Patent Publication Number: US-9422730-B2

Title: Trim system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to trimming, more specifically, to a trim system for installing onto various surfaces. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Over the course of new building construction or renovations, it is desirable to install a trim or ledge system. A typical installation occurs where a wainscot application of stone is applied to the lower portion of the building face, and transition is required from one type of siding to another. A device suitable for easy installation that is also esthetically pleasing and allows for the proper flow of water away from the house wrap is essential. 
     Inventions such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,514 (Peterson), US Patent Publication No. 2012/0222383 (Cashman) have been devised in order to provide a trim system around a window to reduce water seepage and make it easy to install. 
     Specifically, Peterson discloses a snap fit system to be used with sealant, thereby creating the transition between the window sill and the trim. Unfortunately Peterson&#39;s system has many small and intricate parts, which can be lost or worse, broken. Meanwhile, Cashman&#39;s trim system discloses a C-shaped bracket and a trim piece with longitudinal slots to snap fit into the C-shaped bracket and complete the system. 
     Unfortunately, these devices are overly complicated and require many complex parts to provide the solution that is offered herein. Specifically, a device is required that can be simple, easy to install and further offer the ability to properly hide the fasteners so that it is aesthetically pleasing. The device further requires having a mold that can cast the proper part while preserving the mold&#39;s life. Moreover, screw-less systems have insufficient strength to hold heavy masonry components, and screw-less clip only systems are typically difficult to adjust or remove once component is installed. Finally, the geometry shown in Cashman would not be functional, as the flex required in leg to fit into slot would deform the steel component permanently. Once the component is screwed up against the brick mould of a window leg it will contact window mould and cannot be flexed to allow piece to clip in. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With specific reference to Cashman&#39;s device, advantages of the present invention include the fact that a J-component, rather than C-component allows for variance on width of cast component with a single steel C-component “sku” to install. J allows for rapid manufacturing of any conceivable profile and width of component to be installed without having to manufacture tooling for an exactly matching steel C-component. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a trim system for use with brick or other masonry cladding is provided comprising a J-trim component for positioning onto a surface, said J-trim component having a hook portion; a ledge member to facilitate the egress of water, further comprised of: a slot along a longitudinal axis of the ledge member for positioning into the hook portion of the J-trim component; two leader grooves located on opposite extremities of the slot to reduce the degradation of a casting mould during fabrication of the ledge member; and at least two keyholes on a lower surface of the ledge member to secure said ledge member to the surface. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, a ledge member to facilitate the egress of water is provided further comprised of: a slot along a longitudinal axis of the ledge member for positioning into the hook portion of the J-trim component; two leader grooves located on opposite extremities of the slot to reduce the degradation of a casting mould during fabrication of the ledge member; and at least two keyholes on a lower surface of the ledge member to secure said ledge member to the surface. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, a keyhole to secure a component to a surface is provided, comprised of: a first pyramidal chamber positioned in the component to allow a screw body to fit therein, further comprised of tapered inner walls; a spherical chamber positioned adjacent to the first pyramidal chamber allow for a screw head to fit therein; and, a sloping hypotenuse travelling along the length of the first pyramidal chamber providing an optimal angle for a screw to secure the component to the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments of features of the invention. These figures are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a J-trim component of the trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is an upper perspective view of a ledge member of the trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is an upper perspective view of the trim system showing connection of the J-trim component and the ledge member according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 c    is an upper rear perspective view of a ledge member of the trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 a    is a lower perspective view of a transparent portion of a ledge member of the trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 b    is a cutaway perspective view of a keyhole of the trim system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5 a    is an upper perspective view of a keyhole of the trim system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5 b    is a top view of a keyhole of the trim system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5 c    is an upper perspective cross-sectional view of a keyhole of the trim system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a trim system positioned and secured onto a surface of a home according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the invention and any modifications and/or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  and according to a first embodiment of the present device, a trim system  10  is shown comprised of a J-trim component  15  and a ledge member  20  to facilitate the egress of water. The J-trim component  15  is meant to be positioned and then secured by means of screws onto a surface (not shown), for instance an exterior wall of a house. The ledge member  20  is then positioned and mates into the J-trim component  15  and is then screwed into the surface (not shown) by means of screws positioned into keyholes (not shown) of the ledge member  20 . A sealant is also present but not shown, which will be positioned around the ledge member  20  and serves to protect the house wrap from dirt, dust and more specifically from water. The positioning and affixing to a surface is further detailed below. The purpose of the trim system  10  is to facilitate the transition between brick to another surface and allow water to properly flow from one to the other. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  and according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the J-trim component  15  is shown further comprised of a securing surface  25 , and a hook portion  30  which defines a gap  32  between said hook portion  30  and the securing surface  25 . In turn, the securing surface  25  is further comprised of at least two apertures  35  for receiving screws therein and securing the J-trim component  15  onto a surface. The hook portion  30  of the J-trim component  15  is shaped in such a way so as to mate with a slot (not shown) of the ledge member (not shown) while the gap  32  can fit a longitudinal strip (not shown) of the ledge member (not shown) within it. Therefore, in order to install the trim system onto a surface, the first step is comprised of positioning and securing the J-trim component  15  onto the surface by screwing screws into the apertures  35  located on the securing surface  25  of the J-trim component  15 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b  and 3 c    and according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the ledge member  20  is shown comprised of a sloping surface  40 , a slot  45  along a longitudinal axis of the ledge member  20 , two leader grooves  50 ,  52  and at least two keyholes  55 . The slot  45  which is along the longitudinal axis of the ledge member  20  is meant for positioning into the hook portion  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 b   ) of the J-trim component  15  (shown in  FIG. 3 b   ). It therefore follows that the width of a longitudinal strip  60  parallel to the slot  45  corresponds to the gap  32  (shown in  FIG. 3 b   ) of the J-trim component  15  (shown in  FIG. 3 b   ) for easy mating. The two leader grooves  50 ,  52  which are positioned on opposite extremities of the slot  45  will generally be flush with a first side surface  70  of the ledge member  20 . As the ledge member  20  is a cast component, the two leader grooves  50 ,  52  are present in order to reduce the degradation of the cast mould. When the two leader grooves  50 ,  52  are not present in the trim system such that the longitudinal strip  60  runs parallel to the ledge of the first side surface  70 , often the longitudinal strip  60  will cause the mould to break at each extremity of said longitudinal strip  60  when the ledge member  20  is being removed from the mould. Therefore, by terminating the longitudinal strip  60  in the two leader grooves  50 ,  52 , the mould remains stronger at the edges of the longitudinal strip  60  and will resist to breaking when being removed from the mould, therefore prolonging the life of the mould. The ledge member  20  is further comprised of at least two keyholes  55  extending from a lower surface (not shown) to the first side surface  70  of the ledge member  20  for securing said ledge member  20  to the surface (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the keyholes  55  are shown extending from a lower surface  75  to a first side surface  70  of the ledge member  20 . The keyholes  55  are further comprised of a spherical chamber  80  and a pyramidal chamber  85 , said spherical chamber  80  in order to allow for a screw  90  to be inserted within it, and then the pyramidal chamber  85  being angled in such a way so as to allow the screw  90  to screw into the surface (not shown) of the wall in an upwards angled fashion. The shape of the keyholes  55  allows for the screws  90  to be hidden from view yet still be functional in nature. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 a , 5 b  and 5 c    and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a keyhole  155  to secure a component to a surface is shown comprised of a first and second pyramidal chamber  185 ,  187  and a spherical chamber  180  positioned in between the first and second pyramidal chambers  185 ,  187 . A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that while the present shape is spherical, it could be another suitable shape provided that is allows for the head of a screw to fit therein. The first pyramidal chamber  185  is positioned in a component and further comprised of tapered inner walls  101 ,  102  which are essential as they allow for the keyhole  155  to be properly removed from the mold during manufacturing. The tapered inner walls  101 ,  102  must taper inwardly from a lower surface  175  towards a sloping hypotenuse  111 . Said sloping hypotenuse  111  travels along the length of the first and second chambers  185 ,  187  and will allow the screw to be angled with a certain inclination upwards and into another component, as was described above. Specifically, the sloping hypotenuse  111  should have an optimal angle which would correspond to an incline in between 15-30 degrees. This will allow the force that the screw will provide to be sufficient to hold the component. The second pyramidal chamber  187  is provided is some limited circumstances, depending on the size of the screw head/driver tip. When the screw head is smaller, the second pyramidal chamber  187  will be unnecessary. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6  and according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the trim system  10  is shown affixed to a wall  10  of a house. As was previously explained, the trim system  10  separates a first plane  105  such as brick from a second plane  110  such as a different type of stone. A worker skilled in the art will appreciate that while the trim system  10  of the present embodiment is always shown installed horizontally, it is possible for this system to work vertically as well. As sealant will be used to protect the house wrap from the penetration by water, the orientation of the trim system  10  is immaterial to the teachings of the invention. 
     Many modifications of the embodiments described herein as well as other embodiments may be evident to a person skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is understood that these modifications and additional embodiments are captured within the scope of the contemplated invention which is not to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed.