US3727362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building load structure
Assignee: Dunham Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1972-02-01
•
Granted: 1973-04-17
•
Expires: 1992-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of each including each including spaced upper and lower chords and horizontal chords interconnecting truss chords, interconnecting the chords, at least one supported at one the by a being supported at connections at the end by of said one supporting column, beams for rigidly connecting said other other end of said one another horizontally beams beam, the rigidly connecting pairs of plate like connector end to an end of another horizontally extending beam, the connections including pairs of plate-like connector elements.
Inventors
- 👤 P Ellison
- 👤 R Koehn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:48
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C3/00; E04C3/38; E04C3/40; E04B; E04B5/00; E04B5/02; E04B5/14; E04B5/43; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/02044; E04F2015/0205; E04F2015/02055; E04F2015/02061; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/341; Y10T403/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
Load supporting structure comprising: a. a pair of beams disposed in end to end relationship and each including vertically spaced parallel top and bottom chords and truss Work interconnecting said chords; b. supporting means for supporting one of said beams at one end thereof in upwardly spaced relationship to the ground; c. and connecting means between the other end of said one of the beams and an end of the other one of said beams, for rigidly connecting said beams in said end to end relationship, said connecting means including; 1. upper and lower tongue elements extending longitudinally outwardly from the top and bottom chords respectively of each of said beams at the adjacent ends thereof, 2. upper and lower pairs of plate-like connector elements for said top and bottom chords respectively, 3. the connector elements of each pair thereof being disposed to sandwich their respective tongue element therebetween, 4. said tongue elements and their respective connector elements having interconnecting portions locking said beams together against relative longitudinal and lateral movements, 5. and means for clamping each tongue element between its respective connector elements independently of the other of said tongue elements to rigidly lock said beams together against movements relative to each other in all directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
Load supporting structure comprising: a. a pair of beams disposed in end to end relationship and each including vertically spaced parallel top and bottom chords and truss Work interconnecting said chords; b. supporting means for supporting one of said beams at one end thereof in upwardly spaced relationship to the ground; c. and connecting means between the other end of said one of the beams and an end of the other one of said beams, for rigidly connecting said beams in said end to end relationship, said connecting means including; 1. upper and lower tongue elements extending longitudinally outwardly from the top and bottom chords respectively of each of said beams at the adjacent ends thereof, 2. upper and lower pairs of plate-like connector elements for said top and bottom chords respectively, 3. the connector elements of each pair thereof being disposed to sandwich their respective tongue element therebetween, 4. said tongue elements and their respective connector elements having interconnecting portions locking said beams together against relative longitudinal and lateral movements, 5. and means for clamping each tongue element between its respective connector elements independently of the other of said tongue elements to rigidly lock said beams together against movements relative to each other in all directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
upper and lower pairs of plate-like connector elements for said top and bottom chords respectively,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
upper and lower pairs of plate-like connector elements for said top and bottom chords respectively,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 1 in which said interconnecting portions comprise a boss on one of said elements having an axis transversely of said beams, and an opening in the other of said elements for reception of said boss.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 1 in which said interconnecting portions comprises pairs of aligned bosses projecting from opposite sides of each of said tongues, and laterally spaced openings in each of said connector elements for snug reception of said bosses, the connector elements of each pair thereof having aligned apertures therethrough, said means for clamping the tongues between their respective connector elements comprising clamping screws extending through said aligned aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
the connector elements of each pair thereof being disposed to sandwich their respective tongue element therebetween,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
the connector elements of each pair thereof being disposed to sandwich their respective tongue element therebetween,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
said tongue elements and their respective connector elements having interconnecting portions locking said beams together against relative longitudinal and lateral movements,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
said tongue elements and their respective connector elements having interconnecting portions locking said beams together against relative longitudinal and lateral movements,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 1 in which said top and bottom chords respectively define elongated upwardly and downwardly opening channels, said truss work comprising a pair of cooperating zigzag members for each beam, said zigzag members being connected together to define quadrangular openings therebetween and to said cords to define triangular openings between the chords and truss work.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 4 in which said channels are of relatively wide transverse dimension, said truss work having a relatively narrow transverse dimension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
and means for clamping each tongue element between its respective connector elements independently of the other of said tongue elements to rigidly lock said beams together against movements relative to each other in all directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
and means for clamping each tongue element between its respective connector elements independently of the other of said tongue elements to rigidly lock said beams together against movements relative to each other in all directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 1 in which said supporting means comprises a rigid vertical column having means at its lower end for anchoring to a foundation, and a vertically elongated member vertically movable on said column and having means on opposite ends thereof for connection to said top and bottom chords of said one of the beams at said one end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 6 in which said column and elongated member have transverse openings alignable responsive to predetermined positioning of said elongated member longitudinally of said column, said supporting means further including a holding pin extending through said transverse openings when the same are axially aligned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 7 in which said elongated member comprises a collar slidably encompassing said column, said openings extending diametrically through said column and collar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 7 in which said column is cross-sectionally rectangular, said elongated member defining an elongated channel for longitudinal sliding reception of at least a portion of said column transversely thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 1 in which said top and bottom chords are of like cross-section, respectively defining upwardly and downwardly opening longitudinal channels, said top and bottom chords having like tongue eLements at their opposite ends, whereby each of said beams may be inverted and reversed end for end relative to an adjoining beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
180 words
Load supporting structure comprising: a. a generally vertically disposed rigid column; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced horizontal beams projecting radially outwardly of said column; c. said beams each including vertically spaced top and bottom chords and truss work interconnecting said chords, said chords having inner and outer ends; d. beam mounting means longitudinally slidably engaging said column; e. said inner ends of the chords being rigidly connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said beam mounting means to dispose said beams in vertical planes; f. a plurality of other beams similar to said first mentioned beams and including top and bottom chords and truss work interconnecting the chords; g. connecting means on said outer ends of each of said first mentioned top and bottom chords for connecting each top and bottom chord to adjacent ends of top and bottom chords respectively of said other beams, the arrangement providing a grid of interconnecting beams adjacent said column; h. and means for releasably locking said beam mounting means to said column at a predetermined level above the lower end of the column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
180 words
Load supporting structure comprising: a. a generally vertically disposed rigid column; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced horizontal beams projecting radially outwardly of said column; c. said beams each including vertically spaced top and bottom chords and truss work interconnecting said chords, said chords having inner and outer ends; d. beam mounting means longitudinally slidably engaging said column; e. said inner ends of the chords being rigidly connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said beam mounting means to dispose said beams in vertical planes; f. a plurality of other beams similar to said first mentioned beams and including top and bottom chords and truss work interconnecting the chords; g. connecting means on said outer ends of each of said first mentioned top and bottom chords for connecting each top and bottom chord to adjacent ends of top and bottom chords respectively of said other beams, the arrangement providing a grid of interconnecting beams adjacent said column; h. and means for releasably locking said beam mounting means to said column at a predetermined level above the lower end of the column.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 11 in which said column is cross-sectionally generally circular, said beam mounting means comprising an elongated tubular collar surrounding said column.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 11 in which said connecting means comprises upper and lower tongue elements extending outwardly from said top and bottom chords and independent upper and lower pairs of connector elements for the upper and lower tongue elements respectively, each tongue element being sandwiched between its respective pair of connector elements, the tongue elements and their respective connector elements having interconnecting portions locking the beams together against relative longitudinal and lateral movements, and means for clamping each tongue element between its respective connector elements independently of the others of said tongues to rigidly lock the beams together against movement relative to each other in all directions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 13 in which said interconnecting portions of each tongue element and its respective pair of connector elements comprise a transverse boss on the tongue element and a transverse boss receiving opening in at least one of the connector elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
The load supporting structure defined in claim 13 characterized by a second vertically disposed rigid column, a mounting member longitudinally slidable on said second column and having means for locking the same to said column against vertical movement thereon, and vertically spaced beam mounting means on said mounting member for connection to pairs of said connector elements whereby to connect an end of a given one of said beams to said second column in spaced relationship to said first mentioned column.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB206827A
Cited
US2744590A
Cited
DE1059018B
Cited
CH424163A
Cited
US3153299A
Cited
US3477189A
Cited
US3583121A
Cited
US3638891A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |