Patent Application
20080060876
The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
Male portion 12 includes a beam 16 that is stiffened at one end by a bracket 18. Beam 16 has a pair of parallel wings 20 joined by a crosspiece 22 into a C-shaped arrangement. Bracket 18 is affixed between wings 20 and has a leg 24 and a leg 26 being joined in an L-shaped arrangement, i.e., joined at right angles. As shown, leg 24 is oriented parallel to crosspiece 22 and is spaced a short distance therefrom so as to define a slot 28 between leg 24 and crosspiece 22. Leg 26, however, extends away from slot 28, flush with the outer ends of wings 20, and is provided with a pair of apertures 30.
Male portion 12 features a tongue 32 that extends through slot 28 and outwardly from beam 16. Tongue 32 is a rectangular plate whose inner end is affixed, as by welding, to crosspiece 22 between wings 20. The outer end of tongue 32 is positioned remote from bracket 18 and is pierced by a pair of holes 34. If desired, slot 28 can be configured with substantially the same width or thickness as tongue 32 so that tongue 32 can be affixed directly to bracket 18 for additional reinforcement.
Female portion 14 includes a beam 36 having a pair of parallel wings 38 joined by a crosspiece 40 into a C-shaped arrangement sized for close, end-to-end contact with beam 1.6. Crosspiece 40 is provided with a pair of holes 42 adapted for registration with holes 34 in tongue 32 when portions 12 and 14 are mated.
A bracket 44 stiffens one end of beam 36. Bracket 44 is affixed between wings 38 and has a leg 46 and a leg 48 being joined at right angles. Leg 46 is oriented parallel to crosspiece 40 and is spaced a therefrom so as to define a slot 50 between leg 46 and crosspiece 40 that is substantially the same height as slot 28. Leg 48, however, extends away from slot 50, flush with the outer ends of wings 38, and is provided with a pair of apertures 52 adapted for registration with apertures 30 in leg 26.
The use of building member 10 is straightforward. First, portions 12 and 14 of suitable dimensions for use, say as a floor joist, are hauled to a construction site. Next, the ends of beams 16 and 36 bearing brackets 18 and 44 are brought towards one another so that wings 20 and 38 and crosspieces 22 and 40 are respectively positioned in axial alignment. Then, tongue 32 is slid into slot 50. Now, a pair of bolts 54 is extended through axially aligned apertures 30 and 52 in brackets 18 and 44 and is set firmly in place by tightening one of a pair of nuts 56 onto each of bolts 54. Afterward, a pair of bolts 58 is extended through axially aligned holes 34 and 42 in crosspiece 40 and tongue 32 and is set firmly in place by tightening one of a pair of nuts 60 onto each of bolts 58. Finally, building member 10 can be moved into position where it is connected at its opposite ends to a suitable foundation. Thus, a floor system of great strength can be constructed from relatively small, easy to transport pieces.
Referring now to
Male portion 112 includes a beam 116 that is stiffened at one end by a bracket 118. Beam 116 has a pair of parallel wings 120 joined by a crosspiece 122 into a C-shaped arrangement. Bracket 118 is affixed between wings 120 and has a leg 124 and a leg 126 being joined at right angles. Leg 124 is oriented parallel to crosspiece 122 and is spaced a short distance therefrom so as to define a slot 128 between leg 124 and crosspiece 122. Leg 126, on the other hand, extends away from slot 128, flush with the outer ends of wings 120, and is provided with a pair of spaced-apart apertures 130.
Male portion 112 features a tongue 132 that extends through slot 128 and outwardly from beam 116. Tongue 132 is a rectangular plate whose inner end is affixed to crosspiece 122 between wings 120. The outer end of tongue 132 is positioned remote from bracket 118 and has a pair of adjacent notches 134 that extend inwardly toward beam 116. Each of notches 134 tapers in width from a wide outer end 135 to a narrow inner end 137.
Female portion 114 includes a beam 136 having a pair of parallel wings 138 joined by a crosspiece 140 into a C-shaped arrangement sized for close, stable, end-to-end contact with beam 116. Crosspiece 140 is provided with a pair of holes 142 each of which is adapted for registration with a respective one of the inner ends 137 of notches 134 when portions 112 and 114 are mated. Affixed within each of holes 142 is the inner end of a respective one of a pair of threaded rods 158. As shown, rods 158 extend outwardly from holes 142 and between wings 138 so that such can be fitted within notches 134 in tongue 132.
A bracket 144 stiffens the end of beam 136 adjacent threaded rods 158. Bracket 144 is affixed between wings 138 and has a leg 146 and a leg 148 being joined at right angles. Leg 146 is oriented parallel to crosspiece 140 and is spaced a therefrom so as to define a slot 150 between leg 146 and crosspiece 140 that is substantially the same height as slot 150. Leg 148, however, extends away from slot 150, flush with the outer ends of wings 138, and is provided with a pair of apertures 152 adapted for registration with apertures 130 in leg 126.
Portions 112 and 114 (like portions 12 and 14) are made of metal that has been rolled, cast, stamped or otherwise formed as described hereinabove. The dimensions of these features are a matter of design choice being dependent upon factors many factors such as: intended use, expected loads, ease of transport, assembly speed, anticipated project longevity, and cost. Of course, any suitable material can be used, but steel alloys have found widespread acceptance in the building trades due to its great strength and durability indoors and out. Welding is the preferred method of affixing one feature to another.
The use of building member 110 is as straightforward as that of building member 110. First, portions 112 and 114 of suitable dimensions for use, say as a concrete form, are transported to a construction site. Next, the ends of portions 112 and 114 bearing brackets 132 and 144 are brought toward one another so that wings 120 and 138 and crosspieces 122 and 140 are respectively positioned in axial alignment. Then, tongue 132 is slid into slot 150 such that threaded rods 158 are received into inner ends 137 of notches 134. Now, a pair of bolts 154 is extended through axially aligned apertures 130 and 152 in brackets 118 and 144 and is set firmly in place by tightening one of a pair of nuts 156 onto each of bolts 154. Afterward, threaded rods 158 are fixed within notches 134 by tightening one of a pair of nuts 160 onto each of rods 158. Finally, with portions 112 and 114 mated together as a single unit, building member 110 is moved into position where outer sides of crosspieces 122 and 140 can support concrete while such is poured and smoothed into a slab. When the concrete has cured, the nuts 154 and 156 are removed from bolts 154 and rods 158 so that portions 112 and 114 can be detached from one another for storage and immediate reuse. Thus, concrete slabs and curbing can be readily made with forms assembled from relatively small, easy to transport, and easy to connect pieces.
While building members 10 and 110 have been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to them. For example, beams 16, 36, 116, and 136 can be provided with connecting features at each of their opposite ends, rather than at just one end as described above for the sake of convenience. Also, the beams can have any cross-sectional configuration such as, for example, that provided by I-beams. Of course, the number and location of holes 34, 42, 134 and 142 and apertures 30, 52, 130 and 152 can be varied in accordance with need. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the pair of building member embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
