Composite lintel system

Abstract

A composite lintel structure is disclosed for spanning openings in a building structure and for supporting building materials thereon. The composite lintel structure has a vertical leg for affixation to a building structure and a horizontal leg for placement of one or more courses of building materials thereon. The materials of construction of the lintel structure are preferably selected from composites that are moisture impermeable and corrosion resistant. The lintel structure may also comprise one or more stiffeners rigidly or adjustably attached between the horizontal and vertical legs to accommodate load transference from the horizontal leg to the vertical leg of the lintel structure.

1 . A lintel member for spanning an opening in a building structure and supporting building materials thereon, comprising: 
 a vertical leg having a top portion and a bottom portion and a front face and a back face; and    a horizontal leg having a front portion and a back portion and a top face and a bottom face; 
 said vertical leg bottom portion being rigidly affixed to said horizontal leg back portion, thereby defining a substantially L-shaped bracket; and  
   load transference means connected between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg;    and wherein said vertical leg is configured to be attached to an underlying building structure;    and wherein said horizontal leg is configured to support building materials thereon;    and wherein said load transference means is configured to transfer a load exerted on said horizontal leg by said building materials through said load transference means to said vertical leg and said underlying building structure;    and wherein the material of construction of said vertical leg and horizontal leg comprises a corrosion resistant, moisture impermeable thermoplastic material.    
   
   
       2 . A lintel member according to  claim 1 , wherein said load transference means comprises: 
 a substrate having a vertical portion between said front and back faces of said vertical leg and a horizontal portion between said top and bottom faces of said horizontal leg;    and wherein a bottom portion of said vertical portion of said substrate is rigidly connected to a back portion of said horizontal portion of said substrate;    and wherein said substrate is configured to transfer a load exerted on said horizontal leg by said building materials through said horizontal portion of said substrate to said vertical portion of said substrate and to said vertical leg and said underlying building structure.    
   
   
       3 . A lintel member holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said load transference means comprises: 
 a stiffener attached between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg of said lintel member; 
 said stiffener comprising a substantially triangular member having a back edge, a bottom edge, a diagonal edge, and left and right side faces;  
 said back edge of said stiffener being adapted to be attached to said front face of said vertical leg;  
 said bottom edge of said stiffener being adapted to be attached to said horizontal leg.  
   
   
   
       4 . A lintel member according to  claim 2 , wherein said load transference means further comprises: 
 a stiffener attached between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg of said lintel member; 
 said stiffener comprising a substantially triangular member having a back edge, a bottom edge, a diagonal edge, and left and right side faces;  
 said back edge of said stiffener being adapted to be attached to said front face of said vertical leg;  
 said bottom edge of said stiffener being adapted to be attached to said horizontal leg.  
   
   
   
       5 . A lintel member according to  claim 4 , wherein said substrate further comprises: 
 a substrate diagonal portion between said side faces of said stiffener;    wherein said diagonal portion of said substrate is rigidly connected to said vertical portion and said horizontal portion of said substrate;    and wherein said horizontal portion of said substrate is configured to transfer a load exerted on said horizontal leg by said building materials through said horizontal portion of said substrate to said vertical portion of said substrate and to said vertical leg and said underlying building structure.    
   
   
       6 . A lintel member according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one weep hole extending through from said top surface to said bottom surface of said horizontal leg for allowing drainage of moisture from said top surface to said bottom surface of said horizontal leg.    
   
   
       7 . A lintel member according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 at least one weep hole extending through from said top surface to said bottom surface of said horizontal leg and said horizontal portion of said substrate for allowing drainage of moisture from said top surface to said bottom surface of said horizontal leg;    wherein said at least one weep hole through said substrate has a peripheral surface covered by said thermoplastic material.    
   
   
       8 . A lintel member according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of affixation holes extending through from said front surface to said back surface of said vertical leg for allowing attachment of said vertical leg to a plurality of affixation locations on said underlying building structure; and    a plurality of fasteners adapted to be placed through said plurality of affixation holes and attachment to said underlying building structure.    
   
   
       9 . A lintel member according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of affixation holes extending through from said front surface to said back surface of said vertical leg and said vertical portion of said substrate for allowing attachment of said vertical leg to a plurality of affixation locations on said underlying building structure; and    a plurality of fasteners adapted to be placed through said plurality of affixation holes and attachment to said underlying building structure;    wherein said plurality of affixation holes through said substrate has a peripheral surface covered by said thermoplastic material.    
   
   
       10 . A lintel member according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group moisture impermeable, corrosion resistant, high strength thermoplastics materials consisting of: Acrylonitrile/Methylacrylate copolymer; Regenerated Cellulose; CA; CAB; Cyclo-olefin copolymer; E-CTFE; ETFE; EP; FKM; PAN; ABS; PA 4,6; PA 6; PA 6,6; PA 6,6 30% GFR; PA 11; PA 12; PAI; Polyaramid Polyparaphenylene terephthalamide; Polyaramid Polymetaphenylene isophthalamide; PBI; PBT; PBT 30% GFR; PC; Polycarbonate—30% Glass Fibre Filled; PCTFE; PEEK; PEI; PES; Polyethylene—Carbon filled; HDPE; LDPE; UHMW PE; PEN; PET, PETP; PHB; PHB92/PHV 8; PI; PMMA; Acrylic; Polymethylpentene; POMC; POMH; Polyphenyleneoxide PPO (modified), PPE (modified); PPO 30% GFR; PPS; PPS—40% GFR; Polyphenylsulphone; PP; PS; PS—X—Linked; PTFE; PTFE 75/Glass 25; PTFE 25% GF; UPVC; PVF; PVDC; PVDF; Silicone Elastomer; Teflon; and Teflon PFA.  
   
   
       11 . A lintel member according to  claim 2 , wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group moisture impermeable, corrosion resistant, high strength thermoplastics consisting of: Acrylonitrile/Methylacrylate copolymer; Regenerated Cellulose; CA; CAB; Cyclo-olefin copolymer; E-CTFE; ETFE; EP; FKM; PAN; ABS; PA 4,6; PA 6; PA 6,6; PA 6,6 30% GFR; PA 11; PA 12; PAI; Polyaramid Polyparaphenylene terephthalamide; Polyaramid Polymetaphenylene isophthalamide; PBI; PBT; PBT 30% GFR; PC; Polycarbonate—30% Glass Fibre Filled; PCTFE; PEEK; PEI; PES; Polyethylene—Carbon filled; HDPE; LDPE; UHMW PE; PEN; PET, PETP; PHB; PHB92/PHV 8; PI; PMMA; Acrylic; Polymethylpentene; POMC; POMH; Polyphenyleneoxide PPO (modified), PPE (modified); PPO 30% GFR; PPS; PPS—40% GFR; Polyphenylsulphone; PP; PS; PS—X—Linked; PTFE; PTFE 75/Glass 25; PTFE 25% GF; UPVC; PVF; PVDC; PVDF; Silicone Elastomer; Teflon; and Teflon PFA; 
 and wherein the material of construction of said substrate is selected from the group of high strength materials including: iron; steel; aluminum; tin; titanium; beryllium; carbon; carbon fibers; concrete; glass reinforced plastics; carbon fiber reinforced plastics; and mixtures, oxides and alloys thereof.    
   
   
       12 . A lintel member according to  claim 3 , wherein said stiffener further comprises: 
 a stiffener bracket comprising;    a bracket vertical leg having a front face and a back face and a top edge and a bottom edge; 
 said back edge of said substantially triangular member being attached to said front face of said bracket vertical leg;  
   a bracket horizontal leg having a top face and a bottom face and a back edge and a front edge; 
 said back edge of said bracket horizontal leg being attached to said bottom edge of said bracket vertical leg;  
 said bottom edge of said substantially triangular member being attached to said top face of said bracket horizontal leg; and  
   stiffener bracket attachment means on said bracket vertical leg or said bracket horizontal leg; 
 said stiffener bracket attachment means being adapted for adjustable attachment of said bracket vertical leg to a plurality of attachment locations on said vertical leg or adjustable attachment of said bracket horizontal leg to a plurality of attachment locations on said horizontal leg.  
   
   
   
       13 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means is selected from the group consisting of: dovetails on said bottom face of said bracket horizontal leg with cooperating dovetail channels in said top face of said horizontal leg; dovetails on said back face of said bracket vertical leg with cooperating dovetail-channels in said front face of said vertical leg; T-bars on said bottom face of said bracket horizontal leg with cooperating T-channels in said top face of said horizontal leg; T-bars on said back face of said bracket vertical leg with cooperating T-channels in said front face of said vertical leg; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a front plate having a top and a bottom edge, said top edge of said front plate being connected to said front edge of said stiffener horizontal leg; and    a bottom plate having a front edge, said front edge of said bottom plate being connected to said bottom edge of said front plate;    wherein said stiffener horizontal leg, said front plate and said bottom plate are adapted to be located adjacent a plurality of locations along said top face, said front edge and said bottom face of said horizontal leg, respectively.    
   
   
       15 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a top plate having a front and a back edge, said front edge of said top plate being connected to said top edge of said stiffener vertical leg; and    a back plate having a top edge, said top edge of said back plate being connected to said back edge of said top plate;    wherein said stiffener vertical leg, said top plate and said back plate are adapted to be located adjacent a plurality of locations along said front face, said top edge and said back face of said vertical leg, respectively.    
   
   
       16 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a first recess in said top face of said horizontal leg adjacent a first groove between the top face, bottom face and front edge of said horizontal leg;    wherein said front edge of said stiffener bracket horizontal leg is adapted to be retained within said first groove.    
   
   
       17 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a second recess in said top face of said horizontal leg adjacent a second groove between the front face, back face and top edge of said vertical leg;    wherein said top edge of said stiffener bracket vertical leg is adapted to be retained within said second groove.    
   
   
       18 . A lintel member according to  claim 17 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a second recess in said top face of said horizontal leg adjacent a second groove between the front face, back face and top edge of said vertical leg;    wherein said top edge of said stiffener bracket vertical leg is adapted to be retained within said second groove.    
   
   
       19 . A lintel member according to  claim 14 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a top plate having a front and a back edge, said front edge of said top plate being connected to said top edge of said stiffener vertical leg; and    a back plate having a top edge, said top edge of said back plate being connected to said back edge of said top plate;    wherein said stiffener vertical leg, said top plate and said back plate are adapted to be located adjacent a plurality of locations along said front face, said top edge and said back face of said vertical leg, respectively.    
   
   
       20 . A lintel member according to  claim 12 , wherein said stiffener bracket attachment means further comprises: 
 a plurality of fasteners in said stiffener bracket vertical leg, said plurality of fastener being selected from the group consisting of: snap fasteners, threaded fasteners, nails, adhesives and sealing coated fasteners.