Construction member

Abstract

A construction member is described and which includes a first portion mounted on a first structural component; and a second portion mounted on a second structural component, and which matingly engages the first portion, and wherein the first and second portions facilitate the movement of the first and second structural components one relative to the other.

1 . A construction member comprising: 
 a first portion mounted on a first structural component; and    a second portion mounted on a second structural component, and which matingly engages the first portion, and wherein the first and second portions facilitate the movement of the first and second structural components, one relative to the other.    
   
   
       2 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the first and second structural components move along paths of travel which are substantially coplanar.  
   
   
       3 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the first portion has a main body with opposite sides, and wherein the main body defines opposite first and second channels which are defined by the respective opposite sides.  
   
   
       4 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the main body of the first portion has opposite first and second ends, and wherein the first and second channels extend substantially from the first to the second ends thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the first channel has a first width dimension, and the second channel has a second width dimension which is less than the first width dimension.  
   
   
       6 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 5 , and wherein the second width dimension is at least about 20% to about 80% of the first width dimension.  
   
   
       7 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 5 , and wherein the main body of the first portion defines a pair of depending legs which are positioned in substantially parallel spaced relation, one relative to the other, and wherein the first channel is defined in part, by the pair of depending legs, and wherein at least one of the depending legs of the main body is fastened to the first structural component.  
   
   
       8 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein the first structural component is received in the first channel, and wherein the main body defines a seat which limits the movement of the first structural component into the first channel.  
   
   
       9 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein the second portion has a main body with opposite sidewalls, and wherein the main body has a width dimension as measured between the opposite sidewalls, and wherein the width dimension of the second portion is less than the width dimension of the second channel of the first portion.  
   
   
       10 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the seat constrains the movement of the second portion into the second channel.  
   
   
       11 . A construction member comprising: 
 a first portion defining a first channel which matingly receives a first structural component, and which is oriented in a first direction, and a second channel which is oriented in an opposite, second direction; and    a second portion mounted on a second structural component, and which is matingly received in the second channel, and wherein the first and second portions permit substantially coplanar movement of the first and second structural components, one relative to the other.    
   
   
       12 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 11 , and wherein the first and second portions facilitate substantially coplanar lateral movement of the first and second structural members, one relative to the other.  
   
   
       13 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the first and second portions facilitate a partial, substantially coplanar, rotational movement of the first and second structural components one relative to the other.  
   
   
       14 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the first portion has a main body having opposite first and second sides, and first and second ends, and wherein the first side of the main body defines the first channel, and the opposite, second side, defines the second channel, and wherein the respective first and second channels extend substantially between the first and second ends thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 14 , and wherein the main body of the first portion defines a seat, and wherein the first structural component is received in the first channel and constrained against further movement by the seat, and wherein the first structural component is fastened to the main body of the first portion.  
   
   
       16 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the first channel, defined by the first portion, has a first width dimension, and wherein the second channel has a width dimension which is equal to or less than about 80% of the width dimension of the first channel.  
   
   
       17 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 16 , and wherein the second portion is fastened to the second structural component, and further has opposite sidewalls which defines a width dimension for the second portion, and wherein the width dimension of the second portion is less than the width dimension of the second channel.  
   
   
       18 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 17 , and wherein the first portion is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       19 . A construction member for facilitating movement of structural components along a given reference plane, comprising: 
 a first portion having a main body which has opposite first and second ends, and further has opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein the main body has a first course, a second course joined to the first course, and which is substantially perpendicular to the first course, a third course, which is joined to the second course, and which is substantially perpendicular to the second course, and which is disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation relative to the first course, a fourth course, joined to the third course, and which is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the third course and which further is disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation relative to the second course, a fifth course, joined to the fourth course and which is substantially perpendicular to the fourth course, and which further is disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation relative to the third course, a sixth course joined to the fifth course and which is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the fifth course, and which is further disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation relative to the fourth course, and which further is disposed in a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the third course, and a seventh course, joined to the sixth course, and which is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the sixth course, and which is further disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation relative to the first, third, and fifth courses, and wherein a first channel is defined, at least in part, between the first and seventh courses, and which extends between the first and second ends of the main body, and wherein the first channel has a first width dimension, and wherein the first channel matingly receives a first structural component therein, and which is fastened to at least one of the first or seventh courses, and wherein the third, fourth and fifth courses define a second channel which extends substantially between the first and second ends of the main body and which further has a second width dimension which is less than about 80% of the first width dimension; and    a second portion mounted on a second structural component and which has a first course, a second course joined to the first course, and which is substantially perpendicular to the first course, and wherein the second course is juxtaposed relative to the second structural component, and a third course joined to the second course, and which is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the second course, and which is further disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation relative to the first course, and wherein the second portion has a width dimension as measured between the first and third courses thereof, and which is less than about the width dimension of the second channel, and wherein the second portion is moveably received, at least in part, in the second channel and facilitates substantially coplanar movement of the first and second structural components, one relative to the other.    
   
   
       20 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 19 , and wherein the first and seventh courses of the first portion have a substantially similar width dimension, and wherein the third and fifth courses of the first portion have a substantially similar width dimension, and wherein the width dimension of the third and fifth courses is less than the width dimension of the first and seventh courses.  
   
   
       21 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 20 , and wherein the first and third courses of the second component have a width dimension which is less than the width dimension of the third and fifth courses of the first portion.  
   
   
       22 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 20 , and wherein the first and third courses of the second portion have a width dimension which is greater than the width dimension of the third and fifth courses of the first portion.  
   
   
       23 . A construction member as claimed in  claim 20 , and wherein the coplanar movement of the first and second structural components includes partial rotational and/or linear movements of the respective first and second structural components.