The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1998
Charles E. Schiedegger, Metamora, MI (US);
Aundrea Nurenberg, Lapeer, MI (US);
Richard J. MacLeod, Milford, MI (US);
Michael C. Clark, Columbiaville, MI (US);
J. Richard Logan, Oxford, MI (US);
Tapco International, Plymouth, MI (US);
Abstract
A molding assembly having a hanger member fixedly securable to an inner or outer wall of a building and a decorative molding insert member releasably engageable with the hanger member. The molding insert member is supported at a lower edge portion by a lower J-channel of the hanger member. An upper L-shaped portion of the insert member is supported by a depending lip portion of the hanger member which forms a second channel such that no external fastening elements are required to secure the molding insert member to the hanger member. The insert member can be quickly and easily releasably engaged within the J-channel and the second channel without the need for special tools. In an alternative preferred embodiment the insert member includes a lip portion which is adapted to slidably engage an under surface of an adjacently positioned insert member to provide an even more continuous appearance for adjacently positioned insert members. An end cover is also disclosed for covering an exposed end portion of the molding assembly when the end portion is secured to a section of a wall where one or more ends of the molding assembly do not abut another wall portion extending perpendicularly from the molding assembly. In an alternative embodiment of the end cover, the end cover includes a shoulder portion formed to protrude from a lower lip portion which engages a notch formed in a lip of a lower J-channel of a hanger member of the present invention. In this manner, once the end cover is releasably secured to the hanger member, the end cover cannot be slidably urged-off of the hanger member such as by thermal expansion of one or more sections of molding insert members.