The invention relates to a baseboard system, comprising a baseboard module for placing a baseboard element against a wall part of a room, the baseboard module comprising a fastening element for fastening the baseboard module to the wall part and a coupling element for coupling the baseboard element, while after fastening of the baseboard element, the coupling element extends substantially parallel to the wall part.

Such a baseboard system is known from, for instance, US patent publication US 4 337 604, wherein the fastening element comprises a shaft with helical flanges, which can be fastened in the wall part as a screw. The shaft terminates at the side remote from the wall part into the coupling element that comprises a bent part which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and substantially parallel thereto and which reaches into a groove of the baseboard element. The groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the baseboard element. The baseboard element can be coupled to the baseboard module by positioning the element against the wall part and sliding it over the bent part of the coupling element.

US 6 286 286 discloses a baseboard system comprising all of the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The baseboard system can thus be placed against the wall part in a manner such that the baseboard module is, in principle, not visible. Naturally, for a proper coupling between the baseboard module and the baseboard element, a good positioning of the bent part of the coupling element is desired, i.e. an orientation of the baseboard module with which the bent part extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the baseboard element. The fact is that then, the bent part reaches maximally into the glove of the baseboard element so that, in principle, a maximum coupling is obtained.

The coupling between the baseboard module and the baseboard element is less effective when the bent part of the baseboard module extends in a different direction, for instance in the longitudinal direction of the baseboard element, while there is hardly any coupling involved, or in an orientation between the optimal position and the above-mentioned position. Also, divergence from an optimal position of the bent part can result in warping of the baseboard element as the forces applied thereon are not well balanced. It is therefore of importance to orient the baseboard module well before coupling of the baseboard element. However, a relatively small pivotal movement of the shaft of the baseboard module already changes the position of the bent part. Pivotal movement of the shaft can furthermore be undesired as then, the shaft also moves axially in or out of the wall element so that also, the position of a projection attached to the shaft changes with respect to the wall element. For a stable coupling of the baseboard element, the projection abuts against the wall element. Hence, a choice has to be made between an optimal position of the bent part and an optimal position of the projection.

In addition, the position of the shaft and hence that of the bent part can change position when the groove of the baseboard element is slid over the bent part, which results in a poorer coupling, or no coupling at all between the baseboard module and the baseboard element. However, after the baseboard system has been placed, repositioning of the bent part is virtually impossible.

It is noted that the American patent publication US 6 286 286 discloses a mold mounting system comprising a two part fastener for exerting a drag force on the mold towards a wall.

It is further noted that the German patent publication DE 20 2005 005 425 discloses a baseboard system comprising rectangular elements for positioning a baseboard element against a wall part.

The object of the invention is to obtain a baseboard system according to the opening paragraph, wherein the above-mentioned drawbacks are prevented, while maintaining the advantages. The object of the invention is in particular to obtain a baseboard system according to the opening paragraph, wherein realization of the coupling between the baseboard module and the baseboard element is facilitated. To that end, a baseboard, system according to claim 1 is provided.

Through design of the coupling element with a substantially circular flange, the baseboard module is coupled to the baseboard element with the aid of a construction that is practically independent of pivotal movement of the fastening element. The fact is that flange cooperating therewith for coupling the baseboard element is circular. Therefore, the radial position of the fastening element can be set independently of the coupling with the baseboard element. The coupling of the baseboard module and the baseboard element can thus be realized more easily.

The baseboard element is for instance designed as a decorative element extending substantially in longitudinal direction, and is used for finishing corners in a room. Such a baseboard element can have a relatively simple appearance such as a rectangular strip of material with which, in longitudinal direction, a groove is provided, but may also be provided with all sorts of decorative shapes such as sharp and/or rounded edges. The baseboard element can further be utilized not only in corners or edges of a room but also at a distance from an edge of the wall element, for instance as an ornamental frame.

It is noted that the term wall part is understood to mean an element bounding the room such as a wall, ceiling or floor. It is further noted that in this framework, the term room indicates a space in a building, such as a room, hall, corridor, et cetera.

Through provision in the longitudinal direction of the baseboard element of a groove for including at least a part of the flange for coupling to the baseboard module, the flange can reach into the baseboard element so that a relatively simple but efficient coupling can be realized. Naturally, it is also possible to realize the coupling of the baseboard module and the baseboard element in a different manner, with the aid of, for instance, a snap construction or a screw connection.

In an advantageous manner, the flange can be designed such that it projects substantially radially around the fastening element. As a result, forces applied to the flange can be transmitted via the fastening element to the wall part in a manner that is as symmetrical as possible.

Preferably, the baseboard module comprises an abutting face which, after placement of the baseboard element, together with at least a part of the flange, applies a couple to the baseboard element for pressing the baseboard element against the wall part. As a result, a baseboard system can be obtained with the baseboard element abutting seamlessly against the wall part, rendering finishing of a possible seam superfluous. The couple is formed in that the flange presses a part of the baseboard element against the wall while the abutment face applies an opposite force to an adjacent part of the baseboard element.

By, further, designing the abutting face as a collar extending around the fastening element, a system is effected in which the force applied by the abutting face engages the baseboard element symmetrically around the fastening element, so that forces acting on the baseboard module are transmitted substantially symmetrically to the wall element. As a result, the baseboard system is prevented from pulling out of position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a side of the flange proximal to the wall part after fastening of the baseboard module is provided with grooves so that frictional forces which occur when the flange slides over a baseboard element, increase. As a result, the coupling between the baseboard module and the baseboard element becomes stronger, which counteracts undesired coming off of the baseboard element.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are represented in the subclaims.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments represented in the drawing. In the drawing:

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cross-section of a baseboard system according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a baseboard system of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 shows a first perspective view of a baseboard module of the baseboard system of Fig. 1; and
• Fig. 4 shows a second perspective view of a baseboard module of the baseboard system of Fig. 1.

The Figures are merely schematic representations of the invention and are exclusively given by way of non-limitative exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cross-section of a baseboard system 1 according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows the baseboard system 1 of Fig. 1 in perspective view. The baseboard system 1 has a baseboard module 2 and baseboard element 3. With the aid of the baseboard module 2, the baseboard element 3 can relatively simply be placed against a wall part 4 of a room 5. As shown in Fig. 1, the baseboard system is placed on a floor element 7 adjacent the lower edge 6 of the wall part 4.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown a first and second perspective view, respectively, of the baseboard module 2, while a side 16 remote from the wall part 4 and a side 17 proximal to the wall part 4, respectively, is visible. The baseboard module 2 has a cylindrical base part 8 of hollow design around the central axis L (see, in particular, Fig. 4). The cavity 8a is suitable for receiving a fastening element which also forms part of the baseboard module 2. The fastening element comprises a screw 9, which is anchored in the wall part 4 for fastening the baseboard module 2 to the wall part 4.

The baseboard module 2 further comprises a coupling element for coupling the baseboard module 2 to the baseboard element 3. The coupling element comprises a flange 10 which is provided on a side 16 of the base part 8 remote from the wall part and extends radially around the screw 9. In a condition attached to the wall part 4, the flange 10 extends substantially parallel to the wall part.

In the baseboard element 3, in the longitudinal direction, a groove 11 is provided for receiving a top part 12 of the flange 10. Placing the baseboard system against the wall part 4 comprises the operations/actions of fastening the baseboard module 2 to the wall part 4 and then coupling the baseboard element 3 to the baseboard module 2. Coupling the baseboard element 3 to the baseboard module 2 is effected by sliding the baseboard element 3 by the groove 11 over the projecting flange 10. As the flange 10 extends substantially parallel to the wall part 4, the baseboard element 3 slides relatively easily over the flange 10 and still links up relatively well with the wall part 4.

Preferably, the flange 10 is biased so that a relatively large force can be applied to the baseboard element 3 in the direction of the wall part 4. The baseboard module 2 can for instance be fastened to the wall part 4 such that the distance between the side 10 of the flange proximal to the wall part 4 and the wall part in relaxed condition is for instance approximately some millimetres less than the distance between the part 18 of the baseboard element 3 abutting the wall part 4 and an inside face 10 of the baseboard element 3 defining the groove edge on the side of the wall part 4. By sliding the baseboard element 3 over the top part 12 of the flange 10, the flange 10 is biased so that a relatively large force is applied on the above-mentioned inside face 19 of the baseboard element. It is noted that, naturally, the flange 10 can also be coupled to the baseboard element without bias.

Further, the base part 8 of the baseboard module 2 terminates at the side 16 remote from the wall part 4 into a collar 13 which extends around the screw 9. The collar 13 is of symmetrical design around the screw 9 and thus forms, by an extremity 13a, an abutting face which abuts against the baseboard element 3. Hence, the collar 13 reaches over the end face of the screw 9. As the collar 13 applied a force to a first part of the baseboard element 3 in a direction away from the wall part 4, while the upper part 12 of the flange 10 applied a force adjacent the groove 11 to the above-mentioned inside face 19 of the baseboard element 3, a couple is formed on the baseboard element 3 with respect to an axis situated between the first and second part of the baseboard element 3. The couple presses the upper edge 14 of the baseboard element 3 virtually seamlessly against the wall part 4 so that an optically attractive finish is obtained.

The baseboard module 2 is further provided, at the side 17 proximal to the wall part 4 with grooves 15 so that the grip of the upper part 12 of the flange 10 on the baseboard element 3 near the groove 11 increases.

It is noted that a baseboard element 3 is placed against a wall part 4 with the aid of one, but preferably with the aid of a plural number of baseboard modules 2. Further, a single baseboard module 2 can be coupled to one or two baseboard elements 3. This latter can be effected by having ends of baseboard elements 3 reach half over the flange 10, viewed sideways.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described herein. Many variants are possible.

For instance, the fastening element can comprise, instead of or in addition to a screw, also another fastening element, such as a bolt. In addition, the baseboard module can also be fastened to a wall part with a different construction, for instance with the aid of a glue connection.

The fastening element can further be integrated with the baseboard module and hence be connected to the base part of the baseboard module.

As described hereinabove, the base part can have a cylinder shape with a circular circumference. Naturally, also, other outlines are possible, such as a square. It is in addition also possible to choose another base shape such as a cone-shape instead of a cylinder shape.

Such variants will be clear to the person skilled in the art and are understood to fall within the range of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.