WO2002081847A1

WO2002081847A1 - System of structural elements

Info

Publication number: WO2002081847A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/000658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aida Kalnins
Original assignee: Aida Kalnins Design
Priority date: 2001-04-06
Filing date: 2002-04-04
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: SE521531C2; SE0101221L; SE0101221D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system of structural elements to be used in forming different erect constructions. Said erect constructions may be fences, pergolas, tents, summerhouses, bookshelves, shop fittings etc. The structural elements comprise columns (1, 2), crossbeams (3), fittings (4, 5, 6) and footings (7). Each column (1, 2) is formed of at least two battens (9) arranged at a distance from each other. To form a column (1, 2) fittings (4) are fixed to the battens (9) and the fittings (4) fixed to the battens (9) may be connected by further batten fittings (5) to form a column (2) made of four battens (9). Crossbeams (3) may be connected by means of fittings (6) to the fittings (4, 5) of the column (1, 2).

Description

SYSTEM OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a system of structure elements to form different erect constructions. The erect constructions may be fences, pergolas, tents, summerhouses etc. for use outdoors, or may be bookshelves, shop fittings etc for use indoors .

Prior Art

It is previously known to use columns, crossbeams, fittings etc. to form different erect constructions. With the expression "erect constructions" as used in the present description is meant fences, pergolas, tents, summerhouses, bookshelves, shop fittings etc.

It is common to use massive columns when forming the different parts as stated above. Such massive columns will have a substantial weight which is a drawback regarding transport of the structural elements. They usually have a rectangular section in order to minimize the weight in relation to the bearing capacity and their fittings cannot be integrated in the column. The rectangular section will further need the use of different kinds of fittings to be able to attach beams in all four directions.

Columns similar to the present invention can be built manually. However, it will prove complicated and time- consuming and need considerable specialized skills to achieve correct alignment and the heights that are requested.

The Invention

One object of the present invention is to supply a system of standardised structural elements, which could be used to form different erect constructions. A further object of the present invention is that the structural elements without any alterations or additional, devices shall be possible to extend in four directions at any time and from any column in the system. Still a further object of the present invention is that the structural elements should be fairly simple to connect to each other, in order to form different constructions .

Still a further object of the present invention is that the structural elements should be adapted to facilitate transport.

Yet a further object of the present invention is that the number of different parts needed to form the structural elements should be kept at a minimum. These objects are met by a system of structural elements to form erect constructions, which elements comprise columns, crossbeams and fittings. The columns are formed of at least two battens arranged at a distance from each other. Further objects and advantages with the present invention will be obvious for a person skilled in the art from reading the detailed description of preferred embodiments below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described further below by way of an example and with reference to the enclosed drawings . In the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of different structural elements and illustrating forming of a column according to the present invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b are side views of different fittings according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a node formed by the fittings of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a footing according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the forming of erect constructions according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a horizontal view in section of a node according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a vertical view in section of the node of Fig . 6 ;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a transportation position;

Fig. 9 is an example of a fence formed by using the structural elements of the present invention; and

_Fig. 1,(3 is an example of a pergola formed by using the structural elements of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The present invention comprises a number or a system of structural elements for forming erect constructions. The structural elements in the shown embodiment comprise battens 9, crossbeams 3, different types of fittings 4, 5, 6 and footings 7. The fittings are batten fittings 4, 5 and beam fittings 6.

The columns 1, 2 are normally formed of two battens 9 ("2-u column") or four battens 9 ("4-u column"), respectively. Preferably, the battens 9 are square-sawed. In other embodiments (not shown) battens which are not square-sawed are used. The battens 9 are fixed to each other two and two in an equal distance from each other. The distance between the two battens 9 normally corresponds to the width of one crossbeam 3 plus the thickness of two batten fittings 4, 5. In the shown embodiment the width of one batten 9 corresponds to the width of one crossbeam 3. This is an advantage in transport, as one batten 9 could be placed in said distance between two battens 9 fixed to each other, as indicated in Fig. 8.

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the system to create any construction from a simple fence to a summerhouse.

In Fig. 9 a fence built by using structural elements according to the present invention is shown as an example . To build the fence a number of accessories 8 are added. The shown part of the fence is formed of two columns 2, connected by two crossbeams 3. On the crossbeams 3 a number of wooden boards are fixed and each column 2 has a wooden plate at the top as protection. In Fig. 10 a pergola is shown as an example. The pergola differs from the fence of Fig. 9 in that the columns 2 are higher and that there are three crossbeams 3. By the ⁱpreseμJ: invention it is possible to build pergola right into a house and place a door under the upper crossbeam 3.

When the system of structural elements according to the invention is used for building e.g. a summerhouse or a playhouse the walls of the house may be built on or attached to the crossbeams 3. The crossbeams 3 are attached to the columns 1, 2 as stated above.

If the erect, construction is to be used outdoors the columns 1, 2 are normally placed on a footing as described above. As the battens 9 forming the columns 1, 2 normally are made of wood it is an advantage if they are placed at a small distance above the ground, in order to minimize the risk of negative influence from the ground.

The system of structural elements may also be used indoors to build bookshelves, shop fittings, screenings, partition walls etc. For indoor use the footing has the form of a plate or the like (not shown) .

Even if the system of structural elements is developed with the use of wood in mind, except for the fittings and anchor normally made of metal, a person skilled in the art realises that other materials may be used. Such other materials are e.g. metals used also for the columns, crossbeams etc., which metals preferably are light metals. Different plastics may also be used.

The system of structural elements is suitable to use for different constructions for self-assembly. In transport and storing the columns 1 made of two battens 9 may be joined two and two as described above. However, it is also possible to transport and store the columns 1 or even the battens 9 separated from each other.

Claims

1. A system of structural elements to form different erect constructions, which structural elements comprise columns (1, 2), crossbeams (3) and fittings (4, 5, 6), characterized in that the columns (1, 2) are formed of at least two battens (9) arranged at a distance from each ^■ other.

2. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the columns (1,2) are formed of two or four battens (9), held at a distance from each other by means of batten fittings (4, 5) .

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battens (9) are square-sawed.

—4^". The ' system of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battens (9) are joined two and two by at least two batten fittings (4) , placed at a distance from each other, and that the battens (9) are held equidistant from each other.

5. The system of claim 4, characterized in that the distance between the two joined battens (9) correspond to the width of one crossbeam (3) plus the thickness of two ^• batten fittings (4, 5).

6. The system of any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that there are two types of batten fittings (4, 5) of which the first type of batten fittings (4) has openings (10) for receiving fastening means to fix said first type of batten fittings (4) at two battens (9) , and that both the first and second type of batten fittings (4, 5) have at least two slits (11) for co-operation in forming a node .

7. The system of claim 6, characterized in that the columns (2) made of four battens (9) are formed of two columns (1) made of two battens (9) , which columns (1) made of two battens (9) are attached to each other by the slits (11) of the second type of batten fittings (5) inserted i the slits (11) of the first type of batten fittings (4) fixed to the battens (9) .

8. The system of any of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that crossbeams (3) are attached to the batten fittings (4, 5) of the columns (1, 2) by means of beam fittings (6) arranged at each end of each crossbeam (3) for co-operation with the batten fittings (4, 5).

9. The system of claim 8, characterized in that the beam fittings (6) has a certain elasticity and that accessories (8) are connected to the crossbeams (3) .

10. The system of any of the previous claims, characterized in that at least some columns (1, 2) rest on footings (7) .

11. The system of claim 10, characterized in that each footing (7) is a horizontal plate with wings (16) bent to a vertical position, which wings (16) are to be screwed to the battens (9) of the column (1, 2) and which horizontal plate is to be attached to the ground.

12. The system of claim 11, characterized in that at outdoor use each column (1, 2) is placed on parts creating a distance between the bottom of the column (1, 2) and the ground.

13. The system of claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the footing (7) is attached to the earth by means of screws or bars enrobed in concrete or cement or that the footing (7) is attached to an indoor floor by means of screws .

14. An erect construction for self-assembly, characterized in that a system of structural elements according to any of the previous claims is used.