US3300940A

US3300940A - Elongated housing

Info

Publication number: US3300940A
Application number: US382248A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul J Golasz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-07-13
Filing date: 1964-07-13
Publication date: 1967-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-31

Description

1967 P. J. GOLASZ ELONGATED HOUSING Filed July 13, 1964 United States Fatent Gfiice 3369,94 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,300,940 ELONGATED HQUSING Paul J. Golasz, 5334 S. 73rd Ave, Summit, Ill. 60501 Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,248 13 Claims. (Cl. 52718) My invention relates to a building product and, more particularly, to a housing or covering which may be mounted in position to simulate a solid building structure, or which may be used to cover an existing structure.

In recent years, so-called dropped beam ceilings have become popular to give a room a more appealing esthetic and decorative appearance. In such dropped beam ceilings, solid wooden beams are mounted beneath the ceiling so that the beams either support the ceiling or give the appearance of supporting the ceiling. The walls which support the beams have to be structurally strong, and often such walls have to be reinforced to support the additional weight of solid woo-den beams.

Thus, the installation of wooden beams to provide a dropped beam ceiling is expensive especially'in houses or buildings which are already built. Further the beams themselves are costly.

In the building industry, it is frequently necessary to cover an existing structure such as a bare pipe, Lbeam, an unfinished piece of lumber or similar structure to give it a more decorative appearance. In such cases, frequently a covering frame is formed around the existing structure. The price of materials used for such purposes and the cost of installation are often very high.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a housing or covering which may be mounted in position to simulate a solid building structure.

It is another object of my invention to provide a decorative simulated wooden beam which may be used in dropped beam ceilings.

It is another object of my invention to provide a simulated wooden beam which is inexpensive and which can be easily mounted into position.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a housing or covering which may be easily mounted into position and which may be dismounted or disassembled with a minimum of effort.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a housing or covering which is light in weight and which may be mounted on relatively light bracket or holder units.

It is yet a further object of my invention to provide a housing or covering which may be formed of cardboard or any suitable light material and which may be cut in a desired configuration and formed and mounted in the desired shape.

It is yet a further object of my invention to provide a housing or covering which may be shipped as a fiat piece of material and which can be easily formed into the desired shape and mounted in position at the location of usage.

In the attainment of the foregoing objects, I provide a housing or covering which may be cut as a flat sheet into a desired shape, and which may be formed into a desired shape at the location of usage. The housing or covering includes a body portion having two ends forming folding edges or tongues. The edges of the housing are received in recessed formed brackets mounted in a base surface and tension means hold the edges of the housing in the recesses to secure the housing in its mounted position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be come' apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a housing or covering according to the invention and is in the form of a wooden beam;

FIG. 2 shows a fiat sheet from which the beam of FIG. 1 is formed;

FIG. 3 shows the top portion of the beam of FIG. 1 and the tension means in the form of a string arranged to hold the edges of the beam in position;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view which shows a bracket for supporting the beam of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a plate for joining or abutting two beams;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a molding strip which may be positioned at the ends of the beam;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing a modification 0f the molding strip of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a circular housing according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of my invention adapted to be mounted to enclose an I-beam; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the left hand portion of the molding strip of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, the housing of my invention is shown in the form of an elongated beam 11 having a rectangular cross section which may be mounted beneath a ceiling to simulate a solid wooden beam and give the appearance of a dropped beam ceiling. The beam 11 has an external color and markings such as, for example, to simulate the lumber grains of a wooden beam. The beam 11 is preferably formed of a relatively heavy cardboard, but it may also be of light metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The bottom 12 and the two sides 13 and 14 of the rectangula beam are closed. The top of the beam is open along its length and includes two

fold edges

15a and 15b. The fold edges 15a and 1512 are received by brackets 20 which support the beam 11 in position on the ceiling 21. A number of brackets 20 (see also FIG. 4) are positioned in spaced relation to provide support to the entire length of the beam 11. The length of the brackets 20, that is, the dimension transverse to the axis of the beam is approximately the same as the internal dimension of the beam 11, and the width of the bracket 20 may be of any convenient size. The brackets include a raised center portion 27 of any convenient thickness, as about inch, and tiered or stepped down side portions 28a and 28b, which are stepped down approximately the thickness of the material from which the beam 11 is made. The length of the center portion measured transverse to the axis of the beam is such that the width of the folding edges 15a and 1512 added to the length of the center portion is equal to the inside width of the bottom 12 of beam 11; this assures that the beam 11 assumes a rectangular shape when mounted in position. An aligning notch 29 is formed in the center portion 27 in a direction transverse to the length of the bracket 20. The brackets 20 are secured to the ceiling 21 as by screws 26 inserted through apertures 30 formed in center portion 27. When the bracket 20 is mounted, the tiered down or stepped portion 28a and 28b form recesses of a height sufiicient to snugly receive the

respective edges

15a and 15b of the beam 11. If desired, to make an even tighter fit, the recesses 28a and 2811 may be tapered with the larger dimension of the taper being at the ends of the bracket tapering toward a smaller dimension at the step of the recesses 28a and 28b with center portion 27. A tension string member 23 (see also FIG.

3) such as of an elastic or spring material of any suitable known type is connected at either end to expandable clips or hooks 24a and 24b which are inserted into apertures 22 formed in the folding edges a and 15b of the beam 11. The clips are of any suitable known type which once inserted in the apertures 22 from one side of edge 15a expand or hook and engage the opposite side of edge 15a. The tension members 23 tend to draw or pull the

edges

15a and 15b together. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, I found metal tipped elastic to function satisfactorily as tension members 23.

The beam 11 is initially formed and preferably shipped as a flat sheet labelled 11a, as shown in FIG. 2. The sheet 11a is formed of any desired length. The sheet 11a is scored or gr-OOVed on the inner side of the sheet as indicated by the

dotted lines

25A, 25B, 25C and 25D to define the

edges

15a and 15b, the bottom 12, and the sides 13 and 14, to thus permit the sheet 11a to be folded in the desired form of the beam 11.

In mounting the housing 11, the first step is to align the brackets and affix the brackets into the ceiling such as by screws 26. To position the brackets, a line is drawn on the ceiling 21 and the aligning notch 29 on each bracket is centered on this line. I have found that spacing the brackets at about 30" intervals provides good support for a beam made of heavy cardboard. After the brackets 20 are mounted in position, the sheet 11 is folded along the various scoring or grooves A, 25B, 25C and 25D to form the elongated rectangular shaped beam 11.

Next, the clips 24a and 24b of the spring members 23 are inserted into respective apertures 22 formed in the

respective edges

15a and 15b. Preferably, the clips 24a and 241) are inserted from the external side of the

edges

15a and 15b so that clips are substantially flush with the external side of the edges and do not obstruct the mounting. Alternatively, the tension member, if it is elastic, rubber, or the like, can be stapled into the beam. As mentioned above, tension member 23 urges the

edges

15a and 15b toward one another.

As will be readily appreciated when the housing of my invention is used to cover an existing structure such as a pipe, the sheet 11a may be folded around the selected pipe before the tension members 23 are inserted in apertures 22.

To mount the beam 11 on the brackets 20, the folding edges 15a and 15b are pulled apart against the tension of member 23, and to a position in which the edges 15a and 1511 can be slipped over the ends of a bracket '20. After the edges 15a and 15]) are slipped over a bracket 20 the

edges

15a and 15b are released and the tension of member 23 urges the

edges

15a and 15b into the recesses formed by tiered portions 28a and 28b. The center portion 27 of the brackets 20 is of a width and the folding edges 15a and 15b are dimensioned such that when the

edges

15a and 15b are drawn by tension member 23 into engagement with the center portion 27 the housing will assume a rectangular shape. The same operation is performed throughout the length of the beam to mount the folding edges 15a and 15b in the brackets 20.

The beam 11 is made of a sturdy enough material such as heavy cardboard to maintain its rectangular cross sectional shape.

I found the best means of mounting the beam 11 which is of a dimension longer than the room in which it is mounted is to cut the beam just a trifle less (about /2 inch less) than the dimension of the room. This permits freer, easier handling of the beam and prevents wedging of the beam against the walls as the beam is raised and mounted in position. Next, in order to close the space between the gall and the beam, a molding strip 32 is mounted on the I earn.

The molding strip 32 can be of the same material as the beam .and its dimensions are such as to externally fit around the beam 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the molding strip 32 is V-shaped in cross section with the open part of the V arranged to bear on the wall against which the end of the beam rests. The molding strip 32 can be attached as by reuseable double-backed pressure sensitive tape of any well known type or by removable clips indicated as 33.

Another embodiment of the molding strip, which does not need fasteners or screws for afiixing it to the beam is shown in FIG. 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a V-shaped molding strip 34 generally similar to molding strip 32 of FIG. 6 includes an insert portion 35 which fits over the end of the beam 11 and extends internal into the end of the beam 11 to hold the molding 34 in position.

A resilient material 44 such as sponge rubber is placed in the groove of the strip 34 into which the end of the beam 11 is inserted. When the beam 11 is mounted, the end of the beam pushes against and compresses the resilient material 44 which causes the molding strip 34 to push against or firm up to the wall.

Another means of positioning the molding strip 34 between the ends of the beam 11 and the wall is shown in FIG. 10. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, one end of a resilient band 233, such as a rubber band, is affixed to the left (as oriented in the figures) mid section 39 of the strip 34, and the band 233 is extended around the left insert portion 35 of strip 34 and across the molding strip and around the right insert portion 35, and is affixed to the right mid section 39 of strip 34. The end of the beam 1.1 inserted into the groove of molding strip 34 will stretch the band 233 and cause the molding strip 34 to be pushed against or firm up to the wall.

In those cases where the length of the room is longer than the beam length, I have found that two beams can be abutted to one another for mounting, see FIG. 5. The abutting ends 45 of beams 11 and are cut to have as close a mating relation as possible. Next, preferably thick, but

lightweight mating plates

36 and 37 made from plastic or any suitable material to resemble metal, and each having bolt receiving holes are positioned across the abutting joint 35 such as by thick but lightweight dummy nut and bolt plastic units 38. I have found that by exaggerating the connection between the abutting joints of

beams

11 and 110 by the use of large plates such as 36 and 37 and the nut and bolt units 38, a very appealing esthetic appearance results.

As mentioned above, the housing of my invention can be of rectangular cross section as is beam 11 or it can be of any other desired cross sectional shape. For example, another embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein the housing or covering is in the form of a beam 111 having a circular cross section. The bracket mounting means for afiixing the beam 111 to the ceiling 20 is the same as that for beam 11 of FIGS. l-7. The beam 111 includes folding edges 115a and 115b which are utilized to mount the beam 111 in the same manner as for beam 11. Thus the beam 11 simulates a rectangular wooden beam, and beam 111 simulates a circular or round wooden beam. For the circular beam 111, a rounded molding strip similar to molding strips 32 and 34 would be used.

Another embodiment of the beam 11 of FIG. 1, especially arranged to be mounted to enclose an I-beam 40 is shown in FIG. 9 and labelled as beam 211. The beam 211 has to be of a large enough cross sectional dimension to completely enclose the I-beam. Otherwise, the beam 211 is similar in shape to the beam 11. The principal modification of the beam 211 of FIG. '9 over the beam 11 of FIG. 1 is the mounting means. To mount the beam 211, each of the brackets 20 of FIG. I are cut along the center line 29 to form separate brackets 20A and 208 which are atfixed to the ceiling such as by suitable screws 26. Alternatively, brackets 20A and 208 may initially be formed as separate pieces. The

plurality of brackets 20A and 20B are positioned along the side of the overhanging upper portion of the I-beam 40. As can be readily appreciated, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, a tension means cannot connect side edges of beam 211 in the same manner that elastic band 23 con nects side edge a to the opposite side edge 15b of the beam 11 of FIG. 1. In view of this, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, an elastic band 123 is connected to spaced points on the same side edge of the beam 211. A hook arm 43 is mounted on the brackets A and 2013 (for purposes of example, a hook arm 43 is shown only in connection with one bracket ZfiA), and arm 43 is positioned to extend under the overhanging upper portion of the I-beam. When mounting beam 211, the elastic band 123 is hooked on the hook arm 43 to tend to draw or pull the respective side edge of the beam 211 inwardly toward the I-beam 40.

Further, while a separate tension member 23 is utilized in mounting the beams described above, it has been found that a resilient material such as extruded plastic can be pre-formed as a housing to itself effect the inwardly pulling force on the side edges provided by tension member 23.

It will be appreciated that while the housing of my invention has been described as being in the form of

beams

11, 111 and 211 for mounting on ceilings, my housing can also be mounted on a vertical wall to simulate a pillar or other perpendicularly oriented support, or my housing can be mounted to cover an existing vertical structure. The means of mounting my housing in a vertical position is the same as described above for mounting my housing on a ceiling to simulate a beam.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A simulated solid beam, comprising, in combination, a sheet material folded to have the edges of the sheet facing one another,

means positioned at spaced points along side edges of said sheet for tensionally urging said edges toward one another and holding said edges in position, bracket means supporting said beam in position,

each said bracket means forming receiving portions of respective ones of said edges,

and spacing means associated with said bracket for spacing said side edges so that said beam assumes its desired cross sectional shape.

2. A simulated solid beam comprising in combination, a sheet material folded to have the side edges of the sheet facing one another in substantially the same plane,

tension means aflixed to spaced points along said side edges urging said edges toward one another, bracket means having a raised center portion and recessed outer portions,

said center portion supporting said beam in position and said recessed outer portions receiving portions of respective ones of said side edges,

said tension means holding said side edges in said recesses, and

said raised portion spacing said side edges so that the beam assumes its desired cross sectional shape, whereby said beam may be mounted on said bracket means by opening said side edges against the force of said tension means and slipping said side edges around said brackets and into said recesses.

3. A bracket means according to claim 2 wherein said raised portion is mountable on a support surface and said recessed outer portions define a space between the surface and the bracket for receiving said side edges.

4. A bracket means according to claim 2 wherein said bracket means includes an aligning notch.

5. A beam according to claim 1 wherein the sheet material is marked to designate the desired folds.

6. A simulated elongated solid beam comprising, in combination, a sheet material marked to designate the desired folds and forming in cross section a rectangular shaped beam having three closed sides and an open side,

said open side having two fold edges spaced from one another,

tension means afiixed to said fold edges urging said fold edges toward one another,

and bracket means for receiving said fold edges and supporting said beam.

7. A simulated solid beam according to claim 2 including a molding strip arranged to fit externally around the end of said beam and to be positioned against a surface,

said strip having a groove for receiving theend of said beam,

and a resilient material positioned in said groove whereby when the end of the beam is received in said groove the resilient material will be compressed to cause said strip to push against and be firmed on said surface.

8. A simulated solid beam according to claim 2 including a molding strip having an outer portion fitting externally around the end of said beam,

an insert portion insertable in the interior of said beam,

said strip having a groove for securing the end of said beam,

and a resilient string extending across said strip and being resiliently deformed when said beam is received in said groove to thereby cause said strip to push against and be firmed on said surface.

9. A simulated solid beam according to claim 2 including plate means for joining and abutting said beam with another similar beam.

10. A simulated solid beam according to claim 1 wherein said sheet material is foldable to have a circular cross section.

11. A beam according to claim 1 wherein said sheet material is colored and textured to simulate wood,

and wherein grooves are formed to indicate the lines where folds are to be made.

12. A beam according to claim 2 wherein said tension means comprise a resilient material aflixed to said edges.

13. A building product for enclosing an Lbearn comprising, in combination, a sheet material folded to have the side edges of the sheet facing one another in substantially the same plane,

tension means afiixed to spaced points along a side edge of said sheet, bracket means mounted adjacent said I-beam, each said bracket means forming recesses for receiving portions of respective ones of said side edges,

arms mounted with said bracket means and said tension means being engaged by said arms for urging said side edges in toward said recesses.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,751 3/1903 Scott 52105 X 1,284,113 11/1918 Kroder 248-262 2,074,463 3/1937 Davis 52-105 X 3,169,006 2/1965 Lorentzen et al. 248262 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,668 8/1939 Great Britain. 557,609 11/1943 Great Britain.

RICHARD W. COOKE, 1a., Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SIMULATED SOLID BEAM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SHEET MATERIAL FOLDED TO HAVE THE EDGES OF THE SHEET FACING ONE ANOTHER, MEANS POSITIONED AT SPACED POINTS ALONG SIDE EDGES OF SAID SHEET FOR TENSIONALLY URGING SAID EDGES TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND HOLDING SAID EDGES IN POSITION, BRACKET MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BEAM IN POSITION, EACH SAID BRACKET MEANS FORMING RECEIVING PORTIONS OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID EDGES,