US2311951A - Wall and partition assembly - Google Patents

Description

1943- A; F. MARSHALL- v WALL AND PARTITION ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 29, 1941 IN VENTOR.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE WALL AND PARTITION ASSEMBLY Allen F. Marshall, Dallas, Tex.

Application August 29, 1941, Serial No. 408,725

4 Claims.

This invention relates to Wall and partition construction for buildings and it has particular reference to an improved fire-proof partition constituted of pre-formed slabs of gypsum or other fire-proof composition.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a wall or partition assembly wherein wall slabs of any suitable material are so joined to gether to form a Wall or partition that they may be disassembled without the dust, noise and confusion usually attending the removal of partitions comprised of plaster lath and wooden or steel studs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of wall or partition assembly which can be installed without screws, bolts, nails or ties of any character, yet is of such sturdy construction as to meet the most rigid requirements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a partition construction whose installation requires but a minimum of materials and labor and may be erected by unskilled persons without special tools and equipment.

Broadly, the invention provides, in addition to preformed masonry units, longitudinally adjustable upright supports supplanting conventional studs whose upper and lowerends are shaped to conform with recesses made in the ceiling and floor respectively and by which the uprights are retained so that they may receive and hold the said masonr g units between them and which latter in turn receive the plaster coat, filling and concealing the joints therebetween.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a wall partly finished and partly unfinished, illustrating the manner in which the partition of the invention is set up.

Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional plan view of a section of the partition wherein two horizontally aligned units are shown.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the partition base and anchorage in vertical section taken on line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the uprights showing the adjustable ceiling anchor.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the lower end of one of the uprights showing the relationship therewith of a fragment of baseboard.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a modified form of upright support and Figure '7 is yet another form of upright sup port.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein is shown the ceiling lil and floor ll of a building. The partition of the invention is made up of masonry units [2 of gypsum or similar material and which are of predetermined dimensions and pre-conforming. Each unit has a longitudinal, half-round recess 13 along both sides and when these recessed sides are in contiguous relationship the recesses form cylindrical passages to receive the uprights 14, to which specific reference will be later made. Also, the corners of the units next adjacent to the recesses !3 are beveled at a, thus to forma substantially V-shaped groove on either side and in alignment with each upright I4 at the joints between the units I2 and which groove is filled with plaster or binder to reinforce the assembly at the joints.

The studs or upright supports l4 are comprised simply of lengths of hollow pipe, threaded at either end and whose length is slightly less than th measurement between the ceiling and floor. On the lower end of the pipe there is mounted a flange l5 which may or may not be adjustable, that is to say, it may be permanently fixed on the pipe l4. Centrally disposed on the bottom of the flange I5 is a protuberance [6 (Fig. 3) and which protuberance is receivable in a recess or depression I! in the floor H.

The upper end of the pipe or rod I l carries a flange l8 which is analogous to the lower flange 15 except that its collar I9 is so threaded onto the pipe 14 as to be movable to increase or diminish the overall length of the upright to adjust the same to variations in measurement between the floor and ceiling resulting from irregularities in the floor or ceiling. The flange is likewise has a protuberance 2|] in its center which, when the upright or stud i4 is in proper wall alignment with others of the assembly, is received in a recess 2| in the ceiling ID. The flange I8 is provided with one or more radial openings 22 (Fig. 4) to accommodate a suitable tool by which the flange may be rotated to raise or lower it on the upright l4, thereby to adjust the length of the latter. Once the uprights are in position, with each flange l5 and I8 firmly secured against displacement by reason of the protuberbances l6 and 21 reposing in their respective recesses in the floor and ceiling, they will be capable of resisting considerable lateral stress, more especially when termediate which the partition is to be erected,

both along the floor and ceiling. Recesses I! are made in the floor with a tool such as an electric drill and corresponding recesses 2| are provided in the ceiling. These recesses should be in strict:

vertical alignment to preclude the possibility of accumulative error and to insure close fititng of the joints of masonry units. One of the upright supports l 4 is then mounted at the starting point of the partition so that the protuberance of each flange thereof will be received in their respective recesses in the floor and ceiling. The adjustable flange is then moved up to firmly secure the upright in position.

The first baseboard unit 23, which are preferably comprised of wood, is arranged so that the grooves l3 of one end receives the first upright. A masonry unit [2 is then set upon the baseboard and in true vertical alignment therewith, after which a second masonry unit I2 is superimposed uponthe first. It is preferred that the dimensions of the units be such that two of suchunits, combinedwith the baseboard, willbe equal to the height of the ceiling. However, it is obvious that these dimensions may be varied without changing the method of installation.

After the first units have been assembled as explained, thenext succeeding upright is moved into position and set up in the same manner as the first, to be received by the grooves l3 in the opposite edges of the units. This procedure continues until the last two wall sections are to be erected and at this point, an upright is set up at the finishing point of the partition with the next adjacent upright free. Two sections of 1 wall units are then assembled with their inner edges contiguous and embracing the freeupright and with their outer edges properlyv engaging the fixed uprights. The free upright is then-movedinwardly until the two sections of wall units are aligned with the companion units and the protuberances l6 and 2i of the upright received in their respective recesses. This manner of ,completing the basic wall assembly is illustrated in Figure 1.

After completing the assembling of the wall units asdescribed, the finishing coat of plaster or other materialis applied to the surfaces of the partition to fill all joints, openings and interstices.

A modified form of upright ,is shown in Figure 6 and is.comprised of a section of rod or pipe 26, on the lower end of which is threadedor otherwise secureda bull plug 2l-while the upper end carries a sleeve 28, shouldered to retain a detent'29. .A. strong spring underlies this -detent,:.thrusting it axially outwardwhereby it will enter and be retained by the spring in one of the recesses of the ceiling while the opposite protuberance3l, .carriedby the bull plug 21 will be'retained :in'the lower and complementary recess of the floor.

.Thusitis apparent that-no nails, .bolts or the like:are:r.equired tosupport the partition of the invention anwshould it be ,found-necessarystoremove the partition, the joints between the units may be readily located by measurement or other means and the partition may be scored along the joints from top to bottom by means of a power driven saw, after which the sections can be removed singly and without damage to them or to the uprights which is highly desirable from the standpoint of economy. Obviously, in so dismantling the wall, a comparatively small amount of dust and debris is created to disturb the tenants of a building and the work can be done with a minimum of noise and like disturbances.

Yet another form of upright is shown in Figure '7. This upright consists of a pair of substantially V-shaped members 32 having integral,

longitudinal flanges 33 and arranged in confronting relationship with the flanges 33 flush and spot-welded or otherwise secured together. Such a construction is resorted to in cases where greater rigidity than may be afforded by rods or pipes, is required. The uprightsor'studs so constructed are, as in the preceding case, slightly less in length than theheight of .the ceiling from the floor and tocompensate for the difference, substantially square plugs 34in transverse cross-section are provided and which conform to the square opening through the,uD-

right formed by the flanged V-shapedmembers 32. These plugs or end members areinserted into the ends of -the upright as shown in Figure 7 and being provided with heads 35 the depth to which they extend into the openings is limited. Threaded into the plu s 34 are p ns 3 having substantially pointed ends adapted to be received in conforming recesses in the ceiling and floor of a building asin-the earlier described embodiment of the-invention. Asuitable wrench such as a self gripping pipe wrench isemployed to effect extension of the pins into their respective recesses, thereby placing the upright under slight compression. as an aid in maintaining rigidvertical position of-the uprights. As in the preceding case, further reinforcing of the uprights is insured after erection of thewall units I 2 to form the body ofthe wall and which, incidentally, are provided along their vertical and contiguous edges with V-shaped rather than semi-circular slots, to conform'to theanalogously shaped members 32. The interstices or slots formedat the jointsbetween the Wall units, caused by the flanges 33,- Which are further instrumental in lending to the-strengthof the uprights, are, of course, filled with plaster orother finishing material.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and'such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered: to be Within the spirit and intent of the invention. 7

What is claimed is:

1. A wall andpartition constructionfor buildings comprising relatively spaced, supporting-uprights, each having an end memberonbothends thereof, a protuberanceintegral with eachof said end members, disposed in recesses-in the floor and ceiling of saidbuilding, :said end mem bers being rotatable ,to-effect extension of' said uprights to compressedly retain said uprights in perpendicular relation to their pointsof securement, and masonry units whose edges conformably receive said uprights, thereby to be retained in ed e to edge and superimposed relationship to form the bodyof-said wall.

2. In a-wall i assembly for build iesa series of rods having flanged members on the ends thereof, said members being provided with protuberances disposed in vertically aligned recesses in the floor and ceiling of said building, means for axially moving said flanged members relative to the ends of said rods to effect extension thereof to hold said rods compressedly in vertical position between said floor and ceiling, a plurality of preformed wall units having longitudinally grooved and chamfered edges conforming to and retained by said rods and a plaster coat on either side of said wall units.

3. In a wall construction for buildings, a plurality of uprights, end members mounted on the ends of each of said uprights, a protuberance carried in turn by each of said end members and axially aligned with said uprights, said end members being rotatable to eifect axial extension of said uprights to hold said protuberances under pressure in vertically aligned recesses in the floor and ceiling of said building and wall units whose edges are longitudinally grooved to conform to said uprights, and interposed between and retained thereby to form the body of said wall.

4. In a wall construction for buildings, a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertical uprights, each comprising a pair of elongated, substantially V-shaped members having flanges secured in flush relationship to define a substantially square body in transverse cross-section, interiorly threaded plugs conformably retained in the ends of said uprights, pins threaded into said plugs for longitudinally extending said uprights and mounted in recesses in the floor and ceiling of said building for holding said uprights under compression between the floor and ceiling of said building, wall units interposed between said uprights and in superimposed relationship to form the body of said wall and having means on their contiguous vertical edges embracing said uprights to hold said wall units against displacement.

ALLEN F. MARSHALL.

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