Composite Mantle System

Abstract

This invention is a composite mantle system for providing a room with a simple shelf mantle which can be added to from time to time to make a more elaborate mantle system and with provision for including a simulated fireplace under the mantle as part of the mantle system. Most parts are compatible with one another and constructed so that installations and additions can be made on a modular "do-it-yorself" basis, and most of the parts are designed for construction from heavy kraft paper or corrugated paperboard, or plastic materials, or a combination of them, to provide an inexpensive form of the invention. Combinations of parts and connecting brackets provide for additions without having to tear out previous constructions to permit the additions to the system.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Constructions for providing continuous mural scenes made up of modular panels, are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,274, issued June 3, 1969. The invention described in this specification provides other means for supporting such modular panels and for rotating them into and out of viewing position in combination with a composite mantle system. The composite mantle system may also be constructed without this feature of modular sections for scenic murals.

Fireplaces and mantles are decorative but expensive additions to a room, and this invention provides a system of construction which obtains both, with their decorative advantages and the usefulness of a mantle, at minimal expense. The mantle system is made so that it can be changed to another style, or subsequently removed without damage to the building walls or floor.

One object of the invention is to provide a system that initially provides a simple mantle shelf to which additions can be made from time to time, as by adding decorative supports immediately under the mantle, or pilasters extending to the floor, or a simulated fireplace under the mantle. Persons using this invention can satisfy their desire to change the appearance of a room from time to time, or to further plan for a fireplace, step-by-step with their own labor and as they feel they can afford to add to an ultimate mantle and fireplace system.

This invention provides a shelf element with brackets that connect with a wall and that extend into recesses in the shelf element to provide invisible supports that are especially suitable for use with multi-ply corrugated paperboard shelf structures, or a wood or plastic shelf.

One embodiment of the complete combination provides two horizontally spaced, boxlike structures formed of stiff material with corners along vertically extending lines to form front and sidewalls of pilasters for location against the wall of a room. Across the upper ends of the pilasters there is a shelf element consisting of multi-ply corrugated paperboard or a beam spanning the space between the pilasters and supported by the pilasters with or without intervening decorative elements or pilaster capitals, to form a fireplace opening. The mantle can also be made of a one-piece, solid wood board or solid and sheet plastic material. The term "board" is used herein to designate not only a slab of wood or other material, but any equivalent element made up of laminations, whether solid or partly hollow, as in the case of multi-ply corrugated paperboard.

The invention is preferably made in at least three major parts: two columnar supports, such as pilasters or columns, and the mantle. For most of the constructions of this invention, full columns or pilasters are to be considered mechanical equivalents.

There are means for holding the pilasters to the desired shape and these means, which can be clamping diaphragms inserted in the pilasters, can be originally assembled as part of a setup pilaster supplied to a purchaser; or they may be put into the pilasters when the invention is assembled at its place of use, depending upon the condition in which the parts are supplied.

One construction for holding the walls of each pilaster at the desired angular relation to one another uses flaps extending inwardly and generally diagonally from each corner of the pilaster and there are clamping means within the pilasters for clamping the flaps together and the clamping means have edges that contact with walls of the pilasters to maintain these walls at right angles or any other desired angle with respect to one another. The flaps add much to the vertical strength of the pilasters.

When the pilasters are decoratively embossed with horizontally extending embossing, a construction is used with two layers for the pilaster wall and with the weight of the mantle carried by the inner layer so that embossing of the outer layer is not distorted by the weight of the mantle which may be sufficient to affect the embossing if the weight of the mantle had to be carried continuously by this embossed layer.

The invention is made with a shallow "fireplace" for use against a wall of a room, and with a much deeper "fireplace" for use in a corner of a room.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a mantle shelf made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, diagrammatic, sectional view of the mantle shelf shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing brackets under shelf 11a;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified construction;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged, diagrammatic, sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on the section lines 9-9 and 10-10, respectively, of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing a mantle shelf with simulated decorative brackets under the shelf;

FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation showing a modified construction of the simulated brackets of FIGS. 11--14,

FIG. 16 is a front elevation of the invention with pilasters assembled with the mantle shelf;

FIG. 16a is a diagrammatic front elevation showing a column construction which can be used in place of the pilasters shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 16b is a sectional view on the line 16b-16b of FIG. 16a;

FIG. 17 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a more elaborate form of the invention in which the mantle system is combined with revolving bookcases and is mounted for rotation into a hidden position, when desired;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of a simulated fireplace made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken through the front walls of the mantle and pilasters on the line 25-25 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 27-27 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 28 is a front view, partly broken away and in section, showing a modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 30-30 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 30 but showing a modified construction; and

FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 32-32 of FIG. 28 and showing a modified clamping means from that shown in FIG. 27.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a mantle shelf 11 with a decorative molding 12 attached to and extending along the lower surface of the shelf. The shelf 11 is preferably made of several boards or layers 13, 14 and 15 (FIG. 2) superimposed upon one another. These boards or layers can be connected together by adhesive bonding or otherwise, if desired, but they are preferably made of strong enough material so that they provide a mantle shelf of the necessary strength without bonding them to one another. Each of the boards or layers 13, 14 and 15 is shown as constructed of multi-ply corrugated paperboard. The top and bottom boards or layers 13 and 15 are shown as three-ply boards; and the board or layer 14, which is sandwiched between the boards 13 and 15, is shown as a two-ply board. Other combinations can be made, such as of solid wood, or solid or sheet plastic.

The mantle shelf is supported by brackets 17 and these brackets extend into the mantle shelf 11 in the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1--4. Each of the brackets 17 includes an end plate 18 (FIG. 4) with a forwardly extending portion 19 which is of T-shape or other cross section. The bracket 17 is connected with a wall 21 (FIG. 2) by fastening means comprising screws 22 which extend through openings 23 (FIG. 4) in the end plate of the bracket. The end plate 18 can be made with the transversely spaced openings 23 substantially less than the width of a standard stud, but is preferably connected to the wall by using screws 22 located as near as possible to the center of a stud and with the screws large enough to secure the bracket with screws on only one side of the end plate 18.

The openings in the mantle shelf 11 for receiving the brackets 17 are preferably made by cutting a channel in one or more of the boards 13-15 before the boards are superimposed upon one another. For example: there is a narrow channel 25 (FIG. 3) in the bottom board 15 and there is a slot 26 cut through the middle board 14 with the lower portion of the slot of the same width as the channel 25 and in position to register with the channel 25; and with the channel 25 and the slot 26 wider than the corresponding parts of the T-shaped bracket 17 so that the bracket fits into the opening with substantial side clearance to allow for inaccuracy in locating the brackets on the wall.

The channel 25 and the slot 26, which forms a part of the total channel cross section, extend through the back face of the mantle shelf. The brackets 17 are preferably shorter than the fore-and-aft depth of the mantle shelf 11 and the cutout portions of the boards which provide the openings for the bracket 17 terminate adjacent to the ends of the brackets so that the front portion of the mantle shelf has no material cut away, as will be evident from the sectional view shown in FIG. 2.

In order to prevent the mantle shelf 11 from moving forward in the direction of extent of the brackets 17, there is a sharp protuberance 28 extending upwardly from each bracket 17, and this protuberance pierces the material of the lower surface of the top board 13 to the extent illustrated in FIG. 2 so as to provide an anchor for holding the top board 13 against movement in any direction.

The mantle shelf 11 can be assembled by bringing the boards 13, 14 and 15 together so as to register the cutout portions that provide the channels for the brackets 17.

The shelf 11 can be made of as many layers or plies as necessary for the desired beam strength. It is preferred that any laminated constructions be made at the factory, and in order to make it possible to place the factory assembled multi-ply boards on the brackets 17, the channels or openings in the boards are preferably made as high as the brackets 17, including the protuberances 28 of the brackets. This permits insertion of the brackets into the openings in the board or mantle until the brackets are at their full depth into the openings. The assembly is then completed by pressing the board down on the brackets so that the protuberances 28 pierce the upper surface of the bracket openings and thereby anchor the shelf or mantle against horizontal movement with respect to the brackets.

A top sheet 32 is attached over the upper surface of the top board 13, down the front and side edges of all of the boards 13, 14 and 15 and then under the lower surface of the bottom board 15. Such a sheet is usually painted or preprinted with decorative surface treatment which may resemble marble or wood grain, or any solid color or pattern, as desired. The sheet 32 can have pressure-sealing adhesive on the back surface with a release sheet, or it can be adhered by the use of paste or in any other known manner. If desired, the decorative molding 12 can be bonded to the underside of the mantle shelf, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a modified construction in which a mantle shelf 11a is made up of three boards 13a, 14a and 15a, which are similar to the boards 13, 14 and 15 of FIG. 3 except that the boards are not cut to provide an opening for receiving a bracket which is hidden inside the mantle shelf. In FIG. 5 a bracket 36 is used and this bracket is attached to the wall 21 by screws 22. It can have the same cross section as the bracket in the other FIGS., but is shown in the drawings as an angle section (FIG. 6) with an end plate 37 through which the screws 22 extend. It will be understood that such a bracket can be used as a hidden bracket within the mantle shelf, if desired, by providing a channel of the necessary cross section to receive the bracket 36.

The bracket 36 is shown as located intermediate the ends of the shelf, as in the case of the brackets shown in the other FIGS. and more than two brackets can be used in any case where extra strength or support is necessary. The shelf 11a can be assembled in the same way as described for the shelf 11 and it can be assembled before being placed on the brackets. It is held against displacement on the brackets 36 by a pointed protuberance 28a extending upward from each bracket 36.

FIG. 7 shows another mantle shelf 11b which can be a three-board construction, if desired, but which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as made of two boards 13b and 15b, each of which is three-ply corrugated paperboard. The mantle shelf 11b is supported by brackets 38 which are of I-beam or T-beam cross section with an end plate 39 attached to the wall by screws 40; and there is a sharp protuberance 28b extending from the top of the bracket 38 for piercing the top board 13b to prevent lateral displacement of the mantle shelf.

FIG. 9 shows the top board 13b with a shallow channel confronting a deeper channel 42 in the bottom board 15b. The channel 42 is of uniform width throughout its full height to receive the bracket 38. The mantle shelf 11b is otherwise quite similar to the mantle shown in the other views except that it is made of only two boards instead of three, but this can be compensated for by using more supporting channels 38 along the length of the mantle shelf. FIG. 8 shows a simulated molding 44 formed at the lower surface of the bottom board 15b by a portion of a covering 32 secured to the mantle shelf 11b.

FIG. 11 shows a mantle shelf 11c which is constructed from two boards 13c and 15c, similar to the boards 13b and 15b of FIG. 8 but supported by brackets 46 attached to the wall 21 by screws 22, as shown in FIG. 13. The sectional view in FIG. 12 shows the wall 21 constructed of plasterboard 48 on studs 49 into which the screws 22 extend. The brackets 46 are of special construction so that they can be used to hold decorative simulated brackets 52. These simulated brackets 52 are made of sheet material or other hollow construction and they are not intended actually to serve as supporting brackets for the mantle shelf 11. It should be understood that the mantle shelf 11c can be supported from the wall in the same way as the mantle shelves 11 and 11b, and if the composite mantle system of this invention is installed by a user who does not install decorative brackets 52 when initially installing the mantle shelf, then the mantle shelf will be supported by the internal brackets 17 and 38, described above, and the added brackets 46 will serve the purpose of providing means for holding the large simulated decorative brackets 52 in place.

Each of the brackets 46 has a top portion 53 which contacts with the bottom of the shelf 11c, and the sides of the portion 53 extend downward and then fold back to form flanges 56 on both sides of the bracket for holding edge portions 58 of the sheet material from which the simulated bracket 52 is constructed. The bracket 46 has downwardly extending portions 60 formed from an extension of one end of the top portion 53 and preferably extending below the folded sides and with openings 62 for receiving the screws 22 which connect the bracket 46 to the wall 21.

The shape of the simulated ornamental bracket 52, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, is representative of decorative designs which can be used under the mantle shelf. FIG. 15 shows another representative decorative design 52' which resembles a column capital.

Instead of using the bracket 46 of FIGS. 12 and 13 to support a decorative simulated bracket 52, a bracket 46b (FIG. 9) can be used. This bracket 46b has a top portion 53b and only single flanges 63 at the sides of its upper end portion and it has a projection 64t for spacing the mantle 11b from the upper portion 53b so that there is space for receiving the edge portions 58 of the decorative bracket 52 between the shelf 11b and the upper portion 53b of the bracket 46b. If desired, the projection 64t can be omitted, so that a decorative bracket can be used which has a continuous top wall across the bracket 46b.

FIG. 16 shows a mantle shelf 11d which is shown as similar to the mantle shelf 11c which can be supported from the wall by any of the bracket constructions previously described. The composite mantle system shown in FIG. 16 has been further elaborated by providing columnar supports which may be pilasters or columns but are here shown as pilasters 64 and as simulated supports for the mantle 11d. Each of the pilasters 64 has a simple capital 66 at its upper end but if the pilasters are added to a system which already has decorative brackets, such as the bracket 52 of FIG. 12 or 52' of FIG. 15, then the ornamental brackets 52 are removed.

Each of the pilasters 64 can be constructed of corrugated paperboard or heavy kraft paper or plastic, as can the decorative simulated brackets 52 and 52'. Grooves 68 can be formed in the outside surface of the pilasters 64.

FIG. 16a shows a column 64a, and such columns can be used in place of the pilasters 64 of FIG. 16. This column 64a extends substantially to the floor and if not long enough fully to reach the floor, shims 64s are placed under the column 64a.

A base 65 is located at the bottom of the column 64a and this base 65 extends up far enough to hide the shims 64s in cases where any shims are used. The base 65 has a top 65t (FIG. 16b) which covers the upper end of the base except for a cutout 65c into which the column 64a extends so that the column does not prevent the base 65 from reaching all the way to the wall 21. The cutout 65c has a rounded front edge for receiving one half of the circumference of the column 64a. A rearward section 65t' of the top of the base 65 fits in behind the column 64a and extends from the wall 21 to the rearward surface of the column 64a so as to cover and hide the cutout 65c.

FIG. 17 shows one of the pilasters 64 in section. It has a front wall 70 and sidewalls 62. The pilaster is connected to the wall 21, from which the mantle shelf 11d is supported, by a fixed anchoring means 74 attached to the wall by screws 76. Fastening means 78, secured to the inside surface of the front wall 70, are shaped to engage the anchoring means 74 with a snap action when a bulbous end 80 of the fastening means 78 is pushed into spring clamps 82 on the front of the fixed anchoring means 74. Thus the fixed anchoring means 74 can be attached to the wall 21 before the pilasters are put in position and the pilasters can then be connected to the wall by the fastening means 78 and the fixed anchoring means 74 without having access to the inside of the pilasters at the time of making the connection to the wall behind them.

A final addition to the composite mantle system is made by including a simulated fireplace 84 under the mantle shelf 11d and between the pilasters 64. This simulated fireplace includes a front panel 86 which extends from the simulated mantle 11d or from the level of any ornamental structure located below the mantle shelf, such as the ornamental molding 12 of FIG. 1; and the front panel 86 extends all the way from one pilaster 64 to the other. The upper edge of the front panel 86 need not be located behind the mantle shelf 11d which is already connected to the wall, and it can contact snugly against the adjacent sidewalls 72 (FIG. 17) of the pilasters 64. The front panel 86 can have its edge portion bent at an angle to the front or the panel 86 to provide an edge portion 88 that bears against the sidewall 72 of the pilaster, and if desired, this edge portion 88 can also be bent inward to provide another angular part 90 which can be slipped in behind the adjacent edge of the side 72 of the pilaster.

The fireplace 84 includes sloping walls 92 and a backwall 94 which are as high as an opening 96 provided in the front panel 86 to frame the fireplace 84. These panels 92 and 94 are preferably of one-piece construction and should extend slightly higher than the top of the opening 96 so that their upper edges are not visible.

There is a bottom panel 97 which forms a simulated hearth and bottom for the fireplace 84. This bottom panel 97 preferably extends forward somewhat beyond the pilasters 64, as shown in FIG. 17; and the panels 92 and 94 and also the front panel 86, rest on top of this bottom panel 97 which extends beyond the rearward sides of the panels 92 and 94 so that the rearward end of the panel 97 is not visible. The front panel 86 and the fireplace panels 92 and 94 can be made of corrugated paperboard, or heavy kraft paper. So can the bottom panel 97.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 18--20. In the construction illustrated in these views, a simulated fireplace and bookcase shelf structure similar to a room divider is located at some distance in front of the wall 21. One bookcase element 110 is supported from a floor 112 by a thrust bearing 113 with a flange 114 substantially flush with the floor 112. A pipe stud 116 extends upward from the floor and the stud is held against tilting by connecting it with the floor either by means of screws extending through the flange 114 or by other means which anchor the stud 116 rigidly to the floor or the beams by which the floor is supported. The bookcase unit 110 is shown with bottom cabinets enclosed by doors 120 and 121 which are preferably sliding doors. The bookcase unit 110 also has a drawer 122 and a shelf 124 which can be used to support a television set 126. There are other shelves 128 for holding books 129 or for holding plates 130 or other articles. A pipe stud 132, attached to the upper end of the bookcase unit 110, extends into a socket in a ceiling 134 of the room; and the bookcase unit 110 can rotate on the axis of the studs 116 and 132. This axis must be spaced from the wall 21 far enough to permit the bookcase unit 110 to rotate, and the clearance circle for such rotation is indicated in FIG. 19 by the broken line 136. There is a picture panel 138 on the back of the bookcase unit 110 so that when the bookcase unit is rotated 180.degree. from the position shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the blank panel 138, which forms the back of the bookcase unit 110, faces the room and appears as a solid picture wall.

There is another bookcase unit 110' which is preferably of the same construction as the bookcase unit 110 and which has a panel 138' as a backwall. As shown in the drawing, the bookcase unit 110' has drawers 122' in place of the cabinets of the other bookcase unit, but it will be understood that the arrangements of shelves, doors and drawers are optional. Other parts associated with the bookcase unit 110 are indicated by the same reference characters as in the case of the bookcase unit 110 but with a prime appended.

Between the bookcase units 110 and 110' there is a composite mantle system unit 142 which has studs 144 at its upper and lower ends on which it can rotate about the axes of these studs.

The composite mantle system unit 142 is constructed with a bottom plate 146 forming a hearth and a bottom for the fireplace and the fireplace is formed by sloping sidewalls 148 which extend rearwardly to a back panel 150. The front of the back panel 150 is decorated to resemble the backwall of the simulated fireplace; but the other side of the back panel 150 is a panel which matches the back surfaces of the panels 138 and 138'. When all of the units 110, 110' and 142 are rotated 180.degree. from their positions shown in FIG. 19, the backs of the panels 138, 138' and 150 form a substantially continuous wall with very narrow spaces between their contiguous edges. In order to obtain this result, the composite mantle system unit is made with its back panel 150 so wide that its clearance circle, when rotated about the axes of the studs 144, intersects the clearance circles 136 and 136' but this does not interfere with the operation because the bookcase units 110 and 110' are moved angularly about their axes into oblique positions in which they do not interfere with the rotation of the panel 150 about the axis of the studs 144.

The fireplace has columnar supports or pilasters 154 and other decorations which can be made of kraft paper or corrugated paperboard so long as enough of the frame of the composite mantle system unit has the stiffness to maintain relative rigidity between the upper and lower studs 144. The frame can be made of wood.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a simulated fireplace construction having two pilasters 316 and 318 extending vertically and spaced from one another to leave a fireplace opening between them. A mantle 320 comprises a hollow beam and extends across the upper end portions of the pilasters 316 and 318 and completes the framing of the fireplace opening. It will be understood that any of the mantles shown on sheet 1 of the drawings can be used with the fireplace of FIGS. 21 and 22 and with that of FIG. 28.

The fireplace shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is constructed for location in a corner formed by walls 322 and 324 of a room in which the fireplace is to be used. There is a bottom panel 326 which extends from one pilaster to the other and which extends for some distance forward from the pilaster to provide a hearth 328. This panel 326 is appropriately decorated to resemble brick or tile or other hearth material.

A side panel 332 extends rearwardly from the side of the pilaster 316 which confronts the other pilaster 318 and another side panel 334 is similarly related to the pilaster 318. These side panels 332 and 334 have rearward portions 332a and 334a which converge toward one another at an angle of substantially 90.degree. so that the portions 332a and 334a can lie against the walls 322 and 324 which form the corner of the room. A back panel 336 extends across the rearward end of the fireplace between the panels 332 and 334. If desired, the panels 332, 334 and 336 can be of one-piece construction with a score line at their lines of juncture and such a construction is shown in FIG. 22.

It is not essential that there by any top panel at the upper ends of the panels 332, 334 or 336 because these panels can extend upward far enough to be hidden by the mantle 320, but it is practical to use panels of smaller size if the structure is made with a top panel 338 which spans the upper ends of the panels 332 and 334 and which extends rearwardly to the back panel 336. When such a construction is used, the upper ends of the panels 332 and 334 may slope downwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 21. A more realistic effect can be obtained by having a "flue opening" 340 through the upper end of the top panel 338.

The mantle 320 is of hollow construction and is made with vertically extending walls including end walls 342, a front wall 344 and a rear wall 346 with a seam 348 where one wall is extended to overlap another wall, as in conventional box constructions.

This shell of the mantle structure extends downward to a bottom edge 348 (FIGS. 21 and 22). In the construction illustrated there is a molding 350 attached to the front wall 344. This molding 350 can be made hollow of sheet material bonded to the front wall 344 or it can be made of wood or other appropriate material fastened to the front wall 344.

The space enclosed by the walls 342, 344 and 346 is closed at its upper end by a top wall 354 which forms the shelf surface of the mantle. This top wall can be economically made of multi-ply corrugated paperboard with a decorative molding 356 (FIG. 24) secured to its forward end and extending somewhat below the bottom surface of the corrugated paperboard to provide a front shoulder which overlaps the upper end of the front wall 344. A flat back sheet 358, attached to the rearward surface of the top wall 344, extends downward behind the rear wall 346. Thus the molding 356 and flat panel 358 prevent rearward and forward displacement, respectively, of the top wall 354 on the hollow shell of the mantle 320. Other restraining pieces can be placed at the ends of the top wall 354, but this is generally unnecessary.

The walls 342, 344 and 346 are preferably of one-piece construction but can be made in other ways, if desired. When made of one-piece construction with sheet material, they are provided with score lines at the corners so that the sheet material can be bent to the desired angular relation of the corners of the walls, usually right angles. The shell formed by the wall 342, 344 and 346 can be made of heavy kraft paper or much lighter corrugated paperboard than is used for the top wall 354 since the loading is mostly vertical on the sidewalls.

FIGS. 22 and 26 show the construction of the pilaster 316. A similar construction is used for the pilaster 318. The pilaster 316 has a front wall 362 which is shown with vertically extending embossed recesses 364. Sidewalls 366 extend rearwardly from both sides of the front wall 362. These walls 362 and 366 are preferably made of sheet material bent along vertically extending lines to form corners 368 of the pilasters and these corners are usually right angles, but other angular relations can be used, if desired.

The walls 362 and 366 enclose a hollow space within the pilasters; and in the preferred construction there is an inner layer 370 of the walls 362 an 366 for adding strength to the pilasters and especially for supporting the vertical load on the pilaster, as will be more fully explained in connection with FIGS. 30 and 31.

It is not necessary that the pilaster 316 have any backwall since the back of the pilaster is not visible in the assembled construction. In the construction illustrated, however, the sidewalls 366 are connected with back panels 372, preferably of one-piece construction with the sidewalls 366, and this adds considerable stiffness to the pilasters and also facilitates holding the pilasters to the desired cross section. The backwalls 372 are each less than half the width of the pilaster 316 so as to leave the confronting edges of the backwalls 372 spaced from one another for the introduction of clamping diaphragms into the pilaster. The inner layer 370 is bonded to the walls 362 and 366.

FIG. 27 shows the way in which the pilaster 316 is held with its sidewalls in the desired angular relation to one another. The portion of the inner layer 370 which is attached to each of the walls 362 and 366 is made with a flap 376 and these flaps are bent inwardly along diagonally extending lines and are clamped together by the edges of an opening 378 at each corner of a stiff diaphragm 380. The diaphragm 380 has its outer edges shaped to the desired cross section of the periphery of the space enclosed by the walls of the pilaster 316, this shape being a rectangle in the construction illustrated in the drawing. FIG. 26 is a sectional view showing the thickness of the diaphragm 380. There may be several such diaphragms along the vertical length of the pilaster, the number necessary depending upon the stiffness of the sheet material from which the walls of the pilaster are made. Other means can be used for clamping the flaps 376 together and these means can be inserted into the pilaster through the opening between the back walls 372 (FIG. 22) when setting up the pilaster.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show two constructions for supporting the mantle 320 from the pilaster 318. In the construction shown in FIG. 24, the front wall 344 of the mantle 320 has an inner layer 384 which rests on top of the inner layer 370 of the front wall 362 of the pilaster. The upper edge of the front of the wall 362 terminates a slight distance below the bottom edge 348 or the front wall of the mantle. Thus the weight of the mantle is carried by the inner layer 370. When using a mantle supported from the wall by brackets as illustrated on sheet 1, no provision for making the pilasters 316 and 318 the real supports for the mantle is necessary.

The bottom edge 348 of the front wall of the mantle extends slightly below the inner layer 384 so that the front walls of the pilaster and the mantle have shoulders confronting one another as a result of the different heights of respective layers of these front walls.

FIG. 25 shows a modified construction in which a front wall 262' has a stiffener panel 385 connected to it and which fits as a slip joint behind a front wall 344' of a mantle. The mantle structure rests on a top edge 386 of the front wall 362'. Parts in FIG. 25 corresponding with those in FIG. 24 are indicated by the same reference characters with a prime appended.

FIG. 28 shows another modified construction having pilasters 396 and 398 corresponding to the pilasters 316 and 318 of the previous FIGS. These pilasters are preferably of one-piece, boxlike construction, each with a front wall 402 (FIG. 32), a backwall 404 and sidewalls 406. There are folds 408 at the corners of the pilaster 396 and these folds are clamped by a diaphragm 410, similar to the diaphragm 380 previously described but shown with a modified shape of slot 412. The backwall 404 is discontinuous, as in the construction shown in FIG. 22, so that the diaphragm 410 can be inserted into the pilaster 396 at a location intermediate the ends of the pilaster. There may be a plurality of diaphragms 410, if necessary, depending upon the stiffness of the sheet material from which the walls 402, 404 and 406 are made.

A mantle 420 spans the space between the pilasters 396 and 398 to frame the fireplace and there is a panel 424 with decoration 426 representing brick or tile work as an inner frame around the fireplace space below the mantle 420 and inward of the pilasters 396 and 398.

The construction shown in FIG. 23 is intended for use against a flat wall as opposed to a corner of a room and for this reason the mantle 420 has a top wall 428 which extends somewhat beyond the rest of the mantle at both ends and beyond the pilasters 396 and 398. Other decorative molding 430 can also extend beyond the sides of the pilasters 396 and 398 since the fireplace structure does not have to fit into a corner. The space framed by the fireplace structure is necessarily shallower in the construction shown in FIG. 28 since it can not be any deeper than the width of the sidewalls 406 which extend back to the wall of the room along which the structure of FIG. 28 is located.

FIG. 29 shows the construction of the mantle 420. It is a beamlike structure, as in the case of the mantle shown in FIGS. 21--24; and it has a front wall 436 which joins sidewalls 438 at each end of the mantle and there is preferably a partial backwall 440, the construction being similar to that shown in FIG. 23.

The top wall 428 is made up of multi-ply paperboard, in the construction illustrated, and there is a depression 444 in the bottom ply of the top wall 428 for receiving the upper edges of the front wall 436 and the sidewalls 438. This interlocking construction prevents horizontal displacement of the top wall 428 with respect to the front wall 436 and sidewalls 438.

The front panel 424 is attached to a folded-under portion 446 of the front wall 436 by brackets 448. The brackets 448 can be attached to the panels by adhesive, bolts or other suitable fastening means.

Where the pilasters have simulated horizontally extending molding 454 (FIG. 30), this effect may be obtained by embossing the front wall 362 as shown in FIG. 30. Such horizontally extending embossing weakens the load-bearing strength of the front wall 362 and in order to prevent the load on the mantle from distorting the shape of the molding 454, the front wall is made with an inner layer 370 which is free of embossing and provides the column strength for the pilaster 316.

FIG. 31 shows a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 30, the difference in construction being the shape of the simulated molding 45', which is embossed on the front sheet 362' of the pilaster 316'. The construction shown in FIG. 31 gives the pilasters the same cross section below the embossing as above, and permits attachment of the outer lamination to the inner layer 370' below the embossed molding 454' so that a stronger construction can be obtained.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but changes and modifications can be made and some features may be used in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. The combination comprising a shelf, a functional bracket under the shelf, part of the top of the bracket being formed with an area that bears against the superimposed shelf and the remaining part of the top extending downward and then outwardly of the bearing area and generally parallel to the shelf leaving space between the underside of the shelf and the side edges of the bracket to permit insertion into the space of an edge portion of an ornamental structure that covers and hides the functional bracket, and with which the shelf and bracket are intended to be used, and means for connecting one end of the functional bracket to a wall.

2. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the functional bracket being made of sheet material, part of which is folded back on itself in a generally vertical direction to provide stiffness for the bracket.

3. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by an ornamental structure being a simulated bracket under the shelf and enclosing the functional bracket, the ornamental bracket having edges that are inserted into the space between the shelf and the portion of the bracket that is spaced below the shelf.

4. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf being a mantle and there being functional brackets spaced from one another lengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least one of the functional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement of the shelf with respect to the functional brackets, the ornamental structure being simulated brackets, each of which covers and hides one of the functional brackets, the combination comprising a composite mantle system.

5. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf being a mantle and being made of corrugated paper board and with smooth paper covering the top surface of the shelf and extending down a vertical face of the mantle, a vertical edge thereof, and there being functional brackets, spaced from one another lengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least one of the functional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement of the sheath with respect to the functional brackets, the ornamental structure being a simulated bracket that represents a column capital.

6. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf being a mantle and there being functional brackets spaced from one another lengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least one of the functional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement of the shelf with respect to the functional brackets, simulated supports for the mantle extending from the mantle to the floor of the room and having their upper ends enclosing and hiding the functional brackets.

7. The combination described in claim 6 characterized by the hollow simulated supports for the mantle being pilasters made of sheet material.

8. The combination described in claim 6 characterized by part of the ornamental structure including a simulated fireplace of a size to fit under the mantle and that is located between the simulated supports and that can be inserted into place and removed independently of any removal and replacement of the functional brackets and the simulated structure that holds the functional brackets.