US1581487A

US1581487A - Frame construction for buildings, etc.

Info

Publication number: US1581487A
Application number: US326180A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustavus A E Kohler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-09-25
Filing date: 1919-09-25
Publication date: 1926-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1943-04-20

Description

April 20, 1926. 1,581,487

" G. A. E. KOHLER FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR suxwmes, ETC.

Original Filed p 25, 1919 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVUS A. E. KOHLEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOB BUILDINGS, ETC.

Application fiIed September 25, 1919, Serial No. 326,180. Renewed July 1., 1921. Serial No. 481,981.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvUs A. E. Konnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Frame Constructions for Buildings, Etc, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to frame constructions for buildings, etc., and has for its object to provide a new and improved construction of this description. The present method of constructing buildings where steel is used as the framework, is expensive, diflicult and requires much labor and skill in the manufacture and handling of the steel, and in the erection at the site of the building. The present invention has among other objects to provide a frame construction of metal which can be cheaply manufactured and transported to the site where the structure is to be erected, and can then be easily, quickly and cheaply erected, and when erected forms a strong, durable and efficient structure. The invention has other objects which are more specifically set out in the description following.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of frame construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view showing one form of base for the vertical members;

Fig. 3 1s a vertical sectional view through the base of one of the vertical members having the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the several parts at an outer corner where the vertical and horizontal members meet and are connected together;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a construction for connecting the vertical and horizontal members together which permits the vertical member to be decreased in size toward t s top of the structure;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 showing one form of stop for the interior connecting piece;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 5 with some of the parts separated to more fully illustrate the construction.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In carrying out the invention I provide a series of hollow metal members which may have any desired cross sectional form. In the drawings I have illustrated these members as being square or rectangular. These members may be easily and cheaply manufactured at any desired point and shipped to the site where they are to be erected. Out of these members a frame construction is formed comprising metal supporting members at an angle to each other, and interlocking devices for connecting these members together to form a rigid structure. In the structure illustrated I have shown a series of hollow vertical metal members 1. l 1", etc., and a series of hollow metal horizontal members 2", 2", 2, etc. Suitable bases 3 are provided for the vertical members. In the construction illustrated the base for these members is shown as made of concrete. In the construction illustrated there is a vertical base piece 4. for each vertical member which projects down into the concrete the desired distance. It may be filled with concrete if desired. This vertical base piece passes through a metal foundation piece 5. The vertical supporting member 1 fits over the vertical base piece 4 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and rests upon the metal'foundation piece 5. In forming the structure the vertical supporting members 1 are first placed in position. The horizontal members and the next set of vertical members are then connected together. This connection is made by means of an interlocking construction. One form of this interlocking connection to be used at the outside corner is illustrated in Fig. 1. In this construction there is provided an interior connection piece 6 which fits into the two adjacent

vertical members

1 and 1", so as to connect them together vertically. This interior con necting piece does not fit the interior of the vertical members tightly, but is arranged so that there is a space between the outer faces of the interior connecting member and the inner faces of the vertical members. The

horizontal members

2 and 2 are provided with projecting interlocking parts- 8 and 9 which may be separate therefrom, but which are preferably integral therewith.

' serted between the outer face of the interior connecting piece 6 and the inner faces of the adjacent vertical members. For emample the projecting interlocking part 8 may be inserted between the connecting piece 6, and the inner face of the lower ver tical member 1 and the projecting interlocking part 9 inserted between the connecting member 6, and'the interior face of the upper vertical member 1", said interlocking projections taking the position shown in Fig. 5. The upper vertical member 1 is then pushed down so that its end rests upon the

horizontal members

2 and 2." If the joint is an interior joint it will be seen that there will be four horizontal members connected with the vertical member as shown for example in Fig. 1, and in this case the entire four sides would be filled up by the projecting interlocking

members

8 and 9. Where, however, the joint is made at an outside corner, there will only be two horizontal members, and hence two faces of the connecting piece 6 will be exposed. At this corner construction I provide the separate interlocking members 10 which have interlocking

projections

8 and 9 similar to those of the horizontal members. These separate interlocking members 10 have shoulders 11 which are engaged by the ends of the vertical members so as to act as a support between them in the same way that the

horizontal members

2 and 2 act as such support. The members 10 are preferably of such thickness that their faces between the ends of the vertical members will be flush with the outer faces of such vertical members so as to form a smooth, even construction. A suitable stop is pro.- vided for the interior connecting member 6 so that they are inserted in the vertical member and they will be stopped after being inserted therein the proper distance, so as to insure their projecting the proper distance into the upper vertical member. Any suitable stop may be used, and I have illustrated in Fig. 6 one form of such stop which consists of a Z-shaped piece 7 inserted in the vertical member and fixed in the desired position. The end of the interior connecting piece 6 rests upon this stop. When the members are connected together with these interlocking connections, the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed.

In high structures it may often be de sirable to decrease the size of the vertical members at the upper part of the structure, as these upper members do not have as much weight or strain upon them as the lower members.

In Figs. 5 and 7 I have shown one construction for this purpose. This construction shows the vertical member 1 and a short piece of the vertical member 1 It I rigidity may also shows the horizontal member 2 with the

interlocking projections

8 and 9 in position between the vertical members and the interior connecting member 6. I then provide an interior connecting member 6 inside of the member 6 and smaller in cross section, the size thereof depending of course upon the amount of reduction it is desired to make in the next vertical member. The end of this interior connecting piece 6 projects above the short member 1", and the end of the interior connecting piece 6. A supporting piece 6" having an opening therein is slipped over the end of the interior connecting piece 6" and rests upon the tops of the short member 1 and the interior connecting piece 6, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The smaller vertical member 6 is then placed over the end of the connecting piece 6, and its lower end rests upon the supporting piece 6". It will thus be seen, that by means of this construction the size of the vertical members may be reduced when and as desired. It is also evident that the interior connecting members and the vertical and. horizontal members may be of any desired shape, and I have for purposes of illustration shown a shape which can be easily and cheaply made. If desired, the hollow members may be filled or partially filled with concrete or other material. The vertical members for example, may be filled with concrete at the points where the horizontal members are connected therewith, or they may be filled throughout their length, the concrete being inserted after the parts are erected, so as to form a monolithic core for the vertical members. I have shown such a filling in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the connections between the vertical members are such as to form a continuous support throughout the entire length of the vertical member. It will further be seen that there is provided here a rigid joint between the horizontal and vertical members, and this be secured without rivets or other fastening device's, although, of course, rivets can be used if desired. Where the members are square or rectangular a perfect alignment of the structure is insured, for when they are set on the square or rectangular verticalbase pieces, the structure will of necessity be in proper alignment. It will further be noted that when the lower vertical sections are placed in position they support themselves. Vhen the inner interior connecting pieces 6 are inserted in position, pulleys may be attached to them and the other parts pulled up in this manner, and the expensive derricks and erecting apparatus thus avoided. The building as it were helps itself along as -it progresses in height, and it will thus be seen the structure can be easily, quickly and cheaply erected.

It is of course evident that the concrete or other filling material may be omitted in part or entirel omitted and that its use will be determined by the conditions presented. I have shown the Structure both with and without concrete in the members.

-I have'illustrated a particular construction in order to make the invention clear. The construction may be greatly varied in form, construction and arrangement and parts omitted and other parts used not herein shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention as embodied in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

I claim 1. A frame construction comprising metal supporting members at an angle to each other, interlocking devices projecting outwardly from the ends of said members for connecting said members together to form a rigid structure.

2. A frame construction comprising metal hollow supporting members at an angle to each other, interlocking devices connected with one member and fitting into the interior of the adjacent member so as to hold said members in rigid relation.

3. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members laterally projecting, mterlocking parts for connecting the members together where the substantially horizontal vertical members meet, and a filling for the hollow vertical members.

4. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members laterally projecting, interlocking parts for connecting the members together where the substantially horizontal vertical members' meet, and a filling for the hollow vertical members, said filling extending past the points where the substantially horizontal and vertical members meet so as to form a solid, unitary rigid filling at these points.

5. A frame structure comprising a plurality of'hollow, vertical base pieces, foundation pieces through which said vertical pieces project, hollow substantially vertical supporting members connected with said vertical basepieces, the vertical base pieces and substantially vertical supporting mem-' stantially horizontal and substantially vertical members together, said interlocking pieces having portions which fit between the inner faces of the substantially vertical members and the outer faces of the overlapping connecting pieces connecting said substantially vertical members.

7 A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members, overlapping connecting pieces connecting the substantially vertical members together, and interlocking pieces connecting the substantially horizontal and substantially vertical members together, said interlocking pieces having portions which fit between the inner faces of the substantially vertical members and the outer faces of the overlapping connecting pieces connecting said substantially vertical members, and a concrete core extending through said hollow vertical members and the overlapping connecting pieces and forming a monolithic core.

8. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members, laterally projecting interlocking parts connected with the substantially horizontal members and fitting into the interior of the adjacent substantially vertical members.

9. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members, projecting interlocking arts connected with the substantially horizontal members and stantially vertical members, and interior constantially vertical members, the interlocking projections on the substantially horizontal members fitting between these connecting pieces and the inner faces of the substantially vertical members.

10. A frame construction comprising metal supporting members at an angle to each other and laterally projecting interlocking devices for connecting said supporting members together to form a rigid structure, and means for reducing the size of certain of said members as the building progresses.

- 11. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical hollow metal supporting members, interior connecting pieces connecting the substantially vertical members together end to end, means for connecting the substantially horizontal members to said substantially vertical members, a reducing connecting member on the inside of said first mentioned interior connecting member and which projects beyond the end thereof and beyond the end of the associated substantially vertical member, whereby a vertical member reduced in size ma be connected with said end of said reducing connecting member.

fitting into the interior of the adjacent sub- 12. A frame construction comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and ver tical hollow metal supporting members, interior connecting pieces connecting the substantially vertical members together end to end, means for connecting the substantially horizontal members to said substantially vertical members, a reducing connecting member on the inside of said first mentioned interior connecting member and which pro jects beyond the end thereof and beyond the end of the associated substantially vertical member, whereby a vertical member reduced in size may be connected with said end of said reducing connecting member, a supporting piece surrounding said reducing connecting member and upon which the end of said reduced vertical member rests.

13. A frame structure comprising hollow vertical supporting members and horizontal members, and an interior member in the hollow vertical members and extending above and below the point where the horizontal members are connected to the vertical members.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature this 8th day of September 1919.

GUSTAVUS A. E. KOHLER.