Patent US3864886A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cover assembly for structural joints
Assignee: ARCHITECTURAL ART Mfg Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A low cost cover assembly for structural joints is provided having base structure adapted to be mounted on one structural section and serving as an anchor for an overlying joint cover plate. Unique connector components are provided on the face and cover, respectively, permitting easy press fit installation of the cover in conforming relationship to the structural sections even though there may be slight elevational and spacing irregularities therebetween. The components and cover plate are capable of flexing as necessary to insure a tight fit of the cover over the joint regardless of the direction of subsequent relative movement of the structural sections. The connector components of the base structure include an integral outwardly facing channel which slidably receives a number of yieldable, spring metal, U-shaped clips which are held in position within the channel by I-shaped retainers. An elongated, continuous, longitudinally serrated connection tongue projecting from the inner face of the cover plate is adapted to be received in and held by the clips so that adequate tension is maintained on the cover plate to bias the latter toward the structural sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Wenzel W Thom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:20
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/66; E04B1/68; E04B1/6803; E04B1/6804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An assembly for complementally covering thE open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members comprising: base structure adapted to be fixedly secured to one of said structural members and presenting a section having an elongated, continuous channel substantially parallel to said joint and defined by a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, upstanding sidewalls, each of the latter being provided with an elongated, continuous, integral, inwardly extending lip along the top thereof; yieldable connector means comprising a plurality of yieldable metallic spring clips positioned within said channel and spaced along the length thereof, said clips being of lesser transverse dimensions than the distance between said lips; means for retaining said springs clips within said channel and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the spring clips; cover means disposed in covering relationship to said spring clips and joint and having connection structure attached to the inner face thereof and extending therefrom into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying springs clips; and support structure adapted to engage the other of said structural members for supporting the end of said cover means remote from said base structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An assembly for complementally covering thE open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members comprising: base structure adapted to be fixedly secured to one of said structural members and presenting a section having an elongated, continuous channel substantially parallel to said joint and defined by a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, upstanding sidewalls, each of the latter being provided with an elongated, continuous, integral, inwardly extending lip along the top thereof; yieldable connector means comprising a plurality of yieldable metallic spring clips positioned within said channel and spaced along the length thereof, said clips being of lesser transverse dimensions than the distance between said lips; means for retaining said springs clips within said channel and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the spring clips; cover means disposed in covering relationship to said spring clips and joint and having connection structure attached to the inner face thereof and extending therefrom into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying springs clips; and support structure adapted to engage the other of said structural members for supporting the end of said cover means remote from said base structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said spring clips is an integral body of spring steel having a transverse bight portion engaging the transverse portion of said channel, and a pair of spaced, upstanding sidewalls each having an inwardly extending, downwardly sloping portion along the length thereof cooperatively defining an elongated slot therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The assembly of claim 2, wherein said retainer means for each of said spring clips comprises an integral locking member of spring steel having a relatively narrow body portion of a length at least as long as said spring clip and dimensioned to be inserted between the upstanding sidewalls of the latter, and ear portions on the distal ends of said body portion operable to be slidably inserted within said channel and under the opposed, inwardly extending lips of the latter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said locking members are bowed along the length thereof with the concave faces of the bows facing the transverse portion of the channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein said locking members are composed of spring steel of approximately 0.026 inches thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 2, wherein connection means comprise an integral, elongated, connection tongue extending from said cover means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The assembly of claim 6, wherein said tongue is provided with a series of elongated, spaced, continuous, upwardly inclined teeth along the opposed faces thereof, the latter being adapted to simultaneously interlock with adjacent edges of the respective downwardly sloping portions of the sidewalls of said spring clips to thereby tensionably lock the cover means in said covering relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base structure is adapted to be secured to said structural member by means of externally serrated expansion fasteners.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said covering means is an elongated, integral plate dimensioned to cover said base structure and joint, said plate being provided with integral, elongated support structure along the longitudinal edges thereof adapted to slidingly engage with the respective structural members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 9, wherein an elongated, continuous strip of resilient material is connected to each of said support structures for engaging with said respective structural members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said strips has a series of integral, laterally spaced, elongated, substantially parallel fins located to directly engage said structural members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 9, wherein said base structure is provided with an integral, elongated, upstanding stop wall adapted to abut the proximal support structure of said plate And thereby limit the sliding movement thereof along the underlying structural member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The assembly of claim 9, wherein the surface planes of said structural members are substantially perpendicular to define a corner joint, said covering means being substantially L-shaped in cross-section and dimensioned to cover both the base structure and joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
An assembly for complementally covering the open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members comprising: first and second base structures adapted to be securely affixed to said structural members and each including a section having a transverse portion and defined by spaced, upstanding sidewalls; yieldable connector means seated within each of said sections and of lesser transverse dimensions than the latter; means for retaining said connector means within said sections and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the connection means; separate cover plates disposed in spaced covering relationship to said first and second base structures, and connection structure attached to the inner faces of said cover plates and extending into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying connector means; and a joint covering plate overlying said joint and moveably engaging each of said cover plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
An assembly for complementally covering the open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members comprising: first and second base structures adapted to be securely affixed to said structural members and each including a section having a transverse portion and defined by spaced, upstanding sidewalls; yieldable connector means seated within each of said sections and of lesser transverse dimensions than the latter; means for retaining said connector means within said sections and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the connection means; separate cover plates disposed in spaced covering relationship to said first and second base structures, and connection structure attached to the inner faces of said cover plates and extending into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying connector means; and a joint covering plate overlying said joint and moveably engaging each of said cover plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein each of said sections is an elongated, continuous channel defined by a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, upstanding sidewalls, said channels being generally parallel to the joint.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 15, wherein said sidewalls are each provided with an elongated, continuous, integral, inwardly extending lip along the top thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly of claim 16, wherein said connector means comprises a plurality of yieldable metallic spring clips positioned with each of said channels and spaced along the length thereof, said clips being of lesser transverse dimensions than the distance between said lips.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The assembly of claim 17, wherein each of said spring clips is an integral body of spring steel having a transverse bight portion engaging the transverse portions of said channels, and a pair of spaced, upstanding sidewalls each having an inwardly extending, downwardly sloping portion along the length thereof cooperatively defining an elongated slot therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
The assembly of claim 18, wherein said retainer means for each of said spring clips comprises an integral locking member of spring steel having a relatively narrow body portion of a length at least as long as said spring clip and dimensioned to be inserted between the upstanding sidewalls of the latter, and ear portions on the distal ends of said body portion operable to be slidably inserted within said channels and under the opposed, inwardly extending lips of the latter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein said locking members are bowed along the length thereof with the concave faces of the bows facing the transverse portions of the channels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 18, wherein said connection structure comprises integral, elongated, connection tongues extending from the inner faces of said cover plates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 21, wherein said tongues are provided with a series of elongated, spaced, continuous, upwardly inclined teeth along the opposed faces thereof, the latter being adapted to simultaneously interlock with adjacent edges of the respective downwardly sloping portions of the sidewalls of said spring clips to thereby tensionably lock the cover plates in said covering relationship to the underlying base structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein said first and second base structures are adapted to be secured to said structural member by means of externally serrated expansion nails.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein said covering means is an elongated, integral plate dimensioned to cover said base structure and joint, said plate being provided with integral, elongatEd, support structure along the longitudinal edges thereof adapted to slidingly engage with the respective structural members.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 14, wherein said first and second base structure each include upwardly facing support sections adapted to engage the inner face of said joint covering plate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 25, wherein an upwardly facing resilient pad is attached to each of said support sections.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly of claim 26, wherein said cover plates include depending ledges along the longitudinal edge thereof proximal to said joint adapted to engage the outer face of said joint covering plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 27, wherein said ledges and resilient pad are configured and positioned to cooperatively slidably grip said joint covering plate therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
74 words
The assembly of claim 28, wherein said joint is defined by a pair of structural members whose surface planes are generally perpendicularly aligned, said support sections being positioned at relatively different vertical distances with respect to the underlying support members therebelow, said joint covering plate being generally L-shaped in cross-section and having stop structure along the distal longitudinal edges thereof adapted to limit the sliding of said base structures and associated cover plates therealong.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
145 words
An assembly for complementally covering the open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members and comprising: base structure adapted to be secured to one of said members and presenting a section defined by a pair of spaced upstanding sidewalls; connector means comprising at least one yieldable spring clip positioned within said section and of lesser transverse dimensions than the latter; means for retaining said spring clip within said section and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the spring clip; cover means disposed in covering relationship to said spring clip and joint and having connection structure attached to the inner face thereof and extending therefrom into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying spring clip; and support structure adapted to engage the other of said structural members for supporting the end of said cover means remote from said base structure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
145 words
An assembly for complementally covering the open joint defined by a pair of elongated, spaced, adjacent, relatively shiftable structural members and comprising: base structure adapted to be secured to one of said members and presenting a section defined by a pair of spaced upstanding sidewalls; connector means comprising at least one yieldable spring clip positioned within said section and of lesser transverse dimensions than the latter; means for retaining said spring clip within said section and permitting limited shifting and tilting therein by the spring clip; cover means disposed in covering relationship to said spring clip and joint and having connection structure attached to the inner face thereof and extending therefrom into secure interlocking relationship with the underlying spring clip; and support structure adapted to engage the other of said structural members for supporting the end of said cover means remote from said base structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |