AU2127802A

AU2127802A - Improved structural member

Info

Publication number: AU2127802A
Application number: AU21278/02A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Harry Newman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-16
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2002-08-22

Description

1 IMPROVED STRUCTURAL MEMBER This invention relates to an improved structural member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structural member at an advantageous cost or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

The present invention, in a first aspect, broadly consist in an element for a structural member, said element being substantially channel-shaped with portions of the base of *the channel and walls of the channel being offset from an adjacent portion or portions to eooee 10 increase rigidity.

S• In a second aspect the present invention consists of two said elements secured together by overlapping the otherwise free edges of the walls to form a hollow structural member, :Oo**and fastening the overlaps.

Preferably the overlaps are fastened together by screws.

Preferably there is an inner reinforcing strip on the inside of the member under the overlaps at each side and that too is held by screws.

The above gives a broad description of the present invention one preferred form of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a structural member according to the preferred form of the present invention, in cross-section (with fasteners omitted).

2 Figure 2 shows in cross section an enlarged portion of an end of a structural member with an inner reinforcing strip.

As can be seen the structural member 1 is formed from two identical channel-shaped elements 2, 3 whose otherwise free edges 4, 5 and 6, 7 are held together in overlap by screws or other suitable fastenings (not shown).

Extra strength may be provided at the overlaps by inner reinforcing strips such as 8 (Figure one under each lap. These are also held in place by the screws (not shown).

S Portions of the base and walls 9, 10, 10' and 11, 11' of each element are offset from an adjacent portion or portions to increase rigidity. Such portions are located at the heads of arrows 12, 12'; 13,13'; 14, 14'and 15, 15'. Their presence and shape may be varied to suit needs, eg. 13, 13' and 15, 15' may be omitted.

The preferred shape, as shown in Figure 1, has good deflection and torsional rigidity characteristics having regard to the weight of metal used in fabrication of the components, and thus offers an economical structural member.

Typical dimensions might be 630mm overall depth and 180mm overall width with a wal thickness of 2mm in steel.

To assist with assembly meat hook or S-shaped hangers can be used intermittently to hold the free edges 4, 5 and 6, 7, to be screwed together, in position when the channel bases 9, 9' are horizontal for assembly.

3 There may be continuous or discrete webs (not shown) provided by a separate web member or web members spanning across the narrowest and or largest internal dimension of the structural member for extra stiffness, and these could also be screwed in place or held by other means.

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The structural members, when used as a building framework, can be fastened together at an apex or knee joint using flanking plates secured to each member by screws.

It is to be understood that the above preferred forms of the invention have been provided only by way of illustration of this invention and that further modifications and improvements thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the present invention described herein and defined in the claims that follow.

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Claims

1. An element for a structural member, said element being substantially channel shaped having a base and walls wherein portions of the base of the channel and walls of the channel are offset from an adjacent portion or portions to increase rigidity.

2. A structural member including two elements as claimed in claim 1, wherein the i' two said elements are secured together by overlapping the otherwise free edges of the S" walls of respective elements to form a hollow structural member and fastening the 10 overlaps.

3. The structural member as claimed in claim 2 wherein an inner reinforcing strip is fastened on the inside of the structural member under the overlaps on each side of o°.ooo the member.

4. The structural member as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein fastening is effected by way of removable fasteners, preferably in the form of screws. The structural member as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS FIFTH DAY OF MARCH 2002 ALAN HARRY NEWMAN by PIZZEYS Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys