US2357722A - Wall construction - Google Patents

Description

P 1944- r E. BALDUF 2,357,722

WALL CONS TRUCTION Filed Oct. 20, 1941 Patented Sept. 5, 1944 WALL CONSTRUCTION Bruno E. Balduf, Chicago, 111., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,720

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a wall construction and a method for insuring solidity thereof.

As a means of insuring rapid and yet fully satisfactory walls in the many emergency buildings being erected at the present time and in which wallboard sections are first secured to studding and thereafter siding members are secured to the wallboard sections, the hereinafter method of constructing a wall of such elements isproposed.

The invention finds its most desirable'present application in walls comprising the usual studding to which are afiixed wallboard sections of the usual size. It is a matter of some inconvenience to have to be sure that such sections shall always have their vertical abutting edges lying over one of the vertical studs. Attempts have-been made to insure that such care need not be taken and yet a desirable solidity of wall be secured by providing the wallboard members with tongue and groove interengaging portions along the edges which extend horizontally when such sections are erected. It is wholly impracticable, from a board manufacturing standpoint, also to form tongue and groove engaging portions on the vertically abuttable edges of the board. These latter edges, therefore, are usually movable with respect to each otherand the wall construction is not entirely satisfactory,

especially when some further material is applied to the wallboard foundation.

Again, the fairly light material, such as stucco, which has formerly been applied over the wallboard is not being used to great extent at the present time, particularl in emergency constructions, it now being found desirable to secure a fairly heavy siding material, such for instance as asbestos, to the wallboard foundation. Such material is usually nailed into place and great difliculty has resulted when the nails have been applied topass through the underlying board sections near a vertically extending abutting edge. The nailing tends to cause the abutting edges to move relative to each .other with consequent danger that the tongue and groove horizontal engage ment may be disturbed andwith all the concurrentdifliculties which arise when heavy siding members are applied to such a relatively nonsolid foundation.

Another difiiculty met in the construction of the aforedescribed wall resides in this: The board sections are, in many instances, formed of plaster covered with paper. Accordingly, when nails are driven through such plaster. or paper board, they do not fit tightly into the board and accordingly the whole structure is weakened. Of course, when the nail is driven near the line along which two edges of the material abut, the possibility that the nail will take a loose fit in the board is greatly aggravated because the-tendency for the founda-- methods hereinafter claimed and embodying the each other.

construction set forth in others of the claims.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partially sectioned perspective view of one of the elements hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view looking towards the rear of the wall of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. view of a portion of the sectioned structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view illustrating the facility with which sidin replacements may be made in a wall constructed in accordance with the present invention. 7

In Fig. 1 the usual vertically extending 2 x 4 studding of a wall construction is shown at lfl-I 0. Wallboards II, l2, l3, l4, 15, I6, l1, l8 and I9 are secured to the 2 x 4s to form a wall, it being noted that said boardsare provided with tongues and grooves which are nested as best seen in Fig. 2 so that there is little or no relative movement between the horizontally abutting edges of these boards.

The vertical edges of boards lie and l2a, l2b and I3b, Ila and lac, and [8b and I9!) abut over the underlying supporting studs I!) so that not only do nails driven therethrough fit tightly but also there is at these points no opportunity for abutting vertical edges to move relative to However, it is a matter of distinct disadvantage to have to plan sufficiently carefully in theconstruction of walls as here described, and particularly when they are embodied in emergency construction which it is necessary now to do, so that abutting vertical board edges always coincide with the underlying support. Many times such edges will abut as do edges I la and l5a, and l5b and lib, i. e., these edges abut noncoincidentally with an underlying support.

As above suggested, it is now frequently required that relatively heavy siding be secured to the wall foundation formed by the erection of the wallboard sections on studdings as Just described. Such siding members have been illustrated at 20. The manner of securing such siding members to the underlying wallboard foundation may be better understood by considering Fig. 2 in connection with Fig. 1, it being noted that the members of the lowermost siding course of the wall are first applied with the lower edges thereof spaced from the foundation by a spacer strip 20a. Thereafter, the members of the progressively overlying courses are applied thereover in such manner that the siding somewhat resembles wooden clapboard or elongated shingles. The siding is normally secured to the boards by driving nails therethrough as shown at 2!, As best shown in Fig. 2, these nails do not pass through the underlying upper portions of the members of each course of siding, but only through the bottom portion of the overlying siding members and thence into the foundation member either directly or through a vertical cushioning piece underlying the line of abutment of the vertical edges of the siding. Moreover, these nails are deliberately positioned to act as accurate spacing means, the nail holes in the lower portions of the sidin members being so arranged that when the nails pass therethroughand into the underlying foundation these nails will abut tightly against the upper edge of the members of the immediately underlying course, thereby acting as spacers for the progressively applied siding courses.

However, when such siding securing nails are driven into a foundation comprising plaster wallboards, there is a tendency-for the plaster to crumble somewhat and the nail therefore to have less than the desired tight fit. This inherent shortcoming is greatly accentuated when'the I nails are used to secure relatively heavy members such as the here described sidings 20 to a plaster board foundation, and even more particularly when these nails are driven into plaster board in the vicinity of an unsupported vertical abutment of edges such as llaand "a. Under the latter circumstances there is an unavoidable tendency of such abutting vertical edges to move relative to each other, thereby aggravating the crumbling of the plaster and accentuating the looseness of the manner in which the nail is associated with the plaster board.

From a recitation of the above dliiiculties in erecting a wall from elements which are most immediately now available and which are recognlzed by the usual builder, it will be seen that a method of erecting-these elements into a wall construction with maximum solid-ity is greatly to be desired. Again, sidings such as 20 may become broken after the wall has been fully completed. One of the objects of this invention is so to facilitate replacement of broken elements as to insure maintenance of the desired or initial solidity of the wall structure, and oneor more of the construction steps and of the combination of-elements hereinafter described contributes to this end.

The first step in promoting desired solidity, and the only one wh ch may be necessary when the boards have horizontal tongue and groove engagement and no unduly heavy material is to be nailed to the board foundation, is to prevent relative movement between the vertical abuttin and otherwise freely movable board edges. Such movement is prevented in the invention as here described and claimed by associating a movement preventative element with the abutting vertical edges of adjacent boards. One desired form of such element is indicated at 22 and is best understood as to detail 'from an inspection of Fig. 3. The member comprises a base 23 which is adapted to lie between the vertical abutting edges of the plaster boards l4 and I5. One or more opposed pairs of arms such as 24-24, 25-25 project substantially perpendicularly from said base, thereby to provide equitant portions positionable over the opposed abutting edges of the boards. These arms are suiliciently long to prevent the aforesaid relative movement. In the particular device device described, four opposed pairs of arms are utilized. When such a member is placed as indicated, a desirable solidity of board'foiindation is promoted.

While the aforesaid provision for preventing relative movement between the abutting edges of the boards may in turn prevent the loose nail difficulty which has been described, it has also been found desirable in many casesas an added means for insuring solidity of wall constructionto utilize a nail tightening means peculiarly combinable with the heretofore described elements to eventuate the desired results which have elsewhere been herein described. To this end the formed in the upper surface thereof, it being 011- nails which are used are provided with corrugations formed either spirally or circularly as shown at 28 so that the end 21 (Fig. 5) which protrudes through the back of the plaster board is provided with such corrugations or engageable means. It should be understood that these nails may be rendered engageable with the hereafter described fastening or tightening device by coating them (the nails) with substances such as cement and like materials which promote the gripabil ity thereof. i

There is further provided a wedge-like member "which has a hole 29 and communicating slot it served that the wedge 28 is, in the embodiment shown herein, one-half of a frusto-conical member which has been split vertically. When the hole 29 is passed over the protruding end of the nail and the wedge then pushed along the surface upon which the edges 28' of the member rest, the wedging action ensuing therefrom will so tighten the nail that looseness which may have been present by reason of the hereinbefore suggested factors is eliminated and the entire structure is rendered desirably solid. The wedge can be made of sheet metal wherefrom desired resiliency thereof is secured. Such resiliency comblned with the particular shape of the wedge adds considerably to the effectiveness thereof as a nail tightening means. The edges of the wedge are particularly capable of digging into foundation boards as here described, i. e., into the fiber or paper covered surface of such boards or into the keeping the fastener in verticalposition during this operation. In some instances it may be preferred to employ pliers for this purpose. A portion of the gripping jaws of a pair of pliers is shown (in dotted lines) as contacting the nail end and the large end of the fastener in Fig. 5,

it being understood that the bringing together of the plier jaws operates to draw the fastener into place, thereby to solidify the siding in its relation with the rest of the wall. The wedge shape of the fastener during this operation draws the nail through the sheathing and permanently locks the siding tightl to the wall. Such operation with a pair of pliers moveover insures that the side edges will dig into the underlying foundation to insure a desired tightness of the nail and consequent solidity of the wall.

In addition to those advantages heretofore recited, it has been found as a fact that the use of fasteners of this character have sharply reduced the breakage which has heretofore seemed inevitable when siding of this character has been applied to a wallboard foundation. It has in many instances been seemingly impossible to drive the fastening nail entirely home without causing the aforesaid breakage. So marked has been this possibility that some builders have preferred to leave the nail heads about a, or of an inch away from the surface of the siding, thereby eliminating the chance that the driving of the nail head against the sheathing will fracture the latter. While this procedure prevents breakage, it obviously does not promote a tight fit of the siding to the .wall and may permit dirt or other foreign material to gather under the portion of the bolt. The hole which was made in the underlying sheathing and/or foundation when the originally positioned piece of siding was nailed in place is then enlarged if necessary to accommodate the toggle head; after such enlargement, the toggle head and the bolt are positioned in parallel relation, whereafter the toggle head and bolt are pushed through the hole in the foundation whereupon the head is turned into position parallel to the rear surface of thefoundation. The bolt is then rotated to tighten it in relation tothe wings of the. toggle to secure the desired tight fitting of the replaced siding to the end that the general solidity of the wall construction is maintained.

, are properly supportable by the drawing or specinail head. When, however, the siding is ap-,

plied in connection with the here described-nail tightening operation, the aforesaid breakage can be largely prevented by not driving the nail entirely home and thereafter tightening said nail.

in place by 'use of the wedge fastener at the back of the board.

Again when one or more pieces of siding become broken after the wall shall have been completed, it is possible-with the construction here outlined-so to replace thebroken pieces that "through the hole in the foundation which has been made by the first driven nail. The tightening wedge is then placed over the protruding end of the nail and the latter pulled tight. By proper member adapted to engage said device and to be manipulation, broken siding members may thus be replaced and the wall made fully as solid as before.

However, in some instances it may be desired to take advantage of a toggle bolt which has heretofore been available butwhose use as herein In replacing a broken outlined has never been suggested because the hereinbefore described wall construction has not of itself been available. siding and fastening the same in position with the referred-to toggle bolt, the procedure illustrated in Fig. 6 is followed. In the latter figure the toggle bolt and the about-to-be positioned new piece of siding are shown in dotted lines to illustrate the initial steps which are followed, and the bolt and new piece of siding after being firmly secured in tight position are shown in full lines. As will be understood from these figures, the bolt portion 29 is first inserted through the already existing nail hole in the about-to-be substituted piece of siding, and thereafter the toggle head portion 30 is secured to the inner end or threaded fication or claims originally made'herein), shall measure, the scope of the invention herein set forth, Accordingly and with the foregoing in mind, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for insuring 'a tight fit of a nail-like fastening device compriiing engageable portions on the protruding part of said nail and a. wedgelike member adapted to engage said engageable means and to be. progressed along the surface through which the nail protrudes progressively to draw said nail into tightened relation, the engageable portions on'said nail being disposed to function with said wedge irrespective of amount of protrusion, said wedge being provided with an openinghaving a portion of sufficient size to pass over the protruding end of the nail and a slot-like part narrower than the diameter of said hole to catch under the engageable portions of the nail a: the wedge is progressed thereby to lift the nail and tighten the same, the member comprising an integrally formed somewhat resilient substantially hemi-frusto-conical member with the aforesaid opening in the upper portion thereof, the hole which is initially placed over the protruding nail being nearthe end of least diameter.

2. Means for insuring a tight fit of a nail-like fastening device comprising an engageable portruding part of said device and a wedge-like progressed along the surface through which the device protrudes progressively to draw said nail into tightened relation, the engageable portion of said device being fashioned to function with said wedge irrespective. of the extent of protrusion, said wedge being provided with an opening having a portion of sufficient size to pass over the protruding end of the device and a slot-like part narrower than the diameter of said hole to catch the engageable portions of the device as the extending and interengasing tongue and groove portions, two 0! said members abutting in a substantially vertical line not coincident with an underlying support, relatively heavy siding members, secured to said waiiboard foundation, fastening means providing said last-mentioned securing, and wedge means coacting with said fastening means for promoting solidity of said construction, said wedge means comprising an integrally formed somewhat resilient substantially hemi-frusto-conical member with an opening in the upper portion of the hemi-trusto-conical member having an entrance portion near the end of smaller diameter of sumcient size to pass over a protruding end of the fastening means and a slot-like portion with its edges spaced a distance less than the width of the entrance portion extending from the entrance portion towards the end of greater diameter, the edges of the slot-like portion being constructed to engage and coact with the protrudingportion of the fastening means as the wedge means is moved to 1 bring the end of greater diameter towards the solidly? to the wallboard.

4. Wedge means for insuring a tight fit of a nail-'like fastening device inserted to hold two bodies together and with an engageabie portion of the fastening device protruding from the joined bodies, said means comprising an integrally formed somewhat resilient substantially hemi-frusto-conical member with an opening in the upper portion having a portion near the end of least diameter of the hemi-frusto-conical member of sufficient size to pass over the protruding portion or the fastening device, and a slot-like portion with its edges spaced a distance less than the width of said first portion and constructed to engage and coact with the protruding portion of said fastening device to tighten the fastening device as the larger end of the wedge member is moved towards the fastening device.

BRUNO E. BALDUF.

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