US2124519A - Building structure - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1938.

E. H. PIERSEN ET AL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS EDWIN H. PIER$EN & JOHN C. ANDERSON.

A TORNEY. I

y 1938. E. H. PIERSEN ET AL 2,124,519 1 BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDWIN H. PIERSEN 5 JOHN c. ANDERSON.

A TTORNE Y.

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July 19, 1938. E. H. PIERSEN ET'AL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed D sc. 6. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 V INVENTORS v EDWIN H. PIERSEN 5! JOHN C- ANDERSON.

A TTORNEY July 19, 1938. E. H. PIERSEN ET AL 2,124,519

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1933 5 SheetE-Sheet 5 kf M/i y k INVENTORS EDWIN H. PIERSEN 5 y JOHN C. ANDERSON.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES BUILDING STRUCTURE Edwin H. Piersen and John C. Anderson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Unitype Engineering Company, Reno, Nev.,

a corporation of Nevada Application December 6, 1933, Serial No. 701,187

22 Claims.

This invention relates to the structure of buildings generally but more particularly to those of one, two or three stories in height, having a solely metallic skeleton structure and intended for residential purposes, schools, clubs, etc.

Heretofore, opportunities for architectural diversification in buildings of this general class have been very limited; the structures did not have sufiicient stability to withstand cyclone'and earthquake without damage; and the design thereof did not insure accuracy in fabrication nor provide expedient means for accomplishing a thickness of wall suitable to the varying requirements of usage and climate. Furthermore, the high cost of such structures has barred extensive use thereof. Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a Wall frame which comprises a plurality of metallic structural units each having vertically, horizontally and/or diagonally disposed members of standard structural'shapes rigidly assembled in various combinations.

Another object is to provide a metallic structural wall unit having a minimum of weight and a maximum of strength.

Another object is to provide expedient and economical means for eifecting a rigid bond between such a structural wall unit and an adjacent unit of like form.

Another object is to provide a metallic structural wall unit which comprises vertically disposed side members of such form and arrangement that when two of such units are rigidly joined edge to edge, the side member of one unit cooperates with the adjacent side member of the other unit to form a structurally eflicient column which will adequately support superimposed loads.

Another object is to provide means for anchoring such units to a cementitious or other foundation either directly or through the medium of joists mounted thereon.

Another object is to provide a metallic structural wall unit which comprises a horizontally disposed member arranged as an integral part of the unit structure and located at or near the top thereof to serve as a unit spandrel beam extending from one of the formed columns to another, thereby providing an element integral with the unit structure on which floor joists and/or roof trusses may be supported and by which the loads thereof may be transmitted to said formed columns, thus obviating any requirement for uniformity in spacing of the said columns and consequently enable spacing of floor joists and roof trusses in the most economical manner regardless of the spacing of said columns.

Another object is to secure greater accuracy and uniformity in the measurements of such units and assure permanence in alignment of the component parts thereof. 7

Another object is to provide a metallic structural unit comprising furring means adapted to accomplish any predetermined desired thickness of wall.

Another object is to provide a metallic structural wall unit of this character which can be fabricated with utmost dispatch and at low cost in a factory equipped with modern production facilities.

Another object is to provide such a metallic structural wall unit which will enable a wide range of diversification in architectural design.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective View of a house structure embodying the primary elements of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a first-story structural wall unit suitable for a location in which a window is desired.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a first-story structural wall unit suitable for a location in which a door is desired.

Fig. 4 is an isometric View of a first-storystructural wall unit suitable for a location where an opening isnot required.

Fig. 5 is an isometric View of an upper story structural wall unit.

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an assembly of wall units with floor and roof supporting joists or trusses.

Fig. '7 is an isometric view of a structural wall unit showing one form of furring means.

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a structural wall unit showing another form of furring means.

Fig. 91s a side elevation of a bonding device between the vertical side members of two "adjacent structural wall units joined in the same plane.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken on a line ll lof Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an isometric View showing portions of structural wall units united by different forms of devices such as a combined bonding and splicing device and a combined bonding and anchoringdevice, said devices being primarily applicable to upper story units.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a bonding device between the vertical side members of --tW0 adjacent structural Wall units joined at right angles.

Fig. 14 is another elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on a line [5-45 of Fig. 13. a

Fig. 16 is an elevationshowing the means for anchoring the structural wall units directly to a cementitiousfoundation. I r

Fig. 1''! is a plan view of the same. Fig. 18 is a sectional view, taken on a line I8:l8 of Fig. 1'7. Fig. '19 is a sectional View, takenona line' l9l9 of Fig. 17. V

Fig. 20 is an elevation showing. the means for anchoring the structural wall u'nits to floor joists restingon a foundation. I a I Fig. 21 is a plan view ofthe same.

-Fig. 22 is a sectional viewftaken' on a line 22-'22 of Fig. 21. r

In the drawings, the metallic'structural wall unit of this'invention'is'sffo'wn as c'omprising primarily Vertically disposed side members'-3'0, a horizontally disposed member" 3|; a-"ho'rizontally disposed outside tie member 32 and inside tie member 33 secondarily, the-said unit mayalso comprise one or more horizontally disposed mem bers 34, one or more vertically" disposed mem bers 35 and a plurality of diagonally disposed members 36, the size and arrangement thereof depending upon the requirement'for doors and windows'or other openings in the wall structure portion 300. andflange portions 301;, the said member being positioned so that the webportion extends preferably at right angles to the plane'of the unit with the flange portions extending outwardly and parallel to the plane of the unit, thus constituting in effect a half column alt each. side of the'unit'. Member 31' is preferably made of an I section "comprising a web portion 3la and "flange portions 31b or, if desired; it may be made of a T' secti'on,' a chan: nel section or it may bea truss. may be merely a flat bar as shown and members 33, 34, 35 and 36 may be of angle section or otherwise in accordance with whatever shape would be most suitable in each instance.

In building a wall frame structure comprising such 'units," a plurality thereof; of suitable size and variety in: design; are set up and assembled edge to ed'ga'that is, 'with the member 30 of one unit in" juxtaposition to the corresponding member of the adjacenti unit and the said members are rigidly secured together by means of bonding devices" hereinafter described. 5 i j H When two offthe said units are thusassemb'led in-a common plane, theside members 3O thereof are joined together in any suitable manner that will lacc omplish'a rigidbondfas by-means 6f tie Member 32 i If desired, tie bolt 33 may thereafter be removed for similar utility elsewhere. Thus the two members 30 are combined to form a structurally eflicient load-supporting column of square or boxlike section which is thus built into the wall 7 structure thereby becoming an integral part thereof.

When two of the said units are assembled in relatively angular planes, a slightly different type of bonding device is required and this may preferably comprise tie members 39 and Ml and tie bolt ll-shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15th-e said members being permanently secured to both of the members 30 by welding'or otherwise and the tie bolt 4| being thereafter withdrawn if desired; Here alsoa structurally efiicient column effect is obtained and this is particularly so if' the tie member 39 be made to extend substantially throughout the full height of members 30".

A wall structure comprising units of this character may be erected' directly upon acementitious or other similar foundationras shown in Figs.- 16,

17, 18 and 19--by provision 'of suitable means for anchor bolts and held securely upon the founda tion' 41 by the said nuts, all of the plates 44 being established at a uniform level by means of mortar or otherwise. 7 The wall structure rests directly upon the plates 44 with the columns positioned in line with the anchor bolts 42, thus the studs 45 are positioned between tie members 32 and 33, one

7 on each side of each of said columns. "Binding plates 48,-fitting freely over studs as and under nuts 46] serve to clamp the said tie members securely down 'upon plate 44 when the said nuts are drawn tight and thus'the wall structure as a whole is securely anchored to the foundation. When it is desired to have the'wall structure supported through the medium of joists resting upon' the foundation,as shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22it is preferable to provide a sill member 49 extending in the plane of the wall and secured to the joists 50 in any suitable manner, preferably by welding. The sill member 39 may be of any suitable shape but an angle section as shown is usually most advantageous. The wall structure is then erected upon said sill member and secured thereto in any suitable manner such as bolts 5| extending upwardly through the horizontal web of the sill member, between tie members 32 and 33, and equipped with nuts 52. Binding plates'53, fitting freely on bolts 5.! and under nuts 52, serve to clamp the said tie members securely down upon the sill member 49 when the said nuts are drawn tight and thus the wall structure as a whole is securely anchored to the joists150.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, the horizontally disposed member 3l serves as a unit spandrel beam to support floor joists 5 5 or roof trusses 55 which rest thereupon and are permanently and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by means of rivets or-bolts but preferablyby welding. Thus the load of upper floors and roofs V istransmitted to the columns formed by'the side members 30. Many advantages result from this feature of the structural wall unit. For example: (a) --The requirement for uniform spacing ofthe column is obviated thus permitting of relatively wide variation in the widths of Wall units and thereby satisfying any reasonable architectural desire.

(b) -F1oor joists and roof trusses do not have to be uniformly or methodically spaced but they may be arranged in the most economical manner without regard to the location of doors or windows or other openings in the wall which affect the spacing of the columns. 7

It will be understood that the structural wall unit of this invention extends substantially one story in height and when a structure of more than one story is erected, a series of units, similar in general form, are used for each storythe units of the second story being superimposed upon those of the first story and units of the third story superimposed upon those of the second, thus constituting tiers of assembled units. U

Anchoring the units of one story to the'units of the story'above and/or below it, if any, may be accomplished in various ways. As shown in Fig. 6, the members 30 of the superimposed unit may be spliced to the corresponding members of the unit below by means of a bar 56 which is preferably positioned within the recess of the columns formed by the members 39 of adjacent units, as previously described, the said bar extending for a substantial distance above and below the juncture of the said members, and the splice'may be made effective by means of bolts 51 passing through the adjacent side members 30 and bar 56, or otherwise if desired. However a preferred form of splicing der vice is shown in Fig. 12. This form not only provides for splicing the superimposed unit to the unit below but it also serves as a bonding device by means of which sidewise adjacent units are joined together. As here shown, this combined splicing and bonding device is very similar in character to the bonding device shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11 and comprises tie-and-splice members 58 and tie bolts 59, each of said tie members partially shrouding the two half columns of the upper and lower units and extending for a substantial distance above and below the juncture thereof, and the tie bolts being spaced on each side of said juncture. Furthermore, when an upper-story column is not positioned directly over the column in the next lower story but rests on the beam member 3|, a combined bonding and anchoring device may be employed. A preferred form of such device is also shown in Fig. 12 and comprises tie-and-anchor members 60 and tie bolt 6!, said members partially shrouding the two half columns of the upper-story units and being provided with portions 60a which underlie the flange portion 38b of member 3| and effect contact with the underside of said flange portion thus serving to anchor the upper-story unit to the beam member of the lower unit. As in the case of the bonding device shown-in Figs. 9, l0 and 11, the members 58 and 39 are permanently secured to the half columns and to the beam member 3! by welding or otherwise and the tie bolts 59 and 6! may thereafter be removed if desired.

In order to provide vertical clearance between member 3| and members 32 and 33 for the floor beams of. upper stories, the side members 30 of the upper-story units have a portion 300 which extends below members 32 and 33, as shown in detail in Fig. 5. With this exception, upperstory units may be substantially the same in all general respects as those of the first story.

For example 2- In conjunction with a wall frame comprising metallic structural units, as herein described, the invention comprises furring means for accomplishing any desired thickness of wall. Such means may take various forms, but, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it embodies primarily vertically disposed metallic members 62 or 63 which may be of any suitable light-weight structural form but preferably of channel section, as shown.

Under certain conditions, wherein. it is desired to have a thickness of wall not greatly in excess of that of the wall unit structure, the furring members, such as 62, may be attached directly to the members of the said structure (as shown in Fig. '7) and secured thereto in any'suitable manner but preferably by welding and, in such instances, the breadth of the channel section determines or controls primarily'the thickness of the finished wall.

However, when it is desired to have a much greater thickness of wall than that of the wall unit structure, the furring members, such as 63, may be spaced from the said unit structure (as shown in Fig. 8) preferably by means of lateral horizontal members 64, attached to some of the members comprising the said unit structure, and longitudinal horizontal members 65 attached to the members 64, bothof which may be of any suitable lightweight structural form but preferably of channel section as shown. Members 63, 64 and 65 may be rigidly secured one to the other and member 34 securely anchored to the unit structure by means of clips, wires or other suitable means but preferably by welding each juncture in the assemblage so as to obtain rigidity and strength in the whole framework. It will be apparent that the length of members 64 is the major factor in controlling the thickness of the finished wall.

With either of these furring arrangements, the members 62 or 63 serve as the structural mounting for metallic lath, wire mesh or other plaster base which may be attached thereto by any suitable means, and upon this base the exterior stucco or veneer and the interior plaster may be applied thus making a completed wall having the desired thickness. Or, if desired, plasterboard, or other insulating material may be attached directly to the structure of the wall units in lieu of the furring and metal lath as a base for the plaster finish, or .such materials may be left in their natural state and suitably decorated.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have thus provided a wall structure for buildings which accomplishes the objectives herein set forth and described, and it willbe understood that the details ofdesign and construction disclosed are to be considered as merely illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: l

1. A I wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units, each of said units having vertically disposed side members, a horizontally disposed top member extending from one of said side members to the other, rigidly secured thereto and adapted to serve as a support for floors and roofs, transmitting the loads thereof to said side members, and two horizontally disposed bottom members spaced apart and extend- 2.'A wall: frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units arranged relatively edgewise horizontally and in tiers, each of said units having Vertically, disposed side members of channel section arranged with the side walls of said channel extending parallel to the plane of said unit and projecting outwardly so as to establish a hollow column as an integral element of said wall frame atreach juncture of two units when the same are arranged adjacent edgewise and the respectively adjacent side members thereof are rigidly joined one to'the other, and a splice member positioned within the hollow of said column and extending above and below the juncture of said tiers, said splice member being rigidly secured to the adjacent side members of the units in' one tier and the corresponding side members of the units in the adjacent tier.

3. A wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units, each of said units having vertically disposed sideflmembers'of such form and so positioned therein as to effect a hollowcolumn structure when two of said units are arranged adjacent and secured sidewise, one to the other, a,horizontally disposed top member extending from one of said side members to the other, rigidly secured thereto and adapted to serve as a support for floors and roofs, transmitting the loads thereof to said hollow-column structure, and two horizontally disposed bottom members. spaced apart and extending from one of said side members to the other, rigidly secured thereto and spaced from the lower end thereof when said unit is applied to an upper story of a building. I

4. In a Wall framecomprising a'plurality of metallic structural units arranged relatively edgewise horizontally andeach having vertically disposed side members of channel section ar ranged with the channel facing outwardly, a de- .vice adapted to engage'the respectively adjacent side members of adjacent units on opposite sides 7 of said channel and rigidly unite one unit to the other, 'said device comprising, 'in combination,

-' two duplicate elements having the form of a channel and disposed so as to embrace said respectively adjacent side members and hold the same in fixed relation one to the other and a third elementadapted to bind said other elements into engagement with said side members, thus creating a hollow column which becomes an integral ele'-' ment of the wall frame at each juncture'of two units.

5. In a'wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units arranged edge to edge horizontally and spaced slightly apart, said units having vertically disposed side members of'channel section arranged with the channel facing outwardly, a device adapted to engage the respectively adjacent side members of adjacent units on opposite sides of said channel and rigidly unite one unit to the other, said device comprising, in combination, two, duplicate elements having the form of a channel and disposed so as to embrace said respectively adjacent side members of adjacent units and hold the same spaced apart and in fixed relation one to the other, said elements 1 having an aperture coinciding with the space between said units, and a tension member extending through said apertures and between said units and adapted to bind said elements into engagement with said side members, thus creating a hollow column which becomes an integral element of the wall frame at each juncture of two units. 7 7

'6. In. conjunction with a wall frame comprising. a plurality of metallic structural units having vertically disposed side members of channel section arranged with the channels facing out- Wardly so as to constitute a hollow column structure when two'units-are united edge to edge, said units also having two horizontally disposed bottom members spaced apart and extending from one ofsaid side members to the other and rigidly secured thereto, means for anchoring said wall frame directly to a cementitious foundation, said means comprising in combination, a base plate, means to secure said plate to said foundation, said plate having two upwardly extending projections formed integral therewith and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said column, and binding means associated with each of said projections whereby the wall frame may be imposed upon said base plate with said projections disposed between said bottom members, one on each side of said column, and said binding means appliedto secure-said bottom members to said plate and therethrough secure the wall frame structure to said foundation. r v

7. In conjunction with awall frame comprising a, plurality of metallic structural units having vertically disposed side members of channel section arranged with the channels facing outwardly so as to constitute a hollow column structure when two units are united edge to edge, said units also having two horizontally disposed bottom members spaced apart and extending from one of said side members to the other and rigidly securedv thereto, means for anchoring said wall frame to a foundation structure comprising a plurality of joists and a sill member imposed thereon and rigidly secured thereto, said means comprising, in combination, a plate member, and binding means associated with said plate member and said still member and disposed between said bottom members, whereby the wall frame may be imposed upon said sill member and said plate member imposed upon said bottom members, one on each side of said column, and said binding means applied to secure said bottom members to said sill member thereby anchoring the wall frame to said foundation structure.

8. In'conjunction with a wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units rigidly united edgewise, means for anchoring said structural units, directly to a ceme'ntitious foundation, which consists in the provision of a base 'plate having a plurality of projections formed integral therewith, means to secure said plate to a the foundation, and binding means associated with said projections spaced fromsaid plate and adapted to engage the structure of the wall frame .units whereby the said frame may be securely attached to said plate.

9. In conjunction with a wall frame comprising a iplurality of metallic structural units rigidly united edgewise, means for anchoring said structural units to a foundation structure comprising'a plurality of joists and a sill member imposed thereon and rigidly secured thereto, which consists in the provision of'a plate member adapted to engage the structure of thewall frame units at a point spaced above saidsill "member, and binding means associated with 'said plate member and the sill member whereby the wall frame may besecurely attached to the sill member. 7 I 7 10. In conjunction with, a wall frame consisting of a plurality of metallic structural units, furring means comprising an assemblage of metallic members rigidly secured one to the other, the inner members of said assemblage being horizontally disposed at right angles to the plane of said units and securely attached to the metallic structure thereof, and the outermost members of said assemblage being vertically disposed and adapted to support a plaster base in a plane spaced from the plane of said units but parallel therewith, the length of said inner member being the major factor in establishing the extent of the space between said planes and thereby a predetermined thickness of the finished wall may be predicated primarily upon the length of said inner members.

11. A wall unit comprising a plurality of metallic members arranged in a common plane and rigidly assembled to form a unitary structure, two of said members having a rib-like form and being disposed vertically, one at each side of said structure, with the plane of ribbed portions thereof extending parallel to the plane of the unit, the other members of said unit being variously disposed, some horizontally and others diagonally, between said vertical members and arranged relative thereto so as to reinforce the same and thereby assure rigidity and permanency in alignment of said structure as a whole.

12. A wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units arranged relatively edgewise horizontally and in tiers, each of said units having vertically ribbed side members adapted to cooperate with the respective side members of edgewise adjacent units to form a ribbed column as an integral element of the wall frame at each juncture of two units, and a device arranged to extend above and below the juncture of said tiers and adapted to engage the cooperating side members of the units in one tier and the corresponding side members of the units in the adjacent tier whereby said column is made continuous throughout the several tiers.

13. A wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units arranged relatively edgewise horizontally and in tiers, each of said units having vertically ribbed side members adapted bound together and said tiers are spliced one to' the other whereby said column is madecontinuous throughout the several tiers.

14. A wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural unitsarranged relatively edgewise horizontally and in tiers, each of said units having vertically ribbed side members adapted to cooperate with the respective side members of edgewise adjacent units to form a ribbed column, as an integral element of the wall frame at each juncture of two units, each of said units also having a horizontally disposed member extending from one side member to the other at the top thereof, said member being formed and arranged so as to constitute a spandrel beam, integral with the unit structure,'for transmitting loads imposed thereupon to the respective side members, and a combined bonding and anchoring device associated with the cooperating side members and the spandrel beam member therebelow whereby, when said side members are superimposed upon said beam member, said side upon each unit intermediate the side members will be transmitted to the respective side members, each of said units also having two horizontally disposed bottom members extending from one of said side members to the other, rigidly secured thereto, and arranged with their lower faces flush with the lower ends of said side members, said bottom members being spaced apart thus providing for the application of a binding device extending therebetween and bearing against the upper face of each of said bottom members whereby each unit may be securely anchored to a foundation or sillstructure when said unit is applied to the first story of a building.

16. A wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units arranged relatively edgewise, each of said units having vertically disposed side members formed and arranged so as to accomplish per se a structurally efiicient load-supporting column of box-like section as a constituent element of said wall frame at each juncture of two units when the same are arranged adjacent edgewise and the respectively adjacent side members thereof are rigidly joined one to the other, each of said units also having a top, member extending from one of said side members to the other and rigidly secured thereto, thus becoming an integral part of said unit, said top member having a crosssectional form analogous to a standard struc tural' girder suitable for' service as a spandrel beam whereby the loads of floors and roofs imposed upon each unit intermediate the side members will betransmitted to the respective columns,

' each of said units also having two horizontally disposed bottom members extending from one of said side members to the other, rigidly secured thereto and arranged with their lower faces flush with the lower ends of said side members, said bottom members beingspaced apart thus providing for the application of a binding device extending therebetween and bearing against the upper face of each of said bottom members whereby each unitmay be securely anchored to a foundation or sill structure when said unit is applied to the first story of a building, and metallic means to rigidly unite said respectively adjacent side members.

1'7. In conjunction with a wall frame consisting of a plurality of metallic structural units, furring means comprising a plurality of elongated members disposed in a vertical plane lying parallel with the plane of said wall frame but spaced therefrom, and spacing means comprising a plurality of elongated members secured to said units and extending longitudinally at right angles to the plane thereof whereby the length of said last mentioned members constitutes the major factor in the thickness of the finished wall.

18. A structural unit comprising a rigid assemblage of elongated metallic members arranged so as to constitute a frame suitable for load-bearing service when united edgewise with similar units in the formation of a wall, two of said members constituting the vertical 7 side members 'of said frame and being formed so as to provide 'columnar elements within the-unitstructure for su porting loads superimposed" upon said frame, another of said members constitutingthe top member of said frame and being formed so' as to provide a spandrel beam'within the unit structure which will transmit to said columnar elements the loads imposed upon said unit intermediate said side members, and twoother of said members consti tuting the bottom members of said frame, said bottom members being relatively spaced horizontally thus providing for the application of a binding device extending therebetween and bearing against the top face of each of said bottom men bers whereby said framemay besecured to a supporting structure; 7 I a a a 19. A structural unit comprising a rigid assem I blage of elongated metallic members arranged so as to constitute a frame suitable for load-bearing service when united edgewise lwithlsimilar units in the formation of a wall, two of said members constituting the vertical side members 'of said frame and being fo'rmed so as to provide columnar elements within the unit structure for supporting loads superimposed upon-said frame, another of said members constituting the top member of said frame and being formed 'so as to provide a spandrel beam within the unit structure which will transmit to said columnar elements the loads imposed upon-said unit intermediate said side within said frame and arranged so as to provide, for' an opening through said wall; j I

'20.".A'. structural unit comprising a rigid assemblage of elongated metallic" members arranged'so as to constitute a frame suitable "for load-bearing service when united edgewise with similar units in the formation of 'a wall, two of.

s'aid'members'constituting the vertical 'side members of said frame, each side member being formedas a channel and arranged with the chan- 1 nel--s ide :walls extendingv outwardly parallel 'to the-plane of the unit so as to constitute onehalf of a box-like column and thus: provide, columnar elementswithin the unit structure for supporting loads superimposedupon said frame, another of said members constituting thetop member of said frameand'being formed so as to provide a spandrel'beam withinthe unit structure which will transmit to said'columnarelemerits the loads imposed upon said unit intermediate said side members, another of said members constituting a'bottom member of said'frame,

others of said members being disposed within 7 said frame and arranged so as to provide for an opening through said wall, and still others of said members being arranged toextend diagonally from one of said side members to one of said last mentionedmembers so as to reinforce said side member against horizontal flexure thus obtaining extraordinary rigidity of said frame and enabling said side member to better support the load transmitted thereto by said spandrel beam.

21. In a wall frame comprising a'plurality of metallic structural units, two of said units being arranged adjacent edgewise and disposed in relatively angular vertical planes, each of said units having vertically disposed side members of channel section arranged with the channel facing outwardly, a device adapted to engage the respectively adjacent side members of the said two units and rigidly unite one of the said two units to the other, said device comprising, incombination; two channel-embracing elements adapted to embrace said respectively adjacent side members and hold the same in fixed relation one to,

the other, and a third element adapted to bind said other elements into engagement with said side members, thus creating a structurally effiei'ent column :of an approximately angular section which becomes an integral element of the wall frame at a corner juncture thereof.

22. In a wall frame comprising a plurality of metallic structural units, two of said units being arranged adjacent edgewise but spaced slightly apart and disposed in relatively angularvertical planes, each of said units having vertically disposed side members of channel section arranged with the channel facing outwardly, a device adapted to engage the respectively adjacent side members of the said two units and rigidly unite one'of said two units to the other, said devicecomprising, in combination, two channel-embracing elements adapted to embrace said re 7 spectively adjacent side members and hold the same spacedapart and in fixedirelationone to the other,said elements having'an aperture coin- V aiding with the space between said units, and a tension member extending through said apere,

tures and between said units and "adapted to bind said two elements into engagement with said side members, thus creating a structurally efficient column of an approximately, angular sec"- tion which becomes an integral element of the" wall frame :at a'corner juncturethereof.

EDWIN H. iPIERSEN. JOHN-C. ANDERSON.

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