GB2047299A - Building structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A building structure, such as a covered walkway or bus shelter, has at least one side wall formed from fixed upright elongate elements (2) and panels (12) secured between adjacent such elements and can be constructed on a modular basis. Roof elements (4) may be secured to cross-beams (3) at the top ends of the elements (2) and rain water outlets (10) in the roof elements (4) may discharge to top ends of channel- shaped said elongate elements (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building structures This invention relates to building structures.

This invention is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with building structures for use as shelters, which may be for example, covered walkways, bus stop shelters, waiting room enclosures and the like. The primary object of the invention is to enable such building structures to be constructed in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

According to the invention therefore, there is provided a building structure having at least one side wall which comprises a plurality of positionally fixed upright elongate elements with panels secured between adjacent such elements, at least some of the elements constituting or forming part of members of like construction and at least some of the panels being also of like construction.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated that the building structure can be constructed on a modular basis. That is, the structure is formed at least partially from a plurality of like members and a plurality of like panels. It can therefore be possible to keep labour costs and material costs to a minimum.

With regard to the said members these may take any suitable form. In one embodiment of the invention the members are simply posts which may be set into the ground and to which the panels are attached for example via appropriate brackets secured to the posts. This arrangement is suitable in the case where no roof structure is to be attached directly to the wall. Also suitable for use in this context is an arrangement whereby the members are U-shaped having two straight limbs defining two adjacent said elements of the side wall and a possibly straight cross-beam linking the lower ends of the limbs. The U-shaped members may be one-piece constructions and the lower crossbeams may be secured directly to the ground or to a low wall or the like set on the ground.

Alternatively, and particularly in the case where a roof structure is to be secured directly to the side wall, each of said members may comprise an upright post defining one said elongate element, and a transverse beam extending from the upper end of said post. Said top transverse beam may be straight and may extend at least substantially horizontally. Thus each said member may be inverted L-shaped. Alternatively and preferably each said member may further include a second post and said top transverse beam may also extend from the upper end of the second post whereby the member is inverted U-shaped, the said second post defining an upright elongate element of a second side wall which is opposite and spaced from the first said side wall. Where a roof structure is provided, this may be secured to the said top transverse beams of said members.

Said roof structure preferably comprises a plurality of roof elements each secured between successive adjacent top beams. Most conveniently the roof elements may be moulded plastics elements and these may be secured to the top beams by bolts. Provision may be made for adjusting the vertical position of the roof elements as for example by forming bolt-receiving bores or at least some of them as vertically elongated slots and/or by providing intermediate flanges or the like. In this way the roof height can be adapted to conform to an inclined or stepped ground surface.

The roof elements may be in the form of trays arranged to trap rain water and direct same to appropriately positioned outlets. The roof -elements may have side walls or the like for receiving signs, posters or the like, provision may be made for incorporating devices such as eiectric lights, wiring, loudspeakers and the like in the roof elements. Alternatively provision may be made for incorporating signs or the like and/or said devices in or underneath said top cross-beams.

The said upright elements of said first side wall may have longitudinally extending passageways such as bores or channels therein so as to act as downpipes for rain water. The aforesaid tray outlets may discharge to said passageways.

Preferably, said elongate elements are outwardly opening channel section elements. Also, and in the case where the members are of inverted Ushape as described above, the top beams may be downwardly opening channel sections and the elongate elements of the second side wall may be closed section hollow elements, preferably square section hollow elements.

The panels may take any suitable form but most preferably are toughened glass panels.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of a building structure according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of part of the arrangement of Fig. 1 showing the interconnection of roof elements thereof; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the roof elements.

The building structure is in the form of a covered passageway having two vertical spaced side walls and a roof structure and may be a bus shelter, covered walkway or the like.

The building structure is formed from a plurality of inverted U-shaped members 1 each comprising two upright straight elongate elements 2, 2a secured together at their upper ends by a straight beam 3 extending perpendicularly to the elements 2. Each member 1 may be a one-piece member formed from metal, reinforced concrete or any other suitable material.

The members 1 are fixed in alignment one behind the other with a common predetermined spacing between each pair of adjacent members, the two elongate elements of each member respectively forming parts of the two said side walls of the building structure. The members are fixed in position by setting the lower ends of the elements 2, 2a into appropriate foundations in the ground.

At one side wall of the building structure the elongate elements 2 are outwardly open channel sections. The elongate elements 2a of the other side wall are square section hollow elements which may be covered at their top ends. The top beams 3 are downwardly opening channel sections.

Between the beams 3 of each pair of adjacent members 1 there is fixed a respective roof element 4 which is in the form of a rectangular moulded glass fibre reinforced plastics tray having a bottom wall 5 extending between side walls 6, 7. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the tray is formed from a number of layers of plastics material with wood beams, foam blocks or other infill material enclosed between layers in the bottom wall. The bottom wall has downwardly projecting parts in the region of said infill material on the undersurface, and the top surface of the wall is flat except for a shallow channel 5a at one end and is horizontal or if desired slightly inclined towards the channel 5a.The side walls 6, 7 have inwardly turned lips at their upper ends and, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the long side walls 7 have outwardly stepped portions 7a at upper regions thereof, said stepped portions 7a terminating close to and spaced from the short side walls 6.

The outwardly stepped portions 7a seat on top walls of the transverse beams 3 and such portions 7a of adjacent roof elements 4 engage each other, with a sealing element therebetween if desired, centrally of the associated beam 3.

The roof elements 4 are secured to the beams 3 by bolts 8 (Fig. 2) passed through bores in the side walls of the beams 3 and engaging threaded nuts moulded into lower parts of the longer side walls 7 of the adjacent roof elements 4. Sealing gaskets 9 are clamped between the beams 3 and the roof elements 4.

One or each long side wall 6 of each roof element has a tubular outlet 10 moulded therein level with the channel 5a in the bottom wall 5, said outlet 10 being adjacent one end of one outwardly stepped portion 7a and immediately above the pertaining channel-shaped elongate element 2, whereby rain water falling on the wall 5 runs through the outlet 10 into the channel shaped element 2 and is discharged from there to a nearby ground surface. As shown in Fig. 1 a stepped deflector plate 11 may be secured between short side walls 6 of adjacent pairs of roof elements 4 so as to ensure that water from the outlets 10 runs down the channel-shaped elements.

Fittings (not shown) may be secured beneath the bottom walls 5 or move preferably beneath the beam 3, for fixing fluorescent lights, loudspeakers or the like.

Between adjacent vertical elements 2 there are fixed toughened glass panels 12 by means of appropriate brackets 1 3 secured to the elements 2. The panels 12 terminate close to the ground at the bottom ends and extend on the inner sides of the lower parts of the shorter side walls 7 of the roof elements 4 at their upper ends. The panels 13 contribute to the rigidity of the structure. Good rigidity is also derived from the square section elements 2a.

With the arrangement so far described it will be appreciated that the building structure can be constructed in a simple and inexpensive manner on a modular basis using only a small number of different kinds of components. It will be noted that it is not even necessary to provide guttering, downpipes and the like for water drainage.

The members 1 may be appropriately finished to prevent corrosion and/or for decorative or protective purposes. The outer faces of the shorter side walls 6 of the roof elements 4 may have signs, posters or the like applied thereto. Cables for light fittings or the like may be ducted along the outside of the structure where appropriate.

The spacing between members 1 will of course be selected in accordance with the panels 1 2 to be used. The size of the members 1, in particular the spacing of the vertical elements 2, 2a will be selected in accordance with requirements and the roof elements 4 will be selected in accordance with the size and spacing of the members 1. Thus a range of different panels 12, different sizes of members 1, and different sizes of roof elements 4 may be kept in stock.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only. Thus, for example, in the case where a roof structure is not required, post of like construction to the vertical elements 2 may be used instead of the members 1. Further, if desired, a low wall may be provided around and between the elements 2, the panels 12 terminating at the level of the top of the wall.

Handrails, litter bins and the like may be secured to the elements 2 if desired.

Claims (15)

1. A building structure having at least one side wall which comprises a plurality of positionally fixed upright elongate elements with panels secured between adjacent such elements, at least some of the elements constituting or forming part of members of like construction and at least some of the panels being also of like construction.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said members comprises an upright post defining one said elongate element, and a transverse beam extending from the upper end of said post.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each said member further includes a second post and said beam also extends from the upper end of the second post whereby the member is inverted U-shaped, the said second post defining an upright elongate element of a second side wall which is opposite and spaced from the first said side wall.

4. A structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each said transverse beam is a downwardly opening channel section.

5. A structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further including a roof structure secured to the said transverse beams.

6. A structure according to claim 5, wherein said roof structure comprises a plurality of roof elements each secured between successive adjacent transverse beams.

7. A structure according to claim 6, wherein said roof elements are moulded plastics elements.

8. A structure according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the roof elements are bolted to the transverse cross-beams.

9. A structure according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the roof elements are in the form of upwardly opening trays.

10. A structure according to claim 9, wherein the roof elements incorporate outlets for rain water.

1 A structure accoiding to claim 10, wherein said elongate elements of the first said side wall have passageways therealong and the outlets discharge to said passageways.

12. A structure according to claim 10, wherein said elongate elements of the first said side wall are outwardly opening channel section elements.

13. A structure according to claim 12, when dependent on claim 3 or on any claim dependent on claim 3, wherein the elongate elements of the said second side wall are closed section hollow elements.

14. A structure according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the said like panels are glass panels.

15. A building structure substantially as - hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.