BACKGROUND ART It is common to have kitchen and other joinery and related furniture such as desks and table tops fabricated from particle board or chipboard and laminated on the exposed surfaces to form a desirable finish. The finish may be with a laminated sheet of wood or plastics material. The exposed surfaces finished may be considered to be aesthetically pleasing but the edges of such laminated joinery require a trim to hide the profile of the lamina.

The exposed edge may be desirably finished by using a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) strip attached by a suitable adhesive. A disadvantage with these PVC strips, typically about 2 millimetres in thickness, is that they generally require specialist equipment to apply the strips to the panel edges. Further, as the strips can not be adhered in a continuous manner around panel corners it is difficult to achieve a professional and clean-looking finish on corners.

Another form of attachment is with a barbed tang on the T shaped moulding being inserted into a routed groove in the edge of the panel or sheet. A disadvantage with a T- shaped moulding is that it may be difficult to obtain a flush joint between the top exposed surface and the top of the moulding due to tolerances in the manufacture of the moulding.

This problem can reduce the appeal of such a moulding. Further, it may be difficult to

form a professional looking corner section when a square 90-degree corner is required on the panel or sheet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a moulding for use on the edges of panels, sheets and the like that overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a system for attaching components to the edge of a panel having a routed groove, the system including a corner member interconnecting with an elongate first panel edge member, the corner member having a body portion with at least one projecting member extending toward the first panel edge member, the projecting member extending a sufficient length to be received by a respective cavity in the first panel edge member, the first panel member having a bearing face with a tang projecting at substantially right angles therefrom, in use, for attachment of the first panel edge member to the edge of said panel.

Preferably the body portion of the corner member has a tang for attachment, in use, to a said groove in a panel, and having two faces bearing away from the apex of the corner of the corner member, each face having at least one projecting member, the projecting members extending a sufficient length to be received by respective cavities in the first panel edge member and a second panel edge member locatable in adjoining panel edges.

Desirably the corner member tang and the panel edge member tang are barbed.

Preferably each said face bearing away from the apex of the corner of the corner member is provided with two projecting members, and wherein the first panel edge member and the second panel edge member are provided with respective cavities.

Advantageously a flange is provided about the outer bearing faces of the body portion to cover the exposed join about the abutting edges between the corner member and the panel edge member.

Preferably the corner member is made of a diecast material. Desirably the panel edge members are made of an extruded material such as, desirably, aluminium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1: illustrates an exploded view of the corner member and the panel edge members in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention ; Figure 2: illustrates an assembled view of the corner member and the panel edge members of figure 1 located within the edges of a panel; Figure 3: illustrates an exploded view of the corner member and the panel edge members in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 : illustrates an assembled view of the corner member and the panel edge members of figure 3 located within the edges of a panel ; Figure 5: illustrates an exploded view of the corner member and the panel edge members in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6: illustrates an assembled view of the corner member and the panel edge members of figure 5 located within the edges of a panel and Figure 7: illustrates a cross section showing the profile of the panel edge member of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to figures 1 and 2, a panel edge system, generally referred to as 1, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The panel edge system 1 includes a corner member 2 and an elongate panel edge member 3.

With the embodiment of the invention as shown in figures 1 and 2, two panel edge members 3 are shown in an arrangement to enable attachment to adjoining edges of a panel 4 extending from a right angle corner. It is envisaged that the corner member 2 can be precast or formed at an angle suitable for attachment to the particular panel corner angle it is to be fitted and with interfitting adjoining panel edge members 3.

The corner section 2 is preferably diecast of a suitable durable and resilient material, and in this embodiment is desirably a metal such as, for example, zinc. Diecasting is a preferred form of manufacture as it allows for complex forms to be made. Zinc is a desirable metal for the corner section 2 as it is robust and allows a variety of finishes to be coated on the surface.

The panel edge members 3 are preferably extruded from a material such as, for example, aluminium, as it is lightweight and durable. It is desirable to extrude the panel edge members 3 as extruding allows for a variety of forms and lengths with being able to produce a consistent form over its entire length. Alternatively the extruded form of the panel edge member may be from a plastics material.

The corner member 2 includes a tang 5 for attachment to a groove 6 located in the panel 4. The groove 6 is desirably of a sufficient width and depth, in use, to provide a tight friction fit with the tang 5 within the groove 6, and making it difficult to subsequently dislodge or remove the corner member 2 after attachment. The width of the groove 6 will be slightly smaller than the width of the tang 5 resulting in a friction fit.

The corner member 2 has a body portion 2a with two faces 7 bearing away from the apex of the corner angle of the member 2. Each face 7 is preferably provided with at least one projecting member 8 in the form of pins. In this embodiment two pins 8 are provided. The pins 8 are preferably provided with a bevelled end portion 9 to facilitate interfitting into corresponding cavities 10 in the adjacent panel edge member 3.

The use of pins 8 is advantageous as they function to interfit the corner member 2 and the panel edge member 3 in a secure manner.

The corner member 2 desirably has flanges 11 provided about the outer periphery of the body portion 2a and exposed edges of the faces 7. The flanges 11 are provided on the outer surface of the body portion 2a and extend a sufficient distance from the faces 7 to cover or conceal the join between the corner member 2 and the edges of the panel edge members 3. The flanges 11 may also conceal any marring of the edges and any gaps in the join from incorrectly cut panel edge members 3. The flanges 11 in this embodiment extend about 2 millimetres but may be of any suitable width as required.

Each panel edge member 3 includes a tang 13 for attachment of the member 3 into a respective are of the groove 6 in the panel 4. The tang 13 is preferably barbed as provided for the corner member 2.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attachment of the components of the system to the panel 4. The following method is one example

of a preferred method but it is considered that other methods and variants of the method may be used.

A first preliminary step is to router the edge of the panel 4 to accommodate the tangs 5, 13. It is desirable that the depth of the groove is slightly deeper than the penetration depths of the tangs 5,13 to avoid cracking and also to allow space for retaining any surplus glue.

For added strength, a bead of suitable adhesive material such as, for example, an aliphatic resin glue, is spread into and along the groove 6. The panel edge member 3 is then positioned at an appropriate place along the edge of the panel 4 and the tang 13 is then tapped into position into the groove 6.

The corner member 2 and a second panel edge member 3 for placement along the corner of the panel 4 and along an adjoining edge are interfitted, and after a bead of glue is spread into the groove 6, is tapped into position into the corner and adjoining edge of the panel 4. The two pins 8 extending from the corner member 2 are received in the cavities 10 of the first positioned panel edge member 3 as the second panel edge member 3 is tapped into position.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, a panel edge system, generally referred to as 20, according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The panel edge system 1 of this alternative embodiment does not include the corner member 2 or two identical profiles of the panel edge members 3 as in the first preferred embodiment. As seen, one panel edge member 21 Is shown In an arrangement to enable attachment to an edge 23 of a panel 22 and with interfitting to a corner cap or corner member 24. The panel edge member 21 in this embodiment is identical to the panel edge member 3 with reference to figure 1 and does not need to be repeated.

It is envisaged that the corner member 24 can be preferably precast or diecast of a suitable durable and resilient material, and in this embodiment is desirably a metal such as, for example, zinc. It can alternatively be made of a plastics material or any other suitable material capable of achieving a form as shown in figure 3.

The corner member 24 is formed to be suitable for attachment to the particular panel corner angle it is to be fitted and to interfit with adjoining panel edge member 21 and cover the join over panel edge member 25 by way of a flange 26. The functioning of the flange 26 is similar to that of the flanges 11 of the corner member 2 as seen in figures 1 and 2.

That is, the flange 26 is of a sufficient width to cover the join between the edge 27 of the panel edge member 25 and the corner of the panel 22, and the edge 28 of the panel edge member 21. It is seen that the flange 26 desirably conforms to the profile or shape of the exposed sides of the panel edge member 21 and covers the edge 27 of the member 25.

The flange 26 is provided about the outer periphery of the body portion 29 of the corner member 24. The flange 26 extends a sufficient distance from the body portion 29, in use, to conceal any marring of the ends or edges 27,28 of the panel edge members 21, 25, and any small gaps that may exist from incorrectly cut panel edge members 21,25.

The flanges 11 in this embodiment extend about 2 millimetres but may be of any suitable width as required.

In this embodiment the corner member 24 is provided with two pins 30 that, in use, interfit with respective cavities 32 in the panel edge member 21.

The pins 30 are preferably provided with bevelled end portions 31 to facilitate interfitting into corresponding cavities 32 in the adjacent panel edge member 21. The interfit of the pins 30 into the cavities 32 must be snug or tight enough to sufficiently retain the corner member 24 in place.

The panel edge member 21 includes a tang 33, and the member 25 has a tang 34, for attachment into a respective area of the groove 35 in the panel 22. The tangs 33,34 are preferably barbed to facilitate a secure fit to the panel 22. The tang 33 is preferably projecting at right angles to the bearing face 36 that, in use, will bear against the edge 23 of the panel 22. The tang 34 is preferably projecting at right angles to the bearing face 37 to enable the face 37 to bear against the adjoining edge 23 of the panel 22.

Referring to figures 5 and 6, a panel edge system, generally referred to as 50, according to a second alternative embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The panel edge system 50 is similar to the first preferred embodiment in most respects and the similarities will not be repeated. The main difference between the embodiments is that in this embodiment the corner member 51 and the two adjoining panel edge members 52, 53 interfit with one pin 54 projecting from the body portion 55 of the corner member 51 rather than two pins as seen in figure 1. It is considered that a sufficient degree of attachment will be achieved by having one pin 54 interfitting, and that the respective tangs 58,59,60 located in place in the panel 61 and the flanges 56,57, will also assist in securing the members 51, 52, 53 together as required.

Referring now to figure 7, a cross section showing the profile of the panel edge member 3 of figure 1, is further illustrated.

The panel edge member 3 is desirably an extrusion of variable infinite length as required.

The cross section clearly shows the profile as also illustrated in figures 1 and 2. The tang 13 is co-extruded with the body 14 and is seen to be located midway between the bearing faces 15. The tang 13 has a wedge shaped end portion 16 and preferably is provided with barbs 17.

The cavities 10a, 10b are seen to be provided on opposite sides of the tang 13 in the body 14 of the panel edge member 3. The diameters of the cavities 10a, 10b are only limited by

the available cross sectional area of the body 14 and in this embodiment the cavity 10a is smaller than cavity lOb. The larger cavity 10b is advantageous as it allows for a larger circumference to engage a corresponding pin in a corner member.

It will be appreciated that if the corner section 2 is made of a diecast metal and the panel edge member 3 is made extruded aluminium, the tolerances of the interfit between the pins 8 and respective cavities 10 can be small and thus a substantially tight fit can be achieved.

It will also be appreciated that other profiles including a cavity or cavities for receiving respective pins on adjoining corner members or otherwise, and a tang extending therefrom can be formed and fall within the scope of the invention.

It is seen that it is an advantage to have a panel edging system incorporating components that can finish corner edges of a panel.

Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.