Wall with opening and header arrangement therefore

Abstract

In combination with a wall having an opening between opposite wall portions, a header arrangement has an elongated, lower, and substantially horizontal flange with a downwardly open U-shape for embracing the wall portions along at least part of the length of the lower flange, an elongated, and substantially vertical web connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, and substantially horizontal flange connected along an upper edge of the vertical web and also having a U-shape. Web stiffeners and end stiffeners are engaged to the flanges and web to brace the header arrangement against static and dynamic loads.

1 . In combination with a wall having an opening ( 40 ) and a pair of wall portions ( 42 ) on opposite sides of the opening, a header arrangement comprising:
 a pair of connected together, mirror image members each having an elongated, lower, substantially horizontal flange ( 12 ), an elongated, substantially vertical web ( 14 ) connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, substantially horizontal flange ( 16 ) connected along an upper edge of the vertical web;   the lower and upper flanges of each member having outer elongated edges with a downwardly extending flange plate ( 12   a ,  16   a ), the flanges, plates and vertical webs of each member together forming a polygonal pockets ( 18 ) on one side of each vertical web;   the vertical webs ( 14 ) of the members being co-extensive and being fixed to each other so that the flanges ( 12 ,  16 ) and pockets ( 18 ) are on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the lower flanges ( 12 ) of the members together defining a downwardly open U-shape for embracing an upper end of the wall portions ( 42 ) on opposite side of the opening ( 40 ) along at least part of a length of the lower flanges with a remainder of each lower flange ( 12 ) spanning over the opening ( 40 ); and   a plurality of web stiffeners ( 20 ) in the pockets ( 18 ), each stiffener having an outer plate ( 22 ) connected to the flange plates ( 12   a ,  16   a ) of the upper and the lower flanges ( 12 ,  16 ), each stiffener ( 20 ) having a pair of pocket plates ( 24 ) connected on opposite sides of the outer plate ( 22 ) and extending in a pocket ( 18 ) and in close proximity to, or in contact with surfaces of the flanges and the vertical web in the pocket for bracing the flanges and the webs of each member;   each outer plate ( 22 ) being vertically long enough to span a distance between the flange plates of the upper and lower flanges, and to engage under and be connect to the flange plate ( 16   a ) of the upper flange, and to engage over and be connected to the flange plate ( 12   a ) of the lower flange.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web are made of sheet metal, the webs ( 14 ) of the members being connected to each other by spot welding, and the outer plate ( 22 ) of the stiffeners ( 20 ) being connected to the flange plates ( 12   a ,  16   a ) by screws ( 30 ). 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of each member together form a rectangular pocket, the pocket plate ( 24 ) of each stiffener ( 20 ) being rectangular to closely engage surfaces of the flanges and web in each pocket. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener ( 50 ) connected to one end of the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets, the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails ( 52 ) and a wall plate ( 54 ) connected between the vertical rails. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including an L-shaped cover plate ( 80 ) connected to at least one of the upper and lower flanges for covering at least part of one of the pockets. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the header arrangement extends over a window forming the opening ( 40 ) and includes a downwardly U-shaped sill track ( 28 ) for engagement over a lower wall portion ( 46 ) forming a lower end of the window, between the opposite wall portions ( 42 ). 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web together form a header beam, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener ( 50 ) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets ( 18 ), the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails and a wall plate connected between the vertical rails, the header arrangement further including a U-shaped jack panel ( 70 ) under the header arrangement and extending along one side of a window forming the opening ( 40 ), the jack panel having a lower end and the header arrangement including a gusset plate connected to the lower end of the jack panel for reenforcing the jack panel. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 1 , including U-shaped floor track ( 90 ) connected under the wall portions ( 42 ) and having opposite side plates ( 92 ) with spaced slots ( 94 ) in at least one of side plates for drainage in case water is trapped or condenses inside the wall portions. 
   
   
       9 . In combination with a wall having an opening ( 40 ) and a pair of wall portions ( 42 ) on opposite sides of the opening, a header arrangement comprising:
 a pair of connected together, mirror image members each having an elongated, lower, substantially horizontal flange ( 12 ), an elongated, substantially vertical web ( 14 ) connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, substantially horizontal flange ( 16 ) connected along an upper edge of the vertical web;   the lower and upper flanges of each member having outer elongated edges with a downwardly extending flange plate ( 12   a ,  16   a ), the flanges, plates and vertical webs of each member together forming a polygonal pockets ( 18 ) on one side of each vertical web;   the vertical webs ( 14 ) of the members being co-extensive and being fixed to each other so that the flanges ( 12 ,  16 ) and pockets ( 18 ) are on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the lower flanges ( 12 ) of the members together defining a downwardly open U-shape for embracing an upper end of the wall portions ( 42 ) on opposite side of the opening ( 40 ) along at least part of a length of the lower flanges with a remainder of each lower flange ( 12 ) spanning over the opening ( 40 );   a plurality of web stiffeners ( 20 ) in the pockets ( 18 ), each stiffener having an outer plate ( 22 ) connected to the flange plates ( 12   a ,  16   a ) of the upper and the lower flanges ( 12 ,  16 ) of pockets ( 18 ), each stiffener ( 20 ) having a pair of pocket plates ( 24 ) connected on opposite sides of the outer plate ( 22 ) and extending in a pocket ( 18 ) and in close proximity to, or in contact with surfaces of the flanges and the vertical web in the pocket for bracing the flanges and the webs of each member;   each outer plate ( 22 ) being vertically long enough to span a distance between the flange plates of the upper and lower flanges, and to engage under and be connect to the flange plate ( 16   a ) of the upper flange, and to engage over and be connected to the flange plate ( 12   a ) of the lower flange;   the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs; and   at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener ( 50 ) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets, the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails ( 52 ) and a wall plate ( 54 ) connected between the vertical rails;   the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web are made of sheet metal, the webs ( 14 ) of the members being connected to each other by spot welding or screws, and the outer plate ( 22 ) of the stiffeners ( 20 ) being connected to the flange plates ( 12   a ,  16   a ) by screws ( 30 ).   
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of each member together form a rectangular pocket, the pocket plate ( 24 ) of each stiffener ( 20 ) being rectangular to closely engage surfaces of the flanges and web in each pocket. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web of both mirror image members together form a header beam and together create a pair of polygonal pockets on opposite sides of the vertical webs, the header arrangement including an L-shaped cover plate ( 80 ) connected to at least one of the upper and lower flanges for covering at least part of one of the pockets. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the header arrangement is adapted to extend over a window forming the opening ( 40 ) and including a downwardly U-shaped sill track ( 28 ) for engagement over a lower wall portion ( 46 ) forming a lower end of the window, between the opposite wall portions ( 42 ). 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the lower and upper flanges and the vertical web together form a header beam, the header arrangement including at least one substantially U-shaped end stiffener ( 50 ) connected to one end the header beam and shaped to cover an end of the pair of pockets ( 18 ), the end stiffener having a pair of spaced apart vertical rails and a wall plate connected between the vertical rails, the header arrangement further including a U-shaped jack panel ( 70 ) under the header arrangement and extending along one side of a window forming the opening ( 40 ), the jack panel having a lower end and the header arrangement including a gusset plate connected to the lower end of the jack panel for reenforcing the jack panel. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 9 , including U-shaped floor track ( 90 ) connected under the wall portions ( 42 ) and having opposite side plates ( 92 ) with spaced slots ( 94 ) in at least one of side plates for drainage in case water is trapped or condenses inside the wall portions.