GB2153873A

GB2153873A - Building systems comprising interlocking components

Info

Publication number: GB2153873A
Application number: GB08501296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Richard Leland-Heal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-20
Filing date: 1985-01-18
Publication date: 1985-08-29
Also published as: GB8401524D0; GB8501296D0; GB2153873B

Abstract

Planar component parts 3, 5 are each at least partially complimentary to a portion of the shape of another part. Securing means may be hinge pins 11, engaging through aligned bores in the arms of adjacent parts 3, 5. The parts are preferably H- and cross-shaped, though each can be made of two common T-shaped parts. Use: Toy or full-scale pillars, walls, or foldable screens. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to building systems The present invention relates to a building system for use in constructing various decorative and functional items.

More particularly the present invention relates to a building system which is especially suited to the production of flexible, folding panel or screen units. The building system may, however, also be used to produce pillars, special lighting effects, or, in miniature, may be suitable as a child's toy building facility. Further, the building system may be used in the construction industry, for constructing buildings of all types and for lining waterways.

For clarity the remainder of the present specification will refer in the main to flexible, folding panel or screen units, though the present invention has various other uses, some of which are referred to hereabove.

Known flexible folding panel units can take various forms. One simple form is for the unit to be made of elongate generally planar sections which are hinged edge to edge by conventional hinges. Each section has to be designed and manufactured in the factory to produce the desired final effect, e.g., apertures can be cut in various patterns in the sections, or the surfaces of the sections can be decorated as required.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a building system which can be used to produce a folding screen from a number of like parts, some of which can be omitted to provide a pattern or other effect, e.g. lighting effect, as required.

According to the present invention there is provided a building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts being each at least partially complementary to a portion of the shape of another part, so that adjacent parts can be located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the parts together.

In one embodiment of the present invention said component parts are each identical Tshaped parts which can be mated together to form basic 'H' and 'cross' shapes which are further mated together to form a desired size of screen or other possible structure. Alternative arrangements of the T-shaped parts can also produce a desired screen.

According to a further feature of the present invention there is provided a building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts comprising at least two different basic shapes, one of said shapes being at least partially complementary to a portion of the shape of another part, so that adjacent parts can be located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the parts together.

Thus, by virtue of the present invention a screen can be constructed from the various parts, some of the parts being hinged together to allow the configuration of the screen to be altered as desired.

According to a still further feature of the present invention there is provided a building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts comprising two basic shapes, a cross-shape and an Hshape, the cross-shaped parts and H-shaped parts being located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the arms of adjacent parts together.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention all of the cross-shaped parts are of the same dimensions, and all of the H-shaped parts are of the same dimensions. Further, the cross-shaped parts have arms which have virtually the same dimensions as the gap between the parallel arms of each H-shaped part, and the arms of each H-shaped part have virtually the same width as the length of the individual arms of the cross-shaped parts.

Thus, when located on a flat surface with the cross-shaped parts and H-shaped parts located alternatively and interlocked with each other, e.g., each cross-shaped part is surrounded by H-shaped parts, the surface is completely covered.

The said securing means can take any desired form, though preferably the securing means is in the form of a number of elongate hinge pins which extend through co-axially aligned bores in adjacent arms of the alternate cross and H-shaped parts. The said bores and pins are preferably parallel to each other so that the total arrangement can be folded about each hinge pin.

The 'T' shaped parts can also use hinge pins as securing means, and use of the identical 'T'-shaped parts facilitates assembly of a screen as compared to assembly using the 'H' and 'cross' shaped parts when a row of interlocked component parts has to be located on the hinge pins; it being possible to locate the 'T'-shaped parts individually on the hinge pins.

Preferably the hinge pins extend for the full height of the screen, transversely through the arms of the various parts, across the width of the arms. Alternatively, however, the hinge pins may be short and each pin may merely interconnect two adjacent arms.

To secure the preferred full height hinge pins in position, the end regions of the hinge pins are preferably threaded, and internally threaded keyed barrels may be engaged in countersunk regions of the bores in said parts, and screwed onto the ends of the hinge pins.

By tightening the barrels on opposite ends of a hinge pin, the parts on a hinge pin can be tightened together. Alternatively Starlocks can be used on the end regions of the hinge pins, whether the hinge pins are threaded or not.

Thus, the screen can be adjusted and secured in the desired configuration.

Thus the above structure can be unfolded to provide a generally planar panel or screen assembly, or it may be left partially folded to provide a zig-zag screen assembly. Further, the assembly may be adjusted to a substantially square wave plan configuration and shelf members may be located on projecting arm portions within the square or rectangular recesses thus formed in the screen. When used as a screen end pieces may be used, if desired, to provide a straight end edge to the screen.

When constructing a screen from either 'T' shapes, or 'H' shapes and 'cross' shapes, the screen will have recessed side edges which do not have aesthetic appeal. To thus improve the appearance of the completed screen, end pieces are preferably secured in the recesses at the side edges of the completed screen.

These end pieces can have any desired configuration provided they engage snugly within the side edge recesses and form an aesthetically pleasing side edge profile for the screen.

The hinge pins preferably secure the end pieces in position in a manner similar to that previously described with reference to the 'H' and 'cross' shaped parts.

Besides the above screen uses of the building system of the present invention, a screen assembly constructed according to the present invention, may be folded so that its opposite ends are interlocked and secured by, for example, a hinge pin. Thus a pillar is formed within which lighting may be located to provide a novel form of a designer lighting.

Further, in miniature form, the building system of the present invention may be used as a construction toy for a child.

Besides the above uses, the present invention, particularly when using H and crossshaped parts, can be used to line canals or other waterways to reduce the effect of water errosion, the parts then preferably being made of reinforced concrete and being adjusted in the completed assembly, to conform to the existing transverse configuration of the waterway.

Further, the building system may be used to construct buildings of any type, the various parts thus likewise being preferably made of precast reinforced concrete.

In any desired use of the present invention, certain cross-shaped and/or H-shaped parts may be omitted to provide a particular design effect, without detriment to the strength or folding capability, of the unit.

The various parts of the system may be made of any suitable material, e.g. wood, metal or a plastics material. If made of a plastics material the individual parts may be produced by injection moulding techniques.

Whilst the preferred embodiment of the present invention referred to hereabove, still.

ises cross-shaped parts of like dimensions and H-shaped parts of like dimensions, it is envisaged that a mixture of cross-shaped parts of different dimensions and H-shaped parts of different dimensions, may be used within the scope of the present invention to increase the design capabilities of the system.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the building system of the present invention, when used as a generally planar screen unit; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, when folded to form a zig-zag configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, when folded to form a square-wave configuration; Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1, when folded to form a pillar; Figure 5 shows a section through an Hshaped component part; Figure 6 shows a modified part of the screen of Fig. 1; Figure 7 shows a screen constructed according to the present invention, from identical T-shaped component parts; Figure 8 is a front view of a T-shaped component part suitable for use in the screen of Fig. 7;; Figure 9a is a plan view of the component part shown in Fig. 8; Figures 9b and 9c are plan views of modified T-shaped component parts; Figure 10 shows a further screen constructed according to the present invention, from identical T-shaped component parts; Figures 11 and 12 show end pieces for use in the screens of Figs. 1, 7 and 10; and Figures 13, 14 and 15 show further alternative screen constructions, according to the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, comprises a foldable screen unit 1 constructed from a number of cross-shaped, generally planar parts 3, and a number of H-shaped, generally planar parts 5.

The cross-shaped parts 3 are all of identical dimensions and the H-shaped parts are similarly all of like dimensions. Further, the width of each arm 7 of a cross-shaped part 3 is virtually the same as the gap between adjacent parallel arms 9 of each H-shaped member. Also the length of each arm 7 is the same as the width of each arm of each Hshaped part 5. Thus, by arranging the parts 3, 5 in alternate positions and interlocking the parts 3, 5 as shown in Fig. 1, a planar assembly with no gaps can be obtained, the various parts 3, 5 snugly interlocking with each other.

To hold the parts 3, 5 together, securing means in the form of hinge pins 11 pass through coaxially aligned bores provided in the arms 7 of the cross-shaped parts 3, and the arms 9 of adjacent H-shaped parts 5. The bores extend across the arms 7, 9 and thus the planar assembly of Fig. 1 can be folded about hinge pins 11 to a degree.

As best seen in Fig. 5, the arms 7 and 9 are secured together by the end regions of the hinge pins 11 being threaded to receive internally threaded barrels 12, the barrels being keyed (as at 14) so that they can be tightened by using a suitable tool. When tightened on a hinge pin 11, the barrles 1 2 are located completely within a countersunk portion 1 6 of a bore 1 8 in one of the component parts (3,5). Thus the aesthetic appeal of the screen configuration is not affected by the securing means. Further, barrels 1 2 at opposite ends of a hinge pin can be tightened to tighten the component parts 3,5 on the hinge pin 11 together. Thus the screen can be fixed in a desired configuration. Alternatively Starlocks can be used on the ends of the hinge pins 11 to hold the assembly together.

Further, by using a mixture of long hinge pins 11 and short pins 20 (see Fig. 6), the cross-shaped part 1 6 is free to pivot on pins 20 to provide a further design effect. Alternative possibilities using short pins 20 are of course available.

Whilst the basic building system described hereabove utilises cross-shaped parts 3 of like dimensions and H-shaped parts 5 of like dimensions, thus aiding mass production of component parts, the building system of the present invention can also use a mixture of different size 'H' and/or 'cross'-shaped parts, the only requirement being that they interlock either snugly or loosely. Thus the possible design variations can be increased.

Further, whilst the illustrated cross-shaped parts 3 and H-shaped parts 5 have squared off end and side faces, these faces can be profiled as desired. For example, they may be curved or tapered to an edge.

Considering manufacture, the cross-shaped parts 3 and H-shaped parts, can be made of any suitable material e.g. wood, metal or a plastics material. If mass production is contemplated the use of a plastics material will enable injection moulding techniques to be used.

Besides the generally planar screen unit of Fig. 1, the building system of the present invention has numerous possibilities for design and use. For example, certain H and/or cross-shaped parts can be omitted to produce a desired design, without affecting the strength and folding capability of the unit.

Further, the screen unit of Fig. 1 can be folded, as in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, to give a desired zig-zig or square wave configuration. With the square wave configuration shown in plan in Fig. 3, shelf units 1 3 can be supported within the square-shaped recesses 15, on projecting arms 7, 9 of cross or H-shaped parts 3,5.

Besides the decorative screen units referred to hereabove, a generally planar assembly of the building system of the present invention can be folded to form a pillar (see Fig. 4) with the side edges interlocked and secured by a hinge pin 11. The pillar can then be adjusted to the desired transverse cross-ssectional configuration, within the variations possible.

Further, with any of the above described constructions, special designer lighting effects can be achieved by the appropriate positioning of lights, e.g. within the pillar.

A still further use of the building system of the present invention is as a child's construction toy. Then the cross-shaped parts and the H-shaped parts are miniaturised and the constructional possibilities are indeterminate.

Besides the above uses of the present invention it is envisaged that an H and crossshaped assembly could be used to line a canal or other waterway to reduce errosion, the component parts then being preferably made of reinforced concrete. The assembly could then be adjusted to the existing transverse configuration of the waterway. Further, the building system of the present invention can be used in the construction industry to form any type of building or wall, the individual parts then again being preferably made of precast reinforced concrete.

When assembling a screen constructed of H-shaped and cross-shaped component parts (3,5), said parts have to be located in previously interlocked rows of component parts, on the hinge pins 11. This, it will be appreciated, can be difficult. To faciliate assembly the 'H' and 'cross' shapes can be each formed by two identical 'T' shaped components 21, as shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings. In this way the individual T-shaped components 21 can be located on the hinge pins, slowly building up the desired 'H'shapes and 'cross' shapes. A further advantage arises from the fact that solely identical 'T'-shaped parts 21 are required, manufacturing costs being thus reduced.

A T-shaped component part 21 suitable for use in the screen illustrated in Fig. 7, is shown in Figs. 8 and 9a. This T-piece has three bores 22, 24, 26, for use with pins 11 and 20. Figs. 9b and 9c show slightly modified T-shaped component parts, the modifications being purely aesthetic and to enable the parts to pivot on the hinge pins 11.

Whilst the screen of Fig. 7 uses T-shaped component parts 21, to form basic H and cross shapes, the T-shaped component parts 21 can be arranged differently as, for example, shown in Fig. 10, to produce the desired screen. Various other arrangements (not shown) are, of course, possible. Further, the parts 21 can be of any desired thickness, though if the screen is to be capable of folding the parts 21 should be thinner than illustrated in Fig. 10, or have modified end faces as, for example, shown in Figs. 9b and 9c.

As will be evident from the screens shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 10, the side edges of the completed screen have recesses 28 formed by the arms of adjacent component parts, these recesses 28 possibly detracting from the overall appearance of the screen. To finish the screen of Fig. 7 and improve its aesthetics by profiling the side edges of the screen, end pieces 30 such as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, can be mounted in the recesses 28 and secured therein by a hinge pin 11. Whilst the illustrated end pieces 30 have squared end edges 32, they can alternatively have any desired end edge profile e.g. curved or tapered, or mixture of profiles. Suitable end pieces can likewise be shaped for the screens of Figs. 1 and 10.

Whilst the above described embodiments of the present invention use, except for the embodiments of Figs. 7 to 10, exact H and cross-shaped parts (5,3), alternative constructions are possible within the scope of the present invention, and examples of these alternatives are shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 1 5.

The present invention thus provides a simple but effective building system which has numerous design uses and functional possibilities.

Claims

1. A building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts being each at least partially complimentary to a portion of the shape of another part, so that adjacent parts can be located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the parts together.

2. A building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts comprising at least two basic shapes, one of said shapes being at least partially complimentary to a portion of the shape of another part, so that adjacent parts can be located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the parts together.

3. A building system comprising a number of generally planar component parts, said parts comprising two basic shapes, a crossshape and an H-shape, the cross-shaped parts and the H-shaped parts being located in interlocking relationship with each other, securing means holding the arms of adjacent parts together.

4. A building system as claimed in claim 1, in which said parts are all identical, and each have a T-shape.

5. A building system as claimed in claim 3, in which all of said cross-shaped parts have the same dimensions and all of said H-shaped parts have the same dimensions.

6. A building system as claimed in claim 5, in which the cross-shaped parts have arms which have virtually the same dimensions as the gap between the parallel arms of each Hshaped part, and the arms of each H-shaped part have virtually the same width as the length of the individual arms of each crossshaped part.

7. A building system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the securing means is in the form of a number of elongate hinge pins which extend through coaxially aligned bores in adjacent component parts.

8. A building system as claimed in claim 7, in which the bores and pins are preferably parallel to each other.

9. A building system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the end regions of the hinge pins are threaded, and internally threaded keyed barrels are secured onto the end regions of the hinge pins to hold the component parts on the hinge pins; the barrels engaging in countersunk regions of said bores.

1 0. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the component parts are made of a plastics material.

11. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the component parts are of concrete.

1 2. A building system as claimed in claim 11, in which the concrete is reinforced.

1 3. A screen when constructed using the building system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the screen being folded to form a square-wave plan configuration.

14. A screen as claimed in claim 13, including shelf members which are supported within the rectangular recesses formed in the screen.

1 5. A screen when constructed using the building system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, including end pieces to provide a desired profile for the side edges of the screen, said securing means holding the end pieces in position.

1 6. A pillar constructed by the building system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

1 7. A building system constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.