Composite building member

March 26, 1935. _{G F} kotrbaty 1,995,477

COMPOSITE BUILDING MEMBER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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March 26, 1935.

G. F. KOTRBATY

1,995,477

COMPOSITE BUILDING MEMBER

Original Filed Jan, 16, 1931 2 Sheets—Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS

-16 18^Q

Patented Mar. 26, 1935

1,995,477

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,995,477

COMPOSITE BUILDING MEMBER

Guy F. Kotrbaty, Laurelton, N. Y., assignor to

Ferrocon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware

Original application January 16, 1931, Serial No.

509,237. Divided and this application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,488

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in .composite structural members adapted for use in self-supporting building construction units of the type disclosed and claimed in my allowed ₅ application Ser. No. 509,237, filed Jan. 16, 1931, for Building construction and allowed Nov. 3, 1933, now matured into U. S. Patent No. 1,968,045 of July 31, 1934, of which this application is a division.

The present application is directed to improved composite stud, joist and beam members and the component parts thereof, the details of which construction members will be set forth more in detail in the accompanying specifica15 tion, reference being had to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a assembly of self-supporting, open-ended build20 ing elements including the composite structural members of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a self-supporting building unit member, the stud sections, being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a key member forming a component part of the composite structural members of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a modified key member;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the grid keyways shown, partly in elevation, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a modified form of 35 keyway adapted for pilasters and the like, and

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a wall section, showing the composite structural members of the present invention with associated structural building members and features.

Referring now to the drawings, the improvements of the present invention are shown in connection with the improved construction member shown in Figures 2 and 3, and designated generally by the numeral 10, comprises a pair of opposed wall members 11 of sheet metal, which may be solid or of any suitable foraminous metallic construction secured together, in spaced relation, by end members 15.

These wall members may be provided witli a 50 plurality of stiffening members 13, which as shown are indicated as integral horizontal stiffening ribs. However, it will of course be appreciated that the stiffening members may be vertically disposed or they may comprise as55 sociated members such as stiffening rods or bat(Cl. 72—48) tens, which may be secured to either or both sides of the members as by soldering, brazing, or welding, and such members may be opposed on either side of the members 11 and 12 to provide an increased stiffening effect. If desired, 5 foraminous metal of the expanded metal lath type may be used, and a desirable stiffening imparted thereto by weaving or otherwise associating stiffening wires therethrough in any desired manner. 10

The sections 14 disposed between the stiffening members 13 may be of solid metal as above indicated, or may comprise expanded lath portions, or perforated sections.

As indicated above, the side members are con- 15 nected together by means of combination end sections and keyways, designated generally as 15. These members usually comprise a central cylindrical portion 16 having an aperture 17 and oppositely disposed flanges 18, which flanges are 20 continued at 19 to form re-entrant sections, which, in turn, are reversely bent to form clip members 20 adapted to be secured in locking engagement with the ends 12 of members 11. The members 10 may be varied in depth to form 25 pilaster sections or the like by varying one or more of the sections 18 of members 15, as indicated at 18α in Fig. 7. The side members and keyways may be crimped together, or they may be bonded as by soldering, brazing, or integrally 30 joined as by welding.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, the construction members may be abutted together to form a desired construction, and secured to each other by means of key members 21 35 disposed therein. These key members may comprise a pair of opposed duplex semi-cylindrical sections 22 abutted at mid-point 23, and provided with open ends 24, which may have reentrant flanges 25, if desired. The members 22 40 are so constructed as to provide a snug fit in the keyways 15, and preferably should be sufficiently large to completely fill the keyways. By this means the wall members are metallically joined together, and a complete joint is formed between 45 the two sides of the abutted members, to make a composite structural member.

Where desired, the members 22 may comprise a pair of opposed cylindrical members 26 and 27, one of which has an open portion 28, the whole 50 being formed of a single piece of metal bent or otherwise configured to the desired shape to give the necessary resiliency to the key members. The key members may be rolled to shape in suitable rolling machines, the sections being suit- 55

1,996,477 ably contoured to permit easy fabrication and insertion in the keyways. It will also be appreciated that the rounded corners provided throughout permit large savings in die mainte5 nance, as well as preventing strains in the keys due to sharp angles in the stressed portions.

Where it is desired to form a corner connecting member of any configuration, the keyways are abutted in a desired fashion, and suitable 10 clip members 30 are secured between a pair of opposed members 20, and a section 11α is conformed as desired, and in turn secured between the other clip portions of the key ways to form a corner grid member designated generally as 15 10α.

Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown a partial plan view of a floor layout in which the method of forming interior partitions and pilasters, as well as interior members such as stair20 cases and the like is shown. The walls generally are formed of the usual wall grid members 10 abutted together in the usual manner by the expansible keys 21 or 21α described more in detail hereinabove.

Where it is desired to form a cased opening or other decorative member of the pilaster type against a wall, as indicated generally at 100, it will be sufficient fo use a three-way connecting grid 10b, the angularly disposed keyway and ties 30 adjacent being filled with any suitable embedding plastic and configured as desired, as shown at 103. Over this plastic surface is applied the usual outer plastic coating 104.

The pilaster grids 10c are formed in substan35 tially the same manner as the wall grids, the ends of the structures being provided with oversized lateral end channels 18α. The members so formed, it will be seen, provide an internal space 106 which is particularly adapted for the 40 reception of pipe stacks, plumbing fixtures, electric wiring conduits and the like, indicated generally by the numeral 107. As will be referred to more in detail hereinafter, this flexibility of construction permits the introduction and manipu45 lation of various services, such as plumbing, wiring, etc., with a minimum of trouble, and without requiring added building features, which feature is characteristic of the grid members generally when it is desired to so use them, the vari50 ous inserts being made, to conform to the requisite dimensions.

Partition walls, as previously described, may be formed by providing three-way keyway members 40b, and abutting suitable grids 10 thereagainst, »5 the whole being keyed by the usual keys 21 or 21α.

Where it is desired to form a round corner, the grids lOd may be made up as shown at 108, wall grid portion 109 of any suitable curvature being disposed between adjacent keyways. By suitably juxtaposing four members of the type of lOd, it will be possible to make a pillar or column having a maximum of structural strength while embodying a minimum amount of structural material, a superficial coat of plastic for decorative purposes being necessary, although if such a pillar or column is intended for supporting heavy floor loads or the like, in addition to subserving its ornamental function, the keyway and space members may be filled with concrete or other suitable embedment.

To protect the plastic coatings at square corners, there may be used a metallic corner bead 75 110 integral with the corner section of member

10α, or separately formed therefrom and secured thereto by means of wire ties, brazing, soldering, or welding, the finished coat of plastic being finished flushed with the edges of the members which is thus adapted to serve as a plasterer’s 5 guide, as well as to prevent the corners from all mechanical injury.

As noted hereinbefore, internal partitions and the like may be readily formed by utilizing clip members 25α associated with keys 21 for inser- 10 tion into channels 19α formed by the flanges 19 and clip portions 20. The partition wall grids are fitted in place in the usual manner and keyed in the maimer herein described.

It will thus be seen that in order to provide any 15 desired number of partition walls at any particular place, it will merely be necessary to vary or appropriately design the wall grid members to present channel members 19α at any desired place. The channels 19α thus permit the asso- 20 ciation of auxiliary structures and the elaboration of internal construction without involving any general change in the structure, also with- . out involving any ripping out or cutting of the grid members themselves. Where it is desired to 25 provide fire-escapes, or stair risers 111, or connections to other steel structures, such as H-column 112, headed bolts 113 may be slipped into the channels 19α and the auxiliary structures above referred to bolted in place by means of 30 nuts 114 screwed on bolts 113.

To provide a support for ornamental timbering, clapboarding, sheathing, or roofing, etc., and shingle strips designated by the numeral 115, it will suffice to insert members 25e, as shown in 35 Fig. 8.

To provide suitable support for doors and lintels and the like, a retaining member 48α, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8, may be secured to a key member having lateral clip portions 25d. 40

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a modified key member 21α comprising two cylindrical sections 22α and 22b, the latter being opened as indicated at 22c, and the members being integrally joined by resilient webs 23α. 45 These members are formed in one piece from suitable gauge metal, such as copper bearing steel or other material, the configuration being such as to permit the several parts to expand into close contact with the sections 16 of the key- 50 way with which they may be associated. While the key members have been shown as comprising two opposed resilient cylindrical sections, it will be understood that any desired number of key members may be associated together in any 55 angular relation. Thus it will be possible to form a four-way key member in which the sections are at right angles to each other, or clip members may be substituted for any of the key sections.

As shown in Fig. 8, the key members may be 60 provided with integral clip sections 25α, which are adapted to fit into the sockets formed by the portions 19 of abutting composite construction members. This construction is particularly adapted for partition walls and other like struc- 65 tures.

Where it is desired to build a wall jutting out from a previously built wooden support or joist 48α, the key members are provided with flanges 25b apertured as indicated at 25c, the whole being 70 secured to the joist or other supporting members by means of nails or screws 25α!, as shown in Figure 8.

Referring again to Fig. 8, there is shown the method of securing furring strips 48b. Clip mem- 75

1,996,477 bers 25e are similar in construction to members 25α, but continuous in configuration, are provided with angular pieces 25/ configured to the member 48&amp; and provided further at their ends with dogs 253 adapted to be driven into the supporting member. If desired, the dogs may be dispensed with and nails or screws 257i used in their stead. This construction permits the utilization of clapboarding or wood substitutes, asbestos sheets, and similar constructions as inside or outside facings for completed buildings or interior rooms. In the case of soundproofing rooms and auditoria to prevent undesirable acoustical effects, a sheeting of celotex or other fibrous sound and heat insulating material may be used.

It will now be appreciated that there has been provided improved composite stud, stanchion, joist, beam and like structural members comprising abutted web members locked by key members. The web or stanchion members may be provided with lateral or edge structures adapted to secure panel members in spaced relation to form self-supporting open-ended building units. In addition, the edges may be recessed to provide means for securing a variety of associated building structures or elements to composite stud or stanchion members hereinabove described.