US3008195A - Building frame unit - Google Patents

Description

Nov.

ING FRAME UNIT D L I U B A. 5 9 l 6 l t p e S d e l .l F

Mei M Nov. 14, 1961 w. E. coFFEY BUILDING FRAME UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1954 United States Patent Chico 3,008,195 Patented Nov. lll, 1961 3,008,195 BUILDING FRAME UNIT William E. Coley, Excelsior, Minn., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Contemporary Structures, Inc., Excelsior, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 16, 1954, Ser. No. 456,549 3 Claims. (Cl. 20-.S)

This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to a buildin-g frame unit.

'In contempor-ary type architecture, there has been a growing tendency for simplicity in the design of dwelling and small building construction. For example, rustictype singlefstory Ihouses are often constructed so that the underside of the roof member constitutes the ceiling of the inner structure.

Also, partitions defining room structure are often constructed so as to be light and non-loadbearing. In some instances the partitions are so constructed as to be shiftable to alter the character of the building.

Construction of contemporary buildings of this type requires a at and low roof and therefore the building frame must necessarily be strong enough to support the roof ltogether with additional load such as snow which may collect thereon, and be strong enough to withstand additional forces such as high The usual outside wall structure comprises wooden stud members 2" x 4" in cross-section and placed edgewise and vertically at 16 or 24 inches apart. The top Iand bottom ends of the stud members are usually tied together with upper and lower plates, the plates furnishing fastening means to secure the wall structure together with the foundation and with the roof structure. Window and door openings are framed into the walls during construction. Once the wall frame has been secured in position upon the foundation, the remainder of the building may be constructed in a number of dilerent ways. The roof frame in the conventional structure of the class described is usually made up of roof rafters spaced apart the same distance as the wall studs and compressively supported by the wal-ls and by partitions constructed within the building. Outer sheathing is nailed to the dat outer edge ofthe wall studs and outer covering such as siding may then be secured to the sheathing. Similarly, roof boards, decking, shingles and other roof materials may be secured at the upper edge of the -roof rafters. The floor is constructed of joists and may be worked into the wall structure with the outer ends of the oor joists supported on the wall plates, or the floor may be rst formed with the floor joists directly on the foundation and the outer wall structure secured peripherally on the iioor structure.

The standard construction above described in all events presupposes -a Vcomplete -wall structure attached to, but not rigidly stressed with, the floor and foundation at the lower edges of the wall, and attached to but not rigidly stressed with the ceiling or roof joists and thewall partitions. -In other words, the conventional frame struc ture pre-supposes practically all the stress on the wall and partition structures in the lform of compression. 'Ilhe lateral stability of such frame structure is obtained through corner connections between joining walls and partitions and by virtue of internal bracing of the separate wall, oor and roof elements.

It is the contemplation of this invention and an important object thereof, to provide a framing unit which, when incorporated in a building structure, will efciently and economically provide strength and rigidity throughout its peripheral length for the mutual support of floor, wall and roof membe It is a 'further object of the invention to provide a frame unit which will have self-contained rafter, stud and 2 joist qualities for defining peripheral support for all sides of a building and which can be rigidly tied together in horizontally spaced relation.

lt is a still further object of the invention to provide a plurality of building frame units, each having provision for receiving horizontal ribbands in rigid connection and in planar relation with the edges of said units, to which can be directly fastened wall panels or sheets.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide unitary frame members Vfor building construction of the class described which will simplify and cheapen the construction `of such buildings while providing a pleasing appearance and a rugged long-lasting structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout `the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the end section of a frame construction embodying my invention, the section showing an intermediate frame unit and an end unit with the horizontal braces anda representative number of roo-f and iioor boards in position; the remainder of the structure is cut away to better show the cooperation of the parts; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of Ithe building frame unit, all the parts being separated for clarity but maintaining their relative positions as they appear in the rigid and complete unit.

With continued reference to the drawing, the truss rafter is indicated generally at 10 and is sh-own in structural relationship to the other members in a housing construction in FIG. l andin individual parts in FIG. 2. The truss rafter comprises a plurality of elongated rectilinear boards which Iare secured together in a special way to provide internal strength in the truss rafter itself as well -as in conjunction with the other members of the frame. 'Ihe several portions of the truss rafter are outer boards 11 and 12 which abut at slightly angulated ends 13 and 14 respectively to form the peak portion of a roof, the pitch ordinarily -being maintained at a low rate for the type of structure shown. The outer ends of the respective boards 11 and 12 may be cut angularly at 15 and 116 respectively, the ends extending outwardly to overhang the side walls. A similar pair of outside members 17 and 18 are provided Iand likewise have the same end pieces cut in the same manner so as to duplicate the rst mentioned pair :of members 11 and 12. An inner elongated board 19 has the same width at its flat side as that of the members 11 and 17 and is adapted to be glued in laminated relation by such common wood gluing medilun as resorcinol glue. The ends of the board 19 fall short of the corresponding ends 13- and 15 of boards 11 and 17, the most central end 20 lying usually a matter of a foot or so from end 13, and the outer end 21 terminating at the inner surface of the wall structure. A gap 22 is created between the end 21 of board 19 and the end 23 of the iilller piece 24 which in turn has an outer end 25 which registers with the outer end 15 of board 11. Another inner board 26 may be identically laminated between the outer truss rafter members 12 and 18 with the end filler 27 similarly positioned so as lto produce the gap 28 at the other side of the truss rafter.

A special collar joist 29 is adapted to interiit between the angular peak formed at the juncture of edges 13 and 14 on all -four of the members 11, 112, 17 and 18, the collar joist having upper edges 30 and 31 which lie in 4the sam-e plane with the respective top edges of boards 11,

17, 19 and 24 at one side, and with boards 12, `18, 26 and 27 -at the other side. The end edges of the collar joist v 29 are arranged so that edge 32 will abut against edge Z of `the intermediate board 19, and edge 33 will abut against Ithe corresponding end 20 of the intermediate b oard 26. The loweredge 34 of collarjoist 29 is formed inv otset relation w-ithrespect to the lower edges of vall of the other truss rafter boards, Ithe collarjoist then taking a reinforcing position with 4the edge 34 appearingV below the peak in a web-like relationshipwith the other elongated and rectilinear members of the truss rafter as shown more clearly in PIG. 1. All of the members comprisinggthe truss ratterV are'intended =to be rigidly glued together and may, Yin addition, have other fastening means such as bolts 35, but these fastening means are not essential to the operation of 4the truss rafter if the members 'are properly adhered with a good quality of glue.`

The bottornportionrrof my frame unit is the door joist which is indicated generally at 36 and may simply comprise several rectilinear boards such as the outer members 37 at oneside, the outerV members 38 at the otherl sidegand the intermediatemembers 39 of corresponding dimensioninterposed in laminated relation with the outer mem-bers, These door joist members may be made of shorter lengthboards, especially where the span is in excess of 8 or lGvfeet, and it is only necessary in such case'that the abutting positions ,typified by 4i) between the members 37 and 41 between the members 38, be in staggered relation with respect to the abutting position -42 of the intermediate .\:neml.ers 39, Vall 'as set forth in FIGS. l and 2.V `in order to obtain a better interiitting relation with other portions of the frame as will be presently described, itis preferred that the intermediate board members 39 be Vcut of such a length'that the ends 43 will fall short of the ends 44 of the respective outer members 37 and 38. The recessed Iarea forrned by the oiiset relationship between ends 43 with respective and corresponding ends 44 is of a predetermined amount so as to permit snug interlocking of the interconnecting members which complete the frame unit.

The remaining members for completing the lframe unit are the pair of stud members indicated generally at 45, one each being mountable at a side `of the fname unit as shown fin FIGS. l and 2. The stud member comprises a vertical rectilinear board, preferably an ordinary 2 x 4 board 46, having an upper end 47 which is cut atthe same angle as the upper edge of truss rafter boards 11, 17 and 19, and the lowerendV 48 `of which is cut square to correspond with the lowermost edge of the unit at the floor joist. The board 46 has at least one outer member laminated thereto, and preferably two, one at each side as shown at 49 and 50. The outside laminations of the stud 45 are preferably formed oi2E X 6 stock with the outer edges 51 and y5T. respectively lying in thesame'plane with each other and adapted to lie in the same plane as the end edg 44 of the members 37 and 38 in the floor joist construction. 'Ihe members 49 Aand 50 are'laminated in'adhering relation with the 2 x 4 member 46, the respective upper edges 53 and 54 -being adapted to abut against theunder edge of the outer members 11 and 17 in the truss rafter while the intermediate board 46 has its upper end 47 extending in close-litting relation in the gap 22 and in abutting relation with ends 21 and 123 of respective boards 19 and 24. The stud member 45 may be glued at all contacting surfaces with the truss rafter 10, but it is preferred that the projecting end of the board 46 which terminates in the upper edge '47, be bolted through the outer'members 11 and 17 of the truss rafter 10 as shown at 55 in FIG. 1.

, The outer edges Sliand 52 ofthe respective boards 49 and '50 are :provided with atleast one recessed or notched areas or recesses are adapted to register in horicessed or notchedv areas S7 and'SS respectively. These notched areasV or recesses are adapted to registe rin horizontal alignment and the inside edges thereof are adapted` to lie in the same plane with the outer edge of the board 46'.' It desired, a plurality of notched or recessed areas 59 may be formed at the inner edges of the respective boards 49 and 50 and Vthese notched recesses are likewise arranged in horizontal alignment with the innermost edges thereof inY planar relation with the inwardly facing edge of board 46. OtherV recessed- notches 60 and 61 may likewise be formed at the linwardly facing edges of the outer stud boards 49 and lSllras shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal alignment being preserved as previously described. The lowermost ends 62 and 63 of respective boards 49 and 50 are adapted to abut against the upper edges of the outer board laminations 37 and 38 oi the iloor joist 36 when the stud isrplaced in interconnecting relation between the truss rafter '10 and the oorjoist 36. Again the Vstud member adjacent the lower end 4S of board 46 may be secured to the floor joist as by bolts 64 extending through the outer ends of the door joist and through the lower depending end of the medial 2 x 4 member 46 in the interconnecting stud member `45. As previously pointed out, the stud member may be adhered with glue in laminated relation with the truss rafter and the iloor oist if so desired, but it is preferredv to mainY tain the frame unit in a partially knocked-down condition for shipment with the easy assemblage of the stud members through board -members 64 and 55 to the respective lioor joists 36 and truss rater -10 as previously pointed out.

`The stud member 45 which isdisposed at the opposite side of the frame unit may have the identical parts formed with identical notch or recess areas vand interconnected in the identical manner with the corresponding portions of the truss rafter and ylioor joist at the other side of the entire assembly.V When the members are intertted, it will be observed that the entire unitV lies in substantiallythe sameplane and that a'ri'gid framing member is formed in which stress applied at any point about the periphery of the unit will be transmitted to other portions of the rigid unit 'ina manner such as to assist in the distribution of stress applied Vto the completed building rather than allowing each separate structural portion to stand completely kon its own merits without assistance from the other structural areas in the house construction.

In the actual building construction, I may employ a number of completed wooden frame 'units as above described, placing them at spaced parallel intervals, preferably 6 feet apart,to achieve a strong and cheap house construction. The end units are principally the samek as the intermediate frame Yunit Imembers andare preferably provided with a plurality of intermediate stud members which will giveadditional strength and provide support for such openings as windows and doors in the end of the housing. The end frame unit is indicated 'generally at 65 and has the same truss rafter construction as well as the same door joist and stud construction 'as the frame units illustrated in FIG. 2. Additional studs or columns 66 may be provided between the truss'rafter and the door joist as shown in FIG. l, appropriate notches or recesses being provided for intertitting the columns or studs therebetween. The columns 66 are preferably cut with a top' edge 67 inhorzontal alignment with one of thelaminated members 68 of each of the columns 66 extending upwardlybeyond the upper end 67 to engage the underside `of the truss rafter and give additional support at the outer frame unit 65 as shown in FIG. 1. A brace 69 may extend across the entire end unit 'in abutting relation with the upper ends 67 of each ofthe columns 66 as shown, the brace 69 being glued or nailediniplace as shown.Y

When a plurality of wooden `frameY units are mountedV in interiitting relation with respective outer edge notches or recesses 56, 57 and 58. 'The brace '71 is of such dimension as to tightly iit within the notches or recesses with the inwardly facing side of each of the braces in firm contact with the outwardly facing edge of the board 46 and with the innermost edges of the respective notches for attachment thereto. The dimension of the braces 7i is also selected with respect to its thickness such that the outwardly facing surface of each of the brace members will lie flush with the plane defined by the outwardly extending edges of the stud members 49 and 50. The braces 71 are preferably nailed into position so as to rigidly interconnect the spaced frame units and to rapidly construct the frame structure of a building,

Other brace members 7-2 may likewise be secured in interfitting relation with the recessed or notched areas 59, 60 and 61 of the stud members 4S, the dimensions of the brace members being likewise selected so as to rigidly interfit and provide a flush surface with the inwardly facing edges of the stud members 45 in the same manner as the braces `71 cooperate with the outermost plane. It is understood that identical or similar braces for both the innermost plane and outermost plane at the opposite side of the building structure may be provided so as to form a nailing media in iiush relation with the stud members as previously described.

When the frame members are mounted in the relationship disclosed, the upper edges of the individual truss rafters present a pair of pitched planes upon which roof boards 73 may be nailed or otherwise secured in the conventional manner. Finished rooting products may be applied in the usual manner to achieve a warm and tight roof. Floor boards preferably of 2 inch lumber are indicated at 74 and these kmay be secured to the floor joists 36 to provide a strong iioor structure over which finish iiooring may be applied in the conventional manner. Since each of the frame units at the medial portion of the structure is of the clear span type, the building construction will adapt itself to partitioning in an intinite number of positions without aecting the quality of the frame structure. The partitioning can add to the structural strength of the building if it is so desired, but in any event will not detract from the rigidity and strength which has been obtained through the special laminated construction and the special cooperation of the interconnecting braces with the studs at each of the frame units.

It may thus be seen that I have devised a novel building frame unit which provides -a clearspan between the truss rafter and oor joist in a vertical direction and between the opposed studs in a horizontal direction, the frame unit having a rigidity and simplicity such that the combination of only a few of such members when interconnected by flush brace members will provide a cornplete framing structure ready for application of internal and external sheet wall construction and the application of rooting and flooring to produce a high quality building structure. It will be noted that the clear span between the frame units in a horizontal direction may result in a situation where all of the structural members including the brace members, iioor boards, sheathing and roof boards achieve their sole support from the frame units. The strength of the laminated floor joists coupled with the rigid frame construction obviates the necessity for additional floor joists as will be observed from the construction shown in FIG. 1.

It will, of course, 4be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-contained wood framing unit comprising, a rigid closed frame having side-to-side laminated construction deiining a floor joist, a truss rafter and interconnecting upstanding side studs, said side studs having at least one rectilinear board with straight parallel outer and inner edges, and having laminated thereto at least one rectilinear board having an edge in outwardly offset parallel relation to an edge of said first mentioned board and a notch formed thereacross and extending inwardly to the edge of said first mentioned board, whereby a transversely disposed brace may be fastened in said notch to the stud to provide therewith a flush nailing surface and a strong interconnection with an adjacent and similar framing unit.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein the laminated second mentioned rectilinear board has both side edges in outwardly offset parallel relation to the corresponding edges of the lirst mentioned board and notches are formed in opposed relation across the respective outwardly offset portions and extending inwardly to each of the respective edges of the first mentioned board.

3. A self-contained wood framing unit comprising, a rigid closed frame having side-to-side laminated construction deiining a floor joist, a truss rafter and interconnecting upstanding side studs, said side studs having at least one rectilinear board with straight parallel outer and inner edges, and having laminated thereto at least one rectilinear board having an edge in outwardly offset parallel relation to an edge of said first mentioned board and a notch formed thereacross and extending inwardly to the edge of said iirst mentioned board, whereby a transversely disposed brace may be fastened in said notch to the stud to provide therewith a flush nailing surface and a strong interconnection with an adjacent and similar framing unit, said side studs also having a rectilinear board at the other side of the rst mentioned rectilinear board having its respective edges in outwardly offset parallel relation to the edge of said first mentioned board and having a notch formed thereacross opposite said irst mentioned notch and extending inwardly to the edge of said irst mentioned board.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l1,377,891 Knight May 10, 1921 1,673,788 Hobson lJune 12, 1928 '2,042,370 Walker May 26, 1936 2,376,906 Davidson May 29, 1945 2,475,433 McLaughlin July 5, 1949 2,480,330 Kump Aug. 30, 1949 2,638,637 Kump May 19, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,290 France Apr. 9, 1920 375,240 Germany May 8, 1923 864,683 France Jan. 27, 1941 730,259 Germany Jan. 8, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Barracks for Shipment, The Architectural Forum, February 1942, p. 91.

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