Building structure

June 23, 1936.

W. W MAIER

BUILDING STRUCTURE

Filed Aug. 22, 1935

2,045,482

Sheets-Sheet 1

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June 23, 1936. w. w. maier 2,045,482

BUILDING STRUCTURE

Filed Aug. 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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BY

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Patented June 23, 1936

2,045,482

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,045,482

BUILDING STRUCTURE Wellington W. Maier, Detroit, Mich. Application August 22, 1935, . Serial No. 37,283 8 Claims. (Cl. 72—17)

The present invention relates to building structures and more particularly to improved veneers or finishes for the exterior walls of such structures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a building structure embodying an improved veneer or exterior finish which may be readily and economically applied to a building structure.

It is a further object of the present invention bo provide an improved structure, as above statad, in which the veneer comprises improved supporting elements which may be arranged to provide any desired exterior contour.'

It is a further object of the present Invention ;o provide an improved building structure as above stated, in which the improved supporting dements are adapted to receive plastering or ather surfacing material laid up by the usual iroweling methods.

It is a further object of the present invention ;o provide an improved veneer structure which nay embody a metal lath of either a self-supporting character or of a character which requires additional supporting elements.

It is a further object of the present invention ;o provide improved supporting elements for netal lath of the last mentioned type which may >e economically formed and which may be readiV applied to the frame of the structure. .

It is a further object of the present invention o provide an improved form of metal lath, havng a preformed contour to meet the desired exerior finish, and which may be applied directly t> the frame structure. ^J

It is a further object of the present invention o provide an improved construction of metal lath s last mentioned, embodying a plurality of inwardly struck tongues, through which the plasering or other surfacing material may be trawled to provide a firm support for the plastering r other surface material.

It is a further object of the present invenlon to provide an improved metal lath as last lentioned in which the inwardly struck tongues re struck in alternately opposite directions, so tiat the plastering or other, surfacing material lay be trowelled in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the present [instruction appear in the following description nd in the appended claims.

In the drawings, throughout the several views f which corresponding reference characters are sed to designate corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a preferred form of supporting bracket for use with the construction of Fig. 1; . _g

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the supporting bracket of Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 4—4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view in front elevation ₁₀of a modified form of supporting bracket which may be used with the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in side elevation of a modified embodiment of the present invention; ₁₅

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken along the lines 7—7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 8—8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view in side elevation ₂o of a second modified embodiment of the present invention.

In its broader aspects,, the present invention is directed to an improved form of veneer or surface construction for building structures which 25 may be used advantageously In the construction of veneers or surfaces of either regular or irregular contour, and finished with either plastering or a variety of other surfacing materials. In a more restricted sense, the present invention is 30 directed to an improved construction of veneer or surfacing adapted to form irregular contours to simulate, for example, log structures.

In accordance with one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the veneer or surfacing 35 parts of the structure may be applied directly to the sheathing and comprise generally a series of supporting brackets, metal lath, and plaster or other surfacing material. The supporting brackets are adapted to be readily attached, as by 40 nailing, to the sheathing of the building structure, and are shaped to conform in general to the final exterior contour of the veneer. Specifically, in the form illustrated, the respective brackets are arcuately formed so that the ex- 45 terior of the structure simulates a log structure. The brackets are preferably arranged in column form at appropriate spacing along the building structure and form supports for metal lath, to which, in turn, the plastering or other surface 50 material is applied directly in the conventional way.

A feature of the present construction is its adaptability to the use of metal lath of a selfsupporting or a non-self-supporting character. 55 on sheathing 12 by the brackets 20 and the reinforcing rods 22.

Each bracket 20 comprises an arcuately formed intermediate portion. 24 and the end portions 26, which are preferably flat and provided with nail 5 holes. The intermediate portion 24 is preferably formed of channel shape to provide increased rigidity of the bracket. A plurality of outwardly struck tongues 20 provide a convenient support for the reinforcing rods 22. 10

The brackets 20 may conveniently be nailed directly to the sheathing 12, preferably at points corresponding to positions of the studs 10, and in erected position, constitute a plurality of parallel supporting columns. Preferably, the ar- 15 rangement is such that the connecting portion 26 of a lower bracket 20 is positioned between sheathing 12 and the corresponding lower connecting portion 26 of an upper bracket. It will be understood that in the finished structure, the 20 weight suspended from each bracket tends to rotate the latter in a direction to move the top of the bracket outwardly from the building. With the just stated relation, however, the top of each bracket is supported in an inward position by ²⁵the bottom, of the next higher bracket.

As an alternative to the use of a series of separate brackets 20 in each column, a single bracket 30 may be used, as shown in Fig. 5, comprising a succession of spaced supporting portions 32 sep- “° arated by curved portions 34, whichcorrespondrespectively to the supporting portions 26 and curved portions 24, described in connection with Mgs. 2 and 3. In all other respects, the continuous bracket of Mg. 5 may correspond to the individual bracket above described.

As previously mentioned, the reinforcing rods 22 are preferably suspended from the tongues 28 of the brackets 20, where it is desired to use a relatively light grade of metal lath 18. The rein- 4 forcing rods 22 may be laid directly upon the tongues 28, which may thereafter be bent inwardly somewhat to secure rods 22 in position. The light metal lath 18 may be supported directly on rods 22, and are preferably secured in place by &lt; wire clips passed through the lath and around the reinforcing rods. Alternatively, where metal lath of a self supporting character is used, the reinforcing rods 22 may be dispensed with and the lath secured directly to the supporting brackets, the tongues 28 cooperating directly with the lath. With either arrangement, the irregular contour of the surface introduces a series of parallel ribs in the metal lath, which increase the rigidity thereof and prevent collapsing of the lath between the successive columns of supporting brackets.

With either of the above described alternative arrangements, the assembly comprising the metal lath and the supporting brackets provides a support which preferably corresponds somewhat closely to the desired final exterior contour of the building, and to which the plastering 16 may be applied directly and in the usual manner. The resulting structure may thus be laid up in a relatively simple manner and provides a neat appearance accurately simulating any desired construction. . ., .

Referring particularly to the embodiment shown in Mgs. 6, 7 and 8, the metal lathing comprises a series of similar preformed elements, having the generally arcuately shaped portions 40, and the flat connecting portions 42, and each of which corresponds, for example, to one log of the structure. Each metal lath element is preferably formed of relatively heavy gauge metal so that 11 »,045,483

With the use of a self-supporting metal lath, the &lt; metal lath may be secured directly to the supporting brackets, and the rigidity of the lath Itself relied upon to support it throughout the spans 5 between the brackets. The curvature of tiie brackets introduces a series of ribs into the metal lath, which stiffen and strengthen it. In metal lath of anon-self-supporting character, the supporting brackets of the present construe10 tion are adapted to support a plurality of reinforcing rods, which extend between, the brackets of the respective columns and form auxiliary supports for the metal lath. Whether the metal lath is self-sustaining or not, it may be desirable to employ the reinforcing rods so that the surface material which is troweled in place may sustain such material even after the metal lath has rusted °^UThe brackets themselves may either be formed in separate units, each unit corresponding, for example, to one log of the building, or may be formed so that a single bracket ^c^P^r^. * series of similar configurations. The brackets in either arrangement are preferably of channel shape to provide improved strength thereof. Each bracket is preferably provided with a series of outwardly struck tongues, to which the metal lath or the reinforcing rods are connected and

Tn°accordance with a second illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a preformed rigid metal lath is employed» which is secured directly to the sheathing or the frame members, and which dispenses with the previously mentioned supporting brackets. In accordance with this embodiment, the lath is given an initial curvature to correspond to the final desired contour of the structure. One or more transverse rite may be formed in the metal lath along the length thereof to provide increased rigidity to maintain such original curvature. The lath may be formed from plane sheets, having a series of inwardly struck tongues which leave openings through which the plaster or other surfacing material may be forced to securely support such material on the lath. A feature of the present construction is the arranging of the tongues in oppositely directed .alternative relation, so that the material may be trowelled in either direction to force the material through the openings.

As will be evident from further description, the plastering or other surfacing material may comprise a single coat, the exterior of which is trowelled to produce the desired appearance. Alternatively, an Initial coat may be applied to the lath, and thereafter a finish coat applied, the exterior of which is trowelled to produce the desired final appearance.

In addition to conveniently providing for any ¹ desired Irregular contour for the surface, the supporting brackets, which hold the lath in spaced relation to the sheathing, provide a dead air space, which, as will be understood, acts to insulate the structure.

Considering the above constructions in more detail, and referring more particularly to Mgs. 1 through 4, an illustrative building structure comprises the studs 10 to which the sheathing 12 may be applied in any conventional manner, as by nailing. If desired, and in accordance with usual practice, tar paper 14 or its equivalent may be secured to the exterior of the sheathing 12. The improved veneer or surfacing of the present invention comprises the plastering 16, supported upon the metal lath 18 which in turn is supported βο

2,040,482 is entirely self-supporting, and may be nailed or otherwise secured directly to the sheathing 12, dispensing with the supporting brackets and reinforcing rods previously described. The series 5 of openings 48, formed by striking the tongues 46 inwardly, provide a series of openings through which, as will be understood, the plastering or other material may be forced in the usual way, to firmly secure such surfacing material to the lath.

A feature of the present construction is the striking inwardly of the tongues 46 in alternately opposite directions, so that the troweling may be done in either direction. It has been found in practice, with reference to Fig. 8, that a downward 15 troweling movement is effective to trowel sufficient plaster or other finishing material behind the lath 40, at points adjacent each of the lugs 46α, but that an upward troweling movement does not force sufficient of the material behind the lath at such points. The tongues 46b, however, being struck in a direction opposite to tongues 46α, receive the plastering during the upward troweling movement. With the alternate arrangement, acordingly, the troweling may effectively be done in 25 both directions. This, as will be evident, facilitates the plaster or other finishing operation.

As previously mentioned, and with reference to Fig. 9, the plastering or other finishing material may be laid up on the metal lath 18 in a single ⁰⁰ coat or alternatively, may be laid up in a first coat, and a later applied second coat, the exterior of which is tooled to produce the desired final appearance.

Although specific embodiments have been described, it will be evident that various changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope of the present invention.