Trim connection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9803352-B2
Application number	US-201314112029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2013
Priority date	Jun 11, 2012
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for securing trim to interior and/or exterior walls and wall portions. In particular, at least one implementation includes a system for connecting and securing trim elements without additional adjustments and/or fitting thereof. Moreover, the system for connecting and securing trim elements can improve accuracy and increase the speed of assembly, thereby reducing time and expense associated with installing trim to a building.

First claim

We claim:

1. A quick-connect trim system for securing elements of trim to a structural wall of a building, about one or more of interior and exterior portions of the structural wall, the system comprising:
an element of trim;
one or more wall-mounted connectors securable to or integrated with a portion of the wall of the building, the wall-mounted connectors including:
one or more first coupling features that extend transversely from the wall-mounted connector; and
one or more tensioning members extending transversely from the wall-mounted connector to engage the element of trim, the one or more tensioning members comprising first and second tensioning members disposed on opposing sides of the one or more first coupling features, such that the one or more tensioning members and the first coupling features each extend from the same wall-mounted connector; and

one or more trim-mounted connectors secured to or integrated with the element of trim, the one or more trim-mounted connectors including one or more second coupling features;
wherein:
the one or more first coupling features of the one or more wall-mounted connectors are coupleable with the one or more second coupling features of the one or more trim-mounted connectors to couple the element of trim to the structural wall; and
the one or more tensioning members are adapted to engage and flex against the element of trim to push the element of trim away from the one or more wall-mounted connectors and place the one or more first coupling features and the one or more second coupling features in tension one with another.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the element of trim is a conventional element of trim and the one or more trim-mounted connectors are secured to the conventional element of trim.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more first coupling features are adapted to be inserted into the one or more second coupling features.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more wall-mounted connectors and the one or more trim-mounted connectors position and orient the element of trim at a predetermined position and orientation.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more tensioning members extend between the element of trim and the structural wall.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more wall-mounted connectors further comprise one or more feet connected to or integrated with the one or more tensioning members, the one or more feet being adapted to press against the element of trim.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more trim-mounted connectors include one or more tensioning members adapted to flex against the wall of the building.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the one or more trim-mounted connectors further comprise one or more feet connected to or integrated with the tensioning members, the one or more feet being adapted to press against the wall of the building.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the element of trim includes one or more tensioning members adapted to flex against the wall of the building.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wall includes a cladding layer and the element of trim is adapted to conceal one or more unfinished edges of the cladding layer.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the element of trim includes a door casing, a window casing, a door jamb, a threshold, or a corner trim.

12. A prefabricated wall unit ready for on the job site installation for forming at least a portion of a wall of a building, the prefabricated wall unit comprising:
a structural wall module including one or more openings that have a shape and size to accommodate a door or window, the structural exterior wall module being sized and configured to form at least a portion of a wall of a building;
one or more wall-mounted connectors secured to the structural wall module and positioned near the one or more openings, the wall-mounted connectors including one or more first coupling features and one or more tensioning members extending transversely from the wall to engage an element of trim, the tensioning members comprising first and second tensioning members disposed on opposing sides of the one or more first coupling features; and
one or more elements of trim having one or more trim-mounted connectors secured thereto or integrated therewith, the trim-mounted connectors being connectable to the one or more wall-mounted connectors, the trim-mounted connectors including one or more second coupling features, the first and second coupling features being coupleable together to secure the elements of trim to the wall-mounted connectors;
wherein the one or more tensioning members are adapted to engage and flex against the one or more elements of trim to push the one or more elements of trim away from the one or more wall-mounted connectors and place the one or more first coupling features and the one or more second coupling features in tension one with another.

13. The prefabricated wall unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more elements of trim comprise conventional elements of trim having the one or more trim-mounted connectors fastened thereto.

14. The prefabricated wall unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more elements of trim comprises at least a portion of a door jamb or a window frame.

15. The prefabricated wall unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more elements of trim comprises at least a portion of a door casing or a window casing.

16. The prefabricated wall unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more tensioning members are adapted to be flexibly compressed between at least one of the one or more elements of trim and the structural exterior wall.

17. The prefabricated wall unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the structural wall module is sized and configured to form at least a portion of an exterior wall of the building.

18. A quick-connect trim system for securing elements of trim to a structural wall of a building, about one or more of interior and exterior portions of the structural wall, the system comprising:
an element of trim;
one or more wall-mounted connectors securable to or integrated with a portion of the wall of the building, the wall-mounted connectors including:
one or more first coupling features that extend transversely from the wall-mounted connector; and
one or more tensioning members extending transversely from the wall-mounted connector to engage the element of trim, the one or more tensioning members comprising first and second tensioning members disposed on opposing sides of the one or more first coupling features, such that the one or more tensioning members and the first coupling features each extend from the same wall-mounted connector, wherein the one or more tensioning members extend between the element of trim and the structural wall, and wherein the one or more wall-mounted connectors further comprise one or more feet connected to or integrated with the one or more tensioning members, the one or more feet being adapted to press against the element of trim; and

one or more trim-mounted connectors secured to or integrated with the element of trim, the one or more trim-mounted connectors including one or more second coupling features;
wherein:
the one or more first coupling features of the one or more wall-mounted connectors are coupleable with the one or more second coupling features of the one or more trim- mount

Assignees

• Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Dirtt Environmental Solutions

Inventors

• Gosling Geoff
• Smed Mogens

Classifications

• E06B1/342

  Reveal covering members disposed alongside of a window frame · CPC title

• E06B1/34 Primary

  Coverings, e.g. protecting against weather, for decorative purposes · CPC title

• E04F19/02

  Borders; Finishing strips, e.g. beadings; Light coves (for protecting edges of plaster E04F13/06) · CPC title

• E04B2/00

  Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls (connections for building structures in general E04B1/38; insulation for buildings in general E04B1/62; building elements of relatively thin form for parts of buildings E04C2/00) · CPC title

• E06B1/6015

  Anchoring means (E06B1/6007, E06B1/6046 - E06B1/6092 take precedence) · CPC title