MXPA99002492A - Molding affixed with wedged divider track - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongated wedge shaped spline (1) can be used for joining work pieces in a dovetail joint. It can be used in joining a work piece, such as molding (5) in a dovetailed joint. A divider track (2) having a base support and a pair of spaced apart flanges (20) extending at a right angle from the front surface of the base support is first affixed to a surface. The wedge shaped spline (1) is positioned between and in abutment with the upper portion of the spaced apart flanges (20). A fan shaped mortise (50) on the back surface of a work piece is positioned over the wedge shaped spline (1) between and abutting the upper portion of the spaced apart flanges (20). Pressure is applied on the front surface of the work surface of the work piece for seating the work piece on the divider track (2), thereby forcing the wedge shaped spline (1) between the flanges (20) and spreading the flanges (20). The spread apart flanges (20) engage the side walls of the fan shaped mortise (50) for joining the work piece in a dovetailed joint with the divider track (2).

Description

MOLDING FIXED WITH RAILED DIVIDER RAIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the assembly of a workpiece with a wedge-shaped insert and a divider rail. This wedge-shaped false tongue and the method of installation is particularly useful in the installation of laminate flooring, moldings and other decorative items.

Description of the Related Art The commercially available laminate floor material generally includes a wear or wear surface attached to a substrate. The wear surface is generally a decorative laminate with high wear resistance. The substrate is usually fiber board or particle board. Each piece of laminate floor material generally has a groove along one end and a side suitable for joining with a tongue along one side or end of an adjacent piece of laminate floor material. The laminated floor material is commercially installed on a bearing. Aluminum divider rails are used commercially for the installation of flexible moldings, such as vinyl trim. This includes the installation of the transition and expansion molding, end covers and strip strips. The divider rails are fixed to a floor and a rib over the back of the flexible molding that locks between a pair of tabs extending from the front of the divider rail. Indents that extend along the rib and the inner surfaces of the eyelashes, lock to resist the removal of the ribs of the eyelashes. The molding can be installed by intenecting it with a divider rail without the penetration of its decorative front surface with a fastening means or otherwise mistreating it. There is a need in the installation of molding to securely fix the molding without damaging its decorative front surface. In the installation of laminate flooring material, there is a need for the molding covered with the laminate to match the pattern of the laminate flooring material. There is a need for a method to install a molding covered with a laminated material that does not mistreat its decorative surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has now been discovered that an elongated wedge shaped tab can be used to join workpieces in a socket. The insert tab is preferably made of rigid material extruded in the shape of a wedge with one or more indentations extending along one or both of the inclined sides of the wedge, to lock with one or more of the extended serrations as required. along one or both of the inner surfaces of the flanges extending at right angles to the front surface of a divider rail. The wedge-shaped false tab has sufficient width between its inclined sides to extend the eyelashes as the wedge-shaped false tab is forced between the eyelashes. The wedge-shaped insert is wider in its upper part than in its lower part and can have inwardly inclining sides at an angle of approximately 2 to 8 degrees, preferably from 2 to 5 degrees and more preferably approximately 2.5 degrees. . The wedge-shaped insert tab of this invention can be used in joining a workpiece, such as a molding, into a socket joint. First, a divider rail having a support base and a pair of spaced tabs extending at a right angle from the front surface of the support base is fixed to a surface. The wedge-shaped false tongue is positioned between and in embedding with the highest portion of the tabs separated. A fan-shaped box on the back surface of a workpiece is placed over the wedge-shaped false tab between and supported by the upper portion of the separate tabs. Pressure is applied to the front surface of the workpiece to seat the workpiece in the divider rail, thus forcing the wedge-shaped false tongue between the eyelashes and extending the eyelashes. The detached flanges, extended, engage with the side walls of the fan-shaped box to join the work piece in a joint fitted with the divider rail. One or more indentations may extend along the lower portion of one or both sides of the wedge-shaped false tab to engage with one or more serrations along the upper portion of the internal upper surface of one or both of the tabs without substantially extending them to position (or prepare) the tab on the divider rail while a fan-shaped box on the back surface of an expansion molding is positioned over the wedge-shaped tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the above assistance advantages will be readily obtained as long as it is better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of a wedge-shaped insert tab of the present invention used in the installation of an expansion joint between the sections of the laminate floor material. Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the serrations in a wedge-shaped insert tab of the present invention interconnected with 80 serrations in the flanges of a divider rail and the separation of the flanges while forcing the false tongue between the tabs. Figure 6 shows the placement of the molding on the flanges of the divider rail in conjunction with two connecting sections of the laminated floor material, as a means for determining the fit between the molding and the flanges of the divider rail. Figure 7 shows the Metric and English dimensions of a preferred embodiment of the elongated wedge-shaped tab of this invention. Figures 8 and 9 show the Metric and English dimensions of a specific embodiment of the expansion molding and divider rail that can be installed in the form of a wedge-shaped insert tab shown in Figure 7. 90 Figure 10 shows a cross section of a wedge-shaped insert tab of a further preferred embodiment of the present invention having a serration on each side of the wedge-shaped insert. Figure 11 shows a cross-section of a pair of tabs of a preferred embodiment of the present invention having undercut cuts on the outer surface 95 at the base of each flange and serrations along the internal surfaces of each flange. Figure 12 shows a preferred embodiment of a wedge-shaped insert in a preparation position in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 shows the preferred wedge-shaped plug tab of Figure 10 in place with the preferred tab of Figure 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The use of a wedge-shaped insert tab (1) of the present invention for installing the expansion molding (5) for floor laminate material (6) is shown in Figures 1 to 3. The embodiment of wedge-shaped false tongue (1) of the embodiment shown has the tabs (20) extended on a divider rail (2), preferably made of aluminum, to firmly interconnect the molding and the divider rail 110 with a fitting gasket, Figure 1. Floor material (6) is usually installed on a bearing (7). The expansion molding (5) shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6 and 8 is the cardboard board (9) covered with laminate (8). The laminated material can be attached to other substrates, such as particle board, wood or extruded plastics, to make moldings 115 or other work pieces. This expansion molding has a fan-shaped box (50) on its flat rear side. This fan-shaped box (50) has side walls that extend at an acute angle from a flat back surface of the expansion molding (5) to make a fan-shaped box (50) with its lower part being wider than the opening of the box in its upper part. A pair of preferred flanges (20) extend at right angles from the front planar surface of an elongated aluminum divider rail (2), Figures 1 to 6 and 9. One or more serrations (21) extend along the length of the internal upper surfaces of the tabs (20). One or more indentations (10) also extend along the sides of the elongated wedge-shaped false tongue (1). The serrations (10) along a lower portion of the sides of the wedge-shaped false tab (1) are shown as being connected with the serrations (21) along the upper portion of the upper surface of the eyelashes (20) without extending them substantially, Figures 2 and 4. This interconnection holds the false tongue on the divider rail, while the fan-shaped box (50) on the surface 130 of the expansion molding (5) is positioned on the wedge-shaped insert (1). This position is a preparatory position for enlisting the tab / tab assembly to receive a work piece such as a molding (5). The upper part of the wedge-shaped insert tab (1) of this invention is shown in Figure 3, in contact with the bottom surface of the box in the form 135 of fan (50). While the expansion molding is seated in the divider rail (2), the wedge-shaped tab (1) is forced between the flanges (20), extending them outwards towards the side walls of the fan-shaped box, Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. This joins the expansion molding (5) and the divider rail (2) with a gasket in the form of a fitting. The use of a fitted gasket is considered as a very safe method to join pieces of 140 work. However, conventional socket joints have to be formed to have the work pieces close to each other at an angle, to allow the pieces of the joint to fit one inside the other. The present invention provides a socket joint that is formed "in situ" by joining the front work pieces. In the installation of the expansion molding with the false tongue in shape 145 of the present invention, the divider rail (2) is installed first and the molding (5) is cut. Before placing the wedge-shaped insert in the divider rail, the molding can be seated on the divider rail to check the trim fit, Figure 6. The elongated wedge-shaped tab of this invention and divider rail shown in the figures that illustrate the present invention can be made by 150 extrusion of molded metal, preferably aluminum, or rigid synthetic resin. The selection of suitable molding extrusion materials, methods and equipment is known to those skilled in the art of extrusion molding. A specific embodiment of the elongated, wedge-shaped false tab of this invention is shown in Figure 7. This form of the false tab in the form 155 of this invention can be used for the installation of elongated expansion moldings shown in Figure 8 with an elongated divider rail as shown in Figure 9. The dimensions shown in Figures 7-9 are in inches and centimeters. The wedge-shaped insert tab of this invention is wider in its upper part than in its lower part. In a preferred embodiment of this invention the 160 sides slope inward at an angle of about 2 to 8 degrees, more preferably 2 to 5 degrees and more preferably at an angle of about 2.5 degrees. The wedge-shaped insert tab of this invention is formed and sized to extend the flanges on a divider rail to fit with the side walls of a box in a workpiece. Excessive pressure on the walls of the box can 165 damage the work piece. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wedge-shaped insert (1) shown in cross section in Figure 10, only one indentation (10) on each side of the wedge-shaped insert (1). The simple indentation (10) is provided in a position above the midpoint of each 170 side (the closest to the wide end) of the wedge-shaped false tab (1). This simplified form of the false tongue (1) is easy to extrude, be it metal or rigid synthetic resin. It is most preferred, in this embodiment as well as other embodiments of the false tab (1) of the present invention, that the false tab be made of a rigid synthetic resin. Convenient rigid synthetic resins include, but are not 175 limited to polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polystyrenes, as well as copolymers such as ABS, HIPS, etc., while the resin is extrudable. An additional requirement of the resin is that it must provide sufficient stiffness to each indentation (10) in such a way that the indentation (10) is not destroyed during the preparation and installation steps of the workpiece. The synthetic resin must also have sufficient structural integrity so that 180 is not cracked or deformed in the application of the workpiece to the prepared tongue / eyelash structure, but must be able to force the tabs outward to form the socket with the fan-shaped portion (50) of the workpiece, such as in the molding (5). In the preferred embodiment, the false tongue is prepared from plastics 185 recycled simple or combined that have been exempted in the form of a false tongue. In further preferred embodiments, the false tab is provided as short sections of false tab of up to about 2 to 5 inches in length, where a plurality of tab sections are inserted along an extended tab assembly to act effectively as "nail points" along the eyelash assembly, 190 without the need for nails or other invasions within the installation work piece. In this embodiment, the plurality of the false tab section is prepared along the tab assembly. The workpiece is then placed on the prepared tongue and pushed to the place on the tabs as described above to generate the snap joint. In this way less material of false tongue is needed for a 195 particular length of work piece. This also provides the ability to remove work pieces although this usually destroys the work piece and the false tongue. The tabs will remain in position with unused portions located between the locations of the previous false tongues. Therefore, new lengths of false tongues can be prepared in unused areas of the eyelashes and a new piece of 200 installed work.

The preferred tab (1) of Figure 10 can be used with tabs such as those of Figures 1 to 6 and 9, or can be used with a preferred embodiment of flange (20) as shown in Figure 11. tab (20) of the present invention has one or more serrations (21), 205 preferably a plurality, along the internal surfaces of each flange in par. The plurality of serrations provides the initial preparation of the wedge-shaped false tab described above and preferably further provides an audible signal that the work piece has been properly and completely seated by generating a rattle sound, while the false tab moves down the surfaces 210 internal of the pair of tabs, extending the pair of tabs. The flanges are preferably made of extruded metal, most preferably aluminum. However, any rigid moldable material can be used in the preparation of the eyelashes, such as rigid synthetic resins. The tabs are fixed to a base support (22) as shown in figures 11, 12 and 13. The 215 flange assembly (combining two tabs and the base support) can be used as is or can further comprise one or two coplanar foot assemblies (23) with the base support (22) and extend on the outer side of one or both tabs as shown in figures 11, 12 and 13. When used without these foot assemblies, the flange assembly can be fixed to a surface using a mounting means that extends 220 through the base support, such as a screw or rivet, while the mounting medium leaves the inner surface of the base support (between the two flanges) relatively smooth (does not extend significantly over the surface of the base support) . This allows the false tab (1) to insert completely into the tab assembly. When one or two foot assemblies are present, the mounting means 225 can be used on the outer side of the foot assemblies of the tab / tab assembly. Preferably the upper surface of the foot assemblies is also relatively smooth to provide a close fit with the contact surface of the workpiece. Alternatively, the flange assembly, with or without foot assemblies, can 230 be mounted using a convenient conventional adhesive. In a highly preferred embodiment, the flanges preferably have a cut or notch (24) on the outer surface near the intersection of the base support and the lower part of the flange, such that on the insertion of the false tab (1), Less force is needed to force the flange into parts than without cutting. This allows the installation of a 235 work piece with minimum force, such as by manual pressure, allowing the installer to avoid damaging a decorative surface of the work piece. The socket joint formed by the flange / tongue tab assembly of the workpiece of the present invention provides an easy, quick and convenient way to install a variety of work pieces, particularly decorative workpieces.

For example, the work piece may be a product of laminate material for floor, edges, moldings such as the decorative railing of chairs, or any other material that has to be mounted on a surface without damaging the surface of the workpiece which is exposed after installation. While the illustrative modalities have been described with particularity 245 of the invention, it will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent and that they can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the examples and descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all the details of 250 patentable novelties that reside in the present invention, including all the details that are treated as equivalent to them by those experts in the art to which this invention relates.

Claims (33)

1. An elongated wedge-shaped tab for joining work pieces into a socket joint, comprising: a false tab of rigid material extruded in the shape of a wedge with one or more serrations extending along each side inclined of the wedge to lock with one or more indentations extending along the interior surfaces of 260 a pair of tabs extending at right angles from a front surface of a divider rail and having a sufficient width between their inclined sides to extend the tabs while the wedge-shaped tab is forced between the tabs extending at right angles from the front surface of a divider rail.

2. The elongated wedge-shaped false tab according to claim 265, wherein the wedge-shaped false tab is wider in its upper part than in its lower part and its sides are inclined inward from the upper part. until the bottom at an angle of about 2 to 5 degrees.

3. The wedge-shaped elongated false tab according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped false tongue is wider in its part 270 upper that in its lower part and its sides are inclined inward from the top to the bottom at an angle of about 2.5 degrees.

4. The elongate wedge-shaped tab according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped insert is made of extruded plastic. 275.

The elongated wedge-shaped tab according to claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped insert is made of metal.

6. The wedge-shaped elongated false tab according to claim 5, wherein the metal is aluminum.

7. A divider rail, comprising: a base support; and a pair of tabs extending at right angles from a front surface of the base support; wherein each said pair of tabs has one or more serrations on an upper portion of an inner surface of the flange and wherein each of said 285 pair of tabs has a low relief cutout on an external surface at an intersection between said flange and said base support.

The divider rail according to claim 7, wherein said divider rail is made of metal.

9. The divider rail according to claim 8, wherein said 290 metal is aluminum.

The divider rail according to claim 7, further comprising one or more coplanar foot assemblies with said base support and extending over one or both sides of said flanges.

11. A method for attaching a work piece to a fitting board, which 295 comprises: attaching a divider rail to a surface, wherein said divider rail has a base support and a pair of spaced tabs extending at a right angle from a front surface of the base support, positioning a false tab in the form wedge between and adjacent to a 300 upper portion of the spaced tabs, position a fan-shaped box, located on the back surface of the workpiece, over the wedge-shaped false tab between and abutting the upper portion of the spaced tabs, and apply pressure on a front surface of the work piece to seat 305 the work piece on the divider rail, thereby forcing the wedge-shaped false tab between the tabs and extending the tabs, the detached tabs extended coupling the side walls of the fan-shaped box to join the work piece in a joint of lace with the divider rail.

The method for attaching a work piece to a fitted gasket 310 according to claim 11, wherein one or more serrations along a lower portion of one or both sides of the wedge-shaped false tab are engaged. with one or more indentations along an upper portion of one or both of the upper interior surfaces of the eyelashes without substantially extending the eyelashes, to position the false tab on the divider rail while the fan-shaped box on 315 the back surface of the expansion molding is positioned on the wedge-shaped false tab.

The method for joining a workpiece into a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein one or more serrations extend along one or both of the inner upper surfaces of the eyelashes and along one 320 or both sides of the elongated wedge-shaped false tongue to lock the false tab between the tabs.

The method for joining a work piece in a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein the wedge-shaped false tongue is wider in its upper part than in its lower part and its sides are inclined towards the inside. 325 from the top to the bottom at an angle of about 2 to 5 degrees.

The method for joining a workpiece into a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein the wedge-shaped false tongue is wider at its upper part than at its lower part and its sides are tilted inward from the upper part towards the bottom at an angle of about 2.5 degrees.

16. The method for joining a workpiece in a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein the fan-shaped box has side walls extending at an acute angle from a flat back surface of the workpiece. to make a fan-shaped box with its lower part that is wider than the opening for the box on its upper part.

The method for joining a workpiece into a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein each pair of spaced tabs has a low relief cutout on an external surface at an intersection between said flange and said base support. .

18. The method for attaching a work piece to a fitted gasket 340 according to claim 11, wherein said divider rail is made of metal.

19. The method for joining a workpiece into a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein said metal is aluminum.

The method for attaching a work piece to a fitted gasket according to claim 11, wherein said divider rail further comprises one or 345 plus coplanar foot assemblies with said base support and extending over one or both sides of said flanges.

21. A method for attaching a molding to a socket joint, comprising: attaching a divider rail to a surface, wherein the divider rail has a base support and a pair of spaced tabs extending at a right angle from a base. the front surface of the base support, positioning a wedge-shaped false tab between and abutting an upper portion of the spaced tabs, positioning a fan-shaped box, located on a rear surface 355 of the molding, on the false tab wedge shape between and abutting the upper portion of the spaced tabs, and applying pressure to a front surface of the molding to seat the molding on the divider rail, thereby forcing the wedge-shaped false tab between the tabs and extending the lashes, the tabs extended apart coupling with the 360 side walls of the fan-shaped box to join the work piece in a joint fitted with a divider rail.

22. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein one or more serrations along a lower portion of one or both sides of the wedge-shaped insert tab are engaged with a wedge. 365 or more serrations along an upper portion of one or both of the upper inner surfaces of the flanges, without substantially extending the flanges, to position the false tab on the divider rail while the fan-shaped box on the rear surface of the tab the molding is positioned on the wedge-shaped false tongue.

23. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket in accordance 370 with claim 21, wherein one or more serrations extend along one or both of the upper interior surfaces of the flanges and along one or both sides of the lengthened false tongue in the form of a wedge to lock the false tongue between the eyelashes.

24. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket in accordance 375 with claim 21, wherein the wedge-shaped false tongue is wider in its upper part than in its lower part and its sides are inclined inward from the part top to the bottom at an angle of about 2 to 5 degrees.

25. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein the wedge-shaped false tongue is wider in its 380 upper part that in its lower part and its sides inclines inwards from the top to the bottom at an angle of about 2.5 degrees.

26. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein the fan-shaped box has the side side walls extending at an acute angle from a flat rear surface of the 385 molding to make a fan-shaped box with its lower part that is wider than the opening of the box in its upper part.

27. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein the molding is cardboard board wrapped with laminated material.

28. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein the molding is particle board, wood or extruded plastic wrapped with laminated material.

29. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein the molding has a fan-shaped box in its 395 flat back side.

30. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein each of said pair of flanges has a low relief cut on an external surface at an intersection bet said flange and said base support.

31. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein said dividing rail is made of metal.

32. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein said metal is aluminum. The method for joining moldings in a fitted gasket according to claim 21, wherein said dividing rail further comprises one or more coplanar foot assemblies with said base support and extending on one or both sides of said flanges.