US3214889A

US3214889A - Hollow wall constructions and parts therefor or the like

Info

Publication number: US3214889A
Application number: US129439A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Webster
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1961-08-04
Filing date: 1961-08-04
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

J. L. WEBSTER Nov. 2, 1965 HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1961 R. R m 5 am Y W m 1W WW U T L M H J 1965 J. L. WEBSTER 3,

HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-9 25 56 INVENTOR. JOHN L. WEBSTER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,214,889 HOLLGW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE John L. Webster, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 129,439 16 Claims. (Cl. 52579) This invention relates to improved hollow wall constructions and to improved end sections and wall sections for making such wall constructions or the like.

It is well known in the art to provide a plurality of wall sections and end sections that can be subsequently interconnected together to form a hollow wall construction having opposed, spaced, outer surface means interconnected together by transversely disposed rigidifying means and a pair of opposed end walls.

Such wall constructions can be formed of metallic materials or the like and can be utilized for structural members in the building industry and the like, the wall constructions having unlimited applications wherein relatively light-weight and relatively strong panel-like structures are required.

Generally, the wall sections and end sections utilized for forming such wall constructions are formed by simple and inexpensive extruding operations and are so designed that the Wall sections and end sections can be serially or otherwise interconnected together in a relatively rapid manner to form the aforementioned hollow Wall constructions. Usually, the end the sections and wall sections are mechanically interlocked together by snap fit relations, and may be further secured together by a suitable adhesive.

Accordingly, one of the purposes of this invention is to provide improved end sections and wall sections that can be mechanically as Well as adhesively interlocked together in a relatively rapid manner to form an improved hollow wall construction of the type set forth above.

In particular, each hollow wall construction of this invention can include a starter end section comprising a substantially L-shaped member having one arm thereof forming part of the outer surface means of the wall construction and having the other arm forming one of the opposed end walls of the wall construction. The free end of the arms of the starter end section respectively have interlocking means.

A desired number of wall sections of this invention are serially interconnected to the starter end section in a manner hereinafter described, each wall section comprising an outer wall forming part of the outer surface means of the wall construction and having opposed ends respectively provided with complementary interlocking means and having a leg extending inwardly therefrom.

For example, one wall section has one interlocking means interlocked with one of the interlocking means of the starter end section. Thereafter, another wall section has one of its interlocking means interlocked with the other interlocking means of the end section, the leg of the one wall section being interlocked between the interlocking means of the end section and the other Wall section. The two wall sections thus interconnected to the starter end section define the beginning of two opposed rows of wall sections which form the body of the wall construction.

Subsequently, additional wall sections are added alternately to the opposed rOWs of wall sections to form the wall construction into the desired length, each added Wall section having its leg subsequently interlocked between adjacent interlocking means of a pair of wall sections disposed in a row opposite thereto whereby the legs of the wall sections define the rigidi-fying means disposed between the opposed outer surface means of the wall construction.

When it is desired to form the other end of the wall construction, a pair of end sections of this invention are respectively interconnected to the outer interlocking means of the terminal wall sections of the two rows thereof and are subsequently interconnected together to form the other end wall of the wall construction in a manner hereinafter described.

Thus, it can be seen that the hollow wall construction of this invention can be formed from a relatively few basic parts that are mechanically interlocked together in a relatively rapid and simple manner to produce an inexpensive, light-weight, long-lasting and relatively strong wall construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro- Vide an improved hollow wall construction having one or more of the novel features set fort-h above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved wall section for such a wall construction or the like.

-A further object of this invention is to provide improved end sections for such a wall construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a hollow wall construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the starter end section of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one of the wall sections of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, perspective View illustrating one of the terminal end sections of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates another terminal end section of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a side view illustrating one of the steps for initially interconnecting a wall section of FIGURE 3 to the starter end section of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating how the free end of the leg of the wall section of FIGURE 6 interlocks with the starter end section of FIGURE 6 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates another wall section of FIGURE 3 being interconnected to the assembly of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a side view similar to FIGURE 8 and illustrates a third wall section being interconnected to assembly of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates the terminal end section of FIGURE 4 being interconnected to the outer wall construction of this invention.

FIGURE ll is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates the method of interconnecting the terminal end section of FIGURE 5 to the hollow wall construction.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and illustrates the end section of FIGURE 5 in its fully assembled position.

While the hollow wall construction of this invention is illustrated as being formed from all of the wall sections and end sections of this invention, it is to be understood that the wall sections and end sections can be utilized individually or in various combinations thereof with other wall sections and end sections to form other wall constructions of this invention.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved hollow wall construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a plurality of like wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 interconnected together in a relatively simple and rapid manner hereinafter described to define a pair of opposed, spaced, outer surface means 25 and a pair of opposed end walls 26 of the wall construction 20.

The Wall sections 21 of the hollow wall construction 20 cooperate together to define substantially V-shaped truss-like means 27 disposed between the outer surface means 25 of the wall construction 20 to hold the outer surface means 25 thereof in spaced relation whereby a relatively strong and light-weight hollow construction 20 is provided in a manner hereinafter described.

While the hollow wall construction 20 can be utilized in many different applications wherein a lightweight structural panel means is required, one such use is in the building industry for forming structural walls, floors, roofing and the like.

The wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the Wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 are each formed by extruding metallic material, such as aluminum-containing metallic material or the like, in a conventional extruding apparatus, in a manner well known in the art. The individual wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 are subsequently cut in desired lengths from the aforementioned extruded stock to form the hollow wall construction 20 of the desired size.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the starting end section 22 comprises a substantially L-shaped member having a pair of integrally connected

arms

28 and 29 disposed at substantially a right angle relative to each other, the end section 22 being referred to as a starting end section because the end section 22 is the first member to which the wall sections 21 are serially interconnected to form the wall construction 20.

The arm 28 of the starter end section 22 is adapted to form one of the opposed end walls 26 of the hollow wall construction 20 while the other arm 29 thereof is adapted to define part of the outer surface means 25 thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

The arm 28 has a free end 30 provided with a transversely disposed wall 31 which cooperates with an outwardly directed flange 32 to define an outwardly facing channel 33 at the free end 30 of the arm 28, the wall 31 defining part of the outer surface means 25 of the hollow wall construction 20 in a manner hereinafter described. The flange 32 is so constructed and arranged that the same defines a concave surface 34 having a center of curvature preferably disposed on the terminal edge 35 of the wall 31 at the outer surface thereof.

The other arm 29 of the starter end section 22 has a free end 36 provided with an arcuately shaped, outwardly directed flange 37 which cooperates with the free end 36 to define an outwardly facing channel 38, the flange 37 defining a concave surface 39 preferably having a center of curvature disposed on the terminal edge 40 of the free end 36 of the arm 29 on the outer surface thereof whereby the

channels

33 and 38 of the end section 22 are substantially identical.

A longitudinally disposed and outwardly directed projection 41 is carried by the flange 37 and has a beaded end 42 which defines a channel or pocket 43 with the flange 37 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The flange 37 has a convex surface 37 extending beyond the projection 41, the surface 37' preferably having a center of curvature also disposed on the terminal edge 40 of the outer surface of the free end 36 of the arm 29.

While the starting end section 22 can have any desired dimensions, depending upon the particular size of the wall construction 20 desired, one embodiment of the end section 22 that has been found to be satisfactory has an arm 28 approximately 3.000 inches wide and an arm 29 approximately 2.044 inches wide, with the general crosssectional thickness of the

arms

28 and 29 being approximated 0.080 of an inch. The

arcuate surfaces

34 and 39 of the

respective flanges

32 and 37 have radii of curvature approximately 0.188 of an inch long while the length of the radius of curvature of the convex surface 37 of the flange 37 is approximately 0.268 of an inch.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, each wall section 21 comprises an outer flat wall 44 which is adapted to form part of the outer surface means 25 of the hollow wall construction 20 in a manner hereinafter described, the outer wall 44 having a pair of

opposed ends

45 and 46.

An offset lip or projection 47 extends from the end 45 of the outer wall 44 of each wall section 21, the lip 47 having a convex surface 48 provided with a center of curvature preferably disposed on the terminal edge 49 of the outer surface of the end 45 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The lip 47 is so constructed that the same is adapted to be respectively received in the

channels

33 and 38 of the starter end section 22.

A first flange 50 extends inwardly from the end 45 of each wall section 21 and has a concave surface 51 which cooperates with the convex surface 48 of the lip 47 to define a first channel 52 therewith, the concave surface 51 of the flange 50 preferably having a center of curvature also disposed on the terminal edge 49 of the outer surface of the outer wall 44.

A second arcuate flange 53 extends outwardly from the end 46 of the outer wall 44 and cooperates therewith to define a second outwardly facing channel 54 adapted to complementally receive a lip 47 of an adjacent wall section 21 in a manner hereinafter described.

The flange 53 has a concave surface 55 preferably provided with a center of curvature disposed on the terminal edge 56 of the outer surface of end 46 whereby the channel 54 is substantially identical to the

channels

33 and 38 of the end section 22.

A longitudinally disposed and outwardly extending projection 57 is carried by the flange 53 and has a beaded edge 58 which cooperates with the flange 53 to define a channel 59 therewith for a purpose hereinafter described, the channel 59 and projection 57 being substantially identical to the channel 43 and projection 41 of the end section 22.

The flange 53 has a convex surface 53 extending beyond the projection 57 and preferably provided with a center of curvature also disposed on the terminal edge 56 of the outer surface of the outer wall 44.

An angularly disposed leg 60 is integrally interconnected to the flange 53 of each wall section 21 and has an angularly disposed arcuate free end 61, the free end 6 1 of the leg 60 having a beaded edge 62 complementary to the

channels

43 and 59 of the end sections 22 and wall sect-ions 21.

The free end 61 of the leg 60 has a concave surface 61' and a convex surface 61", the surfaces 61' and 61" preferably having the same center-of curvature.

While the wall section 21 can have any desired dimens1ons, it has been found that a wall section 21 should have the following dimensions when the starter end section 22 has the aforementioned dimensions.

For example, the width of the outer wall 44 of each wall section 21 is approximately 3.464 inches, while the outermost point on the free end 61 of the leg 60 thereof is disposed approximately 2.920 inches from the outer surface of the outer wall 44 thereof, along a line disposed perpendicular to the outer wall 44, the leg 60 being disposed at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the outer wall 44. The general thickness of the wall section 21 is approximately 0.080 of an inch.

The radii of curvature of the convex surface 48 of the lip 47 and of the concave surface 55 of the flange 53 are approximately 0.188 of an inch long. The radii of curvature of the convex surface 53 of the flange 53 and of the concave surface 61' of the free end 61 of the leg 60 are approximately 0.268 of an inch long, while the radii of curvature of the convex surface 61" of the leg 60 and the concave surface 51 of the flange 50 are approximately 0.348 of an inch long.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, each terminal end section 23 comprises a substantially L-shaped member having a pair of integrally

interconnected arms

63 and 64 disposed at substantially a right angle relative to each other, the arm 63 forming part of one of the opposed end walls 26 of the hollow wall construction 20, while the arm 64 thereof defines part of the outer surface means 25 thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

The arm 63 of the end section 23 has an inwardly offset end 65 provided with an inwardly directed projection 66 having a beaded edge 67 adapted to be complementary to a channel 59 of an end wall 21 in a manner hereinafter described.

The arm 64 of the end section 23 has an end 68 provided with an inwardly offset lip or projection 69 having a convex surface 70 preferably provided with a center of curvature disposed on the terminal edge 71 of the outer surface of the end 68, the lip 69 being identical to the lip 47 previously described.

A flange 72 extends outwardly from the end 68 of the arm 64- and has a concave surface 73 which cooperates with the convex surface 7 0 of the lip 69 to define an outwardly facing channel 74 therewith, the concave surface 73 preferably having a center of curvature also disposed on the terminal edge 71 of the outer surface of the end 68.

When the end section 22 and wall sections 21 have the aforementioned dimensions, it has been found that the terminal end section 23 should have an arm 64 approximately 2.0l7 inches long and an arm 63 approximately 2.920 inches long, the general cross-sectional thickness of the end section 23 being approximately 0.080 of an inch. The length of the radius of curvature for the convex surface 70 of the lip 69 is approximately 0.188 of an inch, while the length of the radius of curvature for the concave surface 73 of the flange 72 is approximately 0348 of an inch.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, each terminal end section 24 comprises a substantially L-shaped member having one arm 75 thereof defining part of the outer surface means 25 of the hollow wall construction 20 and the other arm 76 thereof forming part of one of the end walls 26 thereof in a manner hereinafter described, the

arms

75 and 76 being disposed at substantially a right angle relative to each other.

An inwardly offset lip or projection 77 is carried by the arm 75 and has a convex surface 78 preferably provided with a center of curvature disposed on the terminal edge 79 of the arm 75 at the outer surface thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

When the

end sections

22 and 23 and wall sections 21 have the aforementioned dimensions, the arm 75 of the end section 24- is approximately 0.375 of an inch wide, while the arm 76 thereof is approximately 1.000 inch wide, with the overall thickness of the end section 24 being approximately 0.080 of an inch. The length of the radius of curvature of the convex surface 78 of the lip 77 is approximately 0.188 of an inch.

Therefore, it can be seen that the wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 of this invention can be formed with the particular configurations thereof illustrated in the drawings by a simple extruding operation. However, the wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 can be formed by other methods, as desired.

When it is desired to form a hollow wall construction 20 from the wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 of this invention, the same can be simply and rapidly interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 6l2 and now to be described.

In particular, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, a wall section 21a is interconnected to the arm 28 of the starter end section 22 to begin the assembly of a wall construction 20 by having the lip 47 of the wall section 21a partially received in the channel 33 of the end section 22. To insert the lip 47 of the wall section 21a into the channel 33 of the end section 22, the outer wall 44 of the wall section 21a is disposed angularly relative to the wall 31 of the end section 22 so that the lip 47 can be partially inserted into the channel 33 thereof, with the terminal edge 49 of the end wall 44 of the wall section 21a abutting the terminal edge 35 of the end section 22, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Thereafter, the wall section 21a and end section 22 are pivoted relative to each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, whereby the flange 32 of the end wall 22 is fully received in the channel 52 of the wall section 21a, with the outer wall 44 of the wall section 21a being disposed in the same plane as the plane of the wall 31 of the end section 22.

When the wall section 21a and end section 22 are disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 8, axial movement between the end section 22 and wall section 21a is prevented by the adjacent interlocking means of the end section 22 and wall section 21a.

As the wall section 21a is being pivoted relative to the end section 22 to align the outer walls thereof in the same plane, the beaded edge 62 of the free end 61 of the leg 60 of the wall section 21a cams past the beaded edge 42 of the projection 41 of the end section 22' in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7, whereby the beaded edge 62 of the leg 60 snaps into the channel 43 of the end wall 22, as illustrated in dotted lines at FIGURE 7, to fully interlock the wall section 21a to the end section 22. When the leg 68 of the Wall section 21a is interlocked to the flange 37 of the end section 22, the concave surface 61 of the free end 61 of the leg 60 is disposed in engagement with the convex surface 37' of the flange 37 of the end section 22 whereby the leg 60 holds the outer wall 44 of the wall section 21a parallel to the arm 29 of the end section 22.

Thereafter, another wall section 21b is interconnected to the other arm 29 of the end section 22 by having the lip 47 thereof partially received in the channel 38 of the end section 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, with the terminal edge 49 of the wall section 2111 abutting the terminal edge 40 of the end section 22.

Pivotal movement of the wall section 2111 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 causes the outer Wall 44 of the wall section 211) to be brought into the same plane as the plane of the arm 29 of the end section 22 while the free end 61 of the leg 60 thereof cams past the projection 58 of the flange 53 and snaps into the channel 59 thereof in substantially the same manner as illustrated in FIGURE 7 to interlock the wall section 21b to the Wall section 21a.

As the wall section 21b is pivotally moved realtive to the end section 22 to align the outer walls thereof in a common plane, the concave surface 51 of the flange 50 of the wall section 215 slides over the convex surface 61" of the leg 60 of the wall section 21a whereby the free end 61 of the leg 60 of the wall section 21a and the flange 37 of the end section 22 are snuggly received in the channel 52 of the wall section 211). Thus, the free end 61 of the leg 60 of the wall section 21a is interlocked between the adjacent interlocking means of the end section 22 and wall section 21b to provide a substantially rigid structure extending between the opposed surface means 25 of the wall construction 20.

Thereafter, additional wall sections 21 are alternately and serially interconnected to the

opposed rows

80 and 81 of wall sections 21 interconnected to the end section 7 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9, whereby the hollow wall construction 20 can be made in any desired length, depending upon the number of wall sections 21 added thereto in the above manner.

After the hollow wall construction 20 has the required number of wall sections 21 interconnected thereto, and it is desired to form the right-hand end wall 26 thereof by the

terminal end sections

23 and 24, the end section 23 is interconnected to one of the

rows

80 and 81 of wall sections 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10.

In particular, while the hollow wall construction 20 is illustrated as having one extra wall section 21d in the row 80 thereof over the number of wall sections 21 in the row 81 thereof, it is to be understood that the wall section 21d could be eliminated and that the end section 23 could be interconnected to the wall section 21e of the row 80 rather than to the wall section 21 of the row 81 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 10-12.

In either event, the end section 23 is interconnected to the appropriate wall section 21 by having the lip 69 thereof received in the channel 54 of the particular wall section 21.

For example, as illustrated in FIGURE 10, the lip 69 of the end section 23 is partially received in the channel 54 of the wall section 21] of the row 81 thereof, whereby pivotal movement between the end section 23 and the wall section 211 causes the arm 64 of the end section 23 to be brought into the same plane as the plane of the outer wall 44 of the wall section 21] in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12. As the end Wall 23 is being so pivotally moved, the flange 53 of the wall section 21 and the free end 61 of the leg 60 of the wall section 21d are received in the channel 74 of the end section 23 in the manner previously described.

As the arm 64 of the end section 23 is brought into alignment with the outer wall 44 of the wall section 211, the beaded free edge 67 of the end section 23 is cammed past the beaded edge 58 of the wall section 2112 whereby the beaded edge 67 of the end section 23 is snap-locked into the channel 59 of the wall section 21b in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11. In this manner, the end section 23 is fully interconnected to the wall construction 29.

Thereafter, the terminal end section 24 is interconnected to the wall section 21d by having the lip 77 there of partially receive-d in the channel 54 of the wall section 21b in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11.

The end section 24 is pivoted from the position illustrated in FIGURE 11 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 12, whereby the lip 77 of the end section 24 is fully received in the channel 54 of the wall section 2112 and the arm 75 thereof is drawn into the same plane as the plane of outer wall 44 of the wall section 21d. When the arm 75 of the end section 24 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 12, the arm 76 of the end section 24 fully overlaps the offset end portion 65 of the end section 23 whereby the outer surface of the arm 76 of the end section 24 is disposed flush with the outer surface of the non-offset portion of the arm 63 of the end section 23 to define end wall 26 of the hollow wall construction 20.

The end section 24 is adapted to be secured to the end section 23 after the same are disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 12 by any suitable means.

One such means is illustrated in the drawings and comprises suitable rivets 82 passing respectively through the arm 76 of the end section 24 and the offset portion 65 of the end section 23. Such riveting operation can be formed by suitably drilling the overlapped portions of the

end sections

23 and 24 after the same have been assembled together or before, as desired.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the hollow wall construction of this invention can be formed in a relatively simple and rapid manner by merely mechanically locking together the various wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 in the above manner. However, it is to be understood that suitable adhesive can be applied to the mating surfaces of the wall sections 21 and

end sections

22, 23 and 24 to further secure the same together as well as provide moisture-proof joints therebetween.

The legs 60 of the interconnected wall sections 21 are so' disposed relative to the outer surface means 25 of the hollow wall construction 20 that the same define the aforementioned V-shaped trusses 27 to add rigidity to the hollow wall construction 20, the legs 60 of each wall section 21 being mechanically locked between adjacent interlocking means of adjacent sections disposed in the row opposite thereto.

Therefore, the various sections of this invention are mechanically interlocked to each other in a relatively simple and effective manner, whereby the resulting wall construction has opposed surface means interconnected together by rigidifying means provided by the sections themselves.

Further, when the sections of this invention are formed of aluminum-containing metallic material or the like, the resulting wall construction is not only light in weight but also strong, durable, long lasting, rustproof, and does not require protective coatings. Also, the wall construction is attractive in its natural state, although decorative coatings may be utilized, if desired.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A hollow wall construction having opposed outer surface means and comprising two opposed rows of interconnected wall sections each having an outer wall forming part of said outer surface means and provided with opposed ends, said opposed ends of each wall section having complementary interlocking means whereby adjacent wall sections of each row thereof are interconnected together by adjacent interlocking means, each wall section having a leg provided with a free end interlocked between adjacent interlocking means of a pair of wall sections disposed in the row opposite thereto.

2. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said legs of said wall sections define substantially V-shaped truss means disposed between said outer surface means of said wall construction.

3. A hollow Wall construction having opposed outer surface means and comprising two opposed rows of interconnected wall sections each having an outer wall forming part of said outer surface means and provided with opposed ends, one of said ends of each wall section having an outwardly directed lip and a first flange cooperating with said lip to define an outwardly facing first channel therewith, the other end of each Wall section having a second flange cooperating therewith to define an outwardly facing second channel receiving said lip of an adjacent wall section with said second flange received in said first channel of said adjacent Wall section to interconnect said adjacent wall sections together, each of said wall sections having a leg provided with a free end received in said first chanel of a wall section disposed in said row opposite thereto.

4. A hollow wall construction having opposed outer surface means and comprising two opposed rows of interconnected wall sections each having an outer wall forming part of said outer surface means and provided with opposed ends, one of said ends of each wall section having an outwardly directed lip and a first flange cooperating with said lip to define an outwardly facing first channel therewith, the other end of each wall section having a second flange cooperating therewith to define an outwardly facing second channel receiving said lip of an adjacent wall section with said second flange received in said first channel of said adjacent wall section to interconnect said adjacent wall sections together, each of said wall sections having a leg interconnected to said second flange thereof and provided with a free end received in said first channel of a wall section disposed in said row opposite thereto.

5. A hollow wall construction having opposed outer surface means and comprising two opposed rows of interconnected wall sections each having an outer wall forming part of said outer surface means and provided with opposed ends, one of said ends of each wall section having an outwardly directed lip and a first flange cooperating with said lip to define an outwardly facing first channel therewith, the other end of each wall section having a second flange cooperating therewith to define an outwardly facing second channel receiving said lip of an adjacent wall section with said second flange received in said first channel of said adjacent wall section to interconnect said adjacent wall sections together, each of said wall sections having a projection on the second flange thereof and having a leg provided with a free end received in said first channel of a wall section disposed in said row opposite thereto and abutting said projection of another wall section interconnected to said wall section disposed in said row opposite thereto.

6. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim wherein said leg of each wall section is interconnected to said second flange thereof.

7. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said leg of each wall section is disposed angularly relative to said outer wall thereof and said free end of said leg is disposed angularly relative to its respective leg.

8. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said projections of said second flanges of said Wall sections respectively interlock with said free ends of said legs abutting thereagainst.

9. A hollow wall construction having opposed outer surface means and an end wall interconnecting together said outer surface means, said hollow wall construction comprising a substantially L-shaped end section having one arm thereof defining said end wall and the other arm thereof defining part of said outer surface means, said arms of said end section having interlocking means at the free ends thereof, and a pair of wall sections each having an outer wall defining part of said outer surface means and provided with interlocking means at the ends thereof, said wall sections respectively having said interlocking means thereof interlocked with said interlocking means of said end section, one of said wall sections having a leg provided with a free end interlocked between said interlocking means of said end section and the outer wall section.

10. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said interlocking means of said end section comprises a flange that cooperates with the respective end of the arm thereof to define an outwardly facing channel.

11. A hollow wall construction having opposed outer surface means and an end wall interconnecting together said outer surface means, said hollow wall construction comprising at least one pair of oppositely disposed wall sections each having an outer wall defining part of said outer surface means and provided with interlocking means at opposed ends thereof, a substantially L-shaped first member having one arm thereof defining part of said outer surface means and provided with interlocking means interlocked with said interlocking means of one of said wall sections, the other arm of said first member defining part of said end wall, and a substantially L-shaped second member having one arm defining part of said outer surface means and provided with interlocking means interlocked with said interlocking means of the other wall section, the other arm of said second member defining the remaining portion of said end wall.

12. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein means interconnect said other arms of said members together.

13. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other arms of said members overlap each other.

14. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other arm of one of said members has an offset portion and the other arm of the other member overlaps said offset portion.

15. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other arm of said first member is interconnected to said other wall section.

16. A hollow wall construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said other wall section has a leg provided with a free end interlocked between said interlocking means of said one wall section and said first member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,572 8/32 Montgomery 18934 3,029,052 4/62 Early et a1. 18934 X 3,043,407 7/62 Marryatt 189-34 3,062,338 11/62 De Redder et al. 18934 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

JOEL REZNEK, REINALDO P. MACHADO,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION HAVING OPPOSED OUTER SURFACE MEANS AND COMPRISING TWO OPPOSED ROWS OF INTERCONNECTED WALL SECTIONS EACH HAVING AN OUTER WALL FORMING PART OF SAID OUTER SURFACE MEANS AND PROVIDED WITH OPPOSED ENDS, SAID OPPOSED ENDS OF EACH WALL SECTION HAVING COMPLEMENTARY INTERLOCKING MEANS WHEREBY ADJACENT WALL SECTIONS OF EACH ROW THEREOF ARE INTERCONNECTED TOGETHER BY ADJACENT INTERLOCKING MEANS, EACH WALL SECTION HAVING A LEG PROVIDED WITH A FREE END INTERLOCKED BETWEEN ADJACENT INTERLOCKING MEANS OF A PAIR OF WALL SECTIONS DISPOSED IN THE ROW OPPSOTE THERETO.