Lintel

Abstract

A lintel is disclosed for supporting a course of blocks with a binder above an opening. The opening is defined between a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface. The course of blocks include a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion. The lintel comprises an elongated base having a first end and a second end for extending between the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface. The elongated base has a top portion and a bottom portion, a first side and a second side. A riser extends from the top portion of the elongated base for increasing the load capacity of the lintel. A first dam extends upwardly from the first side of the elongated base for pooling the binder adjacent to the first dam. A second dam extends upwardly from the second side of the elongated base for pooling the binder adjacent to the second dam. The first and second bearing portions of the course of blocks are positioned above the first and second dams with the pooled binder supporting the first and second bearing portions of the course of blocks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to lintels and more particularly to a new and improved lintel and method of supporting a course of blocks with a binder above an opening. [0003] 2. Background of the Invention [0004] A post-and-lintel construction is most often utilized for supporting a load above an opening. The post-and-lintel construction has been used all over the world and for centuries ranging from the stone circle at Stonehenge and the Greek architecture of the Parthenon in Athens to present day commercial and residential windows and doorways. Lintels have been constructed from stone, timber, concrete or steel. Each of these materials have positive and negative characteristics when used to construct a lintel. [0005] Lintels constructed of stone resist weathering and corrosion, however a stone lintel may span only very limited distances due to the weight of the lintel and lack of tensile strength. Lintels constructed fro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] The lintel comprises an elongated base having a first end and a second end for extending between the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface. The elongated base has a top portion and a bottom portion, a first side and a second side. A riser extends from the top portion of the elongated base for increasing the load capacity of the lintel. A first dam extends upwardly from the first side of the elongated base for pooling the binder adjacent to the first dam. A second dam extends upwardly from the second side of the elongated base for pooling the binder adjacent to the second dam. The first and second bearing portions of the course of blocks are positioned above the first and second dams with the pooled binder supporting the first and second bearing portions of the course of blocks.

[0023] In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the binder includes a mortar and the course of blocks include masonry blocks. The base, riser, first dam and second dam are formed from a single metallic material. Alternatively, the base, riser, first dam and second dam are formed from a single polymeric material. The riser includes a textured surface for increasing the bonding strength between the grout and the lintel.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the riser includes a first and a second riser extending from the top side of said elongated base. The first and second risers are disposed in a spaced apart parallel relationship between the first and second dams for increasing the load capacity of the lintel.

Problems solved by technology

Lintels constructed of stone resist weathering and corrosion, however a stone lintel may span only very limited distances due to the weight of the lintel and lack of tensile strength.

Lintels constructed from timber are capable of spanning further distances than stone lintels, however timber is susceptible to burning and decaying.

Concrete lintels may span further than stone lintels and resist burning and decaying unlike timber lintels, however the weight of concrete lintels economically inhibits transportation of concrete lintels over large distances.

Although the aforementioned prior art have contribute to the development of the art of lintels, none of these prior art patents have solved the need of this art.

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