Granted Patent B2

US 12,291,885 · App. 17/723,158 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventor: Kenneth M. Chevis (Metairie, LA)

Assignee: Apache Industrial Services, Inc.

E04G7/28E04B1/16E04B1/2403E04G5/02E04G7/12E04G9/06E04G11/02E04G11/28E04G11/365E04G11/50E04G17/002E04G17/04E04G17/0651E04G17/14E04G25/065E21D11/10E04C2003/0452E04C2003/0465E04C2003/0491E04G2001/242E04G5/165E04G7/307E04G2009/028E04G2011/505E04G2025/003E04G2025/006

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A fitting ring of an integrated construction system, comprising:

an inner portion of the fitting ring configured to be coupled to a post and having protrusions configured to be inserted into a transverse groove on the post, the transverse groove having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the post when the ring is coupled to the post; and

an outer portion of the fitting ring configured to be coupled to a ledger rail and configured to enable the fitting ring to support a load transferred to the fitting ring through the ledger rail, wherein the load is configured to be transferred from the fitting ring to ribs on the post via the protrusions and interference of the protrusions with the ribs,

wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally locked in position about the longitudinal axis of the post, and

wherein all of the protrusions on the inner portion are entirely shaped the same as all of a remainder of protrusions in the inner portion of the fitting ring and wherein the protrusions are intermittently spaced around the inner portion,

wherein the fitting ring is configured to be fastened to the post and wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally locked in position about the longitudinal axis of the post when the protrusions are between the ribs and wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally unlocked when the protrusions are in the transverse groove.

2. The fitting ring of an integrated construction system of claim 1 , wherein the fitting ring is configured to be mechanically fastened to the post.

3. The fitting ring of an integrated construction system of claim 2 , wherein the fitting ring is configured to be fastened to the post using a screw.

4. The fitting ring of an integrated construction system of claim 1 , wherein the fitting ring is configured to be slidable about the longitudinal axis of the post.

5. The fitting ring of an integrated construction system of claim 4 , wherein the ribs are configured to rotationally lock the fitting ring in place about the longitudinal axis of the post.

6. The fitting ring of an integrated construction system of claim 5 , wherein the protrusions on the fitting ring are configured to engage the ribs on the post.

7. A fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system, comprising:

a fitting ring;

a post having at least one transversely oriented groove;

an inner portion of the fitting ring having protrusions, the at least one transversely oriented groove having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the post; and

an outer portion of the fitting ring configured to be coupled to a ledger rail and configured to enable the fitting ring to support a load transferred to the fitting ring through the ledger rail;

wherein the fitting ring is rotationally locked in position about the longitudinal axis of the post,

wherein the load is transferred from the fitting ring to a rib on the post via the protrusions and interference of the protrusions with the rib, and

wherein all of the protrusions on the inner portion are entirely shaped the same as all of a remainder of protrusions in the inner portion of the fitting ring and wherein the protrusions are intermittently spaced around the inner portion,

wherein the fitting ring is fastened to the post and wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally locked in position about the longitudinal axis of the post when the protrusions are between the ribs and wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally unlocked when the protrusions are in the at least one transversely oriented groove.

8. The fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system of claim 7 , wherein the fitting ring is mechanically fastened to the post.

9. The fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system of claim 7 , wherein the fitting ring is fastened to the post using a screw.

10. The fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system of claim 7 , wherein the fitting ring is slidable about the longitudinal axis of the post.

11. The fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system of claim 10 ,

wherein the ribs are configured to rotationally lock the fitting ring in place about the longitudinal axis of the post.

12. The fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system of claim 11 , wherein the protrusion engages an outer rib portion of the post.

13. A method of making a fitting ring and post assembly of an integrated construction system, comprising:

connecting protrusions of an inner portion of the fitting ring to at least one transversely oriented groove of a post, the at least one transversely oriented groove having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the post; and

connecting an outer portion of the fitting ring to a ledger rail and rotationally locking the fitting ring in position about the longitudinal axis of the post;

wherein the fitting ring supports a load transferred to the fitting ring through the ledger rail;

wherein the load is transferred from the fitting ring to a rib on the post via the protrusions and interference of the protrusions with the rib, and

wherein all of the protrusions on the inner portion are entirely shaped the same as all of a remainder of protrusions in the inner portion of the fitting ring and wherein the protrusions are intermittently spaced around the inner portion mechanically fastening the fitting ring to the post,

wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally locked in position about the longitudinal axis of the post when the protrusions are between the ribs and wherein the fitting ring is configured to be rotationally unlocked when the protrusions are in the at least one transversely oriented groove.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

fastening the fitting ring to the post using a screw.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

connecting the fitting ring to the post without welding.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (400)