US3722052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a structural unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-21
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1992-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a structural unit, such as structural beam comprised of a pair of opposed metal extrusions having preformed slot structures extending therealong in which edge portions of a pair of opposed sheet metal side wall members are secured by deforming certain of such members relative to the others so that secure interconnection is effected without requiring separate fasteners. The method disclosed employs predetermined lengths of the metal extrusions which are joined with substantially continuous lengths of sheet metal side wall panels into a unitary assembly which is subsequently cut to a predetermined length determined generally in accordance with the length of the extrusions employed.
Inventors
- 👤 A Toti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:00
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C3/00; E04C3/02; E04C3/04; E04C3/06; B; B21; B21D; B21D47/00; B21D47/04; E04C2003/0404; E04C2003/0408; E04C2003/0413; E04C2003/0426; E04C2003/043; E04C2003/0439; E04C2003/0443; E04C2003/0465; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49616; Y10T29/49623; Y10T29/49634; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53526
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of discrete structural members comprising, providing first and second pairs of such structural members, the members of said first pair including preformed slot structures extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof; simultaneously feeding lengths of said pairs of structural members longitudinally from supplies thereof to an assembly station; progressively bringing said pairs of members into contact with each other at said assembly station; progressively inserting edge portions of said second pair of members into the respective slot structures of said first pair of members at said station; and joining together said pairs of members substantially simultaneously at said station by deforming predetermined segments of the members of at least one of said pairs into locking engagement with the members of the other of said pairs to thereby lock said edge portions of said second pair of members within said slot structures of said first pair of members without requiring separate fastening means therefor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of discrete structural members comprising, providing first and second pairs of such structural members, the members of said first pair including preformed slot structures extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof; simultaneously feeding lengths of said pairs of structural members longitudinally from supplies thereof to an assembly station; progressively bringing said pairs of members into contact with each other at said assembly station; progressively inserting edge portions of said second pair of members into the respective slot structures of said first pair of members at said station; and joining together said pairs of members substantially simultaneously at said station by deforming predetermined segments of the members of at least one of said pairs into locking engagement with the members of the other of said pairs to thereby lock said edge portions of said second pair of members within said slot structures of said first pair of members without requiring separate fastening means therefor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 which further includes feeding the members of at least one of said pairs of members from substantially continuous supplies thereof; and severing said structural unit from such supplies when said unit has been formed from said pairs of members into a unitary assembly of predetermined length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 2 in which said members of said first pair are defined by metal extrusions which are fed in sequence from supplies of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said members of said second pair are defined by sheet metal panels which are fed from rolls thereof; a plurality of said structural units being formed in sequence by feeding successive pairs of such first pair of members into contact with said supplies of said second pairs of members, and severing at least said second pairs of members in accordance with the predetermined lengths desired for successive units formed from said pairs of members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 which further includes feeding said lengths of said pairs of members in converging paths to said assembly station; and guidIng said members of said second pair into said slot structures of said first pair while said pairs are converging and prior to deformation of such members to lock said pairs of members together.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of forming a structural unit comprising providing first and second pairs of structural members, the members of said first pair including deformable slot structures defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof, the members of said other pair having edge portions thereof receivable within said slot structures; simultaneously feeding predetermined lengths of said pairs of structural members longitudinally from supplies thereof; progressivelyinserting said edge portions of said second pair of members into the respective slot structures of said first pair of members; and joining together said pairs of members substantially simultaneously by deforming segments of one of said wall portions thereby clamping said edge portions of said other pair of members between said respective wall portions.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of forming a structural unit comprising providing first and second pairs of structural members, the members of said first pair including deformable slot structures defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof, the members of said other pair having edge portions thereof receivable within said slot structures; simultaneously feeding predetermined lengths of said pairs of structural members longitudinally from supplies thereof; progressivelyinserting said edge portions of said second pair of members into the respective slot structures of said first pair of members; and joining together said pairs of members substantially simultaneously by deforming segments of one of said wall portions thereby clamping said edge portions of said other pair of members between said respective wall portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 5 which further includes providing a groove in the other wall portion of each of said slot strucutures of the members of said first pair; and deforming segments of each of said one wall portions and their associated edge portions into such groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5 in which said pairs of members are fed from an supplies thereof toward said assembly station in converging paths to facilitate interfitting together thereof prior to joining the same into a unitary assembly at said station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 in which said segments of said respective wall portions and edge portions are deformed at longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the respective structural members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 which includes imparting a predetermined amount of curvature to said structural unit by applying pressure in a predetermined amount and at a predetermined location to said structural members as the same are moved past said assembly station and joined together thereat.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of at least three discrete structural members without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners, comprising, providing at least one first structural member and a pair of second structural members to be interconnected by said first member, said first member including preformed slot structures extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof; feeding lengths of said members from supplies thereof; bringing said members into contact with each other at an assembly station; inserting edge portions of said pair of second members into the respective slot structures of said first member at said station; and joining together said members into a structural unit without utilizing separate fastening means by progressively deforming predetermined longitudinally successive segments of said slot structures of said first member into locking engagement with edge portions of said second members to thereby securely lock said edge portions within said slot structures.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of at least three discrete structural members without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners, comprising, providing at least one first structural member and a pair of second structural members to be interconnected by said first member, said first member including preformed slot structures extending longitudinally along opposite margins thereof; feeding lengths of said members from supplies thereof; bringing said members into contact with each other at an assembly station; inserting edge portions of said pair of second members into the respective slot structures of said first member at said station; and joining together said members into a structural unit without utilizing separate fastening means by progressively deforming predetermined longitudinally successive segments of said slot structures of said first member into locking engagement with edge portions of said second members to thereby securely lock said edge portions within said slot structures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10 which further includes feeding at least said pair of second members from substantially continuous supplies thereof; and severing said structural unit from such supplies when said unit has been formed from said members into a unitary assembly of predetermined length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 11 in which said first member is defined by a metal extrusion which is fed from a supply of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said second members are defined by sheet metal panels which are fed from rolls thereof; a plurality of said structural units being formed in sequence by feeding said pair of such second members from said rolls into contact with sequential lengths of said first members; and successively severing at least said second members from said supplies thereof in accordance with lengths desired for successive structural unIts formed from said members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10 in which said segments of said slot structures and said edge portions are further deformed at longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the respective interfitted members to effect self-riveting of said members together into a rigid and strong assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 which includes imparting a predetermined amount of curvature to said structural unit by applying pressure in a predetermined amount and at a predetermined location to said structural members as the same are moved past said assembly station and joined together thereat.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of at least three discrete structural members without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners, comprising, providing a first pair of such structural members and at least one second structural member, each member of said first pair including a preformed slot structure extending longitudinally along a margin thereof; feeding lengths of said members from supplies thereof; bringing said members into contact with each other at an assembly station; inserting edge portions of said second member into the respective slot structures of said pair of first members at said station; and joining together said members into a structural unit without utilizing separate fastening means by progressively deforming predetermined longitudinally successive segments of said slot structures into locking engagement with the said edge portions of said second member to thereby lock said edge portions within said slot structures.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of forming an integral structural unit from a plurality of at least three discrete structural members without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners, comprising, providing a first pair of such structural members and at least one second structural member, each member of said first pair including a preformed slot structure extending longitudinally along a margin thereof; feeding lengths of said members from supplies thereof; bringing said members into contact with each other at an assembly station; inserting edge portions of said second member into the respective slot structures of said pair of first members at said station; and joining together said members into a structural unit without utilizing separate fastening means by progressively deforming predetermined longitudinally successive segments of said slot structures into locking engagement with the said edge portions of said second member to thereby lock said edge portions within said slot structures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 15 which further includes feeding said second member from a substantially continuous supply thereof; and severing said structural unit from such supply when said unit has been formed from said members into a unitary assembly of predetermined length.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 16 in which said first pair of members are defined by metal extrusions which are fed in sequence from supplies of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said second member is defined by a sheet metal panel which is fed from a roll thereof; a plurality of said structural units being formed in sequence by feeding successive pairs of said first members into contact with said second member fed from said supply thereof; and successively severing at least said second member from said supply in accordance with lengths desired for successive structural units formed from said members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 in which said segments of said slot structures and said edge portions are further deformed at longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the respective interfitted members to effect self-riveting of said members together into a rigid and strong assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15 which includes imparting a predetermined amount of curvature to said structural unit by applying pressure in a predetermined amount and at a predetermined location to said structural members as the same are moved past said assembly station and joined together thereat.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of joining together at least two structural members into a rigid structural assembly in a substantially continuous joining procedure without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners to effect such joining, comprising providing first and second members to be joined; forming one of said members with a deformable slot structure defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally thereof; inserting an edge portion of said other member into said slot structure of said one member as said members move past an assembly station; and joining together said members by progressively deforming one of said slot wall portions and said edge portion inserted into said slot structure into secure interengagement with each other as said members move progressively past a predetermined location, such deformation being effected at spaced longitudinal locations along the length of saId one wall portion and said edge portion by indenting such respective portions at such spaced longitudinal locations to form integral substantially abrupt spaced riveted deformed segments therein.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of joining together at least two structural members into a rigid structural assembly in a substantially continuous joining procedure without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners to effect such joining, comprising providing first and second members to be joined; forming one of said members with a deformable slot structure defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally thereof; inserting an edge portion of said other member into said slot structure of said one member as said members move past an assembly station; and joining together said members by progressively deforming one of said slot wall portions and said edge portion inserted into said slot structure into secure interengagement with each other as said members move progressively past a predetermined location, such deformation being effected at spaced longitudinal locations along the length of saId one wall portion and said edge portion by indenting such respective portions at such spaced longitudinal locations to form integral substantially abrupt spaced riveted deformed segments therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 20 which further includes forming the other of said slot wall portions with a groove extending longitudinally thereof; and deforming said portions of said one wall portion and said edge portion therewith into said groove at said spaced locations therealong.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20 which further includes forming said slot structure with said one slot wall portion thereof oriented initially in non-parallel relationship to said other slot wall portion to facilitate insertion of said edge portion into said slot structure at said assembly station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 20 which further includes effecting said riveted interconnection of said members with each other by subjecting said slot wall portion and said edge portion to riveting pressure from a continuously rotating pressure wheel having peripherally spaced projections thereon which form said riveted segments in said wall portion and edge portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 23 in which said structural members are simultaneously drawn past said assembly station and riveted together thereat simultaneously by said pressure wheel rotating in engagement with said slot wall portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23 which further includes backing up the other wall portion of said slot structure during riveted interconnection of said structural members at said assembly station to retain the initial configuration of said other wall portion.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of joining together at least two structural members into a rigid structural assembly in a substantially continuous joining procedure without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners to effect such joining, comprising providing first and second members to be joined; forming one of said members with a preformed deformable slot structure defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally thereof; inserting an edge portion of said other member into said slot structure of said one member; and securely joining together said members by progressively deforming at least one of said slot structure wall portions and said edge portion inserted into said slot structure into secure interengagement with each other, such deformation being effected at spaced longitudinal locations along the length of said one slot structure wall portion and said edge portion by indenting such portions at such spaced longitudinal locations to form integral substantially abrupt spaced riveted deformed segments therein which hold said structural members securely interconnected.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of joining together at least two structural members into a rigid structural assembly in a substantially continuous joining procedure without requiring separate fastening means such as welding or mechanical fasteners to effect such joining, comprising providing first and second members to be joined; forming one of said members with a preformed deformable slot structure defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally thereof; inserting an edge portion of said other member into said slot structure of said one member; and securely joining together said members by progressively deforming at least one of said slot structure wall portions and said edge portion inserted into said slot structure into secure interengagement with each other, such deformation being effected at spaced longitudinal locations along the length of said one slot structure wall portion and said edge portion by indenting such portions at such spaced longitudinal locations to form integral substantially abrupt spaced riveted deformed segments therein which hold said structural members securely interconnected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 26 which further includes effecting said spaced riveted interconnection of said structural members together with each other by subjecting said slot structure and said edge portion to riveting pressure from a continuously rotating pressure wheel having peripherally spaced projections thereon which form said riveted deformed segments in said slot structure wall portion and said edge portion, said structural members and said pressure wheel being moved relative to each other in response to rotation of said pressure wheel against said slot structure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27 which further includes backing up the other wall portion of said slot structure opposite said pressure wheel during riveted interconnection of said structural members together by said pressure wheel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 26 which comprises effecting spaced riveted interconnection of at least three structural members together without requiring separate fastening means; such method including forming each of two of said members with a deformable slot structure defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally of each of said two members; inserting opposed edge portions of the other of said members into the respective slot structures of said first mentioned two members; and progressively deforming at least one wall portion of each of said respective slot structures of said two members and said edge portions of said other members at spaced longitudinal locations therealong in the manner recited in claim 26.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29 in which deformation of both of said respective slot structures and both of said edge portions of said respective members is effected substantially simultaneously.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 29 in which said first two members are defined by preformed extrusions drawn from a supply of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said third member is defined by a generally flexible panel drawn from a supply roll thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 31 in which said preformed extrusions are of lesser length than said panel, and in which said method further includes severing at least said panel from said supply roll thereof when said structural assembly has been formed to a predetermined length.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
123 words
The method of claim 26 which comprises effecting spaced riveted interconnection of at least four structural members together without requiring separate fastening means; such method including forming each of two of said members with two deformable slot structures each of which is defined by opposed wall portions extending longitudinally of each of said two members; inserting opposed edge portions of the other two of said members into the respective slot structures of said first mentioned two members; and progressively deforming at lease one wall portion of each of said respective slot structures of each of said first mentioned two members and said edge portions of each of said other two members at spaced longitudinal locations therealong in the manner recited in claim 26.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 in which deformation of all of said slot structures and all of said edge portions of said respective members is effected substantially simultaneously.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 33 in which said first mentioned two members are defined by preformed extrusions drawn from a supply of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said other two members are defined by generally flexible panels drawn from supply rolls thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 33 in which said preformed extrusions are of lesser length than said panels, and in which said method further includes severing at least said panels from said supply rolls thereof when said structural assembly has been formed to a predetermined length.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 26 in which said one of said members is defined by a preformed extrusion drawn from a supply of predetermined lengths thereof, and in which said other of said members is defined by a generally flexible panel drawn from a supply roll thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |