US3562981A

US3562981A - Inverted base

Info

Publication number: US3562981A
Application number: US710426*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erich Willfurth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-02-12
Filing date: 1968-02-12
Publication date: 1971-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-16

Abstract

AN INVERTED BASE SUCH THAT WHEN APPLIED IN POSITION AT THE BASE OF A WALL AND AT FLOOR LEVEL WILL BE WHOLLY DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE SURFACE OF THE WALL. THE INVERTED BASE IS FORMED OF A THIN, SELF-SUSTAINING, YET SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE METAL AND MAY BE OF ANY DESIRED REENTRANT CONFIGURATION, AND IS PROVIDED ALONG ITS UPPER AND LOWER SIDE PORTIONS WITH LIPS EACH CARRYING A ROW OF PROJECTING TEETH. THE LIPS ARE DESIGNED TO RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE THE WALL AND FLOOR WITH THE TEETH TO BE DRIVEN THEREINTO. THE WALL IS GENERALLY FORMED OF PANELS OF ANY SUITABLE MATERIAL SECURED TO STUDS. IN THE APPLICATION OF THE INVERTED BASE THE LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF THE WALL PANEL IS BEVELED WITH THE TERMINAL EDGE SPACED A DISTANCE ABOVE THE FLOOR SURFACE THUS PROVIDING A REENTRANT SPACE TO RECEIVE THE INVERTED BASE. IF DESIRED,

SHOULD A GREATER REENTRANT DEPTH BE DESIRED A PORTION OF THE WALL STUDS OR BEAMS MAY BE CUT OUT TO ACCOMMODATE THE INVERTED BASE AT A GREATER REENTRANT DEPTH. THE REENTRANT FORMATION OF THE INVERTED BASE PERMITS A VARIETY OF USED THEREOF AS IN DOORS AND WINDOW FRAMES, ADJACENT STAIR TREADS SO TO HOUSE AN ELECTRIC LIGHT, AS A BASE OPENING HOUSING FLUORESCENT LIGHTS, AND AS A BASE OPENING RECEIVING CASINGS OF BASEBOARD HEATERS.

Description

Feb. 16, 1971 W 1 3,562,981

INVERTED BASE Filed Feb. 12. 1968 3 Shoots-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E/6// W/LL F027 E. WILLFU RTH INVERTED BASE Feb. 16,1971

Filed Feb. 12. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Z w; L W 5 E. WILLFURTH 3,562,981

Feb. 16, 1971 INVERTED BASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12. 1968 w W m% 1,.W

United States Patent Office Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,562,981 INVERTED BASE Erich Willfurth, 31 W. Chestnut St., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 Filed Feb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 710,426 Int. Cl. E04f 19/04; E06b 1/00 U.S. Cl. 52173 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inverted base such that when applied in position at the base of a wall and at floor level will be wholly disposed inwardly of the surface of the wall. The inverted base is formed of a thin, self-sustaining, yet sufficiently flexible metal and may be of any desired reentrant configuration, and is provided along its upper and lower side portions with lips each carrying a row of projecting teeth. The lips are designed to respectively engage the wall and floor with the teeth to be driven thereinto. The wall is generally formed of panels of any suitable material secured to studs. In the application of the inverted base the lower horizontal edge portion of the wall panel is beveled with the terminal edge spaced a distance above the floor surface thus providing a reentrant space to receive the inverted base. If desired, should a greater reentrant depth be desired a portion of the wall studs or beams may be cut out to accommodate the inverted base at a greater reentrant depth. The reentrant formation of the inverted base permits a variety of uses thereof as in doors and window frames, adjacent stair treads so to house an electric light, as a base opening housing fluorescent lights, and as a base opening receiving casings of baseboard heaters.

This invention relates to a metal and/or plastic invetted base.

The primary object of this invention is to provide in building construction in lieu of the present use of wood molding strips assembled and attached to the base of the wall and adjacent floor and which projects outwardly from the surface of the wall, an inverted base of reentrant form that is placed within a space provided therefor at the base of the wall so as to lie wholly inwardly of the wall surface, the wall accordingly having a dustfall edge that is spaced vertically from the floor.

Another object of this invention is to form the reentrant inverted base of a thin, self-sustaining but flexible material provided along its longitudinal edges with lip portions for seating engagement with the floor surface and wall surface to which they are to be secured.

Yet another object of this invention is to form the reentrant inverted base of a thin, self-sustaining but flexible metal with the lips thereof provided each with a row of teeth or prongs to be driven into the floor and wall for attaching the inverted base in place.

A further object of this invention is to shape the reentrant inverted base to accommodate therewithin a fluorescent light.

A still further object of this invention is to shape the reentrant inverted base to accommodate a baseboard heating structure.

Another object of this invention is to utilize the re entrant inverted base as the outer side members of a door or window frame.

Yet another object of this invention is to utilize the reentrant inverted base as a casing for a light element to be placed within a wall adjacent to selected treads of a staircase.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing one application of the reentrant inverted base.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative application with a modified form of inverted base.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in section of a wall construction as altered to receive the inverted base.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the inverted base strips.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the inverted base taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the inverted base utilized to form a door frame.

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the connection construction of the door frame with the inverted base.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternate inverted base housing an electric light.

FIG. 9 is a similar sectional view showing a still further alternate inverted base construction employed with a linoleum floor.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are similar views showing the inverted base with a heating device fitted therein.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an inverted base as applied to stair treads.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a staircase shown partly in cross section, and shown incorporating the present inverted base invention.

FIG. 15 is a crosssectional view taken on line 1515 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing how the stair tread and riser are secured to the bottom boards.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the reentrant inverted base is formed of any suitable metal or plastic material of relatively thin thickness that is self-sustaining and flexible and in strips or lengths found desirable for sale and handling. The inverted base is preformed to provide any desired cross-sectional shape, either rectangular or multiple curved or a combination of both, as seen by the forms shown for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the inverted base shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 is formed of metal or plastic to provide a flat vertical back 12 curved forwardly at its lower end to provide a curved floor engaging lip 13. At its upper end the back 12 curves forwardly as at 14 to form a vertical wall engaging lip 15. Provided on the lower lip 13 along its edge are a row of teeth or prongs 16 projecting downwardly and vertically. A similar row of teeth 17 is provided along the free edge of vertical lip 15 and normal thereto. In utilizing the reentrant inverted base 10, the wall 18 of plasterboard, Sheetrock, plywood or any other suitable building material has its lower end portion preferably reduced in thickness as by being beveled as at 19 with the terminal edge 20 thereof spaced the required distance from the surface of floor 21 as determined by the height of the inverted base 10. The base 10 is then placed in position with its vertical back 12 disposed adjacent to or against the wall studs 22 (only one being shown) the teeth 16 of lower lip 13 being driven into floor 21 which in this case extends inwardly beneath the wall 18 to studs 22. The teeth 17 on upper lip 15 are driven into the beveled portion 19 of the wall 18 as shown. So attached in position it is seen that the entire inverted base 10 lies inwardly of the outer surface of wall 3 18. In some cases it may be desirable to dispense with the row of teeth 16 on lower lip 13 and to nail the lip directly to floor 21.

The inverted base 18 may be formed without the

teeth

16, 17 thereon and the

lips

13, 15 may be secured to the floor and wall by being nailed thereto. It is also contemplated that the inverted base 10 (minus the teeth) be secured by the use of a suitable adhesive. Should the inverted base 10 be made of plastic material (without teeth) the same may either be secured by nailing or the use of a suitable adhesive.

The inverted base may be made of thin tin of semirigid grades, soft steel, stainless steel (for use in kitchens, hospitals, etc.) in plastic and in more expensive makes such as bronze with embossed patterns. Cheaper grades of inverted base can be painted in the color of the walls or as desired.

The metal inverted base 24 of FIG. 2 is similar to the inverted base 10 of FIG. 1 except that its back 26 is partly vertical as at 27 and partly curved forwardly as at 28, the vertical portion 27 being beneath curved portion 28. The curved portion 28 projects forwardly beyond the vertical plane of teeth 16a on lower lip 13a thus establishing a greater depth inwardly from the surface 30 of wall 18 than that seen in the application of the molding 10. As with the inverted base 10, teeth 16a are driven into the floor 21 and teeth 17a on upper lip 15a are driven into the bevel portion 19 of wall 18. In order to accommodate the greater inward depth of the inverted base 24 which is seen to project beyond the inner surface of wall 18 it is necessary to cut out a portion of the studs 22 as at 30 to accommodate the same. In this case each stud 22 so cut out is reinforced and strengthened by a metal back plate, channel or angle bar 32 secured to the stud by

bolts

33, 34 as shown in FIG. 3.

The inverted base being of thin metal may be initially bent or forced to assume a variety of shapes. Thus, an inverted base 10 in the shape shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and may be given the shape shown by the inverted base 24 of FIG. 2 by the simple expedient of offsetting the points of attachment of teeth 16a and 17a.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another use of the inverted base in forming a door frame and the manner of joining the same to the inverted base of the wall. The door frame 38 is formed of an inner wood support member 40 of a desired thickness and of a width less than the wall stud 22. Inverted bases such as of FIG. 1 or 24 of FIG. 2, are cut to provide the upright frame sides 44, 45 and top frame side 46, suitably mitered as at 48 and welded or otherwise permanently secured together. The joined door frame inverted

base

44, 45, 46 is secured to wood support member 40, see FIG. 7, and to the Walls 18 in the same manner as described above with reference to the attachment of the molding strips to the floor and wall. Thus the teeth 16 on lip 13 are driven into frame member 40 (which is comparable to floor 21) and the teeth 17 on lip are driven into the wall 18.

As seen in FIG. 6, the upright door frame sides 44, 45, each an inverted base utilized therefore as described above and which have the configuration as shown in cross section, see 45 FIG. 7, have their bottom ends mitered as at 50. Due to the door frame sides being of sheet metal the bottom mitered ends form an entrance opening 51, see FIG. 7, between the same, the floor surface 21, the stud 22, and Wall panel 18. The end of the inverted base 10, see FIG. 6, adjacent the mitered bottom end of door frame side 45 is also mitered as at 52 and lies in the same mitered plane as the bottom mitered end 50 of the door side frame 45. As the door frame side 45 and the inverted base 10 are not of the same configuration, the mitered ends thereof will obviously not mate, and in the plane of the mitered opposed ends thereof there will be formed an opening X therebetween, see FIG. 7. This opening X will present not only an unfinished and unsightly appearance but will also permit the access of dirt, vermin, etc., into the space behind the door uprights and the wall inverted base. In order to obviate this, the entrance opening 51 at the mitered end of the door side frame 45 is closed by a closure plate 53 having its upper edge, see FIG. 7 complemental to the inner shape of the door frame side 45, its bottom edge horizontal and seated on the floor surface 21, and its rear edge complemental to the shape of the inverted base 10. The closure plate 53 is positioned to lie within the entrance opening 51 with its outer surface in the plane of the mitered end 50 of the door frame side 45, see FIG. 6, and serves to close opening X. In order to show entrance opening 51, see FIG. 7, part of the closure plate 53 is broken away. The mitered end 52 of the inverted base 10 abuts the closure plate 53, see FIG. 6. The closure plate 53 is suitably secured to both the door frame side 45 and to the inverted base 10.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a reentrant inverted base 55 shaped to provide a vertical back 56, an upper inverted channel 57 having along its free edge an upper lip 58 with teeth or prongs 59. The vertical back 56 at its lower end is provided with a forwardly directed lip 60 with teeth or prongs 61. The stud 22 is cut out sufficiently to receive the inverted base 55. The dimensions of the channel 57 are such as to receive therein fluorescent light units 64 which may be disposed in spaced relation entirely around the room or at selected locations therein.

FIG. 9 illustrates the Wall, stud and floor construction such as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the lower edge 20 of the beveled end of the wall 18 is vertically spaced a desired distance above the fioor surface 21. In lieu of utilizing a metal inverted base, the floor surface may be covered with a flexible floor covering such as linoleum that is brought up along its end side portions to provide a base construction. Thus, there is suitably attached to the forward face of the studs 22a plywood backing 66- fitting snugly between floor surface 21 and wall edge 20. At the lower corner formed by the backing 66 and floor surface 21 there is secured a corner molding 68 presenting a concave surface that merges into the backing surface and floor surface. The flexible floor covering 69 is normally cemented to the floor and correspondingly the end side portion 70 thereof is brought up and adhesively secured in place to the concave surface of corner molding 68 and the vertical surface of plywood backing 66 with its edge 71 directly abutting the wall edge 20. This construction presents an attractive and useful reentrant construction that is easy to clean, cannot be damaged and which will not accumulate dust and dirt due to the overhang of the surface of wall 18.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an inverted base 74 that is essentially channel shaped in cross section, having a vertical back 75 and top and

bottom legs

76, 77, each leg terminating in a lip providing attaching teeth 78, 79, respectively. The inverted bases 74 are somewhat higher and deeper than the conventional size of inverted bases shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to accommodate the casing of a baseboard room heater (not shown) secured therein in any desired manner (not shown). Disposed between the walls of the casing 80 and the corresponding opposed Walls of the inverted base 74 is a layer of insulating material 82, FIG. 10, which is asbestos and 82a, FIG. 11, which is a metal foil such as tin foil or aluminum foil. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the inverted base 74 is positioned within a recess provided therefor in the stud or wall beam 22a and the teeth 78, 79 on the upper and lower lips are respectively driven into the wall 18 and floor 21. It is to be noted that the front closure plate 84 of the casing 80 lies Wholly within the plane of the Wall surface 18.

FIG. 12 illustrates the application of the metal inverted base to a staircase having at least on one side thereof a wall 18a similar to wall 18, FIGS. 1 and 2. The wall 18:: is cut out to provide a rectangular opening 84 at a tread 86 with the inner vertical side 85 of the opening in the plane of the riser 88. Fitted into the opening is a section of a metal inverted base 90 that is concave facing outwardly and of a length corresponding to the Width of the tread 86 as shown. At each of the vertical ends of the inverted base 90, there is provided a metal closure insert 92 that is welded or brazed thereto. The inverted base 90 is secured in place by driving the teeth provided on the upper and lower lips (as shown in FIGS. 4, respectively into the wall 18a and tread 86. It is to be noted that the closure ends 92, 92 close the gap at each side of the opening 84 and that the inverted base 90 is entirely recessed within the wall opening 84. Suitably mounted preferable at the center of the inverted base 90 is a socket 94 for an electric light bulb 95, the open end of 96 of the socket 94 projecting slightly beyond the concave face of the inverted base. Conductors (not shown) connect the socket 94 to a source of electric supply. The socket 94 preferably should receive a high intensity low voltage light bulb with the electric light source, connections, switches, etc., corresponding to the use of such. An inverted base 90 with electric light as described above may be placed in the wall at every second or third tread as may be found desirable. So placed, the recessed lights will light up the stairs thus making the same safer and thereby contribute toward the prevention of accidents. The above construction, shown in FIGS. 12, 13 is equally applicable in rooms, bathrooms, nurseries, hospitals, etc., wherever it is desirable to provide a recessed night light.

It is apparent from the above description that the inverted base can be installed with less time, effort and waste, and without the inhaling of any dust. The exclusion of wood molding in baseboard construction makes the installation of the instant inverted base cleaner and more efficient. The reentrant inverted bases are thin, light, easy to handle, can be stacked or nested for transport and storage and requires less room.

In FIGS. 14 through 16 the present invention is shown applied to a staircase assembly 100. In the present construction, the staircase is comprised of a plurality of steps 101, each of which constitutes a horizontal tread 102 and a vertical riser 103. The steps are secured together by means of a pair of bottom boards 104 on the underside of the steps. A prop block 105 of triangular configuration is secured by means of nails 106 between the bottom board and riser, while a prop block 107 of like configuration is secured by like nails between the bottom board and tread, thereby making a more rigid and stronger assembly. It is to be noted that the bottom boards 104 are employed in this invention in lieu of the usual side boards of conventional stairways because in the the present invention, an inverted base 108 is used in the place formerly occupied by the side boards that held the steps together.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inverted base 108 includes lower serrated tooth edge 109 that is secured into the side edge 110 of each bottom board. Each inverted base 108 includes upper serrated tooth edge 111 that is secured into the front side 112 of stairway wall 113. The stairway walls 113 may be made of plaster molded on a suitable supporting frame structure or it may be of any other construction, most probably of which would comprise Sheetrock. In such case for purpose of strengthening the lower edge 114 of the Sheetrock, a reenforcing beam 115 is secured to the rear side of the Sheetrock, adjacent to the lower edge thereof.

The inverted base 108 includes arched portion 116 which bulges to form recesses 117 below the walls 113 adjacent each stair step. An opening 118 in each recess is provided for receiving an electric lamp bulb socket for illuminating each step.

It will be noted that due to the arched shape of portion 116, that the square corner 119 of each tread must protrude into a cut out opening 120 formed in the inverted base.

FIG. 14 readily indicated that the inverted base 108 of the stairway enjoins the inverted base 121 on the upper floor or landing as well as the inverted base 122 on the lower floor or landing.

It is to be noted that the inverted base is readily adaptable also for buildings wherein the wall beams are of steel or other metals. Cutouts would of course be reqired in the wall beams to clear the inverted base. Cutouts might also be required to clear the electric lights, heating units, or other decorative design, these cutouts being best made at the factory before shipping the beams to the building site.

Thus there has been provided an inverted base which besides producing an improved appearance along a base of a wall, will also save time and labor when painting the walls of a room or of a staircase. Painting can be accomplished entirely with a paint roller and no brush will be necessary to paint into stair corners. Thus no cutting in with a small brush will be needed, in view of the recessed door, window frames and recessed base along a floor or staircase.

Additionally, the covering of the floor by a protective tarpolin can be accomplished more quickly and more protectively due to the tarpolin edges extending into the recessed areas of the inverted base. Thus the floor covers do not merely lay on the floor near the walls, but are tucked below the lower ends thereof, thus eliminating all possibility of paint dripping upon the floor edges.

Additionally, more frequent painting can be eliminated, in view that most room painted surface deteriorates soonest along the protruding baseboard, and door and window frames. This structure being eliminated, such paint deterioration is no longer a problem.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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

1. In combination with a floor and an upright wall comprising a wall panel initially mounted on wall studs;

(a) said panel having its lower horizontal edge vertically spaced from said floor to form a horizontal recess,

(b) said panel adjacent its lower horizontal edge being of a reduced thickness,

(c) a reentrant inverted base within said recess formed as an elongated strip of thin, self-sustaining, flexible material shaped to provide;

(1) a rear back portion,

(2) an upper wall engaging lip integral with and extending forwardly of said back portion having a free terminal edge,

(3) a horizontal row of projecting teeth or prongs, at the free terminal edge of the upper lip securing the same to the reduced thickness lower edge portion of the wall panel by being driven thereinto,

(4) a lower floor engaging lip integral with and extending forwardly of said back portion having a free terminal edge,

(5) a depending row of projecting teeth or prongs at the free terminal edge of the floor engaging lip for securing the same to the floor by being driven thereinto,

(d) said lips in their attached position lying wholly rearwardly of the outer surface of said wall.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said wall studs are cut out to increase the depth of said recess to accommodate an inverted base of corresponding depth, and

(b) reenforcing members secured to said studs in the zone of said cutout portions.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said inverted base at its upper end is of a channel shape with its bottom forming the upper side of the upper cross stud secured centrally to the opposed vertical wall studs and to the upper cross stud defining a door receiving opening,

(b) vertical side. and horizontal cross frame members formed of saidreentrant inverted base secured at inverted base, thin lips respectively to said intermediate side and (b) said channel portion lying above the horizontal cross members and to said wall to form a door frame, edge of the wall panel and rearwardly thereof, and (c) said vertical side and horizontal cross inverted (c) a casing structure supported within said channel base frame members being mitered and secured toportion. gether at their junctures forming the top of the door 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein: frame, and (a) said panel adjacent its lower horizontal edge is of (d) the lower terminal ends of the vertical side inverted reduced thickness, base frame members and the adjacent ends of the (h) each said wall stud being cut out to provide a inverted base members located in said lower wall recess of greater depth, recess being mitered to lie in juxtaposed relation, and (c) reenforcing means secured to said studs in the (e) a closure plate inserted in the opening defined at zone of said cutout portions, the mitered juncture of the end of the inverted base (d) said inverted base including parallel upper and and a vertical side frame member of the door frame lower end walls normal to said rear back portion and and secured to both. said lips extending from the outer edge of each said end wall, References Cited (e? sait invgrted3 basg sllllpptortindg therelwithin thte lgous; UNITED STATES PATENTS mg 0 a ase oar ea mg evice avmg 1 s ron side positioned rearwardly of said wall surface, and ggg ig 5 g? 825 52 Tooth '(f) a layer of insulation disposed between the interior 1 1 ay 165 55 surfaces of the reentrant inverted base and the op- 2867013 1/1959 Haag 52 287 posed adjacent walls of said housing. FOREIGN PATENTS 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein there is an I 1,012,054 1965 Great Britain 52 288 opening in said wall defined by opposed vertical wall studs and an upper cross stud connected thereto, including:

(a) intermediate side and cross members of equal width and less than the width of the wall studs and JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-28, 211, 287