US2114388A - Movable wall structure - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1938. L. J. KlLLlON 2,114,388

MOVABLE WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 3, 1936 4 She ets-Sheet 1 I N VEN 70/2 6/ HG 2 v A ril 19, 1938.

L. J. Kll LlON MOVABLE WALL STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1936 [Ni EN To/a April 19, 1938. J. KILLION 2,114,388

MOVABLE WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. s, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I rprlq I...

VIII/I .[Nl/EN ro/e April 19, 1938. 1.. J. KILLION MOVABLE WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheer 4 Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE 11 Claims. In my copending application, Serial No. 32,

dated January 2, 1935, is disclosed a wall structure embodying an assembly of movable wall panels each comprising a metallic frame faced on either side with non-metallic sheets, the exterior faces of which are covered with plastic material thereby to provide suitable lateral surfaces, said panels being so constructed that they can be assembled in edge to edge relation both vertically and horizontally and being adapted to be severed both vertically and horizontally, and the severed parts united to form panels of the desired sizes whereby to construct walls of various dimensions. My'present invention herein described also embodies this construction broadly but furthermore, includes other novel and distingulshing features which render the same superior in many respects and for various purposes, all as hereinafter described.

There are instances where the more extensive use of said plastic material or the less extensive use of said non-metallic sheets is to be desired and these instances are taken care of by the panel disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 1

45,380, dated October 17, 1935, in which panel more plastic material is used and the non-metallic sheets are eliminated. Conversely, there are instances where the less extensive use cf the plastic material is to be desired and these instances are taken care of by the panel in my present invention, in which panel the plastic material is eliminated and the exposed lateral surfaces of the panel are provided by preformed sheets presenting a hard and tough surface and being formed of asbestos or other-material thereby practically eliminating the possibility of surfacefracture at 'no increase in weight and facilitating the manufacture of the panel with consequent economy.

My invention particularly concerns the production of movable wall panels having the two opposite sides or faces thereof resembling plaster surfaces and so constructed as to adapt the panels to be assembled in edge to edge relation to form movable partitions or walls, usable if desired in conjunction with permanent plaster walls, the movable walls to extend from floor to ceiling the same as permanent walls. The panels are furthermore constructed not only to be thus assembled but are also so formed that they may be easily and. economically altered in respect to height and width, cut to meet obstructions, and realtered and reused indefinitely.

The novel panel of my present invention comprises a skeleton metallic frame constructed by joining together simple pieces of preferably light weight sheet steel, a sheet of fibre board or similar non-metallic, insulating material secured to either lateral side of said framethereby to produce a hollow panel, and a relatively thin pre-' formed sheet of asbestos board or similar material secured to the exterior face of each of the non-metallic insulating sheets thereby to form the finished lateral surfaces of the panel. Suitable transverse openings are provided through the various members of the metallic frame to provide means whereby wiringcan be concealed within and throughout the panel, and, moreover, said members contain longitudinal openings or raceways for the reception of splicing connectors and other accessories, all as hereinafter described. The invention permits the use of panels of identical structure extending continuously from floor to ceiling and, furthermore, permits the bottom of said panels to be spaced above the fioor for wiring purposes and the tops of said panels to be spaced below the ceiling for economical purposes, which spaces are closed by any of various means in common use in the building industry.

An important feature of my invention resides in the construction of the panel which comprises a skeleton metallic frame containing members having longitudinal raceways for splicing connectors and other accessories and transverse openings for the insertion of wiring, a non-metallic insulating sheet secured to each of the lateral sides thereof thereby producing a hollow panel, and a preformed sheet of tough, hard material secured to the outer face of said non-metallic insulating sheets thereby to provide the finished, plaster-like surfaces of the panel. With this construction, panels and portions of horizontally cut panels can be united in vertical arrangement, one over the other, and panels can be severed horizontally or vertically or both and the severed parts united to form panels of anydesired size.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the novel shape "of the panel, the lateral faces of which are of unequal width, said inequality ofwidth being distributed at each side edge of the panel. With this construction, panels may be readily assembled and secured to one another in side edge abutting relation to form a wall structure and moreover alternate panels may be removed from any part of said wall structure without disturbing adjacent panels, the removal of two such alternate panels automatically permitting the removal of the intervening panel. The invention likewise includes a modified form of panel wherein the lateral faces are of equal width but are not directly opposite one another inasbeyond the corresponding side edge ofthe opposing face at and along one side edge of the panel while at the. same time, the remaining side edge of said opposing face projects outbeyond the remaining edge of the first mentioned face at and along the other side edge of the panel in a similar manner. Walls may be constructed using panels of either form or of both forms. (Fig. 2) and a panel of one form can be converted into a panel of the other form by severing the panel into two portions by cutting on anytransverse plane between and parallel to the side edges thereof, tuming one portion end for end, and assembling the two portions together with cut edges abutting,

said portions being held securely and in true alignment to one another by means of the splicing connectors referred to above.

The means whereby abutting panels in a wall structure are prevented from movement away from one another is another important feature of this invention. Along and within each side edge of the panel is provided a member having a free standing tongue which projects transversely and inwardly across the central longitudinal plane of the panel. When two panels are in abutting relation in a wall structure, two such tongues, one on each panel, oppose one another with their respective inner faces in contact thereby preventing said panels from moving apart. The abutting edges of the panels obviously prevent the panels from moving toward one another and thus the panels are prevented from movement either toward or away from one another. This construction, however, permits one panel to move transversely of the other panel, thus to be installed in or removed from said wall structure. I

Another important feature of the invention resides in the novel means employed to secure the panels in a wall structure to the floor and ceiling against movement transversely with the. wall structure and at the same time to permit panels to be installed in or removed from the structure. Moreover, the resultant wall may present flush surfaces from floor to ceiling without projections at either junction. Preferably, I provide the bottom edge of the panel with attachable dwarf legs and the top edge of the panel, which is generally a cut edge, with identical but inverted legs, which legs are inserted into the open raceways of the vertically disposed side members of the metallic frame and serve to space the panel a relatively small distance above the floor and below the ceiling respectively. I further provide separate members which I secure to the floor and ceiling by drive nails, toggle bolts or other means, which members extend continuously along the lined the proposed wall structure. Said floor and ceiling members are preferably of similar outline and of generally similar construction, presenting lateral faces which are of vertical depth equal to or slightly less than. the distance that the panel is spaced above the floor and below the ceiling and which are preferably in alignment with the lateral faces of the panel thereby to provide continuous flush surfaces from floor to celling. Moreover, said members provide it continu ous longitudinal trough for the snug reception at any point of the dwarf legs mentioned above. The ceiling member may be of integral construction but the floor member preferably comprises two separate portions each containing one of the later faces of said member, one portion being removable thereby to permit the insertion or remuch as one side edge of one face projects out moval of panels from the wall structure and the other or fixed portion being provided with a continuous slot for the reception at any point of a threaded washer whereby to fasten said dwarf legs and said removable portion thereto. It will be obvious that any desired arrangement or rearrangement of panels is permitted with this construction. If desired, the members may be interchanged, the integral member being located on the floor and the two-piece member on the ceiling, (Fig. 1) or, identical two-piece mem-' T of material that is employed in facing the panels thereby to obtain a wall structure, the entire lateral surfaces of which, from floor to ceiling, present facings of the same identical material.

To install a panel in a wall structure employing an integrally formed ceiling member, the inverted legs at the top of the panel are entered into the trough in said ceiling member, the panel being slightly out of plumb at the time. The panel is then brought into vertical position forcing said legs fully into the trough and bringing the legs on the bottom of the panel into engagement against the upstanding part of the fixed portion of the floor member, whereupon said bottom legs are secured to said fixed portion and subsequently, the removable portion of the floor member is secured in position thereby to complete the erection of the wall. For those wall structures employing an integrally formed floor member, the above described procedure will be obviously inverted.

In those instances wherein it is desired to run wiring along and within the base of the wall structure, I may use an elongated leg on the bottom of the panel thereby to space the panel further above the floor and create a space between the top of the floor member and the bottom of the panel for the reception of said wiring, which space may be closed by a conventional base of metal, rubber, asbestos or other building mate rial. I may likewise employ an elongated inverted leg at the 'top of the panel thereby to space said top further below the ceiling member and the top of the panel, which space may be left open in the case of a dwarf wall or may be closed by less expensive wall board, the elongated inverted legs serving as a support therefor.

' It will thus be seen that with this construction in conjunction with the above described edge construction, panels in a completed wall structure are secured to one another against movement in anydirection and nevertheless, are permitted to be removed from the wall. Thus is eliminated the necessity of movable fastening devices and likewise, of separate floor and ceiling fastenings for individual panels with resultant substantial economy.

In my previous application, Serial No. 45,380, I disclose a panel comprising a metallic frame within and about which is embodied a plastic covering thereby to form the lateral and exterior surfaces of the panel and the connecting sections therebetween. It will be obvious and is to be understood that the novel shaped panel of my present invention and likewise the use of the preformed facing sheets herein disclosed apply equally well to the panel of my above mentioned previous application. Moreover, it will be obvious and is to be understood that the novel shaped panel of my present invention can be faced with plastic material instead of the preformed facing sheets, in which instances the outer faces of the insulating sheets may be provided with cleats as disclosed in my previous application, Serial No. 32, or may be grooved thereby to secure properly said plastic facing.

The primary object of the invention consists in the production of a new and improved wall construction of the above described nature. I

members, and with portions broken away,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one portion of a horizontally cut panel with splicing connectors installed therein in preparation to make a vertically spliced panel,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one portion of a vertically cut panel with splicing connectors installed therein in preparation to make a horizontally spliced panel,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the metallic frame,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end thereof with portions broken away,

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end of the metallic frame of a modified panel with portions broken away,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the top corner of the metallic frame of a second modified panel,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end of said metallic frame, (Fig. 8), with portions broken away,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a completed panel with portions broken away,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end thereof,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end of the completed modified panel illustrated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end of the completed modified panel illustrated in Figs. 8-9,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross-section of the side edge portions of. two adjacent panels just prior to abutting engagement,

Fig. 15 is a view in perspective of a dwarf leg with portions broken away,

Fig. 16 is a view in perspective of an elongated leg for spacing the panel further above the floor,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an elongated inverted leg for spacing the' panel further below the ceiling, 1

Fig. 1B is a fragmentary view in perspective of a side edge portion of a panel in a wall structure with portions broken away and showing the dwarf legs and the floor and ceiling members,

Fig. 19 is a fragmentaryview in perspective of a modified floor member presenting a sanitary base.

As in my aforementioned and copending applications, my invention herein includes novel panels which are adapted to be joined in edge to edge relation, either or both, horizontally and vertically, to provide movable walls or partitions extending from floor to ceiling and from one wall to another, a portion of one such wall being illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. More-- over, said panels are adapted to be spaced above the floor member and below the ceiling member as shown in Fig. 2, which spaces may be subsequently closed by any of various means in common practice. One of such panels in completed form is illustrated in Fig. 10 and comprises a rectangular and skeleton metallic frame faced on either lateral side with non-metallic insulating sheets which in turn are faced with sheets .of asbestos or other material thereby to provide the plaster-like and opposing lateral surfaces of the panel. I shall now proceed tov describe the construction of this metallic frame by reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

Said metallic frame is constructed from vertical pieces 3| and 32 and horizontal pieces 33 and sometimes, 34. Pieces 3| and 32 are assembled and secured to one another, preferably by welding, and two such assemblies, oppositely disposed and in parallel spaced relation, form the vertical or side edges of the frame. Two pieces 33, oppositely disposed and in parallel spaced relation, form the top and bottom ends of the frame and one or more pieces 34 may :be provided in 35 extending across the central longitudinal planev of the frame, an outwardly directed web and a flange 36, each of said flanges being preferably longitudinally corrugated adjacent to its edge for stiffness and alignment. Piece 32 is likewise of length equal to the height of the panel and is of channel section with overhanging flanges thereby to form a raceway for the reception of splicing connectors and attachable legs, all as hereinafter described. Flange 35 and the web of piece 32 may be provided with transverse openings 31 thereby to reduce weight and provide means of access to the interior of the panel. Piece 32 is arranged with its overhanging flanges in contact with the inner face of flange 35 and with one edge face thereof in alignment withthe outer face of the web of piece 3|. It will be noted that with this arrangement, the portion of flange 35 extending outwardly beyond the other edge face of piece 32 is identical to the portion of flange 33 which extends outwardly beyond the outer face of the web of piece 3|, (Fig. 6), the transverse width of said portions being substantially equal to the thickness of the non-metallic sheet later to be described.

Piece 33 is a channel section with outturned overhanging flanges thereby to form a raceway insulating scribed to the metallic frame I provide pieces 39 which are arranged in spaced relation and welded 'or otherwise secured to the back of the web of pieces 82, 33, and 34 in transverse disposition therewith. Said piece 39 is a channel section with elongated flanges which project outwardly beyond the edge faces of said pieces 32, 33, and 34 thereby to extend through openings provided in said non-metallic sheets (Fig. 10), and to be clenched into the outer faces thereof thus to secure the non-metallic sheets to the metallic frame.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the metallic frame construction of a modified form of panel wherein the lateral faces are of equal width but are offset one to the other, there being instances where such a panel is desirable. Referring to Figs. 6-7 it will be noted that the metallic frame of one form of panel can be converted into the metallic frame of the other form of panel by turning one of the vertical assemblies 3I-32 thereof end for end, piece 32 remaining inwardly of piece 3|.

In my aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 32, I disclose a panel having identical lateral faces which are directly opposite to one another, and in Figs. 8 and 9 I illustrate the application of this invention to the metallic frame of the panel of that description. In place of piece 3!, I provide piece 40 which is a channel section with outturned flanges 4! which flanges 4! are identical to flange 36 of piece 3| described above. Otherwise, the metallic frame is identical to that shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 10 and 11 is illustrated a Z-bar piece mounted along and within the side edge of the panel, which piece comprises two flanges and a web, one flange thereof being welded or otherwise secured to the outer face of flange 35 and the other flange forming a tongue 42 which projects transversely and inwardly across the central longitudinal plane of the panel and is spaced outwardly of said flange 35 thereby to provide a vertical groove therebetween for the reception of an opposing tongue 42 mounted on an abutting panel as illustrated in Fig. 14. Tongue 42 may be slightly flared outwardly to facilitate said reception and it may extend continuously from top to bottom of panel, or in some instances, I may prefer to provide a series of intermittent tongues whereby so as not to obstruct certain openings 3! thus to permit wiring to be run. therethrough from one panel to the abutting panel. When two panels approach abutting arrangement in a wall structure, (Fig. 14), opposing tongues 42 come into engagement with one another with their respective inner faces in contact, said tongues being so arranged as to force the panels toward one: another and close the joint between and when engagement has been completed, to prevent said panels from movement away from one another. Said tongues 42 may be mounted to the metallic frame before or after the non-metallic sheets have been secured thereto, as may be preferred.

Having thus described the construction, of the metallic frame, I will now proceed to describe the non-metallic sheets and the facings therefor, thereby to complete the description of the panel.

To either lateral side of the above-described metallic frame, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, is secured non-metallic insulating sheets 43 and 44, the outer face of each of which is thereafter covered with relatively thin facing sheets 45 and 45 thereby to provide the finished lateral surfaces of the panel. Each insulating sheet 43 and 44 is preferably constructed of fibre board or other preformed insulating board and is arranged with its inner face in contact with the edge surfaces of pieces 32, 33, and 34 and with its top and bottom edges preferably flush with the topand bottom edges respectively of the metallic frame and with its side edges in contact with or slightly inwardly of the inner faces of flanges 35 and 36 respectively, the thickness of the sheet being equal to or slightly greater than the amount said flanges project transversely and outwardly beyond the edge faces of piece 32, as noted above. Said sheets 43 and 44 are provided with transverse openings 41 which are relatively spaced and arranged to receive therethrough the elongated flanges 39 described above, which flanges are thereafter clenched over and into the outer face of the sheet so as not to project beyond said outer face, thereby to secure said sheets to the metallic frame. Moreover, said sheets 43 and 44 may be provided with additional transverse and relatively spaced openings 48 thereby to further lighten the product.

To the outer lateral face of each of these insulating sheets 43 and 44 is thereafter secured, preferably by cement, facing sheets 45 and 46 respectively, which facing sheets are constructed of asbestos or other hard and tough material and arecoextensive with the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the respective lateral faces of the panel thereby to provide the finished lateral surfaces of said panel. In Figs. 12 and 1 3 I have illustrated in plan view, the arrangement of insulating sheets 41and 48 and facing sheets 49 and 50 to the metallic frames of the modified panels, (Figs. '7 and 9 respectively), described above. Having completed the description of the construction of the panel, I will now proceed to describe the novel means employed to secure said panels in a wall structure to the floor and ceiling.

In preparing a panel for installation in a fullheight wall structure as illustrated in Fig. 1, I provide the bottom edge thereof with dwarf legs and the top edge thereof, which obviously is generally a cut edge, with identical but inverted dwarf legs thereby to space said edges a relatively small distance above the floor and below the ceiling respectively. One such dwarf leg is illustrated in Fig. and comprises a vertical bar 5i and a channel section 52 welded together. Bar 5| is of section to flt snugly in the longitudinal raceway provided within piece 32 as above described and of length to provide proper security within said raceway, the end corners being rounded to facilitate entrance therein. Channel 52 is arranged to fit around bar 5| with bottom edge faces flush and the flanges thereof are provided with open-ended slots II for the ready reception of fastening bolt 54, (Fig. 18), later described. When installed in the panel, the top edge face of channel 52 contacts the bottom edge of the metallic frame and the flanges thereof extend inwardly.

In wall structures as illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein it is desired to space the bottom edge of the panel further above the floor thereby to provide a space for the reception of horizontal wiring, I may employ an elongated leg illustrated in Fig. 16 wherein an additional channel 55, identical in construction to channel 52, is spaced above said channel 52. the vertical bar 56 being elongated Furthermore, in place of the separate channels sufficiently therefor. It will be understood that with this arrangement, the top edge ofchannel 55 contacts the bottom edge of the metallic frame and the open slots II in the flanges thereof may be omitted if desired as they serve nopurpose.

52 and I5, I may employ a single -continuous channel with open ended slots provided near the bottom edge thereof, thereby to obtain the same result.

Moreover, and likewise as illustrated in Fig. 2, where it is desired to space the top edge of the panel further below the ceiling member thereby to provide a space therebetween which may be left open in the case of a dwarf partition, or may be subsequently closed with less expensive construction, I may provide an elongated and inverted leg, shown in inverted position in Fig. 1'7, wherein bar 12 is elongated sumciently to extend from within the top edge of the panel to the ceiling and is provided with a hole 65 adjacent to and exterior of the top edge of the panel for the reception therethrough of a nail or bolt thereby to limit the insertion of said bar 12 into the raceway of piece 32. v

In Fig. 18 is illustrated the top and bottom portion of one side edge of a panel equipped with dwarf legs described above and in engagement with the ceiling and floor members, which members I will now describe. The ceiling member 51 is a channel section of integral construction and comprises a web or ceiling plate and two'identical downturned flanges 58, which flanges 58 are provided with inwardly directed overhanging flanges 59 thereby to provide a longitudinal trough or recess for the snug reception at any point of the channels 52 of the inverted dwarf leg. The outer face of flange 58 is preferably in alignment with the lateral face of the panel and the vertical depth thereof is equal to slightly less than the amount that the top edge of the panel is spaced below the ceiling thereby to provide a continuous flush surface from panel to ceiling, it being understood that any space between the bottom of said flange 58 and the top of the panel will be filled in flush with pointing material.

Ceiling member 51 is furnished in any convenient lengths and is secured to the ceiling along the line of the proposed wall structure by toggle bolts or other means, holes 66 being provided in the web at spaced intervals therefor.

Floor member 60 embodies two portions, which, when assembled together likewise form a channel section similar in external outline to ceiling member 51. Said fixed portion comprises. a floor plate and a channel piece 6i welded upon the upper face thereof, within and along one longitudinal edge. Said piece BI is a channel section with inturned overhanging flanges thereby to provide an inner vertical face against which channel 52 of the dwarf leg abuts and likewise to provide a continuous longitudinal slot for the reception of threaded washers later described. The outer face'of piece 6| and the longitudinal edge of the floor plate adjacent thereto and flush therewith, are preferably flush with the lateral face of the panel and are of composite vertical height equal to or slightly less than the amount that the panel is spaced above the floor, thereby to provide a continuous flush surface from panel to floor, any open spaces being filled in with pointing material. Said removable portion 62 is preferably identical in section to piece SI and the web thereof is provided with relativelyspaced and preferable countersunk holes through which pass bolts 83 which fasten said removable portion to the fixed portion. Floor 'member is furnished in any convenient lengths and the fixed portion is secured to the floor along the line of the proposed wall structure by drive nails or other means, holes 81 being provided in the floor plate at spaced intervals therefor.

Bolt 54 and bolt 63 which respectively secure the dwarf leg and the removable portion to the fixed portion are each provided with an oblong threaded washer 64 which permits of being inserted into the longitudinal groove in piece I and beyond the overhanging flanges thereof and, when turned by' the turning of the bolt, to engage'against the inner faces of said overhanging flanges thereby to insure the tightening of said bolt. The reverse turning of the boltlikewise reve-rsely turns the washer and permits of its removal from the continuous slot thereby to release said removable portion from said fixed portion and the panel from the wall structure.

. In those instances where it is desired to have an open space between the tops of the panels and the ceiling, as in a dwarf partition, I may space the member 51, or one similar thereto, below the ceiling thereby to provide a continuous member at and along the top edges of the panels, in which instances I employ inverted dwarf legs at the top edges of the panels in manner similar to that described above for full height panels.

There are instances wherein it is desirable to have the lateral surfaces of the wall structure flush and without projections from the ceiling to within a slight distance above the floor at which point said lateral surface flares outwardly and downwardly to the floor thus to form a so-called sanitary base. For these instances I prefer to locate the two-piece member on the ceiling (Fig. 1) and to furnish a modified integral floor member .68 (Fig. 19) in which member the lateral faces or flanges 69 are curved thereby to form said sanitary base, the remaining construction of the member being substantially the same as for member 51 described above. Moreover, when it is desired -to run horizontal and concealed wiring along and within the wall at the bottom thereof and thus to employ elongated legs, (Fig. 17), the exterior face of the closure pieces for said wiring spaces may be arranged to be flush with the lateral surfaces of the panels thus to preserve the flush surface from the ceiling to said sanitary base.

It will thus be evident that this construction comprising attachable legs and floor and ceiling members makes possible any desired longitudinal arrangement and rearrangement of panels in a wall structure and moreover, permits said panels to be spaced above the floor and below the celling as may be desired.

In my aforementioned application, Serial No. 45,380, is disclosed a splicing connector. adapted to be inserted into the longitudinal raceway of a channel section with overhanging flanges, which channel section is similar in construction to pieces'32, 33, and 34 of my present panel. Said splicing connector comprises a rectangular bar with rounded corners thereby to facilitate insertion into said race-way and with a centrally located transverse hole for the reception there- Similarly, in Fig. 4 is illustrated a portion of a A panel which has been cut vertically and in the open ended raceways of horizontal pieces 53 thereof is inserted said splicing connectors l6,

one end portion of each of which projects outwardly for insertion into the raceway of piece 33 of the complementary cut panel thereby to make a horizontally spliced panel.

The general nature of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description of the specific construction selected for purposes of illustration, as illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the design of the various parts may be varied within wide limits and that material other than those specifically described may be employed in the construction.

The object of the invention is not only to produce a flush and movable wall comprising panels -of identical size and of simple construction but structure without employing movable connectors and the method employed to secure panels to the floor and ceiling make this invention a new and valuable contribution to the building industry.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. A wall panel comprising a metallic frame, and means carried thereby and providing two continuous and oppositely disposed exterior walls having wall surfaces on opposite sides of the frame, said walls being of unequal width and the wider wall having its two side edge portions projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the panel whereby to overlap adjacent panels, said frame including members having longitudinal openings with overhanging flanges therein for the reception of. splicing connectors in the openings and beneath the flanges.

2. A wall panel comprising a metallic frame, and means carried thereby and providing two continuous and oppositely disposed exterior walls having wall surfaces on opposite sides of the frame, one such wall projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the panel on one longitudinal edge thereof and the other well projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the panel on the other longitudinal edge thereof, said projecting portions being adapted to overlapadjacent panels, said frame including members having longitudinal openings with overhanging flanges therein for the reception of splicing connectors in the openings and beneath the flanges.

3. A wall panel comprising a metallic frame, means carried by the frame and providing two continuous and oppositely disposed walls having exterior wall surfaces at opposite sides of the frame, certain of said means and walls projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the frame, and metal plates connected to opposite edge portions of the frame and having offset edge In addition thereto, the

portions encompassing said laterally projecting portions, said means at each side of the frame comprising a sheet of non-metallic material exteriorly faced with a preformed and fibrous finishing sheet.

4.1. wall panel comprising a metallic frame embodying oppositely disposed and parallel channel members connected by relatively spaced channel members at right angles to the first named channel members, means carried by the frame and providing two continuous and oppositely disposed walls having exterior wall surfaces at opposite sides of the frame, certain of said means and walls projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the frame and beyondthe first named channel members, and metal plates connected to the first named channel members and having offsetedge portions encompassing said laterally projecting. portions, said means at each side of the frame comprising a sheet of non-metallic material exteriorly faced with a preformed and fibrous finishing sheet.

5. A wall panel comprising a metallic frame, means carried by the frame and providing two continuous and oppositely disposed walls having exterior wall surfaces at opposite sides of the frame, said means and walls projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the frame at oppositely disposed edges thereof, and metal U-shaped plates connected to opposite edge portions of the frame and having ofiset edge portions encompassing said laterally projecting portions, said means at each side of the frame comprising a sheet of non-metallic material exteriorly faced with a preformed and fibrous finishing sheet.

6. A well panel comprising a metallic frame, and means providing two continuous and oppositely disposed exterior wall surfaces at opposite sides of the frame, said means having edge portions projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the panel whereby to overlap adjacent panels, and said metallic frame including members having longitudinal openings with overhanging flanges therein to accommodate splicing connectors in the openings and beneath the flanges.

7. The wall panel defined in claim 6 wherein said means comprises sheets of non-metallic material prepared independently of the frame, and means carried by the frame and cooperating with the sheets for securing the sheets to the frame.

8. The wall panel defined in claim 6 wherein said means comprises sheets of non-metallic material, and means carried by the frame and projecting outwardly through and bent into holding contact with the sheets.

9. The wall panel defined in claim 6 wherein said means comprises sheets of non-metallic material exteriorly faced with finishing sheets.

10. The wall panel defined in claim 6 wherein said means on one side of the frame projects laterally beyond the body portion of the panel at one longitudinal edge thereof and said means on the other side of the frame projects laterally,

beyond the body portion of the panel at the other longitudinal edge thereof.

11. The wall panel defined in claim 6 plus means carried by the panel for cooperating directly with like means carried by an adjacent panel to hold the two panels in edge-abutting relation.

12. The wall panel defined in claim 6 plus an offset tongue carried by the panel inwardly of and adjacent to the said laterally projecting portion and cooperating with a like tongue of an .2,114,888 adjacent panel to hold the two panels in edgeabutting relation.

13. A rectangular wall panel comprising a metallic frame having opposed flanges projecting outwardly beyond one face thereof and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the frame, and means providing two continuous and oppositely disposed walls in spaced relation on the frame and having exterior wall surfaces on opposite sides of the frame, one of said walls being located between and supported by said flanges and of a width greater than the width of the other wall.

14. The wall panel defined in claim 13 plus an offset tongue carried by the frame on one edge thereof and inwardly of one of said flanges for cooperating with an adjacent panel to hold the panels in edge abutting relation.

15. A wall panel structure comprising a plurality of panels in a common plane and having adjacent edges in abutting relation, each of said panels embodying a metallic frame and two continuous and oppositely disposed walls having wall surfaces at opposite sides of the panel, said walls of each. panel having edge portions projecting laterally beyond the body portion of the panel and overlapping portions of adjacent panels, the frame having portions thereof extending about the edges of and supporting said laterally projecting edge portions of each panel, and means supporting the panel structure on the floor and holding the panels within said plane.

16. The wall structure defined in claim 15 plus interengaging tongues carried by and extending transversely of the metallic frames at the adjacent edges of the panels for holding the panels in edge to edge assembled relation against movement away from one another.

17. The wall structure defined in claim 15 wherein the panels are provided with raceways therein, and leg members in said raceways, said leg members being adapted to engage within a longitudinal channel in the last named means whereby to support the wall structure.

LOUIS J. KILLION.

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