Patent Abstract:
A decorative molding assembly for a variety of surface applications providing a complex molding feature with a machine made single component set composite configured insert. A channel base molding receives a unique configured U-shaped insert forming linear spaced and aligned viewing openings for an underlying contrasting base material achieving a hand crafted detailed look with a single overlying molding tunnel insert combination.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/683,884, filed Aug. 16, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention is directed to manufacturing of decorative trim such as cornices that provide for detailed woodworking features and architectural structures. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been developed to enable different trim and finish molding venues, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,956,861, 4,706,431, 5,444,956 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,474. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,861 discloses a trim arrangement for interior partitions wherein a partition panel has a channel for receiving fasteners and a cover concealment strip which is frictionally inserted therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,431 claims a recessed decorative molding for wood paneling having a groove for receiving a decorative strip insert for use in a wood door panel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,956 is directed to a trim molding with removable insert. A trim molding has an elongated channel into which a backing is positioned with an overlying abutting cut-away insert so as to expose a portion of the locking insert therethrough. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,474 is directed towards a decorative device comprised of modular interchangeable components which has a cornice for crowning an architectural structure with a decorative center piece in the cornice which is applied therein to provide interest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A multi-part decorative trim molding assembly to simulate a hand carved decorative trim piece with relief surfaces. A base molding has a contrasting material upstanding insert in a recessed channel. A U-shaped “tunnel” molding trim having intermediate portions cut-away is inverted and straddles the upstanding insert to provide a true recessed independent composite insert configuration wherein the tunnel molding trim is spaced in relation to the upstanding contrasting material insert within the base molding. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an assembled trim molding of the invention illustrating the multiple insert openings therewithin. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the assembled molding configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a portion of the insert trim. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded perspective view of the trim molding assembly of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a base trim of an alternate form of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate trim molding assembly of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a second alternate trim molding assembly of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded top plan view of a third alternate form of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of the third alternate assembly thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings, the trim molding assembly  10  of the invention can be seen having a base mounting molding  11 , a decorative insert strip  12  and a U-shaped apertured viewing insert  13 . The base receiving mounting molding  11  comprises an integral elongated strip of milled material  14 , in this example preferably wood. The top surface being contoured with a first contoured surface portion  15  extending inwardly from an upstanding perimeter edge  16 . A receiving channel  17  extends longitudinally within defining the inward terminal edge at  18  of the concave surface portion  15  as best seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. 
     An opposite spaced parallel edge at  19  of the channel  17  defines the transverse dimension thereof. An angled top surface portion  14  extends from the terminal edge  19  in a convex surface contour at  20  which transitions into a curvilinear concave surface portion  21  with a rounded over upstanding parallel base perimeter edge portion  22 . 
     A flat bottom or back surface  23  interconnects said respective upstanding portions  22  and  16  completing the base receiving mounting molding  11 . 
     The decorative channel insert strip  12  can be seen best in  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings comprises in this example an elongated cross-sectionally rectangular material having a transverse dimension substantially less than that of the corresponding channel dimension  17  and is positioned midway therein in spaced side to side relation forming corresponding receiving channels  24 A and  24 B. 
     The decorative insert molding strip  12  may be of a different material to that of the base  11 , such as a varied wood variety or a contrasting “stain” color. 
     Alternately, a veneer overlay  25  can be pre-applied to the exposed upper surface  12 A of the strip  12  by conventional adhesion bonding techniques well know within the art. The veneer overlay  25  may be of any material including wood veneers or other contrasting non-wood materials. 
     The key structural element to the trim molding assembly  10  of the invention is the inverted for installation U-shaped insert strip  13 , best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings. The insert strip  13  is, as noted, of a generally inverted U-shaped having oppositely disposed leg portions  13 A and  13 B with an integral interconnecting contoured top  26  therebetween. A plurality of longitudinally spaced view port openings  27  are formed therein extending inwardly from the contoured top  26  to midway in the respective leg portions  13 A and  13 B. The openings  27  define parallel spaced exposed leg edge surfaces  28 A and  28 B with oppositely disposed spaced contoured top exposed edge surfaces  29 A and  29 B. 
     The longitudinal length of each of the respective view port openings  27  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  of the drawings is proportional to the intermediate remaining top  26  and leg areas  30  therebetween indicated generally and depending on the design venue of the application chosen which in this example is approximately one-half the length thereof. 
     The transverse width of the insert viewing strip  13  is also variable depending on the design requirements of the use application. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the assembly sequence of the trim molding assembly  10  can be seen wherein the base receiving molding  11  having the recessed channel  17  therein is illustrated with the initial placement of the decorative strip  12  within. The viewing insert  13  is then positioned thereover with the legs  13 A and  13 B registerable with the corresponding defined receiving areas  24 A and  24 B in the channel  17  as the hereinbefore defined by the insert position strip  12 . 
     As noted, the decorative strip  12  may have a veneer overlay  25  as illustrated in the assembled molding in  FIG. 1  of the drawings and in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention  31  can be seen wherein a decorative strip  32  is formed integral within a channel  33  in a base molding  34  which may be required in some venues. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9  of the drawings, multiple alternate trim molding forms can be seen at  35  and  36  wherein a two-part base molding  35 A and  35 B in  FIGS. 8 and 36A  and  36 B in  FIG. 9  of the drawings. 
     The base molding  35 A has a receiving area  37  formed therein which allows for the insertion of a decorative strip  38 , such as contrasting material or veneer with a U-shaped apertured viewing insert  39  positioned thereover similar to the strip  13  as set forth and described in the primary form of the invention. 
     In this example, an additional base molding portion  35 B is attached to one end of the base molding  35 A by the utilization of an elongated backing strip  40 . Both the base molding  35 A and base molding portion  35 B have attachment channels  41 A and  41 B respectively in their non-viewing reverse surfaces  42  and  42 . The backing strip  40  has oppositely disposed upstanding flanges  42 A and  42 B will, upon assembly, be registerably engaged within the respective attachment channels  41 A and  41 B securing the multiple part molding assembly together. 
     A similar assembly can be seen in  FIG. 9  of the drawings wherein the base molding  36  has the two-piece assembly  36 A and  36 B with corresponding attachment channels  43 A and  43 B therein respectively. As described previously, a backing strip  44  having oppositely disposed upstanding engagement flanges  45 A and  45 B is registerable within corresponding aligned elongated receiving channels  46 A and  46 B within the non-viewable sides of the respective two-part molding base as hereinbefore described in spaced aligned relation to one another. 
     In this example, an independent U-shaped aperture viewing insert  47  and a decorative insert  48  are held between the respective interengaged molding bases  36 A and  36 B completing the decorative multi-part molding  36  form of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11  of the drawings, a curved trim molding assembly  49  can be seen where like in the primary trim molding assembly  10 , an elongated contoured base portion  50  in this configuration curved, has a receiving channel  51  formed therein. A decorative insert strip  52  is positioned within the channel with a correspondingly curved U-shaped apertured viewing insert  53  is correspondingly positioned therewithin to achieve the complete curved trim molding assembly  49  having the same unique visualization of the hereinbefore primary and secondary and third forms of the invention, previously described. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel decorative molding with multiple relief insert has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim:

Technology Classification (CPC): 4