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.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to metal structural members, particularly beams and other similar members used in construction. The structural member can be used in areas where strong rigid structural members are needed. The structural member may be made in a variety of sizes, strengths, and weights. In construction, there exist few basic structural members, and few developments of metal load-bearing structures having structural connections with no welding or drilling.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present design relates to U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,567. Finite computer programs have determined a technical problem involving the calculations for strength, in regard to density of the folded elongated triangular columnar member. The inventor is attempting to correct this problem, as strengthening is primarily achieved through precipitation strengthening in the material compound. The desire is to achieve maximum strength while allowing formability and to increase structural integrity with innovative structural supports, braces, joining clamps of varied designs. Precipitation strengthening will negate any welding or drilling.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The structural member is comprised of four elongated rectangular sheets, each sheet having a long edge and a short edge, and joined by its long edge to the three other sheets. The two joined center sheets have a series of semi-ellipsoid indentations formed parallel to its long axis. The said sheets when folded form an elongated triangular columnar member with the semi ellipsoid indentations extending into the triangular member. The two outside elongated rectangular sheets are preformed before folding into the triangular columnar. Said sheets are restrained by a solid rod extending at the center, through the member. The semi-ellipsoid indentations also support and restrain the member. The resulting structural member has rigidity in a direction perpendicular or parallel to its long axis, but has torsional flexibility around its axis. The member may also include three stabilizing rods extending axially through the member.  
           [0004]    The structural member is comprised of four elongated rectangular sheets, each sheet having a long edge and a short edge, and joined by its long edge to the three other sheets. The two joined center sheets have a series of semi-ellipsoid indentations extending into the triangular member, wherein some said semi-ellipsoid indentations are omitted, and incorporated therein a lance restraining device. The two outside elongated rectangular sheets are preformed before folding into the triangular columnar, said sheets are restrained by a solid rod extending at the center through the member. The semi-ellipsoid indentations also support and restrain the member. The resulting structural member has rigidity in a direction perpendicular or parallel to its long axis, but has torsional flexibility around its axis. The member may also include three stabilizing rods extending axially through the member. Wherein said rods comprise a material selected from the group consisting of graphite fiber and high tensile strength steel. Wherein said structural member is made of high tensile strength steel or graphite composite material. The structural members are assembled with a no weld clamping system. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure member after forming according to the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a structure member in a partially unfolded position according to the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a structure member in a fully unfolded position according to the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is an end view of a structural member according to the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectioned view taken along the line  5 - 5  in FIG. 3 of a structural member according to the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view taken along the line  6 - 6  in FIG. 2, when the present invention is in a fully folded position according to the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  in FIG. 2, of an alternative embodiment of a structural member according to the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectioned folded view taken along the line  6 - 6  in FIG. 2, of an alternative embodiment showing three stabilizing rods, with internal inserts crimped into structural member  10 , in a prestressed condition according to the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 9 is an end view of a folded alternative embodiment showing three stabilizing rods with attached internal inserts crimped into structural member  10 , and said structural member is designed to assemble one or two sheets therein and be supported in place by the preformed rolled in rectangular sheets  12 ,  18 . Said structural assembly to be restrained by a joining clamp designed to facilitate the said assembly (is not shown).  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a right hand joining clamp in a fully unfolded position according to the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 11 is a plan view of a left hand joining clamp in a fully unfolded position according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 12 is a side view of two structural members  10  joined, within a fully assembled joining clamp according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 13 is a top view of a left and right hand joining clamp according to the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 14 is an end view of a folded alternative embodiment of a structural member  10  retained and supported by a joining clamp, designed for non weld assembly, and a concentrated stud contained therein used to attach braces thereto.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative cylinder clamp in a partial assembled position according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 16 is a view of an alternate position of a structural member  10 , in a completely assembled position, view along line  45 - 45  of FIG. 15.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 17 is an alternative embodiment of structural member  10 . Wherein two support members are joined with an internal insert.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 18 are views of a cylinder rescue, safety support assembly in an unlocked position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    Referring now to the figures, structural member  10 , comprises four elongated rectangular sides  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Planar sides  14 ,  16 , each includes a series of semi-ellipsoidal indentations  38 ,  39 , in an arrangement which can be seen from FIG. 3. Indentations  38 ,  39 , form an ellipse where it meets the surface of sides  14 ,  16 . The cross-section of semi-ellipsoidal indentation  39 , taken in a plane perpendicular to the long axis  34  of the structural member  10  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. However, the size of the indentations  38 ,  39 , and the size of the structural member  10  dictates the size and shape of the cross-section of indentations  38 ,  39 . The outside tangent point of the semi-ellipsoidal indentations  38 ,  39 , may have an embossed surface. The design purpose is to restrict torsional flexibility of the rolled in sides  12 ,  18 , of the structural member  10 , and aid the insertion of the center stabilizing rod  36 , as seen in FIG. 6.  
         [0024]    Structural member  10  may be made in an open configuration as shown in FIG. 3, prior to roll forming sides  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , along crease lines  13 ,  15 ,  17 , to form a triangular structural member  10 . The ellipsoidal indentations  38 ,  39 , as viewed in FIG. 3 are arranged along a single line  34 , running parallel to the length of the structural member  10 . The ellipsoidal indentations  38  are offset in a plane perpendicular along the axis of left hand sheet  16 , by one half the center distance of ellipsoidal indentations  39  as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, the center of the first formed ellipsoid of side  16  begins and ends on the outside edge of the said structural member  10  as viewed in FIG. 3. The ellipsoidal indentations  38 ,  39 , also lend rigidity to sides  14 ,  16  by interrupting the planar face of the sheet as viewed in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    The structural member  10  may be manufactured in several different ways. Die stamping a continuous sheet of metal with the semi ellipsoid indentations  38 ,  39 , can be used to form sheets as viewed in FIG. 3, which can then be rolled on form lines  13 ,  15 ,  17 , to form a triangular structural member  10 . Desired manufactured process of continual sheets as viewed in FIG. 3, are formed by spray depositing droplets of steel onto a moving ceramic form, the sheets are formed to the thickness required and rolled formed into a triangular structural member  10 . Alternative configurations of structure member  10  are viewed in FIGS. 6, 7,  8 ,  9 ,  17 . The stabilizing rods  36  add stiffness and strength to the structure member  10 . And the rods may be made of steel or carbon fiber. They may be crimped or clamped in place, after stress bending of the structure member  10  as viewed in FIGS. 6, 8,  9 . A fully folded alternative structural member  10  is shown in FIG. 7. This cross-sectioned view taken along line  6 - 6  FIG. 3, demonstrates the embossed tangent point of the semi-ellipsoidal indentation  38 ,  39  restraining the folded in sheets  12  and  18 , wherein said sheets demonstrate an alternative convex, concave restraining design. The structural member  10 , as viewed in FIG. 9 wherein the two outside sheets may have the elongated preformed curved surfaces  12 ,  18  shortened and said sheets have a ball shape embossed long edge. The design of a locking ball lance at the junctures of the prefabricated section  50 , containing said members under compression between ellipsoids  38 ,  39  and outside curved sheets  12 ,  18  and said design restricts four way movement of prefabricated section  50 .  
         [0026]    Referring now to the elongated triangular joining clamp FIG. 14, the cylinder clamp and inspection assembly FIG. 15, the safety support and rescue clamp assembly FIG. 17. The said referred to ergonomic designs  14 ,  15 ,  17  provide a safe method of construction, as welding structure will result in dangerous stress fractures.  
         [0027]    An elongated triangular joining clamp FIG. 14, comprised of two elongated rectangular planar sheets as viewed in FIGS. 10, 11, each sheet having a long edge and a short edge. The said sheets when fully folded comprise an elongated triangular clamp. The said sheets are referred to as left hand FIG. 11 and right hand FIG. 10 joining clamp members. The two said sheets are comprised of three elongated rectangular sheets [ 20 ,  22 ,  23 ] [ 24 ,  25 ,  26 ] each sheet having a long edge and a short edge as viewed in FIGS. 10, 11.  
         [0028]    The long edges of the top elongated rectangular sheets  23 ,  24 , formed to a sixty degree triangle have a plurality of cylinder forms, said forms are positioned to mate, when the short edges are aligned. The cylinder design  28 ,  29  allows a locking pin  41  to be inserted. Thus restricting forces attempting to separate the joining clamp. The two said sheets  23 ,  24  have a plurality of semi-ellipsoid indentations extending into said triangle FIG. 14. The location and depth of said indentations  30 ,  40 , are used to position the joining clamp FIG. 14 on the structural member  10 . Thus the left and right hang joining clamps cannot be reversed. The two joined parallel elongated rectangular sheets  20 ,  27  contain a ball shaped form  21 ,  26 ; centerly located with a thru hole  37 , as viewed in FIGS. 10, 11,  14 . This ball shaped form and thru hole retain a locking pin  37 , as viewed in FIG. 14.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, these clamp members may be made in an open configuration in a progressive die, or a straight-line die operations. The planar sides  20 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  27  are formed along crease lines  35 . The semi-ellipsoidal indentations  30  FIG. 10 and  40  FIG. 11 orientate the structural members  10  to be joined. The depth of the indentations  30 ,  40  and matching shapes  38 ,  39 , are designed to control expansion and contraction of the joined structural members  10 . The clamp assembly as viewed in FIGS.  12 ,  13 ,  14  may be located at predetermined locations on the structural members  10  and support braces can be attached to the ball shaped embossed surfaces  21 ,  16 . Two or more braces may be locked in place by the extended stud  37 . Thru holes  36 , are to orientate the braces at various angles to the structural members  10 . Many alternative configurations of this clamp design are possible with angles from 0° to 360°, thus intricate lattice members may be formed in a space structure, which is built up over box-shaped modules. And said indentations  30 ,  40 , may be a convex ball shaped in form to facilitate a threaded ball insert. The design purposes is added braces in the space structure.  
         [0030]    Referring now to the cylinder clamp and inspection assembly  48  FIG. 15. The design may be used a hand held quality control inspection tool. Refer to FIG. 16, note center line locations. The tool will measure the outside diameter or apexes, straightness of structural member  10 , depth and center location of the semi-ellipsoid indentations  38 ,  39 . A structural member  10  is oriented as to the same side, inserted in cylinder  42 , two or more steel retainers  44  are installed in the elongated rectangular slots  46 , and cylinder  43 , is advanced, locking steel retainers, and structural member  10  in place as viewed in FIG. 16. Cylinder  43  is aligned and rotated to a desired location. Cylinders  42 ,  43  outside edges are aligned and locked in place. The steel retainer  44  has an eccentric thru hole, the diameter of this hole designates the outside dimension of steel retainer  44 . These varied outside dimensions allow the structural member  10  to expand or contract within cylinder member  42 . Standard outside dimensions to be determined by testing in extreme environmental conditions. Said cylinder clamp assembly as viewed in FIG. 15 is also designed to rotate within a (connecting clamps collar assembly not shown) on the ball item  47  as viewed in FIG. 15. The cylinder clamp assembly may be manufactured by cold extrusion, and provides for end joining designs, when structural integrity of large structural members is required. The cylinder clamp design provides a method of erecting structural trusses, in an unfolded form, to be raised in place, as a fully formed truss; in various designs, with movable assembly angle braces. The cylinder clamp assembly may be hardened.  
         [0031]    Referring now to the triangular cylinder safety support and rescue clamp  60 , FIG. 18 and the triangular structural rescue assembly  10 , FIG. 17. May it be noted FIG. 17 is presented as an alternate design to demonstrate a synonymous system design. There exists little virtual prior art of a single device, adaptable to irregular objects and terrain, for use in emergency rescue conditions. Accordingly, the object of this alternative structural member  10  and the triangular cylinder support and rescue assembly, is to provide a single light weight, easily erected, trustworthy tool. A rescue device to ascend or descend, with supporting hand and foot mechanism. May operate in a normal step, hand, alternating motion. Designed for alternative uses including extreme rescue operations wherein a friction brace utilizing a design for rapid or controlled descent or ascent along the alternative triangular structure member  10 . A brake may be occupant-operated,  58  FIG.