Trim connector block, trim kit and method of assembly

Abstract

A trim connector block, a trim kit and method of assembly of the same are provided. The trim connector block is adapted to engage a trim member that has a front face formed with a profile. The connector block has a front face, a rear face, an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces. At least one cavity is formed in one of the upper, lower and side surfaces of the connector block. The cavity is complimentarily shaped to the profile of front face of the trim member. One end of the trim member is inserted into the cavity of the connector block to the extent required. The trim kit has a number of trim members and connector blocks. During assembly of the trim kit, a connector block is positioned and then secured to a wall. One end of a trim member is inserted into a cavity of the secured connector block. The position of the trim member relative to the opening is adjusted and the trim member is secured to the wall. Additional connector blocks and trim members may be added as required.

1 . A trim connector for use with trim that has a front face that is 
 manufactured with a profile, said connector comprising: 
 a connector block having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;  
 a first cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces, whereby said cavity is adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim.  
   
     
     
         2 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the connector block is a plinth block.  
     
     
         3 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the depth of the first cavity is in the range of ¼ inch to 1.  
     
     
         4 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the connector block is made of wood.  
     
     
         5 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the rear surface is substantially flat.  
     
     
         6 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first cavity is open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         7 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first cavity is not open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         8 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces is formed with a second cavity that is adapted to be complimentarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim.  
     
     
         9 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the depth of the second cavity is in the range or ¼ inch to 1 inch.  
     
     
         10 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the first and second cavities are adapted to be complimentarily shaped to different profiles.  
     
     
         11 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the first and second cavities are on adjacent surfaces of the connector block.  
     
     
         12 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the connector block is a corner block.  
     
     
         13 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the first and second cavities are on opposite surfaces of the connector block.  
     
     
         14 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the connector block is a key block.  
     
     
         15 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the second cavity is open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         16 . A trim connector as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the second cavity is not open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         17 . A trim kit comprising: 
 a first trim member having a first end, a second end and a front face; the front face being formed with a profile;    a connector block having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a first cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces;    and in which said first cavity is complimentarily shaped with the profile of the trim, whereby one of the first and second ends of the trim member is receivable within the first cavity so that the complementary shape of the first cavity engages the profile of the front face of the first trim member.    
     
     
         18 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the connector block is a plinth block.  
     
     
         19 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the depth of the first cavity is in the range of ¼″ to 1″.  
     
     
         20 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the connector block is made of wood.  
     
     
         21 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the rear surface is substantially flat.  
     
     
         22 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the first cavity is open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         23 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the first cavity is not open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         24 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the first trim member is of a first thickness and the connector block is of a second thickness and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.  
     
     
         25 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 24 , in which the first trim member is in the range of ¼ inch to ¾ thick.  
     
     
         26 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 24 , in which the connector block is in the range of ½ inch thick to 1 inch thick.  
     
     
         27 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , the kit further comprising: 
 a second trim member having a third and a fourth end and a front face that has a profile; and    in which a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the connector block is formed with a second cavity that is adapted to be complimentarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim.    
     
     
         28 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 27 , in which the depth of the second cavity is in the range or ¼″ to 1″.  
     
     
         29 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 28 , in which the first and second cavities are adapted to be complimentarily shaped to different profiles.  
     
     
         30 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 27 , in which the first and second cavities are on adjacent surfaces of the connector block.  
     
     
         31 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the connector block is a corner block.  
     
     
         32 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 27 , in which the first and second cavities are on opposite surfaces of the connector block.  
     
     
         33 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 32 , in which the connector block is a key block.  
     
     
         34 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the second cavity is open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         35 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the second cavity is not open to the rear face of the connector block.  
     
     
         36 . A trim connector kit for framing an opening in a wall, the kit comprising: 
 first, second and third trim members, each having a first end, a second end and a front face; the front face having a profile found thereon;    a first connector block having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a first cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces, said first cavity being adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the first end of the first trim member is receivable within the first cavity;    a second connector block having a front surface a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a second cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the second connector block, said second cavity being adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the second end of the first trim member is receivable within the second cavity;    a third cavity formed in a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the second connector block, the third cavity being adapted to be complimentarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the first end of the second trim member is receivable within the third cavity;    a third connector block having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a fourth cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the third connector block, the fourth cavity being adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the second end of the second trim member is receivable within the fourth cavity;    a fifth cavity formed in a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the third connector block, the fifth cavity being adapted to be complimentarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the first end of the third trim member is receivable within the fifth cavity of the third connector block;    a fourth connector block having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a sixth cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces, of the fourth connector block whereby said sixth cavity is adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the second end of the third trim member is receivable within the sixth cavity of the fourth connector block.    
     
     
         37 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 36 , in which the first connector block and fourth connector block are plinth blocks and the second connector block and third connector block are corner blocks.  
     
     
         38 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a fourth trim member having a first end, a second end and a front face; the front face having a profile found thereon;    a seventh cavity formed in a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the first connector block, said seventh cavity being adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the first end of the fourth trim member is receivable within the seventh cavity of the first connector block;    an eighth cavity formed in a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the third connector block, said eighth cavity being adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the second end of the fourth trim member is receivable within the eighth cavity of the third connector block.    
     
     
         39 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 38 , in which the first, second, third and fourth connector blocks are corner blocks positioned on the corner of a window.  
     
     
         40 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a fourth trim member having a first end, a second end and a front face; the front face having a profile found thereon;    a fifth connector block having a front surface a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a seventh cavity formed in one of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the fifth connector block, whereby said seventh cavity is adapted to be complementarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the second end of the second trim member is receivable within the seventh cavity;    an eighth cavity formed in a second of said upper, lower and side surfaces of the fifth connector block, the eighth cavity being adapted to be complimentarily shaped to the profile of the front face of the trim; whereby the first end of the fourth trim member is receivable within the eighth cavity of the fifth connector block and the second end of the fourth trim member is receivable within the fourth cavity of the third connector block.    
     
     
         41 . A trim kit as claimed in  claim 40 , in which the fifth connector block is a key block.  
     
     
         42 . A method of assembly of a trim kit for framing an opening in a wall, the trim kit having: 
 a first, a second and a third trim member, each trim member first and second ends and a front face, the front face being formed with a profile;    a first, a second, a third and a fourth connector block, each connector block having a front face, a rear face, an upper surface, a lower surface and two side surfaces;    a cavity being formed in one of the upper, lower and side surfaces of each of the first, second, third and fourth connector blocks; and    a second cavity being formed in a second of the upper, lower and side surfaces of at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth connector blocks; the method of assembly comprising the steps of: 
 a) selecting a first connector block;  
 b) positioning the first connector block against the wall;  
 c) securing the first connector block to the wall;  
 d) selecting a first trim member;  
   e) engaging a first end of the first trim member in a cavity in the first connector block;    f) adjusting the position of the first trim member relative to the opening;    g) securing the first trim member to the wall;    h) selecting a second connector block;    i) positioning the second connector block over the second end of the first trim member;    j) adjusting the position of the second connector block;    k) securing the second connector block to the wall;    l) selecting a second trim member;    m) inserting a first end of the second trim member into a cavity of the second connector block;    n) adjusting the position of the second trim member relative to the opening;    o) securing the second trim member to the wall;    p) selecting a third of the connector blocks;    q) positioning the third connector block over a second end of the second trim member;    r) securing the third connector block to the wall;    s) selecting the third trim member;    t) engaging a first end of the third trim member into a cavity in the third connector block;    u) adjusting the position of the third trim member relative to the wall;    v) securing the third trim member to the wall;    w) selecting the fourth connector block;    x) positioning the fourth connector block over a second end of the third trim member;    y) adjusting the position of the fourth connector block;    z) securing the fourth connector block to the wall.    
     
     
         43 . A method of assembly as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising the step of: 
 applying an adhesive to at least one of the first and second ends of the trim members prior to engagement in a cavity in the connector blocks;    
     
     
         44 . A method of assembly as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising the step of: 
 applying an adhesive to the cavities of the connector blocks prior to engagement of the trim members in the cavities.    
     
     
         45 . A method of assembly as claimed in  claim 44 , further comprising the steps of: 
 selecting additional trim pieces and connector blocks;    positioning the additional trim pieces and connector blocks in the desired locations;    securing the additional trim pieces and connector blocks to the wall.