GB2591162A

GB2591162A - An improved building system

Info

Publication number: GB2591162A
Application number: GB2016374.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lagan Kevin
Original assignee: Lf Fasthouse Ltd
Current assignee: Lf Fasthouse Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-15
Filing date: 2020-10-15
Publication date: 2021-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-15
Also published as: IE20200229A2; GB2591162B; GB202016374D0; IE20200229A3

Abstract

A building system having at least two interconnectable panels 3, 4, that are joined by connecting means. The connecting means includes at least one male connector 6 that is fastened on a first panel 3 and at least one female connector 7 that is fastened on a second panel 4 and has a bracket 8 having an external shape that is substantially circular and is provided with a seat 9 for receiving and engaging the head 10 of a protruding element 11 of the male connector. The seat may comprise a receiving recess 21 comprising a radial cut. The receiving recess may comprise a V-shaped entrance. The second panel may have a circular recess or borehole 26 for receiving the external shape of the female connector. Also disclosed is a method of connecting panels using the aforementioned connecting means.

Description

AN IMPROVED BUILDING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an improved building system, in particular for joining together and interconnecting at least two wooden panels for making a building. The present invention also relates to a building constructed from said joined and interconnected panels and by means of said improved building system.

In the wooden constructions field, there are many known solutions for interconnecting two wooden panels and one of these known solutions involves the use of male-female connectors which are respectively connected to the wooden panels to be interconnected.

to The known female connector usually consists of a bracket having a suitable cavity for receiving and locking the protruding element of the male connector. In particular, the known bracket defining the female connector has a square form.

The problem with using such square brackets is that it can be difficult to router out a square portion of the wooden panel to receive a corresponding square bracket. In order to avoid this, it has been proposed to sandwich three pieces of wood together, with the middle piece being inset relative to the two outer pieces. With this method, it can be difficult to align the inset portion such that is perfectly central in the panel edge, and this can result in the panels being misaligned when assembled.

Therefore, there is a need to have a building system wherein the male-female connectors can be more easily and precisely applied to the respective panels to be connected, without the need to router out rectangular portions or to use the sandwich panels configuration, and moreover without incurring the problem of misaligning the panels when assembled.

It is an object of the present invention to prevent or mitigate the problems of known solutions, thus providing a building system of fast, easy and precise assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building system that is highly stable and robust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that allows a stable and secure lock of the joining panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building system that may be disassembled, i.e. that is releasable and/or not permanent, in order to suitably replaced a panel with another panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building system of low-cost construction and, at the same time, allowing a fast and easy assembly, preferably even on site.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building system that does not require to router out a square/rectangular portion of the wooden panel to receive a corresponding bracket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a building system that does not require to sandwich three pieces of wood together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that ensures an easy and correct reciprocal position and/or alignment of the joined panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that does not require the use of glue.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that can be used to join the panels at different locations, thus enabling to have a plurality of configurations of joined panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that reduces the steps and time required to apply/install the male or female connectors to the corresponding panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that reduces the steps and time required to join panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that does not require complicated movements in order to join the panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system comprising connectors that are industrially manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system comprising connectors that are of relatively easy construction and modular design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that does not necessarily require a highly specialized and experienced workmanship for the installation of connectors on the panels to be interconnected and/or for the interconnection/joining assembly of said panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that has an alternative and improved characterisation and design, in both constructional and functional terms, compared with the known ones.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building system that is suitable to be used with wooden building panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building, in particular a wooden building, that is of modular design and that is of easy, quick and low-cost manufacturing and assembly on site.

Accordingly, all of these objects, taken individually and in any combination thereof, are achieved according to the present invention by an improved building system, comprising at least two interconnectable panels that are joined by connecting means comprising at least one male connector that is fastened on a first panel and at least one female connector that is fastened on a second panel to be joined to said first panel, characterized in that the female connector comprises a bracket having an external shape that is substantially circular and is provided with a seat for receiving and engaging the head of a protruding element of the male connector.

Advantageously, the circular recess for the circular bracket can be created by standard circular drill bits and this removes the requirement of using specialist tools to router out a square or rectangular recess in a panel for prior art brackets.

Preferably, said two interconnectable panels are made of wood.

to Preferably, said male connector is entirely made of metal.

Preferably, the male connector comprises a shaft that defines said protruding element and that terminates with said head. Preferably, the shaft and the head are made of metal. Preferably, the male connector comprises a collar interposed between the shaft and the head. Preferably, the shaft, the head and the collar are made of metal and as a single body.

Preferably, said collar comprises a plate.

Preferably, the male connector comprises a plate fixed to and fitted around the shaft in correspondence of said head.

Preferably, the male connector comprises a shaft with a head and with an integrated plate positioned between the shaft and the head. Preferably, the male connector consists only of a shaft with a head and with an integrated plate positioned between the shaft and the head.

Preferably, the plate is made of metal. Preferably, the plate is disk-shaped.

Preferably, the plate has a radial development that substantially corresponds to that of the head.

Preferably, the plate has a radial development that is greater than the one of the head. More in detail, the plate is radially larger than the external base of the head.

Preferably, the head has a frustum-conical shape. Preferably, the plate is fixed at the inner side of the frustum-conical head.

Preferably, the male connector comprises a shaped portion that is positioned between the external base of the head and the plate. Preferably, said shaped portion has a frustum conical or cylindrical shape. Preferably, said shaped portion has a radial development that is less than the ones of the plate and of the external base of the head. Preferably, the shaft of the male connector is secured directly onto the corresponding first panel. Preferably, the shaft of the male connector penetrates, at least partially, into the first panel. Preferably, the shaft of the male connector is completely inserted into the first panel.

Preferably, the male connector does not comprise any further element to be used to fasten the shaft to the first panel.

Preferably, in the first panel is inserted a set or grub screw wherein the shaft of the male connector is secured.

Preferably, said shaft comprises at least a threaded portion. Preferably, the shaft is entirely threaded. Preferably, the shaft comprises at least a self-tapping portion with tap-like flute in the leading threads. Preferably, the shaft comprises a drill-like fluted tip.

Preferably, the male connector consists only of a shaft terminating with a head.

In this embodiment, the male connector may further have a collar.

to Preferably, the male connector protrudes substantially orthogonally from the panel surface on which is fastened.

Preferably, the shaft of the male connector is press-fitted into a corresponding surface of the first panel. Preferably, the shaft of the male connector is inserted into a corresponding cylindrical cavity defined in the corresponding surface of the first panel.

Preferably, the male connector is fastened on the panel so that the shaft is inserted into the first panel until the plate of said male connector comes into contact with a surface of said first panel while the head of said male connector protrudes from said surface.

Preferably, said male connector consists of a screw. Preferably, said male connector consists of a collar screw. Preferably, said male connector consists of a nail. Preferably, said male connector consists of a bolt. Preferably, said male connector consists only of a bolt having a conical head and an integrated flat plate positioned in correspondence of said conical head.

Preferably, the external base of the head comprises a shaped recess for the insertion of a corresponding counter-shaped tip of a tool, preferably of a screwdriver. Preferably, the head is configured so as to be engaged by a ring/open-end wrench.

Preferably, at least one male connector is fastened at one edge of the first panel on a surface defining the thickness of said panel.

Preferably, at least one male connector is fastened at one edge of the first panel on a surface that is parallel to or that corresponds to the main face of said first panel.

Preferably, at least two male connectors are fastened to the same surface of a first panel. Preferably, said at least two male connectors are vertically aligned.

Preferably, at least one female connector is fastened at one edge of the second panel on a surface defining the thickness of said second panel.

Preferably, at least one female connector is fastened at one edge of the second panel on a surface that is parallel to or that corresponds to the main face of said second panel.

Preferably, at least two female connectors are fastened to the same surface of a second panel. Preferably, said at least two female connectors are vertically aligned.

Preferably, the first and the second panels have the same height. Preferably, each male connector is fastened to the first panel at a height corresponding to that at which a corresponding female connector is fastened to the second panel.

Preferably, the bracket of the female connector is substantially disk-shaped.

Preferably, said bracket consists of a plate with at least one, most preferably at least two, mounting holes for fastening elements configured to secure said bracket to the corresponding second panel. Preferably, said fastening elements comprise screws and/or nails and/or bolts.

Preferably, the seat defined in the bracket for receiving and engaging the head of the protruding element of the male connector comprises a receiving recess. Preferably, said receiving recess comprises a radial cut defined on the bracket from its external substantially circular edge toward its center.

Preferably, the seat defined in the female connector is configured to lock the head of the protruding element along/in at least one direction, preferably along/in the two directions, that is/are perpendicular to the direction for inserting the head into said seat.

Preferably, a seat for receiving and engaging the head of a protruding element of the male connector is configured to stop the head movement along its insertion direction into said seat. Preferably, the seat defined in the female connector is configured to lock the head of the protruding element along/in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of the shaft of said male connector. Preferably, the seat defined in the female connector is configured to lock the head of the protruding element along/in a lateral direction.

Preferably, the receiving recess comprises an entry zone that is V-shaped. Preferably, the width of the V-shaped entry zone decreases by advancing toward the center of the circular bracket.

Preferably, the receiving recess further comprises an inner zone that preferably has a substantially semicircular shape. Preferably, the receiving recess comprises a V-shaped entry zone that opens in a semicircular inner zone.

Preferably, the width of the V-shaped entry zone is greater than the diameter of the semicircular inner zone. Preferably, the V-shaped entry zone is configured to facilitate the insertion of the head of the male connector into the inner zone.

Preferably, the diameter of the external base of the head is greater than the diameter of the inner zone. Preferably, the diameter of the semicircular inner zone substantially corresponds to or is lower that the diameter of the shaft of the male connector. Preferably, the diameter of the semicircular inner zone substantially corresponds to the diameter of said shaped portion of the male connector. Preferably, said inner zone defines a zone for engaging the shaped portion of the male connector. -6 -

Preferably, when the male connector is engaged with/in the female connector, the shaped portion of the male connector lies and is engaged in the semicircular inner zone of the receiving recess defined in the bracket of the female connector.

Preferably, the edges of the receiving recess are bent and angled in respect of the remaining part of the bracket. Preferably, said remaining part is substantially flat and coplanar.

Preferably, the edges of the receiving recess of the female connector are bent and angled of the same predetermined angle of the flank of the conical head of the male connector so that, in engaged/assembled condition, the conical flank surface of the head of the male connector is substantially in contact with the bent edge of the semicircular zone of the recess defined in the female connector.

Preferably, said at least two mounting holes are defined in the bracket around and symmetrically in respect of the receiving recess. Preferably, there are three mounting holes wherein two mounting holes are respectively defined at each side of the receiving recess, while the third one is defined on a zone that is diametrically opposed to the V-shaped entry zone of the receiving recess.

Preferably, the head of the male connector and the receiving and engaging seat of the female connector are configured/designed in such a manner that a locking/engagement is established by moving one panel in respect to the other along/in gravity direction or in the intended gravity direction.

Preferably, the female connector is entirely made of metal, preferably of steel.

Preferably, on a vertical oriented surface of the second panel on which is fastened the female connector is defined at least one circular recess having a circular shape and a diameter that are suitable for receiving the circular bracket of said female connector.

Preferably, said at least one circular recess is routered out on a corresponding surface of the second panel.

Preferably, said at least one circular recess has a drill depth corresponding to the head of the male connector. Preferably, said at least one circular recess has a drill depth corresponding to the portion of the male connector that protrudes from the plate of said male 30 connector.

Preferably, said at least one circular recess has a drill depth that corresponds or is less than the bent edges of the receiving recess of the female connector.

Preferably, on a vertical oriented surface of the second panel on which is fastened the female connector are defined two circular boreholes that are aligned substantially vertically and/or in gravity direction. Preferably, said two circular boreholes are defined on said vertical oriented surface of the second panel so as to overlap partially each other -7 -in/along a vertical and/or in gravity direction. Preferably, on said vertical oriented surface of the second panel there is a first recess that is arranged above a second/further borehole. Preferably, the circular bracket of the female connector in inserted into said second circular recess in such a manner that is radially centered by the circumferential boundaries of said recess and is substantially flush with the area of the second panel's surface that is around said second circular borehole, or is set back beyond said surface. Preferably, the circular bracket of the female connector is aligned and disposed within the second circular recess so that the V-shaped entry zone of said bracket is opened toward said first borehole.

Preferably, the overlapping area of the two boreholes has a width that substantially to corresponds to the maximum width of the receiving seat of the circular bracket of the female connector.

Preferably, the circular bracket of the female connector is fastened in the second circular recess by means of fastening elements crossing the mounting holes defined in said bracket so as to penetrate into the second panel.

Preferably, the center of the semicircular inner zone of the receiving recess of the female connector corresponds to the center of the second borehole.

Preferably, in the improved building system the two panels are interconnected so as to be substantially angled, thus defining together a corner.

Preferably, in the improved building system the two panels are interconnected so as to be substantially coplanar, thus defining together a single wall.

Accordingly, all these objects, taken individually and in any combination thereof, are achieved according to the present invention by a building comprising at least one improved building system as defined above. Preferably, the building comprises a plurality of building systems as defined above.

Preferably, the walls of the building are constructed from the interconnected panels of the improved building system.

Ideally, the building is a multi-story building.

Preferably, the walls of the ground floor and upper floors are each constructed from interconnected panels of the improved building system.

Advantageously, the interconnected panels can be prefabricated in a factory and transported to a site for assembly. This drastically reduces the on-site construction time required for assembling a building, in particular, a multi-story building.

Accordingly, all of these objects, taken individually and in any combination thereof, are achieved according to the present invention by a method for interconnecting a first panel with a second panel by connecting means comprising at least one male connector and at least one female connector, wherein the female connector comprises a bracket having an external shape that is substantially circular and that is axially penetrated by mounting holes for fastening elements, wherein the male connector consists only of an axially protruding shaft terminating with a head shaped so as to be received and locked into a seat defined in said bracket of the female connector, said method comprising the following steps of: fastening the male connector to the first panel by inserting the shaft into a surface of the first panel while the head protrudes axially and orthogonally from said surface, generating a first circular recess and a second circular recess in a vertically oriented surface of a second panel to be joined to the first panel, said first circular recess and said second circular recess radially overlap each other and are aligned vertically on in/along gravity direction, inserting the bracket of the female connector into the second circular recess in such a manner that it is radially centered by the circumferential boundaries of the second circular recess, aligning the bracket inside the second circular recess in such a manner that the receiving and locking seat of the bracket is opened toward the first circular recess, -moving one panel toward the other in such a way that the head of the male connector fastened to the first panel is disposed within the first circular recess defined in the second panel, moving one panel in respect of the other along/in gravity direction (or in the intended gravity direction) so that the male connector of the first panel passes from the first circular recess defined in the second panel into the receiving and locking seat defined in the bracket of the female connector fastened into the second circular recess of the second panel, thus defining a stable joining assembly of the first panel and the second panel. Preferably, the method comprising repeating said steps to construct a wall of a building. Preferably, the method comprising repeating said steps to construct four walls of a building defining a room.

Ideally, the method comprising repeating said steps to construct a first and second story of a building.

Ideally, the method comprising cutting the circular recess using a circular recess cutting drill bit. Advantageously, the circular recess for the circular bracket can be created by standard circular drill bits and this removes the requirement of using specialist tools to router out a square or rectangular recess in a panel required for prior art brackets.

The skilled man will appreciate that all preferred or optional features of the invention described with reference to only some aspects or embodiments of the invention may be applied to all aspects of the invention.

It will be appreciated that optional features applicable to one aspect of the invention can be used in any combination, and in any number. Moreover, they can also be used with -9 -any of the other aspects of the invention in any combination and in any number. This includes, but is not limited to, the dependent claims from any claim being used as dependent claims for any other claim in the claims of this application.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example a plurality of embodiments of a building system in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the male connector and of the female connector before their connection, to Figure 2 is a lateral view of the male connector and of the female connector before their connection, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the male connector and of the female connector before their connection, Figure 4 is a different perspective view of the male connector and of the female connector before their connection, Figure 5 is a first perspective view of the building system according to the invention, before the joining of the panels on which the respective connectors are fastened, Figure 5a shows an enlarged detail of the building system of fig. 5, Figure 6 shows the same detail of fig. 6 in a different perspective view, Figure 7 shows the same building system of fig. 5 in a different perspective view, Figure 7a shows an enlarged detail of the building system of fig. 7, Figure 8 is a perspective view from above of a detail of the building system according to the invention, before the joining of the panels on which the respective connectors are fastened, Figure 9-12 show sequentially, in the same perspective view, the steps for joining the panels in order to assembly the building system according to the invention. Referring to the figures, there is shown an improved building system 2, in particular although not exclusively to be used in wooden constructions, comprising at least two interconnectable panels 3 and 4 that are joined by connecting means 5 comprising at least one male connector 6 that is fastened on a first panel 3 and at least one female connector 7 is fastened on a second panel 4 to be joined to said first panel 3.

The female connector 7 comprises a bracket 8 having an external shape that is substantially circular and is provided with a seat 9 for receiving and engaging the head 10 of the male connector 6. The two interconnectable panels 3, 4 are made of wood and the male connector 6 and the female connector 7 are entirely made of metal.

-10 -The male connector 6 has a shaft 11 that terminates with said head 10. The male connector 6 comprises a collar plate 12 interposed between the shaft 11 and the head 10. The male connector 6 comprises a disk-shaped plate 12 fixed to and fitted around the shaft 11 in correspondence of said head 10. More in detail, the male connector 6 consists only of a shaft 11 with a head 10 and with an integrated disk-shaped plate 12 positioned between the shaft and the head. The plate 12 is radially larger than the external base of the head 10. The head 10 has a frustum-conical shape and, preferably, the plate 12 is fixed at the inner side of the frustum-conical head 10. The male connector 6 has a shaped portion 13 that is positioned between the external base of the head 10 and the plate 12. Preferably, said to shaped portion 13 has a frustum conical. The shaft 11 of the male connector 6 is secured directly onto the corresponding first panel 3. In particular, the shaft 11 of the male connector 6 penetrates, at least partially, into the first panel 3. The shaft 11 of the male connector is completely inserted into the first panel 3. The shaft 11 comprises at least a threaded portion 14. The shaft 11 is entirely threaded. The head 10 of the male connector 6 protrudes substantially orthogonally from the surface 15 of the first panel 2 on which is fastened. The male connector 6 is fastened on the first panel 3 so that the shaft 11 is inserted into the first panel 3 until the plate 12 of said male connector 6 comes into contact with the surface 15 of said first panel while the head 10 of said male connector protrudes from said surface. The external base of the head 10 comprises a shaped recess 16 for the insertion of a corresponding counter-shaped tip of a tool, preferably of a screwdriver. At least one male connector 6 is fastened at one edge of the first panel 3 on a surface 16 that is parallel to or that corresponds to the main face of said panel (see figures 7 and 7a). At least two male connectors 6 are fastened to the same surface 15 of the first panel 3 and are vertically aligned.

At least one female connector 7 is fastened at one edge of the second panel on a surface defining the thickness of said panel (see figures 5, 5a and 6). At least two female connectors 7 are fastened to the same surface 17 of the second panel 4 and are vertically aligned. The first panel 3 and the second panel 4 have the same height. The bracket 8 of the female connector 7 is substantially disk-shaped. In particular, said bracket 8 consists of a plate with at least two mounting holes 18 for fastening elements 19 configured to secure said bracket 8 to the corresponding second panel 4. The fastening elements 19 comprise screws and/or nails and/or bolts. The seat 9 defined in the bracket 8 for receiving and engaging the head 10 of the shaft 11 of the male connector 6 comprises a receiving recess 20. The receiving recess 20 comprises a radial cut defined on the bracket 8 from its external substantially circular edge toward its center. The seat 9 defined in the female connector is configured to lock the head 10 of the male connector 6 along/in two directions that are perpendicular to the direction for inserting the head 10 into said seat. The seat 9 for receiving and engaging the head 10 of the male connector 6 is configured to stop the head movement along its insertion direction into said seat. The seat 9 defined in the female connector 7 is configured to lock the head 10 of the male connector 6 along/in a lateral direction and also along/in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of the shaft 11 of said male connector 6.

The receiving recess 20 comprises an entry zone 21 that is V-shaped and that opens in a semicircular inner zone 22. The width of the V-shaped entry zone 21 decreases by advancing toward the center of the circular bracket 8. In particular, the width of the V-shaped entry zone 21 is greater than the diameter of the semicircular inner zone 22. The V-shaped entry zone 21 is configured to facilitate the insertion of the head 10 of the male connector 6 into the inner zone 22.

The diameter of the semicircular inner zone 22 substantially corresponds to the diameter of said shaped portion 13 of the male connector 6. In particular, said inner zone 22 defined a zone for engaging the shaped portion 13 of the male connector 6.

When the male connector 6 is engaged with/in the female connector 7, the shaped portion 13 of the male connector 6 lies and is engaged in the semicircular inner zone 22 of the receiving recess 20 defined in the bracket 8 of the female connector 7. The edges 23 of the receiving recess 20 are bent and angled in respect of the remaining flat part 24 of the bracket 8. The edges 23 of the receiving recess 20 of the female connector 7 are bent and angled of the same predetermined angle of the flank of the conical head 10 of the male connector 6 so that, in engaged/assembled condition, the conical flank surface of the head 10 of the male connector 6 is substantially in contact with the bent edges 23 of the semicircular zone 22 of the receiving recess 20 defined in the female connector 7.

In the bracket 8 there are three mounting holes 18 wherein two mounting holes are respectively defined at each side of the receiving recess 20, while the third one is defined on a zone that is diametrically opposed to the V-shaped entry zone 21. In particular, the fastening elements 19 cross the mounting holes 18 defined in said bracket 8 so as to penetrate into the second panel 4.

The head 10 of the male connector 6 and the receiving and engaging seat 9 of the female connector 7 are configured/designed in such a manner that a locking/engagement is established by moving the first panel 3 in respect to the second panel 4 (or vice versa) along/in gravity direction or in the intended gravity direction.

On a vertical oriented surface 17 of the second panel 4 on which is fastened the female connector 7 are defined two circular recesses 25, 26 having a circular shape and a diameter that are suitable for receiving the circular bracket 8 of said female connector 7. The said two circular recesses 25, 26 are routered out on a corresponding surface 17 of the second panel 4. The said two circular recesses 25, 26 have a drill depth corresponding to the -12 -head portion 10 of the male connector 6 that protrudes from the plate 12 of said male connector. The said two circular recesses 25, 26 have a drill depth that corresponds or is less than the bent edges 23 of the receiving recess 20 of the female connector 7. In particular, the two circular recesses 25, 26 are aligned substantially vertically and/or in gravity direction and are defined on said vertical oriented surface 17 of the second panel so as to overlap partially each other in/along a vertical and/or in gravity direction.

On the said vertical oriented surface of the panel there is a first recess 25 that is arranged above a second/further recess 26. The circular bracket 8 of the female connector 7 in inserted into said second circular recess 26 in such a manner that is radially centered by the circumferential boundaries of said recess and is substantially flush with the area 29 of the surface 17 that surrounds said second circular recess 26, or is set back beyond said surface. The circular bracket 8 of the female connector 7 is aligned and disposed within the second circular recess 26 so that the V-shaped entry zone 21 of said bracket is opened toward said first recess 25.

The overlapping area of the two recesses 25, 26 has a width that substantially corresponds to the maximum width of the seat 9 of the circular bracket 8 of the female connector 7.

The method according for invention for interconnecting a first panel 3 made of wood with a second panel 4 made of wood, by means of said at least one male connector 6 and said at least one female connector 7, comprises the following steps of: fastening the male connector 6 to the first panel 3 by inserting the shaft 11 of said male connector 6 into a surface 15 of the first panel 3 while the head 10 protrudes axially and orthogonally from said surface 15, generating a first circular recess 25 and a second circular recess 26 in a vertically oriented surface 17 of the second panel 4 to be joined to the first panel 3, said first circular recess 25 and said second circular 26 radially overlap each other and are aligned vertically on in/along gravity direction, inserting the bracket 8 of the female connector 7 into the second recess 26 in such a manner that it is radially centered by the circumferential boundaries of the second recess, aligning the bracket 8 inside the second recess 26 in such a manner that the receiving and locking seat 9 of the bracket is opened toward the first recess 25, moving one panel 3 toward the other 4 (see figures 9 -11) in such a way that the head 10 of the male connector 6 fastened to the first panel 3 is disposed within the first recess 25 defined in the second panel 4, moving one panel 3 in respect of the other along/in gravity direction on in the intended gravity direction (see figure 12) so that the male connector 6 of the first panel 3 passes from the first recess 25 defined in the second panel 4 into the receiving and locking seat 9 defined in the bracket 8 of the female connector 7 fastened into the second recess 26 of the second panel 4, thus defining a stable joining assembly of the first panel and the second panel.

From the above disclosure, the advantages of the building system are clear, since it allows a fast, easy, precise, secure interconnection of two building panels, thus enabling to contain also the preparation and assembly costs of the construction (especially of a wooden construction) obtained by means of the panels so interconnected. In particular, the advantage of using a female connector consisting of a bracket with an external shape that is substantially circular is that said bracket can slot precisely into a circular routered area, that is much easier to define, on a piece of timber and can be more easily orientated into position.

Moreover, the use of a male connector consisting of a bolt/screw with a head that is shaped to slot into the female component is advantageous since its design is extremely simple and it is required only a single aperture to be made in the wooden panel to fit said male connector. Therefore, the male-female connectors according to the invention have a thinner and simpler design, and moreover require less metal to manufacture in respect to the known solutions.

Furthermore, the advantage of using the solution according to the invention is that the position of adjacent panels relative to one another can be determined in the factory by setting the location of the brackets of the female connectors at the perimeter edges of the panels. In particular, it also reduces the time taken to construct the building on site as the walls can be constructed from panels by simply slotting them together and by applying reinforcements, if required. Furthermore, when the process is automated in a factory environment, the use of a centre point for a drill or router cutting circular recesses on one panel can also be used as a location reference for centring the drill for boring the hole for the male connector. Using the CNC control for these drilling, routering and/or boring tools means that the male and female members will be more accurately aligned on the panels resulting in more accurate fitting together of adjacent panels.

In relation to the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that one or more technical features of one embodiment can be used in combination with one or more technical features of any other embodiment where the transferred use of the one or more technical features would be immediately apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to carry out a similar function in a similar way on the other embodiment.

In the preceding discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of the said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, -14 -is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A building system, comprising at least two interconnectable panels that are joined by connecting means comprising at least one male connector that is fastened on a first panel and at least one female connector that is fastened on a second panel to be joined to said first panel, characterized in that the female connector comprises a bracket having an external shape that is substantially circular and is provided with a seat for receiving and engaging the head of a protruding element of the male connector.
2 A building system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male connector comprises a shaft that defines said protruding element and that terminates with said head.
3 A building system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the male connector comprises a collar interposed between the shaft and the head.
4 A building system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the collar comprises a plate wherein the plate is fixed to and fitted around the shaft in correspondence of said head.
A building system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plate has a radial development that substantially corresponds to that of the head.
6 A building system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the shaft of the male connector is secured directly onto the corresponding first panel.
7 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the male connector consists only of a shaft terminating with a head.
8 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head has a frustum-conical shape.
9. A building system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the external base of the head comprises a shaped recess for the insertion of a corresponding counter-shaped tip of a tool.
A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one male connector is fastened at one edge of the first panel on a surface defining the thickness of said panel and at one edge of the first panel on a surface that is parallel to or that corresponds to the main face of said first panel.
11 A building system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least two male connectors are fastened to the same surface of a first panel and wherein the male connectors are vertically aligned.
12 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one female connector is fastened at one edge of the second panel on a surface defining the thickness of said second panel and at one edge of the second panel on a surface that is parallel to or that corresponds to the main face of said second panel.
13 A building system as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least two female connectors are fastened to the same surface of a second panel and wherein the at least two female connectors are vertically aligned.
14 A building system as claimed in claim 10 and claim 12 wherein each male connector is fastened to the first panel at a height corresponding to that at which a corresponding female connector is fastened to the second panel.
A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said bracket consists of a plate with at least two mounting holes for fastening elements configured to secure said bracket to the corresponding second panel.
16 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat defined in the bracket for receiving and engaging the head of the protruding element of the male connector comprises a receiving recess, and wherein said receiving recess comprises a radial cut defined on the bracket from its external substantially circular edge toward its center.
17 A building system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the receiving recess comprises an entry zone that is V-shaped.
18 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat defined in the female connector is configured to lock the head of the protruding element along/in at least one direction, preferably along/in the two directions, that is/are perpendicular to the direction for inserting the head into said seat.
19 A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head of the male connector and the receiving and engaging seat of the female connector are configured/designed in such a manner that a locking/engagement is established by moving one panel in respect to the other along/in gravity direction or in the intended gravity direction.
A building system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein on a vertical oriented surface of the second panel on which is fastened the female connector is defined at least one circular recess having a circular shape and a diameter that are suitable for receiving the circular bracket of said female connector.
21 A building system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said at least one circular recess is routered out on a corresponding surface of the second panel.
22 A building system as claimed in claim 21 wherein on a vertical oriented surface of the second panel on which is fastened the female connector are defined two circular boreholes that are aligned substantially vertically and/or in gravity direction.
23 A building system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said two circular boreholes are defined on said vertical oriented surface of the second panel so as to overlap partially each other in/along a vertical and/or in gravity direction.
24 A method for interconnecting a first panel with a second panel by connecting means comprising at least one male connector and at least one female connector, wherein the female connector comprises a bracket having an external shape that is substantially circular and that is axially penetrated by mounting holes for fastening elements, wherein the male connector consists only of an axially protruding shaft terminating with a head shaped so as to be received and locked into a seat defined in said bracket of the female connector, said method comprising the following steps of: -fastening the male connector to the first panel by inserting the shaft into a surface of the first panel while the head protrudes axially and orthogonally from said surface, -generating a first circular recess and a second circular recess in a vertically oriented surface of a second panel to be joined to the first panel, said first circular recess and said second circular recess radially overlap each other and are aligned vertically on in/along gravity direction, -inserting the bracket of the female connector into the second circular recess in such a manner that it is radially centered by the circumferential boundaries of the second circular recess, -aligning the bracket inside the second circular recess in such a manner that the receiving and locking seat of the bracket is opened toward the first circular recess, -moving one panel toward the other in such a way that the head of the male connector fastened to the first panel is disposed within the first circular recess defined in the second panel, -moving one panel in respect of the other along/in gravity direction (or in the intended gravity direction) so that the male connector of the first panel passes from the first circular recess defined in the second panel into the receiving and locking seat defined in the bracket of the female connector fastened into the second circular recess of the second panel, thus defining a stable joining assembly of the first panel and the second panel.A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the method comprising cutting the circular recess using a circular recess cutting drill bit.