Interlocking shape for use in construction members

• US 8,661,765 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D Three Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: D Three Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Schaefer, Richard F., Kreutzman, David, Tamm, Don N.
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, WILLIAM V
• Application Number:
  US12/700,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20100192505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 522/39, 522/821, 522/822, 526/47, 526/531, 526/532, 526/541, 526/551, 248/237, 248/500, 248/505
• US Class Current: 52/655.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/14 Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like aspects of adjusting height or inclination of shelves or brackets A47B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/38 Connections for building structures in general
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/66 Sealings damp-proof courses E04B1/644; fire-proof sealings E04B1/948; additions of anti-leak properties to plaster C04B; bituminous sealing masses C08L95/00; sealings for hydraulic engineering work in general E02B3/16; against ground humidity or ground water E02D31/02; coverings against rain or other precipitations of the atmosphere E04D; composition of material or manufacture of sealing foils, see the relevant classes for these foils
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7407 assembled using frames with infill panels or coverings only; made-up of panels and a support structure incorporating posts E04B2/78 and E04B2/80 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/18 Special structures in or on roofs, e.g. dormer windows in connection with roof coverings E04D13/00, especially domes E04D13/03
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0421 comprising one single unitary part
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0439 the cross-section comprising open parts and hollow parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0465 square- or rectangular-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0473 U- or C-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0478 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/06 with substantially solid, i.e. unapertured, web E04C3/10, E04C3/11 take precedence honeycomb girders E04C3/083
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0459 Drainage borders, e.g. dripping edges, gravel stops or dispersers
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2013/0468 Drip edges
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/17 Arrangements of solar thermal modules combined with solar PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6006 by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/801 having hollow parts with closed cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/807 : having undercut grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 : Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/30 : using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 : for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 : Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 : for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/70 : with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 : Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 : Mountings or tracking

Abstract

Interlocking support posts form an interlocking rack system which may have a single mold which provides both a male and a female joinder member. Between the support posts can be mounted panels such as solar panels. Under the support posts can be installed a roof stand off assembly which prevents water from weakening the roof. Various combinations of construction members offer a cost effective building block array of mounting panels, wind turbines, and any appliance on a roof and/or anywhere in a building. A two recess mounting bracket is ideally suited to mount solar panels on a roof. A lower recess can be fastened to a bolt anchor on the roof. The opposing recess can secure a mounting clip which attaches directly to the solar panel. Identical support posts can interlock. Various embodiments include conduit clasps, slider tracks, mounts for cabinets, sign posts, and thru roof screwed anchors.

Claims

1. A support post rack comprising:

a primary support post which has a central core supporting at least three pairs of parallel facing surfaces;

each pair of parallel facing surfaces having a pair of opposed upper facing surfaces which form an entry jaw for receiving an adjoining jaw half from an identically shaped jaw of an adjoining support post;

wherein each upper facing surface is connected to a respective lower facing surface by a lip;

a distal tip of each upper facing surface is connected to an adjacent jaw'"'"'s upper facing surface distal tip by an outer surface;

wherein the jaw half of an adjoining support post is identical to a corresponding jaw half of the primary support post;

wherein the jaw half of the adjoining support post will have its lip engaged with the lip of the jaw of the primary support post when the adjoining support post is engaged with the primary support post such that the two jaws interlock together such that the jaw half of the adjoining support post cannot be pulled out of the entry jaw of the primary support post in the direction of the adjoining support post, joining the support surfaces together, the primary and adjoining support posts only being able to be engaged and disengaged from each other by moving the posts relative to each other parallel to the longitudinal axes of the posts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central core further comprises a multi-sided member with all the parallel facing surfaces projecting parallel to a respective side of the multi sided rod.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each outer surface is curved inward and has a groove running longitudinally parallel with the central core, said groove sized to receive the distal tip of an upper facing surface of the jaw half of the adjoining support post.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the width across the primary support post from jaw to jaw is about 50.8 millimeters, and each jaw opening is about 9.99 millimeters, and the width of the central core is about 14 millimeters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one pair of upper facing surfaces further comprises threads to accommodate a bolt.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjoining support post is identical to the primary support post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjoining support post further comprises a single jaw supported by a flat base with two outer surfaces connecting to the jaw.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjoining support post further comprises a jaw having only one outer surface connecting to its base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least three pairs of parallel facing surfaces equals four pairs.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the central core further comprises a four sided member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the central core is sized with a width of about 1.75 inch so as to receive a post of a similar width.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an adjoining slide;

each entry jaw being capable of interlocking with the adjoining slide having a T shaped member and/or an accessory clip fitting into the jaw in an interlocking manner.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the slide further comprises a projecting mounting bolt.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the slide further comprises a projecting mounting slide.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the accessory clip further comprises a vertical base with slots to twist into one of the jaws, said vertical base having a clamp at its top.

16. A support structure comprising:

a base having at least one interlocking structure having a pair of facing surfaces;

the pair of facing surfaces having a pair of opposed upper facing surfaces which form an entry jaw for receiving an adjoining jaw half from a substantially identically shaped jaw of an adjoining support structure;

wherein each upper facing surface is connected to a corresponding lower facing surface by a lip;

a distal tip of the upper facing surface is connected to an outer surface, said outer surface having a contour;

wherein a jaw half of the adjoining support structure will have its lip engaged with the lip of the jaw of the primary support structure when the adjoining support structure is engaged with the primary support structure such that the two jaws interlock together joining the support structures together such that the jaw half of the adjoining support structure cannot be pulled out of the entry jaw of the primary support structure in the direction of the adjoining support structure; and

the primary support posts and adjoining support structure only being able to be engage and disengaged from each other by moving the posts relative each other parallel to the longitudinal axes of the posts.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein there are at least two interlocking structures, each of said interlocking structures facing a different direction.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein there are at least three interlocking structures, each of said interlocking structures facing a different direction.