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US 12,331,505 B2Granted
Support beam for screened enclosure and connectors therefore
AssigneeNico IP, LLC
InventorNicole Hickey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beam system for a screened enclosure that includes one piece support beams having an internal channel and three or more spline grooves on one or more exterior sides. The spline grooves are designed to accept and secure screen material. Inserts positionable within the interior channel of adjacent beams may provide increased structural support for larger openings in the screened enclosure. The inserts generally include a central pillar having angular caps attached to opposing lateral edges thereof so that an insert fits snugly within the interior channel of the support beam. The inserts may be secured within the support beams by fastening elements.
Claims18
A beam system for a screened enclosure, the system comprising:
- an elongated rectangular beam having flat exterior sides, an interior channel extending longitudinally therethrough, and at least three spline grooves each adjacent an edge of the elongated rectangular beam, wherein each of the spline grooves include an outward facing opening and a recessed portion, wherein the opening is configured to receive an edge of a screen panel and an elastomeric spline component to secure the screen panel to the rectangular beam,
- an insert sized and configured to fit within the interior channel of the rectangular beam, the insert comprising a central pillar having angular caps attached to opposing lateral ends, wherein the insert is configured to provide connection between two adjacent beams,
- wherein the angular caps each comprise a pentagon-shaped closed structure having two right angles, wherein a first side of the closed structure that meets second and third sides at internal right angles faces an inner side wall of the elongated rectangular beam, wherein the closed structure is connected to the central pillar via a vertex of a fourth and fifth side of closed structure,
- wherein the angular caps of the insert each include a plurality of apertures in the second and third sides extending along a longitudinal length thereof, and the elongated rectangular beam includes apertures alignable with a portion of or all of the plurality of apertures of the insert, wherein aligned apertures of the elongated rectangular beam and the insert are each configured to accept a fastening element.
1 more element
A beam system for a screened enclosure, the system comprising:
- an elongated rectangular beam having flat exterior sides, an interior channel extending longitudinally therethrough, and at least three spline grooves each adjacent an edge of the elongated rectangular beam, wherein each of the spline grooves include an outward facing opening and a recessed portion, wherein the opening is configured to receive an edge of a screen panel and an elastomeric spline component to secure the screen panel to the rectangular beam,
- an insert sized and configured to fit within the interior channel of the rectangular beam, the insert comprising a central pillar having angular caps attached to opposing lateral ends, wherein the insert is configured to provide connection between two adjacent beams,
- wherein the angular caps each comprise a first flat portion attached to the central pillar perpendicular thereto, two angled portions each attached to an opposite end of the first flat portion and extending outward away from the central pillar but inward toward a middle of the central pillar, and two second flat portions each attached to an end of the second angled portions and extending parallel with and inward toward a middle of the central pillar, wherein the first flat portion of each angular cap fits against an inner side wall of the elongated rectangular beam, and wherein the second flat portions of each angular cap fit against inner top and bottom walls of the elongated rectangular beam,
- wherein the angular caps of the insert each include a plurality of apertures in the second flat portions extending along a longitudinal length thereof, and the elongated rectangular beam includes apertures alignable with a portion of or all of the plurality of apertures in the second flat portions of each angular cap, wherein aligned apertures of the elongated rectangular beam and the insert are each configured to accept a fastening element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.