US2919477A

US2919477A - Structural assemblies

Info

Publication number: US2919477A
Application number: US545828A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis L Schacht
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-11-09
Filing date: 1955-11-09
Publication date: 1960-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-05

Description

Jan. 5, 1960 L. L. SCHACHT 2,919,477

STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 9; 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet} FIG.I

FIG 3 FIG 4 0 U A F 22 3.40 914 34 91a INVENTOR.

ATTORN EYS L. SCHACHT STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES- Jan. 5, 1960 Filed Nov. 911955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1960 L. L. SCHACHT STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 21a FlG. I2

FIG. I0

Has

254 FIG. ll

ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1950 L, SCHACHT 2,919,477

STRUCTURAL ASSEMQLIES Filed Nov. 9, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIGJ4 INVENTOk. Lam's Z. .Scfiacfif ATTORNEYS United States Patent STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES Louis L. Schacht, New York, N.Y.

. Application November 9, 1955, Serial No. 545,828

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-564) The present invention relates, in general, to structural assemblies and, in particular, to store front constructions, partitions, windows, etc.

A stainless steel framework is especially desirable for a store or building front construction, since it provides a crisp, modern and clean looking appearance and is not subject to corrosion. Heretofore, stainless steel Was considered too expensive for use in such constructions and resort was had to various cheaper and less desirable metals such as aluminum and brass. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stainless steel framework for a store or building front construction which can be manufactured and sold at comparatively low cost so as to obviate the necessity for resorting to other less desirable metals in such constructions.

Another object is the provision of a structural assembly construction'wherein the various components can be prefabricated at the factory or shop and can be quickly erected at the site of installation.

Another object is the provision of a building front or partition construction made up of components which are designed to readily interfit' with each other so that the front or partition may be quickly erected by comparatively unskilled workers.

Another objectis to provide a store front construction which requires a minimum number of fastening or securing elements.

Another object is the provision of a building front or partition construction provided with spaced vertical stiles or mullions which are adapted to receive the glass panels,

and, in addition, are'adapted to receive glazing beads or closure members which serve to hold the glass panels in position, the beads being unsecured to the stiles and contributing to the generally improved appearance of the stainless steel store front structure.

struction, of mullions,-muntins and transom bars which have the desired appearance ofstainless steel and yet which 'utilizeaminimu'in of stainless steel.

A further object is the provision of a highly novel, efficient and relatively inexpensive arrangement for weather stripping a doorway opening or the like.

A still further object is to provide a stile or mullion construction which includes a metal sheathing wherein the thickness of the stilescan be increased or decreased, as may be desired, without changing the dimensions of the sheathing, so that a standard size sheathing may be utilized in connection with stiles of different dimensions.

, The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention ,will .be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

7 In the drawings which illustrate the best mode present- I 1y contemplated of carryingout the invention,

Fig.1 is a front elevation of a building or store front "construction pursuant to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; a

"ice

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating another form of base construction;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating an additional form of base construc- Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail of a weather stripping assembly;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a base member; and

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are more or less diagrammatic views illustrating various steps in the assembly of a store front construction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 illustrates one typical store front construction or assembly 20, pursuant to the present invention. As here shown, the store front assembly 20 is erected within a building structure whichis generally indicated by the reference numeral 22, and said store front construction is constituted by the single panel show Windows 24 and 26, the double panel show window 28 and the door and transom 30.

Pursuant to an important aspect of the present invention, the store front construction 20 may bereadily assembled in the field from standardized components. These components include the vertical mullion or stile assembly 34 (Fig. 13) and the glazing header assembly 38 (Fig. 14) utilized in all three show windows and also in the door section 30; a base assembly 36 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) comprising the base member (Fig. 18) and the sill 39 (Fig. 14), utilized in all three show windows; a horizontal muntin 40 (Fig. 16) utilized in the double panel show window 28; and a transom assembly 41 (Fig. 15) utilized in the door section 30.

As best seen in Fig. 13, the stile or mullion assembly 34 is constituted by a pair of flanged channels 42 having their webs 43 disposed in back-to-back relation. Said channels are apertured, as at 44, at spaced intervals longitudinally thereof, and are secured together at said apertures, as indicated at 45 in Fig. 4 to form flanged I-bearn means 46. The channels 42 may be fabricated of any metal suitable for the purpose, preferably relatively inexpensive steel. The I-beam 46 is sheathed or covered at the opposite sides thereof by the stainless steel sheaths or covering members 47. In this connection, it will be noted that the ends of the

flanges

48 and 49 of the I-beam are engaged by the

reflexed flanges

50 and 51, respectively, of the stainless steel sheath to retain the latter in position thereon, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The

sheaths 47 are engaged with the I-bearn 46 by sliding each sheath endwise over the top end of the I-bearn and moving the sheath down toward the other end of the I- beam until the opposite sides of the I-beam are completely covered from top to bottom thereof. In this manner, the portions of each mullion assembly 34 which are exposed to view, when assembled in the store front assembly 20, are completely sheathed in stainless steel with no portion of the underlying I-beam being visible. The mullions 34 may be assembled at the factory or shop and shipped to the installation site ready for installation and assembly into the store front construction 20.

The mullion assemblies 34 are readily mounted in position by means of angle irons 52. As best seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, each angle iron 52 has a base wall 54, an end wall 56 which extends vertically from one end of the base 54 and opposing side walls 58 which extend from the opposite sides of the base portion 54. Each angle member 52 is suitably secured to the floor F on which the store front construction 20 is to be mounted, as by a bolt 60. In the case of a concrete floor, an internally threaded sleeve 62 (Fig. 6) is embedded in the concrete floor 64 and the bolt 60 is then threaded into the sleeve 62, For a terrazzo or concrete floor, a block of wood may be incorporated in the floor to underlie each of the angle members 52 so that the bolts 60 thereof could be secured directly into the underlying blocks of wood.

Each angle member 52 is apertured, as at 65, in the upright wall 56 thereof for securing a mullion assembly 34 thereto.

In the case of the mullion assembly 34A which is common to both

show windows

24 and 26, a pair of angle irons 52 are secured to the floor in spaced back-toback relationship, and the webs 43-43 of the I-beams are inserted between the spaced uprights 56 of the angle members 52, the bolt means 45 being inserted through the aligned apertures 44 at the lower end of webs 43 and the aligned apertures 65 in the angle walls 56, as in Fig. 2, to bolt the mullion 34A on the floor. In the case of mullion assemblies which are utilized at the ends of the store front, between the latter and the adjacent walls of the structure 22, in which the store front is to be incorporated, only one angle member is used to mount each end mullion. For example, the mullion assembly 3413 (Figs. 1 and 3) is utilized between the show window 24 and the adjacent wall W of the structure 22. Said mullion 34B is secured to a single angle member 52, which is anchored on the floor F, with the mullion in abutment with the wall, as illustrated. The mullion 34C (Fig. l) at the other end of the store front construction 20, abuts the adjacent building structure 22 in the same manner as in the case of the mullion 3413, except that the opposite side of mullion 34C is adjacent the wall, as will be apparent. Mullion 34C is secured, in the same manner as mullion 348, to a single angle member 52 anchored to the floor. Similarly, the mullion assembly 34D, (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) which is utilized between the show window 26 and the door section 30 is secured to a single angle member 52 anchored to the floor F. More specifically, it will be noted that the mullion 34D is provided below the transom assembly 41 with a length of suitable filler or wood 66, at the door side thereof, for a purpose hereinafter described in detail, and the screw 68, which secures the wood to the I-beam, also secures the I-beam to the upright wall 56 of the angle member 52. The-mullion 34E (Fig. 1) between the show window 28 and the door section 30 below the transom assembly 41 also mounts a length of suitable filler or wood 67 and differs from mullion 34D only in that the filler strip 67 and the angle iron 52 areat the opposite sides, respectively, thereof from that illustrated in Fig. 2.

A base assembly 36 extends between a pair of spaced mullion assemblies in each of the store front sections, except the door section 30. Each base assembly 36 comprises a base member 70 (Fig. 18), and a sill 39 (Fig. 14). The base member 70 is preferably formed of a single sheet of stainless steel which is bent into the shape best shown in Figs. 5 and 18 to provide a peripherally continuous member having top wall 76, the opposing

side walls

78 and 79, a raised bottom wall and the laterally spaced

legs

82, 82 between which the raised bottom 80 extends. The base member 70, being hollow, is provided with a suitable filler material, for example and not by way of limitation, the filler may be constituted by a length of wood 34 or by a honey comb core, either of which may be readily inserted into the base member through one of the open ends thereof. It will be noted that the spacing between the legs 82 of the base member 70 is such as to accommodate or straddle the opposing upstanding sides or ears 58-58 of the angle members 52 so that when the base member 70 is mounted in position on the floor F, the inner surfaces of the legs 82 thereof abut the adjacent ears, respectively, of the angle members 52. As hereinafter explained in detail, each base member 70 is engaged, at each of its opposite ends, over an angle member 52 by the described straddling of the opposing cars 58 of each angle member by the legs 82 of the base member 70 and there is no direct securement of the base members to the angle members, to the mullion assemblies 34, or to the floor P.

On its upper wall 76, each base member 70 mounts a sill 39 constituted by a glass retainer 72 and a U-shaped glazing bead 74, each formed of stainless steel. The glass retainer 72 straddles the base member and projects from the

opposite sides

78 and 79 thereof. At the front side 78 of the base member 70, the glass retainer 72 is provided with the lateral downwardly directed formation 81 having the reflexed flange portion 86 which abuts said front side 78. At the rear or inner side thereof, the glass retainer 72 is provided with the lateral upwardly extending formation 90 which includes the wall portion 92 which extends upwardly from the web 93 of the retainer member to form therewith a shoulder 95 for the glass panel 91A, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The formation portion 94 extends below the upper base wall 76 and is provided with the reflexed or inturned flange 96 which abuts against the inner side 79 of the base member 70. It will be apparent that the

inturned flange portions

86 and 96 of the glass retainer 72 straddle the base member and retain the retainer member against lateral movement on the base member 70. The U-shaped cap or glazing bead 74 is mounted in inverted disposition on the web 93 of the glass retainer 72 with the front side wall 98 thereof in alignment with the front side wall 78 of the base member 70, and with the inner or rear side wall 100 thereof spaced inwardly from the retainer portion 92 to define a recessed seat for the glass panel 91A. A pair of spaced screws 102 secure the bead to the glass retainer. While Fig. 5 illustrates the base assembly and glass panel in the show window 26, it will be understood that the base assemblies in the

show windows

24 and 28 are similarly constructed and that the

glass panels

91B and 91C, respectively, thereof are similarly mounted on the associated bases. Each glass panel is seated at the bottom thereof preferably on a strip of wood W disposed on the web 93 of the associated glass retainer 72, putty P, glazing compound or glazing tape being inserted between each glass panel and the adjacent portions of the associated sill 39.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, it will be noted that each glass panel is dimensioned to extend at each marginal side edge thereof part way into the adjacent mullion assembly, this figure showing the glass panel 91A which extends between the

mullions

34A and 34D, and the glass panel 91B which extends between the

mullions

34A and 34B. In order to retain each glass panel in position within a pair of mullion assemblies, provision is made for the stainless steel vertically disposed glazing beads 104. Each bead 104 is constituted by a U-shaped member, having the opposing walls 106 and 108 which abut the web 43 of the adjacent channel 42 of the adjacent mullion assembly 34. The leg or wall 106 abuts the sheath 47 at the front or outer side of the mullion and the other leg or wall 108 is spaced from the associated glass panel, putty P, glazing compound or glazing tape filling the spaces between the glass panel and the adjacent portions of the mullion and the glazing bead.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be noted that each base member 70 extends, at each end thereof, into the adjacent mullion assembly in the spaces 111 and 113 (Fig. 13), respectively, defined by the opposing flanges 50-50, and 51-51 of the inner and outer sheaths 47 in each mullion assembly, the base member however being spaced from the web 43 of the adjacent channel 42, as indicated by the reference numerals 110. The cap or bead 74 is coextensive with the web 93 of the glass retainer 72. In the assembled condition of the base assembly 36, both ends of the base member 70, extend into the adjacent spaces 111 and 113 in the adjacent mullion assemblies 34, so that said parts interfit with and between a pair of spaced mullion assemblies. The vertical beads 104 are also disposed within said spaces and the lower ends thereof abut the upper wall 76 of the base 70, as best shown in Fig. 6, it being noted that the beads 104 cover the webs 43 of the adjacent channels 42 so that the underlying metal is not exposed to view, and that opposite ends of the sill assemblies 39 abut the adjacent beads, respectively.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form of base member 70A. It will be noted that the base member 70A is generally similar to the base member 70 except that in lieu of the closed top wall 76 of the latter, the base member 70A is provided at the upper end thereof with the inturned flanges 120, each of which defines an acute angle with the

adjacent side wall

78 or 79 of the base member. The flanges 120 are each provided with spaced apertures 122, longitudinally thereof, and the paired apertures of said flanges are engaged by the U-shaped pins 123 which extend into the base member 70A. In lieu of the previously described filler material used in the base member 70, the filler material used in the base member 70A is preferably concrete, as indicated at C, which may be conveniently poured into the base member from the open upper end thereof, the pins 123 being embedded in the concrete.

Each of the

inner mullion assemblies

34A, 34D, and 34E is secured, at the upper end thereof, to the overlying lintel or structure 22 by a pair of stepped angle irons or members 124, best illustrated in Fig. 6. The angle irons straddle the abutting webs 43 to which they are bolted, as at 126, and are secured to the overlying lintel of the structure 22, as by seeming elements 128 threaded through the upper steps 127 into the internally threaded sleeves 130 anchored in the structure 22. The end mullions 34B and 340 are each similarly secured to the structure 22 by a single angle 124.

The angles 124 serve also to mount the glazing header assemblies 38. Said assemblies are constituted by a glass retainer 72 and a bead 74 inverted from the position thereof when used to constitute a sill assembly 39, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Each header assembly 38 is secured, adjacent each end thereof, to the adjacent angle 124 by means of a securing element 102 which secures the inverted retainer 72 and inverted bead 74 to the lower step 121 of the angle. The formation 90 of each header assembly is vertically aligned with the formation 90 of each sill 39. The

glass panels

91A and 91B, at the upper and lower ends thereof, extend into the spaces between the caps 74 and the vertical faces 92 of said aligned formations, the spaces between the glass and the adjacent parts being filled with putty P, glazing-tape or glazing compound.

As in the case of the sills 39, the opposite ends of the glazing headers 38 abut the adjacent beads in the mullions 34, respectively, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the vertical beads 104, which, as previously described, are disposed in the spaces 111 and 113, at their upper sides abut the glazing header 38, and at their lower sides abut the sill 39 so as to completely conceal from view the underlying webs 43 of the assemblies 34. In addition to having angle irons 124, which are also secured to the overlying structure 22, each

mullion assembly

34D and 34B for the door section 30 and the additional mullion assembly 34C for the double-panel section 28, also carry angle irons below the upper angle irons 1'24 thereof. As best illustrated in Fig. 8, it will be noted that a pair of angles 125 are secured in straddling relation to the webs 43 of the mullion assembly 34E and a single angle 125 is secured to the mullion assembly 34D in opposition to the right hand angle 125 of mullion 34E viewing said figure. Similarly, as indicated in Fig. 19, angle 125 is secured to the mullion 34C in opposition to the left hand angle 125 on mullion 34E. In the case of the angle iron 125 on the mullion 34D, a pair of the previously mentioned countersunk wood screws 68 are utilized to secure said angle to the mullion, said screws extending into the previously mentioned length of wood 66. In the case of the mullion 34E, which is common to the door section 30 and to the double-panel section 32, the angle irons 125 are secured in position by means of the screws 68 which extend into a length of wood filler 67 disposed similarly as in the mullion 34D.

The confronting angle irons 125 on the

mullion assemblies

34C and 34E serve to mount a muntin or doublepanel transom bar assembly 40 (Fig. 16) therebetween for the show window 28, as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. Said muntin assembly comprises a generally T-shaped member 141 formed of suitable material, preferably steel, having a head formation or transverse portion 142 covered with a stainless steel cap or sheath 144. The sheath may be readily slipped over the head 142, from one end thereof, the sheath having the inturned opposing ends or

flanges

146 and 149 for retaining the latter in position on said head formation. The member 141 is provided with the spaced projecting legs 148148. The assembly 40 also includes a hollow bar 152 formed of stainless steel. Said bar has the longitudinal opening 154 defined therein so that the bar 152 may be slid over the legs 148, as indicated by the arrow 156. The horizontal portions 158 of said confronting angle irons 125 extend between the legs 148, at the opposite ends respec tively thereof. Countersunk screws 160 secure the upper leg 148 to the horizontal parts 158 of the angles 125, respectively, at the opposite ends of the assembly 40. It will be noted from Fig. 9 that the sheathed head 142 of the T-shaped member 141 is disposed at the inner side of the store front assembly 20 with the legs 148 thereof projecting toward the front of the store front. The cap or hollow bar 152 is inserted from the front of the store front being slid over the legs 148 until the free marginal edges of the latter engage the vertical side wall 162 of the cap 152. i

The show window 28 has a lower glass panel 91C and an upper glass panel 91D. The lower glass panel 91C is retained by 'a base assembly 36A, at the lower end of the panel, and the opposite marginal side edges thereof are retained by the

mullion assemblies

34C and 34E, in the same manner as previously described in connection with the base 36 and the

mullion assemblies

34A and 34D of the show window 26. Referring now to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the upper marginal edge of the glass panel 91C is mounted in the muntin assembly 40 between the upwardly directedflange 146 of its cap 144 and the adjacent wall portion 147 of the bar 152, which with the adjacent leg 148 define a recess or seat for the panel 91C. Putty P or glazing compound is inserted about the upper marginal edge of the panel. The lower marginal edge of the upper glass panel 91D is similarly seated in a recess defined by upper leg 148 and the opposing downwardly directed

flanges

149 and 151 of the

caps

144 and 152, respectively. A filler strip 224 and glazing compound or putty may be inserted in the seat, as illustrated. The upper end of the transom panel 91D extends into and is retained by a glazing header assembly 38A (Fig. l) as previously described, in connection with the glass panel 91A, which assembly is secured to the structure 22 between the

post assemblies

34C and 34E. The opposite marginal side edges of said transom panel 91D extend into and interfit with the

mullion assemblies

34C and 34E, in the same manner as the opposite marginal side edges of the glass panel 91A extend into and interfit with the

mullion assemblies

34A and 34D, as previously described. Shortened beads 164A are also provided, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, between the muntin assembly 40 and header assembly 38A, the lower ends of said beads being disposed on the horizontal extensions 158 of the angles 125, the upper ends of said beads being retained by the horizontal retainer cap 74 of the glazing header 38A, as previously described in connection with the show window 26. As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, shortened beads 104B are also provided in the

mullion assemblies

34C and 34B for the opposite marginal side edges of the panel 91C. The upper ends of beads 1648 are retained in position by the opposite ends of the muntin assembly 40, the lower ends thereof being seated on the base 36A and retained by the associated sill assembly 39, as previously described in connection with the window section 26. In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the double-panel transom bar or niuntin as sembly 40 serves both as a glazing header for the lower panel 91C and as a base for the upper panel 9113.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and l in detail, there is illustrated a transom bar assembly 41 for use in the door section 36. As here shown, the single panel transom bar assembly 41 comprises an elongated U-shaped base member 235i) formed of suitable material, preferably steel, a complementary elongated U-shaped cover, cap or sheath 232, preferably formed of stainless steel, and provided with the confronting flanges 234-236, and an elongated closure member 238 formed of suitable material, preferably steel. The sheath 232 may be readily positioned on member 236) by sliding the sheath over one end of said member, and the sheath is retained in position on the member 230 due to the flanges 234236 thereof, as will be apparent from Figs. 7 and 15. The closure member 238 sits on said flanges and closes the open side of both the base member 230 and the sheath 232. The closure member is provided adjacent one side edge thereof with the integral formation 240 which defines a seat thereon.

The transom bar 41 may be readily mounted in position between the

mullion assemblies

34D and 34B to interfit with the latter, by securing both the sheath 232 and the base member 230, at each end thereof, to the adjacent horizontal portion 158 of the confronting angles 125 carired by said assemblies, as best illustrated in Fig. 8. In this connection the base member and sheath are apertured as at 246 and 248, respectively, for the reception of the securing elements 250, which secure said components, at each end thereof, to the confronting angles 125.

The transom glass panel 9113 is engaged, at the upper marginal edge thereof, as previously described in connection with panel 91A, in the header assembly 3813 and its lower marginal edge seats in the recessed seat 240' provided in the closure member 238. The recessed seat 240 is vertically aligned with the glass receiving seat defined by the bead 74 and the retainer 72 of the associated glauing header assembly, in the same manner as previously described in connection with section 26 wherein the glass receiving seats in the sill assembly 39 and in the header assembly 38 are vertically aligned, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The usual glazing devices of applying putty P, glazing compound, tape, etc., to the upper marginal edge of the panel 21E and providing a Wood filler 252 in the seat 240, may be utilized in securing the glass panel in position. The opposite side edges of the glass panel 91E interfit with the mullion assemblies 34-13 and MD, in the same manner as previously described, and as illustrated in Fig. 8 which also show the short vertical beads 1 34A extending between the angles in the

mullions

34D and 34B and the associated glazing header 3313.

Section 30 also includes a door and a metal door saddle 211 (Fig. 1), each of conventional construction. The door is mounted in a conventional manner in the door section 31 Provision is made for a door pivot assembly of conventional construction generally indicated by the reference numeral in Fig. 8. The pivot assembly is not a critical part of the invention and any suitable pivot may be used. As here shown, the pivot assembly is constituted by a pivot section 182 secured in the door 170 and by a companion pivot section 134 secured in the transom bar assembly 41 of the door section 30. The pivot section 182 is constituted by a metal plate 186 suitably secured, as at 188, to the upper end of the door 170 and is provided with a socket 199 having suitable antifriction ball-bearing rollers 192. The upper pivot section 184 includes a metal plate 194 which is secured, as by securing elements 228, in the transom bar assembly 41. The plate 194 is provided with an elongated socket 196 in which a pivot pin 1% is mounted for adjustable movement lengthwise of the socket 196. The pivot pin 198 projects from the plate 194 and is engaged in the underlying door socket 191) to effect the pivotal movement of the door 170 during the opening and closing thereof. In order to completely withdraw the pivot 198 into the socket 196, so as to facilitate the attachment or the removal of the door 176 from the section 30, provision is made for the lever 20%) which is pivoted, as at 282, between a pair of ears 294 carried by the plate 194. One end of the lever 2st? extends into the socket 196 and engages the pivot 198. The other end of the lever 200 is engaged by an adjusting screw 2%, the head of which is accessible through the transom bar assembly 40, as at the aperture 208, whereby the pivot 198 may be raised or lowered, as may be required by the adjustment of the screw 206.

Pursuant to a feature of the present invention, a highly effective weather stripping device is provided at each of the opposite sides of the door 170. The weather stripping device 21% as best shown in Fig. 17, is constituted by a preferably metallic back plate 212, the opposite edges of which are inturned, as indicated at 214, to provide a pair of laterally spaced guideways 216 on the plate. A strip 218 of flexible self-restoring material, such as for example and not by way of limitation, polyethylene, which strip is wider than the member 212, is inserted from one end of the plate 212 into the guideways 216 thereof so as to bulge or how outwardly of the plate. The plate 212 is secured to the wood filler 66 provided in the mullion assembly 34D in any suitable manner, for example as by the screws 68 (Fig. 8). A weather stripping device 210 may be similarly secured to the wood filler 67 in the opposing mullion assembly 34E. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the bowed polyethylene strip 218 is normally in the broken line position thereof, extending into the path of movement of the adjacent end 219 of door 170, and when engaged by the adjacent end of the door, said strip is deformed, being bowed inwardly, as indicated in the full line position thereof, so as to conform to and to hug the adjacent end of the door so as to weather strip the door opening at the adjacent end of the door when the door is closed.

Fig. 11 illustrates a portion of a raised show window section 254 in which the base 36 is omitted. Under these conditions, the base is replaced by a structural wall 256 which may normally be higher than the base 36. The previously described sill 39 is mounted directly on the structural wall or base 256 and seats the glass panel 91F, the upper end of which maybe seated in a muntin 40, in the case of a transom display window, or seated in a header assembly 38, in the case of a single panel display window, the marginnal side edges would be retained in the adjacent mullion assemblies, as previously described.

Pursuant to the present invention, it will be readily apparent that for 'each store front construction 20, the required sizes of mullion assemblies 34 are assembled at the factory. Similarly, the various base assemblies 36, in the required lengths, are assembled at the factory. The glazing header assemblies 38 are also provided in the desired lengths as well as the muntin assemblies 40 and the transom barvassemblies 41. Similarly, the various glass panels are provided in the proper sizes thereof. All of these prefabricated components are shipped to the site of installation. It is well within the scope of the invention to provide for the sizing and for fabrication of the various parts in the field.

In erecting a store front, window front, structural assembly 'or partition, pursuant to the present invention, the base or bottom angles 52 are suitably secured to the available floor or base of the building and the upper or top angles 124 are secured to the available top structure above the available floor or base. Assuming now that the installation is to include the

show window sections

24, 26 and 28 and the door section 30, as illustrated in Fig. l, the

mullion assemblies

34A, 34B, 34C, 34D and 34E are I first erected by securing 'eachassembly to an angle member 52 which is suitably secured'in the floor and to an angle member 124 secured in the top structure, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 19. It will be noted that each of the mullion'assemblies is secured to a single angle member 52, except the mullion assembly 34A common to the

show windows

24 and 26, which is secured between a pair of angle members 52 as previously described. The'two

outermost mullion assemblies

34B and 34C are erected so as to abut the adjacent portions of the struc ture 22, asbest illustrated in Fig. 3, which shows the abutment of the mullion assembly 34B against the adjacent portion of the structure 22. It will be understood that the mullion assembly 34C, at the opposite side thereof, abuts the structure 22 in the same manner. A suitable caulking material or compound M is forced under pressure between the structure 22 and the adjacent portions of the

mullion assemblies

34B and 34C. The mullions are now firmly anchored to the floor and to the overlying structure. The lower angle members 125 are then provided on the

post assemblies

34C, 34D and 34E, as indicated in Fig. 19, in order to accommodate the muntin and transom bar assemblies. The floor between the various mullion assemblies is suitably prepared with a caulking compound M, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 20.

The various base members 70, in the proper lengths are then disposed between the various mullion assemblies, except between 34D and 341-3, each base member 70 straddling at its opposite ends, a pair of confronting angle members 52. This may be readily accomplished, as illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21, by first inserting one end of the base member 70 into the longitudinal opening 111 or 113, as the case may be, in one of the mullion assemblies and then pivoting the free end about a vertical plane about the inserted end in the direction of the arrow 260 in Fig. 2 0 into position into the longitudinal opening in the opposing mullion assembly. This may be readily accomplished due to the fact that the distance between the confronting webs 43 of a pair of opposing mullion assemblies is greater than the longitudinal extent of each base 70, as will be apparent from Fig. 21. Consequently, after the base 70 is angled into position between its associated mullion assemblies, in each of sections 24,

26 and. 28, the base 70 is then adjusted longitudinally thereof so as to define the previously indicated spacing 110 between each end of the base 70 and the adjacent web 43 Said spacings provide the required clearances to effect the positioning of the base 70 between its associated mullion assemblies by the previously described angling or pivoting thereof into position. A retainer 72 for the sill assembly 39 is placed in position between each pair of the mullion assemblies above each base therebetween, onto the upper surface of the associated base. The retainers 72 utilized in the heading assemblies 38 are then placed in position between each pair of mullions, being inverted from the position of the retainers 72 on the base members 70. The upper retainers 72 are temporarily secured at each end thereof by a screw which is inserted into the aperture in the upper angle members 124. The

glass panels

91A and 91B for the

sections

24 and 26 may now be inserted between the

mullion assemblies

34A and 34B, and 34A and 34D by angling each glass about a vertical plane into position between the associated mullion assemblies, in substantially the same manner as was utilized in the case of the base members 70, it being noted from Fig. 4 that suffi-' cient clearance is provided between the webs 43 of the opposing mullion assemblies to accomplish this purpose, since the distance between said webs is greater than the corresponding dimension of the glass. After the plate of glass is in position, the caps or beads 104 are inserted in the respective mullion assemblies, being seated on the associated .base 70. Thereafter a bead 74 is secured to the retainer 72 on the base 70 and to the retainer 74 of the header assembly section by utilizing the screws 102, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Putty P, glazing compound, etc., is inserted between each of the caps or

beads

74 and 104 and the glass. This completes the installation for the

sections

24 and 26.

With reference now to the section 28, the muntin assembly 40 is inserted between the

mullions

34C and 34B. The T-shaped member 141 provided with a sheath 144 is inserted, in a horizontal plane, from the inner side of the store front construction so that the upper leg 148 thereof is mounted, at each end thereof, on the angle members on the

mullions

34C and 34E. The plate glass panel 910 is now angled into position, in the same manner as previously described in connection with the

sections

24 and 26, except that the upper marginal end of said plate glass panel is retained by the lower flange 146 of the cap 144, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the lower marginal end being retained by the retainer 72 of the associated sill on the underlying base 70. The transom panel 91D of section 28 is also angled into position and its lower marginal edge is retained by the upper leg 148 of the bar 141 and the adjacent flange 149 of sheath 144, and at its upper marginal edge is retained by the upper retainer 72 of the associated header 38. The cap 152 is now inserted into position to straddle the legs 148 of the bar 141 by moving the cap 152, from the outside or front of the store construction as far as it will go. The side beads or caps 104 are then moved into position in the space in eachof the

mullion assemblies

34B and 3 4C, above and below the muntin, and the beads 74 are positioned on the lower and upper retainers 72, respectively, it being understood that the lower cap 74 is applied prior to the insertion of the side beads 104. Putty, glazing compound, etc., is applied between each of the side beads and the glass panels, between each of the beads 74 and the glass panels, and between the cap 152 and the both glass panels, it being noted that a filler strip 224 may be disposed on the upper leg 148 of the mutin member 40 before the glass panel 91D is inserted.

In the case of the doorway section 30, the sheathed transom member 230, without the closure member 238 and provided with the upper pivot member 184, is moved into position between the

mullions

34D and 34B below the confronting angles 125. The member is then raised until the horizontal portion 158 of each angle 125 abuts the inner surface of the bottom wall 262 of said member at each end thereof. The member is then secured to each angle 125. The closure 238 is mounted thereon. The transom panel 91E is then angled into position being seated, at its lower marginal edge, in the seat 2240 in the closure 238, and being retained at its upper edge by the retainer 72 of the overlying header assembly 38B. The upper side beads 104A are then mounted in the mullions at each end of the transom bar 41, and the bead 74 is then secured to the associated header retainer 72. Putty, glazing compound, etc., is applied as required. The door 170 is finally mounted in position, over the saddle 210, by means of the previously described pivot assembly 180.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a prefabricated store front construction wherein all exposed parts are of stainless steel, or other suitable non-corrosive material. Said assembly is constituted by vertically disposed mullions in which are interfit the horizontal base assemblies, and to which are secured the horizontal header assemblies, and the horizontal muntin and transom bar assemblies, all of which are prefabricated. The various glass panels are also interfit, at their marginal side edges with the vertical mullions, and at their upper and lower marginal edges with horizontal assemblies.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a building front construction having a glass window and a frame therefor, laterally spaced vertical assemblies, a lower sill and an upper header assembly defining said window frame, said vertical assemblies comprising a pair of mullions each having spaced confronting transverse portions defining a recess extending vertically from said sill to said upper header assembly and with the vertically extending recess of one of said mullions confronting said recess of the companion mullion, said glass window extending between said mullions and into said recesses thereof adjacent one of said transverse portions, respectively, and removable vertical bead members disposed in said recesses, respectively, and holding the glass panel in position in said recesses, said lower sill and said upper header assembly extending from one of said beads to the other head, and defining horizontal recesses, respectively, extending between said pair of mullions, the lower and upper edge portions of said window being held in said horizontal recesses, respectively.

2. A building construction as defined by claim 1, wherein said sill and said upper header assembly each comprises a pair of separable members defining said horizontal recess with the recess of the sill confronting the recess of said header assembly, the lower and upper edge portions of said window extending into and held in said horizontal recesses, respectively, by said pairs of separable members.

3. A building construction as defined by claim 2, wherein one of the separable sill members has a horizontal part and an integral vertical part extending upwardly from said horizontal part in line with said one transverse portion of each of the pair of mullions, and the other of said separable sill members comprises an inverted U-shaped bead secured to said horizontal part of the sill and having a vertical side in spaced confronting relation to said vertical part of said one of the sill members and defining therewith said window-receiving recess of the sill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,946 Dawson Apr. 28, 1936 1,538,288 Kuehn May 19, 1925 1,793,503 Michaels Feb. 24, 1931 1,865,746 Dennis July 5, 1932 1,936,987 Macklanburg Nov. 28, 1933 2,057,204 Peck et a1. Oct. 13, 1936 2,241,704 Goldsmith May 13, 1941 2,510,832 Patterson June 6, 1950 2,569,896 Mayes Oct. 2, 1951 2,612,243 Campbell Sept. 30, 1952 2,615,539 Bliss Oct. 28, 1952 2,762,474 Sylvan Sept. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,790 Great Britain May 27, 1941