Keder Rail Attachment for a Fabric/Panel Building

• US 20150252567A1
• Filed: 05/26/2015
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legacy Building Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Legacy Building Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Fox, Benjamin D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,334,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/38 Connections for building structures in general
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/303 for flexible tensioned membranes
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/306 Tensioning hand tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 5/146 Linear fastening means, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/0633 Arrangements for fastening the flexible canopy material to the supporting structure fastening roller shutters to rollers E06B9/171
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/322 Stretching devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/642 with covers held by elongated fixing members locking in longitudinal recesses of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/644 the fixing members being a beading

Abstract

An extrudable keder rail and a clamping anchor for the keder rail are cooperative to secure keder fabric to a building support beam. The clamping anchor allows the keder rail to be securely attached to a standard beam without drilling holes or strapping about the beam. A temporary clamp and movable tensioning device allow the keder rails and keder fabric to be applied to the building support beams after the support beams have been assembled and installed.

Claims

1. In combination, a keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment, said keder rail comprising:

a base;

two longitudinally open bodies each having one open slit extending in the longitudinal direction; and

a longitudinally extensive slot between said two longitudinally open bodies;

said keder rail attachment comprising;

a fastener affixed laterally through said keder rail base; and

couplers extending between said fastener and said support beam.

2. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a rectangular hollow extrusion.

3. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 1, wherein said two longitudinally open bodies further comprise longitudinal cylinders.

4. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 1, wherein said couplers further comprise two securing angles that each are distally located about said support beam.

5. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 4, wherein said fastener passes through each of said two securing angles, and may be tightened thereabout to secure to said support beam.

6. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 4, wherein said support beam further comprises an I-beam.

7. The combination keder rail, support beam and keder rail attachment of claim 6, wherein said support beam further comprises a plurality of slots formed in said I-beam through which a tensioning anchor tongue may operatively be received.

8. A method of tensioning keder fabric upon an installed structural beam, comprising the steps of:

anchoring a first end of said keder fabric to a first structural support;

clamping at least two distal points along a keder rail to said installed structural beam;

engaging said keder fabric with said keder rail;

anchoring a tensioning member to said installed structural beam;

coupling said tensioning member to said keder rail;

generating a tension between said tensioning member and said keder rail, and responsive to said generating step, tensioning said keder fabric; and

subsequent to said generating step, securing said keder rail to said structural beam.

9. A tensioning tool operative with a support I-beam for tensioning a keder rail having keder fabric engaged therewith and thereby tensioning said keder fabric, said tensioning tool comprising:

a flaccid strap terminating at a first end in a hook operative to engage said keder rail;

a winch having a portion of said flaccid strap wrapped thereabout;

a right angle brace bar having two orthogonal surfaces joined together, a first orthogonal surface supporting said winch and operatively resting underneath a cross member of said I-beam, and a second of said two orthogonal surfaces operatively engaging a vertical of said support I-beam, said junction of said two orthogonal surfaces adjacent to a junction between said I-beam cross member and said vertical; and

an anchor tongue extending from said second orthogonal surface and operative to removably couple to said I-beam vertical.