Box beam and method for fabricating same
OwnerKurt K. Davisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A box beam is provided that may be fabricated to any desired size, having a box-like structure defined by a seam defined by spaced apart first and second allowance ends or other connection means configuration, first and second top portions, first and second side portions, and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a raised ridge formed midway about its width and running substantially along the length of the box beam. A method is also provided for fabricating the various embodiments of the box beam described from sheet metal, namely, forming the ridge, turning up the allowance ends at about right angles to the sheet, turning up the top portions likewise, then turning up the side portions likewise.
Claims31
A box beam comprising:
- first and second allowance ends, first and second top portions that are substantially coplanar and spaced apart by a seam, first and second side portions, and a bottom portion;
- said first allowance end and said first side portion each depending from opposite edges of said first top portion in a substantially common direction at about a right angle to said first top portion;
- said second allowance end and said second side portion each depending from opposite edges of said second top portion in a substantially common direction at about a right angle to said second top portion;
- said first side portion extending between said first top portion and said bottom portion and being connected at about a right angle to one end of said bottom portion;
- said second side portion extending between said second top portion and said bottom portion and being connected at about a right angle to an opposite end of said bottom portion;
- said bottom portion being generally parallel with said first and second top portions;
- said bottom portion having a ridge formed therein and raised from said bottom portion generally toward said first and second top portions;
- wherein said first and second allowance ends are generally parallel and depend in substantially the same direction from said first and second top portions, respectively.
A method for fabricating a box beam from sheet metal comprising the steps of:
- cutting said sheet metal to desired size;
- forming a ridge along the length of said sheet metal generally midway about the width thereof, said ridge being raised from said sheet metal a distance from about ¼ inch to about 1 inch;
- turning up opposite ends of said sheet metal at about right angles thereto along the length thereof generally equidistantly, said opposite ends being turned up not more than about 1 inch;
- turning up first and second top portions adjacent said opposite ends, respectively, at about right angles to said sheet metal, said first and second top portions each being turned up a distance equal to or less than about ½ the width desired for said box beam;
- turning up first and second side portions adjacent said first and second top portions, respectively, at about right angles to said sheet metal, said first and second side portions being spaced apart along said sheet metal about the width desired for said box beam.
A box beam comprising:
- first and second top portions that are substantially coplanar and that have a first inner edge and outer edge and a second inner edge and outer edge respectively, connection means for securing said first and second top portions at said first and second inner edges, said connection means defining a seam therebetween, first and second side portions each being substantially planar along their respective lengths, and a bottom portion;
- said first side portion depending from said first outer edge at about a right angle to said first top portion;
- said second side portion depending from said second outer edge at about a right angle to said second top portion;
- said first side portion extending between said first top portion and said bottom portion and being connected at about a right angle to one end of said bottom portion;
- said second side portion extending between said second top portion and said bottom portion and being connected at about a right angle to an opposite end of said bottom portion;
- said bottom portion being generally parallel with first and second top portions;
- said bottom portion having a ridge formed therein and raised from said bottom portion generally toward said first and second top portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.