Support beam for screened enclosure and connectors therefore

Abstract

A beam system for a screened enclosure that includes one piece support beams having an internal channel and three or more spline grooves on one or more exterior sides. The spline grooves are designed to accept and secure screen material. Inserts positionable within the interior channel of adjacent beams may provide increased structural support for larger openings in the screened enclosure. The inserts generally include a central pillar having angular caps attached to opposing lateral edges thereof so that an insert fits snugly within the interior channel of the support beam. The inserts may be secured within the support beams by fastening elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beam system for a screened enclosure, the system comprising:
 a support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile and a hollow interior channel, wherein the support beam extends along a longitudinal axis and is defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls, each wall being planar and joined to adjacent walls at substantially right angles,   wherein the top and bottom walls have a dimension that is greater than a dimension of the first and second sidewalls,   wherein the support beam comprises at least three spline grooves, each of the spline grooves including an outward facing opening and a recessed portion, and   wherein the opening and recessed portion are configured to receive an edge of a screen panel and an elastomeric spline component to secure the screen panel to the rectangular beam.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the first side wall adjacent an edge that connects to the top wall and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall, wherein the second and third spline grooves are position adjacent opposing edges of the bottom wall, wherein each of the top wall and second side wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, wherein each of the first side wall and the top wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support beam includes four spline grooves, wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the top wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, and a fourth spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall of the support beam is absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert sized and configured to fit within the interior channel of the support beam, the insert comprising:
 a central pillar that extends laterally within the interior channel of the support beam between the first and second sides thereof, and longitudinally; and 
 an angular cap attached to each of the opposing lateral ends of the central pillar and extending longitudinally along a length of the central pillar. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each angular cap comprises:
 a closed structure shaped as a septagonal body having seven sides and seven vertices and a hollow interior, wherein the septagonal body is dimensioned and shaped to fit within the interior channel of the support beam such that three sides of the septagonal body are in contact with three corresponding interior sides of the support beam,   wherein the three corresponding interior sides of the support beam comprise inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls and either of the first or second side wall, and   wherein remaining sides of the septagonal body are spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls and the first and second side walls thereby defining at least two clearance gaps.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the septagonal body is connected to the lateral end of the central pillar via one of the seven vertices. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the central pillar passes through a center of the septagonal body and attaches to an interior surface of one of the seven sides that opposes the inner surface of the first or second sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the angular caps of the insert comprise a plurality of apertures extending along a longitudinal length thereof, and the support beam includes openings in the top and bottom walls that are alignable with some or all of the plurality of apertures in the angular caps, wherein aligned apertures of the support beam and the insert are each configured to accept a fastening element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the first side wall adjacent an edge that connects to the top wall and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall, wherein the second and third spline grooves are position adjacent opposing edges of the bottom wall, wherein each of the top wall and second side wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, wherein each of the first side wall and the top wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the support beam includes four spline grooves, wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the top wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, and a fourth spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall of the support beam is absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the first side wall adjacent an edge that connects to the top wall and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall, wherein the second and third spline grooves are position adjacent opposing edges of the bottom wall, wherein each of the top wall and second side wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, wherein each of the first side wall and the top wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support beam includes four spline grooves, wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the top wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, and a fourth spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall of the support beam is absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the first side wall adjacent an edge that connects to the top wall and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall, wherein the second and third spline grooves are position adjacent opposing edges of the bottom wall, wherein each of the top wall and second side wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, wherein each of the first side wall and the top wall of the support beam are absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the support beam includes four spline grooves, wherein a first spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the top wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, second and third spline grooves extend longitudinally along an exterior side of the second side wall and are positioned adjacent opposing edges of the second side wall, and a fourth spline groove extends longitudinally along an exterior side of the bottom wall adjacent an edge that connects to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall of the support beam is absent spline grooves. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for construction of a screened enclosure, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of support beams and inserts according to  claim 16 ;   a quantity of screen material sufficient to fill openings in the screened enclosure between adjacent support beams; and   a quantity of elastomeric spline component sufficient to secure the screen material within the openings,   wherein each of the spline grooves include an outward facing opening and a recessed portion,
 wherein the opening is configured to receive an edge of the screen material and a length of the elastomeric spline component sufficient to secure the screen material to the rectangular beam. 
   
     
     
         20 . A kit for construction of a screened enclosure, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of support beams and inserts according to claim  18 ;   a quantity of screen material sufficient to fill openings in the screened enclosure between adjacent support beams; and   a quantity of elastomeric spline component sufficient to secure the screen material within the openings,   wherein each of the spline grooves include an outward facing opening and a recessed portion,
 wherein the opening is configured to receive an edge of the screen material and a length of the elastomeric spline component sufficient to secure the screen material to the rectangular beam.