US3245184A - Enclosure construction for buildings - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1966 R J HALLE 3,245,184

' ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed Aug. 15, 1961 FIG! 2 2.0652. :1. HALLE, mvau'rot 5v RMEAWJJW, ATTOKNEY United States Patent 3,245,184 ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Roger J. Halle, Pound Ridge, N.Y. Filed Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,642 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-281) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 363,021, filed June 22, 1953, for Art of Building, now abandoned.

This invention relates to building construction, and particularly to systems and elements of vertical enclosure for buildings, and to the arrangement and assembly of vertical enclosure elements with frame elements such as columns or equivalent upright members. By vertical enclosure elements are meant wall panels, window units or frames, door units or frames and associated parts or pieces (including, as explained below, column-covering sections), all of these elements capable of being correlated to afford a completed wall extending, as desired, continuously in a horizontal direction. The invention is of value to both exterior walls and interior partitions, i.e. wall elements of either sort, that span vertical areas between columns and is appropriate for one or both faces or panels of such wall elements, in their relation to the adjacent columns.

The invention concerns enclosure systems using a specific basis of dimensioning, the term dimensioning being here employed as a term of measure to signify the horizontal magnitude of the enclosure elements and their relation to each other and to the associated columns.

In fundamental aspects the invention relates to a basis,

or to bases, for dimensioning in the art of building, and to assemblies using such a basis or bases. More specifically, the invention relates to a principle and system of dimensioning that results in greater simplification, standardization and economy. An object of the invention is to achieve enclosure elements of a universal nature, that can be placed, interchangeably, in various positions to form complete walls. A further object is to achieve economy by reducing the quantity of types of such elements needed to form complete buildings to a minimum that can be easily catalogued, manufactured for inventory and stocked for ready use.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a portion of a wall, to show the manner and direction of assembly of wall, window and door elements to supporting columns;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section of a portion of wall, showing at the left-hand side a solid wall unit and at the right a portion of a window frame unit;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 2, showing an outside corner condition, with a solid wall unit and a door frame unit;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, except that it shows variants of wall and window sections and the condition wherein a wall at right angles meets continuing wall sections; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section similar to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in which four wall units meet at a column.

The features of the invention are preferably usable in building systems using enclosure elements such as panels, door frames or window frames which are designed as units to be attached to spaced columns (i.e. vertical frame members, either load-carrying or non-load-carrying) so as to constitute easily and rapidly erected wall assemblies. i

closure elements can be economically manufactured in only a limited number of standardized sizes, in normal situations effectively multiples of the module, yet should be capable of being used in buildings of a great variety of architectural layouts. In many instances, it may be advantageous to use enclosure elements of only a single modular size.

Referring to the drawings, the general scheme of the enclosure elements, and their relations to each other and to vertical columns or posts, is illustrated in FIG. 1, while the remaining figures represent enlarged horizontal sections, presenting various details of a number of elements and arrangements using the invention, it being understood that the major parts, especially panels, cover pieces, columns, door and window frame sections, and the like, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, are elements which have a considerable vertical extent, for spanning or covering vertical areas, as in the manner of corresponding parts depicted in FIG. 1. Furthermore, it is to be assumed that the illustrated systems are to be associated in a framework which includes not only vertical columns but also the necessary horizontal beams or similar members, both above and below the illustrated columns, and that such parts (not shown) constitute appropriate floor-supporting and roof-supporting structure which is carried with or by the columns, and which carries suitable floor, roof and ceiling panels, all of these, for the sake of clarity, being omitted from the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows two column sections 10 and 11, between which are attached panel units 12 and 13. Panel units 12 and 13 are shown in exploded relation, so that the direction of assembly will be apparent. Wall panel units 14 and 15 are shown in assembled position below window frame unit 16, composed of sub-frames 17 and 18. Similarly, door frame unit 20, composed of sub-frames 21 and 22, is shown in assembled position adjacent to column 11. Also, cover pieces 24 and 25 are shown in exploded relationship to column 11. It will be apparent that when the above-mentioned portions are all assembled and similar cover pieces (omitted for purposes of clarity in the drawing) are assembled in relation to column 10, a continuous wall, composed of wall, window and door units, will be formed.

FIG. 2 shows a condition similar to that at column 10 of FIG. 1. At the left-hand side of column 30 are shown panels 31 and 32, which are held in position and secured to the column by angles 33 and 34, suitably attached by bolts, clips, or other arrangements, such as at 36 and 37. Similarly, fixed-sash window frame unit 40, composed of sub-frames 41 and 42, is shown in assembled position, attached by angles 43 and 44. Cover pieces 45 and 46 complete the surface planes between panel 31 and window sub-frame 41 and panel 32 and window sub-frame 42, respectively, thus achieving both protection for column 30 and continuous wall surfaces. Thus the assembly of elements can provide a flush, continuous wall face (i.e. an essentially continuous plane) over the columns as well as at the intervening spaces, throughout the entire building, with respect both to interior and exterior surfaces.

In accordance with the invention the various wall, window and cover piece units have their vertical boundaries, i.e. their horizontal limits, defined by vertical planes through the dotted lines 47 and 48 (FIG. 2), which are at right angles to each other and extend from corner to opposite corner of the related column, such as column 30. In conformity with this, the vertical edge surfaces of each of the enclosure elements are constituted by planes making an angle of 45 with the principal plane of the enclosure element. In a general sense, the vertical edge of each enclosure element can be defined as lying in a vertical plane which intersects the adjacent corner of the related column at an angle of 45 to the general plane of the constituted wall.

Preferably, the columns are of the square-tube type shown, e.g. hollow steel columns of square cross-section, but other types may be used, such as H-columns or even round columns, with appropriate attaching or adapting means (not shown), the generic requirement (for purposes of definition of the panel edges) being that the column be considered as occupying, or as having an envelope of vertical boundaries which provides, a rectangular cross-section. Unless otherwise specified, the term column is used herein to mean not only load-carrying columns but also similar non-load-carrying upright members, such as posts or struts, which may similarly serve for attachment of wall panels, windows, doors and the like.

Embodying these principles of dimensioning, the enclosure elements which span open spaces between columns, such as the panels 12, 13 of FIG. 1, the panels 31, 32 of FIG. 2, the window sub-frames 41, 42 of FIG. 2, as well as like elements 14 to 22 in FIG. 1, have vertical edges which are miteredso as to slope, at an angle of 45, from the inner face of the panel or like element in a direction toward the center of the panel. Similarly each cover plate or piece, such as the elements 24, 25, 45 and 46, has each vertical edge similarly mitered to slope in an opposite direction, i.e. at an angle of 45, from the outer face inwardly toward the center of the piece or plate. It will be understood that although these edge faces of the enclosure elements are shaped to lie along the vertical planes through the lines 47 and 48, the structures admit of some tolerance, within the general requirement that when put in place, the panels have their edge faces parallel to and reasonably close to such planes. Thus small spaces may occur between adjoining enclosure elements (as is apparent in FIG. 2), appropriate caulking or covering then being usable for the resulting, open joints, for instance as explained in connection with FIG. 3 below. It will also be noted that where portions of window or other enclosure elements protrude beyond the outside, planes of the walls, such as the portion of sill 58 that extends beyond dotted line 51, such portions conform with the basis of the system, in that they are confined within a quadrant defined by diagonal dotted lines 47 and 48.

It will now be apparent that with the system of enclosure elements having the described shape and relation of vertical edges, substantial advantages of universality, simplicity and ease of erection are achieved. Every wall, window, door or cover piece can be confined, as a unit, within an upright quadrant of planes represented by the intersecting lines at each associated column. Hence, in any building the various enclosure elements fit interchangeably at all places of association with a column, whether for continuing walls, for walls meeting at right angles or for walls wholly or partly intersecting at right angles. In other words, with respect to any given wall panel, window, door or cover piece as shown at any of the columns in FIGS. 1 or 2 (or FIGS. 3 or 4) it is possible to substitute any other element of similar design, i.e. at any face of the column. In all such instances, the assembly maintains the same dimensional basis and relationships.

With this system and principle of dimensioning for the enclosure elements, buildings may be erected with only a minimum number of different kinds of such elements. In other words, it is necessary to provide only a minimum number of fabricated types of enclosure parts in order to serve a wide variety, if not the full gamut, of normal conditions in building construction. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce substantially the number of types of enclosure elements, as compared with building construction systems, modular or otherwise, that follow more conventional bases of dimensioning.

To illustrate further instances of enclosure assemblies using the invention, FIG. 3 shows a column 55 (similar to the column 30 of FIG. 2 or the columns 18 and 11 of FIG. 1), to which are attached wall panel units 56 and 57. To illustrate the feasibility of using a wide variety of panel types, panel 56 is shown as of a double structure. On a right-angle face of column 55, exterior door frame 58 is shown, composed of sub-frames 59 and 60. Similarly, cover pieces 61 and 62 protect the other two faces of column 55 and achieve continuous wall surfaces.

These elements can be attached in the manner described in FIG. 2. Beyond this, it is intended that a variety of means can be used to close, seal or caulk the joints between panel units. In addition, there may be conditions where cover strips over the joints are desired, and if so, closure means such as battens 64 and 65, which are shown in exploded relation, can be used, it being understood that these sealing or closure battens extend the entire height of the. associated elements, for sealing or Weatherproofing the joint between adjacent enclosure elements. 7

As in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the enclosure structure extending from any face of column 55, within a quadrant defined by diagonal lines such as lines 47 and 48 in FIG. 2, can be alternatively and readily positioned in relation to any other face of the column. The absence of need for additional and different units to accommodate these various conditions makes it possible to reduce the total number of parts required to assemble complete buildings, and hence to achieve greater simplification and standardization.

FIG. 4 shows a column with wall panels 71 and 72 at a face of the column and sliding or doublehung window frame 73, composed of sub-frame 74 and closing frame strips 75 and 76, and with cover pieces 78 and 79. In this variant, it will be seen that the wall 80, 81 at right angles can be added later, in that the cover piece 79 can be put in place first and panels 80 and 81 added by means of angles 82 and 83. That is to say, although it is preferable to use enclosure elements that embody the principles of the invention at all portions of a building, the system is adaptable for use in combination with elements of other design, for instance as is represented by simple panels 80 and 81 and their attachment to the cover or filler piece 79. Similarly, a wall, window or door unit could be added in the area between dotted lines 84 and 85.

FIG. 5 shows a column 90, with variants of wall and window units at each of the four sides of the column. Wall units are represented by 91 and 92, and 93 and 94, respectively, while a casement, hinged or projected window unit is shown at 95 and an interior door unit at 96.

Although various examples and conditions have been shown, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific forms herein described, but may be carried out in other ways and other details without departure from the principles of the invention. For example, within the invention a variety of different types of windows, doors, wall panels, columns, and attachment means for the several elements can be readily used, in different forms from any of the structures shown, providing that the vertical edge construction and dimensioning of each enclosure element follows the principles of the present invention. In addition, although, for simplicity, no gaskets, weather-stripping or window or door hardware have been shown, it is to be understood that these parts can be included in conventional manner.

I claim:

1. In a building, in combination, a pair of spaced columns, each of which is a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, and a vertical enclosure unit attached to said columns at its respective sides, to span the space between said columns, each of the vertical sides of such enclosure unit being bounded approximately by extensions of two crossing vertical planes joining diagonal outside vertical corners of the adjacent column, for the purpose of defining such planes the columns being considered of square cross-section with vertical sides parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the said space, said enclosure unit being shaped and disposed with its vertical sides respectively adjacent but not overlapping the columns, and each said vertical side extending toward the adjacent column only as far as said last-mentioned side is bounded by said extensions of planes.

2. In a, building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of which is a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly of one of the said columns and associated enclosure elements which include an enclosure element for spanning the space between the stated column and a locality remote from the column, and an enclosure element which covers one face of the column and has substantially the width of the column, said spacespanning element including a portion coplanar with said column-covering element so as to provide therewith a continuous wall surface covering the column, said enclosure elements having essentially mating vertical edges adjacent a corner of the column, which lie substantially in a plane that extends through the center of the column and that intersects said corner of the column at an angle of 45 to the aforesaid continuous wall surface, said space-spanning element having a vertical side, which is bounded by said vertical edge of the element at said angle of 45 disposed and shaped to be adjacent but not overlapping the stated column, and said space-spanning element extending toward the stated column only as far as that part of its said vertical edge which is closest to the column.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2, which includes a third enclosure element for spanning a space, extending in an opposite direction from the first space and aligned therewith, between said stated column and another locality remote from said column, said third enclosure element including a portion coplanar with the aforesaid columncovering element so as to provide therewith a further portion of said continuous wall surface, said third element and said column-covering element also having essentially mating vertical edges adjacent a second corner of the column, which lie substantially in a plane that extends through the center of the column and that intersects said second corner of the column at an angle of 45 to the aforesaid continuous wall surface, said third enclosure element having a vertical side, which is bounded by the aforesaid vertical edge of said third element at said angle of 45, disposed and shaped to be adjacent but not overlapping the stated column, and said third enclosure element extending toward the stated column only as far as that part of its said vertical edge which is closest to the column.

4. The assembly defined in claim 2, which includes a third enclosure element which covers a second face of the stated column, being a face which meets the first-mentioned column face at a right angle and is separated from the space-spanning element by the body of column, said third element having substantially the width of the column which it covers and being arranged to provide a second wall surface forming a right-angle corner with the aforesaid continuous wall surface, said first column-covering element and said third element having essentially mating vertical edges adjacent a second corner of the column, which lie substantially in a plane that extends through the center of the column and that intersects said second corner of the column at angles of 45 to both said wall surfaces.

5. The assembly defined in claim 4, which includes a fourth enclosure element for spanning a space which extends between said stated column and another locality remote from said column and which lies in a plane that is disposed at a right angle to the first space and is parallel to the second face of the stated column, said fourth element including a portion coplanar with said third element so as to provide a continuation of the said second wall surface, said third and fourth elements having essentially mating vertical edges adjacent a third corner of the column, which lie substantially in a plane that extends through the center of the column and that intersects said third corner of the column at an angle of 45 to said second wall surface, said fourth enclosure element having a vertical side, which is bounded by the aforesaid vertical edge of said fourth element at said angle of 45, disposed and shaped to be adjacent but not overlapping the stated column, and said fourth enclosure element extending toward the stated column only as far as that part of its said vertical edge which is closest to the column.

6. In a building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of which is a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly of one of the said columns and associated first and second enclosure elements extending from the column in vertical planes at a right angle to each other, for spanning spaces respectively between the stated column and localities remote from said column in the directions of said planes, said enclosure elements having upright ends adjacent to a corner of the column but not overlapping said column, said corner of the column being considered as formed by plane column faces that are respectively parallel to the planes of the enclosure elements and that meet at a right angle which opens in an opposite direction to the aforesaid right angle formed by the enclosure element planes, each of said enclosure elements including a portion which has an outer surface that is parallel to the plane of such enclosure element and that is spaced from the plane of the column face to which such enclosure element is parallel, so as to provide two wall surfaces meeting at a right angle corner that lies at the inside of the right angle formed by the enclosure elements and that is correspondingly spaced from the aforesaid corner of the column, said enclosure elements having essentially mating vertical edges for the aforesaid portions thereof, which lie substantially in a plane that bisects said right angle of the wall surface corner.

7. In a building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of which is a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly of one of the said columns and associated enclosure means providing wall portions extending from two sides of the stated column, said enclosure means including a first enclosure structure for spanning the space between a first of said sides of the stated column and a locality remote from the column, a second enclosure structure for spanning the space between the second of said sides of the stated column and another locality remote from the column, and two enclosure elements respectively covering the faces of the other sides of the stated column, said stated column being considered as bounded by four plane faces, corresponding to its said sides, at right angles to each other, each of said structures having space-spanning portions on both of its opposite faces, which lie outside the planes of the stated column that are parallel to the spanned space, each of said space-spanning portions having a vertical boundary edge adjacent to a corner of the stated column, each of said enclosure elements having vertical boundary edges adjacent to corresponding corners of the stated column, and each of said boundary edges lying substantially in a plane which bisects the right angle of the adjacent corner of the column, each of said enclosure structures having a vertical side, including the boundary edges of the space-spanning portions thereof, which is disposed and shaped to be adjacent but not overlapping the stated column, and each of said enclosure structures extending toward the stated column only as far as those portions of the aforesaid boundary edges of such structure which are closest to the extend in opposite directions, in the same wall plane, from the stated column, the two enclosure elements covering respectively the other two, mutually opposite sides of the stated column, each one of said enclosure elements, together with the space-spanning portions of the enclosure structures which lie on the same side of the stated column with said one of the enclosure elements, being arranged to form a continuing wall surface passing and covering the stated column. i

9. The assembly defined in claim 7 in which the first and second sides of the stated column are adjacent to each other, at a right angle, and the first and second enclosure structures extend in directions at a right angle to each other, forming a wall corner at the stated column, the two enclosure elements covering respectively the other two faces of the stated column which are respectively parallel to the planes of the wall portions constituted by the enclosure, structures, each enclosure element being adjacent one, space-spanning portion of the corresponding 8 one of the enclosure structures and being arranged with said one space-spanning portion to form a'continuing wall surface extending to and covering the stated column.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,091,061 8/1937 Waugh 52262 2,113,067 4/1938 McLaughlin 52463 2,345,018 3/1944 Teague et a1. 52-580 2,590,123 3/1952 Rapp 52262 2,747,703 5/1956 Broberg 52292 FOREIGN PATENTS 2217,694 2/ 1942 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

CORNELIUS D. GEL, RICHARD W. COOKE, JR.,

Exa ine s

Claims (1)

1. IN A BUILDING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SPACED COLUMNS, EACH OF WHICH IS A PREFORMED, UNITARY COLUMN OF SQUARE CROSS-SECTION, AND A VERTICAL ENCLOSURE UNIT ATTACHED TO SAID COLUMNS AT ITS RESPECTIVE SIDES, TO SPAN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID COLUMNS, EACH OF THE VERTICAL SIDES OF SUCH ENCLOSURE UNIT BEING BOUNDED APPROXIMATELY BY EXTENSIONS OF TWO CROSSING VERTICAL PLANES JOINING DIAGONAL OUTSIDE VERTICAL CORNERS OF THE ADJACENT COLUMN, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFINING SUCH PLANES THE COLUMNS BEING CONSIDERED OF SQUARE CROSS-SECTION WITH VERTICAL SIDES PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE SAID SPACE, SAID ENCLOSURE UNIT BEING SHAPED AND DISPOSED WITH ITS VERTICAL SIDES RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT BUT NOT OVERLAPPING THE COLUMNS, AND EACH SAID VERTICAL SIDE EXTENDING TOWARD THE ADJACENT COLUMN ONLY AS FAR AS SAID LAST-MENTIONED SIDE IS BOUNDED BY SAID EXTENSIONS OF PLANES.

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