Fire-rated flush mounted corner guard

• US 4,706,426 A
• Filed: 11/28/1986
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Balco, Inc. (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balco, Inc. (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rumsey, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/935,797
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 52/288, 52/232, 52/254, 52/255, 52/467
• US Class Current: 52/232
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/028 used at protruding corners

Abstract

A fire-rated, flush mounted corner guard is provided which serves to maintain continuous integrity in the fire rating of building walls notwithstanding the recessing thereof to accommodate a corner guard and consequent lessening of the amount of fire rock present at the corner. The corner guard preferably includes an upright, continuous, floor-to-ceiling, L-shaped in cross-section synthetic resin corner cover, means for resiliently mounting the cover within a corner recess substantially flush with the building walls, and insulating means within the corner recess beneath the cover. In this way the corner guard assembly provides a fire rating substantially equivalent to the fire rating of the walls. Preferably, the insulating means includes a heat-expandable continuous ceramic insulating sheet and steel protector disposed over the insulating material and beneath the cover and which overlaps the wall outermost surfaces adjacent the corner portion.

Claims

1. A fire rated guard for covering a junction area presented by adjacent walls, said walls each having an outermost surface and being relieved in the vicinity of said juncture area for defining a recessed area presenting recess-defining wall surfaces for receiving said guard, said fire rated guard comprising:

a cover configured to substantially cover said recessed area;

means for mounting said cover in covering relationship to said recessed area;

heat insulating and protective means interposed within said recessed area and behind said cover for resisting the effects of heat and increasing the fire rating of said walls in the vicinity of said juncture area,

said heat insulating and protective means comprising a thin metallic protector plate disposed in proximal, face-to-face relationship with said recess-defining wall surfaces for cooperatively defining between the recess-defining wall surfaces and said plate a continuous, thin, insulation-receiving channel, said protector plate being formed of metallic material capable of withstanding exposure to a flame of 1800°

F. for two hours such that, after the two hour flame exposure, the protector plate will not pass water from a fire hose stream directed thereagainst,

said insulating and protective means further comprising a thin sheet of thermal insulating material situated within said insulating-receiving channel and remote from said mounting means and cover,

the combined thickness of said insulating material and plate being substantially less than the depth of said recessed area whereby said guard will essentially fit within the recessed area to give a smooth, aesthetic appearance to said juncture area.

2. The guard as set forth in claim 1, said protector including a pair of side marginal flanges respectively abutting an outermost wall surface adjacent said recess.

3. The guard as set forth in claim 1, said protector plate being separate from said mounting means.

4. The guard as set forth in claim 1, said insulating material including ceramic insulating material.

5. The corner guard as set forth in claim 1, said metal protector being composed of steel.

6. The guard as set forth in claim 1, said material being in face-to-face contact with the recess-defining surfaces of said adjoining walls, said protector being in covering contact with the face of said material remote from said recess-defining surfaces.

7. The guard as set forth in claim 1, said cover having a pair of stretches respectively flush and in alignment with a corresponding adjacent outermost wall surface.

8. A fire rated guard for covering a junction area presented by adjacent walls, said walls each having an outermost surface and being relieved in the vicinity of said juncture area for defining a recessed area presenting recess-defining wall surfaces for receiving said guard, said fire rated guard comprising:

a cover configured to substantially cover said recessed area;

means for mounting said cover in covering relationship to said recessed area;

heat insulating and protective means interposed within said recessed area and behind said cover for resisting the effects of heat and increasing the fire rating of said walls in the vicinity of said juncture area,

said heat insulating and protective means comprising thermal insulating material and a metal protector disposed between said insulating material and said cover, said protector including a pair of side marginal flanges respectively abutting a corresponding outermost wall surface adjacent said recess.

9. The fire rated guard of claim 8, said thermal insulating material comprising a thin sheet of ceramic insulating material.

10. The fire rated guard of claim 8, said metal protector being formed of steel.

11. The fire rated guard of claim 8, said protector being disposed in proximal, slightly spaced apart, face-to-face relationship with the recess-defining wall surface of said adjacent walls, said insulating material being located between said recess-defining wall surfaces and said protector, with said protector being in covering contact with the face of said insulating material remote from said recess-defining wall surfaces.