US2887739A

US2887739A - Detachable baseboards

Info

Publication number: US2887739A
Application number: US659989A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oliver W Bensman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-05-17
Filing date: 1957-05-17
Publication date: 1959-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-26

Description

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FIG?

United States Patent DETA'CHABLE BASEBOARDS Oliver W. Bensman, Sidney, Ohio Application May 17, 1957, Serial No. 659,989

1 Claim. (Cl. 20-74) My invention relates to improvements in baseboards for interior room trim and to means for detachably attaching the same.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a baseboard and means for detachably attaching the same easily and quickly without nailing through the baseboard or wall or cementing to the wall, and which will securely hold the baseboard against a wall and seated on a floor.

Another object is to provide in conjunction with the above attachment means for a baseboard which will form a weather-tight seal at the juncture of a wall and floor behind the baseboard.

Still another object is to provide a baseboard and means for detachably attaching the same which will permit electric wiring to be positioned behind the baseboard between the same and the attaching means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective, partly in section, of my improved baseboard and the attaching means and with a baseboard detached;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the baseboard and attaching means with the baseboard attached, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the baseboard and attaching means with the baseboard attached.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, according to my invention, in the preferred embodiment thereof, a baseboard 1 of any suitable material is provided with a longitudinal, flat bottomed recess 3 in the rear side thereof extending from end to end of the baseboard 1 and spaced below the upper edge portion 5 of said baseboard, and the bottom edge portion 7 of the baseboard is provided with a longitudinal downwardly and rearwardly opening bottom groove 9 at a right angle to and in front of the recess 3.

Means for attaching the baseboard 1 in front of a wall 10 is provided comprising the following.

A resilient, flexible retaining strip 11 of metal, preferably, and of substantially the same length as the baseboard 1 and of a height to be entered in the recess 3 is attached in upstanding position behind the baseboard 1 in front of the wall 10 to a floor 13 by a forwardly extending longitudinal, bottom flange 15 on said strip 11 which is nailed, as at 17, to the floor 13 and which extends into the groove 9 and forms with said strip '11 a right angled portion 19 on the retaining strip 11 fitting in the angle at the juncture of a wall 11 and floor 13 if the front of the wall 10 extends to the floor 13 as in the case of a drywall. The retaining strip 11 normally reacts against the wall 10 and is provided with a forwardly curved upper end portion 21 all for a purpose presently seen.

The baseboard 1 is provided with rear, vertical keeper bars 23 spaced apart longitudinally of the baseboard 1 and which are provided with upper ends 25 embedded and thus secured in the upper edge portion 5 of the baseboard 1 and which depends into the recess 3. The keeper bars 23 are bent, as at 27 so that below said bends they normally lie in a common plane with the back side 29 of the upper edge portion 5 of the baseboard which is designed to fit flush against the wall 11).

To attach the baseboard 1, it is slid downwardly against the wall 10 with the back side 29 of its upper edge portion 5 and the keeper bars 23 sliding against said wall until said baseboard 1 seats on the floor 13 as shown in Figure 3. This operation slides the keeper bars 23, below the bends 27 thereon between the wall 10 and the retaining strip 11 in frictional sliding engagement therewith, said bars 23 engaging the upper edge portion 21 of the retaining strip 11 whereby said strip is cammed and flexed forwardly so that said bars 23 may slide behind the retaining strip 11, and said strip may react rearwardly to hold the back side 29 of the upper edge portion 5 of the baseboard 1 against the wall 10 and also to hold said baseboard perpendicular to the floor 13 by engagement of the flange 15 with the back of the groove 9. As will be seen in Figure 2, when the surface of the wall 10 extends downwardly behind the baseboard 1 to the floor 13, the retaining strip 11 coacts with the wall 10 to frictionally clamp the keeper bars 23 therebetween. Obviously, when the flange 15 abuts or engages the rear side of the groove 9 the back side 29 of the upper edge portion 5 of the baseboard 1 will engage the wall 10 flatly. Obviously, the baseboard 1 may be readily detached and removed by prying it upwardly until the keeper bars 23 pass above the upper edge portion 21 of the retaining strip 11. When the baseboard 1 is attached as described, the retaining strip 11 is spaced from the bottom of the recess 3 so that electric wires may be positioned in said space, also other electrical conductors.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination, a base board having an upper edge portion including a back adapted to fit against a wall, a bottom edge adapted to rest on a floor, and a longitudinal back recess therein open at said back from said upper edge portion to said bottom edge, a plurality of keeper bars in said recess fixed in and depending from said upper edge portion in spaced relation to the bottom of the recess and spaced longitudinally of said base board, a resilient retaining strip slidable relatively upwardly between said keeper bars and the bottom of the recess and having a forwardly extending bottom flange attachable to a floor, and a rearwardly and downwardly opening longitudinal groove in the bottom edge of said base board receiving said flange therein, said keeper bars having portions below said upper edge portion lying flush with said back for engaging a wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,381 Bingham Feb. 16, 1886 906,218 Goddard Dec. 8, 1908 1,155,149 Hathome Sept. 28, 1915 2,068,562 Murphy Jan. 19, 1937 2,269,384 Spinosa Jan. 6, 1942 2,604,776 Goldsmith July 29, 1952 2,676,483 Nelsson Apr. 27, 1954