US1888916A - Divider strip - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1932. P GALASSI DIVIDER STRIP Filed Dec. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 1119 ATTORNEY WMW Nov. 22, 1932. GALASS! 1,888,916

DIVIDER STRIP Fi1 ed Dec. 11. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i hall 75 INVENTOR BY his ATTORN Y Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PASQUALE GALASSI,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIVIDER STRIP Application filed December This invention relates to improvements in the construction of terrazzo and similar floors and more particularly refers to a new I type of dividing strip adapted for use in con- 5315 nection with such floors.

Terrazzo, granolithic and similar floors generally comprise a lower or foundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitable material and an upper or m finishing layer generally consisting of a miX- ture of marble chips and cement, providing a good durable surface, and afiording the possibility of producing design and color effects of a practically unlimited variety. In the construction of this type of floors, the foundation layer is first laid and allowed to harden to a suflicient degree of consistency. Dividing strips are then placed on or through the foundation layer, so as to outline a predetermined design, and the upper layer is then laid in position. As a result, the floor which is ground and polished after the upper layer has become hard will appear as a com bination of panels together forming the fioor design, said panels being separated from one another by the dividing strips.

The strips employed are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass for instance, but are also at times made of different materials according to the ornamental requirements of the design and color scheme to be produced.

As a rule however, the metal employed is apt to be considerably more expensive than steel, and therefore it is desirable to substitute steel or some other inexpensive material for the part of the strip which is embedded into the floor material and which is not likely to show even after the floor has been subjected to considerable Wear.

A divider strip for use in terrazzo floors should answer several requirements dictated by the exigencies of practical use. Thus the strip should be possessed of sufficient strength to stand rough handling and should at all times preserve its correct alignment. Furthermore, the strip should preferably be provided with meansfor anchoring it in position and also with positioning means for'determining the eXact depth at which the strip 11, 1931. Serial No. 580,511.

is to be inserted in the lower layer of the floor. In many cases the anchoring and positioning functions may be centered in a single member or set of members.

Another desirable feature of this type of strip is for it to make it possible to use upper sections of, various thicknesses in combination with a lower section which may be standardized in design and construction and Which may therefore be made by mass production .9 methods.

In another application entitled Flanged strips for terrazzo floors, Serial No. 486,165 copending herewith, I have described a bimetallic strip in which the lower section is 5 connected to the upper section by means of upwardly projecting tongues integral with the lower .section, said tongues being inserted through corresponding openings provided in the upper section and being bent to form hook Z9; shaped retaining members permanently connecting the two sections to each other.

In another patent application copending herewith entitled Bimetallic flanged dividing strips, I have described and claimed strips of a somewhat similar character'in which the upwardly directed tongues are formed in the lower section by-striking off and bending upwardly portions of a longitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof.

In all the strips illustrated in the drawings pertaining to the above entitled applications, the upper section is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced slots near its lower or inner edge, said slots being relatively narrow in the vertical sense and being long enough in the longitudinal sense to receive the tongues inserted therethrough.

Said .slots should of course be as close as possible to the lower or inner edge of the upper section because of the necessity of leaving as much solid metal as possible above the slots to provide for the considerable wear occurring in the floor during prolonged periods of service. At the same time I have found that in practice it is not possible to punch slotted holes through the upper sec-- tion, unless they are sufliciently spaced from the lower or inner edge thereof to prevent ably more than buckling of the metal. Another practical limitation to the size of the holes is due to the fact that the width of the slots must in every case be not less than the thickness of the metal. This means for instance, that if the upper section is 4; the width of the slots cannot be less than A, and the distance of the slots from the lower or inner edge should also be not less than said dimensions being preferin each case. This means that fully 5% 'of the width of the upper section may be lost to use as part of the wearing surface of the floor.

I also have found that such relatively nar row slots as are required by the constructions described in the two above entitled applications, entail the use of relatively delicate punches and dies which are costly both to produce and to maintain.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved type of bimetallic strip in which the advantages pertaining to the strips described in the said two applications will be retained while both the method of manufacture and the wearing qualities of the strip will be improved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bimetallic floor strip of a novel and in1- proved design, comprising an upper and a lower section permanently connected to each other, in which the upper section is provided with notches along its lower or inner edge, said notches forming together with the upper edge of the lower section, fairly wide and elongated openings allowing the plastic material composing the upper layer of the floor to penetrate across the strip and to become intimately bound therewith and thereby.

A further object is to provide a floor strip of the character specified comprising an upper and a lower section permanently connected to each other, said lower section being formed with flanged members laterally projecting from the body thereof, said strip being designed so as to require a minimum amount of labor and material for its production.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the two sections composing a strip constituting one of the embodiments of my invention, said two sections being shown in the initial stage of manufacture;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in elevation of said two sections after the first step in the assembling operation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the completed strip Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a metal strip adapted to form an alternative type of lower section suitable for use in place of the lower section shown in the preceding figures, said figure illustrating the manner of slitting the strip at its upper edge and the manner of bending the sections thereof isolated by the slitting operation; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip comprising an upper section similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and of lower section, produced in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of two sections composing a strip constituting a still different embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a completed strip obtained by assembling the sect-ions shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of another strip illustrating another alternative form of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective of another strip embodying some of the features of my invention in which the anchoring means are provided independently of the positioning means; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a terrazzo floor showing a divider strip of the type shown in Fig. 8, in position.

The main characteristic of the strip forming the subject of this invention resides in the fact that instead of being provided with a longitudinal series of slotted openings in proximity of its lower or inner edge, the upper section is provided along said edge with a longitudinal series of notches, the outline of which is such as to permit of the tongues formed integral with the lower section permanently connecting the two sections to each other merely by bending said tongues over and about portions of the edges of said notches.

The provision of notches in the place of slotted openings permits of providing binding edges of a sufficient length adapted to interlock with the tongues projecting from the lower section, even though the upper edge of said notches is at a distance from the upper edge of the upper section greater than the distance separating the slots from said upper edge in an upper section having the same width. The provision of notches has also the advantage that punches and dies of a more substantial nature can be used, less likely to break or to become damaged in use and entailing less expense for their maintenance.

Furthermore, by using notches instead of openings less bending operations will be required for the production of the retaining tongues in the lower section, and therefore tools of much simpler and less costly nature will be required. The strip illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. comprises a lower section 20 and an upper section 21, said upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge 22. The lower or inner edge of the upper section is notched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form dove-tailed notches 23 and dove-tailed tenons 24 intervening therebetween, said notches and tenons being preferably symmetrical with one another, so as to make it pos sible to produce two identical upper sections by longitudinally cutting along a Zig-zag line a blank strip the width of which is twice the distance a separating the bottom of the notches from the upper edge 22 plus the distance I) separating the bottom of the notches from the lower or inner edge 25 of the upper section.

The upper or inner edge 26 of the lower section is vertically slit at longitudinally spaced intervals in correspondence of a line passing through the center of each notch 23, as shown at 27 in 1, the depth of the slits thus produced substantially corresponding to the depth Z) of the notches. Said lower section is further slit in a longitudinal sense from and at each side of the lower end of slits 27, a distance substantially corresponding to one-half the length 0 of the mouth of each notch 23, as shown at 2829, so as to define longitudinally directed tongues such as Fig-31 having their ends meeting along slits 2 The next step in the production of the strip is the bending of tongues 30-31 at right angles to the body of the lower section along inclined bending lines such as indicated in dotted lines at 3233, corresponding to the inclined end edges 32'33 of notches 23. This operation will result in the production of a longitudinal series of lugs such as shown at 30-31 in Fig. 2, laterally extending from the body of the lower section, each set of lugs 3031 registering with and being insertable through one of the notches 23 of the upper section.

The upper section can therefore be inserted in position with its notches over lugs 3031' so that its lower or inner edge portion will abut against the upper or inner edge portion of the lower section as shown in Figs. 2, 3.

Lugs 30 31 are next bent'fiat against the side surface of upper section 21, and if the end edges3233 of the notches are inclined at forty-five degrees as shown, said lugs will be bent downwardly in a vertical direction as shown in Fig. 4. Their outer ends are then bent at right angles to the body of the strip so as to form a longitudinal series of flanged members 3031 extending laterally of the body of the strip about midway between the upper edge 22 and the lower edge 34.

It will be seen that by virtue of this con struction the flanged members 30-31 will efliciently perform both the function of positioning and anchoring means while at the of the upper section, said opening permitting the plastic material composing the upper layer of the floor to pass therethrough and to securely interlock with the strip. A somewhat similar strip may be produced such as illustrated in Fig. 6 by simplifying the operations connected with the production of the lower section and the assembling of the two sections.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 21 represents the upper section formed with dove-tailed notches 23 corresponding to notches 23 of Figs. 1 to 4, along its lower or inner edge 25. 35 designates the lower section connected thereto, the connection being obtained by vertically slitting the upper or inner edge 36 of the lower section at points corresponding to the lower ends of side edges 3233 of the notches, that is, at points corresponding to the extreme ends of the mouth of each notch 23/, duced reach a depth about equivalent to the depth 6 of the notches. The portion 39 intervening between slits 37-38 of each set is then bent outwardly at right angles to the body 35 along line 39 substantially parallel to the edges 3640 of said lower section, so as to form laterally extending lugs '41. The portions of the body of the lower section adjoining and separated from portion 39 by slits 3738'are bent at right angles to the body of the lower section along inclined lines shown in dotted lines at 3233, corresponding to the inclination of the end edges 3233 of thenotches. This will result in the formation of triangular wings or lips 4243, registering with the end edges of and insertable through notches 23". After insertion through said notches, said wings are bent flat against the side surface of the upper section as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and will securely connect the two sections to each other.

In practice, the production of slits 37-38 and the bending of lugs 41 and wings 42-43 at right angles to the body of the lower sec tion can be effected in asingle operation, so that the entire strip can be'produced and assembled in three operations. If the lower section is formed with a continuous laterally extending longitudinal flange, a much more rigid structure is obtained, so that it becomes possible to further economize in the amount ofmaterial employed by using metal of a lighter gauge.

A strip of this character is shown in Figs. 7, 8 where 44 designates the upper section provided like in the previous cases with a longitudinal series of dove-tailed notches 45 along its lower or inner edge. The lower section consists of an originally fiat strip lonas shown at 3738. The slits thus prothe tongues 4950 of each set substantially corresponds to the length cl of the mouth of notches 45, while the distance between the outer edges of tongues 495O of each set substantially corresponds to the length 6 of the bottom of notches 45. The height of said tongues substantially corresponds to the depth f of the notches 45.

As a result when the upper section 44 is placed in position with its lower edge 49 resting on top of flange 48 and its side surface abutting against tongues 4950, 49'50, etc., said tongues can be bent over and about end edges 51, 52 of notches 45 in the manner explained in connection with wings 42, 43 of Figs. 5, 6, so as to form wings 53, 54, bent flat against the side surface of the upper section and securely joining the two sections to each other. It will be seen that by virtue of this construction, the upper section will form together with the upper or inner edge of the lower section a longitudinal series of openings 45, while the flange 48 will be formed with a longitudinal series of openings 55 in correspondence of tongues 49-50, 49'50 etc.

It is within the scope of my invention to make the notches along the lower or inner edge of the upper section with an outline different from the dove-tailed outline previously described, the object being of course to provide notches through which the tongues upwardly projecting from the lower section can be easily inserted and with which said tongues can be caused to interlock by the performance of comparatively simple bending operations. For instance, in Fig. 9, I illustrate a strip comprising an upper section 56, and a lower section 57, said lower section being bent along a longitudinal line at 58 to form a body 59 and a continuous longitudinal flange 60, laterally extending therefrom.

Like in the previous case, the lower section is formed with a longitudinal series of sets of upwardly extending tongues obtained by punching the flange as shown at 61, 62, and offsetting the thus isolated portions there of so that they will be substantially flush with the body 59. The upper section is provided with l shaped notches 63, each notch being thus defined at each end by inwardly extending lugs such as 6465, spaced to register with the tongues upwardly projecting from the lower section. The upper portion of said notch can therefore be bent forwardly so as to be insertable through the bars of the notches above lugs 6465 and the tip end thereof can then be bent downwardly against the side surface of the upper section so as to form retaining lips 66-67.

It is also possible to connect the two sections to each other in ways similar to those described without forming flanged members in the lower section. For instance, in Fig. 10, 1 illustrate a strip in which a substantially fiat upper section 68 is permanently connected to a substantially flat lower section 69 by providing the upper section with a series of longitudinally spaced dove-tailed notches 70 along its lower or inner edge 71 and by forming the lower section with upwardly extending tongues adapted to register with the ends of said notches and to be bent over the inclined end edges thereof so as to form retaining wings 7273 in the manner explained in connection with the strip of Figs. 7-8.

The resulting strip is somewhat more flexible than the strips previously described and can be used to advantage for the formation of curved designs. At the same time since it is desirable to provide a strip with means for anchorin it in position, the lower section is formed with a longitudinal series of open top cup members 74 struck off and of set from the body thereof. The positioning function can be performed by the lower edge 71 of the upper section.

A strip of either the type shown in Fig. 6 or the type shown in Figs. 7, 8, is shown in position in Fig. 11, where 75 designates the floor foundation, 76 designates the lower layer of a terrazzo floor and 77 designates the upper layer. From said figure it will be observed that the flange 7 8 laterally projecting from the body of the strip acts as positioning means for the strip determining the depth at which said strip is to be inserted through the lower layer, and also acts as anchoring means securely retaining the strip in position.

The constructional details of my improved strip may vary from those shown without departing from the inventive idea; the drawings will therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a. limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge notched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of the edges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the ends thereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over said inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting said sections to each other.

2. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge notched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of the edges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the ends thereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over said inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting said sections to each other, said lower section also having flanged positioning means laterally extending from the body thereof.

3. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge notched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of the edges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the ends thereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over said inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting said sections to each, said lower section also having a continuous longitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof.

4. A divider strip forterrazzo orlikefl'oors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge notched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of the edges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the ends thereof, the lower section having a continuous longitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof, said flange being punched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form tongues upwardly extending therefrom, said tongues being bent over said inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting said sections to each other.

5. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge formed with dovetailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edges of said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other.

6. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge formed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edges of said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other, said lower section also having flanged positioning means laterally extending from the body thereof.

7. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge formed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edges of said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other, said lower section also having a continuous longitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof.

8. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge formed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, the lower section having a continuous longitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof, said flange being punched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form tongues upwardly extending therefrom, said tongues being bent over the end edges of said notches, permanently connecting said two

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