Box lintel

Abstract

A box lintel includes a hollow form defining an inner space. A foam material region is positioned in the inner space and adjacent to the hollow form so that the foam material region occupies a portion of the inner space and defines a volume for receiving masonry material. The amount of the foam material region positioned in the inner space is chosen to provide the box lintel with a desired weight.

1 . A box lintel, comprising: 
 a hollow form defining an inner space; and    a foam material region positioned in the inner space and adjacent to the hollow form so that the foam material region occupies a portion of the inner space and defines a volume for receiving masonry material.    
   
   
       2 . The lintel of  claim 1 , further including masonry material positioned in the volume defined by the foam material region.  
   
   
       3 . The lintel of  claim 2 , wherein an amount of the foam material region and the masonry material positioned in the inner space is chosen to provide the box lintel with a desired strength.  
   
   
       4 . The lintel of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow form is flexible and the foam material region is rigid.  
   
   
       5 . The lintel of  claim 2 , further including an elongated reinforcing bar positioned in the inner space and extending through the masonry material.  
   
   
       6 . The lintel of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the hollow form is separated from the masonry material by the foam material region.  
   
   
       7 . The lintel of  claim 1 , wherein the foam material region is less dense than the masonry material.  
   
   
       8 . A box lintel incorporated in a masonry wall, comprising: 
 a masonry wall with an opening therethrough including upright supports defining each side of the opening;    an elongated, hollow metal form having an inner space defined by a lower wall, integrally formed side walls extending upwardly therefrom, the form having integrally formed partial upper walls extending inwardly from the side walls, the partial upper walls providing a flat upper load bearing surface for carrying a row of masonry blocks, the hollow metal form being supported by the upright supports and positioned to span the opening;    a foam material region positioned in the hollow metal form so that it occupies a portion of the inner space, the foam material region being adjacent to the hollow metal form; and    a masonry material region positioned in the hollow metal form so that it occupies the rest of the inner space, the foam material region having a density less than a density of the masonry material region.    
   
   
       9 . The lintel of  claim 8 , wherein the masonry material region includes grout/mortar.  
   
   
       10 . The lintel of  claim 8 , wherein the metal form is flexible so that it conforms to the shape of the foam material region.  
   
   
       11 . The lintel of  claim 8 , further including a first course of partially hollow masonry positioned on the partial upper walls of the metal form.  
   
   
       12 . The lintel of  claim 11 , further including first and second elongated reinforcing bars extending through the masonry material region and the first course of partially hollow masonry, respectively, the first and second elongated reinforcing rods being coupled together.  
   
   
       13 . The lintel of  claim 11 , wherein the masonry material region extends into the first course of partially hollow masonry to increase the load bearing strength of the box lintel.  
   
   
       14 . The lintel of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of the foam and masonry material regions positioned in the inner space is chosen to provide the box lintel with a desired weight and strength.  
   
   
       15 . A method of installing a box lintel, comprising: 
 providing a masonry wall with an opening therethrough including upright supports defining each side of the opening;    providing a hollow metal form defining an inner space;    positioning a foam material region in the hollow metal form so that it occupies a portion of the inner space; and    positioning the hollow metal form, with the foam material region therein, on the upright supports to span the opening.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including providing a masonry material in the inner space.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including choosing the amount of the foam material region and the masonry material to provide the box lintel with a desired weight.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the foam material region defines a volume for receiving the masonry material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further including positioning masonry blocks on the hollow metal form.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further including providing a reinforcing bar which extends through the masonry material.