Stone structural securement system and method

Claim 2

A strut member for use in the interconnection of a structural frame and masonry panels of an edifice and comprising a substantially planar body portion of predetermined geometrical configuration, a plurality of flange members formed integrally with said body portion and disposed at predetermined edges of said body portion and at predetermined angular orientation with respect thereto, at least one of said flange members having apertures formed therein for enabling adjustable positional securement of said flange member to one of said masonry panels and said structural frame, and said body portion having apertures formed therein for enabling adjustable positional securement of said body portion to the other one of said masonry panels and said structural frame, thereby providing for secured interconnection of said strut member between said masonry panels and said structural frame.

Claim 3

A strut member in accordance with claim 1, wherein said apertures are of preselected geometric configuration and are disposed in predetermined orientation.

Claim 4

A strut member in accordance with claim 2, wherein said apertures have preselected geometric configurations disposed in predetermined orientation with respect to said one of said flange members.

Claim 5

A strut member in accordance with claim 2, wherein said apertures have preselected geometric configurations disposed in predetermined orientation with respect to said body portion.

Claim 6

A strut member in accordance with claim 2, wherein said apertures comprise elongated slots.

Claim 7

A strut member in accordance with claim 5, wherein said elongated slots are formed in predetermined orientation with respect to said one of said flange members and said body portion.

Claim 8

A strut member for use in the interconnection of a structural frame and masonry panels of an edifice and comprising a substantially planar body portion of predetermined geometrical configuration, a plurality of flange members formed integrally with said body portion and disposed at predetermined edges of said body portion and at pedetermined angular orientation with respect thereto, at least a selected one of said flange members and said body portion having means formed therein for enabling preselected securement of said flange member or said body portion to one of said masonry panels and said structural frame, means formed in another portion of said flange member or said body portion for enabling securement thereof to the other of said masonry panels and said structural frame, thereby providing for secured interconnection of said strut member between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said means for enabling selected securement of said flange member or said body portion comprises apertures of preselected geometric configuration and disposed in predetermined orientation which provide for adjustable positional securement with respect to said strut member, said body portion having front and rear flange members, said body portion also including selected top and bottom flange members, selected ones of said flange members being selectably securable to said masonry panels and said structural frame, and selected ones of said flange members comprising stiffening tab and building component securement members.

Claim 9

A strut member for use in the interconnection of a structural frame and masonry panels of an edifice and comprising a substantially planar body portion of predetermined geometrical configuration, a plurality of flange members formed integrally with said body portion and disposed at predetermined edges of said body portion and at pedetermined angular orientation with respect thereto, at least a selected one of said flange members and said body portion having means formed therein for enabling preselected securement of said flange member or said body portion to one of said masonry panels and said structural frame, means formed in another portion of said flange member or said body portion for enabling securement thereof to the other of said masonry panels and said structural frame, thereby providing for secured interconnection of said strut member between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said means for enabling selected securement of said flange member or said body portion comprises apertures of preselected geometric configuration and disposed in predetermined orientation which provide for adjustable positional securement with respect to said strut member, said body portion having front and rear flange members, said body portion also including selected top and bottom flange members, selected ones of said flange members being selectably securable to said masonry panels and said structural frame, and selected ones of said flange members comprising stiffening tab and building component securement members.

Claim 10

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein selected ones of said top and bottom flange members are of composite construction having a plurality of tab members forming said last mentioned flange members.

Claim 11

A strut member in accordance with claim 8, wherein said tab members are disposed in spaced apart vertical relationship.

Claim 12

A strut member in accordance with claim 9, wherein said tab members forming one of said flange members are disposed in angular relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 13

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein selected ones of said front, rear, top and side flange members and said planar body portion have elongated slots formed therein.

Claim 14

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein said front and rear flange members extend from said body portion in the same direction.

Claim 15

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein said front and rear flange members extend from said body portion in diametrically opposed directions.

Claim 16

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein said front, rear, top and side members all extend from said body portion in the same direction.

Claim 17

A strut member in accordance with claim 7, wherein said body portion is provided with selected openings therein capable of having predetermined structural and building components extending through said body portion.

Claim 18

A strut member in accordance with claim 15, wherein said selected openings are formed by punching a portion of said body portion outwardly therefrom and providing peripheral tab elements about said selected openings.

Claim 19

In a structural system for securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice the improvement comprising at least one strut member interposed between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said strut member comprising, a substantially planar body portion, and at least one flange member formed integrally with one edge of said body portion, first means for positionally securing at least two of said masonry panels to a predetermined first part of said strut member, and second means for positionally securing said structural frame to a predetermined second part of said strut member.

Claim 20

In a structural system for securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice the improvement comprising at least one strut member interposed between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said strut member comprising, a substantially planar body portion, and at least one flange member formed integrally with one edge of said body portion, first means for positionally securing at least two of said masonry panels to a predetermined first part of said strut member, and second means for positionally securing said structural frame to a predetermined second part of said strut member.

Claim 21

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein both of said first and second means for positional securement include nut and bolt assemblies.

Claim 22

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the plane of said strut member is disposed in substantially orthogonal relationship to the plane of said masonry panels.

Claim 23

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said first part of said strut member comprises said flange member.

Claim 24

A structural system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said second part of said strut member comprises said body portion.

Claim 25

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said strut member comprises a plurality of flange members integrally connected to selected edges of said body portion, said first part of said strut member comprising a first one of said flange members, and said second part of said strut member comprising a second one of said flange members.

Claim 26

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said first means for positionally securing at least two of said masonry panels to said first part of said strut member includes a masonry anchor.

Claim 27

A structural system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said first means further includes a clip member, means for connecting said clip member to said anchor, and means for connecting said clip member to said first part of said strut member.

Claim 28

A structural system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said first means further includes a clip member, means for connecting said clip member to said anchor, and means for connecting said anchor to said first part of said strut member.

Claim 29

A structural system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said flange member is said first part of said strut member, and means for connecting said anchor to said flange member.

Claim 30

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said first positional securement means is capable of selective adjustable positioning.

Claim 31

A structural system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said second positional securement means is capable of selective adjustable positioning.

Claim 32

A structural system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first positional securement means is capable of selective adjustable positioning.

Claim 33

In a structural system for securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice the improvement comprising at least one strut member interposed between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said strut member comprising a substantially planar body portion, first means for positionally securing selected ones of said masonry panels to a predetermined first part of said strut member, second means for positionally securing said structural frame to a predetermined second part of said strut member, said strut member including a plurality of flange members, said flange members being connected to and formed integrally with selected ones of the front, rear, top and bottom edges of said body portion, selected ones of said flange members having elongated slots formed therein, said first means comprising a masonry anchor having a threaded anchor bolt portion, said first part of said strut member comprising a flange member, and said anchor bolt portion extending through said one of said elongated slots formed in said selected flange member and being securedly connected thereto by at least one nut engaging said threaded anchor bolt portion.

Claim 34

In a structural system for securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice the improvement comprising at least one strut member interposed between said masonry panels and said structural frame, said strut member comprising a substantially planar body portion, first means for positionally securing selected ones of said masonry panels to a predetermined first part of said strut member, second means for positionally securing said structural frame to a predetermined second part of said strut member, said strut member including a plurality of flange members, said flange members being connected to and formed integrally with selected ones of the front, rear, top and bottom edges of said body portion, selected ones of said flange members having elongated slots formed therein, said first means comprising a masonry anchor having a threaded anchor bolt portion, said first part of said strut member comprising a flange member, and said anchor bolt portion extending through said one of said elongated slots formed in said selected flange member and being securedly connected thereto by at least one nut engaging said threaded anchor bolt portion.

Claim 35

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein predetermined ones of the other of said flange members comprises stiffening tab and building component securement members.

Claim 36

A structural system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said strut member includes top and bottom flange members, selected ones of said top and bottom flange members being of composite construction having a plurality of tab members forming said last mentioned flange members.

Claim 37

A structural system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said tab members are disposed in spaced apart vertical relationship.

Claim 38

A structural system in accordance with claim 33, wherein said tab members forming one of said flange members are disposed in angular relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 39

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said front and rear flange members extend from said body portion in the same direction.

Claim 40

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said front and rear flange members extend from said body portion in diametrically opposed directions.

Claim 41

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said front, rear, top and bottom flange members all extend from said body portion in the same direction.

Claim 42

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said body portion is provided with selected apertures therein capable of having predetermined structural and building components extending through said body portion.

Claim 43

A structural system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said selected apertures are formed by punching a portion of said body portion outwardly therefrom and providing peripheral tab elements about said selected apertures.

Claim 44

A structural system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said body portion is provided with predetermined elongated slots, and said slots being selectively capable of having said body portion secured to said structural frame and to selected other building component members.

Claim 45

A structural system in accordance with claim 40, including means for securing adjacent ones of said strut members with respect to one another.

Claim 46

A structural system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said last mentioned securement means extend through selected ones of said elongated slots formed in said body portion for securing together horizontally adjacent strut members.

Claim 47

A structural system in accordance with claim 41, wherein said last mentioned securement means extends through adjacently disposed flange members in adjacently disposed strut members for securing together said strut members in substantial vertical alignment.

Claim 48

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said masonry panel secured to said selected flange member serves as a window sill.

Claim 49

A structural system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said masonry panel secured to said selected flange member serves as a window soffit.

Claim 58

The method of securing masonry panels to the structural frames of an edifice in accordance with claim 49, including the step of forming selected ones of said flange members as composite members having a plurality of tab members, and disposing said tab members in predetermined angular orientation.

Claim 59

The method of securing masonry panels to the structural frames of an edifice in accordance with claim 50, including the step of disposing said tab members in spaced apart vertical relationship.

Claim 60

The method of securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice in accordance with claim 50, including the step of disposing said tab members in predetermined angular relationship with respect to one another.

Claim 63

The method of securing masonry panels to the structural frame of an edifice in accordance with claim 53, including the step of securing a clip member to said structural frame, and thereafter securing said subassembly to said clip member by securement of said first part of said strut member to said clip member.