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FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a moulding support device suitable for use in the temporary support of a moulding during installation involving fixture to a substrate such as a wall or ceiling to give a decorative appearance thereto. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of mouldings in buildings for decorative purposes is widespread and generally involves the placement of a cornice at the juncture between a ceiling and a wall or walls within a room or other chamber of an edifice. The installation involves the provision of a temporary support, conventionally manual, to locate the cornice in the correct position for installation by suitable fixture, for example a bonding agent, screws or finishing nails. The cornice may be produced from plaster or wood or indeed synthetic material such as plastics. The cornice is usually made in what can be unwieldy lengths which may have simple or complex decorative profiles making it difficult for one person to install. 
         [0003]    Various proposals have been made for temporary supports to be utilized in the placement of furnishings, for example crown mouldings, wall mounted cabinets and the installation of construction elements such as gypsum ceiling boards. In this connection, in respect of ceiling boards, support platforms are available which may be cranked up to the required elevated position to hold the boards in position for fixture to the ceiling framework. Jacks are also conventionally available for providing such support for the installation of cabinetry and indeed cornices. 
         [0004]    However, supports of this kind are generally and of necessity of some size and bulk making their usage difficult in any but the larger environments where space is not at a premium during construction work. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved moulding support device which focuses on the specific task of holding a moulding in place ready for fixture, and at the same time affording a simple and easy operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved moulding support device. 
         [0007]    An advantage of the present invention is that the device has an easy to operate clamping arrangement for applying the device to a substrate temporarily without damage thereto and at the correct location and orientation, the substrate being any flat surface that can be used as a clamping surface, such as a wall, a ceiling, a wall mounted cabinet or the like. 
         [0008]    An advantage of the present invention is that the device with a hand-operated suction cup facilitates fixing of the device in a temporary mode and allows easy removal without spoiling the surface texture of the substrate. 
         [0009]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the moulding support device has the capacity for adjustment to accommodate varied moulding profiles and to hold them in place as appropriate. 
         [0010]    A still further advantage of the present invention is that the device of the present invention has an adjustment facility that is variable and in this respect the device has an indexing means for allowing such adjustability. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an object of the present invention, there is provided a moulding support device comprising a base unit, a hand-operated suction cup mounted on the base unit adapted in use to secure the base unit temporarily to a substrate, and at least one contact surface on the base unit adapted in use to make contact with a moulding to hold the moulding in position in relation to the substrate. 
         [0012]    Conveniently, the at least one contact surface is on a support element that is preferably adjustably mounted with respect to the base unit. 
         [0013]    The base unit preferably includes a base plate into which the hand-operated suction cup is mounted, with two sides and an end closure, which latter is extended beyond the base plate for abutment with the surface of the substrate such that in use in position on the substrate slippage of a moulding behind the base unit is prevented. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the end closure of the base unit, acting as the at least one contact surface, is static and orthogonal to the base plate. In an alternative embodiment the end closure is angularly orientated in relation to the base plate, for example within a range of 105° to 115°. In a still further embodiment, the end closure is itself pivotally mounted to the base unit and effectively constitutes the support element, the angular disposition of the end closure in relation to the base plate being adjustable using an adjustment mechanism of the same or similar kind as described herein below. 
         [0015]    The support element has wing pieces which conveniently bridge the sides of the base unit and are pivotally mounted thereto. An adjustment mechanism is provided as between the side or sides of the base unit and the wing pieces of the support element. 
         [0016]    The adjustment mechanism may be in the form of an indexing array on at least one of the wing pieces or sides of the base unit engageable by a pin on at least one of the adjacent sides of the base unit or wing pieces. The pin may be spring loaded (not shown) for engagement with the indexing array that may be a range of indexing drilled holes or machined recesses along a radius in the relevant wing piece. 
         [0017]    In the alternative, the adjustment mechanism may comprise in combination an arcuate slot formed in a wing piece of the support element, and screw stud fixed on the side of the base unit with a wing nut adjustment for locking the wing piece to the side of the base unit in the desired angular relationship. 
         [0018]    Conveniently, the position of the pivoting axis is also adjustable to suit special configurations. To this end, corresponding arcs of indexing holes or slots are obviously provided. 
         [0019]    The base unit may be provided on each side thereof with a guide or guides for the reception of slidable bars which may advantageously have an enlarged part thereof extending beyond the limits of the unit and so dimensioned as to provide a variable spacer facility when in use the moulding support device is in position against a substrate. 
         [0020]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front elevation of a first embodiment of a moulding support device in accordance with the present invention and showing a moulding in position against a ceiling and wall being supported by the device prior to fixture; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective front elevation of a second embodiment of a moulding support device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the moulding support device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2   a  is an exploded view of the moulding support device illustrated in  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of a third embodiment of a moulding support device in accordance with the present invention and showing the manner of operation of the device of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 3  with the device in position in relation to a ceiling or wall with slidable bars in position to support a moulding intended to lie flat against the relevant substrate; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic depiction of the varying depths of moulding that may be accommodated and supported between the slidable bars as shown in  FIG. 4  and the substrate; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective front elevation of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation. 
         [0031]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a moulding support device is illustrated and includes a channel-like base unit  1  having side walls  2  defining therebetween a channel  3  with a base plate  4  in which is formed an aperture  6  for accommodating the mounting of a hand-operated suction cup shown generally at  8 . An end closure  10  extends between the side walls  2  at one end of the channel  3  and has two slide holes  12  at the lower margins of the closure at each lateral extent thereof, the holes being aligned with guide saddles  14  located on the inner surfaces of the side walls  2 . Removable slidable bars  16  are accommodated within the slide holes  12  and the saddles  14 , the bars  16  being shown in  FIG. 2  for the sake of completeness, but the bars  16  are not required for the operation of this embodiment with the moulding depicted. 
         [0032]    The end closure  10  extends beyond the base plate  4  to provide a stop  18  for a purpose hereinafter described. 
         [0033]    The base plate  4  is recessed on its under surface as at  20  (as better seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) for the reception of the flexible disc  23  of the mechanism  22  of the suction cup  8 . The mechanism  22  includes an operating handle  24  suitably connected to the spindle  26  of the mechanism  22  and abutting to a washer  27 , the spindle  26  extending through the aperture  6  in the base plate. It will be understood that the hand-operated suction cup  8  and associated mechanism  22  are conventional in character, with compression coil spring  28  and washer  29 , for example suction cups of the kind available from the Anver® Corporation would be suitable for use in this invention. As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the stop  18  is essentially present to make up for the thickness of the disc  23 . It will be understood that the hand-operated suction cup  8  could be replaced with any types of temporary securing (or affixing) means to secure the support device temporarily to a surface of a substrate. 
         [0034]    A support element  30  comprises two wing pieces  32  which bridge the side walls  2  and which are both pivotally attached thereto as by pins  35  of wing pieces engaging corresponding bore  34  of the side walls, as shown. The wing pieces  32  are of generally sector shape with a support rod  36  extending the extremities of the arcuate edge  33  of each wing piece  32 , the rod  36  being adjustable in position on the wing pieces  32 , as indicated by holes  37  (see  FIGS. 2 and 2   a ). At the end of the side wall  2  of the base unit  1  distal from the pin  34  one or both of the side walls is provided with a preferably rounded pin  38  for registration with one of a series  39  of indexing holes or recesses  40  formed in one or preferably both wing pieces  32  along the arcuate edge  33  and spaced therefrom. The support unit  30  is adjustable in position in relation to the base unit  1  by pivotal movement of the wing pieces  32  and alteration of the registration position of the pin  38  in one of the indexing recesses  40  of the series  39 . 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 1   a , the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first only in relation to the manner of clamping the wing pieces  32  to the side walls  2  of the base unit  1 . In this second embodiment, one of both wing pieces  32  is provided with an arcuate slot  42  through which a threaded stud  43  extends from and is mounted to one of the side wall  2  of the base unit. A locking wingnut  44  engages the stud  43  for locking the relevant wing piece  32  to the side wall  2  in the desired angular position. 
         [0036]    Conveniently, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 2   a , the position of the pivoting axis of the pins  35  is also adjustable in bores  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″, which may prove useful to suit special working configurations. To this end, corresponding arcs or series  39 ,  39 ′,  39 ″ of indexing recesses  40 ,  40 ′,  40 ″ or arcuate slots  42 ,  42 ′,  42 ″ are provided for registration with pin  38  or threaded stud  43 . 
         [0037]    A third embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  illustrates only one series  39  of recesses  40  in the two wing pieces  32 , for registration with rounded pin  38 . 
         [0038]    In operation of the first, second and third embodiments, the moulding support device is disposed in a suitable supporting position adjacent a ceiling A and a wall B for the purpose of locating and temporarily supporting a length of coving  50  intended in completion to constitute a cornice for a room (not shown) of which the wall and the ceiling form part of the bounding structure. As will readily be seen the coving  50  is contoured at  51  to give a decorative appearance and is provided with flats  52  for engagement with the ceiling A and the wall B. The length of coving  50  is held and supported by the device with the base unit  1  being secured to the wall B through the agency of the suction cup  8  which is operated by its handle  24  to give the required vacuum. The support element  30  is pivoted into a suitable position to provide contact with and support for the coving  50  as shown in the figures with the rod  36  contacting the coving. The angular disposition of the support element  30  in relation to the base unit  1  is effected by adjustment of the wing pieces through the use of the pin and indexing holes or by the slot and wing nut arrangements as necessary and as hereinbefore described. It will be noted that the coving  50  is also supported by the stop  18  of the end closure  10  of the base unit  1 . The coving  50  is held in position by the device until secure fixing thereof has been achieved as between the coving and the ceiling A and the wall B. The fixing may be effected by the use of a bonding agent which may require the application of pressure during curing, or may be effected by suitable fasteners for example screws or finishing nails. Once the fixing of the coving has been achieved, the suction cup  8  is released and the device removed for further use. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 4 , the third embodiment is illustrated in place locked onto a ceiling A (or it may be a wall B) and in this mode of deployment the slidable bars  16  are in use. Initially a contoured moulding  60  with a flat backing  62  is elevated to the contact position in relation to the ceiling A such as by the use of the support element  30  if desired and then the slidable bars  16  are extended to provide a holding support for the moulding  60  across its full width with the element being withdrawn to a parked position as shown in the figure. Each slidable bar  16 , as can more clearly be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 2   a  varies in cross-sectional dimension with a narrow square section  16 ′ enlarging to an eccentric rectangularly-shaped section  16 ″. As can be seen from  FIG. 5  the differing cross-sectional dimensions afford the ability of the bars to accommodate differing thicknesses, D 1 , D 2 , D 3  and D 4  of moulding, the axial orientation of the bars being changed in correspondence to the thickness of moulding selected. 
         [0040]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , it will be noted that in this fourth embodiment of moulding support device, guideways  70  are provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls  2  of the base unit  1  for accommodating the bars  16 . In this embodiment the support element  30  comprises the end closure  10 , which is in the form of a plate pivotable about the end extremity of the base plate  4 , as shown by hinge  31 , with the stop  18  remaining fixed relative to the base unit  1 . The element  30  is provided with arcuate wing pieces  32  in strip form one or both of which is provided with a pin  38  for registration in one of a series  39  of recesses  40  formed in a side wall  2  of the base unit  1 . In operation of this embodiment of the device, a moulding (not shown in this figure) is placed on the end closure  10  and elevated to the appropriate location and the bars  16  are then positioned with the appropriate thickness to hold the moulding in situ for fixture. 
         [0041]    It will be understood that the support element  30  of the fourth embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6  could also be confectioned to provide contact with and support for the coving  50 . In this embodiment, the end closure  10  of the support element  30  is also provided with a support structure. Of course, the person skilled in the art will know how to connect the support structure to the end closure  10  of the support element  30 . 
         [0042]    The present invention provides a simple, effective and relatively inexpensive tool for assisting in the correct positioning and fixture of mouldings and the like, thus avoiding the difficulties normally associated with application of this kind of decorative finishing. 
         [0043]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications as may be therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims. For example, it will be understood that any types of adjustment mechanism can be used to connect, joint, attach, fix or adjust the different constituents of the moulding support device of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that this support device could be used to hold in place for a certain period of time any types of items to be installed.

Summary:
The present invention relates to a moulding support device suitable for use in the temporary support of a moulding during installation. The moulding support device comprises a base unit, a temporary fixing means mounted on the base unit to fix the device in a temporary mode to a substrate and allow easy removal, and at least one contact surface on the base unit to make contact with a moulding and to hold the latter in position in relation to the substrate.