US2167169A - House model - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1939.

F. BOLHUIS HOUSE MODEL v Filed Feb. 14, 1938 IN VEN TOR.

flank fiollzais BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orriclz HOUSE MODEL Frank Bolhuis, Holland, Mich.

Application February 14, 1938, ,Serial No. 190,385

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to house models, and more particularly to structures adapted for use by architects, contractors, or lumber companies for demonstration and selling purposes.

The subject matter herein shown and described is of the general character shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 130,437, filed March 12, 1937 and subsequently issued into Patent No 2,118,338, dated May 24, 1938.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide such a model having an improved frame for the reception and retention of interchangeable wall panels, said frame being adjustable both as to length and as to width; to provide improved means for securing together in vertical series a plurality of one story frame sections with their respective panel receiving slots in vertical alignment; and, to provide in such a frame, corner members and panel receiving corner bars of simple and economical construction and of especial adaptability for their intend-ed use.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the house model, certain wall panels being omitted and certain other wall panels being shown fragmentarily and in raised positions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner of a first story frame section and an adjacent lower corner of a second story frame section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified form of construction; and

Figure 5 is a reduced elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 4.

Referring then to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts in the several views, the house model shown in Figure 1 comprises a first story frame section designated generally 10, a second story frame section secured to the first story section and designated generally II, a gable roof l2 resting on top of the second story section II, and suitable wall and floor panels hereinafter described in detail.

The frame sections I0 and II are identical in construction for economy of manufacture and of course more sections may be added in vertical series if desired to produce a model having a greater number of stories.

The several upper and lower corner members 13 are also identical in construction, each of said corner members [3 being made from a, single blank of metal and comprising a middle right triangular horizontally disposed web [4 having screw receiving apertures therethrough, and right triangular sides i5 integral with the web 14 and extending vertically from the adjacent right angularly intersecting edges of the web l4, these sides flanges i9 and 20 providing therebetween a panel receiving slot 2| and which corner rails are connected together along their middle portions 22 as by spot welding.

The wider side flange 2B of each of these corner rails I8 is secured at its. opposite ends to vertically aligned sides I5 of a vertically spaced oppositely disposed pair of corner members l3, as by spot welding 31. The connecting middle portion 22 of each corner rail l8 forms an angle of substantially 45 degrees with the sides l5 of the corner members i3 so that a pair of such corner rails may be secured to the exterior corners of the corner members with their connecting middle portions 22 in flush contact.

Horizontally disposed side rails 23 of angle iron construction are spot welded at 24 tothe inner vertical and horizontal surfaces of each-corner member I3 and each' side rail 23 extends horizontally from its corner member l3 to telescopically slidably engage a side rail of the 0pposite corner member I3. One of these mutually engaging side rails 23 may be somewhat larger than the other, having its marginal edges 25 flanged over to embrace the marginal edges of the smaller rail, as best seen in Figure 3.

Each horizontal and vertical fiange of these side rails 23 is provided with a series of apertures 26 and fastening means such as bolts 21 and nuts 28 may be secured in registering apertures 26 of the mutually engaging side rails 23 to rigidly connect the rails in longitudinally adjusted relation. In this manner the frame sections are adjusted both as: to width and as to length to accommodate wall panels 29 of desired widths, the marginal edges of which wall panels are received and retained in slots 2| of corner rails I8 and which wall panels bear representations of the walls of a house.

The modified rail fastening means shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a cross sectionally right tures 26.

triangular wedge member 38 having screws 39 threaded therein. This wedge member 38 may be slidably inserted between the smaller side rail 23 and the flanged edges 25 of the larger side rail, the screws 39 then being tightened to engage in the angle of the smaller rail, the acute angular bolts 30 passing through aligned apertures in the adjacent upper corner members M of the lower section 10 and lower corner members I! of the upper section II. Thus the corner rails of the two sections are aligned and wall panels of suitable height bearing representations of a two story structure may be inserted in the aligned panel receiving slots 2|. 7

The flanged-over pointsor ends l6 of sides 15 of the corner'members l3 form supportingledges 3| which are utilized in the first story of the model to support a floor panel 32, the upper surface of which bears any selected floor plan 33 of a house. Usingthe selected floor plan as a guide, suitable partitioning 34 may be installed within the structure and the floor panel 32 being spaced from the bottom of the frame, representation of the foundation of the house may be made upon the outer wall panels 29.

In the upper story of the model, the floor panel 35 may be disposed upon the horizontal flanges of side rails 23 and may also bear a floor plan uponits upper surface to serve as a guide in :the installation of partitions 36.

It will thus be seen that the frame structure herein shown and described maybe adjustably assembled and utilized for the demonstration of without departing from the spirit of this invention as the same is defined by the following a part of a skeleton frame, said rail having longitudinal parallel side flanges forming therebetween a panel receiving slot, one of said side flanges being adapted to be secured to a vertical surface of the frame, and a connecting middle portion forming with said vertical surface an angle of substantially forty five degrees whereby a pair of said corner rails may be secured to substantially right angularly intersecting vertical surfaces respectively with the said connecting 10 middle portions of said pair of corner rails in flush contact.

2. In a structure ofthe class described, a frame comprising vertically disposed corner rails having longitudinal panel receiving slots, panels 15 hearing representations of the walls of a house and having their opposite ends detachably in-' serted and retained within the oppositely disposed slots of adjacent corner rails, and side rails connected to said corner rails and extending laterally to longitudinally slidably engage side .railsiof the adjacent corner rails thus rendering selectively variable the distance between adjacent corner rails so that the latter may accommodate panels of different widths. i a V 3. In a structure of the class described, a' frame comprising vertically disposed corner rails having longitudinalipanel receiving slots,pane1s bearing representations of thewalls of a house and having their opposite ends detachably in- 30 serted and retained within the oppositely disposed slots of adjacent corner rails, side rails connected to said corner rails and extending laterally to longitudinally slidably engage side rails of the adjacent corner rails thus rendering selectively 35 variable the distance between adjacent corner rails so that the latter may accommodate panels of diiferent widths, and means for connecting mutually engaging side rails in ,acljustably slid positions.

4. In a structure of the class described, a frame provided with vertically disposed corner rails having longitudinal panelreceiving slots, securing means for securing onesuch'fr-ame ontop of another such frame with their respective 45 corner rails in alignment, and panels bearing representations of the Walls of a two-story house and having their opposite ends detachably inserted and retained within the upper and lower aligned slots of upper and lower corner rails at adjacent corners of the structure, said panels being substantially the height of the combined upper and lower frames.

FRANK BOLHUIS.

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