Two-Way Architectural Structural System and Modular Support Member

Abstract

An architectural structural system comprises a structural beam and a structural connector. The structural beam includes a first c-beam and a second c-beam adjacently disposed one in parallel to the other. Each of the c-beams has opposed first and second ends. The structural connector has a plurality of transverse blades with opposed faces, one of the plurality of blades being connectedly disposed between the first and second c-beams.

1 . A structural connector comprising:
 a first transverse blade projecting outwardly from a juncture to a distal end and configured to connect to a first horizontal beam;   a second transverse blade projecting outwardly from the juncture to a distal end and configured to connect to a second horizontal beam;   a first lower vertical blade integrally connected to and extending downward from at least a lower portion of the first transverse blade and configured to connect to a first lower column member; and,   a first upper vertical blade integrally connected to and extending upward from at least an upper portion of the first transverse blade and configured to connect to a first upper column member.   
   
   
       2 . The structural connector of  claim 1  wherein the first vertical blade is coplanar with the first transverse blade. 
   
   
       3 . The structural connector of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second lower vertical blade integrally connected to and extending downward from a least a lower portion of the second transverse blade and configured to connect to a second lower column member.   
   
   
       4 . The structural connector of  claim 3  wherein the second vertical blade is coplanar with the second transverse blade. 
   
   
       5 . The structural connector of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a third transverse blade projecting outwardly from the juncture orthogonal to the first transverse blade to a distal end and configured to connect to a third horizontal beam.   
   
   
       6 . The structural connector of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a third lower vertical blade integrally connected to and extending downward from at least a lower portion of the third transverse blade and configured to connect to a third lower column member.   
   
   
       7 . The structural connector of  claim 6  wherein the third vertical blade is coplanar with the third transverse blade. 
   
   
       8 . The structural connector of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a fourth transverse blade projecting outwardly from the juncture orthogonal to the first transverse blade in a direction opposing the third transverse blade to a distal end and configured to connect to a fourth horizontal beam.   
   
   
       9 . The structural connector of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a fourth lower vertical blade integrally connected to and extending downward from at least a lower portion of the fourth transverse blade and configured to connect to a fourth lower column member.   
   
   
       10 . The structural connector of  claim 9  wherein the fourth lower vertical blade is coplanar with the fourth transverse blade. 
   
   
       11 . A structural connector for connecting both horizontal beams and vertical columns in an architectural structural system comprising:
 first and second horizontal transverse blades projecting radially outward from a juncture, having opposed faces, and being connectable to horizontal beams;   first and second lower vertical columnar blades having opposed faces with each lower vertical columnar blade being coplanar with the first and second horizontal transverses blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from a lower edge of a corresponding horizontal transverse blade; and,   first and second upper vertical columnar blades having opposed faces with each upper vertical columnar blade being coplanar with the first and second horizontal transverses blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from an upper edge of a corresponding horizontal transverse blade.   
   
   
       12 . The structural connector of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a third horizontal transverse blade projecting radially outward from the juncture orthogonal to the first and second horizontal transverse blades to form a T-configuration.   
   
   
       13 . The structural connector of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a third lower vertical columnar blade being coplanar with the third horizontal transverse blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from a lower edge of the third transverse blade; and a third upper vertical columnar blade being coplanar with the third horizontal transverse blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from an upper edge of the third transverse blade.   
   
   
       14 . The structural connector of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a fourth horizontal transverse blade projecting radially outward from the juncture orthogonal to the first and second horizontal transverse blades and coplanar to the third horizontal blade to form an X-configuration.   
   
   
       15 . The structural connector of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a fourth lower columnar blade being coplanar with the fourth horizontal transverse blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from a lower edge of the fourth transverse blade;   
     and a fourth upper columnar blade being coplanar with the fourth horizontal transverse blade and extending perpendicularly and vertically from an upper edge of the fourth transverse blade. 
   
   
       16 . The structural connector of  claim 11  wherein the first and second horizontal transverse blades each have a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       17 . A structural connector for connecting both horizontal beams and vertical columns in an architectural structural system comprising:
 first, second and third horizontal transverse blades extending from a common juncture with each blade configured to connect to a horizontal beam; and,   a first lower columnar blade coplanar with and extending from a lower edge of the first horizontal transverse blade and configured to connect to a lower column member; and,   a first upper columnar blade coplanar with and extending from an upper edge of the first horizontal transverse blade and configured to connect to an upper column member.   
   
   
       18 . The structural connector of  claim 17  wherein the first, second and third horizontal transverse blades form a T-configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The structural connector of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a fourth horizontal transverse blade extending from the common juncture and configured to connect to a horizontal beam.   
   
   
       20 . The structural connector of  claim 19  wherein the first, second, third and fourth horizontal transverse blades form an X-configuration.