Building construction

Claim 2

An improved system for constructing primary load-bearing frame structures for buildings and the like on a foundation, with prefabricated sets of interconnectable girder members, connecting plate members and attachment members for selectively securing the girder and plate members to one another, the improvement comprising: the girder members being prefabricated in a plurality of incrementally different lengths and having flanges and webs forming channel-shaped cross-sections of uniform web width, at least some of the girder members being vertically-oriented; each of the connecting plate members being prefabricated with flanges to form at least two angularly related receiving channels of uniform web width and cross-section and in a plurality of relative angles, the respective web widths of each girder and each receiving channel being dimensioned to enable portions of each to nest snugly one inside the other, primary loads being borne by and transmitted between the girder and plate members in planes defined by the nested webs, the flanges of the nested ends bearing against one another to provide high rotational rigidity and overall frame stiffness; the set of attachment members being insertable through apertures in and engageable with nested portions of both the girder and plate members to provide full surface engagement of the nested web portions, whereby a plurality of frame structures for buildings, of varied size and shape, may be easily constructed from sets of prefabricated girder members and prefabricated connecting plate members secured together by a set of standard attachment members; and, means for securing the vertically-oriented girder members to the foundation.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment members are bolts with self-tapping threads.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein the apertures are formed in patterns of rows of holes.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3, wherein the rows of holes are parallel to one another and centers of the holes of each row are in lateral alignment with centers of the holes of each other row.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1, wherein the apertures are formed in identical patterns on both the ends of the girders and the receiving channels.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 2, wherein the receiving channels of the plate members are disposed at angles relative to one another enabling the girder members to be erected in horizontal, vertical and diagonal orientations.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 1, wherein the first members are provided with apertures throughout their length, enabling two of said girder members to be secured laterally to one another for enhancing load capacity.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of base members for securing vertically oriented girder members to a foundation wall.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 8, wherein each of the base members comprises: an L-shaped bracket for engaging adjacent horizontal and vertical surfaces of the foundation wall; and, first and second channel-shaped portions projecting upwardly from the bracket and opening toward one another, at least one of the channels having a flange with an inwardly directed angularly disposed lip for positively positioning one of the vertically oriented girders between the channel-shaped portions.

Claim 11

A building constructed with a primary load-bearing frame structure erected on a foundation from sets of prefabricated structural members, comprising: a plurality of girder members, at least some of the girder members being vertically oriented each prefabricated in a plurality of incrementally different lengths having channel-shaped cross-sections of uniform web width; a plurality of plate members, each prefabricated to form at least two angularly related receiving channels of uniform web width and cross-section and in a plurality of relative angles, the respective web widths of each girder and each receiving channel being dimensioned to enable portions of each to nest snugly one inside the other with respective perpendicular surface portions substantially flush with one another; attachment means enagageable with nested portions of both the girder and plate members to provide full surface engagement of the nested web portions, whereby a plurality of frame structures for buildings, of varied size and shape, may be easily constructed from sets of prefabricated girder members and prefabricated plate members secured together by standard attachment means, whereby primary loads are borne by and transmitted between the girder and plate members in planes defined by the nested webs, the substantially flush perpendicular surface portions bearing against one another to provide high rotational rigidity and overall frame stiffness; and, means for securing the vertically-oriented girder members to the foundation.

Claim 12

A building constructed with a primary load-bearing frame structure erected on a foundation from sets of prefabricated structural members, comprising: a plurality of girder members, at least some of the girder members being vertically oriented each prefabricated in a plurality of incrementally different lengths having channel-shaped cross-sections of uniform web width; a plurality of plate members, each prefabricated to form at least two angularly related receiving channels of uniform web width and cross-section and in a plurality of relative angles, the respective web widths of each girder and each receiving channel being dimensioned to enable portions of each to nest snugly one inside the other with respective perpendicular surface portions substantially flush with one another; attachment means enagageable with nested portions of both the girder and plate members to provide full surface engagement of the nested web portions, whereby a plurality of frame structures for buildings, of varied size and shape, may be easily constructed from sets of prefabricated girder members and prefabricated plate members secured together by standard attachment means, whereby primary loads are borne by and transmitted between the girder and plate members in planes defined by the nested webs, the substantially flush perpendicular surface portions bearing against one another to provide high rotational rigidity and overall frame stiffness; and, means for securing the vertically-oriented girder members to the foundation.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of base members for securing vertically oriented girder members to a foundation wall.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 11, wherein each of the base members comprises: an L-shaped bracket for engaging adjacent horizontal and vertical surfaces of the foundation wall; and, first and second channel-shaped portions projecting upwardly from the bracket and opening toward one another, at least one of the channels having a flange with an inwardly directed angularly disposed lip for positively positioning one of the vertically oriented girder members between the channel-shaped portions.

Claim 15

An improved system for constructing primary load-bearing frame structures for buildings and the like from a prefabricated set of interconnectable members adapted for erection on a foundation as vertical beams, horizontal girders and diagonal braces, the improved system comprising: the set of interconnectable members being prefabricated in a plurality of incrementally different lengths and having ends with lipped flanges forming channel-shaped cross-sections of uniform web width; each of a set of a interconnection members being prefabricated with lipped flanges to form at least two angularly related receiving channels of uniform web width and cross-section in a plurality of relative angles, the respective web widths of each end of each interconnectable member and each receiving channel being dimensioned to enable portions of each to slidably engage in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the interconnectable members and nest snugly one inside the other, primary loads being borne by and transmitted between the interconnectable and interconnection members in planes defined by the nested webs, the lipped flanges of the nested ends bearing substantially flush against one another to provide high rotational rigidity and overall frame stiffness; a set of attachment members for selectively securing the interconnectable members and the interconnection members to one another, the attachment members being insertable through apertures in and engageable with nested portions of both the interconnectable members and the interconnection members to provide full surface engagement of the nested web portions, whereby a plurality of frame structures for buildings, of varied size and shape, may be easily constructed from sets of prefabricated interconnectable members and prefabricated interconnection members secured together by a set of standard attachment members; and, means for securing the vertical beams to the foundation.

Claim 16

An improved system for constructing primary load-bearing frame structures for buildings and the like from a prefabricated set of interconnectable members adapted for erection on a foundation as vertical beams, horizontal girders and diagonal braces, the improved system comprising: the set of interconnectable members being prefabricated in a plurality of incrementally different lengths and having ends with lipped flanges forming channel-shaped cross-sections of uniform web width; each of a set of a interconnection members being prefabricated with lipped flanges to form at least two angularly related receiving channels of uniform web width and cross-section in a plurality of relative angles, the respective web widths of each end of each interconnectable member and each receiving channel being dimensioned to enable portions of each to slidably engage in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the interconnectable members and nest snugly one inside the other, primary loads being borne by and transmitted between the interconnectable and interconnection members in planes defined by the nested webs, the lipped flanges of the nested ends bearing substantially flush against one another to provide high rotational rigidity and overall frame stiffness; a set of attachment members for selectively securing the interconnectable members and the interconnection members to one another, the attachment members being insertable through apertures in and engageable with nested portions of both the interconnectable members and the interconnection members to provide full surface engagement of the nested web portions, whereby a plurality of frame structures for buildings, of varied size and shape, may be easily constructed from sets of prefabricated interconnectable members and prefabricated interconnection members secured together by a set of standard attachment members; and, means for securing the vertical beams to the foundation.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 13, wherein the attachment members are bolts with self-tapping threads.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 14, wherein the receiving channels of the interconnection members are disposed at angles relative to one another enabling the interconnection members to be erected perpendicularly, linearly and diagonally relative to one another.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 13, wherein the interconnectable members are provided with the apertures throughout their length, enabling any two of said interconnectable members to be laterally secured to one another for enhancing load capacity.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of base members for securing vertically oriented interconnectable members to a foundation wall.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 17, wherein each of the base members comprises: an L-shaped bracket for engaging adjacent horizontal and vertical surfaces of the foundation wall; and, first and second channel-shaped portions projecting upwardly from the bracket and opening toward one another, at least one of the channels having a flange with an inwardly directed angularly disposed lip for positively positioning a vertically oriented interconnection member between the channel-shaped portions.