SUSPENDED SKIRTING FOR BELOW DWELLING,

• US 3,775,917 A
• Filed: 07/15/1972
• Issued: 12/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francis L. Struben
• Original Assignee: Francis L. Struben
• Inventors: Struben, Francis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faw, Jr., Price C.
• Application Number:
  US05/269,055
• Time in Patent Office: 507 Days
• Field of Search: 52/DIG.3,169,288,287,74
• US Class Current: 52/169.12
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34342 Skirtings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/03 Trailer or mobile home skirt

Abstract

A generally U-shaped channel is supported from the underside of a mobile home and is spaced directly beneath the vertical walls of the home and slightly above the ground level to provide a lower channel. A similarly shaped channel configuration is formed by preshaped sections which are attached to the lower edge of the vertical walls and spacially above the U-shaped channel to form an upper channel. A plurality of preformed skirting panels are positioned between the spaced upper and lower channels with edge portions of the skirting panels located in the channels. The panels are fastened to the channels to provide a suspended, selfsupporting skirting for below a dwelling.

Claims

1. A skirting for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to a house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first and second means being spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means extending between and having opposite edges inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said means to accommodate variable sizes of skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, so that said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means comprising a brace attached pivotally at a first portion thereof to said second support means, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of said house trailer for movable and securable engagement wiTh selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with said first support means to a selected position of desired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined opening and precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw, and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.

2. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to said house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first support means including a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in the first preformed member so that said first and second preformed members form substantially opposed sides and a base of a channel, said second preformed member being formed with a bend so that the portion of said preformed member below said bend is angled slightly outwardly from the vertical plane of the outer vertical wall of said house trailer and toward the lower edge of said first preformed member, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said house trailer with said first preformed member, said second support means including a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said first and second support means being spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means including a plurality of panels extending between and having opposite ends inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, each said panel having a center section with an integral web on the opposite sides and running lengthwise thereof, the webs for each said center section of its respective panel extending divergently outwardly therefrom, with the webs of each panel terminating in integral coplanar flanges of adjacent panels overlapping, with every other panel having its flanges in engagement with the high back side of said channel of said second support means, and the remaining panels having their flanges in overlapping engagement with the flanges of adjacent panels so that the spacing between the webs of adjacent panels is susbstantially equal to the width of the flange, with the upper ends of said panels of said skirting means being positioned within the channel formed by said first and second preformed members, the biased portion of said second preformed member urging the upper ends of said panels of said skirting means into engagement with the adjacent channel side formed by said first preformed member to preclude rattling of said panels in the assembled position, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said first and second support means to accommodate variable sizes of panels of said skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, so that said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means comprising a brace attached pivotally at a first portion to said second support means, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of saId house trailer for movable and securable engagement with selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with said first support means to a selected position of de-sired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined opening and precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.

3. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 2, wherein a corner angle member is positioned over the edge portions of said skirting means which meet at corners of said house trailer, upper and lower ends of said member being positioned within the openings of said first and second support means, respectively, and a corner cap member positioned over the edge portions of the channels which meet at corners of said house trailer.

4. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said first support means comprises a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in said first preformed member so that said first and second members form substantially opposed sides and a base of a channel, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said building with said first preformed member.

5. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said second support means is a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said high back side providing a substantial backing support to which a lower portion of said skirting means can be attached.

6. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said skirting means comprises a plurality of preformed panels, each panel including a center section and side flanges joined integrally therewith by webs, said panels being assembled between said first and second support means with the flanges of adjacent panels overlapping and being secured to portions of said first and second support means.

7. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein a corner angle member is positioned over the edge portions of said skirting means which meet at corners of said building, upper and lower ends of said member being positioned within the openings of said first and second support means, respectively, and a corner cap member positioned over the edge portions of the channels which meet at corners of said building.