Masonry lintel for long spans

Abstract

A lintel system for supporting masonry blocks above an opening in a structure includes a lintel configured to span a width of the opening. The lintel includes a plurality of elongate splice plates each having opposite longitudinal ends. The splice plates are attached together end to end such that a longitudinal end of each splice plate is attached to a longitudinal end of at least one other splice plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lintel system for supporting masonry blocks above an opening in a structure, the lintel system comprising a lintel having a length configured to span a width of the opening, support plates each having an opening within a perimeter of the support plate, and a slot therein for receiving the lintel therein for mounting the support plate on the lintel, a support rod receivable through the opening in the support plate and configured to be received through the masonry blocks for connecting the masonry blocks to the lintel, wherein the lintel comprises a plurality of separately formed, elongate plate members each having opposite longitudinal ends, the plate members being attached together end to end along the length of the lintel such that a longitudinal end of each plate member is attached to a longitudinal end of at least one other plate member. 
     
     
         2 . The lintel system of  claim 1 , wherein each plate member includes an attachment mechanism at at least one longitudinal end for attaching the plate member to an adjacent plate member. 
     
     
         3 . The lintel system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one plate member includes an attachment mechanism at both longitudinal ends. 
     
     
         4 . The lintel system of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an interlocking formation configured to interlock with an adjacent plate member and restrict adjacent plate members from being pulled apart. 
     
     
         5 . The lintel system of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism is formed as one piece of material with the plate member. 
     
     
         6 . The lintel system of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one of a projection and a recess configured to mate with the other of a projection and a recess of an attachment mechanism on an adjacent plate member. 
     
     
         7 . The lintel system of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one attachment plate mounted on abutting longitudinal ends of adjacent plate members. 
     
     
         8 . The lintel system of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least two attachment plates mounted on the abutting longitudinal ends of the adjacent plate members. 
     
     
         9 . The lintel system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one attachment plate is welded to the plate members. 
     
     
         10 . The lintel system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one attachment plate is bolted to the plate members. 
     
     
         11 . The lintel system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate members are welded to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The lintel system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate members are bolted to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The lintel system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate members have an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         14 . The lintel system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate members have a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         15 . A lintel system for supporting masonry blocks above an opening in a structure, the lintel system comprising a lintel configured to span a width of the opening, support plates each having an opening within a perimeter of the support plate, and a slot therein for receiving the lintel therein for mounting the support plate on the lintel, a support rod receivable through the opening in the support plate and configured to be received through the masonry blocks for connecting the masonry blocks to the lintel, wherein the lintel comprises a plurality of plate members attached to each other, each plate member including one of a projection and a recess, a projection on a first plate member being configured to be received in a recess of a second plate member adjacent the first plate member for interlocking the first and second plate members together. 
     
     
         16 . The lintel system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second plate members are welded together. 
     
     
         17 . The lintel system of  claim 15 , wherein the projection is disposed on a longitudinal end of the first plate member and the recess is disposed in a longitudinal end of the second plate member. 
     
     
         18 . The lintel system of  claim 15 , wherein the plate members have an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         19 . The lintel system of  claim 15 , wherein the plate members have a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         20 . The lintel system of  claim 15 , wherein the lintel further comprises supports disposed at longitudinal ends of the lintel.