CA1289721C

CA1289721C - Connector for joining building components together in a double-sided construction

Info

Publication number: CA1289721C
Application number: CA000521574A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Markku Karhumaki
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-28
Filing date: 1986-10-28
Publication date: 1991-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-01
Also published as: SE8702669D0; SE8702669L; DK326287A; FI854206A0; FI854206L; FI76859C; SE461231B; DK163312B; FI76859B; DK163312C; DK326287D0; WO1987002729A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A connector for joining building components, such as boards, sheet materials or the like together on the opposite side of the connector to form a double-sided structure. The connector, includes flanges (5) on its opposite sides, the opposed flanges being interconnected by a web portion. The flanges (5) are provided with integral spikes, nails, prongs or the like (6) which project from their outer surfaces and serve as means for attaching the building components to opposite sides of the connector. The opposite sides of the connector may be independent profiles (1), which are joined to an opposite profile (1) by means of a connecting web (2) for providing a clip-together connector which facilitates the construction of double-sided wall structures.

Description

~, 1 A CONNECTOR FOR JOINING BUILDING C~MPONENl'S TO~ETHER IN A
DOUBLE-SIDED CO~STRUCTION.

The present invention relates to a connector for joining building components, such as boards, composite sheet materials or the like, together on each side of the connector to form a double-sided 10 construction, such as a sandwich-type construction.

Double-sided constructions, such as double-walls and the like have traditionally been constructed by a method in which building components, such as boards or composite sheets are affixed to each side 15 of a connecting element which acts as a supporting structure. The building elements are secured to the connecting elements from each outer side of the double-wall using fasteners such as spikes or screws.
Constructing double-walls by this method is time consuming and difficult to automate. Disassembling such constructions is cumbersome as well, 20 and is complicated by the fact that each spike or screw remains fastene~
to either the support structure or the building components after the two are separated.

With the aid of the connector in accordance with the invention, 25 a double sided structure can be constructed quickly and, when desired, the construction may be mechanized. For achieving this purpose, the connector includes flanges on its opposite sides, the flanges being interconnected by a web portion, which maintains the flanges in spaced relationship. The flanges are provided with spikes, nails, prongs or 30 the like which project from their outer surfaces and serves as means for attaching the building components to the opposite sides of the connector. These features of the connector eliminate the fastening stage in the construction of double-sided structures. The building components can simply be compressed onto the connector after they have 35 been properly aligned with the opposed sides of the connector. After the dissassembly of such a double-sided structure, the fasteners remain as part of the connector, which is one advantageous feature of the invention ,; ~ ~

~897;~

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector includes plate-like flanges, on the opposite sides thereof, which flanges are interconnected by a connecting web portion, the outer 5 surfaces of the plate-like flanges serving as a connecting surface for the attachment of building components. This type of connector can be readily manufactured in a desired profile by bending ductile plate material into a suitable shape Further, in accordance with another preferred embodiment, the opposite sides of the connector each comprise an independent element which is joined to an opposite element by means of a connecting web to form a complete double-sided connector. Using this embodiment of the invention, each side of a double-sided structure may be assembled as a 15 separate unit and the units may be united into a double-sided structure using the connecting webs after they are assembled. The independent elements can be, for example, profiles comprising one or more adjacent portions having a substantially U-shaped cross section, each portion including planar attachment flanges affixed to each longitudinal edge of 20 the U-shaped profile Such profiles may be directly connectable to each other with integral clips, or by a separate connecting web, in which case the connecting web and/or the profile can be provided with means for locking the profile and the web together 25 In more specific terms, the invention comprises:
A connector for joining building components, such as boards or composite sheet materials, to form a double-sided structure having opposed side surfaces, said connector being adapted for use as a load-bearing structural member, comprising:
at least a first and second planar flange, each said flange having an inner face, an outer face and opposed longitudinal side edges, said flanges including spaced-apart integral spike-shaped fasteners which project from the outer face thereof; and at least one web-portion having opposed side edges that are respectively affixed to the first and second 35 flanges for supporting the flanges in a spaced-apart relation such that ~39 ~2~

the outer face of the first flange is oriented in an opposite direction to the outer face of the second flange, whereby the spike-shaped 5 fasteners of the first flange engage a surface of a first building component and the spike-shaped fasteners of the second flange engage a surface of a second building component to secure the respective building components in an opposed double-sided structural arrangement.

The invention will be described hereinafter by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting element in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting element shown in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the various shapes of the connector in accordance with the invention; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a double-wall structure 20 constructed with a connector in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the connector in accordance with the invention. This embodiment of the connector includes two parallel elongated profiles 1, which are interconnected by 25 means of a connecting web 2. Each profile includes a web portion 3 having a U-shaped cross-section. A planar flange 4 is affixed to each edge of the U-shaped web portion 3. The outer faces 5 of these flanges 4 are provided with integral spikes 6 which are preferably substantially perpendicular to the planar surface. These spikes 6 are embedded in a 30 building component to fasten the building component to the connector.
Both flanges 5 of the profile 1 lie in substantially the same plane, which plane is substantially parallel with a plane defined by the flanges 5 of the profile 1 on the opposite side of the connector. The bottom region of the U-shaped portion 3 of the profile 1 is planar and 35 parallel with the flanges 5.

"~

1~8972~

The profiles 1 are interconnected in opposed pairs to form a complete connector by means of a connecting web 2. The connecting web 2 5 includes two opposed portions 7 (see FIG. 2) of identical V-shaped cross-section w'nich are connected along a web portion of their back surfaces 8. Each profile 1 is attached to the connecting web 2 so that the back surface of each U-shaped portion 7 faces the correspondingly shaped outer surface of the web portion 3 of the profile 1. The 10 connecting web 2 and the profile 1 are interlocked by fasteners integrally formed therein. On the outsides of the web portion 3 of the profile 1 there are slots 9 and in the U-shaped portion 7 of the connecting web 2 there are inwardly bent tabs 10 which are elevated from its i.nner surface and positioned to lock in the slots 9 in the profile 1 15 when the two parts are fitted together. Thus when the web portion 3 of the profile 1 and the U-shaped portion 7 of the connecting web 2 are pressed together, the tabs 10 register with slots 9 and clip into the slots due to the resiliency of the U-shaped portion 7 interlock the connecting web 2 and the profile 1 together.
At each end of the profile 1 there are radial flanges 11 (See FIG. 1) which are folded outwards from the web portion 3 of the profile 1. Radial flanges 11 extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The purpose of these radial flanges is to receive and 25 distribute pressure transferred to the connector from building structures which are perpendicular to it, such as the pressure transferred by roofing structures, and the like.

The profiles 1 and the connecting webs 2 constituting this 30 embodiment of the connector may be readily manufactured from steel plate, zinc-coated steel being preferred for corrosion resistance. The manufacture can be accomplished with conventional forming methods well known in the art. The spikes 6 of the flanges 5 can be formed with punching tools, in a known manner. The spikes may be disposed in a 35 regular pattern, in groups for example. The pattern selected depends on ,~

~89~Z~

the properties and the structure of the building components to be joined and the required strength of the construction. The tabs 10 which 5 protrude from the inner surface of the U-shaped portion 7 of the connecting web 2 may be formed by punching a slit in the connecting web 2 and bending the portion of the connecting web adjacent to the slit so that the outer edge of the slit together with a small semi-circular surrounding portion, is elevated and protrudes outwardly from the inner 10 surface of the U-shaped portion 7.

The connecting web 2 may be readily formed from two metal plates that are bent into a suitable shape so that one is a mirror-image of the other. The plates are fixedly joined to each other along their 15 backs 8.

In order to improve the thermal insulation of the connector, the connecting web 2 can be manufactured from a material having good insulating properties, such as wood or plastic. In this manner, cold 20 bridges in the double-sided structure which could contribute to heat losses are eliminated. One inexpensive method of providing an insulated thermal break of this type is to affix the profiles 1 to each side of a wooden board, for example.

It should be understood the connecting web 2 need not extend continuously for the full length of the connector. Several short lengths of the connecting web 2 may be arranged along the length of the connector, preferably at equal intervals.

The profiles 1 and the connecting webs 2 can be clipped together by pressing the web portions 3 of the profile 1 into the correspondingly dimensioned portions of the connecting web 2. The connection is thus accomplished in a simple and a quick manner. The connector can also be disassembled without damage and reused.

~,48~2~

The spikes 6 which project from the front of the flanges 5 provide a secure attachment for building components because the spikes 5 can be shaped in such a manner that they penetrate the components and are firmly embedded therein. If there is a requirement for disassembling such a construction during or after a building operation, this can be accomplished for example, by wedging a suitable tool into the space between the web portion 3 of the profile 1 and the building 10 component. After disassembling such a construction, no fasteners remain in the building components, and the connectors are not damaged, which improves the re-usability of the various components of a disassembled structure.

FIG. 3 shows cross-sectional views of variously-shaped connectors in accordance with the invention. Each connector is an elongated profile manufactured of a ductile metal plate by bending and forming flanges 5 at their opposite sides disposed in spaced parallel relationship and having spikes 6 which project therefrom. The flanges 20 5, are interconnected by a straight, planar connecting portion 12. The connector may be Z-shaped (FIG. 3a), C-shaped (FIG. 3b) or I-shaped (FIG. 3c) in cross-section. Alternatively, the connector may be V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 3d) or W-shaped as shown in FIG. 3e if more connecting surface or a stronger load-bearing connector is required.
Each of the aforementioned embodiments provides good resistance to bending in all directions when the connector serves as a load-bearing member.

FIG. 4 shows a double-sided wall construction assembled using connectors in accordance with the invention. The elongated boards 13 are assembled transversely to the connectors to form a wall on opposite sides of the connectors 14. Several cormectors 14 can be disposed at regular intervals along the horizontal dimension of the wall. The 35 boards can be affixed to the connectors 14 by pressure exerted by a suitable hydraulic press, or the like.

~:8~72~l If the connector used is one of the type shown in F-IG. 1, which can be assembled from two independent profiles 1, each side of the 5 double wall can be assembled separately and the two sides connected together, for example, at a building site.

The embodiments of the invention described hereinabove are intended to be exemplary only. It should be understood that the scope 10 of the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. The shape of the cross-section of the connectors may also be different than those represented in the Figures. A connector in accordance with the invention may be straight along its longitudinal axis or it may be curved in order to construct a structure having curved 15 surfaces.

The invention is well suited for use with practically any type of building component, such as boards and composite sheet material and various other materials such as wood or other suitable material, such as 20 gypsum board. A construction having the appearance of a conventional log wall can also be constructed with the connector by assembling suitably shaped planks on each side of the connectors. The connector is also suited for assembling double-sided constructions in addition to those constructions used for forming parts of buildings. Such 25 constructions include, for example, structures used in fences, bridges, and the like.

~ .,

Claims

1. A connector for joining building components, such as boards or composite sheet materials, to form a double-sided structure having opposed side surfaces, said connector being adapted for use as a load-bearing structural member, comprising:
at least a first and second planar flange, each said flange having an inner face, an outer face and opposed longitudinal side edges, said flanges including spaced-apart integral spike-shaped fasteners which project from the outer face thereof; and at least one web-portion having opposed side edges that are respectively affixed to the first and second flanges for supporting the flanges in a spaced-apart relation such that the outer face of the first flange is oriented in an opposite direction to the outer face of the second flange, whereby the spike-shaped fasteners of the first flange engage a surface of a first building component and the spike-shaped fasteners of the second flange engage a surface of a second building component to secure the respective building components in an opposed double-sided structural arrangement.

2. A connector for joining building components as recited in Claim 1 wherein the connecting web has substantially parallel side edges so that the first and second planar flanges are supported in a parallel, spaced-apart relation.

3. A load-bearing connector for joining building components as recited in claim 2 wherein the connector is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and includes:
first and second laterally spaced-apart parallel flanges disposed in a first plane and having outer faces which are oriented in the same direction; a third flange which is disposed in a second parallel plane that is spaced-apart from the first plane, said third flange having an outer face which is oriented in an opposite direction to the outer faces of the first and second flanges; and;
first and second web portions respectively affixed to an adjacent longitudinal side edge of the first and second flanges and a respective side edge of the third flange for supporting the flanges in their respective planes.

4. A connector for joining building components as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second planar flanges comprise independent first and second profiles, and the web portion comprises a connecting web which lockingly engages the first and second profiles when the connecting web and the first and second profiles are pressed together in a predetermined arrangement.

5. A connector for joining building components as recited in claim 4 wherein the first and second profiles comprise:
first and second laterally spaced-apart parallel flanges disposed in a first plane and having outer faces which are oriented in the same direction; and a U-shaped web portion having opposed divergent sides with parallel inner and outer edges, a planar back affixed to the respective inner edges of the sides, the outer edges of the sides being respectively affixed to the adjacent side edges of the first and second parallel flanges.

6. A connector for joining building components as recited in claim 5 wherein the connecting web comprises first and second opposed U-shaped channels affixed together in a back-to-back relation, each channel being complimentary with an outer surface of the U-shaped web portion of the first and second profiles, and the connecting web including locking means for lockingly engaging the first and second profiles when the first and second channels are respectively pressed over the outer surface of the web portion of the first and second profiles.

7. A connector for joining building components as recited in claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises slots cut at predetermined intervals in one of the U-shaped web portion of the profiles and the U-shaped channels of the connecting web, and complimentary tabs in the other of U-shaped web portion and the connecting web, said slots and said tabs being located so that the tabs register with and lockingly engage the slots when the connecting web is pressed onto the U-shaped web portion in a predetermined arrangement.

8. A connector for joining building components as recited in claims 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the connecting web includes at least one portion which is formed from a thermal insulating material and thermally isolates the independent first and second profiles to inhibit thermal transmission across the double-sided structure.

9. A connector for joining building components as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the spike-shaped fasteners are substantially perpendicular to the outer face of the planar flanges

10. A connector for joining building components as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the opposite ends of the web portion of the connector include radial flanges which extend outwardly at right angles from said ends for receiving and distributing loads transferred to the connector from adjacent building structures located above the connector.