Strut with non-structural infill

Abstract

An elongated structural ceiling grid member including an open-ended upper portion, an open-ended lower portion, and first and second flanges. The open-ended upper section is formed by a floor and a first set of second parallel and spaced sidewalls extending from and substantially perpendicular to the floor. The open-ended upper portion has an opening opposite the floor and defined by the first and second parallel and spaced sidewalls. The open-ended lower portion is formed by a ceiling and a second set of parallel and spaced sidewalls that extend from and are substantially perpendicular to the ceiling. The open-ended lower portion has a second opening opposite the ceiling and defined by the third and fourth parallel and spaced sidewalls. The first flange is attached to and extends perpendicular to the third parallel and spaced sidewall and the second flange is attached to and extends perpendicular to the fourth parallel and spaced sidewall.

1 . An elongated ceiling grid member having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 an upper portion;   a web that is a plate having a top side edge and a bottom side edge; and   a flange portion that extends perpendicular to the web; wherein:   the upper portion is continuous with the top side edge of the web and the flange portion is continuous with the bottom side edge of the web;   the upper portion includes (a) a floor portion that (1) includes an upper surface that defines a floor having a flat surface that is perpendicular to the web and (2) is continuous with the top side edge of the web and (b) first and second spaced sidewalls that are continuous with and extend upwardly from the floor portion;   the first spaced sidewall of the upper portion includes a first threaded surface and the second spaced sidewall of the upper portion includes a second threaded surface; and   the first threaded surface and the second threaded surface face each other.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second spaced sidewalls of the upper portion are parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the first and second sidewalls of the upper portion have a top end; and   the top end of the first spaced sidewall and the top end of the second spaced sidewall define an opening.   
     
     
         4 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second sidewalls of the upper portion is a plate member. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second spaced sidewalls are substantially parallel to the web. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated ceiling grid member according to  claim 6 , wherein the first spaced sidewall is on one side of the web and the second spaced sidewall is on the other side of the web. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated ceiling grid member according to  claim 7 , wherein the floor portion has a mid-point and the web intersects the floor portion at the mid-point of the floor portion. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the floor has first and second longitudinal side edges;   the first spaced sidewall of the upper portion extends upwardly from the first longitudinal side edge of the upper portion; and   the second spaced sidewall of the upper portion extends upwardly from the second longitudinal side edge of the upper portion.   
     
     
         10 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the floor and the first and second spaced sidewalls of the upper portion form a U-shaped member with square corners.   
     
     
         11 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the upper portion, the web and the flange portion are elongated members extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated ceiling grid member. 
     
     
         12 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion, the web and the flange portion are integral. 
     
     
         13 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein the flange portion includes a top surface and the top surface has a longitudinal depression adjacent and parallel to the web on each side of the web. 
     
     
         14 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein the web has a continuous thickness between the upper portion and the flange portion. 
     
     
         15 . The elongated ceiling grid member of  claim 1 , wherein the web includes first and second opposing flat faces that extend continuously between the top side edge and the bottom side edge.