GB2076868A

GB2076868A - Frame member

Info

Publication number: GB2076868A
Application number: GB8015385A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SHINNIHON SEISAKUSHO YK
Current assignee: SHINNIHON SEISAKUSHO YK
Priority date: 1980-05-09
Filing date: 1980-05-09
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: GB2076868B

Abstract

A frame member for edging a floor channel and supporting a cover or grating thereover comprises (a) a first portion 1 having surfaces 4, 5 on opposite faces thereof, (b) a second portion 2 extending at right angles from one end of the first portion 1 and of channel section to afford a recess 6, and having a flat supporting surface 7 on an opposite face thereof and (c) an edge portion 3 extending at right angles from an opposite end of the first portion 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frame member This invention relates to a frame member, and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with using a frame member in forming a pit frame attached to the inner surfaces of a pit.

Buildings may have a pit under the floor, or foundation, or ground surface, for use in wiring, piping, draining and ventilation. Such a pit may be fortified with a pit frame attached to the inner surfaces thereof. A lid member is placed on the edge of the top open end portion of the pit, fringed with a part of the pit frame, so that the top open end portion of the pit is covered with the lid member. Since pit frames vary in size and shape depending upon the structure of a pit, the material of which a lid member to be used is made, and the thickness of the lid member, it is usually necessary to provide several types of pit frames.

The present invention aims to provide a frame member which may be used, for example, in form ing a pit frame, and which may then be used in three modes according to, for example, the structure of a pit, the material of which a lid memberto be used is made, and the thickness of such a lid member.

According to the present invention, there is pro vided an elongate frame member comprising first, a second and third elongate portions formed integrally with one another, wherein said first portion has oppositely facing first and second flat support surfaces, said second portion has on one face a third flat support surface adjacent and perpendicular to said second surface, and is of channel section of an opposite face, to define an elongate recess, and in cross-section, said third portion extends for a dis tance A substantially perpendicularly to said first surface, at one end of said first portion, said second portion extends for a distance B substantially per pendicularlyto said second surface, at an opposite end of said first portion, and said first portion extends for a distance C substantially perpendicular to said third surface, where A 76 B 76 C.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shaped elongate frame member embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an example of a pit frame formed by using the frame member shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of another example of a pit frame formed by using the frame member shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of still another example of a pit frame formed by using the frame member shown in Figure 1.

The illustrated frame member is formed by subejecting a light metal, such as aluminium, or some other kind of metal, to drawing, extrusion or casting, and consists of a first support portion 1, a second support portion 2 and a third, edge portion 3. The first support portion 1 extends horizontally and has first and second flat supporting surfaces 4, 5 on front and rear faces thereof, respectively. The second support portion 2 is formed integrally with, and, in cross-section, extends at right angles from one end of the first support portion 1. The second support portion 2 is of substantially C-section to afford an elongate recess 6 on a front face thereof, and has a third flat supporting surface 7 on a rear face thereof.

The edge porton 3 is formed inegrally with, and in cross-section, extends at right angles from the other end of, the first support portion 1.

The height A of the edge portion 3 measured from the first supporting surface 4, the height B of the second support portion 2 measured from the second supporting surface 5, and the height C of the first support portion 1 measured from the third supporting surface 7, are different from one another.

A shaped frame member formed as described above is set in a pit P as a pit frame F, so as to fringe the top open end portion of the pit P, as illustrated in Figures 2,3 and 4.

In Figure 2, in the first example of a pit frame using the above described frame members, the first supporting surface 4 of the first support portion 1 is used as the supporting surface for a lid member L1. In this case, the frame member is set in the top open end portion of a pit P such that the first support portion 1 is in an upper position with the recess 6 of the second support portion 2 directed inwardly, to form a pit frame F. A cross-sectionally U-shaped duct D is welded at its upper end portion 8 to the surface of the C-shaped recess 6 in the second support portion 2. Since the welded portion 8 is within the recess 6, or does not project inwardly from the end surfaces of the second support portion 2, the welded portion 8 does not contact wires and pipes arranged in the duct D.The lid member L1 for covering the pit P, placed on the first supporting surface 4 of the first supporting portion 1, has a thickness substantially equal to the height A, and is made of a comparatively thin plate of steel or a light metal.

In the second example of a pit frame, shown in Figure 3, the second supporting surface 5 of the first support portion 1 is used as a supporting surface for a lid member L2. In this case, the frame member is set in the top open end portion of a pit P such that the second support portion 2 is in an upper position, with the recess 6 in the second support portion 2 directed outwardly, to form a pit frame F. An anchor 10, which is welded at its base end to a joint rod 9, is attached at the front end thereof to the surface of the recess 6 in the second support portion 2, by means of an anchor bolt 11. The anchor bolt 11 can be driven into the surface of the recess 6 such that the head portion of the anchor bolt 11 is within the recess 6, i.e. not projecting beyond the end surfaces of the second support portion 2.Accordingly, when a stone member 12 surrounds the pit frame F, it is unnecessary to form in the member 12 a recess for accomodating the anchor bolt 11. This allows the physical strength of the stone, which is comparatively brittle, to be retained, and the member 12 can be prevented from being broken or cracked. The lid member L2 placed on the second supporting surface 5 of the first support portion 1 has a thickness substantially equal to the height B referred to above.

In this example, a comparatively thick lid member, such as a lattice lid member and a mortar lid member, is suitably used.

In a third example of a pit frame, as shown in Figure 4, the third supporting surface 7 of the second support portion 2 is used as the supporting surface for a lid member L3. In this case, the frame material is set in the top open end portion of a pit P such that the first support portion 1 is in an upper position with the recess 6 in the second support portion 2 directed downwardly, to form a pit frame F. The lid member L3 placed on the third supporting surface 7 has a thickness substantially equal to the height C referred to above.

The pit frames F in the first to third examples described above are different in the height measured from the lid member supporting surface to the upper end surface of the pit frame, so that lid members of different thicknesses and structures can be placed on the pit frame F.

With a shaped frame member as described above, three modes of pit frames, in which the lid member supporting surfaces are different in height, can be formed. Moreover, the C-shaped recess 6 formed in the pit frame serves to protect, in one mode of use of the frame member, a welded portion 8 of a duct D. In another mode of use of the frame member, in which an anchor 10 is attached at one end of the surface of the recess 6, it is unnecessary to specially process a stone member, which surrounds the pit frame F, so as to allow the anchor to be attached properly to the pit frame F. This allows the stone member to retain its physical strength.

Claims

1. An elongate frame member comprising first, second and third elongate portions formed integrally with one another, wherein said first portion has oppositely facing first and second flat support surfaces, said second portion has on one face a third flat support surface adjacent and perpendicular to said second surface, and is of channel section on an opposite face, to define an elongate recess, and in cross-section, said third portion extends for a distance A substantially perpendicular to said first surface, at one end of said first portion, said second portion extends for a distance B substantially per pendicularlyto said second surface, at an opposite end of said first portion, and said first portion extends for a distance C substantially perpendicularliy to said third surface, where A 1 B 76 C.

2. A frame member according to claim 1, wherein Ais less than B and C.

3. A frame member according to claim 1 or 2, of metal.

4. Aframe member according to claim 1,2or3, formed by extrusion.

5. A frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A frame constructed of frame members according to any of the preceding claims.

7. Aframe according to claim 6, positioned around the top edge of a pit, and having at least one lid member supported on said first, second orth?rd support surfaces.

8. Aframe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2,3 or 4 of the accompanying drawing.

9. A method of constructing a foundation orfoor for a building, including the steps of forming in the foundation or floor a pit, and positioning therein a frame according to claim 6, 7 or 8.