Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-10-16
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
C052S749100, C052S718010, C052S749100, C052S690000, C052S694000, C411S523000, C411S522000, C411S457000, C411S461000, C411S466000, C411S921000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward an improved structural member, and more particularly to a metal flange to be used in making a composite structural member. The invention is also directed toward an improved composite structural member, and more particularly to an I-beam member having a web with a metal flange attached to at least one, and preferably both, edges of the web. The invention is further directed toward a method for making the composite structural member.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under CFR §§ 1.97-1.99
Composite structural members are well known. These members often employ a wooden web with wooden flanges attached on both edges of the web to form composite structural members such as I-beams. Composite I-beams are also known that employ wooden flanges with a steel web; steel flanges with a steel web; and steel flanges with a wooden web. The known composite I-beams have various disadvantages however depending on their structure. All composite wooden I-beams are weaker than beams of the same general size employing metal. In addition, the attachment of the wooden flange to the wooden web is often by gluing and the gluing process is time consuming and costly. All composite metal beams are more expensive than beams of the same general size employing wood. These beams are normally too costly for use in residential and light commercial buildings, and if used in such locations are unnecessarily strong. Composite beams employing wood flanges with a steel web are difficult to construct and thus expensive. It is difficult to make the connection between the wood flanges and the steel web strong enough. If the webs are full, they increase the cost of the beam and also make it difficult to provide access openings for the passage of wires and pipes. If the metal webs open, this usually results in smaller attachment areas between the web and the flanges resulting in poor connections which result in creep in the beam and less strength. Composite beams employing a wooden web with steel flanges are relatively inexpensive and relatively strong. However these beams are still relatively expensive to construct. In addition, the beam can have a strength problem in the connection between the web and flanges due to the construction of the flange normally employed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an improved structural member that makes the construction of a composite structural member much simpler and therefore cheaper. It is another purpose of the present invention to provide an improved structural member that makes for a stronger composite structural member.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a less expensive composite structural member, and more particularly a less expensive I-beam having a wooden web and metal flanges. It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a structural member, and more particularly an I-beam having a wooden web and metal flanges, which is stronger and yet simpler to construct.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a method for easily and simply making a composite structural member and more particularly an I-beam having a wooden web and metal flanges.
The improved structural member of the present invention comprises a metal flange which is to be used with a web to form a composite structural member. The metal flange is formed with parallel side walls joined by a transverse base wall at one end to define a web-receiving pocket. The side walls of the flange have raised penetrating fastening means which can be moved to penetrate the web to fasten the flange to the web. Each fastening means has a body portion bent outwardly from the side wall, the body portion extending generally in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the flange. The body portion has a penetrating portion at its free end extending generally toward the pocket. The fastening means are easily formed by punching them out of the side walls.
The above described metal flange is used in the improved composite structural member of the present invention. The composite structural member has a web with at least its outer edge portions made from fastener penetrable material. Preferably at least the outer edge portions of the web, and preferably the entire web, is made from wood or a wood product. One of the metal flanges is mounted on each edge portion of the web. The pocket is sized to snugly receive an edge portion of a web. When the outer edge portion, or the entire web, is made from wood or a wood product, the snug fitting pocket closely confines the web and thus enhances the bearing capacity of the composite structural member. The fasteners on the side walls of the flanges are driven into the web to securely fasten the flanges to the web.
The composite structural member is easily formed by mounting an edge portion of the web in the pocket of the flange to form a structural unit, and then moving the unit in a longitudinal direction with suitable feeding means to cause pressing means to press the raised fastening means on the side walls of the flanges into the web to securely fasten the flange to the web.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flanges are formed with doubled side walls with base wall extensions extending in opposed directions from the free ends of the side walls. This construction allows the pocket portion of the flange to better adhere to the web, particularly when the web is wooden, since the doubled side walls are not as likely, as single side walls, to tend to spread away from the sides of the web. With the side walls of the flange adhering more closely to the web, the shear strength of the composite structural member is increased. In this embodiment, the fastening means are formed in one of the side wall layers or each doubled side wall with an opening, associated with each fastening means, being formed in the other layer of the doubled side wall to allow proper operation of fastening means.
The invention is particularly directed toward a structural member comprising an elongate metal flange having a pair of parallel side walls joined at one end by a transverse base wall to form a web receiving pocket. Each side wall has a plurality of raised penetrating fastening means. Each fastening means has a body portion bent outwardly from the side wall along a first line transverse to the longitudinal direction of the flange, and a penetrating point portion at the free end of the body portion, bent along a second line parallel to the first line, to extend toward the pocket.
The invention is also particularly directed toward a composite structural member having a web with two parallel wide sides and two parallel narrow edges joining the sides, the web having a fastening edge portion adjacent each edge that can be penetrated by fastening means. At least one elongate metal flange is mounted on the web. The flange has a pocket formed by parallel side walls joined at one end by a transverse base wall. The web is mounted in the pocket with one edge abutting the end wall and with the wide sides adjacent the side walls. Each side wall of the flange has a plurality of penetrating fastening means. Each fastening means has a body portion attached at one end to the side wall and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flange, and a penetrating point portion at the free end of the body portion, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the flange, penetrating the web.
The invention is further directed toward a method for making the composite structural member comprising providing an elongate web having parallel edges, the web made at least partly of fastener penetrable material along edge portions adjacent the edges. Providing an elongate flange of metal material, the flange having a pair of side walls joined at one end by a transverse base wall to form a pocket. Each side wall has a plurality of raised penetrating fastening means. Each fastening means has a body p
Friedman Carl D.
Syres Christy M.
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