USRE18282E - galassi - Google Patents

Description

P. 'GALASSI Dec. 15, 1931. U Re. 18,282 COMPOSITE FLOOR STRIP Original Filed Feb. 6, 1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P'. GALASSI Dec. 15, 1931. I

' ,QOMPOSITE FLOOR STRIP.

2 Sheets-Sheet briginaifiled Feb. 6, 192a I l. Q

lull u fd-ry'uale 612/44 Reissued Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STA IPASOUALE GALASST; 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

courosrrn rLooa srnrr Original No. 1,718,041, dated June 18, 1929, Serial No. 252,323, flled- February 8, 1928. Application for reissue filed September 17,

- This invention relates to improvements in the construction of terrazzo and si ilar floorings, and more particularly refe to a new type of dividing strip adapted for use in connection with such fioors' Terrazzo, granolithic, stucco and similar floors usually comprise a lower or foundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitable material, and an upper or [finishing layer generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips and cement, by means of which a good durable surface may be obtained as well as pleasing'designs and color effects of a practically unlimited variety.

' The upper layer which is generally placed in position after the foundation layer has been allowed to harden to a sufficient degree of consistency, is generally divided into anumber of panels 'or units in a predetermined arrangement, which are obtained by outlining the desired design by means of dividing strips placed on or through the foundation layer.

These strips generally consist of flat metal bars set on edge having their upper edge flush with the surface of the floor; and said bars are generally provided with anchoring andpositioning means insuring a firm binding action between the strips and the materials. of which the floor is composed. These bars are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass for instance, the wearing qualities of which are approximately equal to those of the floor itself; and according to the nature of the floor and of the design to be produced, the dividing strips may be of various thicknesses and lengths.

Relatively thin strips may readily be. ob-

tained out of sheet metal, and are suitable forfloors of moderate size; however, relatively v large floors, or floors composed of relatively large units, call .for strips having sufiici'ent rigidity to withstand the lateral pressure of the material without bulging when the floor is laid. These heavier strips are also generally made outofsheet metal but brass being expensive material, their use materially increases the cost 'of the floor. At times the ornamental features are such as to require extra thick metallic strips showing through 1931. Serial No. 563,421.

the material, and in these cases, the cost is the cost of material and that of'labor are again materially increased.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, of a novel and improved type, comprising two interlocking sections permitting the use of two separate metals in the pro duction of the strip. I

' Another object is to provide a novel and improved dividing strip for floors of the character specified, suitable for the produc tion of a relatively heavy lined design, yet permitting the use of a relatively light gauge rib portion, readily lending itself to punch and die operations for the production of anchoring and positioningineans, adapted to retain the device in position. Y a A further object of the invention is to provide a defining strip of the character specified, composed, oftwo different sections securely interlocking with one another, permitting the use of a relatively high grade metal for the top of the strip and a less expensive metal'for the rib portion thereof, without materially affecting the structural resistance of the strip itself.

A further object is the provision of a didescription proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a floor illustrating the manner in which the strips are used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of a strip embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation through line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section elevation through line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the lower portion of the same strip;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional elevation through line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional elevation through line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a ragmentary side view in elevation of the assembled. strip;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation through line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional through line 10-10 of Fig. 8; I

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the same strip; I

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section showing the strip illustrated in Figs. 2 to 11, in osition, at the same time illustrating the Kinction of positioning and anchoring means offset therefrom;

Fig. 13 is a fra entary side elevation of a somewhat simp er type, of strip also embodying my invention;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional elevation through elevation line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side. elevation of a strip upper portion, similar to that used in the strip of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional elevation through 1ine16*1'6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional elevation through line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevation of a lower strip portion similar to that illustrated in Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional elevation through line 19-19 ofFig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a cross sectional elevation through line 20-20 of Fig. 18

'through line 29-29 of Fig. 27

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary side elevation of a strip similar to that shown in Fig. 21, illustrating the possibility of using an upper portion having a wider section than the rib poition of the strip;

1g. through line 31-31 of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a cross sectional elevation through line 32-32 of Fig. 30-;

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary side elevation of a strip composed of an upper portion similar to that used in the strip of Fig. 30 and a lower portion similar to that used in the strip of Fig. 24;

Fig. 34 is a cross sectional elevation through line 34-34 of Fig. 33; and

Fig. 35 is a cross sectional elevation through line 35-35 of Fig. 33.

Referring to Fig. l it will be observed that the terrazzo floor-40 represented thereby is com osed of a number of panels 41, delimited by ividing strips 42, set in a predetermined arrangement, difining the general design of the floor.

The main characteristic of the strip form ing the object of this invention is that the same is composed of two parts securely interlocking with each other; the upper part being made of a suitable metal such as brass, for instance, selected for its decorative and weari qualities, and the lower part being 31 is a cross sectional elevation.

made 0 another metal such as mild steel, for

instance, selected for economy and strength.

A typical embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 2 to 11, illustrating the strip composed of an upper or head-portion 43 and a lower or rib portion 44.

The upper or head portion which is in the form of a relatively narrow strip, is cut at spaced intervals along its lower edge, to form dove tailed notches 45, extending upwardly from the lower edge. In forming said notches the material is only out along the downwardly converging sides 46, 47, of each notch, and the portion thus isolated from the body of the strip is bent rearwardl to form laterally projecting'lugs 48, as s own.

By virtue of this construction, the lower edge of the head portion or stripv remains formed in an alternatesuccession of dove-f tailed notches and dove tailed tenons or male elements of a dove tailed joint.

The lower or rib portion of the strip is also in the form of an elementary strip preferably somewhat wider than the upper portion, and its upper edge is notched to interlock with the lower edge of the upper portion. Said upper edge is accordingly cut at spaced intervals to correspond with the spacing between tenons 49 of the upper strip so as to form dovetailed notches 50 adapted to tightly'fit. and receive tenons 49.

Like in the previous case, in producing said notches, the material is only out along the upwardly converging sides 51, 52, of each notch, and the portion of material thus isolated from the body of the strip is bent frontwardly to form laterally projecting lugs 53.

By virtue of this construction, the resulting tenons 54 are adapted to fit and to tightly interlock with notches 45 of the upper portion, so that the two elementary strips may be securely interlocked with one another, forming a composite strip such as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11. a

The interlocking joint thus provided between the two elementary strips forming the composite strip canbe made positively secure, by making the width of the notches a trifle smaller than the width of the corresponding tenons. This difference in width should only be at most, two of three thousandths of aninch, and will thus insure an extremely tight fit between the interlocking parts, such that the two parts cannot again become easily separated, once they have been forced together by the application of pressure.

Theresulting structure, is man intents and purposes as rigid as if it were formed out of a solid strip of material; furthermore, the same results formed with laterally projecting ears or lugs 48, 53, which provide suitable anchoring means for the strip, without weakening its sections. The lower anchoring means 53 are preferably used also as positioning means, determining the depth at which the lower part of the strip may be inserted through the foundation bed of the flooring; and to'this end, the parts are so proportioned that the distance between the under surface of ears or lugs 53 and the upper edge 55 of the completed strip will be equivalent to the depth of the finishing layer of the floor. i

This feature is'illustrated in Fig. 12, where 56 designates the lower layer or bed of the floor, laid on the floor foundation 57 and 58 designates the upper or finishing layer of the floor. This figure illustrates a strip of thetype just described, having its lower or rib portion 59, embedded within the lower layer of the floor, up to a point where the lower surface of its lugs or ears 23 rests against the upper surface of said lower layer. When the strip is so laid, the portion of the provide additional anchoring means between the strip and the material out of which the finishing layer is formed, further insuring the stability of the strip and the bond between the strip and the plastic material of the floor. o

By virtue of the construction just described therefore, it is obvious that I obtain several important advantages over strips heretofore in use for similar purposes. In fact, I produce a strip which possesses all the rigidity of a solid strip from which no anchoring means have been punched and bent and at the same time, I also provide the anchoring and positioning means which are a necessary feature of this type of material.

Furthermore, produce a strip which is cheaper than a strip of equivalent thickness, and width, made entirely of brass, by making the lower part of the strip out of relatively inexpensive material, and by doing this, I gain the further'advantage of actually increasing the strength-and rigidity of the structure, due to the fact that the steel used for the lower portion is stronger and more rigid than brass.

It is also possible if desired to make a composite strip with perfectly straight sides by blanking out the notches outright both in the upper and the lower portions bf the strip. This construction is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, where 60 designates the upper portion of the strip, 61 of the lower portion, 62 the dove tailed notches provided by a blanking operation through the lower edge of the upper portion 60, 63'the tenons or male portions resulting thereby, intervening between adjoining notches; 64 designates the dove tailed notches blanked off the upper edg of the lower portion of the strip, adapted to register with and to receive tenons 63, and 65 designates the tenons produced between adjoining notches 64, said tenons being adapted.

to register and to interlock with notches 62,

as shown.

Also in this case, it is preferable that a tight fit be provided between the interlocking portions'and therefore it will be advisable in practice to make the width of the tenons a trifle larger than the width of the correspon ding notches interlocking therewith.

This type of strip is preferable to the one previously described, in such cases where curves of relatively small radius have to be produced, because the. strip if made of relatively light gauge metal is easily bent in small circles and other curved shapes, while the strip previously described, does not bend lugs 48, 53.

as easily on account of the longitudinal rigidity imparted to it by the staggered, ears or In Figs. to 23, I illustrate another strip which is a combination ofrthe head portion used in the strip of Figs. 13, 14 and the rib portion of the strip illustrated inFigs. 2 to 11.

In said figures, 66 designates the upper orstrip 66 and is notched and spaced at intervalsto form notches adapted to register with and to receive tenons 68, as previously explained. Notches 70 are formed by slittin the metal along the sides oft-he notches an by bending the portion of metal thus iso-.

lated, outwardly, so as to form laterally extending ears or lugs 71.

The function of these ears or lugs has been explained before, and the resulting composite strip, illustrated in Figs. 21 to 23 will have an upper or head portlon free of'lateral extensions, and a lower or rib portionformed with anchoringand positioning means 71 as shown.

The absence of the upper row of laterally extending lugs such as shown in Figs. 2m 11, permits a certain amount of flexibility in this type of strip which can thus be bent around curves, but not around curves of as small a radius as in the case of the strip i'llustrated in Figs. 13, 14.

In Figs. 24 to 26, Iillustrate a modification of the strip'illustrated in Figs. 2 to 11, in which both the upper and the lower portion of the strip are provided with ears or lugs alternately extending in both directions.

In said figures, 72 designates the upper portion of the strip formed with dove tailed notches 73 along its lower edge, and tenons 7 4 and 75 designates the lower portion of the strip formed with notches .76 registering with and receiving tenons 74, and provided with tenons 77 registering with and adapted to be.

inserted through notches 73.

All the notches are in this case, formed by slitting the metal along their sides, and by bending laterally the' isolated portions thus obtained, but as shown in the drawings,'the ears or lugs 78, 79 of the upper portion of the strip are alternately bent to one side and then to the other and in a similar manner ears or lugs 80, 81, of the lower portion of the strip are also bent to one side and then to the other in alternative succession.

This type of strip is substantially equivalent to that illustrated in Figs. 2 to 11,'ex-

cept that the. action of its positioning means is somewhat more effective in maintaining the strip vertical, when the floor is being laid,

because the total width of the supporting surface'thus' obtained is twice as large as in the case of the strip of Figs.'2 to 11.

In Figs. 27 to 29, I illustrate a modification of the strip shown in Figs. 21 to 23.

1 This strip is alsocomposed of an upper portion 82, provided with blanked out notches 83, and the lower portion 84 provided with tenons or male members 85, adapted to interlock with said notches, said tenons being obtained by slitting the metal about their sides and bendin outwardly the metal portion thusisolate to form laterally extending ears or lugs 56. j

-'However, the interlocking joint in this case, instead of being composed of dove tailed members is composed of. male and female elements adapted to interlock with one an-' other, but having' some other shape adapted to exert an equivalent action. For instance, the male members 85 of the lower portion 84 have a rounded shape, and notches 83 are shaped, accordingly. This example merely serves to illustrate the fact that for the pun poses of my invention, it is immaterial what shape is used for the interlocking membersof the upper and lower portions of'the strip, as long as t-heyare capable of producing an eifective interlocking action.

This will be obtained as stated, by providing a tight fit for the interlocking members lines have to be produced. In such cases, it

iscustomary to employ heavy gauge brass bars or strips, the cost of which'goesto appreciably increase the total cost of the floor.

By virtue of my construction, 'I can use a relatively heavy gauge strip for the upper portion, blanking out the necessary notches alongits lower edge, and a relatively light gauge strip for the lower portion, the light gauge material of which said lower portion is composed permitting of easily oflsetting the required anchoring and positioning means.

. Furthermore, the rib portion may be made of relatively inexpensive metal, such as cold rolled or hot rolled steel for instance, furheavy gauge-narrow strip provided wit spaced dove tailed notches 88 along its lower edge, said notches being obtained by blanking out the material at such point.

The lower or rib portion of the strip is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 18 to 23,

In Figs. 33 to 35, I show another possible -modification of the arrangement just described, where the upper portion 93 is similar in every respect to the one just described,

and the lower portion 94 is also similar to the one described in connection with Figs 30 to 32, except that its anchoring and positioning ears or lugs 95, 96, are alternately bent in one and then in the other direction, pro viding a better supporting surface for the strip as a whole, and also providing a better supporting surface for the upper portion of the strip.

In connection with the constructions of Figs. 30 to 32. and Figs. 33 to 35, it will be observed that the interlocking action between the two members may be made more positive if the lugs or ears are turned laterally but not quite to reach a horizontal position until the two members are connected together.

In this manner, the lugs or cars will press against the under surface of the upper portion of the strip, and their spring action will intensify the binding action of the interlocking joint. In the case of the strips previously described, where the two strip elements are of the same thickness, the action of the interlocking joint may also be supplemented if desired, by positive means, for instance, by spot welding or other methods of joining metal parts to one another.

For the purposes of my invention, it is not absolutely necessary that the anchoring means be formed by bending the material along the longitudinal side of some or all of the notches, since it is quite feasible to bend the material at some other point of the periphery of the notches or to provide anchoring means obtained by slitting and bending the material at points independent of the notches, as will be understood.

Therefore, since it is obvious that my inventive ideamay be applied in ways different from those shown, the drawings should be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

I accordingly reserve myself 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 floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female joint members.

2. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with interlocking notches and tenons, one of said sections-being formed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches.

3. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal 'metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formedwith interlocking notches and tenons, A

one of said sections being formed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches, said anchoring means also acting as positioning means determining the depth at which the strip is to be placed in position.

4. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with male and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons, the lower section being formed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches, said anchoring means also acting as positioning means determining the depth at which the strip is to be placed in position.

5. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, each section having portions extending within the other, the thickness of one section being different from that of the other, said sections being made of two difierent metals.

6. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with male and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons, the thickness of theupper section being greater than the thickness of the lower section.

7. A floor strip of the character described,

comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with male and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons, the thickness of the upper section being greater lower section being formed with anchoring.

and positioning means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches.

9. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons, said tenons fitting withinsaid notches with a tight fit requiring the application of pressure in order to join the two sections together.

10. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons. said tenons fitting within said notches with a tight fit'requiring the application of pressure in order to join the two sections together. one of said sections being formed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches.

11. A floor strip of the character described. comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female joints, comprising interlocking notches and tenons, one of'said sections being formed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of said notches, some of said anchoring means projecting at one sideand some at the opposite side of said strip. r

12. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower. longitudinal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges. said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female members, and anchoring means there for, outwardly projecting from said strip.

, 13. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal-section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextending male and female joint members, and anchoring means therefor, outwardly projecting from said strip, said anchoring means also acting as positioning means determining the depth at which the strip is to be placed in position.

14. A floor strip of the character described, comprisin an upper and a lower longitudinal section interlocking with each other along their inner edges, said sections being made of two different metals.

15. A fioor strip of the character described,

' gle thickness of metal, said sections being permanently connected to each other along their inner edges, said sections being made of two different metals.

18. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upperbrass, and a lower steel longitudinal section, each section consisting of a single thickness of metal, said sections being permanently connected to each other along their inner edges to form a single structure.

19. A floor stripof the character described, comprising an upper brass, and a lower steel longitudinal section, each section consisting of a single thickness of metal, said sections beand anchoring means outwardly projecting from said lower sectlon.

PASQUALE GALASSI.

. ing permanently connected to each other along .their inner edges to form a single structure,

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