Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Conduit – trim – or shield member at corner
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-09-04
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Conduit, trim, or shield member at corner
C052S288100, C052S716100, C052S716200, C052S506010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282855
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interior molding system which provides a water-proof trim element along a wall. More specifically, it relates to an extruded plastic baseboard that may be used in conjunction with tile or paneling to provide a water-proof yet high-impact baseboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many commercial work spaces the surfaces of the floors and walls are finished to provide a finish which can be easily and effectively cleaned. Most commonly, this surface is covered with ceramic tile, quarry tile or paneling which is commonly cleaned with high-pressure water and detergents. Ceramic tile is most often used along the walls and floors. The area along the base of the wall often receives the impact of skids and dollies which would otherwise crack the ceramic tile. A high-impact trim piece is added to replace the surface tile in this area.
There is a problem, however, because the joints between the baseboard and the adjoining wall and floor tiles are often not sufficiently water-tight against the wash-water especially if high-pressure washing is used. Leakage behind the baseboard often results in water damage to the tile and supporting drywall which then must be replaced. Also, water may leak through the wall into other areas of the building. The use of epoxy covered baseboard materials to overlap the joint between the wall tile and the floor at the base of the wall is known. However, the use of coating baseboard materials, such as, wood with epoxy in order to achieve water-tight surface is both expensive and time-consuming. It is further known to have thermo-plastic baseboards extruded into different decorative configurations. However, by design and in use, these plastic materials are applied as the final step over the surface tile. This invariably exposes a seam along the top edge of the baseboard trim which is susceptible to leaking wash-water to the area behind the baseboard. In a further attempt to mitigate this problem, the top edge of overlaid baseboard trim pieces is often angled downward along the top edge in order to facilitate the run-off of wash-water. However, because the trim piece is laid over the wall tile, water washing down the wall directly impacts the joint along the top of the baseboard, and leakage behind the baseboard still occurs. It is also known to use ceramic wall tile with a cove along the bottom edge where it meets the floor, however, the grout joint at base of the wall floor often washes out and water still gets behind the bottom coarse of tile. Finally, it is also known to overlay a single row of coved quarry tile as a base trim which sits directly on the floor tile, however, this still leaves a horizontal joint along the top edge of the quarry tile which is susceptible to water damage from above.
Despite all the efforts explained above, there is no known prior art baseboard trim system which provides and adequately meets the need for a long-lasting water-tight wall/floor joint. Extruded baseboard systems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,514 issued to Wolfe on May 11, 1999 disclose such a baseboard which is affixed directly to the wall sub-structure. However, in this instance, such as in all prior art systems, there is still an exposed seam along the top edge of the baseboard which is susceptible to wash-water leakage.
There is therefore a need in the art for an inexpensive and effective high-impact type baseboard which may be applied and used in a way which provides a water-tight seal against high-pressure wash-water coming from all directions, especially from above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to meet the need in the art as described above, the present invention was devised, which comprises a unitary length of extruded plastic trim designed to be used in conjunction with the wall structure and the tiled area around it so that effective water-proofing is achieved. These attributes are provided by a baseboard trim which has a vertically extending front portion along its top most edge designed to be laid underneath the wall tile or paneling. The depth of the top portion is the same dimension as the drywall underlayment which abuts the top edge of the baseboard. Therefore, the wall tile or paneling may be laid over the surface of the drywall and directly onto the top surface of the baseboard, thereby bridging and sealing-over the wallboard/baseboard joint. As further disclosed, a wallboard covering element, such as wall tile or panel is laid down over the baseboard to a point where the baseboard angles outwardly and downwardly along an incline. The incline terminates along the top edge of a vertical front face of the baseboard that extends from the bottom most edge of the incline to the bottom edge where the baseboard meets the floor or floor tile. In typical installations, the floor is also tiled and, in that case, the baseboard may include a notch along its base to receive the edge of a floor tile which is upwardly extending. In this case, an interior cove base tile can be used for this purpose laid along the perimeter of the floor. The notch preferably extends through the front vertical face to accept the height of the floor tile. In any event, the rear surface of the baseboard is easily fastened directly against the wall studs which support the drywall.
More specifically, the applicant has invented a wall tile trim system comprising a vertical interior building wall with a wallboard affixed to the wall and a baseboard trim affixed directly to the wall studs which abuts the floor. The baseboard trim includes a first portion along a top edge which abuts a bottom edge of the wallboard with a flush joint between the wallboard and the trim formed by the first portion of the trim and the wallboard being of equal depth. A wall covering element is adhesively affixed to the wallboard and the first portion of the trim overlapping the flush joint.
According to these relations, a wall covering element, such as tile overlaps the baseboard which in turn overlaps the edge of the floor tile and therefore no joint between the wall tile and the baseboard or the baseboard and the floor may be impinged on by water from above. Thus, proper water drainage and run-off is ensured without the possibility of accumulation of residual water along any joint. Furthermore, because the baseboard material may be composed of a high-impact plastic, it is not easily damaged by contact with movable objects in the room. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following drawings and detail description of the preferred embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 642778 (1900-02-01), Baer
patent: 2007244 (1935-07-01), Gathercoal
patent: 2253489 (1941-08-01), Smith
patent: 3092869 (1963-06-01), Stump
patent: 3228165 (1966-01-01), Begian
patent: 3549471 (1970-12-01), Denton
patent: 3999344 (1976-12-01), Jansen
patent: 4627204 (1986-12-01), Smith
patent: 5040346 (1991-08-01), White
patent: 5918437 (1999-07-01), Dobija
patent: 5960600 (1999-10-01), Monaco
A Phi Dieu Tran
Friedman Carl D.
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