GB2191227A - A panel structure with supporting parts all of plastics material - Google Patents

A panel structure with supporting parts all of plastics material Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2191227A
GB2191227A GB08712663A GB8712663A GB2191227A GB 2191227 A GB2191227 A GB 2191227A GB 08712663 A GB08712663 A GB 08712663A GB 8712663 A GB8712663 A GB 8712663A GB 2191227 A GB2191227 A GB 2191227A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
panel
members
supporting
plug
canopy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08712663A
Other versions
GB2191227B (en
GB8712663D0 (en
Inventor
Bernard Adrian Bird
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BERN RESEARCH Ltd
Original Assignee
BERN RESEARCH Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BERN RESEARCH Ltd filed Critical BERN RESEARCH Ltd
Publication of GB8712663D0 publication Critical patent/GB8712663D0/en
Publication of GB2191227A publication Critical patent/GB2191227A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2191227B publication Critical patent/GB2191227B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04BGENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B1/00Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
    • E04B1/0046Loggias
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04BGENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B7/00Roofs; Roof construction with regard to insulation

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A panel structure in the form of a car port can be formed from two main components interconnected together. These components comprise extruded plastics panels 16 interconnected to form a canopy and supported on at least one side by upstanding posts 10 of extruded plastics. Plastics plugs (42 Fig. 3) are provided to interconnect the panels (16) with the posts (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved component structures This invention is concerned with the forming of structures from components and is particularly concerned with components made of extruded materials such as plastics, carbon, glass fibre or polycarbonate, which can find use in many varied applications. Reference hereinafter to "plastics" is intended to embrace such materials and for ease of description reference will also be made hereinafter to "panel structures", this term being intended to embrace structures such as canopies, for example in the form of car ports, fencing, seating, duckboards and the like.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in forming a panel structure, all panel members of the apparatus being of the same configuration and formed of a plastics material, and all supporting members for the panel members being of the same configuation and formed of a plastics material, and means for interconnecting the panel members and the supporting members with outer faces of adjacent walls in engagement.
Preferably each of the panel members and the supporting members are formed by extrusion, whereby all the panel members can be formed from a single tool and all the supporting members can be formed from another single tool.
The invention also provides apparatus for use in forming a panel structure, the apparatus comprising panel members and supporting members therefor, and means for interconnecting the panel members and the supporting members with outer faces of adjacent walls in engagement, the interconnecting means being manually operable through the opposed wall of one of a respective panel member and a related supporting member.
Preferably the interconnecting means comprises a plurality of plug members, a through opening being formed in one of the respective panel member or relating supporting member to receive a main body part of the respective plug member, and a through opening being formed in the other of the panel member or the supporting member to require an end part of the respective plug member to resiliently deform when passing therethrough, means being provided on the end part whereby to prevent the latter from returning therethrough.
Each plug member may have an axial through bore in the main body part, a locking pin being located in the bore and normally being accessible from the end of the plug member remote from said end part, whereby, when the plug member is positioned in the aligned through openings of the respective panel member and the supporting member, the pin can be manually moved through the axial bore into the end part whereby to deform the latter and assist in preventing the plug member from being removed from the panel member and the supporting member.
The panel structure may be in the form of a car port wherein a canopy is formed by interconnected ones of the panel members and is supported above a base by a plurality of the supporting members.
Alternatively the panel structure may be in the form of fencing, benching, open topped containers or a duckboard.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a panel structure in accordance with the invention in the form of a car port; Fig. 2 is a plan view in cross-section of part of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view in cross-section of another part of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation in cross-section of part of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation in cross-section in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of part of the structure of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, a panel structure in the form of a car port comprises a plurality of upstanding posts 10 formed as extruded plastics components, preferably from ,uPVC, each of substantially square cross-section and having internal integral webbing 12 extending between each pair of opposed walls (see Figs.
2 and 3). The posts 10 are spaced apart in a line and support at their upper ends one side of a canopy 14. The latter comprises a plurality of planks or panels 16, each formed of extruded plastics, preferably from ,uPVC, and having a width substantially greater than its thickness. Each panel 16 has internal integral webbing 18 (see Figs. 4 and 5) extending longitudinally thereof between its side walls.
At its opposite side the canopy 14 is secured to a fixture such as a side wall 20 of a building.
The canopy panels 1 6 include side panels 22 which extend between adjacent posts 10.
Each side panel 22 is provided towards each end with two pairs of holes 24 on one side wall aligned with a further two pairs of holes 26 on the opposed side wall. Holes 28 are formed in a respective wall 30 of each post 20 to align with the holes 24,26 in the side panels 22.
At a corner location the respective post 10 has a side panel 22 connected to the wall 30 and an end panel 32 connected to an adjacent wall 34. The end panel 32 overlies the end of the side panel 22 and is closed at its outer end by an end cap 36. The latter has a planar part and lugs projecting from one face thereof whereby the lugs engage in the internal cavities defined by the webbing 18 and the end cap 36 may be a push fit on the panel 32.
Further an end cap 38 is provided for the post 10 to be a push fit thereon. The caps 36,38 prevent dirt, rain, etc. entering the cavities.
At a location intermediate of the corners a cross panel 40 is connected to the adjacent wall 34 of the respective post 10, the cross panel 40 having two sets of aligned holes 24,26 and the post 10 having two holes 28 in the wall 34.
To connect the panels 22,32,40 to the respective posts 10, there are provided plugs 42, each preferably formed of a plastics material. Each plug 42 has a main body 44 and a flange 46 at one end thereof, a pair of resiiiently deformable spaced apart jaws 48 extending from the other end of the main body 44 and being formed with respective lugs 50 on their outwardly facing surfaces. The main body 44 has an axial through bore 52 in which a pin 54 is movably located.
In use the plug 42 is located through the outer side holes 24 on the respective panels 22,32,40 and through the inner holes 26. The holes 24 are dimensioned to enable the main body 44 to locate therethrough while the holes 26 and 28 are of smaller dimension whereby when the jaws 48 enter the hole 28 in the post 10 they are deformed inwardly to enable the lugs 50 to pass through the hole 28. Thereafter the jaws 48 regain their original form and the lugs 50 prevent the jaws 48 from being withdrawn back through the hole 28. The flange 46 engages the outer side wall of the respective panel. When located in position the pin 54, which until then projects outwardly from the flange 44, can be manually forced through the bore 52 between the jaws 48 to thereby deflect the latter apart and futher enhance the locking of the plug 42 in position.A secure connection is thereby provided between the respective panel and the respective post 10.
The canopy 14 is formed by the side panels 22, the end panels 32 at both ends, the cross panels 40, and further side panels 56 which interconnect the other ends of the end panels 32 and the cross panels 40 and are secured to the wall 34. The canopy 14 further includes intermediate cross panels 58 equispaced between adjacent cross panels 40, and between cross panels 40 and adjacent end panels 32, as well as intermediate central panels 60 extending in alignment between the end panels 32, parallel to the side panels 22,56. Each of the panels connected with the side panels 56 is secured thereto by means of a pair of angle brackets 62 secured to each of the respective panels preferably by means of self-tapping screws 64 (see Figs. 4 and 5).
The central panels 60 are secured to the respective cross panels by means of a plate (not shown) located beneath each junction area and secured to the respective panels for example by means of self-tapping screws.
To secure the side panels 56 to the wall 34, timber inserts 66 are located in the upper and lower internal cavities whereby to facilitate fixing, for example by means of expansion bolts or the like (see Fig. 5). Each of the posts 10 is supported in an upright position by engaging in an upwardly open socket 68 on a base plate 70 (see Fig. 6) which can be secured to the ground, for example by concrete bolts 72. The socket 68 is adjustable to exert a clamping force on the respective post 10.
At the ends and the side of the canopy 14 remote from the wall 34, a pair of respective panels are mounted one above the other to provide a fascia. It is to be appreciated that further panels may be provided to extend between the posts 10 and spaced apart above one another to provide a ranch fencing. These further panels may be provided over the total height of the posts 10 if required. It will also be appreciated that the car port may be free standing or fitted to a fixture at one end, and have other than a general rectangular canopy.
The fencing may per se comprise a further form of panel structure where a required number of upstanding posts of suitable height are spaced apart by appropriate distances and a plurality of panels extend between the posts.
There is thus provided an easy to assembly arrangement which can utilise the internal cavity of an extruded plastics component to locate the fixing members, the latter then being subsequently hidden from view. A secure structure having an aesthetic appearance can be formed, the car port for example being designed to accommodate suitable loading of snow and being secure up to wind strengths of some 125 miles per hour. An important advantage is that the structure can be formed using only two designs of structural components. When these components are formed from extruded plastics only two extruding tools are therefore required to enable many different types of structures to be built. The number of the components required is therefore kept to a minimum and reduces stock and expense.
It is to be appreciated that the panel structure may be used for other than the construction of car ports and fencing. For example, using suitably interconnected posts and suitably mounted panels, benching for use in greenhouses and the like can be constructed.
With such an arrangement it may be suitable to provide spigots on certain of the posts to engage in the internal cavities of other posts, whereby posts can be connected to one another at right angles and form supports for the panels. Further a structure similar to fencing can be used for example to construct a compost compound. A duckboard assembly can also be formed by a first layer of panels laid adjacent one another and a second layer of spaced panels mounted on the first layer and extending at right angles thereto. Other uses will be apparent and the invention is not restricted to those uses and applications herein described.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the components may differ from that described and shown. It is also to be appreciated that the posts may be formed of other than plastics material, for example steel, although the forming of both the panels and posts from extruded plastics facilitates manufacture and construction and reduces expense.

Claims (22)

1. Apparatus for use in forming a panel structure, all panel members of the apparatus being of the same configuration and formed of a plastics material, and all supporting members for the panel members being of the same configuration and formed of a plastics material, and means for interconnecting the panel members and the supporting members with outer faces of adjacent walls in engagement.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the panel members and the supporting members are formed by extrusion, whereby all the panel members can be formed from a single tool and all the supporting members can be formed from another single tool.
3. Apparatus for use in forming a panel structure, the apparatus comprising panel members, and supporting members therefor, and means for interconnecting the panel members and the supporting members with outer faces of adjacent walls in engagement, the interconnecting means being manually operable through the opposed wall of one of a respective panel member and a relating supporting member.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each panel member is formed of a plastics material and each supporting member is formed of a plastics material.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each panel member and each supporting member is formed by extrusion.
6. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein means are provided for enclosing the interconnecting means.
7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the interconnecting means comprises a plurality of plug members, a through opening being formed in one of the respective panel member or related supporting member to receive a main body part of the respective plug member, and a through opening being formed in the other of the panel member or the supporting member to require an end part of the respective plug member to resiliently deform when passing therethrough, means being provided on the end part whereby to prevent the latter from returning therethrough.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each plug member has an axial through bore in the main body part, a locking pin being located in the bore and normally being accessible from the end of the plug member remote from said end part, whereby, when the plug member is positioned in the aligned through openings of the respective panel member and the supporting member, the pin can be manually moved through the axial bore into the end part whereby to deform the latter and assist in preventing the plug member from being removed from the panel member and the supporting member.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the plug members has a flange at the end of the main body part remote from the end part.
10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the plug members are formed of a plastics material.
11. A panel structure in the form of a car port formed by the apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a canopy is formed by interconnected ones of the panel members and is supported above a base by a plurality of the supporting members.
12. A structure according to claim 11, wherein the canopy is secured at one side to a fixture and the supporting members extend between the base and the other side of the canopy.
13. A structure according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the panel members of the canopy are interconnected to one another by means of brackets and plates.
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein a base support is provided for each supporting member, the base support comprising a mounting plate having an upwardly open tubular part within which one end of the respective supporting member can locate.
15. A structure according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein further panel members are mounted between the supporting members at the or each side of the canopy.
16. A panel structure in the form of fencing, formed by apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10.
17. A panel structure in the form of benching, formed by apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10.
18. A panel structure in the form of an open topped container formed by apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10.
19. A panel structure in the form of a duckboard, formed by apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10.
20. Apparatus for use in forming a panel structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A panel structure substantially as here inbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.
GB8712663A 1986-05-31 1987-05-29 Improved component structures Expired - Fee Related GB2191227B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868613261A GB8613261D0 (en) 1986-05-31 1986-05-31 Component structures

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8712663D0 GB8712663D0 (en) 1987-07-01
GB2191227A true GB2191227A (en) 1987-12-09
GB2191227B GB2191227B (en) 1990-05-16

Family

ID=10598745

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868613261A Pending GB8613261D0 (en) 1986-05-31 1986-05-31 Component structures
GB8712663A Expired - Fee Related GB2191227B (en) 1986-05-31 1987-05-29 Improved component structures

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868613261A Pending GB8613261D0 (en) 1986-05-31 1986-05-31 Component structures

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8613261D0 (en)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB972608A (en) * 1961-09-14 1964-10-14 Bertil Waldemar Bourwall Mounting strip for the assembling of wall tiles
GB1233304A (en) * 1969-07-17 1971-05-26
US3583118A (en) * 1969-09-15 1971-06-08 Control Building Systems Inc Insulated panel structures and connections
GB2115452A (en) * 1982-02-10 1983-09-07 Corflex Inc Extruded structural system
GB2139662A (en) * 1983-03-24 1984-11-14 Gerald Edwards Aldous Cladding of structure
EP0138393A2 (en) * 1983-09-20 1985-04-24 Fargo Chou Inter-reinforced prefabricated insulation wall
GB2169326A (en) * 1985-01-09 1986-07-09 Friedrich Kaspers Structural assembly comprising panel member and support
GB2178725A (en) * 1985-05-31 1987-02-18 Bern Research Ltd Component assemblies
EP0224427A1 (en) * 1985-11-01 1987-06-03 Generacell Corporation Multi-panel wall assembly

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB818548A (en) * 1955-10-26 1959-08-19 United Carr Fastener Corp Improvements in and relating to fastening devices
GB903146A (en) * 1959-10-14 1962-08-09 Illinois Tool Works Improvements relating to fasteners
GB889406A (en) * 1959-10-28 1962-02-14 Fred Lord Improvements in or relating to rigid canopies for doorways and the like
GB1074952A (en) * 1963-03-22 1967-07-05 Harley Patents Int Improvements relating to locking pins
GB1059761A (en) * 1964-02-11 1967-02-22 Dyna Plastik Werk G M B H Fastening fencing laths formed of synthetic plastics
US3918130A (en) * 1974-01-25 1975-11-11 Hartwell Corp Initially one piece removable fastener
GB1482517A (en) * 1974-07-22 1977-08-10 Lb Ltd Fencing
US4557091A (en) * 1982-02-10 1985-12-10 Corflex International, Inc. Extruded structural system
GB2129845B (en) * 1982-10-13 1985-10-30 Victor Smardon Howard Post and rail fencing
IT1209064B (en) * 1984-03-14 1989-07-10 Effe Elle Srl COMPLEX OF ELEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHT COVERINGS, IN PARTICULAR VERANDAS
GB8517193D0 (en) * 1985-07-06 1985-08-14 Horrocks A Built structure

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB972608A (en) * 1961-09-14 1964-10-14 Bertil Waldemar Bourwall Mounting strip for the assembling of wall tiles
GB1233304A (en) * 1969-07-17 1971-05-26
US3583118A (en) * 1969-09-15 1971-06-08 Control Building Systems Inc Insulated panel structures and connections
GB2115452A (en) * 1982-02-10 1983-09-07 Corflex Inc Extruded structural system
GB2139662A (en) * 1983-03-24 1984-11-14 Gerald Edwards Aldous Cladding of structure
EP0138393A2 (en) * 1983-09-20 1985-04-24 Fargo Chou Inter-reinforced prefabricated insulation wall
GB2169326A (en) * 1985-01-09 1986-07-09 Friedrich Kaspers Structural assembly comprising panel member and support
GB2178725A (en) * 1985-05-31 1987-02-18 Bern Research Ltd Component assemblies
EP0224427A1 (en) * 1985-11-01 1987-06-03 Generacell Corporation Multi-panel wall assembly

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WO A1 86/05224 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8613261D0 (en) 1986-07-02
GB2191227B (en) 1990-05-16
GB8712663D0 (en) 1987-07-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4369953A (en) Fence constructions and in fence elements therefor
US9016003B2 (en) Modular blow molded shed with connectors
US5680737A (en) Structural connector hub for exhibit booths
US4633626A (en) Knock-down extendible shelter
US4398841A (en) Column-to-beam connector
EP0303130B1 (en) Building element
US7063481B2 (en) Connector block for modular construction and object fabricated therefrom
US4458461A (en) Support posts and/or a partitioning system
US10920413B2 (en) Pergola building system and bracket
US4018016A (en) Waiting station for buses
US6088989A (en) Framing member
JPH0545103U (en) Fasteners for wooden building materials and fastening structures for wooden buildings
US7155865B2 (en) Prefabricated housing structure
US4780018A (en) Framework connector
US4797020A (en) Self-locking mortise and tenon joint
GB2191227A (en) A panel structure with supporting parts all of plastics material
US20230046879A1 (en) Outdoor structure design and components
GB2263122A (en) Post assembly for a hazard warning barrier
JP2978618B2 (en) Plastic fence
CA2322610A1 (en) Plastic fence structure
JPH0510097Y2 (en)
JP2605209Y2 (en) Connecting device and assembled fence using the same
GB2402140A (en) Fence post
JPH0712505Y2 (en) Pillar of entrance porch
JPS5922203Y2 (en) Fence connection device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980529