System and method having an improved beam and beam coupling system

Abstract

A building system that utilizes an improved beam and coupling system for building a frame or structure having improved strength and durability and improving performance and/or spanning distance of the beam.

1 . A building system, comprising:
 a horizontal support beam having a first open end, an opposite second open end, a beam aperture extending longitudinally through the horizontal support beam between the first and second open ends, and at least two spline grooves formed in the horizontal support beam;   a first vertical support beam operatively coupled to the horizontal support beam via a first internal coupler inserted into at least an open end of the first vertical support beam;   a second vertical support beam operatively coupled to the horizontal support beam via a second internal coupler inserted into at least an open end of the second vertical support beam; and   at least one vertical wall screen mounted in at least one of the at least two spline grooves of the horizontal support beam,   wherein the horizontal support beam and the first and second vertical support beams define a viewing area through the at least one vertical wall screen that is unobstructed by any support beam structure.   
     
     
         2 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal coupler is an anchor coupler mounted to the horizontal support beam and inserted into the open end of the first vertical support beam. 
     
     
         3 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal coupler is an anchor coupler mounted to the horizontal support beam and inserted into the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         4 . The building system of  claim 2 , further wherein the second internal coupler is an anchor coupler mounted to the horizontal support beam and inserted into the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         5 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal coupler is a corner coupler inserted into the first open end of the horizontal support beam and the open end of the first vertical support beam. 
     
     
         6 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal coupler is a corner coupler inserted into the second open end of the horizontal support beam and the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         7 . The building system of  claim 5 , wherein the second internal coupler is a corner coupler inserted into the second open end of the horizontal support beam and the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         8 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal coupler is a corner coupler inserted into the first open end of the horizontal support beam and the open end of the first vertical support beam, and further where the second internal coupler is an anchor coupler mounted to the horizontal support beam and inserted into the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         9 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal coupler is an anchor coupler mounted to the horizontal support beam and inserted into the open end of the first vertical support beam, and further wherein the second internal coupler is a corner coupler inserted into the second open end of the horizontal support beam and the open end of the second vertical support beam. 
     
     
         10 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support beam comprises:
 a plurality of beam walls that define a pair of opposite first and second facia walls and a pair of opposite first and second end walls extending between the pair of first and second fascia walls.   
     
     
         11 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two spline grooves of the horizontal support beam comprise:
 a first spline groove; and   a second spline groove located generally diagonally to the first spline groove.   
     
     
         12 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two spline grooves of the horizontal support beam comprise:
 a first spline groove located on one of the first or second facia walls and facing outward from a fascia wall surface of the one of the first or second fascia walls; and   a second spline groove located on one of the first or second end walls and facing outward from an end wall surface of the one of the first or second end walls, the second spline groove being located generally diagonally to the first spline groove.   
     
     
         13 . The building system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the plurality of beam walls of the respective first and second horizontal support beams defines a plurality of internal wall surfaces, respectively, that cooperate to define the beam aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The building system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one angled or horizontal ceiling screen mounted in at least one of the at least two spline grooves of the horizontal support beam.   
     
     
         15 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the first internal coupler is a corner coupler, and further comprising:
 at least two fasteners mounted in one of the end walls of the horizontal support beam for securing the horizontal support beam to the first internal coupler.   
     
     
         16 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the second internal coupler is a corner coupler, and further comprising:
 at least two fasteners mounted in one of the end walls of the horizontal support beam for securing the horizontal support beam to the second internal coupler.