MOLDING FASTENER SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE RETENUE POUR MOULURE

English Abstract

A fastener comprised of six main components: 1) molding; 2) a molding clip; 3) a ring receptacle; 4) a retainer ring; 5) a circular shaped male snap; 6) a nail or screw to attach the male snap component to a flat mounting surface. The combination of which securely fastens molding to flat surfaces. The molding, which has a flat bottomed dovetail groove that runs the entire length on the back face of the molding, accepts the molding clip, ring receptacle and retainer ring. The molding clip assembly is held firmly in the molding groove by inserting the ring receptacle into the molding clip and thereby forcing the outward facing arms at the bottom of the clip into the inside walls of the molding groove. The molding clip, ring receptacle and retainer ring when used in combination with the molding groove, can then be forced over the male snap which in turn is fastened securely to a flat mounting surface. The resultant is molding being fastened securely to a flat mounting surface and which makes the molding completely removable and replaceable.

French Abstract

Fixation composée de six composants principaux : 1) une moulure ; 2) une agrafe de moulure ; 3) un réceptacle à bague ; 4) une bague de retenue ; 5) un cliquet mâle de forme circulaire ; 6) un clou ou une vis pour attacher le composant de cliquet mâle sur une surface de montage plate. La combinaison de ces éléments fixe solidement la moulure sur des surfaces plates. La moulure, qui possède une rainure en queue d'aronde à fond plat qui court sur toute la longueur de la face arrière de la moulure, accepte l'agrafe de moulure, le réceptacle à bague et la bague de retenue. L'ensemble d'agrafe de moulure est maintenu fermement dans la rainure de moulure par l'insertion du réceptacle à bague dans l'agrafe de moulure et ainsi l'insertion des bras tournés vers l'extérieur à la base de l'agrafe dans les parois intérieures de la rainure de moulure. L'agrafe de moulure, le réceptacle à bague et la bague de retenue, utilisés en combinaison avec la rainure de moulure, peuvent alors être poussés par-dessus le cliquet mâle qui, lui, est fixé solidement sur une surface de montage plate. Le résultat est une moulure solidement fixée sur une surface de montage plate et qui rend la moulure complètement amovible et remplaçable.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fastener system to attach molding or trim to a flat surface, comprising
- a circular shaped male snap; and
- a nail or screw; and
- a circular shaped split retainer ring; and
- a ring receptacle with, a circular hole in the middle to accept passage of
the male snap, a
circular groove concentric to the circular hole to accept the circular shaped
retainer ring,
beveled sides to allow insertion into molding clip and force molding clip into
molding
groove; and
- a molding clip with, a circular hole to allow passage of the male snap but
small enough to
hold the retainer ring in the ring receptacle circular groove, t:wo sides
which are attached
to the flat top of the clip and which are bent downward to approximate the
depth of the
molding groove and then outward to allow the ring receptacle, when inserted,
to force the
sides into the sides of the molding groove; and
- a molding or trim which has a beveled groove of adequate depth which will
accept the
male snap, ring receptacle, retainer ring and molding clip.
12

2. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, where-in the groove in the molding has a
base groove
width greater than the width of the groove at the top.
3. A fastener as claimed in Claim 2, where-in the groove in the molding is of
constant depth
and width and is of the entire length of the molding.
4. A fastener as claimed in Claims 2 and 3, where in the molding be comprised
of any material
which is commonly used molding or trim applications.
5. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, where in the male snap is circular in
shape and of equal or
less length or thickness as the depth of the molding groove.
6. A fastener claimed in Claim 5, where in the male snap be comprised of a
metal, plastic or
other resilient material suitable for keeping its original circular shape when
used in
combination with the present invention.
7. A fastener as claimed in Claims 5 and 6, where in the base of the male snap
is of smaller
diameter than the top width of the molding groove.
8. A fastener as claimed in Claims 5, 6 and 7, where in the head or circular
snap portion of the
male snap obtains a friction fit between the retainer ring and the snap.
9. A fastener as claimed in Claims 5, 6, 7, and 8, where in the center
circular portion of the
male snap has a recessed lip to accept full penetration of, and holding of a
nail or screw.
13

10. A fastener as claimed in Claims 1 and 9, where in the nail or screw has a
head which will
rest on a recessed lip of the male snap and will allow full penetration of the
nail or screw
head.
11. A fastener as claimed in Claims 1, 9 and 10 where the nail or screw is of
adequate length to
penetrate the molding surface, which is normally flat, and allow the fastener
to be securely
held to the mounting surface.
12. A fastener as claimed in Claims 1, where in the retainer ring be of
adequate strength and
thickness and diameter to obtain a secure/friction fit between male snap and
retainer ring.
13. A fastener as claimed in Claim 12, where the retainer ring be composed of
metal which will
be of adequate wire diameter to obtain a secure fit with the male snap.
14. A fastener as claimed in Claims 12 and 13, where in the retainer ring is
of adequate diameter
to fit in retainer ring groove in the ring receptacle and is split to obtain a
secure fit with the
male snap.
15. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, where in ring receptacle is composed of
a plastic or
comparable material to allow easy manufacture and retain its original shape
when inserted
into molding clip.
16. A fastener as claimed in Claim 15, where in the ring receptacle has a
circular hole
penetrating the entire thickness and of a diameter greater than the inside
diameter of the
retainer ring and male snap.
14

17. A fastener as claimed in Claims 15 and 16, where in the ring receptacle
has a circular hole
positioned in the geometric center of and fully penetrating the: ring
receptacle.
18. A fastener as claimed in Claims 15, 16 and 17, where in the ring
receptacle has a retainer
ring groove, which is concentric with the circular full depth hole, and of the
same depth as
the thickness of the retainer ring and of adequate diameter to be slightly
larger than the
outside diameter of the retainer ring.
19. A fastener as claimed in Claims 15, 16, 17 and 18 wherein the top and
bottom of the ring
receptacle are flat and the entire length of the ring receptacle is the same
length as the
molding clip.
20. A fastener as claimed in Claims 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 wherein the ends of
the ring
receptacle are beveled or sloped to allow easy insertion into the molding
clip.
21. A fastener as claimed in 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 wherein the sides of
the ring receptacle ,
which are beveled at the ends, widen toward the center so that when fully
inserted into the
molding clip, the ring receptacle forces the sides of the molding clip into
the sides of the
groove in the molding.
22. A fastener as claimed in Claims 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 wherein the
thickness of the
ring receptacle is the same depth as the inside thickness of the molding clip.
23. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the trim and the molding clip is
made of a flexible,
strong material.
15

24. A fastener as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the molding clip is. the same
length as the ring
receptacle.
25. A fastener as claimed in Claims 23 and 24 wherein the molding clip has a
full penetrating
hole which is centered on the clip and is of a diameter which is slightly
larger than the inside
diameter of the retainer ring and small enough that it holds the retainer ring
in the retainer
ring groove in the ring receptacle.
26. A fastener as claimed in Claims 23, 24, and 25 wherein the molding clip
has sides which
have an inside thickness to match the thickness of the ring receptacle.
27. A fastener as claimed in Claims 23, 24, 25, and 26 wherein the molding
clip has a total outer
thickness, when added to the thickness of the base of the male snap to be
slightly less than
the depth of the groove in the molding.
28. A fasteners as claimed in Claims 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 wherein the molding
clip has a top
which as a close tolerance to the top of the groove in the molding.
29. A fastener as claimed in Claims 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 wherein the
molding clip has sides
which are nearly perpendicular to the top of the clip, but with the bottoms of
the sides are
bent outward to be parallel to the top of the clip and of close tolerance in
width to the width
of the base of the molding groove.
30. A molding fastener system comprising:
16

- a molding with a flat bottomed beveled groove with a wider bottom width than
at the top,
of which the grooves extends the full length of the molding, the groove is
situated such
that there is enough distance on either side of the groove to maintain the
strength of the
molding and effectively hold the molding flat against mounting surfaces and of
which
molding can be made of any type of material normally used for molding; and a
male snap
made of plastic or metal which has a circular shape with a head which snaps
into place
with the retainer ring/ring receptacle/molding clip, and is fastened to a
mounting surface
by a nail or screw through the middle of the snap and the flat base of snap is
held securely
to the mounting surface by the nail or screw, the snap position is determined
by placement
of the ring receptacle, molding clip and retainer ring within the molding
groove, the snap
and nail/screw is removable by using the correct tools and is hidden from
sight after the
molding is in place. The number of snaps/fasteners installed with molding is
determined
by the mounting surface and type of molding to be installed, the correct
number of
fasteners installed is dependent on the number desired by the craftsman; and
- a nail or screw which holds the male snap securely to a mounting surface,
the nail or screw
will have adequate length to penetrate a solid mounting material and have a
head of
adequate diameter to fully penetrate and be flush or slightly inside the head
of the male
snap to allow the male snap height to determine the depth of the molding
groove; and
- a molding clip made of metal which will fit in close tolerance to the
molding groove in all
aspects, the clip consists of a flat top with a full penetrating hole in the
middle of the top.
The hole will have a diameter greater than the male snap head but larger than
the inside
diameter of the retainer ring. The sides of the clip are bent down and then
out to remain in
close tolerance with the molding groove both top and bottom. The bottom of the
clip
which is bent outward will secure the clip to the molding groove when the ring
receptacle
17

is inserted into the molding clip. The length of the molding clip will
correspond to the
same length of the ring receptacle; when the ring receptacle is removed from
the molding
clip the clip will be moveable within the groove to be re-positioned or
removed. The
depth of the molding clip when added to the thickness of the base of the male
snap will be
less than or equal to the depth of the molding groove. Marks on the molding
clip indicate
the center of the central penetrating hole and will be on the outward flat
face to aid in
measuring the position of the clip in the molding in relation to the male snap
on the
mounting surface and
- the bottom sides or edge of the molding clip will be parallel to the flat
top and will slide
in close tolerance with the sides and bottom of the molding groove.)
- a retainer ring made of metal which is larger in outside diameter than the
hole in the
molding clip but small enough in the inside diameter to securely hold the male
snap head.
It is positioned in a concentric groove in the ring receptacle and then slid
into place
between the molding clip and ring receptacle and aligned by the ring
receptacle to be
centered with the hole in the ring receptacle and molding clip to allow
insertion of male
snap head. The wire diameter of the split retainer retainer ring,will be
sufficient to
provide a secure fit with the male snap head; and
- a ring receptacle which is made of plastic or other comparable material
which will provide
enough strength and rigidity to force apart the sides of the molding clip when
inserted into
it and to hold the retainer ring with close tolerance to the molding clip.
There will be a
fully penetrating hole through the middle of the ring receptacle which is
larger than the
outside diameter of the head of the male snap and larger than the inside
diameter of the
retainer ring, but smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the
retainer ring. A
18

circular groove is on the top of the ring receptacle and this groove is
concentric with the
full penetrating hole in the ring receptacle. The outside diameter of the
groove will be of
large enough diameter to allow the retainer ring to expand as appropriate to
accept the
male snap and small enough to keep the retainer ring in place. The depth of
the concentric
circular groove will be the same thickness or less as the retainer ring wire
diameter. The
top and bottom of the ring receptacle are flat to allow easy insertion into
the molding clip
and molding groove. The thickness of the receptacle will be in close tolerance
to the
inside dimension between the bottom of the molding clip top and the flat base
of the
molding groove. The sides of the receptacle will be beveled. at the ends to
allow easy
insertion into the molding clip, but the width will increase so that when
inserted the ring
receptacle firmly pushes the outer-sides of the molding clip into the sides of
the molding
groove. The length of the ring receptacle will be the same as the length of
the molding
clip, and when the receptacle is completely inserted and the holes aligned the
molding is
ready for snapping to the male snap on the mounting surface:. The combined
fastener is
completely hidden from view when the molding is in place and it provides a
simple,
effective, strong and removable molding installation.
19

Description

2~4238~
MOLDING FASTENER SYSTEM
95-02-02
The present invention relates to a snap system used for attaching and holding
molding to a flat
surface.
Various methods of attaching molding to flat surfaces are known, including: by
nailing, stapling,
attaching by screws and by gluing.
Nailing stapling or attaching molding by screws is undesirable because in all
cases the molding is
penetrated. As a result, the surface of the molding is blemished and the nail,
staple or screw is
normally covered by such material to hide the blemish and the molding must
have the outer
surface refinished. Once molding is attached with the above methods, and it
needs removal, there
is normally some form of damage incurred on the molding during removal. Since
the molding has
to be pried and pulled from the flat surface there is commonly cracking or
breaking of the molding
material. When the molding is replaced the some process as was originally used
to put the
molding on must be employed.
Gluing molding is also undesirable because it is mostly a permanent method of
attaching the
molding to a flat surface. Although there is no penetration of the molding to
blemish the outer
surface, the glued molding is hard to remove and when removed it results in
damage to the
molding and the flat surface.
It is desirable to have a molding fastening system to attach molding to a flat
surface in a secure
manner and have it removable and installed with minimum damage to molding or
the flat surface.
4

214~38~.
The present invention relates to a method of fastening molding to a flat
surface by keeping the
outer surface of the molding unblemished and make the molding totally
removable. The method
of attaching and utilizing the invention is accomplished by using common tools
and is easily
performed by someone familiar in the trade of fastening molding.
The present invention consists of a dovetail groove made in the molding , a
circular male snap, a
nail or screw, a retainer ring, a ring receptacle, and a molding clip.
The molding 40 must be of adequate thickness so that the dovetail groove does
not adversely
afFect the strength requirements of the molding. The groove 42 will, have
beveled sides 39 which
slope outwards and which meet on the same plane 41 at the bottom of the
groove. The beveled
sides 39 must be of sufficient depth to accept the full length of the circular
male snap 36. The
plane surface 41 of the groove 42 will be of constant depth over the entire
length of the molding
and will be a consistent parallel distance/width from edges 43 and 45 over the
entire length of the
molding 40.
The circular male snap 36, made of body 37, will be fastened to the desired
flat surface by
screw/nail 33. The male snap and screwlnail will be attached to the flat
surface in such a manner
that it will match with the positioning of the retainer ring 31, ring
receptacle 18 and molding clip
in the molding 40. When attaching the screwlnail and male snap to a flat
surface the base of
male snap must be snug/flush with the flat surface.
The molding clip 10 is made of body 11 and will consist of sides 15 and flat
top 16. The sides
will consist of a leg 13, which is of approximate depth of the molding groove
41, and a leg 14
which is bent outward to be in close tolerance with the base of the molding
groove 46. The top
of the molding clip consists of flat top 16, hole 12 and sides 15. Sides 15
will be in close
S

tolerance to sides of molding groove 39. The thickness or depth oPmolding clip
will correspond
with the difference in depth of the molding groove 41 and the base of the male
snap 38. The hole
12 will be of adequate size to be smaller in diameter than retainer ring 31
and larger in diameter
than the snap end of circular male clip 34. Molding clip 10 will be positioned
on molding 40 to
match the position of male snap 36 and screw/nail 33.
Retainer ring 31 will be of sufficient wire diameter to fit snugly on male
snap 36 and fit into ring
receptacle 24. The retainer ring will be a split ring design to allow
expansion over the head 34 of
the male snap 3 6.
Ring receptacle 18 is made up of body 20. It accepts retainer ring 31 which
rests in retainer ring
groove 26 of depth 28 and of sufficient diameter 29 to allow retainer ring 31
to expand enough to
allow insertion of male snap end 34. With retainer ring 31 resting in ring
receptacle 18, the ring
receptacle 18 is then slid into molding clip 10 until holes 12 and 24 match
and are concentric.
The ring receptacle will be of sufficient depth 32 to fit in close tolerance
between the flat top of
the molding clip 16 and the base of the molding groove 41. The ring receptacle
has a flat top 21
and bottom 19. It has sides 22 which are beveled 23 at the ends. Side width 25
will be less than
but close tolerance to inside dimensions of molding clip sides 1 S. Likewise
side dimensions 27
will be greater than but in close tolerance with inside dimensions of molding
clip sides 15,
making the ring receptacle force the molding clip 14 into the inside of the
base of the molding
groove 46.
When the ring receptacle and ring are slid inside the molding clip, the
embodiment will fit snugly
inside the molding groove and will prevent movement of the molding without
supplying excess
external force.
6

~~4~384
Once the molding clip is in place and is aligned with the male snap (which is
securely fastened to a
flat surface), the molding can then be snapped securely to the male snap on
the flat surface. The
amount of clip assemblies will be determined by the fit between the molding
and flat surface, and
the limit of installed clips will be based on the assembly length and molding
length. It is expected
that the number of fasteners on a molding would be similar to the number of
fasteners required if
the molding were nailed, stapled or screwed.
Referring to the drawings, the molding fastener comprises of malding 40 and
male snap 36, a nail
or screw 33, a retainer ring 31, a ring receptacle 18 and a molding clip 10.
The molding groove 41 with beveled (dovetail) sides 39 enables thE; molding
clip 10, ring
receptacle 18, and retainer ring 31 to be held securely in the molding;. The
desired effect is to
obtain a flush fit between a flat mounting surface and the back of the molding
47. To obtain a
flush fit the total depth of the molding groove 41 will be equal to the
cumulative thickness of base
of male snap 37 and thickness of molding clip 22.
The molding 41 may be made of any type of material, but will normally be made
of materials the
same or similar to existing manufactured molding. The circular male snap 36
may be made of
plastic or metal, but it must incorporate a thin flat base and a hole in the
middle for use in
attaching to a flat surface with nail or screw 33. Nail or screw 33 will be
made of metal and will
consist of a head 35 which will fit inside the head of circular male snap 34.
The nail or screw will
be of sufficient length to accomplish a snug fit between the base of the
circular male snap 38 and
the flat mounting surface. In the case that normal gyp rock (wallboard) is the
flat surface, the nail
or screw will be required to penetrate solid backing behind the wall board.
Where a screw wall
anchor is employed, then a screw of sufficient length and head 3 5 mast be
used to attach the
circular male snap.

2~4~38~-
The retainer ring 31 will be normally made of metal and be of sufficient
inside diameter to fit
snugly over the male snap end 34. The type of material used for thf; retainer
ring will determine
the depth and diameter of the retainer ring groove 26 of depth 28
The ring receptacle 18 will be made of any type of material which is.
resilient enough to hold
retainer ring 31, slide conformably on flat molding surface 42, and slide in
and force apart sides 15
of molding clip 10. The ring receptacle will preferably be made of a resilient
plastic material,
which can be formed or machined. The key elements of the ring receptacle are
the retainer ring
groove 26 and the beveled sides 2'~, 23, 25, 27 and 30. The shape and
dimensions of the ring
receptacle create the snug fit between molding clip 10 and the molding 40 when
the ring
receptacle is slid inside the molding clip. The retainer ring receptacle can
also be made of a hard
ceramic, wood or metal material.
The molding clip 10 will be made of a thin metal material to allow it to
expand and grip into base
of molding groove 39 and be resilient enough to hold ring receptacle 18 and
retainer ring 31 and
male snap 36. The thickness of the molding clip will be determined by the type
of metal used for
the clip. Preferably a thin but high tensile strength metal will be used to
allow the clip sides 15 to
spring back to original position when the ring receptacle is removed, allowing
the clip to slide
freely in molding groove 41. The ability of the molding clip to spring back to
its original shape
after the ring receptacle is removed will allow it to be slid easily along the
molding groove 41.
The total length and width of the ring receptacle and molding clip will be
determined by the size
of male snap 36 being used. The length of the ring receptacle should be the
same length of the
molding clip to make alignment of the retainer ring 31 and hole in molding
clip 12 concentric.
s

214.23~4-
A feature of the molding fastener system in this invention is the ability to
securely attach molding
or trim to a flat surface and allow such to be removed and re-installed
without damage to the
molding or trim. By using this invention it is possible to pre-finish molding
or trim and not be
concerned with the touch-up of nail, screw or staple marks. The removable
nature of the molding
and trim will allow: walls to be re-finished, painted or wallpapered without
damaging the molding
or trim; molding or trim to be re-finished and re-installed without damage to
walls, floors or
molding or trim; easy routing of electrical cables found usually behind floor
molding or trim.
To install the molding fastener system of this invention, one requires molding
with the appropriate
groove an adequate number of male snaps, screws or nails, ring receptacles,
retainer rings,
molding clips, a screw driver (as appropriate) marking device (pencil), a
straight edge and a
measuring device (tape measure). A person skilled in installing molding or
trim will cut the
molding or trim to fit the desired location, mark the desired location of the
molding clip, ring
receptacle and retainer ring on the flat surface and on the molding or trim.
The molding clips)
will be slid into the molding groove to the desired locations and then the
retainer ring and ring
receptacles slid into place to lock the position of the clips. Once the
molding clip assembly is in
place, a straight edge and measuring tape is used to measure the distance from
the center of the
molding clip assembly to the edge of the molding or trym. Using the mark made
previous on the
flat surface, the straight edge and measuring tape is used to mark the center
of the male snap to be
connected to the flat surface. Depending on whether a nail or screw is used,
the male snap is
attached to the flat surface. When all of the male snaps and molding clip
assemblies have been
installed, then the molding or trim is aligned with the marks made previous
and snapped against
the flat surface. Molding or trim fastened in this manner can be held to the
flat surface with as
many molding clip assemblies/male snaps as is possible, but the usual number
would correspond
to the number of nails, screws or staples used normally. Once the molding or
trim is in place it
can be easily detached from the flat surface by using a flat object such as a
screwdriver to pry it

242384
off of the flat surface and once the molding trim is far enough away from the
flat surface it can be
pulled of by hand.
The present invention has numerous advantages over normal/traditi~onal methods
of fastening
molding or trim. Small sections of molding can be fastened to flat surfaces
without risk of
splitting or chipping as will commonly happen when nails, staples or screws
are used. If the
mounting surface is not perfectly flat, the number of fasteners can be
increased to obtain a tighter
fit between molding and mounting surface. If the same conditions exist with
normal/traditional
fasteners, the molding trim will have many nail, staple or screw marks to
repair. Molding or trim
can be pre-finished (after it is cut to length) and then fastened to flat
surfaces. This is not possible
with nails, screws or staples because they leave marks and they are difficult
to remove. Gluing of
molding or trim will allow pre-finishing of same but it makes molding or trim
non-removable.
Molding or trim can be removed and replaced in the same position an indefinite
number of times
allowing the mounting surface to be re-finished or painted without affecting
the finish of the
molding or trim. This makes re-finishing of the mounting surface and molding
trim a very clean
procedure and allows the re-finishing of one to not affect the other.
Typically molding or trim
will have to be re-finished in place and if the mounting surface is re-
finished the molding/trim is
normally masked to protect its finish. Having removable molding or trim when
refinishing the
mounting surface or molding or trim will allow either surface to be done more
inexpensively,
faster and neatly than if it were non-removable. Where the trim is near
flooring and the flooring is
replaced, the positioning of the trim is easily changed by raising or Lowering
the position of the
male snaps as appropriate. Having removable trim near flooring will make it
easy to hide
electrical wiring behind and beneath the trim. When flooring (carpets,
linoleum, tile, etc.) are
replaced, removable trim will allow fast and neat removal and installation of
the flooring material.

~~4238~
Existing methods of removing or installing new flooring involve either leaving
existing
(baseboards) molding in place or removing it. If molding is left in place,
then removal or
installation of flooring is difficult and it results in a poor flooring job
and/or damage to floor trim.
If molding is removed it means that the trim has to be re-installed and
refinished after the flooring
is installed.
Removable and replaceable molding will make jobs like painting or wallpapering
easier, faster and
less expensive. Areas near flooring, windows, door jam, etc. will not require
masking of the
molding, therefore making all re-finishing jobs neater.
Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been described
and illustrated, the
present invention is not limited to the features of this embodiment, but
includes all variations and
modifications within the scope of the claims.
11

Representative Drawing