US2888070A - Customized enclosure for porches and the like - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1959 J. c. SMITH 2,833,070

CUSTOMIZED ENCLOSURE FOR PORCHES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jrssz C. SMITH May 26, 1959 J. c. SMITH 7 CUSTOMIZED ENCLOSURE FOR PORCHES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jfsss C. SM/Tfl A TTOR Hf Y JTCF SMITH May 26, 1959 CUSTOMIZED, ENCLOSURE FOR PORCHES AND THE LIKE FiledJuly 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IE Ilollililfllliii! vllilllfilllllillild 1:: r

l n I u JIA 2/5 INVENTOR.

JESSE C. 81mm A TTOR NEY United States Patent O M YCUSFTOMIZED ENCLOSURE FOR PORCHES AND THE LIKE Jesse C. Smith, York, Pa., assignor to New York Wire Cloth Company, York, Pa., 21 corporationof Delaware Application July 5, 1956, Serial No. 596,054 5 Claims. Cl. 160-88) Thisinvention relates to a-customized enclosure for porohesand the like, and more particularly to enclosures for covering the sides of' existing building structures such as porches, stoops, car ports, and the like. The'invention contemplates the use of flexiblesheet-like material supported by frame members which are arranged to be connected together to form such enclosure. Such flexible sheet-like material as Wire cloth screening, flexible transparentresin' material, and any other suitable covering material may be used upon said frame members.

- In some-respects, the invention comprises an improvement over the house-like construction comprising the subject matter of US. patent application Serial No. 514,412, saidapplication having been assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The improvement primarily comprises-the greater adaptability of the structure comprising thepresent invention to use for enclosing, in a customized manner, the sides of existing various sizes and shapes of porches; stoops, car ports, and the like, whereas the invention comprising the subject matter of said pending application primarily is adapted to a self-contained houselike structure.

Frequently when new houses are built for speculative purposes particularly, porches, stoops, car ports and the like are included but, very often, the sides of these remain open. In many instances this is done in order to minimize the cost of constructing such houses. After the house has been sold to a new purchaser, the enclosing of the sides of such porches, stoops, and the like in a customized manner by a carpenter for purposes of screening the porch, for example, is quite costly. Further, due to the fact that porches of different houses, other than row-type houses for example, rarely are the same size and, usually, no ready built type of porch screens are available for enclosing such porches.

Further, particularly where-a porch or the like of along existing house is to be enclosed, it is found that the floor is somewhat uneven due to settling or the like and not infrequently even the upper trim or framing of the porch just under the roof has settled or sagged from its position, usuallyir'regularly. Hence, the matter of enclosing such a porchis all themore diflicult, particularly if ready made screens of some types are desired in order to minimize the cost of such screening of the porch. Hence, a custom screening job by a carpenter generally is required. The cost of this frequently results in the porch remaining unscreened. Y

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a type and system of enclosing structure for porches, stoops and the like which lends itself to having the component parts of the enclosure cut to fit accurately at a factory or scattered shops of franchised distributors for example, and shipped to a job in packaged form of compact dimensions. The installation of such components requires little time and may be accomplished by inexperienced persons, following a few simple directions which may be furnished in printed form with the package whereby, when assembled, the porch will be enclosed satisfactorily,

, 2,888,070 Patented May 26, 1959 precisely, and less expensively than would be the cost if the porch were enclosed by a carpenter or other skilled mechanic making such enclosure with comparable-materials.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the framing of the enclosure comprising the supporting means for sheet-like covering material that said framing may be cut from long stock lengths of standard or special shapes of structural forms either at a factory or distributors shop to conform to the exact sides of a porch to be covered by said enclosure, and the fastening means for the members of the frames also are quickly attached by power machinery after the cutting of the lengths of structural members, whereby all thatis required for installing the enclosure on the job site is the use of a few screws and possibly a cement drill if the floor of the porch or the like is of masonry construction.

One further object of the invention is to provide adaptor or filler members which will compensate for irregularities in the existing structure such as have resulted from sagging and the like, whereby the porch will be fully enclosed particularly against the entrance of insects to the enclosure.

One further object of the invention is to provide means in the construction by which the flexible sheet-like material comprising the covering of the enclosure is placed under tension and such tensioning of said material main-- tains the various components of the frame construction in assembled relationship.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings compris ing'a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a car port, the sides of which are enclosed by means embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing details of portions of the framing structure of the enclosure embodying the invention, the scale of such'figure being enlarged over that used in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on T the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of hanger structure by which the upper end of the sheet-like flexible material is supported in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a positioning lug fixed to one frame member and being telescopically received in one end of another frame member, said frame members being illustrated in phantom.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the lower portion of part, of the frame structure of the enclosure embodying the present invention and showing particularly v the means by which the sheet-like material is placed under tension and also one exemplary means for anchoring the lower portion of the frame to a porch floor of masonry construction.

Fig. 7 is a vertical elevation taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing porstrut and part of a door frame taken on the line -10 of Fig. 1 but shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on a scale similar to that used in Fig. 10 and showing a strut comprising part of the present invention which may be used at the corner of a porch or the like in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 12 is a vertical side view, partly in vertical section, showing in full lines an exemplary installation of an enclosure for the front end of a car port, and in broken lines, said panel is shown in elevated position, whereby said panel may serve as a hinged door for the car port.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the door-like panel structure shown in Fig. 12 and illustrating connecting means for holding said panel in closed, vertical position.

Fig. 14 is an exemplary, diagrammatic plan view of a conventional porch and illustrating the manner in which enclosure structure embodying the principles of the present invention may be used to enclose the spaces between the existing pillars of said porch.

It is to be understood that the present invention contemplates the use of sheet-like flexible material to enclose the spaces between existing pillars, if any, of an existing porch, stoop or the like, and between the top framework and floor thereof. For summer use particularly, said flexible sheet-like material may comprise wire screen cloth and preferbaly non-corroding cloth such as that made from aluminum, bronze, or the like. Inasmuch however as it is desired to form the entire enclosing structure from non-corroding material and also since aluminum lends itself readily to being shaped into structural forms of various cross-sectional shapes by an extrusion process, it is preferred that similar non-corroding material be used as extensively as possible in order to minimize electrolitic action taking place. The invention is not to be restricted however to the use of any specific material although it is found that the use of aluminum as extensively as possible is desirable from the standpoint of cost, workability, strength, appearance, lightness in weight to minimize shipping costs, and other qualities.

Further, particularly for winter use, if desired, the flexible sheet-like material to be used to cover the open sides of a porch or the like may comprise transparent, synthetic resin sheeting of which a number of different types are commercially available, the same being durable and weather-resistant, and also possessing substantial tensile strength. For purposes of convenience however and to simplify the description and illustration of the present invention, wire screen cloth has been illustrated in the drawings and will be referred to in the specification but it is to be understood that this is merely for convenience and the invention is not to be restricted to the use of wire screen cloth since transparent flexible sheeting of synthetic resin or the like may be used with equal facility, structurally to form an enclosure for an existing porch or the like.

In Fig. 1, a conventional and exemplary car port 10 is illustrated, the same comprising for example ornamental metal corner structures 12 which support the substantially flat roof 14-. To enclose such exemplary car port by structure embodying the present invention, it is contemplated that a plurality of elongated upper structural L-shaped members 16 are used in a position adjacent the top framework 18 of the car port 10, porch, stoop, or the like. The members 16 are well illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Also, referring particularly to Figs. 7 through 9, it will be seen that elongated lower structural U-shaped channel members 20 are disposed adjacent the floor of the existing building structure and, particularly where the spaces to be enclosed are quite wide, it is preferred that the lower members 20 be anchored intermediately of the ends thereof, as well as at the ends if desired, to the floor 22, if of masonry 4 construction, by thumb screws 24 or the like threaded for example into Ackerman or similar expansion nuts 26 placed within the masonry floor 22. Such nuts commonly are used in many types of structural building today by drilling a suitable hole with a carbide bit. If the floor is of wood however, a simple wood screw may be used in lieu of the thumb screw 24.

Extending between the upper and lower structural members 16 and 20, as frequently as is deemed necessary, are a plurality of spaced, preferably slim or narrow struts or columns 28. Preferably the struts or columns 28 are formed from extruded metal such as aluminum and are substantially square in cross-section as is shown for example in Fig. 13. Also, for convenience, said struts or columns may be extruded so as to have T- shaped, channel-forming projections 30 provided on one side thereof, the channels thereof being arranged to receive the opposite side edges of flexible sheet-like panels of material such as wire screen cloth or fabric 32. This type of strut and channel forming member is used particularly in the formation of side enclosing panels of extensive width such as shown in Fig. 1 for example.

Modified forms of struts or columns may be used however for corner constructions, door jambs, and other installations which may be desired in such enclosures however. For example, in Fig. 10, a preferably extruded strut or column 34 is shown which, in the main, is preferably of similar internal dimensions as the struts or columns 28, for purposes to be described, while the strut 34 also is provided with a lateral projection 36 which comprises a door stop for one side edge of the fragmentarily illustrated door 38. It will be seen also that an L-shaped projection 40 of exemplary construction is shown in Fig. 10 so as to form a single channel for one edge of the flexible material 32. Although this preferably extruded form appears to be somewhat complex in shape, the production thereof is no more difiicult than the formation of other types of shapes currently available in the metal trade of this nature.

Where for example it is desired that a corner strut or pillar be used, by referring to Fig. 11 it will be seen that a convenient, preferably extruded, hollow strut or pillar 42 is shown which is shaped to have a plurality of channels 44- on adjacent sides thereof which are disposed at to each other. The reception of the edges of the side enclosing flexible material 32 which cover adjacent angularly related sides of the porch or the like is well shown in this figure.

To illustrate the manner in which an enclosing structure embodying the present invention might be customized at substantially no more cost than mass produced enclosures, it is proposed that the dimensions of a customers porch or other structure to be enclosed are taken accurately and noted upon a diagram form which may be obtained for example from a dealer, hardware or department store, or any other similar establishment selling These dimensions are sent' this class of merchandise. either to a factory or franchised dealers shops, whichever is nearest the customer, and from said dimensions; the exact lengths of upper members 16, lower channel members 20, and the required shapes and lengths of struts or columns 28, 34, and 42, or otherwise are cut from long stock lengths of such structural shapes. Holes are drilled or punched within said elongated horizontal upper and lower members for purposes of riveting preferably rigid but slightly resilient lug-like members 46 thereto. Any suitable shape may be used in forming such lugs 46 but it is found that if the same are U-shaped and have slightly inwardly bent outer ends as illustrated in Fig. 3, they will be highly satisfactory. Preferably, the width of the opposite legs of the U-shaped lug members 46 closely conforms to the width of the openings within the tubular strut or column, regardless of the shape thereof. Also, the outer surfaces of the'opposite legs of the U-shaped lug members 46 are spaced apart substantially the same dimension, whereby a firm frictional engagement between the lug members 46 and the interior of the various shapes of vertical struts or columns is achieved. The lug members 46 may firmly and easily be attached to the horizontal upper and lower members 16 and 20 by any suitable means such as rivets 48. Preferably, the lug-like members 46 are formed from stainless steel or any other suitable non-corrosive material as are likewise the rivets 48.

The lug members 46 respectively on the upper and lower structural members 16 and 20 are in vertical alignment with each other whereby when the tubular struts or columns are fitted to said horizontal upper and lower members, said struts or columns will be substantially vertical. In many instances, the struts or columns will be disposed adjacent existing pillars 50, whereby the lug members 46 will be fixed to the upper and lower members 16 and 20 adjacent the ends thereof. Regardless of this however, it will be seen that the special shapes of door-frame and corner struts or columns 34 and 42 have a principal interior shape which oorrespondsin crosssectional area to that of the strut or column 28 contemplated for most common use, whereby any of said special shapes of stnuts or columns readily may receive the lug members 46 and frictionally engage the same. It will be seen that the lug members 46 comprise the only means to prevent axial movement of the struts or columns and hence it is preferred that at least a pair of rivets 48 be used to secure the lug members 46 to the horizontal structural members, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 for example.

' To facilitate assembly and installation of the enclosing structure comprising the present invention and also to compensate for irregularities resulting from sagging and the like, for example, in existing structures, it further is contemplated that a combination space closing or filling and fastening member 52 be utilized in conjunction with the upper structural members 16. Preferably, the member 52 is elongated and L-shaped in cross-section as is best shown in Fig. 3. One flange thereof slidably abuts one flange of the member 16 in facial contact and said members are movable relative to each other in a vertical direction for planar adjustment. Such adjustment is possible by providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 54 in the member 52. Said slots extend vertically, preferably. Also, the vertical flange of each upper structural member 16 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced short slots 55, the midpoint of each of which is transversely aligned with the centers of the slots 54. Fastening bolts 56 and preferably thumb nuts extend through the slots 54 and 55 to hold the member 52 adjustab-ly connected to the upper structural member 16. The short slots 55 permit limited relative longitudinal adjustment between the members 16 and 52 to facilitate the mounting of the present enclosure relative to an existing building structure but the major amount of adjustment is performed by the vertical slots 54.

A slot-closing plate 58 also has a hole or short slot therein adjacent one edge to receive the bolt 56 and said plate is placed over the slot 54 in the member 52 when the nut is tightened upon the bolt 56, thereby preventing the ingress of insects through said slot. One such plate is provided for each slot 54.

By the use of the construction just described above, it will be seen that even though the top frame work of a porch for example might not be exactly level, the upper structural member 16 nevertheless may be mounted so as to be substantially level and the space filling and closing members 52 may be adjusted to compensate for irregularities between the top frame work 18 and the upper member 16 of the enclosure structure.

Extending between the upper and lower members 16 and 20 in a vertical direction, as well as horizontally between the vertical struts or columns, is a sheet of flexible material 32 which may comprise woven wire cloth or fabric, or suitable impervious synthetic resin sheeting of a flexible nature and of which a number of commercial varieties are available. A convenient means for suspending said flexible material between said frame members comprises an upper channel member 60 and a similar lower channel member 62 respectively shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 7. Said channel members preferably are made from corrosion-resistant material such as aluminum and are bent into the shapes shown in said figures for purposes of providing a sheet-receiving channel into which one end of the flexible sheet 32 is slidably inserted and then bent upon itself so as to extend downwardly from the upper member 60 and upwardly from the lower member 62. A suitable supporting bracket 64 is riveted or otherwise secured to the upper member 16 as shown in detail in Fig. 4. A hanger 66, having a manually engageable handle 68 is secured to the upper channel member 60 as shown in Fig. 4 and a portion of the hanger 66 is received within a slot or hole 69 of clamping bracket 64 so as to suspend the upper channel member 60 and also the upper edge of the flexible sheet 32 from the upper structural member 16 of the frame-like. construction. As many brackets 64 and hangers 66 as desired may be used in longitudinally spaced relationship as is necessary, depending upon the width of the opening to be covered by the flexible sheet 32.

Other suitable supporting means for the upper channel member 60 and flexible sheet 32 may be used if desired. However, it is preferred that a detachable supporting means be used so that the flexible sheet 32 may be removed when desired and stored for example by rolling the same coil-like into a compact package. Said flexible sheet also may be shipped initially from the factory or distributor in this manner.

The flexible sheet material 32, Whether of wire screen nature or impervious sheet-like resin material, or the like, preferably is mounted upon the frame structure comprising the present invention so as to be tensioned between the upper and lower elongated members 16 and 20. After the upper edgev of the flexible sheet 32 has been mounted as described immediately above, the lower edge thereof which has been inserted previously within the channel of lower channel member 62 will be disposed.

adjacent the lower structural member 20 as shown in Figs. 6 through 8. Preferably in vertical alignment with the brackets 64, a plurality of clamping brackets 70 are fixed by screws or otherwise to the lower structural members 20 as shown particularly in Fig. 8. A fulcrum=type tensioning bar 72 is associated with each bracket 70,and a clamping bolt 74 having a wing nut 76 thereon is operable to depress the outer end of the fulcrum bar 72 so as to lower the outer tongue 78 on said bar which extends through a slot 80 in lower channel member 62..

There preferably are as many tensioning bracket assemblies as there are supporting brackets 64, as implied above. The assembly of the tongues 78 of such assemblies through the slots 80 in the lower channel members 62 easily is effected and tightening of the wing nuts 76 quickly places the flexible sheets 32 under tension, whereby the upper and lower edges are securely anchored relative to the frame structure, and the edges of the flexiblesheets 32 are held against the frame structure by the channel forming means formed on each of the-struts or columns 28, 34, 42, or the like.

When'for example the present invention is adapted to,

use with a car port such as shown in Fig. 1, it is conceivable that the car port might be desirable for use as an outdoor living room, during the summer months particularly, yet, when cold weather arrives, the same may be used again to house an automobile. During use as a living room, the enclosure panel generally designated 82 may comprise a door which is hinged at the top but which nevertheless closes said end continuously during use as a living room. While so used, the lower structural member 20 may be anchored to the floor of the car port by a thumb screw 24 or the like, if desired. However,

when the panel 82 is to be opened so as to permit use of the car port for garage purposes, then it is contemplated that the preferably L-shaped fastening member 52 which is connected to the upper structural member 16 be connected by a hinge 84 to the interior of the top frame work 18 as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The construction of the side edges of the frame of the outer panel @2 also is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 13 and, for example, may comprise a pair of adjacent struts or columns 28, the outermost of each of said pair of struts or columns being permanently fixed to the car port, While the inner strut 28 is secured to upper and lower members 16 and 20 so as to be movable as a hinged door 82 relative to the outermost struts or columns 28. Under such circumstances, the outermost columns or struts 23 are not fixed to the lower member 20 of the door-like outer panel 82 but nevertheless are fixed to the lower structural members 20 extending along the sides of the car port.

During use as an outdoor living room, the adjacent struts or columns 28 and 28, as shown in Fig. 13, are secured together by any suitable means, such as a thumb bolt 86 which extends through apertures in opposed side walls of the strut 23, but one of the side walls of strut 28 is threaded to receive the threaded inner end of the thumb bolt 86, as clearly shown in Fig. 13. Hence, removal of the thumb bolts 86 and corresponding fastening means 24 in the lower member 2t) of the door-like outer panel 82 permits said outer panel to be elevated to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12, adjacent the roof of the car port, where it may be held by any suitable means such as a hook 88. When disposed in this position, the elevated door-like panel 82 leaves the front end of the car port open for entrance and exit of any vehicle such as an automobile or the like.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower ends of the flanges forming the channels for receiving the edges of the flexible sheets 32, to hold the same adjacent the struts 28, preferably are removed for a short distance as indicated at 90 in Fig. 9 to facilitate insertion of the flexible sheet 32 within said channels when the sheets and frame construction of the enclosure comprising the present invention are being assembled.

When for example the enclosure comprising the present invention is being positioned so as to enclose a porch for example which has a floor sloping slightly forward and downward, as is conventional in porch floors, whether formed of wood, masonry, or the like, the lower edge of the flexible sheets 32 may be cut at a corresponding angle and hence, when the lower tensioning members 62 are placed under tension by manipulation of the wing nuts 76, the flexible sheets 32 are placed under even tension and will be stretched fiat while the upper and lower edges thereof conform perfectly to the upper and lower structural members 16 and 20 which are fastened respectively to the top framework 18 and the floor of the porch, the side edges of the flexible sheets 32 also lying flat against the vertical struts or columns extending between said upper and lower structural members.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention comprises an enclosing assembly susceptible to being precisely fitted and affixed to various sizes of existing building structures such as conventional porches, stoops, car ports and the like. By the use of this invention, a home owner is afforded a structure by which wire screen cloth or other flexible sheet material may be used to enclose an existing structure having a roof but one or more open sides. Such enclosing also may be done in a custom-like manner yet under many circumstances, such customized enclosure will be less expensive than if a contractor were engaged to make the enclosure from available materials sold by a hardware dealer or the like. This is due to the fact that the cutting and fabricating of the various elements forming the frames to support the flexible sheet material are performed at a factory or at a franchised dealers shop where suitable equipment is available to accomplish these operations much more quickly and hence more economically than it could be done by an individual contractor. All of the elements used in the enclosing structure preferably are of corrosionesistant nature such as aluminum, stainless steel, and the like. As a result of this, no swelling or sticking of the material takes place as would be the situation if wood were used and no periodic painting of the structure is required as where wood or other perishable material is employed in the structure.

Still further, due to the nature of the frame-forming elements particularly of the present invention, as well as the means preferred for attaching the same to the existing structure such as the upper framework and floor thereof, installation time required is far less than that which would be required for an individual contractor to fit and install a comparable enclosure made from available stock material of stock lengths at a building supply dealer for example. Essentially, very simple tools are used to install the present invention, these principally comprising a screw driver, and possibly a masonry drill in the event the floor structure is of masonry nature. Further, even the holes to receive the screws may be made in certain of the frame members at the factories or distributors shops, whereby no cutting and fitting of any kind is required when installing the enclosure structure comprising the present invention.

In addition, the factory or franchise dealer will maintain in stock flexible sheet material such as wire screen cloth of a wide range of widths, whereby due to particularly to relatively deep channels being provided on the strut or column members, a slight amount of leeway is provided so that suitable widths of stock flexible sheet material may be used to form an enclosure for an existing porch-like construction of practically any width or shape.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. An assembly susceptible to being fitted precisely and affixed to various sizes of existing building structures such as conventional porches, stoops, car ports and the like to cover open sides thereof and form an enclosure, said assembly comprising in combination, upper and lower elongated metallic structural members cut similarly to required length and arranged to be positioned respectively adjacent the top framework of the existing building structure and the floor thereof, the upper structural member having a vertical face thereon extending substantially the full length thereof, elongated narrow metallic struts cut similarly to required length and extending vertically between said upper and lower members at spaced intervals, interfitting lug and socket positioning means on said members and the ends of said struts to connect and position said members and struts accurately relative to each other and form a frame, flexible sheet-like material extending over the outer face of said frame vertically between said upper and lower members and transversely between said struts, channel means on said struts parallel to the outer faces thereof and respectively receiving the vertical edges of said sheetlike material, supporting and tensioning means connected respectively to the upper and lower edges of said material and also to said upper and lower members, one of said means being adjustable relative to one of said members and operable to tension said material across the outer face of said frame between the top framework and floor of an existing building structure and hold said interfitting lug and socket positioning means connected, elongated means connectable to said top framework of an existing structure and provided with a vertical face thereon extending longitudinally therealong and adjustably connected against the vertical face of said upper elongated member of said frame to secure the top of said frame to said existing structure and cover any space existing between said framework and upper member, and means engageable with said lower structural member and floor of an existing structure to secure the lower portion of said frame thereto.

2. The assembly set forth in claim 1 further including hinges connected to' said elongated means and attachable to said top framework, whereby said frame and flexible material connected thereto comprise a door which may be hingedly supported at the top to said existing structure and may be swung overhead when said last mentioned securing means is detached from the floor of said existing structure.

3. The assembly set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said lower elongated member of said frame comprising a channel invertedly positioned in use and said connected upper elongated member and elongated means each comprising L-shaped structures in crosssection and each being positioned in use with one flange normally extending vertically, said vertical flanges being in facial contact and adjustably connected for planar adjustment, and means operable to clamplingly connect said vertical flanges together in vertical adjustment.

4. The assembly set forth in claim 3 further characterized by one of said vertical flanges having a substantially vertical slot and the other a hole aligned transversely therewith, bolt-like means extending through said slot and hole to connect said flanges together in adjusted relationship, and a substantially flat cover member disposed against said slotted flange and covering said slot therein, said cover member being held positioned by said bolt-like means.

5. An enclosing assembly susceptible to being fitted precisely and anixed to various sizes of existing building structures such as conventional porches, stoops, car ports and the like, said assembly comprising in combination, upper and lower elongated metallic structural members out similarly to required length and arranged to be positioned respectively adjacent the top framework of an existing building structure and the floor thereof, said upper elongated member being L-shaped in cross-section and positioned with one flange extending horizontally and the other extending vertically from the outer edge of said horizontal flange, lug means connected to and projecting respectively downward from the horizontal flange of said upper member and upward from the upper surface of said lower member in vertical alignment with each other, tubular elongated struts of narrow width and having an interior shape complementary to the crosssectional shape of said lug means, said struts being cut similarly to required length and extending vertically between said upper and lower members and abutting the same when positioned as aforesaid and the opposite ends of said struts frictionally receiving said lug means telescopically to connect and position said members and struts accurately relative to each other, channel-forming means formed on and extending longitudinally along the outer surfaces of said struts, flexible sheet-like material extending over the outer face of said frame vertically between said upper and lower elongated members and transversely between said struts, the vertical edges of said sheet-like material being received freely within the channel means of said struts, supporting and tensioning means connecting respectively the upper and lower edges of said material to said upper and lower members, said lower supporting means being adjustable relative to said lower elongated member and operable to tension said material across the opening of said frame and hold said lug means connected to said struts, manually operable means supported by said lower elongated structural member at spaced intervals and engaging said lower supporting and tensioning means to elfect movement thereof to tension said flexible member, and means operable respectively to connect the vertical flange of said upper elongated structural member to the upper framework and the lower elongated structural member to the floor of an existing structure, the means connecting said upper structural member having a vertical flange thereon flatly and slidably engaging said vertical flange of said upper structural member and being clamped thereto in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 788,163 Mitchell Apr. 25, 1905 936,451 Havenhill Oct. 12, 1909 1,045,837 Hager Dec. 3, 1912 1,777,028 Berbeck Sept. 30, 1930 2,144,515 Trumpbour Jan. 17, 1939 2,498,716 Scide Feb. 28, 1950

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