Flexible corner trim product

• US 10,550,584 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amundson Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Amundson
• Inventors: Amundson, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vonch, Jeffrey A
• Application Number:
  US15/727,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20180030740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/008 Sealing between wall and bathtub or shower tray
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/03 characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/16 Articles comprising two or more components, e.g. co-extruded layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/20 one of the layers being a strip, e.g. a partially embedded strip
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/22 with means connecting the layers, e.g. tie layers or undercuts
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0003 Producing profiled members, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0053 Producing sealings B29D99/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/003 having a profiled transverse cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/26 Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/04 as impregnant, bonding, or embedding substance not used
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6803 Joint covers E04B1/6815 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/04 for use between floor or ceiling and wall, e.g. skirtings
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/045 Hygienic or watertight plinths
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/0477 Plinths fixed by means of adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/064 : in corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2019/0404 : characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2019/0422 : of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2019/0431 : of two or more materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2019/0454 : with decorative effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 : Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24488 : Differential nonuniformity at margin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 : Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2852 : Adhesive compositions

Abstract

A trim piece for sealing a work surface including a body having a first side, a second side, and a span disposed between the first side and the second side, wherein the first side and the second side are joined at a junction defining an angle between the first side and the second side of between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, a topcap is affixed to the span of the body, wherein the topcap includes a left side having a first wing and a right side having a second wing, an adhesive is bonded to the first side of the body and an aperture is disposed within the body.

Claims

1. A trim piece for sealing a joint in a work surface, the trim piece comprising:

an elongated unitary structure of indeterminate length which when viewed in cross section, includes;

a body having a top cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and an extrusion nipple extending centrally downwardly from the lower surface of the top cap, wherein at least one of the extrusion nipple and the top cap is coupled to an adhesive portion;

the top cap further comprising a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly away relative to the extrusion nipple in a first direction and an opposing second direction, the first portion and the second portion comprising a first radius portion and a second radius portion respectively, the first radius portion and the second radius portion each comprising a decreasing thickness forming a curved surface to the first portion and the second portion, thereby facilitating flexibility of the first portion and the second portion;

the extrusion nipple comprising a portion having substantially parallel sides; and

the adhesive portion having a shape comprising a first outer contact surface extending at an angle to the first direction and a second outer contact surface extending at an angle to the second direction, such that the first outer contact surface meets the lower surface of the first portion proximate a boundary of the first radius portion and the second outer contact surface meets the lower surface of the second portion proximate a boundary of the second radius portion.

2. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive portion is coupled to both the extrusion nipple and the top cap.

3. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decreasing thicknesses of the first radius portion and the second radius portion are continuously decreasing thicknesses extending to a respective distal edge forming a continuously curving surface.

4. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first outer contact surface and the second outer contact surface of the adhesive portion are completely flush and continuous with the curved surface of the first portion and the curved surface of the second portion respectively.

5. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion having parallel sides is a first portion and the extrusion nipple further comprises a second portion which narrows from a width of the parallel sides to a smaller width at a distal end thereof.

6. The trim piece as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first outer contact surface and the second outer contact surface of the adhesive portion meet at the distal end of the extrusion nipple and cover it.

7. The trim piece as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shape of the adhesive portion is a rounded triangular shape.

8. The trim piece as claimed in claim 5, the extrusion nipple further comprising a third portion between the first portion and the lower surface of the top cap connecting to the lower surface thereof, the third portion comprising a first outwardly extending structure in the first direction and a second outwardly extending structure in the second direction.

9. The trim piece as claimed in claim 8, the first extending structure and second extending structure each comprising a concavely curving portion.

10. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a multi-durometer extrusion.

11. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trim piece is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of PVC, TPO, bio-based polymer and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

12. The trim piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the top cap comprises a decorative surface.

13. A method of making a method trim piece for sealing a joint in a work surface, the trim comprising:

forming from a polymer material an elongated unitary structure of indeterminate length which when viewed in cross section, includes

a body having a top cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and an extrusion nipple extending centrally downwardly from the lower surface of the top cap, wherein at least one of the extrusion nipple and the top cap is coupled to an adhesive portion;

the top cap further comprising a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly away relative to the extrusion nipple in a first direction and an opposing second direction, the first portion and the second portion comprising a first radius portion and a second radius portion respectively, the first radius portion and the second radius portion each comprising a decreasing thickness forming a curved surface to the first portion and the second portion, to facilitate flexibility of the first portion and the second portion;

the extrusion nipple comprising a portion having substantially parallel sides; and

the adhesive portion having a shape comprising a first outer contact surface extending at an angle to the first direction and a second outer contact surface extending at an angle to the second direction, such that the first outer contact surface meets the lower surface of the first portion proximate a boundary of the first radius portion and the second outer contact surface meets the lower surface of the second portion proximate a boundary of the second radius portion.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the adhesion portion is coupled to at least one of the top cap or the extrusion nipple by co-forming with or applying thereto.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of forming comprises extrusion or coextrusion.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the adhesion portion is coupled by co-forming with the body, the co-forming comprising co-extrusion.