Architectural canopy system, modular canopy components, and apparatus and methods for constructing same

Abstract

A modular architectural canopy system is disclosed. The architectural canopy system may include a frame, a panel ceiling disposed in the frame, an architectural element snap fit to the frame, and a hanging rod support. The architectural canopy system further may include a bottom infill ceiling and/or a skylight.

1 . A structural member for a modular architectural canopy system, the structural member having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a first vertical wall which comprises
 a superior end, 
 a catch adjacent to the superior end, 
 an indexing ledge extending upward from the superior end, and 
 an inferior end; 
   a second vertical wall spaced from the first vertical wall, which comprises
 an upper end, 
 a lower end, and 
 a cantilevered track adjacent to the upper end, which comprises
 a base segment abutting the second vertical wall, 
 an interior segment abutting the base segment, 
 a rear ledge abutting the interior segment, and 
 a front ledge abutting the second vertical wall, the front ledge being spaced from the rear ledge and disposed opposite the rear ledge, the rear ledge and the front ledge defining a slot, and the base segment, the interior segment, the rear ledge, the front ledge, and the second vertical wall framing a cantilever track receptacle, 
 
 an inferior hook disposed opposite from the catch on the first vertical wall, 
 a superior hook disposed adjacent to the cantilevered track, and 
 an intermediate hook disposed between the hook and the superior hook; and 
   a first transverse wall disposed between the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall,   wherein the first vertical wall, the first transverse wall, and the second vertical wall frame a gutter.   
     
     
         2 . The structural member of  claim 1 , further comprising a second transverse wall disposed between the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall, the first vertical wall, the first transverse wall, the second vertical wall, and the second transverse wall framing an inferior duct. 
     
     
         3 . The structural member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exterior wall spaced from the second vertical wall, which comprises
 a superior end, and 
 an inferior end, 
   a superior partition extending between the second vertical wall and the exterior wall,   an intermediate partition extending between the second vertical wall and the exterior wall, and   an inferior partition extending between the second vertical wall and the exterior wall.   
     
     
         4 . The structural member of  claim 3 , wherein the second vertical wall, the superior partition, the exterior wall, and the intermediate partition comprise a superior hollow structural section, and the second vertical wall, the intermediate partition, the exterior wall, and the inferior partition comprise an intermediate hollow structural section. 
     
     
         5 . The structural member of  claim 4 , wherein the second vertical wall, the superior partition, the exterior wall, and the intermediate partition frame a superior duct, and the second vertical wall, the intermediate partition, the exterior wall, and the inferior partition frame an intermediate duct. 
     
     
         6 . The structural member of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the exterior wall further comprises
 an inferior front edge adjacent the inferior end, and 
 an inferior front ledge disposed between the inferior front edge and the inferior partition; and 
   the second vertical wall further comprises
 an inferior rear edge adjacent to the lower end, and 
 an inferior rear ledge disposed between the inferior rear edge and the inferior partition; wherein the inferior front ledge is spaced from the inferior rear ledge and disposed opposite the inferior rear ledge, and the inferior front edge is spaced from the inferior rear edge and disposed opposite the inferior rear edge, the inferior rear edge and the inferior front edge comprising an inferior exterior accessory seat, and the inferior rear ledge, the second vertical wall, the inferior partition, and the inferior front ledge comprising an inferior exterior corner bracket receptacle. 
   
     
     
         7 . The structural member of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the exterior wall further comprises
 a superior front edge adjacent the superior end, and 
 a superior front ledge disposed between the superior front edge and the superior partition; and 
   the second vertical wall further comprises
 a superior rear edge adjacent to the upper end, and 
 a superior rear ledge disposed between the superior rear edge and the superior partition; wherein the superior front ledge is spaced from the superior rear ledge and disposed opposite the superior rear ledge, and the superior front edge is spaced from the superior rear edge and disposed opposite the superior rear edge, the superior rear edge and the superior front edge comprising a superior exterior accessory seat, and the superior rear ledge, the second vertical wall, the superior partition, and the superior front ledge comprising a superior exterior corner bracket receptacle. 
   
     
     
         8 . The structural member of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a superior interior wall spaced from the first vertical wall, which comprises
 an upper end, and 
 a lower end, 
   an upper partition extending between the first vertical wall and the superior interior wall,   a lower partition extending between the first vertical wall and the superior interior wall.   
     
     
         9 . The structural member of  claim 8 , wherein the first vertical wall, the upper partition, the superior interior wall, and the base partition comprise an interior hollow structural section. 
     
     
         10 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein the first vertical wall, the upper partition, the superior interior wall, and the base partition frame an interior duct. 
     
     
         11 . The structural member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the superior interior wall further comprises an upper rear ledge abutting the upper end, and   the first vertical wall further comprises an upper front ledge abutting the superior end,   the upper rear ledge being spaced from the upper front ledge and disposed opposite the upper front ledge, and the superior interior wall, the upper rear ledge, the upper front ledge, the first vertical wall, and the upper partition comprising a superior interior corner bracket receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The structural member of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an inferior interior wall spaced from the first vertical wall, which comprises
 a top end, 
 a bottom end, and 
   a base partition extending between the first vertical wall and the inferior interior wall.   
     
     
         13 . The structural member of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the inferior interior wall further comprises
 an inferior rear edge adjacent to the bottom end, and 
 an inferior rear ledge disposed between the inferior rear edge and the base partition; and 
   the first vertical wall further comprises
 an inferior front edge adjacent to the inferior end, and 
 an inferior front ledge disposed between the inferior front edge and the base partition, the inferior front ledge being spaced from the inferior rear ledge and disposed opposite the inferior rear ledge, and wherein the inferior front edge is spaced from the inferior rear edge and disposed opposite the inferior rear edge, the inferior rear edge and the inferior front edge comprise a inferior interior accessory seat, and wherein the inferior rear ledge, the inferior interior wall, base partition, the first vertical wall, and the inferior rear ledge comprise an inferior interior corner bracket receptacle. 
   
     
     
         14 . The structural member of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the lower partition further comprises
 an upper edge adjacent to the lower end, and 
 an upper ledge disposed between the upper edge and the first vertical wall; and 
   the base partition further comprises
 a lower edge adjacent to the top end, and 
 a lower ledge disposed between the lower edge and the first vertical wall, 
   the lower ledge being spaced from the upper ledge and disposed opposite from the upper ledge, and wherein the upper edge is spaced from the lower edge and disposed opposite the lower edge, and the upper edge and the lower edge comprise an intermediate interior accessory seat, and the upper ledge, the lower partition, the first vertical wall, the base partition, and the lower ledge comprise an intermediate interior corner bracket receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy frame comprising:
 the structural member of  claim 1 , and   a fastening bracket which comprises
 a first plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, 
 a second plate connected to the first plate, the second plate comprising
 a front surface adjacent to the lower surface, the front surface and the lower surface being disposed to form a right angle, and 
 a rear surface adjacent to the upper surface, the rear surface comprising
 an upper hook, and 
 a lower hook, and 
 
 a bottom surface between the front surface and the rear surface, 
 
   the fastening bracket being arranged between the first vertical wall and the catch, the front surface abutting the first vertical wall, and the rear surface abutting the catch.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy frame of  claim 15 , wherein the catch further comprises a texture, and the rear surface of the fastening bracket comprises a mating texture, the texture and the mating texture being configured and dimensioned to engage when the bottom surface of the fastening bracket is received between the first vertical wall and the catch. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy comprising:
 the apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy frame of  claim 15 , and   a panel which comprises
 a top surface, 
 a bottom surface, and 
 a side surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, 
   the panel being arranged with the side surface abutting the indexing ledge and the bottom surface overlaying the superior interior corner bracket receptacle.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 17 , wherein the lower surface of the fastening bracket is arranged over the top surface of the panel to hold the panel against the superior interior corner bracket receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 18 , wherein the panel has rectangular shape. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 19 , wherein the panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the cross-section comprises a tongue-in-groove profile. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 17 , further comprising another panel. 
     
     
         22 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 17 , wherein the panel comprises a fiberglass core and an exterior aluminum coating. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 26 , wherein the panel is an insulated roofing sandwich panel. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 17 , wherein the panel comprises a polyisocyanurate foam core and an exterior aluminum coating. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 28 , wherein the panel further comprises an internal reinforcing member. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus for constructing an architectural canopy of  claim 29 , wherein the internal reinforcing member is an aluminum tube. 
     
     
         31 - 87 . (canceled)