US 7,607,273 B2 · Building member

Abstract

A building member including a male portion and a female portion that are releasably connected together. The male portion includes a first beam having a first pair of wings joined together by a first crosspiece. A first bracket has first opposed ends each of which is affixed to a respective one of the first pair of wings so as to define a first slot between the first crosspiece and the first bracket. A tongue has an inner end that is affixed to the first crosspiece and an outer end, remote from the inner end, which extends through the first slot and outwardly from the first beam. The outer end of the tongue is provided with a first hole. The female portion, however, has a second beam that is adapted for end-to-end abutment with the first beam. The second beam has a second pair of wings that are joined together by a second crosspiece. The second crosspiece is provided with a second hole that is adapted for registration with the first hole in the tongue when the first beam and the second beam abut one another end-to-end. A second bracket having second opposed ends each of which is affixed to a respective one of the second pair of wings so as to define a second slot between the second crosspiece and the second bracket. The second slot is adapted to slidably receive the outer end of the tongue. A first threaded fastener extends through the first hole in the tongue and the second hole in the second crosspiece for releasably connecting the male portion to the female portion. A second threaded fastener penetrates the first bracket and the second bracket to reinforce the connection of the male portion to the female portion.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A building member, comprising:

a male portion including:
a first beam having a first pair of wings being joined together by a first crosspiece;
a first bracket having first opposed ends each of which being affixed to a respective one of said first pair of wings so as to define a first slot between said first crosspiece and said first bracket;
and,
a tongue having an inner end being affixed to said first crosspiece and an outer end, remote from said inner end, extending through said first slot and outwardly from said first beam, said outer end being provided with a first hole;
a female portion being releasably connected to said male portion, said female portion including:
a second beam being adapted for end-to-end abutment with said first beam, said second beam having a second pair of wings being joined together by a second crosspiece, and said second crosspiece being provided with a second hole being adapted for registration with said first hole in said tongue when said first beam and said second beam abut one another end-to-end;
and,
a second bracket having second opposed ends each of which being affixed to a respective one of said second pair of wings so as to define a second slot between said second crosspiece and said second bracket, said second slot being adapted to slidably receive said outer end of said tongue;
and,
a first threaded fastener extending through said first hole in said tongue and said second hole in said second crosspiece for releasably connecting said male portion to said female portion.

8 more elements

A building member, comprising:

a male portion including:
a first beam having a first pair of wings being joined together by a first crosspiece;
a first bracket having first opposed ends each of which being affixed to a respective one of said first pair of wings so as to define a first slot between said first crosspiece and said first bracket;
and,
a tongue having an inner end being affixed to said first crosspiece and an outer end, remote from said inner end, extending through said first slot and outwardly from said first beam, said outer end being provided with a notch therein;
a female portion being releasably connected to said male portion, said female portion including:
a second beam being adapted for end-to-end abutment with said first beam, said second beam having a second pair of wings being joined together by a second crosspiece, and said second crosspiece being provided with a hole being adapted for registration with said notch in said tongue when said first beam and said second beam abut one another end-to-end;
a threaded rod extending from said hole and being affixed to said second crosspiece, said threaded rod being adapted for slidable positioning within said notch in said tongue;
and,
a second bracket having second opposed ends each of which being affixed to a respective one of said second pair of wings so as to define a second slot between said second crosspiece and said second bracket, said second slot being adapted to slidably receive said outer end of said tongue;
and,
a nut threadably positioned upon said threaded rod for releasably connecting said male portion to said female portion.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Building member

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Building member

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4