Molding curvature template fixture

A fixture for guiding a cutting tool to shape one or more ends of a strip of molding, said molding including a shaped side having a longitudinally-uniform, contoured cross-sectional shape, said fixture comprising:

• means for supporting said molding and preventing unanticipated chipping of said molding caused by said cutting tool;
• means for supporting said cutting tool with respect to said molding support means;
• first means for guiding said cutting tool along said tool support means causing said cutting tool to shape an end of said molding to be substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the shaped side of said molding;
• second means for guiding said cutting tool along said tool support means causing said cutting tool to make a straight cut approximately perpendicular to the sides of said molding across an end of said molding;
• and
• means for holding said molding fixed relative to said molding support means and one of said first and second guide means.

A fixture used in combination with a portable router to shape end portions of strips of molding, said router having a cutting accessory mounted to rotate about an axis, said molding strips having a shaped side with a longitudinally-uniform, contoured cross-sectional shape, said fixture comprising:

• a longitudinally-extending, box-section frame having a bottom, a top and two sides, said frame having an open end for insertion of a strip of molding, said frame for supporting a strip of molding with said bottom adjacent one said side and for supporting said router with said top;
• a plurality of guiding surface means for guiding said router, each said guiding surface means including a guiding surface, one of said guiding surfaces being straight, flat and substantially perpendicular to the sides of said frame, said straight guiding surface for guiding said router to make a straight cut approximately perpendicular to the sides of said molding across an end of said molding, all other said guiding surfaces being shaped differently from each other and substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the different shaped sides of different strips of molding the ends of which may be shaped like said guiding surfaces by said router being guided along said guiding surfaces, said guiding surfaces extending laterally with respect to the top of said frame and facing in a direction away from the insertion end of said frame;
• means for clamping a strip of molding within said frame, said clamping means located between the insertion end of said frame and said plurality of guiding surface means;
• and
• means for supporting one side of said molding to prevent chipping of said molding, said supporting means providing support perpendicular to the axis of said router.

The method of abutting first and second strips of molding to form a substantially right angle corner, each said strip of molding having a similar longitudinally-uniform, contoured cross-sectional shaped side and a bottom side, said strips of molding having first ends at similar ends when viewing the shaped side of said strips with the bottom sides downward and second ends opposite said first ends, said method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the first end of said second molding strip to be flat and substantially perpendicular to the shaped side of said second molding strip;
• shaping the second end of said first molding strip substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the shaped side of said molding strips;
• and
• abutting the second end of said first molding strip to the shaped side of said second molding strip near the first end of said second molding strip.

The method of preparing a strip of molding for installation along a first wall and between a first barrier and one of a second barrier and a corner with a second wall, said strip of molding having a shaped side with a longitudinally-uniform, contoured cross-sectional shape, said method comprising the steps of:

• cutting said strip of molding to the same length as the distance between said first barrier and one of said second barrier and the corner of said second wall, said strip of molding having flat ends substantially perpendicular to the shaped side of said strip of molding;
• and
• shaping, unless said strip of molding is cut to the same length as the distance between said first barrier and said second barrier, the end of said strip of molding opposite said first barrier when the shaped side of said strip of molding faces away from said first wall substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the shaped side of said strip of molding;
• whereby repeated use of said method provides strips of molding for installation in a room.