GB2118587A - Improvements in or relating to structures - Google Patents

Abstract

In a structure e.g. a roof, a set of spaced battens 22 are laid transversely to a set of spaced rafters 21. Battens 22 are laid end to end in parallel courses and adjacent ends are joined by connectors 25. The connectors 25, which are of sleeve form and may be fabricated from sheet metal or moulded from synthetic plastics material receive these adjacent ends. The connectors 25 may be between rafters or disposed on the rafters in which latter case they may be raised to the corresponding rafter. This construction provides savings in labour and material as compared with conventional roofing practice. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to structures The present invention relates to a structure, particularly, but not exclusively, a roof structure and advantageously, but not essentially, made of timber. The invention also relates to a method of making such a structure and to a device for connecting certain structural members of the structure together.

It is the present practice in the construction of roof structure to nail battens across a series of regularly spaced roof rafters usually after the laying on the rafters of one or more layers of roofing felt. These battens serve to strengthen the structure, but their main function is to support the tiles of the roof which are subsequently laid. The battens are cut to the desired length on the roof so that their ends lie approximately midway across the width (or thickness) of the corresponding rafter. In this way space is provided for adjacent ends of longitudinally aligned battens to be fixed to the rafter on which they lie usually by nailing or screwing. This procedure leads to a considerable amount of waste timber and, is time consuming and laborious, all of which leads to additional expense.Furthermore, where the batten cross-section dimensions are large compared to those of the rafters, difficulty may be experienced in fixing the battens to the rafters and, in extreme cases, two rafters placed side by side may be necessary leading to still further expenditure. Even where the dimensions of the battens and rafters permit relatively easy fixing, splitting of the ends of the battens is an ever present problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure comprising a first set of structural members extending in spaced relationship in a first direction and a second set of elongate structural members extending across the first set in another direction and connected thereto at one or more crossing points formed between the members of the first and second sets, wherein members of the second set are aligned longitudinally with other members of that set and adjacent ends of longitudinally aligned members are connected together by means of connectors.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a roof or similar structure including the steps of disposing a first set of members in spaced relationship, placing a second set of elongate members across the members of the first set, connecting the members of the second set to those of the first set at one or more crossing points formed between the members of the two sets, members of the second set being aligned longitudinally with other members of that set and adjacent ends of such longitudinally aligned members being connected together by means of connectors.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for connecting adjacent ends of longitudinally aligned elongate structural elements of a structure together comprising a first portion for receiving one adjacent end and a second portion for receiving the other adjacent end.

The first and second adjacent portions may be sleeve like and the cross section thereof will advantageously match the cross section of the elongage members. The portions may be separated from each other by a partitition. The connector may also incorporate or be provided with means enabling it to be fixed to a structural element of the first set. These means may, for example, comprise an apertured flange through which a nail or screw can be inserted.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows part of a conventional roof structure, Figure 2 shows part of a roof structure according to the present invention, Figure 3 shows a connector for use in roof structure of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a pitched roof.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional roof structure comprises a series of rafters 1 which are disposed in spaced relationship. The spacing of the rafters may vary depending on the size and weight of the roof, but usually is in the range 1 8 to 24 inches. The rafters may form part of a roof truss such as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 or they may be supported directly on the walls of the building of which the roof forms part. In the latter type of construction, the rafters normally extend from the apex of the roof to a point slightly below the top of the wall, purlins being provided extending parallel to the supporting walls for support at points intermediate the apex and wall. One or more layers of roofing felt are laid over the rafters 1 and battens 2 are nailed by nails 4 to the rafters over the felt securing the felt 3 in position.In the drawings only a small area of roofing felt 3 has been shown in order not to obscure the timber structure. In accordance with the conventional practice, the battens are cut prior to nailing so that their ends are located approximately halfway across the width of the corresponding rafter. After nailing of the rafters the tile (not shown) of the roof are laid in courses on the rafters every fifth (say) course being nailed to the appropriate batten.

Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1, but illustrates a roof structure according to the invention.

Part of this inventive structure corresponding to parts of the conventional structure of Fig. 1 bear the same reference numerals prefixed by the number 2. The structure of Fig. 2 is generally the same as that of Fig. 1 but instead of cutting the battens 22 to length, they are simply laid on the roofing felt 23 over the rafters 21 and allowed to overlap.

Adjacent ends of longitudinally adjacent battens are slipped into opposite ends of a sleeve form connector 25 shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. One advantageous method of working is to work from one end of the roof nailing the battens in longitudinal succession to the rafters for each tile course. As each batten is fixed a sleeve form connector is pushed onto the free end of that batten and the next batten slipped into the other, open, end of the connector. That second batten may then be nailed before the next batten is taken up and the process repeated. Alternatively, a complete connector batten assembly can be produced for each tile course prior to any nailing of that assembly to the rafters.

The sleeve connector may be fabricated from sheet metal, advantageously stamped out to shape, for example, from a galvanised parent sheet or form other material treated to inhibit rust. Alternatively, the connector may be moulded, for example, by injection moulding, from synthetic plastics material such as polythene or nylon. Although not essential a partition may be provided internally of the connector in order to ensure a substantially equai insertion therein for respective battens.

Such a partition is shown in dotted line at 26 on Fig. 3.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment of the invention has been described by way of examply only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cross section of the connector is chosen to complement that of the batten and will change if the batten cross section changes. Forms other than simple sleeves may be used. Provision may be made for nailing the connector, for example, to a rafter. This may take the form of apertured flanges and such flanges are shown in dotted line at 27 in Fig. 3. Thus shown two longitudinally adjacent battens coincidentally meet at a rafter, the connector, rather than the batten may be nailed to the rafter.

The above described embodiment enables saving in timber with resultant savings in expense to be achieved. The construction of the roof is simplified which speeds up the building process which again leads to cost saving.

Claims (26)

1. A structure comprising a first set of structural members extending in spaced relationship in a first direction and a second set of elongate structural members extending across the first set in another direction and connected thereto at one or more crossing points formed between the members of the first and second sets, wherein members of the second set are aligned longitudinally with other members of that set and adjacent ends of longitudinally aligned members are connected together by means of connectors.

2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first set of structural members are rafters of a roof and the second set of structural members are battens of the roof.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1, or 2, in which each rafter forms parts of a roof truss.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each rafter is supported at a point intermediate its ends by a purlin.

5. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one or more layers of roofing felt are disposed between the first and second sets of members.

6. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each connector is in the form of a sleeve.

7. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each connector is partitioned at a position intermediate its ends.

8. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each connector incorporates or is provided with means enabling it to be fixed to a structural element of the first set.

9. A structure as claimed in Claim 8, in which the fixing means comprise an apertured flange.

10. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each connector is made from sheet metal.

11. A structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which each connector is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

1 2. A structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A connector for connecting adjacent ends of longitudinally aligned elongate structural elements of a structure together comprising a first portion for receiving one adjacent end and a second portion for receiving the other adjacent end.

14. A connector as claimed in Claim 13, which is in the form of a sleeve.

1 5. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 3 or 14, which is positioned at a position intermediate its ends.

1 6. A connector as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 1 5 which is provided with means enabling it to be fixed to a structural element.

1 7. A connector as claimed in Claim 16, in which the fixing means comprise an apertured flange.

1 8. A connector as claimed in any of claims 1 3 to 1 7 which is made from sheet metal.

1 9. A connector as claimed in any of claims 1 3 to 17, which is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

20. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing.

21. A method of constructing a roof or similar structure including the steps of disposing a first set of members in spaced relationship, placing a second set of elongate members across the members of the first set, connecting the members of the second set to those of the first set at one or more crossing points formed between the members of the two sets, members of the second set being aligned longitudinally with other members of that set and adjacent ends of such longitudinally aligned members being connected together by means of connectors.

22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, in which roofing felt is disposed between the two sets of members.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, in which one or more of the connectors are fixed to one or more members of the first set.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, 22 or 23, in which the members of the first set are supported on one or more support members which extend transversely to those members of the first set.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which the members of the first set form part of corresponding roof trusses.

26. A method of constructing a roof or similar structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.