Patent Publication Number: US-4222427-A

Title: Trim units for valances, doors and the like

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to trim units for valances, doors and the like. 
     REVIEW OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Valances are commonly used in buildings along walls, especially above windows, to provide a decorative heading for curtains and blinds. It is desired by builders and contractors to purchase valance units in prefabricated or kit form, but a severe problem exists in that the valance should be not only of predetermined length, but must also be of predetermined depth, depending upon its length and the room height, if an attractively-proportioned appearance is to be obtained. 
     The assembly and installation of folding and sliding doors in buildings has now become virtually completely standardized. Thus, usually a channel-section track is fastened to the door frame header with its open side facing downward, and the door then mounted by this track to move across the door opening. A trim strip is usually fastened to the front of the channel to conceal it. The door opening is always made somewhat taller than necessary, so as to be sure that the door can be installed and will move freely, with the result that there is always a gap of unpredictable height left between the bottom edge of the channel and the top of the door. 
     DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new trim unit for use with valances, doors and the like. 
     It is a more specific object to provide a new trim unit for use with valances, doors and the like and adapted in the case of a valance unit to be readily adjustable in vertical height, and in the case of a door unit to be readily adjustable after installation to cover the gap between the door and its supporting channel. 
     In accordance with the present invention therefore there is provided a new trim for valances, doors and the like comprising: 
     a base member having a first horizontal member adapted to be mounted on a generally horizontal surface of the building structure for support of the base member; 
     a second vertical member depending from the base member to extend downwards from the base member when the unit is mounted on the building structure and having a front surface constituting a trim surface of the base trim member; and 
     a supplementary trim member mounted on the said second vertical member for vertical movement when the unit is mounted on the building structure to expose the required amount of the front trim surface of the base trim member and to adjust the vertical height of the combined vertical and supplementary members. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a sliding closet door having a door trim unit of the invention employed therewith, 
     FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed from the front, 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment viewed from the rear, 
     FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, 
     FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 4 of a third embodiment, 
     FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6, 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a door trim unit which is a further embodiment in which a door support channel is formed integral with the unit, 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a valance unit which is a yet further embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an end plate for the unit of FIG. 9, and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a curtain runner support unit for use with the embodiment of FIG. 9. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The sliding door particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an example for the use therewith of a door trim unit of the invention is of conventional form, consisting of two doors 10 and 12 suspended by hangers 14 to ride from a channel member 16 fixed to a horizontal wooden door header member 18 by screws such as 20. The header is in turn fixed to a horizontal cross member 22 to which is nailed sheathing 24; the frame is completed by trim moulding 26. The bottom edges of the doors are guided in their sliding movement by guides 28 fixed to the floor. The invention is however also applicable to other types of door, such as the usual concertina and bi-fold types, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein. 
     The first embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 3 comprising a door trim unit of the present invention is specifically intended for use with a door already installed and/or with the conventional already available form of channel member 16, and therefore consists of an L-shaped base trim member 30 having a first horizontal member 30a which is adapted to be inserted between the base of the channel member 16 and the header member 18. Thus, in a new construction the trim member is placed in position and the channel screwed against it, the arm 30a having elongated bights 32 therein for the passage of the screws 20. The unit can also readily be applied to an established installation by loosening the screws holding the channel member until the member 30a can be inserted in the resultant space, and then retightening the screws. The vertical second arm member 30b of the base trim member extends vertically downwards in front of the channel 16 and screens it from view. The bottom edge of the arm 30b will usually be in about the neighbourhood of the bottom edge of the channel. 
     The unit is completed by a supplementary trim member 34 mounted on the vertical second arm for adjustable vertical movement, so that it can be moved vertically downward, between two extreme positions dictated by its mode of fastening to the base member, into a selectable position in which it just screens the gap between the bottom edge of the channel 16 and the top edges of the doors 10 and 12. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 the fastening between the base and supplementary members is illustrated as by rivets 34 which extend through vertically elongated slots in the supplementary member, the rivets fastening the members together sufficiently tightly for them to move relatively to one another with difficulty owing to the friction between them. Bolts and nuts or any equivalent fastening could be used instead. At least the surfaces of the base and supplementary trim members which face the front are provided with any desired suitable surface finish, such as woodgrain, or are treated to render them readily paintable. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 parts 38 are struck out of the arm 30 and bent downwards to frictionally engage the rear face of the supplementary member. Additional end parts 40 may be provided for the same purpose, and in addition these parts 40 may engage struck out portions 42 of the supplementary member to determine the lowest position to which the supplementary member can be moved. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 the supplementary member 34 is of U-section and embraces the downwardly-extending arm member 30b, being slid onto the base member in the manner illustrated by the arrow 44, and being frictionally engaged therewith. The two members are provided with respective cooperating elongated stop members 46 and 48, along their rear lower edges and the adjacent upper edge respectively, which determine the lowermost position of the supplementary member. Elongated slots 32a are used instead of bights for passage for the fastening screws 20. 
     In the application particularly illustrated, namely as a door trim unit used with sliding doors, the position in which the supplementary member is placed is not particularly critical, since the doors move parallel thereto, and any position in which the gap is completely screened is satisfactory. In the case of the popular bifold doors (or concertina doors) the position is much more critical, and the lowest position is chosen that will screen the gap as completely as possible without fouling the doors as they are opened and closed. The door trim unit of the invention is of particular value in situations where the height of the door may need to be changed. For example, if carpet is installed through the doorway then the door must be raised; the position of the supplementary member is then very readily altered to take account of the altered height of the gap. 
     Another embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIG. 8 comprises a combined trim unit and channel member. Such an embodiment is of particular benefit in new constructions, where doors or similar structures are being installed for the first time. The combined channel member and trim unit is simple and easy to install, in a single operation, and can be manufactured from metal or plastic material by a rapid and economical moulding or extrusion operation to produce a functional yet attractive product. The channel member is rigidly fixed to, and preferably is made integral with, the first horizontal member of the trim unit, apertures being provided in the base of the channel member for securing it to a door header member or similar external structure. 
     Thus, an elongated channel member 50 is provided which in operative position has its open side presented downwardly, the channel edges being provided with a pair of respective inturned lower edges 52, 54 providing tracks on which rollers or door suspension members may run. Holes 56 are provided in the channel base for the reception of mounting screws. Portion 56 of the member provides the first horizontal member 58, which is therefore integral with the channel member 50 and forms a continuation of the top surface thereof, while the second vertical member is constituted by an integral depending second member 60 which extends in front of the channel member when the unit is mounted in operative position. The unit is completed by a generally U-sectioned supplementary trim member 62, similar to that described and illustrated in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7. The supplementary trim member 62 embraces and frictionally engages the lower end of the depending second arm 60, so as to be vertically adjustable and positionable with respect thereto, to cover gaps of different heights between the tops of the associated doors and the bottom of channel member 50, by which the doors are mounted. A stop member 64 extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the depending second member 60 along the full length thereof, and cooperates with inturned formations 66, 68 extending along the top edges of the supplementary trim member 62, to determine the lowermost position of the supplementary trim member 62, and also to enhance the frictional engagement. 
     It will of course be appreciated that any other configuration of combined channel member and trim unit can be adopted and, for example, the channel member need not be of generally rectangular internal section as illustrated, as long as it provides the necessary upwardly presented running surface or surfaces for door hangers. It can for example take the form of a solid or tubular elongated bar with outwardly protruding side ledges forming the support surfaces for the door suspension members. In similar manner, other configurations of supplementary trim member and depending second arm member can be adopted, for example as previously described herein and illustrated in FIGS. 3-7. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 11, there are illustrated therein other embodiments of the invention comprising a valance trim unit adapted to support a blind or curtain suspension system and to hide it from view. Valances are commonly used along walls of buildings, particularly in front of the windows, where it is desired to provide some added decorative effect, such as the concealment of the wall/ceiling junction, suspension of plants, curtains or blinds, mounting of concealed strip lighting, etc. The length of valance to be employed will of course depend upon the nature of the installation but, almost as importantly, it is necessary to select carefully the height of the valance if the maximum decorative effect is to be obtained, and it is not always possible to determine in advance the height that will give the desired effect. With a valance trim unit of the invention it is possible to install the valance and then adjust the height until the desired appearance is obtained. Parts which are similar to the embodiment of FIG. 8 will be given the same reference number. 
     Thus, the elongated valance channel member 59 has a first horizontal member 58 constituting the base of the channel, provided with holes 56 for the reception of mounting screws by which it can be fastened to the ceiling of a building structure. The depending second member 60 carries the U-shaped supplementary trim member 62 which embraces and frictionally engages the depending member. The two members are provided with respective cooperating stop members 64, 66 and 68 as with the embodiment of FIG. 8. The lower end of the supplementary member 62 is provided with an inturned edge 70 providing an inside support channel. The other wall 72 of the channel depends parallel to the wall member 60 and is provided with apertures such as 74 for fastening screws. 
     The valance unit is provided with integral support means for plants, curtains etc., consisting of at least one pair of downwardly and inwardly extending integrally moulded protrusions 76 that extend the full length of the valance unit. The protrusions thus form between them a tapered or wedge shaped channel 78 into which can be slid rod-support hanger members comprising a wedge-shaped portion 80 of complementary shape to the wedge-shaped channel joined to a part-cylindrical portion 82 that will receive a rod-shaped curtain support. If the curtain etc., is to be supported from a smaller diameter rod then an adaptor member 84 having a passage 86 of appropriate size is slipped into the portion 80. 
     The adaptor member also is provided with a T-section slot 88 adapted to receive the upper run of a length of conventional I-section support beam 90. Alternatively, the adaptor member 92 illustrated by FIG. 11 can be employed, which is adapted to receive only I-section support beams. The valance unit can be produced by extrusion and cut to standard lengths from which the desired length can be cut. If the valance is free-standing its ends are closed by an end plate such as is illustrated in FIG. 10, having a channel 94 which embraces the adjacent edge of the unit and projections 96 which can be inserted into the wedge-shaped channels 77, different heights of plate being required to accommodate different positions of the supplementary trim member.