Interlocking channel sections for use in the construction of floors, ceilings, walls and the like

Claim 2

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall and first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect thereto, one of said sidewalls having flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, said flange and recess have arcuate substantially complementary configurations which permit the flange of one channel section to Be adapted to be engaged in the recess of another channel section thereby providing for the pivotal movement of said flange along its longitudinal axis within said recess so as to form a hinged interlocking engagement therewith, an auxiliary closure member having a longitudinally extending keyway formed therein and arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, the other of the ends of said sidewalls having inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, said closure member being disposed between the sidewalls of said channel section and secured thereto by engagement of the arcuate flange members of said closure member with said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls, whereby said channel section and said auxiliary closure member form a closed duct disposed within said channel section, and a locking plate having a longitudinally extending key formed thereon and at least one arcuate protruding tip extending laterally therefrom, said locking plate being operable to securely position said closure member with respect to said channel section to prevent accidental dislodgment therefrom by slidably positioning said key within said keyway with said arcuate protruding tip in slidable abutting engagement with one of said U-shaped terminations of one of said sidewalls.

Claim 3

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations; a pair of auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members having arcuate flange members at both of the ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said partition member and said first and second sidewalls and being secured to said channel section by engagement of its arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said sidewalls and with the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member, such that said channel section and said closure members define first and second closed ducts disposed within said channel section; at least one of said closure members having a longitudinally extending keyway formed therein, and at least one locking plate, said locking plate having a longitudinally extending key formed thereon and at least one arcuate protruding tip extending laterally therefrom, said locking plate being operable to securely position said closure member with respect to said channel section to prevent accidental dislodgement therefrom by slidably positioning said key within said keyway with said arcuate protruding tip in slidable abutting engagement with one of said arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member.

Claim 4

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations; a pair of auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members having arcuate flange members at both of the ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said partition member and said first and second sidewalls and being secured to said channel section by engagement of its arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said sidewalls and with the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member, such that said channel section and said closure members define first and second closed ducts disposed within said channel section; at least one of said closure members having a longitudinally extending keyway formed therein, and at least one locking plate, said locking plate having a longitudinally extending key formed thereon and at least one arcuate protruding tip extending laterally therefrom, said locking plate being operable to securely position said closure member with respect to said channel section to prevent accidental dislodgement therefrom by slidably positioning said key within said keyway with said arcuate protruding tip in slidable abutting engagement with one of said arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member.

Claim 5

A channel secton for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall and first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect thereto, one of said sidewalls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, said flange and recess have Arcuate substantially complementary configurations which permit the flange of one channel section to be adapted to be engaged in the recess of another channel section thereby providing for the pivotal movement of said flange along its longitudinal axis within said recess so as to form a hinged interlocking engagement therewith, an auxiliary closure member having arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, the other of the ends of said sidewalls having inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, said closure member being disposed between the sidewalls of said channel section and secured thereto by engagement of the arcuate flange members of said closure member with said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls, whereby said channel section and said auxiliary closure member form a closed duct disposed within said channel section, one of said arcuate flange members of said closure member and one of said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls being in interlocking engagement with one another, the other of said arcuate flange members and the other of said U-shaped terminations being in snap-engagement with one another; said one of said arcuate flange members being pivotally movable about its longitudinal axis within said one of said U-shaped terminations so as to form a hinged interlocking engagement therewith; said closure member including a longitudinally extending boss formed on the inner surface thereof, said boss having a stepped inner portion defining at least one pair of shoulders and a notch, and hole formed in said notch adapted to receive a bolt having a head, said bolt head being positioned between said pair of shoulders and held against rotational movement thereby.

Claim 6

A channel secton for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall and first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect thereto, one of said sidewalls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, said flange and recess have Arcuate substantially complementary configurations which permit the flange of one channel section to be adapted to be engaged in the recess of another channel section thereby providing for the pivotal movement of said flange along its longitudinal axis within said recess so as to form a hinged interlocking engagement therewith, an auxiliary closure member having arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, the other of the ends of said sidewalls having inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, said closure member being disposed between the sidewalls of said channel section and secured thereto by engagement of the arcuate flange members of said closure member with said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls, whereby said channel section and said auxiliary closure member form a closed duct disposed within said channel section, one of said arcuate flange members of said closure member and one of said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls being in interlocking engagement with one another, the other of said arcuate flange members and the other of said U-shaped terminations being in snap-engagement with one another; said one of said arcuate flange members being pivotally movable about its longitudinal axis within said one of said U-shaped terminations so as to form a hinged interlocking engagement therewith; said closure member including a longitudinally extending boss formed on the inner surface thereof, said boss having a stepped inner portion defining at least one pair of shoulders and a notch, and hole formed in said notch adapted to receive a bolt having a head, said bolt head being positioned between said pair of shoulders and held against rotational movement thereby.

Claim 7

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations; a pair of auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members having arcuate flange members at both of the ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said partition member and said first and second sidewalls and being secured to said channel section by engagement of its arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said sidewalls and with the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member, such that said channel section and said closure member define first and second closed ducts disposed within said channel section; at least one of said closure members having a longitudinally extending boss formed on the inner surface thereof, said boss having a stepped inner portion defining at least one pair of shoulders and a notch, a hole formed in said notch and adapted to receive a bolt having a head, and said bolt head being positioned between said pair of shoulders and being held against rotational movement thereby.

Claim 8

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations; a pair of auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members having arcuate flange members at both of the ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said partition member and said first and second sidewalls and being secured to said channel section by engagement of its arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said sidewalls and with the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition member, such that said channel section and said closure member define first and second closed ducts disposed within said channel section; at least one of said closure members having a longitudinally extending boss formed on the inner surface thereof, said boss having a stepped inner portion defining at least one pair of shoulders and a notch, a hole formed in said notch and adapted to receive a bolt having a head, and said bolt head being positioned between said pair of shoulders and being held against rotational movement thereby.

Claim 9

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall and fist and second sidewalls, said sidewalls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect thereto, one of said sidewalls having a flange exTending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, said flange and recess have arcuate substantially complementary configurations which permit the flange of one channel section to be adapted to be engaged in the recess of another channel section thereby forming an interlock between said channel sections; first and second auxiliary closure members, the other of the ends of said sidewalls having inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, each of said closure members including arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between the sidewalls of said channel section and secured thereto by engagement of the arcuate flange members of said closure member with said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls, said closure members being disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming an opening therebetween, said channel section and said auxiliary closure members forming an open duct disposed within said channel section, the side edges of one of said closure members having internal bosses formed thereon, each of said bosses having a groove formed therein, an adjustable closing member slidably disposed within said grooves in juxtaposition with respect to said one auxiliary closure member, said one closure member having a longitudinal slot formed therein, and sliding means disposed within said longitudinal slot and secured to said adjustable closing member, whereby said sliding means is operable to selectively cover and uncover said opening to thereby selectively open and close said duct.

Claim 10

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall and fist and second sidewalls, said sidewalls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect thereto, one of said sidewalls having a flange exTending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, said flange and recess have arcuate substantially complementary configurations which permit the flange of one channel section to be adapted to be engaged in the recess of another channel section thereby forming an interlock between said channel sections; first and second auxiliary closure members, the other of the ends of said sidewalls having inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, each of said closure members including arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between the sidewalls of said channel section and secured thereto by engagement of the arcuate flange members of said closure member with said U-shaped terminations of said sidewalls, said closure members being disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming an opening therebetween, said channel section and said auxiliary closure members forming an open duct disposed within said channel section, the side edges of one of said closure members having internal bosses formed thereon, each of said bosses having a groove formed therein, an adjustable closing member slidably disposed within said grooves in juxtaposition with respect to said one auxiliary closure member, said one closure member having a longitudinal slot formed therein, and sliding means disposed within said longitudinal slot and secured to said adjustable closing member, whereby said sliding means is operable to selectively cover and uncover said opening to thereby selectively open and close said duct.

Claim 11

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, and including at least first and second auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members including arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said first sidewall and said partition and secured thereto by engagement of said arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said fist sidewall and with one of the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition, said closure members being disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming an opening therebetween, said first sidewall, said partition and said auxiliary closure members forming an open duct disposed within said channel section, the side edges of one of said closure members having internal bosses formed thereon, each of said bosses having a groove formed therein; an adjustable closing member slidably disposed within said grooves in juxtaposition with respect to said one auxiliary closure member, said one auxiliary closure member having a longitudinal slot formed therein, and sliding means disposed within said longitudinal slot and secured to said adjustable closing member, whereby said sliding means is operable to selectively cover and uncover said opening to thereby selectively open and close said duct.

Claim 12

A channel section for use in the fabrication of floor, ceiling, wall assemblies and the like, said channel section comprising a top wall, first and second sidewalls and a partition wall member therebetween, all of said walls having one of the ends thereof secured to said top wall and being disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to said top wall, said partition member having a substantially T-shaped termination with arms having an arcuate configuration; one of said walls having a flange extending laterally outward therefrom and longitudinally thereof, the other of said sidewalls having a recess extending laterally inward therefrom and longitudinally thereof; said outwardly extending flange of said one channel section being adapted to be interlockedly engaged in the recess formed in the sidewall of another channel section to thereby form an interlock between said channel sections; the other of the ends of said sidewalls have inward extending substantially U-shaped terminations, and including at least first and second auxiliary closure members, each of said closure members including arcuate flange members at both ends thereof, said closure members being disposed between said first sidewall and said partition and secured thereto by engagement of said arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said fist sidewall and with one of the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition, said closure members being disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming an opening therebetween, said first sidewall, said partition and said auxiliary closure members forming an open duct disposed within said channel section, the side edges of one of said closure members having internal bosses formed thereon, each of said bosses having a groove formed therein; an adjustable closing member slidably disposed within said grooves in juxtaposition with respect to said one auxiliary closure member, said one auxiliary closure member having a longitudinal slot formed therein, and sliding means disposed within said longitudinal slot and secured to said adjustable closing member, whereby said sliding means is operable to selectively cover and uncover said opening to thereby selectively open and close said duct.

Claim 13

A channel section in accordance with claim 6, and including third and fourth auxiliary closure members, said third and fourth closure members including arcuate flange members at the ends thereof, said third and fourth closure members being disposed between said second sidewall and said partition and secured thereto by engagement of said arcuate flange members with said U-shaped termination of said second sidewall and with the other of the arms of said T-shaped termination of said partition, said closure members being disposed in spaced apart relationship and forming an opening therebetween, said second sidewall, said partition and said third and fourth closure members forming an open duct disposed within said channel section, and an electrical junction box positioned within said opening to close said duct which serves as an electrical conduit.