CONSTRUCTION INSERT
A construction insert configured for use within an elevator hoistway is provided. The construction insert includes a channel having a front face and a back face opposing the front face. The channel is configured to define an internal passage within the channel. A plurality of brackets is attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway. Each of the brackets is planar in shape.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/223,092, filed Jul. 6, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to the construction of structures, such as for example, commercial buildings. More specifically, this invention relates to construction devices that can be used for construction within an elevator hoistway.
Structures, such as commercial buildings, can be built using a variety of construction devices and methods. One example of a construction device is a construction insert. A construction insert can be used within an elevator hoistway and is attached to a hoistway structure, such as for example, a wall or a beam. After installation, subsequent devices, such as for example, wiring conduit, can be attached to the construction insert.
The design and configuration of construction inserts can vary according to the structure to which it is being attached. For example, a construction insert configured for attachment to a poured concrete hoistway wall can have a different design and configuration than a construction insert configured for attachment to a steel hoistway beam.
Additionally, construction inserts can include a channel, which is designed to trap a threaded nut. The subsequent devices attached to the construction insert are held by a bolt threaded into the trapped nut. The length of the bolt used depends on the device being attached to the construction insert. Accordingly, construction inserts require that the length of the bolt is carefully sized to provide a secure attachment of the subsequent devices to the construction insert.
It would be advantageous to provide a construction insert to accommodate the varying structures forming an elevator hoistway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above objects, as well as other objects not specifically enumerated, are achieved by a construction insert configured for use within an elevator hoistway. The construction insert includes a channel having a front face and a back face opposing the front face. The channel is configured to define an internal passage within the channel. A plurality of brackets is attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway. Each of the brackets is planar in shape.
According to this invention there is also provided a construction insert configured for use within an elevator hoistway. The construction insert includes a channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end. The channel has a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel. A plurality of brackets is attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets is configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway. The internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of a bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel. Each of the brackets is planar in shape.
According to this invention there is also provided a construction insert in combination with a bolt, the combination configured for use within an elevator hoistway. The combination of the construction insert and the bolt includes a channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end. The channel has a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel. A plurality of brackets is attached to the back face of the channel. Each of the brackets is configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway. The internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of the bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel. Each of the brackets is planar in shape.
According to this invention there is also provided a method of securing an object within an elevator hoistway. The method includes the steps of providing a construction insert, the construction insert including a channel and a plurality of brackets, the channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end, the channel having a top face, a bottom face, a front face and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel, each of the brackets attached to the back face of the channel, wherein the internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of a bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel, and wherein the brackets are planar in shape, attaching each of the brackets of the construction insert to a structure within the elevator hoistway such that the front face of the construction insert is facing away from the structure, inserting a head of the bolt into the internal passage of the construction insert such that the bolt extends through the slot; and fastening the object to the bolt.
Various objects and advantages of the construction insert will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of dimensions such as length, width, height, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
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The construction insert 10 includes a channel 12 and spaced apart brackets 14 and 16. The channel 12 includes a front face 18, a back face 20, a top face 22, a bottom face 24, a first end 26 and a second end 28. The front face 18 includes a slot 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the slot 30 extends continuously from the first end 26 to the second end 28 of the channel 12. In other embodiments, the slot 30 can include discontinuous segments extending from the first end 26 to the second end 28. The front face 18, back face 20, top face 22 and bottom face 24 form an internal passage 32.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the second apertures 42 are spaced apart along the respective perimeters of the brackets 14 and 16 and are configured for passage of respective attachment devices, such as for example, nails. In other embodiments, the second apertures 42 can be spaced apart in any desired pattern. Any desired quantity of second apertures 42 can be used.
Referring now to
In operation, a user inserts the head 52 of a bolt 50 into the passage 32 of the construction insert 10 and fastens an object to the bolt by attaching a nut (not shown) to the bolt 50. By trapping the head 52 of the bolt 50 within the passage 32, the construction insert 10 advantageously allows a user to install a bolt 50 having any desired approximate bolt length, without the requirement that the length of the bolt 50 be carefully sized.
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As discussed above, the construction insert 10 is advantageously configured for installation in elevator hoistways that are constructed of a variety of materials without changing the configuration of the construction insert 10.
The principle and mode of operation of the construction insert has been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the construction insert may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.
Claims
1. A construction insert configured for use within an elevator hoistway, the construction insert comprising:
- a channel having a front face and a back face opposing the front face, the channel configured to define an internal passage within the channel; and
- a plurality of brackets attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway;
- wherein each of the brackets is planar in shape.
2. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a slot extending continuously from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel.
3. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein the internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive the head of a bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel.
4. The construction insert of claim 2, wherein the slot is positioned on the front face of the channel.
5. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein the internal passage has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
6. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein each of the brackets includes a first aperture configured for insertion of a support rod.
7. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein each of the brackets includes a plurality of second apertures configured for passage of a fastener.
8. The construction insert of claim 1, wherein each of the brackets extend in a generally perpendicular direction from the back face of the channel.
9. A construction insert configured for use within an elevator hoistway, the construction insert comprising:
- a channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end, the channel having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel; and
- a plurality of brackets attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets is configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway;
- wherein the internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of a bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel;
- wherein each of the brackets is planar in shape.
10. The construction insert of claim 9, wherein the slot is positioned on the front face of the channel.
11. The construction insert of claim 9, wherein the internal passage has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
12. The construction insert of claim 9, wherein each of the brackets includes a first aperture configured for insertion of a support rod.
13. The construction insert of claim 9, wherein each of the brackets includes a plurality of second apertures configured for passage of a fastener.
14. The construction insert of claim 9, wherein each of the brackets extend in a generally perpendicular direction from the back face of the channel.
15. A construction insert in combination with a bolt, the combination configured for use within an elevator hoistway, the combination of the construction insert and the bolt comprising:
- a channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end, the channel having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel; and
- a plurality of brackets attached to the back face of the channel, each of the brackets is configured for attachment to a structure within the elevator hoistway;
- wherein the internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of the bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel;
- wherein each of the brackets is planar in shape.
16. The construction insert of claim 15, wherein the slot is configured for slidable movement of the bolt from the first end of the channel to the second end of the channel.
17. A method of securing an object within an elevator hoistway, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a construction insert, the construction insert including a channel and a plurality of brackets, the channel having a slot extending continuously from a first end to a second end, the channel having a top face, a bottom face, a front face and a back face configured to define an internal passage within the channel, each of the brackets attached to the back face of the channel, wherein the internal passage formed within the channel is adapted to receive a head of a bolt, thereby constraining rotational movement of the bolt relative to the channel, and wherein the brackets are planar in shape;
- attaching each of the brackets of the construction insert to a structure within the elevator hoistway such that the front face of the construction insert is facing away from the structure;
- inserting a head of the bolt into the internal passage of the construction insert such that the bolt extends through the slot; and
- fastening the object to the bolt.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the structure is a poured concrete wall.
19. The method of claim 18, including the step of inserting a support rod through a first aperture in each of the brackets.
20. The method of claim 19, including the step of forming a poured concrete wall around the support rod.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2011
Inventors: Steven P. Wurth (Sylvania, OH), Terry Rodebaugh (Whitehouse, OH)
Application Number: 12/826,782
International Classification: E04C 2/52 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101);