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US 6,826,885 B2Granted
System for reinforcing extruded beams
OwnerStephen S. Raskin, William Wallaceinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to new and unique designs that improve and enhance the section properties of load bearing structural members, which have particular, but not exclusive, application in connection with aluminum extrusions for use in screened pool, patio and porch enclosures. The invention utilizes one or more reinforcing inserts or slats which attach to a structural member such as a hollow extruded beam to increase the effective wall thickness of the beam in the area where the slat is applied.
Claims20
A structural member for use in forming a frame for an architectural structure, comprising:
- an elongated load bearing element having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls including an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- at least one elongated projection fixedly connected to a central portion of said interior surface of at least one of said plurality of walls;
- and
- an elongated reinforcing insert defining at least one elongated channel that receives the at least one projection when said reinforcing insert is connected to the at least one projection, wherein the at least one projection and the at least one channel, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof.
1 more element
A structural member for making an architectural frame, said structural member comprising:
- an elongated element having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls including an inner surface and an outer surface;
- at least one elongated projection fixedly connected to said outer surface of at least one of said plurality of walls;
- and
- a reinforcement slat defining at least one elongated channel that receives the at least one projection when said reinforcement slat is connected to the at least one projection, wherein the at least one projection and the at least one channel, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof.
1 more element
A support member for use in forming a frame for an architectural structure comprising:
- a generally rectangular, hollow, elongated beam having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls including an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a plurality of elongated rails integrally attached to a central region of an interior surface of at least one of the plurality of walls of the beam;
- a reinforcing insert having a length coincident with or less than a length of the beam and defining a plurality of elongated channels that receive the plurality of rails when said reinforcing insert is connected to the plurality of rails, wherein each of the rails and each of the channels, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof.
A method of reinforcing a support member that is used to form a frame for an architectural structure, comprising:
- providing at least one elongated beam that includes a plurality of interconnected walls, at least one of the plurality of walls including at least one projecting rail integrally connected to a central region of an inside surface thereof;
- providing a reinforcing insert defining at least one elongated channel adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with said at least one rail, wherein the at least one rail and the at least one channel, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof;
- and
- connecting the insert to the beam by inter-fitting the at least one rail within the at least one channel, the insert being sized and positioned relative to the beam in accordance with engineering calculations which determine the expected distribution of forces along the beam.
1 more element
An architectural structure comprising:
- a pair of adjacent structural beam members, at least one of the structural beam members including:
- an elongated load bearing element having a plurality of walls, each of said plurality of walls including an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- at least one elongated projection fixedly connected to said interior surface of at least one of said plurality of walls;
- and
- a reinforcing insert defining at least one elongated channel that receives the at least one projection, wherein the at least one projection and the at least one channel, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof;
- and
- a rectangular strut connected transversely between the pair of adjacent structural beam members, the strut including:
- four walls defining an interior space, each wall meeting at a corner intersection, and
- a transverse web extending from one corner intersection to a diagonally opposite corner intersection.
6 more elements
A method of reinforcing a support member that is used to form a frame for an architectural structure, comprising:
- providing at least one elongated beam that includes a plurality of interconnected walls, at least one of the plurality of walls including at least one projecting rail integrally connected to an inside surface thereof, the at least one elongated beam including a pair of adjacent beams;
- providing a reinforcing insert defining at least one elongated channel adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with said at least one rail, wherein the at least one rail and the at least one channel, when viewed in cross-section, flare outwardly at a common end thereof;
- connecting the insert to the beam by inter-fitting the at least one rail within the at least one channel, the insert being sized and positioned relative to the beam in accordance with engineering calculations which determine the expected distribution of forces along the beam;
- providing a rectangular strut having four walls defining an interior space, each wall meeting at a corner intersection, and a transverse web extending from one corner intersection to a diagonally opposite comer intersection;
- and
- connecting the rectangular strut transversely between the pair of adjacent beams to provide structural support to the pair of adjacent beams.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.