Hollow wall skirting assembly

Abstract

 A hollow wall skirting assembly comprising an anchor (2) for attachment to a wall surface, and an elongate outer facing panel (1) having rearwardly extending upper and lower flanges (13,19) along opposite longitudinal edges, the rearwardly extending flanges terminating in an inturned upper rim (17) and an inturned lower rim (19), the upper and lower rims of the outer facting panel detachably engaging in upper and lower grooves formations (7,9) extending forwardly of the anchor.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a hollow skirting or molding assembly for a wall, particularly the base of a wall. The skirting assembly can be used to conceal and protect electrical conductors, power cables and/or telecommunication wires laid at the base of the wall, as well as to protect the base of the wall from damage from impacts, such as from kicks or collisions with objects moved along the floor or the wall.

[0002] A protective wall skirting assembly is known from UK patent publication GB 1 210 418. The skirting comprises an anchorage member fixed to a wall surface and an elongate outer facing panel which detachably engages the anchorage member.

[0003] Although this skirting assembly has been used with some success, it has not always been easy to position electrical cables behind its facing panel or to provide its facing panel with sufficient resistance to damage from kicks and collisions.

[0004] In accordance with this invention, a hollow wall skirting assembly is provided, comprising: an anchor which can be attached to a wall surface; and an elongate outer facing panel removably attached to the anchor; the facing panel having rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending, upper and lower flanges; the rearwardly-extending flanges terminating in a downwardly- and longitudinally-extending upper rim and an upwardly- and longitudinally-extending lower rim; and the upper and lower rims of the facing panel detachably engaging respectively an upwardly-facing longitudinally-extending, upper groove and a downwardly-facing longitudinally-extending, lower groove of the anchor.

[0005] With this wall skirting assembly, the full length of the outer facing panel is reinforced by the rearwardly extending flanges, which results in a much improved impact resistance.

[0006] Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of particular embodiments and the drawings thereof, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a first embodiment of a hollow wall skirting assembly of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the wall skirting assembly of the invention;
• Figure 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the wall skirting assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a front elevation view of an outside corner embellishment which can be used with the wall skirting assemblies of the invention;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of an intermediate connector element which can be used with the wall skirting assemblies of the invention;
• Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a corner embellishment structure which can be used with the wall skirting assemblies of the invention as shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of an anchor member of a third embodiment of a wall skirting assembly of the invention;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a facing panel of the third embodiment of a wall skirting assembly of the invention;
• Figure 9 is a side view of the of the third embodiment of a wall skirting assembly of Figures 7 and 8;
• Figure 10 is a front elevation view of the anchor member of Figure 7;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of an anchor member of a fourth embodiment of a wall skirting assembly of the invention;
• Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a wall skirting assembly of the invention, including the anchor of Figure 11;
• Figure 13 is a side view of the fourth embodiment of the wall skirting assembly of Figures 11 and 12;
• Figure 14 is a rear elevation view of the anchor of Figure 11; and
• Figure 15 is a cross-section view along line XV-XV in Figure 14.

[0007] In these Figures, corresponding parts in different embodiments are referred to by

corresponding names and by the same last two reference numerals.

[0008] Figure 1 shows an inside corner detail of a first embodiment of a hollow wall skirting assembly, generally 1, in accordance with this invention. The wall skirting assembly 1 has, at its rear, a longitudinally elongate anchor 2 which is attached, at its rear, to a wall surface (not shown) by screws 3 that engage the anchor 2 through its slotted mounting openings 5. The vertically-elongate contour of the openings 5 allows for vertical adjustment of the screws relative to the anchor 2 in the openings.

[0009] As seen from Figures 1 and 3, the anchor 2 is provided with: an upper, frontally- and longitudinally-extending flange 6 terminating in an upper, upwardly-facing longitudinally-extending groove 7; and a lower, frontally-, upwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 8 terminating in a lower, downwardly-facing longitudinally-extending groove 9, preferably a lower, downwardly- and frontally-facing longitudinally-extending groove 9. Held on the front of the anchor 2 is a longitudinally elongate outer facing panel 11 which has an upper rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 13 and a lower rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 15. The upper and lower flanges 13 and 15 terminate respectively in an upper, downwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 17 and a lower, downwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 19. The rims 17 and 19 are preferably adapted to "click" when clipping them in, and when unclipping them from, the grooves 7 and 9 respectively when mounting the facing panel 11 on the anchor 2 and dismounting the facing panel from the anchor.

[0010] As also seen in Figure 1, a longitudinally-extending electrical cable 21 is accommodated in the hollow interior 22 at the bottom of the anchor 2 of the wall skirting assembly 1. The cable 21 can enter or exit the anchor 2 through a vertically-extending aperture 23 that is provided in the front leg 31of the anchor, below its lower groove 9 and that is left exposed by the facing panel 11.

[0011] As best seen from Figure 3, the anchor 2 has a generally U-shaped cross-section with a bottom wall 27 and upstanding rear and front legs 29, 31. The front leg 31 is shorter than the rear leg 29. The top of the rear leg 29 is provided with the upper flange 6 and the upper groove 7. The lower portion of the front leg 31 is provided with the lower flange 8 and the lower groove 9 above the bottom wall 27, and the top of the front leg 31 is provided with a further, frontally-facing longitudinally-extending groove 33. The facing panel 11 has a rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending ridge 35, vertically between its upper and lower flanges 13, 15, which engages the further groove 33.

[0012] As a result, the lower, most frontal, panel portion 37 of the facing panel 11 closely abuts and is co-extensive with the front leg 31 of the anchor 2. This greatly improves the impact resistance of the facing panel 11 of the wall skirt assembly 1. The front leg 31 also assists in retaining cables 21 in the interior 22 of the anchor 2. Moreover, the substantially continuous longitudinal extent of the front leg 31of the anchor 2 allows cables to be at least temporarily held and accommodated within the anchor 2, prior to attaching the facing panel 11 to the anchor. Additionally, the cooperation (at the top of the most frontal, panel portion 37 of the facing panel 11) of the further groove 33 of the anchor 2 with the ridge 35 of the facing panel 11 and the cooperation (at the bottom of the most frontal, panel portion 37 of the facing panel) of the lower groove 9 of the anchor with the lower rim 19 of the facing panel, together with the cooperation (at the top of the facing panel) of the upper groove 7 of the anchor with the upper rim 17 of the facing panel, further rigidify and maintain the structural integrity of the wall skirting assembly 1 against impacts, particularly against the most frontal, panel portion 37. Moreover, the relative flexibility of the most frontal, panel portion 37, particularly when the facing panel is a roll-formed sheet metal, enables it to absorb the energy of impacts against it, so that the facing panel 11 remains attached to the anchor 2 following such impacts.

[0013] Figures 1 and 3 also show that at a corner of the anchor 2, between its rear leg 29 and bottom wall 27, there is a chamfered or inclined, lower rear wall 39. This chamfered, lower rear wall 39 allows the anchor 2 to be mounted flush with both wall and floor surfaces (not shown), regardless of any surface irregularities which may exist at their junction.

[0014] Figures 1 and 3 further show that the lower groove 9 of the anchor 2 and the lower rim 19 of the facing panel 11 are spaced above the floor level as defined by the bottom wall 27 of the anchor 2. This allows carpets or other floor coverings to be provided adjacent to the wall skirting assembly, without their interfering with the mounting or dismounting of the facing panel 11 from the front of the anchor. As a result, the lower flange 8 of the anchor 2 is exposed below the facing panel 11 in the wall skirting assembly 1. The lower flange 8 can also be provided with openings 23 to accommodate cables 21 or the like.

[0015] Preferably, the facing panel 11 is formed from prepainted sheet metal, so that a wide choice of decorative colors can be made available to the customer of the wall skirting assembly 1. In this regard, different parts of the facing panel 11 can also be provided with different colors; for example its lower, most frontal panel portion 37 can have a different color from its upper rearwardly-curved panel portion 43 or its panel portions 37 and 43 can have a different color from its ridge 35. It is also preferred that the anchor 2 be formed with a constant transverse cross-section as viewed in Figure 2.

[0016] The facing panel 11 and the anchor 2 can be made by roll-forming sheet metal, particularly aluminum, but the anchor 2 is preferably made as an extrusion, particularly of aluminum or plastic. Thereby, an inexpensive and sturdy construction can be obtained for the wall skirting assembly 1. In this regard, the facing panel 11 and optionally the anchor 2 can be made by conventional roll-forming methods, using conventional prepainted sheet metal.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a hollow wall skirting assembly, generally 1A, of this invention, which is very similar to the wall skirting assembly 1 of Figures 1 and 3 and for which the corresponding reference numerals with an added "A" are used below for describing the corresponding parts.

[0018] The facing panel 11A of the wall skirting assembly 1A extends downwardly over the full height of the anchor 2A, but there is no upwardly- and frontally-extending flange of the anchor 2A between its lower groove 9A and its bottom wall 27A. Nevertheless, the cooperation (at the top of the most frontal, panel portion 37A of the facing panel 11A) of the further groove 33A of the anchor 2A with the ridge 35A of the facing panel llA and the cooperation (at the bottom of the most frontal, panel portion 37A of the facing panel) of the lower groove 9A of the anchor with the lower rim 19A of the facing panel, together with the cooperation (at the top of the facing panel) of the upper groove 7A of the anchor and the upper rim 17A of the facing panel, rigidify and maintain the structural integrity of the wall skirting assembly 1 against impact, particularly against the most frontal panel portion 37A.

[0019] Figure 4 shows a first corner embellishment or junction element 45 which can be used for forming a wall skirting at an outside corner, between two adjacent wall skirting assemblies of this invention that are at right angles to each other. In this regard, the upper rearwardly-curved panel portions 43 or 43A of facing panels 11or 11A of two adjacent wall skirting assemblies 1 or 1A can be inserted between correspondingly curved, front and rear panels 47 and 49 (not shown in Figure 4) of the outside corner junction element 45, at its sides.

[0020] Figure 5 shows an intermediate connector element 55 which can be used as a wall skirting or a longitudinal splice between two adjacent longitudinally-aligned wall skirting assemblies of this invention. In this regard, the upper, rearwardly curved, panel portions 43 or 43A of facing panels 11or 11A of two adjacent wall skirting assemblies 1 or 1A can be inserted between correspondingly curved, front and rear panels 57 and 59 of the connector element 55 at its sides.

[0021] The connector element 55 can also be shaped to accommodate an electrical connector socket behind it. Such a socket, positioned between adjacent wall skirting assemblies, could be connected to any cables within the wall skirting assemblies.

[0022] Figures 1 and 6 also show a second corner embellishment or junction element 65 which can be used as a wall skirting at an inside corner, between two adjacent wall skirting assemblies of this invention that are at right angles to each other. In this regard, the upper, rearwardly curved, panel portions 43 or 43A of facing panels 11 or 11A of two adjacent wall skirting assemblies lor 1A can be inserted between correspondingly curved, front and rear panels 67 and 69 of the inside corner junction element 65, at its sides.

[0023] Figures 7-10 show a third embodiment of a hollow wall skirting assembly 101 of the invention which is similar to the wall skirting assembly 1 of Figures 1 and 3 and for which corresponding reference numerals (greater by 100) are used below for describing the corresponding parts.

[0024] In Figures 7, 9 and 10, an anchor 102 is shown having an upper, frontally- and longitudinally-extending flange 106 terminating in an upper, upwardly-facing longitudinally-extending groove 107 and a lower, rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 108 terminating in a lower, downwardly-facing, preferably downwardly- and frontally-facing, longitudinally-extending groove 109. Held on the front of the anchor 102 is a longitudinally elongate outer facing panel 111, shown in Figures 8 and 9. The facing panel 111 has an upper, rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 113, terminating in an upper, downwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 117, and a lower, rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending flange 115, terminating in an upwardly- and rearwardly-inclined rear wall 116, on top of which is a lower, upwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 119. The lower flange 108 is at the lower free end of a cantilevered front leg 131 which extends from a mid-portion of a vertical rear leg 129 of the anchor 102. The front leg 131 is preferably slightly concave rearwardly and downwardly. The rear leg 129 is further provided, above the front leg 131, with a vertically-elongate mounting opening 105, through which a screw (not shown) can pass for fixing the anchor 102 to a building wall surface (not shown). At the lower end of the rear leg 129 are one or more, longitudinally-extending break lines 110 which enable the location of the bottom of the anchor to be changed to one or more predefined higher positions above a floor surface to take into account the thickness of any floor coverings or the like.

[0025] Figure 9 shows the wall skirting assembly 101with its facing panel 111 attached to one of the anchors 102, so that the upper and lower flanges 113 and 115 of the anchor reinforce the facing panel and make it more resilient and therefore resistant to damage from impacts against the facing panel. In this regard, the upper rim 117 on the upper flange 113 of the facing panel 111 engages the upper groove 107 on the upper flange 106 of the anchor 102, and the lower rim 119 on the lower flange 115 of the facing panel engages the lower groove 109 on the lower flange 108 of the anchor. Improved resiliency in this wall skirting assembly is achieved by the use of the cantilevered front leg 131 on the anchor 102 and by the use of the rearwardly-inclined rear wall 116 of the facing panel 111 which can both flex in case of such impacts. The cantilevered front leg 131 on the anchor and the rearwardly-inclined rear wall 116 of the facing panel, by flexing, can also Absorb the energy of any such impacts, without becoming disengaged from one another, thereby helping to prevent them from becoming damaged by such impacts.

[0026] In use, each facing panel 111 is preferably attached, along its longitudinal length, to two or more anchors 102 mounted on the wall of a building (not shown), but the specific number of anchors 102 attached to each facing panel 111 is not believed to be critical. Preferably, the facing panel 111 is further reinforced against impacts by providing a rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending ridge 135 in the middle of the facing panel.

[0027] As seen in Figure 8, electrical cables 121 are accommodated in the hollow interior 122 at the bottom of the facing panel 111, atop its lower flange 115. As seen through the broken-away portion of the front of the facing panel in Figure 8, the rear wall 116 has a slot 124 to provide an exit opening for one of the cables 121. The slot 124 is not visible from the front of the wall skirting assembly 101 and thus will not detract from the decorative aspects thereof, and the other cable 121 can pass the slot 124, unhindered to the end of the facing panel 111. In this regard, the different cables 121 can be inserted in, and threaded through, a plurality of the facing panels 111 after the facing panels have been attached to their respective anchors 102.

[0028] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rear leg 129 of the anchor 102 preferably has a frontally- and downwardly-inclined lower rear leg portion 139. The rear leg portion 139 serves to place the vertically-extending lower end of the rear leg 129 and its break lines 110 in front of the rest of the rear leg, so as to avoid interference with any surface irregularities that may exist at the junction of a wall and a floor (not shown), to which the wall skirting assembly may be attached.

[0029] The anchor 102 can be conveniently made by extruding a length of a material, from which individual anchors 102 can be cut and then drilled to provide the vertically-elongate mounting opening 105.

[0030] Figures 11-15 show a fourth embodiment of a hollow wall skirting assembly 201 of the invention which is similar to the wall skirting assembly 101 of Figures 7-10 and for which corresponding reference numerals (greater by 100) are used below for describing the corresponding parts. In use, a plurality of the anchors 202 of the hollow wall skirting assembly 201 can be mounted along the length of a wall surface, to the rear of each facing panel 211.

[0031] The anchor 202, shown in Figure 11, has a rear leg 229 carrying an upper groove 207 and a cantilevered front leg 231 carrying, at its bottom free end, a lower groove 209. As seen from Figures 13-15, the lower groove 209 comprises at least one, rearwardly-extending curved finger 209A and at least one, frontally-extending curved finger 209B. The lower groove 209 preferably has two rearwardly-extending curved fingers 209A and only one, frontally-extending curved finger 209B, longitudinally between the two rearwardly-extending curved fingers. Preferably, the rearwardly-extending fingers 209A are also concave towards the frontally-extending fingers 209B, and the frontally-extending fingers are also concave towards the rearwardly-extending fingers. It is also preferred that the rearwardly-extending fingers 209A and the frontally-extending fingers 209B alternate along the longitudinal length of the front leg 231 and have a combined longitudinal length equal to that of the front leg. The anchor 202 is also preferably provided with a frontally- and downwardly-inclined lower rear leg portion 239 and break lines 210 as described above.

[0032] The anchor member 202 lends itself to being manufactured by a stamping or injection molding process, rather than an extrusion process which is more suitable for the embodiments of anchors, described above. A stamping or injection molding process is particularly advantageous, as compared to an extrusion process, in that a mounting opening 205 can be simultaneously formed in each anchor 202, rather than having to drill or mill it afterwards.

[0033] Preferably, the front leg 231, as well as the curved fingers 209A, 209B, of the anchor 202 are formed from the rear leg 229, leaving a corresponding aperture 231A in the rear leg 229. A conventional forming tool can be passed through each of the apertures 205 and 231A, so that the anchor 202 can be formed in a single injection molding or punching operation. The proper tools in an injection molding process would be appropriately shaped cores, whereas in a punching operation the proper tools would be appropriately shaped, punching or forming dies.

[0034] The facing panel 211, shown in Figures 12 and 13, has an upper rearwardly-extending flange 213, terminating in a downwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 117, and a lower rearwardly-extending flange 215, terminating in an upwardly- and rearwardly-inclined rear wall 216, on top of which is an upwardly- and longitudinally-extending rim 219. As shown, the upper and lower rims 217 and 219 of the facing panel 211 are larger than the corresponding rims 117 and 119 of the facing panel 211, shown in Figures 8 and 9. With this wall skirting assembly 201, the lower rim 219 will preferably be first engaged in the lower groove 209, between the fingers 209A and 209B, and will thereafter function as a hinge to guide the upper rim 217 towards snap-fitting engagement with the upper groove 207. Electrical cables (not shown) can be accommodated in the hollow interior 222 at the bottom of the facing panel 211, atop its lower flange 215.

[0035] Figure 13 shows the facing panel 211 mounted on the anchor 202 of the wall skirting assembly 201. The upper and lower flanges 213, 215, together with the optional rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending ridge 235, give the facing panel 211 sufficient sturdiness to resist impact. As with the previous wall skirting assemblies, the cantilevered front leg 231 provides resilient deflection of the anchor 202 to absorb excess energy from impacts against the facing panel 211. In this regard, the enlarged, preferably circular in cross-section, bead-like upper and lower rims 217, 219 of the facing panel 211 accommodate any resilient deformation or deflection of the front leg 231 of the anchor 202, without disengaging from its grooves 207 and 209 of the anchor. This is particularly true for the lower rim 219 which is securely held between the fingers 209A and 209b forming the lower groove 209 of the anchor 202. Thus, it is seen from Figure 13 that an impact on the facing panel 211 would only result in movement of its upper and lower rims 217, 219 in a direction towards the building wall surface, to which the anchor 202 is attached in use.

[0036] This invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiments which may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "longitudinal", "above", "bottom" and "top", have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the wall skirting assemblies of the invention.

Claims

1. A hollow wall skirting assembly comprising an anchor for attachment to a wall surface and an elongate outer facing panel having rearwardly extending upper and lower flanges along opposite longitudinal edges, the rearwardly extending flanges terminating in an inturned upper rim and an inturned lower rim, the upper and lower rims of the outer facing panel detachably engaging in upper and lower groove formations extending forwardly of the anchor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 comprising: the anchor which can be attached to a wall surface; and the elongate outer facing panel removably attached to the anchor; the facing panel having rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending, upper and lower flanges; the rearwardly-extending flanges terminating in a downwardly- and longitudinally-extending upper rim and an upwardly- and longitudinally-extending lower rim; and the upper and lower rims of the facing panel detachably engaging respectively an upwardly-facing longitudinally-extending, upper groove and a downwardly-facing longitudinally-extending, lower groove of the anchor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein the facing panel is made of prepainted sheet metal.

4. The assembly of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the facing panel has a constant transverse cross-section.

5. The assembly of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the anchor has a constant transverse cross-section.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the anchor is substantially co-extensive with the facing panel over the full longitudinal length thereof.

7. The assembly of any one of claims 1-6 wherein the anchor has a U-shaped cross-section with a bottom wall and upstanding rear and front legs and wherein the upper groove is on the rear leg and the lower groove is on the front leg.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the rear leg is adapted to be attached to a wall surface in abutting relationship.

9. The assembly of claim 7 or 8 wherein a lower, most frontal, panel portion of the facing panel closely abuts and is co-extensive with the front leg of the anchor.

10. The assembly of any one of claims 7-9 wherein the lower groove of the anchor is above the bottom wall.

11. The assembly of any one of claims 6-10 wherein the facing panel has a rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending ridge that is vertically between its upper and lower rims and detachably engages a frontally-facing longitudinally-extending, further groove at the upper free edge of the front leg of the anchor.

12. The assembly of any one of claims 6-11 wherein the anchor has a chamfered, lower rear wall between the rear leg and the bottom wall.

13. The assembly of any one of claims 6-12 wherein the front leg of the anchor, below its lower groove, has a vertically-extending aperture through it.

14. The assembly of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the anchor has a cantilevered front leg which extends from a mid-portion of a vertical rear leg and wherein the upper groove is on the rear leg and the lower groove is on the front leg.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein a rearwardly- and longitudinally-extending ridge is in the middle of the facing panel.

16. The assembly of claim 14 or 15 wherein the lower groove is a downwardly- and frontally-facing groove.

17. The assembly of any one of claims 14-16 wherein the front leg is slightly concave rearwardly and downwardly.

18. The assembly of any one of claims 14-17 wherein the lower rim is on top of an upwardly- and rearwardly-inclined rear wall.

19. The assembly of any one of claims 14-18 wherein one or more, longitudinally-extending break lines are provided at the lower end of the rear leg of the anchor.

20. The assembly of any one of claims 14-19 wherein the rear leg of the anchor has a frontally- and downwardly-inclined lower rear leg portion.

21. The assembly of any one of claims 14-20 wherein the lower groove comprises at least one, rearwardly-extending curved finger and at least one, frontally-extending curved finger.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the lower groove comprises two rearwardly-extending curved fingers and only one, frontally-extending curved finger.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the one, frontally-extending curved finger is longitudinally between the two rearwardly-extending curved fingers.

24. The assembly of any one of claims 21-23 wherein the rearwardly-extending fingers are concave towards the frontally-extending fingers and the frontally-extending fingers are concave towards the rearwardly-extending fingers.

25. The assembly of any one of claims 21-24 wherein the rearwardly-extending fingers and the frontally-extending fingers alternate along the longitudinal length of the front leg and have a combined longitudinal length equal to that of the front leg.

26. The assembly of any one of claims 21-25 wherein the front leg and the* curved fingers of the lower groove of the anchor are formed out of the rear leg of the anchor, and the rear leg has an aperture corresponding to the front leg and the curved fingers.

27. The assembly of any one of claims 21-26 wherein the upper and lower rims of the facing panel are circular in cross-section and bead-like.

28. The assembly of any one of claims 21-27 wherein a plurality of the anchors are attached to the facing panel along its longitudinal length.

29. The anchor of any one of claims 1-27.

30. The facing panel of any one of claims 1-27.

Drawing