AU2010201674A1

AU2010201674A1 - Improved joiner arrangement for a building construction, and a method of construction for a building or partition

Info

Publication number: AU2010201674A1
Application number: AU2010201674A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bob Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-01
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2010-11-18

Description

1 IMPROVED JOINER ARRANGEMENT FOR A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, AND A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION FOR A BUILDING OR PARTITION This invention relates to a unique joiner arrangement which allows various types of building constructions, namely garages, pergolas, fences, carports, partitions and the 5 like using relatively inexpensive lightweight pieces than can be assembled efficiently to provide a reinforced aesthetic looking finished building arrangement. More particularly this invention relates to building constructions which are able to be created using a support frame structure, of which support frame structure is able to be joined together using a unique joiner or fastening mechanism. 10 One problem with conventional building structures, the kinds associated with outside garages, carports, pergolas and the like is that these kinds of designs often require expensive material and skilled labour to construct. For example, timber and steel structures are often built by assembling the timber pieces insitu because the heavy timber and steel would be difficult to pre-fabricate or 15 partially assemble off-site before it is taken to the location where the structure is built. Nonetheless, as a person skilled in the art will appreciate, the difficulty in building timber frames insitu at a building site is that considerable skilled labour and the use of expensive material and tooling would be required in order to realise and achieve the necessary frame structure of the building to be constructed. 20 More recently, in order to move away from timber structures, builders have turned to a new form of building design using steel structured frames made from heavy gauge steel. These steel frames are often pre-fabricated and many buildings, particularly outdoor carports, pergolas, sunrooms and the like are constructed in a large part from this 2 material which is considered to be more durable and less prone to environmental attack, from things such as insect infestation which often attack timber frames. Nonetheless, whether it be timber structures or expensive heavy steel frames pre fabricated for assembly, the fact still remains that a long period of time, expensive 5 material and skilled labour is required to create the necessary building structure using either material. Still further, both timber and steel frames are only part of the overall process of presenting a support structure for the building or partition to be built. These timber and steel frames themselves provide no inherent fasting means within themselves in 10 order to be attached or assembled together in the one support structure. Therefore, not only is there considerable time and effort spent in using conventional building frames such as wood and heavy gauged steel to create the structure, these structures are incomplete as further assembly is required in order for the final structure to present a strengthened and reinforced finish. 15 A further problem is that these conventional building designs using heavy timber and steel supports that need special fastening arrangements in order to create the construction, given that they require skilled trades people, are difficult then to build in remote or isolated locations as no trades people can be found. Still further, many home handymen and the like would very much like to assemble 20 simple carports, pergolas, partitions, fences and the like but the assembly and costs involved until this point have made it too impractical for such people to consider. Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a unique joiner which will allow a support structure of a building construction to be assembled and constructed as part of a building or partition without the requirement to use exclusively skilled and 25 trained trades people to assemble.

3 A further object of this invention is to provide a joiner arrangement wherein the actual support structures that make up the building construction are characterised in themselves in inherently including a fastening or joiner arrangement where one piece of the support frame and joiner connect itself to another simply and conveniently for 5 the assembling of a complete support structural frame for a building arrangement. Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the complete reading of the specification. Accordingly, in one form of the invention there is provided a support structure for a building construction, said support structure including; 10 a support member, said support member including at least two independent continuous grooves along its lengths, a substantially L-shaped joiner, wherein an arm of the L-shaped joiner is adapted to slide along the groove in 15 a support member such that when one support member transgresses another support member the respective arms of the L-shaped joiner can be aligned in place and fixed such that each arm of the L-shaped joiner remains fastened within the groove of the support member whereby the fastening together of respective support members creates a support structure for building construction. 20 An advantage of such an arrangement is that by introduction of the series of longitudinal grooves that run along the length support member and in combination with the L-shaped joiner means that the various fragments, sections or portions of the backbone structure of the building construction can be assembled so easily as all one has to do is simply place one support member in its required position and align 25 the second support member in the orientation required and fasten them together with the respective arms of the L-shaped joiner.

4 As an arm of the L-shaped joiner rests within the groove of the joined together support members, they can then be fastened into place such that once the L-shaped joiner is fixed within the respective groove of the joined together support members a reinforced support framework is provided for the building construction being created. 5 In preference in one embodiment of the invention the support structure is a cylindrical vertical upright preferably having four symmetrically arranged grooves running along its longitudinal length. In preference the support member in a further form of the invention is a substantially flat rectangular length having the continuous groove running along at least one 10 opposing sides of the rectangular configuration. In preference the L-shaped joiner includes at least one aperture hole in each of the respective arms to which a bolt, screw or fastener can be inserted therein in order to lock the arm of the L-shaped joiner within the groove of one of the support members. In a further form of the invention there is provided a support structure for a building 15 construction, said support structure including; a support member; said support member including a substantially tetrahedral continuous length; each side of continuous tetrahedral member includes continuous grooves along its length wherein a substantially L-shaped joiner is adapted so that an arm of 20 the L-shaped joiner is configured to slide along the section of the continuous groove such that one support member transgresses another support member the respective arm of the L-shaped joiner can be aligned in place and fixed within the corresponding continuous grooves of each of the transgressing support members whereby the fasting together of the respective support members through the L-shaped joiner 25 creates a support structure for building construction.

5 In preference, the continuous tetrahedral length of the support member is defined by four shouldered corner brackets wherein the spaces in between the corner brackets provide for the continuous groove to which an arm of the L-shaped joiner can slide there along to be fixed in place. 5 In preference, the four corner brackets extending along the length of the tetrahedral member are supported at their apex by an internal continuous tetrahedral length. An advantage of such an arrangement is that through the simple construction not only can the corner brackets provide a means in which the continuous grooves can be constructed along the length of the support member but by having an internal 10 tetrahedral configuration which in effect is supporting these external brackets or shoulders it also allows for an additional rod, piping or structural support member to conveniently slide into the tetrahedral chamber to reinforce the joining action as one support member transgresses another and is held together as the support structure for the building construction. 15 In preference, four cylindrical configured support members that have the continuous grooves along their lengths there are four such continuous grooves or slots so that the base of each slot points inwardly from the circumferential edge of the cylindrical support member so as to define a substantially tetrahedral support structure so that a separate tetrahedrally configured rod can slide therein to the defined configuration to 20 provide additional support when fasting together of the respective support members is established for the use of the L-shaped joiner. In order to describe the invention in greater detail further embodiments will now be presented with the assistance of the following description and illustrations. Figures 1a to 1f is an exploded perspective view showing the various kinds of 25 support members and their configurations with the joiner. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the joining together of a cylindrical vertical upright support member with a transgressing substantially rectangular crossbar member.

6 Figure 3 shows a further perspective view this time showing the vertical upright support joining together a corner end of two converging cross members that make up the complete structure referred to in Figure.1. Figure 4 shows a representation of intermediate criss-crossing support bars holding 5 up the roofing panels of the representation shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 shows a further feature of this invention wherein a louvered shade arrangement is added to the building construction. Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of one of the vertical upright support members being fastened to the ground. 10 Figure 7a and 7b shows how this same support structure can be included as part of a fence or partition arrangement. The figures 8a and 8b show a perspective and exploded view of a tetrahedral shaped support member transgressing a substantially cylindrically shaped support member. The figures 9a and 9b show a similar embodiment to that shown in figures 8a and 8b, 15 however, the support members transgressing are both of a substantially tetrahedral configuration. Referring to the drawings in greater detail, where there is provided vertical support member 20 having continuous longitudinal grooves 22. These vertical grooves 22 are adapted to include the arm 32 of an L-shaped joiner 28 20 which as best seen in Figure 2 can have the corresponding arm 30 of the L-shaped joiner 28 arranged to sit within the groove 26 of the crossbar member 25. Advantageously, as a person skilled in the arm can now see, it is a simple assembly in which to bring together two support members in order to create a support structure for a building construction.

7 Thus simply aligning the respective grooves in the support members making up the structure and placing in position the L-shaped joiner and then fastening the respective arms of the L-shaped joiner into the corresponding grooves provides for fixed engagement between the support members making up the support structure. 5 As can be seen in Figure 3 given the vertical upright support member 20 includes a series of longitudinal grooves along its lengths about the circumferal edge it is possible to easily align more than one transgressing cross member which in this case provides for a corner connection where each of the crossbar members 19 and 17 converge on the one edge to align the respective grooves of the vertical upright 10 against the grooves of the converging cornered crossbar members so that each of the L-shaped joiners 28 can be fixed in place in order to provide a well supported structure of the vertical upright 20 against the two cornered crossbar supports 17 and 19. Advantageously, the respective grooves in the crossbar members 21 and 26 allow 15 the arms of the L-shaped joiner to sit therein and then be fastened in place in order to bring together the overhead crossbar members 17 and 19 with the vertical upright support 20. Figure 4 simply shows that the support members need not necessarily only be cylindrical in configuration but can easily be rectangular in configuration with the 20 same mechanism of joining together each of the respective support members remain faithful in that what is required is at least one continuous groove along the length of the support member which in this case in Figure 4 shows the bringing together of support members 36 and 38 so that the respective grooves 37 and 39 provide the slot to which the arms of the L-shaped joiner 40 can rest therein and be fastened as 25 shown at 41 and 43 of Figure 4. In Figure 5 a further feature of one of the building constructions provided for allows for the introduction of a louvered extension shown generally at 46 which includes extension 48 made up of individual louvers 50 of which can be rotated retracted into 8 vertical and horizontal positions to allow a varying degree of light to penetrate there through. Figure 6 shows a vertical upright column 20 being fastened to the ground by bolts 52 as well as an internal rod (not shown in the illustration) to which is then fastened bolts 5 54. Collar 56 can then sit comfortably around the circumferal edge 50 of the vertical upright 20 at the base upon the ground. Figure 7a and 7b shows how this same support structure can be included as part of a fence or partition arrangement wherein support members 64 and 62 are joined together again through the use of a L-shaped joiner 69 wherein the arms of the L 10 shaped joiner can slide into the respective grooves 63 and 65 of the support members to be joined together so that they can be fastened into position. In this embodiment plates of glass 68 are also held within the grooves to form part of the partition or building construction. In the illustrations, figures 8a and 8b there is a tetrahedral member 70 transgressing 15 a substantially cylindrical member 72. The tetrahedral member includes four continuous corner brackets 74 which extend out from an internally defined continuous tetrahedral member 76 to which additional support structure such -as a tetrahedral rod or pipe 78 can then rest and engage therein to provide additional support during the joining process. 20 As can be seen, the substantially cylindrical member 72 has the continuous slots with their perspective base or trough portion 82 defining the same kind of tetrahedral enclosure which would allow the additional tetrahedral support member 84 to slide therein to. In this embodiment the same joining process still-exists in that the L-shaped joiner 86 25 still has its respective arms 88 and 90 which engage the continuous grooves on each of their respective transgressing members 70 and 72 and can be fixed in place by virtue of fastening bolts 92.

9 Figures 9a and 9b are essentially the same configuration as figures 8a and 8b, however, in this embodiment there are in fact three transgressing support members shown generally as 94, 96 and 98 where each of the support members are also substantially tetrahedral in shape. 5 Nonetheless, each of these members still have the four cornered continuous brackets that provide for the continuous groove 106 and these brackets 106 provide for a continuous groove or slot along the length of each support member on each of the sides so that there is the possibility to engage a transgressing support member from all four sides rather than in other discussed preferred embodiments with just the two 10 sides. In the embodiment shown in figures 9a and 9b support member 94 is able to engage support member 98 through the L-shaped joiner 104 and at the same time a vertical support member 96 is able to also have the support member 98 transgress to again be aligned such that the L-shaped joiner can rest comfortably within the relative 15 continuous grooves to be fixed in place to join the respective support members 94, 96 and 98 together in their required support structure in this particular building arrangement. Advantageously, as each of these support members also define an internal continuous tetrahedral chamber additional support functionality can be provided for 20 by the tetrahedral pipes or rods 100, 102 and 104 which are able to slide into the internal configured tetrahedral enclosure of the support members 94, 96 and 98.

Claims

1. A support structure for a building construction, said support structure including; a support member, said support member including at least two independent continuous grooves 5 along its lengths, a substantially L-shaped joiner, wherein an arm of the L-shaped joiner is adapted to slide along the groove in a support member such that when one support member transgresses another support member the respective arms of the L-shaped joiner can be aligned in place 10 and fixed such that each arm of the L-shaped joiner remains fastened within the groove of the support member whereby the fastening together of respective support members creates a support structure for building construction.

2. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the support member is a cylindrical vertical upright having four symmetrically arranged grooves running along its 15 longitudinal length.

3. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the support member in a further form of the invention is a substantially flat rectangular length having the continuous groove running along at least one opposing sides of the rectangular configuration.

4. The support structure of any one of claim 1 to 3 wherein the L-shaped joiner 20 includes at least one aperture hole in each of the respective arms to which a bolt, screw or fastener can be inserted therein in order to lock the arm of the L-shaped joiner within the groove of one of the support members.

5. A support structure for a building construction,, said support structure including; 11 a support member; said support member including a substantially tetrahedral continuous length; each side of continuous tetrahedral member includes continuous grooves along its length wherein a substantially L-shaped joiner is adapted so that an arm of 5 the L-shaped joiner is configured to slide along the section of the continuous groove such that one support member transgresses another support member the respective arm of the L-shaped joiner can be aligned in place and fixed within the corresponding continuous grooves of each of the transgressing support members whereby the fasting together of the respective support members through the L-shaped joiner 10 creates a support structure for building construction.

6. The support structure of claim 5 wherein the continuous tetrahedral length of the support member is defined by four shouldered corner brackets wherein the spaces in between the corner brackets provide for the continuous groove to which an arm of the L-shaped joiner can slide there along to be fixed in place. 15

7: The support structure of claim 6 wherein the four corner brackets extending along the length of the tetrahedral member are supported at their apex by an internal continuous tetrahedral length to which the base of the respective arm of the L shaped joiner is fastened thereto.

8. The support structure of claim 7 wherein the four cylindrical configured support 20 members that have the continuous grooves along their lengths there are four such continuous grooves or slots so that the base of each slot points inwardly from the circumferential edge of the cylindrical support member so as to define a substantially tetrahedral support structure so that a separate tetrahedrally configured rod can slide therein to the defined configuration to provide additional support when fasting 25 together of the respective support members is established through the use of the L shaped joiner.