Components and assemblies for building construction and methods of making and using same
OwnerRonald H. Traftoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly of structural building components for use in conjunction with an improved anodized aluminum post having a generally cylindrical cross section and longitudinal grooves disposed in a peripheral wall therein for the receipt of the various components. The improved aluminum post has a double wall extruded construction to increase rigidity and versatility. The component assemblies include improved bracket structures insertable into the longitudinal grooves, double bracket structures, improved post connectors for joining one post to another at various angles, terminal post clamps and caps, and various utility structures adapted specifically for use in conjunction with the improved post design.
Claims16
A structural building component suitable for use in conjunction with a variety of attachments and connecting devices, said component comprising:
- an elongate tubular member having a major longitudinal central axis, said member comprising an outer shell centered on said central axis and defining a periphery that includes at least one longitudinal groove therein,
- said groove being disposed substantially parallel to said major longitudinal central axis;
- said groove having an arcuate side wall portion and a substantially flat side wall portion;
- said groove further having a flat base wall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a radius emanating from said major longitudinal central axis;
- said tubular member further comprising an inner shell substantially cylindrical in cross section, said inner shell positioned within said outer shell and centered on said central axis, said inner shell integral with said outer shell at a position on said outer shell adjacent said base wall portion of said groove, said inner shell and said outer shell defining a plurality of longitudinal voids between said shells.
A system of structural metallic building components suitable for connection and attachment to each other and to a variety of standard building components, said system comprising:
- at least two elongate tubular members, said tubular members each having a major longitudinal central axis, said members each comprising an outer shell centered on said central axis and defining a periphery that includes at least one longitudinal groove therein,
- said groove being disposed substantially parallel to said major longitudinal central axis;
- said groove having an arcuate side wall portion and a substantially flat side wall portion;
- said groove further having a flat base wall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a radius emanating from said major longitudinal central axis;
- each of said tubular members further comprising an inner shell substantially cylindrical in cross section, said inner shell positioned within said outer shell and centered on said central axis, said inner shell integral with said outer shell at a position on said outer shell adjacent said base wall portion of said groove, said inner shell and said outer shell defining a plurality of longitudinal voids between said shells;
- at least one connecting component for securely joining a first of said elongate tubular members to a second of said tubular members.
A system of structural metallic building components suitable for connection and attachment to each other and to a variety of standard components, said system comprising:
- at least one elongate tubular member, said tubular member having a major longitudinal central axis, said member comprising and outer shell centered on said central axis and defining a periphery that includes at least one longitudinal groove therein,
- said groove being disposed substantially parallel to said major longitudinal central axis;
- said groove having an arcuate side wall portion and substantially flat side wall portion;
- said groove further having a flat base wall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a radius emanating from said major longitudinal central axis;
- said tubular member further comprising an inner shell substantially cylindrical in cross section, said inner shell positioned within said outer shell and centered on said central axis, said inner shell integral with said outer shell at a position on said outer shell adjacent said base wall portion of said groove, said inner shell and said outer shell defining a plurality of longitudinal voids between said shells;
- at least one connecting component for securely joining said elongate tubular member to a fixes external support structure.
A system of structural metallic building components suitable for connection and attachment to each other and to a variety of standard building components, said system comprising:
- at least three elongate tubular members, said tubular members each having a major longitudinal central axis, said members comprising an outer shell centered on said central axis and defining a periphery that includes at least one longitudinal groove therein,
- said groove being disposed substantially parallel to said major longitudinal central axis;
- said groove having an arcuate side wall portion and a substantially flat side wall portion;
- said groove further having a flat base wall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a radius emanating from said major longitudinal central;
- each of said tubular members further comprising an inner shell substantially cylindrical in cross section, said inner shell positioned within said outer shell and centered on said central axis, said inner shell integral with said outer shell at a position on said outer shell adjacent said base wall portion of said groove, said inner shell and said outer shell defining a plurality of longitudinal voids between said shells;
- at least one connecting component for securely joining a first of said elongate tubular members to a second and a third of said tubular members.
A system of structural metallic building components suitable for connection and attachment to each other and to a variety of standard building components, said system comprising:
- at least one elongate tubular member, said tubular member having a major longitudinal central axis, said member comprising an outer shell centered on said central axis and defining a periphery that includes at least one longitudinal groove therein,
- said groove being disposed substantially parallel to said major longitudinal central axis;
- said groove having an arcuate side wall portion and a substantially flat side wall portion;
- said groove further having a flat base wall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a radius emanating from said major longitudinal central axis;
- said tubular member further comprising an inner shell substantially cylindrical in cross section, said inner shell positioned within said outer shell and centered on said central axis, said inner shell integral with said outer shell at a position on said outer shell adjacent said base wall portion of said groove, said inner shell and said outer shell defining a plurality of longitudinal voids between said shells;
- at least one bracket component for securely joining an external fixture to said elongate tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.