Dentil molding apparatus and method for securing a molding insert member

A molding assembly having a hanger member fixedly securable to an inner or outer wall of a building and a decorative molding insert member releasably engageable with the hanger member. The molding insert member is supported at a lower edge portion by a lower J-channel of the hanger member. An upper L-shaped portion of the insert member is supported by a depending lip portion of the hanger member which forms a second channel such that no external fastening elements are required to secure the molding insert member to the hanger member. The insert member can be quickly and easily releasably engaged within the J-channel and the second channel without the need for special tools. In an alternative preferred embodiment the insert member includes a lip portion which is adapted to slidably engage an under surface of an adjacently positioned insert member to provide an even more continuous appearance for adjacently positioned insert members. An end cover is also disclosed for covering an exposed end portion of the molding assembly when the end portion is secured to a section of a wall where one or more ends of the molding assembly do not abut another wall portion extending perpendicularly from the molding assembly. In an alternative embodiment of the end cover, the end cover includes a shoulder portion formed to protrude from a lower lip portion which engages a notch formed in a lip of a lower J-channel of a hanger member of the present invention. In this manner, once the end cover is releasably secured to the hanger member, the end cover cannot be slidably urged-off of the hanger member such as by thermal expansion of one or more sections of molding insert members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
This invention relates to molding assemblies, and more particularly to a 
molding apparatus having a hanger member and a decorative insert member 
adapted to be secured to the hanger member without the use of independent 
fastening elements, to thereby form an easily installable molding assembly 
for a residential or commercial building. 
2. Discussion 
On buildings it is often desirable to include some form of decorative 
molding along the interior of a room of the building or along an exterior 
of the building where a vertical wall and soffit adjoin. Traditionally, 
such moldings have been manufactured from wood or urethane foam and 
secured either to interior corners of a room or along an exterior of a 
home or building by the use of nails, staples, etc. This method of 
attaching molding, as well as the materials required to make the molding, 
has several drawbacks. For one, moldings manufactured from wood or 
urethane have become extremely expensive due to the increasing cost of 
these materials. Secondly, since the moldings have traditionally been 
secured via nails or staples, the added step of patching over nail holes 
with putty, sanding and painting or staining has represented a significant 
cost in terms of labor and the time required to install such moldings. 
Lastly, traditional interior and exterior architectural decorative 
moldings manufactured from wood are subject to shrinkage, warping and 
splitting which can give rise to significant maintenance costs when such 
moldings are secured to the exterior of a residential dwelling or 
commercial building. 
In some applications, it would also be desirable to removably secure a 
molding insert member at both its upper and lower edges to a hanger 
member, where the hanger member has been previously secured to a wall 
portion. Such an attachment of the molding insert member would even 
further resist environmental factors which might cause detachment of the 
molding insert member. 
In view of the above, it is a principal object of the present invention to 
provide a molding assembly having a track member which may be secured to 
an interior or exterior wall and an independent, decorative molding insert 
member which may be quickly and easily secured to the hanger member at 
both its upper and lower edge portions to thereby even more securely affix 
the molding member to the wall, and without the need for independent 
fastening elements to secure the molding member to the hanger member. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a molding 
assembly having a hanger member and an independent, decorative molding 
insert member in which the insert member can be engaged via a snap fit 
within a pair of spaced apart channels of the hanger member to cause the 
insert member to be supported along both its upper and lower edges, to 
thereby further improve the degree to which the insert member is secured 
to the hanger member. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a track 
member which may be extruded from a thermoplastic and a decorative molding 
insert member which may be injection molded or vacuum formed from a 
thermoplastic to provide a relatively low cost, high quality appearance 
molding assembly providing the appearance of hardwood molding. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above and other objects are provided by a molding apparatus and method 
in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. The 
apparatus of the present invention generally includes a hanger member 
adapted to be fixedly secured to an interior or exterior wall. The hanger 
member includes a first channel and a second channel spaced apart from the 
first channel. An insert member in the form of a decorative molding insert 
member has a first portion which is engageable within the first channel 
and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion which is 
engageable within the second channel, to thus enable the molding member to 
be supported at two-spaced apart locations by the hanger member. 
In a preferred embodiment the hanger member includes a back member having 
an integrally formed lower J-channel which forms the first channel and an 
integrally formed upper lip member which forms the second channel. The 
back member preferably includes a plurality of apertures for allowing it 
to be secured via conventional nails, threaded screws or the like to the 
wall. The lower J-channel and the upper lip member are both at least 
slightly flexible to enable the molding insert member to be inserted into 
the first and second channels with a minimum degree of force, but yet held 
securely to the hanger member once inserted and coupled to the hanger 
member. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper lip member of 
the insert member includes an inner lip member and an outer lip member 
which form the second channel. In this embodiment the hanger member 
includes a lower J-channel which accepts a lower edge portion of the 
molding insert member. The upper lip member is adapted to engage an upper 
L-shaped portion of the molding insert member. The molding insert member 
is thus secured at both its upper and lower portions to the hanger member 
without the use of independent fastening elements such as nails, staples, 
threaded screws or the like. 
A preferred method of the present invention comprises securing a hanger 
member having a first channel and a second channel spaced apart from the 
first channel to an interior or exterior wall. An independent molding 
insert member having a first edge portion and a second edge portion spaced 
apart from the first edge portion is then positioned such that the first 
edge portion is placed within the first channel of the track member. A 
force is then exerted against the insert member such that the first 
channel is moved slightly away from the second channel. While the insert 
member is held with the first channel urged slightly away from the second 
channel, the insert member is rotated such that the second edge portion is 
urged into the second channel. The pressure on the molding member is then 
released which causes the first channel and the molding member to be urged 
slightly towards the second channel, thus causing the molding member to 
become engaged within the second channel and held securely within the 
first and second channels. 
In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention the 
decorative molding insert member includes an edge protruding lip which is 
adapted to extend underneath an adjacent insert member secured to the same 
hanger member. In this manner, when adjacently positioned insert members 
secured to the same hanger member are positioned abuttingly against one 
another, a more continuous-appearing insert member is formed. 
In another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention a 
molding assembly is provided which includes an end cover adapted to 
close-off a terminal end of a molding insert when the terminal end does 
not abut a perpendicularly extending wall portion, and would therefore be 
exposed to view. The end cover is adapted to be snappingly engaged to a 
hanger member such that when secured to the hanger member, a portion of 
the end cover extends rearwardly into abutting contact, or at least close 
to abutting contact, with the wall portion to which the hanger member is 
secured. In this manner, the terminal end of the molding assembly is 
closed-off to present a more decorative and finished appearance where no 
perpendicular wall extends close to the terminal end portion of the 
molding assembly. 
In yet another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a 
molding assembly having an end cap is disclosed where the end cap includes 
a shoulder portion adapted to engage within a notch formed in a hanger 
member of the molding assembly. The end cover closes-off the terminal end 
of the molding assembly where no perpendicularly extending wall portion is 
present at the terminal end of the molding assembly. The shoulder portion 
and notch cooperate when the end cover is secured to the hanger member of 
the molding assembly to prevent the end cover from being slidably forced 
off of the hanger by thermal expansion or other factors. Accordingly, once 
the end cover is secured to the hanger member and cannot be slidably 
removed from the hanger member, it must be disengaged by manually urging 
it outwardly of the hanger member in a fashion opposite to the manner in 
which it is installed on the hanger member. 
The preferred embodiments of the present invention thus provide a molding 
assembly which securely supports a decorative molding member at two edges 
thereof to even more securely position a molding insert member along the 
corner of an interior or exterior wall. In one preferred embodiment, the 
track member of the molding apparatus is extruded from a plastic, while 
the molding member is injection molded or vacuum formed from a 
thermoplastic. The molding assembly thus forms a relatively low cost 
apparatus which provides the appearance of a hardwood molding, but without 
the drawbacks associated with the use of real wood or urethane foam and 
the added complexity of installation of previously developed plastic 
molding assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a decorative, dentil molding apparatus 
10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention 
secured to an exterior wall 12 of a residential dwelling 14 closely 
adjacent a soffit 16 of the dwelling 14. It will be appreciated 
immediately, however, that the molding apparatus 10 is equally well suited 
to be secured to an interior wall of a residential dwelling or commercial 
building, as well as an exterior wall of a commercial building with little 
or no modification to the apparatus 10. For purposes of illustration only, 
the molding apparatus 10 will be described as being secured to the 
exterior wall 12 of the dwelling 14 at the area where the exterior wall 12 
and soffit 16 meet. It will also be appreciated that while the molding 
apparatus 10 will be described and illustrated herein as including a 
dentil molding insert member, that a wide variety of decorative molding 
insert members such as "ogee" molding insert members could be just as 
easily used with the present invention. 
With reference to FIG. 2, the assembled molding apparatus 10 is shown 
secured to the wall 12 of the building 14. For clarity, the soffit 16 of 
the building 14 has not been illustrated, nor have any siding strips of 
the building 14. The molding assembly 10 generally comprises a hanger 
member 18 and an independent, decorative dentil molding insert member 20 
which is releasably securable to the hanger member 18. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the hanger member 18 is shown without the 
molded dentil insert member 20 secured thereto. The hanger member 18 
comprises a back member 22 having a central portion 24, an optional lower 
portion 26 and an optional soffit-engaging upper lip portion 28. The 
central portion 24 and the lower portion 26 are separable at a lower 
V-groove 25 and the soffit-engaging upper lip portion 28 and central 
portion 24 are separable at an upper V-groove 27. The V-grooves 25 and 27 
are formed during manufacture of the hanger member 18 to represent areas 
which may be "scored" with a utility knife or like instrument to allow the 
lower portion 26 and the soffit-engaging lip portion 28 to be broken away 
by subsequent bending or flexing of these portions when either (or both) 
is not needed. Such a situation would be present when, for example, the 
hanger 18 is secured to an outer wall having a brick exterior. In this 
instance, since no siding strips would be present to cover the lower 
portion 26, the lower portion 26 may simply be removed and the hanger 
member 18 positioned and secured to the wall such that the lower V-groove 
25 is positioned abuttingly against the top-most row of bricks. Similarly, 
where the hanger member 18 does not need to engage a soffit, the 
soffit-engaging lip portion 28 may be removed so that the hanger member 18 
can be abuttingly positioned and secured against a surface of a 
perpendicularly extending overhang of a building of an interior ceiling 
wall. The hanger member 18 having its lower portion 26 and soffit-engaging 
lip portion 28 separated from the central portion 24 is shown in FIG. 5. 
With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, integrally formed with the back 
member 22 of the hanger member 18 is a lower J-channel 30 forming a first 
channel 32 and a depending upper lip member 34. The upper lip member 34 
includes an inner lip member 36 and an outer lip member 38 which together 
help form a second channel 40 which is spaced apart from the first channel 
32. The outer lip member 38 further includes a first groove 42, while the 
inner lip member 36 includes a corner portion 44 forming a second groove 
46. 
With further specific reference to FIG. 3, the central portion 24 of the 
hanger member 18 preferably includes a first plurality of spaced apart, 
somewhat elongated apertures 48 and a second plurality of longitudinally 
offset, elongated apertures 49, while the lower portion 26 similarly 
includes a third plurality of spaced apart, elongated apertures 50. The 
groups of apertures 48, 49 and 50 enable the hanger member 18 to be 
secured to the outer wall 12 via a plurality of nails, wood screws or like 
fastening members which are preferably inserted through the longitudinal 
center of the apertures 48, 49 and 50. Offsetting the second plurality of 
apertures 49 from the first plurality 48 enables the hanger member 18 to 
be even more completely secured to the outer wall 12 in such a manner that 
the back member 22 thereof is held flush against the surface of the outer 
wall 12. During securing of the hanger member 18, external fasteners such 
as nails or screws are driven in to the wall portion 12 through the 
apertures 48 and 49 such that the fasteners are preferably staggered 
vertically from one another. In this manner, the back member 22 is held 
flush against the outer wall 12, even when the outer wall 12 has a slight 
degree of curvature or is slightly longitudinally undulating. The 
elongated shape of each of the apertures 48, 49 and 50 further allows for 
the thermal expansion of the hanger member 18 after the hanger member 18 
is fixedly secured to the outer wall 12 via the external fastening 
members. 
The hanger member 18 is preferably extruded from a thermoplastic, and more 
preferably from polypropylene. This provides the lower J-channel 30 and 
the upper lip member 34 with a degree of flexibility which enables these 
members to flex slightly when the molded dentil insert member 20 is 
secured to the hanger member 18. This process will be described in detail 
momentarily. 
With reference to FIG. 6, the molded dentil insert member 20 includes a 
first or planar, lower edge portion 52 and a second or upper L-shaped 
portion 54 having an upper wall 55. The L-shaped portion 54 and the lower 
edge portion 52 are separated (i.e., spaced apart) by a main body portion 
56 having a vertically protruding wall 57. The main body portion 56 
includes a plurality of block-like dentil protrusions 58 protruding from a 
base wall portion 60. It will be appreciated immediately that the 
particular dimensions of the dentil block wall portions 58 and the shape 
of same may vary significantly and that the generally rectangular dentil 
block portions 58 shown in FIG. 6 is for illustrative purposes only. The 
dentil protrusions 58 could just as easily be formed from triangularly 
shaped protrusions, semi-circular protrusions or a wide variety of other 
distinctive and decorative appearing shapes. 
With further reference to FIGS. 6-8, the L-shaped portion 54 includes a 
shoulder portion 62 formed thereon which extends preferably substantially 
the entire length of the insert member 20. The lower edge portion 52 also 
preferably extends along the entire length of the insert member 20. It 
will be appreciated, however, that the shoulder portion 62 need not be 
continuous along the entire length of the insert member 20. Instead, a 
plurality of spaced apart shoulder portions could be incorporated which 
would slightly reduce the amount of material needed to form the insert 
member 20, but would still allow the member 20 to be securely affixed to 
the hanger member 18. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 9-12, an alternative preferred embodiment 10' 
of the molding apparatus of the present invention is shown. It will be 
appreciated that the embodiment 10' is identical to the molding apparatus 
10 with the exception of the shape of the decorative dentil blocks 58', 
which are larger than the dentil blocks 58 shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. 
Accordingly, reference numerals identical to those used to denote the 
various portions of the molding apparatus 10 will be used with the 
drawings of FIGS. 9-12, but with a "prime" indication for the molding 
insert member 20' and its various sub-components. Since the hanger member 
of the molding apparatus 10' is identical in all respects to the hanger 
member 22 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, identical reference numerals will be used 
to identify the hanger member and portions thereof of the molding 
apparatus 10'. 
Referring further to FIGS. 9-12, the molded dentil insert member 20' is 
shown secured to the hanger member 18. With specific reference to FIG. 12, 
the molded dentil insert member 20 is first positioned relative to the 
hanger member 18 such that the lower edge portion 52' is positioned within 
the first channel 32 formed by the lower J-channel 30. A slight inward and 
downward force in accordance with directional arrow 64 is then applied to 
the insert member 20' which causes the lower J-channel 30 to flex 
downwardly and towards the lower portion 26 generally in accordance with 
the direction indicated by directional arrow 64, as shown specifically in 
FIG. 12. While the downward force is being exerted on the insert member 
20', the insert member is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing of FIG. 
12 in accordance with directional arrow 66 such that the upper wall 55' is 
urged into the second channel 40. Since the upper lip member 34 is 
somewhat flexible, it flexes upwardly slightly in accordance with 
directional arrow 68 such that the upper wall 55' clears the outer lip 
member 38 when entering the second channel 40. 
With particular reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, when the downward and inward 
pressure on the insert member 20' is released, the insert member 20' is 
urged upwardly by the lower J-channel 30 such that the upper wall 55 of 
the insert member 20' is captured within the second channel 40. When fully 
inserted into the second channel 40, a distal portion 55a' of the upper 
wall 55' rests within the second groove 46, while the shoulder portion 62' 
rests within the groove 42 in the upper lip member 36. The inner lip 
member 36 serves to help guide the distal portion 55a' of the upper wall 
55' into the second groove 46 when the wall member 55' is rotated into the 
second channel 40 by helping to guide the distal portion 55a' into the 
second groove 46. Thus, the dentil insert member 20' is supported at both 
its lower edge portion 52 and its upper L-shaped portion 54' along its 
entire length by the hanger member 18. 
It will be appreciated that the above method of securing the dentil molding 
insert member 20' to the hanger member 18 represents a significant 
improvement over prior developed hanger arrangements where a molding is 
required to be secured by external fasteners such as nails, staples, 
threaded screws or the like to a wall after another end portion is 
inserted within some form of channel. The molding apparatus 10' of the 
present invention thus requires no external fastening elements or 
fastening steps involving the use of external threaded fasteners once the 
hanger member 18 is secured to an internal or external wall portion. In 
the event the insert member 20' needs to be removed, removal is easily 
accomplished by simply flexing the lower J-channel 30 downwardly in 
accordance with the directional arrow 64 in FIG. 12, and then pulling the 
member 20' outwardly away from the wall on which the hanger 18 is mounted. 
The molding apparatuses 10 and 10' of the present invention further enable 
decorative molding strips to be quickly and easily attached without the 
need for special tools and without requiring patching of holes typically 
required when hardwood or urethane foam moldings are installed. Since the 
components 18 and 20,20' of the molding apparatuses 10 and 10' are 
manufactured from relatively high strength, yet flexible, plastics, the 
individual components 18 and 20,20' are not subject to shrinkage, warpage 
and the general wear which would normally be experienced by molding strips 
manufactured from hardwood. The molding apparatuses 10 and 10' of the 
present invention can further be assembled to an interior or exterior wall 
of a building or a residential home quickly and easily by relatively 
inexperienced personnel. 
With brief reference to FIG. 13, a molded insert member 70 having an "ogee" 
profile or curvature is shown in accordance with an alternative preferred 
embodiment of the insert member. It will be appreciated from FIG. 13, 
then, that the outward contour of the insert members 20,20' and 70 can 
very widely to form a variety of aesthetically appealing shapes and/or 
designs. 
With brief reference to FIG. 14, an alternative preferred embodiment 72 of 
the hanger member of the present invention is shown. The hanger member 72 
forms a cove decorative trim having an undersil 74 extending between a 
lower J-channel 76 and a lower portion 78 of a back member 80 of the 
hanger member 72. The undersil 74 further has an edge portion 75 adapted 
to retain an upper edge portion of a portion of a vinyl siding strip 
extending longitudinally below the hanger member 72. It will be 
appreciated then that the hanger member of the present invention could 
include variously shaped and aesthetically appealing surface contours 
depending upon the specific appearance desired. It will also be 
appreciated that an upper lip member 82 of the hanger member 72 could be 
formed such that an outer lip member 84 thereof has a curvature different 
from that shown in FIG. 13 to provide an alternative aesthetic appearance. 
With reference to FIG. 15, a dentil molding insert member 86 in accordance 
with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is 
shown. The insert member 86 is identical to the insert member 20 of FIGS. 
6-8 with the exception of an edge-protruding lip 88. Thus, the elements of 
the embodiment 86 which are common to those of the insert member 20 in 
FIGS. 6-8 have been denoted by the same reference numerals as those used 
with FIGS. 6-8. 
The edge-protruding lip 88 is adapted to slidably engage underneath an 
adjacently positioned second insert member 90 (also identical to insert 
member 20 in construction) to help interlock the adjacently positioned 
insert members 88 and 90. By interlocking adjacent insert members, an even 
more continuous appearing decorative molding insert member is formed. In 
practice, each insert member 86 could be formed with an edge-protruding 
lip which is adapted to be easily removed in the same manner as the lower 
portion 26 of the hanger member 22 in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the event the 
edge-protruding lip 88 is not needed, such as when the member 86 abuts a 
perpendicularly extending wall portion. 
Referring now to FIG. 16, an end cover 100 for use with the various 
preferred embodiments of the molding apparatus of the present invention is 
shown. The end cover 100 is adapted to close-off an exposed end portion of 
a molding apparatus such as apparatus 10 whenever one end or the other of 
the molding apparatus 10 does not abut a perpendicularly extending wall, 
and therefore would otherwise be exposed to view. The end cover 100 
includes a face portion 102 having a recess 104 formed centrally therein. 
It will be appreciated immediately, however, that instead of a generally 
square shaped recess, virtually any shaped recess or even a decoratively 
shaped protruding portion could be formed on the face portion 102 
depending upon the decorative appearance desired. Accordingly, recessed or 
protruding squares, circular designs or various other designs could be 
formed on the face portion 102. 
With further reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the end cover 100 is shown 
releasably secured to the hanger member 18. The end cover 100 further 
includes an outer side surface 106 (FIG. 16), a lower wall portion 108, a 
lower support channel 110 (FIG. 17) having a depending lip portion 112, a 
vertical wall portion 114 and an upper channel 116 (FIG. 17) formed in 
part by an upper lip member 118 extending generally transversely of the 
face portion 102. A portion 102a of the face portion 102 extends past the 
vertical wall portion 114 such that it overlaps a portion of a terminal 
end of a decorative insert member, such as insert member 20, when secured 
to a hanger member, such as hanger member 18, which supports the insert 
member 20. The vertical wall portion 114 is adapted to be abutted against 
the terminal (i.e., exposed) end of the insert member 20. The outer side 
surface 106 abuts the terminal end of the hanger member 18 to close-off 
the terminal end. 
With brief reference to FIG. 19, the outer side surface 106 can be seen to 
have a longitudinal width which is sufficient to extend past (i.e., 
behind) the lower support channel 110 such that when the end cover 100 is 
secured to a hanger member in accordance with the present invention, the 
ends of the hanger member and decorative molding insert members secured 
thereto will not be visible once the end cover 100 is secured to the 
hanger member. This is because an upper edge 106a of the outer side 
surface 106 is adapted to abut a soffit, ceiling or other protruding wall 
portion, while a rear edge surface 106b is adapted to abut a wall portion 
to which the hanger member of the present invention is secured. 
With further reference to FIG. 17, the upper lip member 118 engages within 
the second groove 46 of the hanger member 18. The lip portion 112 engages 
within the first channel 32. The end cover 100 is further inserted in 
accordance with the assembly steps described hereinbefore such that the 
end cover 100 is releasably secured to the hanger member 18. 
The end cover 100 may be formed from a variety of manufacturing techniques, 
but preferably is injection molded from a thermoplastic, preferably 
polypropylene, to form a relatively inexpensive, yet relatively strong and 
lightweight member which is well adapted to provide a decorative member 
for closing off an exposed end portion of the molding assembly 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 20, an end cover 200 in accordance with an 
alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The 
end cover 200 is identical to the end cover of FIGS. 16-19 with the 
exception of a shoulder portion 202 which is formed at one end of a lip 
portion 204 of a lower support channel 206. The end cover 200 otherwise 
includes a face portion 208, a recessed portion 210, an outer side surface 
212, a lower wall portion 214, a vertical wall portion 216, an upper 
channel 218 and an upper lip member 220. 
Referring to FIG. 21, a hanger member 222 is shown in accordance with an 
alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. The hanger 
member 222 is essentially identical to the hanger member 18 of FIGS. 2-5 
with the exception of a notch 224 which is formed in a lip portion 226 of 
a lower J-channel 228. Otherwise, the hanger member 222 is identical in 
construction to hanger member 18 shown in FIGS. 2-5, and generally 
includes a back member 230 having a central portion 232, an optional lower 
portion 234, a soffit-engaging upper lip portion 236 and a depending upper 
lip member 238. The depending upper lip member 238 includes an inner lip 
member 240 and an outer lip member 242 which together help to form a 
second channel 244. The central portion 232 also includes a plurality of 
spaced apart and elongated apertures 246, while the lower portion 234 
similarly includes a plurality of elongated, spaced apart apertures 248. 
With specific reference to FIGS. 22-24, the construction of the end cover 
200 can further be seen as being identical to the end cover 100 with the 
exception of the shoulder portion 202 which forms a continuous portion of 
the vertical wall portion 216. 
Referring to FIGS. 25-27, the end cover 200 is shown assembled to the 
hanger member 222. With specific reference to FIG. 26, the shoulder 
portion 202 is shown engaged within the notch 224 of the lip portion 226 
of the lower J-channel 228. With reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, an edge 
portion 250 of the lower wall 214 abuts the lip portion 226 of the lower 
J-channel 228 when the end cover 200 is releasably secured to the hanger 
member 222. 
The shoulder portion 202 and notch 224 of the end cover 200 and the hanger 
member 222, respectively, cooperate to prevent the end cover 200 from 
being urged slidably off of the hanger member 222 by thermal expansion of 
one or more sections of molding insert members such as insert member 20. 
Accordingly, once the end cover 200 is releasably secured to the hanger 
member 222 in the manner hereinbefore described with respect to the 
previously disclosed embodiments, the end cover 200 can only be removed by 
manually urging it outwardly of the hanger member 222 such that the lip 
portion 220 disengages the channel 244, and then subsequently removing the 
lip portion 206 from the lower J-channel 228. 
It will be appreciated that all of the preferred embodiments described 
herein could be manufactured from polystyrene to obtain a complete molding 
assembly which is readily paintable or stainable. 
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description 
that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a 
variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in 
connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the 
invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become 
apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, 
specification and following claims.