Support Structure And Building Including Same
The present invention relates to support structures including truss assemblies and purlins, the truss assemblies including struts, wherein utilities such as pipes and cables can be contained within the purlins, and can pass through openings in the struts, to thereby be retained by the support structures so as to be hidden from view.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/406,395, filed Oct. 25, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support structure for a building. More particularly, the present invention relates to a roof and associated support structure, where the support structure can accommodate utilities so as to hide them from view.
2. Brief Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a support structure for supporting a glass structure, the support structure including a top truss chord extending in a first direction and including end portions, a bottom truss chord including end portions, wherein the end portions of the bottom truss chord are coupled to the end portions of the top truss chord, a strut including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the strut is coupled to the top truss chord and wherein the lower portion of the strut is coupled to the bottom truss chord, a purlin extending in a second direction, wherein the purlin is coupled to the upper portion of the strut, and a support coupled to the purlin and configured to support at least a portion of at least one glass panel.
The present invention also provides a purlin, including a pair of purlin beams positioned apart from each other so as to define a space therebetween, a cover plate extending between the purlin beams at a lower portion thereof, and utilities extending within the space, disposed above the cover plate.
The present invention also provides an architectural structure, including a top truss chord extending in a first direction and including end portions, a bottom truss chord including end portions, wherein the end portions of the bottom truss chord are coupled to the end portions of the top truss chord, a strut including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the strut is coupled to the top truss chord and wherein the lower portion of the strut is coupled to the bottom truss chord, and wherein the strut defines an opening in the upper portion thereof, a purlin extending in a second direction, wherein the purlin is coupled to the upper portion of the strut, a support coupled to the purlin and configured to support at least a portion of at least one glass panel, and utilities extending within the purlin and through the opening.
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further serve to explain the principles of and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the exemplary embodiments described herein. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying figures that illustrate exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments are possible. Modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not intended to be limiting. The operation and behavior of the exemplary embodiments presented are described with the understanding that modifications and variations of the embodiments may be within the scope of the present invention.
In
Support structure 120 can also include purlins 300 (see
As one of skill in the art would appreciate, struts 230 can be of various lengths to suit a particular application. Struts 230 can, as depicted in
Top truss chord 210 curves downward, corresponding to the curve of curved glass roof 110, and bottom truss chord 220 curves upward. Top truss chord 210 and bottom truss chord 220 are spaced apart by struts 230. Top truss chord 210 may exhibit a curvature having a radius of 165 feet at its bottom, and 167 feet, 10 inches at its top. The radius of a line connecting lower connections 234 along top truss chord 210 may be, for example, 165 feet, 4 and ¼ inches. The radius of a line connecting upper connections 234 along top truss chord 210 may be, for example, 165 feet, 10 and ¾ inches.
Bottom truss chords 220 can be formed of a pair of rods 222, each spanning approximately half the length of the bottom truss chord 220, and meeting at the center of bottom truss chord 220. Rods 222 can be of any suitable diameter as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, such as, for example, 2 and ½ inches, and can be formed of any suitable material as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, such as, for example, stainless steel. Rods 222 can connect to struts 230 by extending through holes at the ends of struts 23G. In the case of a center strut 230, as shown in
Purlins 300 can be positioned above top truss chords 210 and can be aligned approximately perpendicularly to truss assemblies 200, and assist in supporting glass roof 110. Purlins 300 need not necessarily be aligned perpendicularly to truss assemblies 200, however. As one of skill in the art would appreciate, purlins 300 can be aligned with truss assemblies at a variety of angles to suit a particular application.
Purlins 300 can extend longitudinally between pairs of truss assemblies 200. Adjacent purlins 300 can meet at a purlin joint 310, which may coincide with the longitudinal center of a truss assembly 200. Alternatively, purlins 300 may extend continuously through one or more truss assemblies 200. Each purlin 300 can be formed of a pair of purlin beams 302 spaced apart by a distance at least sufficient to accommodate struts 230, for example, by 3 inches.
Purlin beams 302 may be formed of any suitable material as would be apparent to one of skill in the art, including, for example, stainless steel. Purlin beams 302 may have a height of, for example, 1 foot, 3 inches, and a thickness of, for example, ¾ inches. Utilities 500, which can include, for example, fire sprinkler pipe 502 and electrical conduit 504, can be positioned between purlin beams 302 of a purlin 300. Such positioning of utilities 500 within purlins 300 can provide a variety of benefits, including hiding utilities 500 from view, thereby increasing the aesthetic appeal of support structure 120 and glass roof 110 while maintaining the functionality that utilities 500 may provide.
Struts 230 can be formed of two parts, upper part 230A and lower part 230B. Upper part 230A can be connected to lower part 230B via the same connection 234 that connects strut 230 to the support beams of purlin 300. Alternatively, upper part 230A can be connected to lower part 230B via a connection different from connection 234. Upper part 230A and lower part 230B can be connected at a joint, and can be fixed in place via connections 234. Alternatively, struts 230 can be formed of a single part, or of more than two parts, and parts of struts 230 can be connected via a variety of connection techniques, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, for example, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, welds, glue, or solvent.
Supports 430 can be positioned at the top of purlins 300, and can span the distance between paired purlin beams 302 of purlins 300. Supports 430 can be coupled to purlins 300 by any suitable technique that would be apparent to one of skill in the art, including, for example, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, welds, glue, or solvent. Alternatively, supports 430 can be integral with purlins 300. Supports 430 can be positioned at intervals in the longitudinal direction along purlins 300. Supports 430 can be located at positions over truss assemblies 200, and at positions between truss assemblies 200 (see
Electrical conduit 504 can be used to provide electricity to various components throughout a building or other structure of which support structure 120 is a part. For example, electrical conduit 504, positioned within purlins 300, can be used to provide electricity to light fixtures 508, which can be positioned intermittently along a purlin 300 in the longitudinal direction. Light fixtures 508 can be attached to purlins 300 by any suitable technique that would be apparent to by one of skill in the art, including, for example, by a lighting track 340. Lighting track 340 can extend longitudinally within a purlin 300, occupying space between paired purlin beams 302 of a purlin 300. The bottom of lighting track 340 may align with the bottom of purlins 300. Lighting track 340 can be coupled to a cover plate 330 that extends between and is coupled to paired purlin beams 302 of a purlin 300.
Cover plates 330 can be positioned at a lower portion of purlin beams 302, for example, approximately 1 and ¾ inches from the bottom of purlin beams 302, and can serve to help maintain spacing of pairs of purlin beams 302, and to cover the area between paired purlin beams 302 from view from below. Cover plates 330 can be coupled to purlin beams 302 by any suitable technique as would be apparent to one of skill in the art, such as, for example, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, welds, glue, or solvent. Alternatively, cover plates 330 can be integral with purlin beams 302. Cover plates 330 can extend longitudinally between adjacent truss assemblies 200. Cover plates 330 may be spaced from struts 230 of truss assemblies 200 by, for example, ¼ inch.
Lighting track 340 can be coupled to cover plate 330 by any suitable technique that would be apparent to one of skill in the art, including, for example, via an attachment clip 342. Cover plate 330 can be coupled to purlin beams 302 by any suitable technique that would be apparent to one of skill in the art, including, for example, via angles 332. Cover plate 330 can be of any suitable thickness as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, such as, for example, ¼ inches. Lighting track can be formed of longitudinal segments positioned between truss assemblies 200.
Referring to
The embodiments described above are exemplary only. As one of skill in the art would appreciate, the present invention can be embodied in various alternative embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments utilities other than or in addition to fire sprinkler pipes 502 and electrical conduits 504 can be accommodated by support structure 120, such as, for example, data lines, cable lines, phone lines, and plumbing lines.
Additionally, though the above embodiments have been described in the context of a support structure used for a roof of a building, the invention is not so limited. The invention also encompasses a support structure used in various applications, such as, for example, as a floor or a wall.
Additionally, though the above embodiments have been described in the context of a support structure used for a building, the invention is not so limited. The invention also encompasses support structures used in various mobile structures, such as, for example automobiles, airplanes, and spaceships. Embodiments of the invention may be used in an automobile chassis, or in an airplane cabin or wing structure, for example.
Additionally, embodiments of the invention may be used in relatively immobile structures other than buildings, including, for example, bridges, windmills, utility towers, and works of art.
Additionally, embodiments of the invention may be used in atmospheres different from those of the surface of Earth, including, for example, in subterranean structures, in stations or structures in orbit around Earth or another celestial body, and on the surface of another celestial body.
Claims
1. A support structure, comprising:
- a top truss chord extending in a first direction and including end portions, wherein the top truss chord curves downwardly;
- a bottom truss chord including end portions, wherein the end portions of the bottom truss chord are coupled to the end portions of the top truss chord, and wherein the bottom truss chord curves upwardly;
- a strut extending between and coupled to the top truss chord and the bottom truss chord; and
- a purlin extending in a second direction, wherein the purlin is coupled to an upper portion of the strut.
2. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the top truss chord comprises a pair of top truss beams spaced apart from each other, each top truss beam spanning the length of the top truss chord.
3. The support structure of claim 2, wherein the strut extends between the top truss beams and is coupled thereto.
4. The support structure of claim 1, wherein the purlin comprises a pair of purlin beams spaced apart from each other, each purlin beam spanning the length of the purlin.
5. The support structure of claim 4, wherein the strut extends between the purlin beams and is coupled thereto.
6. The support structure of claim 4, wherein the strut defines an opening therethrough, the opening being positioned between the purlin beams.
7. The support structure of claim 6, further comprising utilities extending within the purlin and through the opening.
8. The support structure of claim 4, further comprising a lighting element disposed between the purlin beams.
9. The support structure of claim 1, further comprising a support coupled to the purlin and configured to support at least a portion of at least one curved panel.
10. The support structure of claim 9, wherein the support comprises a tee support, and wherein the tee support is configured to extend between and support adjacent curved panels.
11. A purlin, comprising:
- a pair of purlin beams positioned apart from each other so as to define a space therebetween, each purlin beam spanning the length of the purlin;
- a cover plate extending between the purlin beams at a lower portion thereof; and
- utilities extending within the space, disposed above the cover plate.
12. The purlin of claim 11, further comprising a strut disposed between the purlin beams, wherein the utilities extend through an opening defined by the strut.
13. The purlin of claim 11, further comprising a lighting track coupled to the cover plate.
14. A glass roof, comprising:
- a glass roof panel extending in a longitudinal direction;
- a purlin disposed below the roof panel and extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the purlin is coupled to and supports the roof panel; and
- a truss assembly disposed below the purlin and extending in a transverse direction, wherein the truss assembly is coupled to and supports the purlin.
15. The glass roof of claim 14, wherein the roof panel is curved.
16. The glass roof of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of glass roof panels, wherein each glass roof panel is positioned adjacent at least one other glass roof panel, and wherein each glass roof panel is curved such that the plurality of glass roof panels defines a curved glass roof surface.
17. The glass roof of claim 14, wherein the purlin comprises a pair of purlin beams spaced apart from each other, each purlin beam spanning the length of the purlin.
18. The glass roof of claim 17, further comprising a strut disposed between the purlin beams and coupled thereto.
19. The glass roof of claim 18, wherein the strut defines an opening therethrough, the opening being positioned between the purlin beams and configured to receive utilities.
20. The glass roof of claim 14, further comprising a lighting element disposed between the purlin beams.
Type: Application
Filed: May 13, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2012
Applicant: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, CA)
Inventors: Karl BACKUS (Emeryville, CA), George Bradley (San Francisco, CA), Tim Eliassen (Sunapee, NH), Timothy W. Gudgel (Palo Alto, CA), Scott David Hazard (Campbell, CA), Holger Krueger (Schwabmuenchen), Marcin Marchewka (London), Michael Mulhern (Westford, MA), Patrick O'Brien (West Nyack, NY), James O'Callaghan (Winchester), Yutang Zhang (Beijing City)
Application Number: 13/107,118
International Classification: E04B 7/10 (20060101); E04B 1/32 (20060101); E04C 3/02 (20060101); E04C 3/38 (20060101); E04H 14/00 (20060101);