Building elements

Details Building elements Building elements

1999-06-17

2001-07-17

Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)

Static structures (e.g., buildings)

Facer held by stiffener-type frame

C052S476000, C052S460000, C052S461000, C052S464000, C052S762000, C052S773000, C052S281000, C052S489100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06260321

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the construction industry; more particularly, this invention relates to certain building elements useful in construction, especially for the building of internal walls and partitions, although the invention is not necessary limited to this application.
BACKGROUND ART
For many years it has been the normal practice in the construction industry to construct internal walls from plasterboard, attached to wooden or metal studs. To install plasterboard walls with an acceptably smooth finish, and to set the joints between adjacent plasterboard panels, it is necessary to employ skilled plasterboard “setters”. This not only increases costs, but influences the building timetable; to achieve maximum efficiency, a building should be prepared to the stage where all plasterboard walls can be installed at one time, so that the setters are on site for the minimum time necessary. A significant cost drawback is the fact that it is unavoidable that this work must be carried out on site.
Once the plasterboard walls have been installed, they need to be sanded before being painted. The sanding procedure creates a significant amount of gypsum dust, with a consequent effect on all articles and material on the site. Moreover, because it is necessary to paint plasterboard, the cost of painting is a significant part of building.
Should it become necessary to repair a plasterboard wall, if a professional finish is required, it is necessary to call in a plasterboard setter and to endure the dust created during the sanding procedure. In addition, it is necessary to repaint the wall after repair.
There is a further problem associated with plasterboard walls, which arises during demolition. Demolition of internal plasterboard walls is frequently necessary in commercial buildings, for example, when a tenant leaves the building. Demolition of plasterboard walls is usually also necessary during refurbishment. Plasterboard walls cannot be dismantled without substantial damage to the plasterboard, to the extent that the plasterboard is not reusable. Even more significantly, substantial gypsum dust is created. It is believed that the inhalation of gypsum dust may have a deleterious effect on health. Consequently, in some jurisdictions, safe work practices require that adjacent areas are evacuated during the demolition of plasterboard walls. This can result in loss of rent for a landlord and interruption of business and loss of profits for a tenant.
After plasterboard walls have been demolished, the plasterboard has a “negative” value in that it is necessary to pay for its removal and disposal. Plasterboard and its framing is not recyclable on an economic basis. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a construction system which can avoid the use of plasterboard panels and hence the difficulty and cost involved in construction, repair and demolition involving plasterboard panels.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a building system which can permit wall panels to be reusable.
It is a further object to provide, in one aspect of the invention, a system which can use wall panels already finished in the factory, so that painting on site is not required.
When wall panels, plasterboard or otherwise, are transported to a building site, damage frequently occurs. In many cases, the damage is relatively minor, and one side of the panel is usable.
It is an object of this invention, in one aspect, to provide a building element which will permit a panel to be erected with either side outermost.
During occupation of buildings, damage is occasionally caused to wall panels. Rather than obtain a replacement panel, it would be desirable to be able to detach the panel and reverse it so that the damaged side is concealed in the wall cavity. This invention, in one aspect, aims to provide that capability.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a building system which can be integrated with furniture, especially office furniture, such as work stations.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention provides a building element being a stud, the stud having a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each channel in each set being adapted to receive a cooperating means for the purpose of mounting a panel or bracket on the stud, characterised in that the first set of channels is parallel to and spaced from the second set of channels.
Preferably, each set of channels has three longitudinal channels. Further, it is preferred that the first set of channels is spaced from the second set of channels by a single web.
The cross-sectional shape of each channel can be determined by the way in which it is intended to receive the cooperating means. In one preferred embodiment, rather than being “U” shaped, it is preferred that each channel is formed with return rims, so that the channel is “C” shaped in cross-section; however, it is greatly preferred that the base of the channel is flat.
The stud may be manufactured from any suitable material; it has been found that aluminium is acceptable, and has the added advantage that aluminium is recyclable. However, the stud may be made from other materials.
The co-operating means for mounting panels or brackets to the stud is preferably a joining clip, which is also novel.
Consequently, this invention also provides a building element being a joining clip adapted to mount a panel or bracket to the stud of the invention, wherein the joining clip includes the cooperating means and also includes means for connecting the joining clip to the panel or bracket, characterised in that the cooperating means include a pair of resilient arms.
In a preferred embodiment, the joining clip is made of plastic such a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other suitable material. If desired, the joining clip may have parts of varying resiliency, formed for example by multi-moulding.
Certain preferred configurations of the cooperating means are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but the invention is not necessarily limited to these configurations.
As will be seen from the examples in the drawings, the joining clip can perform the function of providing a neat finish to the ends of panels. The clip preferably extends along the length of an edge of each panel for this reason and also to provide maximum strength and stability to the assembled wall.
The means for connecting the clip to a panel may follow, inter alia, either of two methods of construction. In the first method, the panel may be provided with a longitudinal groove in at least one edge (preferably also in the edge opposite the first), in which case the joining clip may have a protrusion, especially a saw-toothed protrusion, which is a push-fit into the groove. This method is illustrated in the drawings. In the second method, the panel end is tapered or shaped to fit within a complementary channel formed in the joining clip. In both cases, it is intended that the material of the clip and the close fit with the panel provides a stable arrangement under normal conditions, but that the use of appropriate force will separate the clip from the panel when required, for example, so that the panel can be reversed.
It is to be understood, however, that it is not an essential part of this invention that the joining clip can be removed from the panel, bracket or the like. In some applications, for example, in wet areas, the panel may be waterproof on one side only and there will be no need to be able to strip the joining piece from the panel.
In addition, the means for connecting the joining clip to a panel may be adhesive, or other suitable means.
In the case of panels around internal or external corners, a new joining element has been devised, which also forms part of the present invention. The joining element of the invention is adapted to annex a first panel to a second panel, each of the first and second panels having a pair of opposing faces surrounded by edges, the joining element having first means for connecting the joining element to the first panel, second means for connecti

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Building elements does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Building elements, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Building elements will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2567777