US3382639A - Interlocking structural members - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1968 E. c. SMITH ETAL INTERLOCKING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 'M/VEA /R EDWARD C. SMITH GElgQLD KTURNER United States Patent Ofi ice 3,382,639 Patented May 14, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A structural member for interlocking with a similarly constructed structure member by means of key locks comprising an elongated channel shaped body portion, finger portions extending at an oblique angle adjacent the ends of leg portions of the channel shaped body portion and extending on the inside surfaces thereof in a direction toward each other, shoulder means mounted on the ends of said finger portions and key locks for locking the structural members together for forming an integral hollow member received by the abutting leg portions and finger portions and engaging the shoulder means.

This invention relates to building structures and is more particularly directed to interlocking structural members.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a structural member consisting of a pair of identically extruded members interlocked together by a key to form a hollow structural member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide structural members for screen enclosures and the like made from only two extruded parts which when interlocked with each other form all of the structural members required in such a building.

A further object of the present invention is to provide interlocking structural members which are simple in construction and design, inexpensive in cost and readily fabricated by interlocking a pair of extruded members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide interlocking structural members for screen enclosures and the like, wherein the interlocking structural members are secured together by means of a locking key which permits the dismantling of the interlocking members by merely cutting the locking key and permitting the re-interlocking and reuse of the interlocking structural members.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a screen enclosure utilizing interlocking structural members constructed in accordance with our invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of the extruded members and a lock key.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a member for fabricating a corner interlocking beam.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to a screen enclosure consisting of a floor or platform 11 upon which are mounted upright intermediate structural members or beams B, a corner beam C, sill beam A, corner overhead beams C and overhead intermediate beams B. The various beams A, B and C which constitute the structural portions of the screen enclosure 10 are fastened together and anchored to the floor 11 in the usual and conventional manner as by braces, brackets, and bolts well known to those acquainted with the art.

The essence of the instant invention is in the construction of the extruded members 30 and 40 which are substantially identical except for the position of a spline receiving groove as is explained in detail hereinafter and the manner in which they are interlocked to form the various beams described above in the construction of the screen enclosure 10.

The beams A which are fastened to the floor or platform 11 and extend between the upright beams B and the corner beams C consist of a single extrusion member 30 having an elongated main wall portion 12 and side wall portions 13 and 14 extending at right angle to the main wall 12. The side wall portion 13 is joined to the extreme edge of the main wall portion 12 while the side wall portion 14 terminates short of the extreme edge of the main wall portion 12 and extends inwardly forming an arcuate wall 15 joined at the inner edge to the main wall portion 12. The arcuate wall 15 which is serrated as at 17 along its full length forms a spline receiving groove 16.

Adjacent the free end 18 of each of the side wall portions 13 and 14 is a finger portion 19 extending from the inner surface of the side wall portion and terminating in alignment with the end portions 18 of the side walls 13 and 14. At the free end of the finger portion 19 is a shoulder 20 attached to the inner surface of the finger portion 19.

In the fabrication of the interlocking beam B a pair of extruded members 30 are placed side by side with the ends 18 of the side walls 13 in alignment and contact relation. The ends 18 and fingers 19 form a cavity for receiving a lock key 21 having an elongated web portion 22 along whose edges extend finger portions 23 in a direction toward each other. The finger portions 23 are positioned at the same oblique angle as the finger portions 19 and are each of such length that they are received along the inner surface of the fingers 19 and fit snugly therein abutting against the shoulder 20 as shown by FIGURE 2 to lock the extruded members 30 together.

In the normal procedure to assemble the beams B, a pair of lock keys 21 of desired length, preferably the same length as the finished beam B are snapped in place between the fingers 19 and ends 18 of the side wall 13 of one extruded member 20. Then a second extruded member 30 is placed alongside the two snap locks 21 with its ends 18 of the side walls 13 and fingers 19 receiving the free edges of the web portion 22 and fingers 23 of the snap locks 21. Now by exerting a force on the main walls 12 of both of the extruded members 30 in a direction toward each other, the lock key 21 will snap into position to engage the finger 19 of the second extruded member. The free ends of the fingers 23 of both lock keys 21 will now engage the shoulders 20 and prevent the extruded members from being separated from each other but are rather held tightly together.

However, if it is decided to separate the extruded members from each other, all that need be done is insert a cutting tool between the ends 18 of the side walls 13 and cut the web portions 22 longitudinally along their full length. The two extruded members 30 will now come apart from each other,

A single extruded member 30 is all that is required to fabricate the intermediate beams B and sill beams A. In the sill beam A only one extruded member 30 is used While in the intermediate beams B, a pair of extruded members 30 are used and interlocked with a key lock 21 as described hereinabove.

In the fabrication of the corner beams C an extruded member 30 and an extruded member 40 are utilized. The extruded member 40 is identical in construction with that of the extruded member 30 except that the position of the spline receiving groove is altered. In the extruded member 30, the spline receiving groove 16 is positioned along the side Wall 14 adjacent the edge of the main wall 12, while on the extruded member 40, the spline receiving groove 116 is on the main wall portion 112 adjacent the side wall portion 113. The extruded members as and 36 are interlocked by the key lock 21 in the same manner as the extruded members 30, 30.

Screen Wire 24 is stretched across the areas framed by the beams A, B and C with the edges of the screens received by the slots 16. Then a plastic spline 25 is forced into the slot 16 to Wedge the screen in place therein.

From the above description taken in connection with the drawing, it is readily noted that use of only two extruded members 30 and 40 and key locks 21 we are able to fabricate all of the beams A, B and C required in the erection of a screen enclosure. These extruded members 30 and 40 are quickly and effectively interlocked to form the beams B and C and if desired can be separated without destroying the extruded members which can be reused.

What we, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hollow member comprising a pair of interlocking structural members, each of said interlocking structural members of substantially identical construction comprising an elongated main Wall portion, a pair of side wall portions extending at substantially right angle to said main wall portion at substantially the edge portions thereof, a finger portion mounted at one end intermediate the ends of each of said side wall portions and extending at a substantially oblique angle in the direction of the free end of said side Walls, shoulder means mounted on the free end of each of said finger portions, said side wall portions of one interlocking structural member abutting against said side wall portions of the other interlocking structural members and key lock means extending between said side wall portions of both said interlocking structural members and said finger portions, said key lock means having a web portion engaging the inner surface of said side wall portions and finger engaging portions extending at a substantially oblique angle from the edges of said web portion and abutting against said shoulders to lock said interlocking structural members together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,837,153 6/1958 Brown 5263 X 3,101,820 8/1963 Snyder 52-731 X 3,143,165 8/1964 Lewis 52---731 X 3,196,992 7/1965 Owen 52-282 3,222,841 12/1965 Lipof 52-63 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. CHARLES G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner.

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