US 5,472,290 AGranted

Joint with tapered edges

AssigneeAltamont, Inc.

InventorJohn Hulls

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A joint with tapered edges allows, by means of the taper, a gradual transmission of the loads from panel to joint to adjacent panel such that the panels contribute not only as a shear web between the tensile and compressive members but also contributes to the compressive, tensile and bending loads of the corner structure and such that the combined structure of joint and panels behave as a monocoque structure. This joint allows for a lighter weight preformed panel to be used.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A structure comprising:

a half-joint section comprising
a first skin portion,
a second skin portion,
a first joint-forming section including a first web section connecting said first and second skin sections and two tapered flange sections formed integrally with the second and first skin portions, respectively,
a second joint-forming section including a second web section connecting said second skin portion with an attachment area of said first skin portion and including a second flange section integral with said second skin portion;
a second half-joint section comprising
a third skin portion,
a fourth skin portion,
a third joint-forming section comprising a third web section connecting said third and fourth skin portions and comprising two tapered flange sections formed integrally with the third and fourth skin portions, respectively, and
a fourth joint-forming section including a fourth web section connecting said third skin portion with an attachment area of said fourth skin portion and a second flange section integral with said third skin portion;
an adhesive layer for connecting said first and second half-joint sections together wherein said second web section is attached to said fourth web section, said second flange section of the second joint-forming section overlaps and is attached to said attachment portion of said fourth skin portion, and said second flange section of the fourth joint-forming section overlaps and is attached to said attachment area of said first skin portion;
a preformed panel with two sides;
and
a second adhesive layer connecting said two tapered flange sections of said first half-joint section with portions of said two sides of said preformed panel, said half-joint sections being shaped such that loads may be transmitted from the half-joint sections to the preformed panel to contribute to the support of the compressive, tensile and bending loads of the half-joint section.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A structure comprising:

a half-joint section comprising
a first skin portion,
a second skin portion,
a first joint-forming section including a first web section connecting said first and second skin sections and two tapered flange sections formed integrally with the second and first skin portions, respectively,
a second joint-forming section including a second web section connecting said second skin portion with an attachment area of said first skin portion and including a second flange section integral with said second skin portion;
a second half-joint section comprising
a third skin portion,
a fourth skin portion,
a third joint-forming section comprising a third web section connecting said third and fourth skin portions and comprising two tapered flange sections formed integrally with the third and fourth skin portions, respectively, and
a fourth joint-forming section including a fourth web section connecting said third skin portion with an attachment area of said fourth skin portion and a second flange section integral with said third skin portion;
an adhesive layer for connecting said first and second half-joint sections together wherein said second web section is attached to said fourth web section, said second flange section of the second joint-forming section overlaps and is attached to said attachment portion of said fourth skin portion, and said second flange section of the fourth joint-forming section overlaps and is attached to said attachment area of said first skin portion;
a preformed panel with two sides;
and
a second adhesive layer connecting said two tapered flange sections of said first half-joint section with portions of said two sides of said preformed panel, said half-joint sections being shaped such that loads may be transmitted from the half-joint sections to the preformed panel to contribute to the support of the compressive, tensile and bending loads of the half-joint section.

11 more elements