US2350093A

US2350093A - Wall structure

Info

Publication number: US2350093A
Application number: US412511A
Authority: US
Inventors: Braloff Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-09-26
Filing date: 1941-09-26
Publication date: 1944-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1961-05-30

Description

May 30, 1944. r

, H. BRALOFF WALL STRUCTURE I Filed Sept. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /)//INVENT OR.

.1 w I ATTORNEY.

May 30, 1944.

H. BRALOFF 2,350,093

WALL s nuc'runn Filed Sept. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F v INVENTOR. I 1 r M l BY l 4, ATTORNEY.

1-1. BRALOFF WALL smucwuan Filod Sept. 26 1941 May 30, 1944.

3 Sheets-Shae; 3

ATTORN Y.

Patented May 30, 1944 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE WALL'STRUCTURE Henry Bralofl, Rockville Centre, N. Y. Application September 26, 1941, SerialNo. 412,511

'7 Claims.

ing and other construction and is more particularly directed to a method and means of erecting interior walls and partitions, as well as other subdivision media. t

As is well known, in order to expedite the erection of inner walls and partitions in buildings and at the same time reduce construction costs, various types of wall constructions have been proposed, involving the use of pie-fabricated forms of numerous designs. These have generally included devices of one form or another for connecting the wall uprights, as channel members, to the floor and ceiling of .a building, together with specially shaped fittings and other media for grounding or keying plaster, which forms the wall surface to the assembled forms, certain of the constructions employing sheet metal members or elements, variously shaped for functioning as the wall base, or so-called toe or baseboard.

, All of these proposed constructions, however, fail to satisfactorily meet the demand for a wall structure that may be economically produced and erected at a minimum of cost in time and labor and yet possess the requisite stability in resisting detrimental forces set up by vibrations of the building, and properties of noncorrosion, vermin, and fire-proof and non-adherence to paint or plaster, especially in the zone of the base of the wall, together with an appearance of permanence and other characteristics that are inherent to a properly erected built-in wall. -For example, in many of the prior constructions, the

pre-fabricated portions of the wall assembly are of somewhat intricate design, not only making them-relatively expensive toproduce, but requiring a degree of skilled labor for their installation and care to prevent adherence of paint and plaster,. and laterin the maintenance against corrosion orverm-in attack. Further, the methods followedin providing a base for the wall, the so-called base or toe board, and for the bondin of the-finishing surface of plaster therewith, in prior constructions, donor, impart to'the base zone the necessary stifiness or rigidity. for resisting detrimentallateral and vertical forces and insuring a permanence of=the joint-Lire between the base-forming member and the plaster or other wall-surface-forrning material.

The general object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a method and means of erecting walls in buildings and other structures, involving the use of pie-fabricated components of a simple and practical design, which may be quickly assembled'in'lan installation and prepared for the application of plaster or other wall-surface-forrning material thereto by imskilled labor, to produce a wall structure in which the disadvantages of existing types of prefabricated and assembled wall constructions, as hereinbefore pointed out, are eliminated, thereby extending the potentialfield of utility of such constructions and especially affording an impetus to the development of pre-fabricated lowcost building development.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical method and means of construction or erecting interior walls, partition and other subdivision-forming media, in buildings and thelike, which will facilitate the completion of new constructions, as well as permit of the expediting of alterations in existing structures, with a concomitant saving in costs, and, at the same time, provide a wall or partition, the base of which will possess the desirable characteristics of non-corrosion, proof against fire and vermin-rion-peiint or plaster adherent, in conjunction with its structural stability.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a wall construction, as aforesaid, in which the base-forming member of the wall is rigidly retained in the position in which it is initially set in the erection or assembly of the wall, thereby assuring a degree of stability which, heretofore, has been unattainable in a wall construction of this general type, and so constituted as to render it possible to eifect a smooth and positive jointure between such member and the superposed wall surfacing material, as plaster, the bond between the surfacing material and the base member being ,of sufiicient density to insure positive maintenance of the jointure, even where shrinkage of the plaster may occur.

A further object of this invention is toprovide a wall construction possessing the aforementioned characteristics and advantages, in which the base-forming member is made of a nonmetallic, non-porous vermin and fire proof and non-paint and plaster adherent material having the requisite degree of stiffness or rigidity, as a plastic, or the like, in lieu of sheet metal or wood, as in existing constructions, the rigidity of the material contributingto the stability of the base and of the wall as a whole, as'wellas tothe permanence of the bond that is effected between the material and the wall surface-forming plaster,

as heretofore pointed out.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will doubtless present themselves as the description proceeds, and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents, both in structure and avenues of use, to which I may be entitled under my invention, in its broadest aspect.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, as they may be utilized in constructing or erecting single walls and partitions of the two-wall type, as in buildings and similar constructions, where plaster may form the wall-surface. However, my invention may take other forms, to meet specific requirements of production and use not only in the building construction art, but in other fields and structures, where the employment of my invention may be found to be feasible, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, showing the baseforming members associated with their retaining means as employed in the erection of a two-wall partition.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of Figure 1, with an upright wall supporting element and attached wire lath, assembled in the retaining means.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the invention shown in Figure 1, as used in the erection of a single wall.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevationof the structure of Figure 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof, showing the building wall and an upright of my assembly,-with attached wire lath.

Figure 5 is a perspective of another embodiment of my invention, as it may be utilized in the erection of a two-wall partition, showing a modification of the retaining means of Figure 1, and a method of bracing the base-forming members.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the structure shown in the preceding figure, showing a wall upright, with wire lath attached thereto, in position within the retaining means.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the retaining means illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective, illustrating a modified form of the retainin means shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a variation in the form of the retaining means of Figure B, as designed for a single wall construction.

Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the structure shown in Figure 9, showing the retainer as it is fixed to thefioor, or other supporting surface.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, illustrative of the position of the assembly, relative to the building wall, with the upright and plaster receiving medium attached thereto, in place in the retaining means, and

Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a baseforming member and retainer therefor adapted to be fastened directly to an existing wall.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference ar employed to designate similar parts in the several views, and more particularly to the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2,.in which I haveshown a pre-- ferred form of practicing my invention, in the erection of a two-wall partition, I 0 indicates a so-called fioor channel, preferably of sheet metal, although it may be formed of other material suitable to the purpose, the web of which is apertu d at predetermined points along its median line, as at H. These apertures may be elongated, as shown, or of other shape, to receive means for positively securing the channel to the floor or other supporting surface, as the nails I la, shown in Figure 2. In the construction of a partition, one or several of these floor channels may be used, depending upon the length of the wallto be erected and the lengths of the channels. Where a plurality of channels are required, the ends of the juxtaposed channels may abut upon each other to form a continuous track, or the channels may be appropriately spaced relatively to each other, in axial alignment.

When the channels ID are located and fastened in their prescribed positions upon a floor or the like, generally indicated at chalk line I2, they are ready for the reception of the base-forming members l3 of the wall, which correspond gen erally to the conventional baseboard of the builtin wall, as providin a finishing and decorative adjunct to the base thereof. However, whereas, the conventional baseboard merely serves as a finishing piece, the base-forming member l3 of the present invention contributes materially to the strengh and stability of the entire wall assembly and upon the completion of the wall, virtually becomes an integral part of its surface, as, hereinafter, will become apparent.

The aforesaid member I3 conforms generally in contour to a conventional baseboard and may be.

of any suitable length, width and thickness, the upper edge or top taking the form of a V-shaped groove l4, while the bottom edge is centrally slotted, as at 15, one ofthe vertical surfaces defining this slot being undercut, as at 16. As will be evident, the slot I5 is provided for locating said base-forming member '3 upon the floor channel ID, in engagement with one of the upstanding flanges l1 thereof, in the association of the member with the channel, the longer slot-defining surface I61: being placed to the outside of the.

flange, so that the bottom edge thereof will rest upon the floor, while the corresponding edge of the shorter or undercut surface It, will abut upon, or be poised above the channel web, the tolerance between the walls of the slot and the flange providing for a snug or close fit, yet permitting of the placement of the member in its functioning position upon the channel, without the use of tools or implements.

' When the base-forming member is seated or located upon'the channel, as described, it will be manifest that said member will becme a virtual upward continuation of the channel flange, the latter, of course, being housed or concealed within the slot l5, the rigidity of the flange and the spaced bearing surfaces l6 and Mia of the baseforming member contributing to the maintenance of a stable assembly. The stability of this interconnection of the base-forming member and the floor channel is appreciably enhanced, following the setting-up of parallel base-forming members in engagement with the respective flanges of a floor channel, by the employment of a socalled pressure clip l8, fabricated from sheet metal and preferably of the configuration shown, the web portion of which is provided with a rectangular slot or opening l9, formed to receive a furring channel 20, with its lower end bearing upon the web of the fioor channel W, the upper end of the furring channel being suitably connected, as by a similarly slotted fitting (not shown), to the ceiling of the building or room. These clips l8 may be located at such stations along the floor channel as may be desired orfound necessary,in

the erection of a partition or Wall, and.:functionto'urgethe Loppositely'disposed base forminf; members, with'which itheir supporting surfaces 21 andZ-Z engage, into close association with the respective :flanges of the Jfioor channel, the anchoring of the clips, by the installation of the tuning channela of course, adding to the strength and rigidity of the assembly.

Upon the erection of the assembly, as just described, metallic lath or wire mesh, generally indicated at 23, may be suitably connected to the relatively spacedfurring channels 20 or wall uprights, :for the application of the wall surfaceforming :p'laster 'theretmthe plaster being worked into the V-shapedgroove I 4 of the base-formin members l3-and bonding therewith, to provide a jointurethat, in-efiect, produces an uninterrupted-wall surface extending from the floor to the ceiling of the roomorwbuildin'g, the plaster,

indicated-at 24; which is keyed to the wire lath, being a virtual continuationof the base-forming members,- thereby entirely eliminatng dust-collecting surfacesand crevices, such as obtain in priorconstructions, and providinga wall structure thatis vermin-proof;

In this connection; it maybe pointed out that the base-forming members may be of any suitablemateriahbut I havefound it preferable in the actual practicingofmy invention, to utilize a plastic, suchas transite for example, which possesses "those characteristics and properties, whereby I :amenabled to attain the objectives hereinset forth. f i

.As eshown in Figures 3 and ,4, in the erection of a single wall orf-urring upon a masonry wall, I utilize a floor channel lll; fixed to the floor; as previouslydescribed, thechannel being located upon the'fioor with 'oneof its flanges 1 I I abutting against the building wall, indicated at 25 in Figure 4, the base-forming member 'I 3-being-engaged withxthe other flange I! of the floor channel, as heretofore explained. However, in lieu-of apressure clip having a pair ofco-extensive and similarly for-med supporting surfaces as the surfaces 2| and 22 of the clip m l -designed to ,bearagainst' parallel base-forming members; I employ'a' pressure clip-having-a-webifi, slotted, as at'2 'l, to receive a'furring channellll, the web terminating, at one .side,= in anintegrally formed dependent flange, providing a supporting surface 28, that is designed to bear upon the face of the floor channel flange-in proximity to the "building-wall. -Oppositely, a supporting surface 29, corresponding toeither of the surfaces 2! and 22'of the clip l8, and similarly produced by the formation of a channel section 29a, disposed above the horizontal' plane of the web of the clip, is adapted to bear upon-the inner face of the base-forming member, the clip functioning in conjunction with the base-forming member'and the-flangeof the floor channel: in the manner heretofore described, to -stiifen the' base-forming -member mounting. The connection: of the wire' lath to thefurringchannel 20'and theapplication of i the plaster or -ot-her wall su'rfa'ce forming material thereto, to complete the wall; is carried out, as in the erection of the structure of Figures 1 and 2.

In the structure shown inFigures' 5, 6 and 7, in

lieu of the floor channels 20, I employ specially designed fittings which are fixed to thefloor, in which the base-forming members l3 are directly seated and braced against lateral displacement along their upper edges. 1 These fittings, which may be of sheet metal, or castingainclude a main web of body-portion '30, apertured, as at 3|, for securing them to the floor, as described, the ends of the; fittings being provided with V -slotsor notches 32 for centering them along a chalk line [2; in their location in functioning position, upon the'lfioor. Each fitting, as will be observed, embodies two relativelylaterally spaced-seats '38, upon whichthe base-forming members l3, employed in producing the two-wall par'tition'shown. are adapted to be superposed in parallel, each seat being defined by an upwardly directed outer flange -33, vanda vertical surface 34 spaced inwardly thereof, which is a component of an invertedchannel section 35, the other vertical surface-3110f whicnmerges into the web 30, in" the plane of the seat" 36. The height of the

vertical surfaces

34 and 31 of the channel section, as will be noted,'is appreciably greater than that of 'the flanges 33, the surfaces '37, in conjunction with theintermediate web 30 forming a seat in which the lower end of a furring channel 20 (see Figure Blzmay be fitted, with its flanges in engagement with the opposed cooperating surfaces 31, to rest upon the web'30.

In :this' embodiment of my invention. the low-' er edge of the base-forming member 13 is uninterrupted, presenting a continuous flat surface connecting the two vertical faces of the member, for disposition upon the seat 36 of the'fitting, the widthof this seat corresponding approximately to that'of' the member l3, so that when the lat ter is entered in the seat; the opposite vertical faces thereof will be in engagement with the flange 33 and channel section surface 34', respectively, the fiange '33, as shown, being disposed externally of the outer :face of the base-forming member." Along its :upper edge, at equidistant points, or otherwise, the base-forming member l-3'is providedv with socket-forming openings or holes 38 for the reception of the complemental hook or socket-engaging ends 35 of the rods 40, these rods, as will be apparent, spanning the gap between the parallel base forming members 13 and cooperating therewith to brace them, one

, from the other, in their upper zones, this bracing,

supplementary to that afforded by the height of the'fitting surface 34 in engagement with the inner'face oi" the member, and the counterbracing in the area :of the externally disposed flange '33, insuring'a stiff and rugged wall-base'assembly. "With the wall=base assembly completed, as'just described, and the furring channel entered in the fitting-,- with its upper end suitably connectedfor support from the ceiling of the room or building, theswire or metal lath 23 may be stretched in position'upon the cooperating furring channels of the structure under erection and the plaster or other wall-surfacing material applied thereto, as already explained, the plaster effecting a bond with the upper surface of the base-forming memher and embracing and keying upon the protruding portions of the bracing rods or elements 40, to produce a continuous wall surface, extending from the floor to the ceiling, in which the member 13 functions as an integral part. As will be manifest, the fittings are fixed to the floo'r or other supporting surface, in such spaced relationship, as may be deemed desirable depending upon the length of the partition under erection. When the latter is completed, the outer flanges of the fitting may-be hidden or concealed by the installation of an overlying finishing floor surface of wood or other material, this method of erectionbeing particularly advantageous in practicing my invention in structures where the fittings may be fixed to sub-flooring or other supports, upon or above which the finishing floor surface may be laid. However, it is not limited to this specific form of application, since the flanges of the fittings may be otherwise concealed, as by an appropriately shaped overlying molding piece or other medium.

In Figure 8, I'hav'e shown a modification of the construction last described, which lends itself especially toinstallations of two-wall partitions where it may be desirable or necessary to fix the fittings directly to the finishing floor surface without resorting to the use of molding pieces or the like. In this form of my invention, the lower edge or b'ottomof the base-forming member I 3, similarly to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, is provided with a centrally located longitudinally disposed slot 4|, one defining wall of which is undercut, as at 42, this slot being complemental to the upstanding flange 43 of a fitting 44, embodying channel sections and otherwise conforming to that of the embodiment of Figures 5, 6' and 7, in structure and in the manner in which it functions in the wall assembly, except that the width of the seat 46, formed by the laterally spaced flange 43 and the cooperating vertical surface 45 of the contiguous channel section, upon which the inner face of the base-forming member l3 bears, as previously described, corresponds approximately to the cross-sectional dimension of the undercut portion 42 of the slotdefining surface of said member. When the base-forming member is located on the fitting, with the flange 43 housed within the slot 4|, thereof, aswill be seen'fromthe drawings, the undercut portion 42 is engaged with said seat 46, while the base of the longer vertical slot-defining surface rests upon the floor, externally of said flange 43, completely concealing the latter. The tie or bracing rods 40, cooperating with the base-forming members, through the medium of inter-engaged rod ends and sockets 38, function in this assembly, a heretofore described.

A modification of the fitting and the bracing means connectable to the top of the base form ingmember l3, of the structure of Figure 8, is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, which may be employed in the erection of a single or socalled furring wall, the fitting 41, in this instance, embodying but one seat, as at 48, formed by the upstand ing flange 49, in conjunction with the juxtaposed vertical surface 50 of the channel section of which it is a component, the slotted base-forming member |3 being locatable upon the fitting with the flange 49 entered in the slot 4| thereof, as and for the purposes already explained. In lieu of a second base-forming member seat, the fitting web terminates at its opposite side in an upwardly directed flange 5| which, with the ver-'- tical surface 52 of the channel section is adapted to engage the flanges of a furring channel, en tered therebetween, as previously described. In this form of installation, the fitting is fixed to the floor or other support, with its flange 5| in proximity to the building or masonry wall 25, as clearly shown in Figure 11, the relatively spaced baseforming member l3, engaged with the fitting as described, adjacent its lower edge, being restrained from lateral displacement, as by tilting or other movement from the perpendicular, through the medium of a bracing rod 52, formed with a hook-end 53, adapted for entry in a socket 38 of the base-forming member, and connectable to the fitting 41, as by inserting the end of the rod in a suitable aperture orsocket 54 provided in th'eweb of the channel otherwise.

In Figure 12 I have shown a method, whereby a base-forming block'of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, may be utilized in furring a masonry wall. For this purpose, a sheet metal bracket of the appropriate length and height, indicated at 55, embodying a horizontally disposed base-section 56, terminating in an integrally formed upwardly directed flange 51, functions as a support for the base-forming member |3, said base section 56 forming a seat for the undercut slot-defining surface l6 of said member, when the afor'esaid'flange 51 is entered in the slot |5,'the slot-defining surface Ilia, of said member assuming a position externally of said flange and in bearing engagement with the floor. The bracket 55 may be positively secured to the masonry wall 58, by means of expansion bolts, or other suitable devices, as generally indicated at 59. The furring wall is finished by the application of the plasteror'other'surfacing material to metal lathing, suitably mounted upon the masonry wall, or applied directly to the latter, if practicable, the material bonding with the base-forming member, within the V-shaped groove I4, as heretofore pointed out. i

As will be manifest from the foregoing, any member of floor channels, or floor fittings may be used in erecting a wall or partition, depending upon the length of the wall. Also, in the erection of a particular wall, several lengths of the base-forming material may be required, the members abutting at their ends, so as toform a continuous surface, pressure clips or floor fittings, as the case may be, being preferably so'located that the jointure of adjacent'base-forming members will be adequately supported thereby, any of the embodiments which I have described providing a wall assembly of a' pre-fabricated type, that may be quickly and economically erected and may be advantageously used in new construction work, especially in low-cost housing developments, as well as in alterations, as in ofiice and shop buildings where relocation of partitions is desired from time totime".

While I have described my invention, more or less specifically, with particular reference to the embodiments shown, my invention may take other forms and the various components of each of the assemblies illustrated and described may take other shapes. For example, the so-called pressure clips of certain of the constructions may be of difierent design and be adapted to receive a wall-supporting I-beam, instead of the standard furring channel, the same holding true with respect to the floor fittings used in other embodiments of my invention. Also, the tie rods for interconnecting the base-forming members in certain of the forms of my invention may be of other shapes than illustrated and otherwise engageable with the base-forming members and with the floor fittings, in those instances in which they are associated with the latter, or other appropriate supports. Likewise, variations may be effected in the formation of the base forming members, in material and in elements of design, all of such changes or variations falling within the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wall construction, including a channel element adapted to be fixed to the floor with its flanges upstanding, a base forming member for a wall having a slot intermediate its width exsection of the fitting, or

tending from end to end of the lower edge thereof, said member being located upon said channel element with one of the flanges thereof entered in the slot of said member, the flange being concealed by the portion of the member external of said channel element, and means mounted to extend transversely between the opposite flanges of said channel element having depending vertical side walls to abut respectively upon said member at its inner wall surface, and the free flange of the channel element to cooperate with said slot-engaging flange to maintain said'member rigid with said element.

2. A wall construction, including a fitting having a base adapted to be disposed upon the floor, said base embodying vertical surfaces forming the sides of the fitting, a wall surface base-forming member engageable with one of the vertical surfaces of said fitting and means normally independent of said fitting extending transversely across the same and having depending side walls engaging respectively said member under pressure at its inner vertical wall surface and parallel to the plane of interengagement of the vertical surface of the fitting and said member and the unengaged vertical surface of the fitting, to maintain said member in perpendicular registration with such vertical surface.

3. A base-forming assembly for a partition having two spaced walls, comprising a fitting including a web section superimposed upon the floor and vertically disposed flanges forming the outer sides thereof, a unit for forming the base of each wall engaged along its lower edge with each flange of said fitting to spacedly locate the units in the plane of the flanges and restrain such flange-engaged units against lateral displacement relative to said fitting, and means normally independent of said fitting and the respective wall base forming units having a section to transversely span the web of saidfitting in vertically spaced relation thereto and having side walls, for pressure engagement with the laterally spaced wall base forming units at their inner surfaces, to maintain said units in parallel relationship.

4. A base-forming assembly for a partition having two spaced walls, comprising a fitting ineluding a web section superimposed upon the floor and vertically disposed flanges forming the outer sides thereof, a unit for forming the base of each wall-forming surface engageable along its lower edge with a flange of said fitting to locate the unit in the plane of the flange and restrain such flange-engaged unit against lateral displacement relative to said fitting, and means normally separate from said fitting and the respective wall base forming units, embodying a section adapted to transversely span the web of said fitting in vertically spaced relation thereto and having depending side walls, for pressure engagement with the laterally spaced wall base forming units at the internal surfaces of said units and below the upper edges thereof, when said units are located in engagement with the flanges of said fitting, to maintain said units in parallel relationship, said means being locatable in functioning position from above the upper edges of the flange-supported units.

5. A wall construction including a fitting having a web section superimposed upon the floor and vertically disposed flanges forming the outer sides of said fitting, a unit for forming the base of the wall having a vertically disposed slot extending inwardly of its lower edge, from end to end thereof, one of the parallel slot-defining surfaces being deeper than the other, whereby said unit may be associated with said fitting with a flange thereof entered in said slot, the deeper slot-defining surface of said unit being disposed outwardly of saidflange in abutting engagement with the floor externally of said fitting and means transversely spanning the web of said fitting in vertically spaced relation thereto and having a depending side wall in pressure engagement with said unit at the internal surface thereof, to maintain said unit in alinement with said flange and additional means at the other end of the aforesaid means from the depending side wall maintaining said pressure engagement.

6. A wall construction including a channelled fitting having a web section mounted upon a floor and vertically disposed spaced upstanding flanges forming its outer sides, a plurality of upstanding units for forming spaced bases of the wall, each having a vertically disposed slot extending inwardly of its lower edge, from end to end thereof, one of the parallel slot-defining surfaces being deeper than the other, whereby each unit may be associated with said fitting with a flang thereof entered in and engaging said slot, the deeper slotdefining surface of said unit being disposed outwardly of said flange in abutting engagement with the floor externally of said fitting and a clip having a web portion disposed in vertically spaced relation to the web of said fitting, and having sides projecting above and below the web portion thereof for engagement with the inner surfaces of opposite flange-engaged units, to maintain said units in vertical alinement with the respective flanges of said fitting.

'7. A wall construction, having a flanged element adapted to function as a base of a wall assembly, said assembly including a base-forming member for a wall surface, having a slot formed intermediate its width in the lower edge thereof, and extending from end to end thereof, said member being located upon said element with said slot in engagement with a flange thereof, and means normally independent of said flanged element, disposed on said flanged element in spaced relation to the flange thereof in pressure abutment with said member, to maintain said member rigid with said flange, said means embodying a seat for embracing an upright wall-supporting piece above the web of said element.

HENRY BRALOFF.