STRUCTURAL POSTS FOR IMPROVED BUILDINGS ENERGY CONSERVATION

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides a structural post that comprises a major flange and a minor flange connected through a web portion. The two flanges are configured such that a cross-sectional area of the major flange is greater than that of the minor flange. Thus, the structural post has an asymmetrical configuration due to the difference in the cross-sectional area between the two flanges. The middle portion has substantially less material thus rendering the structural post lighter in construction, which would facilitate transportation as well as make buildings lighter. Further, the minimal amount of material used in the web portion reduces thermal bridge, thus reducing heat loss from interior to exterior. The structural post of the invention can further be manufactured to predetermined dimensions to ensure that it can conveniently replace existing studs.

Claims

1. A structural post comprising: a major flange; a minor flange, opposite the major flange, and having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the major flange; and a web portion connected to the major and minor flanges, wherein, in cross-section, major axes of the major flange, minor flange, and web portion are aligned.

2. The structural post of claim 1, wherein the major flange and the minor flange comprise a groove to receive ends of the web portion.

3. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the major flange has a width ranging from 1.3 inches to about 1.8 inches.

4. The structural post of claim 3 wherein the structural post of claim 1 wherein the major flange has a width of about 1.5 inches.

5. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the web portion is OSB (oriented strand board).

6. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the web portion comprises crossed, diagonal wooden slats.

7. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the web portion runs continuously along a length of the flanges.

8. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the web portion is connected to the major flange and minor flange through at least one of a nail or glue.

9. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the major flange, the minor flange and the web portion are all made of wood-based materials.

10. The structural post of claim 1, having an I-shaped cross-section.

11. The structural post of claim 1 further comprising a thermally insulating side cladding to create a flush side of the post between flanges.

12. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the major flange and minor flange are made of one of spruce, pine, or fir wood.

13. The structural post of claim 1 wherein the web portion is connected to the minor and major flanges by tapered socket connections.

14. A wall frame comprising plural structural posts of claim 1.

15. A wall frame comprising two or more interconnected structural posts, wherein each structural post has an I-shaped cross-section comprising: a major flange; a minor flange, opposite the major flange, and having a cross-sectional area less than the major flange; and a web portion connected to the major and minor flanges, wherein, in cross-section, major axes of the major flange, minor flange, and web portion are aligned.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the structural post of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of 3 embodiments of the post: a) wide flange b) narrow flange, c) lattice webbing.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a post with insulation siding.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of posts of different depths and includes an overlay of cross-sections still in plan view.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wall frame made from preferred embodiments of the post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0016] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0017] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein. For example, the common 24 lumber refers to a nominal size of 2 by 4 even though such dimensions are typically now smaller than that (e.g., 1.53.5).

[0018] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term or is generally employed in its sense including and/or unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0019] In one aspect, the invention is a structural post that has been optimized for vertical loading with enough material to take the compressive load and structured to resist buckling. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the structural post of the invention, depicted by numeral 10.

[0020] In cross-section, each post is constructed of a major flange 12, a minor flange 14, and a web portion 16 between the flanges. These flanges 12 and 14 take the majority of the compressive load while being spaced apart to resist buckling. As the lengths of the web portion and both flanges are all the same and intended to be cut to any length for framing, it is preferably to reference width and depth dimensions of the post, as seen in cross-section or plan view, per FIG. 1. The major axis refers to directions in-line with the larger dimension of that web or flange and the minor axis refers to directions in-line with the smaller dimension. For example, FIG. 1 shows a major flange having a major dimension of 3.5 and a minor dimension of 1.5. The major axes of both flanges and web portion are shown aligned.

[0021] Web portion 16 connects the two flanges 12 and 14 with minimal area between them to reduce the thermal bridge. Therefore, the ideal web portion would have negligible area while maintaining the spaced-apart aspect of the two flanges. The web portion may be a weak structure and is not necessarily capable of being load bearing, but its purpose is to reduce thermal bridging as it is a low profile thermal break. Advantageously, it is made of oriented strand board. The web may run continuously the length of the post for improved strength. In an alternate embodiment, the web portion is a diagonal lattice board of lattice slats between the flanges. Thus one slat is in compression, and the next in tension.

[0022] The orientation of the major and minor flange can vary depending on the final use case situation. FIG. 2 shows variations in the construction of the structural posts. FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a wide flange version according to prior art joists. FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a narrow flange and FIG. 2c is the same view of the structural post comprising lattice webbing 20.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the structural post that comprises an insulation siding 22. In this manner, the amount of material used in the web portion is reduced, thus reducing the thermal bridge. The length of the web portion determines the R-value, acts as a spacer, and provides a flush surface across the depth of the post.

[0024] The post is designed to be asymmetrical, with the major flange 12 being larger than the minor flange 14. It is convenient to design the post's dimensions such that it has the same dimensions as the lumber that is already commercially available. For example, a standard 210 post would be replaced by the structural post of this invention of the same overall dimensions (i.e. nominally called 2 10 but actually 1.5 inches9.5 inches), notwithstanding that the web portion has substantially less material. Thus, the structural post of the invention can be used in replacement framing, keeping the standard spacing between existing studs (for example, every 16 or 24) and able to support window framing. Thus preferably, the major flange has a minor dimension ranging from about 1.3 inches to about 1.7 inches, preferably about 1.5 inches.

[0025] One of the key advantages offered by the structural post of the invention includes reduced weight while still maintaining the overall dimensions of an existing standard post. This is achieved through the use of a wooden webbing section whose width may be only .sup.rd of the existing standard post. Thus the webbing thickness may be less than 0.6 inches (<1.3 cm). The reduced weight for the same dimension of the post of the invention in turn facilitates transportation, while reducing weight of the final construction.

[0026] The major flange 12 has cross-sectional area sized for off-center compressive load, which renders the structural post 10 optimized for compressive loads. The asymmetrical configuration of the structural post with a thin web 16 connecting two load bearing elements (major flange 12 and minor flange 14), such that the major axes of the two flanges are aligned and parallel with the major axis of the web portion. This configuration facilitates improved load bearing properties in vertical wall constructions, and utilizes timber more efficiently.

[0027] The Euler formula for column buckling is Pcr=.sup.2.Math.E.Math.I/L.sup.2 where E is the lumber's modulus of elasticity in (force/length.sup.2), I is the moment of inertia (length.sup.4), and L is the length of the post. I is determined largely here by the flanges' orientation. The present stud is designed with flanges with major axis aligned (in cross-section) that have a lower moment of inertia in the width direction BUT once the post is installed into a housing frame and screwed to a wall sheet (e.g. drywall, OSB or plywood) the system's moment of inertia increases so great that buckling is no longer of concern.

[0028] As seen in plan view in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 4, there is a groove 18 that runs the length of each of the flanges, which groove is tapered and fixedly accepts the web portion 16. The web portion could be physically wedged, glued, or nailed into this groove. The taper could be at any suitable angle. For example, a standard angle of taper of 4.76 (i.e. also called a 1 in 12 pitch) as used in the construction industry to make a tapered socket connection, and could be employed here advantageously to utilize existing manufacturing processes to manufacture the flanges and the web portion. In one exemplary embodiment, the manufacture of the taper could involve machining and extruding each of the flanges on a linear conveyor with a web portion placed there between, whereby all parts come together and press into the final form of the post.

[0029] In other embodiments, the web portion could be attached to the major flange and the minor flange through finger joints, interlocking glues, and the like. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structural post of the invention having different depth (i.e. horizontal distance when the post is in a frame of FIG. 5), wherein the major flange 12 and minor flange 14 comprise grooves onto which the edge of the web portions 16 are configured to be suitably received. In FIG. 4, the web portion's width varies depending on the post size needed and received by unvaried major flange and minor flange. The web portion is formed in such a way that receivable sections are attached to the flanges in a facile manner. For example, they may be snap fit onto the flanges, or may be slid into the groove. Other such modes of attachments will become obvious to one skilled in the art, and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

[0030] The present post is an asymmetrical EWP (engineered wood product) stud designed for use in light wood framed construction. The two main differentiating features from a typical 1-joist are the flange size being asymmetrical and the major axes being aligned with the web axis (in plan view).

[0031] The invention overcomes the current problem with the commercially available wooden I-joists that have been optimized for use in horizontal (floor/roof) applications but have no manufacturing support as framing for vertical (wall) use. The structural post of the present asymmetric post is particularly developed for use in structural wall construction to replace standard dimensional lumber, as well as exceeding specifications when extra thick walls are required. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wall frame made from the structural post of the certain embodiments.

[0032] The structural post of the invention is intended to be used for the construction of light wood framed buildings. The asymmetrical nature of the stud optimizes lumber usage by connecting the primary load-bearing flange to a smaller flange by means of an OSB (oriented strand board) or diagonal wood slat web.

[0033] Typical construction methods place the primary load-bearing member towards the interior of the structure; however, this isn't required. The primary/larger flange can be oriented to the interior or exterior as needed. The structural post of the invention comprising the two flanges connected by the thin web section is optimal for construction of passive house structures and other low energy structures. The lightweight and dimensionally stable AI-Stud enables site builders and prefabrication facilities to quickly and accurately frame thick walls with minimal thermal bridging.

[0034] All the components of the structural post of the invention, including the major flange, the minor flange and the web portion, may advantageously be made of wood. However, it would also be obvious to one skilled in the art that there may be insulation boards fitted to the sides over the web portions to make the overall post rectangular in shape, which may help with installation. This may be, for example, flush facing known to be useful for windows mounting, also sometimes known as side board, which is typically a wood fibre board having little strength, low density, no binders, just heated and pressed wood. The side board though, provides thermal insulation, as it has the same R-value as cellulose.

[0035] The structural post of the invention may further comprise thermal insulation in the form of fillers between the studs. An exemplary filler is cellulose, specifically those blown in fibres.

[0036] While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.