GB2412707A

GB2412707A - Joining frame members

Info

Publication number: GB2412707A
Application number: GB0407700A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derrick Victor Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-03
Filing date: 2004-04-03
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: GB0407700D0

Abstract

A frame e.g. for a garden shed or similar wooden building includes a base frame (1) to which upright members are joined using fastening brackets (4 - see figure 2). The fastening brackets include holes (5, 6) through which bolts or screws may pass to secure the upright members to the base frame (1).

Description

24 1 2707

STRUCTURAL SPACE FRAMES HAVING SELF-ALIGNED

VERTICAL CORNER MEMBERS

This invention relates to structural space frames having self-aligned vertical corner uprights.

Many small buildings, e.g. garden sheds, are made from rectangular panels which have been fabricated at a central workplace, by butting and pinning frame members together.

Cladding is added to the frames which are then transported to the eventual shed location where they in turn are butted and fastened together to form the walls of the shed. Roofing is then added.

The frames resulting from the simple butting and screwing or nailing of members tend to be flimsy and rely on cladding to impart stiffness.

Because of the flimsiness of such frames the problems associated with handling and transportation of the panels increase with increasing shed size.

There would therefore be advantages in having a system of frame members and member fastening devices which could be separately transported to the shed site, for assembly in situ into a sturdy framework.

If two members are pivoted on fixed non-parallel spigots so that they are only free to move in a plane of rotation normal to their spigot, they become locked in position when rigidly interconnected by a third member. Their resulting orientation depends on the directions of the spigots and the lengths of the members. Both of these can be chosen such that the two pivoted members are aligned to the vertical and the third to the horizontal, thus providing a possible frame for one side of a shed. One of these uprights can now be paired with another member in the same manner, until, by proceeding in a cyclic order, all the four or more side frames of a shed have been constructed. Thus only one upright per corner is required instead of the two resulting from pinning separate frames together.

According to the present invention there is provided a system of frame members and fastening devices, some devices being equipped with spigots which may be either integral with the device or take the form of a nut and bolt assembly secured to it, means of constructing a polygonal base frame, means of securing the spigoted devices in there correct location on the base frame, means of ensuring that neighbouring spigots taken in cyclic order then lie in a horizontal co-planar and non-parallel position, and a set of corner upright members pivoted on the said spigots and constrained to align to the vertical by designated members which laterally interconnect adjacent uprights.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows in perspective an outline of the shed framework minus roof members.

Figure 2 shows in perspective a fastening device for the pivoting of vertical corner members.

Figure 3 shows typical locations of the fastening devices on a base frame.

Figure 4 shows in perspective a fastening device in position on a base frame member.

Referring to the drawing, the framework comprises a rigid horizontal rectangular base frame I which carries four pivoted vertical corner members 3. The vertical members are rigidly connected at their upper end by four horizontal members 2.

During assembly, four fastening devices 4, in the locations indicated in Fig 3, are loosely bolted through hole 5 to the horizontal rectangular base frame 1. The device is turned on the bolt until the flange containing hole 6 stands in a vertical plane, and the bolt is then fully tightened. Some clearance between this flange and the upper surface of the base frame permits the fastening device to be turned on its securing bolt without fouling the base frame. The member 3 is bolted to the vertical flange of device 4, through hole 6, and the nut tightened, such that the touching faces of the vertical flange and the member 3 are in full contact,but that the member can still be turned on its pivoting bolt Upper frame members 2 are rigidly fixed between the adjacent free ends of uprights 3, such as to ensure equal separation, top and bottom of the uprights, these thereby being constrained to the vertical.

Claims

I A system of frame members, and fastening devices, some devices being equipped with spigots which may be either integral with the device or take the form of a nut and bolt assembly secured to it, means of constructing a polygonal base frame, means of securing the spigoted devices in their correct location on the base frame, means of ensuring that neighbouring spigots taken in cyclic order then lie in a horizontal co- planar and non-parallel position, and a set of corner upright members pivoted on the said spigots and constained to align to the vertical by designated members which laterally interconnect adjacent uprights.
2 A system of frame members and fastening devices substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing.