Molding bracket for covering the end of a panel subject to thermal expansion

Claim 2

A molding bracket for covering the end of a panel subject to thermal expansion and contraction, the bracket comprising: a division bar; at least one pair of flanges extending from said division bar to define a channel having an opening between said flanges for receiving the end of the panel; and stop bead means disposed on the inside of at least one of said flanges at a location spaced from said division bar and extending transversely of said channel for a portion of the width thereof for engaging the end of the panel inserted into said channel to position the end of the panel a predetermined distance from said division bar, and with the height of said stop bead means being proportioned relative to the height of said channel such that said stop bead means allows the panel to be inserted far enough into said channel to cover the end of the panel and allows the panel to move past the stop bead means and deeper into said channel upon thermal expansion of the panel to prevent buckling thereof.

Claim 3

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein said flanges are closer together at said opening to said channel than at said division bar.

Claim 4

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least one said flange is flexible.

Claim 5

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said flanges is substantially normal to said division bar and has said stop bead means thereon.

Claim 6

A molding bracket according to claim 4, wherein said stop bead means comprises a bead extending longitudinally of said flange and parallel to said division bar.

Claim 7

A molding bracket according to claim 1, further comprising a second pair of flanges extending from said division bar to form a second channel opposed to said first-mentioned channel, wherein at least one of said flanges of said second pair has stop bead means thereon.

Claim 8

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein said division bar is bent toward said one of said flanges and terminates at said other flange.

Claim 9

A molding bracket according to claim 7, wherein said other flange extends past said division bar in an opposite direction to said channel.

Claim 10

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein one of said flanges extends past said division bar in a direction opposite said channel for providing a spacer.

Claim 11

A molding bracket according to claim 1, wherein one of said flanges extends from a position intermediate the ends of said division bar.

Claim 12

A molding bracket for covering a seam formed by two end-to-end panels subject to thermal expansion and contraction, the bracket comprising: a division bar; two pairs of flanges, each extending in opposite directions from said division bar to define opposed channels having openings for receiving the ends of the respective panels; and stop bead means disposed on the inside of at least one of said flanges of each said respective pair at a location spaced from said division bar and extending transversely of said respective channel for at least a portion of the width thereof for engaging the ends of the panels inserted into said channels to position the ends of the panels a predetermined distance from said division bar, and with the height of said stop bead means being proportioned relative to the height of its respective channel such that said stop bead means allows the panels to be inserted far enough into said channels to cover the ends of the panels and allows the panels to move past the stop bead means and deeper into said channels upon thermal expansion of the panels to prevent buckling thereof.

Claim 13

A molding bracket for covering a seam formed by two end-to-end panels subject to thermal expansion and contraction, the bracket comprising: a division bar; two pairs of flanges, each extending in opposite directions from said division bar to define opposed channels having openings for receiving the ends of the respective panels; and stop bead means disposed on the inside of at least one of said flanges of each said respective pair at a location spaced from said division bar and extending transversely of said respective channel for at least a portion of the width thereof for engaging the ends of the panels inserted into said channels to position the ends of the panels a predetermined distance from said division bar, and with the height of said stop bead means being proportioned relative to the height of its respective channel such that said stop bead means allows the panels to be inserted far enough into said channels to cover the ends of the panels and allows the panels to move past the stop bead means and deeper into said channels upon thermal expansion of the panels to prevent buckling thereof.

Claim 14

A molding bracket according to claim 11, wherein said flanges are closer together at said openings to said channels than at said division bar and two corresponding flanges in each said pair are normal to said division bar and present a flat surface at their exterior.

Claim 15

A molding bracket according to claim 12, wherein said stop bead means comprises a bead extending longitudinally of each of said corresponding flange.

Claim 16

A molding bracket according to claim 13, wherein said division bar, said flanges and said beads are integral with each other.

Claim 17

A molding bracket according to claim 14, wherein the bracket is made of polyvinyl chloride.