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US 4,742,657 AGranted
Wall structure and method of making
OwnerRobert D. Veechinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wall structure having vertical end members and a vertical intermediate member. A set of horizontal members are located between the vertical members and are interconnected by horizontal splines. A vertical spline engages the ends of the horizontal members and the vertical members. A top spline engages the top horizontal member and the top ends of the vertical members. A top cap spanning across the vertical intermediate member engages the top spline. A spline tab engages slots in adjacent horizontal members and the vertical slot of the vertical member adjacent to the horizontal members.
Claims9
A wall structure comprising:
- (a) first and second substantially vertical end members, each of the vertical end members having a vertical dimension substantially greater than its horizontal dimension, having a vertical slot for engaging a vertical spline and having a top end with a horizontal top slot for engaging a top horizontal spline;
- (b) at least one substantially vertical intermdiate member having a vertical dimension substantially greater than its horizontal dimension, having opposing first and second vertical slots for engaging vertical splines and having a top end with a horizontal top slot for engaging a top spline;
- (c) a first set of a plurality of substantially horizontal, dimensioned members having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than its vertical dimension and having first and second ends, each end having a vertical slot for engaging the vertical spline, said horizontal members of said first set stacked so that the vertical slots at the first ends are aligned and the vertical slots of the second ends are aligned;
- (d) a second set of a plurality of substantially horizontal, dimensioned members having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than its vertical dimension and having first and second ends, each end having a vertical slot for engaging a vertical spline, said horizontal members of said second set stacked so that the vertical slots of the first ends are aligned and so that the vertical slots of the second ends are aligned;
- (e) a first vertical spline engaging and located in the vertical slot of the first vertical end member and further engaging and locating in the vertical slot of the first end of at least a particular one of the horizontal members of the first set;
- (f) a second vertical spline engaging and located within the vertical slot of the second end of at least one of the horizontal members of the first set and further engaging and located within the first vertical slot of the intermediate member;
- (g) a third vertical spline engaging and located within the second vertical slot of the intermediate member and further engaging and located within the first end of at least a particular one of the horizontal members of the second set;
- (h) a fourth vertical spline engaging and located within the vertical slot of the second end of at least one of the horizontal members of the second set and further engaging and located within the vertical slot of the second vertical end member;
- (i) a first top horizontal member having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than its vertical dimension and having first and second ends, each end having a vertical slot engaging the first and second vertical splines, said first top horizontal member having a horizontal slot in the top thereof for engaging a top spline and in registry with the horizontal top slots of the first vertical intermediate member;
- (j) a second top horizontal member having a horizontal dimension substantially greater than its vertical dimension and having first and second ends, each end having a vertical slot engaging the third and fourth vertical splines, said second top horizontal member having a horizontal slot in the top thereof for engaging a top spline and in registry with the horizontal slots of the vertical intermediate member and the second vertical end member;
- (k) at least one top spline located in and engaging the top horizontal slots of the first and second top horizontal members, of the first and second vertical end members and of the vertical intermediate member;
- (l) a first top cap having a slot in the underside thereof which engages the top spline, said first top cap spanning across the vertical intermediate member;
- and
- (m) each of said horizontal members having an upper slot and a lower slot wherein the upper slot of each upper horizontal member is aligned with the lower slot of its adjacent, lower horizontal member which is stacked above it and wherein a horizontal spline is located within the aligned upper and lower slots of adjacent horizontal members and a spline tab is located adjacent to the end of each horizontal spline, said tab engaging the upper and lower slots and the vertical slot of the vertical member adjacent to said upper and lower horizontal members.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.