Curved structural member

Abstract

A structural member is disclosed and which includes a first portion which is defined by a first peripheral edge; and a plurality of tabs are made integral with the first portion and which are disposed in spaced relation along the first peripheral edge, and wherein the respective tabs are oriented in angulated relation relative to the first portion.

1 . A structural member, comprising: 
 a first portion which is defined by a first peripheral edge; and    a plurality of tabs are made integral with the first portion and which are disposed in spaced relation along the first peripheral edge, and wherein the respective tabs are oriented in angulated relation relative to the first portion.    
   
   
       2 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the structural member is fabricated from a deformable material, and further has a longitudinal line of reference which defines a longitudinal dimension for the first portion, and a transverse dimension which is normal relative to the longitudinal line of reference, and wherein the first peripheral edge is substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension, and wherein the deformable material permits the structural member to be formed into a curved shape along the longitudinal dimension.  
   
   
       3 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the first portion has a second peripheral edge which is substantially parallel relative to the first peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are made integral with the first portion and which are disposed in spaced relation along the first and second peripheral edges, and wherein the respective tabs are oriented in angulated relation relative to the first portion, and wherein the first portion forms a substantially centrally disposed and deformable web.  
   
   
       4 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the respective tabs positioned in spaced relation along the first and second peripheral edges of the first portion each have a length and width dimension which are selected to permit the first portion to be formed into the curved shape.  
   
   
       5 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein a plurality of spaces are defined between the respective tabs, and wherein the respective spaces have dimensions which are substantially equal.  
   
   
       6 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the respective tabs positioned in spaced relation along the first and second peripheral edges of the first portion each have respective length and width dimensions which are substantially equal.  
   
   
       7 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 3 , and further comprising: 
 a second and a third portion, and wherein the second portion is fastened to at least one of the tabs which is made integral with the first peripheral edge of the first portion, and which defines the substantially centrally disposed web, and the third portion is fastened to at least one of the tabs which are made integral with the second peripheral edge of the first portion.    
   
   
       8 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein the second and third portions have a curved shape which is substantially similar to the curvature of the first portion.  
   
   
       9 . A structural member, comprising: 
 a first portion which is defined by a first curved peripheral edge; and    a second portion having a peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are disposed in angularly spaced relation along the peripheral edge of the second portion, and wherein at least one of the tabs is fastened to the first portion, and wherein the plurality of tabs permit the second portion to be positioned, at least in part, along the first curved peripheral edge and deformed into a shape having a curvature which is substantially similar to the curved first peripheral edge of the first portion.    
   
   
       10 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the respective tabs are oriented in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the second portion.  
   
   
       11 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the first portion defines a substantially centrally disposed web, and wherein the first portion is further defined by a second curved peripheral edge which is substantially parallel to the first curved peripheral edge.  
   
   
       12 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 11 , and further comprising: 
 a third portion having a peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are disposed in angularly spaced relation along the peripheral edge of the third portion, and wherein at least one of the tabs of the third portion is fastened to the first portion, and wherein the plurality of tabs permits the third portion to be positioned, at least in part, along the second curved peripheral edge of the first portion and deformed into a shape having a curvature which is substantially similar to the second curved peripheral edge.    
   
   
       13 . A structural member which has a curved shape, comprising: 
 first, second and third portions which are joined together, and which define a channel, and wherein at least one of the first, second or third portions has a peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are made integral with the peripheral edge, and are disposed in spaced relation along the peripheral edge, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tabs is affixed to an adjacent portion.    
   
   
       14 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the plurality of tabs are spaced a predetermined distance apart, and wherein the respective tabs permit the portion having the tabs to be deformed into a curved shape.  
   
   
       15 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein at least two of the first, second and third portions each have a peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are made integral with each of the peripheral edges, and are disposed in spaced relation along the respective peripheral edges, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tabs of each of the at least two portions are affixed to the remaining portion, and wherein the respective tabs permit the portions, having the tabs, to be deformed into a curved shape.  
   
   
       16 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein at least one of the first, second or third portions has a second peripheral edge which is spaced from the first peripheral edge, and wherein a plurality of tabs are made integral with second peripheral edge, and are disposed in spaced relation along the second peripheral edge, and wherein at least one of the tabs which are made integral with each of peripheral edges is affixed to the adjacent portion.  
   
   
       17 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein at least one of the first, second or third portions is oriented in substantially perpendicular relation relative to an adjacent portion.  
   
   
       18 . A structural member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein at least one of the first, second or third portions is oriented in a non perpendicular relationship relative to an adjacent portion.  
   
   
       19 . A structural member having a curved shape, comprising: 
 a first, centrally disposed web portion, and which has opposite, first and second peripheral edges, and wherein the first centrally disposed web portion has a longitudinal axis, and is deformable substantially along the longitudinal axis into a curved shape;    a plurality of tabs made integral with the each of the first and second peripheral edges of the first web portion, and wherein the plurality of tabs are disposed in spaced relation along each of the first and second peripheral edges and extend angularly outwardly relative to the first, centrally disposed web portion, and wherein the respective tabs permit the first, centrally disposed web portion to be deformed substantially along the longitudinal axis into the curved shape;    a second portion having a curved shape which is substantially similar to the curved shape of the first, centrally disposed web portion, and wherein at least some of tabs disposed along the first peripheral edge are affixed to the second portion, and wherein the plurality of tabs positions the second portion in angulated spaced relation relative to the first centrally disposed web portion; and    a third portion having a curved shape which is substantially similar to the curved shape of the first, centrally disposed web portion, and wherein at least some of tabs disposed along the second peripheral edge are affixed to the third portion, and wherein the plurality of tabs positions the third portion in angulated spaced relation relative to the first centrally disposed web portion.    
   
   
       20 . A structural member having a curved shape, comprising: 
 a first, centrally disposed web portion, and which has opposite first and second peripheral edges and which has a curved shape;    a second and a third portion each having opposite first and second peripheral edges, and a longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the second and third portions are deformable substantially along their respective longitudinal axes into a curved shape which is substantially similar to the curved shape of the first centrally disposed web portion; and    a plurality of tabs made integral with each of the first peripheral edges of the respective second and third portions, and wherein the respective tabs are disposed in spaced relation along each of the first peripheral edges of the second and third portions and extend angularly outwardly relative thereto, and wherein at least some of the tabs disposed along the first peripheral edge of the second portion are affixed to the first centrally disposed web, and which positions the second portion in angulated juxtaposed relation relative to the first peripheral edge of the first, centrally disposed web portion, and wherein at least some of the tabs disposed along the first peripheral edge of the third portion are affixed to the first centrally disposed web, and which positions the second portion in angulated juxtaposed relation relative to the second peripheral edge of the first, centrally disposed web portion.