US2682940A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

5 E- JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1950 [or/ E. Jones I INVENTOR.

By Z k I July 6, 1954 E. E. JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Ear/ E. done 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E. E. JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION July 6, 1954 sheets-sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Ear/ E. L/O/IGS Patented July 6, 1954 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Earl E. Jones, Houston, Tex.; Mae Jones, executrix of said Earl E. J ones, deceased, assignor to J & B Steel Products, Inc., Houston, Tex. a

v corporation of Texas Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 141,128

' 7 Claims. .1

This invention relates in general to a modular building construction and has for its primary object the production of an improvedbuilding construction especially adapted to be fabricated from metal or the like and applicable also to the use of other materials such as concrete in combination with metal, and which will be cheap to manufacture, easy and quick to erect, and very sturdy once it has been erected. It is also an object that such construction permit easy dismantling and re-erection of the building in a different place or in different floor plans.

Many attempts have been made in the past to devise a construction which will make possible the efficient assembly of steelor concrete panels or the like upon framework which may also be of steel but in such attempts many difficulties have i been encountered and failures have been experienced because of one or more factors such as the excessive expensive manufacture, the costly or ineffective methods employed for securing the metal or other panels to the metal framework, the skilled labor and special tools requir d in such assembly, the unattractiveness 0f the finished product, or the lack of strength and durability in the finished product. It is, therefore, a more specific object of invention to provide a building construction which will make possible the application ofpmetal panels, or panels of other materials to at ame without the use of mortar, screws, bolts or nails orof any special tools or skill. Another object is to provide a building construction which will make possible the application of non-nailable metal or other panels to a metal frame in such fashion that neither the panels nor the frame is altered to impair its future usefulness.

Another object is to provide a building construction which will make possible the application of metal or other non-nailable panels to a metal frame without the use of bolts, rivets, nails, or of any special tools or skill.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodying imperforate wall panels which may be readily assembled or disassembled without special tools and without any alteration or damage such as to impair suitability for reuse.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodying non-nailable imperforate wall panels without the use of mortar or the like.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodyin imp rforate m a orp ti wall panels without the use of adhesive.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts throughout and wherein is illustrated by way of example a structure en bodying two possible modifications of wall design made in accordance with this invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a modified perspective view i'llusr trating a section of a wall constructed in accord; ance with this invention, showing principally the exterior view thereof.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section through acorner of the wall structure illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the wall structure illustrated in Figure l l, and

through a fragment of roof and ceiling structure section, illustrating one modification of this invention by which the metal face panels illustrated may be readily secured to a metal franwwork, this View being taken from the front side of the wall structure.

Figure 6 is'a view similar toFigure 5 but taken from the opposite side of the same joint structure, parts in this figure likewise being broken away and shown in cross section for purposes of illusitration.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure v6 but illustrating the modification of ceiling structure shown in Figure 3 which may also be employed on the inner wall panels instead of that em.- ployed on the wall panels as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Figure 3 showing a vertical cross section through a portion of a cement panel structure embodying the securing means of this invention.

It is contemplated that the wall structure illustrated which is made in accordance with this inventi n. all be mo t d u a fo nda on consisting of a concrete slab I vor its equivalent, this slab bein 50 constructed that if desired it may form a portion of the floor of the building construction. .Of course, the body i may be formed to serve merely as a foundation and other .floor structure provided.

Secured to this slab as'a base for the framework of the walls is a sheet metal support member 2 on which are carried upturned flanges 3 and 4 which, as will presently be shown, serve as keepers for the lower edges of the face panels of the inner and outer walls respectively. This support 2 may be secured to the slab i by any suitable means such as by the bolts 5.

The keeper flange 4 is provided by a part of the sheet 2 which extends down over the corner 6 of the slab I and is then turned up to provide the keeper flange 4. The keeper flange 3 is provided by a part which may be separate from and secured to the sheet 2 but which has an upstanding flange I that actually carries on its upper edge the offset keeper flange 3.

The wall structure is made up primarily of the substantially vertical and parallel T-beams or studs 8 and 9 which respectively form the inner and outer wall panel supports. Each of these supports has a front panel receiving surface on its cross flange as indicated by the numerals It and I I respectively, all of the cross flanges which provide the panel receiving surfaces for the inner wall panels being in one plane and all the panel receiving surfaces of the supports for supporting the outer wall panels likewise being in one plane. It will be understood that the T- member supports or studs 8 and 9 may be of other cross section and construction so long as they provide front panel receiving surfaces and the latching surfaces hereinafter described. They may be cross braced and connected to each other in any desired fashion, such cross bracing and connections not being shown here in detail because they form no part of this invention and might tend to confuse the illustration shown in the drawing, but being exemplified by the cross members i2 and I3 adjacent the lower and upper ends of the studs respectively.

In addition to the fact that the front faces of the flanges l and l I provide face panel receiving surfaces, the rear faces of these cross flanges provide rearwardly facing latching surfaces as will presently be described.

In front of the keeper provided by the upstanding flange there is an upstanding flange l4 adapted to be engaged by the clips IS on the snap-on base I6. The hollow interior of. this base will, if desired, serve as a housing for electric wires, et cetera.

At the upper ends of the stud members 8 and 9 there may be provided a cross connecting sheet metal bearing plate I! having a center section It fitting between the sheet metal plates 2| and 22. Truss spacing plate H has portions i9 and which rest upon those portions of plates 2i and 22 that overlie the upper ends of the inner and outer stud sections 8 and 9 respectively. Spacing plate I"! is secured as by welding or other suitable means to the roof trusses. The plates 2| and 22 both have parts extending downwardly along the inner extremities of the legs of the studs and inturned flanges 23 and 24 at the lower edges of such parts, said flanges 23 and 24 resting on and secured to the cross braces 13.

Resting on top of the wall framing just described and preferably secured to the spacers I? are the roof trusses which, in the form illustraed, are made up of the bottom chord members 2%: which also serve as ceiling joists, and top chord members 26 which also serve as rafters. The bottom chords in the illustration are each formed of two angle bars 2'! and 28 disposed back to back (see Fig. 4) and spaced apart to receive between them flat web tie members 29 and 4 3%, to which the angle bars are welded or otherwise suitably secured. The top chords are slinilarly formed of two angle bars 3i and 32 disposed back to back and spaced apart to receive tie members. Adjacent the eave, the tie member 39 which is secured between the angles of the bottom chord extends upwardly between the angles of the top chord and is secured thereto to tie the chords together. It also extends above the angles of the top chord as at 33 and this extension is perforated for a purpose presently to be set forth. At a position directly opposite the tie member 29 there is provided another tie member 34 which extends between and is suit ably secured to the angles of the top chord and is tied to the tie member 29 of the bottom chord by a short angle section 35 secured to both tie members 29 and 34. Tie member 34 also extends above the angles of the top chord at St and is perforated at 31 similarly to the tie member 3%. The gable trusses (Fig. 4) may be modified somewhat by forming the top and bottom chords of single angles 38 and 39 joined together by T- section ties 40. Ties 40 should be aligned with the studs in the lower wall so as to form in efiect extensions thereof if it is desired that the joints between the gable panels be aligned with those in the wall below. The angle forming the bottom chord 39 should be disposed with its vertical flange remote from the outer wall surface so that the cross flanges of the T-section ties as may extend as close as possible to the upper ends of the studs, but the angle forming the top chord 38 should have its vertical flange on the outside so that it may provide an abutment for the upper edges of the gable panels.

The roof construction comprises sheathing ll which may be of wood or other suitable material, with sheet metal strips 42 laid on top. The sheet metal strips are provided with nesting inverted channels 43 and 44 at their adjacent edges interfitting with each other and fitting over the upper perforated ends of the tie members 39 and 34. Bolts or the like 45 are inserted through the perforated ends of the tie members and registering perforations in the inverted nested channels to hold the sheet metal strips in place. Gutters 46 may be provided with flanges extending from the eave 43 a short distance upwardly between the sheathing and the roofing strips. A shield 49 may be provided behind the gutter for a purpose presently to be set forth.

Referring now more particularly to the construction and mounting of the inner wall face panels, it will be seen that these are illustrated as being made of sheet metal having flat outer surfaces forming the flush wall face. At the lower edge of the lowermost of these panels which bears the numeral 58, the sheet metal is turned inwardly as shown at El to provide a rearwardly offset flange 52 which is inclined downwardly and away from the face 50 of the panel and which has a front face providing a latching surface engaging with the rear surface of the keeper 3. This engagement, it will readily be perceived, is a wedging engagement which will hold the lower edge portion of this panel tightly in position with respect to the panel support members 8. In this connection it will also be seen by reference to Figure 2 that each of the face panels is made of such thickness that it will be said to have abutment parts 53 overlying and abutting a cushioning strip 54 of rubber or the like on the front panel receiving surface in of one of the panel supports 8 to provide for backing and aesaom supporting of the face panels. It will also be seen by reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6 that the panel 50 has at its upper edge an inturned portion 55 which on its inner edge is formed in an upwardly facing flange 56, the front surface of this flange providing a latching surface which is inclined upwardly and slightly toward the front face 50 of the panel, and which is adapted to receive the keeper bar 5?. This keeper bar 5'! as will be seen extends in front of the flange 55 and engages the rearwardly facing latching surfaces on the rear surfaces of the cross flanges of the adjacent supports 8. Thus, these bars 51 serve as keepers for the latching surfaces provided by the front faces of the-flanges 55.

The lower edge of each of the upper inner face panels 58 and 59 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 60 and with a down turned flange 6| which provides upon its front face a latching surface adapted to engage the rear face of the flange 56 just below. All of the panels except the lowermost are provided with arrangements on their lower edges and are provided on their respective upper edges with arrangements identical with that on the upper edge of the lower panel. A removable bar 5! is provided as a keeper for each of the adjacent upper and lower edges of such panels and for the upper edge of the top panel. It is to be noted that the bar 51 is preferably round in cross section. The flanges 55 and Si are resilient and the interfitting parts are of such dimensions that they cannot be forced into full engagement with each other without slightly straining these resilient flanges, the resultant of this situation being that when the parts are forced into full engagement with each other the face panels will be held firmly against the panel receiving surfaces of the supports 8.

i The structure of the outside wall is similar in all respects to that of the inside wall just described.

' It is to be noted that when used as an outside wall the structure described is weatherproof because rain or'the like cannot beat into the joint between the two inwardly extending parts 55 and 66 and reach the interior Wall because of the upstanding flanges on the upper edges of the respective panels.

While it has been described that each of the wall panelsillustrated is made of sheet metal, the inner faces of these sheet metal panels may be filled or covered with plastic or cement or lined with insulating material as illustrated if that be desired. It will be appreciated that the metal latching parts may be secured to cement or plastic panels in any desired manner, one such arrangement being shown in Figure 8 in which cement or plastic panels 62 have latching parts 63 and 64 anchored in their upper and lower edges respectively, such parts corresponding in shape and function to the latching parts 55 and 60 heretofore described. These parts 63 and 61 are shown anchored in the panels 62 by means of integral flanges B5 and 66 respectively, bedded in the material of the panels. The spacesbetween adjacent edges of such panels may be filled with mortar if desired, or caulked, as shown at 61. I

While it is possible to use the same latching arrangement as just described for securing ceiling panels in place a more suitable though kindred arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in the upperportion of Figure 3. understood also, that the arrangement shown It is to be as securing ceiling panels in place in the upper portion of Figure 3 may, if desired, be employed for securing inner wall panels to their supports.

In the structure shown in the upper portion of Figure 3 ceiling panels 68 are illustrated, these panels being of a construction and similar to the wall panels heretofore described in that they have smooth, exposed faces and are of a width to span the distance between adjacent ceiling support members or joists 25 and have parts bearing'against such members. However, it has been found expedient in ceiling panel structure to provide each of the panels 63 with inturned flanges 69 having channel shaped portions it open toward each other at the inner extremities of the flanges 69. Bridging the spaces between and extending into each of the channel shaped portions 'It is a keeper bar I! crimped longitudinally into a shallow V-shaped cross section. The ends of this bar extend over the top surfaces of adjacent support flanges I2 and serve to suspend the panels 63 from the panel supports. The flanges of the channel shaped parts it which are most remote from the panels 68 are inclined toward each other and slightly away from the panels 68 at substantially the same degree as the inclination of the two legs of the V-shaped cross section of the bar H. Thus it will be seen that when two adjacent panels are pushed toward each other with a bar ii between the channel shaped sections it and the ends of such bar engaging the flanges 12, the panels 68 will be drawn into tight engagement with the panel support flanges 12.

The last panel 68 adjacent at a side wall is held by a keeper bar '13 which is similar to one- The strip it extends down along the edge of panel 68 to. a point adjacent the lower face of panel 88 where it is formed with a fold 15 extending first away from then folded back toward panel 68. Bolts 76 are welded or otherwise secured to strip 15 and have threaded portions extending freely through openings in strip 2 i. A nut is threaded onto each bolt 16 between strips M- and 2| and it will be seen that turning the nut toward strip 2i will force keeper bar 13 into tight engagement with its channel 70.

A molding 7'! may be provided for bridging the space between the topmost inside wall panel 59 and the next adjacent ceiling panelfifi, such molding being secured in place by any suitable means such as by an integral flange 58 which extends into and is frictionally held by fold 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in erecting a building of the character described, the framework, including the studs or supports 8 and 9, will be first erected with windows and doors in place and the whole secured together. The roof trusses will next be put in place with the part I! serving to position roof trusses with rethe same fashion beginning at the bottom and the bar holding the uppermost edge of the top panel of the inside wall can be put in place from inside the building.

Next, the ceiling panels will be put in place beginning at the wall which is not shown but which would be over to the right of the structure shown in Figure 3 and working toward the left. The last panel 68 that is to be put in place is held upwardly in place by hand or other suitable means while the keeper [3 is moved to engage channel Til, whereupon a wrench is inserted between the adjacent ceiling and inner wall panels and engaged with the nut on each bolt 16 for the purpose previously described. It will be understood that thekeeper tightening arrangement may be employed at both extremities of the ceiling and that by loosening one and tightening the other an entire row of ceiling panels may be shifted to align them with adjacent rows.

Last of all, the molding 11 may be put in place 7 and secured by pressing flange 18 into fold 15.

At any time desired after the lowermost wall panel has been put in place, the baseboard [6 may be mounted.

Partitions may be of construction similar to those described for outside walls or ceiling.

The outside corner of a building constructed in accordance with this invention is preferably covered with long, angle shaped panels and may be secured in place by a latching structure such as hereinbefore described or by any other suitable means which may be desired.

It will further be appreciated that each of the latching parts and the cooperating elements not only of the inner wall panels and their keepers, but also of the outer wall and ceiling panels and their keepers as well, are preferably made of resilient material and are made of such relative sizes that they cannot be forced into full engagement with each other without some straining of the material of which they are constructed, so that once they are forced into full engagement with each other these panels will be held firmly against their respective panel supports.

Thus there has been disclosed a structure in which all of the objects and advantages sought by this invention will be attained although it will be apparent that departures from the exact arrangements and configurations of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the prior art and by the terms of the appended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. A building construction comprising a frame having a plurality of spaced parallel panel supports with flat panel receiving faces presented outwardly and a keeper between each pair of supports near one end thereof, a plurality of face panels each bridging the space between and overlying a part of the panel receiving face of each of said pair of supports and having an edge juxtaposed to an edge of another of said panels, one of such panels having a latching part projecting between said supports at one edge and engaging behind a part of said keeper and holding said one edge of the panel against the frame, and the adjacent edges of juxtaposed panels having complementary parts projecting between said supports and toward each other and forming together a partially closed channel extending between said supports, and a removable bar member lying in said channel and projecting behind a part of each 8 of said supports and providing a keeper holding the adjacent edges of said panels in place against said supports.

2. A building wall construction comprising a pair of spaced substantially upright supports having front panel receiving faces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, keepers fixed with respect to said supports adjacent the lower end thereof, a series of face panels bridging the space between said supports and engaging said panel receiving faces and being disposed one above the other in juxtaposed relation to each other, each of said panels having thereon adjacent its lower edge a rearwardly offset, downwardly extending latching part, such part on the lowermost panel being in latching engagement with the said fixed keeper, each of said panels having adjacent its upper edge a rearwardly offset, upwardly extending and upwardly open keeper engaging latching part, a removable keeper in each such keeper engaging latching part and extending therefrom into engagement with said latching surfaces on the supports, and the downwardly extending latching part on each of said panels above the lowest panel engaging down behind a keeper part on the next lower panel.

3. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spaced panel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to but inclined slightly with respect to the latching surfaces on the supports, each of said panels having one of its edges with latching parts juxtaposed with one of the edges with latching parts on another of said panels, and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on said pair of panels on the one hand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both of the juxtaposed panels.

4. A building construction comprising a, plurality of laterally spaced panel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edges offset rearwardly 'beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to but inclined slightly with respect to the latching surfaces on the supports, each of said panels having one of its edges with latching parts juxtaposed with one of the edges with latching parts on another of said panels and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on said two panels on the one hand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacent panels, said latching parts being of resilient material and the various elements which cooperate to perform the latching function being of relative sizes requiring distortion of the latching parts when the said elements are forced into full latching engagement with each other.

5. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spaced panelsupports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abutting rela tion to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to the latching surfaces on thesupports, each of said panels having one of its edges with latching pa-rts juxtaposed with one of the edges with latching parts on another of said panels, and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on said two panels on the one hand, and the said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacent panels.

6. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spaced panel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, a fixed keeper between said supports and adjacent the lower extremities of such surfaces, a plurality of juxtaposed face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces,said latching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to the latching surfaces on the supports, the latching parts on the lower edge of the lowermost panel being in latching engagement with the keeper fixed between said supports, and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on said pair of panels on the one hand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacent panels. a

7. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spaced panel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardly facing latching surfaces, a lower fixed keeper extending between said panel supports adjacent the lower ends thereof, a plurality of juxtaposed face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, the latching part on the free edge of one of the lowermost panels being in engagement With the said fixed keeper surface which is disposed rearwardly of the panel receiving surfaces, the latching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to the latching surfaces on the supports, and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels and for the free edge of the other end panel engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on each two adjacent panels and the free edge of the other end panel on the one hand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacent panels and the free edge of the Other end panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,563,6'51 Pomerantz Dec. 1, 1925 2,049,278 Toussaint et al. July 28, 1936 2,062,160 Calkins et a1. Nov. 24, 1936 2,076,388 Venzie Apr. 6, 1937 2,114,155 Streich Apr. 12, 1938 2,142,305 Davis Jan. 3, 1939 2,430,654 Voege Nov. 11, 1947

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