US1574329A - Cross bracing for structural members - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23 1926.

' W. E. WHITE cnoss BRACING FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Jan. 21, 1925 Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CROSS BRACING FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.

Application filed January 21, 1925. Serial No. 3,863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, and resident 0 hicago, in the county of Cook and State of llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Cross Bracing for Structural Members, of which the folplaced back to back and united through their webs by welding. .These so-formed elements are commonly employed in floors and of necessity means must be provided for spacing the same in anticipation of the application of permanent floor and ceiling elements. Inasmuch as the spacing devices perform only a temporary function, that of SPHC'. ing-or in effect limiting the spacing of the structural elements, they are commonly constructed of light weight. and should be inexpensive. However, one of the principal items of cost in connection with the placing of these structural elements is that of laborincident to their accurate location in proper spaced relation according to the specifications. Heretofore this has been accomplished by measuring and marking out the location, then applying a strap or wire, one end of which is passed underneath and bent around the lower flange of one structural element, while the opposite end is passed under and bent over the flange of an adj acent element. In this system the accuracy depends upon the workmen and furthermore considerable time is required for the proper positioning of the spacing device, particularly in v1ew of the fact that it must be placed underneath one of the structural ele ments.

One of the objects of my invention" is to provide spacing means of predetermined length b a the use of which all measuring and mar ing is eliminated with the resultthat the work of installation may be performed by unskilled labor with the certainty of accurate location of the beams.

A. further object is the-provision of adevice of the character described so arranged that an outside lower flange of a structural element 1s engaged, thus avoldmg the necessity for passmg the spacing devlce und erneath the beam. The opposite end is preferably arranged to be distorted to engage the upper inside flange. Inasmuch as the distortion is accomplished by a hammer blow, the time required is very short.

The invention will be more readily understood .by reference to. the accompanying drawing, wherein- I Figure -1 is an end elevation of a plurality of so-called metal lumber elements showmg my improved spacing devices appliedthereto; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of. one of the spacing devices as applied;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower hook element which I employ; and

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, showing the application of the hook to a structural "element having a short flange. In-the drawings, it will be seen that the improvement is .applied to structural eleinents consisting of channel shaped pressed steel members placed back to back,'and in their final form consisting of an I-beam having a web, 10, flanges 11 and marginal flanges, 12. These structural elements are intended to be located in suitable spaced relation in order to support a floor. I-beams commonly vary-in height from eight to twelve inches and the marginal flanges, 12, vary in height from one-half to threequarters of an inch. The spacing device of my invention is intended to accommodate itself to variations in the flange width, a predetermined length of spacer being employed in order to secure the requisite lateral spacing of the structural elements.

These metal and consisting of a shank 15, a tongue,

16, and a pair of arms, 17, bent into a right angle and underlyingthe tongue 16. Looking at'the device fromits side a triangular space is thus formed which is adapted to receive the marginal flange 12, of a structural element. The arms 17, fit around the angle of the flange 12, while the tongue 16 overlies the edge of the flange. A diagonally upward pull is resisted by the tongue 16. The hook 1s engaged with the flange by osc1llat ing the hook member into position. The top edge of the marginal'flange enters the space between the terminal points of the tongue and the arms and the hookis then rotated into the osition shown in Figure 2.-

On the opposite end of the spacing element 13, I provide a hook of somewhat different construction, this being likewise secured to the spacer by a single r1vet 18. The

. upper hook is also constructed of-relatively or metal and comprises a shank 19, a tongue 20, and a pair of arms 21, formed to extend in a straight line parallel to the .tongue. After being located in the dotted line position of Figure 2, a hammer blow on I each of t e arms serves to bend the same to final position, the downwardly bent portions 22, lying against the structural member. Thus it will be seen that the hooks are securely interlocked with respective mar-.

themselves to variations in width of the marginal flange. This is illustrated in Figure 5 so .far as the lower hook element is concerned, the shortest flange being 1llus-' trated. Of course'the width of the upper flange is immater'i al as the hook element will cooperate therewith under all circumstances,

the only difference being in the length of the part 22, which is bent over theangle of the flange.

The construction is capableof wide variation in material-and construction. Wire elements may be employed and chan es in theshape of the hookelements be ma c, all

without departure from the-spirit of my inv vention.

, ingja fixed s ing;

Iclaim: I 1. Means for bracing and for establlshmg a, fixed spacing of metal lumber elements comprising a relatively flexible straight length of metal, means on one endot said length of metal for interlocking with a flan ofsaidlum-ber bya relative rotation of t c said means and said lumber, and means on the op ite end. for effecting hook enga ement wit a flange on an adjacent met lumber element.

2. Meansfor brac' g-and for establishcompnsing a r 'vel'y flexible straight length of metal, means at fione end thereof for interlocking with a marginal flange of spacin etal lumber elements.

p redetermin of said length of metal for interlocking with a flange on the opposite side of an adjacent lumber element.

3. Means for bracing and for limiting the lateral spacing of structural elements for floors comprising a spacing element of predetermined length, means on one end thereof for interlocking with a bottom flange of a structural element by an oscillating movement of said means, and means on the opposite end ada 'ted to be distorted to firmly engage a top' ange of anadjacent structural element.

4. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacing. of structural elements, comprising a spacing member of predetermined length and hook elements on the res ective ends 0 said member, one of said hoo elements being adapted to interlock with a flange by oscillating saidhook element, and theother with a flange of an ad acent structural element by distortion of said hook element.

5. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacing of structural elements, comprising a flexible'spacer of predetermined length, and interlocking devices of relatively stifl'er metal connected to the ends of said spacer, said interlocking devices being shaped to interlock with the flanges of ad acent structural elements. Y

6. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacingof structural elements, com rising a' relatively flexible spacer, and re atjvely stiffer metal interlocking devices secured to hook element being adapted to be interlocked the respective ends of the spacer, one of said interlocking devices being of fixed form and the other of said devices bein .adapted to be distorted to effect interloc in engagement with a flange of a structura element.

7. Means for establishing a fixed lateral of structural elements, comprisin a relatively flexible spacer of predetermined length, and hooks on the respective ends'of the spacer, one. of said hooks being shaped to engage and interlock with a bottom flan c of a structural element and the op osi e hook being constructed to be distorte into hook engagement with the top flange of an adjacent structural element.

8. Means for spacing and bracing beams comprising, incombination, a flexible strip .of predetermined length and adapted to function only when under tension,. and means on the respective ends of-the s a er for interlocking with the flanges o beams, the interlockihg themeans at one end bein adapted to be distorted to effect. final.

hol in engagement; 9. cans of the class described comprising, in combination, adjacent flanged beams and relativel flexible straight spacers of ed length adapted to function only under tension, one end of the spacer said lumber, and means ohthe opposite-end having hook engagementwith a flange on the upper portion of a beam, and the other end of the spacer having hook engagement with a lower flange on the adjacent beam.

10. In means of the class described, the combination with a pair of parallel beams and spacing and bracing devices associated therewith, said devices comprising a spacer of predetermined length having. a hook at one end adapted to engage with a depending flange by a relative rotation and PI 'OVIdQd 10 Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day 15 01 January, 1925.

WILLIAM WHITE.

Images