WO2002052108A1

WO2002052108A1 - Device and method for joining panel-equipped building elements

Info

Publication number: WO2002052108A1
Application number: PCT/NO2001/000463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ove Kornelius Guttormsen
Original assignee: Ove Kornelius Guttormsen
Priority date: 2000-11-24
Filing date: 2001-11-22
Publication date: 2002-07-04
Also published as: EP1343941A1; NO20005943D0; NO315170B1; NO20005943L

Abstract

A building component structure arrangement, where assembled building components each consist of a frame and on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate or board bodies, optionally with insulating material bounded by the frame and the sheet bodies. The two uprights of the frame are provided with male and female engaging means respectively for cooperation with male and female engaging means of an assembled, adjacently positioned building component. The bottom crosspiece of the frame is provided with means for engaging with a bottom sill means on which the building components are designed to rest. The top crosspiece of the frame is provided with a means for engaging with a top sill.

Description

Device and method for joining panel-equipped building elements

The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for joining panel- equipped building components, where the assembled building components each consist of a frame and on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies, optionally with insulating material bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, as disclosed in the preamble of attached patent claims 1, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 23.

In connection with the joining of structural members, there is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 4313895 a bearing articulation between a supporting beam and accompanying supporting post, where the supporting beam has a projection provided with a wedge-shaped recess for hooking onto a similarly designed wedge-shaped engaging means provided on said post.

From Norwegian Patent 35139 there is also known a device in connection with bed sides which have bed posts, where it is possible to pass the dovetailed end piece of the bed side into a similarly shaped dovetailed recess on the end pieces of the bed. However, an operation of this kind means that the bed side and end piece must be tilted slightly relative to one another to allow the joining to be done.

Even though these known solutions have existed for some time, from 1993 and 1922 respectively, they have hitherto been found unsuitable for providing flexible solutions particularly suitable for erecting building structures and where both fast assembly and optional disassembly of assembled building components are possible.

A construction system for shelves is known from US Patent 5524394, where the wing walls and the back wall can be joined together with the aid of male and female fittings. However, the solution taught in this document is unsuitable for typical building components because it lacks ways of drawing the components towards one another when they are to be joined together.

A building component structure was introduced onto the Norwegian market, among others, in about 1975, launched by Den norske Gipsplatefabrikk (later NORGIPS) as the so-called "MultiElement". The purpose of this structure was to be able to erect houses quickly whilst ensuring they were ready-insulated. However, the structure required complex production equipment because of the use of polyurethane foam as insulating material and because of the frame which was laid in place prior to the foaming. The components, which also required special equipment for transport and handling, permitted flexible solutions per with regard to where doors and windows could be installed (hole cutting with a saw or chain saw), and with regard to being able to form inner formwork for insulated cellars, but the product was expensive to manufacture, in part because of the polyurethane foam as an essential constituent, and also because joining to adjacent components was difficult and required special lifting gear. There were few ways of dismantling these known components without damaging them, and the sound insulation power was not satisfactory on account of the mechanical connection through the use of the polyurethane foam between the two sides of the building component. There were also a number of environmental consequences because polyurethane foam was used in such large quantities.

With house building prices steadily increasing, it has become an ever-growing problem for young people just starting out to finance the building of a house.

Also, in situations where it is necessary to erect houses quickly, for example, as an emergency measure, in connection with development aid, and as speedy assistance in areas struck by disaster, including storm-flattened areas etc., it has not been easy to get this done in a sufficiently fast yet satisfactory manner. At the same time, there has also been a need for the possibility of rapid disassembly without the building components thereby being damaged to any extent, so that it is possible to reuse the components several times.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solution which permits the joining of building components with or without laid-in insulating material, and where, given simple production jigs, it will also be easy to manufacture building components locally, or optionally on the actual building site without complex, costly production equipment, whilst assuring construction work of good quality.

The possibility of local production at the erection site of a building, or a short distance therefrom, means that plate bodies, frames and optional insulation can be transported as separate parts. In this way, the transport of air is avoided, especially in those cases when insulation is unnecessary.

It is also a major object of the invention that the building components should be easily attachable to one another, with possible means of obtaining a good sealing between them. Also disassembly, in those cases when it is necessary, should be possible in a rational and time-saving manner, so that the building components can be reused.

The arrangement and method mentioned in the introduction are characterised according to the invention by the features set forth in attached patent claims 1 , 10, 12, 16, 18 and 23, their accompanying subclaims, and in the following description with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a first embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section through the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a top part of the arrangement.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of engaging means on the building component uprights.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section through the arrangement as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows an example of the assembly of several building components.

Fig. 8 shows the principle for joining adjacent, assembled building components.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show the joining principle for building components that are joined in r, J. or + configuration.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a variant of the solution illustrated in Fig. 9.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a variant of the solution illustrated in Fig. 1 1.

Fig. 16 shows a second embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention.

Fig. 17 shows the end view XVII-XVII in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 shows the section XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 16. Fig. 19 shows the section XIX in Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 shows a typical tool for fixing fastening screws.

Fig. 21 shows a typical shared top sill on joined building components.

Figs. 22a and 22b shows two building components for joining, and Fig. 23 shows the building components once joined and the section XXIII-XXIII in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a side view of a locking device for locking together adjacent building components.

Fig. 25 shows an upright in a building component having female engaging means.

Figs. 26 and 27 show in respectively a first and a second position the locking device in a first and second position relative to the female engaging means in a building component upright.

Fig. 28 shows in cross-section a part of two building components joined by means of the locking device.

Fig. 29 shows in perspective a part of the locking device in Fig. 24 with the reference XXIX.

Fig. 1 shows as an example a building component structure where a panel and a frame bottom piece have been removed for the sake of clarity, and Fig. 2 shows a cross- section. In an illustrated, non-limiting example of the invention, the building component structure consists of plate bodies 1, frame uprights 3, frame top piece 4 and frame bottom piece 5. Insulating material 6, for example, a rigid insulating material such as polystyrene can be placed in the space thus formed by the frame 3-5 and the plates 1. Alternative insulating material is of course also possible, for example, glass wadding or rock wool, or possibly cellulose fibres. To create airspace between insulating members, stiffeners 2, 1 1 and 12 can be provided. This applies in particular when certain types of insulating material are chosen. In addition to the structure, there is also provided both a top sill 7 and a bottom sill 8. A small connection strip 9 can be provided to connect the top sill to the top piece 4 of the frame. Similarly, a connecting and guiding list 10 can be provided between the bottom frame part 5 and the bottom sill 8, thereby stabilising the building component in the transverse direction. In order to position the said stiffeners 11, 12 a guide list 13, 14 may be provided; see in particular Fig. 2. The plate bodies 1 may, for example, be fibreboards, plasterboards or plates of plastic, metal or reinforced plastic material.

In one of the uprights 3, such as the upright 3', there is provided a plurality of female engaging means 14 which, in a preferred embodiment, consist of partly undercut, partly bevelled holes, where each hole is adapted to the largest cross-sectional dimension of a respective stud or key 15 on a second, opposite upright 3", where said studs or keys project from the upright 3", are undercut and bevelled and in a longitudinal direction of the upright are tapered. As indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, the uprights 3', 3" of adjacent building components will be joinable with the uprights parallel, where by means of a first movement (see Fig. 8) one of the uprights is slightly raised relative to the other whilst passing the female engaging means into the male engaging means, and where by means of a second movement the raised upright is lowered, whereby because of the tapered, bevelled and undercut parts of the male engaging means and the female engaging means respectively, this upright will be drawn towards an adjacent upright during the lowering operation until the upright reaches the said bottom sill 8 together with the lower cross member 5 of its building component.

In the solution shown in Fig. 6, the stiffeners 2 and upper and lower cross stiffening elements 11, 12 are not present, as the insulating element, in this figure indicated by means of the reference numeral 16, fills the whole space defined by the frame pieces 4, 5 and the frame uprights 3', 3". In connection with the uprights 3', 3", lead-in holes 17, for example, intended for electrical installations, may be provided, and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 there will be corresponding holes 18 in the stiffeners, whilst in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 holes 19 will be provided in the insulating element 16. The insulating element 16 may, for example, be of a rigid insulating material, as for instance polystyrene. As an alternative, the insulating element may be made of glassfibre material or rock wool material, optionally of cellulose fibres. Of course, other insulating materials are also possible.

In case a floor on which the bottom sill 8 is fastened is uneven, adjustment screws 20 can be provided in the bottom sill for levelling the sole plate. These screws can be of a known commercially available type per se. When, for example, two building components, optionally four building components, are to be placed at an angle to one another, it will be desirable to provide connecting uprights equipped with male and/or female engaging means for assembling the components in a | , i. or + configuration. This can be seen rather more clearly from that shown in Figs. 9-11. However, it will be appreciated that variants of that shown in Figs. 9-11 are possible. The building components are thus joinable via the connecting upright. In Fig. 9 the connecting upright is indicated by means of the reference numeral 21, in Fig. 10 by the reference numeral 22, and in Fig. 11 by the reference numeral 23. The connecting upright 21-23, when joined to the upright of a building component adjacent to the connecting upright, will be positioned parallel to the last-mentioned upright, and by means of a first movement the building component upright will be raised slightly relative to the connecting upright while bringing together male and female engaging means on the building component upright and the connecting upright respectively. By means of a second movement, the raised building component upright is lowered, whereupon, because of the tapered, undercut and bevelled parts, it is drawn towards the connecting upright during the lowering operation, until it reaches the said bottom sill 8 together with the bottom frame cross member 5 of its building component.

Thus, the upright 21; 22; 23 will preferably be equipped with male engaging means like the male engaging means 15 shown in Figs. 4 and 8 respectively.

To prevent air leakage between adjacent uprights 3', 3" or connecting uprights 21-23 and a building component, sealing strips 24 can be provided on the said upright 3' and/or 3". The sealing strips may optionally be so designed that they fit in grooves 25 on an opposite upright, such as the upright 3". The sealing will be further enhanced in this way. It is also conceivable that sealing strips may be provided in connection with the connecting uprights 21-23 as well.

In Figs. 12 and 13 the connecting upright is indicated by means of the reference numeral 28 and the building components that are to be connected via the connecting upright are indicated by the reference numerals 26, 27. In this case it will be appropriate to hook the holes 14 of the upright 28 onto the studs or keys 15. The component 27 can then be hooked onto the upright 28 by similar engagement between holes 14 and studs/keys 15.

In Fig. 12 the reference numerals 26', 27' and 28' indicate insulating material in the components 26, 27 and the upright 28 respectively. In Figs. 14 and 15, the connecting upright is indicated by means of the reference numeral 29 and the building components that are to be joined via the connecting upright are indicated by the reference numerals 26, 27 and 30. In this case, it will also be appropriate to hook the holes 14 of the upright 28 onto the studs or keys 15. The components 27 and 30 can then be hooked onto the upright 29 by means of similar engagement between holes 14 and studs/keys 15.

In Fig. 14 the reference numerals 26', 27' and 30' indicate insulating material in the components 26, 27, 30, and the reference numeral 29' indicates insulating material in the upright 29.

By not making the connecting uprights solid as shown in Figs. 9-11 for the uprights 21, 22, 23, but U-shaped as for the uprights 28 and 29, it will be easier to pass wires between the components and through the holes 26", 27", 30" in the components and via holes 28" and 29" in the uprights. After wires have been passed through the holes, the U-section can be filled with insulation 28', 29'.

Fig. 16 shows three building components 31, 32, 33 where the components 31, 32 are joined, whilst the joining of the components 32 and 33 is in the process of being carried out. As shown and described in connection with the preceding figures, each of the assembled building components consists of a frame in the form of uprights 34, 35 and upper and lower crosspieces 36, 37. In the case of the component 32, it will be seen that this has been inverted so that the lower crosspiece in this case is at the top, whilst the upper crosspiece 36 of the component 31, for the component 32 becomes the lower crosspiece 39. Plate bodies 40, 41 may be placed on opposite sides of the frame, as for example the frame 34, 35, 36, 37, as indicated in Fig. 17. Insulating material 42 may be provided between the plates 40, 41.

A plurality of parallel guide tubes 43, 44, 45, 46 for a mounting tool 47 are provided between the two uprights of the building component. The mounting tool is shown in slightly more detail in Fig. 20. The guide tubes 43-46 form an extension of respective through holes 43', 44', 45' and 46' in one of the uprights, in this case the upright 35. These guide tubes 43-46 extend parallel with the crosspieces 36, 37 or 38, 39 some distance into the opposite upright, in this case indicated by the reference numeral 34. On rotation and engagement with a screw 48, the tool 47 will cause the screw 48 to be screwed through the upright 34 and into the upright 35, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. At the top and the bottom, the frame is preferably equipped with a bottom sill, in Fig. 16 indicated by the respective reference numerals 49, 50.

Because the guide tubes 43, 44, 45, 46 are positioned asymmetrically in the respective building component, it will be sufficient to have one type of building component, as alternate building components can be inverted, as shown in Fig. 16, so that the guide tubes in adjacent components will not be axially aligned.

As shown in connection with, for example, Figs. 9-15, it is possible to have components joined by screw connection instead of male and female engaging members by using connecting uprights which can have guides for cooperation with the mounting tool.

Figs. 22a and 22b shows two building components 51, 52 which are to be joined together and where for the sake of clarity plate bodies 53, 53' and 54, 54' (as indicated in Figs. 23 and 26) are not shown.

The building components may optionally be filled with insulating material, as indicated by the reference numerals 55, 56.

The uprights 65, 66 of the frame have respective female engaging means 57-60 and 61- 64, as shown in particular in Fig. 22b. In addition, for locking together adjacent building components there is provided a locking device 67 which on opposite sides thereof has projecting male engaging means, indicated in Fig. 24 by the reference numerals 68, 69, 70 and 71, and also indicated in Fig. 22a by the same reference numerals, in addition to the reference numerals 67'-71' which indicate the male engaging members projecting from the opposite side of the locking device. Fig. 29 shows two such opposite projecting male engaging members designated by reference numerals 69, 69', where these are related to a supporting rod 72. The female engaging means, as for instance the means 61-64 shown in Fig. 22b and Fig. 25, consist of undercut, bevelled holes or recesses that are provided in the upright, in this case the upright 66. In a similar way, the male engaging means, as can perhaps be seen more clearly in Fig. 29, will be shaped so as to be complementary to the female engaging means and consist of keys which are tapered in the longitudinal direction of the rod 72. It will be understood that the rod 72 of the locking device is fitted in a groove 73 in the frame upright 66 (the same applies to upright 65). After the locking device, consisting of the rod 72 and its male engaging means 68-71, 68'-71', has been inserted into respective female engaging means 61-64, 57-60 in respective uprights 66,65, and the building components 51, 52 are thus moved towards one another, a retaining pin 74, for example, can be disengaged from the rod 72, so that the rod with its male engaging means falls down, the male engaging means thus entering into locking engagement with the female engaging means, as shown in Fig. 27 and which can also be seen clearly from Fig. 28. In certain cases, it may be necessary to push the rod 72 with the male engaging means downwards by using a drawtool (not illustrated) which is introduced on top of the rod 72. The arrow at the bottom right-hand side of Fig. 22a shows the distance the rod 72 with its male engaging means 68-71, 68'-71' must be moved downwards before locking can take place. Within the scope of the invention it will, of course, also be possible that connecting uprights can be provided, as for example shown and described in connection with Figs. 9-15, by using the same type of locking device 72, 68-71, 68'-71'. In Fig. 22b the top and bottom crosspieces of the frame, which is a part of the building component, are indicated by the reference numerals 74 and 75. Of course, it will be possible to place the building components 51 , 52 on a bottom sill means which may optionally be levellable, as described above, and that it will be possible to provide a top sill that is placed on top of the crosspieces 74 of the components. However, for reasons of clarity, this has not been shown in Fig. 22.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1.

An arrangement for joining panel-equipped building components each consisting of a frame (3, 4, 5) and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies (1), optionally with insulating material bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in

- that the two uprights (3) of the frame are provided with male (15) and female (14) engaging means respectively for cooperation with the respective male and female engaging means of adjacently positioned building components;

- that the male engaging means consist of undercut, bevelled studs or keys (15) projecting from the building component upright and tapered in a longitudinal direction of the upright; and

- that the female engaging means consist of undercut, bevelled holes (14) located in a respective upright, wherein each hole is adapted to the largest cross-sectional dimension of a respective stud or key, and is tapered in said longitudinal direction.

2.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 1 , characterised in - that the bottom crosspiece (5) of the frame can be equipped with means for engagement with a bottom sill means (8) on which the building components are designed to rest; and

- that the top crosspiece (4) of the frame can be equipped with a means for engagement with a top sill.

3.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in

- that said cooperation is designed to take place via a connecting upright (21; 22; 23; 28) provided with male and/or female engaging members for assembly of the building components in T, or + horizontal section configuration;

- that the male engaging means consist of undercut, bevelled studs or keys (15) projecting from the connecting upright and tapered in a longitudinal direction of the connecting upright for cooperation with the upright holes in the adjacent building component; and - that the female engaging means consists of undercut, bevelled holes (14) provided in the connecting upright, wherein each hole is adapted to the largest cross-sectional dimension of a respective stud or key on an adjacent building component, and is tapered in said longitudinal direction.

4. An arrangement as disclosed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in

- that the outward facing faces of the building component upright (3') are provided with sealing strips (24).

5. An arrangement as disclosed in claim 4, characterised in

- that the sealing strips are so designed that they engage with grooves (25) in an adjacent upright (3") in the neighbouring building component.

6. An arrangement as disclosed in claim 3, characterised in

- that the outward facing faces of the upright and/or the connecting upright are provided with sealing strips (24).

7. An arrangement as disclosed in claim 6, characterised in

- that the sealing strips (24) are so designed that they engage with grooves (25) in an adjacent upright in a neighbouring building component and/or in an adjacent connecting upright.

8.

An arrangement as disclosed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in

- that the bottom sill is equipped with adjustment screws (20) for the adjustment thereof in relation to an uneven floor.

9.

An arrangement as disclosed in one or more of claims 3, 6 and 7, characterised in that the connecting upright has an essentially U-shaped cross-section.

10. A method for joining panel-equipped building components each consisting of a frame and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies, optionally with insulating material bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in - that the uprights (3; 3'; 3") of adjacent building components are joinable with the uprights parallel, where by means of a first movement one of the uprights (3"; 3') of the building component is raised slightly relative to an adjacent upright (3'; 3") on a second building component while connecting male engaging means on one upright and female engaging means on an adjacent upright; and

- that by means of a second movement the raised building component is lowered and with it its said upright (3'), whereby this upright, because of the tapered, undercut and bevelled portions of the male and female engaging means respectively, is drawn towards an adjacent upright during the lowering operation until it reaches the said sole plate together with the lower crosspiece of its building component.

11.

A method as disclosed in claim 10, characterised in

- that the building components are joinable via a connecting upright (21; 22; 23; 28), the building component upright (3) which is adjacent to the connecting upright being positioned parallel thereto;

- that by means of a first movement the building component upright and the connecting upright are caused to be slightly offset from one another in the longitudinal direction for connecting male and female engaging means (15; 14) on the upright and the connecting upright; and

- that by means of a second movement the longitudinal offset is eliminated, whereby the upright of the component, because of tapered, undercut and bevelled portions on said male and female engaging means (15; 14), is drawn towards the connecting upright during said elimination of the longitudinal offset.

12.

An arrangement for joining building components each consisting of a frame (34, 37; 34, 35, 38, 39) and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies (40, 41), optionally with insulating material (42) bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in

- that between the frame uprights (34, 35) there is provided a plurality of parallel guide tubes (43-46) for a mounting tool (47);

- that each guide tube (43-46) forms an extension of a through hole (43'-46') in one of the uprights (35) and extends some distance into a second opposite upright (34) in the building component; and - that the tool (47) is so designed that on rotation it screws a fastening screw (48) through the second upright (34) and into the first upright (35) in an adjacent building component.

13.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 12, characterised in that the guide tubes (43-46) are positioned asymmetrically in the building component, and that adjacent building components are on joining designed to be alternately inverted.

14.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 12, characterised in that a first crosspiece (37; 39) of the building component frame is designed to engage with a sole plate means (50) on which the building components are designed to rest, and that a second crosspiece (36; 38) on the frame is arranged to engage with a top plate (49).

15.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 12, 13 or 14, characterised in that said cooperation is designed to take place via a connecting upright provided with guides for cooperation with the mounting tool for screwing together the connecting upright and adjacent building components.

16.

A method for joining building components each consisting of a frame and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies, optionally with insulating material bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in

- that the uprights (34, 35) of adjacent building components are joinable with the uprights parallel;

- that one component is inverted relative to an adjacent component;

- that adjacent uprights (34, 35) on two adjacent building components are fastened together by means of a plurality of fastening screws; and

- that the fastening screws are screwed by using a tool which can be passed through the component parallel to the upper and lower crosspieces of the frame through guide tubes which extend between the uprights in the building component.

17.

A method as disclosed in claim 16, characterised in that adjacent components are joinable by screw connection via a connecting upright.

18.

An arrangement for joining panel-equipped building components (51, 52) which consist of a frame (65, 66, 74, 75) and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies (53, 53'; 54, 54'), optionally having insulating material (55; 56) bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in

- that the two uprights (65, 66) of the frame are provided with a plurality of female engaging means (57-60; 61-64) for cooperation with a locking device (67) which has a corresponding number of male engaging means (68-71; 68'-71'): - that the male engaging means consist of keys (15) tapered in the longitudinal direction of the rod or of undercut, bevelled studs tapering in a longitudinal direction of a rod (72) that is a part of the locking device (67); and

- that the female engaging means consist of undercut, bevelled holes or recesses (57-60; 61-64) located in a respective upright (65; 66), and are adapted to the largest cross- sectional dimension of a respective stud or key on the locking device, and are tapered in the longitudinal direction of the upright.

19.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 18, characterised in - that the lower crosspiece (75) of the frame is designed for engagement with a bottom sill means on which the building components are designed to rest; and

- that the upper crosspiece (74) of the frame is designed for engagement with a top sill.

20. An arrangement as disclosed in claim 18 or 19, characterised in that said cooperation is designed to take place via a connecting upright provided with female engaging components for assembling the building components at an angle relative to each other, the building components (51, 52) being joinable to the connecting upright by means of a locking device (67) provided with male engaging means and a supporting rod.

21.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 18, 19 or 20, characterised in that the uprights of the building components have outward facing faces provided with sealing strips.

22.

An arrangement as disclosed in claim 21, characterised in that the sealing strips are designed to engage with grooves in an adjacent upright in a neighbouring building component.

23.

A method for joining building components each consisting of a frame and which on opposite sides thereof are covered by plate bodies, optionally having insulating material bounded by the frame and the plate bodies, characterised in - that the uprights (65, 66) of adjacent building components are joinable with the uprights parallel and adjoining one another, that adjacent uprights of building components are lockable to one another in that a locking device having male engaging means inserted into female engaging means in the uprights on a downward movement from a first level position to a second level position causes the male and female engaging means with their tapered, undercut portions to engage with each other, so that the adjacent building components are drawn towards each other and locked to each other.

24. A method as disclosed in claim 23, characterised in that the building components are joinable via a connecting upright which has female engaging means, wherein the building component upright which is adjacent to the connecting upright is arranged to be parallel therewith, wherein the building component and the connecting upright are locked to each other by connecting them by means of a locking device consisting of a rod having a plurality of projecting male engaging means, and where the locking takes place when the male engaging means that are inserted into the female engaging means on depression of the rod are moved down a short distance therein.