Reinforced load bearing structure

Abstract

A reinforced concrete load bearing structure in the form of a concrete beam or slab includes a concrete structural member and a hollow element such as a PVC pipe or steel tube extending through the concrete structural member. The load bearing structure also includes a plurality of steel reinforced rods and steel stirrups or rivets formed into a cage like skeleton surrounding the hollow element and being encased in the concrete that forms the concrete structural member. In an alternative form a concrete slab or floor having a length, width and thickness with a plurality of parallel load bearing supports is disclosed. The integral support has a rectangular or trapezoidal shape that extends downwardly under the floor with a hollow tube surrounded by a case like structure extending through the support member.

1 . A reinforced load bearing structure comprising:
 an outer longitudinally extending concrete load bearing structural member and an inner longitudinally extending hollow element encased within said outer longitudinally extending load bearing structural member;   a plurality of reinforcing rods extending through said outer longitudinally extending concrete load bearing structural members; and   a plurality of stirrups spaced longitudinally along said inner longitudinally extending hollow element, and around said element, in contact with said reinforcing rods and encased by said outer longitudinally extending load bearing structural member.   
   
   
       2 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 1  in which said reinforcing rods and said stirrups are metal. 
   
   
       3 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 2  in which said reinforcing rods and said stirrups are made of steel. 
   
   
       4 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 2  in which said plurality of reinforcing rods and said stirrups are joined together at their points of contact. 
   
   
       5 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 4  in which said reinforcing rods and said stirrups are welded together at their points of contact. 
   
   
       6 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 4  in which said outer longitudinally extending concrete load bearing structural member has a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       7 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 5  in which said inner longitudinally extending hollow element comprises a steel tube. 
   
   
       8 . A reinforced load bearing structure according to  claim 5  in which said inner longitudinally extending hollow element is a plastic pipe. 
   
   
       9 . A reinforced concrete slab comprising:
 a concrete floor having a length, a width and a thickness and a plurality of parallel integral support members or beams running across said floor in a first direction and extending downwardly therefrom with a thickness greater than the thickness of said floor and each of said support members comprising an outer longitudinally extending load bearing structural member and an inner longitudinally extending hollow element encased within said integral support member; and   a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing rods extending through said support member and a plurality of stirrups spaced longitudinally along said inner longitudinally extending hollow element around said hollow element and in contact with said reinforcing rods and encased in said support member.   
   
   
       10 . A reinforced concrete slab consisting of:
 a concrete floor having a length, a width and a thickness and a plurality of parallel integral support members or beams running across and under said floor in a first direction and extending downwardly therefrom with the thickness in the downward direction equal to about two times the thickness of said floor and each of said support members including an inner longitudinally extending hollow element incased within said support member;   a first plurality of steel reinforcing rods in a planar floor portion and a second plurality of steel reinforcing rods extending longitudinally through said support member and a plurality of stirrups spaced longitudinally along said hollow element and surround said hollow element and each of said stirrups in contact with and welded to said second plurality of steel reinforcing rods to form a cage like structure around said hollow element.   
   
   
       11 . A reinforced concrete slab according to  claim 10  in which said hollow element is a plastic pipe. 
   
   
       12 . A reinforced concrete slab according to  claim 10  in which said hollow element is a steel tube. 
   
   
       13 . A reinforced concrete slab according to  claim 12  in which said hollow element has a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       14 . A reinforced concrete slab according to  claim 10  in which said hollow element is filled with a plastic foam.