BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an end view of an embodiment of the corner framing member of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a first side view of the corner framing member of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a second side view of the corner framing member of FIG. 1 orthogonal to the view of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the corner framing member mounted to rigid cladding.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the corner framing member mounted to sheathing and cladding.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternate embodiment of the corner framing member mounted to sheathing and cladding.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternate embodiment of the corner framing member.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another alternate embodiment of the corner framing member.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing yet another alternate embodiment of the corner framing member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The corner framing member is shown generally at 1 comprising a unitary member of roll-formed steel. The corner framing member 1 may also comprise extruded aluminum; extruded polymer; pultruded polymer; extruded wood composite; fabricated steel; compression molded fiberglass or other suitable material. While in the illustrated embodiment the corner member 1 is formed of a unitary piece of material it is to be understood that it could be made of component parts rigidly secured together. The corner framing member 1 has particular application in storage buildings and sheds although it may be used in any type of structure.
The corner framing member 1 includes a first exterior face 2 that extends for substantially the entire length of the corner member and is connected to a second exterior face 4 that also extends for substantially the entire length of the corner member. The length of the corner framing members 1 is typically the height of the wall it is framing and may be 8 feet in a standard construction although the framing members may be designed to any desired length. The first and second exterior faces 2 and 4 form a corner 6 that forms the corner of the shed or other building structure. In one embodiment the faces 2 and 4 are arranged at a right angle relative to one another. The exterior surfaces 2a and 4a of the faces 2 and 4 are finished in an aesthetically pleasing manner such as by painting, burnishing or the like such that these faces may present a finished exterior surface in the completed building structure.
Formed at the distal ends 2b and 4b of the exterior faces 2 and 4, respectively, are channels 8 and 10 that extend for the length of the exterior faces. The channels are dimensioned to receive the wall cladding as will hereinafter be described. The channels 8 and 10 are substantially identical such that specific reference will be made to channel 8. Channel 8 is formed of a first wall 12 that extends substantially parallel to the wall cladding. In the illustrated embodiment wall 12 is a portion of exterior face 2. A second wall 14 that forms the end of the channel is located from the distal end of wall 12 a distance sufficient to create a channel having a depth that will support and retain the wall cladding. A third wall 16 extends substantially parallel to first wall 12 and beyond the distal end of wall 12.
Extending from the end of third wall 16 is a return flange 20 that extends generally perpendicular to and away from the cladding surface. The return flanges 20 are dimensioned and positioned such that they extend into the interior of the assembled shed or other structure. As shown in FIG. 1 the return flanges 20 extend toward the interior space defined by the corner framing member 1. The return flanges 20 are exposed on the interior of the shed or other structure such that shed accessories (tool hangers, shelving, home organization products) or other structures may be secured to the return flanges 20 on the interior of the shed or other structure. The flange 20 may include connecting elements 21 that mate with the accessories such as male or female connectors, holes, flanges or the like. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the return flanges 20 terminate short of the ends of the exterior faces 2 and 4 to create extensions of the faces 2 and 4 (shown at A in FIGS. 2 and 3) at both ends of the corner member 1. Screws or other fasteners can engage these extensions to secure the corner member 1 to a base plate B and top plate T as shown in FIG. 2.
The shed or other structure is framed by mounting the corner members 1 to base plates B and top plates T to create a three dimensional space. Additional studs may be mounted to the base and top plates between the corner members as is known in the art to provide structural rigidity for the shed or other structure. The corner member 1 of the invention accepts both cladding that requires sheathing and cladding that does not require sheathing. Cladding that does not require sheathing has inherent rigidity and may consist of panels of wood, composite material, wood resin or the like. Cladding that requires sheathing typically consists of less rigid materials such as vinyl siding although sheathing may be used with rigid cladding.
Referring to FIG. 4, for rigid materials the cladding 24 is inserted directly into the channels 8 and 10 and the cladding may be secured to the corner member by fasteners 29 such as screws. The rigid cladding 24 may be formed with flanges 26 that fit within the channels 8 and 10. The cladding 24 is inserted into the top of the channels 8 and 10 and is slid down into position in the corner member 1. In one typical construction the cladding will extend between adjacent corner members although the cladding does not have to span the entire distance between corner members.
Referring to FIG. 5, for less rigid materials a sheathing 30 is inserted into the channels 8 and 10. The sheathing may comprise plywood, pressboard or other rigid building material. After the sheathing is inserted into the channels, the cladding 32, such as vinyl siding, is secured over and to the sheathing 30 using screws or other fasteners 29. A separate cladding corner piece 34 may also be used that is fit over the corner member 1. The cladding 32 is shown extending over corner member 1 in FIG. 5; however, the sheathing 30, cladding 32 and channels 8 and 10 may be dimensioned such that both the edge of the sheathing 30 and the edge of the cladding 32 are received in the channels 8 and 10 as shown in FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 7 another embodiment of the invention is shown where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements previously described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The corner member 40 shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 except that return flanges 20 are not part of corner member 40. To mount shed accessories (tool hangers, shelving, home organization products) or other structures on the interior of the shed or other structure a separate mounting flange 42 is provided that is secured to the walls 16 of the corner framing member 40. The mounting flange 42 may include connecting elements 46 that mate with the accessories such as male or female connectors, holes, flanges or the like. The mounting flange 42 may extend for the height of the wall structure or for a portion thereof. The mounting flange has a “W” profile where first and second flanges 42a and 42b are disposed parallel to walls 16 and are secured thereto by fasteners 44 such as screws. Mounting flange 42 further includes walls 42c, 42d, 42e and 42f that present surfaces for mounting the accessories. Connecting elements 46 may be provided on any of the walls for receiving the accessories.
Referring to FIG. 8 another embodiment of the invention is shown where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements previously described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The corner member 50 shown in FIG. 8 is the same as that shown in FIG. 7 except that return wall 12 terminates at wall 14 such that the channels 8 and 10 are only enclosed on two sides (formed by walls 14 and 16) and are open to the front of the corner member 50. The corner unit 50 may be used with the separate mounting flange 42 previously described with respect to FIG. 7. Moreover, return flanges 20 may be included on corner member 50 if desired.
Referring to FIG. 9 another embodiment of the invention is shown where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements previously described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The corner member 60 shown in FIG. 9 is the same as that shown in FIG. 7 except that channels 8 and 10 are subdivided into separate sub-channels 8a, 8b and 10a, 10b by wall 62. Walls 62 extend from walls 14 substantially parallel to and spaced between walls 12 and 16. The sub-channels 8a and 10a receive sheathing 30 and the sub-channels 8b and 10b receive cladding 32. The corner unit 60 may be used with the separate mounting flange 42 previously described with respect to FIG. 7. Moreover, return flanges 20 may be included on corner member 50 if desired.
While embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention has other applications in other environments. Many embodiments are possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described above.
Patent Application
20070271869
