Patent Abstract:
A kit of decorative paneling for walls and method for installation therefor, comprises a lower crosspiece, and main panels connected to the lower crosspiece. Adjustable main panels are connected to the lower crosspiece, and have a connector configuration such that a first and a second lateral vertical segment of the adjustable main panel are interconnectable after a central vertical segment is removed from the adjustable main panel to select a length of the adjustable main panel. Posts are connected to the lower crosspiece, with lateral edge portions connectable to lateral edges portions of the main panels/adjustable main panel in a decorative configuration of the decorative paneling system, whereby a sequence of main panels/adjustable main panel and posts is received in the longitudinal channel of the lower crosspiece, so as to form decorative paneling of adjustable length for the wall.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/771,953, filed on Feb. 10, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to paneling for walls and, more particularly, to a wainscot paneling system and a method of installation. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Wainscot is a popular decorative paneling system, by which wood planks of various sizes and shapes are installed on a wall from the floor upwardly, to bring wooden ornamentation to the wall of a room. Wainscot brings the rich look of wood to a wall. 
         [0006]    The installation of wainscot to a wall involves a substantial amount of craftsmanship. More specifically, wainscot is an expensive decorative solution, as it is typically customized to a consumer&#39;s taste by a craftsman. Various pieces and manpower are required in order to install wainscot on a wall. Permanent fasteners are also used in wainscoting, whereby the wainscot becomes a permanent decorative item. 
         [0007]    Wall paneling systems are typically available as individual parts. It may, therefore, be complicated for consumers to purchase the right amount of parts of wall paneling systems as a function of the length of wall to be covered. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an aim of the present invention to provide a novel decorative wall paneling system. 
         [0009]    It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a decorative paneling system that addresses issues of the prior art. 
         [0010]    It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide a method for installing a decorative paneling system on a wall. 
         [0011]    Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a kit of decorative paneling for walls, comprising: a lower crosspiece adapted to be positioned at a bottom of a wall; main panels each having a bottom portion shaped so as to be connected to the lower crosspiece; at least one adjustable main panel having a bottom portion shaped so as to be connected to the lower crosspiece, the adjustable main panel having a connector configuration such that a first and a second lateral vertical segment of the adjustable main panel are interconnectable after a central vertical segment is removed from the adjustable main panel to select a length of the adjustable main panel; and posts each having a bottom portion shaped so as to be connected to the lower crosspiece, and lateral edge portions connectable to lateral edges portions of the main panels/adjustable main panel in a decorative configuration of the decorative paneling system; whereby a sequence of main panels/adjustable main panel and posts is received in the longitudinal channel of the lower crosspiece, so as to form decorative paneling of adjustable length for the wall. 
         [0012]    Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for installing decorative paneling on a wall, comprising the steps of: providing a decorative paneling system having at least one adjustable panel; determining a desired length of the at least one adjustable panel as a function of a length of a wall to cover; removing a central vertical segment from the adjustable panel such that two remaining lateral vertical segments have said desired length when assembled; assembling the two lateral vertical segments to form an adjusted panel with said desired length; and installing the decorative paneling system to the wall using said adjusted panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of walls having a decorative paneling system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a kit of decorative paneling system of  FIG. 1 , as assembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view, enlarged, of a female connector edge of a lower crosspiece of the decorative paneling system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a central post of the decorative paneling system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view, enlarged, of an edge of a main panel of the decorative paneling system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the kit of decorative paneling system of  FIG. 2 , with an adjustable main panel fitted at the end of a wall; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the kit of decorative paneling system of  FIG. 2 , with a central post fitted at the end of a wall; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a rear exploded view of an adjustable main panel reduced in width; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an assembly groove of the adjustable main panel. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a decorative paneling system in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at  10 . The decorative paneling system  10  is also referred to as “wainscot.” The decorative paneling system  10  has lower crosspieces  13 , central posts  14 , main panels  15 , adjustable main panels  15 A, and upper crosspieces  17 . The decorative paneling system  10  may be provided with various sizes of main panel  15  (e.g., height, width). 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 2 , a kit of the decorative paneling system  10  is illustrated at  20 . The kit  20  has one lower crosspiece  13 , one upper crosspiece  17 , and an equal number of central posts  14  and main panels  15 / 15 A. In the kit  20  of  FIG. 2 , there is provided two main panels  15  and one adjustable main panel  15 A (i.e., a total of three main panels  15 / 15 A), therefore three central posts  14  are provided. Kits with different amounts of panels are also considered. 
         [0025]    When assembled, the parts of the kit  20  form a segment of decorative paneling. The crosspieces  13  and  17  are generally equal in length to the series of central posts  14  and main panels  15 / 15 A assembled in side-by-side relation, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The kit  20  may also include, although not shown, moldings and the like. 
         [0026]    The parts of the kit  20  are preferably provided with a connector configuration allowing easy assembly of the decorative paneling. One contemplated connector configuration is now described. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the lower crosspiece  13  has an elongated vertically positioned rectangularly shaped body  30 . The body  30  has an exposed surface  31  and a hidden surface  32 . The exposed surface  31  and the hidden surface  32  are separated by vertical edge surfaces  33  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 3 ), and by a bottom edge surface (not visible) and a female connector edge  35  facing upwardly. The illustrated vertical edge surface  33  and the bottom edge surface are generally flat. The female connector edge  35  defines a longitudinal channel  36 , of rectangular cross-section. 
         [0028]    Holes  37  are provided in the illustrated vertical edge surface  33 , so as to receive connectors (e.g., connector pegs) for interconnecting lower crosspieces  13  end to end. An opposed vertical edge surface (not visible) is provided with a complementary connector configuration, such as a channel or corresponding peg holes. The upper crosspiece  17  is essentially an upside-down version of the lower crosspiece  13 , in that it has a downwardly facing female connector edge, as well as a connector configuration at the vertical edge surfaces for end-to-end connection of the upper crosspieces  17 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the central post  14  is shown having an upstanding elongated rectangularly shaped body  40 . The body  40  has an exposed surface  41  and a hidden surface  42 . The exposed surface  41  and the hidden surface  42  are separated from one another by edge surfaces  43  at top and bottom ends of the body  40 , and female connector edges  44  at the sides of the body  40 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the edge surfaces  43  define a generally flat surface having holes provided to receive connector pegs  45 . The female connector edges  44  each have a longitudinal channel  46 . It is pointed out that the connector pegs  45  of the central post  14  have a shape complementary to the longitudinal channel  36  of the lower crosspiece  13  so as to be received therein. Moreover, the longitudinal channel  46  of the central post  14  generally has the same cross-sectional shape as the longitudinal channel  36  of the lower crosspiece  13 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the main panel  15 / 15 A is shown having a rectangularly shaped body  50 . The body  50  has an exposed surface  51  and a hidden surface  52 . The exposed surface  51  typically has some ornamentation, molding and/or shaping. For instance, in  FIG. 5 , the exposed surface  51  has a protruding surface portion  53  with sloping periphery  54 . The exposed surface  51  is separated from the hidden surface  52  by flat edge surfaces  55  of the body  50 . The flat edge surfaces  55  form a square edge portion to be received in the longitudinal channel  36  of the lower crosspiece  13  and similarly in the upper crosspiece  17  ( FIG. 3 ), and in the longitudinal channels  46  of the central post  14  ( FIG. 4 ). Therefore, the parts of the kit  20  can be assembled to form the segment of decorative paneling of  FIG. 2  with the connector configuration described previously. 
         [0031]    The lip/channel configuration is preferably used to interconnect the main panels  15 / 15 A of the decorative paneling system  10  to posts  14  and crosspieces  13  and  17 . The central posts  14  and/or the adjustable posts  16  are provided with pegs or dowel pins. As described previously, the pegs or dowel pins are then received in the channels of the adjacent panels. This represents a cost-effective solution. 
         [0032]    In order to adjust the decorative paneling system  10  to a length of wall to be covered, the adjustable main panel  15 A is configured to be reduced in size. More specifically, referring concurrently to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 , it is seen that the adjustable main panel  15 A is the same in shape and dimensions as the main panel  15  (whereby like reference numerals are used to represent like elements). However, a pair of parallel horizontal grooves  60  are provided in the hidden surface  52  of the adjustable main panel  15 A. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cross-section of one of the grooves  60  is illustrated. The cross-sections have a dovetail shape in the illustrated embodiment. The adjustable main panel  15 A is cut vertically to remove a central vertical segment, in order to be shortened in length. As shown in  FIG. 8 , once the two remaining lateral vertical segments of the adjustable main panel  15 A are sized to form a panel of desired length when positioned side by side, splines  61  (which are part of the kit  20 ) are used to interconnect the main panel segments, to form an adjusted main panel  15 A′ of reduced dimensions ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ), having a full sloping periphery  54  ( FIG. 6 ). The splines  61  are inserted into the grooves  60  and the lateral vertical segments are brought together in side-by-side contact. As an example, the central vertical segment is sawn off (e.g., at the installation site) so as to create the two lateral vertical segments. 
         [0034]    The grooves  60 /spline  61  configuration is advantageous in that it ensures the planar interconnection of main panel segments. It is in fact desired that the resulting exposed surface  51  be flat when the panel segments are interconnected to form the main panel  15 A′ of reduced length, so as to reduce the visibility of the seam between the two lateral vertical segments. It is pointed out that more or fewer grooves  60  may be provided in an adjustable main panel  15 A. Alternative connector configurations are considered (e.g., use of glue, dowel pins in combination with drilled holes) between lateral vertical segments. 
         [0035]    The grain in the adjustable main panels  15 A is preferably vertical in instances where the main panels  15 / 15 A show wood grain, so as to reduce the visibility of the vertical interconnection line between interconnected panel segments. 
         [0036]    The central posts  14  may also be reduced in length by being cut vertically, to fit between an adjacent main panel  15 / 15 A and a wall intersection. However, considering that no molding pattern (e.g., sloping periphery  54  of the panel  15 A′ in  FIG. 6 ) must be preserved, the central posts  14  are simply cut vertically to remove an unwanted segment. One such central post of reduced length is illustrated at  14 A in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    In order to install the decorative paneling system to a wall, an adhesive, such as silicone, a glue or the like, is deposited on the hidden surface  32  of the lower crosspiece  13  ( FIG. 3 ), which is then pressed against the wall so as to remain in position thereagainst. It may be required that lower crosspieces  13  be put end to end in the event that the wall is too long for a single lower crosspiece  13 . In such a case, connector pegs in the holes  37  ( FIG. 3 ) are used to connect crosspieces end to end. Alternatively, other fasteners such as nails or other suitable mechanical fasteners may be used. In the event that mechanical fasteners are used, it is suggested to position these fasteners where they will be hidden, for instance, by moldings (e.g., reversed ogee, plinth). 
         [0038]    Thereafter, a sequence of central post  14  (with suitable connector pegs  45  of  FIG. 4 ) and main panel  15 / 15 A are positioned side by side with respective exposed surfaces  41  and  51  facing away from the wall. It is suggested to start from a central portion of the wall, with a main panel  15  if an odd number of panels  15  fit on the wall (with respect to the sequence of central posts  14  and main panels  15 ), or with a central post  14  if an even number of panels fit on the wall (again with respect to the sequence). More specifically, it is the connector pegs  45  of the central post  14 , and one of the edges  55  of the main panel  15 , that are received in the longitudinal channel  36  of the lower crosspiece  13 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the central posts  14  and the main panels  15  are in a side-by-side relationship, with one of the edges  55  of the main panel  15  being received in one of the longitudinal channels  46  of the central post  14 . In the event that the sequence of central post  14  and main panel  15 / 15 A stops at the central post  14  adjacent to an end of the wall, with a gap between the central post  14  and the adjacent intersection of walls being too small to be breached by a full main panel  15 / 15 A, the adjustable main panel  15 A is reduced in length into panel  15 A′, in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 8 , to fit between the central post  14  and the intersection of walls. This results in the paneling as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0040]    Alternatively, if the sequence of central post  14  and main panel  15  stops at the main panel  15  with a gap smaller than the length of the central post  14 , the central post  14  has a vertical segment removed therefrom to form central post  14 A in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0041]    Other sequences are possible, such as an adjusted main panel  15 A′ centrally positioned on a wall with full main panels  15  on opposed sides of the adjusted main panel  15 A′. 
         [0042]    Nails and other suitable fasteners may be used, for instance, in portions of the panels  15 / 15 A and posts  14  that will not be visible, e.g., hidden by moldings, once the complete decorative paneling system  10  is installed. 
         [0043]    Once the sequence of central posts  14  and main panels  15 / 15 A has been installed, the upper crosspiece  17  is installed. More specifically, the longitudinal channel of the upper crosspiece  17  will host the exposed edges  55  ( FIG. 5 ) of the main panels  15 / 15 A, as well as the connector pegs  45  ( FIG. 4 ) of the central posts  14 , which are jointly paneling the wall. 
         [0044]    If desired, nails (or other suitable fasteners) may be used to secure the upper crosspiece  17  to the panels  15 / 15 A and posts  14 , and to the wall. As various moldings will be positioned on the upper crosspiece  17 , it is contemplated to use mechanical fasteners in locations that will be hidden by the moldings. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , various decorative pieces may be used to cover the lower crosspiece  13  (plinths), the upper crosspiece  17  (upper crosspiece cover) and corners (e.g., corner covers), as well as top molding. Such decorative pieces are secured to a remainder of the paneling system  10  by way of an adhesive or mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, the panels  13 ,  14 ,  15 / 15 A and  17  may each be preshaped to incorporate moldings. The panels of the kit  20 , and additional decorative pieces, are preferably veneer panels, of different varieties of wood and of various wood grain. The panels of the kit  20  may be painted or varnished to provide a customized appearance to the decorative paneling system  10 . 
         [0046]    By selling the panels of the above-mentioned decorative paneling system  10  in kits  20 , it is only required to know the length of wall to be covered. The kit  20  typically indicates the maximum length of wall covered by the assembled kit  20 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 4