US3487597A

US3487597A - Integral precast concrete lintelbalcony combination

Info

Publication number: US3487597A
Application number: US812685A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tadius J Gutt
Original assignee: Cleveland Builders Supply Co
Current assignee: Cleveland Builders Supply Co
Priority date: 1969-04-02
Filing date: 1969-04-02
Publication date: 1970-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-06

Description

Jan. 6, 1970 T. J. GUTT 3,487,597

INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LINTEL-BALCONY COMBINATION Filed April 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR. TADIUS J.GUTT

ATTORNEYS.

T. J. GUTT Jan. 6, 1970 INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LINTEL BALCONY COMBINATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1969 INVENTOR. TADIUS J. GUTT ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 6, 1970 J, -r 3,487,597

INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LINTEL-BALCONY COMBINATION Filed April 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I f f TADIUS J.GUTT

ATTORNEYS.

T. J. GUTT Jan. 6, 1970 INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LlNTEL-BALCONY COMBINATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2, 1969 INVEN'fOR. TADIUS J. GUTT ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,487,597 INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LINTEL- BALCONY COMBINATION Tadius J. Gutt, Independence, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Builders Supply Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 2, 1969, Ser. No. 812,685 Int. Cl. E04b 1/34; E04f /00 US. CI. 52-73 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An integral, precast, concrete, combination lintel-balcony construction unit is disclosed as having, when positioned in a building structure, a generally horizontally extending deck portion, and an integrally cast lintel to provide the horizontal supporting member for the access portal to the balcony as well as an opening immediately below. Cast wtihin the deck portion are metallic reinforcing members which are partially exposed in proximity to the lintel to provide connecting means which may be secured to a plurality of spaced attaching members positioned at the outer surface of the deck slabs forming the floors of the building. In addition, the deck slabs may also rest in a load-bearing relationship on another of the surfaces of the lintel portion of the unit. The details relating to the various internal reinforcing structures are also disclosed.

The method of erecting a building structure having a balcony and access thereto includes the procedural combination of steps of constructing a pair of wall-like structures to define an access opening having a predetermined span, positioning a construction unit according to the invention so that the lintel spans the access opening and the deck portion extends generally horizontally therefrom, positioning an integral precast slab portion forming the floor of the building structures so that a surface of the floor is in a load-bearing relationship with a surface of the lintel of the lintel-balcony construction unit and securing the floor slab to the deck slab to provide a stable, yet eflicient and easy-to-construct building unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention realtes to a method of building and a construction unit for a building structure. More particularly, this invention relates to an integral, precast, reinforced concrete, lintel-balcony construction unit. In addition, this invention relates tothe method of erecting a building structure utilizing the apparatus according to the invention.

PRIOR ART With the advent of new and improved multi-story buildings, particularly of the high-rise type of construction, it has become desirable to provide a tenant with access to the outdoors at his apartment level. One of the most convenient methods of achieving this aim has been to provide the building with a balcony arrangement and an access thereto for each of the apartment units in the building.

It has also long been a problem in a construction of multi-story buildings to minimize the cost and increase the speed of construction, while yet providing an esthetically pleasing appearance to the building. In addition, it is always a desire to reduce construction costs so that the economic attraction of the building construction to prospective tenants is enhanced.

Thus, it has long been a ploblem in the art of constructing these types of buildings to provide a generally horizontally-extending balcony-like deck slab which, in some reasonable manner, relates to the building construc- "ice tion as a whole. In a typical prior art construction, a pair of wall-like structures is provided which provide an access to the balcony on a given floor. Since such balcony constructions generally utilize a plurality of balconies in a tiered relationship, it becomes necessary to find a stable and yet economically resonable building construction to provide the lintel for the access opening for the floor below while yet providing sufiicient support for the horizontally extending floor slab of the next uppermost adjacent floor. Because these balconies are generally in vertical alignment in the building, the structural integrity of the building may easily be threatened.

Furthermore, one of the serious problems confronting the builder or architect in providing for such a building construction is in recognizing the need for overcoming the rotational moments about the pivot point of the balcony due to the cantilevered construction of the balcony structure.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a precast, reinforced concrete, integral lintel-balcony construction unit for use in buildings having a series of balconies positioned one above the other.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a construction unit having a deck portion to serve as a balcony and a lintel portion to provide the lintel structure for the access to the balcony on the floor below.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reinforced concrete, precast, integral lintel-balcony construction unit wherein a lintel portion is structured to receive a portion of a deck slab in a load-bearing relationship therewith.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an integral lintel-balcony construction unit having attachment means precast in the lintel portion thereof for securing the integral unit to a portion of the building under construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means in the lintel portion of an integral precast balcony-lintel combination for receiving the header for the access opening below and also configured to receive the drywall construction of the ceiling below.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide means for securing an integral constructionunit including a balcony portion toa portion of the building under construction.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an integral balcony construction unit having reinforce ment mesh in the outer edge thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an integral precast lintel-balcony construction having internal reinforcing members which traverse and securely interconnect the lintel and balcony portions.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a method for erecting a construction unit having a series of vertically spaced balconies with a portion of each balcony serving as a lintel for the opening to the balcony below it.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for erecting a construction unit by positioning a precast construction unit over an opening, positioning a floor slab adjacent thereto and securing the precast unit to the floor slab.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent when considering the following summary of the invention and the detailed description of preferred embodiments and best mode indicated herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to the solution of the foregoing problems and relates to an integral, precast lintelbalcony combination construction unit. The unit has a deck portion which, when the unit is positioned in the building, comprises a generally horizontally-extending tapered precast portion having internal reinforcing members. In certain embodiments, the reinforcing member may include mesh-like wire web disposed adjacent the outer edge of the balcony and internally of the overall structure.

The integral unit includes a lintel having a surface for receiving, in a load-bearing relationship, a deck slab which constitutes the adjacent floor of the building unit under consideration. Attaching means are included within the floor slab and within the deck portion of the balcony for securing the components, one to the other, to overcome the rotational moment generated by the weight of the balcony structure and by the presence of loads on the balcony unit.

Reinforcing members are also disposed within the lintel of the balcony unit and within the deck portion thereof. Further reinforcing means interconnecting the lintel portion and the balcony portion are also provided for structural integrity.

The method according to the invention is directed to erecting a building structure having balconies and access thereto which comprise the procedural combination of steps of:

(1) Constructing a pair of wall-like structures defining an access opening having a predetermined span,

(2) Positioning a construction unit having a deck portion and lintel portion so that the lintel portion spans the access opening and so that the deck portion extends generally horizontally outwardly therefrom,

(3) Positioning a precast floor slab portion of the building so that one surface is in a load-bearing relationship with a surface of the integral construction unit, and

(4) Securing a portion of the integral construction unit to the floor slab portion.

In a particular embodiment, metallic attachment members in the form of angle irons are provided in each of the balcony slab structure and in the deck structure, so that they may be welded together to secure the adjacent structural member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a precast lintel-balcony combination according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a connection between the lintel-balcony combination and the deck slab of the adjacent floor member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the precast lintelbalcony combination according to the invention secured to the adjacent floor slab and the respective positions in the building structure.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view in cross-section showing one means for securing the precast lintel-balcony combination to the adjacent floor slab.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate means for attachment of the lintel-balcony combination to the adjacent floor slab.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the precast lintel-balcony combination according to one embodiment of the invention showing its external configuration and the orientation of the internal reinforcing structure, together with the wire mesh adjacent the outer edge of the balcony.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention utilizing nearly equal length reinforcing rods together with mesh at the outer periphery of the balcony for reinforcement purposes.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and showing the embodiment of FIG. 8 secured to an adjacent floor deck member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the precast monolithic, precast concrete, lintel-balcony construction unit according to the invention, shown generally at 10. The unit 10 comprises a deck slab 12 integrally precast with a lintel portion 13. As may be appreciated, the lintel portion 13 of the unit 10 provides the horizontal architectural member which supports the weight above an opening, such as a window or a door beneath the unit.

Where desired, the balcony combination 10 may include a precast balustrade or railing structure 14. In the alternative, the railing structure may comprise ornamental iron work secured to the balcony combination during the precasting operation.

From FIGS. 1 and 3, it may be understood that in a typical building construction having, by way of example, an interior support wall comprising concrete or cement blocks 16 and 17 suitably joined, as is well-known in the art, by a mortar joint 18. Ornamental facing bricks are provided adjacent the blocks 16 and 17 and are secured in a tiered relationship. By way of example, tiers of

bricks

20, 32 and 22 are secured by mortar joints 23 and 24. The external outer wall may be secured to the concrete block inner wall, as is understood in the art, by a mortar connection such as is illustrated in FIG. 3 at numeral 25.

From FIG. 1, it may be seen that it is desirable to provide a balcony and access to the balcony in a building structure. To this end, cement block and brick construction is provided according to a predetermined plan such that a left wall structure 27 and a right wall structure 28 define an opening having a predetermined span therebetween. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the span is traversed by a double-wall window structure 29 having a vertical header 30 attached to wall 28 and a horizontal upper header 31 secured to the lintel portion 13 of the construction unit 10. While shown only in a fragmented view, it may be readily understood that the window structure 29 may also be of a sliding door variety and that the selection of the type of structure used is in accordance with the size of the span and the desires of the builder and/ or the architect.

During construction of the building, the

walls

27 and 28 are erected to a predetermined height and have a predetermined span between the

walls

27 and 28. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the respective ends of the lintel portion 13 are sized in accordance with the strength requirements of the overall structure and, as depicted, include overlapping

opposite end portions

33 and 34. If desired, the lintel portion 13 may extend the entire width of the deck slab portion 12. In that case,

end portions

33 and 34 will rest on a wider portion of the

walls

27 and 28 respectively than is shown in FIG. 1.

Moreover, the overall configuration of the precast structure 10 may be such that the

portions

33 and 34 are notched at their front face to provide a space for the brick facing while yet providing, at the rear portion of the lintel combination, suflicient bearing surface to support the balcony structure 10. When this alternative structure is used, the apparent width of the lintel 13 is the same as the span between

walls

27 and 28.

The cost savings and the convenience of construction are readily apparent from FIG. 1, where the insertion of the unitary, integral structure 10 into the building during its construction provides both the lintel for the attachment of the portal of the adjacent lower floor and at the same time provides the balcony for the next adjacent floor. It, of course, may be understood, that beneath the particular lintel portion may reside a conventional loggia structure where it is desired to keep the lowermost span un obstructed. Such an arrangement may be contemplated, for example, where the balcony unit 10 forms the second floor of a building which includes an arcade-like structure on the first floor and where it is not desired to fill the span between the

respective walls

27 and 28.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the balconylintel construction unit 10 and the adjacent floor structure, which may be precast, and which comprises the floor surface of the building unit at the same level as the balcony. The floor slab 36, which may also be made from precast concrete and positioned in the building construction as a unit, rests upon a load-bearing surface of a notch-like arrangement in the lintel 13. By way of illustration, the floor slab 36 comprises a precast unit having an internal web 37 and void structure 38. It may be understood that the webs and voids may also traverse the floor slab 36 in a direction normal to that depicted, as seen by the floor slab illustrated in FIG. 9.

In its simplest concept, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the deck slab portion 12 comprises first reinforcing means which include a plurality of reinforcing members 40 secured to connecting means 41 as by welding, as shown by the weldments 42. In its preferred embodiment, attachment means 41 is a metallic angled member which, when positioned as shown, provides part of the inner edge structure and part of the inner upper surface of the deck slab portion 12.

Floor slab 36 includes attaching means 43, comprising a plurality of spaced metallic angled attaching members, provided integrally with the slab during its precasting. As shown, a plurality of metallic welding members 44 are positioned in contact with the spaced attaching member 43 and in contact with connecting member 41.

Thus, it can be understood that during the construction, the integral precast lintel-balcony combination is positioned, and the floor slab 36 is rested upon the notch in the lintel portion 13 of the slab 10. By reason of the shim 45, the floor 36 will be spaced from the slab 10. The welding member 44 is positioned in contact with the spaced attachnig means 43 and with the connecting means 41. The two structures are thus welded together to provide a sturdy, efficient and rapid means for completing the construction under consideration. In addition, grout 51 will be provided in the space between the floor slab 36 and the balcony deck slab 12.

FIG. 3 shows the floor slab lintel-balcony combination arrangement in its cross-sectional detail. The spaced attaching members 43 of floor slab 36 may be formed by spacing metallic angled members having a portion thereof adjacent to, forming part of, or protruding from the outer surface 46 of the fior slab 36. In addition, the spaced members 43 may be integrally secured as by welding to the floor slab structure by means of an internal reinforcing member 47 integrally precast within the floor slab 36.

The upper and inner portion of the lintel 13 of balcony 10 defines a notch-like arrangement comprising the inner surface 49 of the deck slab and a load-bearing surface 50. When in position, floor slab 36 rests on surface 50 in a load-bearing relationship.

Surfaces

49 and 50 are generally planar and nearly normal to each other.

The transition from the lintel portion 13 'to the deck slab portion 12 of the integral precast balcony 10 is defined by a neck like portion 52 which, in a preferred embodiment, has a transition surface 53.

As heretofore discussed, the railing may be either cast of concrete when the combination 10 is cast or may be a metallic ornamental railing which is inserted in the precast balcony at the time the structure is formed. When precast, as can be seen in FIG. 3, it may be desirable to provide the integral precast, concrete railing portion 14 with an internal reinforcing member 55. Reinforcing member 55, in a preferred embodiment, may comprise a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion 56 which is wholly contained within the deck slab 12 and, if desired, may be welded to the internal reinforcing member 40 contained therein.

Deck slab 12 comprises an upper surface 57 and lower surface 58 and has a predetermined thickness. Deck slab 12 is preferably tapered to provide for water runoff and to minimize the accumulation of snow, sleet and ice on the balcony. In a preferred embodiment, a drain opening 59, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, is provided to permit the water to drain from the surface of the balcony 10.

The internal reinforcement within the precast integral concrete structures 'may take a variety of forms, according to the structural needs of the unit. In FIG. 3, for example, a plurality of longitudinally extending bar-like reinforcing members 60 are contained within the lintel portion 13. In juxtaposition with the longitudinally extending reinforcing members 60, are a plurality of generally rectangular reinforcing loops 61 to provide structural integrity to the system. As may be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9, loops 61 may assume different configurations.

Similarly, in slab 12, a plurality of longitudinally extending members 63 are provided to reinforce and tension the concrete. Moreover, it has been found desirable to include a plurality of reinforcing members 64 which are common to both the slab portion and to the lintel portion 13 and extend through the neck portion 52 of the integral structure. In FIG. 3, it may be seen in phantom outline that the reinforcing member 64 assumes a form having two legs, one normal to the other. One leg, it may be seen, extends verticallyinto the lintel portion while the other leg extends horizontally into the slab portion 12.

FIG. 4 contains a highly articulated view of the joint in FIG. 3 between the floor slab 36 and the balcony unit 10. Apparent in this enlarged view is the weldment 65 which joins the attaching member 43 in the floor slab 36 with the welding member 44 and the weldment 66 joining the connecting member 41 to welding member 44. Also shown because of the greater detail is the means for attaching reinforcing member 40 to the connecting member 41 via weldments 67 disposed on both the inner and outer surface of connecting member 41, and surrounding reinforcing member 40. It may be understood that other suitable means for securing

members

40 and 41 may also be used: Such means of attachment contemplated are the use of a threaded relationship between the respective members, or the provision for a cap-like reinforcing member to achieve the same purpose.

Also apparent, by way of illustration FIG. 4, is the longitudinally extending reinforcing member 68 contained within the floor slab member 36.

FIG. 5 depicts another means for attaching the integral precast member 10 to the floor slab member 36, In this instance, securingmeans, referenced generally at 69, comprises a plurality of generally rectangular primary plate members 71 integrally secured at the upper surface of the floor slab member 36. Additionally, generally rectangular, securing members 72 are provided which are individually secured such as by welding, to the primary securing members 71 and to the connecting members 41 on the unit 10. In other respects, the structures defined in FIG. 5 are similar to those shown in FIG. 4 and need not be discussed in greater detail.

structurally, the weight of the floor 36, which is supported by a surface of the lintel 13, and the strength of the connecting means, depicted in either FIGS. 5 or 6, cooperate with a high margin of safety to overcome the rotational moments created by the weight of the balcony about its natural pivot point.

Thus, while the weight of the balcony tends to cause a rotational moment in the clockwise direction, those rotational moments are counterbalanced by the weight of the floor which is supported by the lintel surface and by the force exerted by the connection of the respective connecting means.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the balcony-lintel integral structural combination 10 showing the internal reinforcing matrix shown generally at 70. Generally, the reinforcng matrix 70 includes a plurality of longitudinally extendmg members 63 located in a spaced relationship within the deck portion 12. Similarly, and generally normal to the reinforcing members 63, are contained a plurality of laterally extending reinforcing members 40. The size of the reinforcement members, their placement within the slab 12, and their means of attachment to one another, if desired, is a function of the particular installation.

In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 6, it may be seen that the forward end of deck slab 12 comprises two faces 76 and 77 which join at approximately the midpoint of the slab to form a generally wedge-shaped outer structure.

For additional reinforcement, mesh-

like wire members

79 and 80 are provided adjacent the outer faces 77 and 76 respectively, of the slab 12. The width of the mesh may vary according to the additional strength needed in the peripheral area of the slab. As shown in FIG. 7, mesh 79 (and mesh 80) may be secured near the outer end of members 40, as by welding, if desired. Moreover, if desired, or if the balcony configuration permits, only a single mesh-like member may supplant the pair of

members

79 and 80, as shown.

When such a wedge-shaped structure is for-med, however, it may be understood that the reinforcing members 40 are of dilfering lengths due to the varying distance of a point on

surface

76 and 77 to the innermost surface 49 of the deck. To overcome the time lost and the problems inherent in individually sizing the reinforcing members 40, it has been found desirable, as may be seen in FIG. 8, to provide the reinforcing members 90 which in that environment correspond to members 40 in FIG. 6 of approximately equal length.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a balcony structure taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6. FIG. 7, it may be seen, is nearly a mirror image of the cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. Noteworthy, however, is the provision of a rectangular

notch having surfaces

81 and 82 of the lowermost and innermost portion of the lintel section 13. Incorporated therein during the casting process may be a header receiving member 83 which may be made from wood. The member 83 may be notched as at 84 adapted to receive the ceiling material of the next fioor below.

FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and showing the means of connection like that shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is thus similar to FIG. 7 and also includes an illustration of the reinforcing mesh 79 located near the outermost portion of the slab structure 12. Also of interest, in FIG. 9, is the provision of longitudinally extending reinforcing members 60 as has been heretofore described, but used in conjunction with a loop-like reinforcing member 85. Loop-like reinforcement members 85 comprise a pair of vertically

upstanding members

86 and 87 where member 86 is of lesser length than 87. Also disclosed are a triad of horizontally disposed members 91, 92 and 93. It may thus be seen that the horizontally extending member 86 overlaps horizontally extending member 91 for reinforcing purposes. It may also be understood that the loop-like reinforcing member 85 may be formed from a single length of bar or wire stock.

The method according to the invention comprises erecting a building structure having a pair of wall-like structures defining an opening. The integral precast unitary lintel-balcony construction unit, according to the invention, is provided for spanning the wall-like structures. That structure is positioned across the opening defined by the wall-like structures. Thereafter, an integral precast floor slab construction is provided in a load-bearing relationship with the unitary structure 10. A portion of the floor slab is then secured as by welding to a portion of the unitary construction 10 to secure the floor to the balcony slab. When the floor slab is being positioned, a shim may be inserted between the floor and the slab. With the balcony and floor deck securely fastened, the weldment serves to resist the rotational moment caused by the weight of the balcony itself and any loads thereon.

I claim:

1. A precast, monolithic combination lintel-balcony construction unit for use in a building structure to provide a balcony for a given floor and a lintel for an opening beneath said given floor, comprising:

a lintel having a length sufficient to span said opening in said building structure, said lintel including an outer surface, a lower face, and an inner surface,

a deck member integral with said lintel and including an outer end portion and an inner end portion, said deck member extending outwardly from said lintel portion along the length of said lintel, said inner end portion of said deck slab including an inner surface defining a plane which is outwardly spaced from the inner surface of the lintel,

said lintel further including a load-bearing surface interconnecting said inner surface of said deck member and said inner surface of said lintel,

connecting means on said construction unit disposed in proximity to the inner end portion of the deck membet and the inner surface of the deck member and adapted to be secured to a portion of said building structure which may be placed upon said load bearing surface,

first reinforcing means in tension Within said deck slab for reinforcing said deck slab, and

second reinforcing means comprising wire mesh disposed within said deck slab adjacent said outer surface thereof, said second reinforcing means providing added strength to said deck slab.

2. The construction unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower face includes a pair of spaced apart header surfaces, and a third header surface interconnecting one of said pair of said header surfaces to the other of said pair of said header surfaces, said third header surface defining a channel for receiving a header member.

3. The construction unit as set forth in claim 2 further including a header member disposed in said channel.

4. The construction unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said header member is adapted to receive a lathing member.

5. The construction unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said deck member is constructed so that a point on the edge of said outer surface is further from said inner surface than all other points on the edge of said outer surface.

6. The construction unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said first reinforcing means in tension comprises a plurality of spaced members disposed within said balcony portion in a direction generally transverse to said length of said lintel portion.

7. The construction unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said spaced members are substantially the same length.

8. The construction unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means include a connecting member secured to said first reinforcing means, said connecting member being exposed at said inner surface of said deck member for securing said connecting means to a portion of said building structure.

9. In combination, a precast, monolithic combination lintel-balcony construction unit for use in a building structure to provide a balcony for a given floor and a lintel for an opening beneath said given floor, comprising:

connecting means on said construction unit disposed in proximity to the inner end portion of the deck member and the inger surface of the deck member and adapted to be secured to a portion of said building structure which may be placed upon said load- :bearing surface,

second reinforcing means comprising wire mesh disposed within said deck slab adjacent said outer surface thereof, said second reinforcing means providing added strength to said deck slab,

a building wall construction defining an opening, said construction unit being positioned so that said lintel spans said opening, and

a precast concrete floor slab arranged to form a floor in said building structure at approximately the same level as said balcony, an end portion of said floor including a first surface disposed adjacent said inner surface of said deck member, and a second surface resting in a load-bearing relationship upon said loadbearing surface of said lintel.

10. The building structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said floor slab includes attaching means cooperating with said connecting means of said construction unit for securing said construction unit to said floor slab.

11. The building structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said connecting means of said construction unit include a connecting member secured to said reinforcing means, said member being exposzd at said inner surface of said deck member, and wherein said attaching rneanS include an attaching member fixedly secured to said floor slab, said attaching member being disposed adjacent said connecting member of said construction and being secured thereto.

12. The building structure as defined in claim 11 and further including a welding member in juxtaposition with and secured to both of said connecting members and at least one of said attaching members.

.13. A building construction comprising a precast, monolithic, combination lintel-balcony construction unit which includes a lintel portion having a load-bearing surface thereon for receiving a member in a load-bearing relationship, and a deck slab portion having a surface thereon which includes an attachment mean as a part thereof.

14. The building construction as defined in claim 13 further including a precast floor slab having a surface thereon which includes an attaching means forming at least part of said surface, said floor slab being positioned upon said load-bearing surface of said lintel portion, and means securing said deck slab portion to said floor slab portion.

15. A building construction as defined in claim 14 wherein means for securing said deck slab to said floor slab including a welding member secured therebetween and welded to each of said attachment means.

16. A building construction unit as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said floor slabs and said deck slab includes a reinforcing member disposed within said slab.

17. The method of erecting a building structure having balconies and access thereto comprising the procedural combination of steps of:

(a) constructing a pair of wall-like building structures defining an access opening to a balcony on a first floor and having a predetermined span;

(b) positioning an integral precast construction unit having a deck portion and a lintel portion in such a manner that said lintel portion spans said access opening to provide a lintel therefor and so that said deck portion extends generally horizontally from said construction unit;

(c) positioning an integral precast floor slab so that at least a portion of one surface thereof is in a loadbearing relationship with a surface of said lintel portion of said integral precast construction unit; and

(d) securing said deck portion to said floor slab.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the step of securing comprises the step of welding a metallic element within said deck slab to a metallic element within said floor slab.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,350,574 1963 France.

48,027 1966 Germany. 168,698 1959 Sweden.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 52-204, 251, 741

Disclaimer and Dedication 3,487,597.Tadius J. Gutt, Independence, Ohio. INTEGRAL PRECAST CONCRETE LINTEL-BALCONY COMBINATION. Patent dated Jan. 6, 1970. Disclaimer and dedication filed July 27, 1970, by the assignee, Cleveland Builders Supply Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to all the claims of said patent and dedicates the entire term of said patent to the Public.

[Oflicz'al Gazette November 3, 1.970.]