Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Patent
1987-08-27
1990-03-27
Scherbel, David A.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
52 64, 403171, E04H 1200
Patent
active
049109391
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is concerned with structural construction systems which may be used, in articular, for theatrical staging or platforms, and also for purposes such as the construction of shuttering for the laying of concrete floors, scaffolding or temporary buildings.
In theatrical productions it is often required to provide a temporary stage of a particular size, shape, slope and height. In the past, it has generally been necessary either to construct the required stage in its entirety or to compromise on the stage specification so as to permit the use of existing stage components of predetermined characteristics. With respect to this latter approach, the stage components involved are normally collapsible four-walled box pens with fitting platform members, such components being readily storable. The lack of versatility of the storable stage components can be highly inconvenient and restrictive so that the expensive alternative of constructing a completely new stage for a single production is often adopted
It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile construction system which can employ readily available construction materials and is suitable for use, inter alia, for constructing stages, and which can be dismantled for storage.
According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a construction system which comprises:
(a) a plurality of elongate structural beams;
(b) a plurality of a multi-way socket elements each comprising at least three interconnected box section members open at both ends, each capable of slidably receiving a said structural beam, said box section members being arranged such that a first of said stuuctural beams can pass through a selected one of said box section members and further ones of said structural beams can pass through respective further ones of said box section members, at least one of said further ones being arrange to abut respective edge(s) of said first structural beam; and
(c) means for securing said beams to said socket elements.
The elongate structural beams used in the construction system according to the invention, are in some embodiments, all of the same cross section, which is preferably substantially rectangular. The beams are preferably of timber (although other materials, such as metals, are also envisaged). Typically, such wooden beams measure about 69mm by 44mm (a standard dimension for planed wooden beams). The socket elements are preferably of metal (such as mild steel), although other materials, such as plastics, are also envisaged. The box section members are preferably of hollow rectangular section such as to snugly receive any one of the structural beams.
The use of socket elements of the kind described can avoid the need for shaping the ends of the beams, and the latter abut directly against one another, so that they may be measured and cut to length without reference to the dimensions of the sockets. The system is flexible in that there are no constraints on the length of the beams. Since no shaping of the ends of the beams is necessary, and since a large proportion of the construction can be modular so that the beams are of a standard length, much of the system may be re-used at a later date after dismantling. Securing of the beams to the sockets need require no special tools or expertise.
The box section members constituting the socket elements used in the construction system according to the invention are preferably mutually perpendicular. In this case, since the socket elements are internally open, it is possible for the beams to extend therethrough in any one of two mutually perpendicular horizontal directions, or in the vertical direction.
Base plates may be provided for the structural beams, for mounting on the ground or floor to function as support columns for the construction. Such base plates may each consist of a metal plate to which is attached a short box section, similar to the box section members of the socket elements, and therefore dimensioned so as to receive the ends of the structural beams. The pl
REFERENCES:
patent: 1347808 (1920-07-01), Franklin
patent: 3771273 (1973-11-01), Brodie
patent: 3829999 (1974-08-01), Bernstein
patent: 4630550 (1986-12-01), Weitzman
Petrus Systems Limited
Scherbel David A.
Smith Creighton
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