US2054189A

US2054189A - Building construction

Info

Publication number: US2054189A
Application number: US649158A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert F Bemis
Original assignee: Bemis Industries Inc
Current assignee: Bemis Industries Inc
Priority date: 1932-12-28
Filing date: 1932-12-28
Publication date: 1936-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1953-09-15

Description

A. F. BEMIS Sept; 15, 1936.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E W. 2% k Sept. 15, 1936. A, F, BEM|$ 2,054,189

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dem-28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jrwerzior zZZerZ 22 fier7zl'a Sept. 15, 1936. A F B 2,os4;1s9

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 15, .1936

PATENT OFFICE 2.054.189 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Albert F. Bemis, Newton, Mass., assignor to Bemis Industries, Incorporated, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1932, Serial No. 649,158

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in building construction and more particularly to an arrangement of frame members andcooperating parts adapted to permit the rapid erection of walls, such as partition walls, to be employed in oflice buildings and the like.

It is now commonly recognized that the interior partitions in many buildings, such as office buildings, require rearrangement at frequent intervals to suit the requirements of different tenants. Yarious types of paneled partitions have been provided which require individual fitting and erection in situ, thus involving considerable expense as well as tending to disturb the routine of the office where the work is being carried on. Accordingly, in some cases much of this work is done at night with increased labor costs and lower labor efficiency. 1

The present invention affords a framework which essentially comprises similar members, e. g. channels, to provide the various frame elements such as sills, girts, posts and studs, connecting means being provided to permit the ready connection of these parts to suit substantially any requirement, so that a minimum ofspecial cutting and shaping of parts is necessary to permit a wall of this character to fit within any desired space. Preferably the channel elements are provided with rows of uniformly spaced openings of novel character which not only facilitate the connection of brackets for joining the frame members to each other, but which also permit the easy connection of preformed paneling members, as well as preformed finishing elements such as baseboard members cornice, and the like.

In many locations where partitions of this character are desired, the floor and ceiling surfaces are somewhat uneven rather than being perfectly planar and horizonta, and it has heretofore been necessary to cut the parts specially to fit the irregularities of such floor and ceilings. The present invention affords a partition wherein the horizontal and vertical members may be accurately located, special means being provided to permit the concealing and covering of irregular joints between the horizontal frame members and the adjoining walls, ceilings or the like. Furthermore, the frame members may be formed in standardized lengths and the means provided for this purpose may be arranged so that the wall may have a height amounting to some irregular dimension between the even dimensions in which the frame members are provided. Thus, for example, the frame members may be provided in standard lengths which differ from one another by multiples of a small uniform dimension such, for example, as two inches, and the uniformly arranged openings may also be spaced at similar modular distances. When a wall is erected in accordance with this invention, frame members may be selected from stock to extend to substantially the desired height, and special coping, and/ or baseboard arrangements may be employed to permit the filling of the spaces between the horizontal members of the frame of standardized height and the ceiling and/or floor. Thus, for example, the wall, although primarily formed of parts having their horizontal and vertical edges accurately located in horizontal and vertical planes, and having dimensions which are an even multiple of a determined module may in fact have a height amounting to an irregular dimension which may have no definite relation to the module and also the wall may fill a space bounded by a floor or ceiling the surfaces of which are not accurately located in horizontal planes.

One important aspect of the invention pertains to the arrangement of the modularly spaced openings so that they are adapted to permit parts of the similar section to be employed in various parts of the frame, as desired. Thus a stock of the parts suitable for making substantially any desired size or shape of wall frame may require a comparatively small number of different sizes and types of members. The openings themselves are arranged to interfit with various types of fastening or connecting elements, for this purpose each being primarily in the form of a round opening with radial extensions or preferably in the form of crossed slots with a rounded enlargement at the intersection of the slots. The rounded enlargements may receive bolts or similar round fastening members of relatively long diameter, while the slots may receive hooked fastening elements or smaller bolts, screws or the like. Thus, an a I rangement of this character has a wide adamability to use under different conditions, and permits the employment of various convenient fastening arrangements which may be especially advantageous in individual cases.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical wall constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a'broken vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a similar section through a. portion of a slightly different type of wall;

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal section showing onepost arrangement at a wall intersection, and

showing the manner in which a door frame or the like may be mounted in a wall of this type;

Fig. 5 is a broken isometric view showing a typical connecting arrangement employed between horizontal and vertical frame members and also showing the manner in which wall panels may be secured to the framework;

Fig. 6 is an isometric detail with parts shown in section illustrating a four-way post assembly;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a two-way post assembly;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail showing an assembly of the type illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through an optional door frame assembly arrangement;

Fig. 10 is a section on line II0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the upper part of a wall showing an optional arrangement for making the wall adjustable to engage ceilings of different heights.

, Referring to the accompanying drawings, and first more particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the frame members are shown in the form of channels of similar cross section, thus the sill I may extend horizontally along the lower part of the wall and may comprise a channel with upstanding parallel legs. In the erection of a wall of this character the sill is preferably arranged so that it may be horizontal, suitable shims 2 being employed for this purpose if the floor affords appreciable irregularities. The studs 3 which are secured to sill I may be in the form of similar channels having the lower ends of their legs resting upon the upper edges of the upstanding legs of the sill. The bight portions and the legs of the channel members may be provided with modularly spaced openings 5, these openings being arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the channels, and being uniformly spaced from each other. Each opening 5 preferably comprises a central rounded portion 6 with radial slot-like extensions I, four of these slot-like extensions extending at right angles to each other, with two of the extensions extending in the direction of extent of the frame member, and the other two extensions being disposed at right angles to this extent. Thus, each of the openings 5 in fact comprises slots having their mid-portions crossing each other, and having a rounded enlargement at the region of intersection or crossing of the slots.

The openings 5 are advantageously employed for securing the studs 3 to the sills I. For this purpose right angular brackets Ill (Fig. 5) may be provided with openings arranged to register with the enlargements 6 of the openings 5 in the bight portion of the sill and in the corresponding portion of the stud. Suitable fastening bolts II are then employed to secure the bracket to.the bight portions of the stud and sill. Each of these bolts II preferably has a shank with a diameter which fits within the enlargement 6 of an opening 5, but which will not slide into one of the narrower slots orradial extensions I. The girts 8 may have a cross section similar to that of the studs and sills, and may have openings 5 similarly arranged therein, right angled brackets also .being' employed to secure the girts to the studs. 7

The post assemblies which are provided at the corners and/or intersections of walls may in general be built up of channels of the same general type as are employed for the sills, studs and" girts. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the sills I define the lower portions of walls meeting at right angles to provide a corner. The channel elements 3 which may be similar to the studs and. which may be secured to the sills in a similar manner are mounted at the ends of the sills l, so that their legs lie in planes at right angles to each other. Right angular brackets I5 may be secured to the bight portions of the vertical channels 3, these brackets being arranged at intervals along the height of the channels and being formed of sheet metal to provide planar sections at right angles to each other having a width substantially corresponding to the width of the bight portions of channels 3, and having inturned flanges I6 at right angles to these planar portions, the flanges I6 however having their outer faces substantially in the planes of the inner faces of the adjoining legs of the channels. A continuous right-angled sheet metal element I8,is welded to the flanges I6, this element I8 being provided with openings 5 similar to the openings 5 within the channels. Thus, the member I8 may have several of the brackets I5 welded thereto in spaced relation, and may in effect afford a substantially square filler member to engage the upright channels 3 of intersecting walls. To permit the facile engagement of such a filler member with these channels, the planar portions of angle brackets I5 preferably are provided with struck-out hooks I9 having depending portions 20 and necks M, the necks 2| being received in extensions or slots 1 of openings 5 and the depending portion 20 extending below the end of such slots to ensure the firmretention of the filler member in place.

Figs. 6 and 8 illustrate'a four-way post assembly which may comprise an inner channel member 30 and a cooperating plate 3| which has its edges juxtaposed to the inner faces of the legs of channel 30. This plate forms a stiffener for the adjoining channel 3, to which it is secured by suitable bolts 33. The channel 30 has its legs and bight portion connected to the other three channels 3 in the remaining three of the four intersecting walls. These channels may be secured to the corresponding sills I in the manner already described, but preferably a bracket of channel cross section is employed, such a. bracket 35 being illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6 and having substantially triangular side portions 36 integral with bight portions 31 which are disposed in planes at right angles to each other and meet at the corner of the bracket. The bight portions 31 are provided with openings to receive fastening bolts 38 to engage the corresponding bight portions of the sill channels I and to receive similar fastening elements for connection with therbight portions of the upright channels 3, or the sides or legs of channel 30 or the stiffening plate 3|. The sides 36 of these brackets are provided with openings similarly to engage fastening elements for connection with the openings 5 in the legs of channels I and 3. As shown in this form of the invention, the sills I may be cut oil so that they do not extend to the area of intersection of the walls, but so that their ends abut the legs of the upright channels which rest upon or are juxtaposed to the floor. The channels 3 at each side of and directly adjoining the stiffening plate 3| and the channel 3 which,is directly secured to that plate.

When a door-opening or the like is to be provided in the wall, studs 3 support the door jamb elements and frame members. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, metal plates having inturned hook elements 46 may be received in the downwardly projecting extensions of certain of the openings 5 in the legs of a channel 3, the plates 45 carrying spring or resilient elements 41 which have outwardly inclined end portions 48 with inwardly curved extremities 49. Channel brackets 50 are secured by screw bolts 5| to the bight portion of the, channel 3, these bolts preferably having shanks of a diameter to be received in the central portions of the modularly spaced openings 5. Preferably the channel brackets 50 are welded to channel-like door jamb members 53 which form the vertical elements of the door frame that may be connected by a suitable lintel or horizontal element. The sheet metal frame elements 54 may have a transverse lintel element 54 connected thereto, Fig. 1, and have inwardly extending flanges 55 with inturned extremities 56 that are snapped under the ends of resilient members 41 so that the members 54 are retained, with flanges 56, in engagement with the legs of jamb member 53 and with opposite inturned flanges 56 in engagement with a finish panel 60.

The finish panels 60 may be secured to the frame in any suitable manner, but preferably an arrangement such as is shown in my copending application, Serial No. 516,894, filed February 19, 1931, may be employed. As more fully disclosed and described in that application, key strips 6! may be provided with metal backing plates 8| having inwardly extending hooks 62 to engage suitable openings in the frame members, these key strips being effective in holding the rabbeted main panels 60 in place. The frame construction which is disclosed herein is particularly advantageous when employed with a fastening arrangement of this character, since the openings 5 readily receive the hooked elements 62. In certain cases, as for example, a three-way post assembly, the frame elements or vertical channels may be connected after the finish panels 60 are assembled upon one of the walls. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, the channel 3 may be a conventional stud of the type previously described, while the channel 3 may be of similar form, but may have an elongate hooked extension 10 to extend between the ends of panels 60 of the wall, wherein the channel 3 is located. The bight portion of the channel 3 engages the rabbeted faces of the panels 60 and this channel in turn provides legs which are connected to the keying strips 6| of its wall, in the manner already described. Obviously a three-way post assembly of this type may be modified to afford a four-way assembly merely by providing two of the channels 3 connected to an intermediate channel 3 and by suitably associating the wall panels therewith. Before the panels 60 are located upon the framework, I may connect elongate horizontally extending supporting elements 15 to the lower parts of the upright channels 3 (Fig. 2). As shown, these elements 15 may be provided with integral inturned hooks 16 to engage extensions of openings 5 in the studs, and each of these elements may have an outstanding ledge 11 with outer vertical flanges 18. The ledge and flange cooperate to afford a recess in which the lower edge of panel elements 60 and GI may be received. Thus, the panel elements have their lower edges spaced above the sill I, and since the sill I is always arranged in a horizontal plane, the edges 'of the panels are disposed so that they extend vertically and horizontally, irrespective of irregularities in the floor.

To permit this arrangement and yet to permit the baseboard assembly effectively to contact the floor, for example, despite the employment of shims 2, I provide a finish strip in the form of a sheet metal channel which has its bight portion resting on the floor which need not be exactly parallel to, or in the plane of, the bight portion of channel 3, and the member 80 has its inner leg secured in face-toface'engagement with the outer face of channel I. For this purpose resilient elements 82 are provided'havi'ng inverted U-shaped portions 83 to clamp the adjoining legs of the member 89 and the sill I' in firm engagement. The member 82 also has an upwardly inclined portion 84 with its end juxtaposed to the upper edge of the outer leg of finishing strip 80. A baseboard member 85 is formed of sheet metal, and its upper part ,isprovided with a depending flange 89, which is received between the flange 18 of the elongate strip 11 and the faces of the paneling members 60. The body portion of the sheet metal member 85 is disposed between the outer leg of finish strip 80 and the outer end of spring portions 84 of clips 82, these spring portions cooperating with the edge of the leg of member 89 in holding the sheet metal body portion of the baseboard'85 in place. Due to this arrangement relative sliding between the

members

80 and 85 may take place as indicated by the dot and dash line positioning of the members 80 shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the membe'rs 80 may rest upon the floor, although that portion of the floor may be substantially below the sill I and may be inclined slightly inrelation'to the sill. It is, of course, understood that the members 80 are provided in lengths which may be varied so that these members may be arranged slightly out of alignment to conform to floor irregularities.

At the upper portion of the wall, I may provide an arrangement which permits the wall to have a variable height, not only to permit the'wall readily to be erected in rooms having ceilings at different heights above the floor, but also to permit the wall readily to accommodate itself to irregularities in the ceilings. To this end, a continuous channel member 90 has its bight portion secured upon the bight portion'of the girt 8 by fastening means 9|, and has legs 93 which have a height, for example, greater than that of the spacing of holes 5, and greater than thedifference between lengths of the channels 3 which are selected from stock when the frame is assembled. A channel 94 may be secured by bolts, screws, or the like, 95 to the ceiling, and has a width such that it is in telescoping engagement with the upper portion of channel 90. Thus, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, the channel 94 may contact only the upper portion of legs 92 of channel 90, or may be disposed at a somewhat lower position within this channel. It is evident that the channels'90 and'94 cooperate with the framework built up of the similar stock channels to comprise a frame which extends between the floor and ceiling. Secured to the outer faces of legs 93 of channel 90 are the resil icnt elements 91 which have spring clip extensions 98 engaging under inturned flanges 99 upon the legs of finish members I00 of channel cross section. Thus, the members I00 may be snapped into place. Sheet metal cornice members I0! and as indicated by the full and dot and dash lines of Fig. 2. Thus the

channels

94 and 80 cooperate to provide a sliding joint in the structural portion of the wall so that this portion may 7 be readily arranged between ceilings and floors of different heights, while the members I and IOI perform a similar function in the finish portion of the wall; In order to conceal the joints between the paneling members 80 and BI and the finish strips I00, depending angle members I may be secured to the lower legs of 'thefinish members I00, as shown.

Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangementwhich may be employed when panel members III] are to be arranged above the main wall structure. In this embodiment of the invention the uprights or studs 3 and the girt 8 may be arranged in the same manner as previously described, the panels 80 also being mounted upon the sides of the main framework in the same general manner. Secured to the bight portion of girt 8 by bolts III is-a channel member II2 having outstanding flanges II3 upon its legs. Brackets II4 of channel-like cross section have their lower legs secured upon .the bight portion of member II2 bycertain of the bolts III, thus providing horizontally disposed upper legs I I5 which support the channeled intermediate portion II'I of a metal cover plate II8, this channeled portion receiving the lower edge of panel I I0 which is provided with suitable vertical and upper horizontal, channeled frame elements I20 and I2I respectively. The outwardly extending planar portions of member 8 are connected by fastening elements I23 such as screws, to the inturned flanges of coping or molding members I25 which may be formed of sheet metal and which have depending portions covering the upper edges of panels 80. Z-shaped elements I29. secured to the members I25 between the upper and lower edges provide horizontal and depending portions which engage the flanges H3 of channel H2 and the adjoining inner surfaces of its legs.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an optional arrangement for securing a metal door frame 200 to a wall channel 3. For this purpose the door frame may be formed of sheet metal and be provided with inturned flanges which are threaded to receive screws 20I securing vertically spaced plates 202 to the door frame. Vertical slots 204 may be provided in the plates 202 to permit slight adjustment of these parts to compensate for irregularities in floor level. The plates 202 are thus positioned at such a height that screws 205 extending therefrom may engage horizontal slots I in openings 5 in the bight portion of a channel 3, it being understood that in practice the plates 202 are first connected to the channel and then the door frame 200 is securedto the plates 202 by screws 20I. The finish members 54 are then secured to the, sides of the channel 3 in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 illustrates an optional arrangement for.

adjustably connecting the upper end of a wall assembly, including channels 3, to ceilings at different heights. For this purpose bolts 220 extending through openings 5 in the upper end of the bight portion of the channel 3 may clamp a connecting angle 224 to the channel, this angle being provided with an elongate vertical slot 225 to permit vertical adjustment. The upper end of the angle is received in a channel or member I,

208 which may be of the same form as the girt 8 in Fig. 2. The panels 80 may engage the sides of the vertical channels 3 in the manner already described and extend upwardly into engagement with the faces of the channel 208. A flat strip 221 may be secured between the channel 208 and the ceiling 228, and resilient clips 230 may be connected by screws 232 to the ends of strips 229, the clips 230, being arranged to engage sheet metal cornice members 2'3I. It is evident that this arrangement permits the adjustable spacing of the girt or channel 208 as well as the cornice members 23Iin relation to the upper ends of stud members or channels 3.

It is evident that this invention affords a constructional arrangement permitting the facile erection of walls, and more particularly partition walls of the type that are commonly employed in oilice buildings. Such walls may be constructed with their essential frame members selected from a stock of standardized lengths and with the finish elements such as panels, baseboards, cornices and the like quickly and readily attached, without necessity for special cutting and accurate shaping in situ. Furthermore, walls constructed in accordance with this invention afford two thicknesses of paneling with a hollow space therebetween, thus giving substantially sound deadening qualities. A relatively, smooth continuous wall surface is afforded in contrast to the conventional ofllce partitions with the frequent pilasters and numerous irregularities which tend to collect dust. A wall of this character may receive a wide variety of finishes such, for example, as V paint, paper, craftex, or even plaster. more, a hollow wall of this type even facilitates the arrangement of lighting cables or other conduits. Similarly the door frames and the finish for the same may be quickly applied due to the arrangement of the novel openings and the hooked extensions upon these elements. Although the wall and ceiling may not be disposed exactly in a horizontal planeor may not be exactly planar, the main frame members may be arranged sothat they extend accurately in horizontal and vertical directions respectively and so that the corresponding edges of the panelsare similarly located, the arrangement of the baseboard and cornice assemblies permitting the adjustment of the wall to properly extend between floors and ceilings all portions of which are not exactly parallel.

Certain modular relationships which are disclosed in the present application are more fully discussed and are claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 69,867, filed March 20, 1936f Furthergenerally round central portions with slots extending radially therefrom and at right angles to each other.

2. An elongate metal frame member for building construction, comprising a plate section having a plurality of openings therein spacedlongitudinally of the member, said openings being in the form of crossed slots, with a generally round enlargement at the intersection of the slots." I

3. A building construction comprising a frame defining a wall and including primary frame members extending along the ends of the wall and other primary frame members extending therebetween, secondary frame members extending between the last-named members. each of said members including channels of similar cross section, said channels being provided with similar rows of openings spaced uniformly, said openings being in the form of crossed slots with round enlargements at the intersections of the slots, said openings being provided in the bight portions and opposite legs of the channels.

4. Building construction comprising a wall including vertical and horizontal frame members of similar channeled cross section, panels secured to the vertical members, and said panels having their lower edges spaced from the bottom of the wall, an elongate element extending along the wall and providing a recess receiving the lower ends of the panels, a sheet metal baseboard member having a flange engaging said element, said baseboard members extending downwardly from the region of said element, a finish channel slidably having an outer leg concealing and engaging the lower part of the said baseboard member to permit the provision of an irregular joint between said member and the floor, and spring clips securing the inner leg of the finish channel to the sill and pressing the lower part of the baseboard member against its outer l 5. Building construction comprising a wall ineluding a sill, a girt and vertical members extending therebetween, panels secured to the vertical member, said panels having their lower edges disposed above the lower ends of the vertical members, a sheet metal baseboard member having a depending flange portion overlapping the lower portion of the panels and having a depending body portion with its lower margin spaced outwardly of the sill, a finish channel having an inner leg secured against the sill and having an outer leg overlapping the lower margin of the baseboard member, a channel supported by the girt and an upper channel secured above the girt in interfitting relation with the first-named channel, the finish channel and the interfitting channels providing means at the lower and upper parts of the wall respectively to permit adjust ment of the wall to extend between floor and ceiling surfaces which may be out of parallelism with each other.

6. Building construction comprising a, wall including a sill, a girt and. vertical members extending therebetween, panels secured to the vertical members, said panels having their lower edges disposed above the lower ends of the vertical members, a sheet metal baseboard member having a depending flange overlapping the lower portions of the panels and having 2, depending body portion with its lower margin spaced outwardly of the sill, a finish channel having an iner leg secured against the sill and having an on er leg overlapping the lower margin of the baseboard member, a channel supported by the girt, an upper channel secured above the girt in interfitting relation with the first-named channel, the finish channel and the interfitting channels providing means at the lower and upper parts of the wall respectively to permit adjustment of the wall to extend between fioor and ceiling surfaces which may be out of parallelism with each other, a finish member extending along one leg of the channel which is supported by the girt, spring clips secured to said channel and holding the finish member in place, and a sheet metal cornice element secured to the upper channel and having a depending portion in slidable overlapping engagement with the finish member, whereby the height of the finish portion of the wall may be adjustably varied to conform to the height of its structural portion.

7. Building construction comprising a wall including a girt, a lower channel having its bight portion secured to the girt and having upstanding legs, an upper channel secured above the girt in interfitting and slidable engagement with the first-named channel, whereby the structural portion of the wall may have a variable effective height, said upper channel having outstanding flanges connected to a ceiling portion, spring clips projecting from the flanges, a sheet metal cornice member having an inturned flange engageable between the spring clips and the ceiling portion, said cornice member having a depending portion spaced outwardly of the lower channel, spring clips secured to the outer face of the lower channel, a finish member having inwardly extending flanges with inturned extremities engageable between the ends of said spring clips and the outer face of the lower channel, the depending portion of the cornice member having a sliding overlapping engagement with the outer face of the finish member.

8. Building construction comprising a wall including frame members, panels having hooked portions engageable with openings on opposite sides of the frame members, a baseboard member movable into frictional engagement with the panels and an elongate member secured to the framework and effective in thus holding the baseboard member against the panels, finish members arranged adjoining the upper part of the frame members and including a sheet metal coping member and a cooperating member in slidable overlapping engagement therewith, and resilient spring clip means to secure the finish members to the frame members.

ALBERT F. HEM IS.