BORDURE DECORATIVE ET SCELLEE SERVANT A LA FABRICATION DE MEUBLES

FURNITURE EDGE CONSTRUCTION

Abrégé anglais

A watertight, durable, and attractive edge construction
for furniture is provided that is especially designed for ease
of installation while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the
furniture edge. The edge construction hereof provides for the
snapable insertion of a side molding into the exposed sidewall
of a furniture panel, and, through the provisions of designed-in
recesses, allows for the expansion of the furniture and side
molding material and for the dispersion of the bonding medium
used to bond the panel and molding together. The invention
is particularly adaptable for use in the construction of countertops
or other furniture made from sheets of synthetic resin laminate
bonded to support decking.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method of construction of an edge for furniture
or the like having a support decking comprised of wood,
fiberboard, or other porous material, said support decking
presenting an exposed sidewall at an angle to a primary
support surface, comprising:
providing a channel in said sidewall, said channel
oriented substantially parallel to said primary support
surface and presenting a channel depth and a channel width
and defining an upper sidewall surface and a lower sidewall
surface;
providing a molding member having a rear surface,
an upper wall, an outer surface, and structure defining a
glue receiving channel along said upper wall, and including
a rib projecting from said rear surface, said rib having a
rib height less than said channel depth and a rib width
substantially similar to said channel width and defining an
upper rear surface and a lower rear surface;
placing a strip of water soluble glue along said
lower rear surface below said rib;
placing a strip of contact adhesive glue along said
lower rear surface below said rib; and
inserting said rib into said channel in a force
fit, thereby bringing said rear surface into contact with
said sidewall surface;
whereby said lower sidewall surface expands and
presses outward in contact with said lower rear surface as a
result of the interaction of said strip of water soluble
glue and said porous composition of said support decking,
thereby pivoting said upper rear surface toward said upper
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sidewall surface to form a more secure bond between said
support decking and said molding member.
2. A method of joining the exposed edges of two pieces
of support decking, each piece of support decking having a
laminate bonded thereon, comprising:
providing a first support decking member having a
top surface, a sidewall surface, and a lower surface;
providing a channel along said sidewall surface,
said channel presenting a channel depth and a channel width;
bonding a first sheet of laminate to said top
surface, whereby a first overhang portion of said first
sheet of laminate is extended beyond said sidewall surface;
providing a second support decking member having an
outer surface, an inner surface, and an edge surface;
providing a rib projecting from said inner surface,
said rib having a rib height and a rib width substantially
similar to said channel depth and channel width;
bonding a second sheet of laminate to said outer
surface, whereby a second overhang portion is extended
slightly beyond said edge surface;
placing a first strip of glue along said inner
surface below said rib;
placing a second strip of glue along said edge
surface;
inserting said rib into said channel in a force
fit, thereby bringing said inner surface into contact with
said sidewall surface;
and defining a glue receiving channel between said
first overhang portion of said first sheet of laminate and
said second overhang portion of said second sheet of
laminate.
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3. The method of Claim 2 wherein said channel is
oriented substantially parallel to said top surface and said
channel width is substantially uniform along said sidewall
surface and along said channel depth.
4. The method of Claim 2 wherein said first and second
support decking members comprise a sheet of fiberboard.
5. The method of Claim 2 wherein said first strip of
glue is a water soluble glue and said second strip of glue
is a contact adhesive.
6. The method of Claim 2 wherein said rib height is
less than said channel depth.
7. The method of Claim 2 wherein the first sheet of
laminate is not bonded to said top surface of said first
decking support member until after said rib is inserted into
said channel.
8. The method of Claim 2 wherein the first sheet of
laminate is bonded to said top surface of said first decking
support before said rib is inserted into said channel.
9. The method of Claim 2 further comprising routing or
trimming said first or second overhang portions so as to
make the edges of said first and second sheets of laminate
flush with each other.
10. Molding for installation on an edge of a support
member, comprising:
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a joining side and a decorative side;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding for positioning the molding on an edge of a support
member having a decorative surface and an exposed edge,
wherein the rib has upper and lower sides; and
a glue channel means adjacent the upper side of the
rib for the collection, upon the installation of the molding
on such an edge, of glue placed at the intersection of the
upper side of the rib with the joining side of the molding.
11. Molding of Claim 10 wherein the joining side of the
molding abuts with such an edge at its decorative surface
upon the installation of the molding on such an edge.
12. Molding of Claim 11 wherein the decorative side of
the molding also abuts with such an edge at its decorative
surface upon the installation of the molding on such an
edge.
13. Molding of Claim 11 wherein the decorative side of
the molding that abuts with such an edge at its decorative
surface comprises decorative plastic material.
14. Molding of Claim 13 wherein the decorative plastic
material is plastic laminate.
15. Molding of Claim 13 wherein the glue channel means
has upper and lower boundaries defined respectively by the
decorative plastic material and the rib.
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16. Molding of Claim 15 wherein the glue channel means
has side boundaries defined upon the installation of the
molding on such an edge by the joining side of the molding
between the upper side of the rib and the decorative plastic
material and such an edge.
17. Molding of Claim 13 wherein the glue channel means
is constructed by removing material from the joining side of
the molding between the upper side of the rib and the
decorative plastic material.
18. Molding of Claim 11 wherein the molding is wood and
the glue channel means is a groove in the joining side of
the molding between the upper boundary of the joining side
and the rib.
19. Molding of Claim 10 wherein the rib is shaped and
sized for being joined with a channel in such an edge.
20. Molding of Claim 19 wherein the rib has a height
less than the depth of a channel in such an edge.
21. Molding of Claim 19 wherein the rib has a width
substantially similar to the width of a channel in such an
edge.
22. Molding of Claim 19 wherein the rib is
substantially rectilinear in cross section.
23. Molding comprising decorative plastic material
bonded to support material for installation on an edge of a
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support member, comprising:
a joining side and a decorative side;
decorative plastic material on the decorative side
for abutment with decorative plastic material of such an
edge upon the installation of the molding on an edge of a
support member comprising support material having decorative
plastic material bonded to its upper surface for providing
an edge having decorative plastic material at its upper
boundary and support material below the plastic material;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding for positioning the molding on such an edge, wherein
the rib has upper and lower sides; and
a glue channel means having upper and lower
boundaries defined respectively by the decorative plastic
material and the upper side of the rib and its side
boundaries defined by the joining side of the molding
between the decorative plastic material and the upper side
of the rib and such an edge upon the installation of the
molding on such an edge for the collection, upon the
installation of the molding on such an edge, of glue placed
at the intersection of the upper side of the rib with the
joining side of the molding.
24. Molding of Claim 23 wherein the decorative plastic
material is plastic laminate.
25. Molding of Claim 23 wherein the side boundary of
the glue channel means defined by the joining side of the
molding is constructed by removing support material between
the decorative plastic material and the upper side of the
rib.
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26. Molding of Claim 23 wherein the surface of the side
boundary defined by the joining side of the molding is
substantially planar.
27. Wood molding for installation on an edge of a
support member, comprising:
a joining side and a decorative side;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding for positioning the molding on an edge, wherein the
rib has upper and lower sides; and
a groove in the joining side of the molding above
the upper side of the rib for the collection, upon the
installation of the molding on such an edge, of glue placed
at the intersection of the upper side of the rib with the
joining side of the molding.
28. Wood molding of Claim 27 wherein the joining side
of the molding abuts decorative plastic material on such an
edge upon the installation of the molding on such an edge.
29. Molding installed on an edge of a support member,
comprising:
the molding having a joining side and a decorative
side;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding joined with a channel in an edge of a support member
for positioning the molding on the edge, the rib having
upper and lower sides, wherein the support member comprises
support material having decorative plastic material bonded
to its upper surface for providing an edge having decorative
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plastic material with support material below the decorative
plastic material;
a glue channel means adjacent the upper side of the
rib for the collection of glue placed at the intersection of
the upper side of the rib with the joining side of the
molding prior to the installation of the molding on the
edge; and
abutting, generally planar lower surfaces
extending, on the molding, below the rib and, on the edge,
below the channel.
30. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 29 wherein the joining side of the molding abuts with
decorative plastic material on the edge.
31. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 30 wherein the decorative side of the molding abuts
with the decorative plastic material on the edge.
32. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 30 wherein the decorative side of the molding
comprises decorative plastic material.
33. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 32 wherein the decorative plastic material is plastic
laminate.
34. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 32 wherein the glue channel means has upper and lower
boundaries defined respectively by the decorative plastic
material and the upper side of the rib.
- 22 -

35. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 34 wherein the glue channel means has side boundaries
defined by the joining side of the molding between the upper
side of the rib and the decorative plastic material and the
edge.
36. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 32 wherein the glue channel means is constructed by
removing material from the joining side of the molding
between the upper side of the rib and the decorative plastic
material.
37. Molding comprising decorative plastic material
bonded to support material installed on an edge of a support
member, comprising:
the molding having a joining side and a decorative
side;
decorative plastic material on the decorative side
of the molding for abutment with decorative plastic material
on an edge of a support member, wherein the support member
comprises support material having decorative plastic
material bonded to its upper surface for providing an edge
having decorative plastic material with support material
below the decorative plastic material;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding joined with a channel in the edge for positioning
the molding on the edge, the rib having upper and lower
sides;
a glue channel means having upper and lower
boundaries defined respectively by the decorative plastic
material and the upper side of the rib and side boundaries
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defined by the joining side of the molding between the
decorative plastic material and the rib and the edge for the
collection of glue placed at the intersection of the upper
side of the rib with the joining side of the molding prior
to the installation of the molding on the edge; and
abutting, generally planar lower surfaces
extending, on the molding, below the rib and, on the edge,
below the channel.
38. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 37 wherein the decorative plastic material is plastic
laminate.
39. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 37 wherein the side boundary of the glue channel means
defined by the joining side of the molding is constructed by
removing support material between the decorative plastic
material and the upper side of the rib.
40. Molding installed on an edge of a support member of
Claim 37 wherein the surfaces of the side boundaries defined
by the joining side of the molding and the edge are
substantially planar.
41. Apparatus for concealing an edge of a furniture
panel or the like comprising:
structure defining a rib receiving channel along
said edge, said rib receiving channel presenting a rib
receiving channel depth and a rib receiving channel width,
said rib receiving channel separating said edge into a
- 24 -

generally planar upper edge surface and a generally planar
lower edge surface;
a molding member having a rear surface, a forward
surface and an upper sloped surface and including a rib
projecting from said rear surface, said rib having a width
substantially similar to said rib receiving channel width,
whereby said rib is engaged in said receiving channel in a
forced fit, said rib separating said rear surface into a
generally planar upper rear surface and a generally planar
lower rear surface;
a planar sheet of laminate bonded to said upper
sloped surface, wherein an edge of said planar sheet of
laminate abuts with said upper edge surface;
structure defining a molding member channel between
said planar sheet of laminate, said rib, said generally
planar upper edge surface and said generally planar upper
rear surface and extending along the full length of said
generally planar upper rear surface and along a portion of
the length of said generally planar upper edge surface, and
adhesive means for bonding said molding member to
said edge applied along the intersections of said rib with
said generally planar upper and lower rear surfaces, said
generally planar lower edge surface and said generally
planar lower rear surface are adhesively bonded together by
said adhesive means, and said molding member channel
provides an expansion relief means for said generally planar
upper edge surface such that expansion and swelling of said
edge or said molding member causes said molding member to
pivot about said rib and urge said edge of said planar sheet
of laminate into tight engagement with said generally planar
upper edge surface.
- 25 -

42. The apparatus of Claim 41 wherein said generally
planar upper and lower edge surfaces lie in a single plane.
43. The apparatus of Claim 42 wherein said generally
planar lower rear surface abuts with said generally planar
lower edge surface.
44. The apparatus of Claim 43 wherein said generally
planar upper edge and rear surfaces do not abut.
45. The apparatus of Claim 44 wherein said generally
planar upper edge and rear surfaces lie in substantially
parallel planes.
46. The apparatus of Claim 41 wherein said rib
receiving channel presents a rib receiving channel depth and
said rib has a rib height less than said rib receiving
channel depth such that a rib channel is formed between said
rib receiving channel and said rib.
47. The apparatus of Claim 41 wherein said planar sheet
of laminate overhangs said generally planar upper rear
surface and forms an obtuse angle with said generally planar
upper rear surface.
48. Apparatus for concealing an edge of a furniture
panel or the like comprising:
structure defining a rib receiving channel along
said edge, said rib receiving channel presenting a rib
receiving channel depth and a rib receiving channel width,
said rib receiving channel separating said edge into a
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generally planar upper edge surface and a generally planar
lower edge surface;
a molding member having a rear surface, a forward
surface and an upper surface in abutment at an edge with
said upper edge surface and including a rib projecting from
said rear surface, whereby said rib is engaged in said rib
receiving channel in a forced fit, said rib separating said
rear surface into a generally planar upper rear surface and
a generally planar lower rear surface, said upper rear
surface extending from said rib toward said upper surface;
structure defining a molding member channel between
said upper surface, said rib, said generally planar upper
edge surface and said generally planar upper rear surface
and extending along the full length of said generally planar
upper rear surface and along a portion of the length of said
generally planar upper edge surface; and
adhesive means for bonding said molding member to
said edge applied along the intersections of said rib with
said generally planar upper and lower rear surfaces, said
generally planar lower edge surface and said generally
planar lower rear surface are in contact with one another
and are bonded together by said adhesive means, and said
molding member channel provides an expansion relief means
for said generally planar upper edge surface such that
expansion and swelling of said furniture edge or said
molding member causes said molding member to pivot about
said rib and urge said edge of said upper surface into tight
engagement with said generally planar upper edge surface.
49. The apparatus of Claim 48 wherein said generally
planar upper and lower edge surfaces lie in a single plane.
- 27 -

50. The apparatus of Claim 49 wherein said generally
planar lower rear surface abuts with said generally planar
lower edge surface.
51. The apparatus of Claim 50 wherein said generally
planar upper edge and rear surfaces do not abut.
52. The apparatus of Claim 51 wherein said generally
planar upper edge and rear surfaces lie in substantially
parallel planes.
53. The apparatus of Claim 48 wherein said rib
receiving channel presents a rib receiving channel depth and
said rib has a rib height less than said rib receiving
channel depth such that a rib channel is formed between said
rib receiving channel and said rib.
54. The apparatus of Claim 48 wherein said upper
surface overhangs said generally planar upper rear surface
to form an obtuse angle with said generally planar upper
rear surface.
55. A molding member for concealing an edge of a
furniture panel or the like comprising:
a forward surface;
a rear surface;
a rib projecting from said rear surface separating
said rear surface into a generally planar upper rear surface
and a generally planar lower rear surface, said generally
planar lower rear surface adapted for abutment with a
- 28 -

generally planar surface on an edge of a furniture panel;
and
an upper surface overhanging said generally planar
upper rear surface for defining a glue channel between said
generally planar upper rear surface, said rib and an edge of
a furniture panel when said rib is received in a rib
receiving channel of an edge of a furniture panel, an edge
of said overhanging portion of said upper surface adapted to
be in contact with an edge of a furniture panel when said
rib is received in a rib receiving channel of an edge of a
furniture panel.
56. The molding member of Claim 55 wherein said
overhanging portion of said upper surface forms an obtuse
angle with said generally planar upper rear surface.
57. A molding member for concealing an edge of a
furniture panel or the like comprising:
a forward surface;
a rear surface;
a rib projecting from said rear surface separating
said rear surface into a generally planar upper rear surface
and a generally planar lower rear surface;
an upper surface; and
a planar sheet of laminate bonded to said upper
surface and overhanging said generally planar upper rear
surface for defining a molding member channel between the
full length of said generally planar upper rear surface,
said rib and an edge of a furniture panel when said rib is
received in a rib receiving channel of an edge of a
furniture panel.
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58. The molding member of Claim 57 wherein said overhanging
portion of said planar sheet of laminate and said generally planar
lower rear surface are adapted to be in contact with said edge of
said furniture panel when said molding is installed on an edge of
a furniture panel or the like.
59. The molding member of Claim 57 wherein said overhanging
portion of said planar sheet of laminate forms an obtuse angle
with said generally planar upper rear surface.
60. An article, comprising:
a rib extending along a joining edge of the article for
joining the article with a channel extending along an edge of a
work piece, wherein the article and the rib on the article have
parallel upper and lower sides, and
a glue channel means adjacent the upper side of the rib
for the collection, upon the joining of the rib with a channel
extending along an edge of a work piece, of glue placed at the
intersection of the upper side of the rib with the joining edge of
the article extending between the upper sides of the article and
the rib.
61. The article of Claim 60 wherein the joining edge of the
article at its upper boundary abuts with an upper boundary of a
work piece upon the joining of the rib of the article with a
channel extending along an edge of the work piece.
62. The article of Claim 60 wherein the glue channel means is
constructed by removing material from the edge of the article
between the upper sides of the article and the rib.
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63. The article of Claim 60 wherein the rib is shaped and sized
for being joined with a channel extending along an edge of a work
piece.
64. The article of Claim 60 wherein the rib has a height less
than the depth of a channel extending along an edge of a work
piece.
65. The article of Claim 60 wherein the rib has a width
substantially similar to the width of a channel extending along an
edge of a work piece.
66. The article of Claim 60 wherein the rib is substantially
rectilinear in cross section.
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Description

1 3379~
l Lackground of tbe Inventlon
Thls ls a dlvlslonal of Canadlan Prtent Appllcatlon
Serlal Number 563,013, flled March 31, 1988.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to furniture construction.
In particular, the invention pertain5 to the construction of
wear-resistant edges on counter tops and the like.
8ackground Art
Construction of counter tops, desk tops, and similar
pieces of furniture often entails the use of panels having a
top surface and exposed edges. The exposed edges of such panels
are often unsightly and susceptible to damage, and require the
use of decorative moldings to protect and beautify the exposed
edge. Effective bonding of the moldings to the panel exposed
edge, however, is difficult.
The construction of counter tops, table tops, desk
tops, and other similar pieces of furniture using sheets of
hard plastic laminate presents particular problems in protectinq
and beautifying exposed panel edges. In general, construction
of furniture from plastic laminate entails the bonding of thin
sheets of plastic laminate to support decking. The support
decking is preferably a relatively inexpensive, yet sturdy,
particle board or the like. While the combination of hard plastic
laminate with support decking provides a sturdy, wear-resistant,
and waterproof top surface, the exposed sidewalls of the combination
present a particularly unsightly and damage susceptible cross
section.
Various methods for providing a suitable edge to furniture
surfaces constructed from plastic laminate bonded to support
decking have been proposed. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 2,717,187
entitled LAMJNATED mA~LE TOP WTTH EDGING, U.S. Patent No. 3,077,012
- 1 - ~
r

:::
1 337995
'
1 entitled C0UNTER TOP CONSTRUCTION AND THE LIKE, and U.S.
: ::
Patent No. 3,606,508 entitled COUNTER TOP describe different
ways for forming the edge of a laminated table or counter
top. The extensive use of plastic laminate bonded to
support decking in furnlture construction, however, has
justified a continuing effort on the part of the furniture
industry to find more efficient, less expensive methods and
materials for forming more durable and better looking
edgings for counter tops, table tops, and the like.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a watertight,
durable, and attractive molding to furniture having exposed
edges, while at the same time providing for ease of
installation and economy of fabricatlon materials. The
invention is particularly adaptable to the construction of
countertops and similar pieces of furniture formed from
plastic laminate bonded to support decking.
In the instance of furniture constructed from
plastic laminate bonded to support decking, a milled channel
is provided in the exposed sidewall of the support decking
to which the sheet of top skin plastic laminate is to be
bonded. A covering for the exposed support decking sidewall
is provided comprising a specially designed molding piece
formed from medium density fiber board to which plastic
laminate is rigidly bonded with a cold pressed urea glue.
- -- The molding includes a rearwardly protruding rib that is
snapably received within the support decking milled
channel. A channel is provided within the molding that
l~enables an extremely close and watertight fit between the
molding and the panel to which it iJ bonded, by providing a
space for expansion of the panel and for receiving excess
glue.

1 3379~
1 Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides
an edge structure for a piece of furniture or the like
having a first sheet of laminate bonded to the primary
support surface of a support decking, said support decking
S presenting an exposed sidewall at an sngle to said primary
support 8 urface, comprising:
structure defining a recess along said exposed
sidewall, said recess presenting a recess depth and a recess
width;
a side molding comprising a backing member and a
sidewall sheet of laminate bonded to said side molding, said
backing member including a projection having a projection
height less than said recess depth, and a projection width
substantially similar to said recess width whereby said
projection is snapably receivable in said recess in a forced
fit;
said firct sheet of laminate including an
overhanging laminate portion overhanging said suppot decking
exposed sidewall, said side molding including structure
defining a glue receiving channel between said side molding
and said overhanging support decking laminate portion when
said projection is snapably received within said recess.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a
method of construction of an edge for furniture or the like
- 25 having a support decking comprised of wood, fiberboard, or
other porous material, said support decking presenting an
exposed sidewall at an angle to a primary support ~urface,
:~ comprising:
providing a channel in said sidewall, said channel
I'oriented substantially parallel to said primary support
surface and presenting a channel depth and a channel width

1 337995
1 and defining an upper sidewall surface and a lower sidewall
surface;
providing a molding member having a rear surface,
an upper wall, an outer surface, and structure defining a
glue receiving channel along said upper wall, and including
A rib projecting from said rear surface, said rib having a
rib height less than said channel depth and a rib width
substantially similar to said channel width and defining an
upper rear surface and a lower rear surface;
placing a strip of water soluble glue along said
lower rear surface below said rib;
placing a strip of contact adhesive glue along said
lower rear surface below said rib; and
inserting said rib into said channel in a force
fit, thereby bringing said rear surface into contact with
said sidewall surface;
whereby said lower sidewall surface expands and
presses outward in contact with said lower rear surface as a
result of the interaction of said strip of water soluble
glue and said porous composition of said support decking,
thereby pivoting said upper rear surface toward said upper
sidewall surface to form a more secure bond between said
support decking and said molding member.
In a still further aspect, the present invention
relates to a method of joining the exposed edges of two
pieces of support decking, each piece of support decking
having a laminate bonded thereon, comprising:
providing A first support decking member having a
top surface, a sidewall surfsce, and a lower surface;
providing A channel along said sidewall surface,
said channel presenting a channel depth and a channel width;
-- 4 --

1 337995
1 bonding a first sheet of laminate to said top
surface, whereby a first overhang portion of said first
sheet of laminate is extended beyond said sidewall surface;
providing a second support decking member having an
outer surface, an inner surface, and an edge surface;
providing a rib projecting from said inner surface,
said rib having a rib height and a rib width substantially
similar to said channel depth and channel width;
bonding a second sheet of laminate to said outer
surface, whereby a second overhang portion is extended
slightly beyond said edge surface;
placing a first strip of glue along said inner
surface below said rib;
placing a second strip of glue along said edse
surface;
insertins said rib into said channel in a force
fit, thereby bringing said inner surface into contact with
said sidewall surfacei
and defining a glue receiving channel between said
first overhang portion of said first sheet of laminate and
said second overhang portion of said second sheet of
laminate.
In a further aspect, the invention provides molding
for installation on an edge of a support member, comprising:
a joining side and a decorative side;
a rib extending from the joining side of the
molding for positioning the molding on an edge of a support
member having a decorative surface and an exposed edse,
wherein the rib has u?per and lower sides; and
a glue channel means adjacent the upper side of the
IZ rib for the collection, upon the installation of the molding

1 337995
on such an edge, of glue placed at the intersection of the upper
side of the rib with the joining side of the molding.
In a still further aspect, the present invention
relates to a molding member for concealing an edge of a furniture
panel or the like comprising:
a forward surface;
a rear surface;
a rib projecting from said rear surface separating said
rear surface into a generally planar upper rear surface and a
generally planar lower rear surface;
an upper surface; and
a planar sheet of laminate bonded to said upper surface
and overhanging said generally planar upper rear surface for
defining a molding member channel between the full length of said
generally planar upper rear surface, said rib and an edge of a
furniture panel when said rib is received in a rib receiving
channel of an edge of a furniture panel.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to
an article comprising a rib extending along a joining edge of the
article for joining the article with a channel extending along an
edge of a work piece, wherein the article and the rib on the
article have parallel upper and lower sides, and a glue channel
means adjacent the upper side of the rib for the collection, upon
the joining of the rib with a channel extending along an edge of a
work piece, of glue placed at the intersection of the upper side
of the rib with the joining edge of the article extending between
the upper sides of the article and the rib.
E~ - 6 -

1 337995
Description of the Drawinqs
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a counter
top having a side molding in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a ~ide, elevational view of the counter top
depicted in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a side molding in
accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, phantom
lines depicting a shelf top having an exposed edge;
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a side molding in
accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, phantom lines
depicting a counter top having an exposed edge; and
,~ - 6a -

1 3379'`3~
1 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of
a counter top having a side ~olding in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Referring to the drawings, a counter top 10 having
an edge in accordance with the present invention is depicted.
The counter top 10 includes a top member 12 and side molding
14. It will be appreciated that, while the invention is described
in conjunction with a counter top having a top member and side
molding, the invention is equally applicable to other articles
of furniture, and, moreover, is not restricted to edges formed
by top and side members.
Top member 12 includes support decking 16 formed of,
for instance, 45 psi particle board. A suitable plastic laminate
top skin 18 is bonded to the support decking with, for instance,
a low pressure contact adhesive. The plastic laminate can be,
for example, of the kind manufactured by the Formica Corporation,
and designated as model 920-58 Almond. A portion 20 of the
plastic laminate top skin 18 overhangs the exposed sidewall
22 of support decking 16 by a distance equal to the width of
molding 14.
Support decking 16 includes milled channel 24 along
the support decking exposed sidewall 22. Milled channel 24
is generally rectilinear in cross section and includes end wall
25 26, and opposed bottom and top walls 28, 30. The channel 24
effectively separates the exposed sidewall 22 of support decking
16 into an upper sidewall surface 32 and a lower sidewall surface
34.
Molding 1~ include5 plastic laminate edge sheet 36
permanently~ rigidly bonded to backing member 38 with a cold
pressed urea glue. ~acking member 38 comprises a strip of medium
density fiberboard. A rearwardly protruding rib 40 extends

1 337995
1 from the rear surface of the backing member 38. The rib is
generally rectilinear in cross section and includes rib end
wall 42 and opposed rib top and bottom walls 44, 46. The height
of the rib 42 is less than the depth of milled channel 24 such
that a space 48 is presented between the end wall 26 of milled
channel 24 and the end wall 42 of the rib 40 when the rib 40
is snapably received within the channel 24. The width of the
rib 40, as measured between the rib bottom and top walls 44,
46, is substantially similar to the width of the milled channel
24 as measured between the milled channel bottom and top walls
28, 30, such that the rib 40 can be snapably received in a forced
fit within milled channel 24.
~-- As is best depicted in Fig. 2, the height of the upper
sidewall surface 32 of support decking exposed sidewall 22,
as measured between the top wall 30 of milled channel 24 and
the top surface 50 of support decking 16 is slightly larger
- than the height of the backing member 38 as measured from the
top wall 46 of rib 40 to the backing me~ber upper surface 52.
A space 54 is thereby created between the backing member upper
surface 52 and the overhanging portion 20 of the plastic laminate
top skin 18.
Again referring to Fig. 2, a portion 56 of plastic
laminate sheet 36 extends beyond the backing member upper surface
52 so as to be in abutting relationship to the underside of
portion 20 of plastic laminate top skin 18 when the rib 40 of
molding 14 is snapably received within channel 24 of support
decking 16. A supporting bolster board 58 is fixedly attached
to the lower surface of support decking 16 and the rear surface
of backing member 38 of molding 14.
Referring to Fig. 3, a shelf top 100 having an edge
~t
in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention

1 3379'~
1 is depicted. The shelf top 100 includes a top member 102 and
side molding 104. As depicted in Fig. 3, the side molding 104
is formed from a solid piece of wood, and top member 102 is
similarly formed from a solid wood piece. It will be understood,
5 however, that an embodiment of the invention depicted in ~ig.
3 is not restricted to side molding made from solid wood members,
and is equally applicable to shelf tops formed of, for instance,
particle board with a suitable plastic laminate, or for instance,
Kortron/E brand prefinished particle board as available from
Williamette Industries of Bend, Oregon.
The top member 102 includes milled channel 106 along
its exposed sidewall 108. Milled channel 106 is generally recti-
linear in cross section and includes end wall 110, and opposed
bottom and top walls 112, 114. The channel 106 effectively
separates the exposed sidewall 108 of top member 102 into an
upper sidewall surface 116 and a lower sidewall surface 118.
A rearwardly protruding rib 120 extends from the rear
wall 119 of the side molding 104. The rib 120 is generally
rectilinear in cross section and includes rib end wall 122 and
opposed rib top and bottom walls 124, 126. The height of the
rib 120 is less than the depth of milled channel 106 such that
a space 128 is presented between the end wall 110 of milled
channel 106 and the rear wall 122 of rib 120 when the rib 120
is snapably reccived within the channel 106. The width of the
rib 120, as measured between the rib top and bottom walls 124,
126 is substantially similar to the width of the milled channel
106 as measured between the milled channel bottom and top walls
112, 114, such that the rib 120 can be snapably received in
a forced fit within milled channel 106. The rib 120 effectively
separates the molding rear wall 119 into an upper rear wall
surface 130 and a lower rear wall surface 132.
* Trade Mark

1 337995
1 The upper surface 130 of the rear wall 119 of molding
104 includes milled channel 134. Milled channel 134 is generally
rectilinear in cross section and includes end wall 136, and
opposed bottom and top wall 138, 140. The milled channel 134
presents a space 142 between the molding 104 and the upper surface
116 of exposed sidewall 108 of top member 102 when the top member
102 and molding 104 are assembled together.
Molding 104 includes decorative, upper and lower beveled
edges 144, 146. A top member engaging lower lip 145 protrudes
rearwardly from side molding 104.
Referring to Fig. 4, a third embodiment of the present
invention is substantially similar to the second embodiment
described in conjunction with Fig. 3, and similar features in
the drawing bear similar identifying numerals. lt will be noted
that the embodiment depicted in Fiq. 4 does not include a decorative
lower beveled edge, nor does it include a top member engaging,
lowermost lip as is shown in conjunction with the second embodiment
in Fig. 3.
~ eferring to Fig. 5, a counter top 200 having an edge
in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention
is depicted. The counter top 200 includes top member 202 and
side molding 204.
Top member 202 includes support decking 206 formed
of, for instance, 45 psi particle board. A suitable plastic
laminate top skin 208 is bonded to the support decking 206 with,
for instance, low pressure contact adhesive.
Support decking 206 includes milled channel 210 along
the support decking exposed side wall 212. Milled channel 210
is generally rectilinear in cross-section and include5 end wall
214, and opposed bottom and top walls 216, 218. The channel
210 effectively separates the exposed side wall 212 of support
-- 10 --

1 3379'~
1 decking 206 into an upper side~all surface 220 and a lower sidewall
surface 222.
Molding 204 includes front plastic laminate edge sheet
224 and upper plastic laminate edge sheet 226. Both sheets
224, 226 are permanently, rigidly bonded to a backing member
228 with a cold pressed urea glue. Backing member 228 comprises
a strip of medium density fiberboard. Rearwardly protruding
rib 230 extends from the rear wall 232 of the backing member
228. The rib is qenerally rectilinear in cross section and
includes rib end wall 234, and opposed rib top and bottom walls
236, 238.
The height of the rib 230 of backing member 228 is
less than the depth of milled channel 210 such that a space
240 is presented between the end wall 214 of milled channel
210 and the rear wall 234 of the rib 230 when the rib 230 is
snapably received within the channel 210. The width of the
rib 230, as measured between the rib top and bottom walls 236,
238 is substantially similar to the width of milled channel
210 as measured between the milled channel bottom and top walls
216, 218, such that the rib 230 can be snapably received in
a force fit within milled channel 210.
The rib 230 effectively separates the rear wall 232
of molding 204 into an upper rear surface 244 and a lower rear
surface 246. The upper, exposed marqin 248 of upper plastic
laminate edge sheet 226 extends clightly beyond the plane of
the upper rear surface 244 of molding rear surface 232 so as
to present a channel 250 between the upper margin 248 of the
upper plastic laminate edge sheet 226 and the upper wall 236
of rib 230. The channel 250 presents a space 252 between the
molding upper rear surface 244 and the upper sidewall surface
220 of top member 202 when the molding 204 and top member 202
are joined together.
- 11 -

::~ 1 3 3 7 9 9 5
1 ConstructiOn of a f rniture edge in accordance with
~- the present invention is acco~plished by providing a support
decking having a channel 24 mulled therein. The support decking
16 can be preformed with the channel 24, or channel 24 may be
: ::~
formed with the use of a dado cutter at the time of construction.
Next, a strip of water soluble glue is placed along the rear
surface of the molding backins member 38 of molding 14 at the
intersection of the bottom wall 44 of rib 40 with the rear surface
of backing member 38. The glue is positioned so as to create
a bond between the rear surface of backing member 38 and the
lower sidewall surface 22. T~.e rib 40 of molding backing member
38 is then snapably inserted .nto milled channel 24 of support
decking 16.
A contact adhesive is next applied to the upper wall
54 of backing member 38 and the top surface 50 of support decking
16, as well as to the underside of laminate top skin 18. The
plastic laminate top skin 18 is then bonded to support decking
16, allowing for the overhang ?ortion 20 to extend beyond the
exposed sidewall surface 22 of support decking 16, a distance
greater than the width of molding 14. The overhang portion
is then trimmed or routed so as to be flush with the plastic
laminate surface 36 of molding 14.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,
particle board swells in volume as it absorbs liquid, and the
contact of the water soluble glue with the lower sidewall surface
34 of support decking 16 will cause the fiberboard of support
decking 16 in that area to expand, pivoting the upper surface
54 of backing member 38 towards the overhang portion 20 of plastic
laminate top skin 18. Space 54 formed between the overhang
30 portion 20 of plastic laminate top skin 18 and the upper surface

1 337995
1 54 of backing member 38 provides a glue channel for the contact
adhesive applied to the surface 54, allowing for the dispersion
of the contact adhesive. The contact adhesive provides a watertight
barrier between the intersection of the top skin 18 and plastic
s laminate 36 of molding 14, and the particle board of support
decking 16. The space 48 between the rear wall 26 of channel
24 and end wall 42 of rib 40 allows for expansion of the rib
40 within the milled channel 24.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, construction of a furniture
edge in accordance with the second and third embodiments of
the present invention is accomplished by first providing the
top member 102 with milled channel 106. The top mem~er can
be preformed with the milled channel 106, or milled channel
106 may be formed with the use of a dado cutter at the time
15 of construction. A bonding medium, preferably a water soluable
glue, is next applied to the rear wall 119 of molding 104.
The glue is preferably applieq in a limited quality only along
the creases defined by the intersection of the rib top and bottom
walls 124, 126 with the upper and lower surfaces 130, 132 of
20 rear wall 119. The molding 104 and top member 102 are then
assembled together with rib 120 snapably received within top
member milled channel 106. The glue will accordingly spread
out along the upper and lower surfaces 130, 132 of the molding
rear wall 119. The space 142 presented by channel 134 provides
a place for excess glue applied to the short upper surface 116
of rear wall 119 of molding 104 to collect.
Referring to Fig. 5, construction of a furniture edge
in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention
- is accomplished by providing a piece of support decking 206.
30 A suitable plastic laminate top skin 208 is then bonded to the
Support decking 206. The support decking 206 and the edge of

1 3379~5
1 the plastic laminate top skin 208 are machined so as to be flush.
A milled channel 210 is then machined in support decking 206,
with the use of a dado cutter. Next, a strip of water soluble
glue is placed along the surface of the molding backing member
228 of molding 204 at the intersections of the rib top and botto~
walls 236, 238 with the upper and lower rear surfaces 244 and
246 of the molding rear surface 232. The molding 204 and top
member 202 are then joined together with the rib 230 snapably
received within top member milled channel 240. The glue will
accordingly spread out along the upper and lower surfaces 244
and 246 of the molding rear wall 232 of molding 204. The space
248 presented by channel 246 provides a place for excess glue
applied to the upper rear surface 244 of molding rear wall 232
to collect.
1~ ,.

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