Bale with integral load-bearing structural supports
OwnerMarvin Gardinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a custom bale (10) comprising compressed fibrous material, integral load-bearing structural supports (20), and multiple cinctures (22) for use in construction. One embodiment utilizes an inverted-lip U-channel connector (28) as a bond beam that snaps onto the upper ends of the integral load-bearing structural supports (20) to connect the bales (10) to the roof. U channel splices (36) and (38) connect the inverted-lip U channels (28) together to form a complete bond beam around the house. The inverted-lip U channel (28) is also used as the window sill frame (41), window header (43), and footing beam. Bales with properly sized and oriented integral load-bearing structural supports (20) can also be used as posts and beams.
Claims2
A bale comprising compressed fibrous material and a plurality of cincture means that hold the fibrous material in compression, having a pair of opposed end surfaces, a pair of opposed side surfaces, and a pair of opposed upper and lower surfaces traverse of said side surfaces, having load-bearing structural support means of pre-determined cross-sections placed in predetermined locations and in predetermined orientations with main portions of said load-bearing structural support means integral to and within said bale, and further comprising a first structural connector means which serves as a bond beam at said upper surface and a second structural connector means serving as a footing beam at said lower surface whereby said compressed fibrous material with said plurality of cincture means and said integral load-bearing structural support means create a synergystic package that permits the use of thinner said integral load-bearing structural supports and taller, thinner said bales, reducing consumption of lumber, steel, and straw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.