Patent Application
20060248845
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to molded construction members and, more particularly, discloses a composite building component in the form of a pre-molded and elongated bond member for use in structural wall applications associated with window, door and brick ledge supports of an enclosure. The structural bond member of the present invention further incorporates various modified “L” and “T” cross-sectional shaped structures which are manufactured from a plastic/sawdust composite or heavy-duty fiberglass construction in order to provide the combined features of water and termite infestation resistance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is well documented with examples of floor and wall construction systems. The objective in each instance is to simplify the time and effort necessary to construct a building enclosure, as well as to incorporate improved materials and techniques which reflect in the quality and durability of the structure so erected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,831, issued to Baumann, teaches a simplified construction system in which a box-like building is constructed one room at a time and by which concrete slabs are used for building the walls, floor and ceiling. These are poured in a horizontal position, and are stacked vertically with bond-breaking layers between them to allow separation.
A plastic sheet is applied as a bond-breaking layer to the upper surface of the foundation and, after the foundation and stub wall are partially cured, a ceiling slab is poured with wedge-shaped edges clearing stub walls by approximately one inch. Tiltable wall slabs are then poured on top of the ceiling slab, each connected by hinges to its own stub wall. An accelerated lightweight and low-slump concrete is normally used, which makes possible a rapid, nearly continuous pouring sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,802, issued to Murphy, teaches a floor support assembly for building structures which includes a beam having a ledge, a floor joist and a locking clip for connecting the joist to the beam. An elongated bottom wall portion of the joist terminates at an end, and a pair of the walls project along the length of the bottom wall and at an angle thereto so as to form a member having a generally V-shaped cross section. Each of opposing side walls include a ledge extending therealong, the ledges being coplanar and adapted to be received within respective grooves in a floor panel to support the panel therealong. The joist is supported at its end by the ledge of the beam and is connected to the beam by the clip. Of note, the beam includes a flange portion for connection to a similar beam to form a hollow beam section which not only serves as a support for associated floor joists, but also serves as a heating and/or cooling duct.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,849, issued to Jones, Jr., teaches a building wall and method of constructing the same and which provides hollow cored walls, beams, girders, joists and the like, these typically being constructed of a manufactured and exterior-grade fiberglass reinforced cement board, and within which is poured a flowable fibrous, foam-cement mix. In relevant part, the fiber-foam cement core supplies structural strength, insulating properties and monolithic bonding of all components. An inner, cement board creates the interior side of the wall and an outer cement board is used as a permanent form creating one side of the building wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,215, issued to Pulte et al., teaches a casting tool for forming precast concrete walls. A base is disposed generally in a horizontal plane and has an upper surface. A pair of opposing sidewalls are disposed proximate the upper surface. Each of the sidewalls has a first position in which the sidewall is located substantially in a vertical plane.
First and second opposing bulkheads are disposed proximate the upper surface, each having a respective first position in which the bulkhead is located substantially in a vertical plane. The bulkheads are further arranged to abut the pair of opposing sidewalls so that the inner surfaces of the sidewalls, the bulkheads, and the upper surface of the base define a form for receiving concrete to make the precast concrete wall section. The first bulkhead is configured for movement so as to vary a first dimension of the form, and thus the dimension of the concrete wall section.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,695, issued to Person, teaches a composite floor system including a plurality of joists, each having a top and a bottom chord and a web in the space between the chords. The top chord includes a pair of angle bars, each having a vertical leg of differing heights and a horizontal leg. The top of the web extends between the vertical legs of the chord to a point between or level with the top of the larger vertical leg of the angle bars. Decking is supported by the horizontal legs of the top chord of adjacent joists and a concrete slab poured on the decking and between the vertical legs of the top chord to provide bonding between the concrete slab, top chord and web.
The present invention relates generally to molded construction members and, more particularly, discloses a pre-molded and elongated composite building component, or bond, for use in structural wall applications associated with window, door and brick ledge supports of an enclosure. The structural bond member of the present invention further incorporates various modified “L” and “T” cross-sectional shaped structures which are manufactured from a plastic/sawdust composite or heavy-duty fiberglass construction.
In a first application, the elongated components are arranged in an end-to-end connection fashion upon a perimeter-defining foundation associated with the building structure. Typically, the bond components are constructed, such as within a press application, of a composite material including a plasticized resin mixed with a sawdust and binder. Alternatively, the components may be constructed with fiberglass or other suitable material which exhibits the necessary properties of strength, durability, and environmental insulation.
The elongated components exhibit any desired cross-sectional configuration, among those including an “L” shaped, “T” shaped or “U” shaped design. A reinforcing insert may be embedded in axially extending fashion within the elongated component, such as during its press or formation stage, and may include a metal, wood, heavy-duty nylon or other suitable material which provides the necessary degree of reinforcement to the component. The insert may also be configured to replicate the overall “L”, “T” or “U” shaped cross section of the material in order to maximize the overall rigidity of the component along its axial direction.
In one preferred application, the elongated components are assembled in end-to-end engagement upon the building foundation, this being accomplished either by integrally forming the components with the foundation or, alternatively, by securing the same with glue, fasteners and the like. The foundation “bond” layer thus created exhibits desired waterproof and infestation-resistant properties, and may also be configured along its cross-sectional extending dimension to provide both an inner support ledge for a plurality of inner extending floor joists, as well as an outer supporting and brick ledge.
A further variant of the present design contemplates the provision of end-to-end engaging components assembled at varied locations along an erected building wall and corresponding to a window or doorway opening. In such a variant, a plurality of “L” shaped members are typically employed and which, upon being assembled together, define a structure which can be incorporated into such as an assembled brick and frame construction or poured wall construction.
Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
Referring now to
In a first application, a plurality of the elongated components 10 are assembled in end-to-end fashion about the perimeter defining foundation 10 and in order to define a lowermost bond layer associated with the foundation. As discussed, the advantage of such a bond layer is that it provides a degree of waterproofing, as well as termite and other infestation resistance, not found in other prior art applications and, most notably, in conventional wood bond constructions.
The elongated component 10 exhibits a substantially “L” shape with a first foundation supporting ledge 14 and an interconnected and upwardly extending ledge 16. In the application of
The components 10 are typically constructed of a composite material in order to exhibit the desired properties of strength and environmental insulation. Typically, the bond components are constructed, such as within a press operation utilizing a given forming temperature, as a composite of a plasticized resin mixed with a sawdust and binder. Alternatively, the components may be constructed with fiberglass or other suitable material such that the finished product exhibits the necessary properties of strength, durability, and environmental insulation.
Referring further to
Referring now to
As with the “L” shaped embodiment of
Referring now to
Referring further to
As is further shown in
Finally, and referencing
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.
