Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A unitized and prefabricated prestressed combination roof and ceiling assembly adapted to be supported, in situs, between supporting members comprising: a first relatively thin continuous flat sheet of uniplanar rigid material of a predetermined width and of length at least equal to the spacing between supporting members, a second initially and essentially flat sheet of uniplanar rigid material of width substantially equal to the first sheet and of length in excess of the first sheet and having its longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first sheet, said second sheet being bowed by pre-stressed compression into a shallow arc of chord length equal to the length of the first sheet, and fastening means innerconnecting together the ends of the first and second sheets to form a prefabricated and unitized assembly and to maintain the second sheet in compression forming an arched and prestressed roof deck and the first sheet in tension forming the ceiling of a structure when the assembly is in position between the supporting members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A unitized and prefabricated prestressed combination roof and ceiling assembly adapted to be supported, in situs, between supporting members comprising: a first relatively thin continuous flat sheet of uniplanar rigid material of a predetermined width and of length at least equal to the spacing between supporting members, a second initially and essentially flat sheet of uniplanar rigid material of width substantially equal to the first sheet and of length in excess of the first sheet and having its longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first sheet, said second sheet being bowed by pre-stressed compression into a shallow arc of chord length equal to the length of the first sheet, and fastening means innerconnecting together the ends of the first and second sheets to form a prefabricated and unitized assembly and to maintain the second sheet in compression forming an arched and prestressed roof deck and the first sheet in tension forming the ceiling of a structure when the assembly is in position between the supporting members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The roof and ceiling assembly of claim 1 wherein the shallow arch is of a height to chord length ratio in the range of from 10 to 5 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The roof and ceiling assembly of claim 2 wherein the second sheet is formed of a thin metallic material and includes longitudinally extending undulations therein increasing the moment of inertia of the sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The roof and ceiling assembly of claim 3 formed of approximately 18 gauge material, a chord length not exceeding 50 feet and a moment of inertia not exceeding 4 inches 4 for a 1 foot cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein a suitable insulation material is applied to the underside of the second sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second sheet is formed of two sheets overlaying each other and wherein at least one of the sheets includes undulations therein having a longitudinal axis equal to the length of the sheet and wherein the two sheets are disposed to form enclosed channels which may act as continuous conduits, ducts or raceways for electrical wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A composite roof structure formed of a plurality of unitized roof and ceiling sub-assemblies according to claim 1, said sub-assemblies being joined at the longitudinal edges of the first and second sheets of each sub-assembly, between a common supporting member, to form bays of a building and joined at their ends with subassemblies carried by adjacent supporting members to form adjacent bays of the structure.