Transition strip for covering layers on a support surface

Abstract

The combination of a support having an upwardly facing surface, a transition strip on the support, and first and second layers against the upwardly facing support surface. The transition strip has a single piece that defines a horizontal wall, an upright wall projecting angularly and upwardly away from the horizontal wall and having first and second oppositely facing surfaces, and a cap on the upright wall. The cap, horizontal wall and first surface on the upright wall cooperatively define a U-shaped first receptacle opening in one horizontal direction. The cap, second surface on the upright wall, and upwardly facing surface on the support cooperatively defining a U-shaped second receptacle opening oppositely to the one horizontal direction. The first layer is placed against the upwardly facing support surface and has a first edge that nests in the U-shaped first receptacle. The second layer is placed against the upwardly facing surface and has a second edge that nests in the U-shaped second receptacle. The upright wall and cap are substantially rigid and rigidly interconnected so that the upright wall and cap have a substantially fixed relative orientation.

1 . In combination: 
 a support having an upwardly facing surface,    a transition strip on the support, the transition strip comprising a single piece defining:    a) a horizontal wall;    b) an upright wall projecting angularly and upwardly away from the horizontal wall and having first and second oppositely facing surfaces; and    c) a cap on the upright wall,    the cap, horizontal wall and first surface on the upright wall cooperatively defining a U-shaped first receptacle opening in one horizontal direction,    the cap, second surface on the upright wall and upwardly facing surface on the support cooperatively defining a U-shaped second receptacle opening oppositely to the one horizontal direction;    a first layer placed against the upwardly facing support surface and having a first edge portion that nests in the U-shaped first receptacle; and    a second layer placed against the upwardly facing surface and having a second edge portion that nests in the U-shaped second receptacle,    wherein the upright wall and cap are substantially rigid and rigidly interconnected so that the upright wall and cap have a substantially fixed relative orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the first layer comprises a rigid material.  
   
   
       3 . The combination according to  claim 2  wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of plastic, wood, metal, stone, and a composite.  
   
   
       4 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the first layer comprises a flexible material.  
   
   
       5 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the second layer comprises a rigid material.  
   
   
       6 . The combination according to  claim 5  wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of plastic, wood, metal, stone, and a composite.  
   
   
       7 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the second layer comprises a flexible material.  
   
   
       8 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the single piece comprises metal.  
   
   
       9 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the single piece comprises a non-metal material.  
   
   
       10 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a first portion that projects a first distance from the upright wall in the one horizontal direction and a second portion that projects a second distance from the upright wall oppositely to the one horizontal direction, and the first and second distances are different.  
   
   
       11 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the horizontal wall has oppositely facing flat surfaces respectively within first and second reference planes and the horizontal wall is weakened so that the horizontal wall is reconfigurable within a space between the first and second reference planes.  
   
   
       12 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein there are tack prongs on the horizontal wall.  
   
   
       13 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the transition strip is formed by an extrusion process.  
   
   
       14 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the upright wall, cap and at least a part of the horizontal wall are substantially rigid and rigidly interconnected so that the upright wall, cap and at least part of the horizontal wall have a substantially fixed relative orientation.  
   
   
       15 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap each have a thickness and the thicknesses of the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are substantially the same.  
   
   
       16 . The combination according to  claim 15  wherein the thicknesses of the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are on the order of 0.055 inches.  
   
   
       17 . The combination according to  claim 15  wherein the thicknesses of the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are in the range of 0.03-0.08 inches.  
   
   
       18 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a downwardly facing surface and the downwardly facing surface and first surface on the upright wall meet at a radiused surface portion.  
   
   
       19 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a downwardly facing surface and the downwardly facing surface and second surface on the upright wall meet at a line.  
   
   
       20 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a downwardly facing surface and at least a part of the downwardly facing surface at the first receptacle is spaced from the support a first distance and at least a part of the downwardly facing surface at the second receptacle is spaced from the support a second distance that is different than the first distance.  
   
   
       21 . The combination according to  claim 20  wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.  
   
   
       22 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a portion that is disposed at an angle to horizontal and the angle is less than 25°.  
   
   
       23 . The combination according to  claim 22  wherein the angle is in the range of 10-15°.  
   
   
       24 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cap has a free end that is rounded.  
   
   
       25 . The combination according to  claim 22  wherein the portion of the cap terminates at a free end that is rounded.  
   
   
       26 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the transition strip resides between first and second spaced, horizontal reference planes and the transition strip is reconfigurable in a space between the first and second planes.  
   
   
       27 . In combination: 
 a support having an upwardly facing surface,    a transition strip on the support, the transition strip comprising a single piece defining:    a) a horizontal wall;    b) an upright wall projecting angularly and upwardly away from the horizontal wall and having first and second oppositely facing surfaces; and    c) a cap on the upright wall,    the cap, horizontal wall and first surface on the upright wall cooperatively defining a U-shaped first receptacle opening in one horizontal direction,    the cap, second surface on the upright wall and upwardly facing surface on the support cooperatively defining a U-shaped second receptacle opening oppositely to the one horizontal direction;    a first layer placed against the upwardly facing support surface and having a first edge portion that nests in the U-shaped first receptacle; and    a second layer placed against the upwardly facing surface and having a second edge portion that nests in the U-shaped second receptacle,    wherein the first layer comprises a flexible material and the second layer comprises a rigid material.    
   
   
       28 . The combination according to  claim 27  wherein the flexible material comprises carpet.  
   
   
       29 . A transition strip for accommodating adjacent edge portions of layers on a horizontal support surface upon which the transition strip is operatively placed, the transition strip comprising: 
 a horizontal wall;    an upright wall projecting angularly and upwardly away from the horizontal wall and having first and second oppositely facing surfaces; and    a cap on the upright wall,    the cap, horizontal wall, and first surface on the upright wall cooperatively defining a U-shaped first receptacle opening in one horizontal direction to receive an edge portion of one layer on a support surface upon which the transition strip is operatively placed,    the cap, second surface on the upright wall and an upwardly facing surface on a horizontal support upon which the transition strip is operatively placed cooperatively defining a U-shaped second receptacle opening oppositely to the one horizontal direction to receive an edge portion of another layer on a support surface upon which the transition strip is operatively placed,    wherein the upright wall and cap are substantially rigid and rigidly interconnected so that the upright wall and cap have a substantially fixed relative orientation.    
   
   
       30 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the transition strip is defined as a single piece.  
   
   
       31 . The transition strip according to  claim 30  wherein the single piece comprises metal.  
   
   
       32 . The transition strip according to  claim 30  wherein the single piece comprises a non-metal material.  
   
   
       33 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the cap projects a first distance from the upright walls in the one horizontal direction and a second distance from the upright wall oppositely to the one horizontal direction and the first and second distances are different.  
   
   
       34 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the horizontal wall has oppositely facing flat surfaces respectively within first and second reference planes and the horizontal wall is weakened so that the horizontal wall is reconfigurable within a space between the first and second reference planes.  
   
   
       35 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein there are tack prongs on the horizontal wall.  
   
   
       36 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the transition strip is formed by an extrusion process.  
   
   
       37 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are substantially rigid and rigidly interconnected so that the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap have a substantially fixed relative orientation.  
   
   
       38 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap each have a thickness and the thicknesses of the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are substantially the same.  
   
   
       39 . The transition strip according to  claim 29  wherein the thicknesses of the horizontal wall, upright wall, and cap are on the order of 0.03-0.08 inches.