Structural member of sheet material

Claim 2

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected, elongated first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel; a plurality of hollow shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a first pair of opposite side walls each of which comprising a second sheet section generally parallel to and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections and each of said hollow shell elements having a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate of and generally transverse to said first pair of side walls; and means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-toface contact region therebetween so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure.

Claim 3

The structural member according to claim 1 wherein said sheet material is paper and said connecting means comprises adhesive means for adhering the respective superposed surface portions to each other.

Claim 4

The structural member according to claim 1, wherein said hollow shell elements each have a second means integrally connecting one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent intermediate side walls of the next adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel.

Claim 5

A structural member according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal web means comprises an elongated substantially rectangular sheet material folded along a substantially central longitudinal fold line forming said pair of first sheet sections, mutually inclined with respect to each other.

Claim 6

A structural element comprising: a pleated sheet means having oppositely facing longitudinally extending channels formed between the longitudinal fold lines thereof, alternate ones of said fold lines forming the ridges and the remaining ones thereof forming the troughs of said pleated sheet means, respectively; a plurality of pyramid-shaped hollow elements of sheet material longitudinally distributed along and located in at least one pair of adjacent ones of said oppositely facing channels, said hollow elements having opposed wall portions thereof in face-to-face contact with adjacent channel forming walls of said pleated sheet means and said hollow elements in one of said pair of channels having their bases located substantially in the plane defined by said alternate fold lines, said hollow elements in said opposed one of said pair of channels having their bases located substantially in the plane defined by said remaining fold lines; a plurality of transverse web means each including a pair of integrally connecting mutually inclined sheet sections for connecting, in each of said channels, adjacent ones of said hollow pyramid-shaped elements, said hollow shell elements having intermeDiate walls intermediate said opposed wall portions thereof and said inclined sheet sections overlying portions of adjacent ones of said intermediate walls of adjacent ones of said pyramid-shaped elements; and connecting means for connecting said overlying surfaces of said transverse web means and said pyramid-shaped elements together and for connecting together said pleated sheet means with the corresponding overlying ones of said wall portions of the hollow pyramid-shaped elements.

Claim 7

A structural element comprising: a pleated sheet means having oppositely facing longitudinally extending channels formed between the longitudinal fold lines thereof, alternate ones of said fold lines forming the ridges and the remaining ones thereof forming the troughs of said pleated sheet means, respectively; a plurality of pyramid-shaped hollow elements of sheet material longitudinally distributed along and located in at least one pair of adjacent ones of said oppositely facing channels, said hollow elements having opposed wall portions thereof in face-to-face contact with adjacent channel forming walls of said pleated sheet means and said hollow elements in one of said pair of channels having their bases located substantially in the plane defined by said alternate fold lines, said hollow elements in said opposed one of said pair of channels having their bases located substantially in the plane defined by said remaining fold lines; a plurality of transverse web means each including a pair of integrally connecting mutually inclined sheet sections for connecting, in each of said channels, adjacent ones of said hollow pyramid-shaped elements, said hollow shell elements having intermeDiate walls intermediate said opposed wall portions thereof and said inclined sheet sections overlying portions of adjacent ones of said intermediate walls of adjacent ones of said pyramid-shaped elements; and connecting means for connecting said overlying surfaces of said transverse web means and said pyramid-shaped elements together and for connecting together said pleated sheet means with the corresponding overlying ones of said wall portions of the hollow pyramid-shaped elements.

Claim 8

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of longitudinally oriented, elongated, integrally connected, first sheet sections each of said sheet sections having a surface portion and said pair of surface portions being relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel: a pair of adjacent hollow shell elements of sheet material longitudinally distributed along and substantially in said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a first pair of opposite side walls, each of said side walls having a surface portion and said pair of surface portions of said side walls being relatively inclined to one another at substantialy the same relative inclination as and in superposed relation, respectively, with said surface portions of said first sheet sections, and an intermediate second pair of opposed surface portions, each of said first mentioned pair of surface portions of said hollow shell elements being in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective surface portion of the longitudinal web means which it overlies: transverse web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected second sheet sections located in said channel and defining between themselves a second channel extending transversely with respect to said first mentioned channel, one of said second sheet sections being in superposed relation with one of said second surface portions of one of said shell elements and the other of said second sheet sections being in superposed relation with the next adjacent one of said second surface portions of the other of said shell elements; and means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said transverse web means and said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed surface portions thereof, substantially along the entire face-to-face region of contact therebetween, for forming a composite integral structure exhibiting high load carrying characteristics.

Claim 9

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of longitudinally oriented, elongated, integrally connected, first sheet sections each of said sheet sections having a surface portion and said pair of surface portions being relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel: a pair of adjacent hollow shell elements of sheet material longitudinally distributed along and substantially in said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a first pair of opposite side walls, each of said side walls having a surface portion and said pair of surface portions of said side walls being relatively inclined to one another at substantialy the same relative inclination as and in superposed relation, respectively, with said surface portions of said first sheet sections, and an intermediate second pair of opposed surface portions, each of said first mentioned pair of surface portions of said hollow shell elements being in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective surface portion of the longitudinal web means which it overlies: transverse web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected second sheet sections located in said channel and defining between themselves a second channel extending transversely with respect to said first mentioned channel, one of said second sheet sections being in superposed relation with one of said second surface portions of one of said shell elements and the other of said second sheet sections being in superposed relation with the next adjacent one of said second surface portions of the other of said shell elements; and means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said transverse web means and said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed surface portions thereof, substantially along the entire face-to-face region of contact therebetween, for forming a composite integral structure exhibiting high load carrying characteristics.

Claim 10

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected, elongated first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel; a plurality of hollow shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a first pair of opposite side walls each of which comprises a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections and each of said hollow shell elements having a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate of and generally transverse to said first pair of side walls; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region there-between so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure; second means integrally connecting one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel, said second means comprising transverse web means including a pair of integrally connected additional sheet sections located substantially in said channel and defining between themselves a second chAnnel extending transversely with respect to said first mentioned channel, one of said additional sheet sections being in superposed relation with said one of said intermediate side walls of said one shell element and the other of said additional sheet sections being in superposed relation with the adjacent one of said intermediate side walls of said adjacent one of said shell elements.

Claim 11

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected, elongated first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel; a plurality of hollow shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a first pair of opposite side walls each of which comprises a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections and each of said hollow shell elements having a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate of and generally transverse to said first pair of side walls; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region there-between so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure; second means integrally connecting one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel, said second means comprising transverse web means including a pair of integrally connected additional sheet sections located substantially in said channel and defining between themselves a second chAnnel extending transversely with respect to said first mentioned channel, one of said additional sheet sections being in superposed relation with said one of said intermediate side walls of said one shell element and the other of said additional sheet sections being in superposed relation with the adjacent one of said intermediate side walls of said adjacent one of said shell elements.

Claim 12

The structural member according to claim 7 wherein said hollow shell elements and said longitudinal and transverse web means each consists of a plurality of laminated sheets of paper.

Claim 13

The structural member according to claim 7 wherein said first and second channels each have a V-shaped cross-section and each of said hollow elements of sheet material is pyramid-shaped.

Claim 14

The structural member according to claim 9 wherein the apex angle of said first V-shaped channel is substantially identical to the apex angle formed by said first mentioned pair of opposite side walls of said pyramid-shaped hollow elements whereby the latter may be snugly nested therein.

Claim 15

The structural member according to claim 7 wherein each of said first and second sheet sections and said hollow-shell elements consists of laminated sheet material.

Claim 16

A structural member according to claim 7 wherein said transverse web means comprises a diamond-shaped sheet of material folded along the shorter diagonal thereof for forming said pair of second sheet sections each having a triangular shape and inclined with respect to each other.

Claim 17

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected, elongated, generally planar first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel, each of said first sheet sections having a first and a second longitudinal edge portion and all of said edge portions being substantially parallel to each other with adjacent ones of said first sheet sections being connected to one another along said second edge portions thereof and said first edge portions of said first sheet sections together defining a given plane; a plurality of hollow shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a pair of opposite side walls each of which comprises a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region therebetween so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure, each of said hollow shell elements having a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate said first mentioned pair thereof, and means integrally connecting, along a fold line substantially located in said given plane, one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent intermediate side wall of the next adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel.

Claim 18

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected, elongated, generally planar first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel, each of said first sheet sections having a first and a second longitudinal edge portion and all of said edge portions being substantially parallel to each other with adjacent ones of said first sheet sections being connected to one another along said second edge portions thereof and said first edge portions of said first sheet sections together defining a given plane; a plurality of hollow shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow shell elements having a pair of opposite side walls each of which comprises a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region therebetween so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure, each of said hollow shell elements having a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate said first mentioned pair thereof, and means integrally connecting, along a fold line substantially located in said given plane, one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent intermediate side wall of the next adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel.

Claim 19

The structural member according to claim 13 wherein said connected second sheet sections are respectively located on opposite sides of and inclined with respect to a plane which is normal to each of said pair of first sheet sections and which includes said fold line.

Claim 20

The structural member according to claim 13 wherein said hollow shell elements are pyramid-shaped, said hollow pyramid-shaped elements being open at the bases thereof and being formed of a folded flat sheet material, said pyramid-shaped hollow elements being positioned in said first mentioned elongated channel with said base portions thereof located generally in said given plane.

Claim 21

The structural member according to claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises adhesive means for joining together said hollow elements, said longitudinal web means, and said transverse web means, at the corresponding overlying surface portions thereof.

Claim 22

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected elongated first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel; a plurality of hollow, pyramid shaped, four sided shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow sheet elements having a first pair of opposed side walls and a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate said first pair, each of said first pair of side walls comprising a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region therebetween so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure; each of said pyramid shaped hollow shell elements having base edge portions forming an open rectangular base and adjacent transverse ones of said base edge portions of adjacent ones of said shell elements being in close proximity with one another; and means integrally connecting one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent intermediate side wall of the next adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel.

Claim 23

A structural member comprising: longitudinal web means of sheet material including a pair of integrally connected elongated first sheet sections relatively inclined to one another and defining between themselves an elongated channel; a plurality of hollow, pyramid shaped, four sided shell elements of sheet material arranged in side-by-side adjacency in and longitudinally distributed along said elongated channel, each of said hollow sheet elements having a first pair of opposed side walls and a second pair of opposed side walls intermediate said first pair, each of said first pair of side walls comprising a second sheet section in superposed relation with and in substantially full face-to-face contact with the respective one of said first sheet sections; means integrally connecting said hollow shell elements with said longitudinal web means at said respective superposed first and second sheet sections thereof substantially along the full face-to-face contact region therebetween so as to form said shell elements and said web means into a composite integral structure; each of said pyramid shaped hollow shell elements having base edge portions forming an open rectangular base and adjacent transverse ones of said base edge portions of adjacent ones of said shell elements being in close proximity with one another; and means integrally connecting one of said intermediate side walls of one of said shell elements with the adjacent intermediate side wall of the next adjacent one of said shell elements in said channel.

Claim 24

The structural member according to claim 17 wherein said second means comprises transverse web means having surface portions overlying adjacent surface portions, respectively, of said intermediate side walls of a pair of adjacent pyramid-shaped elements whose adjacent transverse base edges are in close proximity with one another.