US2780979A - Baseboard construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, w Q DE R00 BASEBOARD' CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet' FIG. 2

Filed June 14, 1951 "O Emst i; it:

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Feb.'12, 1957 wjc. DE noo BASEBOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14, 1951 2 sneetssheet 2 Plas , Ils/VE'AY/Tolc` WILLIAM C.' DE ROO BY A flmwww ATT YS.

BAsEBoARD CoNsrRUC'rroN Wiliiam C. De Roo, Holland, Mieli., assigner to Hart &

Cooiey Manufacturing Co., Holland, Mich., n corporation of Delaware Appieation June 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,535

8 Claims. (Cl. 98-49) This invention relates in general' to a novel construction of baseboard located adjacent the wall of a room at the iioorline thereof and is particularly directed to a form of baseboard adapted for use in connection with the perimeter heating of a` room.

he trend toward placing the'so'urce of heat in a room or building toward the outside walls thereof has made it desirable to use forced airas a transmitter of the heat from the furnace to the area to be heated. it has also been found advantageous to have the air distributed as evenly as possible at the place of entering the room along the baseboard of the entire wall.

Heretofore, various types of registers have been designed which were inserted into a standard baseboard and-which directed the air up against the wall in an arc. Such a procedure, however, obviously did not result in an even distribution of the air alongA the entire Wall. There have also been attempts inthe past to construct baseboards which would distribute the air evenly along the entire wall, but in those cases there have been many construction diiiiculties experienced which has prevented their ready adoption by the public.

It is, therefore, a principalobject of the present invention to provide a novel baseboard construction which will act to distribute the air evenly alongthe entire wall of a room and which is designed to overcome the construction diiculties mentioned hereinabove, thereby enabling the ready adoption thereofby the public.

Another object of the invention is to' provideY a novel baseooard construction adapted for use in connection with the perimeter heatingof a room wherein air will be distributed evenly over an entire wall from a forced air source.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a baseboard construction adapted to be readily installed at the juncture of the door and wall'of: a room and which may be easily adjusted along the length thereof so that air entering the room through an opening or openings therein will be evenly distributedalong the entire wall.

Still another object of the inventionV is to provide a novel baseboard construction forl perimeter heating which will adapt itself readily for installation at the juncture of the floor and walll of a room whether the wall be of the conventional lath and plaster type'or may be of wall or plaster board;

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel baseboard construction for perimeterV heating which is formed of two-members having aV space therebetween for the passage of air from a forced air source into the room and wherein the space between the two members may be readily adjusted to ca usean even distribution of the air along the entire wall.

Still another object' of the invention is to provide a novel baseboard construction for' perimeter heating wherein a backplate may be located between'the oor and wall of a room and securedto the wall studs and wherein a faceplate consisting Vof two' spaced-apart members is adapted to lne-located along thelength of the wall 2,780,979 Patented Feb., 12, 19,57

in spaced relation to the backplate whereby the space between the backplate and the faceplate will form a conduit for air and the space between the two members of the faceplate will permit the air to pass therethrough into the room. Y

Still another and more speciiic object of the' invention is to provide a baseboard construction for perimeter heating wherein a backplate is provided and secured t0 the wall studs and terminating in an upper longitudinal edge and an inwardly extending lower edge. The lower edge is set at the door to the height of the expected finished liooring. The upper edge underlies the bottom edge of the wall lath and has a portion thereof protrudtom edge thereof and between the wall and the oor, and wherein a faceplate formed of two spaced apart members is adapted to be releasably held in place against the wall and the door by fastening means either secured to or formed as an integral part of the upper and lower edges of the backplate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novely form of adjusting means for regulating the space between the two members forming the faceplate to enable the airl passing through the space therebetween to be distributedevenly over the entire wall.

Still another and specific object of the invention-is to provide a baseboard construction for perimeter heating wherein a plurality of openings for the passage of warm air are so arranged as to permit air to be forced outwardly parallel with the door in addition to the air passing upwardly along the wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention-will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through the wall and door of a room and illustrating one form of baseboard construction embodying the present invention, and taken along line i-i of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged horizontal sectional view of the adjusting means taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the baseboard embodying the present invention showing the floor and air conduit in section;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating a modified form of the invention, and taken along line @4 4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line S-S of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the baseboard illustrated in Fig. 4 with parts broken away and parts in section for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a' further modication; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the modification shown in Fig. 7.

lrieiiy described, the invention herein contemplatesv The upper member of the faceplate extends downwardlyY to a point below the upper edge of the lower member.

VThe upper and lower members of the faceplate are thus in overlapping and spaced relation so that air directed through the opening in the backplatc may be distributed along the wall behind the faceplate and will pass into the room through the space between the upper and lower members of the faceplate.

It will be evident that more air will tend to pass into the room in the immediate vicinity of the connection of the stack with the backplate than elsewhere along the length of the baseboard. In order to prevent this occurrence, adjusting means have been provided to regulate the space between the two members of the faceplate so that, if desired, they may be adjusted closer together immediately adjacent the stack and farther apart on each side thereof, thereby to allow the air coming from the stack tobe more evenly distributed along the baseboard.

.Y Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figs. 12 and 3, the numeral 1 is used to indicate the finished floor of a room and 2 indicates the subfloor. As is customary in dwellings, a stack 3 may extend from a furnace below the floor and-terminate-above the lioorline in a stackhead 4. The particular wall construction illustrated in Fig. l is formed of lath and plaster wherein the lath is indicated at 5 and the nished plaster wall at 6.

Y The invention herein embodies a backplate generally indicated'at 7 which terminates at its upper edge in a forwardly extending portion Banda downwardly extending lip 9. While the backplate 7 may be formed of any desired or suitable cross sectional configuration, it has been found practical to make this backplate with a rear portion 1t) adapted to be positioned substantially vertically and a lower forwardly extending portion 11 adapted to be positioned substantially in a horizontal plane and to have its forward edge terminate adjacent the edge of the door 1. The forwardly extending part 8 at the top of the backplate is adapted to abut against the under edge of the lath, thereby permitting this part of the backplate to act as a plaster guide so that the plasterer will have something to strike against, thereby resulting in a smooth finish of the plaster wall all along the bottom edge. The` backplate 7 is adapted to be secured to the wall studs 12 by any suitable means such as nails 13. ln order to attach the stackhead 4 to the backplate 7 and to permit air from the furnace to be directed through the backplate, an opening 14 is cut into the rear side and bottom thereof. The opening 14 is substantially the size of the opening of the stackhead and the two members are secured together by bending ears such as shown at 15, 16 and 17 on the stackhead around the edges of the opening in the backplate. The ears and 16 are located at each end of the opening 14 and the ear 17 is bent back over the upper edge of the opening. Similar ears *18 (Fig. l) are bent back over the portion of the opening extending horizontally as shown at 11.

When the stackhead 4. is thus secured in place to the backplate 7, warm air coming from the furnace will be directed through the opening 14 in the backplate..

The baseboard construction of the present invention also includes a faceplate generally indicated at 19 and comprises an upper member 2li and a lower member 21. The upper member Ztl extends forwardly a short distance from a point adjacent the lower edge of the plastered wall 6 and then downwardly as at 22. The lower member 21 of the faceplate extends upwardly from the floorline in spaced relation to the portion 22 of the upper member 2l) and in overlapping relation therewith. The upper longitudinal edge of the bottom member 21 is preferably bent rearwardly at an angle as indicated at 23.

f YThe upper and lower members 2li and 21 of the baseboard assembly are held together by suitable means which may be adjusted to regulate the space between the two members. While any suitable means may be used for this purpose, it has been found advantageous to use a yieldable member such as a spring indicated generally by the numeral 24 in Fig. 2. The particular form of spring disclosed herein comprises wings 25 and 26 positioned in diverging relation between the overlapping and spaced portions 21 and 22 of the baseboard assembly. A fiat portion 27 connects the two wings 25 and 26 and has an opening therethrough in alignment with a similar opening in the lower baseboard member Zlfor the reception of a screw 28. The screw extends between the members 21 and 22 and is received by an opening in the inner member 22.

There is preferably a plurality of these yieldable adjusting members 24 spaced along the length of the baseboard assembly Vat any desired distance apart.V The yieldable member 24 consisting of the wings 25 and 26 will bear against the inner surfaces of the upper and lower members 20 and 21 of the baseboard assemblyand will hold these members rigidly in spaced apart relation. It will be evident that the space between the portions 21 and 22 of the baseboard faceplate may be regulated by turning screw 28 and the two members will be maintained in the adjusted position by means of the yieldable spring member 24. The dotted line position of the upper and lower members 2G and 21 illustrated in Fig. l shows the position of the two members when theV screw 28 has been turned to move the two members farther apart, thereby providing a greater space between them.

The entire faceplate assembly is removably mounted in a very simple manner against the wall and oor of the room. The upperV rear edge of the upper member 20 is bent downwardly as at 29 and is adapted to be received between the wall and a retaining member 30. This retaining member 30 is yieldable and has the lower end thereof secured to the downturned portion 9 of the backplatc. There may be a plurality of these. retaining members 3@ spaced apart through the length of the backplate in order to yieldably hold the faceplate assembly against inadverent movement.

The lower'edge of the lower member 21V extends rearwardly as at 31 and is preferably. provided with a curled lip 32 adapted to be received under the forward bottom edge of the backplate. The forward bottom edge of the backplate is preferably bent upwardly and then downwardly to provide a recess into which the curled lip 31 may be received. Since the upper and lower members of the faceplate assembly are rigidly secured together by means of the yieldable members 24, the entire assembly will be maintained in place by means of the retaining members 30 at the top thereof and the forward edge of the backplate at the bottom thereof.

f It will be understod that the heating loss of the room and the length of the wall determines the number of stacksY necessary in any given installation. A single stack may be suliicient if the heating loss is low and the length of the wall to be heated is not very great. Lower walls as well as greater heat loss would require perhaps two or more such stacks. In usingV the present invention, however, the number of stacks is an unimportant detail from the structural standpoint because an Opening may be cut in theV backplate to accommodate each stack.

It will also be apparent that a greater amount of warm air will tend to escape into the room through the space between the two members comprising the faceplate in the immediate vicinity. of the stack than elsewhere along the length of the baseboard. The adjustable feature aboveV described, whereby the space between the two members of the faceplate can be adjusted, will enable this space in theY vicinity ofthe stack to be made smaller than at other locations along the length of the baseboard. Thus, as the air entersnthe conduit formed by the backplate and faceplate, it will be distributed along the length thereof in such a way that substantially the same amount of warm air will enter theV room through the space between the faceplate members at all points along its length.

The baseboard construction embodying the present invention is also adaptable for use inV connection with the so-called dry wall construction where the thickness of the plaster coating in the lath and plaster construction is eliminated. The present baseboard assembly being adapted for use with aV dry wall construction will also eliminate the necessity' for carrying a separate type of heating unit or register in the absence of a lath. and plaster construction. All that is necessary in this instance is to provide a spacer strip behindthe baseboard retainer members and then assemble the faceplate against the dry wall in a similar manner, above described, with respect to the plaster wall.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the use ofthe present invention as applied to a dry wall construction. In these figures, similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts. The same stack arrangement` may be used and secured to the backplate 7 in the same manner by bending the ears of the stackhea'dl around the edges of an opening cut into the backplate. The backplate is provided With the same forwardly extending portion S at the upper edge thereof and the downward extension 9 to which the retainers 30 are xed. Since the layer of plaster is eliminated in this construction, there will be but a single thickness'of the dry wall as indicated at 33. A spacer strip 34 isV located on top of the forward extension and is heldin place by the retainers 39. The downwardly extending lip 29 at the rear edge of the upper member indicated in-Fig. 4 as 20a will be located against the Wall33` and behind the spacer strip 34.

Other than the foregoing, the construction may be identical with that previously described wherein the lower member 2l of the faceplate is rigidly secured to the upper member 2da by means of the resilient adjustable member 24 and the screw 28. There being a plurality of these adjustable members 24 spaced along the length of the baseboard, the screw of each one may be individually adjusted to regulate the space between' the two members of the faceplate in order that .the air passing therebetween maybe evenly distributed along the length of the wall.

It has also been found advisable incertain instances, where it is desired that a greater amount of air reach the space between the members with less resistance, to place a series of holes in that part of the upper member a which is in overlapping relation with the lower member 21. ln this connection it may be stated that in the ordinary and preferred construction the air directed against the rear side of the faceplate must find itsway to the space between the upper endA lower members by passing below the bottom edge of the upper member. This creates a certain amount of resistance and itis for this purpose that a series of openings 35 may be placed in the upper member 2da. These openings are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 as being circular and located in a double row relatively close together. It will be obvious, however, that the shape, size and number of the openings may vary to suit particular purposes without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be noted that the adjustability feature of the invention, whereby the amount of air passing into the room may be regulated, will still be effective even with the openings 35 present, since they are located below the actual passage between the two members of the faceplate through which the air passes.

A still further feature embodied in the present invention which may be added to the structure hereinabove described is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. This feature involves the placing of a plurality of openings 36 in the lower part of theA lower member 21'- of the baseboard structure. When-the holes or openings are placed-sube stantially as illustrated, they permit. air to be forced out'- Wardly parallel with the floor in addition tothe air which will be entering the roomr and passing upwardly along` the wall through the adjustable spaceV between the upper and lower members of the baseboard;

These openings which permit a passage of: the air paralf lel to the oor serve an entirely diierent` purpose' than baseboard registers heretofore knownk where slotsor openings are provided, and are of a directional character causing the air to'flow in theV drectionother than parallel with the floor. The combination. of the openings 36 with the upward iiow of warm air through tlie space betweenv the baseboardrmembers results in'warm' air passingup` wardly substantially parallel with the wall. andi another ow of air parallel with the oor,.thereby. providingfex-V cellent coverage of the cold portion; ofV the room.

While the openingsf36 have been specifically illustrated as circular and as being located relativelyclose together,

it will be understood that suclrop'eningsmay assurn'el any desired size or'shape to suit the needs ofitheparticul'ar construction without in any way departing.: from thef spirit.- of the invention. It is further to be noted that these openings 36'may be used either with. the construction? shown in Fig. 4 or with that shown in Fig; l, .an'dma'yalso be used either with or without the combination' o'f the openings 35 shown in Fig;V 6.

From' the foregoing description,. itV will' beapparent that'a novelform of baseboardconstruction for' perimeter heating has been designed whichis useful in any dwelling where forced air is the heatingzmediurn regardless of the; type of wall structure. It' will also befevident that the constructionV is such'that w-armiair enteringtheroom may' be evenly distributed over the entirewallareaby'properl ly regulating the adjusting means for the'spac'efin' the faceplate through which4 the air mustzpa'ssfin'v order toenter the room. The' construction is such'thatlitma'y be economically manufactured and easily installed and over comes the construction diihculties' which have been exi perienced in the past, and` which has prevented other perimeter heating arrangements fromY being readily adopted by the public.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and: arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without' in any way departing from the spiriti ofthe invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantagesfthereof, provided, however, that'such changes'fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto. v

The inventionris hereby claimed' as follows:

l. A baseboard construction'.forperirneter heating ofan enclosed area having a iioorV and Walls comprisingan elongated back plate secured to the studding-of the'wall,

the upper longitudinal edge of said plate terminating ad# jacent the lower edge ofthe wall spaced upwardlyfrom the iloor and the lower longitudinal edgeV of said plate terminating adjacent the edge of the door, an' upper face plate disposed forwardly'of and spaced fromsaid' back.A

plate and extending downwardly from the lower edge of the wall, the upper edge ofV said upper faceplate being in contact with the wall, a lower face plate extending upwardly from the floor and spaced forwardly of said upper face plate, whereby air from behind said face plates will be directed into the room through the space therebetween, and means for varying said last named space to control the amount of air passing therethrough.

2. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating comprising an elongated back plate and a face plate spaced from said back plate, means closing the space between the upper and lower edges of said face plate and the upper and lower edges respectively of said back plate to provide an air conduit, said face plate including an upper member and a lower member spaced forwardly from said upper member and in overlapping relation therewith, means normally maintaining said members in spaced relafor varyingV the space between said members to control the amount of air passing therethrough.

3. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a oor and walls comprising an elongated back plate, a forwardly extending portion at the upper edge thereof adapted to be located against the bottom edge of the wall spaced upwardly from the oor, a forwardly extending portion at the lower edge of said backiplate adapted to be positioned adjacent the edge of a floor, an elongated face plate spaced forwardly of said back plate and cooperating therewith to provide an air conduit, said face plate including spaced apart upper and lower members, the lower member being spaced forwardly of said upper member, yieldable means for detachably securing Vsaid upper member in place adjacent the upper edge of said back plate, yieldable means for detachably securingsaid lower member in place adjacent the lower edge of said back plate, and means for varying the space between said members to control the amount of air passing therethrough from the conduit.

4. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a ioor and walls comprising an elongated back plate, a forwardly extending portion at the upper edge Vthereof 4adapted to be located against the bottom edge of a wall spaced upwardly from the oor, a forwardly extending portion at the lowerY edge of said back plate adapted to be positioned adjacent the edge of the floor, an elongated face plate spaced forwardly of said back plate and cooperating therewith to provide an air conduit, said face plate including spaced apart upper and lower members, the lower member being spaced forwardly of said upper member, a plurality of retainers mounted on the upper edge of said back plate and spaced along the length thereof for clamping a part of said upper member against the wall, means for detachably securing said lower member in place adjacent the oor and the lower edge of said back plate, and means for varying the space between said members to control the amount of air passing therethrough from the conduit.

5. A baseboard construction for, perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a floor and walls comprising an elongated back plate, a forwardly extending portion at the upper edge thereof adapted to be located against the bottom edge of Ia wall spaced upwardly from the floor, a Vforwardly` extending portion at the lower edge of said back plate having a lip thereon adapted to bear downwardly against the oor, an elongated face plate spaced forwardly of said back plate and cooperating therewith to provide an air conduit, said face plateY including vspaced upper and lower members, the lower member being spaced forwardly from said upper member, means for detachably securing said upper member in place adjacent the upper edge of said back plate, a rearwardly extending lip at the lower edge of said lower member adapted to be inserted between the lip on said back plate and the floor to detachably hold said lower member in place, and means for varying the space between said members to control the amount of air passing therethrough from the conduit.

an elongated back plate, a forwardly extending portion at the upper edge thereof adapted to be locatedagainst the bottom edge of a wall spaced upwardly from the oor, a forwardly extending portion at the lower edge of said back plate having a lip thereon adapted to bear downwardly against the oor, an elongated face plate spaced forwardly of said back plate and cooperating therewith to 6. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a oor and walls comprising provide an air conduit, said face plate including spaced apart upper andlower members, a plurality of retainers mounted on the upper edge of said back plate and spaced along the length thereof for receiving a part of said upper member and clamping it against the wall, a rearwardly extending lip at the lower edge of said lower member adapted to be inserted between the oor and the lip on said back plate to detachably retain said lower member in place, and means ,for varying the space between said members to control the amount of air passing therethrough from the conduit.

7. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a oor and walls comprising inner and outer face members mounted in spacedv apart and overlapping relation, the upper edge of the inner member being against the wall and the lower edge of the outer member being against the oor, whereby air directed against one side thereof will pass through the space therebetween, a plurality of openings through said inner member in the area thereof overlapping said outer member to allow the outward passage of additional air, and means for varying said space to control the amount of air passing therethrough. Y

V8. A baseboard construction for perimeter heating of an enclosed area having a oor and walls comprising inner and outer face members mounted in spaced apart and'overlapping relation, the upper edge of the inner member being against the wall and the lower edge of the outer member beingragainst the floor, whereby air directed against one side thereof will pass through the space therebetween, a plurality of openings through said inner member in the area thereof overlapping said outer member to allow the outward passage of additional air, and yieldable and adjustable means connected between said members for varying said space to control the amount of air passing therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent France Feb. 22, 1943 MIM,

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