Structural Alignment Member

Abstract

A structural alignment member for use in operably receiving a plurality of structural support members in a customizable arrangement includes a unitary main body having an elongated base portion and first and second end flanges extending upwardly from first and second substantially opposed sides thereof. The main body is partially separated into a plurality of support member receptor portions, between which are disposed one or more preformed creases in at least one of the base portion and the first end flange. The preformed creases integrally interconnect respective adjacent pair of support member receptor portions.

1 . A structural alignment member for use in operably receiving a plurality of structural support members in a customizable arrangement, said structural alignment member comprising:
 (a) a single-piece main body having an elongated base portion with an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, and first and second substantially opposed sides extending along a length of said base portion;   (b) first and second end flanges extending upwardly from said upper surface of said base portion at said first and second sides, and further extending along said length of said base portion;   (c) said main body being partially separated into a plurality of support member receptor portions; and   (d) one or more preformed creases in at least one of said base portion and said first end flange, and being interposed between and integrally connecting respective adjacent said support member receptor portions,
 such that said support member receptor portions are operably repositionable with respect to one another along a plurality of distinct planes, wherein said creases are formed prior to repositioning of said support member receptor portions. 
   
   
   
       2 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 1  wherein said first and second end flanges extend perpendicularly upwardly from said base portion. 
   
   
       3 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 1  wherein adjacent ones of said support member receptor portions are partially separated by respective cut-out portions disposed in said base portion and extending partially transversely thereacross, said cut-out portions each defining an open gap in said base portion, and respective cuts extending through said second end flange. 
   
   
       4 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 3  wherein said cut-out portions extend across at least about fifty percent of a width dimension of said base portion. 
   
   
       5 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 3  wherein said cut-out portions are spaced apart along the length of said base portion at predetermined intervals. 
   
   
       6 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 5  wherein said predetermined intervals are each four inches. 
   
   
       7 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 3 , including a fastener aperture disposed in said second end flange adjacent to each of the cuts, such that a fastener may locatably couple respective adjacent overlapped portions of said second end flange to one another. 
   
   
       8 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 1 , including one or more overlay tabs longitudinally extending from the base portions of respective support member receptor portions to thereby operably overlap adjacent support member receptor portions. 
   
   
       9 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 8  wherein each of said overlay tabs include a fastener aperture therein. 
   
   
       10 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 1  wherein said preformed creases are disposed in both said base portion and said first end flange. 
   
   
       11 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 10  wherein respective pairs of said preformed creases interconnecting respective adjacent said support member receptor portions coextensively meet at a merge point. 
   
   
       12 . A structural alignment member for use in operably receiving a structural support member, said structural alignment member comprising:
 a main body being partially separated into a plurality of support member receptor portions, said main body having:
 (a) a base portion; 
 (b) a first end flange extending substantially perpendicularly from a first side of the base portion and further extending substantially along a length of said base portion; 
 (c) a first crease in said first end flange, said first crease including a first apex that is spaced from a plane of a portion of said first end flange adjacent to said first crease; and 
 (d) a second crease in said base portion, said second crease including a second apex that is spaced from a plane of a portion of said base portion adjacent to said second crease, 
 wherein said first and second creases integrally connect respective adjacent support member receptor portions to permit said support member receptor portions to be repositioned with respect to one another along a plurality of distinct planes. 
   
   
   
       13 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 12  including a second end flange extending substantially perpendicularly from a second side of said base portion and further extending substantially along said length of said base portion. 
   
   
       14 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 12  wherein first and second creases coextensively meet at a merge point. 
   
   
       15 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 12  wherein said first and second creases are formed prior to repositioning of said support member receptor portions. 
   
   
       16 . A structural alignment member for use in operably receiving a structural support member, said structural alignment member comprising:
 a single-piece main body being partially separated into a plurality of support member receptor portions, said main body having:
 (a) a base partially separated into a series of base portions each associated with a support member receptor portion′ 
 (b) a first end flange extending substantially perpendicularly from a first side of the base portion and further extending substantially alogn a length of said base portion; 
 (c) a first crease in said first end flange, said first crease including a first apex that is spaced from a plane of a portion of said first end flange adjacent to said first crease, and said first crease integrally connecting respective adjacent support member receptor portions to permit said support member receptor portions to be repositioned with respect to one another along a plurality of distinct planes; and 
 (d) a second end flange extending substantially perpendicularly from a second side of said base portion and further extending substantially along said length of said base portion, said second end flange being separated into a series of separated and overlapping end flange portions each associated with a respective support member receptor portion. 
   
   
   
       17 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 16 , including a second crease in said base portion, said second crease including a second apex that is spaced from a plane of a portion of said base portion adjacent to said second crease. 
   
   
       18 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 17  wherein said first and second creases coextensively meet at a merge point. 
   
   
       19 . A structural alignment member as in  claim 16 , including a fastener aperture disposed in each of said end flange portions.