Patent Publication Number: US-2011062735-A1

Title: Protective kick strip

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This invention relates to moldings, and more particularly to molding assemblies useful in aircraft or other vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles such as aircraft, buses, ships, and the like may utilize moldings, also sometimes referred to as kick strips, secured to walls, corners, or other features of the cabin. Such moldings may be purely decorative or may be protective. Accordingly, molding designs may find utility in various vehicles including aircrafts, buses, ships and the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     In various aspects, protective kick strips are provided. In some embodiments, protective kick strips may be mounted on a wall or other structure in an aircraft, bus, ship, or other vehicle as a decorative ornament and/or to protect the wall or other structure from damage caused by impact from an object. 
     Thus, in one aspect there is provided a kickstrip assembly. The assembly comprising a base plate having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, and comprising an upper segment having an upper edge and an upper lip, and a lower segment having a lower edge and a lower lip. The upper lip and the lower lip define a middle section. The assembly further comprises an insert formed from a flexible polymeric material and comprising a faceplate, an upper edge depending from the faceplate, and a lower edge depending from the faceplate. The faceplate is dimensioned to fit within middle section of the base plate. 
     In another aspect there is provided an a vehicle, comprising a body defining an interior cabin, and a kickstrip assembly secured to a wall section of the cabin. The assembly comprising a base plate having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, and comprising an upper segment having an upper edge and an upper lip, and a lower segment having a lower edge and a lower lip. The upper lip and the lower lip define a middle section. The assembly further comprises an insert formed from a flexible polymeric material and comprising a faceplate, an upper edge depending from the faceplate, and a lower edge depending from the faceplate. The faceplate is dimensioned to fit within middle section of the base plate. 
     The features, functions and advantages discussed herein can be achieved independently in various embodiments described herein or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, exploded perspective illustration of a protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, exploded side illustration of a protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, side illustration of an assembled protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic frontal illustration of an assembled protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an aircraft in which a protective kickstrip assembly may be installed, according to embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are exemplary protective kickstrip assemblies and vehicles comprising such assemblies. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been illustrated or described in detail so as not to obscure the particular embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic, exploded perspective illustration of a protective kick strip assembly  100  in accordance with some embodiments, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic, exploded side illustration of a protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. Referring to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the kickstrip assembly  100  comprises a base plate  110  having a length extending along a longitudinal axis. Base plate  110  comprises an upper segment  112  having an upper edge  114  and an upper lip  116 . Base plate  110  further comprises a lower segment  120  having a lower edge  122  and a lower lip  124  depending from the lower edge  122 . The upper lip  116  and the lower lip  124  define a middle section  130  of the base plate  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the base plate  110  comprises a first row of apertures  150  extending along the longitudinal axis. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the apertures  150  extend along substantially the entire length of the base plate  110 , and serve to reduce the weight of the base plate  110 . Base plate  110  further comprises a second row  152  of apertures adjacent the first row, and a third row  154  of apertures adjacent the first row. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the second row  152  and third row  154  of apertures also extend along substantially the entire length of the base plate  110 , and serve to reduce the weight of base plate  110  and to provide guide holes through which fasteners  170  may be passed to secure the base plate  110  to a structure such as a wall  180 . 
     In some embodiments, the assembly  100  may further comprise one or more spacer elements  162  which may be interposed between the base plate  110  an a structure such as a wall  180 . Further, the assembly  100  may comprise one or more end caps  160  adapted to connect to the base plate  110 , and an insert  140 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the insert  140  comprises a faceplate  142 , which has an upper edge  144  and a lower edge  146  depending from the faceplate. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic, side illustration of an assembled protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in assembly, the base plate  110  is secured to a structure such as a wall  180  using one or more fasteners  170 , and the insert  140  is inserted into the base plate  110  between the upper lip  116  and the lower lip  124 . The base plate  110  comprises a back edge  128  defining a plane. In one embodiment, the upper edge  114  comprises a tail section  118  that extends beyond the plane defined by the back edge  128 . In use, when the base plate  110  is secured to a structure such as a wall  180 , the tail section  118  of the upper segment  112  urges the upper lip  116  toward the lower lip  124 , thereby compressing the insert  140  between the upper lip and the lower lip. In some embodiments, the insert  140  is formed from a flexible polymeric material, such that compressing the insert between the upper lip  116  and the lower lip  124  causes the insert  140  to flex along a longitudinal axis, which in turn enables the insert  140  to provide a spring-like cushion effect against impact by foreign objects. 
     Further, when the kick plate assembly  100  is installed proximate a floor, the flange  126  provides a seal between the kick plate assembly  100  and the floor, such that fluids spilled on the floor are inhibited from seeping onto the wall, where they may be absorbed. 
     Base plate  110  and insert  140  may be formed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, base plate  110  and insert  140  may be formed from a suitable material, e.g., a suitable polymer such as a thermoplastic or metal such as aluminum by a suitable process such as a thermal extrusion process or a rolling process or a stamping process. Similarly, the fasteners  170  may be formed from a suitable polymer or metal. End caps  160  may be formed from a suitable polymer material and injection molded or from a suitable metal and molded or formed. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic frontal illustration of an assembled protective kick strip assembly in accordance with some embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 4 , when assembled the insert  140  is secured between the upper segment  112  of the base plate  110  and the lower segment  120  of the base plate  110 . The flange  126  extends from the lower segment  120  of the base plate  120 . 
     In use, the kick strip assembly  100  may be mounted to a wall or other structure on the interior of a vehicle such as, e.g., an aircraft, a bus, or a ship.  FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an aircraft  510  in which a protective kickstrip assembly may be installed, according to embodiments Referring to  FIG. 5 , the airplane  510  may be a commercial airline, cargo plane, or small passenger plane. The airplane  510  may comprise a body  520  which defines an interior cabin. One or more kick strip assemblies  100  may be mounted on a structure of the interior cabin. 
     Thus, as described herein one or more interior walls or structures of an aircraft may be equipped with a kick strip assembly  100 . In some embodiments the kick strip assembly may be purely decorative, while in other embodiments the kick strip assembly may provide protection against impact by objects. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an implementation. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification may or may not be all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that claimed subject matter may not be limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as sample forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.