Improvements in Metallic Lathing.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Metallic Lathing.
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTS FORDYCE, Building Contractor, of Newark, County of
Essex, State of New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in metallic lathing, or skeletons, which
are used in the construction of fireproof walls, ceilings, partitions, etc.
It relates more particularly to that class of skeletons which is termed "metallic
lathing," which, when attached to suitable supports, forms the foundation for the
filling that goes to make the body of such constructions.
It relates especially to improvements in that kind of metallic lathing that is
made by slitting a sheet of metal and turning back the edges of the slits to provide
an opening for the passage of the filling and also to form keys.
In lathing of this character as heretofore made, the keys, generally, have been
turned out from the plate on the same side, thereby leaving the other side com-
paratively smooth and keyless. When lathing of the latter description is used,
the filling placed on the smooth side has to depend on that part of the same that
enters the apertures in the plate for support. This is objectionable as the filling
han very little tenacity in its green state and would be very apt to be displaced on
the plain side of the plate as the comparatively small quantity of filling entering
the apertures would not be sufficient to support the main body.
And furthermore, when lathing having a plain side is placed with its plain side
against a flat surface, the filling cannot pass through the apertures to any extent
to form a sufficient clinch. It has been sought to overcome this last difficulty by
corrugating the lathing. In this last instance the corrugations form pockets into
which the filling passes through the apertures and thereby forms a clinch. It
has been found very difficult to make a lathing of this character, especially when
the keys have considerable size, as the latter cannot be easily bent to conform with
the corrugations.
In the invention in the present instance it is proposed to overcome these
difficulties by turning the keys out from both sides of the plate, thereby forming
a reversible lathing having both faces alike.
The invention consists in the novel construction such as will be hereinafter

page_text: fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of lathing embodying the 'invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3:
Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the lathing applied to a flat surface and
embedded in a filling.
In carrying out the invention, a metallic plate a, of the required dimensions is
provided with parallel ribs a a, extending its entire length. These ribs serve to
strengthen the plate so that the latter will be able to sustain any considerable
stress that may be applied to the same in a direction at right angles to the ribs.
These ribs also divide the plate into panels B B.
In each of the panels B B a row of apertures bb is formed. Each aperture is
substantially in the form of an elongated isosceles triangle. Their relative
arrangement is such that the apex of one aperture points towards the base of the
adjacent aperture in the same row. An aperture is formed by slitting the panel
and turning back the edges of the metal to form the flanges and 6 and also the
spur 6. The flanges and are irregular in form and approach each other at
their outer edges to form a key having irregular sides.
The apertures of the several rows are arranged so that those of one row break
joint with those of an adjacent row, and also so that the apertures in one row have
their apexes pointing in one direction while the apertures in an adjacent row have
their apexes pointing in the opposite direction. And furthermore, the rows of
keys alternately project from opposite sides of the plate, so that both sides have
the same formation.
In the construction herein before described, a lathing or skeleton of considerable
thickness is produced which is especially adapted to form the foundation of a
partition where considerable strength is required and in which the skeleton must
have considerable depth to enable it to properly support the filling when the
partition has considerable thickness. This is secured by the plate retaining con-
siderable of its original structure and also by the keys projecting from opposite
sides of the plate, and the peculiarly shaped apertures, which will allow the filling
to secure a strong and effective clinch.
The construction also provides a lathing particularly adapted to be used in
applying a plastic material to flat surfaces." When the lathing is placed against
such a surface, the projecting keys prevent the main body of the plate from coming
in contact with said surface and thereby allows the plastic filling to pass behind
the lathing and thereby secure a proper clinch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
4
1. A lathing consisting of a metallic plate having an elongated aperture formed
therein and the metal displaced by the formation of said aperture turned back 4
to form two irregular elongated flanges, the said flanges constituting a substantially
continuous collar forming a key having irregular sides.
2. A lathing consisting of a metallic plate having apertures formed therein, the
metal displaced by the formation of said apertures turned back to form flanges,
the said flanges arranged in rows, projecting alternately from opposite sides of 5
the plate, and also arranged so that the flanges of one row break joint with and
overlap the flanges of an adjacent row.
3. A lathing consisting of a metallic plate having apertures formed therein, the
metal, displaced by the formation of said apertures turned back to form flanges,
the said flanges projecting from the body of the plate to form keys, the said keys 5
arranged in rows so that those of one row break joint with and overlap those (f

page_text: an adjacent row, and the said keys also arranged so that alternate rows of the same
project from opposite sides of the plate.
4. A lathing consisting of a metallic plate having elongated apertures formed
therein, the metal displaced by the formation of each of said apertures turned back
to form two irregular elongated flanges, the said flanges forming a key with
irregular sides, and the said keys arranged in rows projecting alternately from
opposite sides of the plate, and also arranged so that the keys of one row break
joint with and overlap the keys of an adjacent row.
Dated this 23rd day of June, 1897.
ALEXANDER ROBERTS FORDYCE.