Patent Publication Number: US-6667109-B1

Title: Two-piece decorative medallion

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to decorative moldings for interior use, and in particular, to a decorative medallion for use with a ceiling fixture. 
     2. Background Information 
     Traditionally, a ceiling medallion is a decorative disk that is used to accent or enhance the appearance of a ceiling fixture, such as a light fixture or ceiling fan. The medallions also are generally decorated with surface ornamentation, such as raised “carvings” or relief work, to add to the visual appeal. The medallions are on the order of an inch or two in thickness, and may be between several inches to a few feet in diameter, with the size depending largely on the size of the associated fixture and/or the corresponding expanse of the ceiling. Generally, the main consideration in medallion size and thickness is aesthetics. 
     Medallions are usually constructed of a rigid material that is suited to showing surface detail and ornamentation. Historically, medallions were constructed mainly of solid wood, plaster, or a combination of the two. More recently, bonded wood products, such as medium density fiber board (MDF), and Architectural Foam products, have become popular construction materials since they are relatively easy to work with and are less lighter in weight and are less expensive than other materials. The advent of these newer materials has prompted construction of medallions in shapes and designs that previously would have been prohibitively expensive. 
     The installation of a medallion in a new construction is a relatively easy and inexpensive task, since the medallion is installed prior to the mounting and electrical connection of the associated fixture. The installation is not so simple or economical, however, when retro-fitting or remodeling an existing construction. 
     If a known prior medallion is used in remodeling, the fixture must first be electrically disconnected and then removed from the ceiling. Thus, the electrical power to the fixture must be turned off, the fixture&#39;s mounting hardware carefully loosened and the fixture detached and disconnected. Often detaching a fixture can be difficult, with some fixtures being very delicate and/or awkward to handle. Further, some older fixtures may be secured in unusual ways and/or may have paint-filled or rounded-over screw heads that make the fasteners hard to undo. Once the fixture is detached, the electrical wiring to the fixture is disconnected, which as discussed below is not necessarily an easy task. The fixture must then be stored in a safe place while the medallion is installed. Thereafter, the fixture must again be electrically connected and remounted, and finally, the power can be restored. The overall installation process is thus rather time consuming. 
     Most homeowners will have to hire a professional electrician to handle the electrical aspects of the installation. For the average homeowner, even a small electrical task may be troubling, and potentially unsafe, especially if the older wiring is in place in. Older wiring, for example, often does not meet current building codes and may pose dangers due to lack of proper grounding and lack of ground fault interruption (GFI) switches. Even properly grounded wiring may be dangerous if the insulation has become brittle and cracked over time. While the safest course is for the homeowner to hire an electrician to remove and remount the fixture, it greatly increases the cost of the task. 
     There is thus a need for a medallion that can be installed without the removal of an existing fixture. Yet, such a medallion must retain the appearance and aesthetic appeal of known prior medallions to be accepted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a two-piece decorative medallion that may be installed around a mounted fixture. The medallion consists of two pieces that, when assembled, include surface ornamentation that continues, seemingly without interruption, across the pieces. To install the medallion, an installer places the two pieces on either side of the fixture and slides the two pieces into alignment, using integral alignment features that ensure both vertical and lateral alignment. 
     More specifically, each piece of the medallion includes at one end an overlapping member and at a second end an underledge. The overlapping member of a first piece is cut in an outline that corresponds to a feature of the surface ornamentation, and includes the surface ornamentation pattern on a top surface. Below the surface, the overlapping member includes a recessed edge that is shaped to include one or more alignment features, such as protrusions and concave receiving portions. The underledge of the second piece is cut with an edge that mates with the recessed edge of the overlapping member of the first piece. The edge of underledge thus includes protrusions that fit within corresponding concave receiving portions, and concave portions that receive corresponding protrusions. The various protrusions and the corresponding concave portions are designed to slidably mate, to ensure that the two medallion pieces properly align during installation. When the two pieces are so aligned, the seams between them are essentially hidden by the surface ornamentation. 
     The current medallion may be installed without the removal of a fixture, and thus, without the services of an electrician. Accordingly, the installation process is simpler, faster and less expensive than the process of installing the known prior medallions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a two-piece medallion with the pieces separated by a small space; 
     FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the medallion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of a joining region depicted in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 depicts a front view of the medallion of FIG. 1 with the two pieces joined; and, 
     FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged view of joining ends of the two pieces of the medallion of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE 
     EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 depicts a front view of two pieces  10  and  20  which, when combined, constitute a ceiling medallion  100 . FIG. 4 depicts the assembled medallion. The pieces  10  and  20  may be constructed out of any type of rigid material that can be cut, sculpted or molded into decorative designs, such as solid wood, plaster, a bonded wood product such as Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), or Architectural Foam which due to its ease of manufacture and relatively light weight is generally preferred. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the pieces  10  and  20  are preferably decorated with surface ornamentation  101  or other relief work, to add to the visual appeal. The ornamentation is also employed as part of a novel method of joining the two medallion pieces, which include at either end, overlapping members  15  and  25  and underledges  18  and  28 , respectively. Each overlapping member  15  and  25  is cut in an outline that follows the surface ornamentation of the medallion. The outline follows one or more prominent features, raised portions, or other attributes of the surface ornamentation, and preferably follows natural shadow lines of the surface ornamentation. Extra sections  14  and  24 , which are parts of an inner rim  16 , are cut such that they extend outwardly. 
     The underledges  18  and  28  are regions of the medallion pieces that are formed to receive the overlapping members  15  and  25 . The underledges  18  and  28 , which include top surfaces  19  and  29  that are essentially devoid of ornamentation, are designed to extend a short distance under the top surfaces of the overlapping members  15  and  25 . The respective top surfaces  19  and  29  thus form backgrounds that are visible between cut-out portions of the outlines of the overlapping members, when the two pieces  10  and  20  are joined. Further, the top surfaces  19  and  29  provide convenient areas in which to apply adhesive, to hold the two medallion pieces together. 
     The underledges have rim ends  12  and  22  that are undercut, to receive the extending rim ends  14  and  24  of the corresponding overlapping members  15  and  25 . The underledges  18  and  28  thus aid in aligning the medallion pieces with respect to one another. The overlap of members  15  and  25  with underledges  18  and  28 , and in particular the mating of extending sections  14  and  24  with undercut sections  12  and  22  promote alignment of the two pieces  10  and  20 , as does the actual overlapping of the joining ends of the two pieces. If the medallion pieces did not have the underledges and overlapping members, and instead simply met one another, it would be difficult for an installer to align the pieces accurately, particularly on an uneven ceiling. 
     FIG. 2 is rear view of the medallion  100 , depicting the undersides  11  and  21  of the medallion. Aside from a recessed edge  30 , which is discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 3, the undersides are preferably flat, to allow a large surface area in which to apply adhesive or attach fasteners. Alternately, the underside of the medallion may have recesses or hollowed sections (not shown), to save material in the manufacturing process and/or reduce the weight of the medallion. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view of one set of joining ends of the two pieces  10  and  20 , namely, the overlapping member  15  and the corresponding underledge  18 . As discussed, the top surface of the overlapping member  15  has an outline that follows prominent features of the surface ornamentation  101 . The overlapping member further includes the recessed edge  30 , which is shaped to include one or more alignment features  32 - 36 . The outer edge  40  of the underledge  18  is shaped to include alignment features  42 - 46  that mate with the corresponding features of the recessed edge  30 . The alignment features essentially direct the two pieces  10  and  20  into full alignment, as the outside edge  40  of the underledge slides relative to the recessed edge  30  of the overlapping member another until the corresponding alignment features mate. For example, the protrusion  42  slides along and into the concave portion  32 , while the protrusion  35  slides along and into concave portion  45 , and so forth. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the assembled medallion  100 , depicting the pieces as they look when fully assembled. The overlapping members  15  and  25  mate with underledges  18  and  28 , such that the surface ornamentation  101  essentially continues from one piece to the other, with similar spacing and arrangement. The seams between the two pieces preferably fall on natural shadow lines in the surface ornamentation, such that the seams essentially become visually inconspicuous. The ends  102   a  and  104   a  of the seams may show along the inner rim  16 , which in the example is relatively smooth. However, the rim is relatively thin and is in close proximity to the base of the fixture (not shown), and thus, the seam sections that cross the rim  16  will most likely not be noticed. The seam ends  102   b  and  104   b  fall on an outer rim that, like the inner rim, is smooth. The ends  102   b  and  104   b  may thus be visible, but they are generally not noticed because a viewer&#39;s eye is drawn instead to the surface ornamentation. Further, the ends of the seams are even less noticeable after the medallion painted. 
     To install the medallion  100 , an installer or homeowner simply places the two medallion pieces  10  and  20  on either side of the associated fixture, and slidably joins the pieces until the alignment features mate. As discussed, the alignment features ensure that the two joined pieces are fully aligned. The installer then secures the joined medallion in place on the ceiling or wall with adhesive or other conventional fasteners, such as nails or screws. There is no need to remove the ceiling or wall fixture during installation, and a homeowner may therefore quickly and easily install the medallion, without the services of an electrician. 
     The foregoing has been a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various modifications and addition can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, the two medallion pieces may be unequal in size. Also, the medallion may have various overall shapes, such as oval, rectangular, square, elliptical and so forth. Further, the two-piece medallion may be mounted on a wall around a wall fixture, such as a sconce. Accordingly, the forgoing descriptions is meant to be taken only by way of example and not to otherwise limit the scope of the invention.