US3177530A

US3177530A - Prefabricated enclosure

Info

Publication number: US3177530A
Application number: US162655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pew Thomas N De
Original assignee: Arrowhead Products Inc
Current assignee: Arrowhead Products Inc
Priority date: 1961-12-28
Filing date: 1961-12-28
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13

Description

'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 THOMAS N. Dr-gPew 9; w. l

ATTORNEY MOE April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW 3, 77,

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrox. THOMAS N. DePgw BYQW (0- KM ATTO R N EY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR. s N. DEPE w THOMA BY Q w. KM

ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW 3,177,530

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

THOMAS N. DE PEW ATTORNEY T. N. DE PEW PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE April 13, 1965 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

mmvron THOMAS N. DEPEW BYQW w- ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW 3,177,530

PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. THOMAS N. DEPEW ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 T. N. DE PEW PREFABRICATED ENCLOSURE '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 28, 1961 INVENTOR.

By THOMAS M. DEPEW ATTORN EY United States Patent Ofi ice 3,177,530 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 3,177,530 PREFABRICATED EN CLOSURE Thomas N. De Pew, Ladue, Mo., assignor to Arrowhead Products, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Arkansas Filed Dec. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 162,655 4 Claims. (Cl. 20-2) This invention relates in general to construction and, more particularly, to prefabricated space enclosures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a space enclosure designed primarily for readily converting open, interior space, such as found in a warehouse or the like, into a closed compartment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a space enclosure comprised of a plurality of prefabricated components adapted for ready integration in minimum time and with minimum labor into a fully formed, operative unit.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a space enclosure wherein each of the components thereof is insulated to present undesired heat transfer and thus adapting the enclosure for temperature control, such as especially for cooler usage.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a space enclosure wherein the components are adapted for facile, repeated interengagement into, and disengagement from, operative enclosure formation by means of the utilization of unique securing members.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a prefabricated space enclosure which is economical in construction; which is designed by means of the character of its components to be of any predetermined size; which when in disassembled condition requires minimum storage space; which is durable, reliable, and efficient in usage; and which allows of a collapsible cooler construction as in large warehouses where it is too costly to build a permanent refrigerated compartment in view of possible sporadic or infrequent usage.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings (seven sheets) in which- I FIGURE'I is a front elevational view of a prefabricated enclosure constructed in accordance with and ambodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, with stored material shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged detail on the portion encircled in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 12-42 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the door top bracket.

FIGURE 15 is a horizontal view taken on the line 15-1 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a vertical side view taken on the line 16- 16 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 17 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1717 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 18 is a vertical view taken on the line 18-48 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a multiple enclosure constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 20 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2li--2i) of FIGURE 19.

FIGURE 21 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 2121 of FIGURE 19.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates an enclosure being comprised of prefabricated components and adapted for ready assembly upon a pre-existing support surface s, such as, for example, upon a warehouse or factory floor for confining a portion of the available interior space into a closed compartment, especially adapted for temperature control. Thus, enclosure A may provide a temporary or permanent refrigerated storage space for preservation of material which would normally deteriorate unless maintained in a cooled state, such as, for instance, beer. Wherefore, the present invention has unique application in the brewing industry.

Enclosure A incorporates a pair of opposed side walls 1, 1, a top wall 2, a rear wall 3, and a front wall which latter is provided with, or constituted of, a door or other closure, as indicated broadly at 55. Side walls 1, 1', top wall 2 and rear wall 3 are constructed of a preselected number of

building components

4, 4, 5 and 6 respective- I, each of which is comprised of spaced apart outer and inner panels 7, 7", respectively, formed of suitable rigid material, such as, plywood, or the like, and being interconnected on their inner confronting faces by a central and a pair of

side ribs

8, 9, 9, respectively. Said side ribs F, 9' are spaced inwardly from the adjacent side edges of the associated component for defining the base of a side recess 10 for purposes presently appearing. The intervening space between panels 7, 7' is filled with cores 11 of a suitable insulating material, such as, for example, Syrofoam; said insulating cores 11 being secured to the opposed panels 7, 7 as by adhesive means, thereby integrating

components

4, 4', 5, and 6 into a single unit.

Mounted on both faces of each panel 7, 7 of each

component

4, 4, and 6 are upper, lower and intermediate rail members '12, 13 and 14-, respectively, which extend transversely from side edge to side edge of the related component; said rails being aligned with the rails on the adjacent components and being formed preferably of about 3% x 4 lumber. Secured on each

rail member

12, 13 and 14 of each

component

4, 4, and 6, adjacent each end of said rail members, is a fastening plate 15, as of metal, suitably provided with a raised or embossed central portion 16 having aligned horizontal and

vertical openings

17, 18, respectively, to receive therethrough fastener straps 19 for interconnecting the metal plates 15 on opposite sides of the joints developed between adjacent components when in enclosure-forming relationship; there being a conventional type gripper 20 for uniting the cooperating straps 20. (See FIGURE 18.) It is, of course, recognized that the various dimensions of

components

4, 4', 5 and 6 may be preselectedly varied. However, for purposes of illustration only, side and rear wallcornponents-having a width of 4 ft., a length of 12 ft., and a thickness of about 4 inches have proven, in practice, quite effective. Top wall components 5 are understandably and desirably of greater length than the side and rear wall components so as to provide enclosure. A with a suitable width. However, the width and thickness of top wall components are substantially the same as those of side and rear wall components. With an overall thickness of about 4 inches, panels 7, 7 are approximately to inch thick and insulating cows 11 are about 3 inches in cross-section, I

In the assembly of enclosure A, the actual'steps of which are more fully described below, the related components ofeach wall aredisposed in side-by-side relation- I ship with the side recesses opening toward each other to define, cooperatively, an enlarged enclosed vertical opening in the region of the joint developed between ad.-

jacent building components for'fittedly receivinga socalled spline or section of insulating material 21, fabricated, for example, as of Styrofoam. Such spline '21 which fills the entire opening, abuts on its end faces against the

proximate ribs

9, 9 of the associated recesses 10.

'

Building components

4, 4' and 6 are provided with a downwardly openingrecessZZ at their lower ends, the base of said recesses 22 being constituted of a transverse rib 23 (see FIGURE 10). Said recesses 22, being similar in character to recesses 10, are adapted for reception of the upper, reduced, tongue-forming portion 24 of a pref-v erably wooden base plate'25 havinga lower portion 26 vof, desirably, the same width as the: superimposed ,com-

ponent so that the lower end edges of panels 7, 7' thereof will abut upon the shoulders 27'formed by thewidth differential of said upper and lower base plate portions. Base plate 25 is disposedupon an air-tight gasket 28 laid upon support surface s. Said gasket 28 is of'like width and extent as base plate'25 and is fabricated Fiberglas, Styrofoam, or thelike.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 11, itwill be see as of 1 inch side wall components with the included corner posts 29 (see FIGURE 11) The inner panels 7' of the adjacent rear wall end components and approximate side wall components will overlap in their end portions for confining the inwardly presented surface of the corner posts core 32. The fastener straps 19 are utilized on both inner and outer surfaces of, the building components as may best be seen in FIGURES Each building component ,5 for forming top wall 2 isprovidedon its normally undersurface, adjacent each of its ends, with a traversely extending snubber strip 34 for abutting. against" the inner face of the inner upper rail members 12 of side'.' wall components v4, 4"(see FIGURE 9), while the rearwardmost component 5 will also be provided with. a longitudinally extending snubber the same manner. as the side and rear wall components strip 35 for abutting the inner face of the inner upper rail members of rear wall components 6 (see FIGURE 17). The confronting recesses 10 along the sides of adjacent top wall components 5 also receive splines 21, in

above described However, within the recess 10 of the I rearward end of the rearwardmost-top wall component .5 there is disposed a transverse end member 36 which comprises an inner relatively narrow elongated section "136. for snug vreceptionwithin said recess and an outer member 137, formed as of 2 x 4, having a width substantially equivalent 'to that of the top wall member 5, Said outer member 137 will thus restonits under surface on the upper end of rear wall 3. "As will be seen in FIG,-

URE 17, said end member 36 terminates on its outer surface'spacedly from the outer face of rear wall 3 and.

there is; provided an obliquely presented filler or trim member 37 for obscuring the joint developed therebetween and providing a bearing surface for strap member 19 i which interconnect top wall 2 and rear wall 3.

.On its normally upper surface, each top wall component5 is provided adjacent each side edge in its opposite end portions and intermediatelytherebetween with a fastener plate, 15, as well as on its normallyunder surface in its centralportions adjacent its side edges (FIGURE- 9); Top wallcomponents 5 are interconnected by straps 19 extending between thecentrally located fastener plates that there is' provided between rear w'all 3 and each side.

wall 1, 1' a corner. post member 29 which, understandably, in one case is of what one; might term right hand designand in the other case left. hand design. Corner post members 29. each comprise a'pair of rigid panel 1

members

30, 31 fixed in right angle or L shaped arrangement to present an outer angle, and being flush or surfacewise aligned,--with the outer panels 7 of the adjoining side 7 and rear-walls. Applied, as by adhesives, tothe. innerfaces of

panels

30, 31 of each corner post. 29 is an angle-shaped core or section 32 of insulating material, such as Styrofoam, which core is unconfined on its inwardly presented surfaces and projects at its ends beyond the side margins of said panels, 30, 31 to constitute a tongue or tenon, as at 33, for extension within the recesses 10 of the

adjacent components

4, 4' and 6. By the use'of corner post members 29., a firm corner is developed which 15 thereon, both on the under and the upper surfaces, and

said components are interengaged in their end portions to.

the upperv ends of the adjacent side wall and

rear wall components

4,4 and 6 by means of straps19 extending between fastener plates 15 at the ends of said components,

Sand those located on the upper rail members 12 of the said rear and side wall components (see FIGURES 3, 12

and 18) ,As .best shown -in FIGURE 12 an obliquely. presented filler member 37 extends between the upper end edge of the top wall components 5 and the upper surface of the rail members 12 onthe outer facesof said siderand rear wall components 4, 4- and 6. Said filler members 37 thus in addition to dressing? the joint between said top wall and side and rear walls also provide a surface against 1 which straps 19 may be tightlymaintained. Thus, the top wall;2' is maintained in-firmlrelationship to the. side 1 and rear walls and it will be'seen in: FIGURE 12 that;

snubber strips 34 and 35 locate top wall components 5 in proper relationship to the side; and rear wall componentsfor proper support thereon.

As stated above, the dimensions ofbuilding compo:

nents,4, 4' .and 5 and 6 may be of anypredetermined character, although like dimensions for wall components.

4, 4 and '6 are preferable as such allows for speedof production, rapidity of assembly, and ready interchange, as there areno rights? or lefts. and hence especial pairing in installation is obivated. As exemplary of the use of wall components of different; dimensions, a building component 6 is shown in FIGURE 4 which, although in all respects identical to component 6, is of relatively re duced width (in this instance being exactly /2 of said component 6) Thus, component .6 is used to fill in such straps extending about rear wall 3 for correspondence to the overall width of enclosure A and thus accommodating the particular length of top wall components 5. The rear and side walls of enclosure A may be increased by any desired increment as may be required for the overall dimensions of the enclosure to be formed. However, if components of varying width are to be utilized in the formation of side walls 1, 1' it is desirable that such be used in pairs so that each one of such pair will be in opposed relationship to the other. The registration of such modified side wall components will become evident in the consideration of the assembly procedure of enclosure A as will be described below.

For reception of a refrigerating or cooling unit, as indicated generally at 38, which forms no part of the present invention, one of the rear wall components 6 is provided at its upper end portion with an opening 39; there being a mounting bracket at 40 fixed in said opening 39 for support of cooling unit 38.

After a suitable site has been determined, as in a warehouse, the assembly, or erection, of the side, top, and rearward walls of enclosure A is accomplished in the following manner: base plate 25 together with underlying gasket 28 in the preselected extent are laid out upon support surface s and then one rearward corner is developed by engaging upon base plate 25 of a rearward Wall component 6, the adjacent side wall component 4 or 4', as the case may be, and the intervening corner member 29, with the said

wall components

6 and 4 or 4' being secured together by straps 19 connecting fastener plates 15 on the adjacent side edges of said components, which straps embrace the included corner member 29 as above described. The rearward wall 3 is then completed by adding components 6 one at a time, with a spline 21 being accepted within the openings generated by the confronting recesses of adjacent components, and with straps 19 securing each component to those in abutment therewith; such straps 19 extending across the intervening joints, on both sides of the adjacent components, and extending between fastener plates at the upper, central, and lower points as hereinabove disclosed. After development of rearward wall 3, the other rearward corner is formed with the cooperating

side wall component

4 or 4 which is thus opposed to the corresponding component in the originally former corner. The rearwardmost top wall component 5 is then disposed upon the upper end edges of rearward wall 3 and of the pair of opposed side wall components 4 and 4', with suubber strips 34 and 35 of said top wall component 5 being brought into abutment against the upper inner rails 12 of rearward wall 3 and of the said side wall components 4, 4' and with straps 19 being secured between said top wall components 5 and rearward wall 3 and between same and

side wall components

4, 4; with filler members 37 being previously placed.- Subsequently, enclosure A is constructed in a forwardly advancing manner by the positioning of a pair 5 of opposed

side wall components

4 and 4 and the associated top wall components 5, until the desired length of enclosureA has been obtained, whereby side walls and top wall 1, 1' and 2, respectively, will be completed. It is recognized of course that splines 21 are inserted between the adjacent side wall components and top wall components and the straps 19 are suitably interconnected for integrating the components into a stable, fully rigid condition.

With the side, top, and rearward walls thus formed, there is mounted against the exposed side faces of base plate 25 and gasket 28, on both sides thereof, and through out their extent, elongated insulating blocks 41, as of Styrofoam, with the joints formed between same and support surface s being sealed, as by caulking, as at 42 to thereby enhance the air-tight character of enclosure A. (FIGURE 10.) Applied to the inwardly directed face of lower rails 13 on side walls 1, 1 and rearward wall 3 6 is a spacer bar 43, fabricated as of 2 x 4 lumber, or the like, to maintain stored material, as indicated at B in spaced relation as to the enclosure walls.

Enclosure A, except for its now open forward end, is thus fully constructed and the extreme expedition with which such may be accomplished is quite apparent when it is observed that the integrating or uniting means consist solely of metal straps 19 which are easily and reliably interengaged, and the use of which obviates the necessity of field afiixing of securing elements to the building components with attendant permanent damage thereto. Conversely, the rearward top and side walls can be readily dismantled or disassembled by the rapid disengagement of straps 19.

The forward end of enclosure A, as indicated, is provided with a closure or door 55 which may be of any suitable type for ease of operation and adapted for tight scaling to preserve the refrigeration provided against undue loss. Merely for purposes of illustration and not limitation, door 55 is shown as being of the overhead character, being elevated for opening and thereby allowing maximum access to the enclosure interior. Said door 55 is comprised of upper and

lower sections

44, 45, respectively, in normal abutment on their respective lower and upper edges (FIGURE 6) when in closed relation; there being cooperating sealing members 46, 47 carried on said edges with a hinge 48 engaging said sections 44, on their inner surfaces for mutual related swinging when said door is lifted into open condition, as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2. Each

section

44, 45 is formed of inner and

outer panels

49, 50 with an insulating core 51 therebetween. A sealing strip 45 is fixed in a lower end edge of door section 45.

Mounted at each lower outer end of door section 45 is an angle-shaped bottom plate on the forward face of which is carried a rod 61 for a roller 52 which projects laterally of door section 45 for reception within a vertically presented track 53 (FIGURE 8) carried on an angle-plate 54 to secure to the forwardly presented face of the web of a generally channel-shaped door jamb 56 fittedly secured upon the forward side edge of the adjacent

side wall components

4, 4; said jamb 56 being fabricated of wood and incorporating filler strips 57.

Secured to the side face of each bottom plate 60 is a I cable t'm'mble 58 to which is engaged one end of a cable 59 which progresses upwardly therefrom, laterally outwardly of

door sections

44, 45 for training about a sheave 52 disposed on an extension of angle plate 54, upwardly of top wall 5; said cable 59 being directed rearwardly therefrom for connection to a counter-balancing spring 63 of torsion type carried upon a spring drum 64 mounted for rotation on anchor bracket 65, 65' secured on top wall 2. At each upper outer corner of upper door section 44 there is secured a top bracket 66 which projects beyond the upper end edge of said door section 44 and on the outer side face of its projecting portion mounts a pivot arm 67 rockably secured at its upper end to a pintle bracket 68 fixed on angle plate 54. vAlong its upper rearward end portion, door section 44 mounts a gasket 69 for sealing the joint between same and top wall 2 when door 55 is closed. Said door 55 may also be provided with a locking system, as being indicated broadly at 70*, such as, of the conventional, continuous rope-type, and which system may incorporate readily accessible latching levers 71.

The operation of door 55 should be easily understood, for after the locking system 70 has been placed in open condition, door 55 may be elevated by an outward pulling action as applied through door pulls 73 with

door sections

44, 45 folded upon each other into the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, with roller 52 traveling upwardly along track 53 and cable 59 being wound about its respective sheaves through pulling of the counter-balancing springs 63. Door 55 may be as easily returned to closed condition by a downward pulling action with roller 52-traveling downwardly along track '53:

as

door sections

44, 45 move into surface-aligned rela-' tionship. With-reference nowxbeing 'made to FIGURE 55also carries a sealing member. along .the'sides of its: rearward face, as at 74. Thus, with door 55in closed condition the. forward end of enclosure .A is snugly and reliably sealed against undesired heat transfer.

' As shown in FIGURE.3,.perforated plumbers. straps. 75.. mayfbexattached to each anchor. bracket. 65 and extended rearwardly along top wall ,2 for, securement at their rearward-ends to rearward wall 3 as bylag screws (not shown), or the like.

In view of the foregoing, it is to be seen that enclosure A is most uniquely constructed, being comprised of simply constructed components which are readily adapted for interconnections so as to facilitate the rapid and facile erection of enclosure A and the equally expeditious dis-v Enclosure A thus'provides what mantlingof the same. 7 might be considered a collapsible refrigerator, for it maybe speedily raised in a suitable interior area for accommodating materials which must be preserved in a cooled atmosphere andwhich will allow the return of such space to its erstwhile usage after the purpose for which enclosure A has been raised has terminated. It is thus apparent that enclosure A has special applicability in the comestible field, and has especial usage in the field of brewing for maintaining beer in a cooled state pending shipment.

Furthermore, enclosure Aois designed for easy reception, and withdrawal, of stored materials, as by fork lift tru'cksor like mobile means which may freely'pass through the front opening upon operation ofdoor 55.

When dismantled, the componentsofenclosure be stored in minimum space.

Referring now to FIGURE 19, there is illustrated therein a multiple enclosure C which comprises, in effect a pair of juxtaposed enclosures A, but;having a single, common center wall, indicated at 101', there being a pair of parallel side walls 101; and a pair of rearward walls 103 and a pair of top walls'102, both of said latter being insurface alignedrelationship. The said walls101, 101, 102 and 103 are constructed in'the manner as the above described walls 1,1, 2 and'3, respectively, and 'theyinclude' inner and outer panels 7, 7 and insulating cores 11'. The corner developedbetween center wall 101' and each of jacent components of rearwardwalls 103. Secured, as

by adhesives, to the'central inner face of said panel 127, is the outer end edge of a partition 128. perpendicularly disposed to .said panel .127 and thus being in general T-formation therewith. To the opposite side faces of partition 128 there are secured angle-shaped cores 1'30, 130'.of'in-' sulating material, such .as Styrofoam; said cores 130, 130' v incorporating relatively narrow legs 131 and relatively wide legs .132; the latter projecting into, and. being re- A may passages 13 3 for projection between the joifit formed by" panel 127 and theadjacent panel..7' of the components 7 of therearwardzwalls 103 The. outer: projecting portions of said straps 19, at the same level drheight, are mutually crossed' for engagement .to cooperatingstraps19 anchored to fastener 'plates Jon the outwardly. directed faces 'of the adjacentcomponents of rearward walls .103 thereby compactly and eifectively tying center wall 101, to bothofthe rearward 'vt alls 103,-.with the uniquely designed corner member 129 serving as the close-fitting, integrating element. The rearward wall portion of enclosure C'is further reinforced. by the provision. of transverse ribs 134:

' secured'spacedly upon the outer or rearward face of panel:

. 127 of corner member 129 for overlying relationship with respect to the joints between said panel 127 and-the ad jacent components of rearward walls 103 (FIGURE 20). Asllnay be; seen in FIGURE 21, center wall101' is designed to receive, on its upper endedgethe' abutting inner end edges of two aligned top wall components, as shown at 105, 105'; with the related snubberblocks 34 serving to position said components'in proper supported, condition; and with t-he same being interconnected by straps 19 extending between associated fastener plates 15.

FIGURES 19 20 and 21' serve merelyito illustrate the extreme versatility of the present invention. Enclosure A may be considered merely as a module from which a multiplicity ofintegrated enclosures might be formed;-

. each having its own closure (not shown) so-that opera:

a multiple enclosures requires nothing more thanthe expected modification pf the jambs for engagement upon common center wall 101' toaccommodate the various door members. j 1 V It should be understood that changes and modifications in the forination, construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts ofthe prefabricated enclosure may be..made and substitutedfor these herein shownand described without departing from the nature and principle ofmyinvention. i

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a V l, A space enclosure comprising a rearward wall, a top wall, and a pair of side walls, eachof said walls being comprised of aplurality of juxtaposed prefabricated components, each component comprising a pair of inner and outer; spaced apart rigid panel's,1an'insulating-core fixed between the panels of each component, each side wall and rearward wall component having .a downwardly opening recess at its lower end, a continuous base plate member supporting said side andrearward wall. components and havingan upperreduced. portion snugly receivedwithin the recess at the lower ends of each 'side-andrearward wall component, saidside and rearward components further hav ng side edge recesses formed on said components fordeyeloping openings within the joints created byadjacent" components, a spline-formingmember of insulating material contoured oomplementarily to,-and-re eeived withceived within, the edgerecesses10of the'adjacent come ponents of the rearward walls 103.. The narrow legs 131 the proximate. component of center wall 101.

Extending through. cores 130, 130' are a plurality of vertically spaced, narrow passages-133 progressing trans verselyof rearward walls103 and being aligned with the related side edge of panel127. Said passages 133 areof cores 130,.130' together with theincluded portion of partition 128 are accepted within the end edge recess of adapted for extension. thereth'rough of straps 19 in the manner, and for the purposes, to be now described. 1 Said straps 19 engaging fastener plates 15 located at in each,-,.such opening, a plurality of-first flexible,- adjustablestrap-forming membersmounted attheirends on the innenand outer.panelsof adjacent components and extending transversely therebetween detachably uniting each ,cbinpanent to adjacefitcomponentsin planarwise aligned wall-forming relationship, a plurality of secondfiexible, adjustable straprformingmember s forv engaging the, side andrearward walls to the top .wall, japair of corner posts disposed between saidfrearward wall and each of said side walls, means interengaging saidicorner posts to the rear ward wall and the adjacent sidewall for effecting firr'n corner development, a plurality of third flex ible, adjustable strap-forming members; for interenga'ging said side walls and said rearward wall andextending about the relate d corner posts,- a pair of first snubber strips mounted on the under surface of said top wall, trans'versely' of each side wall, for abutment thereagainst, and a second snubber strip mounted on the under surface of said top wall in axially normal relationship to said first snubber strips for abutment against said rearward wall.

2. A space enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said second strap-forming members being mounted at their lower ends upon the upper portions of the inner and outer panels of the components of the side and rearward walls and being secured at their upper ends upon the top Wall whereby straps extend across the joint developed between the top wall and the side and rearward wall, and closure means mounted on the front end of said end closure.

3. A space enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending rail members mounted on the inner and oute panels of each component of the rearward and side walls, said rail members of adjacent components being axially aligned and extending the full width of each component for abutment at its ends against the confronting ends of the rails of adjacent components, mounting plates secured on each rail member adjacent its ends, and said first strap-forming members extending between the mounting plates of adjacent, end-abutting rail members.

4. A space enclosure as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said first and second strap-forming members being engaged to the mounting plates upon the uppermost rail member on each component, and being in substantially axial normal relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,911 4/78 Wolfley 202 2,054,323 9/36 Holbrook 20101 X 2,302,047 11/42 Olsen 20-4 2,323,297 7/ 43 Collins 204 X 2,702,412 2/55 Asch 20-4 X 2,896,808 7/59 Papy 21766 3,003,810 10/61 Kloote et al 204 X 3,016,999 1/62 Glasoe 20-4 X FOREIGN PATENTS 545,801 1922 France.

1,165,670 1958 France.

7,806 1914 Great Britain.

245,035 1925 Great Britain.

730,021 1955 Great Britain.

770,342 1957 Great Britain.

25 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SPACE ENCLOSURE COMPRISING A REARWARD WALL, A TOP WALL, AND A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, EACH OF SAID WALLS BEING COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED PREFABRICATED COMPONENTS, EACH COMPONENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF INNER AND OUTER SPACED-APART RIGID PANELS, AN INSULATING CORE FIXED BETWEEN THE PANELS OF EACH COMPONENT, EACH SIDE WALL AND REARWARD WALL COMPONENT HAVING A DOWNWARDLY OPENING RECESS AT ITS LOWER END, A CONTINUOUS BASE PLATE MEMBER SUPPORTING SAID SIDE AND REARWARD WALL COMPONENTS AND HAVING AN UPPER REDUCED PORTION SNUGLY RECEIVED WITHIN THE RECESS AT THE LOWER ENDS OF EACH SIDE AND REARWARD WALL COMPONENT, SAID SIDE AND REARWARD COMPONENTS FURTHER HAVING SIDE EDGE RECESSES FORMED ON SAID COMPONENTS FOR DEVELOPING OPENINGS WITHIN THE JOINTS CREATED BY ADJACENT COMPONETS, A SPLINE-FORMING MEMBER OF INSULATING MATERIAL CONTOURED COMPLEMENTARILY TO, AND RECEIVED WITHIN EACH, SUCH OPENING, A PLURALITY OF FIRST FLEXIBLE, ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMING MEMBERS MOUNTED AT THEIR ENDS ON THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS OF ADJACENT COMPONENTS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREBETWEEN DETACHABLY UNITING EACH COMPONENT TO ADJACENT COMPONENTS IN PLANARWISE ALIGNED WALL-FORMING RELATIONSHIP, A PLURALITY OF SECOND FLEXIBLE ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMING MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE AND REARWARD WALLS TO THE TOP WALL, A PAIR OF CORNER POST DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID REARWARD WALL AND EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, MEANS INTERENGAGING SAID CONER POSTS TO THE REARWARD WALL AND THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL FOR EFFECTING FIRM CORNER DEVELOPMENT, A PLURALITY OF THIRD FLEXIBLE, ADJUSTABLE STRAP-FORMING MEMBERS FOR INTERENGAGING SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID REARWARD WALL AND EXTENDING ABOUT THE RELATED CORNER POSTS, A PAIR OF FIRST SNUBBER STRIPS MOUNTED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID TOP WALL, TRANSVERSELY OF EACH SIDE WALL, FOR ABUTMENT THEREAGAINST, AND A SECOND SNUBBER STRIP MOUNTED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID TOP WALL IN AXIALLY NORMAL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST SNUBBER STRIPS FOR ABUTMENT AGAINST SAID REARWARD WALL.