Steel Building and a Steel Joint for a Steel Building

Abstract

A steel building comprising a floor with a plurality of vertically positioned steel stanchions extending from the floor. The stanchions include a base end and a top end where an eave bracket is affixed to one of the stanchions opposite the base end. The eave bracket includes a beamed sleeve and a stanchion sleeve wherein the stanchion sleeve encloses the top end of the stanchion. A plurality of steel beams are included wherein the beams include an eave end and a peak end wherein the beam sleeve is affixed to and encloses the eave end of one of the beams. A plurality of steel peak brackets including first and second peak sleeves are included. Each peak sleeve is affixed to and encloses one of the peak ends of one of the beams. A roof is supported by the beams and the peak brackets while at least one wall is supported by the stanchions and the eave brackets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-Provisional Utility application which claims benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/764,058 filed Feb. 1, 2006, entitled “Steel Joint For A Steel Building”.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

All patents, patent applications, and publications described or discussed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to steel buildings and to a steel joint used in a steel building.

Buildings composed of steel are known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,472; 4,074,500; 4,603,532; 4,616,453; 4,697,397; 4,974,387; 5,012,622; 5,234,279; 5,327,695; 5,688,069; 5,827,006; 5,839,239; and 5,953,864 disclose examples of buildings composed of steel. These patents disclose various joints and support structures comprising the framework of the buildings wherein the joints and framework include steel components. These buildings lack the ability to span large distances with the need for additional vertical support internal to the building.

Several of these prior art patents disclose joints and connections in buildings that are either designed to attach to wooden support structures or be implemented into concrete support structures. These types of connections will not function properly with the use of steel supports and beams as the framework for a building. Additionally, several of these prior art patents disclose complicated configurations used as the support structure or framework for the building. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,697,397, 5,839,239, and 4,616,453 disclose intricate configurations used as support or framework for a building. These prior art systems are complicated to manufacture and assemble and result in increase cost and labor time during these processes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,387 is directed to a steel joint for roof trusses. This patent specifically discloses a light frame joint that is open on one side that facilitates welding within the joint. However, by its very nature these joints are designed to support light loads and are ill equipped for large buildings or large expansions. Additionally, the openness of the joint itself does not facilitate a proper support in all directions for the truss portions of the roof or the studs of the wall. Additionally, interaction of the truss and studs within the joint does not facilitate proper force transference within the joint. This frame structure lacks intersecting support plates within the joint that properly distribute the weight and forces associated with the building and secure the structural framework of the building together.

What is needed then is a new steel building, steel joint for a steel building and steel framework design to better facilitate the force transference within the building. The need items allow for longer expansions within the building without the need for vertical supports, including internal vertical posts and pillars. This steel joint, framework and building should preferably be easily manufactured and assembled in order to reduce costs, manufacturing time, and assembly time. This needed building, framework and associated joints are lacking in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a steel building comprising a floor with a plurality of vertically positioned steel stanchions extending from the floor. The stanchions include a base end and a top end where an eave bracket is affixed to one of the stanchions opposite the base end. The eave bracket includes a beamed sleeve and a stanchion sleeve wherein the stanchion sleeve encloses the top end of the stanchion. A plurality of steel beams are included wherein the beams include an eave end and a peak end wherein the beam sleeve is affixed to and encloses the eave end of one of the beams. A plurality of steel peak brackets including first and second peak sleeves are included. Each peak sleeve is affixed to and encloses one of the peak ends of one of the beams. A roof is supported by the beams and the peak brackets while at least one wall is supported by the stanchions and the eave brackets.

A plurality of substantially U-shaped base members extends from the floor wherein each stanchion is affixed to one of the base members. Alternately, a plurality of steel base brackets can extend from the floor wherein each base bracket includes a base sleeve affixed to and enclosing a base end of one of the stanchions.

In the eave bracket the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve are spaced apart and positioned in intersecting planes. These intersecting planes can form an obtuse angle among the beam sleeve and stanchion sleeve. Additionally the eave bracket can include a support plate positioned in a support plane such that the support plane intersects both of the intersecting planes of the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve.

The eave bracket can further include a connection section that has the eave support plate, a first side substantially planar with one of the stanchions, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of the stanchions, a third side substantially planar with one of the beams, and a fourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the beams. The eave support plate intersects the first, second, third and fourth sides at an acute angle. Additionally, the first side can intersect the third side at an angle approximately equal to or greater than 90 degrees while the second side intersects the fourth side at an angle approximately equal to or less than 90 degrees. The eave support plate can directly engage the intersection of the first and third sides and the intersection of the second and fourth sides.

The first side can intersect the second side at approximately a 90 degree angle while the third side can intersect the fourth side at approximately a 90 degree angle. The support plate can be spaced from the intersection the first and second sides and the intersection of the third and fourth sides.

The peak bracket can include a peak support plate while the peak sleeves include first and second armatures. Each first armature can be attached to the first armature of the opposing peak sleeve at an obtuse angle while each second armature can be attached to the second armature of the opposing peak sleeve at an obtuse angle. The peak support plate can space the pair of attached armatures. The peak support plate can be spaced from both peak sleeves or can directly engage both peak sleeves.

Additionally, the current disclosure includes a joint designed to connect and support columns of a building. The joint is designed to allow a building to have a local cavity within the structure and increase the distance that can be spanned between the sidewalls of the building. A version of the joint can connect a vertical support, such as a stanchion, to the base structure. The base can be a poured concrete surface, ground, an alternate steel frame, or a combination of these or similar structures.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a steel building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel framework for a building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel joint for the steel framework of a building.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a joint that encloses the ends of support structures of a building to secure those support structures and facilitate the transference of force within the building.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a steel framework that is easily manufactured and transported to the worksite.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel framework that is easily assembled at the worksite.

Numerous other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a building made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of a building made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view of an example of a column, eave bracket, and rafter made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an example of a peak bracket and rafters supporting a roof made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an example of an alternate embodiment of peak brackets enclosing the end of rafters made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a view of a U-shaped base made in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view of a U-shape bracket engaging a base column along with an eave bracket and rafter.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows an example of an interaction of a peak bracket.

FIG. 9 is a view of an alternate embodiment of base and partial eave brackets wherein the base and partial eave brackets have non-welded attachments to adjacent parts.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing embodiments of the current invention attach to adjacent portions using non-welded fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-10 a steel building is shown and generally designated by a numeral 10. The building comprises a floor 12, roof 14 and wall 16. The roof 14 and wall 16 are supported by a steel frame 18 wherein the steel frame includes stanchions 20, eave brackets 22, beams 24 and peak brackets 26. The stanchions 20, which can also be described as columns 20 include a base end 28 and a top end 30 wherein the base ends 28 are positioned near the floor 12 and the columns 20 extend from the floor 12.

The eave brackets 22 are fixed to the columns 20 opposite the base end 28 and include a beamed sleeve 32 and stanchion sleeve 34. The stanchion sleeve 34, which can also be described as a column sleeve 34, encloses the top end 30 of the column 20. The beams 24, which can also be described as rafters 24, include an eave end 36 and a peak end 38. The beam sleeve 32, which can also be described as a rafter sleeve 32, is affixed to and encloses the eave end 36 of the beam 24. The peak brackets 26 include first and second peak sleeves 40 and 42, wherein each peak sleeve 40 or 42 is affixed to and encloses the peak end 38 of one of the rafters 24. The roof 14 is correspondingly supported by the rafters 24 and the peak brackets 26 while the walls 16 are supported by the columns 20 and eave brackets 22.

The building can further include a plurality of substantially U-shaped base members 44 extending from the floor 12. Each column 20 can be affixed to one of the base members 44. The base members 44 preferably include rods 45 affixed to the bottom of the base members 44 and extending into the floor 12. The U-shaped base members 44 are preferably used in connection with a poured concrete floor.

Alternately, a plurality of steel base brackets 46 can extend from the floor 12. Each base bracket 46 can include a base sleeve 48 affixed to and enclosing the base end 28 of one of the columns 20. The base bracket 46 is preferably used in connection with a floor 12 to which the base bracket 46 can be affixed by the use of fasteners, such as bolts and the like, or welds. The base bracket 46 can include fastener openings 47 to facilitate attachment of the base bracket 46 to a floor that accepts fasteners, such as a steel framed floor.

In a preferred embodiment the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34 of each eave bracket 22 are spaced apart and positioned at intersecting planes as seen in FIGS. 1, and 7-10. These intersecting planes form obtuse angles and facilitate transfer of the load from the roof 14, rafters 24, and peak brackets 26, to the columns 20. Alternately described, the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34 can each include an axis such that the axes intersect and are positioned in a plane containing the support plate 60.

The eave bracket 22 includes a connection section 50 wherein the connection section 50 includes a first side 52, second side 54, third side 56 and fourth side 58. The first side is substantially planer with one of the columns, the second side is substantially perpendicular to that column, the third side is substantially planer with one of the rafters and the fourth side is substantially perpendicular with that rafter. An eave support plate 60 intersects both of the intersecting planes of the rafter sleeve 32 and column sleeve 34. Additionally, the support plates 60 intersects the first, second, third and fourth sides 52, 54, 56, and 58 at an acute angle, as exampled by FIG. 3.

The first side 52 intersects the second side 54 at an approximately 90 degree angle while the fourth side 68 intersects third side 56 at approximately 90 degrees angle. The first side 52 intersects the third side 56 at an angle approximately equal to or greater than 90 degrees while the fourth side 68 intersects the second side 54 at an angle approximately equal to or less than 90 degrees.

The support plate 60 can directly engage the intersection of the first and third sides 52 and 56 and the intersection of the second and fourth sides 54 and 58. The support plate can be spaced from the intersection of the first and second sides 52 and 54 and the intersection of the third and fourth sides 56 and 58, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the support plate 60 can engage the intersection of the first and second sides 52 and 54 and intersection of the third and fourth sides 56 and 58.

The peak bracket 26 further includes a peak support plate 62 used to facilitate the transfer of the load to the rafters 24. The peak sleeves 40 and 42 of the peak bracket 26 include first and second armatures 64 and 66 wherein each first armature 64 is attached to the first armature 64 of an opposing peak sleeve 40 or 42 at an obtuse angle. Each second armature 66 is attached to a second armature 66 of an opposing peak sleeve 40 or 42 at an obtuse angle. The peak support plate 62 spaces the pair of attached armatures 64 and 64 from the other pair of attached armatures 66 and 66. In a preferred embodiment the peak support plate 62 is spaced from both peak sleeves 40 and 42 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Alternately, the peak support plate 62 can directly engage both peak sleeves 40 and 42 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steel frame 18 extends from the floor 12 and supports the wall 16 and roof 14. Cross members 19 can span between rafters 32 to facilitate further support of the roof 14. In various walls 16, doors 17, windows, and other formal building orifices adaptations can be implemented into the building 10.

As exampled in FIG. 3, the columns 20 and rafters 24 can be two support structures welded together, i.e. spot welded or welded along the entire length. This weld can be substantially perpendicular to the width of the support structures that make up the columns 20 or rafters 24. Alternately this weld can be substantially perpendicular to the depth of the support structures that make up the columns 20 and rafters 24 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 7-10. The latter example of the support structures comprising the columns 20 and the rafters 24 can be described as being substantially C-shaped wherein the weld or spot weld fixes the two piece together. Each weld is preferably approximately 12 inches apart and comprises approximately 4 inches of weld along the length of the seam. Other dimensions and expansions in these welds are possible and remain within the scope of the current invention.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 the sleeves are preferably welded to the columns and rafters. Additionally the columns can be welded to a base member. These weld attachments can facilitate structural integrity in the frame and provide dispersion of the weight and load from the building.

Alternately the brackets can be fastened to adjacent structures. For example the eave bracket can include a column sleeve portion bolted to the rafter sleeve portion such that the support plate facilitates transfer of the forces from the rafter portion to the column portion. Additionally, the peak bracket can include peak sleeves bolted together at the peak support plate to facilitate load transfers.

In a preferred embodiment the sleeves are approximately 12 inches long and encompass approximately 12 inches of the ends of either the rafter or columns.

The building can be described as a clear span pre-engineered steel building or as a pre-engineered connection column and roof system and include brackets, or joints, designed to connect the support columns and roof structures of a building. This connection facilitates weight transference and allows a building to have open cavity within the footprint of the building. Other joints can connect the vertical columns to a floor through the use of base structures.

The floor is preferably poured concrete but can be other items such as the ground, an alternate steel frame, or a combination of these or similar structures known in the art.

The joints can connect the vertical columns of the building to the roof structures, which can also be described as beams or struts or trusses. The brackets near the peaks of the roof can include brace supports 68 positioned to accept braces 70 that span between the peak support plates, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, the rafters 24 can include additional brace supports 68 to accept braces 70 for additional support of the roof 14.

An advantage of the invention is that it allows open spans between the walls of the building. Alternately stated, the framework of the current invention allows a building to be built that lacks internal support extending down from the roof apart form the support columns around the perimeter of the floor. The span, or width, that can be achieved can vary greatly. The distance of a span between the walls of a building made in accordance with the current disclosure can range from approximately 15 feet to approximately 80 feet without the need for additional vertical support between those walls.

The brackets or joints of the current invention can be one or two pieces and can range in size. For example, in one embodiment, the joints can range from a size of 6 inches by 8 inches while in other embodiments the joints can range up to a size of 9 inches by 30 inches. These connections can accommodate the spans of various buildings and reinforce the structure and help distribute and disburse the load.

In various embodiments the connection pieces of the brackets establish angles that can vary. For example, the obtuse angle formed between the sleeves of the peak bracket can range from approximately 170 degrees to approximately 90 degrees to accommodate the pitch in the roof of the building being assembled as desired by the owner of the building. For example, the roof pitch can range from about a 1″ fall per foot to about a 6″ fall per foot as desired. The various portions of the brackets can be constructed of plate steel. In one embodiment the plate steel can range from approximately 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch thick, depending on the size of the connection and the desired building being built. In alternate embodiments these ranges can increase upwards of a ½ inch thick.

The brackets are designed to enable two pieces of 12-16 gauge C channel to be used as the columns and the rafters. These dual C channels are inserted into the sleeves and have enough strength and rigidity in combination with the joints to enable construction of approximately 15-80 feet internal span of the building from wall to wall without the use or need for cable bracing or additional vertical supports as used in conventional steel buildings. Additionally this design of the column and rafter system in combination with the joints is approximately 33% lighter than conventional steel buildings. This allows a more cost effective product and eases the manufacturing and assembly process.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Steel Building and a Steel Joint for a Steel Building, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A steel building comprising:

a floor;

a plurality of vertically positioned steel stanchions, the stanchions including a base end and a top end, the stanchion extending from the floor;

a plurality of steel eave brackets, each eave bracket fixed to one of the stanchions opposite the base end and including a beam sleeve and a stanchion sleeve, the stanchion sleeve enclosing the top end of the stanchion;

a plurality of steel beams, the beams including an eave end and a peek end, the beam sleeve fixed to and enclosing the eave end of one of the beams;

a plurality of steel peek brackets, the peek brackets including first and second peek sleeves, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosing the peek end of one of the beams;

a roof supported by the beams and the peek brackets; and

at least one wall supported by the stanchions and the eave brackets.

2. The building of claim 1, wherein the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve of each eave bracket spaced apart and positioned in intersecting planes.

3. The building of claim 2, wherein the intersecting planes form an obtuse angle.

4. The building of claim 2, wherein the eave bracket includes a support plate positioned in a support plane intersecting both of the intersecting planes of the beam sleeve and the stanchion sleeve.

5. The building of claim 1, wherein the eave bracket includes a connection section including a first side substantially planer with one of the stanchions, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of the stanchions, a third side substantially planer with one of the beams, a fourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the beams, and an eave support plate intersecting the of the first, second, third and fourth sides at an acute angle.

6. The building of claim 5, wherein the first side intersects the third side at an angle greater than ninety degrees, the second side intersects the fourth side at an angle less than 90 degrees, and the eave support plate directly engages the intersection of the first and third sides and the intersection of the second and fourth sides.

7. The building of claim 5, wherein the first side intersects the second side at approximately a ninety degree angle, the third side intersects the fourth side at approximately a ninety degree angle, and the eave support plate is space from the intersection of the first and second sides and the intersection of the third and fourth sides.

8. The building of claim 1, the peek bracket further including a peek support plate, wherein the peek sleeves of the peek bracket include a first armature and a second armature, each first armature being attached to the first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle and each second armature being attached to the second armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peek support plate spacing the pair of the attached armatures.

9. The building of claim 8, wherein the peek support plate is spaced from both peek sleeves in the peek brackets.

10. The building of claim 8, wherein the peek support plate directly engages both peek sleeves in the peek brackets.

11. The building of claim 1, further including a plurality of substantially U-shaped base member extending from the floor, wherein each stanchion is fixed to one of the base members.

12. The building of claim 1, further including a plurality of steel base brackets extending from the floor, each base bracket including a base sleeve fixed to and enclosing the base end of one of the stanchions.

13. The building of claim 1, wherein each eave bracket is welded to one of the stanchions and one of the beams and each peek bracket is welded to at least two of the beams.

14. A steel building comprising:

a plurality of vertically positioned steel columns, the columns including a base end and a top end;

a steel eave bracket fixed to one of the columns opposite the base end, the eave bracket including a rafter sleeve and a column sleeve, the column sleeve enclosing the top end of the column;

a plurality of steel rafters, the rafters including an eave end and a peek end, the rafter sleeve fixed to and enclosing the eave end of one of the rafters;

a plurality of steel peek brackets, the peek brackets including first and second peek sleeves, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosing the peek end of one of the rafters; and

a plurality of steel base brackets, each base bracket including a base sleeve fixed to and enclosing the base end of one of the columns.

15. The building of claim 14, wherein each eave bracket is externally welded to one of the columns and one of the rafters, each peek bracket is externally welded to at least two of the rafters and each base bracket is externally welded to one of the columns.

16. The building of claim 14, wherein the eave bracket includes:

a connection section including a first side substantially planer with one of the columns, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of the columns, a third side substantially planer with one of the rafters, a fourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the rafters;

an eave support plate intersecting the of the first, second, third and fourth sides at an acute angle; and

wherein the first side intersects the second side at approximately a ninety degree angle and the fourth side intersects the third side at approximately a ninety degree angle.

17. The building of claim 16, wherein the eave support plate directly engages the intersection of the first and third sides and the intersection of the second and fourth sides.

18. The building of claim 16, wherein the eave support plate is space from the intersection of the first and second sides and the intersection of the third and fourth sides.

19. The building of claim 14, the peek bracket further including a peek support plate, wherein the peek sleeves of the peek bracket include a first armature and a second armature, each first armature being attached to the first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle and each second armature being attached to the second armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peek support plate spacing the pair of the attached armatures.

20. A steel building comprising:

a floor;

a plurality of vertically positioned steel columns, each column extending from the floor and including a base end and a top end;

a plurality of steel eave brackets, each eave bracket fixed to one of the columns opposite the base end and including a rafter sleeve and a column sleeve, the column sleeve enclosing the top end of the column, each eave bracket including: a connection section including a first side substantially planer with one of the columns, a second side substantially perpendicular to one of the columns, a third side substantially planer with one of the rafters, and a fourth side substantially perpendicular to one of the rafters, the connection section separating the column sleeve from the rafter sleeve; an eave support plate intersecting the of the first, second, third and fourth sides at an acute angle; and wherein the first side intersects the third side at an obtuse angle, the second side intersects the fourth side at an acute angle, and the eave support plate directly engages the intersection of the first and third sides and the intersection of the second and fourth sides;

a plurality of steel rafters, each rafter including an eave end and a peek end, the rafter sleeve fixed to and enclosing the eave end of one of the rafters;

a plurality of steel peek brackets, each peek bracket including a first sleeve, a second peek sleeve and a peek support plate, each peek sleeve fixed to and enclosing the peek end of one of the rafters, each peek sleeve including a first armature and a second armature, each first armature being attached to the first armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle and each second armature being attached to the second armature of the opposing peek sleeve at an obtuse angle, the peek support plate spacing the pair of the attached armatures;

a plurality of steel base brackets extending from the floor, each base bracket including a base sleeve fixed to and enclosing the base end of one of the columns;

a roof supported by the rafters and the peek brackets; and

at least one wall supported by the columns and the eave brackets.