Sept. 7, 1937. A. RAFTR 2,092,472
STUD AND RAFTER Filed Dec. 4, 1936 INVENTS) f- ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1937 PATENT'o-mcE-- a s'rUD AND RAFTER s Albert Rafter, Glen llRidge, N. J., assignor to,`
. Ratten'` Machine Company, Belleville, N. J., a partnership composed of Albert Rafter vand John C. Rafter; Jr.
6 Claims.
This invention relates to` improvements in metallic beams, studs, rafters and the like for use in buildings.
Heretofore, metal beams used in building construction have generally been of the I beam type,
which have been found objectionable due'toits Weight, lack of resistance to turning forces, and cost due to the amount of metal used therein. It has also been found necessary in many instances to reenfrce flanges of I beams by means of metal strips engaging the upper and lower flanges parallel to the web.
VIt isano'bject of my invention to provide' structural members `forvbuildinglconstruction which have all the advantages of an I beam and none of the disadvantages thereof.
In accordance with my invention, the structural member is formed from sheet metal and is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures along the longitudinal center line thereof, thus presenting a considerable saving in metal and Weight at places where` the metal serves no purpose.
A further object is the provision of a structural member which can be formed from a single sheet of metal by means of suitable dies.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a metal beam for building construction which can be advantageously substituted for the usual wooden beams and rafters at present employed. The beams hereindisclosed are adapted as supports for flooring, ceilings and roofs, and for all other purposes where wooden beams have heretofore been used.
These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of one side of a structural member :embodying my invention,
Fig. 2 is a perspective, partly in section, of the other side of the member, and
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the structural member.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a modified form of the invention.
Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 a member is shown to comprise a single sheet of metal which is bent to' form a plate I having a plurality of spaced apertures 2 along the longitudinal center line thereof, Ieach of said apertures being surrounded by anfinwardly directedflange 3 ,I Application December 4, 1936, serial No. 114,151
which flange has a right angularly directed portion 4.
The platefis bent outwardly at 5 `and then up at 6, and then back upon itself: at 1 `which is then bent down `atproviding a`l side parallel to the portion 6. Theside 8 is then bent inwardly at 9 and then downwardly, providing a ange I I) abutting the flange 4, the flange ID extending the length of the beam.
The flanges 4 `and I0 are then rigidly secured together by means of welding or similar expedients,'a`t the portions I I as shown inFigi 3.
From the above` description it will be seen that there ha'sbeenfprovided a. simple and effective structural :member for building construction which is lightin weight, and relatively inexpenvsive when compared `with conventional I-beam structures or other structural building members heretofore employed. The provision of apertures along the longitudinal center line of a beam ob` viously eliminates the metal which serves no purpose. It will be noted that the walls I and Ill are spaced except where the flange 4 engages the portion III. This structure resists torsional strains and no reenforcements are needed for theportions 5 and 9. In order that the beam will satisfactorily receive nails, a strip of wood II is inserted in the hollow portion of the beam producing cover 1. y
In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the invention in which theportion 5 shown in Fig. l is bent back upon itself providing a top 3U, the vertical portion 6 shown in Fig. 1 being eliminated. The top 1 is then bent back upon itself to provide aportion 9, thus eliminating thevertical portion 8 shown in Fig. 1.
The bottom of the beam is formed in the same manner, and except for the changes herein noted, the construction shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1.
The rbeam shown in Fig. 4 is compact and rigid and is very desirable in circumstances where it is not necessary to nail or screw other members on to the beam.
The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention of which embodiments may be constructed including many modifications, without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention herein denoted in the appended claims.
Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:
1. In a metal structural member for building construction, a plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding the apertures, each of said flanges having a right angularly directed portion, saidplate 5 being bent outwardly and upwardly and bent back upon itself to provide a cover, then back to provide a portion parallel to said cover, said last mentioned portion being bent to provide a flange at right angles thereto extending the length of l the beam, said right angular directed portion being secured to said last mentioned flange by welding.
2. In a. metal structural member for building construction, a plate having a plurality of4 spaced l5 apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having a right angular directed portion, said plate being bent outwardly and then back upon itself to provide a top, said plate being bent back uponv itself parallel to said top and then bent downwardly to provide a flange extending the length of the member, said right angular directed por'- tion being secured to the last mentioned ilange by means of welding.
3. In a metal structural member for building construction, a plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding the apertures, each of said flanges having a right angularly directed portion, said plates being bent outwardly and upwardly and bent back upon itself to provide a cover, then back to provide a portion parallel to said cover, said last mentioned portion being bent to provide a flange at right angles thereto extending the length of the beam, said right angularly directed portion being secured to said last mentioned flange.
4. In a metal structural member for building constructon, a plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having a right angular directed portion, said plate being bent outwardly and then back upon itself to provide a top, said plate being bent back upon itself parallel to said top and then bent downwardly to provide a flange extending the length ofthe member, said right angular directed portions being secured to the last mentioned flange.
Y5. InV a metal structural member for building construction, a plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having an angularly directed portion, the upper and lower portions of said plate being bent over to provide respectively a top and a bottom for said member, said top and bottom being bent to provide spaced flanges extending the length of the member and abutting said angularly directed portions.
6. In a metal structural member for building construction, a plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures, each of said flanges having an angularly `directed portion, the upper and lower portions of said plate being bent over to provide respectively a top and a bottom for said member, said top and bottom being bent to provide spaced anges extending the length of the member and abutting said angularly directed portions, said spaced flanges being secured to said angularly directed flanges by welding.
ALBERT RAFTER.