Patent ID: 7210271

Claim:
A structural framing system comprising: a first support member; a second support member spatially disposed from the first support member defining a space between the support members; a header apparatus comprising: a pair of track members defining opposing receiving portions, wherein at least one of the track members comprises a plurality of flexibly joined sections that are selectively moveable to define an arcuate longitudinal shape; a plurality of column members disposed substantially transversely to the track members and joined thereto; a web member receivingly engaged in the receiving portions of both track members and covering the column members therebetween, wherein the web member is characteristically conformable to assume the arcuate shape of the track member; and fixing members fixing the web member to both of the track members and to one or more of the column members to define a unitary structural member being operably supported adjacent the opening only by attachment of a first portion and a second portion of the unitary structural member to the first and second support members, respectively, wherein medial portions of the unitary structural member between the first and second portions thereof are clearingly detached from the first and second support members and span the opening therebetween, the unitary structural member thereby transferring the support forces of the first and second support members to a distributed force array acting along the medial portion of the unitary structural member.