CLOSURE WALL ASSEMBLY
A closure wall assembly comprises a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between the horizontal framing members. The framing members comprise a web and a plurality of elongate flanges spaced from each other and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the web and at least one of the faces of the web to define a plurality of elongate channels in substantially side by side relationship to each other. The respective channels have widths which differ from each other so as to be able to selectively receive the edges of substantially rigid sheets of closure material of differing widths. Female elongate receptacles are located adjacent the edges of the web and the receptacles have an elongate opening spaced from the edges of the web. A flexible sheet of closure material may cover at least one side of the framing members, and the flexible sheet of material is anchored to the framing members by an elongate locking member having an elongate male pin strip which is pressed through the opening and into the female receptacles together with a portion of said flexible sheet of material.
The present invention is directed to a closure wall assembly.
It is frequently desirable to erect some form of temporary or longer term closure or wall for containing an area, such as during construction or remodeling, to provide dust, moisture, sound, insect, thermal, security and/or safety containments or barriers. Such closure walls may be employed for example to close off portions of a single room by extending between the walls, ceiling and floor of the room, or for closing off or boarding up openings, such as windows or doors.
Such closures in the past have suffered various disadvantages including the requirement for the expenditure of extensive time and effort in their assembly, placement or removal. Moreover, some of these prior closures in many cases have been less than completely effective in achieving the barrier or closure desired.
In the closure wall assembly of the present invention, at least some if not all of these respective problems have been overcome. The closure wall assembly of the present invention is simple in construction and may be easily and rapidly assembled or disassembled in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort and tools. The closure wall assembly of the present invention may be effective to maximize the protection against the migration of dust, moisture, sound, thermal energy and insects and to provide security and safety for the contained areas. In the closure wall assembly of the present invention, a wide variety of closure materials may be selected, including flexible materials of various mil thicknesses, such as Visqueen or other polymer sheets, fabric, screening and/or a wide variety of relatively rigid panel materials of various thicknesses and kinds, such as sheets of plywood, cardboard, drywall, decoration paneling, polymer panels, such as polycarbonates and plexiglass, and insulation and these materials may be either clear or opaque.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.
In the course of this description, reference will frequently be made to the attached drawings in which:
Although a number of the foregoing figures are broken or cross-sectioned, cross hatching has been generally omitted for purposes of clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReferring particularly to
Referring particularly to
The elongate female receptacles 26 are formed to receive elongate locking members 30 as viewed in
The framing members 10 also include a plurality of flanges 40 and 42 which extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the web 20 as best seen in
The framing members 10 also preferably include still another flange 52 which preferably extends from each face 21 and 22 of the web 20 and is also substantially perpendicular to the web faces 20 and 21 over the length of the framing member 10. Flange 52 also preferably includes a longitudinally extending capping flange 54 as best seen in
It will also be seen that an elongate channel 60 is defined between the offset portions 46 of Ranges 42 and the capping flange 54 on flange 52 as best seen in
As seen in
The framing members 10 are preferably extruded from any one of a number of materials, such as plasticized wood products, ABS, PVC or the like. They preferably are formed of a material which may be sawed or otherwise cut to the proper length to form the final closure wall W as seen in
Referring to
The locking members 30 and 30′ are preferably thermally injection molded from any one of a number of suitable polymers.
In
As previously mentioned, the closure wall assembly of the present invention is not only capable of receiving a flexible sheet of closure material 62 on one or both sides as shown in
As shown in
In
It will be appreciated that the framing members 10 of the present invention may accommodate more than one substantially rigid closure panel of the same or different materials and/or thicknesses and with or without the flexible sheet material.
Although it is believed that the foregoing description of the closure wall assembly of the present invention is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand how the closure wall W is assembled and put into position, a brief description of a preferred assembly procedure follows for the assembly of a closure wall of flexible sheet material 62 as shown in
A first framing member 10 which is to form the horizontal sill member 12 at the floor is cut to the required length. If a moisture, dust, fume or insect seal is desired, the foam seal 56 is inserted into the foam seal channel 60. Because the foam seal is compressable, it is held under compression in the channel 60.
Another framing member which is to constitute a vertical component of the assembly, such as the vertical stud members 16 or 18 shown in
Finally, the top header framing member 14 is placed at the top of the vertical framing members 16 and 18 and other studs to form the top horizontal member 14 and is cut to the proper length.
Again if a moisture, dust, fume or insect seal is desired, the foam seal 56 is inserted into the foam seal channel 60 of the vertical stud framing members 16 and 18 and the header framing member 14 which are to be positioned about the perimeter of the closure wall W.
The flexible closure sheet material 62 as shown in
In order to further secure the vertical framing members 16 and 18 to the horizontal framing members 12 and 14 at the locations at which they abut, the locking member 30′ shown in
At this point any excess flexible sheet material 62 which extends beyond the frame members 10 may be trimmed.
With the closure wall W assembly completely assembled, the horizontal and vertical framing members are further held in place by the flexible sheet material 62 which has been anchored to them. The assembly may then be installed into the opening which it was built to enclose by hoisting or laying up the assembly in the same manner that any prebuilt wall section would be installed using standard construction methods. It may be secured into place with screws secured into the walls, floor or ceiling, or it may be held in place by the compressed foam seal 56. When the foam seal 56 is employed, it will be appreciated that no damage will be sustained to the walls, floor or ceiling as might occur if the frame members 10 are screwed to these surfaces.
The assembly of the closure walls W which employ one or more substantially rigid panels 64, 66 and/or 68 as shown in
Again, like the assembly having the flexible sheet material 62 anchored thereto, the substantially rigid panels 64, 66 and/or 68 hold the horizontal and vertical framing members in place because their edges are preferably frictionally engaged into the channels 48, 50 and/or 58.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the closure wall assembly of the present invention may be simply, easily and rapidly constructed or removed using readily available tools, and is highly effective to provide dust, moisture, sound, thermal and/or insect protection as well as security. Moreover, the closure wall assembly of the present invention is capable of utilizing a wide variety of closure materials including a variety of flexible sheet materials as well as substantially rigid paneling having any one of several different thicknesses. And, the framing members 10 may be extruded from any one of a number of readily available inexpensive materials.
It will be understood that the preferred embodiments of the present invention which have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A framing member for a closure comprising:
- an elongate web having opposite faces;
- a plurality of elongate flanges spaced from each other and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and at least one of said faces of said web to define at least two elongate channels in substantially side by side relationship to each other which extend in substantially parallel relationship to the plane of said web and in the same direction as the elongation of said web; and
- one of said channels having a width which is less than the width of the other said channel, said channels being constructed and arranged to selectively receive the edge of a substantially rigid sheet of closure material of either a first lesser width in said one of said channels or of a second greater width in said other of said channels.
2. The framing member of claim 1, wherein one of said flanges includes a first portion and a second portion which is laterally displaced from said first portion and the other said flange, and wherein said other said flange and said first portion define said one of said channels of lesser width, and said other flange and said displaced second portion define said other said channel of greater width.
3. The framing member of claim 1, including a third elongate flange laterally spaced from said plurality of flanges and also extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and said at least one of said faces of said web to define a third elongate channel in substantially side by side relationship to the other channels, said third channel also extending in substantially parallel relationship to the plane of said web and in the same direction as the elongation of said web; and
- said third channel having a width which is greater than the width of the other said channels, said third channel being constructed and arranged to selectively receive the edge of a substantially rigid sheet of closure material which is of an even greater width than the widths of the closure materials that are adapted to be received in said other said channels.
4. The framing member of claim 2, including a third elongate flange spaced laterally from said plurality of flanges and also extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and said at least one of said faces of said web to define a third elongate channel in substantially side by side relationship to the other channels, said third channel also extending in substantially parallel relationship to the plane of said web and in the same direction as the elongation of said web; and
- said third channel having a width which is greater than the width of the other said channels, said third channel being constructed and arranged to selectively receive the edge of a substantially rigid sheet of closure material which is of an even greater width than the widths of the closure materials that are adapted to be received in said other said channels.
5. The framing member of claim 1, including a second said plurality of elongate flanges extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and said at least one face of said web and spaced laterally from the first of said plurality of elongate flanges.
6. The framing member of claim 1, including a said plurality of said elongate flanges on each of the opposite faces of said web.
7. The framing member of claim 6, including a second said plurality of elongate flanges extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and on each of the opposite faces of said web and spaced laterally from the first of said plurality of elongate flanges on each of said web faces.
8. The framing member of claim 4, including a second said plurality of elongate flanges extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and said one face of said web and spaced laterally from the first of said plurality of elongate flanges and said third flange.
9. The framing member of claim 8, including a said plurality of said elongate flanges and said third flange on each of the opposite faces of said web.
10. The framing member of claim 9, including a second said plurality of elongate flanges extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web on each of the opposite faces of said web and spaced laterally from the first of said plurality of elongate flanges and said third flange on each of said web faces.
11. The framing member of claim 10, wherein at least a pair of the aforementioned flanges on at least one side of said web are constructed and arranged relative to each other to receive an elongate seal.
12. The framing member of claim 6, wherein at least a pair of the aforementioned flanges on at least one side of said web are constructed and arranged relative to each other to receive an elongate seal.
13. The framing member of claim 1, wherein said elongate web includes at least one elongate edge extending in the direction of elongation of said web; and
- a female elongate receptacle adjacent said edge and extending substantially parallel to said edge, said receptacle having an elongate opening spaced from and extending substantially parallel to said edge of said web.
14. The framing member of claim 13, in which said female receptacle has a width adjacent said edge of said web which is greater than its width adjacent said elongate opening.
15. The framing member of claim 14, wherein said elongate web includes opposite elongate edges extending in the direction of the web, and a said female elongate receptacle is adjacent each said edge.
16. The framing member of claim 13, wherein said elongate web includes opposite elongate edges extending in the direction of the web, and a said female elongate receptacle is adjacent each said edge.
17. The framing member of claim 10, wherein said elongate web includes at least one elongate edge extending in the direction of elongation of said web; and
- a female elongate receptacle adjacent said edge and extending substantially parallel to said edge, said receptacle having an elongate opening spaced from and extending substantially parallel to said edge of said web.
18. The framing member of claim 17, in which said female receptacle has a width adjacent said edge of said web which is greater than its width adjacent said elongate opening.
19. The framing member of claim 18, wherein said elongate web includes opposite elongate edges extending in the direction of the web, and a said female elongate receptacle is adjacent each said edge.
20. The framing member of claim 17, wherein said elongate web includes opposite elongate edges extending in the direction of the web, and a said female elongate receptacle is adjacent each said edge.
21. A framing member for a closure comprising:
- an elongate web having opposite faces and edges extending in the direction of elongation of said web;
- a pair of elongate flanges which extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said web and each of said opposite faces respectively; and
- a female receptacle adjacent at least one said edge, said receptacle having an opening spaced from said one edge of said web.
22. The framing member of claim 21, wherein said female receptacle is elongate and substantially parallel to said one edge, and said opening is elongate and extends substantially parallel to said one edge of said web.
23. The framing member of claim 22, in which said female receptacle has a width adjacent said one edge of said web which is greater than its width adjacent said elongate opening.
24. The framing member of claim 23, wherein a said female elongate receptacle is located adjacent each said edge of said web.
25. The framing member of claim 22, wherein a said female elongate receptacle is located adjacent each said edge.
26. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 1, and
- a closure material comprising at least one substantially rigid panel having its edges positioned in at least one of said channels of the framing members.
27. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 4, and
- a closure material comprising at least one substantially rigid panel having its edges positioned in at least one of said channels of the framing members.
28. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 10, and
- a closure material comprising at least one substantially rigid panel having its edges positioned in at least one of said channels of the framing members.
29. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 11;
- a closure material comprising at least one substantially rigid panel having its edges positioned in at least one of said channels of the framing members; and
- wherein the elongate seal when received in said framing member seals the perimeter framing members of said closure.
30. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 14, and
- a closure material comprising a flexible sheet of material which covers at least one side of said framing members, said flexible sheet of material being anchored to said framing members by an elongate locking member having an elongate male pin strip which is pressed through said opening and into said female receptacle together with a portion of said flexible sheet of material.
31. A closure comprising a pair of horizontal framing members spaced from each other and at least a pair of vertical framing members also spaced from each other and extending between said horizontal framing members, said framing members comprising the framing member as set forth in claim 23, and
- a closure material comprising a flexible sheet of material which covers at least one side of said framing members, said flexible sheet of material being anchored to said framing members by an elongate locking member having an elongate male pin strip which is pressed through said opening and into said female receptacle together with a portion of said flexible sheet of material.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2010
Inventors: Anthony E. Glazik (Kankakee, IL), Gary B. Glazik (Paxton, IL)
Application Number: 12/244,337
International Classification: E04C 2/34 (20060101);