US3259409A

US3259409A - Corner construction

Info

Publication number: US3259409A
Application number: US357571A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward R Chappell; Richard C Lessner
Original assignee: Thomas Industries Inc
Current assignee: Thomas Industries Inc
Priority date: 1964-04-06
Filing date: 1964-04-06
Publication date: 1966-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-05

Description

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United States Patent M 3,259,409 CORNER CONSTRUCTION Edward R. Chappell and Richard C. Lessner, Des Pla nes, Ill., assignors to Thomas Industries Inc., Des Plaines, III., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,571 4 Claims. (Cl. 287189.36)

The present invention relates generally to a corner construction and more particularly to a corner construction for angularly disposed trim members, and for door and window frames.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and novel corner construction for trim or frame members whereby the interconnection between the adjacent ends thereof is rigidified so as to maintain proper alignment of the members and resist twisting and bending forces imposed thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a corner construction, as described, wherein rigidness of the interconnection between members is accomplished by forming the ends of the members with complementary interlocking elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a corner construction, as described, wherein the complementary interlocking elements at the ends of the interconnected members are so arranged that the external appearance of a mounted trim or frame assembly is not impaired.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a corner construction, as described, wherein the members that are to be interconnected may be inexpensively fabricated and quickly and easily assembled.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using corner constructions in accordance with the principles of the present invention, there will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a generally rectangular trim frame assembly, foreshortened in two dimensions, incorporating the corner construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one upper corner of the trim frame assembly of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 22 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the corner shown in FIGURE 2, taken substantially along the line 33 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 44 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 55 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the complementary ends of a pair of trim members in adjacent but disconnected positions.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 a rectangular trim frame assembly which comprises four

trim members

12, 14, 16 and 18. The adjacent pairs of ends of these four trim members are respectively secured together to form corners in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Since all four corners of the trim frame assembly 10 are of corresponding construction, only one corner construction will be described in detail.

3,259,409 Patented July 5, 1966 Referring now to FIGURES 2-6, the corner construction at the adjacent pair of ends of the

trim members

12 and 14 will be described. The trim member 12 is comprised of a channel member having spaced apart substantially

parallel arm portions

20 and 22 joined together by a web portion 24. The arm portion 20 has an end edge 26 terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the web portion 24. The arm portion 22, which is preferably wider than the arm portion 20, is provided with an end portion 28 that is offset from the plane of the arm portion 22 in the direction of the arm portion 20. In addition the trim member 12 is provided with a flange element 30 which extends along the arm portion 20 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the arm 20. Extending along the arm portion 22 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the flange element 30 is a ridge element 32 having a terminal end edge 34 adjacent the offset end portion 28.

The trim member 14 is comprised of a channel member having spaced apart substantially

parallel arm portions

36 and 38 joined together by a web portion 40. The

arm portions

36 and 38 respectively have end edges 42 and 44- terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the web portion 40. The trim member 14, like the trim member 12, is also provided with a flange element 46 that extends along the arm portion 36 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the arm portion 36. The flange element 46 is formed with a lateral wing portion 48. The trim member 14 is further provided with a ridge element 50 that extends along the arm portion 38 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the flange element 46. The ridge element 50 is formed with a finger portion 52 that projects beyond the end edge 44 of the arm portion 38. Still further, the trim member 14 is provided with a lateral tab element 54 on the web portion 40.

In FIGURE 6, the described ends of the

trim members

12 and 14 are shown in adjacent but disassembled positions. When the corner construction is for a right angle corner as shown, the

end edges

26 and 42 of the

arm portions

20 and 36 are formed at complementary angles, preferably each 45; the line of offset of the end portion 28 of the arm portion 22 and the end edge 44 of the arm portion 38 are also found at complementary angles, pre-ferably each 45. To accommodate interlocking of the

trim members

12 and 14, the triangular offset portion 28 of the member 12 is offset out of the plane of the arm portion 22 a distance equal to the thickness of the arm portion 38 of the trim member 14. The complementary elements at the ends of the

trim members

12 and 14 may be readily interengaged by the simple act of moving the end of the member 14 longitudinally toward the end of the member 12 along the path indicated in dotdash lines in FIGURE 6. After interengagement, as best shown in FIGURES -2-4, the Wing portion 48 of the trim member 14 is suitably secured to the flange element 30 of the trim member 12. The wing 48 and flange 50 may, for example, be secured together by means of a pair of sheet metal screws 56 threaded through aligned openings in the wing and flange. It will be appreciated that other forms of fastening means, such as rivets, may be used in place of the screws 56.

When the wing 48 and flange 30 are secured together, the

end edges

26 and 42 of the

arm portions

20 and 36 are disposed in abutting relation, and the offset end portion 28 of the trim member 12 is disposed in overlapping relation to the adjacent end portion of the arm portion 38 of the trim member 14. In addition, the tab element 54 of the trim member 14 is disposed :in overlapping relation to or in abutment with the web portion 24 of the trim member 12, and the projecting finger portion 52 of the trim member 14 is disposed in overlapping relation to the arm portion 22 of the trim member 12 abutting the terminal end edge 34 of the ridge element 32 thereof.

From the foregoing description, it lWlll be appreciated that the complementary elements at the ends of the

mem bers

12 and 14 overlap and interlock whereby to rigidify the interconnection therebetween so as to maintain proper alignment of the members and resist twisting and bending forces imposed thereon. The corner constructions at the other pairs of adjacent ends of the trim members of the trim assembly 19 correspond to the described corner construction. -In this connection, the interlocking elements at the opposite ends of each trim member may be formed complementary to each other and the unlike ends of the members adjacently positioned. Alternatively, the interlocking elements at the ends of the horizontal trim members may be .formed identical to each other, while the interlocking elements at the ends of the vertical trim members are formed identical to each other but complementary to the interlocking elements of the horizontal trim members. In either case, a set of complementary interlocking elements will thus be adjacently located at each corner for interconnection in accordance (with the principles of the present invention. Additionally, in normal usage only the exterior of the channel members of the trim members are exposed to view. Therefore, since the interlocking elements are disposed interiorly or rearwardly of the exposed part of the trim members, the external appearance of the trim assembly is not impaired by the interlocking corner constructions. Finally, although the corner construction of the present invention has been shown embodied in a trim frame assembly, it is to be understood that the corner construction may also be incorporated in door and Window frame assemblies.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a corner construction: a first channel member having spaced apart arm portions joined together by a web portion, one of said arm portions having an end edge terminating at an acute angle :with respect to the plane of said web portion, the other of said arm portions having an end portion offset from the plane of said other arm portion in the direction of said one arm portion, a flange element on said one arm portion, and a ridge element on said other arm portion; a second channel member having spaced apart arm portions joined together by a WGb portion, one of said second member arm portions having an end edge terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said second member web portion, a flange element on said one second member arm portion, said flange element having a wing portion, a ridge element on the other second member arm portion, said ridge element having a projecting finger portion, and a tab element on said \web portion; and means securing said wing portion of said second channel member to said flange element of said first channel member with said end edges of said one arm portions of both channel members disposed in abutting relation, with said offset end portion of said first channel member disposed in overlapping relation to the adjacent end portion of said other arm. portion of said second channel member, with said tab element of said second channel member disposed in overlapping relation to said web portion of said first channel member, and With said finger portion of said second chan nel member disposed in overlapping relation to said other arm portion of said first channel member adjacent one end of the ridge element thereof.

2. In a corner construction: a first channel member having spaced apart substantially parallel arm portions joined together by a Web portion, one of said arm portions having an end edge terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said Web portion, the other of said arm portions having a triangular shaped end portion offset from the plane of said other arm portion in the direction of said one arm portion, a flange element on said one arm portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said one arm portion, and a ridge element on said other arm portion substantially parallel to said flange element and having a terminal end edge adjacent said offset end portion; a second channel member having spaced apart substantially parallel arm portions joined together by .a Web portion, both of said second member arm portions having an end edge terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said second member web portion, a flangeelernent on one of said second member arm portions in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said one second member arm portion, said flange element having a lateral wing portion, a ridge element on the other of said second member arm portions substantially parallel to said flange element and having a projecting finger portion, and a lateral tab element on said second member web portion; and means securing said Wing portion of said second channel member to said flange element of said first channel member with said end edges of said one arm portions of both channel members disposed in abutting relation, with said off-set end portion of said first channel member disposed in overlapping relation to the adjacent end portion of said other arm portion of said second channel member, with said tab element of said second channel member disposed in overlapping relation to said web portion of said first channel member, and with said finger portion of said second channel member disposed in overlapping relation to said other arm portion of said first channel member adjacent said terminal end edge of the ridge element thereof.

3. For use in a corner construction, a channel member having spaced apart substantially parallel arm portions joined together by a Web portion, one of said arm portions having an end edge terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said web portion, the other of said arm portions having a triangular shaped end portion offset from the plane of said other arm portion in the direction of said one arm portion, .a flange element on said one arm portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said one arm portion, a ridge element on said other arm portion substantially parallel to said flange element and having a terminal end adjacent said offset end portion.

4. For use in a corner construction, a channel member having spaced apart arm portions joined together by a web portion, said arm portions each having an end edge terminating at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said web portion, a flange element on one of said arm portions in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said one arm portion, said flange element having a lateral wing portion at the end thereof, a ridge element on the other of said arm portions substantially par allel to said flange element and having a projecting finger portion, and said web portion having a tab portion projecting inwardly of said channel member at the end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,079 1 2/1904 Cottle l89-36 1,002,781 9/1911 Swart l8936 1,968,890 8/1934 Huff 18936 1,975,622 10/1934 Schermerhorn 18936 2,204,493 6/1940 Henry 52-738 ,694 1/1959 Breckheimer 18936 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

L. R. RADANOVIC, M. O. WAR-NECKE,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. IN A CORNER CONSTRUCTION: A FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING SPACED APART ARM PORTIONS JOINED TOGETHER BY A WEB PORTION, ONE OF SAID ARM PORTIONS HAVING AN END EDGE TERMINATING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SAID WEB PORTION, THE OTHER OF SAID ARM PORTIONS HAVING AN END PORTION OFFSET FROM THE PLANE OF SAID OTHER ARM PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ARM PORTION, A FLANGE ELEMENT ON SAID ONE ARM PORTION, AND A RIDGE ELEMENT ON SAID OTHER ARM PORTION; A SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING SPACED APART ARM PORTIONS JOINED TOGETHER BY A WEB PORTION, ONE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER ARM PORTIONS HAVING AN END EDGE TERMINATING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER WEB PORTION, A FLANGE ELEMENT ON SAID ONE SECOND MEMBER ARM PORTION, SAID FLANGE ELEMENT HAVING A WING PORTION, A RIDGE ELEMENT ON THE OTHER SECOND MEMBER ARM PORTION, SAID RIDGE ELEMENT HAVING A PROJECTING FINGER PORTION, AND A TAB ELEMENT ON SAID WEB PORTION; AND MEANS SECURING SAID WING PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER TO SAID FLANGE ELEMENT OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER WITH SAID END EDGES OF SAID ONE ARM PORTIONS OF BOTH CHANNEL MEMBERS DISPOSED IN ABUTTING RELATION, WITH SAID OFFSET END PORTION OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE ADJACENT END PORTION OF SAID OTHER ARM PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER, WITH SAID TAB ELEMENT OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID WEB PORTION OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER, AND WITH SAID FINGER PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID OTHER ARM PORTION OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBER ADJACENT ONE END OF THE RIDGE ELEMENT THEREOF.