System for reinforcing extruded beams
OwnerStephen S. Raskin, William Wallaceinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates to new and unique designs that improve and enhance the section properties of load bearing structural members, which have particular, but not exclusive, application in connection with aluminum extrusions for use in screened pool, patio and porch enclosures. The invention utilizes one or more reinforcing inserts or slats which attach to a structural member such as a hollow extruded beam to increase the effective wall thickness of the beam in the area where the slat is applied.
Claims16
A structural beam member which can be assembled to form a frame for an architectural structure, comprising;
- an extruded elongated load bearing element having a plurality of inner walls arranged to define a cavity;
- an elongated reinforcement slat slidably connected to at least one of said plurality of inner walls;
- at least one elongated projection fixedly connected to said at least one of said plurality of inner walls, said slat connected to said at least one of said plurality of inner walls by said at least one projection.
A structural member for making an architectural frame, said structural member comprising:
- an elongated element having a plurality of outer walls;
- at least one of said outer walls defining at least one anchoring member;
- a reinforcement slat adapted to be connected to said anchoring member;
- said slat defining at least one female receptor for receipt of said at least one anchoring member.
A support member which can be assembled to form a frame for an architectural structure comprising:
- a generally rectangular, hollow, elongated beam;
- a reinforcing insert having an elongate length coincident with or less than the elongate length of the beam;
- at least one elongated connecting rail integrally attached to an interior wall of the beam;
- an elongated channel defined by the reinforcing member adapted to engage in inter-fitting relation with said rail.
A method of reinforcing a support member which can be assembled to form a frame for an architectural structure, comprising:
- providing an extruded hollow beam which has at least one projecting lug integrally connected thereto;
- providing the reinforcing insert defining a recess adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with said lug;
- connecting the insert to the beam by inter-fitting the lug within the recess, the insert being sized and positioned relative to the beam in accordance with engineering calculations which determine the expected distribution of forces along the beam.
An extruded bracing member comprising a rectangular strut having four walls defining an interior space, each wall meeting at a corner intersection, and a transverse web extending from one corner intersection to a diagonally opposite corner intersection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.