Support structure

Claim 2

A support structure comprising a first support beam, and at least one second support beam which is formed of thermally expandible material and an end portion of which is secured to an end portion of the first support beam, a slit being formed in the first support beam and extending longitudinally thereof from the end of the first support beam presented by said end portion thereof to a position between the ends of the first support beam, the portions of the first support beam bounding the slit being in different planes and the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second support beam having at least a component which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first support beam and to the plane containing the slit, thereby to permit said portions bounding the slit of the first support beam to be urged into overlapping relationship by longitudinal thermal expansion of the second support beam.

Claim 3

A support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least the first support beam is of inverted channel form in cross section, and comprises a web portion and two substantially parallel depending limb portions, the slit being formed in the web portion of said beam.

Claim 4

A support structure according to claim 1, wherein the end of the slit remote from said end of the first support beam is in communication with an enlarged opening formed in the first support beam.

Claim 5

A support structure according to claim 3, wherein a support tie member is disposed through said enlarged opening, the first support beam being in supported engagement with said member.

Claim 6

A support structure according to claim 1, wherein the first support beam is formed of thermally expandible material and the securement between said end portions of the first and second support beams comprises outwardly projecting lug means which is presented by said end portion of the first support beam and which is secured to the second support beam at a position spaced from the first support beam, the lug means being capable of flexing relative to the first support beam and relative to the second support beam, thereby to permit longitudinal thermal expansion of the first support beam.

Claim 7

A support structure comprising a pair of collinear first support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship, and a pair of collinear second support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship with the space therebetween constituting the space between the first support beams and with the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the first support beams, the adjacent ends of the first support beams each presenting outwardly directed lugs which are secured to the second support beams at positions spaced from the first support beams, each lug being capable of flexing relative to the first support beam from which it is presented and relative to the second support beam to which it is secured thereby to permit longituDinal thermal expansion of the first support beams, slits being formed in the first support beams and extending longitudinally thereof from the adjacent ends of said first support beams to positions between the ends thereof, the portions of each first support beam bounding the slit therein being in different planes, and the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the plane containing the slit in each first support beam, thereby to permit said portions of each first support beam to be urged into overlapping relationship by longitudinal thermal expansion of the second support beams.

Claim 8

A support structure comprising a pair of collinear first support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship, and a pair of collinear second support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship with the space therebetween constituting the space between the first support beams and with the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the first support beams, the adjacent ends of the first support beams each presenting outwardly directed lugs which are secured to the second support beams at positions spaced from the first support beams, each lug being capable of flexing relative to the first support beam from which it is presented and relative to the second support beam to which it is secured thereby to permit longituDinal thermal expansion of the first support beams, slits being formed in the first support beams and extending longitudinally thereof from the adjacent ends of said first support beams to positions between the ends thereof, the portions of each first support beam bounding the slit therein being in different planes, and the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the plane containing the slit in each first support beam, thereby to permit said portions of each first support beam to be urged into overlapping relationship by longitudinal thermal expansion of the second support beams.

Claim 9

A support structure according to claim 6, wherein coverplate is mounted over the space between the adjacent ends of the first support beams and the adjacent ends of the second support beams, the coverplate extending over the adjacent end portions of the first support beams and being connected thereto.

Claim 10

A support structure according to claim 7, wherein slits are formed in the portions of the coverplate which extend over the adjacent end portions of the first support beams, a portion of the coverplate bounding each slit formed therein being in engagement with the slit formed in the adjacent first support beam to maintain the portions of said first support beam bounding the slit therein in different planes.

Claim 11

A support structure according to claim 6, wherein the securement between each lug and the second support beam to which it is secured comprises an upwardly projecting tab presented by the lug and disposed through a slot formed in said second support beam, the tab being disposed out of the plane of the slot on the side of the slot remote from the lug.

Claim 12

A support structure comprising a pair of collinear first support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship, and a pair of collinear second support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship with the space therebetween constituting the space between the first support beams and with the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the first support beams, the adjacent ends of the first support beams being secured to the adjacent ends of the second support beams, slits being formed in the first and second support beams and extending longitudinally thereof from the adjacent ends of the beams to positions between the ends thereof, and the portions of each first and second support beam bounding the slit therein being in different planes, thereby to permit said portions of each first and second support beam to be urged into overlapping relationship by longitudinal thermal expansion of the second and first support beams, respectively.

Claim 13

A support structure comprising a pair of collinear first support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship, and a pair of collinear second support beams which are formed of thermally expandible material and which are disposed in spaced relationship with the space therebetween constituting the space between the first support beams and with the second support beams being substantially perpendicular to the first support beams, the adjacent ends of the first support beams being secured to the adjacent ends of the second support beams, slits being formed in the first and second support beams and extending longitudinally thereof from the adjacent ends of the beams to positions between the ends thereof, and the portions of each first and second support beam bounding the slit therein being in different planes, thereby to permit said portions of each first and second support beam to be urged into overlapping relationship by longitudinal thermal expansion of the second and first support beams, respectively.

Claim 14

A support structure according to claim 10, wherein a coverplate is mounted over the space between the adjacent ends of the first support beams and the adjacent ends of the second support beams, the coverplate extending over the adjacent end portions of the first support beams and being connected thereto.

Claim 15

A support structure according to claim 11, wherein slits are formed in the portions of the coverplate which extend over the adjacent end portions of the first support beams, a portion of the coverplate bounding each slit formed therein being in engagement with the slit formed in the adjacent first support beam to maintain the portions of said first support beam bounding the slit therein in different planes.