AU726085B3

AU726085B3 - Fixture plates

Info

Publication number: AU726085B3
Application number: AU51831/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Duncan Ross Corbett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-04
Filing date: 2000-08-04
Publication date: 2000-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-04

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: DUNCAN ROSS CORBETT DUNCAN ROSS CORBETT CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

FIXTURE PLATES Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PQ2019 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: FIXTURE PLATES TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to plates for walls particularly curved walls in structures and buildings.

BACKGROUND ART Conventional wall frames in timber or metal are based on a framework of uprights (commonly called studs) and top and bottom plates.

Wall frames for buildings are, in the majority of instances, prefabricated off site and erected on site.

Where a wall is straight, the erection of frames is a relatively simple matter.

Curved walls are a different proposition however and generally require on site fabrication and erection.

The conventional manner of erecting a curved wall structure is for the builder to firstly mark out and then cut out top and bottom plates from a sheet material such as plywood. The cut plates are then aligned and fixed, vertical studs are erected and fixed and then the wall linings are fitted.

By comparison with the process of off site fabrication, the process of on site fabrication and erection is relatively time consuming and expensive.

International patent application no. PCT/US98/08187 is an example of apparatus and methods for forming curved structures using a plurality of pivotally connected sections, each section having a track portion and a strap member slidably engaging the track portion of the sections such that the sections are movable to form a radius of curvature. The method of forming a curved structure involves providing runners having a plurality of pivotally connected sections, each section having track portions, and each runner further having two strap members slidably engaging each of the track portions. The method also includes placing runners in an opposed relationship in a curved position such that the runners are substantially aligned, and attaching studs between runners.

It is an object of the present invention to similarly provide fixture plates for facilitating the construction of frames for curved walls in a relatively efficient and economical manner.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

According to the present invention there is provided a fixture plate for facilitating the construction of a curved wall, the fixture plate comprising an elongate body having complementary male and female ends, and stud fixture means between the male and female ends of the body wherein the male end of the body are provided with at least on surface projection and the female end of the plate is provided with at least one aperture therein which is complementary with the projection of the male end the arrangement and construction being such that a number of the fixture plates can be joined end to end with the male ends engaging with the female ends to form top or bottom plates for wall framing components of a curved wall.

The surfaces of the male and female ends can be stepped.

The stud fixture means can comprise a pair of hinged lugs fixed to respective sides of the body of the plate.

Fixture holes can be provided in the body and/or the hinged lugs.

The projections and apertures can be circular.

The body and stud fixture means can be integral and moulded in a plastics material.

The projection of the male end of the body can be an interference fit in the aperture of the female end of the body.

The male end of the plate can be provided with a number of radially equidistantly spaced projections and the female end of the plate is provided with a complimentary number of radially equidistantly spaced apertures.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of erecting a wall comprising the steps of assembling in a predetermined manner a plurality of fixture plates as aforesaid fixing the assembled plates to the ceiling and floor of a structure, fixing wall frame members between the fixture plates and, if required, lining the wall frame members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventionally built curved wall, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a fixture plate in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a cross-section of the plate of figure 3, and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a joint between male and female ends of the fixture plate of figure 2, and Figure 4a is a sectional view of a wall formed using fixture plates of the present invention, and Figures 5 and 5a, are plan and side views respectively of a fixture plate in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a part plan view of fixture plates of Figure 5 and showing a connection between female and male ends of the plate and markings and pointers which enable-the plates to be angularly offset to create curves of predetermined radii, and Figure 6a, is a view in the direction VIa VIa of Figure 6.

With respect to the drawings, the conventional method of constructing a curved wall as known in the art is illustrated by figure 1. As explained in the introduction hereto to construct a curved wall the builder marks out the then cuts top and bottom curved plates 1, 2 from a sheet material such as plywood. The plates 1, 2 are then plumbed and aligned and fixed to the floor and roof of a structure. Vertical studs 3 are erected and fixed between the plates 1, 2 and wall linings 4 can then be fixed.

Time and a degree of skill is required to erect curved walls, in this manner particularly when larger curves are required. This is often the reason why pleasingly aesthetic curved walls are not specified.

In addition there is substantial off-cut wastage because the curved shape of the plates making subsequent use of the offcuts unlikely.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate one possible embodiment for a fixture plate in accordance with the present invention.

The fixture plate comprises an elongate body generally indicated by arrow 5 having upper and lower major surfaces 6, 7 respectively, a male end 8 and a female end 9.

A "chain" of the plates can be formed by joining respective male 1o and female ends of the plates.

In the illustrated example a step 10 is provided in the top surface 6 of the plate in the vicinity of the male end 8 and similarly a step 11 in the lower surface 7 of the female end 9.

The stepped male end 8 of the body 5 may have a plurality of protrusions 12 extending upwardly from the surface of the tread of the step.

In the example illustrated the protrusions 12 are provided by a central larger protrusion 12a and a ring of smaller equally radially spaced protrusions 12b.

The formation of the protrusions 12a, 12b, can be matched by identical numbers and a layout of complementary sized apertures 13 in the female end 9 of the body The body 5 may be provided with stud fixture means such as a pair of laterally extending hinged nailing lugs 14.

The body 5 and lugs 14 may be provided with fixing apertures 15 as illustrated.

As an alternative to the hinged lugs 14 the upper surface 6 may be provided with a channel or guide (see broken lines of figure 2) with respect to which a stud can be set and skew nailed.

Figures 4 and 4a of the drawings illustrate how a chain of the fixture plates can be joined end to end to provide a generally curved fixture plate of varying radii. the degree of curve being determined by the included angle between the longitudinal axis of the respective plates.

Where the male and female ends of the plates are stepped conjoined fixture plates will provide generally flat upper and lower surfaces for the fixture of studs.

In the configuration illustrated a curve of a specific radius may be achieved by matching marked or otherwise coded protrusions or apertures of the plates. Otherwise the required angular orientation between the plates can be gauged against a required curve marked on a surface.

It is to be appreciated that the particular male and female engagement arrangement illustrated by be readily varied both in form and layout. For example male protrusions may be in the form of a single cog or gear, and the female aperture a complementary internal gear ring.

Figure 4a of the drawings serves to illustrate how a close set stud formation for a curved wall can be set up. In the illustration every plate mounts a stud 16. Whilst this form of choice may not always be favoured for S 15 cost reasons it will be appreciated that the closer the distance between studs the less likely there is to be unsightly seams in the subsequently attached linings.

Preferably male projections and female apertures for the plates engage in a push fitting relationship. The tightness of the fit between the male and female ends can be such that light impact is required to join the ends together. This means that a chain of the plates can be formed into an arch which can bed readily handled without the inconvenience of the plates breaking away from each other.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figures 5 to 6a of the drawings the fixture plate is very similar in shape and configuration to that previously described in that the plate includes an elongate body generally indicated by arrow 5, a male end 8, a female end 9, each of the ends being provided with a step 10 and lugs 14 which enable studs to be fixed to the plates.

In this embodiment of the invention a single protrusion 12 is provided at the male end 8 of the body 5 a single aperture 11 at the female end 9 of the body.

The step 10 is created by the provision of a raised border portion 17 on one surface of the body The male and female ends 8,9 of the body 5 are slightly narrower than the central regions of the body upon which the raised border 17 is sited.

Hinging score lines 18 are provided between the lugs 14 and the body The male protrusion 12 is an interference fit in the female aperture 11.

The mating between the male and female ends of the plates 18 indicated by Figures 6 and 6a.

The plates are joined to one-another with the raised borders 17 opposed.

The underside of the male ends of the plates can be provided with a plurality of gauge markings 20 which can be matched with pointers 21 on the top side 22 of the female end to provide an arc of a predetermined curvature when the plates are assembled in an end to end relationship.

Both the body 5 and the lugs 14 are provided with the nailing apertures 23.

After choosing the number of plates required and the specified radius of a curve the plates are assembled in a chain. The chain of plates can then be set and secured to a floor and/or ceiling and framing studs positioned and secured to the lugs after that are bent into a perpendicular position.

For more gentle curves the number of studs used may be reduced, and redundant lugs can be trimmed or nailed or folded over.

I consider that my invention provides a number of advantages over conventional methods and systems not the least of which are convenience, accuracy and cost savings all of which are likely to result in increased use of the pleasing aesthetics provided by curved walls.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fixture plate for facilitating the construction of a curved wall, the fixture plate comprising an elongate body having complementary male and female ends, and stud fixture means between the male and female ends of the body wherein the male end of the body are provided with at least on surface projection and the female end of the plate is provided with at least one aperture therein which is complementary with the projection of the male end the arrangement and construction being such that a number of the fixture plates can be joined end to end with the male ends engaging with the female lo ends to form top or bottom plates for wall framing components of a curved wall.

2. A fixture plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein surfaces of the male and female ends are stepped.

3. A method of erecting a wall comprising the steps of assembling in a predetermined manner a plurality of fixture plates as claimed in any one of claims 1 or claim 2 fixing the assembled plates to the ceiling and floor of a structure, fixing wall frame members between the fixture plates and, if required, lining the wall frame members. DATED this 4th day of August 2000 DUNCAN ROSS CORBETT By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.