claim 12, wherein the trim is baseboard trim.

Claim 23. As in claim 12, wherein the trim is chair rail trim.

Claim 24. As in claim 12, wherein the angle A is a right angle.

Claim 25. As in claim 12, wherein the lengths of the limbs are between three and ten cm.

Claim 26. As in claim 12, wherein the corner-cover is configured to cover an external corner.

Claim 27. As in claim 12, wherein the corner-cover is configured to cover an internal corner.

Claim 28. As in claim 27, wherein: [2] the corner-cover includes a platform, which is configured to overlie an upwards-facing top surface of the trim; and [3] the platform is of a thickness that is thinner than that of the cross-sectional profile of the limb, between the front profile and the inside profile.

Claim 29. As in claim 12, wherein the material of the corner-cover is one of:-solid wood, or injection-moulded plastic.

Claim 30. System for attaching trim, including baseboard trim and chair-rail trim, to a wall of a room, wherein: [2] the system includes hook-clips, and includes fasteners whereby the hook-clips can be attached to the wall; [3] the trim is of the same cross-sectional trim profile at all points along its length; [4] the hock-clips are of the same cross-sectional hook-clip profile along their lengths; [5] the trim profile includes a hook-engaging surface, which faces into the room; [6] the trim profile includes a wall-facing-surface; [7] the haok-clp profile includes an upstanding hook, having a hook surface, which faces the wall; [8] the hook-clip profile includes a buffer, having a buffer surface, which faces into the room; [9] at least one of the hook or the buffer is resiliently or elastically deflectable; [10] the system is so configured that, when the hook-clips are attached to the wall, the trim can be attached to the hook-clips by lowering the trim downwards onto the hook-clips, and can be removed from the hook-clips by lifting the trim upwards from the hook-clips; [111 the trim profile is so configured, in relation to the wall and to the hook-clip profile, that when the trim is lowered down onto the hook-clips, the trim profile tcuches the hook profile at (i) a top-of-trim contact point T, at (ii) a hook contact point H, and at (iii) a buffer contact point B, wherein:- [12] -the point T is a point on the wall-facing surface of the trim, at or near the top of the trim profile, and on the wall, at which forceful contact occurs; [131 the point H is a point on the wall-facing hook-face of the hook, and on the room-facing hook-engaging surface of the trim, at which forceful contact occurs; and [14] -the point B is a point on the wall-facing back surface of the trim, and on the room-facing buffer surface of the buffer, at which forceful contact occurs; [15] the point T lies above the point H, and the point B lies below the point H; and [16] the effect of the forceful contacts is such that the said at least one of the hook or the buffer undergoes an elastic deflection.

Claim 31. As in claim 30, wherein: [2] the hook-clip profile includes a ledge; [3] the trim profile includes a nose; and [4] the nose and the ledge are so located in their respective profiles that the trim can be lowered down onto the hook-clips until the nose comes to rest on the ledge.

Claim 32. As in claim 30, wherein: [2] the profile of the trim includes a hook-slot, one side of which comprises the room-facing hook-engaging surface of the trim profile, and the other side comprises a hook-slot wall-facing surface of the trim profile; [3] the sides of the hook-slot in the trim profile are substantially parallel; [4] the hook is slightly thicker than the width apart of the sides of the hook-slot, to the extent that the hook interferes with the oak-slot; [5] the surface of the hook is rippled, thereby limiting the interference grip of the hook in the hook-slot; [6] whereby the interference provides a controlled retention force, which resists removal of the trim from the hook-clips.

Claim 33. As in claim 30, wherein: [2] the profile of the trim is so shaped, as a whole profile, that it can be out in a profile cutting machine; [3] being a machine in which the trim passes through along a work-line, and the profile is cut by saws or cutters which rotate about respective axes; and [4] each axis forms a right angle to the work-line when viewed from above and from the side of the work-line.

Claim 34. As in claim 30, wherein: [5] the profile of the trim and the profile of the hook-clip are so configured that, when the trim is assembled to the hook-clips, the trim is capable of rotating or rocking about the hook as a fulcrum; [6] whereby, during installation, when the trim is touching the hook at the point H, and is touching the buffer at the point B, the said elastic deflection urges the trim profile to rotate, about the hook, in the sense to move the top of the trim towards the wall; [7] thereby creating the said forceful contact between the top of the trim and the wall at the point T. Claim 35. As in claim 30, wherein: [2] all the said surfaces are vertical or have a substantial vertical component; whereby:- [3] -forces created by the forceful contact at the points T, H, and B are all horizontal or have a substantial horizontal component; and [4] -the horizontal contact force at the point H is reacted by the sum of the horizontal forces at the points T and B. Claim 36. As in claim 30, wherein each hook-clip is of a unitary structure, the hook and the buffer being formed together in the profile thereof.

Claim 37. As in claim 30, wherein the profile of the trim and the profile of the buffer are so configured that the point B is a point of contact directly between the trim and the wall.

Claim 38. As in claim 30, wherein the trim profile is relieved at locations between the contact-points, to the extent that contact with the wall of the room occurs only at point T, and contact with the buffer occurs only at point B. Claim 39. As in claim 30, wherein: [2] the point is at the very top of the trim profile, in that substantially no portion of the trim profile protrudes above the point T; and [3] the point T lies at the junction between an upwards-facing top surface of, and a wall-facing back surface of, the profile of the trim.

Claim 40. As in claim 30, wherein the trim is baseboard trim.

Claim 41. As in claim 30, wherein the trim is chair rail trim.

Claim 42. procedure for attaching an inside jamb-frame and trim to an outside jamb-frame of an existing doorframe or window frame, by the following procedure: [2] providing a profiled moulding, the profile of which is formed with an internal angle; [3] where the interral angle is dimensioned to fit over and engage with a corner of an the edge face of the existing outside-jamb; [4] fixing the profiled moulding to the existing outside-jamb; [5] where the profile of the profiled moulding includes a slot, and where a key engages the slot, and thereby locates or positions the inside jamb-frame with respect to the profiled moulding, and thereby with respect to the outside jamb-frame; [6] attaching an inside set of spline-clips to an edge face of the outside frame; [7] positioning the inside frame, with the inside spline-clips attached, such that the inside spline-clips lie flat against the inside wall; [8] driving fasteners through the webs of the inside spline-clips, to secure the inside spline-clips, and thereby the inside jamb-frame, to the wall; [9] then applying wood trim to the inside spline-clips.

Claim 43. As in claim 42 wherein the key is separable from the inside jamb-frame.