Building structure corner unit

July 27, 1965

3,196,992

H. L. OWEN

BUILDING STRUCTURE CORNER UNIT

Filed July 12, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 1

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July 27, 1965

3,196,992

H. L. OWEN

BUILDING STRUCTURE CORNER UNIT

Filed July 12, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3196992A_D0002.tif" />

INVENTOR.

L. Ol*/£K.

ΑΤταβΛ/er.

July 27, 1965 _H. l. owen 3,196,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE CORNER UNIT

Filed July 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

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ATTORNEY.

July 27, 1965 h. l. owen 3,196,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE CORNER UNIT

Filed July 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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INVENTOR.

BY

MU

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ATT0/&amp;UF Y.

United States Patent Office

3,196,992

Patented July 27, 1935

3,196,992

BUILDING STRUCTURE CORNER UNIT , Harry L. Owen, 907 Cedar St., Niles, Mich.

Filed July 12,1962, Ser. No. 209,422

Claims. (CI. 189—36)

This invention relates to improvements in building structure corner units, and more particularly to a structural unit used in store front construction and for mounting panels of various types in exterior and interior building constructions, such as in so-called curtain wall building constructions.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple corner unit of this character which reduces to a minimum the quantity of metal required, and hence achieves low cost without sacrifice of structural strength or intended functioning.

A further object is to provide a corner unit of this character which has a slender outline and thereby improves appearance of a corner unit, particularly with respect to oblique corners.

A further object is to provide a corner unit formed of a pair of cooperating parts which are individually assembled to associated panel retaining sash units before a panel is inserted, so that after a panel is inserted assembly of the sash interlocking parts serves to conceal securing screws utilized in connecting the parts to the corner.

A further object is to provide a corner unit formed of a pair of cooperating parts so arranged as to accommodate a wide range of corner angles of both outside and inside corners.

A further object is to provide a corner unit of this character having a novel interfitting relation of curved parts characterized by a springiness which insures close fit of those parts and reduction of crevices and recesses.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel pivoted interfitting relation of cooperating corner-defining parts, wherein the parts at the pivot joint are subjected to a spring-pressed fit which insures a firm interconnection of the parts, reduction of gaps and crevices, and weather-tight construction.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a building utilizing my improved corner construction;

r FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of one embodiment of the invention, taken on line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

J FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating another i embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the corner member accommodates the mounting of a panel in acute angled relation to a supporting wall, door frame or other structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates the front wall of a building, such as a store building, within which panels 12 of glass or other desired material are to be mounted at openings outlined by sash structures 14. It is common to recess a building entryway, as at recessed wall parts 16, and to mount panels 18 at such recesses around a door frame 29 within which a door 22 is mounted. The recessing or other contour and configuration of the building necessitates the provision of corner members 24 between adjacent angularly disposed panels. The angle between the panels jointed by the comer posts may vary within a wide range and some may be outside angles and others inside angles. Also, it will be understood that corner members may be required to control angular relations. between panel members and door frames, or between panel members and structural walls and other conditions frequently encountered.

One form of sash structure which may be used for mounting a panel, is illustrated in FIG. 2, and constitutes a fixed unit such as a base plate 30 cooperating with others to surround the panel 12 which may be of any suitable construction, such as a conventional window pane or a 10 so-called “thermo” pane (not shown), consisting of spaced individual panels joined at their margins. It will be understood that the panels may, however, be of metal, plastic or any other material found suitable. The fixed unit is preferably a metal extrusion. The base 30 will preferably 15 be provided with apertures spaced along the length thereof at which securing screws (not shown) may be applied for connection of the plate 30 to adjacent corner members or to elements of the building, as by means of brackets 36. While two brackets 36 are shown in FIG. 2, only one 20 bracket will normally be used at each end of each pair of corner-defining members, or brackets will be applied exteriorly of the corner where both corner-defining parts are to be anchored to the building. The plate 39 preferably has angularly extending longitudinal flanges 38 at 25 its opposite margins which terminate in longitudinal inturned toe flanges 40. Longitudinal intermediate flanges 42 project from plate 39 spaced from the marginal flanges 38 a distance less than the spacing between flanges 38 and.the panel to be mounted in the sash.

The sash is preferably completed by inner and outer snap locking releasable sash members 32 of any suitable construction determined by the characteristics of the panels to be mounted thereby. Each of these sash members is preferably formed as a metal extrusion and is 35 preferably of modified U-shape in cross-section, being characterized by an outer leg or flange 44, an inner leg or flange 46 and a cross-part or web 48 which preferably extends laterally beyond the inner leg 46 and terminates in a longitudinal socket 59 to mount a sealing strip 52 ⁴⁰ formed of rubber, synthetic rubber or plastic material and bearing against the adjacent panel. It will be understood, however, that the socket part 59 may be of a construction to receive and anchor a glazing compound if desired. The outer leg 44 is preferably spaced from the inner leg ⁴® 46 a distance greater than the maximum spacing between the flanges 38 and 42 of the base, so that when the free margin or toe portion 47 of the inner leg 46 bears against the outer face of the intermediate flange 42, as at a longitudinal groove thereof, the outer leg 44 will fit around and conceal the flange 38. The leg 44 is provided with an inward offset longitudinal flange 54 terminating in a longitudinal hook portion 56 adapted for a snap interlock with the terminal flange 40 of the base flange 38, for g- which purpose the inner surface of the free portion of the hook 56 is longitudinally grooved inwardly of a tapered or beveled margin.

It will be apparent with a sash 32 of this character the releasable sash members can be assembled and removed ₆₀ by simply locking or releasing from locking connection the releasable sash parts 44, 46, with respect to the parts 38, 42 of the fixed unit. The lock is a snap lock between the parts effected as a result of the combination and arrangement of the parts and the resilience of the sash parts, ₆₅ such as the legs 44 and 46. It will be observed that the interlock of the sash parts is effected by three-point abutment wherein the contact of the free end 47 of the leg 46 with the abutment 42 occurs adjacent the base 30; the hooked interengagement of the parts 40 and 56 occurs at γθ a greater spacing from the base 30; and the abutment of the free inner end of the cross-part 48 with the panel, as at sealing strip 52, is spaced still farther from the base 30.

3,196,992

The corner forming sash construction for interconnecting the adjacent sash parts at adjacent angularly disposed panels is preferably formed in two parts. One corner part 60 has its base or plate 30 offset at 62 at one longitudinal margin thereof and terminating in a longitudinal knuckle 64 extending lengthwise thereof parallel to the plate 30 and offset therefrom in a direction opposite the adjacent flange 38. At its opposite margin, the plate 30 has a longitudinal flange 66 of arcuate cross-section extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom in a direction opposite the adjacent flange 38. This flange is preferably characterized by a beveled end edge 68 and by a serrated outer surface or convex surface characterized preferably by close spaced longitudinally extending uniform sharp teeth 70. As illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be seen that a tangent of the arcuate flange 66 at its junction with base 30 will be substantially coincident with the plane of the inner face of the outer leg 44 of the adjacent releasable sash member.

The second part 72 of the corner member has its base or plate 30 terminating in an inset longitudinal socket 74 of arcuate cross-section, slightly less than 180° in crosssection, and having an inner surface of substantially the same diameter as the knuckle 64 so as to have a snug pivotal fit upon said knuckle.: At its opposite margin the plate 30 has formed a wall 76 of arcuate or curved crosssectional shape which preferably is approximately 90° in curvature, as illustrated. The plate 72 is preferably so arranged that a tangent of the outer surface of arcuate socket portion 74 thereof at its junction with plate 30 is preferably substantially in the plane of the outer surface of the leg 44 adjacent thereto and mounted on the corner part 60. The free marginal portion of curved wall 76 overlies flange 66 of the other corner part and preferably abuts and extends flush with legs 44 of the adjacent sash member.

In the assembly of the panels and the corner structure, the corner parts are interfitted as illustrated in FIG. 2 by fitting the knuckle 64 of part 60 in the socket 74 of part 72 and passing the free margin of the corner wall 76 over the arcuate flange 66. The corner parts are so proportioned and dimensioned that they will be held together firmly and in tensioned condition when so interconnected, and for this purpose the spacing between the axis of the socket 74 and the free margin of the corner wall 76 will preferably be slightly less than the spacing between the outer serrated surface of the flange 70 and the axis of the knuckle 64. Consequently, the corner wall 76 is slightly flexed or tensioned when it bears on flange 66 and is held in firm frictional engagement with the serrated surface of the flange 66 when the knuckle 64 fits within the socket 74. The parts of the corner member can be secured to the building, as by one or more brackets, such as bracket 36, in proper angular relation prior to or following installation of one or both of the panels and prior to or following application of the snap sash members 44. When the sash members 44 are. applied to the respective corner members by the snap lock mentioned above, a final finished and attractive appearance of the corner is secured. Note in this connection that the free edges of the legs 44 of the sash may abut the ends of the fixed corner units or leave slight and inconspicuous gaps or recesses at both the inner and outer angles of the corner structure.

In the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the comer unit is of slightly different type. In this construction the corner unit is of two parts rather than three parts, as illustrated in FIG. 2. One corner part has a base 80 of substantially L-shape characterized by an integral angular wall 82 terminating in an inturned panel-engaging flange 84. Intermediate its width the base has a longitudinal flange 86. Adjacent the margin opposite the wall 82 is provided a longitudinal flange 88 terminating in an inturned terminal longitudinal flange 90. A panel 92 bears against the flange 84, being posi tioned between flanges 84 and 86. Panel 90 is held in place by a releasable snap sash member 34 of substantially U-shape characterized by an outer leg or flange 94, an inner leg or flange 96, and a cross-part or web 98 integral therewith, from which projects a panel-engaging flange part 100. An intermediate leg or flange 102 projects from web 98 between legs 94 and 96. The spacing of the legs 102 and 96 is greater than the spacing between the flange 86 and the flange 88 of the base, and the proportion of the parts is such that, when the inner leg 96 seats against the flange 86 and the flange 100 engages the panel 92, the outer leg 94 will fit around and clear of the flange. 88. The leg 102 is notched at 104 to interlock with the terminal part 90 of the flange 88 to complete arrangement effecting hook interlock of the releasable sash with the fixed corner part by a snap action.

The construction of the interengaging parts of the corner is similar to that described previously and simliar reference numerals apply to the same parts. Observe in this construction, however, that the curved wall 76 of one corner part is characterized by an interior or concave serrated face 106, preferably characterized by uniformly spaced longitudinally extending teeth, the spacing between which may be at preselected angular circumferential extent. Thus these teeth may be spaced apart at intervals of two degrees, three degrees, or any other selected spacing. The flange 66 of the other corner part in this construction is preferably characterized by one or more longitudinal ribs 108 adapted to mate with the teeth of the serrated face. 106 so as to permit maintenance of a selected angle between the corner-forming parts when they are assembled and interrelated with knuckle 64 fitting within socket 74. Each part of the corner may have the metal panel engaging parts 84 as seen at the left in FIG. 3. Alternatively, each panel part may have a socket 83 formed on wall 82 thereof to receive an elastomeric panel-engaging sealing strip 85, and each sash 35 may have web 98 having a socket 99 to receive an elastomeric panel-engaging sealing strip 101, as seen at the right in FIG. 3. In the latter construction, flange 86 will preferably have a groove 87 to receive a toe margin 97 of the inner leg 96 of the releasable sash.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the knuckle carrying part of the corner member consisting of the base plate 60' with its offset knuckle 64 and its arcuate flange 66 is secured by securing members (not shown) to a door frame or building wall 112. The other -part of the corner member consists of a plate portion 114, a curved corner wall 116, and a knuckle-receiving socket 118. A sash base plate 110 is secured to plate 114, as by screws (not shown). Plate 110 may have longitudinal grooves 111 to receive caulking material in its face contacting plate 114. Flanges 38' and 42' project longitudinally from plate 110, with flanges 38' having longitudinal inturned tee portions and flanges 42' having grooves. Releasable sash members 32 of the character previously described and shown in FIG. 2, have snap locking engagement with flanges 38' and 42' at hook flanges 54, 56 and legs 46 thereof, respectively, in the manner described above and mount seal strips 52 engaging a panel 120.

It will be understood that the two corner parts cooperate by reception of the knuckle 64 in the socket 118 and by overlapping relation of the corner-forming part 116 with respect to the flange 66, as previously described. In this case it will be observed that an angular relation of the parts, different than a 90° relationship is illustrated. Thus the part 116 may be of such narrow crosssectional dimension that the angle of the corner may be as little as 10° or any greater angle up to or even slightly exceeding 90 degrees.

In a construction of this character it will be apparent that the curved wall 116 can be cut from a normal substantially 90° bend to any selected extent and that, after the plate 60 has been anchored, the plate 114 can be

3,196,992 s

anchored thereto by interengagement of its socket 118 with the knuckle 64 and interengagement of the free margin of the corner wall 116 with the flange 65. The releasable sash parts provide a firm abutment for the panel 120, and the snap lock feature for final anchorage or securement of ₅the panel 120 by interlocking the releasable sash with the parts 38' and 42' can be accomplished as previously described and, when accomplished, completes the comer and sash, effects anchorage of the panel, conceals securing members and produces a desirable appearance with the jq panel 120 extending at a selected angle to the face of the door frame, wall or other part 112.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the corner parts are constructed somewhat similarly to those illustrated in FIG. 3 and are characterized by integral forma- _lgtion of parts of the sash therewith. The knuckle-carrying part has a base 140, an arcuate flange 142 and knuckle 144. A longitudinal wall 146 extends from base 140 adjacent to the knuckle and carries an intumed flange 148 terminating in a socket 150 mounting an elastic sealing 20 strip 152. Flange 154 with groove 156 and flange 158 with toe part 160 complete this corner part. The other corner part carrying the knuckle-receiving socket 162 and the arcuate wall 164 is otherwise similar to the knuckle-carrying corner part. Releasable sash members 25 35 have snap locking engagement with the corner parts to secure panels 166 thereto, as previously described.

The construction shown in FIG. 6 is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and at the right in FIG. 3. The principal differences over such prior structures are 30 in the proportions of the parts, in the releasable sash members 32 having only two legs 44, 46, with the outer leg 44 having a hook 54, 56 as in FIG. 2, and in the elimination from the interengaging curved flanges 142 and 164 of all serrations and teeth, as previously de- 35 scribed.

It will be seen that all embodiments of the invention accommodate corners of any desired angle, as determined by the extent to which the arcuate wall, such as 116, is narrowed from full 90° extent, as shown in FIG. 4. Also the units accommodate snap locking mounting of releasable panel-positioning sash, members and concealment of securing members. All forms also avoid crevices, are attractive in appearance, slim in appearance and yet of adequate strength.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms falling in the scope of the appended claims.