Interlocking joint with notch reinforcement
OwnerDavid W. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an interlocking beam construction in which hollow beams are notched and interlocked to define a completely rigid joint without fasteners, reinforcement inserts are slid into the beam to the notched area. The inserts are notched to conform to the notches in the respective beams so that the interlocking function of the beams is accommodated, but the weakness that would otherwise be produced at the joint due to the notching of the otherwise hollow beams is eliminated.
Claims29
A reinforcement for a hollow beam comprising an outer wall with a continuous internal structural void of substantially uniform cross section and a jointing notch defined into the side of the beam intermediate the ends of said beam for the purpose of interlocking with a crossmember, said jointing notch communicating with said void through said outer wall causing a discontinuity therein with an unsupported wall edge which defines said notch, said reinforcement comprising:
- (a) a reinforcement insert body dimensioned to slide into and substantially flushly fit within said void;
- and,
- (b) said insert body having a nesting notch configured to substantially align with said jointing notch such that said notches together define a composite notch with a substantially continuous contour to reinforce said beam in the region around said jointing notch.
A substantially hollow structural beam comprising an outer wall with a continuous internal structural void of substantially uniform cross section having a jointing notch therein to interlockingly engage other notched structural members defined into the side of the beam intermediate the ends of said beam for the purpose of interlocking with a crossmember, said jointing notch communicating with said void through said outer wall causing a discontinuity therein with an unsupported wall edge which defines said notch, and having a reinforcing insert body inserted therein, said insert body having a nesting notch configured to conform substantially to the contours of said jointing notch such that said notches together define a composite notch with a substantially continuous contour to reinforce said beam in the region around said jointing notch.
A joint comprising a plurality of hollow interlocking structural beams at least some of which have jointing notches which interlock with one another to create a rigid joint, with said jointing notches each being reinforced by means of a reinforcing insert body inserted into the respective hollow structural beam, and each of said insert bodies having a nesting notch aligned with a respective jointing notch of the respective beam to create a multiple dimensional reinforced joint.
A method of reinforcing a hollow structural beam having a jointing notch therein, comprising the following steps:
- a) selecting an insert body having an external transverse cross-sectional contour substantially identical to the internal contour of said hollow notched structural beam and having a nesting notch corresponding to said jointing notch;
- b) inserting said insert body into said hollow beam through one end of the beam;
- and,
- c) aligning said nesting notch with said jointing notch such that said insert body reinforces said beam at the region of said jointing notch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.