Grooved Structural Element

Abstract

A structural element has elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves which can accommodate the edges of transversely-spaced panels. That structural element coacts with other similar structural elements to constitute a plural-sided frame which has substantially-continuous, elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves. A plurality of panels have their upper and lower edges extending into and held by one of those elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves to define a structural plane; and a further plurality of panels have their upper and lower edges extending into and held by the other of those elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves to define a second structural plane which is spaced transversely from the first structural plane. Connector members of generally H-shaped cross section have grooves which accommodate the side edges of the first plurality and second plurality of panels and which prevent transverse movement of those side edges relative to each other and relative to those structural planes.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in grooved structural elements. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in grooved structural elements which can be combined with panels to form a structure.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved grooved structural element which can be combined with panels to form a structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The structural element provided by the present invention has elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves which can accommodate the edges of transversely-spaced panels. That structural element coacts with other similar structural elements to constitute a plural-sided frame which has substantially-continuous, elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves. A plurality of panels have their upper and lower edges extending into and held by one of those elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves to define a structural plane; and a further plurality of panels have their upper and lower edges extending into and held by the other of those elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced, inwardly-directed grooves to define a second structural plane which is spaced transversely from the first structural plane. Those structural elements coact with those panels to define a sturdy and rugged structure. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a structural element which has elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves which can accommodate the edges of transversely-spaced panels.

Connector members of generally H-shaped cross section have sets of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves at one of the faces thereof and have further sets of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves at the opposite faces thereof. The grooves of the first set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of each connector member are in register with the grooves of the further set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of that connector member; and hence the side edges of the first plurality and second plurality of panels are held in alignment with each other and against transverse movement relative to each other by the first and further sets of grooves in the connector members of generally H-shaped cross section. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a connector member of generally H-shaped cross section which has a set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves at one of the faces thereof and which has a further set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves at the opposite face thereof.

One preferred embodiment of grooved structural element provided by the present invention has an elongated passage therein which can serve as a duct for electrical elements or insulated pipes. As a result, that grooved structural element can perform the dual functions of holding the edges of panels of spaced structural planes and also of accommodating electrical elements or insulated pipes. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a grooved structural element that has an elongated passage therein which can serve as a duct for electrical elements or insulated pipes.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, several preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two abutting walls which include grooved structural elements provided by the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through the walls of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 2--2 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 2, through one of the walls in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 3--3 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 2, through the one wall of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 4--4 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and 2, through a further grooved structural element provided by the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 5, through a portion of a structure which incorporates another grooved structural element provided by the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section, on a scale larger than that of FIG. 2, through a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a vertical section, on the scale of FIG. 5, through portions of a floor, a ceiling, and a wall of a room made from grooved structural elements of the present invention,

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 5, through a further wall including grooved structural elements of the present invention,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG. 2, of the upper part of one of grooved structural elements of FIG. 2,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG. 2, of the upper part of another of the grooved structural elements of FIG. 2,

FIG. 12 is a vertical section, on the scale of FIG. 2, through a portion of a grooved structural element and through a portion of a plural-section panel which could be used in forming a wall,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG. 1, of a corner defined by two walls,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and 2, of the upper end of the corner fitting used in the wall of FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view, on a scale somewhat larger than that of FIG. 14, through one of the walls of FIG. 13, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 15--15 in FIG. 13,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through both of the walls of FIG. 13, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 16--16 in FIG. 13,

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through the structure in FIG. 16, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 17--17 in FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view, on a scale smaller than that of FIG. 1, of an A-frame building which is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 19 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through a portion of the A-frame building of FIG. 18, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 19--19 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through another portion of the A-frame building of FIG. 18, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 20--20 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 21 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through a further portion of the A-frame building of FIG. 18, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 21--21 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 22 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 22--22 in FIG. 21,

FIG. 23 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 15, through a still further portion of the A-frame building of FIG. 18, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 23--23 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 24 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through a corner fitting which generally resembles the corner fitting of FIG. 14,

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the upper end of a structural element which can be positioned between the panels of a wall, ceiling, or floor made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 26 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through a wall which includes the grooved structural element of FIG. 25 and a grooved structural element which closely resembles the grooved structural element of FIG. 10, and it shows L-shaped braces securing those grooved structural elements to an underlying horizontally-directed grooved structural element,

FIG. 27 is a perspective view, on a scale larger than that of FIG. 16, of one of the L-shaped braces in FIG. 26,

FIG. 28 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through a further grooved structural element provided by the present invention,

FIG. 29 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through two grooved structural elements which coact with panels to define the corners of adjacent walls,

FIG. 30 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through two further grooved structural elements which coact with panels to define the corners of adjacent walls,

FIG. 31 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through a grooved structural element which connects a wall at right angles to an intermediate portion of a second wall, and

FIG. 32 is a horizontal section, on the scale of FIG. 16, through a corner fitting which is assembled from four separate elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-4 the numeral 20 generally denotes a wall which includes grooved structural elements that are made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. The numeral 22 generally denotes a second wall which is disposed at right angles to the wall 20, and which also includes grooved structural elements that are made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. The numeral 24 generally denotes a corner fitting which is a metal extrusion; and the cross section of that corner fitting is shown by FIG. 2. That corner fitting has a tubular portion 26 which is essentially square in cross section; and it has a connecting portion 28 that is provided with internal ribs 30, and it has a connecting portion 36 that is provided with internal ribs 38. The ribs 30 are spaced a short distance away from one of the four sides of the tubular portion 26 of the corner fitting 24; and those ribs are in register with each other. The ribs 38 are spaced a short distance away from another of the four sides of the tubular portion 26 of the corner fitting 24; and those ribs are in register with each other.

The connecting portion 28 is tubular and is rectangular in cross-section; and the area defined by that connecting portion is considerably smaller than the area defined by the tubular portion 26. Similarly, the connecting portion 36 is tubular and is rectangular in cross section; and the area defined by that connecting portion is considerably smaller than the area defined by the tubular portion 26. An elongated groove 32 is provided at the outer face of the connecting portion 28, and that groove extends longitudinally along that face. An elongated groove 34 is provided at that same face; and that groove extends longitudinally along that face. The grooves 32 and 34 are located adjacent the opposite sides of the outer face of the connecting portion 28, as shown by FIG. 2, and those grooves are parallel to each other. As a result, the grooves 32 and 34 constitute a set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves on the corner fitting 24. An elongated groove 40 is provided at the outer face of the connecting portion 36, and that groove extends longitudinally along that face. An elongated groove 42 is provided at that same face; and that groove extends longitudinally along that face. The grooves 40 and 42 are located adjacent the opposite sides of the outer face of the connecting portion 36, as shown by FIG. 2, and those grooves are parallel to each other. As a result, the grooves 40 and 42 constitute a second set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves on the corner fitting 24.

The upper end of the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24 and the upper ends of the grooves 32 and 34 are cut away at an angle of 45.degree. to provide a mitered upper left-hand corner for that corner fitting. The lower end of that connecting portion and the lower ends of the grooves 32 and 34 are cut away at an angle of 45.degree. to provide a mitered lower left-hand corner for the corner fitting 24. The upper end of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24 and the upper ends of the grooves 40 and 42 are cut away at an angle of 45.degree. to provide a mitered upper right-hand corner for that corner fitting. The lower end of the connecting portion 36 and the lower ends of the grooves 40 and 42 are cut away at an angle of 45.degree. to provide a mitered lower right-hand corner for the corner fitting 24.

A grooved structural element is denoted by the numeral 44 in FIGS. 1-3 and 11; and it preferably is formed as a metal extension. That grooved structural element is shown in FIG. 11 before the ends thereof are mitered; and it includes a tubular portion of rectangular cross section which is defined by four sides 45, 47, 49 and 51, includes grooves 48 adjacent the side 47, and includes ribs 46 which are disposed inwardly of the side 45 and which extend toward each other. The grooves 48 are parallel and are disposed adjacent the sides 49 and 51 of the grooved structural element 44. As a result, those grooves constitute a set of elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves on the grooved structural element 44.

The outer face of the side 45 of the grooved structural element 44 is shown as being interrupted by knurling; but it could be interrupted by grooves, ribs, pockets, projections or the like. The interrupting of that outer face is desirable where that outer face is to be secured to an underlying surface by cement, adhesive, mastic, grout or the like. For example, where the outer face of the side 45 of the grooved structural element 44 is set in engagement with a floor, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the interruption of that outer face will enable cement, adhesive, mastic, grout or the like, placed between that outer face and that floor, to hold that grooved structural element against shifting relative to that floor.

In any instances where the outer face of the side 45 of the grooved structural element 44 was not to be secured to anything, that outer face could be left free of interruption, or it could be suitably ornamented by forming a pleasing design on it. Similarly, the other outer faces of that grooved structural element, and the outer faces of various of the other grooved structural elements of the present invention, could be suitably ornamented by forming pleasing designs on them.

The numeral 58 denotes a further grooved structural element; and that grooved structural element will preferably have the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. Further, the numeral 66 denotes a grooved structural element at the bottom of the wall 22 in FIG. 1; and that grooved structural element will preferably have the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. As indicated by FIG. 1, the ends of the grooved structural elements 44, 58 and 66 are mitered; and one of the mitered ends of the grooved structural element 44 abuts the mitered lower left-hand corner of the corner fitting 24, while one of the mitered ends of the grooved structural element 66 abuts the mitered lower right-hand corner of the corner fitting 24. Consequently, the groove 32 of the corner fitting 24 will be in register with and will abut the outer groove 48 of the grooved structural element 44, the groove 34 of that corner fitting will be in register with and will abut the inner groove 48 of that grooved structural element, the groove 40 of that corner fitting will be in register with and will abut the inner groove of the grooved structural element 66, and the groove 42 of that corner fitting will be in register with and will abut the outer groove of the grooved structural element 66. In addition, the ribs 30 in the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24 will be in register with and will abut the ribs 46 of the grooved structural element 44; and the ribs 38 in the connecting portion 36 of that corner fitting will be in register with and will abut the ribs 67 of the grooved structural element 66.

Each of the grooves 32 and 42 in the corner fitting 24 will preferably have the same width and depth as the particular groove in the grooved structural element 44 or 66 which is contiguous with that groove. Where the thickness of each of the walls 20 and 22 is 5 inches, the groove depth will preferably be in the range of one-half to three-quarters of an inch; and the groove width will preferably be in the range of three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch. Each of the grooves 34 and 40 in the corner fitting 24 will preferably have the same width and depth as the particular groove in the grooved structural element 44 or 66 which is contiguous with that groove. That depth will preferably be in the range of one-half to three-quarters of an inch; and the groove width will preferably be in the range of three-eighths to five eighths of an inch. FIG. 2 shows the grooves 32, 34, 40 and 42 in the corner fitting 24 as having the same depths and widths; and hence the grooves within the grooved structural elements 44 and 66 will have the same depths and widths. However, if desired, the width and depth of the groove 32 could differ from the widths and depths of one or more of the grooves 34, 40 and 42; but the width and depth of the groove 32 will preferably be the same as those of that groove of the grooved structural element 44 which is contiguous with it. Similarly, if desired, the width and depth of any of the grooves 34, 40 and 42 could differ from the depth and width of one or more of the other grooves in the corner fitting 24; but each groove in that corner fitting 24 will preferably have the same width and depth as the contiguous groove in the grooved structural element 44 or 66.

The numeral 50 denotes a vertical element of the wall 20; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. As indicated by FIG. 3, the ribs of the element 50 are denoted by the numeral 52, and the grooves of that element are denoted by the numeral 54. The ends of the element 50 are mitered by parallel mitering cuts; and the lower end of that element abuts the mitered left-hand end of the grooved structural element 44. As a result, the grooves 48 in the grooved structural element 44 abut and are in register with the grooves 54 of the element 50. Further, the ribs 46 of the grooved structural element 44 abut and are in register with the ribs 52 of the element 50. As shown by FIG. 1, the element 50 is parallel to the corner fitting 24.

The numeral 56 denotes a vertical element of the wall 20; and that element is a mirror image of the vertical element 50. The grooved faces of those vertical elements are directed away from each other, and the plane faces of those vertical elements confront each other to define the sides of a doorway for the wall 20. The ends of the vertical element 56 are mitered; and the mitered lower end of that element abuts the mitered right-hand end of the grooved structural element 58. As a result, the grooves, not shown, in the elements 56 and 58 will abut and be in register with each other. Similarly, the ribs, not shown, in those elements will abut and be in register with each other.

The numeral 60 denotes a vertical element which serves as the left-hand end of the wall 20; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The vertical element 60 is longer than the vertical element 50; and the mitering cuts at the ends of the former vertical element are angularly displaced, whereas the mitering cuts at the ends of the latter vertical element are parallel to each other. The mitered lower end of the vertical element 60 abuts the mitered left-hand end of the grooved structural element 58. As a result, the grooves, not shown, in the elements 58 and 68 will abut and be in register with each other.

The numeral 62 denotes a horizontal element which serves as the cap of the wall 20; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The ends of the element 62 are mitered; and the left-hand mitered end of that element abuts the mitered upper end of the vertical element 60, while the mitered right-hand end of that element abuts the mitered upper end of the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24. As a result, the grooves, not shown, in the elements 60 and 62 will abut and be in register with each other. Similarly, the ribs, not shown, in those elements will abut and be in register with each other.

The numeral 64 denotes a horizontal element of the wall 20; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The ends of the element 64 are mitered by mitering cuts which incline outwardly and upwardly from the plane face of that element as shown by FIG. 1. Those mitered ends abut the mitered upper ends of the vertical elements 50 and 56, and hence the element 64 coacts with those elements to define the top and sides of the doorway in the wall 20. The grooves 63 of the element 64 will abut and be in register with the grooves 54 of the vertical element 50, and also will abut and be in register with the grooves, not shown, of the vertical element 56. Similarly, the ribs 65 of the element 64 will abut and be in register with the ribs 52 of the vertical element 50, and also will abut and be in register with the ribs, not shown, of the vertical element 56.

The elements 44, 58, 60 and 62 essentially define three sides of the frame of the wall 20; and the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24 defines the fourth side of that frame. The elements 50 and 56 coact with the element 64 to define the doorway in that wall; and they also coact with the elements 44 and 58 to help define the bottom side of the frame of the wall 20. Those various elements coact with each other, with the corner fitting 24, and with the panels of that wall to strengthen and rigidify that wall.

The numeral 68 denotes a vertical element which serves as the right-hand end of the wall 22; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The ends of the vertical element 68 are mitered; and the mitered lower end of that vertical element abuts the mitered right-hand end of the bottom element 66. As a result, the grooves, not shown, in the bottom element 66 will abut and be in register with the grooves, not shown, in the vertical element 68. Similarly, the ribs 67 in the bottom element 66 will abut and be in register with the ribs, not shown, in the vertical element 68.

The numeral 70 denotes a horizontal element that serves as the cap of the wall 22; and that element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The ends of the horizontal element 70 are mitered; and the mitered left-hand end of that element abuts the mitered upper end of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, while the mitered right-hand end of that element abuts the mitered upper end of the vertical element 68. Consequently, the grooves, not shown, in the horizontal element 70 will abut and be in register with the grooves 40 and 42 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, and also will abut and be in register with the grooves, not shown, in the vertical element 68. Similarly, the ribs, not shown, in the horizontal element 70 will abut and be in register with the ribs 38 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, and also will abut and be in register with the ribs, not shown, in the vertical element 68.

The elements 66, 68 and 70 define three sides of the frame of the wall 22; and the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24 defines the fourth side of that frame. Those elements coact with each other, with the corner fitting 24, and with the panels of the wall 22 to strengthen and rigidify that wall. The numeral 72 denotes a panel which has a thickness that is just slightly less than the width of the groove 40 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24; and that thickness also is just slightly less than the width of the inner grooves, not shown, in the bottom element 66 and in the upper element 70 of the wall 22. That panel can be a section of plywood, of wall board, of drywall, of decorating paneling, or the like; and, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, that panel is 8 feet high, 4 feet wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick -- and thus has dimensions that are standard in the construction industry. That panel can, either in its purchased state or after it has been painted, serve as part of the interior of the room or area which it helps bound and define. The left-hand edge of the panel 72 will extend into, and will be confined and guided by, the groove 40 of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24; and the bottom edge of that panel extends into, and will be confined and guided by, the inner groove of the bottom element 66. The upper edge of the panel 72 extends into, and will be confined and guided by, the inner groove of the upper element 70.

The numeral 74 denotes a panel which has a thickness that is just slightly less than the width of the groove 42 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24; and that thickness also is just slightly less than the width of the outer grooves, not shown, in the bottom element 66 and in the upper element 70 of the wall 22. That panel can be a section of plywood, of wallboard, of drywall, of decorating paneling, or the like; and, in the said one preferred embodiment of the present invention, that panel is 8 feet high, 4 feet wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. If the surface of the wall 22, of which the panel 74 is a part, helps bound and define the interior of a room or area, that panel can, either in its purchased state or after it has been painted, serve as part of that interior. However, if the surface of the wall 22, of which the panel 74 is a part, is an exterior surface, that panel will be made so it can withstand rain, sleet, hail, snow, sunlight, heat, dirt, and the like. The left-hand edge of the panel 74 extends into, and will be confined and guided by, the groove 42 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, and the bottom edge of that panel extends into, and will be confined and guided by, the outer groove of the bottom element 66. The upper edge of the panel 74 extends into, and will be confined and guided by, the outer groove in the upper portion 70.

The numeral 76 generally denotes a connector member which is a metal extension with an H-shaped cross section; and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper end of that connector member. A web 78 of that connector member has grooves 80 and 84 extending outwardly from one face thereof, and has grooves 82 and 86 extending outwardly from the opposite face thereof. The grooves 80 and 82 are in register with each other, and the grooves 84 and 86 are in register with each other, as shown particularly by FIGS. 2 and 10. The height of the connector member 76 is equal to the distance between the confronting surfaces of the groove-defining portions of the lower element 66 and of the upper element 70. As a result, that connector member can fit snugly between the upper surface of the lower element 66 and the lower surface of the upper element 70 of the wall 22. The groove 80 in the connector member 76 will be in register with the inner grooves, not shown, of the upper and lower elements 70 and 66; and those inner grooves are in register with the groove 40 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24. As a result, the groove 80 will coact with those inner grooves and with the groove 40 to define an essentially-continuous constant-width, constant-depth groove. The groove 84 in the connector member 76 will be in register with the outer grooves, not shown, of the upper and lower elements 70 and 66; and those outer grooves are in register with the groove 42 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24. As a result, the groove 84 will coact with those outer grooves and with the groove 42 to define an essentially-continuous constant-width, constant-depth groove. Those essentially continuous, constant-width, constant-depth grooves are parallel to, but are transversely spaced relative to, each other. The groove 80 in the connector member 76 receives and guides and confines the right-hand edge of the panel 72, and the groove 84 in that connector member receives and guides and confines the right-hand edge of the panel 74. As a result, the connector member 76 coacts with the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, with the lower element 66, with the upper element 70, and with the panels 72 and 74 to define a totally-enclosed space between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall 22. The engagements between the left-hand edge of the panel 72 and the groove 40 in the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, between the right-hand edge of that panel and the groove 80 in the connector member 76, and between the upper and lower edges of that panel and the grooves, not shown, in the upper and lower elements 70 and 66 will enable that panel, that corner fitting, that connector member and those elements to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

The grooves 80, 82, 84 and 86 in the connector member 76 can have different depths and different widths. However, the depths and widths of the grooves 80 and 82 will usually be the same, and the depths and widths of the grooves 84 and 86 will usually be the same. Importantly, the depths and widths of the grooves 80 and 82 should be the same as the depths and widths of the inner grooves of the upper and lower elements 70 and 66. Also importantly, the depths and widths of the grooves 84 and 86 should be the same as the depths and widths of the outer grooves of those upper and lower elements.

The numerals 90, 94 and 96 denote further connector members which can be identical to the connector member 76. Those connector members are vertically-directed, and the lower ends thereof rest upon the groove-defining portions of the lower element 66. The upper ends of the connector members 90, 94 and 96 underlie the groove-defining portions of the upper element 70. As shown by FIG. 1, the connector members 76, 90, 94 and 96 are disposed between and are parallel to, the corner fitting 24 and the vertical element 68 of the wall 22.

A short connector member 98, which has the same cross section as the connector member 76 of FIG. 10, is incorporated in the wall 20 in FIG. 1. That connector member is vertically-directed; and it underlies, and extends downwardly from, the upper element 62 of that wall. A similar, short connector member 100 is vertically-directed, and it overlies and extends upwardly from the lower element 44. The connector members 98 and 100 are in vertical alignment with each other, as indicated by FIG. 1. Another similar, short connector member 102 is vertically-directed; and it underlies, and extends downwardly from, the upper element 62 of the wall 20. A further, similar short connector member 104 is vertically-directed; and it overlies and extends upwardly from the lower element 44. The connector members 102 and 104 are in vertical alignment with each other, as indicated by FIG. 1. Two shorter, similar connector members 106 and 108 are vertically-directed; and they underlie, and extend downwardly from, the upper element 62. The lower ends of the connector members 106 and 108 abut the groove-forming portions of the grooved structural element 64. The connector members 98, 100, 102, 104, 106 and 108 are disposed between, and are parallel to, the corner fitting 24 and the vertical element 60 of the wall 20.

The numeral 110 denotes a short panel which has the side edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the lower portion of the groove 82 in the connector member 76 and by the lower portion of the confronting groove in the connector member 90. The lower edge of that short panel extends into the inner groove of the lower element 66. A similar short panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 110, has the side edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the lower portions of the confronting outer grooves of the connector members 76 and 90. A short, connector member 112, which has the same cross section as the connector member 76 of FIG. 10, is incorporated in the wall 22 in FIG. 1. That connector member is horizontally-directed, and it extends between the groove-defining portions of the connector members 76 and 90. The inner downwardly-directed groove of the connector member 112 telescopes downwardly over the upper edge of the short panel 110; and the outer downwardly-directed groove of that connector member telescopes downwardly over the upper edge of the short panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 110. The connector member 112 coacts with the lower portions of the connector members 76 and 90 and with the lower element 66 to hold the short panel 110, and the similar short panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 110, in parallel, spaced-apart relation.

A seal 114, which is made from a resilient material such as rubber and which is U-shaped in cross section, extends around the top, sides and bottom of a rectangular glass pane 116. The closed portion of that seal extends into the mid-portion of the groove 82 in the connector member 76, into the upwardly-directed inner groove of the connector member 112, and into the mid-portion of the inner groove, not shown, of the connector member 90. A similar seal 121 extends around the top, sides and bottom of a rectangular glass pane 122; and the closed portion of that seal extends into the mid-portion of the groove 86 of the connector member 76, into the mid-portion of the confronting groove of the connector member 90, and into the upwardly-directed outer groove of the connector member 112. A short, connector member 118, which has the same cross section as the connector member 76 of FIG. 10. is incorporated in the wall 22. That connector member is horizontally directed; and it has the downwardly-directed inner groove thereof telescoped downwardly over the closed portion of the seal 114 adjacent the top of the glass pane 116. The downwardly-directed outer groove of that connector member telescopes downwardly over the closed portion of the seal 121 adjacent the top of the glass pane 122.

A short panel 119 has the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upper portion of the groove 82 in the connector member 76, has the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upper portion of the confronting groove of the connector member 90, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upwardly-directed inner groove of the connector member 118, and has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the upper element 70. A corresponding short panel, not shown, has the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upper portion of the groove 86 in the connector member 76, has the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upper portion of the confronting groove in the connector member 90, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upwardly-directed outer groove of the connector member 118, and has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the upper element 70.

The short panel 110, the glass pane 116, and the short panel 119 coact with the connector members 112 and 118 to serve as an essentially-continuous panel that fills the space defined by the groove 82 of the connector member 76, the confronting groove of the connector member 90 and the inner grooves of the upper and lower elements 70 and 76. Similarly, the short panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 110, the glass pane 122, and the short panel, not shown, which is disposed is register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 119 coact with the connector members 112 and 118 to serve as an essentially-continuous panel that fills the space defined by the groove 86 of the connector member 76, the confronting groove of the connector member 90, and the outer grooves of the upper and lower elements 70 and 76. Those two essentially-continuous panels will coact with the connector members 76 and 90 and with the upper and lower elements 70 and 66 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

The numeral 126 denotes a panel which has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the confronting inner grooves of the connector members 90 and 94, and which has the upper and lower edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner grooves of the upper and lower elements 70 and 66. A similar panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 126, has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the confronting outer grooves of the connector members 90 and 94, and has the lower and upper edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer grooves of the lower and upper elements 66 and 70. Those two panels will coact with the connector members 90 and 94 and with the upper and lower elements 70 and 66 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

The numeral 128 denotes a rectangular glass pane which has a resilient seal, not shown, like the resilient seal 114, extending around the top, sides and bottom thereof. That seal, and the sides of that glass pane, extend into, and are confined and guided by, the confronting inner grooves of the connector members 94 and 96; and that seal and the top and bottom of that glass pane, extend into, and are confined and guided by, the inner grooves of the lower and upper elements 66 and 70. A similar glass pane, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the glass pane 128, has a resilient seal, not shown, like the resilient seal 121, extending around the top, sides and bottom thereof. That seal, and the sides of that glass pane, extend into, and are confined and giided by, the confronting outer grooves of the connector members 94 and 96; and that seal and the top and bottom of that glass pane, extned into, and are confined and guided by, the outer grooves of the lower and upper elements 66 and 70. Those two glass panes will coact tith the connector members 94 and 96 and with the upper and lower elements 70 and 66 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

The numeral 130 denotes a panel which has the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 96, has the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the vertical element 68, and has the upper and lower edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner grooves of the lower and upper elements 66 and 70. A similar panel, not shown, which is disposed in register with but which is spaced outwardly of the panel 130, has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the vertical element 68 and the confronting outer groove of the connector member 96, and has the lower and upper edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer grooves of the lower and upper elements 66 and 70. The panel 130 and its outer counterpart will coact with the connector member 96, the vertical element 68 and with the upper and lower elements 70 and 66 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

No nails, screws or other fasteners, and no cements, adhesives, mastics, tapes or the like are needed to hold the edges of the various panels and glass panes of the wall 22 within the grooves which receive those edges. Instead, those various grooves coact with each other to provide full support for those panels and glass panes. It should also be noted that each panel, each connector member, each glass pane, the corner fitting 24, the vertical element 68, and the lower and upper elements 66 and 70 add to the stiffness and rigidity of the wall 22. AS a result, that wall is sturdy and strong.

The numeral 132 denotes a panel which has the lower portion of the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 100, has the upper portion of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 98, and has the intermediate portion of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of a grooved structural element 140 which defines the right-hand side of a window-like opening in the wall 20. The cross section of the grooved structural element 140 is preferably identical to the cross section of the grooved structural element 44 of FIG. 11. The right-hand side of the panel 132 extends into, and is confined and guided by, the groove 34 of the corner fitting 24, as shown particularly by FIG. 2. The lower edge of the panel 132 entends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove 48 of the lower element 44; and the upper edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove of the upper element 62.

A similar panel 133 has the lower portion of the lefthand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the connector member 100, has the intermediate portion of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the element 140, and has the upper portion of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the connector member 98. The right-hand side of the panel 122 extends into the groove 32 of the corner fitting 24, as shown particularly by FIG. 2. The lower edge of the panel 133 extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove 48 of the lower element 44; and the upper edge of that panel is held by the outer groove of the upper element 62.

The numeral 134 denotes a short panel which has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the lower portions of the confronting inner grooves of the connector members 100 and 104, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 48 of the lower element 44, and has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of a grooved structural element 136 which defines the bottom of the window-like opening in the wall 20. The cross section of the grooved structural element 136 is preferably identical to the cross section of the grooved structural element 44 of FIG. 11. A similar short panel, not shown, has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer confronting grooves of the connector members 100 and 104, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 48 of the lower element 44, and has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the element 136.

The numeral 144 denotes a short panel which has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the confronting inner grooves of the connector members 98 and 102, has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by the inner groove of the upper element 62, and has the bottom edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of a grooved structural element 142 which defines the top of the window-like opening in the wall 20. The cross section of the grooved structural element 142 preferably is identical to the cross section of the grooved structural element 44 of FIG. 11. A similar short panel, not shown, has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the confronting outer grooves of the connector members 98 and 102, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the element 142, and has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the upper element 62.

The numeral 146 denotes a panel which has the upper portion of the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 106, has the rest of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 54 of the vertical element 50, has the upper portion of the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the connector member 102, has the lower portion of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the connector member 104, and has the intermediate portion of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of a grooved structural element 138 which defines the left-hand side of the windowlike opening in the wall 20. The cross section of the grooved structural element 138 preferably is identical to the cross section of the grooved structural element 44 of FIG. 11. The lower edge of the panel 146 extends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove 48 of the lower element 44; and the upper edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by the inner groove of the upper element 62. A similar panel 151 has the upper portion of the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the connector member 106, has the rest of that left-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 54 in the vertical element 50, as shown particularly by FIG. 3, has the upper portion of the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand outer groove of the connector member 102, has the lower portion of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the lower portion of the left-hand outer groove of the connector member 104, ans has the intermediate portion of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by the outer groove of the element 138. The lower edge of the panel 151 extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove 48 of the lower element 44, as shown particularly by FIG. 3; and the upper edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove of the upper element 62.

The numeral 148 denotes a short panel which has the sides thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the confronting inner grooves of the connector members 106 and 108. The lower edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove 63 of the element 64; and the upper edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove of the element 62. The numeral 149 denotes a similar short panel which has the sides thereof extending into and confined and guided by the confronting outer grooves of the connector members 106 and 108. The lower edge of the panel 149 extends into and is confined and guided by the outer groove 63 of the element 64; and the upper edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove of the element 62.

The numeral 150 denotes a panel which has the upper portion of the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the connector member 108 and has the rest of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the element 56; and the left-hand side of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the inner groove of the vertical element 60. The lower and upper edges of the panel 150 extend into, and are confined and guided by, the inner grooves of the elements 58 and 62. A similar panel, not shown, has the upper portion of the righthand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand outer groove of the connector member 108, has the rest of that right-hand side extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the element 56, has the left-hand side thereof extending into and confined and guided by the outer groove of the element 60, and has the lower and upper edges thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer grooves of the elements 58 and 62.

No nails, screws or other fasteners, and no cements, adhesives, mastics, tapes or the like are needed to hold the edges of the various panels of the wall 20 within the grooves which receive those edges. Instead, those various grooves coact with each other to provide full support for those panels. It should also be noted that each panel, each connector member, the corner fitting 24, the vertical element 60, the elements 50, 56, 64, 136, 138, 140 and 142, the upper element 62, and the lower elements 44 and 58 add to the stiffness and rigidity of the wall 20. As a result, that wall is sturdy and strong.

The numeral 156 in FIG. 2 denotes a sturdy, L-shaped metal brace which has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed between the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 140. A screw 158 extends through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and seats in an opening in the vertically-directed portion of that brace. That screw and those ribs fixedly hold the element 140 against shifting or tilting relative to that L-shaped brace. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 156 extends between the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 136. A screw, not shown, will pass through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and seat in an opening in the horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace. That screw will coact with those ribs to prevent shifting or tilting of the element 136 relative to the L-shaped brace 156.

A similar L-shaped brace, not shown, has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed between the upper portion of the exposed wall of the element 140 and the upper portions of the ribs of that element. A screw 155 extends through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and seats in an opening within that horizontally-directed portion; and that screw coacts with the ribs of that element to prevent shifting or tilting of the element 140 relative to that L-shaped brace. The horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace will extend between the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 142; and a screw, not shown, will extend through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and will seat in an opening within that horizontally-directed portion.

Similar L-shaped braces will be disposed at the upper left-hand corner and at the lower left-hand corner of the window-like opening in the wall 20. The vertically-directed portions of those L-shaped braces will be held by the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 138; and screws, not shown, will extend through countersunk openings, not shown, in that exposed wall and seat in openings, not shown, within those vertically-directed portions. The horizontally-directed portion of the upper of those L-shaped braces will be disposed between the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 142; and a screw, not shown, will extend through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace adjacent the lower left-hand corner of the window-like opening in the wall 20 will be confined by the exposed wall and the ribs of the element 136; and a screw, not shown, will extend through a countersunk opening in that exposed wall and seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The L-shaped brace 156, the three L-shaped braces, not shown, adjacent the other three corners of the window-like opening in the wall 20, the screws 155 and 158, and the other six screws, not shown, coact with the elements 136, 138, 140 and 142 to make the frame for that window-like opening sturdy and rigid. In doing so, they also help strengthen and rigidify the wall 20.

The numeral 153 in FIG. 3 denotes a sturdy, L-shaped, metal brace which has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed between the inner face of the exposed wall of the vertical element 50 and the left-hand faces of the ribs 52 within that element. That vertically-directed portion of that brace will have a width and thickness which will enable it to readily slip into position between that wall and those ribs, and yet prevent tilting of the axis of the element 50 relative to that L-shaped brace. A screw 152 extends inwardly through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of the element 50 and seats in an opening in the vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 153; and that screw will coact with the ribs 52 to lock that L-shaped brace against shifting or tilting relative to the element 50. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 153 extends between the inner face of the lower wall of the element 44 and the ribs 46 within that element. A screw 154 extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in that lower wall and seats in an opening in the horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 153. That screw will coact with the ribs 46 to lock the element 44 against shifting or tilting relative to the L-shaped brace 153.

The numeral 160 in FIG. 2 denotes a sturdy, L-shaped, metal brace which has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed between the left-hand wall of the tubular section 26 of the corner fitting 24 and the ribs 30 of that corner fitting. A screw 162 extends through a countersunk opening in that wall and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped metal brace. That screw will coact with that wall and those ribs to lock the corner fitting 24 against shifting or tilting relative to the L-shaped brace 160. The horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace will extend into the space between the bottom wall of the element 44 and the ribs 46 of that element; and a screw, not shown, will extend upwardly through a countersunk opening in that bottom wall and seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. That screw will coact with those ribs to prevent shifting or tilting of the lower element 44 relative to that L-shaped brace.

Similar L-shaped braces, not shown, will be provided at the upper right-hand corner, the upper left-hand corner, and the lower left-hand corner of the wall 20 in FIG. 1. The horizontally-directed portions of the L-shaped braces, not shown, adjacent the upper left-hand and upper right-hand corners of the wall 20 will be held by the ribs of the element 62 and by screws, not shown, which extend downwardly through the upper wall of that element and seat in openings in those horizontally-directed portions. The vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace at the upper right-hand corner of the wall 20 will be held by the upper portions of the ribs 30 of the corner fitting 24 and by a screw, not shown, which extends through a countersunk opening in the left-hand wall of the tubular section 26 of that corner fitting and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace at the upper left-hand corner of the wall 20 will be held by the ribs of the vertical element 60 and by a screw 159 which extends through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that element and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace, not shown, at the lower left-hand corner of the wall 20 is held by the ribs, not shown, of the lower element 58 and by a screw, not shown, which extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in the bottom wall of that element and seats in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by the ribs, not shown, of the vertical element 60 and by a screw 161 which extends through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that vertical element and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion.

An L-shaped brace, not shown, will coact with the ribs of the lower element 58, with the ribs of the element 56, and with two screws, now shown, to lock those elements against shifting or tilting relative to each other. An L-shaped brace, not shown, will coact with the ribs of the element 56, with the ribs 65 of the element 64, and with two screws, not shown, to lock the elements 56 and 64 against shifting or tilting relative to each other. An L-shaped brace 170 has the horizontally-directed portion thereof held by the ribs 65 of the element 64 and by a screw 172 which extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that element to seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by the ribs 52 of the element 50 and by a screw 171 which extends through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that element and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion.

The L-shaped braces 153, 160 and 170 will coact with the L-shaped braces, not shown, at the upper left-hand corner, the upper right-hand corner, and the lower left-hand corner of the wall 20, with the L-shaped braces, not shown, at the upper and lower left-hand corners of the doorway, with the screws 152, 154, 159, 161, 162, 171 and 172 and with the other screws, not shown, for those other L-shaped braces, with the corner fitting 24, and with the grooved structural elements 44, 50, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 20. Also, some of those L-shaped braces, screws and grooved structural elements strengthen and rigidify the doorway in that wall.

The numeral 164 in FIG. 2 denotes a sturdy, L-shaped, metal brace which can be identical to the metal braces 153, 156, 160 and 170 in the wall 20. The vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 164 is held by the ribs 38 and by a screw 166 which extends through a countersunk opening in the adjacent wall of the tubular section 26 of the corner fitting 24 and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 164 is held by the ribs 67 of the lower element 66 and by a screw, not shown, which extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in the bottom wall of that element and seats in an opening, not shown, in that horizontally-directed portion. The L-shaped brace 164, the screw 166, and the other screw, not shown, lock the lower element 66 against shifting or tilting relative to the corner fitting 24.

An L-shaped brace, not shown, has the vertically-directed portion thereof held by the upper portions of the ribs 38 of the corner fitting 24 and by a screw, not shown, which extends through a countersunk opening in the adjacent wall of the tubular section 26 of the corner fitting 24 and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by the ribs of the upper element 70 and by a screw, not shown, which extends downwardly through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that element and seats in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. That L-shaped brace and the screws therefor lock the upper element 70 against shifting or tilting relative to the corner fitting 24.

An L-shaped brace, not shown, has the horizontally-directed portion thereof held by the ribs 67 of the lower element 66 and by a screw, not shown, which extends through a countersunk opening in the bottom wall of the element 66 to seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by ribs within the vertical element 68 and by a screw 167 which extends through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that vertical element to seat in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. That L-shaped brace and the screws therefor lock the lower element 66 against shifting or tilting relative to the vertical element 68.

An L-shaped brace, not shown, has the horizontally-directed portion thereof held by the ribs within the upper element 70 and by a screw, not shown, which extends downwardly through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that upper element to seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by ribs within the vertical element 68 and by a screw 173 which extends through a countersunk opening in the exposed wall of that vertical element to seat in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. That L-shaped brace and the screws therefor lock the upper element 70 against shifting or tilting relative to the vertical element 68. The L-shaped brace 164 will coact with the L-shaped braces, not shown, at the upper left-hand corner, the upper right-hand corner, and the lower right-hand corner of the wall 22, with the screws 166, 167 and 173 and with the other screws, not shown, for those other L-shaped braces, with the corner fitting 24, and with the grooved structural elements 66, 68, and 78 to strengthen and rigidify the wall 22.

It should be noted that only the screws 155 and 158 and six other screws are needed to interlock all of the four grooved structural elements 136, 138, 140 and 142 of the window-like opening in the wall 20. Further, it should be noted that only the screws 152, 154, 159, 161, 162 and 171 and 10 other screws are needed to interlock all of the seven grooved structural elements 44, 50, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 and the corner fitting 24 of the wall 20. In addition, it should be noted that only the screws 166, 167 and 173 and five other screws are needed to interlock all of the grooved structural elements 66, 68, and 70 and the corner fitting 24 of the wall. All of the rest of the sturdiness and rigidity of the walls 20 and 22 is afforded by the interengagements between the L-shaped braces and the ribs and adjacent walls of the grooved structural elements and of the corner fitting and by the interengagements of the edges of the various panels and glass panes and the grooves in those grooved structural elements.

Where the outer faces of the walls 49 and 51 of the grooved structural element 44 are spaced apart 5 inches, and where the outer faces of the side walls of the grooved structural elements 50, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 also are spaced apart 5 inches, the walls 20 and 22 of FIG. 1 are extremely sturdy and rigid. In fact, those walls are so sturdy and rigid that they are self-supporting and do not have to have any portions thereof bolted or otherwise secured to the floor, to a ceiling, or to anything else.

The numeral 168 denotes insulation which is disposed in the space between the outer wall of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24, the web 78 of the connector member 76, and the panels 72 and 74 of the wall 22. That insulation can be of standard and usual form; and it can be loose or it can be confined by paper or other wrappings. Similar insulation will preferably be disposed between the short panel 110 and its counterpart, between the short panel 119 and its counterpart, between the panel 126 and its counterpart, between the panel 130 and its counterpart, between the panels 132 and 133, between the short panel 134 and its counterpart, between the short panel 144 and its counterpart, between the panel 146 and the panel 151, between the short panels 148 and 149, and between the panel 150 and its counterpart. Further, if desired, insulation could be used to fill the tubular section 26 and the connecting portions 28 and 36 of the corner fitting 24. Moreover, if desired, insulation could be used to fill the space defined by the walls 45, 47, 49 and 51 of the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11 and the corresponding spaces in the grooved structural elements 50, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 136, 138, 140 and 142.

Usually, however, some or all of the space within the tubular section 26 of the corner fitting 24 or in one or both of the connecting portions 28 and 36 of that corner fitting, will be occupied by thin wall electrical conduits for power-supplying conductors, cables or conductors for communications purposes, and insulated water pipes. Similarly, some or all of the space in some other grooved structural elements will have thin wall electrical conduits for power-supplying conductors, cables or conductors for communication purposes, and insulated water pipes in them.

In assembling the components of the walls 20 and 22 of FIG. 1, the corner fitting 24 and the vertical elements 50, 56, and 60 can be set horizontally with the required spacing therebetween. Thereafter, the mitered right-hand end of the grooved structural element 44 can be secured to the mitered bottom of the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24 by the L-shaped brace 160, by the screw 162, and by a further screw, not shown. The mitered left-hand end of that grooved structural element can be secured to the mitered bottom of the element 50 by the L-shaped brace 153 and the screws 152 and 154 of FIG. 3. The mitered ends of the grooved structural element 48 can then be secured to the mitered bottoms of the elements 56 and 60 by L-shaped braces, not shown, and by the screw 161 and other screws, not shown. The mitered ends of the grooved structural element 64 will be secured to the mitered tops of the elements 50 and 56 by the L-shaped brace 170 and screws 171 and 172 and by an L-shaped brace and two screws, not shown. The vertically-directed portion of an L-shaped brace, not shown, will be secured to the free end of the element 60 by the screw 159; and the vertically-directed portion of another L-shaped brace, not shown, will be secured to the free end of the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24. The grooved structural elements 136, 138, 140 and 142 will have the mitered ends thereof secured together by the L-shaped brace 156 and three other L-shaped braces, and by the screws 155 and 158 and six other screws; and then the resulting window-forming frame will be set aside temporarily.

The panel 150, and the outer panel in register therewith, will then have the side edges thereof telescoped into and held by the confronting grooves of the elements 56 and 60; and the bottom edges of those panels will be telescoped into and held by the grooves of the grooved structural element 58. The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 108 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the upper ends of the right-hand edges of the panel 150 and its counterpart; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 64. The left-hand edges of the panels 148 and 149 will be telescoped into and held by the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 108; and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into and held by the grooves of the grooved structural element 64.

The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 106 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the right-hand edges of the panels 148 and 149; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 64. The lower and intermediate portions of the left-hand edges of the panels 146 and 151 will be telescoped into the grooves 54 of the element 50, the upper portions of those edges will be telescoped into the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 106, and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves 48 of the grooved structural element 44. The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 104 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the lower portions of the right-hand edges of the panels 146 and 151; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 44. The left-hand edges of the panel 134 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 104; and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves 48 of the grooved structural element 44. The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 100 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the right-hand edges of the panel 134 and its counterpart; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 44. The side edges of the panels 132 and 133 will be telescoped into the grooves 34 and 32 of the connecting portion 28 of the corner fitting 24 and into the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 100.

At this time, the grooves of the grooved structural element 138, of the window-forming frame, will be moved into telescoping engagement with the intermediate portions of the right-hand edges of the panels 146 and 151, and the grooves of the grooved structural element 140, of that window-forming frame, will be moved into telescoping engagement with the intermediate portions of the left-hand edges of the panels 132 and 133. The grooves of the grooved structural element 136, of that window-forming frame, will be moved into telescoping engagement with the upper edges of the panel 134 and its counterpart. The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 102 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the right-hand edges of the panels 146 and 151; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 142 of that window-forming frame. The right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 98 will be moved into telescoping engagement with the upper portions of the left-hand edges of the panels 132 and 133; and the bottom of that connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 142. The side edges of the panel 144 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the confronting grooves of the connector members 98 and 102; and the bottom edges of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves of the grooved structural element 142 of that window-forming frame.

Countersunk openings, not shown, will be formed in the upper wall of the grooved structural element 62; and those openings will be in register with the openings in the horizontally-directed portions of the L-shaped braces at the free ends of the corner fitting 24 and of vertical element 60. The grooves of that grooved structural element will then be telescoped downwardly over the upper edges of the panel 150 and its counterpart, of the panels 148 and 149, of the panels 146 and 151, of the panel 144 and its counterpart, and of the panels 132 and 133. Thereafter, two self-tapping metal screws, not shown, will be passed downwardly through those countersunk openings and seated in the openings in those horizontally-directed portions of those L-shaped braces. The resulting wall 20 will be sturdy and rigid.

The vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 164 will be secured to the lower end of the inner wall of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24 by the screw 166; and the vertically directed portion of another L-shaped brace, not shown, will be secured to the upper end of that wall by a screw, not shown. The mitered right-hand end of the grooved structural element 66 will have the horizontally-directed portion of an L-shaped brace, not shown, secured to it by a screw, not shown; and the mitered left-hand end of that grooved structural element will be secured in abutting engagement with the mitered bottom of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24 by a screw, not shown. That grooved structural element will be suitably held in vertical position during and after the time the mitered left-hand end thereof is being secured to the mitered bottom of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24. Thereafter, the wall 20 can be tilted bodily upwardly to the vertical position of FIG. 1, and, as it is so tilted, the grooved structural element 66 will be lowered to the horizontal position of FIG. 1. One or more props will then be used to hold that wall in vertical position.

The panels 72 and 74 will have the left-hand edges thereof telescoped into the grooves 40 and 42 of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24; and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves of the grooved structural element 66. The grooves 80 and 84 of the H-shaped connector member 76 will be telescoped over the right-nand edges of the panels 72 and 74; and the bottom of that H-shaped connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 66. The left-hand edges of the panel 110 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the grooves 82 and 86 of the H-shaped connector member 76; and the bottom edges of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves of the grooved structural element 66. The lower portions of the left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 90 will be telescoped over the right-hand edges of the panel 110 and its counterpart; and the bottom of that H-shaped connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 66. The lower grooves of the H-shaped connector member 112 will be telescoped over the upper edges of the panel 110 and its counterpart.

The seal 114 will be fitted around the top, bottom and sides of the glass pane 116; and the seal 121 will be fitted around the top, bottom and sides of the glass pane 122. Thereupon, the seal-encased sides of the glass pane 116 will be telescoped into the groove 82 of the H-shaped connector member 76 and into the confronting groove of the H-shaped connector member 90. The seal-encased bottom of that glass pane will be telescoped into the upper inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 112. The seal-encased sides of the glass pane 122 will be telescoped into the groove 86 of the H-shaped connector member 76 and into the confronting groove of the H-shaped connector member 90. The seal-encased bottom of that glass pane will be telescoped into the upper outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 112. The lower, inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 118 will be telescoped over the seal-encased top of the glass pane 116; and the lower outer groove of that H-shaped connector member will be telescoped over the seal-encased top of the glass pane 122. The side edges of the panel 119 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the grooves 40 and 42 of the H-shaped connector member 76 and into the confronting grooves of the H-shaped connector member 90. The bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 118.

The left-hand edges of the panel 126 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 90; and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves of the grooved structural element 66. The left-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 94 will be telescoped over the right-hand edges of the panel 126 and its counterpart, and the bottom of that H-shaped connector member will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 66. The top, sides and bottom of the glass pane 128 will be encased by a seal, such as the seal 114; and the top, sides and bottom of a counterpart glass pane will be encased by a seal such as the seal 121. The left-hand, seal-encased side of the glass pane 128 will be telescoped into the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 94; and the seal-encased bottom of that glass pane will be telescoped into the inner groove of the grooved structural element 66. The left-hand, seal-encased side of the counterpart glass pane will be telescoped into the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 94; and the seal-encased bottom of that counterpart glass pane will be telescoped into the outer groove of the grooved structural element 66. The left-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 96 will be telescoped over the seal-encased right-hand side of the glass pane 128; and the left-hand outer groove of that H-shaped connector member will be telescoped over the seal-encased right-hand side of the counterpart glass pane. The bottom of the H-shaped connector member 96 will be moved into engagement with the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 66. The left-hand edges of the panel 130 and its counterpart will be telescoped into the right-hand grooves of the H-shaped connector member 96; and the bottoms of those panels will be telescoped into the grooves of the grooved structural element 66.

The mitered upper end of the vertical element 68 will have the vertically-directed portion of an L-shaped brace, not shown, secured to it by the screw 173; and then the grooves of that element will be telescoped over the right-hand edges of the panel 130 and its counterpart. The screw 167 will then be passed inwardly through a countersunk opening in the outer wall of the mitered lower end of the element 68 and seated in an opening in the vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace, not shown, that was previously secured to the mitered right-hand end of the grooved structural element 66. As a result, the screw 167 will coact with that L-shaped brace to secure the mitered lower end of the element 68 to the mitered right-hand end of the grooved structural element 66. The grooves of the grooved structural element 70 will be telescoped downwardly over the upper edges of the panels 72 and 74, of the panel 119 and its counterpart, of the panel 126 and its counterpart, of the seal-encased glass pane 128 and of its seal-encased counterpart, and of the panel 130 and its counterpart. Screws, not shown, will then be passed downwardly through the upper wall of the element 70 and seated in oepnings in the horizontally-directed portions of the L-shaped braces, not shown, that were previously secured to the upper ends of the vertical element 68 and of the connecting portion 36 of the corner fitting 24. The resulting wall 22 will be sturdy and rigid.

If any insulation 168 was used in either of the walls 20 or 22, that insulation would be introduced into the space between a panel and its counterpart while access to that space was available. Specifically, insulation would be placed in the space between the panel 134 and its counterpart before the window-defining frame, including the elements 136, 138, 140 and 142, was telescoped into position. Similarly, insulation would be placed between the panel 110 and its counterpart before the H-shaped connector member 112 was set in position. The rest of the insulation would be set in position before the upper elements 62 and 70 were set in position.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, the numeral 176 generally denotes a grooved structural element which has a tubular section that is square in cross section; and that grooved structural element preferably is a metal extrusion. The numerals 178 and 180 denote grooves which are disposed at opposite sides of the outer surface of one of the walls of the grooved structural element 176; and those grooves are parallel and extend along the entire length of that surface. The numerals 182 and 184 denote grooves which are disposed at opposite sides of the outer surface of another wall of the grooved structural element 176; and those grooves are parallel and extend along the entire length of that surface. The numerals 186 and 188 denote grooves which are disposed at opposite sides of the outer surface of a third wall of the grooved structural element 176; and those grooves are parallel and extend along the entire length of that surface. The grooves 186 and 188 are in registry with, but face away from, the grooves 180 and 178, respectively. The numerals 190 and 192 denote grooves which are disposed at opposite sides of the outer surface of the fourth wall of the grooved structural element 176; and those grooves are parallel and extend along the entire length of that surface. The grooves 190 and 192 are in registry with, but face away from, the grooves 184 and 182, respectively.

The grooved structural element 176 can be used to interrelate the inner and outer panels of four contiguous walls. Two of those walls will be in alignment with each other; and the endmost edges of the panels of one of those walls will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the grooves 178 and 180, while the endmost edges of the panels of the other of those walls will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the grooves 188 and 186. The remaining two walls associated with the grooved structural element 176 will be in alignment with each other; and the endmost edges of the panels of one of those remaining walls will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the grooves 182 and 184, while the endmost edges of the panels of the other of those remaining walls will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the grooves 192 and 190.

The grooved structural element 176 will fix the confronting ends of the four walls relative to itself and relative to each other, and this will strengthen and rigidify all of those walls. The positioning of the endmost edges of the panels of the four walls in the grooves of the grooved structural element 176 will hold that grooved structural element against any lateral movement. If, however, additional resistance to lateral movement of that grooved structural element were desired, the lower end of that grooved structural element could be embedded within the concrete of a concrete floor, could be welded or bolted to a plate which was secured to the floor, or could be secured to the floor by L-shaped braces like the L-shaped brace 153 of FIG. 3. Those L-shaped braces would have the vertically-directed portions thereof secured to the lower portions of the walls of the grooved structural element 176 by screws, and would have the horizontally-directed portions thereof suitably secured to the floor. If desired, a pair of ribs, such as the ribs 46 of the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11, could be provided at the inner surface of that wall of the grooved structural element 176 which bears the grooves 178 and 180; and a further pair of such ribs could be provided at the inner surface of that wall of the grooved structural element 176 which bears the grooves 188 and 186. Those pairs of ribs would provide additional reinforcement for the L-shaped braces which were used to hold the grooved structural element 176 against movement.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the numeral 194 denotes a grooved structural element which has a tubular section that is square in cross section; and that grooved structural element preferably is a metal extrusion. A connecting portion 196 is provided adjacent one of the walls of that tubular section; and that connecting portion has ribs 204, locking flanges 206, and panelreceiving grooves 212. The numeral 198 denotes a connecting portion which extends outwardly from a second of the four walls of the tubular section of the grooved element 194; and that connecting portion has ribs 204, locking flanges 206, and panel-receiving grooves 212. The numeral 200 denotes a connecting portion which extends outwardly from a third wall of the tubular section of the grooved structural element 194; and that connecting portion is in register with, but extends away from, the connecting portion 198. The connecting portion 200 has ribs 204, locking flanges 206, and panel-receiving grooves 212; and those panel-receiving grooves are in register with the panel-receiving grooves 212 on the connecting portion 198. The numeral 202 denotes a fourth connecting portion which could be provided at the fourth wall of the tubular section of the grooved structural element 194, and which is shown by dotted lines in FIG. 6. If that connecting portion were provided, it would be in register with, but would extend away from, the connecting portion 196. That fourth connecting portion would be equipped with ribs 204, locking flanges 206, and panel-receiving grooves 212; and those panel-receiving grooves would be in register with the panel-receiving grooves 212 on the connecting portion 196.

The numeral 208 denotes plates which have locking grooves 210 at the elongated sides thereof; and those locking grooves are parallel to each other. The cross sections of the locking grooves 210 are complementary to the cross sections of the locking flanges 206 of the various connecting portions 196, 198, 200 and 202. When plates 208 are assembles with the locking flanges 207 of connecting portions, as shown with the connecting portions 198 and 200 in FIG. 6, those plates close the open sides of those connecting portions. In addition, those plates stiffen and strengthen the parts of those connecting portions which support the panel-receiving grooves 212. The provision of the plates 208 and of the locking flanges 206 of the grooved structural element 194 reduces the cost of the die used to extrude that grooved structural element.

The numeral 214 in FIG. 6 denotes a grooved structural element which can be identical to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11. That grooved structural element has ribs 215 which are comparable to the ribs 46 of the grooved structural element 44, and it has upwardly-opening grooves 216 which are comparable to the groove 48 of the grooved structural element 44. The left-hand end of the grooved structural element 214 is mitered to abut the mitered lower end of the connecting portion 198 of the grooved structural element 194; and hence the grooves 216 of that grooved structural element will abut and be contiguous to two grooves 212 of the grooved structural element 194. An L-shaped brace 217, which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3, has the vertically-directed portion thereof held by the ribs 204 of the connecting portion 198 and by a screw, not shown, which extends through a countersunk opening in the adjacent wall of the grooved structural element 194 and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 217 is held by the ribs 215 of the grooved structural element 214 and by a screw, not shown, which extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in the bottom wall of that grooved structural element to seat in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. That L-shaped brace will hold the grooved structural element 214 against shifting relative to the grooved structural element 194.

Similar L-shaped braces, not shown, could be used to connect the mitered ends of other grooved structural elements 214 to the mitered lower ends of the connecting portions 196 and 200 -- and of the connecting portion 202, if the grooved structural element 194 is provided with the connecting portion 202. Those L-shaped braces, and the screws therefor, would hold those grooved structural elements 214 against shifting or tilting relative to the grooved structural element 194.

The numeral 226 in FIG. 6 denotes a panel which has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, one of the grooves 212 of the connecting portion 198 of the grooved structural element 194; and the numeral 228 denotes a panel which has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the other groove 212 of the connecting portion 198. The numeral 218 denotes a wooden two-by-four which is disposed within the space bounded by the plate 208 and the groove-defining parts of the connecting portion 198. That two-by-four can be secured in position by screws, bolts, or the like; and it will strengthen the grooved structural element 194 and the wall of which the panels 226 and 228 are parts. The numeral 220 denotes thin furring strips which are interposed between the confronting surfaces of the panels 226 and 228 and the exposed areas of the adjacent faces of the two-by-four 218; and those furring strips fill the spaces between those panels and those exposed areas. The numeral 222 denotes a two-by-four which is disposed within the space bounded by the upper wall and the groove-defining parts of the grooved structural element 214. That two-by-four can be secured to that upper wall by screws, bolts, or the like; and it will strengthen the grooved structural element 214 and the wall of which the panels 226 and 228 are parts. The left-hand end of the two-by-four 222 will abut the lower end of the two-by-four 218 in any desired manner. Thin furring strips 224 are interposed between the confronting surfaces of the panels 226 and 228 and the exposed areas of the adjacent surfaces of the two-by-four 222; and those furring strips fill the spaces between those panels and those exposed areas.

The two-by-fours 218 and 222 will be used in situations where additional strength and solidity are required for the wall which has the grooved structural element 194 as the left-hand end thereof, which has the grooved structural element 214 as the bottom thereof, and which has the panels 226 and 228 as two of the panels thereof. In addition, further two-by-fours and further furring strips could be disposed between the confronting surfaces of other panels of that wall. Ordinarily, however, the two-by-fours 218 and 222, and any further two-by-fours, will not be needed; because walls which are made from the grooved structural element 194, from grooved structural elements such as the grooved structural element 214, and from panels such as the panels 226 and 228 will be quite sturdy and rigid.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the numeral 230 denotes a grooved structural element which has a tubular section with a connecting portion 232 at one of the faces thereof and with a connecting portion 233 at a second of the faces thereof. Ribs 234 are provided in the connecting portion 232, and grooves 236 are provided at the outer face of that connecting portion. Ribs 235 are provided in the connecting portion 233, and grooves 237 are provided at the outer face of that connecting portion. The grooved structural element 230 preferably is a metal extrusion; and it is shown as being identical to the corner fitting 24 of FIG. 2.

The numeral 238 denotes a vertically-directed grooved structural element which preferably is made as a metal extrusion; and that grooved structural element can be identical to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11. The mitered upper end of the grooved structural element 238 abuts the mitered end of the connecting portion 232 of the grooved structural element 230; and hence the grooves 239 of the former grooved structural element will abut and be in register with the grooves 236 of that connecting portion. Similarly, the ribs 241 of the grooved structural element 238 will abut and be in register with the ribs 234 of the connecting portion 232.

An L-shaped brace 240 will have the horizontally-directed portion thereof held by the ribs 234 of the connecting portion 232, and by a screw 242 which extends downwardly through a countersunk opening in the upper wall of that connecting portion and seats in an opening within that horizontally-directed portion. The vertically-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 240 will be held by the ribs 241 of the grooved structural element 238, and by a screw 243 which extends through the inner wall of that grooved structural element and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The L-shaped brace 240 will be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3; and it will coact with the ribs 234 and 241 and with the screws 242 and 243 to hold the grooved structural element 238 against shifting or tilting relative to the grooved structural element 230.

The numeral 244 in FIG. 8 denotes a grooved structural element which preferably is made as a metal extrusion; and that grooved structural element has the same cross section as the grooved structural element 230. The grooved structural element 244 has a connecting portion 246; and ribs 248 are provided at the interior of that connecting portion, and grooves 250 extend outwardly from that connecting portion. The grooved structural element 244 also has a connecting portion 247; and ribs 252 are provided at the interior of that connecting portion, and grooves 254 extend outwardly from that connecting portion. The mitered lower end of the vertically-directed grooved structural element 238 abuts the mitered end of the connecting portion 246 of the grooved structural element 244; and hence the grooves 250 of that connecting portion abut, and are contiguous to, the grooves 239 of that grooved structural element. Similarly, the ribs 248 of that connecting portion abut, and are contiguous to, the ribs 241 of that grooved structural element.

The numeral 256 denotes an L-shaped brace which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3; and it has the vertically-directed portion thereof held by the ribs 241 of the vertically-directed grooved structural element 238, and by a screw, not shown, which extends through a countersunk opening in the inner wall of that grooved structural element and seats in an opening in that vertically-directed portion. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 256 is held by the ribs 248 of the connecting portion 246 of the grooved structural element 244, and by a screw 258 which extends upwardly through a countersunk opening in the lower wall of that connecting portion and seats in an opening in that horizontally-directed portion. That L-shaped brace will coact with the ribs 241 and 248, with the screw 258, and with the screw, not shown, that extends through the outer wall of the grooved structural element 238 to hold that grooved structural element against shifting or tilting relative to the grooved structural element 244.

The numeral 264 denotes a grooved structural element which preferably is made as a metal extrusion; and that grooved structural element can be identical to the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 3. However, the wide outer wall of the grooved structural element 264 is disposed in a vertical plane, whereas the wide outer wall of the grooved structural element 44 of FIG. 3 is disposed in a horizontal plane. The grooved structural element 264 has ribs 263 which can be identical to the ribs 46 of the grooved structural element 44; and it has grooves 265 which can be identical to the grooves 48 of the grooved structural element 44. The left-hand end of the grooved structural element 264 is mitered to abut the mitered end of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244; and hence the grooves 265 of the former grooved structural element abut, and are contiguous to, the grooves 254 of that connecting portion. Similarly, the ribs 263 of the grooved structural element 264 abut, and are contiguous to, the ribs 252 of that connecting portion.

The numeral 260 denotes an L-shaped brace which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3; and the left-hand portion of that L-shaped brace is held by the ribs 252 of the connecting portion 247, and by a screw 262 which extends through a countersunk opening in the inner wall of that connecting portion and seats in an opening in that left-hand portion. The right-hand portion of the L-shaped brace 260 is held by the ribs 263 of the grooved structural element 264 and by a screw, not shown, which extends through the wide outer wall of that grooved structural element and seats in an opening in that right-hand portion. That L-shaped brace will coact with the ribs 252 and 263, with the screw 262, and with the screw, not shown, that extends through the outer wall of the grooved structural element 264 to hold that grooved structural element against shifting or tilting relative to the grooved structural element 244.

The numeral 266 at the top of FIG. 8 denotes a grooved structural element which preferably is made as a metal extrusion; and that grooved structural element can be identical to the grooved structural element 264 at the bottom of FIG. 8. The grooved structural element 266 has ribs 267 which can be identical to the ribs 263, and it has grooves 269 which can be identical to the grooves 265. The wide outer wall of the grooved structural element 266 is disposed in a vertical plane. The mitered left-hand end of the grooved structural element 266 abuts the mitered end of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230; and hence the grooves 269 of the former grooved structural element abut, and are contiguous to, the grooves 237 of that connecting portion. Similarly, the ribs 267 of the grooved structural element 266 abut, and are contiguous to, the ribs 235 of that connecting portion.

The numeral 268 denotes an L-shaped brace which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3; and the left-hand portion of that L-shaped brace is held by the ribs 235 of the connecting portion 233, and by a screw 270 which extends through a countersunk opening in the inner wall of that connecting portion and seats in an opening in that left-hand portion. The right-hand portion of the L-shaped brace 268 is held by the ribs 267 of the grooved structural element 266 and by a screw 271 which extends through the wide outer wall of that grooved structural element and seats in an opening in that right-hand portion. That L-shaped brace will coact with the ribs 235 and 267 and with the screws 270 and 271 to hold that grooved structural element against shifting or tilting relative to the grooved structural element 230.

The numeral 272 denotes a panel which has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 236 of the connecting portion 232 of the grooved structural element 230, which has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 250 of the connecting portion 246 of the grooved structural element 244, and which has one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 239 of the grooved structural element 238. The numeral 274 denotes a panel which has the upper edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 236 of the connecting portion 232 of the grooved structural element 230, which has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 250 of the connecting portion 246 of the grooved structural element 244, and which has one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 239 of the grooved structural element 238. Those panels coact with other panels, not shown, to constitute the inner and outer surfaces of a wall which has the grooved structural element 230 as the cap thereof and which has the grooved structural element 244 as the base thereof. Those various panels will coact with those grooved structural elements, with the grooved structural element 238, and with a similar vertically-directed grooved structural element to make that wall sturdy and rigid.

The numeral 276 denotes a two-by-four which abuts the right-hand web of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230, and that two-by-four is disposed between the groove-defining portions of that connecting portion. That two-by-four can be secured to that web by screws, bolts, or the like; and furring strips 278 are secured to the exposed areas of the narrow surfaces of that two-by-four. The numeral 284 denotes a panel which has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 237 of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230, and which has another edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 269 of the grooved structural element 266. The numeral 286 denotes a panel which has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 237 of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230, and which has another edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 269 of the grooved structural element 266. The furring strips 278 fill the spaces between the confronting surfaces of the panels 284 and 286 and the exposed areas of the adjacent surfaces of the two-by-four 276. The numeral 280 denotes a two-by-four which abuts the inner wall of the grooved structural element 266 and which is disposed between the groove-defining portions of that grooved structural element; and that two-by-four can be secured to that inner wall by screws, bolts, or the like. The left-hand end of the two-by-four 280 will abut the end of the two-by-four 276. Furring strips 282 fill the spaces between the confronting surfaces of the panels 284 and 286 and the exposed areas of the adjacent surfaces of the two-by-four 280.

The furring strips 278 and 282 make it possible to solidly secure the inner surface of the panel 284 to the two-by-fours 276 and 280 by nails, staples, or the like without causing any portions of that panel to bend downwardly out of the plane defined by the outer groove 237 of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230 and by the upper groove 269 of the grooved structural element 266. Similarly, the furring strips 278 and 282 make it possible to solidly secure the inner surface of the panel 286 to the two-by-fours 276 and 280 by nails, staples, or the like without causing any portions of that panel to bend upwardly out of the plane defined by the inner groove 237 of the connecting portion 233 of the grooved structural element 230 and by the inner groove 269 of the grooved structural element 266. The panel 286 will serve as part of the ceiling for a room; and the panel 284 could serve as part of the roof for that room.

The numeral 288 denotes a two-by-four which abuts the right-hand web of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244; and that two-by-four is disposed between the groove-defining portions of that connecting portion. That two-by-four can be secured to that web by screws, bolts, or the like; and furring strips 290 are secured to the exposed areas of the narrow surfaces of that two-by-four. The numeral 292 denotes a two-by-four which abuts the inner wall of the grooved structural element 264 and which is disposed between the groove-defining portions of that grooved structural element; and that two-by-four can be secured to that inner wall by screws, bolts, or the like. The left-hand end of the two-by-four 292 will abut the end of the two-by-four 288. Furring strips 294 are secured to the exposed areas of the narrow surfaces of the two-by-four 292. The numeral 296 denotes a panel which has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 254 of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244, and which has another edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove 265 of the grooved structural element 264. That panel will serve as part of the floor of the room which has the panel 286 as part of the ceiling thereof. The numeral 298 denotes a panel which has the lefthand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 254 of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244, and which has another edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove 265 of the grooved structural element 264. The furring strips 290 fill the spaces between the confronting surfaces of the panels 296 and 298 and the exposed areas of the adjacent surfaces of the two-by-four 288; and the furring strips 294 fill the spaces between the confronting surfaces of those panels and the exposed areas of the adjacent surfaces of the two-by-four 292.

The furring strips 290 and 294 make it possible to solidly secure the inner surface of the panel 296 to the two-by-fours 288 and 292 by nails, staples, or the like without causing any portions of that panel to bend downwardly out of the plane defined by the inner groove 254 of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244 and by the inner groove 265 of the grooved structural element 264. Similarly, the furring strips 290 and 294 make it possible to solidly secure the inner surface of the panel 298 to the two-by-fours 288 and 292 by nails, staples, or the like without causing any portions of that panel to bend upwardly out of the plane defined by the outer groove 254 of the connecting portion 247 of the grooved structural element 244 and by the outer groove 265 of the grooved structural element 264.

Additional two-by-fours, not shown, could be disposed between the confronting surfaces of the panels 284 and 286; and furring strips, such as the furring strips 278 and 282, would be interposed between the exposed areas of the narrow surfaces of those two-by-fours and the inner surfaces of the panels 284 and 286. Similarly, additional two-by-fours, not shown, could be disposed between the confronting surfaces of the panels 296 and 298; and furring strips, such as the furring strips 290 and 294, would be interposed between the exposed areas of the narrow surfaces of those two-by-fours and the inner surfaces of the panels 296 and 298. Those various additional two-by-fours would additionally stiffen and rigidify the ceiling and the floor of the room indicated by FIG. 8.

It will be noted that the L-shaped brace 260 in FIG. 8 can be assembled with the grooved structural element 244 while that grooved structural element is in its final position. Similarly, it will be noted that the L-shaped brace 268 can be assembled with the grooved structural element 230 while that grooved structural element is in its final position. As a result, those L-shaped braces need not be assembled with those grooved structural elements before those grooved structural elements and the rest of the wall, of which they are parts, have been fully assembled and erected. Moreover, because the L-shaped brace 260 has the angularly-displaced portions thereof lying in vertical planes, rather than horizontal planes, the grooved structural element 264 need not be secured to the grooved structural element 244 before the latter grooved structural element and the rest of the wall, of which it is a part, have been fully assembled and erected. As a result, the assembly of the structure in FIG. 8 is somewhat simpler than the assembly of the structure in FIG. 1.

The procedure used in assembling the structure of FIG. 8 can generally follow the procedure used in assembling the structure of FIG. 1. However, because the grooved structural element 264 can be assembled with the grooved structural element 244 after the wall in FIG. 8 has been fully assembled and erected, the floor of the room will preferably be assembled as a sub-assembly and then bodily secured to that wall. The assembling of that floor as a sub-assembly is particularly desirable where the panel 298, and similar panels not shown, are to be nailed to the two-by-fours 288 and 292 and to further two-by-fours, not shown. The assembling of the floor with the wall is easily effected by passing screws inwardly through countersunk openings in the outer walls of the grooved structural element 264, and of its counterpart at the other end of the grooved structural element 244, and seating those screws in openings in the laterally-directed portions of the L-shaped brace 260 and of its counterpart. If desired, the ceiling of the room in FIG. 8 could be assembled as a sub-assembly and then bodily secured to the grooved structural element 230 by means of the L-shaped brace 268 and its counterpart.

Once the walls, the floor and the ceiling of the room in FIG. 8 have been assembled together, thin cushioning pads, not shown, could be cemented in position atop the panel 296 and atop the other panels, not shown, which constitute the upper surface of the floor. Those cushioning pads would have thicknesses comparable to the thickness of the wall which defines the upper limit of the upper groove 254 of the grooved structural element 244. As a result, those cushioning pads would coact with the exposed, horizontally-disposed portions of the grooved structural elements 244 and 264 and with the exposed horizontally-disposed portions of similar grooved structural elements to provide an essentially smooth surface for the floor. Vinyl, linoleum, asphalt or other floor coverings, either in the form of wide sheets or of individual tiles, could then be cemented in position atop the cushioning pads. If desired, of course, the floor of the room could be left as shown by FIG. 8, or it could have a smooth surface poured or cast thereon.

Referring particularly to FIG. 9, the numeral 300 denotes a grooved structural element which can be used to close, and to support, one end of a wall or partition; and it preferably is formed as a metal extrusion. That grooved structural element has a tubular section and a connecting portion 303; and that connecting portion has ribs 302 at the interior thereof and grooves 304 at the exterior thereof. Those ribs can be identical to the ribs 30 in FIG. 2, and those grooves can be identical to the grooves 32 and 34 in FIG. 2. The numeral 306 denotes a grooved structural element which can be identical to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11. That grooved structural element has ribs 305 which can be identical to the ribs 46 in FIG. 3, and it has grooves 307 which can be identical to the grooves 48 in FIG. 3.

The bottom of the connecting portion 303 of the grooved structural element 300 will be mitered, and the adjacent end of the grooved structural element 306 will be mitered; and those mitered ends will abut each other. The numeral 308 denotes an L-shaped brace which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3; and a screw 310 extends through a countersunk opening in the inner web of the connecting portion 303 of the grooved structural element 300 and seats in an opening in the vertically-extending portion of that L-shaped brace. A similar screw, not shown, will extend upwardly through a countersunk opening in the bottom wall of the grooved structural element 306 to seat in an opening in the horizontally-extending portion of the L-shaped brace 308. As a result, that L-shaped brace will hold the grooved structural element 306 against shifting relative to the grooved structural element 300.

The numeral 312 denotes a panel which has one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand groove 304 of the grooved structural element 300, and which has the bottom edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand groove 307 of the grooved structural element 306. The numeral 314 denotes a panel which has one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand groove 304 of the grooved structural element 300, and which has the bottom edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand groove 307 of the grooved structural element 306. Those panels constitute portions of the opposite faces of the wall or partition of which the grooved structural elements are parts. A cap, which can be identical to the grooved structural element 306, will have the mitered end thereof secured to the mitered upper end of the connecting portion 303 of the grooved structural element 300 by an L-shaped brace which is comparable to the L-shaped brace 308. A second grooved structural element 300 could be used to close, and to support, the other end of the wall shown by FIG. 9; or, if desired, one of the other grooved structural elements of the present invention could be used to close, and to support, that other end.

If desired, insulation could be disposed between the panels 312 and 314, could be disposed within the connecting portion 303, and could be disposed within the tubular section of the grooved structural element 300. Further, if desired, thin-wall metal conduits, cables and conductors, and insulated water pipes could be disposed within the tubular section of that grooved structural element.

Where the outer faces of the sides of the connecting portion 303 are spaced apart a distance of 5 inches, and where the other end of the wall or partition of FIG. 9 is solidly secured to a support, that wall or partition can be free-standing and will not need any lateral support or reinforecements -- even where that wall or partition is 10 to 15 feet long. Not only do the L-shaped braces help strengthen and rigidify that wall or partition, but the interengagement of the edges of the panels 312 and 314 with the grooves of the grooved structural element 300, of the grooved structural element 306, and of the cap, not shown, help strengthen and rigidify that wall or partition.

Referring particularly to FIG. 12, the numeral 320 denotes a panel section which is corrugated; and it preferably is formed as a metal extrusion. An elongated groove 322 is formed in the lower edge of that panel section, and an elongated tongue 324 is formed at the upper edge of that panel section. The elongated groove 322 is aligned with, and complementary to, the elongated groove 324. The numeral 326 denotes a further panel section which can be identical to the panel section 320. The groove 328 at the lower edge of the panel section 326 is identical to the groove 322 at the lower edge of the panel section 320; and the former groove telescopes over the tongue 324 at the upper edge of the panel section 320. When two or more panel sections 320 and 326 are set in edge-to-edge relation, and the groove of one panel section is telescoped over the tongue of the adjacent panel section, those panel sections can have a width comparable to the width of the panel 130 in FIG. 1. The panel sections 320 and 326 can have any desired lengths; and hence can be used to form walls or partitions of any desired heights.

The groove-defining edge of the panel section 320 is dimensioned to fit snugly within a groove 332 of a grooved structural element 330. That grooved structural element could be similar to any of the grooved structural elements of FIGS. 1-11. Because the tongue 324 is narrower than the groove-defining edge of either of the panel sections 320 and 326, a seal should be telescoped over that tongue if that tongue should be extended into, and confined and guided by, the groove of a grooved structural element.

If the panel sections 320 and 326 were to be used as part of an outer wall of a structure, a flowable sealant could be placed within the grooves into which the ends of the corrugations of those panel sections were to extend. That flowable sealant could coact with those grooves and with the recessed portions of the outer surfaces of the panel sections 320 and 326 to form liquid-type seals which would make the outer wall of the structure liquid-tight.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 13-17, the numeral 336 denotes the base for one of the walls shown in FIG. 13; and that base preferably is an H-shaped connector member which is similar to the H-shaped connecter member 76 of FIG. 10. The base 336 has upwardly-opening grooves 338 and 340 adjacent the opposite sides thereof, and it has downwardly-opening grooves which are in register with those grooves. The H-shaped connector member 336 differs from the H-shaped connector element 76 of FIG. 10, in that the groove 338 is wider than the groove 340. In the said one preferred embodiment, the groove 338 is essentially six hundred and twenty-five thousandths of an inch wide, whereas the groove 340 is essentially four hundred and six thousandths of an inch wide. If desired, of course, the grooves 338 and 340 could have the same widths, or could have any desired combinations of different widths.

The numeral 342 denotes the base of the other wall shown in FIG. 13; and that base has upwardly-opening grooves 344 and 346. Further, as shown particularly by FIG. 15, that base has downwardly-opening grooves in register with those upwardly-opening grooves. Preferably, the configuration of the base 342 is identical to the configuration of the base 336. The adjacent ends of the bases 336 and 342 are mitered to enable the axes of those bases to lie at right angles to each other.

The numeral 347 denotes an L-shaped reinforcing plate which underlies the webs of the bases 336 and 342, as shown particularly by FIGS. 15-17. That L-shaped reinforcing plate is dimensioned to fit between, and to have the side edges thereof immediately adjacent, the groove-defining portions which extend downwardly from those webs. Screws 349 extend downwardly through countersunk openings in those webs and seat in openings adjacent the ends of that L-shaped reinforcing plate. Those screws help that L-shaped reinforcing plate to keep the base 342 from shifting relative to the base 336.

The numeral 348 generally denotes a corner fitting which has grooves 350 and 352 that have the axes thereof displaced 90.degree., and which has further grooves 354 and 356 that have the axes thereof displaced 90.degree.. The axis of the groove 352 is parallel to the axis of the groove 356; and the axis of the groove 350 is parallel to the axis of the grooves 354. Ribs at one side of the web of the corner fitting 348 define confronting grooves 360 and 362, while corresponding ribs at the opposite side of that web define confronting grooves 358 and 364.

The numeral 366 denotes an L-shaped brace which has the upwardly-extending portion thereof telescoped into the grooves 358 and 364 of the corner fitting 348, and which has the horizontally-extending portion thereof fixedly secured to the web of the base 336 and to the L-shaped reinforcing plate 347 by screws 370. The numeral 368 denotes an L-shaped brace which can be identical to the L-shaped brace 366; and the vertically-directed portion of the former L-shaped brace extends upwardly into the confronting grooves 360 and 362, while the horizontally-directed portion of that brace is secured to the web of the base 342 and to the L-shaped reinforcing plate 347 by screws 370. The L-shaped braces 366 and 368 coact with the grooves 358 and 364 and the grooves 360 and 362, with the screws 370, with the webs of the bases 336 and 342, and with the L-shaped reinforcing plate 347 to hold the corner fitting 348 at right angles to the plane defined by those webs.

The numeral 388 denotes a resilient seal which is essentially U-shaped in cross section; and that seal is disposed within the groove 338 of the base 336 and within the groove 350 of the corner fitting 348. A panel 372 has the bottom edge thereof and one side edge thereof encased by the seal 388 and extending into, and confined and guided by, the grooves 338 and 350. That seal will coact with that panel and those grooves to provide an elongated liquid-tight joint between that panel and the base 336 and the corner fitting 348. The numeral 390 denotes a resilient seal which is essentially U-shaped in cross section; and that seal is disposed within the groove 346 of the base 342 and within the groove 352 of the corner fitting 348. The bottom edge and one side edge of a panel 378 are encased by the seal 390, and they extend into, and are confined and guided by, the grooves 346 and 352.

A panel 384 has the bottom edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 340 of the base 336, and it has one side edge extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 354 of the corner fitting 348. The numeral 386 denotes a panel which has the bottom edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 344 of the base 342, and which has one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 356 of the corner fitting 348. Because the panels 384 and 386 are intended to constitute portions of interior walls, seals are not used to encase the edges of those panels.

The left-hand edge of the panel 372 is encased by the seal 388, and it extends into, and is confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of an H-shaped connector member 374. That H-shaped connector member is preferably similar to the H-shaped connector member 76 of FIG. 10; but the outer groove of that H-shaped connector member has a width essentially identical to the width of the groove 338 in the base 336. The bottom of the H-shaped connector member 374 will rest upon the portions of the base 336 which define the grooves 338 and 340. The opposite side edge of the panel 384 will extend into the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 374. Because the groove 350 is spaced a greater distance from the H-shaped connector member 374 than is the groove 354, the panel 372 must be slightly wider than the panel 384.

A panel 376 will have a seal, comparable to the seal 388, extending around all of the edges thereof; and the seal-encased bottom edge of that panel will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the groove 338 of the base 336. The seal-encased right-hand edge of the panel 376 will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 374. A panel, not shown, will be in register with the panel 376, will have the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 340 of the base 336, and will have one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 374.

The right-hand edge of the panel 378 is encased by the seal 390, and it extends into, and is confined and guided by, the left-hand outer groove of an H-shaped connector member 380. THat H-shaped connector member is preferably identical to the H-shaped connector member 374; and the bottom of that H-shaped connector member will rest upon the portions of the base 342 which define the grooves 344 and 346. The opposite side edge of the panel 386 will extend into the left-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 380. Because the groove 352 is spaced a greater distance from the H-shaped connector member 380 than is the groove 356, the panel 378 must be slightly wider than the panel 386.

The numeral 382 denotes a panel which has a seal, comparable to the seal 390, extending around all of the edges thereof; and the seal-encased bottom edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the groove 346 of the base 342. The seal-encased left-hand edge of the panel 382 will extend into, and be confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 380. A panel, not shown, will be in register with the panel 382, will have the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the groove 344 of the base 342, and will have one side edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 380.

If desired, insulation can be disposed between the various outer and inner panels of the two walls shown in FIG. 13. Thereafter, caps 392 and 394 can be secured to the upper end of the corner fitting 348. The cap 392 can be identical to the base 336; and the downwardly-opening outer groove of that cap will telescope downwardly over the seal-encased upper edges of the panels 372 and 376. Consequently, the panels 372 and 376 can coact with the seals therefor and with the corner fitting 348, the base 336, the cap 392, the H-shaped connector member 374 and other H-shaped connector members, not shown, and with other seal-encased panels, not shown, to define a wall which is sealed against the entry of any rain, snow, sleet, and the like. The downwardly-opening inner groove of the cap 392 will telescope over the upper edge of the panel 384 and over the upper edge of the panel which is the counterpart of the panel 376. The portions of that cap which define the downwardly-opening grooves in that cap will abut the upper edges of the corner fitting 348 and the upper edge of the H-shaped connector member 374.

The cap 394 can be identical to the base 342; and the downwardly-opening outer groove of that cap will telescope downwardly over the seal-encased upper edges of the panels 378 and 382. As a result, the panels 378 and 382 can coact with the seals therefor and with the corner fitting 348, the base 342, the cap 394, the H-shaped connector member 380 and other H-shaped connector members, not shown, and with other seal-encased panels, not shown, to define a wall which is sealed against any entry of rain, snow, sleet, and the like.

An L-shaped reinforcing plate, not shown, which can be identical to the L-shaped reinforcing plate 347, will be secured to the upper surfaces of the webs of the caps 392 and 394. Also, L-shaped braces, not shown, which can be identical to the L-shaped braces 366 and 368 will be secured to the web of the corner fitting 348 before the caps 392 and 394 are set in position. After those caps have been set in position, screws, not shown, will be passed downwardly through countersunk openings in the webs of those caps and through openings in the L-shaped reinforcing plate, not shown, to seat in openings in the horizontally-directed portions of the L-shaped braces secured to the upper end of the web of the corner fitting 348.

The walls shown in FIG. 13 can have shorter overall heights, for the same height panels, than can the walls in FIG. 1; because the heights of the bases 336 and 342 are shorter than the heights of the grooved structural elements 44 and 66 in FIG. 1, and because the heights of the caps 392 and 394 are shorter than the heights of the grooved structural elements 62 and 70. However, the walls of FIG. 13 do not have the horizontally-extending and vertically-extending metal-encased areas which are present in the walls of FIG. 1, and which can accommodate thin walled conduits, cables and conductors, and insulated water pipes.

FIG. 18 shows an A-frame building that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that building is shown as being underlain by a concrete slab 400. Bases 402 and 404 are provided at one end of that building; and those bases can be similar to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11, can be similar to the H-shaped connector member 76 of FIG. 10, or can be similar to the bases 336 and 342 of FIGS. 13 and 15-17. A similar base, not shown, is provided at the opposite end of the building in FIG. 18. Those various bases will be fixedly secured to the concrete slab 400 by bolts, studs or other fasteners.

The numerals 406 and 408 denote vertically-directed grooved structural elements which can be similar to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11; and the lower ends of those grooved structural elements are mitered to abut the mitered inner ends of the bases 402 and 404. The numeral 410 denotes a horizontally-directed grooved structural element which can be similar to the grooved structural element 44 of FIGS. 3 and 11; and the opposite ends of that grooved structural element are mitered to abut the mitered upper ends of the grooved structural elements 406 and 408. An L-shaped brace, comparable to the L-shaped brace 153 in FIG. 3, will be used at the lower end of the grooved structural element 406 to fixedly secure that lower end to the base 402, a second L-shaped brace will be used at the upper end of the grooved structural element 406 to fixedly secure that upper end to the grooved structural element 410, a third L-shaped brace will be used at the lower end of the grooved structural element 408 to fixedly secure that lower end to the base 404, and a fourth L-shaped brace will be used at the upper end of the grooved structural element 408 to fixedly secure that upper end to the grooved structural element 410. The grooved structural elements 406, 408 and 410 will define a doorway which will accommodate a door 412 of standard and usual design.

The numeral 422 denotes a panel which has the upper edge thereof cut at an angle, as indicated by FIG. 18; and the lower edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove of the base 402, and the right-hand edge of that panel extends into, and is confined and guided by, the outer groove of the grooved structural element 406. A similar panel, not shown, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the base 402, and has the right-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the grooved structural element 406. An H-shaped connector member 414 has the left-hand outer groove thereof telescoped over the upper portion of the right-hand edge of the panel 422; and that H-shaped connector member has the left-hand inner groove thereof telescoped over the upper portion of the right-hand edge of the panel, not shown, which is the counterpart of the panel 422.

A glass pane 418, which has a seal like the seal 114 of FIG. 2 extending around all of the edges thereof, has the seal-encased lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the grooved structural element 410, and has the seal-encased left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 414. A similar glass pane, not shown, has the seal-encased lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the grooved structural element 410, and has the seal-encased left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 414. An H-shaped connector member 416 has the left-hand outer groove thereof telescoped over the seal-encased right-hand edge of the glass panel 418, and has the left-hand inner groove thereof telescoped over the seal-encased right-hand edge of the glass pane which is the counterpart of the glass pane 418. An H-shaped connector member 420 has the downwardly-opening outer groove thereof telescoped over the seal-encased upper edge of the glass pane 418, and has the downwardly-opening inner groove thereof telescoped over the seal-encased upper edge of the glass pane which is the counterpart of the glass pane 418. The lower ends of the H-shaped connector members 414 and 416 bear against the groove-defining portions of the grooved structural element 410. The ends of the H-shaped connector member 420 bear against those portions of the H-shaped connector members 414 and 416 which define the confronting grooves of those H-shaped connector members.

A panel 434, which has the upper edge thereof defined by two upwardly-converging lines, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upwardly-opening outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 420, has the lower portion of the left-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 414, and has the lower portion of the right-hand side thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 416. A similar panel, not shown, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the upwardly-opening rear groove of the H-shaped connector member 420, has the lower portion of the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 414, and has the lower portion of the right-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 416.

The numeral 428 denotes a panel which has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by the outer groove of the base 404, has the lower portion of the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the grooved structural element 408, and has the upper portion of that left-hand edge extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 416. A similar panel 456, which is shown in FIG. 19, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the base 404, has the lower portion of the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the grooved structural element 408, and has the rest of that left-hand edge extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 416.

The numeral 424 denotes an H-shaped connector member which has the lower edge thereof resting upon the groove-defining portions of the base 402, and which has the right-hand outer groove thereof telescoped over the left-hand edge of the panel 422. The right-hand inner groove of that H-shaped connector member is telescoped over the left-hand edge of the panel, not shown, which is disposed inwardly of the panel 422. The H-shaped connector member 424 is telescoped over the right-hand edge of a triangular panel 426; and that panel has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the base 402. A similar triangular panel, not shown, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the base 402, and has the right-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the left-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 424.

The numeral 430 denotes an H-shaped connector member which has the lower edge thereof resting upon the groove-defining portions of the base 404, which has the left-hand outer groove thereof telescoped over the right-hand edge of the panel 428, and which has the left-hand inner groove thereof telescoped over the right-hand edge of the panel 456. The right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 430 is telescoped over the left-hand edge of a triangular 432 which has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the outer groove of the base 404. A similar triangular panel, not shown, has the lower edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the inner groove of the base 404, and has the left-hand edge thereof extending into, and confined and guided by, the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 430.

The panels 422, 426, 428, 432 and 434 constitute portions of the exterior surface at one end of the A-frame building of FIG. 18; and hence those panels should be capable of withstanding prolonged exposure to wind, rain, snow and the like. Also, the edges of those panels should be encased by seals like the seals 388 and 390 of FIG. 16. Where that is done, those panels will be able to coact with the glass pane 418 and the door 412, and with the grooved structural elements 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 414, 416, 420, 424 and 430 to effectively exclude rain, snow and the like.

The numeral 440 denotes a grooved structural element which has a tubular portion, which has grooves 442 and 444 extending outwardly from one face of that tubular portion, has grooves 446 and 448 extending outwardly from the opposite face of that tubular portion, and which has grooves 450 and 452 extending outwardly from a third face of that tubular portion. That grooved structural element inclines upwardly from lower right to upper left; and the groove 450 thereof telescopes over the seal-encased, inclined upper edges of the panels 432, 428 and 434. The groove 452 of the grooved structural element 440 telescopes over the inclined upper edges of the panel which is the counterpart of the panel 432, of the panel 456 as shown by FIG. 19, and of the panel which is the counterpart of the panel 434. The seal which encases the edges of the panel 428 is denoted by the numeral 454, and it is shown in FIG. 19.

The numeral 458 denotes a roof panel which has a seal 459 extending around all of the edges thereof; and the seal-encased, left-hand edge of that roof panel is telescoped into, and confined and guided by, the groove 444 of the grooved structural element 440, as shown by FIG. 19. The numeral 460 denotes a narrower roof panel which has a seal 461 extending around all of the edges thereof; and the seal-encased, right-hand edge of the roof panel is telescoped into, and confined and guided by, the groove 446 of the grooved structural element 440. The numeral 462 denotes a panel which is part of the ceiling of the A-frame building, and the left-hand edge of that panel is telescoped into, and confined and guided by, the groove 442 of the grooved structural element 440. The numeral 464 denotes a panel which is in register with but disposed inwardly of the roofing panel 460, and the right-hand edge of that panel is telescoped into, and confined and guided by, the groove 448 of the grooved structural element 440.

The numeral 466 denotes a grooved structural element which serves as an end element of the roof of the A-frame building; and the cross section of that grooved structural element is similar to the cross section of the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11. The grooved structural element 466 has grooves 468 and 470; and the groove 468 is in register with the groove 448 of the grooved structural element 440, while the groove 470 is in register with the groove 446 of that grooved structural element. The seal-encased, left-hand edge of the roofing panel 460 is telescoped into, and confined and guided by, the groove 470; and the left-hand edge of the panel 464 extends into the groove 468, as shown by FIG. 19.

The numeral 474 denotes a base which rests upon the concrete slab 400, and which underlies the lower edge of the right-hand side of the roof of the A-frame building. That base has grooves 476 and 478; and, as shown particularly by FIG. 23, those grooves have their axes inclined to the vertical. The inclinations of those axes are the same as the inclination of the grooved structural element 440; and the bottom of that grooved structural element is cut so it rests upon the groove-forming portions of the base 474. The numeral 480 denotes a fastener which extends downwardly through the web of the base 474, and which is tightly seated within the concrete slab 400. Similar fasteners will be provided along the length of the base 474 to fixedly secure that base against shifting relative to the concrete slab 400. The right-hand end of the base 404 will be cut to snugly abut the left-hand edge of the base 474.

The numeral 484 denotes a number of identical grooved structural elements which are aligned end-to-end and which serve as the cap of the A-frame building of FIG. 18; and the cross section of one of those grooved structural elements is shown by FIG. 21. That grooved structural element has a groove 486 and a groove 488; and the axes of those grooves diverge downwardly and outwardly. The axis of the groove 488 is aligned with the axis of the groove 478 of the base 474. The grooved structural element 484 has a vertically-directed web; and it has grooves 490 and 492 at the lower end of that web which diverge outwardly and downwardly. The axis of the groove 492 is coplanar with the axis of the groove 476 of the base 474, and it is parallel to the axis of the groove 488. The axis of the groove 490 is parallel to the axis of the groove 486, as shown by FIG. 21.

The numeral 493 denotes an H-shaped connector member which can be identical to the H-shaped connector member 342 in FIGS. 15 and 16. Similar H-shaped connector members 494 and 534 also are provided for the right-hand portion of the roof of the A-frame building of FIG. 18. In addition, an H-shaped connector member 500 and tow additional H-frame connector members, not shown, are provided for the left-hand portion of the roof of that A-frame building; and those H-shaped connector members are paired with the H-shaped connector members 494, 493 and 534. As indicated by FIGS. 21 and 22, the upper ends of each pair of H-shaped connector members are cut at angles and are abutted together to define parts of the ridge of the A-frame building. The left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 493 is telescoped over the right-hand edge of the roof panel 458; and the left-hand inner groove of that H-shaped connector member is telescoped over the right-hand edge of the ceiling panel 462.

The numeral 496 denotes a roof panel which has a seal 533, of U-shaped cross section, extending around the edges thereof; and the seal-encased upper edge of that panel extends into the groove 488 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The right-hand edge of the roof panel 496 extends into the groove 495 of the H-shaped connector 494; and the left-hand edge of that roof panel extends into the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 493. A ceiling panel 526 is generally in register with the panel 496; and the upper edge of that panel extends into the groove 492 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484, as shown by FIG. 21. The right-hand edge of the ceiling panel 526 extends into the groove 497 of the H-shaped connector member 494, and the left-hand edge of that ceiling panel extends into the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 493.

The numeral 502 denotes a frusto-triangular plate which abuts the webs of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 500. Bolt and nut combinations 504 extend through that frusto-triangular plate and through the webs of those H-shaped connector members to help that plate fix those H-shaped connector members against shifting or tilting relative to each other. L-shaped braces 506 are set in abutting engagement with the opposite faces of the webs of contiguous grooved structural elements 484, as shown particularly by FIG. 22; and nut and bolt combinations 508 extend through the longitudinally-extending portions of those L-shaped braces and through those webs to fixedly secure those L-shaped braces to those webs. Further nut and bolt combinations 508 extend through the laterally-extending portions of the L-shaped braces 506, through the webs of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 500, and through the frusto-triangular plate 502 to fixedly secure the contiguous grooved structural elements 484 to those H-shaped connector members. The L-shaped braces 506 thus coact with the webs of the contiguous grooved structural elements 484 and with the webs of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 500 to fixedly interrelate those H-shaped connector members and those contiguous grooved structural elements.

The numeral 532 denotes a seal which extends around the edges of a roof panel 514 which constitutes part of the left-hand side of the roof of the A-frame building of FIG. 18. The right-hand edge of that panel extends into the groove 501 of the H-shaped connector member 500; and the upper edge of that panel extends into the groove 486 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The left-hand edge of the panel 514 will be disposed within the right-hand outer groove of an H-shaped connector member, not shown, which is coplanar with the H-shaped connector member 493. A panel 524, which serves as part of the ceiling of the A-frame building, will have the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 503 of the H-shaped connector member 500, and will have the upper edge thereof disposed within the groove 490 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The left-hand edge of the ceiling panel 524 will be disposed within the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member which is coplanar with the H-shaped connector member 493.

The numeral 510 denotes a roof panel which has a seal 520 extending around the edges thereof; and the seal-encased left-hand edge of that roof panel is disposed within the groove 498 of the H-shaped connector member 494. The upper edge of the roof panel 510 will extend into the groove 488 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484, and the right-hand edge of the roof panel 510 will extend into the left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 534. The numeral 512 denotes a roof panel which has a seal 516 extending around the edges thereof; and the seal-encased upper edge of that roof panel is disposed within the groove 486 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The right-hand edge of that roof panel is disposed within the left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member, not shown, which is coplanar with the H-shaped connector member 534; and the left-hand edge of that panel is disposed within the groove 505 of the H-shaped connector member 500, as shown by FIG. 22.

A ceiling panel 535 is disposed inwardly of, and generally in register with, the roof panel 510; and the upper edge of that ceiling panel is disposed within the groove 492 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The side edges of that ceiling panel are disposed within the confronting inner grooves of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 534. A ceiling panel 537 is disposed inwardly of, and generally in register with, the roof panel 512; and the upper edge of that ceiling panel is disposed within the groove 490 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The side edges of that ceiling panel are disposed within the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member 500 and the confronting groove of the H-shaped connector member, not shown, which is coplanar with the H-shaped connector member 534.

The numeral 536 denotes a further roof panel; and a seal, not shown, extends around the edges of that roof panel. The seal-encased, left-hand edge of that roof panel extends into the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 534, and the seal-encased upper edge of that roof panel extends into the groove 488 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484, and the seal-encased right-hand edge of that roof panel extends into a groove 574 in a grooved structural element 566 which serves as an end element of the right-hand side of the roof. That grooved structural element has a tubular portion with additional grooves 572, 570 and 568 projecting outwardly therefrom, as shown by FIG. 20. The lower edge of the grooved structural element 566 will be cut to provide a snug fit with the right-hand end of the base 474.

A ceiling panel, not shown, is disposed inwardly of, and generally in register with, the roof panel 536; and the upper edge of that ceiling panel is disposed within the groove 492 of the adjacent grooved structural element 484. The side edges of that ceiling panel are disposed within the confronting inner grooves of the H-shaped connector member 534 and of the grooved structural element 566.

The numerals 538, 540, 542, 544 and 546 denote horizontally-directed, H-shaped connector members which extend, respectively, between the grooved structural elements 466 and 440, the grooved structural element 440 and the H-shaped connector member 493, the H-shaped connector members 493 and 494, the H-shaped connector members 494 and 534, and the H-shaped connector member 534 and the grooved structural element 566. The upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 538 receive and support the lower edges of panels 460 and 464, the upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 540 receive and support the lower edges of panels 458 and 462, the upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 542 receive and support the lower edges of panels 496 and 526, the upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 544 receive and support the lower edges of panels 510 and 535, and the upper grooves of the H-shaped connector member 546 receive and support the lower edges of the panel 536 and its counterpart.

The numeral 547 denotes a roof panel which has a seal, not shown, extending around the four edges thereof; and that roof panel has the seal-encased, right-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the groove 446 of the grooved structural element 440, has the seal-encased, left-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the groove 470 of the grooved structural element 466, has the seal-encased upper edge thereof telescoped into the lower outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 538, and has the seal-encased, lower edge thereof telescoped into the groove 478 of the base 474. A generally-similar panel, not shown, is disposed inwardly of the roof panel 547; and the side edges of that panel are telescoped into the lower portions of the grooves 448 and 468, respectively, of the grooved structural elements 440 and 466, the upper edge of that panel is telescoped into the inner lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 538, and the lower edge of that panel is telescoped into the groove 476 of the base 474.

The numeral 548 denotes a roof panel which has a seal, not shown, extending around the four edges thereof; and that roof panel has the seal-encased, right-hand edges thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the outer left-hand groove of the H-shaped connector member 493, has the seal-encased, left-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the groove 444 of the grooved structural element 440, has the seal-encased upper edge thereof telescoped into the lower outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 540, and has the seal-encased lower edge thereof telescoped into the groove 478 of the base 474. A ceiling panel, not shown, is disposed inwardly of the roof panel 548; and the side edges of that panel are telescoped into the lower portions of the groove 442 of the grooved structural element 440 and the inner left-hand groove of the H-shaped connector member 493, the upper edge of that panel is telescoped into the inner lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 540, and the lower edge of that panel is telescoped into the groove 476 of the base 474.

The numeral 550 denotes a further roof panel which has a seal 556 extending around the four edges thereof; and that roof panel has the seal-encased right-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the left-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 494, has the seal-encased left-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the right-hand outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 493, has the seal-encased upper edge thereof telescoped into the lower outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 542, and has the seal-encased lower edge thereof telescoped into the groove 478 of the base 474, as shown by FIG. 23. A ceiling panel 558 is disposed inwardly of the roof panel 550; and the side edges of that panel are telescoped into the lower portions of the inner confronting grooves of the H-shaped connector members 493 and 494, the upper edge of that panel is telescoped into the inner lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 542, and the lower edge of that panel is telescoped into the groove 476 of the base 474, as shown by FIG. 23.

The numeral 552 denotes a further roof panel which has a seal extending around the four edges thereof; and that roof panel has the seal-encased side edges thereof telescoped into the lower portions of the confronting outer grooves of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 534, as shown in part by FIG. 20, has the seal-encased upper edge thereof telescoped into the outer lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 544, and has the seal-encased lower edge thereof telescoped into the groove 478 of the base 474. A ceiling panel 584 is disposed inwardly of the roof panel 552; and the side edges of that panel are telescoped into the lower portions of the inner confronting grooves of the H-shaped connector members 494 and 534, the upper edge of that panel is telescoped into the inner lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 544, and the lower edge of that panel is telescoped into the groove 476 of the base 474.

The numeral 554 denotes a roof panel which has a seal 586 extending around the four edges thereof; and that roof panel has the seal-encased, right-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the groove 574 of the grooved structural element 566, as shown by FIG. 20, has the seal-encased, left-hand edge thereof telescoped into the lower portion of the outer right-hand groove of the H-shaped connector member 534, as shown by FIG. 20, has the seal-encased upper edge thereof telescoped into the lower outer groove of the H-shaped connector member 546, and has the seal-encased lower edge thereof telescoped into the groove 478 of the base 474. A ceiling panel 582 is disposed inwardly of the roof panel 554; and the side edges of that panel are telescoped into the lower portions of the groove 572 of the grooved structural element and the confronting groove of the H-shaped connector member 534, as shown by FIG. 20, the upper edge of that panel is telescoped into the inner lower groove of the H-shaped connector member 546, and the lower edge of that panel is telescoped into the groove 476 of the base 474.

The seal-encased roof panels 458, 460, 496, 510, 536, 547, 548, 550, 552, and 554 coact with the grooved structural elements 440, 446 and 566, the base 474, the various lengths of the grooved structural element 484, the the H-shaped connector members 493, 494, 534, 538, 540, 542, 544 and 546 to constitute the right-hand half of a water-tight roof for the A-frame building of FIG. 18. The seal-encased roof panels 512 and 514 and additional seal-encased roof panels, not shown, which are counterparts of the roof panels 458, 460, 536, 547, 548, 550, 552 and 554 coact with a grooved structural element 559, which is a mirror image of the grooved structural element 466, grooved structural elements, not shown, which are mirror images of the grooved structural elements 440 and 566, a base, not shown, which is a mirror image of the base 474, the various lengths of the grooved structural element 484, the H-shaped connector member 500, and H-shaped connector members, not shown, which are mirror images of the H-shaped connector members 493, 534, 538, 540, 542, 544 and 546 to constitute the left-hand half of that water-tight roof.

The panel 464 in FIG. 19, panels 557 and 564 in FIG. 18, a panel, not shown, which is a mirror image of the panel 564, and H-shaped connectors 538 and 565 coact with the grooved structural elements 466 and 559 to define the inner surface of an overhang at the front of the A-frame building of FIG. 18. The ceiling panels 462, 526, 535, 558, 582 and 584 and the ceiling panels, not shown, in register with the roof panels 536 and 548, coact with the grooved structural elements 440 and 566, the base 474, the various lengths of the grooved structural element 484, and the H-shaped connector members 493, 494, 534, 540, 542, 544 and 546 to constitute the right-hand half of the ceiling of the A-frame building of FIG. 18. The ceiling panels 524 and 537 and the other ceiling panels, not shown, which are coplanar with them coact with the grooved structural elements, not shown, which are mirror images of the grooved structural elements 440 and 566, a base, not shown, which is a mirror image of the base 474, the various lengths of the grooved structural element 484, the H-shaped connector member 500, and H-shaped connector members, not shown, which are mirror images of the H-shaped connector members 493, 534, 540, 542, 544 and 546 to constitute the left-hand half of that ceiling.

The numeral 560 in FIG. 23 denotes an L-shaped brace which is secured to the web of the H-shaped connector member 494 and also to the web of the base 474 by bolt and nut combinations 562. The numeral 590 in FIG. 20 denotes an L-shaped brace which is secured to the web of the H-shaped connector member 534 and also to the web of the base 474 by nut and bolt combinations 592. Similar L-shaped braces and similar nut and bolt combinations, not shown, will secure the lower ends of the grooved structural elements 440, 466 and 566, and the lower end of the H-shaped connector member 493 to the base 474. Also, similar L-shaped braces and similar nut and bolt combinations, not shown, will secure the lower end of the grooved structural element 559, the lower ends of the grooved structural elements corresponding to the grooved structural elements 440 and 566, the lower end of the H-shaped connector member 500, and the lower ends of the H-shaped connector members corresponding to the H-shaped connector members 493 and 534 to the base which is the counterpart of the base 474. As a result, the roof and ceiling of the A-frame building of FIG. 18 will be sturdy and rigid, and will strengthen and rigidify that A-frame building.

The numeral 576 denotes a triangular panel which has a seal 578 extending around the three edges thereof; and that panel has the inclined upper edge thereof telescoped into the groove 568 of the grooved structural element 566, as shown by FIG. 20. The bottom edge of that panel will be telescoped into the outer groove of the base 594 which corresponds to the base 404, and the left-hand edge of that panel will be telescoped into the right-hand outer groove of an H-shaped connector member which corresponds to the H-shaped connector member 430. Other panels, not shown, which can be glass panes or solid panels will coact with the panel 576 to help constitute the outer surface of the wall at the other end of the A-frame building of FIG. 18. The numeral 580 in FIG. 20 denotes a panel which is triangular in configuration, and which has the inclined upper edge thereof telescoped into the groove 570 of the grooved structural element 566. The bottom edge of that panel will be telescoped into the inner groove of the base 594, and the left-hand edge of that panel will telescope into the right-hand inner groove of the H-shaped connector member which corresponds to the H-shaped connector member 430. Further panels, not shown, which can be glass panes or solid panels, will coact with the panel 580 to help constitute the inner surface of the wall at the other end of the A-frame building of FIG. 18.

The components of the A-frame building of FIG. 18 could be assembled together in different ways; but they will preferably be assembled by securing the base 474 and its counterpart to the concrete slab 400, and by securing the bases 402, 404 and 594 to that concrete slab. Thereafter, the grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart will be secured together and will be set off to one side; and the grooved structural elements 466 and 559 will be secured together and will be set off to one side. The grooved structural elements 406, 408 and 410 will be interconnected and then will be connected to the bases 402 and 404. The panel 422 and its corresponding inner panel will then be set in position, and the H-shaped connector member 414 will be set in position. The seal-encased glass pane 418 and its counterpart will be set in position, the H-shaped connector member 420 will be set in position, the H-shaped connector member 416 will be set in position, the panel 428 and inner panel 456 will be set in position, and the panel 434 and its counterpart will be set in position. The H-shaped connector member 424 will be set in position, and the triangular panel 426 and its counterpart will be set in position. The H-shaped connector member 430 will be set in position, and the triangular panel 432 and its counterpart will be set in position. As, or after, the panels 422, 426, 428, 432 and 434 and their counterparts are set in position, insulation will preferably be disposed between the confronting faces of those panels. Thereafter, the assembled grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart will be raised to vertical position, and then will be jacked up sufficiently to enable the grooves therein to be set in position above, and in register with, the upper edges of the panels 422, 426, 428, 432 and 434 and their counterparts. Thereupon, the grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart will be lowered, and the grooves therein will telescope over those upper edges. At such time, the lower ends of the grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart will be fixedly secured to the base 474 and to the counterpart of that base.

The roof panel 548 and its ceiling panel will be set in position with insulation therebetween, and the H-shaped connector member 540 will be set in position. The corresponding roof panel and ceiling panel will then be set in position, and the H-shaped connector member corresponding to the H-shaped connector member 540 will be set in position. The roof panel 458 and the ceiling panel 462 will be set in position with insulation therebetween; and the corresponding roof panel and ceiling panel will then be set in position. At such time, the length of the grooved structural element 484 which accommodates the upper edges of the roof panel 458 and of its counterpart and which also accommodates the upper edges of the ceiling panel 462 and its counterpart will be telescoped into position. One end of that length of that grooved structural element will be fixedly secured to the upper ends of the grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart.

The upper ends of the H-shaped connector member 493 and its counterpart will be suitable connected together, and then the left-hand grooves of those H-shaped connector members will be telescoped over the right-hand edges of the roof panels 458 and 548 and their counterparts and of the corresponding ceiling panels and their counterparts. The upper ends of those H-shaped connector members will be suitably connected to the previously-installed length of grooved structural element 484; and the lower ends of those H-shaped connector members will be suitably connected to the base 474 and its counterpart.

In similar fashion, the roof panels 496, 510, 536, 550, 552 and 554 and their counterparts, the corresponding ceiling panels and their counterparts, the H-shaped connector members 494, 500, 534, 542, 544 and 546 and the counterparts of the H-shaped connector members 534, 542, 544 and 546, and the remaining three lengths of the grooved structural element 484 will be installed.

At this time, the grooved structural element 566 will be set in position; and its lower end will be suitably secured to the base 474, and its upper end will be suitably secured to the right-handmost length of grooved structural element 484. The triangular panels 576 and 580 will be set in position, the H-shaped connector member which corresponds to the H-shaped connector member 430 will be set in position, and the panels which correspond to the panel 428 and inner panel 456 will be set in position. A full length H-shaped connector member, rather than the short H-shaped connector member 416, will be set in position; and a full length panel, rather than the short panel 434, will be set in position, and so will the adjacent inner panel. A full length H-shaped connector member, rather than the short H-shaped connector member 414, will be set in position; and panels which correspond to the panel 422 and its inner panel will be set in position. An H-shaped connector member which corresponds to the H-shaped connector member 424 will be set in position; and panels which correspond to the panel 426 and its inner panel will be set in position. Thereafter, the counterpart of the grooved structural member 566 will be set in position; and the upper edges of the inner and outer taller panels of the left-hand side of the other end wall of the A-frame building of FIG. 18 will be tilted outwardly to enable the upper ends of the horizontally-directed and vertically-directed grooves of that grooved structural element to be telescoped over the adjacent edges of the roof and ceiling and wall panels. Thereupon, the upper end of that grooved structural element will be suitably secured to the upper end of the grooved structural element 566 and to the right-handmost length of the grooved structural element 484; and the lower end of that grooved structural element will be suitably secured to the base which is the counterpart of the base 474.

One or more of the panels of the other end wall of the A-frame building of FIG. 18 could consist of or include glass panels. Similarly, one or more of the panels of the roof and ceiling of that A-frame building could consist of or include glass panels.

To complete the exterior of the A-frame building, the roof panel 547 and its corresponding inner panel will be set in position; and the H-shaped connector member 538 will be set in position. The panel 564 and the counterpart of panel 546 and the H-shaped connector member 565 will be set in position. Thereafter, the roof panel 460 and the panel 464 will be set in position; and the panel 557 and the counterpart of the panel 460 will be set in position. At this time, the adjacent length of the grooved structural element 484 will be telescoped into position atop the upper edges of the panels 460, 464, 557 and the counterpart of the panel 460; and that length of that grooved structural element will be suitably secured to the upper ends of the grooved structural element 440 and its counterpart. The previously-connected grooved structural elements 466 and 559 will be raised to vertical position; and then the grooves in those grooved structural elements will be telescoped over the outer edges of the panels 460, 464, 547, 557, 564 and of the counterparts of the panels 460, 547 and 564. The upper ends of the grooved structural elements 466 and 559 will be suitably secured to the left-handmost grooved structural element 484; and the lower ends of those grooved structural elements will be suitably secured to the base 474 and its counterpart.

The A-frame building of FIG. 18 will be extremely sturdy and rugged. Each panel, each H-shaped connector member, each of the bases, each length of the grooved structural element 484, the grooved structural elements 440, 466, 559 and 566, and the counterparts of the grooved structural elements 440 and 566 interact to make that A-frame building sturdy and rugged. Yet, only a minimum number of screws, bolt and nut combinations, or other fasteners are needed to interconnect the various component parts of that A-frame building.

Referring particularly to FIG. 24, the numeral 596 generally denotes a grooved structural element which serves as a corner fitting and which resembles, but which differs individually from, the corner fitting 348 of FIGS. 13-17. Instead of having the grooves for the outer panels of adjacent walls disposed close to the outer corner, as is the case with the corner fitting 348, the corner fitting 596 has grooves 598 and 600 that are spaced several inches from that outside corner. The corner fitting 596 also has grooves 602 and 604 which are intended to accommodate the inner panels of two adjacent walls. Ribs 606 and 608 are provided at the opposite sides of the web of the corner fitting 596; and the ribs 606 are intended to engage the vertically-extending portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, while the ribs 608 are intended to engage the upwardly-extending portions of further L-shaped braces, not shown. The horizontally-extending portions of those L-shaped braces will be secured to suitable bases and to suitable caps, not shown, of those adjacent walls.

Ribs 597 are formed on the corner fitting 596, and those ribs are intermediate the grooves 598 and 602. Ribs 605 also are formed on the corner fitting 596, and those ribs are intermediate the grooves 600 and 604. Locking flanges 599 and 601 are provided on the corner fitting 596, and those locking flanges are spaced inwardly of the ribs 597. The ribs 597 and the locking flanges 599 and 601 snugly accommodate the vertically-extending portions of additional L-shaped braces, not shown. The numerals 607 and 609 denote locking flanges which are provided on the corner fitting 596; and those locking flanges are disposed inwardly of the ribs 605. The ribs 605 and the locking flanges 607 and 609 snugly accommodate the vertically-extending portions of still further L-shaped braces, not shown. Where L-shaped braces are associated with the ribs 606 and 608, it will not ordinarily be necessary to associate L-shaped braces with the ribs 597 and the locking flanges 599 and 601 or with the ribs 605 and the locking flanges 607 and 609. However, where L-shaped braces are not associated with the ribs 606 and 608, L-shaped braces will usually be associated with the ribs 597 and the locking flanges 599 and 601 and with the ribs 605 and the locking flanges 607 and 609.

The numeral 603 denotes a plate which has locking grooves at the opposite edges thereof; and one of those locking grooves is complementary to the locking flange 599, while the other of those locking grooves is complementary to the locking flange 601. The plate 603 can be assembled with the corner fitting 596 by telescoping the locking grooves of that plate into engagement with the locking flanges 599 and 601. Similarly, the numeral 611 denotes a plate which has locking grooves at the opposite edges thereof; and one of those locking grooves is complementary to the locking flange 607, while the other of those locking grooves is complementary to the locking flange 609. The plate 611 can be assembled with the corner fitting 596 by telescoping the locking grooves of that plate into engagement with the locking flanges 607 and 609. The plate 603 fixes the spacing between the confronting faces of the locking flanges 599 and 601, and thus enable the corner fitting 596 to fully resist any forces which would tend to move the groove 598 closer to, or further away from, the groove 602. Similarly, the plate 611 fixes the spacing between the confronting faces of the locking flanges 607 and 609, and thus enable the corner fitting 596 to fully resist any forces which would tend to move the groove 600 closer to, or further away from the groove 604.

It will be noted that the groove 602 and 604 of the corner fitting 596 have abutments 613 which are in alignment with the inner ends of the grooves 598 and 600. The spacing of the grooves 598 and 600 from the outer corner of the corner fitting 596 will coact with the abutments 613 in the grooves 602 and 604 to enable the corner fitting 596 to be used with inner an outer panels which have the same widths. As a result, the sawing operations and the resulting waste which are entailed in the cutting of the inner panels 384 and 386 of FIG. 16 are obviated.

If desired, the lower end of the corner fitting 596 of FIG. 24 could be held against lateral movement by being set within the concrete of a concrete floor or by being secured to a plate which was fastened to that concrete. In addition, if desired, metal plates 617 could have the lower ends thereof embedded within the concrete of a concrete floor, and could have the upper ends telescoped into the lower end of the corner fitting 596. Those upper ends would fit neatly into the spaces between two abutments 615 and the inner ends of the grooves 598 and 600.

FIG. 25 shows a spacer 610 which has a web 612 with flanges 614 and 616 at the opposite ends of that web. The flange 614 can abut the inner panel of a wall while the flange 616 abuts the outer panel of that wall; and hence that spacer can provide support for the portions of those panels which are intermediate the edges thereof. Ribs 618 are provided at one face of the spacer 610 to accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a suitable base and cap, not shown. Similarly, ribs 620 are provided at the opposite face of the spacer 610 to accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a suitable base and cap, not shown. The inner panel of the wall can be secured to the flange 614 of the spacer 610 by cement, by self-tapping screws, or by other ways known to the art. Similarly, the outer panel of that wall can be secured to the flange 616 by cement, self-tapping screws, or by other ways known to the art. The exposed faces of the flanges 614 and 616 are shown as being roughened to enable cements, adhesives, mastics, or the like to adhere tightly to them.

The flanges 614 and 616 of the spacer 610 will have the bottom edges thereof resting upon the portions of a base which define the upper edges of grooves in that base. The upper edges of those flanges will underlie the portions of a cap which define the lower edges of the grooves in that cap. If desired, the spacer 610 could be set in horizontal position within a wall; and, in that position, it would serve as a fire stop for that wall.

Referring particularly to FIG. 26, the numeral 622 generally denotes an H-shaped connector member which is similar to, but which differs individually from, the H-shaped connector member 76 of FIG. 10. The H-shaped connector member 622 has grooves 624, 626, 628 and 630 which are comparable to the grooves 84, 86, 80 and 82 of the H-shaped connector member 76. However, the H-shaped connector member 622 has ribs 632 at one side of the web thereof which confront each other and which are disposed between the grooves 624 and 628. Also, that H-shaped connector member has ribs 634 at the opposite side of that web which confront each other and which are disposed between the grooves 626 and 630. The space between the ribs 632 and that web can accommodate the vertically-extending portions of L-shaped braces which can have the horizontally-extending portions thereof secured to the webs of bases and caps; and one such L-shaped brace is denoted by the numeral 629 in FIG. 26. The horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by a screw and by the ribs of a base 631. The space between the ribs 634 and the web of the H-shaped connector member 622 can accommodate the vertically-extending portions of L-shaped braces which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to the webs of bases or caps; and one such L-shaped brace is denoted by the numeral 633 in FIG. 26. The horizontally-directed portion of that L-shaped brace is held by a screw and by the ribs of the base 631.

The spacer 610 of FIG. 25 is shown in FIG. 26 as it appears when it is secured to a base, such as the base 631. An L-shaped brace 635 has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed in the space between the web 612 and the ribs 618; and the horizontally-directed portion of that brace is secured to the base 631 by a screw and by the ribs of that base. An L-shaped brace 637 has the vertically-directed portion thereof disposed in the space between the web 612 and the ribs 620; and the horizontally-directed portion of that brace is secured to the base 631 by a screw and by the ribs of that base. A panel 639 has the lower edge thereof disposed within the inner groove of the base 631, and cement, an adhesive, screws, or the like can secure that panel to the flange 614 of the spacer 610. A panel 641 has the lower edge thereof disposed within the outer groove of the base 631, and cement, an adhesive, screws, or the like can secure that panel to the flange 616 of that spacer. The grooves 626 and 630 of the H-shaped connector member 622 and the confronting grooves of an adjacent H-shaped connector member will support the side edges of the panels 639 and 641; and the spacer 610 will help support the intermediate portions of those panels.

FIG. 27 shows, on a larger scale and in perspective, the L-shaped brace 629 of FIG. 26. The vertically-directed portion of that L-shaped brace has a countersunk opening therein and has oppositely-disposed notches therein. That countersunk opening will accommodate a screw, not shown, which seats in an opening, not shown, in the web of the H-shaped connector member 622. Those notches accommodate the ribs of the base 631. The horizontally-directed portion of the L-shaped brace 629 has a countersunk opening therein; and that countersunk opening will accommodate the screw which seats in an opening, not shown, in the web of the base 631.

The L-shaped brace 629, and similar L-shaped braces, will have the horizontally-directed portions thereof threaded into the space between one end of the web of the base 631 and the ribs of that base. Thereafter, those L-shaped braces will be slid along the length of that base until they are in the desired positions. At such time, the appropriate H-shaped connector members, the appropriate spacers, or appropriate grooved structural elements will have the ribs thereof telescoped downwardly over the vertically-directed portions of those L-shaped braces. The interactions of the various ribs, webs and screws will securely and solidly lock those L-shaped braces, H-shaped connector members, spacers, and grooved structural elements in position.

Referring particularly to FIG. 28, the numeral 636 generally denotes a grooved structural element which could be used in lieu of each of the grooved structural elements 136, 138, 140 and 142 around the window-like opening in FIG. 1. That grooved structural element has grooves 638 and 640, and it has ribs 642 which confront each other and which are disposed between the grooves 638 and 640. The ribs 642 can coact with the web of the grooved structural element 636 to accommodate portions of L-shaped braces that will be used to lock that grooved structural element to other grooved structural elements which are set at right angles to that grooved structural element. If desired, the grooved structural element 636 could be used in lieu of any of the grooved structural elements 336, 342, 392 and 394 of FIGS. 13-17 in lieu of any of the grooved structural elements 466, 559 and 566 and the counterpart of 566 in FIG. 18, and in lieu of the base 631 in FIG. 26.

Referring to FIG. 29, the numeral 646 generally denotes a grooved structural element which has a web 648 with grooves 650, 652 and 654 adjacent one end of that web, and with grooves 656, 658 and 660 adjacent the opposte end of that web. A rib 662 is provided adjacent the grooves 652 and 654, ribs 664 are disposed at the right-hand face of the web 648 and are disposed between the grooves 654 and 656, a rib 666 is provided adjacent the grooves 656 and 658, and ribs 668 are disposed at the left-hand face of the web 648 and are disposed between the grooves 650 and 660. The web 648 and the ribs 668 can accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown. Similarly, the web 648 and the ribs 664 can accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown.

FIG. 29 also shows a grooved structural element 670 which is a mirror image of the grooved structural element 646. The grooved structural element 670 as a web 672 with grooves 674, 676 and 678 adjacent one end thereof and with grooves 680, 682 and 684 adjacent the opposite end thereof. A rib 686 is provided adjacent the grooves 674 and 676, and that rib is set in register with the rib 662 on the grooved structural element 646. Ribs 688 are provided at the right-hand face of the web 672 and are disposed between the grooves 678 and 680; and a rib 690 is set in register with the rib 666 on the grooved structural element 646. Ribs 692 are provided at the left-hand face of the web 672, and those ribs are intermediate the grooves 674 and 684. The space between the web 672 and the ribs 688 can accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown. Similarly, the space between the web 672 and the ribs 692 can accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown. The rib 686 can coact with the rib 662 and with the adjacent walls of the grooves 674 and 654 to accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown. Similarly, the rib 690 can coact with the rib 666 and with the adjacent walls of the grooves 684 and 656 to accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to a base and cap, not shown.

A panel 694 has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 650 of the grooved structural element 646, and a panel 698 has the left-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 678 of the grooved structural element 670; and those panels constitute parts of the inner surface of a wall. A panel 704 has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 660 of the grooved structural element 646, and a panel 708 has the left-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 680 in the grooved structural element 670; and those constitute parts of the outer surface of that wall. The numeral 696 denotes a spacer which has the left-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 654 of the grooved structural element 646 and which has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 674 of the structural element 670. A similar spacer 706 has the left-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 656 of the grooved structural element 646 and has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 684 of the grooved structural element 670. The spacers 696 and 706 will lie in the planes, respectively, of the inner and outer surfaces of the wall, but they can be made of unornamented or rough material because they will be concealed.

The numeral 700 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 652 of the grooved structural element 646, and the numeral 702 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 676 of the grooved structural element 670. Those panels constitute parts of the inner and outer surfaces of a wall which extends at right angles to the wall which is defined, in part, by the panels 694, 698, 704 and 708. The numeral 710 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 658 of the grooved structural element 646, and the numeral 712 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 682 of the grooved structural element 670. The panel 710 is in alignment with the panel 700, and the panel 712 is in alignment with the panel 702; and the panels 710 and 712 constitute parts of the inner and outer surfaces of a second wall which extends at right angles to the wall which is defined, in part, by the panels 694, 698, 704 and 708. As a result, the two compact and inexpensive grooved structural elements 646 and 670 make it possible to connect two walls at right angles to a through wall or to interconnect the abutting ends of four separate walls. Those two grooved structural elements thus perform at least one of the functions of the grooved structural element 194 of FIG. 6, even if that grooved structural element is equipped with the dotted-line connecting portion 202.

Referring particularly to FIG. 30, the numeral 720 denotes a grooved structural element which has a web 722 with grooves 724, 726 and 728 adjacent one end thereof and with grooves 730 and 732 adjacent the opposite end thereof. A rib 734 is provided adjacent the grooves 726 and 728, ribs 736 are disposed adjacent the right-hand face of the web 722 and are intermediate the grooves 728 and 730, and ribs 738 are disposed at the left-hand face of that web and are intermediate the grooves 724 and 732. The numeral 740 in FIG. 30 denotes a grooved structural element which is a mirror image of the grooved structural element 720 -- having a web 742 with grooves 744, 746 and 748 adjacent one end thereof and with grooves 750 and 752 adjacent the opposite end thereof. A rib 754 is provided adjacent the grooves 746 and 744, and that rib is set in register with the rib 734 on the grooved structural element 720. Ribs 756 are disposed at the right-hand face of the web 742 and are intermediate the grooves 748 and 750, and ribs 758 are disposed at the left-hand face of that web and are disposed between the grooves 744 and 752.

A panel 760 has the right-hand edge disposed within the groove 724 of the grooved structural element 720, and a panel 764 has the left-habd edge thereof disposed within the groove 748 of the grooved structural element 740. Those panels define part of the inner face of a wall; and part of the outer face of that wall is defined by a panel 770 which has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 732, by a panel 772 which has the opposite edges thereof disposed within the grooves 730 and 752, and by a panel 774 which has the left-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 750. The numeral 762 denotes a spacer which has the opposite edges thereof disposed within the grooves 728 and 744. Although that spacer lies in the plane defined by the panels 760 and 764, that spacer will be hidden, and thus can be an unornamented or rough piece of wood. The numeral 766 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 726 of the grooved structural element 720, and the numeral 768 denotes a panel which has one edge thereof disposed within the groove 746 of the grooved structural element 740. The panels 766 and 768 are parts of the inner and outer surfaces of a wall which is set at right angles to the wall, which is defined, in part, by the panels 760, 764, 770, 772 and 774. As a result, the two compact and inexpensive grooved structural elements 720 and 740 are able to perform one of the functions of the structural element 194 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 31 shows a grooved structural element 776 which has a web 778 with grooves 780 and 782 at one end thereof and with grooves 784 and 786 at the other end thereof. Ribs 788 are disposed adjacent the left-hand face of the web 778, and those ribs are intermediate the grooves 780 and 786. Those ribs can coact with the web 778 to accommodate the vertically-directed portions of L-shaped braces, not shown, which can have the horizontally-directed portions thereof secured to cap and to a base 789. The numeral 790 denotes a panel which has one side edge thereof disposed within the groove 782, and the lower edge of that panel will be set in the left-hand groove of the base 789. The numeral 792 denotes a panel which has one side edge thereof disposed within the groove 784, and the lower edge of that panel will be set in that left-hand groove of that base. The panels 790 and 792 constitute parts of one face of a wall; and the numeral 794 denotes a panel which constitutes part of the other face of that wall. The lower edge of the panel 794 extends into the right-hand groove of the base 789; and the side edges of that panel will extend into the confronting grooves of the grooved structrual elements, not shown.

The numeral 796 denotes a panel which has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 780, and the numeral 798 denotes a panel which has the right-hand edge thereof disposed within the groove 786. The panels 796 and 798 define parts of the inner and outer surfaces of a wall which is disposed at right angles to the wall which is constituted, in part, by the panels 790, 792 and 794. As a result, the simple and inexpensive grooved structural element 766 of FIG. 31 is able to perform part of the fuction of the grooved structural element 194 in FIG. 6.

The numeral 800 in FIG. 32 denotes a grooved structural element which can be identical to the grooved structural element 44 in FIG. 11; and the numeral 802 denotes a further grooved structural element which can be identical to the grooved structural element 44. An elongated L-shaped metal extrusion 804 has a flange 806 extending at right angles to one of the arms thereof, and has a flange 808 extending at right angles to the other arm thereof. One arm of the extrusion 804 abuts the outer web of the grooved structural element 800, while the other arm of that extrusion abuts the outer web of the grooved structural element 802. In doing so, that L-shaped extrusion disposes the grooved structural elements 800 and 802 at right angles to each other.

The numeral 810 denotes an L-shaped metal extrusion with an abutment 816 extending inwardly thereof adjacent the free end of one of the arms thereof, and with an abutment 818 extending inwardly thereof adjacent the free end of the other arm thereof. As shown particularly by FIG. 32, the free end of the right-hand arm of the L-shaped extrusion 810 abuts the outer face of the flange 806 on the right-hand arm of the extrusion 804, and the abutment 816 abuts that right-hand arm. The free end of the left-hand arm of the L-shaped extrusion 810 abuts the flange 808 on the left-hand arm of the extrusion 804, and the abutment 818 abuts that left-hand arm. Fasteners 820, and similar fasteners in vertical relation with them, fixedly secure the right-hand arm of the extrusion 804 to the outer web of the grooved structural element 800; and fasteners 822, and similar fasteners in vertical relation with them, fixedly secure the left-hand arm of that extrusion to the outer web of the grooved structural element 802. A fastener 824, and similar fasteners in vertical relation with it, secure the free end of the left-hand arm of the extrusion 810, the flange 808 on the extrusion 804, and the adjacent wall of the grooved structural element 802 together. A fastener 826, and similar fasteners in vertical relation with it, secure the free end of the right-hand arm of the extrusion 810, the flange 806 on the extrusion 804, and the adjacent wall of the grooved structural element 800 together.

The extrusions 804 and 810 interconnect the grooved structural elements 800 and 802 to provide an overall structure which is very similar to, and which effectively performs the functions of, the grooved structural element 24 in FIG. 2. For example, the grooved structural element 800 performs the function of the connecting portion 28 of the grooved structural element 24, the grooved structural element 802 performs the function of the connecting portion 36 of the grooved structural element 24, and the extrusions 804 and 810 help define the sides of a tubular portion which is like the tubular portion 26 of the grooved structural element 24. As a result, FIG. 32 shows how two of the grooved structural elements of the present invention can be combined together with connecting members to constitute the equivalent of a more complex grooved structural element. Hence, it should be apparent that some of the grooved structural elements of the present invention could be fabricated as well as extruded; and that various of those grooved structural elements could be combined together or with other members to provide various cross-sectional configurations.

The fabricated grooved structural element shown in FIG. 32 has one important advantage over the grooved structural element 24 in FIG. 2. Specifically, that fabricated grooved structural element makes it possible to assemble two adjacent walls, while all of the components of those walls are in their horizontal positions, and then bodily tilt those walls up to vertical position and interconnect the adjacent ends of those walls.

Further, the fabricated grooved structural element of FIG. 32 permits two adjacent walls to be separated from each other -- to eliminate an undesired partition or wall, to enable those walls to be moved to a new location and then be re-connected, or to permit easy alteration or replacement of either of those walls.

FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 13 and 15-17 show how walls can be disposed at right angles to each other and interconnected by corner fittings. If desired, a number of walls could be assembled and set in end-to-end fashion so they were coplanar, and then the grooved structural elements at the confronting ends of the adjacent walls could be screwed or bolted together to form one very long, continuous wall. Similarly, if desired, a number of walls could be assembled and set one above the other in coplanar fashion, and then the grooved structural elements at the bottoms of the upper walls could be screwed or bolted to the tops of the lower walls to form one very high continuous wall. Moreover, if desired, a number of walls could be assembled in end-to-end fashion and further walls could be set one above the other, and then the grooved structural elements at the confronting portions of the adjacent walls could be screwed or bolted to form one very long, very high wall. As a result, it should be apparent that by use of the present invention, it should be possible to provide almost any desired size or configuration of wall or other composite structure.

If it ever became necessary to obtain access to the space between the panel 126 of the wall 22 in FIG. 1 and its counterpart, a hole could be drilled in that panel. and then a keyhole saw or a saber-type jigsaw could be used to cut two vertically-directed slots in that panel. Those slots would preferably be about one foot apart, perfectly straight, and extend from the groove-defining portion of the grooved structural element 66 to the groove-defining portion of the grooved structural element 70. Thereafter, a chisel or other sharp-pointed tool would be inserted in the lower ends and upper ends of those slots to extend those slots to the upper and lower edges of that panel, and thereby subdivide that panel into a 1-foot wide section, a left-hand section, and a right-hand section.

Thereupon, the midpoint of the 1-foot wide section could be bowed outwardly until the top thereof could be moved out of the inner groove of the grooved structural element 70, or the bottom thereof could be moved out of the inner groove of the grooved structural element 66. Subsequently, the left-hand section and the right-hand section of the panel 126 could be successively shifted toward the space created by the removal of the one-foot wide section of that panel; and then the mid-points of those sections could be bowed outwardly to free the upper and lower edges of those sections from the inner grooves of the grooved structural elements 70 and 66. In that way, the panel 126 can be removed from the wall 22 without disturbing any other portion of that wall.

Before the three sections of the panel 126 are replaced in the wall 22 in FIG. 1, two of the spacers 610 of FIG. 25 will have the lower ends thereof rested on the upper edges of the confronting, groove-defining flanges of the grooved structural element 66, and will have the upper ends thereof disposed immediately adjacent the lower edge of the confronting, groove-defining flanges of the grooved structural element 70. Those spacers can be suitably secured to the grooved structural elements 66 and 70 by screws and by L-shaped connectors, such as the L-shaped connector 560 in FIG. 23 or the L-shaped connector 590 in FIG. 20. If desired, of course, two-by-fours could be used instead of the spacers 610 of FIG. 25.

One of the spacers 610 or one of the two-by-fours will be disposed in register with the joint between the left-hand section and the 1-foot wide section of the panel 126, and the other spacer 610 or the other two-by-four will be disposed in register with the joint between the right-hand section of that panel and that 1-foot wide section. Thereafter, the left-hand section and the right-hand section of that panel will be successively set adjacent the wall 22, the bottom edges of those sections will be set within the inner groove of the grooved structural element 66, the midpoints of those sections will be bowed outwardly until the upper edges of those sections are below the level of the inner groove of the grooved structural element 70, and then those upper edges will be guided into that groove. Those sections of the panel 126 will then be shifted away from each other until the left-hand edge of the left-hand section of that panel again telescopes into the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 90 and the right-hand edge of the right-hand section of that panel again telescopes into the left-hand inner groove of the connector member 94. At this time, the lower edge of the 1-foot wide section of the panel 126 will be disposed within the inner groove of the grooved structural element 66, the midpoint of that section will be bowed outwardly, and the upper edge of that section will be guided into the inner groove of the grooved structural element 70. Thereupon, holes will be drilled through the portions of the three sections of the panel 126 which overlie the flanges 616 of the spacer 610, and those holes will be extended through those flanges so self-tapping metal screws can be passed through the openings in those sections and seated in the openings in those flanges. Once this has been done, the edges of all three sections of the panel 126 will be solidly held in the same plane. The joints between the one-foot wide sectiona and the left-hand and right-hand sections of the panel 126 can then be suitably masked by tape and paint.

The hereinbefore-described method of replacing the three sections of the panel 126 can also be used whenever it is desirable to install a panel within a space which has already been enclosed by grooved structural elements. As a result, even if a workman prematurely completed a frame, and thereby enclosed all four sides of a space before he installed within that space the panels intended therefor, that workman could subsequently install those panels within that space without having to open one side of that frame. It thus should be apparent that the present invention permits the removal and subsequent replacement of panels from completed frames, and also permits the insertion of panels into completed frames.

The grooved structural elements of FIGS. 5, 6 and 29-31 are shown as they would appear when used as vertically-directed, grooved structural elements, but those grooved structural elements could be incorporated into walls wherein they would be horizontally directed. Where so incorporated, those grooved structural elements could be used to support shelves, table tops, sub-ceilings, raised floors, stair steps or the like. For example, the grooved structural element 176 in FIG. 5 could have the grooves 186 and 188 thereof telescoped downwardly over the upper edges of the panel 134 in the wall 20 of FIG. 1 and its counterpart, and could have the lower edges of panels such as the panel 144 and its counterpart telescoped downwardly into the grooves 180 and 178 thereof. At such time, the grooves 182 and 184 could be used to support the ends of built-in shelves, a table top, or the like. Similarly, the grooves 190 and 192 could be used to support the ends of built-in shelves, a table top, a sub-ceiling, a raised floor, stair steps, or the like. The grooved structural element 776 of FIG. 31 would be particularly useful as a support for built-in shelves, or a built-in table top, because the ends thereof could easily be mitered to mate with the mitered ends of connecting members such as the connecting member 76 of FIG. 10. As a result, it should be apparent that the various grooved structural elements of the present invention could be used where they are to be horizontally-directed as well as vertically-directed. Further, as indicated by FIGS. 18-23, the grooved structural elements of the present invention could be used in inclined positions as well as in vertical and horizontal positions.

Each panel which has the edges thereof telescoped into the elongated, transversely-spaced grooves of the grooved structural elements provided by the present invention will usually be handled as a unit, and will usually have a thickness just slightly smaller than the widths of those grooves or will have the edges thereof encased by seals which have widths close to the widths of those grooves. However, in some instances it may be desirable to utilize a panel which is a composite panel. For example, where a panel such as the panel 126 has been cut into three sections to permit its removal and replacement, as described hereinbefore, or has been cut into three sections to permit its initial introduction into a previously-closed frame, it may be desirable to have the exposed surface of that panel overlain by an ornamental panel. That ornamental panel would be almost as wide as the panel 126, but it would be sufficiently shorter than the panel 126 to permit the upper and lower edges thereof to abut the groove-defining inner flanges of the grooved structural elements 70 and 66.

In installing such a composite panel, the three sections of panel 126 would be installed in the manner described hereinbefore; and the edges of the 1-foot wide section and the adjacent edges of the left-hand and right-hand sections of that panel would be suitably secured to spacers 610 or to two-by-fours which had the tops and bottom thereof secured to the grooved structural elements 70 and 66. Thereafter, a suitable mastic would be applied to the exposed face of the panel 126; and then the ornamental panel would have the left-hand edge thereof telescoped into the space which is within the right-hand inner groove of the connector member 90 and at the exposed surface of the left-hand section of the panel 126. This can easily be done, because the upper and lower edges of the ornamental panel will not have to be telescoped into the inner grooves of the grooved structural elements 66 and 70 -- the length of that ornamental panel being essentially equal to the distance between the confronting edges of the groove-defining flanges of those grooved structural elements. Once the left-hand side of the ornamental panel has been adequately secured to the left-hand portion of the panel 126, the right-hand edge of that ornamental panel will be telescoped into the space which is within the left-hand inner groove of the connector member 94 and at the exposed surface of the right-hand section of the panel 126. Thereafter, the rest of that ornamental panel will be pressed into adhering engagement with the mastic which overlies the rest of the exposed face of the panel 126. With a relatively slow-drying mastic, it will be possible to adequately smooth out the ornamental panel, and thereby provide an attractice surface for the appropriate portion of the wall. Where the edges of such a composite panel were to be fitted into grooves which were five-eighths of an inch wide, the panel 126 could have a thickness of three-eighths of an inch and the ornamental panel could have a thickness of about one-quarter of an inch. The use of such a composite panel would eliminate the need of taping and painting the joints between the 1-foot wide section and the left-hand and right-hand sections of the panel 126. Further, it would permit the use of less-expensive and less-decorative wood in the panel 126.

The walls provided by the present invention can be vertically directed to serve as exterior walls, walls between rooms, walls between rooms and corridors, or as free standing walls or partitions. Further, the walls provided by the present invention can be horizontally directed to serve as shelves, floors, ceilings or roofs. Moreover, the walls provided by the present invention can be inclined to serve as inclined roofs, ceilings, or partitions. As a result, it should be understood that as used herein and in the appended claims, the word "walls" is intended to comprehend walls, partitions, shelves, floors, ceilings, roofs and the like.

The various grooved structural elements provided by the present invention make it possible to provide overall structures which can be assembled quickly and with a minimum of fasteners, and yet which are very sturdy and rugged. Each component of those grooved structural elements contributes its proportionate share of the sturdiness and ruggedness needed by the overall structure; and hence that overall structure is desirably sturdy and rugged.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described several different embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A wall that has an aperture therein and that includes an elongated base member, an elongated top member disposed above and in vertical registry with said base member, a vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, a second vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, said second vertically-directed member being laterally displaced from the first said vertically-directed member, a spacing member extending between said base member and said top member, said spacing member being laterally displaced from said first said vertically-directed member and from said second vertically-directed member, said members being frame-defining members which coact to define a frame for said wall, a plurality of aperture-defining members which coact to define said aperture for said wall, said base member having a horizontally-directed web, said top member having a horizontally-directed web parallel to said web of said base member, said first said vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, said second vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is parallel to said web of said first said vertically-directed member and which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, said spacing member having a web, each of said aperture-defining members having a web, a plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a second plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, a third plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a fourth plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, a fifth plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said spacing member and having another arm thereof abutting a third portion of said web of said base member, a sixth plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said spacing member and having another arm thereof abutting a third portion of said web of said top member, further plural-arm locking members having arms thereof abutting said webs of said aperture-defining members, each of said aperture-defining members and some of said frame-defining members having elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of said aperture-defining members facing outwardly and away from said aperture, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of said some frame-defining members facing inwardly of said frame, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of said aperture-defining members confronting and being in register with said transversely-spaced grooves in a plurality of said some frame-defining members, each of said transversely-spaced grooves in said aperture-defining members having substantial portions of the confronting surfaces of the walls thereof parallel to each other, said transversely-spaced grooves in contiguous members of said some frame-defining members being aligned and in communication with each other, said transversely-spaced grooves in contiguous members of said aperture-defining members being aligned and in communication with each other, fasteners which are positively and mechanically secured to said first said, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth locking members, further fasteners which are positively and mechanically secured to said further locking members, a plurality of panels which coact to define a plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by one of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, a second plurality of panels which coact to define a second plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by the second of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, at least one of said panels of the first said plurality of panels having an edge thereof extending into and held by one of said transversely-spaced grooves in at least one of said aperture-defining members, at least one of said panels of said second plurality of panels having an edge thereof extending into and held by the second of said transversely-spaced grooves in said one of said aperture-defining members, the panels of said first said plurality of panels coacting to define a first surface for said wall, the panels of said second plurality of panels coacting to define a second surface for said wall, said aperture-defining members and said frame-defining members coacting with said first said and said second plurality of panels to bound and define an insulating space which is located within said wall and which is intermediate said aperture and the outer periphery of said frame, said top member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said top member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of said third locking member and of said one arm of said fourth locking member and of said other arm of said sixth locking member, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member and whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member and whereby said sixth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member, said first said vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said first said vertically-directed member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said third locking member and of said other arm of said first said locking member, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member, said third locking member coating with one of the first said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said third locking member to rigidly lock said third locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said second vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said second vertically-directed member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said fourth locking member and of said other arm of said second locking member, whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member and whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member, said fourth locking member coacting with one of said first said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said fourth locking member to rigidly lock said fourth locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said base member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said base member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of the first said locking member and of said one arm of said second locking member and of said other arm of said fifth locking member, whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member and whereby said fifth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member, said first said locking member coacting with one of said first said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said first said locking member to rigidly lock said first said locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said base member, said second locking member coacting with one of said first said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said second locking member to rigidly lock said second locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said base member, said spacing member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said spacing member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of said fifth locking member and of said one arm of said sixth locking member, whereby said fifth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said spacing member and whereby said sixth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said spacing member, said fifth locking member coacting with one of said first said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said fifth locking member to rigidly lock said fifth locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said spacing member relative to said base member, said sixth locking member coacting with one of said first said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said sixth locking member to rigidly lock said sixth locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said spacing member relative to said top member, each of said aperture-defining members having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said webs of said aperture-defining members to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said arms of said further locking members, whereby said further locking members engage and are secured to and confined by said aperture-defining members, each of said further fasteners coacting with one of said further locking members and with said ribs on one of said aperture-defining members to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said web of said one of said aperture-defining members and the adjacent arm of said one of said further locking members, said aperture-defining members having the same cross-sectional configuration, said webs of said aperture-defining members having exposed surfaces that are essentially planar surfaces and that provide each of said aperture-defining members with an exposed surface which is essentially free of flanges, ribs or other protuberances, at least one of said frame-defining members having the same cross-sectional configuration as said aperture-defining members, whereby said one of said frame-defining members can provide an exposed surface for one portion of said frame which is essentially free of flanges, ribs or other protuberances, and at least some of said first said fasteners extending inwardly of said wall to engage and securely hold arms of some of said locking members and the web of one of said frame-defining members.

2. A wall that includes an elongated base member, an elongated top member disposed above and in vertical registry with said base member, a vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, a second vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, said second vertically-directed member being laterally displaced from the first said vertically-directed member, said members being frame-defining members which coact to define a frame for said wall, said base member having a horizontally-directed web, said top member having a horizontally-directed web parallel to said web of said base member, said first said vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, said second vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is parallel to said web of said first said vertically-directed member and which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, a plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a second plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, a third plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a fourth plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, some of said frame-defining members having elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of said some frame-defining members facing inwardly of said frame, said transversely-spaced grooves in contiguous members of said some frame-defining members being aligned and in communication with each other, fasteners which are positively and mechanically secured to said first said, second, third and fourth locking members, a plurality of panels which coact to define a plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by one of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, a second plurality of panels which coact to define a second plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by the second of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, the panels of said first said plurality of panels coacting to define a first surface for said wall, the panels of said second plurality of panels coacting to define a second surface for said wall, said frame-defining members coacting with said first said and said second plurality of panels to bound and define an insulating space which is located within said wall, said first said vertically-directed member being disposed intermediate the ends of said wall, said first said vertically-directed member having elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges at the opposite edges of said vertically-directed web thereof, one of said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member extending outwardly beyond both faces of said vertically-directed web of said first said vertically-directed member, the other of said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member also extending outwardly beyond both faces of said vertically-directed web of said first said vertically-directed member, said one of said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member receiving and helping hold one portion of one panel of said first plurality of panels, the other of said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member receiving and helping hold one portion of one panel of said second plurality of panels, the other of said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member receiving and helping hold one portion of one panel of said second plurality of panels, said top member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said top member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of said third locking member and of said one arm of said fourth locking member, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member and whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member, said first said vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other and which are normal to said elongated, vertically-directed, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges of said first said vertically-directed member, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said first said vertically-directed member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said third locking member and of said other arm of said first said locking member, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member, said third locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said third locking member to rigidly lock said third locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said second vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said second vertically-directed member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said fourth locking member and of said other arm of said second locking member, whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member and whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member, said fourth locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said fourth locking member to rigidly lock said fourth locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said base member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said base member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of the first said locking member and of said one arm of said second locking member, whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member, said first said locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said first said locking member to rigidly lock said first said locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said base member, said second locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said second locking member to rigidly lock said second locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said base member, said other arm of said third locking member having notches therein which are in register with and which accommodate said ribs on said top member, whereby said third locking member and hence said first said vertically-directed member can be set at a desired position along the length of said top member, and said other arm of said first said locking member having notches therein which are in register with and which accommodate said ribs on said base member, whereby said first said locking member and hence said first said vertically-directed member can be set at a desired position along the length of said base member.

3. A wall that includes an elongated base member, an elongated top member disposed above and in vertical registry with said base member, a vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, a second vertically-directed member extending between said base member and said top member, said second vertically-directed member being laterally displaced from the first said vertically-directed member, a plurality of spacing members extending between said base member and said top member, said spacing members being laterally displaced from said first said vertically-directed member and from said second vertically-directed member, said members being frame-defining members which coact to define a frame for said wall, said base member having a horizontally-directed web, said top member having a horizontally-directed web parallel to said web of said base member, said first said vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, said second vertically-directed member having a vertically-directed web which is parallel to said web of said first said vertically-directed member and which is normal to said web of said base member and which also is normal to said web of said top member, each of said spacing members having a web, a plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a second plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said base member and having another arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, a third plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting one portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said first said vertically-directed member, a fourth plural-arm locking member having one arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said top member and having another arm thereof abutting a second portion of said web of said second vertically-directed member, further plural-arm locking members, each of said further plural-arm locking members having one arm thereof abutting one portion of the web of one of said spacing members and having another arm thereof abutting a portion of said web of said base member, still further plural-arm locking members, each of said still further plural-arm locking members having one arm thereof abutting one portion of the web of one of said spacing members and having another arm thereof abutting a portion of said web of said top member, some of said frame-defining members having elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves of said some frame-defining members facing inwardly of said frame, said transversely-spaced grooves in contiguous members of said some frame-defining members being aligned and in communication with each other, fasteners which are positively and mechanically secured to said first said, second, third, fourth, further, and still further locking members, a plurality of panels which coact to define a plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by one of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, a second plurality of panels which coact to define a second plane and which have edges thereof extending into and held by the second of said transversely-spaced grooves in said some frame-defining members, the panels of said first said plurality of panels coacting to define a first surface for said wall, the panels of said second plurality of panels coacting to define a second surface for said wall, said frame-defining members coacting with said first said and said second plurality of panels to bound and define an insulating space which is located within said wall, said top member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said top member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of said third locking member and of said one arm of said fourth locking member and of said other arms of said still further locking members, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member and whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said top member and whereby said still further locking members engage and are secured to and confined by said top member, said first said vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said first said vertically-directed member to define transverse-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said third locking member and of said other arm of said first said locking member, whereby said third locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said first said vertically-directed member, said third locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said third locking member to rigidly lock said third locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said second vertically-directed member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said second vertically-directed member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said other arm of said fourth locking and of said other arm of said second locking member, whereby said fourth locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member and whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said second vertically-directed member, said fourth locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said fourth locking member to rigidly lock said fourth locking member to said top member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said top member, said base member having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said web of said base member to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of the first said locking member and of said one arm of said second locking member and of said other arms of said further locking members, whereby said second locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member and whereby said first said locking member engages and is secured to and confined by said base member and whereby said further locking members engage and are secured to and confined by said base member, said first said locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said first said locking member to rigidly lock said first said locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said first said vertically-directed member relative to said base member, said second locking member coacting with one of said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide three transversely-spaced points of securement between said base member and said second locking member to rigidly lock said second locking member to said base member and thereby fix the location of said second vertically-directed member relative to said base member, each of said spacing members having elongated ribs thereon which are spaced apart but which are in register with each other and which extend toward each other, said ribs being parallel to but spaced short distances away from said webs of said spacing members to define transversely-spaced slots that receive and confine both side edges of said one arm of said further locking members and of said still further locking members, whereby said further locking members engage and are secured to and confined by said spacing members and whereby said still further locking members engage and are secured to and confined by said spacing members, said further locking members coacting with more of said fasteners and with said ribs on said base member to provide groups of three transversely-spaced points of securement between said further locking members and said base member to rigidly lock said further spacing members to said base member and thereby fix the locations of said spacing members relative to said base member, said still further locking members coacting with additional ones of said fasteners and with said ribs on said top member to provide groups of three transversely-spaced points of securement between said top member and said still further locking members to rigidly lock said still further locking members to said top member and thereby fix the locations of said spacing members relative to said top member, said base member and said top member having elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges, said spacing members having elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges which are in register with and which abut said elongated, parallel, transversely-shaped flanges on said base member and on said top member, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges on said sapcing members being planar and receiving full support from said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges on said base member, said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges on said spacing members and on said base member and on said top member coacting to hold the confronting faces of said panels of said first said and of said second plurality of panels spaced apart a predetermined minimum distance, and said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced grooves on said some of said frame-defining members helping keep said confronting faces of said panels of said first said and of said second plurality of panels immediately adjacent said elongated, parallel, transversely-spaced flanges on said spacing members and on said base member and on said top member.