GB2172551A

GB2172551A - Decorative strip

Info

Publication number: GB2172551A
Application number: GB08606609A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert Pehrsson
Original assignee: NOBEL PLAST AB
Current assignee: NOBEL PLAST AB
Priority date: 1985-03-18
Filing date: 1986-03-18
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: DE3606414A1; SE454764B; FI79064C; GB8606609D0; FI861112A0; SE8501302L; FI861112A; SE8501302D0; FI79064B; GB2172551B

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for utilising external decorative trim in the form of decorative strips (3, 4) on mobile living quarters such as caravans and campers for the mounting, anchorage and guiding of both fixed and sliding fittings such as windows, ventilation grids, sliding hatches and decorative panels (F, SL, D, V) etc. In the illustrated embodiments, the decorative strips (3, 4) are mounted on the wall (5) of the mobile living quarters (1), one each on either side of the wall area (2) within which the fittings are to be assembled. The decorative strips (3, 4) are provided along their inner edges with guide grooves (15, 25) which therefore face one another, and the fittings such as windows, hatches, etc are slid in between the grooves and are then fixed in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to decorative strips for mobile living quarters Technical field The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for utilising, preferably longitudinally disposed, decorative trim, or strips, on mobile living quarters such as caravans and motor caravans, popularly called campers, for the anchorage and operation of both fixed lights and opening windows, ventilation grids, sliding hatches, decorative panels etc, while simultaneously maintaining tightness against surrounding walls.

Background Today's caravans and campers are, as a rule, designed with planar longitudinal sides. This results in relatively large planar and nondescript surfaces which makers generally attempt to emblazon by providing the sides with longitudinal bright trim of a design which is specific to each maker. This decorative trim is most frequently manufactured of aluminium, but it may also be of other materials, such as, for example, plastics. Apart from the abovementioned aesthetic function, the task of such trim is also to mask extant panel jointing. The normal provision of such trim is either in the form of a broad or narrow strip beneath the windows or in the form of double trim strips which surround that section of each respective wall surface within which the windows are located.Those sections of the wall surface which lie between the windows and are framed by these double trim strips are often of a colour which contrasts with the other sections of the wall surface.

The object of the present invention is to offer a further field of use for such decorative trim strips, namely for anchorage and guidance of both fixed lights and opening windows, ventilation grids, sliding hatches, decorative panels etc, while simultaneously maintaining tightness against the surrounding wall.

The present invention comprises both the method of anchoring the above-mentioned objects by means of the decorative strips in question, and decorative strips of a cross-section adapted to suit this purpose.

The decorative strips according to the present invention are preferably manufactured of aluminium, but high-durability plastics could also be employed.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the decorative strips are provided with guide grooves disposed along one longitudinal side thereof which open away from each respective strip and, when this strip is mounted in place, provide guidance for sheeting, panelling etc, which will then run parallel to the wall on which the strips are mounted. The cross-sectional configuration of the decorative strips may most readily be described as consisting of one first U-shaped section comprising the guide groove proper where its flanks are straight and parallel to the broad side of the decorative Strip, while its second section consists of a broader abutment surface for abutment against that wall along which the strip is to be mounted.This second section may be viewed as an immediate continuation of one of the flanks of the guide groove, but they need not necessarily lie on the same plane. The reason for this is that it may be suitable that a certain play be provided for between the inner flank of the guide groove and the adjacent wall, so as thereby to leave space for a sealing surround disposed about a wall opening and/or so as to allow for the fixed clamping of decorative panels or fixedly mounted lights.

Suitably, the decorative strips according to the present invention may be provided with longitudinal outer and inner profiling, of which the outer profiling may have both an aesthetic and a practical function, such as, for instance, retention of masking strips over screw holes or for the anchorage of shades or awnings or, thirdly, to function as a drip shield; while the purpose of the inwardly directed profiling is to make for tight abutment against the wall and to save material in manufacture.

According to the present invention, the decorative strips are mounted with their respective guide grooves turned to face one another on each respective side of that wall surface within which windows and ventilation openings are disposed. Suitably, sealing surrounds will have previously been disposed about these openings in a per sue known manner. Thereafter, the contemplated fixed lights and opening windows, ventilation grids, sliding hatches and, where applicable, decorative panels, are slid into place along the guide grooves and each individual fitting is then fixed at its particular section of the wall surface. Such means as pop rivets can be used for achoring fixed fittings, while opening windows, hatches and the like are provided with separate locking means which restrict their movementto a predetermined range.

The present invention constitutes a package solution for caravan and camper makers which is considerably cheaper than that offered by the prior art, since the individual units may be made cheaper and their assembly will become appreciably simpler.

Consequently, as a result of the present invention, sliding windows should become more common on caravans, where makers have previously shown a disinclination to install those expensive sliding windows which, for reasons of road safety, should be fitted on all campers. The reason for this is that sliding windows currently available for the field of use contemplated here are bordered by separate aluminium or plastics frames which must be individually mounted in each respective wall opening.

Moreover, the windows bordered by such frames consist of two panes or screens which slide over one another and this entails that the windows can never be opened to more than slightly less than half of the window (bodywork) opening. As a result, these windows can seldom be approved as emergency exits. Furthermore, the sealing surrounds in these prior art sliding windows have caused considerable problems.

Hence, the present invention provides for a sliding window which may be opened throughout the entire area of the bodywork opening which, moreover, does not project outside the width of the vehicle body in the opened state, thus constituting a considerable improvement from the road safety point of view as well. A further advantage inherent in the present invention is that such sliding windows do not encroach upon the space immediately surrounding the vehicle body, this feature being particularly important when shades or awnings and the like are put into use.

The same decorative strip may also be used for retaining a large number of different objects, such as fixed lights and opening windows, ventilation grids, decorative panels, sliding hatches etc. In such cases, the decorative strip according to the present invention serves simultaneously as a means of decoration and as a retaining member, sliding strip and masking strip.

According to one variant embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to clamp a fixedly mounted window between the decorative strips and the wall and mount a sliding window in the guide grooves of the decorative strips. If the fixed light is then provided with a planar outer face with, for example, its insulating double glass turned inwardly and recessed into the vehicle bodywork opening proper, it will be possible for the sliding window- if this has a conventional, planar innerface-to be readily slid past the fixed window.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings The nature of the present invention and its aspects have been defined in the appended Claims, and will now be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caravan; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line Il-Il through a fixed window of the caravan of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken along the line Ill-Ill through a sliding window of the caravan of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV through a ventilation hatch of the caravan of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a partial section of the anchorage of a fixed window and of a sliding window mounted laterally in relation thereto.

Description of preferred embodiment Referring to the Drawings, the longitudinal side of the caravan 1, shown in Figure 1, is provided with a fixed window F, a sliding window SL, a ventilation grid V and a decorative panel D. All of these details lie within a wall surface 2 of a different colour, and possibly also a different surface structure, than the remainder of the caravan. This wail surface is defined at its top and bottom by two decorative trim strips 3 and 4, respectively, both designed according to the present invention. The function of these twodecorative strips is twofold: first as conventional masking of panel jointings; secondly as a sliding strip and anchorage member for windows, ventila- tion grids and possibly other hatches, such as externally accessible service hatches for refrigerators etc.

The section of the fixed window F illustrated in Figure 2 also shows the caravan wall 5 consisting of an outer sheet metal cladding 6, inner panel material 7 and insulating interlay 8. The bodywork opening 9 adapted for the dimensions of the window F is bordered by a conventional surround 10 of rubber or a soft plastics material which is held in place under tension by a clamping strip 11 of a harder plastics material.

An upper decorative strip 12 according to the present invention is fixedly anchored above the bodywork opening 9 by means of screws 13. The decorative strip 12 has a first section 14 which displays a U-shaped guide groove 15 with straight side shanks 16 and 17. Mounted in place, the guide groove 15 opens parallel to the wall of the caravan.

In the illustrated embodiment, the guide groove 15 is interiorly lined with a similarly U-shaped rubber or plastics lining 18. The decorative strip also includes a second section 19 which, in the assembled and mounted state, is to abut with its one broad side against the outer face 6 of the wall 5. This section displays, facing the wall, a longitudinal profile 20 whose purpose is first to save material in manufacture, while retaining rigidity, and secondly to provide for a fully tight abutment against the wall 5. On its other broad side, the second section may be provided with some form of decorative profiling, or, as shown on the Drawing, with a groove 21 which makes room for an arched masking strip 22 which conceals the anchorage screws 13 of the decorative strip.The decorative strip 12 is provided, along its top edge, with a groove 23 for the anchorage of a shade, awning or the like.

Acorresponding decorative strip 24 with its own guide groove 25 is mounted beneath the bodywork opening 9. The guide grooves 15 and 25 open towards one another from either side of the bodywork opening 9. The decorative strip 24 is of the same cross-sectional configuration and detailed design as the decorative strip 12, with the exception of lacking the awning groove 23.

A conventional double-glazed caravan window 26, with a substantially convex outer pane 27 and a planar inner pane 28 which are glued to one another about the longitudinal and lateral edges 29 of the window, is inserted in the longitudinal guide grooves 15 and 25, respectively, of the decorative strips 12 and 24. The window is anchored in place using, for example, pop rivets 30. Before the window is set in place in register with the bodywork opening 9, sealing strips 31 have been mounted in place surrounding the opening. Suitably, the sealing strips 31 are of integral design with the frame surround 10.

Figure 3 shows a sliding window 32 mounted in a window opening 33 which is of corresponding design to the window opening 9. All details, apart from the window 26 and the pop rivet 30, are, therefore, also represented on this Drawing Figure.

The sliding window 32 has an outer pane 34 of the same configuration as the outer pane 27 of the window 26. However, its inner pane 35 is substantially in slight convexo-concave relationship to the outer pane 34. This disposition is so as to avoid scratching the light intake surface of the glass when the window is slid past the sealing strips 31 at the lateral ends of the bodywork opening. Moreover, the window is provided with a hinged locking window stay 36 which may cooperate with a number of holes in the clamping strip 11. The stay 36 may be of any per se prior art, or completely novel, construction whatever, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a ventilation grid 37 mounted between the decorative strips 12 and 24 across a bodywork opening 38 which is designed with all details in the same manner as the bodywork opening 9, with the exception that it may conceivably be smaller in size.

The ventilation grid 37 is of conventional design, with a ribbed glass pane 39, with ventilation openings 40, an interjacent mosquito net 41 and an inner frame section 42. On the Figure, the ventilation grid is fixedly mounted by means of pop rivets 30. In such an event, the interior of the caravan should befitted with a hinged closing hatch of conventional design, marked 43 on the Figure, for blocking the ventilation opening when required. A textile strip 50 determines the angle of aperture of the hatch.

It is also possible, according to the present invention, to render the ventilation grid shiftable in accordance with that shown on Figure 3, and to design the grid as a unit with a smaller window which is shifted so as to block off the bodywork opening when no ventilation is required.

Figure 5 shows a further variant embodiment of the present invention. A bodywork opening 44 is provided, in the manner as previously described, with a frame surround 10, a clamping strip 11 and a sealing 31. According to the embodiment shown on the Drawing, the decorative strips (only the upper strip, designated 45, being shown) are designed such that fixed windows may be urged in place between the inner side of the first section of the decorative strip (here designated 46) facing the wall of the caravan, and the wall proper. Hence, the guide groove of the decorative strip (here designated 47) will remain unengaged. If, as shown on the Drawing, a fixed window 48 is clamped in place with its convex surface recessed in the bodywork opening 44, a sliding window 49 mounted, as previously described, between the guide grooves of the decorative strips, may readily be slid past the fixed window 48. However, the sliding window 49 will probably require thicker sealing strips 31 than those shown on Figures 2-4.

Claims

1. A decorative strip for attaching to an outer wall of a mobile living quarters adjacent a fixed or sliding fitting such as a window, ventilation grid, service hatch, decorative panel or the like, wherein said strip is provided along its inner edge with means for locating an outer edge of a fixed fitting in position or for guiding a sliding fitting.

2. A decorative strip according to Claim 1, wherein said means along the inner edge of said strip comprises an inwardly facing guide groove for receiving said outer edge of said fixed or sliding fitting.

3. A decorative strip according to Claim 2, wherein said strip comprises a first longitudinal section along whose inner edge is provided said guide groove and along whose outer edge is provided a second longitudinal section having an inner face for abutment against said outer wall of said mobile living quarters.

4. A decorative strip according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said guide groove is of U-shaped cross-section with straight flanks.

5. A decorative strip according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said second longitudinal section most closely constitutes an extension towards the other longitudinal edge of that of said flanks which is intended to be turned inwardly on assembly and mounting.

6. A decorative strip according to any one of Claims 3-5, wherein the outer face of said second longitudinal section is configured to receive a masking strip for concealing anchorage screws along said section.

7. A decorative strip according to any one of Claims 3-6, wherein said second longitudinal section is provided along its outer edge with a groove adapted to face away from said wall of the mobile living quarters for anchoring an awning or drip shield.

8. A decorative strip according to any preceding Claim, wherein said strip is manufactured from extruded aluminium.

9. A decorative strip according to Claim 8 when appendant to any one of Claims 2-7, wherein said guide groove is lined with a U-shaped rubber or plastics lining.

10. A mobile living quarters provided on an outer wail with one or more fixed or sliding fittings such as a window, ventilation grid, service hatch, decorative panel or the like, and wherein there is attached to said outer wall immediately above and below said fitting or fittings a decorative strip according to any preceding Claim extending longitudinally across said wall, the opposed inner edges of said strips serving to locate the opposed longitudinal edges of each said fixed fitting and/or to guide the opposed longitudinal edges of each said sliding fitting.

11. A method of assembling one or more fixed or sliding fittings such as a window, ventilation grid, service hatch, decorative panel or the like, on the outer wall of a mobile living quarters, wherein there is utilized one or more decorative strips attached to said outer wall adjacent to said fitting and whose inner edges are adapted to locate an outer edge of a fixed fitting or to guide an outer edge of a sliding fitting.

12. A method according to Claim 11, wherein there are utilized two said decorative strips extending longitudinally across the outer wall of said mobile living quarters, above and below each said fitting, respectively.

13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein said decorative strips are each provided with an inner longitudinal guide groove, said grooves facing one another in the mounted state, and wherein said strips are first mounted in place, whereafter the or each said fitting is slid into the guide grooves and are finally individually fixed in place.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein said fitting is a double-glazed window which is mounted with one glass pane recessed in the wall in the window opening and the other glass pane disposed in a plane between the guide grooves of the decorative strips and the wall.

15. A decorative strip for a mobile living quarters, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2-4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of assembling a fitting to the outer wall of a mobile living quarters, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.