Abstract:
A fully integrated system of accessible architectural molding which eliminates the need to tape and finish drywall. The system of components relies on a mechanical friction fit assembly that allow for easy installation and removal for future renovations or access to the chase areas of a wall. A molding assembly includes a V-shaped bracket dimensioned to be received in the tapered edge surfaces of adjacent wall boards and a molding secured to the bracket in a snap-fit engagement to conceal the tapered edge surfaces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/059,935 filed Mar. 3, 2016 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/127,615, filed Mar. 3, 2015 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to architectural molding, and more particularly, to architectural moldings placed between adjoining sections of drywall. 
         [0003]    Typical drywall installations generate significant amounts of dust and debris when sealing the joints between adjoining sections of drywall. A gypsum joint compound, or “mud”, is typically applied to the gaps between adjoining drywall sections. Many times, a tape is applied to help span the gap and provide a surface for the mud compound. 
         [0004]    Once the joint compound has dried, is then sanded to provide a seamless wall surface. However, the process of finishing drywall seams represents a substantial portion of the labor and materials associated with typical drywall installation and repairs. Moreover, the released gypsum particulates from the sanding present a health hazard to the workers. 
         [0005]    Some architectural molding systems are available in the art, however, they still contemplate the use of joint compound or sealers. Once installed, none provide accessibility to the area beneath the molding without the subsequent removal of the joint compounds and sealers. Moreover, the limited systems available do not eliminate the need to tape and finish at least a portion of the drywall. 
         [0006]    As can be seen, there is a need for a system of components that relies on a mechanical friction fit assembly for easy installation and removal of architectural moldings in the event of future renovation projects or to provide access to the cased areas for other repairs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, an architectural molding assembly is provided for a mud free joint between adjacent wall boards applied to a wall surface of a room. The architectural molding assembly includes an elongate bracket having a flattened V-shape interior surface defined along a longitudinal length of the bracket. The angle of the V-shape is dimensioned to conform the interior surface to a tapered edge surface extending along a longitudinal length of the adjacent wall boards. An apex of the elongate bracket is configured to be positioned along adjacent edges of the adjacent wall boards. The bracket includes an upturned latching end defined along first and second lateral sides of the interior surface. The upturned latching ends are configured for a snap-fit engagement with a corresponding latch finger defined in a molding to enclose the elongate bracket. 
         [0008]    In other aspects of the invention the architectural molding assembly includes a molding having a room facing surface, a wall facing surface, and lateral side surfaces. An inwardly turned latch finger extends from an intermediate portion of the wall facing surface between the lateral side surfaces and a centerline of the molding. The molding may also include a ridge extending along a longitudinal centerline of the wall facing surface of the molding. The ridge is configured to contact the vertex of the interior surface with the molding attached to the bracket. An engagement channel may be defined between the inwardly turned latch fingers and the wall facing surface. A hook may be defined at a tip of the upturned latching end, such that the hook is configured for the snap-fit engagement in the engagement channel. 
         [0009]    In other aspects of the invention, an inwardly turned edge of the side facing surfaces is dimensioned so that it is positioned in abutment with a flat wall board surface adjacent to the tapered edge section of the wall board. In some embodiments, a channel is defined in an interior surface of the side surfaces. 
         [0010]    The architectural molding assembly may also include a molding having a room facing surface, a wall facing surface, lateral side surfaces; and an inwardly turned latch finger extending from the lateral side surfaces of the molding that is configured for the snap-fit engagement with the upturned latching end of the bracket. The molding may also have an inwardly turned edge defined along the lateral side surfaces that is dimensioned so that it is positioned in abutment with a flat wall board surface adjacent to the tapered edge section of the wall board. 
         [0011]    A plurality of holes may be disposed in a spaced apart relation along the longitudinal length of the interior surface of the bracket. The holes may receive a fastener to secure the bracket to a support member of the wall. 
         [0012]    Yet other aspects of the invention include a method of removably applying an architectural molding for a mud free joint between adjacent wall boards in a wall surface of a room. The method includes applying an elongate bracket having a V-shape interior surface defined along a longitudinal length of the bracket, an upturned latching end defined along first and second lateral sides of the interior surface, wherein the angle of the V-shape is dimensioned to correspond to a tapered edge surface extending along a longitudinal length of the adjacent wall boards. An apex of the elongate bracket may be positioned along the adjacent edges of the wall boards. A fastener may be installed through the bracket to secure the bracket to the wall. 
         [0013]    The method includes providing a molding having a room facing surface, a wall facing surface, and lateral side surfaces; and an inwardly turned latch finger extending from an intermediate portion of the wall facing surface between the lateral side surfaces and a centerline of the molding. The molding may then be attached to the bracket wherein the upturned latching end of the wall bracket is secured in a snap-fit engagement with the latch finger defined in the molding to enclose the elongate bracket and conceal the tapered edge surface of the adjacent wall boards. 
         [0014]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates architectural moldings of the present invention applied to finish a room. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged detail of an inside corner capital and crown molding. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged detail of an inside corner floor base pedestal and corner. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail of a floor base and wall molding. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is cross sectional view of a floor base and bracket. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a view of a floor base and bracket. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a wall molding and bracket. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a wall molding and bracket. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a view of an inside corner floor base pedestal. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an inside corner floor base pedestal. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of an inside corner capital. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an inside corner capital. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of a ceiling beam and bracket. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a ceiling beam and bracket. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of an inside vertical corner molding. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an inside vertical corner molding. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of a crown molding and bracket. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a crown molding and bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0034]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for finishing the walls of a room without the need for drywall joint compound. The components of the system generally include a bracket and a molding cover. The bracket is applied along a seam between one or more adjacent wall, ceiling, and floor members. The molding cover is configured for a snap fit connection to the bracket member to provide a desired architectural finish to the seams within the room. The moldings and brackets are preferably formed by an extrusion of any suitable material. 
         [0035]    As best seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , a system and method finishing a room with an architectural molding is illustrated. The system of architectural moldings of the present invention permit the finishing of drywall panels without the need for applying or sanding a joint compound. The architectural moldings may include a floor base molding assembly  30  that is applied along a seam between a wall and a floor of a room or structure, as seen in the detail view of  FIG. 4 . A wall molding assembly  40  that may be applied along a seam between adjacent wall panels, such as drywall panels is also shown in reference to  FIG. 4 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 3 , an inside corner flor base pedestal  50  is intended to be applied to an inside corner in a space between the ends of adjacent floor base moldings  30 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 2 , an inside corner capital  60  is intended to be applied to an inside corner between the ends of adjacent crown molding assemblies  90  applied along the seam between the wall panel and a ceiling panel of the room. When needed, a ceiling beam assembly  70  is provided for covering the seams between adjoining ceiling panel members. An inside vertical corner molding assembly  80  may be applied to an inside corner seam between adjoining walls. 
         [0036]    In reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the floor base assembly includes an interlocking pair of elongate members including a floor base bracket member  31  and a floor base molding  30 . The floor base bracket member  31  is defined with a plurality of channels to provide added strength along the length of the bracket member  31 , and provide for mounting the components of the floor base assembly  30  to the bracket  31 . An upper edge surface of the floor base bracket  31  is spaced away from a wall mounting surface of the bracket. A lower edge surface of the bracket  31  is formed with and upturned wall facing lip  36  extending along the longitudinal length of the bracket  31 . 
         [0037]    The floor base bracket member  31  has a plurality of holes  37  disposed in a spaced apart relation in a wall facing channel face formed along a longitudinal length of the floor bracket member  31 . The holes  37  receive a fastener, such as a screw, nail, or the like, to secure the bracket assembly to the structural members along the base of the wall. 
         [0038]    A floor base spacer  32  may be secured to the floor base bracket member  31  by a plurality of tabs, or pins  34  extending from a wall facing surface of the spacer  32 . The tabs  34  are received through a plurality of holes (not shown) that are defined in a spaced apart relation along a room facing channel face of the bracket  31 . The tabs  34  secure the floor base spacer  32  to the floor base bracket member  31 . The floor base spacer  32  may include a plurality of grooves defined in a room facing surface of the spacer. The grooves form a plurality of extensions that are adapted for shock absorption for items that may strike the base molding assembly  30 . 
         [0039]    The floor base molding  30  may be formed so as to cover and substantially enclose the bracket  31 . The top edge of the floor base molding  30  is provided with a finger  38  extending from a wall facing surface of the molding  30 . The finger  38  extends so as to be positioned adjacent or in abutment with the wall surface. An arm  33  runs along the longitudinal of the base molding  30  subjacent to the finger  38 . The arm  33  defines a channel along an interior surface of the base molding  30  and is adapted to receive the upper edge surface of the floor base bracket  31  so as to retain the upper portion of the base molding with the bracket  31 . 
         [0040]    A lower edge surface of the base molding  30  is defined with a latch  35  with a room facing protrusion extending from the latch  35 . The protrusion is adapted to engage with the wall facing lip  36  of the bracket  31  to engage the base molding  30  in a snap-fit manner. A toe molding arm extends from a room facing surface of the molding  30  to define a toe molding along the longitudinal length of the base molding  30 . The toe molding arm is shaped to conceal the wall facing lip  36  with and end thereof positioned adjacent to the floor. 
         [0041]    The base molding  30  may also have a ledge formed at an upper portion of thereof that extends from the wall facing surface of the molding  30 . The ledge is adapted to rest upon a top room facing edge of the spacer  32  and the face of the spacer may be positioned against the wall facing surface on the interior of the molding  30 . 
         [0042]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8 , a wall molding  40  and bracket  43  are provided for covering the gaps between adjacent wall boards mounted in parallel, such as along the span of a wall. The wall molding bracket  43  has a slightly tapered V-shaped wall facing surface that is dimensioned to conform to the tapered edge portions extending along the longitudinal length of a conventional gypsum wall board. An apex  47  of the V-shaped surface may be positioned to center the wall molding bracket  43  in the adjoining edges or gap between adjacent gypsum wall boards that are mounted in the wall surface. The wall molding bracket  43  has upturned ends  46  formed along the lateral sides thereof for a snap-fit engagement with a corresponding latch finger  44  defined in the wall molding  40 . 
         [0043]    The molding  40  has a substantially flat room facing surface with outwardly turned side facing surfaces  41 . An inwardly turned edge of the side facing surfaces  41  are dimensioned so that they are in abutment with a flat surface of the wall board adjacent to the tapered edge section of the wall boards. A channel  48  may be defined in an interior surface of the side surfaces  41  to provide structural strength and a fulcrum for securing the molding  40  to the bracket  43 . 
         [0044]    A ridge  42  is formed and extends along a midline of the wall facing surface of the molding  40 . The pair of opposed inwardly facing latch fingers  44  are formed along an intermediate line of the wall facing surface of the wall molding  40 . The latch fingers  44  define an engagement channel  45  oriented towards the centerline of the molding  40 . The upturned ends  46  of the bracket are adapted to be received by the engagement channel  45  of and the latch fingers  44  in a snap-fit arrangement to secure the wall molding  40  to the bracket  41 . 
         [0045]    The ridge  42  is dimensioned to contact the bracket  43  at the apex  47  with the molding  40  operatively attached to the bracket  43 . The ridge  42  may be configured to impart a slight flexing moment to the molding  40  so that the latch fingers  44  maintain the molding  40  in a snug fitting arrangement with the bracket  41 . A plurality of holes  49 , seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4  are disposed in a spaced apart relation along the length of the wall bracket  43  to receive a fastener, such as a screw or nail there through to secure the bracket  43  to a structural member in the wall. 
         [0046]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the inside corner base pedestal molding  50  is depicted with an inside corner base support  55 . The inside corner base pedestal  50  is formed to provide continuity of the floor base moldings  30 . The corner base support  55  is installed in a corner of wall structure adjacent to the floor. The corner base support has a plurality of ribs  54  to provide structural support. A plurality of apertures  53  may be defined along a face of the support  55  for engagement with cooperating fingers defined on an interior, wall facing surface of the molding  51 . 
         [0047]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , an inside corner capital molding  60  is provided for a corner of a room between adjoining, perpendicular wall surfaces. The inside corner capital molding is adapted for snap fitting with an inside corner bracket  83  that is also utilized with an inside vertical corner molding. An interior wall facing surface of the corner capital molding  60  has a pair of attachment fingers  67  adapted for snap fitting engagement with a pair of inwardly facing hooked ends  65  of the bracket  83 . 
         [0048]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a ceiling beam molding  70  and ceiling beam bracket  73  is provided as an option to utilizing the wall molding  40  of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The beam molding  70  has a greater depth than the wall molding  40 . The beam molding  70  may have a channel  71  defined in a room facing surface of the molding  70 . On an interior surface of the molding a pair of latch fingers  74  are formed along the longitudinal length of the molding  70 . 
         [0049]    Like the wall molding bracket  43 , the ceiling beam bracket  73  has a pair of upturned arms  77  with a slightly hooked portion  75  defined along the longitudinal length of the bracket  73 . The latch fingers  74  have protrusions adapted to engage with the hooked portion  75  of the upturned arms  77  to secure the beam molding to the bracket  73 . The bracket  73  is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes  76  to receive a fastener, such as a screw or a nail to secure the bracket  73  to a ceiling structural member. The beam molding  70  may define a cavity  72 . 
         [0050]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16  an inside corner vertical molding assembly includes an inside corner molding  80  and an inside corner molding bracket  83 . The molding  80  has lateral side flanges  81  and  82  defined at the ends of an arcuate mid portion to give the appearance of a conventional corner molding. The arcuate mid portion may be either concave or convex. A pair of latching fingers  85  having protrusions on an outer lateral surface of the latching fingers  85  are defined along a longitudinal length of the molding  80 . The bracket  83  is formed with substantially perpendicular sidewalls  83  extending from a corner engaging midsection. The corner bracket  83  has bent arm portions  84  and opposed hook portions  86  defined along the longitudinal length of the bracket. The opposed hook portions  86  are adapted to engage with the protrusions of the latching fingers  85  so that the molding may be snap fit to the bracket  83 . When attached to the bracket  83  the molding  80  and bracket define an interior cavity  87 . 
         [0051]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18  a crown molding assembly is provided having a crown molding  90  and a crown molding bracket  93 . The crown molding  90  has lateral side flanges  91  and  92  defined at the ends of an arcuate mid portion to give the appearance of a conventional crown molding. The arcuate mid portion may be either concave or convex. A pair of latching fingers  96  having protrusions on an outer lateral surface of the latching fingers  96  are defined along a longitudinal length of the crown molding  90 . The bracket  93  is formed with substantially perpendicular sidewalls extending from a corner engaging midsection. The crown molding bracket  93  has bent arm portions  95  and opposed hook portions  94  defined along the longitudinal length of the bracket  93 . The opposed hook portions  94  are adapted to engage with the protrusions of the latching fingers  96  so that the crown molding may be snap fit to the crown molding bracket  93 . When attached to the bracket  93  the crown molding  90  and bracket define an interior cavity  97  within the assembly. 
         [0052]    As indicated, the architectural molding system of the present invention provides for a complete fitting to a room that may be applied to finish the seams between adjoining drywall panels without the use of a joint compound and the associated particulate hazards. According to the system of the present invention, the wall surfaces may also be treated, such as with paint, wall paper, or other treatments before architectural members of the present invention are installed. This will protect the moldings from being marred with paint or paste drippings. 
         [0053]    To install the system, the room may first be fitted with the attachment brackets designed to the particular part of the room. The length of the brackets are cut to accommodate the respective corner components, whether a floor base pedestal or a corner capital and their associated supports. The brackets are secured to the structural members of the room with a fastener, such as a screw or a nail. Once the respective brackets have been installed, the associated moldings may be cut to length and snap fit to their corresponding brackets. 
         [0054]    In the event that the room needs to be redecorated, the moldings may be removed from the brackets. The walls may then be retreated while again protecting the moldings from being damaged or marred by spillage or drippings. Once the wall treatment has been applied the moldings may be returned to the brackets. Similarly, if the interior of the walls need to be accessed for plumbing, ventilation, or wiring, the moldings and brackets may be removed and reutilized. The wall panels may be removed without significant destruction or demolition. In like manner, should a molding become damaged, particularly for the floor base moldings, it may be readily replaced without the need for carpentry and painting. 
         [0055]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.