WALL WITH OPENING AND HEADER ARRANGEMENT THEREFORE
In combination with a wall having an opening between opposite wall portions, a header arrangement has an elongated, lower, and substantially horizontal flange with a downwardly open U-shape for embracing the wall portions along at least part of the length of the lower flange, an elongated, and substantially vertical web connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, and substantially horizontal flange connected along an upper edge of the vertical web and also having a U-shape. Web stiffeners and end stiffeners are engaged to the flanges and web to brace the header arrangement against static and dynamic loads.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/509,217 filed Aug. 24, 2006, which is now U.S. patent ______, and which is incorporated here by reference.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates in general to the field of building components and construction, and in particular to a new and useful header arrangement for use in metal and non-metal buildings.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/801,068 filed Mar. 15, 2004 is incorporated here by reference, and discloses the inventor's previous invention of a Metal Building Construction. This prior patent application, among other times, discloses metal building panels that advantageously interlock at Z-shaped structures provided at the opposite vertical edges of each panel.
Virtually all buildings include openings through their walls in the form of windows, doors and other needed openings of various heights and widths.
Since these openings necessarily weaken the static or vertical load bearing capacity of the wall, at least in the area of the opening, measures must be taken to increase the strength of the wall above each opening. The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/801,068, solves this problem by connecting shorter metal panels that are of similar construction to the longer wall panels, in a side-by-side arrangement in order to span the to of each opening. For windows, a similar combination of shorter panels is also provided below each window.
In more conventional wooden stud wall and other building constructions, this problem is solved using headers in the form of strong, wide and heavy wooden beams that span the top of each opening and provide the needed load support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,602 for a Structural Panel for Pre-fabricated Buildings, discloses a structural member having an elongated panels with generally Z-shaped portions that nest with each other. Flanges of the nested panels cooperate to form a receptacle for a stud or joist to form a wall, floor or ceiling combination, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,136 for a Prefabricated Structure Panel discloses a structural member having elongated panels with Z-shaped, nested portions and reinforcing members at the top and bottom of plural nested panels, along with top and bottom plates.
A need remains for a header arrangement that is light in weight and strong in construction, and particularly although not exclusively, suited for metal building construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a header made of sheet metal that is light yet strong in the vertical direction for supporting static or vertical load, e.g. the load of the roof or floors of a building above the header, and which is strong in the horizontal direction to resist dynamic or horizontal load, e.g. wind load, as well as resisting twisting loads.
Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide a header arrangement comprising: an elongated, lower, and substantially horizontal flange having a downwardly open U-shape for embracing a wall structured along at least part of the length of the lower flange; an elongated, substantially vertical web connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange; and an elongated, upper, and substantially horizontal flange connected along an upper edge of the vertical web and also having a U-shape.
According to another object of the invention, the header arrangement has lower and upper flanges and a vertical web formed of a pair of mirror members which each have part of each flange and a vertical web panel, the vertical web panels being coextensive with respect to each other and being connected to each other to form the vertical web.
The lower and upper flanges and the vertical web are preferably made of sheet metal and the U-shape of the upper flange is preferably downwardly open.
The lower and upper flanges and the vertical web together form a polygonal pocket on at least one side of the vertical web, and the arrangement may include one or preferably multiple web stiffeners connected to at least one of the flanges and extending into the pocket for bracing the flanges and the vertical web.
Another object of the invention is to provide the header arrangement with additional metal components to facilitating assembly of the header arrangement into the remainder of a metal building construction.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
In the drawings:
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements,
The header arrangement also includes an elongated, substantially vertical web 14 connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange 12. An elongated, upper, and substantially horizontal flange 16 is connected along an upper edge of the vertical web 14 and has a U-shape as well. The lower and upper flanges 12, 16, each having outer elongated edges with a downwardly extending flange plates 12a and 16a best shown in
The lower and upper flanges 12, 16, and the vertical web 14 are formed of a pair of mirror image members which each have part of each flange and a vertical web panel that are back-to-back and spot welded or otherwise fastened to each other as shown in
The arrangement includes a plurality of web stiffeners 20 each connected to at least one of the flange plates 12a and/or 16a, but preferably to both, and each extending into at least one of the pockets for bracing the flanges and the vertical web. Each stiffener comprising an outer plate 22 that is vertically long enough to span the distance between the flange plates 12a and 16a of the upper and lower flanges 12 and 16 as best shown in
As shown in
Stiffeners are spaced along the header arrangement, e.g. every 2 feet or as needed depending on the static and dynamic loads contemplated for the building, and may be staggered or aligned with respect to each other on opposite side of the vertical web 14.
The header arrangement of the invention is adapted to extend over any opening in the wall of a building, such as a door or, as shown in
In the case of the wall in
The window or door opening 40 may be any width that is sufficiently less than 8 feet so that at least some part of the header beam extends over the opposite wall panels, e.g. by at least 6 inches.
The beam thus extends over part or all of each of the wall panels 42 and 44, and the panels are each closely embraced over their top ends by the downwardly U-shaped lower flange 12. The lower border of window 40 formed by the top ends of the short panel or panel assembly 46, is also covered and closely embraced by a downwardly U-shaped sill track 28 for engagement over the lower wall forming the lower end of the window. Sill track 28 is fastened in place by screws or other suitable fasteners.
To further integrate the header beam into the wall, and especially to resist any side loads on the header such as those caused by wind or any unevenness in the vertical load that may tend to twist the header beam out of its required vertical orientation, the arrangement includes at least one, but preferably two opposite and substantially U-shaped end stiffeners 50 connected to each opposite end of the header beam as shown in
Referring to
The wall plate 54 includes a Z-shaped portion 56 such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/801,068. Each end stiffener 50 is vertically long enough to fully cover the end of the header beam and also to extend downwardly over (as shown) or under (i.e. inside wall panel 42 as not shown but as still possible), the wall panel that is itself under that end of the beam, e.g. panel 42 in
The end stiffeners 50, which are advantageously 1 to 3 feet long (preferably about 2 feet long) and wide enough to embrace the end of the header beam, and, in conjunction with the web stiffeners for the header beams of over about 2 feet long, have been found by actual testing to be extremely strong against both vertical and transverse or side loads, and are well suited for building construction since they exceed all code requirements.
The same end stiffener 50 is used at both ends of the header beam as shown in
To further strengthen the wall as shown in
One or both vertical side borders of the window 40 are also reenforced by vertical, U-shaped jack studs 70 that are fastened, e.g. by screws, to the side portions of the wall panels 42 or 44 that form that border of the window as shown, for example, in
An L-shaped cover plate 80 is also fastened, e.g. by screws, over one or both sides of the header beam to close the outer, otherwise open pocket at one or both sides of the header beam.
An upwardly open, U-shaped floor track 90 is also provided at the bottom of the wall (see
All parts of the header arrangement of the invention are preferably made of galvanized or otherwise corrosion resistant sheet metal of appropriate gauge, e.g. 24 to 16 gauge, preferably 22 to 18 gauge and still more preferably 22 or 20 or 18 gauge steel, as needed for a particular building. Each piece can be cut to shape and bent into the form called for by this disclosure.
Although the header arrangement of the present invention is best suited to metal building construction using panels, it can equally be used for conventional metal or even wood stud construction.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Claims
1. In combination with a wall having an opening (40) and a pair of wall portions (42) on opposite sides of the opening, a header arrangement comprising:
- a pair of connected together, mirror image members each having an elongated, lower, substantially horizontal flange (12), an elongated, substantially vertical web (14) connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, substantially horizontal flange (16) connected along an upper edge of the vertical web;
- the lower and upper flanges of each member having outer elongated edges with a downwardly extending flange plate (12a, 16a), the flanges, plates and vertical webs of each member together forming a polygonal pockets (18) on one side of each vertical web;
- the vertical webs (14) of the members being co-extensive and being fixed to each other so that the flanges (12, 16) and pockets (18) are on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the lower flanges (12) of the members together defining a downwardly open U-shape for embracing an upper end of the wall portions (42) on opposite side of the opening (40) along at least part of a length of the lower flanges with a remainder of each lower flange (12) spanning over the opening (40); and
- a plurality of web stiffeners (20) in the pockets (18), each stiffener having an outer plate (22) connected to the flange plates (12a, 16a) of the upper and the lower flanges (12, 16), each stiffener (20) having a pair of pocket plates (24) connected on opposite sides of the outer plate (22) and extending in a pocket (18) and in close proximity to, or in contact with surfaces of the flanges and the vertical web in the pocket for bracing the flanges and the webs of each member;
- each outer plate (22) being vertically long enough to span a distance between the flange plates of the upper and lower flanges, and to engage under and be connect to the flange plate (16a) of the upper flange, and to engage over and be connected to the flange plate (12a) of the lower flange.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web are made of sheet metal, the webs (14) of the members being connected to each other by spot welding, and the outer plate (22) of the stiffeners (20) being connected to the flange plates (12a, 16a) by screws (30).
3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of each member together form a rectangular pocket, the pocket plate (24) of each stiffener (20) being rectangular to closely engage surfaces of the flanges and web in each pocket.
4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener (50) connected to one end of the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets, the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails (52) and a wall plate (54) connected between the vertical rails.
5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including an L-shaped cover plate (80) connected to at least one of the upper and lower flanges for covering at least part of one of the pockets.
6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the header arrangement extends over a window forming the opening (40) and includes a downwardly U-shaped sill track (28) for engagement over a lower wall portion (46) forming a lower end of the window, between the opposite wall portions (42).
7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web together form a header beam, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener (50) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets (18), the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails and a wall plate connected between the vertical rails, the header arrangement further including a U-shaped jack panel (70) under the header arrangement and extending along one side of a window forming the opening (40), the jack panel having a lower end and the header arrangement including a gusset plate connected to the lower end of the jack panel for reenforcing the jack panel.
8. The combination of claim 1, including U-shaped floor track (90) connected under the wall portions (42) and having opposite side plates (92) with spaced slots (94) in at least one of side plates for drainage in case water is trapped or condenses inside the wall portions.
9. In combination with a wall having an opening (40) and a pair of wall portions (42) on opposite sides of the opening, a header arrangement comprising:
- a pair of connected together, mirror image members each having an elongated, lower, substantially horizontal flange (12), an elongated, substantially vertical web (14) connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, substantially horizontal flange (16) connected along an upper edge of the vertical web;
- the lower and upper flanges of each member having outer elongated edges with a downwardly extending flange plate (12a, 16a), the flanges, plates and vertical webs of each member together forming a polygonal pockets (18) on one side of each vertical web;
- the vertical webs (14) of the members being co-extensive and being fixed to each other so that the flanges (12, 16) and pockets (18) are on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the lower flanges (12) of the members together defining a downwardly open U-shape for embracing an upper end of the wall portions (42) on opposite side of the opening (40) along at least part of a length of the lower flanges with a remainder of each lower flange (12) spanning over the opening (40);
- a plurality of web stiffeners (20) in the pockets (18), each stiffener having an outer plate (22) connected to the flange plates (12a, 16a) of the upper and the lower flanges (12, 16) of pockets (18), each stiffener (20) having a pair of pocket plates (24) connected on opposite sides of the outer plate (22) and extending in a pocket (18) and in close proximity to, or in contact with surfaces of the flanges and the vertical web in the pocket for bracing the flanges and the webs of each member;
- each outer plate (22) being vertically long enough to span a distance between the flange plates of the upper and lower flanges, and to engage under and be connect to the flange plate (16a) of the upper flange, and to engage over and be connected to the flange plate (12a) of the lower flange;
- the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs; and
- at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener (50) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets, the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails (52) and a wall plate (54) connected between the vertical rails;
- the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web are made of sheet metal, the webs (14) of the members being connected to each other by spot welding or screws, and the outer plate (22) of the stiffeners (20) being connected to the flange plates (12a, 16a) by screws (30).
10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of each member together form a rectangular pocket, the pocket plate (24) of each stiffener (20) being rectangular to closely engage surfaces of the flanges and web in each pocket.
11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including an L-shaped cover plate (80) connected to at least one of the upper and lower flanges for covering at least part of one of the pockets.
12. The combination of claim 9, wherein the header arrangement is adapted to extend over a window forming the opening (40) and including a downwardly U-shaped sill track (28) for engagement over a lower wall portion (46) forming a lower end of the window, between the opposite wall portions (42).
13. The combination of claim 9, wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web together form a header beam, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener (50) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets (18), the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails and a wall plate connected between the vertical rails, the header arrangement further including a U-shaped jack panel (70) under the header arrangement and extending along one side of a window forming the opening (40), the jack panel having a lower end and the header arrangement including a gusset plate connected to the lower end of the jack panel for reenforcing the jack panel.
14. The combination of claim 9, including U-shaped floor track (90) connected under the wall portions (42) and having opposite side plates (92) with spaced slots (94) in at least one of side plates for drainage in case water is trapped or condenses inside the wall portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 3, 2008
Inventor: Raymond C. Frobosilo (Astoria, NY)
Application Number: 12/048,058
International Classification: E04C 3/06 (20060101); E04B 1/24 (20060101);