Structural members

• US 20020026765A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Vahey
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Vahey
• Inventors: Vahey, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/898,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/732.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0413 being built up from several parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0421 comprising one single unitary part
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/043 the hollow cross-section comprising at least one enclosed cavity
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0434 the open cross-section free of enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0447 circular- or oval-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0469 triangular-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/07 at least partly of bent or otherwise deformed strip- or sheet-like material
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/29 built-up from parts of different material, i.e. composite structures

Abstract

In construction, there currently exist few basic structural members, and few developments of metal load-bearing structures having structural connections with no welding or drilling. The present invention is a new innovative approach to the making of metal structural supports that is more economical, is more time efficient, and provides more strength and rigidity. The recommended design can be used in areas where strong rigid structural members are needed and comes in a variety of sizes, strengths, and weights. It is most suitable for construction purposes but has application in many manufacturing areas where weight, strength, and ease of assembly are desired.

Claims

1. The design calls for a structural metal member to be formed from triangular structures, made up of four elongated rectangular sheets. Each of the sheets has a long side and a short side. The triangular members are formed from a single folded elongated planar member. The two centrally joined elongated rectangular planar sheets have multiple semi-ellipsoidal indentations on each sheet. These indentations make contact with the two outside pre-formed sheets when the sheets are folded into the elongated triangular member, including three cavities extending through the member.

2. In the structural member of claim 1, the two folded in, curved, outside elongated rectangular sheets,when joined, become an internal flexible support of the structural member and may support one or two additional sheets. The structural member of claim 1 is to be made of high tensile strength 10 steel.

3. In the structural member of claim 2, these sheets are retrained with a solid rod extending through the center of the said elongated triangular member. This rod may be replaced by two formed elongated rectangular sheets, constituted in the said sheets as a convex and concave mating form.

4. The structural member of claim 1 should include an inscription to protect the public from misuse of this product. The inventor is recommending an etched red color Identification bar code to be applied at the initial stage of production. The bar code should be located on the left hand side of the short side of the elongated triangular structural member and on all said joining clamps.

5. A structural member is comprised of two elongated triangular members, made from four elongated rectangular sheets. The triangular members are formed from two folded elongated rectangular planar sheets, each sheet having a long side and a short side. The two centrally joined elongated rectangular planar sheets have multiple semi-ellipsoid indentations, running parallel to and equally spaced along the longer axis.

6. The structural member of claim 5 has the semi-ellipsoidal indentations on one planar sheet, offset from those on the second sheet. They lay in a plane, perpendicular to the long axis, by one half the distance between the ellipsoidal centers. The center of the first ellipsoid starts and ends on the short edge of the sheet (FIG. 3).

7. The semi-ellipsoidal indentations on the structural member of claim 6 are defined by a rotation of 35°

16′

ellipsis around their long axes, and these said ellipses may have an embossed surface where the internal support sheets contact the tangent point.

8. We have an elongated triangular structure member comprised of four elongated sheets. Each sheet has a long edge and a short edge and is joined by its long edge to another sheet. The two joined center planar sheets have numerous semi-ellipsoidal indentations, formed parallel to its long axis.

The two outside sheets have a pre-formed curved surface formed parallel to its long axis. The four rectangular sheets when folded in along the long edge form an elongated triangular structural member. The four said sheets are retained in this triangular form by a stabilizing rod, extending through the member and located in the center of the said structural member.

9. The structural member of claim 8 is comprised of three stabilizing rods extending through the structural member. They are located at the apexes of and inside of the said triangular member.

10. The stabilizing rods in the structural member of claim 9 are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of high tensile strength steel, graphite fiber, fiberglass, or a resin composite.

11. In this same structural member of claim 9, the rods may be pre-stressed with the structural member and crimped in place to reinforce the pre-stressed or preformed structural member.

12. The structural member of claim 8 includes a different way of joining the longitudinal flanges of a triangular structural member 10 to the longitudinal flanges of two planar wall members at each juncture (See FIG. 9). Various other modifications may be used to create innovative low cost truss assemblies, outside and inside wall panels,and double and triple wall containment vessels. This ball lance design gives us the ability to manually disengage the surface contact of the ball lance and flanges of the planar members.

14. The triangular joining clamp of claim 13 may have a convex or ball shaped form. This form constrains a threaded steel ball, which is used to attach two or more support braces.

15. The triangular joining clamp of claim 13 may have alternative configurations with possible angular forms from zero to three hundred sixty degrees. It may be utilized in space structures of intricate lattice members, built up in box shaped modules.

17. The cylinder joining clamp of claim 18 may be modified to a two size reduction clamp. You may also replace the steel retainers (item 44) with hardened steel balls (Item 55), joined together by a suitable steel wire cable.

13. The triangular joining clamp has many semi-ellipsoid indentations extending into the said triangle. The location and the depth of the semi-ellipsoidal indentations are used to position the clamp on the structural member 10 and provide for the expansion and the contraction of the assembly.

16. In design 48, the inside dimension of the cylinder inspection and joining clamp 42 is twenty over a thousand times larger than two times the dimension of the distance between the apex and the true center of a triangular structural member 10. The minimum outside dimension of cylinder 42 is three times the dimension of the distance between the apex and the true center of the triangular structural member. The minimum length of cylinder 42 is five times the distance between the centers of the ellipsoidal indentations 38 and 39 of the structural member 10.

The inside dimension of cylinder 43 is ten over a thousand times larger that the outside dimension of cylinder 42. The minimum outside dimension of cylinder 43 is four times the minimum inside dimension of the between the apex and the true center of a triangular structural member 10.

18. The design affords an alternative way of joining together two structural members 10. The ellipsoidal indentation (38) on the end of the structural member 10 has been modified to allow for an internal end joining locking assembly (Adapter 49).

19. An alternative triangular cylinder safety support and rescue clamp 60 is made up of an internal cylinder 50 with a centrally located triangular form. The triangular form is thirty over a thousand times larger than the outside dimension of the apexes of the alternative safety structural member 10. The minimum outside dimension of cylinder 50 is four times the dimension of the distance between the apex and the true center of the triangular structure member 10. The said structural member 10 is supported within the triangular form by pin bearings 52. Nine or more pin bearings are required for each cylinder. The pin bearings are located at right angles to the apexes of the internal triangular form and require predetermined placements. The apexes of the triangular structure member 10 slide effortless along pin bearings 52.

The minimum length of cylinder 50 is five times the distance between the centers of ellipsoidal indentations 38 and 39. The inside dimension of cylinder 59 is ten over a thousand times larger than the outside dimension of cylinder 50. The minimum outside dimension of cylinder 59 is six times the distance between the apex and the true center of the triangular structure member 10.

20. The steel retaining balls are connected by a suitable wire cable. The clearance distance for the steel retaining balls shall be a minimum of fifteen over a thousand times larger than the outside diameter of the steel balls and wire cables 55.

The internal linear cam 54 is centrally located on the inside wall of cylinder 59. The center distance of the said cams shall be equal to the distance between the centers of the ellipsoidal indentations 38 and 39 in the triangular structural safety member 10. The linear distance the cam travels to engage the ball retainers in both directions shall be no greater than one half inch in any direction, for a total of one inch overall travel.

21. The dead man release switch 56 unlocks the outside cylinder 59. A light circular manual force is needed to overcome the spring return forces of the ball wire cable assembly 55 as seen in claim 20. The length of the ring wire cable 57 shall be a minimum length so as not to be a hazard to the occupant or user. The safety ball wire cable brake 58 and the handle are centrally located. Cylinders 50 and 59 may be made of molded fiberglass, resin composites, cast bronze, or brass.