I-beam joist having openings formed therein for mechanical access

Abstract

The I-beam of this invention is formed from a pair of parallel flange members and a continuous web material affixed to and joining the flange members. The web material is formed so as to define a plurality of differently shaped holes therein that provide access for mechanical elements without compromising the compressive and tensile load capability of the I-beam. The web material is preferably formed from OSB and even more preferably ⅝ inch thick OSB. In addition, the I-beam of this invention preferably has one end where the web material is continuous and does not define any openings therein. This portion of the I-beam thus allows the I-beam to be trimmed so standard lengths of the I-beam can be cut to the desired length for a particular application.

1 . A wooden I-beam structure, comprising:
 a pair of parallel flange members; and   a continuous web material having a defined length and a top affixed to and adjoining one of the pair of the parallel flange members and a bottom affixed to and adjoining the other of the pair of the parallel flange members, wherein the continuous web material defines a plurality of openings therein along the length such that a first generally rectangular opening is located adjacent to a first side portion of the continuous web material, a central generally rectangular opening is located adjacent a center portion of the continuous web material, a first generally triangular opening is located between the first generally rectangular opening and the central generally rectangular opening, and a second generally triangular opening is located along a second side portion of the continuous web material.   
   
   
       2 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 1  wherein the first generally rectangular opening defines an area less than an area of the central generally rectangular opening. 
   
   
       3 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 1  wherein the first generally triangular opening and the second generally triangular opening are right isosceles triangles. 
   
   
       4 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 3  wherein the first generally triangular opening defines a first apex and the second generally triangular opening defines a second apex and wherein the first apex and the second apex are directed to the bottom of the continuous web material. 
   
   
       5 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 4  further comprising a first set of triangular openings between the first generally triangular opening and the central generally rectangular opening and a second set of triangular openings between the central generally rectangular opening and the second generally triangular opening. 
   
   
       6 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 5  wherein each triangular opening in the first set of triangular openings defines a side that is substantially parallel to a side of the adjacent triangular opening. 
   
   
       7 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 6  wherein each triangular opening in the second set of triangular openings defines a side that is substantially parallel to a side of the adjacent triangular opening. 
   
   
       8 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 7  further comprising a first generally right triangular opening adjacent to a first side of the central generally rectangular opening. 
   
   
       9 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 8  further comprising a second generally right triangular opening adjacent to a second side of the central generally rectangular opening. 
   
   
       10 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 9  wherein the first generally right triangular opening defines a first hypotenuse adjacent to the first set of triangular openings and the second generally right triangular opening defines a second hypotenuse adjacent to the second set of triangular openings. 
   
   
       11 . A wooden I-beam structure, comprising:
 a pair of parallel flange members; and   a continuous web material having a defined length, a total area and a top affixed to and adjoining one of the pair of the parallel flange members and a bottom affixed to and adjoining the other of the pair of the parallel flange members, wherein the continuous web material defines a plurality of openings therein along the length such that a first generally rectangular opening is located adjacent to a first side portion of the continuous web material and a central generally rectangular opening is located adjacent a center portion of the continuous web material.   
   
   
       12 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 11  wherein the first generally rectangular opening defines an area less than an area of the central generally rectangular opening. 
   
   
       13 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 12  wherein the openings define an area that is less than about 38% of the total area of the continuous web material. 
   
   
       14 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 13  wherein the openings define an area that is less than about 35% of the total area of the continuous web material. 
   
   
       15 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 12  wherein the openings define an area that is less than about 24% of the total area of the continuous web material. 
   
   
       16 . A wooden I-beam structure, comprising:
 a pair of parallel flange members; and   a continuous web material having a defined length, a total area and a top affixed to and adjoining one of the pair of the parallel flange members and a bottom affixed to and adjoining the other of the pair of the parallel flange members, wherein the continuous web material defines a plurality of openings therein along the length having an area that is less than about 38% of the total area of the continuous web material and such that a first generally rectangular opening is located adjacent to a first side portion of the continuous web material, a central generally rectangular opening is located adjacent a center portion of the continuous web material, a first intermediate opening is located between the first generally rectangular opening and the central generally rectangular opening, and a second intermediate opening is located along a second side portion of the continuous web material and wherein the second side portion of the continuous web material defines a portion having no openings therein.   
   
   
       17 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 16  wherein the first intermediate opening and the second intermediate opening have a generally circular configuration. 
   
   
       18 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 17  further comprising a first generally triangular opening between the first generally rectangular opening and the first intermediate opening and a second generally triangular opening adjacent to the second intermediate opening. 
   
   
       19 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 16  wherein the first intermediate opening and the second intermediate opening are right isosceles triangles. 
   
   
       20 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 19  wherein the right isosceles triangles each define an apex directed to the bottom of the continuous web material. 
   
   
       21 . The wooden I-beam structure of  claim 16  further comprising a first set of triangular openings between the first generally rectangular opening and the central generally rectangular opening and a second set of triangular openings between the central generally rectangular opening and the second side portion of the continuous web material.