Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a system for installing trim installations at external corners of a building. The trim serves both an aesthetic purpose in adding a decorative feature to building envelopes and also adds an additional weatherproofing purpose in allowing for more complete weatherproofing of building envelope corners and openings. The disclosed system relates to a concealed fastening building finishing element system that enables concealed fastening of finishing trim.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a system for installing corner trim on a building or structure with a system of brackets that are hidden from view and that obviate the need for cleanup of fastener holes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the conventional manner of applying corner trim to a building structure the installer has already completed the installation of paneling to the wall and brought the edges of the from the two sides of the corner as close to the corner as time and costs permit. The installer then cuts a first length of trim to be applied in a vertical orientation to the corner to obscure the first side of the corner. The installer then cuts a second piece of trim to length for abutting the first panel which approaches the corner from the opposite side of the building. The principle two principal reasons for securing corner trim to a building is to obscure the gap between the oppositely approaching siding panels and to prevent the intrusion of moisture to surfaces that can be degraded by exposure to moisture. An open gap between the abutting siding lengths may lead to water intrusion underneath the siding that could result in wood rot, mold growth and ultimately structural damage to the building. Moreover, should high speed wind apply back pressure to a siding length at the gap, the resulting pressure on the siding could tear the siding loose from the structure. Additionally, corner trim provides a much more attractive appearance than closely butted siding members and serves to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the structure. 
         [0003]    In a typical application described above the installer secures the oppositely approaching boards to the building surface with screws or nails. It is the process of passing nails or screws through the boards into the building structure that depressions are created in the surface where the nails or screws have passed that either are preferably retouched with a water-proof filling compound to create a smooth surface. The filled surface is then painted to create an unblemished appearance. It will be appreciated that these additional steps are time consuming and add additional cost to the installation. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, and particularly in regions of the country where there are temperature extremes and/or high humidity, the hardened water proof filling compound over time is often expunged either partially or fully from the fill hole because of expansion and contraction of the siding panels due to temperature changes or the absorption of moisture that causes the siding boards to swell when damp and contract when ambient moisture recedes. This expungement of the putty creates an unsightly appearance that then requires additional costly maintenance to remedy. 
         [0005]    Even when the highest skill level is used to secure the siding boards to the structure small gaps or uneven end cuts can result. This less than desirable outcome can efficiently and cost effectively be remedied with the application of the disclosed corner trim system. 
         [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide trim that can be attached to a building corner in a manner that does not require driving attachment hardware through the front face of the trim. 
         [0007]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a trim system utilizing a hidden bracket system that does not require the use of any exposed fasters to secure the trim to the building. 
         [0008]    These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings. The contents of this summary section are provided only as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    This disclosure relates to a concealed fastening building finishing element system that enables concealed fastening of corner trim to an underlying structure. The trim serves both an aesthetic purpose in adding a decorative feature to building envelopes and also adds an additional weatherproofing purpose in allowing for more complete weatherproofing of building envelope corners and openings. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a concealed corner trim system including trim members, each trim member having a structure-facing surface and an exterior-facing surface. 
         [0011]    The invention advantageously allows the use of standard fastening guns and standard commercially available fasteners. This advantageously results in minimum cost of implementation and minimum additional skills required for installers. 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. The contents of this summary section are provided only as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary hidden bracket and a partially completed corner trim member installation in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a bracket engaged with a trim member; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a bracket engaged with a trim member; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a bracket engaged with a trim member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , which reveals a building corner  11 , siding panels  13  with panel end edges  15  secured in position atop wall materials  17 . The wall materials  17  come together at joint  19  forming the corner  11  of the building  21 . The hidden bracket corner system  30  shown as partially installed, is comprised of a bracket  32  and trim pieces  34 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  reveals an exemplary first embodiment of the bracket and panel system.  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section, or plan view, of the trim piece  34  secured to the bracket  32 . The bracket and trim are preferably fabricated from a durable and rigid engineered plastic, or resin; however, metal and ceramic brackets and trim are also contemplated. The bracket  32  is comprised of first and second orthogonally disposed panel elements  36 ,  38  each with an outboard end  40 ,  42 . The panels are joined at centerline  44 . At least one flange  46 ,  48  extends outwardly from each of the outboard ends  40 ,  42  of the first and second orthogonally disposed panel elements  36 ,  38 . At least one locking tooth  54 ,  56  extends outwardly from each of the flanges  46 ,  48 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  also reveals, in cross section, the trim piece  34  that is attachable to the bracket  32 . The trim  34  includes a first and second outer face surface  60 ,  62 , a first and second hidden surface  64 ,  66  facing the building, and a cutout  68 ,  70  on each side of the trim piece proximate the first and second hidden surfaces. The cutouts  68 ,  70  are comprised of overhangs  72 ,  74  that serve to shield the potentially rough cut edges  15  of the siding panels  13  from view by an onlooker. The overhangs  72 ,  74  are preferably no thicker than 0.25 inches and extend no further than 0.75 inches from the cutout face surfaces  76 ,  78 .  FIG. 2  also reveals at least one longitudinally extending slot  80 ,  82  disposed within each of the first and second trim piece hidden face surfaces  64 ,  66  for receiving the at least one flange  46 ,  48  extending outwardly from the outboard ends  40 ,  42  of the first and second orthogonally disposed panel elements  36 ,  38 . The flanges  46 ,  48  are preferably canted away the plane of the panel elements  36 ,  38  at an angle in the range of from 120 to 150 degrees and preferably at 135 degrees. The bracket  32  may optionally include a weather strip  50 ,  52  that extends outwardly from the hidden surfaces facing the structure  64 ,  66 . The weather stripping  50 ,  52  serves to prevent the intrusion of moisture beneath the siding panels  13 , or trim piece  34 , and are flexible yet resilient. The weather stripping  50 ,  52  may optionally be secured to the trim  34  with an adhesive or formed as part of the fabrication of the trim and preferably extends a distance consistent with the overhangs  72 ,  74 . 
         [0020]    In operation, as best seen in  FIG. 1 , the first embodiment of the bracket  32  is positioned over the joint  19  of the building corner  11 . The bracket  32  is then secured in position by passing screws or nails through the holes  90  in the orthogonally disposed panel elements  36 ,  38 . Once an appropriate number of brackets  32  are in position atop the building corner  11  the trim piece or pieces  34  may be snapped into position. To accomplish securing the trim  34  to the bracket  32  the trim piece  34  is placed atop the bracket with the longitudinally extending slots  80 ,  82  of the trim piece aligned with the outwardly extending flanges  46 ,  48  of the bracket. Sufficient pressure must be applied to the surface of the trim to allow the flanges  46 ,  48  with their locking teeth  54 ,  56  to fully traverse to the top of the longitudinally extending slots  80 ,  82 . Once the flanges  46 ,  48  are inserted into the slots  80 ,  82  to the desire depth, the trim pieces are secured in position and because the locking teeth will bite into the walls of the slots  80 ,  82  there will be limited opportunity to reposition the trim  34 . 
         [0021]    An alternative embodiment of the bracket system  100  can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The alternative embodiment  100  functions in the same way as the first embodiment with the bracket  102  being positioned over the corner of the building and the trim  104  being snapped into position atop the bracket. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the bracket  102  is comprised of first and second orthogonally disposed panel elements  105 ,  106  each with an outboard end  108 ,  110  and joined at centerline  111 . The panel elements  105 ,  106  also include at least one through hole  113  on each panel for passing through retaining hardware such as a nail or a screw. A first flange  112  extends outwardly from the first orthogonally disposed panel element  105  at the outboard end  108 . The first flange  112  includes at least one locking tooth  114 . The at least one locking tooth  114  may extend either inwardly or outwardly to accomplish the objective of locking the trim  104  to the bracket  102 . The bracket  102  further comprises a second flange  116  with an outer end  118 , such that the second flange  116  extends orthogonally outwardly from the second panel element  106 . The second flange  116  further includes a minor flange  120  extending outwardly from the outer end  118  of the second flange. 
         [0022]    The bracket system  100  further comprises at least one trim piece  104  that is attachable to the bracket  102 . The trim  104  includes a first and second face surface  122 ,  124 , a first and second hidden surface  126 ,  128  facing the building, and a first and second side face  130 ,  132  that will face the installed siding panels. The first side face  130  is overhung by the first face surface  122  and the second side face  132  is overhung by the second face surface  124 . The overhangs  134 ,  136  are preferably no thicker than 0.25 inches, as shown at T1, and extend a distance no approximately 1.0 inch, as shown at D1, from the cutout face surfaces  130 ,  132 . The bracket may optionally include weather strips  133 ,  135  that extend outwardly from the outboard ends  108 ,  110  of the panel elements  105 ,  106 . The weather strips  133 ,  135  preferably extend about 1.0 inches or a distance consistent with the overhang length D1. The weather strips  133 ,  135  are flexible yet resilient and are positioned beneath the siding panels  13  to serve as a barrier to the entry of moisture beneath the panels or the trim  34 . 
         [0023]    The trim piece  104  further comprises at least one longitudinally extending slot  138  disposed within the first hidden surface  126  for receiving the first flange  112  and at least one locking tooth  114  that may extend either inwardly or outwardly. The trim piece  104  further includes an undercut  140  on the second side face  132  for receiving the second flange  116  of the bracket  102 . The trim piece  104  also includes at least one longitudinally extending slot  142  disposed within the second side face  132  for receiving the minor flange  120  of the bracket  102 . 
         [0024]    In operation the alternative embodiment of the bracket  102  is secured to the corner of a building in the desired location by passing preferred attachment device hardware, such as nails or screws, through the holes  113  in the panel members  105 ,  106 . Once the bracket  102  is secured in position against the corner of the structure, the slots  138 ,  142  of the trim piece  104  are aligned with the flanges  112 ,  120  of the bracket  102 . Once the flanges and brackets are aligned the installer simply presses against the face  122 ,  124  of the trim  104  until the tops  144 ,  146  of the flanges  112 ,  120  interfere with the bottom of the slots  138 ,  142 . Once the flanges  112 ,  120  have effectively bottomed-out in the slots  138 ,  142  the trim piece  104  is secured in position and because the locking teeth will bite into the walls of the slots  138 ,  140  there will be limited opportunity to reposition the trim  104 . 
         [0025]    While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the figures and that the scope of the invention includes modifications, variations and equivalents which fall within the scope of the attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the individual components of the invention include equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention. 
         [0026]    It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4