Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~17~3~
This invention relates to a wall construction for an
architectural structure, and more particularly, to a wall
construction which is aaapted to be used as an outer wall, a
roof and the like in an architectural structure such as a
building, a house, a gymnasium or the like.
A conventional wall construction such as an outer wall
and a roof in a building, a house or the like comprises base
members, elongated supporting members mounted on the base mem-
bers so as to be spaced from one another at predetermined inter-
vals in the lateral direction, sheathing boards securely laidthrough the supporting members on the base members, waterproof
sheet members disposed to cover over the sheathing boards and
face members mounted on the sheet members. Such conventional
wall construction has a-disadvantage that it is substantially
impossible to accomplish good sound insulation because beating
of raindrops and outdoor noise directly reach the interior of
the building. The conventional wall construction also is not
adapted to allow good heat insulation to be accomplished.
In a house, interior electrical wiring is often stretched
~0 around places in sight, such as the under surface of the ceiling
and places out of sight such as base members of a wall construc-
tion by means of insulators. Therefore, the-interior wiring is
not effectively protected at a fire so as to significantly
extend the time of electrical current conduction through the
wiring, and thereby facilitate rescue operations.
In the conventional wall construction, supporting members
or common rafters are generally fixed on base members or puxlins
by a screw or bolt means or metal band means. Howe~er, the
fixing method by screw or bolt means causes the head portion of
the screw or bolt to contact with or deform a face member,
resulting in the face member being damaged. Such disadvantage
is incxeased when the face member is formed of a metal plate
~L7~30
such as aluminum. A similar disadvantage is encountered when
fixing with metal strip means.
In addition, in the conventional wall construction,
face members disposed adjacent to each other in the vertical
direction are connected to each other through pawls formed on
supporting members by raising a part of the supporting members.
However, such a connecting method has a disadvantage in that,
when a violent wind blows into the connecting portion, the face
members are turned up to cause the connecting portion to be
easily disengaged. In addition, in such connecting manner, the
pawl has exposed surfaces and sharp cut edges, resulting in the
supporting member and face member being subjected to corrosion
and damage, respectively. Also, such a connecting method has a
further disadvantage that rainwater enters the interior of the
wall construction because the adjacent face members contact with
each other at the connecting region, formed with a gap sufficient
to produce a capillary action.
Furthermore, the priox art wall construction is construc-
ted in such a manner that face members disposed adjacent to each
other in the lateral direction are connected to each other by
merely inserting the end portions of the face members into
connecting means. Thereforej such a connecting method is not
adapted to effectively prevent rainwater from entering the
interior of the wall construction. The connecting means com-
prises a connecting member and a holding member fitted on the
connecting member. However, the manufacture of the holding mem-
ber is highly costly because it requires a complicated bending
process.
The present invention has been made in view of the fore-
going disadvantages in the prior art.
In accordance with the present invention, there is pro-
vided a wall construction for an architectural structure com-
:~73lZ30
prising base means, first coat means laid on the base means,a plurality of elongated supporting members each formed of a
metal sheet by bending and disposed on the first coat means in
the vertical direction of the wall construction so as to be
spaced from each other at a predetermined interval in the lateral
direction of the wall construction, a plurality of sheathing mem-
bers each fixedly supported at both ends thereof on the adjacent
supporting members to cover the first coat means and define a
space between the sheathing members amd the first coat means,
and face means laid on the sheathing members.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an improved wall construction suitable for use as an
outer wall and a roof in an architectural structure which is
capable of effectively absorbing and insulating indoor and out-
door noise and accomplishing an improved heat insulation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
an improved wall construction which is capable of allowing
interior electrical wiring to be safely stretched around the
outermost portions of the wall construction to ensure protection
~0 of the wiring at a fire so as to significantly extend the time
when electrical current can flow therethrough, thereby facilitat-
ing rescue operations, as well as accomplishing improved heat
insulation and sound insulakion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
an improved wall construction which is adapted to not only
accomplish improved heat and sound insulation but also to receive,
in a supporting member, fixing means for securing the supporting
member on a base member so that the fixing means may be prevented
from projecting from the supporting member.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide an improved wall construction in which face members dis-
posed adjacent to one another in the vertical direction are
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~17123C~
securely connected to each other so as to weather a vlolent
wind.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide an improved wall construction in which face members dis-
posed adjacent to each other in the lateral direction are secure-
ly connected to each other by simple means so as to effectively
prevent rainwater from entering the interior of the wall con-
struction.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a supporting member for an improved wall construction
suitable for use as an outer wall and a roof in an architectural
structure which is capable of providing the wall construction
with improved sound and heat insulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a supporting member for an improved wall construction
which is capable of allowing interior wiring to be safely
stretched around the outermost portions of the wall construction,
as well as allowing the weight of the wall construction to be
significantly reduced.
~0 It is a further object of the-present invention to
provide a supporting member for-an improved wall construction
which is capable of receiving-therein fixing means for fixing the
supporting member on a base member, to thereby prevent the
fixing means from injuring face members.
It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide means for fixedly connecting adjacent face members
disposed in the vertical direction to each other so as to weather
a violent wind and prevent rainwater from entering the interior
of the wall construction.
It is an even further object of the present invention
to provide connecting means for securely connecting adjacent
face members disposed in the lateral direction to each other
_4_
1~7~Z3~)
so as to prevent rainwater from entering the interior of an
improved wall construction and to weather a violent wind.
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference
is had to the following description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a partially exploded fragmentary perspective
view of a wall construction in accordance with the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the
wall construction shown in Fig. l;
- Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partial, sectional view of the
wall construction shown in Fig. l;
- Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a modification
of a supporting member used -in the wall construction of Fig. l;
F-ig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the use of
the supporting member shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view showing another
modification of a supporting member used in the embodiment of
Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the use of
the supporting member shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a further
modification of a supporting member used in the embodiment of
Fig. l; -
Figs. 9 and 10 are partial perspective views showing
modifications of the supporting member of Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing the use
of the supporting member shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view showing
connecting portions of face means suitable for use in a wall
_5_
x~
construction of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged, partial, perspective view
showing an essential part of another face means;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing the connecting
portion of the face means shown in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a fixing member
used in the face means of Fig. 13;
Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing connec-
ting means for connecting laterally adjacent face members to
each other;
Fig. 17 is a partially cutaway, longitudinal sectional
view of the connecting means shown in Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII -
XVIII of Fig. 17; and
Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing a modification of
the connecting means shown in Fig. 17.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 illustrating one embodiment
of a wall construction according to the present invention, the
wall construction is generally designated by reference numeral
20. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall construction is
in the form of a roof -construction which is adapted to bè
applied to a building 22`such as a wooden building, a ~ortared
frame building, a gymnasium or the like. The roof construction
20 includes a plurality of first coat members 24 mounted adjacent
to one another on base members or purlins 26 provided at the
upper portion of the building. The purlins 26 are disposed
parallel to one another in the direction perpendicular to
the slanting direction of the roof 20, with predetermined inter-
` vals being defined between the adjacent ones in the horizontal
and vertical directions. Each of the first coat members 24 is
disposed on the purlins 26 so as to extend in the slanting
direction of the roof 20 in close proximity to the adjacent
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ones and securely fixed on the purlins 26 by a suitable fix-
ing means such as bolts, screws or nails. Each of the first
coat members 24 preferably comprises a soft excelsior board
having sound absorbing and heat insulating properties.
The roof construction 20 also includes a plurality of
longitudinally extending supporting members or common rafters
28 spaced from one another, with a predetermined interval being
defined between the adjacent ones, and securely fixed on the
first coat members 24 by means of bolts 30. The supporting
members 28 are disposed to extend from a ridge to front eaves
in the slanting direction of the roof 20. The supporting mem-
bers are preferably formed of a metal plate into a substantially
convex shape in section. More particularly, each of the members
28, as shown in Fig. 3, is formed to have a pair of longitudin-
ally extending lower side portions 32 of a predetermined height
spaced from each other, a pair of longitudinally extending upper
side portions 34 of a predetermined height spaced from each other
at a smaller distance, a pair of longitudinally extending flat
step portions 36 through which the upper side portions 34 are
connected to the lower side portions 32, and a flat top portion
38 extending between the upper side portions 34. Each of the
supporting-members 28 is formed at the lower ends thereof with
flanges 40 outwardly extending therefrom. The flanges are pre-
ferably provided along the entire longitudinal direction of the
member 28. The flanges 40 are provided with a plurality of
openings 42 along the longitudinal direction through which the
bolts 30 are inserted into the purlins 26 to fix the supporting
members 28 with respect to the purlins 26 and the first coat
member 24.
The roof construction 20 further includes a plurality
of sheathing boards 44 supported between the opposite step por-
tions 36 of the adjacent supporting members. The sheathing
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.
~71Z3~
Doard 44 is preferably formed of a relatively hard material
having sound insulating and heat insulatiny properties, such
as a cemented pulp board or the like. Each of the sheathing
boards 44 is securely mounted at the both end portions thereof
on the opposite step porti.ons 36 of the adjacent supporting
members 28, this resulting in a space 46 being formed between
the first coat members 24 and the sheathing boards 44 which has
a distance corresponding to the height of the lower side portions
32 of the supporting members 28. The fixing of the sheathing
boards 42 onto the supporting members may be accomplished by
clamping the end portions of the sheathing boards with respect
to the step portions 36 of the supporting members by means of
clamping bolts or screws. Alternatively, it may be accomplished .
by engaging the sheathing boards with pawls formed on the step
portions 36. The sheathing boards 44 are preferably formed so
as to have a thickness corresponding to the height of the upper
side portions 34.
The space 46 between the first coat members 24 and the
sheathing boards 44 is adapted to receive therein an ambient
atmosphere acting as a heat insulating air barrier, so that the
roof construction 20 may.more.significantly improve a heat
insulating effect. - The-space 46 may be filled with a heat in-
sulating and sound absorbing material such as glass wool to
provide the roof construction with a further improved sound
absorbing effect as well as a better heat insulating effect.
The roof construction 20 further includes face members
or roofing members 48 mounted on the sheathing boards 44. The
roofing members 48 are disposed in a manner that each of the
members 48 overlaps at the lower end portion thereof with the
upper end portion of the downward adjacent one. The roofing
members 48 are fixed through the sheathing boards 44 on the
top portions 38 of the supporting members 28 by a suitable means
~17~230
such as screws, bolts or the like. The fixing of the roofing
members may be accomplished at the overlapping portions thereof.
Thus, it will be noted that the roof construction il-
lustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, as described above, is constructed
so that indoor sound generated from a piano, a record player
or the like may be effectively absorbed by the first coat mem-
bers 24 to be prevented from leaking to the outdoors and outdoor
noise may be effectively absorbed by the sheathing boards 44
to be prevented from reaching the interior of a building. In
addition, an improved heat insulating effect is significantly
accomplished by the combination of the first coat members and
sheathing members with the space 46. Furthermore, the roof
construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 has advantages such as
easy construction operation, short construction time and the
like. It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is of
course applied to an outer wall of a building and a ceiling of
each story of a building.
Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the supporting
member 28, which is adapted to be capable of not only allowing
~0 the wall construction of the invention to effectively accomplish
sound absorbing and insulating effects and a heat insulating
effectbut allowing interior wiring to be safely stretched around
the outermost portions of the wall construction to ensure
significant protection of the wiring at a fire to extend con-
duction time of electrical current therethrough as long as
possible, thereby facilitating rescue operation. In addition,
it is adapted to be capable of significantly lightening the
entire weight of the wall construction.
The supporting member 28 shown in Fig. 4 is formed of
a metal sheet to have each pair of longitudinally extending
lower side portions 32, upper side portions 34 and flat step
portions 36, and a flat top portion 38 w~ich are respectively
.~
3~
formed in the substantially same manner as those of the sup-
porting member shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
The lower side portions 32 of the supporting member
respectively have a plurality of through-holes 50 formed in
a relationship spaced from each other in the longitudinal
direction thereof in such a manner that each of the through-
holes 50 of one lower side portion 32 aligns with the corres-
ponding one 50 of the other lower side portion 32 in the lateral
direction. Each of the through-holes is preferably formed in a
large oval shape to permit interior wiring to pass therethrough
and allow the supporting member to be lightened. It is desired
to fit an insulating member onto each through-hole 50 to ensure
the electrical insulation between the supporting member 28 and
interior wiring. The upper side portions 34 of the supporting
member 28 respectively have a plurality of openings 52 disposed
along the longitudinal direction thereof to permit the weight
of the supporting member to be lightened.
The manner of use of the supporting member 24 of Fig.
4 in the wall construction is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which
the wall construction is in the form of an outer wall construc-
tion of a building. The supporting members 24 are fixed onto
base members 26 of the wall construction through a first coat
member 24' of a sound absorbing material and a second coat
member 24 " of a fire-proofing material by a suita~le fixing
means 60 such as screws, bolts or the like. The supporting
members are disposed in such a manner that the corresponding
through-holes 50 of the supporting members are aligned with
one another in the lateral direction. The supporting members
securely support ends of each sheathing board 44 of a sound
insulating material on the step portions 36 by a suitable fixing
means to space the boards 44 from the second coat member 24''
to thereby form a space 46 acting as a heat insulating aix
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, .
~t7~30
~arrier between the boards 44 and 24''. In-terior wiring 64
vertically extends within the space 46 through the through-holes
50 of the supporting members which support the wiring 64 in a
relationship spaced from the boards 44 and 24''. Thusr it will
be noted that the supporting member effectively accomplished the
above-mentioned advantages. The sheathing board 44 is prefer-
ably formed to have a thickness corresponding to the height of
the upper side portions 34 of the supporting member. The
boards 44 have face members 48 disposed thereon which are fixed
on the top portions 38 of the supporting members by a suitable
fixing means. The interior wiring 64 may be disposed to extena
through the openings 52 of the upper side portions 34, as desired.
In such case, it is of course necessary that the step portions
36 are not used to support the boards 62. And, the openings 52
are preferably provided so that each of the openings of one
upper side portion aligns with the corresponding one of the
other upper side portion.
Another modification of the supporting member is illus-
trated in Fig. 6, which is constructed to have lower side portions
2~ 32, upper side portions 34, a flat top portion 38 and flanges
40 which are respectively formed in the substantially same
manner as those of the supporting member of Fig. 4, as well as
at least one pair of intermediate side portions 70 extending
between the lower and upper side portions 32 and 34 in the
longitudinal direction; the intermediate side portions being
connected to the adjacent side portions 32 and 34 through flat
step portions 36' and 36'', respectively.
The upper side portions 34 of the supporting member are
provided with openings 52 to allow the weight of the supporting
member to be lightened. The intermediate side portions 70 and
the lower side portions 32 respectively have through-holes 74
of an oval shape and through-holes 50 of a larger oval shape
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117~30
formed along the longitudinal direction in the substantially
same manner as the holes 50 of the supporting member of Fig. 4
which are sufficient to allow interior wiring to pass there-
through and permit the supporting member to be lightened.
Interior wiring may be stretched through both of through-holes
74 and 50 or either one.
The manner of use of the supporting member of Fig. 6
is shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, the wall construction is in
the form of a roof construction. The supporting members 28 are
fixed onto purlins or base members 26 through a first coat mem-
ber 24 of a fire proofing material by a fixing means 60 in the
substantially same manner as in Fig. 5. ~he supporting members
support ends of first sheathing boards 44l on the step portions
36' so as to space the boards 44' from the member 24, to there-
by define a space 46 acting as a heat insulating air barrier
therebetween. The supporting members also support on the step
portions 36'' ends of second sheathing boards 44'' of a sound
insulating material in close proximity to the boards 44'. The
boards 44' and 44'' are preferably formed to have thicknesses
corresponding to the heights of the intermediate and upper side
portions 70 and 34, respectively. Interior wiring 64 is dis-
posed to extend within the space 46- through the through-holes
50 of the lower side portions 32. However, it may be disposed
to extend through the through-holes 74 of the intermediate side
portions 70, as desired; and, in such case, the space 46 is
defined between the step portions 36'' and the first coat member
24, and pipings for tap water and town gas may be disposed to
extend through the through-holes 50.
It should be understood that the wall construction of
Fig. 7 may be applied to an outer wall construction of a
building, a ceiling construction of each story of a building
and the like.
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~7~LZ3C~
In the wall constructions illustrated in Figs. 5 and
7, heat insulating boards, fire-proofing boards, sound absorbiny
boards and sound insulating boards may be combined as desired
in view of the purpose of insulating noise, insulating heat or
the like.
Fig. 8 illustrates a further modification of the suppor-
ting member, which is adapted to be capable of not only pro-
viding a wall construction with heat insulating and sound in-
sulating effects but also receiving therein the head portion of
a fixing means for securing the supporting members with respect
to base members of the wall so that the fixing means may be
prevented from projecting from the supporting member to contact
with and/or injure face members and the like. It is also adapted
to be fixed with respect to the base members only by screws or
bolts.
The supporting member 28 of Fig. 8 is formed of a metal
sheet to have a pair of longitudinally exte~ding side portions
80 having a predetermined height and each having a flange 40
outwardly projecting therefrom and extending along the longi-
tudinal direction, a pair of longitudinally extending flat topportions 38 flush with each other, and a groove 82 ~ormed be-
tween the top portions. The groove 82 is formed to have a depth
and a width sufficient to receive therein the head portion of a
fixing means such as bolts or screws for fixing the supporting
member onto base members of a wall. The groove 82 may be formed
to have a bottom portion flush with the flanges 40. The sup-
porting member may be provided with two or more grooves 82, as
shown in Fig. 9. In addition, each of the side portions 80, as
shown in Fig. 10, may be divided into a lower side portion 32
and an upper side portion 34 connected to each other through a
step portion 36.
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~71Z~
The supporting member 28 of Fig. 8 is used in a manner
as shown in Fig. ll. The supporting members are fixed with
respect to base members 26 of a wall construction 20 through
a first coat member 2~ by means of screws 84 which are received
at the head portions thereof in the grooves 82 of the supporting
members 28. Also, auxiliary screws 60 are used to more effect-
ively ensure the fixture of the supporting members 28 with
respect to the base members 26. In Fig. 11, the supporting
members 28 are altered with supporting members 28' of a sub-
stantially rectangular in section. Each of the supporting mem-
bers ~8' is provided on the flat top portion thereof with pro-
jecting pawls 86 which are formed by raising a part of the
flat top portion so as to serve to securely support face members
48 on the supporting members 28 and 28'.
Fig. 12 illustrates a face means or a roofing means 90
suitable for use in the wall construction of the present inven-
tion, which is constructed to weather a violent wind as in a
rainstorm. The face means 90 shown in Fig. 12 comprises a
plurality of face members 48 laid to overlap one after another
in the vertical direction of the wall construction. Each face
member 48 has a first turned end area 92 and a second turned end
area 94 formed at the upper and lower portions thereof to extend
in the lateral direction thereof, respectively, so that the
adjacent face members 48 may overlap each other at the turned
end areas. The first turned end area 92 includes an obliquely
uFward extending section 96 and an obliquely downward extending
section 98 from the section 96. The second turned area 94
includes a substantially vertically downward extending section
lO0 and a bottom section 102 extending inward from the section
100 and inserted into the first turned area 92 of the downward
adjacent face member 48. The bottom section 102 of the second
turned end area 94 is formed with a rising portion 104 in the
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.
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lateral direction of the face member 48 so as to be adjacent
to the section 98 of the adjacent face member. The bottom
section 102 forms a space 106 through the rising portion 104
in cooperation with the downward adjacent face member. The
rising portion 104 is adapted to engage with the section 98 of
the adjacent face member when the second turned area 94 is
raised or lifted by a violent wind, so that the face members 48
may be securely held with respect to each other. The bottom
section 102 is also formed with a folded portion 10~ at the end
thereof to prevent the damage of surface treatment on the first
turned end area 92 of the adjacent face member~
The face means or roofing means 90 constructed in such
manner as described above has an excellent advantage as compared
to a conventional one. More particularly, the conventional face
means typically comprises a plurality of face members each having
a first turned àrea formed in the substantially same manner as
in the present invention and a second turned area including a
substantially vertically downward extending section and a flat
bottom section extending inward therefrom and merely inserted
~0 into the first turned area of the downward adjacent face member.
Therefore, the second turned area is easily separated from
the adjacent face member when an external force such as a violent
wind is applied to the connecting portion between the adjacent
face members, resulting in the face means being easlly broken.
On the contrary, the face member in the present invention, as
described above, is formed at the bottom section 102 of the
second turned area 94 with the rising portion 104 which engages
with the section 98 of the first turned end area 92 of the
adjacent one when an external force is applied to the connecting
portion therebetween, so that the face means of the present
invention may be securely held.
In addition, the face means of the present invention
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~:~ 7~l~3~
is formed with the space 106 between the rising portion 104
of the face member and the adjacent one. Thus, the face means
has another advantage that the space 106 serves to prevent
rainwater Erom entering through the connecting portion into the
interior of the wall construction, because the rainwater is dis-
persed in the space 106 without producing a capillary action.
The space 106 also serves to prevent a wind pressure applied
on the lower surface of the bottom section 102 from increasing,
to thereby more effectively prevent the lifting of the second
turned area 94 due to a violent wind.
The section 96 of the first turned end area may be
formed to have at least one valley portion so as to increase
the elasticity of the section 96.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a modification of the face
means 90. Each of face members 48 of the face means 90 shown
in Fig. 13 also has a first turned end area 92 and a second
turned end area 94 formed at the upper and lower portions thereof.
The first turned end area 92 is provided with three peaks 112,
namely, low outside peaks 114 and 116 and high intermediate
peak 118, to allow the strength and elasticity of the turned end
area 92 to significantly increase. The second turned end area
94 is formed in a conventional manner to have a substantially
vertically downward extending section 100 and a curved bottom
section 102 extending inward from the section 100 and inserted
into the first turned end section 92 of the downward adjacent
face member 48. The first turned end area 92 of the face mem-
ber is adapted to be fixed with respect to supporting members
28 of the wall construction by fixing members 120 formed of a
metal plate. The fixing member 120, as shown in Fig. 15,
includes a flat area 122 to be fixed to the supporting member
28 through holes 124 by screws 126 and a fixing area 128. The
fixing area 128 includes a section 130 formed in a shape
-16-
.;,
~7~;~30
substantially corresponding to the first turned end area 92
so as to grippingly engage with the upper surface of the area
92 and an end section 132 bent in the inward direction to
facilitate the engagement with the first turned area 92.
The fixing member 120 may be fixed on the supporting
member 28 by welding. In such case, it is not required to
provide the flat area 122 with the holes 124. Alternatively,
the fixing member may be fixea on the supporting member by
means of raised projections formed on the supporting member;
and, in this case, the holes 124 are formed in a shape sufficient
to insert the projections therethrough. In addition, the con-
necting portion of the fixing member 120 between the flat area
122 and the fixing area 128 is preferably formed with a rein-
forcing means 134.
The manner of fixing the face means with respect to the
supporting members is now explained with reference to Figs.
13 and 14.
The face members 48 are fixed in turn on the supporting
members in the upward direction. The face means is assembled
~0 in such a manner that, into the first turned end area 92 of one
face member fixed onto the supporting members 28, the second
turned end area 94 of-the upward adjacent face member is elas-
tically ingerted; then, the fixing members are disposed so that
the fixing area 128 fits on the first turned area 92 and the
end section 132 grips the end portion 136 of the area 92; and
them the fixing members 120 are securely mounted on the support-
ing members by fixing the flat area 122 to the supporting members
by the screws 126. Alternatively, the first turned area 92
may be clamped by the fixing members after the fixing members
are fixed to the supporting members, because the fixing members
have elasticity. The face means are assembled by overlapping
the face members in turn in such manner as mentioned above.
-17-
1~ 7~'~30
Thus, the face means are securely fixed on the support-
ing members with a high strength, because the first turned end
area 92 has very high strength and elasticity due to the
structure of having the three peaks 112. Such structure allows
the second turned end area 94 of the adjacent face member in-
serted therein to be held with a high strength. This results
in the face means having a strength sufficient to weather a
violent wind. In addition, the connecting portion between the
adjacent face members is provided with many spaces to
effectively prevent rainwater from entering the inside of the
face means due to a capillary action and the like. Furthermore,
the fixing member is formed as an independent single part, with
the result that electroplating and machining of the member are
easily effected; therefore, it does not adversely affect the
contact portion of the upper turned end area with the member.
Furthermore, the assembling of the face means may be easily
accomplished merely by press-fitting the fixing members on the
first turned end area and fixing the flat portions thereof to
the supporting members.
Fig. 16 illustrates a connecting means suitable for
connecting adjacent face members or roofing members disposed
in the lateral direction of the wall construction to each other,
which is generally designated by reference numeral 140. The
connecting means is adapted to effectively prevent rainwater
from entering the connecting portion between the adjacent face
members, be manufactured at a low cost and be easily assembled
in a simple manner.
In the illustrated-embodiment, the connecting means 140
is adapted to be used for an outer wall construction. The con-
necting means 140 comprises a connecting member 142 and a
holding member 144. The connecting member 142 may be formed,
for example, by extrusion of a metal such as aluminum or the
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i,sS- ~
, -
117i~3C~
like. The connecting member 142 is provided at the upper end
thereof with a fitting portion 146 turned outward and at the
lower end thereof with a fitting portion 148 turned inward.
The upper fitting portion 146 receives therein a part of the
upper engaging portions 150 of adjacent face members 48, and
the lower fitting portion 148 receives thereon a part of the
lower engaging portions 152 of the members 48. The connecting
member 142 is also provided at the central portion of the front
surface thereof with a supporting plate 154 of a substantially
T shape in section. The supporting plate 154 is forméd inte-
grally with the connecting member 142 and has a flat portion
156 substantially parallel to the connecting member and a leg
portion 158 through which the flat portion 156 is connected to
the connecting member 142, so that two spaces 160 are defined
on the both sides of the leg portion 158 between the flat portion
156 and the connecting member 142. The connecting member 142
is provided on the front surface thereof with a plurality of
projections 162 which extend in the vertical direction spaced
from one another at a suitable interval. The projections 162
act to guide the face members when those are inserted into the
connecting means in such a manner as mentioned hereinafter.
Also, the projections, if rainwater enters the connecting means,
prevent it from diffusing within the connecting means.
The connecting member 142 can be manufactured in the
following manner. First, an integrally molded article in
continuous length having a supporting plate 154 and projections
162 is formed of aluminum. Then, the molded article is cut
into connecting members 142 of a predetermined length. Finally,
each of the connecting members 142 is formed with fitting
portions 146 and 148 by bending. Thus, it will be noted that
the connecting member can be manufactured with ease and at a
low cost.
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The holding member 144 of the connecting means 1~0
serves to be fitted on the supporting plate 154 to securely
hold the laterally adjacent face members 48 with respect to
the connecting member 142. The holding member 144 may be
formed of a single metal sheet to have a front wall 164 and
a pair of rear walls 166, with a space 168 being defined there-
between sufficient to receive the flat portion 156 of the sup-
porting plate 154 therein. The rear walls 166 have a space 170
defined therebetween in which the leg portion 158 of the sup-
porting plate 154 is received. The holding member 144 is further
provided at the outside of the rear walls 166 with portions 172
of a substantially rectangular shape in section for receiving
the ends opposite to each other of the adjacent face members 48
therein. The receiving portions 172 are formed by outward bend-
ing the ends of the metal sheet in the direction opposite to
each other. The ends of the,metal sheet terminate a little away
from the rear walls to define gaps therebetween sufficient to
insert the ends of the adjacent face members therethrough,
respectively~ Each end of the metal sheet is preferably turned
inwardly to prevent rainwater from entering the receiving por-
tion 172 and more effectively support the face members 48 with
respect to the connecting means 140. Each of the receiuing
portions 172 has an elastic calking material 174 received there-
in adjacent to the space 170 which extends in the longitudinal
direction thereof.
The holding member 144 is provided at the lower end
thereof with a fitting portion, 176 for receiving a part of
the lower engaging portion 152 of each face member 48 therein.
In addition, the holding member 144 may be provided at the
upper end thereof with a fitting portion on which a part of the
upper engaging portion 150 of the face member is fitted.
The manner of use of the connecting means 140 will be
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1~7~Z30
explained hereinafter with reference to Figs. 16 to 18.
First, the holding member 144 is slidably fitted on
the supporting plate 154 in the upward direction to receive
the flat portion 156 and leg portion 155 of the supporting
plate in the spaces 168 and 170, respectively. However, at
this stage, the fitting of the holding member 144 on the plate
154 is preferably left unfinished. Then, the adjacent face
members 48 are slided along the projections 162 of the front
surface of the connecting member 142 to allow a part of the
upper engaging portions 150 of the member 48 to be fitted in
the upper fitting portion 146 of the connecting member 142 and
allow a part of the lower engaging portions 152 to be fitted
on the lower fitting portion 148. The face members are further
forced, resulting in the ends of the members 48 being inserted
in the receiving portions 172 to abut against the calking
materials 174. Then, the holding member 144 is pushed up to
engage the lower fitting portion 176 of the member 144 with a
part of the lower engaging portions 152 of the face members 48
and allow the upper end of the member 144 to abut against the
upper fitting portion 146 of the connecting member 142.
The connecting means 140, as apparent from the fore-
going, is constructed in the manner that the holding member 144
is supported by the fitting portions 146 and 148 of the connect-
ing member 142 and the engaging portions 152 and 150 of the
face members 48. Therefore, it will be noted that the holding
member is effectively supported by the connecting-member and
the face members without being provided with the supporting
plate 154. Such modification of the connecting member is illus-
trated in Fig. 19.
The connecting means 140 of Fig. 19 is constructed in
the substantially same manner as that of Figs. 16 to 18, except
that a supporting plate is not provided. More particularl~, it
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is constructed so that the end portions of adjacent face mem-
bers 48 may be securely abutted against calking materials 174
and receiving portions 172 o~ a holding member 144 are sub-
stantially closed. Therefore, the face members are securely
and stably supported by the connecting means 140 and rainwater
is effectively prevented from entering the receiving portions.
In addition, the receiving portions are constructed to have an
elasticity, therefore, the deformation of the face members due
to variation in atmospheric temperature is effectively absorbed
by the receiving portions and the calking materials.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,
among those made apparent in the preceding description, are
efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in
the above constructions without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained
in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings
shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims
are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features
of the invention herein described, and all statements of the
scope of the invention, which, is a matter of language, might
be said to fall therebetween.
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