Abstract:
The present invention relates to new and unique designs that improve and enhance the section properties of load bearing structural members, which have particular, but not exclusive, application in connection with aluminum extrusions for use in screened pool, patio and porch enclosures. The invention utilizes one or more reinforcing inserts or slats which attach to a structural member such as a hollow extruded beam to increase the effective wall thickness of the beam in the area where the slat is applied.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to load bearing structural members and, more particularly, relates to systems and methods for increasing the section properties of structural beams as and where needed depending upon expected load conditions.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Aluminum framing components, such as those used in the construction of pool, patio and porch enclosures, consist generally of hollow aluminum extrusions and open back extrusions, which are fastened together and may be used separately or in a system. The hollow extrusions used today have top and bottom walls and two sidewalls. In one environment, they are used in screen enclosures as beams, purlins, rails, uprights and the like. Generally, the larger the area of the enclosure, the bigger, stronger and heavier the extrusions must be in order to meet the design and structural loads and wind pressure resistance standards required by building codes. The new building codes require aluminum enclosures to be built to withstand higher wind speeds than ever before and significantly higher design pressures and structural loads than in the past. The result is an enclosure that must consist of heavier and larger beam members to meet the same span and height criteria than was previously necessary under prior building codes.  
           [0005]    The following U.S. Patents disclose attempts at reinforcing structural members:  
                                                             U.S. Pat. No.   Issued   To   Entitled                                5,758,456   June 2, 1998   Case   DECK PLANK       4,944,545   July 31, 1990   Simme   STANCHION                   FOR GOODS                   VEHICLES       3,345,794   October 10, 1967   Proud   CONSTRUCTION                   AND ERECTION                   OF FRAMING                   MEMBERS       5,921,053   July 13, 1999   Callahan   INTERNALLY                   REINFORCED                   GIRDER                   WITH                   PIERCEABLE                   NONMETAL                   COMPONENTS       5,471,809   December 5, 1995   Frankel   REINFORCED                   PLASTIC                   STRUCTURAL                   SUPPORT                   MEMBER       3,070,197   December 25, 1962   Musselman   METALLIC DOOR                   CONSTRUCTION                  
 
           [0006]    However, none of the systems disclosed in any of these patents efficiently and inexpensively reinforce load bearing structural members in a manner that permits the selective reinforcement of portions or all of particular structural members as needed, where needed. It is as a result of this serious shortcoming in the field of reinforced structural members that the present invention is being proposed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Terms used herein such as “structural member” and “beam” are intended to encompass any element capable of sustaining loading forces such as those brought about by gravity, wind and other forces.  
           [0008]    In the case of extruded aluminum beams and the like, one or more interior or exterior surfaces of the hollow extrusion have one or more extruded rails to allow for a continuous dovetail-like connection with one or more corresponding elongated slots defined by the slat.  
           [0009]    The “slats” or “inserts” are placed at either or both the top and/or bottom wall(s) of a beam or column, in various lengths and interlocked, if desirable, to each other to allow for variable increase in strength as needed. This method allows for site-specific design without compromise of architectural appearance.  
           [0010]    In addition to the reinforcing insert, wind brace beams with an internal truss-like support and connections have been designed to provide a three-dimensional interlocking frame that allows for increased spans for existing beam sizes. This system offers stability not presently realized in today&#39;s enclosures. The wind brace beams are stronger than any other current extrusion its size, is more aerodynamic, will hold less debris, are visibly less obtrusive due to their smaller size, and, in the case of screen enclosure applications, are able to be placed on the inside of a screen roof affording greater safety during installation and providing a structural benefit not realized in current designs.  
           [0011]    The inventions&#39; advantages are many. Use of the system will allow screen enclosures to be built with longer spans and taller walls using smaller dimension extrusions and still meet current code requirements.  
           [0012]    In many cases screen enclosures will be able to match existing visible design criteria in addition to being able to match existing size extrusions for repair purposes and still meet the more stringent code requirements. It is also more aesthetically pleasing due to the use of smaller and lighter extrusions.  
           [0013]    The system, while using smaller extrusions to meet code requirements, provides for easier fabrication and installation. The extrusion sizes remain manageable for safety of installation  
           [0014]    The system is more cost effective than the widely accepted method of increasing beam sizes and weights to meet code requirements. Further, smaller extrusions mean less labor costs for installation.  
           [0015]    The system provides for the use of lighter and smaller beams for code compliance. Consequently, the stress on an existing fascia is less thus allowing for older construction to still comply with new code requirements.  
           [0016]    It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a system and apparatus for reinforcing load bearing structural members.  
           [0017]    It is also an object of this invention to provide a system and method for reinforcing extruded structural members in such a manner that reinforcement can be applied on an as-needed, where-needed, basis to optimize the amount of reinforcement material used.  
           [0018]    It is an even further object of this invention to provide a structural member, which is light in weight and easy to reinforce.  
           [0019]    It is another object of this invention to provide structural members which can be reinforced on an as-needed basis based upon expected loading conditions and assembled into an architectural structure.  
           [0020]    It is a further advantage of this invention to provide a system for reinforcing structural members where the application of the reinforcing members is limited to the area where increased load resistance is needed, saving the expense of over strengthening areas where fortification of the existing structural member is unnecessary.  
           [0021]    It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method for reinforcing structural members used to create an architectural structure, including the steps of: providing an extruded hollow beam, preferably made of metal, which beam has at least one reinforcement slat connecting rail or lug integrally connected thereto; providing a reinforcing insert, also preferable with metal, which has an elongated channel therein adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with the connecting rail or lug; slidably placing the reinforcing insert upon the rail or lug, the reinforcing insert being sized and positioned relative to the beam in accordance with engineering calculations which determine the expected distribution of forces along the beam; and assembling a plurality of such beams into an architectural structure.  
       
    
    
       [0022]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art when viewed in connection with the following description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an extruded beam known in the art.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2A is an exploded front elevational view of a re-enforced beam in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2B is an assembled front elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2C is a front elevational view of a still further modified embodiment of this invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway, partially exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in use in connection with patio or pool screen enclosure structural beams.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the area of detail shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area of detail shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the area of detail shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 a  is a front elevational view of a novel brace.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 b  illustrates a coupling system for attaching a novel transverse brace between structural members.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a structure in accordance with the invention showing a novel strengthening brace being employed.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a further modified embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    Extruded beams, such as those used for supporting screening material around patios, pools, porches, etc, are well known in the art and have been manufactured in a wide variety of shapes. An example of one such beam is shown in FIG. 1. The beam  10  is constructed of a pair of “c” shaped halves  12  and  14 , and are connected along respective upper and lower serrated interfaces  22 ,  24 . Such beams  10  are provided in whatever length is appropriate to the design of the structure. Beam halves  12  and  14  can be connected by any conventional means, such as by use of a sheet metal screw, rivet, or other fastener (not shown). Channels C are provided, which are used to receive the beaded edge (not shown) of a section of screen.  
         [0036]    Such beams, being structural members of a screen enclosure, are subject to forces brought on by gravity, wind, loads and the like. With the ever increasing size of today&#39;s screen enclosures and other structures which utilize similar structural members, and with the increasingly stringent building code specifications for such members, it is desirable to provide an apparatus, system and method for inexpensively and efficiently reinforcing such beams but only in the areas where reinforcement is called for.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, there is disclosed a modified beam  30  in accordance with the instant invention. Beam  30 , like beam  10  of FIG. 1, is comprised of a pair of halves  32 ,  34 , which meet along serrated interfaces  42 ,  44 , and which can be fastened together using any suitable means. Channels C are provided for the reasons specified in connection with FIG. 1. The improvement provided by this invention is found in the use of reinforcing inserts  50 , which are connected to an interior surface of beam  30 . In FIG. 2B, upper and lower inserts  50  are utilized, although one or the other can be deleted, and/or additional inserts  50  can be added on top of those shown.  
         [0038]    In FIG. 2C, two inserts  50  are shown connected to the interior of beam half  32 . It can therefore be seen that any number of inserts  50  may be utilized, either near the bottom or the top, or both, of beam  30 .  
         [0039]    Inserts  50  are connected to beam  30  by any suitable means. For purposes of illustration but not by way of limitation, elongated rails  36 ,  38  are integrally formed with beam halves  32  and  34 , which are adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with corresponding grooves  37 ,  39  defined by reinforcing inserts  50 .  
         [0040]    Inserts  50  are slidably disposed upon rails  36 ,  38  connected to beam right half  32 , and/or upon rails  46 ,  48  which are integrally connected to left beam half  34 .  
         [0041]    To reinforce a beam utilizing the invention, one calculates, for example by the use of finite element analysis, the expected loading on the structure made up of beams  30 , and determines where reinforcement is necessary, and the amount of reinforcement needed. Thereafter, either at the factory or at the construction site inserts  50  are slid along rails  36 ,  38  and/or  46 ,  48 . The amount of reinforcement needed, and the areas where reinforcement is needed, dictate the number and length of the reinforcing inserts  50  which are attached to the beams  30 . Inserts  50  can be provided in any length whatsoever, depending upon the strengthening parameters called for in a particular situation.  
         [0042]    It is to be understood that the circumstances of a particular construction may call for reinforcing inserts  50  to be provided along the sidewalls of the beam as opposed to the top and bottom walls thereof. Still further, the reinforcing inserts may be attachable to the beam along exterior surfaces as opposed to the interior surface embodiment shown in the drawings.  
         [0043]    In addition, the particular connection structure, i.e., dove tail connection, shown in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is shown only by way of example. Other types of connection are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention, such as differently shaped rails or discontinuous rails in the form of independently applied projections aligned with one another so that reinforcing inserts may be slid there over.  
         [0044]    By using the invention, it is now possible to design variable composite beams to permit the strengthening of the section properties of such beams where, and only where needed. In this way, material costs are greatly reduced, and the precise stiffening of the overall structure can be accomplished.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 4 through 6 show inserts  50  in place or about to be installed within beams  30  and a section of screen S installed there between.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a further strengthening feature for structures of the type to which the invention is directed, in the form of a wind brace  80  adapted to be connected transversely between adjacent structural members  70 . Structural members  70  may or may not be beams similar to the beams  10  or  30  shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 . Brace  80  is an extruded, elongated, member, which may be square or any other cross sectional configuration, and has an inner diagonal web  83  integrally formed therewith to provide added strength. Brace  80  can be connected between adjacent structural members  70  using U-shaped brackets  82  and any suitable fastener, such as through bolt  90  having a head  92  adapted to be engaged by a tool and a corresponding connector such as threaded nut  94 . Bracket  80  can be attached to beam  70  by any suitable means, such as sheet metal screws, pop rivets, etc. As will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art, the use of braces  80  in the manner shown and described herein increases the statical determinacy of an architectural structure to which it is applied.  
         [0047]    The beams in connection with which the invention is utilized may be of any particular configuration, either one piece, two-piece, or any number of pieces making up the body of the beam. The only feature that is required is that the beam must have some means for attaching a reinforcing element thereto so as to increase the effective wall thickness, and hence the section properties, of the beam.  
         [0048]    The invention is also directed to a method for reinforcing structural members used to create an architectural structure, including the steps of: providing an extruded hollow beam, preferably made of metal, which beam has at least one reinforcement slat connecting rail or lug integrally connected thereto; providing a reinforcing insert, also preferable with metal, which has an elongated channel therein adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with the connecting rail or lug; slidably placing the reinforcing insert upon the rail or lug, the reinforcing insert being sized and positioned relative to the beam in accordance with engineering calculations which determine the expected distribution of forces along the beam; and assembling a plurality of such beams into an architectural structure:  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 9 shows an alternative configuration for practicing the reinforcing insert of the invention. In this embodiment, right and left beam sections  132 ,  134 , respectively, are provided with elongated rails  136 ,  138  formed integrally with each beam half  132 ,  134 , which are adapted to mate in inter-fitting engagement with corresponding grooves  137 ,  139  defined by reinforcing inserts  150 . As in the embodiments shown in FIGS.  2 - 6 , additional inserts  150  can be added on top of those shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0050]    It is to be understood that the inventions disclosed herein are not limited to the precise constructions shown and described but that changes are contemplated which will readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the following claims.