US 8,522,498 B2Granted

System and method for removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both

OwnerHeath D. Pickeninventor

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Abstract

A bracket system is disclosed for allowing conventional trim to be removably connected to a wall or ceiling or both while allowing the bracket system to be concealed behind the trim. The bracket system includes a wall bracket that is attached to the wall or ceiling or both and a trim bracket that is attached to conventional trim. The wall bracket and trim bracket interlock with each other and are held together in secure but removable mating contact. The wall bracket and trim bracket can be pulled apart or pushed together to allow for removal and reinstallation of trim without mechanical modification or destruction of any components. A preferred embodiment of the bracket system includes an insert bracket that is placed inside and concealed within the wall bracket. The insert bracket helps to retain cabling within the wall bracket when the trim bracket is removed or to keep cabling running along the bracket system separated.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A bracket system for removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both comprising:

(a) at least one wall bracket that is attachable to at least one of a wall and a ceiling, the wall bracket including:
(i) at least one continuous backplate attachable to the at least one of a wall and a ceiling, the backplate having opposed sides;
(ii) a pair of sets of opposed wall bracket retaining fingers located along each of the opposed sides of the backplate, each set of the opposed wall bracket retaining fingers comprising a plurality of individual retaining fingers spaced apart from each other along an opposed side of the backplate, each retaining finger extending separately with a first segment away from the backplate in a direction outward from the at least one of a wall and ceiling therewith providing an outwardly facing channel with an opening therein;
(b) at least one trim bracket removably attachable to a piece of trim, the trim bracket including:
(i) at least one trim clip each having a trim plate having opposed edges;
and
(ii) a pair of sets of opposed trim bracket retention edges located on each of the opposite edges of the trim plate, each set of the opposed trim bracket retaining edges comprising a plurality of individual trim bracket retaining edges spaced apart from each other along a side of the backplate, each of the trim bracket retention edges extending separately away from the trim plate a direction inward toward the wall or ceiling;
wherein the wall bracket retaining fingers removably retain the trim bracket against the wall bracket between a plurality of positions including a first position wherein the wall bracket retaining fingers and the trim bracket retention edges are brought into contact with each other;
a second position wherein the trim bracket is moved toward the wall bracket so that the wall bracket retaining fingers move past the trim bracket retention edges such that at least one of the wall bracket retaining fingers and the trim bracket retention edges are placed into a stressed or biased position;
and a third position wherein the trim bracket is passed through the opening in the channel so that the wall bracket retaining fingers move past the trim bracket retention edges;
whereby in the third position at least one of the wall bracket retaining fingers and the trim bracket retention edges return to an unstressed rest position and the trim bracket is retained in contact with the wall bracket.

8 more elements

A method of removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a bracket system for removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both comprising:
(i) at least one wall bracket that is attachable to a wall or ceiling or both, the wall bracket including:
(A) a continuous backplate that is attachable to a wall or ceiling, the backplate having opposed sides;
(B) a pair of opposed wall bracket retaining fingers located along the opposed sides of the backplate, each of the opposed wall bracket retaining fingers comprising a plurality of individual retaining fingers spaced apart from each other along an opposed side of the backplate, each retaining finger extending separately away from the backplate on the same side of the backplate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backplate;
(ii) at least one trim bracket that is removably attachable to trim, the trim bracket being attachable to a piece of trim, the trim bracket including:
(A) at least one trim clip each having a trim plate having opposed edges;
and
(B) a pair of opposed trim bracket retention edges located on opposite edges of the trim plate, the pair of opposed trim bracket retaining edges comprising a plurality of individual trim bracket retaining edges spaced apart from each other along a side of the backplate, each of the trim bracket retention edges being located on opposite sides of the trim plate and extending separately away from the trim plate in the same direction;
wherein the height of the wall bracket retaining fingers is such that a trim bracket is retained against the backplate by contact between the wall bracket retaining fingers and the trim bracket;
(b) bringing the trim bracket retention edges into contact with the wall bracket retaining fingers;
(c) moving the trim bracket toward the wall bracket so that the wall bracket retaining fingers move past the trim bracket retention edges and move either or both the wall bracket retaining fingers or the trim bracket retention edges from a unstressed rest position to a stressed or biased position;
(d) moving the trim bracket retention edges past the wall bracket retaining fingers so that either or both the wall bracket retaining fingers or the trim bracket retention edges move from a stressed or biased position to an unstressed or rest position so that the trim bracket is retained in close contact with the wall bracket by contact between the trim bracket retention edge and the wall bracket retaining finger moving the trim bracket toward the wall bracket so that the wall bracket retaining fingers move past the trim bracket retention edges.

9 more elements

A method of removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a bracket system for removably connecting trim to a wall or ceiling or both comprising:
(i) at least one wall bracket that is attachable to a wall or ceiling or both, the wall bracket including:
at least one continuous backplate attachable to at least one of the wall and the ceiling, the backplate having opposed sides;
a pair of sets of opposed wall bracket retaining fingers located along each of the opposed sides of the backplate, each set of the opposed wall bracket retaining fingers comprising a plurality of individual retaining fingers spaced apart from each other along an opposed side of the backplate, each retaining finger extending separately with a first segment away from the backplate in a direction outward from the at least one of the wall and the ceiling therewith providing an outwardly facing channel with an opening therein;
(ii) at least one trim bracket that is attachable to trim, the trim bracket being attachable to a piece of trim, the trim bracket including:
at least one trim clip each having a trim plate having opposed edges;
a pair of sets of opposed trim bracket retention edges located on each of the opposite edges of the trim plate, each set of the opposed trim bracket retaining edges comprising a plurality of individual trim bracket retaining edges spaced apart from each other along a side of the backplate, each of the trim bracket retention edges extending separately away from the trim plate a direction inward toward the at least one of the wall and the ceiling;
and
(iii) means for interlocking the wall bracket and trim bracket with each other so that the wall bracket and the trim bracket are pushed together in mating contact and pulled apart to allow for removal and reinstallation of trim without mechanical modification or destruction of any components;
(b) bringing the means for interlocking the wall bracket and trim bracket with each other together;
and
(c) retaining the trim bracket in close contact with the wall bracket.

9 more elements

A method of installing a modular wall to either flooring, another wall or a ceiling comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one movable wall;
(b) providing at least one wall bracket, the wall bracket including:
at least one continuous backplate attachable to either the movable wall or the flooring, other wall or ceiling, the backplate having opposed sides;
a pair of sets of opposed wall bracket retaining fingers located along each of the opposed sides of the backplate, each set of the opposed wall bracket retaining fingers comprising a plurality of individual retaining fingers spaced apart from each other along an opposed side of the backplate, each retaining finger extending separately with a first segment away from the backplate in a direction outward from either the movable wall or the flooring, other wall or ceiling therewith providing an outwardly facing channel with an opening therein;
(c) attaching the wall bracket to either the movable wall or the flooring, other wall or ceiling;
(d) providing at least one trim bracket, the trim bracket including:
at least one trim clip each having a trim plate having opposed edges;
a pair of sets of opposed trim bracket retention edges located on each of the opposite edges of the trim plate, each set of the opposed trim bracket retaining edges comprising a plurality of individual trim bracket retaining edges spaced apart from each other along a side of the backplate, each of the trim bracket retention edges extending separately away from the trim plate a direction inward toward either the movable wall or the flooring, other wall or ceiling;
(e) attaching the trim bracket to the flooring, other wall or ceiling if the wall bracket is attached to the movable wall or to the movable wall if the wall bracket is attached to the flooring, other wall or ceiling;
(f) moving the wall bracket next to the trim bracket if the wall bracket is attached to the movable wall or moving the trim bracket next to the wall bracket if the trim bracket is attached to the movable wall;
(g) pushing the wall bracket and trim bracket into mating contact.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/121,971Filed 4 Oct 2008
Published: US 2011/0179733 A128 Jul 2011
Granted: 3 Sep 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

E04F 19/0436
For use between floor or ceiling and wall, e.g. skirtings: between ceiling and wall
E04F 19/02
Other details of constructional parts for finishing work on buildings: borders; Finishing strips, e.g. beadings; Light coves
E04F 19/022
Borders; Finishing strips, e.g. beadings; Light coves: for use at vertical intersections of walls
E04F 19/0463
Characterised by the fixing method: plinths fixed by snap-action in a direction perpendicular to the wall