Claims
- 1. A multi-functional, universal guide rail member for an architectural joint system which comprises,
- (a) a unitary extruded section having a uniform, generally rectangular cross sectional envelope comprising upper and lower walls and inner and outer end walls,
- (b) said extruded section having an upper principal support surface and a lower principal mounting surface and inner and outer side edges defining the walls of said rectangular envelope,
- (c) said upper support surface defining the upper wall of said rectangular envelope and extending therealong from one side edge to the other of said guide rail member and from one end wall to the other Of said rectangular envelope to provide a generally flat, substantially continuous support,
- (d) said lower mounting surface being parallel to said upper support surface and defining a lower wall of said envelope,
- (e) said lower mounting surface extending from the outer end wall of said rectangular envelope toward said inner end wall thereof for at least about one half the distance between said envelope end walls and providing a generally flat, substantially continuous mounting base for securing said guide rail member to a structure,
- (f) said guide rail member having, intermediate its side edge portions and within the portion thereof defined by inner and outer extremities of said lower mounting surface, a longitudinally continuous, upwardly opening slot of generally uniform width extending from said upper support surface toward said lower mounting surface and terminating at a point spaced above said lower mounting surface,
- (g) said continuous slot being defined by spaced apart inner and outer slot walls extending from said upper support surface to a point closely adjacent to said lower mounting surface,
- (h) surfaces of said slot walls facing said continuous slot being longitudinally serrated and thereby adapted for the reception of attachment means of a first type in the form of threaded elements extending into said slot from above,
- (i) said continuous slot further being adapted to receive attachment means of a second type for projection downward from the bottom point of said slot and through said lower mounting surface for mounting said guide rail member with its lower mounting surface engaging an underlying support member,
- (j) said guide rail member having, at its inner edge portion, a downwardly opening guide groove defined in part by at least one guide flange and underlying an inner edge portion of said upper support surface,
- (k) said guide flange defining the inner end wall of said rectangular envelope and extending downward from the upper wall of said envelope,
- (l) said guide groove being adapted for the slidable reception and guidance of a centering device,
- (m) said guide rail member having, at its outer edge, a laterally opening, open-sided channel partially closed by upper and lower vertical retaining flanges,
- (n) said retaining flanges defining the outer walls of said rectangular envelope,
- (o) said open-sided channel being adapted for the reception of anchoring means,
- (p) said open-sided channel being defined in part by upper and lower walls and an inner end wall,
- (q) said upper and lower walls forming part of said upper support surface and said lower mounting surface respectively, and
- (r) said channel inner end wall comprising said outer slot wall.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 881,493, filed Mar. 11, 1992, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Article "Metalines Expansion & Seismic Joint Covers", pp. 4-8. |
Article "C/S Expansion Joint Systems", pp. 14-15. |
Article "MM Systems Corporation", pp. 6,7,12,13. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
881493 |
Mar 1992 |
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