In the building and construction industry, these regions of abutting surfaces often contain visually obtrusive elements such as gaps between one surface and another, and other obtrusive elements such as heads of nail and screw fixings. These elements are typically concealed by placing strips of visually pleasing cover members such as triangular or curved cross-sectional shaped timber quads along the line of the intersection, such strips being attached to a surface by placing fixings such as nails, screws and the like through the thickness of the cover strip and into a wall surface. This method is time consuming, difficult and generally unsatisfactory particularly in situations where one or both surfaces comprises a lining panel and where the timber quad is required to be fixed into a panel, since the nails or screws or similar fixings are preferably driven perpendicularly to the plane of a panel so as to avoid the fixing penetrating a panel in a location close to a frail edge of the panel, however, the visible mounting face of such quad is not in the same general plane as either of the panels, so that the heads of fixings which are driven perpendicular to either panel surface are either exposed somewhat on the mounting face of the quad or are required to be recessed into the mounting face and subsequently concealed with filling material such as putty. This method is also limited to the use of light gauge fixings since heavier gauge fixings can split the slim timber and will also display larger heads. This method also excludes the use of rivets as fixings due to the prohibitive thickness of the solid quad section and the difficulty in concealing unsightly rivet heads.

Also in buildings generally and in particular within existing buildings, regions of mutually inclined abutting surfaces are often utilised to place cables

such as telephone cables, television reception cables and the like, since these regions provide the least obtrusive location for placing exposed cabling in situations where it is not possible or convenient to conceal the cabling internally of a wall or roof structure. This method of installing cables is generally unsatisfactory due to the poor visual result and the unsatisfactory isolation of the cables. Various types and cross-sectiόnal shapes of cable conduits such as rectangular and round shapes may be used to conceal such cabling but these are generally unsatisfactory since they are commonly obtrusive in shape, are poorly proportioned to blend visually with the surfaces to which they are attached and they often require additional visible fixings or visible mounting brackets for attachment to a surface. Commonly such conduits allow only end entry of cabling into the conduit. Rectangular and round cross-sectionally proportioned conduits are visually unattractive when installed internally of a room and are particularly obtrusive when extended around the corners of a room at floor level since they are necessarily bulky in a direction outwardly from a wall so as to preferably exceed the minimum bending radius restriction of cables contained within the conduit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative hollow trim which blends aesthetically in the region of mutually inclined abutting surfaces by providing a trim section containing a hollow void and which has at least two webs, at least one of which can be brought into the planes of the surfaces against which they bear. The second web being a movable web so as to provide access to the void within the section thereby providing a trim section capable of concealing gaps between abutting surfaces as well as concealing heads of fixings which may be used to mount the trim section to a surface. It is an object of the present invention to also provide a trim section which can be simply used to aesthetically conceal cabling in the region of mutually inclined abutting surfaces, whilst providing a simple and effective means for laterally installing cables into the trim section whilst also allowing ease of future maintenance and subsequent access to concealed cables for the purpose of inspection, removal and replacement of cables contained internally of the trim section.

According to the present invention there is provided a decorative trim for trimming along the intersection of mutually inclined surfaces, said trim including: a mounting web for mounting to at least one of the inclined surfaces by fixing means, said mounting web having a first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge, a first portion of said mounting web adjacent said first edge, in use being arranged flat against one of the mutually inclined surfaces, and a second portion of said mounting web adjacent said second edge in use being arranged flat against the other of the mutually inclined surfaces, whereby a recessed cavity is defined therebetween; and a concealing web for substantially concealing the mounting web and any exposed portions of said fixing means, said concealing web having a first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge, such that in use, the first longitudinal edge of said concealing web connects with the first longitudinal edge of said mounting web and said second longitudinal edge of said concealing web connects with the second edge of said mounting web; and wherein at least one of the first or second longitudinal edges of the concealing web is releasably connected with the first or second longitudinal edges of the mounting web, whereby said concealing web is at least partially moveable away from said mounting web to allow access to said recessed cavity. According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of installing cables in a pre-existing building including the steps of locating a trim as aforesaid over a predetermined length of an intersection between two inclined surfaces, fixing said mounting web to at least one of said inclined surfaces and locating the cable within said recessed cavity. Preferably the mounting web and the concealing web are adapted to form a triangular or rhombus shape.

Preferably the first longitudinal edge of the concealing web releasably connects with the first longitudinal edge of the mounting web and or the second longitudinal edge of the said concealing web releasably connects with the second longitudinal edge of the mounting web.

According to a further embodiment a first hinge means is provided between the concealing web and the mounting web. The first hinge means may

be integrally formed with the mounting web and the concealing web. Furthermore, it is preferable that at least one further hinge means is provided between the first portion of the mounting web and the second portion of the mounting web. The further hinge means may also be formed integrally with the mounting web. Preferably, the trim is formed from plastics material and at least one of the hinge means is a portion of material of high flexibility relative to the plastics material and is integrally formed with the plastics material. The trim may be formed as a single substantially planar strip capable of being coiled onto a reel. It is also preferable to provide a trim wherein the first longitudinal edge of the mounting web releasably connects with the first longitudinal edge of the concealing web with a snap fit arrangement of integrally formed cooperating female and male edge profiles.

The fixing means may include mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives and it is envisaged that communication cables may be placed in the cavity of the mounted trim.

The trim can be combined with complimentary and or decorative attachments such as cover plates, pre-formed corner sections and joiners, cable inlet and or outlet points. According to one preferred embodiment the mounting web of the trim includes a mounting web portion for fixing the trim to at least one abutting surface and a covering web portion to conceal gaps and heads of fixings in abutting surfaces, the concealing web cooperating with the mounting web portion and the covering web portion for concealing the heads of fixings used to mount the trim section to a surface and for concealing cabling which may be contained internally of the trim section. One side of the mounting web portion is either directly or indirectly attached to the covering web portion along one or more lines through the length of the trim section and the opposite side of the mounting web portion is attached to the concealing web along a line through the length of the trim section. The concealing web is pivotally connected to the mounting web along the line of connection thereto so that the free extremity of the concealing web may be brought to bear against the free extremity of the

covering web by rotation of the concealing web about its pivotal connection to the mounting web. The free extremity of the concealing web and the free extremity of the covering web portion each may contain cooperative formations through the length of the trim section so that both free extremities may be secured to each other by cooperative engagement throughout the length of the trim section.

In use the concealing web is initially detached from the covering web portion to allow cables and fixings such as nails, screws or rivets and the like to be placed through the opening in the trim section. The fixings are placed through the mounting and / or covering web portions and into a surface to which the trim section is to be mounted. Following such attachment of the trim section to a surface, the heads of the fixings bear against the inside surface of the mounting and / or covering web; and cabling placed within the trim section is housed in the void within the trim section. The concealing web is then rotated toward the covering web portion so as to close the opening in the trim section so that cabling and the heads of the fixings are no longer visible. The concealing and covering web portions are then joined along a line through the length of the trim section by virtue of cooperative male and female formations provided in the free extremities of the concealing and covering web portions. In the completed and mounted assembly of the trim section the covering or mounting web portions or both, bear against an abutting surface, and the concealing web extends from the region of the plane of one abutting surface to the region of the plane of the other abutting surface and extends for the length of the trim section. The assembled trim section visually resembles a triangular or curved shaped quad profile and without the cabling or heads of the fixings being visible when the trim section is viewed in a lateral direction toward the trim section. Alternatively the trim section may be mounted to a surface by using adhesives in liquid or tape form between the mounting or covering web portions and the surface to which they are to be attached. In one possible embodiment of the assembled trim section all webs and web portions are generally thin and generally planer and the mounting and covering web portions are arranged at approximately ninety degrees to each

other and the concealing web extends from the mounting web portion to the covering web portion into which it is snap fitted so that the completed assembly has a triangular cross-sectional shape containing a hollow void, in use the mounting and covering web portions each bear against one of the surfaces of a pair of mutually inclined abutting surfaces.

In another possible embodiment the mounting and covering web portions are generally thin and planer and are arranged at approximately ninety degrees to each other and a generally thin concealing web extends from the mounting web portion to the covering web portion in a non-linear decorative fashion such as in an arced shape so that the completed assembly has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape wherein the hypotenuse is non-linear. In use the mounting and covering web portions each bear against one surface of a pair of abutting surfaces.

In another possible embodiment the mounting and / or covering web portions have suitable flexibility so that their cross-sectional shape is adaptable to match the profile shape of the surface against which they bear when such a surface is not singularly planer such as at the top surface of a bevelled skirting mould which meets a wall surface.

In another possible embodiment the line of the pivotal connection between the mounting and concealing webs consist of a hinge or weakened section.

In another possible embodiment the line of the pivotal connection between the mounting and concealing webs consist of a more flexible material than the general material of the strip, such as may be formed by a co- extrusion process.

In another possible embodiment the line or lines of connection between the mounting and covering web portions may also consist of a hinge or weakened section or of a relatively more flexible material than the general material of the trim section so that the covering web portion may be rotated relative to the mounting web portion so that all webs and web portions of the trim section may be produced in a common plane so that the trim section may be coiled for ease and economy of storage and transport and whereafter the trim

may be folded to form a closed triangular or rhomboidal cross sectional shape. The provision of the trim in a coiled form at the site of installation allows it to be cut to length as required which in turn prevents any off-cut wastage.

In another possible embodiment the external surface of the covering web portion or mounting web portion which bears against an abutting surface may contain a plurality of concave formations so that liquid hardenable adhesives may be simply and effectively used to retain the web to the surface against which it bears.

In another possible embodiment the external surface of the covering web portion or mounting web portion may contain formations proportioned so as to cooperate with complementary mating formations contained in a separate mounting bracket which may then be used to indirectly mount the trim section to a surface and whereby the mounting bracket is substantially concealed.

In another possible embodiment either the covering web portion or the mounting web portion or both may be fixed to the abutting surfaces by the use of adhesives such as bonding tapes placed between a web portion and the surface to which the trim section is to be mounted.

Possible and preferred features of the trim section will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a timber quad strip 9 being used to cover the gap 16 between two abutting surfaces 10 and 11 as used in the prior art. The timber quad strip 9 is also shown covering the head of fixing 15. The fixing 8 and head 12 are shown, the fixing 8 being undesirably located close to the edge of surface 10.

Fig. 2 shows one possible embodiment of the present invention by a perspective view of a length of the trim as supplied in a unitary flat strip which can be coiled for ease of transport and installation on site.

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the trim section of Fig. 2, prior to assembly of the trim section wherein the concealing web 3 and covering web portion 2 are detached from each other.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the trim section at an internal corner and prior to assembly of the trim section and in which the mounting web portion 1 is fixed to one surface 10 of a pair of abutting surfaces 10 and 11 by a screw 8 which is desirably remote from the edge of surface 10. Surfaces 10 and 11 are shown fixed to, and supported by, supports 20 via the fixing nails 15.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the trim section of Fig. 4 wherein the concealing web has been assembled to the covering web so as to conceal the cable 13 and the head 12 of the fixing screw 8.

Fig. 6 shows an end elevation of the trim section mounted at the plane of a floor surface and being attached by a screw fixing 16 through the covering web portion 2 and into the face of a floor skirting mould 17. Fig. 7 shows an end elevation of the trim section embodiment wherein the trim section is mounted at the top surface of a skirting mould 17. In this embodiment the flexible mounting web portion 1 has been adapted to match the profile of the top surface of the skirting mould 17 and the covering web portion 2 is attached to a wall surface 18 by the adhesive bonding tape 19 the edge of which is concealed by the lip 4.

Fig. 8 shows an end view of an embodiment of the trim section wherein all the webs and web portions of the trim section lie in a common plane. The flexible connections 6 between the webs and web portions are also shown.

By referring to Fig. 3 it can be seen that the trim section in this embodiment consists of a mounting web portion 1 pivotally connected along one side to a covering web portion 2, the covering web portion 2 further containing a cooperative snap fit formation 5 at the free extremity of the covering web portion. It can also be seen that the mounting web portion 1 is connected along its opposite side to a concealing web 3 by a pivotal connection 6 and it can also be seen that the concealing web 3 also contains a cooperating snap fit formation 7 for cooperative engagement with the cooperative formation 5.

By referring to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 it can be seen that the trim section is to be installed by first placing the mounting web portion 1 of the un-assembled trim section against a surface 10 and then placing fixing 8 through the mounting web portion and into the surface 10, the covering web portion 2 bearing against the other surface 11. The cable 13 is then inserted into the void 14 within the trim section. The concealing web 3 is then assembled to the covering web portion 2 by the complimentary snap fit formations 7 and 5. The heads 12 of the fixing screws 8 and also the cable 13 are thereby concealed.

By referring to Fig. 5 it can be seen that the assembled trim section forms a generally triangular configuration in which the heads 12 of the fixings 8 and also the cable 13 are concealed from view when the trim section is viewed from a lateral direction toward the trim section.

By the use of trim sections of this type, gaps and heads of fixings in mutually inclined abutting surfaces may be simply, effectively and attractively concealed without any heads of any fixings being visible in the abutting surfaces or in the trim section itself and without the need for countersinking the concealing member to conceal the heads of fixings and without the need for putty to conceal fixing head cavities, and without being restricted to light gauge fixing materials; and without restricting the use of fixing materials such as rivets; and without difficulty in locating fixings remote from a frail edge of a panel. By the use of trim sections of this type, long cables such as transmission cables may be simply and effectively housed by inserting such cables through the trim section opening and into the void prior to assembly of the closed trim section, the cables so housed may be subsequently easily inspected and replaced as required.

In using trim sections of this type, cables may be housed and correctly radiused around corners at floor level within a room without the housing being obtrusively high and bulky above the level of the floor surface.

The trim section according to the present invention is preferably produced in long lengths and may be constructed of thin resilient type materials such as plastics and the like. In particular trim sections of this type may be

formed as a unitary device by the process of plastic extrusion or plastic co-extrusion.

Although particularly described for use in concealing gaps and heads of fixings and cables in the region of mutually inclined abutting surfaces as encountered in the building and construction industry, the trim section may also be used in other applications such as for decoratively concealing gaps and cables for panels and cable wiring as used in display partitions and the like.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and / or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiments of the invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention.