US985367A - Decorating means for imitating beamed ceilings. - Google Patents

Description

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Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

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A. H. PITNEY. DEGORATING MEANS FOR IMITATING BEAMED (mums.-

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

A. H PITNEY. DECORATING MEANS FOR IMII'ATING BEAMBD .OEILINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJZ'T, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

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ARTHUR H. PITNEY, OF BERWYN, ILLINOIS.

DECORATING MEANS FOR IMITATING BEAMED OEILINGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AR"I-IUR H. PITNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Berwyn, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decorating Means for Imitating Beamed Ceilings, of which the following is a specification.

It is frequently desirable to imitate projecting beams in the ceiling of a room which was not originally provided with such projecting beams. This has usually been done by building into the room wooden beams arranged as if they had been a part of the original structure, or by coating the ceiling of a room with wall paper having thereon a representation of beams. When such wall paper representation is used, it is always apparent that it is merely fiat wall paper, however skilfully the shadows cast by the beams may be represented, and it is practically impossible to produce commercially such papers with representations of beams printed thereon in which the shadows will correspond with the various windows or other sources from which light enters the room.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved and inexpensive construction which may be applied to the ceiling of a room by an ordinary paper hanger or by a person not especially skilled, and which will be so close an imitation of a wooden beamed ceiling construction that it can scarcely be distinguished therefrom at the distance from which it would ordinarily be viewed.

Further objects are to provide an improved article of manufacture in the form of a collapsible tubular structure, formed of strawboard or other thin sheet material which is made up in sections so that it can be readily assembled and secured to the ceiling of a room to form a foundation over which grained paper may be pasted to produce an exact imitation of wooden beam construction; and to provide improved devices for connecting the tubular sections together so as to form a durable and rigid structure which will not sag or become warped or distorted.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the corner of the ceiling of a Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911. Serial No. 519,804.

room, provided with decorating means constructed according to this invention; a portion of this figure showing the foundation structure of strawboard; a portion showing the arrangement of the inner layer of paper which extends across the joints; and a portion showing the outer layer of grained paper which gives the final finish to the exposed surfaces. Fig. 2 is an enlarged crosssectional view of one of the structural elements showing the method of applying the structure to the ceiling. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing the shape to which the ends of the sections are cut when they abut against the sides of other sections. Fig. 4 is a. notched sectional detail showing the manner of applying the foundation structure when a beam is contiguous to a side wall. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective showing the shape of the strawboard struc ture which is inserted into the abutting ends of two sections of the same beam. for splicing the sections together. Fig. 6 shows by a series of views in perspective the manner of bending the fasteners which are used for securing the edges of the sheets of strawboard in forming a beam with moldings. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the staples which are used in making the joints between sections which meet end to end. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show modified forms of the strawboard foundation structure. Fig. 11 shows a clip used in the modified construction. Fig. 12 shows a washer or bur through which are inserted the screws which secure the structure to the ceiling.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the imitation of beams in the ceiling is produced by fastening to the ceiling a foundation structure built up of hollow shells of light and stiff material, such as strawboard. For convenience in packing and shipping, these shells are made up from flat sheets, properly cut, ruled and scored so that they may be rapidly built up as they are being applied to the ceiling. The sheets are of standard length and joined end to end during the process of attaching them to the ceiling so as to make up continuous beams of any desired length. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the shells comprise a middle part of substantially rectangular cross-see tion and a molding extending along each side of the middle part. The sheet of strawboard is first scored along the ten parallel lines at which it is to be bent. ferred to use what is known lined strawboard, that is, strawboard which has a facing of paper on one side, since this facing of paper prevents the strawboard from warping, when moistened by the paste which is used for applying the final layers of wall paper.

In applying the strawboard foundation structure to the ceiling, the workman first draws lines on the ceiling to assist him in locating the beams. For instance, he might draw lines locating the positions of the folds 1 and 2. Then in applying the strawboard, he will first place the sheet so that the score which is designated 1 in Fig. 2 will register with the mark on the ceiling designated 1 in Fig. 1. He then secures the strips 3 to the ceiling, preferably by means of screws at passed through washers 5. He next secures the strip (3 of the strawboard sheet so that the score 2 coincides with the corresponding line on the ceiling, in the same manner as he fastened the strip 3. Finally, the outer strips T are fastened to the strips 8, which then form the sides of a beam, the edges of the strips 7 being located by means of a mark previously made in the proper position on the strips 8. These marks are preferably printed upon the sheets of the strawboard by the manufacturer. The edge strips 7 are secured to the faces of the strips 8 by inserting fasteners 9 through registering slits in the strawboarcl. These slits as well as the perforations through which the screws t pass may all be made by the manufacturer, or they may be merely knife cuts made by the paper hanger as he erects the foundation structure. 011 assembling the structure, the shells which form the beams 10 are secured to the ceiling and connected end to end so as to extend across the entire length of the room. The beams 11 which extend transversely across the room are cut to such lengths as to fit between the successive beams 10, and are preferably disposed at right angles to the beams 10 so as to avoid the necessity of employing special skill in making the joints. These, like the beams 10, are also secured directly to the ceilin and their ends are cut to the shape shown in Fig. 3 to fit the beams 10. In addition to securing the sections to the ceiling, and as a means for holding them together, metal fastening clips or staples 12 are placed across all end joints. The fasteners 9 are inserted through the parts 8 with heads inside as shown, before the strawboard sections are secured to the ceiling, and each fastener is retained in position by. bending over one of its shanks The strip 7 is secured by pushing it into place and causing the remaining shanks 14 of the fasteners to enter the slit-s in the strip 7 The bent over shanks 13 secure the It is prel fasteners against dislodgment during this operation. Finally, the shanks ll are bent down against the outer faces of the strips 7. The joints between abutting ends of sections of the same beam are made by inserting a strawboard core 15 so as to extend across the joint, within the beam. This is made by bending a strip of strawboard to form a hollow rectangle and fastening the ends as at 16 in Fig. The corner bends 17 of the core should be at right angles to those of the beams so that the core will brace the beam against. racking. The telescoping core 15 is also fastened in place by fasteners 9. 'Where it is desired to have a beam of less width along the side walls, the middle strip 18 may be cut down and scored to provide the fastening flange 19 as in Fig. 4. After the foundation structure is in place, the whole ceiling is covered by n'all pape The paper covering the panels 20 between the beams is first applied and its margins are turned down and pasted to the sides of the moldings 21 along the beams. Finally, the finishing layer of grained paper is pasted over the beams, this being laid so that the grain runs parallel with the beams and being fitted where the beams oin one another so as to have the appearance of joints in a wooden structure. The strips of grained paper 22 should be of such width that they will extend over the entire exposed surfaces of the beam shell and the two adjacent molding shells so that their edges will exactly meet the fiat surfaces of the panels. The grained paper thus serves as an additional bond between the beam and molding shells.

.23 designates a picture molding which should preferably be of wood of the kind which is imitated in the grained paper.

The arrangement of the ceiling ornamentation is, of course, susceptible of unlimited modification, but in designing a beamed ceiling, it is desirable that there be intersecting beams at suitable intervals in order that the shells of the beams running in one direction will support those of the beams running in a transverse direction against collapsing or distortion.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the margin strips 7 are turned up instead of down and are secured by angle clips 2t.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the beams 25 and moldings 26 are separate and each is in the form of a complete tube. The beams 25 are fastened to the ceiling by angle clips 2% and the moldings are fastened to the beams by similar angle clips In the form shown in Fig. 10, the sections are also tubular, but of modified construction.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the constructions shown may be lit altered or omitted, within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the spirit of this ii'ivention.

I claim 1. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a collapsible structural element comprising a strip of material folded to form a beam member substantially rectangular in crosssectional form and folded to form a molding extending along each side thereof.

2. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a structural element comprising a strip of material folded to form a beam member substantially rectangular in cross-sectional form with a molding extending along each side thereof, and means concealed within the molding for securing said element in position.

3. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a plurality of intersecting shells of comparatively light and stiff material secured to the ceiling of a room and connected together to simulate wooden beams, and a layer of paper pasted over said shells and having its surface grained to imitate the appearance of wood, said shells being built up from a plurality of sections, and strips of suitable material extending across the joints between said sections for binding them together.

4. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a collapsible structural element comprising a sheet of material folded to form a beam member rectangular in cross-sectional form, and further folded to form a molding extending along the upper edge of said beam member.

5. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, the combination with a hollow beam member, of a hollow collapsible molding extending along the upper edge of said beam member and secured thereto, and means for securing said molding in place, said securing means being concealed by the completed molding.

6. In means for imitating beamed ceilings, a hollow collapslble beam member, a hollow collapsible molding extending along each side of said beam member, and means for securing said moldings in place, said securing means being concealed. by the completed moldings,

7. The method of imitating a beamed ceiling, which consists in forming a hollow beam, partially forming a hollow molding at each side of said beam adapted to support said beam, securing said moldings to the ceiling, and completing said moldings.

8. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundation structure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam and having marginal parts bent upon themselves to form moldings along the sides of the beam, and a layer of paper pasted over said foundation structure.

9. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundation structure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam and having marginal parts bent upon then'iselves to form moldings along the sides of the beam, the edges ofsaid marginal parts lying flat against the sides of the beam parts, metal fasteners connecting said edges to the beam parts, and a layer of paper pasted over said foundation structure.

10. Means for imitating beamed ceilings, comprising a foundation structure formed of sheet material bent to simulate a wooden beam and having marginal parts bent upon themselves to form moldings along the sides of the beam, said foundation structure comprising a plurality of similar hollow shells, abutting end to end, connecting sections of like material telescoping with said shells and extending across the joints between them, said connecting sections being formed by bending strips of said material upon itself and the bends being disposed substantially at right angles to those of said shells, and a layer of paper pasted over said foundation structure.

11. The method of imitating a beamed ceiling, which consists in providing a suitably scored blank, folding the same to form a hollow beam, securing the structure thus formed in place, and further folding the blank to form a hollow molding.

Signed at Chicago this 25th day of September, 1909.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY.

Witnesses EUGENE A. RUMMLER, EDWIN Prrnnrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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