Structural element and structure

Claim 2

A supporting column member comprising: a substantially rectangular C-shaped channel member having opposed inturned flanges lying in a common plane parallel to its major crosssectional axis and spaced from each other; means on said flanges spaced inwardly from the outer edge of each of said flanges and extending longitudinally thereof parallel to said means on the opposite flange and spaced therefrom for receiving and positioning a reinforcing and supporting member; a reinforcing and supporting member engaging said receiving and positioning means of said spaced inturned flanges and having a projecting supporting member projecting from the plane of the inturned flanges; and means joining said reinforcing and supporting member to said inturned flanges on said receiving and positioning means to provide a hollow tubular column.

Claim 3

A supporting column member comprising: a substantially rectangular C-shaped channel having a planar front wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and inturned flanges lying in a common plane and laterally spaced from each other; each of said inturned flanges having a reverse bend formed therein in its medial portion providing an offset inwardly extending planar supporting flange portion disposed inwardly of said plane of said inturned flanges toward the front wall of the channel and lying substantially parallel thereto and providing means for receiving and positioning a reinforcing and supporting member, said reverse bends extending longitudinally of the inturned flanges substantially parallel to each other; a reinforcing and supporting member engaging said receiving and positioning means of said inturned flanges; means joining said reinforcing and supporting member to said inturned flanges to provide a hollow tubular column; and a projecting supporting member projecting from the plane of the inturned flanges.

Claim 4

A supporting column member comprising: a substantially rectangular C-shaped channel having a planar front wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and inturned flanges lying in a common plane and laterally spaced from each other; each of said inturned flanges having a reverse bend formed therein in its medial portion providing an offset inwardly extending planar supporting flange portion disposed inwardly of said plane of said inturned flanges toward the front wall of the channel and lying substantially parallel thereto and providing means for receiving and positioning a reinforcing and supporting member, said reverse bends extending longitudinally of the inturned flanges substantially parallel to each other; a reinforcing and supporting member engaging said receiving and positioning means of said inturned flanges; means joining said reinforcing and supporting member to said inturned flanges to provide a hollow tubular column; and a projecting supporting member projecting from the plane of the inturned flanges.

Claim 5

A column structure of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein: the reinforcing and supporting member is disposed on the offset flange portions of the inturned flanges between the reverse bends therein and having edge portions extending along and adjacent the longitudinal reverse bends in the inturned flanges.

Claim 6

A column structure of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein: the reinforcing member comprises a member T-shaped in cross section and having the outer edge portions of its crossarms disposed on the offset planar flange portions between the reverse bends, and its stem projecting vertically thereto longitudinally of the channel member.

Claim 7

A column member of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein: the edge portions of the reinforcing and supporting member are weldeD to the inturned flanges of a channel member along the reverse bends of the inturned flanges to secure the reinforcing and supporting member to the channel member to provide a hollow tubular column.

Claim 8

A column member of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein: the reinforcing and supporting member comprises an angle member of substantially equal arms having one arm disposed in engagement with the offset flange portions and has its edges and angle corner lying parallel to and adjacent the reverse bends of the inturned flanges, and having its other arm projecting vertically thereto.

Claim 9

A column member of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein: the reinforcing and supporting member comprises an equal armed angle member having the outer edges of the arms thereof lying on the offset flange portions of the inturned flanges and adjacent and parallel to the reverse bends formed in said inturned flanges.

Claim 10

A column structure of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein: the projecting portion of the reinforcing and supporting member is provided with means for securing brace members thereto.

Claim 11

A column structure of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein: the projecting portion of the reinforcing and supporting member is provided with means for securing brace members thereto.

Claim 12

A column member of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein: the projecting stem member of the T-shaped reinforcing and supporting member provides a projecting rib; and means is provided on said rib for securing cross brace members to the rib to join the column to another column to provide a truss structure.

Claim 13

A column of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein: the projecting stem member of the T-shaped reinforcing and supporting member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therein for bolting cross brace members thereto.

Claim 14

A device of the character set forth in claim 11 wherein: the apertures are alternately square and round.

Claim 15

A column of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein: the projecting arm of the angle reinforcing and supporting member provides a projecting rib; and means is provided on said rib for securing cross brace members to the rib to join the column to another column to provide a truss structure.

Claim 16

A column of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein: the projecting arm of the angle reinforcing and supporting member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therein for bolting cross brace members thereto.

Claim 17

A device of the character set forth in claim 14 wherein: the apertures are alternately square and round.

Claim 18

A column member of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein: the channel portion of the column member is provided with means for adjustably coupling horizontal supporting beams thereto to form a supporting structure.

Claim 19

A column member of the character set forth in claim 10: wherein: the channel portion of the column member is provided with means for adjustably coupling horizontal supporting beams thereto to form a supporting structure.

Claim 20

A column member of the character set forth in claim 13 wherein: the channel portion of the column member is provided with means for adjustably coupling horizontal supporting beams thereto to from a supporting structure.

Claim 21

A column member of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein: the channel portion of the column member is provided with means for adjustably coupling horizontal supporting means thereto to form a supporting structure.

Claim 22

A column member of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein: the channel portion of the column member is provided with means for adjustably coupling horizontal supporting beams thereto to form a supporting structure.

Claim 27

A supporting structure including: a pair of spaced upright supporting truss members and a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed load-bearing members detachably joined at their ends to the truss members; each of said truss members comprising a pair of substantially C-shaped channel members, each having a substantially planar front wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and inturned flanges lying in a common plane and laterally spaced from each other and having reinforcing and connecting members secured thereto to provide a backwall and a projecting connecting member; horizontal and diagonal cross brace members joining the connecting members of each of the pair of channel members; and means on the channel members and load-bearing members for connecting the load-bearing members to the channel members at a plurality of vertically spaced positions to provide supporting surfaces between the spaced truss members.

Claim 28

A supporting structure including: a pair of spaced upright supporting truss members and a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed load-bearing members detachably joined at their ends to the truss members; each of said truss members comprising a pair of substantially C-shaped channel members, each having a substantially planar front wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and inturned flanges lying in a common plane and laterally spaced from each other and having reinforcing and connecting members secured thereto to provide a backwall and a projecting connecting member; horizontal and diagonal cross brace members joining the connecting members of each of the pair of channel members; and means on the channel members and load-bearing members for connecting the load-bearing members to the channel members at a plurality of vertically spaced positions to provide supporting surfaces between the spaced truss members.

Claim 29

A structure of the character set forth in claim 23 wherein: each of the channel members of the truss members are substantially rectangular C-shaped and the opposed inturned flanges each have a reverse bend formed therein in its medial portion extending longitudinally of the flange and providing an offset inwardly extending planar supporting flange portion disposed inwardly of the backwall of the channel and lying substantially parallel thereto; and said reinforcing and connecting member is disposed between the reverse bends in the inturned flanges in engagement with the offset planar supporting flange portion and is secured to said flanges at said reverse bend.

Claim 30

A structure of the character set forth in claim 24 wherein: said reinforcing and connecting member comprises a member T-shaped in cross section and having the edges of its crossarms disposed on the offset planar flange portions of the inturned flanges of the channel member between the reverse bends and its stem projecting vertically therefrom longitudinally of the back of the channel member.

Claim 31

A structure of the character set forth in claim 24 wherein: said reinforcing and connecting member comprises an angle member of substantially equal arms having one arm disposed in engagement with the offset flange portions and has its edges and angle corner lying parallel to and adjacent the reverse bends of the inturned flanges, and having its other arm projecting vertically thereto.

Claim 32

A structure of the character set forth in claim 24 wherein: said reinforcing and connecting member comprises an equal armed angle member having the outer edges of the arms thereof lying on the offset flange portions of the inturned flanges and adjacent and parallel to the reverse bends formed in said inturned flanges.