Break-away multi-purpose flooring transition

Abstract

The invention is a joint cover assembly for covering a gap adjacent an edge of a panel that covers a sub-surface, and a method of covering such a gap. The assembly can be manipulated to form an end molding, a T-molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, and/or a stair nose molding.

1 . A joint cover assembly for covering a gap between two floor elements covering a subsurface, the assembly comprising:
 a first molding element comprising an upper section having an upper surface and a foot depending therefrom;   a second molding element positionable adjacent the foot, the second molding element comprising a lower surface having a spacing gap and an upper surface; and   a track comprising an upstanding protrusion configured to fit within the spacing gap with the track extending beyond the protrusion.   
     
     
         2 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the joint cover assembly comprises a molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, and a quarter round molding. 
     
     
         3 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first molding element and the second molding element is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of compact laminate, plywood, solid wood, particle board, fiberboard, strandboard, metal, plastic, and composites. 
     
     
         4 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the first molding element and at least one of the lateral surfaces of the second molding element each comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of an abrasion resistant laminate, a foil and a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         5 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the abrasion resistant laminate comprises hard particles. 
     
     
         6 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the hard particles are selected from the group consisting of alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, ceramics and diamond. 
     
     
         7 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the hard particles have a Moh's hardness of at least 6. 
     
     
         8 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of the lateral faces of the second molding element comprises an abrasion resistant laminate. 
     
     
         9 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second molding element is sized and shaped to form a molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, a stair nose, and a quarter round molding when joined in a first orientation to first molding element and a second, different, molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, a stair nose, and a quarter round molding when joined to the first molding element in a second orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the second molding element comprises two spacing gaps, each of the spacing gaps being associated with one lateral face. 
     
     
         11 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer positioned in the at least one spacing gap of the second molding element. 
     
     
         12 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second molding element is joined to the first molding element with a tongue-and-groove joint. 
     
     
         13 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first molding element comprises a general T-shape and the foot depends generally perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the upper section. 
     
     
         14 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foot meets the upper section at a rounded corner. 
     
     
         15 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foot meets the upper section at a not rounded corner. 
     
     
         16 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foot is centrally located along a longitudinal axis of the upper section. 
     
     
         17 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second molding element further comprises two opposing lateral surfaces with one of the lateral surfaces facing toward the foot and another of the lateral surfaces facing outward upon the second molding element being positioned adjacent the foot. 
     
     
         18 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a first lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces has a first curved shape and a second lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces has a different second curved shape. 
     
     
         19 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a first lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces comprises a planar surface and a second lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         20 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the track further comprises a base from which the protrusion extends, the base extending beneath the entire second molding element. 
     
     
         21 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the track further comprises a vertical portion that forms a depression sized and shaped to receive the foot of the first molding element. 
     
     
         22 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a covering that is attachable to at least the upper surface of the first molding element. 
     
     
         23 . A kit comprising:
 a first molding element comprising an upper section having an upper surface and a foot depending therefrom; and   a second molding element positionable adjacent the foot, the second molding element comprising a lower surface having a spacing gap and an upper surface; and   a track comprising an upstanding protrusion configured to fit within the spacing gap with the track extending beyond the protrusion.   
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one of a shim, a pad, adhesive or screws. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the shim comprises a longitudinal section and two arms generally depending in the same direction therefrom. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the second molding element is sized and shaped to form a molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, a stair nose, and a quarter round molding when joined in a first orientation to first molding element and a second, different molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, a stair nose, and a quarter round molding when joined to the first molding element in a second orientation. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the second molding element further comprises two opposing lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein a first lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces has a first curved shape and a second lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces has a different second curved shape. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein a first lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces comprises a planar surface and a second lateral surface of the two opposing lateral surfaces comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the track further comprises a base from which the protrusion extends, the base extending beneath the entire second molding element. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the track further comprises a vertical portion that forms a depression sized and shaped to receive the foot of the first molding element. 
     
     
         32 . A method of covering a subfloor adjacent a floor element, the method comprising:
 providing a first molding element comprising an upper section having an upper surface and a foot depending therefrom; and   providing a second molding element comprising a lower surface having at least one spacing gap therein and an upper surface;   providing a track comprising an upstanding protrusion configured to fit within the spacing gap with the track extending beyond the protrusion;   joining the first molding element to the second molding element to form at least one molding selected from the group consisting of a transition molding, a hard surface reducer, a carpet reducer, a wall base molding, and a quarter round molding;   positioning at least a portion of the molding onto the track with the upstanding protrusion extending into the spacing gap of the second molding element; and   affixing the track to the subfloor.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising joining the track to a pad. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising attaching a covering to at least the upper surface of the first molding element. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the upper surface of the second molding element is joined to the first molding element. 
     
     
         36 . A joint cover assembly for covering a gap between two floor elements covering a subsurface, the assembly comprising:
 a molding element comprising:
 a body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface comprising an outer surface; 
 a first leg extending upward from the second surface and a second leg extending upward from the second surface, the first and second legs configured to attach upon a folding of the molding element such that the second surface folds in on itself; and 
 at least one breakaway formed along the body between the first leg and the second leg that permits the molding element to be split into two sections. 
   
     
     
         37 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the first surface comprises a decorative outer surface. 
     
     
         38 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion forming a gap therebetween configured to receive the second leg. 
     
     
         39 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the second leg is adjustably positionable within the gap between the first leg portion and the second leg portion of the first leg. 
     
     
         40 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 38 , wherein a breakaway extends through a middle of the second leg. 
     
     
         41 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion of the first leg comprise barbs extending therefrom into the gap. 
     
     
         42 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one breakaway comprises a plurality of breakaways. 
     
     
         43 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the molding element further comprises a first strut element extending from the second surface and a second strut element extending from the second surface at a distance from the first strut element, the first strut element being configured to receive the second strut element upon the folding of the molding element to form a supporting strut. 
     
     
         44 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the first strut element extends at an angle as measured from the first leg. 
     
     
         45 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 43 , wherein both the first strut element and the second strut element extend at an angle as measured from the second surface. 
     
     
         46 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the molding element comprises an extrusion. 
     
     
         47 . A joint cover assembly for covering a gap between two floor elements covering a subsurface, the assembly comprising:
 a molding element comprising:
 a top horizontal section comprising an upper surface of the molding element; 
 a foot extending from the top horizontal section below the upper surface, the foot having a first side and a second side; 
 at least two first side horizontal sections integrally connected to and positioned below the top horizontal section and adjacent the first side of the foot; 
 at least two second side horizontal sections integrally connected to and positioned below the top horizontal section and adjacent the second side of the foot; 
 breakaways formed between the at least two first side horizontal sections and between a top first side horizontal section of the at least two first side horizontal sections and the top horizontal section; and 
 breakaways formed between the at least two second side horizontal sections and between a top second side horizontal section of the at least two second side horizontal sections and the top horizontal section. 
   
     
     
         48 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the foot and the at least two first side horizontal sections form a first gap therebetween and the foot and the at least two second side horizontal sections form a second gap therebetween. 
     
     
         49 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the first gap comprises a first shoulder with the top horizontal section and the second gap comprises a second shoulder with the top horizontal section. 
     
     
         50 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 48 , further comprising a track configured to receive the foot of the molding element. 
     
     
         51 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the track comprises legs that form a gap for receiving the foot of the molding element. 
     
     
         52 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the legs of the track are gripping flanges. 
     
     
         53 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the legs of the track are insertable in the respective first and second gaps. 
     
     
         54 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 47 , further comprising a covering that is attachable to at least the upper surface of the molding element. 
     
     
         55 . The joint cover assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the foot is centrally located along a longitudinal axis of the top horizontal section.