Channel cover

Abstract

A channel cover for an aluminum extrusion member or other formed structural member having a channel longitudinally formed in a side of the member includes an upper portion or member having an exterior surface, a first side portion or member connected to and extending from the upper member, a second side portion or member connected to the upper member opposite from the first side member at a first distance from the first side member, and a lower member having an exterior surface, the first side member attaching to the lower member, and the second side member attaching to the lower member at a second distance from the first side member, the second distance being different from the first distance. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second side members converge towards each other as they extend from the upper member towards the lower member. The portion of the channel cover between the upper and lower members and the first and second side members can either be solid, or alternatively each of the members can have an interior surface with their interior surfaces defining a hollow, interior channel.

1 . A channel cover for an aluminum extrusion or other formed structural member having a channel longitudinally formed in a side of the member comprising:
 an upper member having an upper proximal flange, an upper distal flange, and an upper bridge connecting the upper proximal flange to the upper distal flange;   a lower member having a lower proximal flange, a lower distal flange, and a lower bridge connecting the lower proximal flange to the lower distal flange;   a first side member having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connecting to a proximal end of the upper bridge and the lower end connecting to a proximal end of the lower bridge; and   a second side member having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connecting to a distal end of the upper bridge and the lower end connected to a distal end of the lower bridge;   wherein a first distance that is the distance between the upper end of the first side member and the upper end of the second side member exceeds a second distance that is the distance between the lower end of the first side member and the lower end of the second side member, and   wherein the upper bridge, the lower bridge, the first side member, and the second side member have interior surfaces that define a hollow, interior channel.   
   
   
       2 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surfaces of the first and second side members contact each other above where they connect to the lower bridge of the lower member. 
   
   
       3 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the upper member, lower member, first side member and second side member is non-planar. 
   
   
       4 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the upper member, lower member, first side member and second side member is planar. 
   
   
       5 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of at least one of the upper member, lower member, first side member and second side member is non-planar. 
   
   
       6 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of at least one of the upper member, lower member, first side member and second side member is planar. 
   
   
       7 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein each of the upper member and the lower member has an exterior surface, and at least one of the exterior and interior surfaces of the upper member and the lower member are non-planar and are not parallel to each other. 
   
   
       8 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first side member is substantially the same as a length of the second side member. 
   
   
       9 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the upper member exceeds a length of the lower member. 
   
   
       10 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the upper member does not exceed a length of the lower member. 
   
   
       11 . The channel cover of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first side member is inwardly spaced from a proximal end of the upper member to form the upper proximal flange and inwardly spaced from a proximal end of the lower member to form the lower proximal flange, and   the second side member is inwardly spaced from a distal end of the upper member to form the upper distal flange and inwardly spaced from a distal end of the lower member to form the lower distal flange.   
   
   
       12 . A channel cover for an aluminum extrusion member or other formed structural member having a channel longitudinally formed in a side of the member comprising:
 an upper portion having an exterior surface and a proximal end and a distal end and a length from the proximal end to the distal end;   a lower portion having an exterior surface and a proximal end and a distal end and a length from the proximal end to the distal end;   a first side portion having an exterior surface, the first side portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion and having a length therebetween;   a second side portion, opposite from the first side portion, having an exterior surface, the second side portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion and having a length therebetween;   wherein the first and second side portions converge towards each other as they extend from the upper portion towards the lower portion.   
   
   
       13 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the upper portion, lower portion and first and second side portions define a solid core. 
   
   
       14 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the exterior surface of at least one of the upper portion, lower portion, first side portion and second side portion is non-planar. 
   
   
       15 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the exterior surface of at least one of the upper portion, lower portion, first side portion and second side portion is planar. 
   
   
       16 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the first side portion is substantially the same as the length of the second side portion. 
   
   
       17 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the upper portion exceeds the length of the lower portion. 
   
   
       18 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the upper portion does not exceed the length of the lower portion. 
   
   
       19 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein
 the first side portion is inwardly spaced from a proximal end of the upper portion and from a proximal end of the lower portion, and   the second side portion is inwardly spaced from a distal end of the upper portion and from a distal end of the lower portion.   
   
   
       20 . The channel cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first side portion has a length that is substantially the same as a length of the second side portion. 
   
   
       21 . The channel cover of  claim 12 , wherein each of the upper portion, lower portion, first side portion and second side portion has an interior surface and the interior surfaces of the portions define a hollow, interior channel. 
   
   
       22 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , wherein the interior surfaces of the first and second side portions contact each other above where they connect to the lower portion. 
   
   
       23 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , where the interior surface of at least one of the upper portion, lower portion, first side portion and second side portion is non-planar. 
   
   
       24 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , where the interior surface of at least one of the upper portion, lower portion, first side portion and second side portion is planar. 
   
   
       25 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the interior and exterior surfaces of the upper portion and the lower portion are non-planar and not parallel to each other. 
   
   
       26 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , wherein
 the interior surfaces of the upper portion and the lower portion are substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other.   
   
   
       27 . The channel cover of  claim 21 ,
 the upper portion further comprising a proximal flange, a distal flange, and a bridge connecting the proximal flange and the distal flange, and   the lower portion further comprising a proximal flange, a distal flange, and a bridge connecting the proximal flange and the distal flange,   wherein the first side portion connects a proximal end of the bridge of the upper portion to a proximal end of the bridge of the lower portion, and the second side portion connects a distal end of the bridge of the upper portion to a distal end of the bridge of the lower portion.   
   
   
       28 . The channel cover of  claim 27 , wherein the length of the first side portion is substantially the same as a length of the second side portion. 
   
   
       29 . The channel cover of  claim 21 , wherein
 the interior surface of the upper portion is substantially planar,   the interior surface of the lower portion is substantially planar, the interior surface of the lower portion being substantially parallel to the interior surface of the upper portion,   the interior surface of the first side portion is substantially planar, and   the interior surface of the second side portion is substantially planar.   
   
   
       30 . A channel cover for an aluminum extension or other formed structural member having a channel longitudinally formed in a side of the member comprising:
 an upper member having an exterior surface, the upper member including an upper proximal flange and an upper distal flange;   a lower member having an exterior surface, the lower member including a lower proximal flange and a lower distal flange, wherein a length of the upper member exceeds a length of the lower member;   a first side member having an exterior surface, the first side member including an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connecting to the upper member at a location inwardly of an end of the upper proximal flange, and the lower end connecting the lower member at a location inwardly of an end of the lower proximal flange; and   a second side member having an exterior surface, the second side member including an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connecting to the upper member at a location inwardly of an end of the upper distal flange, and the lower end connecting to the lower member at a location inwardly of an end of the lower distal flange, wherein a length of the second side member is substantially the same as a length of the first side member, and wherein a distance between the upper end of the first side member and the upper end of the second side member exceeds a distance between the lower end of the first side member and the lower end of the second side member.   
   
   
       31 . The channel cover of  claim 30 , wherein the upper member, lower member and first and second side members define a solid core. 
   
   
       32 . The channel cover of  claim 30 , wherein each of the upper member, lower member and first and second side members has an interior surface and the interior surfaces of the upper member, the lower member, the first side member, and the second side member define the boundary of a hollow, interior channel. 
   
   
       33 . The channel cover of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the interior and exterior surfaces of the upper member and the lower member are non-planar and not parallel.