U.S. patent number 3,712,003 [Application Number 05/042,023] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-23 for wall and corner guard assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Construction Specialties, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward C. Hallock, by Camille V. La Palme, Robert W. Olsen, George A. Viehmann, deceased, by George A. Viehmann, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,712,003 |
Hallock , et al. |
January 23, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
WALL AND CORNER GUARD ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A wall protective assembly including a resilient protective
strip with a central portion spaced from an underlying wall member
to absorb and protect the wall from blows. The strip edges are
received for limited movement in mounting recesses adjacent the
wall. Movement of the edges out of the recesses is precluded by
spring stops located under the central strip portion. A spacer
conforming with the underlying wall member carries the spring stops
and retainers which form the mounting recesses. The retainers are
connected to, or formed integral with, the spacer, to run parallel
to the strip edges. For wall ends, the central strip portion is
U-shaped, and resilient bumper members are supported under the
central portion to engage and restore the strip to its initial
configuration upon impacting and to prevent wedging of the edges
deeply within their recesses. Coordinated cap and base plates,
conforming to the resilient strip, may close the assemblies at each
end.
Inventors: |
Hallock; Edward C. (Summit,
NJ), Olsen; Robert W. (Chatham Borough, NJ), Viehmann,
deceased; George A. (late of New Providence, NJ), La Palme;
by Camille V. (Ridgefield, CT), Viehmann, Jr.; by George
A. (Brighton, MA) |
Assignee: |
Construction Specialties, Inc.
(Cranford, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
21919629 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/042,023 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/254;
248/345.1; 52/309.1; 52/288.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F
19/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04F
19/02 (20060101); E04f 013/06 (); E04f
019/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/288,254-257,573,213-217,730,210,709 ;248/345.1 ;49/469,470 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abbott; Frank L.
Assistant Examiner: Ridgill, Jr.; James L.
Claims
We claim:
1. A wall protector arrangement including a resilient protective
member, an underlying spacer member, and a thin resilient stop
member, said spacer member having retainer means defining a recess
retaining each edge of the resilient protective member therein, the
protective member having a central portion overlying and spaced
from the spacer member, said spacer member having ribs thereon
located under the central portion of the protective member and
projecting into the space defined between the spacer member and the
central protective member portion, said thin resilient stop member
having spaced integral tabs protruding therefrom near the center
thereof engaging the ribs and resiliently biased by the resilience
of the stop member into firm interengagement with the ribs and
holding the stop member in place, the stop member extending
laterally from the location of the tabs to a terminating edge near
and parallel the recess to prevent movement of the protective
member edge from within the retainer means.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spaced tabs on
the stop member are located for cooperation with laterally outward
sides of the ribs, the resilience of the stop member being
sufficient to permit the projections to be spread to fit over and
into firm engagement with the ribs.
3. A wall protector arrangement according to claim 1 for use in a
wall section forming at least one external, protruding corner
wherein said spacer member is longitudinally continuous along a
major portion of the length of the protective member, and includes
at least two integrally extruded-together elongate panel sections
connected along an external corner of the spacer member conforming
generally to the external wall corner and defining outer surfaces
meeting along the external spacer member corner, the spacer member
having integral, extruded retainers adjacent and continuous along
longitudinal edges therefor defining recesses opening centrally
toward the external spacer corner, each of said retainers having a
first integrally extruded outwardly projecting section continuous
along its length, a second, outer retainer section integrally
joined to the first section along its length and projecting
generally toward the external spacer corner, and a third retainer
section integrally joined to the second section along its length
and projecting toward and terminating short of a panel section
outer surface, the first section of said retainer having integrally
extruded means for engaging and retaining an adjacent external wall
section, said resilient protective member having a central section
spaced outwardly from and overlying the external spacer corner, and
two longitudinal edges each extending between a respective third
section of one of the retainers and an outer panel section surface,
and each of said edges being slidable more deeply into the recesses
defined by one of the retainers to permit shock absorbent flexure
and return of the strip, the spacer precisely locating the two
integral retainers along a wall corner when mounted.
4. The combination according to claim 3, further including
underlying wall parts connected with an underside of the spacer
member on the opposite side of the spacer member from the external
surfaces of the panel sections for supporting the spacer member
along a wall corner in a predetermined position, said wall parts
including a series of transverse straps affixed to the locating and
retaining means and connected, near their ends, to the further wall
structure.
5. The combination according to claim 3, further including seals
between the retainers and the protective member, the integral
retainers including seal mounting sockets integrally defined by
said third retainer sections and maintaining the seals in place,
the seals having an elongate rib therealong projecting into and
retained in said sockets.
6. The combination according to claim 3, further including rigid
protector end means disposed at least at one end of the protective
member to terminate the protector combination, the end means
including edge portions received by said retainers, locked therein
and holding the end means in place.
7. The combination according to claim 6, including sealing means
between and in contact with the end means and the resilient member
for closing the junction of the resilient member and the end
means.
8. The combination according to claim 6, in which the resilient
member includes a central outstanding portion resiliently movable
when contacted, and the end means includes a rigid plate having a
central outstanding portion in substantial alignment with the
resilient member central portion and edges aligned with the edges
of the resilient member, said retainer means receiving the aligned
edges of both the resilient member and the plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to wall guard assemblies and, more
specifically, to assemblies wherein a resilient protective strip or
member is supported with a portion in spaced relation to an
underlying wall member for absorbing shocks without dislocation or
deterioration.
Wall protective provisions have been suggested for the protective
covering of wall areas particularly susceptible to abuse, such as
exterior wall corners which are commonly accidentally rammed or
bumped by objects, carts, and the like. The employment of an
elongate resilient member having a portion supported in spaced
relation to an underlying protected wall member has been suggested
in the copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 722,594 of
Ephraim Koral, filed Apr. 19, 1968, assigned to the assignee of the
instant invention and now.
The Koral application discloses the employment of socket or
recess-defining mounting provisions receiving edges of an elongate
resilient member for movement proximate the wall to be protected.
The resilient member is shaped in conformity to a wall corner or
wall end for resilient deformation toward and away from the
underlying wall portion upon accidental impacting.
While the preformed resilient member or strip according to this
invention is similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned Koral
application, the protective arrangement provided herein is improved
by the use of mounting provisions which may be applied quickly to
an underlying member to locate positively all portions of the
protective arrangement in alignment with the wall or protected
member, and by the use of novel stop means substantially reducing
the possibility of dislocation of the strip, while allowing
mounting of the strip after the mounting of all further provisions
of the protective arrangement.
The invention described herein also includes a base and an upper
cap which close the strip at its opposite ends and which are formed
to compliment the associated strip, forming a coordinated assembly,
complete in all respects. A further improvement according to this
invention is the inclusion, as a part of the protective assembly,
of underlying wall parts, which are provided specially for
cooperation with the strip mounting provisions.
Other known wall protectors have included strip material adhesively
applied directly to a finished wall but incapable of substantial
abuse without deterioration of the strip material or the adhesive
bond. Also, substantially non-resilient members have been disclosed
fixedly supported upon a wall, but these have been incapable of
shock absorbing movement with respect to the wall without
deformation of the outer protective member. The prior art has also
disclosed relatively soft elastomeric bumpers which are to be
retained adjacent wall members, but the bumpers have been
characteristically easily dislocated, torn, or scarred when
subjected to any substantial abuse. In contrast, the
wall-protective assemblies according to this invention employ a
protective member which is of hard, durable material, resistent to
scarring under extreme abuse, yet sufficiently resilient to absorb
applied shocks, and mounted for limited movement with respect to
the protected wall with little possibility of dislocation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to
provide protective arrangements capable of substantial abuse
without dislocation or deterioration and avoiding the disadvantages
of the prior art.
Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide
protective arrangements which may be quickly and easily supported
in predetermined alignment with an underlying member.
It is a further object of this invention to provide protector
mounting provisions easily applied to a wall, assuring correct
disposition of an outer protective member retained in place by the
mounting provisions.
Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for
stopping movement of a protective member out of association with
protective member supporting or retaining provisions.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide members
supportable beneath an outer movable protective member to aid
return of the protective member to its initial disposition
following impacting.
An additional object of the invention is to provide protectors
which have complimentary terminal arrangements closing their
ends.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a
protective arrangement which includes an underlying wall part
especially adapted for use with protector mounting parts.
In the illustrated embodiments of this invention, there is provided
a tough, resilient outer protective member having a central portion
spaced from an underlying structural wall part, the protective
member being retained at its edges for movement with respect to the
associated wall upon impacting. The foregoing objects of the
invention are achieved through interiorly located stops, locating
straps or spacers, bumper members, terminal cap and base
assemblies, and wall parts which are, themselves, part of the
protector combination.
The stops or stop means are supported centrally beneath the
resilient protective member or strip and extend for interior
engagement with the strip upon movement of the strip edges away
from their associated retaining provisions. Thus, substantial abuse
or impacting of the exterior protective member results only in
engagement of the stops and protective member, rather than in
dislocation of that member.
The locating straps or spacers are preformed in conformity with the
underlying member upon which they are mounted, and they precisely
locate the protective member or strip retaining provisions, as well
as the stops and bumper members. They may be a series of straps,
spaced apart along the length of the protected wall section, or
they may be long continuous members with retainers formed
integrally at their edges. Once applied to the underlying member,
the spacers preclude further concern with respect to alignment of
the protective arrangement, eliminating the use of plumb lines or
the like.
Bumper members, which assure return of the protective member or
strip to its initial disposition, may be supported centrally
beneath the strip for engagement of the central portion. These
members are preferably resilient, allowing the strip initially to
deform and move to absorb shocks when impacted. Following
impacting, the engagement of the resilient bumper members with the
strip aids in the return of the strip and the movement of the strip
edges to their initial locations.
The cap and base assemblies include terminal plates which are held
in place by retainers and conform to the appearance of the
resilient strip. These close the protector assembly at each
end.
While the protector assemblies are suited for use with any
conventional wall construction, the supporting wall parts may
themselves form part of the protector. These parts, then, may be
connected in place during initial wall construction, at the same
time locating most of the protector parts.
With the above and further objects in mind that will hereinafter
appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood
with particular reference to the following detailed description of
preferred forms of the invention as illustrated in the figures of
the associated drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention and
illustrates a resilient protective member in association with
wall-supported stops, locating straps, and retainers.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination according to FIG.
1, with parts broken away for clarity.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the
invention, showing a resiliently deformable protective member,
stops, spacers, bumpers, and retainers, all in association with a
protected wall end.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the combination illustrated in FIG.
3, with parts broken away for greater clarity.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a simplified mounting
arrangement in which the retainers and the spacer are integrally
formed.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view with parts broken away for
clarity and shows a complete protector combination including a
base, an upper cap, retainers integrally extruded with the spacer,
and especially adapted underlying wall parts.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a further wall end protector
with integral spacer and retainers, and especially adapted
underlying wall parts.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective assembly 10 is shown which is
adapted for employment with an external wall corner defined by an
underlying wall member 11 of any suitable material. The term
"external corner" is intended to define a corner, be it within a
building or on the exterior of a structure, wherein intersecting
surfaces of the corner forming member or members define an angle of
less that 180.degree. therethrough, such corners being particularly
susceptible to abuse by accidental abutment, particularly in public
buildings, hospitals, office buildings, factories and the like.
Applied directly to the underlying wall member 11, along a pair of
intersecting surfaces 12 and 13, are locating straps, or spacers,
14 which include angularly disposed first and second plate-like
sections 15 and 16. These sections are joined along a bend 17 which
conforms to, and extends about, a wall corner 18 at the
intersection of the surfaces 12 and 13.
Near the end of each spacer 14, a series of holes 20 receives a
number of bolts 22, or other suitable fasteners, which support the
spacer 14 upon the wall. If, for example, a block wall is employed,
a plurality of sleeves 23 may first be inserted within bores in the
wall member 11 for threaded engagement with the shanks of the bolts
22 to securely affix the bolts to the wall member 11.
Secured to each of the spacers 14 applied along the corner 18, each
of a pair of longitudinally extending retainers 24 includes a
supporting portion 25 held against the spacers 14 by the bolts 22.
Retaining strip portions 28, supported outwardly from the spacers
14 by an offset connecting portion 29, define recesses 27 proximate
the wall surfaces 12 and 13.
An elongate protector member or strip 30, which is formed of
suitably selected, relatively hard, resilient material, includes
longitudinal edges 31 for supporting it in place with respect to
the underlying wall member 11. The edges 31 are received within the
recesses 27, for movement therein upon impacting or bumping of the
strip 30.
The resilient strip 30 includes a central portion 33 which extends
centrally away from the edges 31 and which is shaped in conformity
with the corner 18 of the underlying wall member 11. A pair of
offsets 34 connects the edges 31 with the central strip portion 33,
and supports the central strip portion in spaced relation to the
underlying wall member. The central portion 33 includes, in the
arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, first and second angularly
disposed planar sections 35 and 36, joined centrally along a radius
37 which may be of a greater or lesser degree of curvature than
that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as desired.
Intermediate the central portion 33, and the underlying wall member
11, a space 38 is defined, into which the central portion 33 may
resiliently move upon external impacting. A stop member 40 is
supported within the space 38 upon each of the spacers 14. The stop
member 40 includes a central mounting portion 41, conforming to the
associated spacer 14 and affixed thereto as by spot welding. A pair
of substantially flat integral extensions 43 and 44, supported by
the stop member mounting portion 41, extends angularly away from
the spacer 14 and wall member 11 to terminate in abutment ends 45
and 46 adjacent the strip offsets 34.
Upon application of an inwardly directed force to the strip 30, as
by accidental impacting, the central strip portion 33 deflects
inwardly, moving the edges 31 more deeply into their associated
recesses 27. Following impacting, the strip 30, being substantially
fully elastically returnable, reassumes its initial configuration,
the edge portions 31 moving outwardly. Should a normally
dislocating force be applied to the strip, a glancing blow for
example, the stop members 40 prevent movement of the edge portions
31 out of their associated recesses by internally contacting the
strip offsets.
The strip edges 31 may be located beneath an edge of an adjacent
exterior wall panel 48, in which case the retainer 24 may terminate
in an outwardly extending flange portion 50 and an inwardly turned
terminal portion 51 to form an integral plaster stop over which
plaster may be applied.
A gap or recess 52, occuring between the strip offset 34 and the
retainer flange portion 50 may accommodate an elongate seal 53,
preferably deformable towards its central axis for wedging
engagement within the recess 52. The seal 53 is especially suitable
for use in hospitals, restaurants and the like, where it is
desirable to preclude the lodging of matter within the recess 52
for purposes of hygiene. The seal 53 may be formed of synthetic
resilient material of tubular configuration to provide the desired
ability to deform slightly upon insertion between strip and
retainer and during flexure and return of the strip.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly suitable for
quick and easy application to an external wall corner and resists
accidental displacement of the elongate resilient strip or member
from its associated mounting provisions. Application of the spacers
14 along the length of the corner in spaced relation, as
illustrated in FIG. 2, immediately locates all remaining provisions
of the assembly, determining the relationships of the strip edges
31, the stop members 40, and the retainers 24, without further
measurement or undue regard to the alignment of the protective
provisions with respect to the wall member 11.
The resilience of the strip 30 allows its application to the
retaining provisions after the retainers 24 have been located. A
first of the strip edges 31 may be inserted within its associated
recess 27, and the central portions 33 of the strip may then be
deformed sufficiently to allow the remaining strip edge 31 to slip
resiliently into the remaining recess 27. To this end, the stop
members 40 are preferably resilient, allowing inward deflection of
the extensions 43 and 44 during insertion of the strip edges. Thus,
the strip mounting provisions may be completed, and the exterior
wall panels 51 may be applied, before the strip 30 is mounted to
complete the assembled wall.
Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of the invention
is illustrated in which similar provisions bear like reference
numerals. This embodiment is shown in association with a wall end
61 having parallel surfaces 62 and 63 terminating in an end surface
64. An elongate resiliently deformable protective member or strip
65 is formed for extension about the wall end 61. A central strip
portion 66 includes first and second generally parallel planar side
sections 67 and 68 bridged by a web 70 extending generally parallel
to the wall end surface 64. The sections 67 and 68 are joined with
the web 70 at a pair of radii 71 and 72 which, again, may be of a
greater or lesser degree of curvature that that shown.
Each of a pair of spacers 73 includes plate-like sections 74 and
75, joined along a bend 76 which is in alignment with one of the
two external corners of the wall end 61. The spacers 73 are affixed
to the wall end 61 by fasteners 22 like those of FIGS. 1 and 2.
Retainers 24 are affixed to the spacers 73 at a predetermined
distance from the two external wall corners and define the recesses
27 within which a pair of edges 77 of the strip 65 are received for
movement upon flexure and return of the strip. Again, the central
strip portion 66 is supported outwardly from the underlying wall
part 61 by a pair of offsets 78. A space 80 is thus defined
intermediate the central strip portion 66 and the wall end 61.
Within the space 80, a pair of combined stop member and bumper
defining brackets 81 are supported on the spacers 73. These include
a central mounting portion 79, spot-welded or otherwise affixed to
the spacers 73 and extending about the bends 76 of the spacers. A
pair of extensions 82, formed integrally with the brackets 81,
extends angularly away from the underlying spacers 73 and wall end
61 to terminate in ends 83 adjacent the offsets 78 of the strip 65.
Hence, upon outward movement of the resilient member edge portions
77 within their associated recesses 27, the ends 83 of the bracket
extensions 82 abut against the interior surfaces of the offsets 78,
preventing dislocation.
At the remaining ends of the brackets 81, a pair of bumper members
84 extends toward the interior surface of the web 70 of the strip
65. The bumper members 84 are integrally formed with the brackets
81, curving outwardly toward the web and presenting an outwardly
convex surface adjacent the interior of the strip.
The bumper members 84 are resiliently movable inwardly toward the
end surface 64 of the wall upon external impacting of the strip 65,
and this resilience aids in the return of the strip to its initial
position. The bumper members 84 resist the tendency of the strip
edges 77 to be wedged more deeply within the recesses 27 upon
impacting, by forcing the strip away from the wall end.
It will be seen, then, that the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 also
allows quick and easy mounting, while preventing dislocation of the
strip or resilient member with respect to its support provisions by
resilient reinforcement of the central strip portion which is most
likely to be rammed accidentally.
Again, the strip 65 may be mounted following complete assembly of
the mounting provisions and application of adjacent exterior wall
panels. The extensions 82 of the brackets 81 are thus depressable
inwardly during insertion of the strip edges 77 within their
associated recesses 27. Once the strip 65 is in place, the bracket
extensions 82 spring outwardly to their normal position shown in
FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified protector mounting arrangement in
which retainers 85 are integrally formed with a spacer 86. The
spacer 86 extends along the length of the wall part 11. At each
side, the spacer is reversely folded or rolled to form an outwardly
extending section 87, an outer section 88, and an inwardly directed
edge section 89 which terminates short of the central spacer
portion it approaches. The spaces beneath the edge sections 89 open
into the interior of the retainers 85 and receive the edges 31 of
the strip 30.
The combined spacer and retainers eliminate the need to fasten
separately the retainers to the straps. Accurate location of the
retainers along the entire length of a protected wall section
occurs merely by applying the single member along the wall corner
or end. As in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the stop
members 40 prevent dislocation of the strip 30. These may be
spot-welded or otherwise secured at spaced locations along the
length of the spacer 86. The spacer 86 is, itself, secured to the
underlying wall part 11 by any suitable fastening arrangement.
An entire corner guard assembly is shown in FIG. 6 which includes
complimentary base assembly 91, central protector assembly 92, and
an upper cap assembly 93. These three assemblies form an integrated
unit which finishes an external corner attractively and simply.
The protector member or strip 30 shown in FIG. 6 is like the strip
30 discussed above and bears similar reference numerals. The
underlying wall part upon which the corner protector is mounted may
be of conventional structure, including for example, a wooden
upright, masonry, or the like. However, in the arrangement
illustrated in FIG. 6, a number of straps 93, spaced apart along
the wall corner, forms a part of the protector combination while
completing the wall corner structure. The resilient protective
combination which includes such straps 93 is particularly well
suited for incorporation into the wall structure when the wall is
initially constructed.
Each strap 93 includes first and second angularly disposed sections
94 and 95 joined at a radius 96. Inturned mounting flanges 97
afford easy mounting of the straps 93. These flanges are attached
to supporting uprights 98 at each side of the wall corner. As
illustrated, the uprights 98 may be steel studs to which the
flanges 97 are affixed by suitable fasteners, such as the dry wall
fasteners 100.
A spacer member 101 is secured to the strap 93 by rivets 102. The
spacer 101 is continuous along the length of the wall corner, forms
a corresponding external corner at the juncture of the outer
surfaces of two longitudinal panel sections 101a and 101b, and
includes, at its sides, integrally formed recess defining retainers
103. The retainers 103 include an outwardly extending section 104
of suitable width to match the width of adjacent wall board
sections 105 for dry wall construction. An outer section 106
provides an exterior retainer surface flush with the adjacent
finished wall. The outer sections 106 terminate in inwardly
directed sections 107, spaced from the underlying surface of the
spacer 101 to accommodate the edges 31 of the strip 30. Facing the
offsets 34 of the strip 30, a pair of opposed socket forming
projections 108 extend along the length of the retainers 103. These
projections 108 may be used to secure a seal (discussed below)
between the offset 34 and the adjacent retainer 103. When no seal
is desired, the socket formed by the projections 108 is closed by a
conforming, elongate plug 109 inserted between the projections 108
along the length of the retainer.
The two angularly joined panel sections forming the spacer 101, and
its integrally formed retainers 103 conveniently may be extruded
from, for example, aluminum. A pair of angularly outstanding ribs
111 project from the spacer 101 on opposite sides of the corner
beneath the resilient strip 30. The ribs 111 extend the length of
the spacer 101 and may be integrally extruded.
A number of stop members 112 are supported in spaced relation along
the length of the spacer 101 beneath the strip 30. These stop
members, like the stop members discussed above, include a central
mounting portion, and a pair of integral angular extensions
extending laterally as shown and terminating in abutment ends or
edges adjacent the strip offsets 34 and parallel to the retainers
103. Here, however, the central mounting portion of the stop member
112 includes a pair of tabs 113 near each end of the central
mounting portion. These spaced integral tabs may be stamped from
the metal of the mounting portion, and they cooperate with the ribs
111 on the spacer to hold the stop member 112 in place. The stop
member, which may be formed of spring steel or like resilient
material, is, then, easily snapped in place and held by the tabs
113 which are resiliently biased against the ribs 111.
The base assembly 91 is suitable end means for the arrangement and
includes the lower end of the integrally formed retainers 103 and
spacer 101. A base plate 114 has an exterior surface which
preferably conforms to the exterior surface of the resilient
protector strip 30. At its edges, the base plate 114 contacts the
retainers 103, flush with the exterior surfaces of the retainer
sections 106. To meet the retainers 103 smoothly at each side, the
base plate 114 is extended slightly past the socket forming
projections 108 to form exterior tapered portions 115. A pair of
offsets 116 projects inwardly from the base plate 114 to locate a
pair of flanges 117 which seat against the face of the spacer 101.
These flanges 117 extend into the recesses formed between the
inwardly turned retainer sections 107 and the adjacent face of the
spacer 101. The flanges 117 terminate in projections 118. Shoulders
120 on the projections 118 engage cooperating shoulders 121 on the
associated retainer sections 107.
The integral spacer and retainers thus interlock with the base
plate, and the base plate is easily slipped into place with the
flanges 117, projections 118, and shoulders 120 properly located at
the ends of the retainers 103. Internal bosses 119 receive bolts
(not shown) to secure the base to the floor, when desired.
The base plate 114 is preferably abuse resistant rigid material and
may, for example, be an aluminum extrusion. At its center, ribs 122
give the base 114 further structural support by engaging the sides
of the spacer ribs 111. Thus, the base plate 114 is an attractive,
durable lower terminal portion for the overall protector assembly
and is particularly adapted for use with the integrally formed
spacer 101 and retainers 103.
At the lower end of the resilient strip 30 where the strip meets
the base plate 114, is a seal 123 of suitable compressible
material. The shape of the seal 123 conforms with the interior
surface of the strip 30. An upper portion 124 is bonded or
otherwise secured within the strip 30. A lower portion 125
protrudes beyond the lower edge of the strip, meets the upper edge
of the base plate 114, and is compressed to seal the junction of
the resilient strip and the base plate.
The upper closure, cap assembly 93 is similar to the base assembly
91. A cap plate 126 is reinforced centrally by a pair of ribs 127
which engage the sides of the ribs 111 on the underlying spacer
101. Small tapered sections 128 at the exterior edges of the plate
126 give the appearance of a continuous surface between the plate
and the retainers. A pair of shoulders 130 cooperates with the
shoulders 121 of the retainers to lock the cap plate 126 in place,
and a compression seal 131, like the seal 123, closes the junction
of the resilient protective strip 30 and the plate 126.
At both cap and base, the exteriors of adjacent wall or wall board
surface, the retainers 130, and the plate 114 and 126 appear as a
continuous surface. Paint or wall paper applied over this apparent
continuous surface gives an attractive finish, in which the
resilient strip 30 is an attractive coordinated part, set directly
into the apparently unbroken surface of the structure it protects.
Also, trim may be applied over the base and cap assemblies 91 and
93 to continue the finish of adjacent wall surfaces. For example,
the base assembly 91 allows the application of a continuous cove
base or terrazo base, applied directly over the plate 114. If a
recessed base is desired, the base plate 114 is reduced in height
and disposed between the resilient strip 30 and a conventional
recessed base to close the protector assembly.
FIG. 7 shows a wall end embodiment which incorporates a number of
the features of the corner guard shown in FIG. 6. The protective
strip 65 is similar to strip 65 of FIGS. 3 and 4 and is given
similar reference numerals. A continuous, U-shaped spacer 135 has
integral retainers 136 at each side. The spacer 135 and the
retainers 136 lie along the length of the wall end and, again, may
be a single piece extrusion of, for example, aluminum. The spacer
135 may be attached directly to a structural wall part of wood,
masonry, or the like, or as shown in FIG. 7, a number of mounting
straps 137 may be employed as a part of the wall end protective
assembly while forming a part of the underlying wall structure.
Each strap 137 is generally U-shaped with inturned mounting flanges
138. The mounting flanges 138 are secured to a wall upright, such
as the steel stud 140 attached to the flanges by suitable fasteners
141. Each strap 137 is attached to the spacer 135 by, for example,
rivots 142.
Each integrally formed retainer 136 includes an outwardly
projecting section 143, an outer section 144 and an inwardly turned
section 145 which, with the underlying face of the spacer 135,
forms the recess which receives the strip edge 77. Again, a pair of
projections 146 forms an elongate socket opening toward the offset
78 of the strip 65. A seal 147 of compressible tubular construction
has a projection 148 integrally formed along its length. The
projection 148 is received between the projections 146 to lock the
seal 147 in place between the offset 78 and the retainer 136. The
seal 147 is suitable for use with the arrangement shown in FIG. 6
as well, and conversely, where no seal is desired, the plug 109 of
FIG. 6 may be used with the retainers 136 of FIG. 7.
Two sets of integral ribs 150 extend along the length of the spacer
135 near each corner beneath the strip 65. A series of combined
stop and bumper member forming brackets 151 is supported spaced
apart along the length of the spacer 135. Each bracket 151 provides
stop means 152 terminating adjacent the strip offset 78 to prevent
dislocation of the strip. Each bracket member 151 supports bumper
means 153 beneath the central interior surface of the strip 65. The
brackets 151 have central mounting portions 154, from which are
formed tabs 155 cooperating with the ribs 150 of the spacer 135.
Tabs 155 are snapped over the ribs 150 and are biased against the
ribs by the resilience of the brackets 151.
The outwardly projecting sections 143 of the retainers 136 end at
slight flanges 156 coplanar with outer retainer sections 106.
Retainer parts 143 and 146, then, form plaster stops which
cooperate with adjacent plaster wall sections 157 engaging and
retaining the adjacent external wall section. The plaster stops so
formed also may be provided on the retainers 103 of FIG. 6 for
plaster wall construction.
The wall end assembly of FIG. 7 provides the same advantages in
wall end construction as the assembly of FIG. 6 provides for
external wall corners. The underlying spacers, the integral
retainers, and the combined stop and bumper brackets all are
located merely by mounting the spacer 135 in place. If straps 137
are used, mounting of the spacer 135 and its associated parts may
conveniently be completed during initial wall construction. The
protective strip 65 may be snapped in place at any time. Also, cap
and base assemblies, similar to those shown in FIG. 6, may be
employed with the wall end arrangement of FIG. 6, in which case the
cap and base plates are constructed to conform with the generally
U-shaped wall end cross section of the resilient strip.
Wall corner and wall end protectors like those of FIGS. 6 and 7
may, of course, be constructed to conform to varying wall
configurations. For example, a wall corner having surfaces
intersecting at greater than 90.degree. may be protected by an
assembly of the type illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the continuous
spacer has its sides disposed at the angle required by the
particular wall corner.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated
and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
alterations or modifications may be made within the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For
example, although the foregoing preferred embodiments have been
described in relation to external wall corners and wall ends, it
will be apparent that protective arrangements within the spirit and
scope of this invention may be employed in combination with
differing configurations wherever abuse of an underlying surface is
of concern. One such alternative application is the provision of
horizontally extending protective arrangements to provide "chair
rails" engageable by chairs or other furniture for the protection
of an underlying wall surface. By simple modification corners
having three intersecting surfaces may be protected, and the
spacers and stops described above might be integrally formed as a
single member.
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