Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/56—Load-bearing walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members
  • E04B2/58—Load-bearing walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members with elongated members of metal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/74—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge
  • E04B2/76—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge with framework or posts of metal
  • E04B2/762—Cross connections
  • E04B2/765—Cross connections with one continuous profile, the perpendicular one being interrupted
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/04—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements
  • E04B2/06—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/74—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge
  • E04B2/76—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge with framework or posts of metal
  • E04B2/78—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge with framework or posts of metal characterised by special cross-section of the frame members as far as important for securing wall panels to a framework with or without the help of cover-strips
  • E04B2/7809—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge with framework or posts of metal characterised by special cross-section of the frame members as far as important for securing wall panels to a framework with or without the help of cover-strips of single or multiple tubular form
  • E04B2/7818—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge with framework or posts of metal characterised by special cross-section of the frame members as far as important for securing wall panels to a framework with or without the help of cover-strips of single or multiple tubular form of substantially rectangular form
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/74—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge
  • E04B2/82—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge characterised by the manner in which edges are connected to the building; Means therefor; Special details of easily-removable partitions as far as related to the connection with other parts of the building
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
  • E04B1/38—Connections for building structures in general
  • E04B1/58—Connections for building structures in general of bar-shaped building elements
  • E04B1/5825—Connections for building structures in general of bar-shaped building elements with a closed cross-section
  • E04B1/5831—Connections for building structures in general of bar-shaped building elements with a closed cross-section of substantially rectangular form

Definitions

• the invention relates to a support member assembly, and especially for at least partially supporting a wall.
• brick walls have been supported by erecting concrete supports at intervals along the brick wall, both horizontally and vertically, to support the wall.
• metal rods which are fixed to the mortar joints of the brick wall and to the concrete supports to tie the brick wall to the concrete supports.
• one of the disadvantages of this conventional approach is that the construction and use of the concrete supports is both time consuming and labour intensive.
• the shuttering is normally constructed from wooden boards and .the services of a carpenter are required to construct the shuttering, in addition, during construction of the shuttering, . it is necessary to insert the metal rods, which will be used to tie the brick wall to the concrete support, through the side walis of the shuttering so that the metal rods extend outside the shuttering and into the internal volume of the shuttering where the concrete is to be poured.
• a support member assembly comprising an elongate support member having an effective length, an elongate member engagement portion arranged to engage with one end of the elongate support member to extend the member's effective length, and a base portion including connection means for releasably connecting to the elongate member engagement portion or to the elongate support member.
• An advantage of the described embodiment is that the parts of the assembly i.e. the elongate support member, the elongate member engagement portion and the base portion can be manufactured separately and may be assembled on site thus increasing productivity. Further, each part can be packed together with like parts to reduce space thus easier for shipment. On site, the user can then decide based on the design requirements, whether the base portion is to be connected to the elongate member engagement portion or directly to the elongate support member.
• connection means is adapted to be connectable only to the elongate member engagement portion.
• the elongate member and the elongate member engagement portion each may have a side wall adapted to be located adjacent an end of a wall to be supported, in use.
• Each side wall may then include a plurality of engagement means which permit a tie member to be mounted on the side wall, the tie member having a portion projecting from the side wall to engage with the wall to be supported.
• the plurality of engagement means are provided at discrete locations along the side walls of the elongate member and the elongate member engagement portion such that position of the tie members are adjustable.
• the engagement means may be ⁇ provided on opposite sides of the elongate member and/or the elongate member engagement portion. Alternatively, the engagement means is provided on all four sides of the elongate member and/or the elongate member engagement portion.
• the engagement means may comprise slots and the slots may be elongate and comprises an opening extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the siots.
• the opening of each slot permits a tie member to be mounted on the side wall, the tie member having a portion projecting from the side wall to engage with the wall to be supported.
• the siots may be arranged along at least two substantially parallel axes along the longitudinal axis of the elongate support member and the elongate support member engagement portion with the opening ' s of slots along one of the axis facing in a direction opposite to the openings of slots along the other axis, the directions of both openings being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate support member and the elongate support member engagement portion.
• each slot comprises two recesses extending in a direction opposite the direction of the opening of the same slot.
• the two recesses are adapted to extend along the same direction as the opening of one of the slots.
• a slot along one axis is offset from an adjacent slot along the other axis such that the openings of the slots are not aligned with each other.
• the recess of one slot is aligned with the recess of an adjacent slot despite the offset.
• each slot is used as a guide for selectively cutting the elongate member or the elongate member engagement portion to a desired length.
• the aligned recesses of the adjacent slots are arranged to be connectable with the connecting means of the base portion.
• connection means includes projections arranged to engage selectively at least one of the recesses of a slot.
• connection means includes projections arranged to engage respective aligned recesses.
• the projections may be angled to form generally L-shaped projections.
• One projection pair may be arranged to connect with one side surface of the elongate support member and the other projection pair may be arranged to connect with the opposing said surface of the elongate support member.
• one projection pair may be arranged to connect with one side surface of the elongate member engagement portion and the other projection pair may be arranged to connect with the opposing said surface of the elongate member engagement portion.
• the base portion includes stoppers arranged to abut against a side surface of the elongate support member or the elongate member engagement portion to limit movement along one direction.
• the base portion may be arranged to engage with a support structure.
• the base portion may include a bent .edge.
• the base portion may be adapted to engage with a said elongate support member.
• the base portion may have an attachment section for attachment to a side wall of one of the elongate members.
• the attachment section includes lugs.
• the support member engagement portion is engageabie with both ends of the elongate member.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brick ' wall supported by a support member system having vertical and horizontal stiffeners according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 shows the support member system of Figure 1 without the wall portions
• Figure 3 is an enlarged and exploded view of the region A of Figure 2 showing configuration of engagement means of a vertical stiffener;
• Figure 4 are enlarged and exploded views of a base plate used in the support member system of Figure 2;
• Figures 5a to 5d show how the base plate of Figure 4 is being connected to the vertical stiffener of Figure 2;
• Figure 6 is an enlarged and exploded view of how the base plate of Figure 4 that is reieasably connectable to the vertical stiffener of Figure 2;
• Figure 7 are enlarged and exploded views of a side base plate for use with the horizontal stiffener of Figure 2;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the support member system of the present invention being used to support different wall configurations;
• Figure 9 are views of a corner base piate for use with the vertical stiffener for specific applications;
• Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of a tie member of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 1 1 shows a variation of the .side base plate of Figure 7;
• Figure 12 shows an application of the side base plate variation of Figure
• Figure 13 illustrates views of a variation of the tie member shown in Figure 10;
• Figure 14 shows another application of the side base plate variation of Figure 1 1.
• Figure 1 shows a section of a wall 1 which is supported by a support member system 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• the support member system 100 includes a number of elongate members 101 and in this embodiment, these are arranged as vertical stiffeners 102 (only one shown) and horizontal stiffeners 103 which interconnects the vertical stiffener 102.
• the vertical stiffener 102 supports three portions 4, 5, 6 of the wall 1 and the vertical and horizontal edges of the portions 4, 5, 6 adjacent respectively to the vertical stiffener 102 and horizontal stiffener 103 are mechanically connected to respective stiffeners 102,103 by means of a number of ties 7 engageable with engagement means 120 formed on a side surface of the stiffeners 102,103 (in Figure 1 , only one tie member 7 is shown and the wall portion to which it engages has been removed to show the tie member clearly).
• the vertical stiffener 102 is connected at each of its upper and lower ends to an upper support 8 and to a lower support 9, respectively by a connector 110.
• each end of the horizontal stiffeners 103 is connected to the side of the vertical stiffener 102 by a connector 111.
• the support member system 100 also includes elongate member engagement portions in the form of sleeve members 130,135 for engaging with an end of the stiffeners 102,103 to extend the stiffener's effective length.
• the support member system 100 also includes base portions and in this embodiment, these are in the form of base plates 1 10,11 1 arranged to engage with the upper support 8 or the lower support 9 of Figure 1 , or with a vertical stiffener 102, in the case of the side base plate 111 being used with a horizontal stiffener 103.
• Mechanical fasteners may be inserted through the base plate 110 to attach the plate 110 to the underside of the upper support surface 8 and the upper side of the lower support surface 9.
• the mechanical fasteners are preferably powder actuated fasteners but may, alternatively, be any type of suitable fastener, such as nails, masonry nails or anchor bolts. If the fasteners are not powder actuated preferably, holes for fasteners are pre-drilled in the base plate 1 10.
• each of the vertical and horizontal stiffeners 102, 103 are fabricated by roll-forming from sheets of pre-gaivanised steel and laser welded at the sheet's edges to form a hollow box section. In this way, it helps to reduce production time than if the stiffeners are formed from two separate extrusions. Further, the stiffeners 102,103 are generally the same and thus, this allows a user freedom to use the stiffeners 102,103 in whichever orientation.
• Figure 2 shows the system of Figure 1 in more detail since the .wall 1 and support surfaces 8,9 are not shown.
• each stiffener has four side surfaces and in this embodiment, two of the opposing side surfaces 102a,102b,103a,103b (102b and 103b not shown) of each stiffener 102,103 have a plurality of engagement means and in this embodiment, the engagement means are in the form of elongate slots 120 which are arranged along two substantially parallel axes and which extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the stiffeners 102,103.
• Each slot 120 has a respective opening 121 formed near the centre of the slot 120, and first and second recesses 122,123 arranged at either side of the opening 121 and which extend in a direction opposite to the opening 121.
• the sleeve members 130,135 are used and which are also fabricated from pre-galvanised steel in the same manner as the stiffeners 102, 103. Both sleeve members 130,135 are the same and thus, only one will be described in relation to the vertical stiffener 102.
• the sleeve member 130 also includes engagement means in the form of slots 131 having an opening 132 and recesses 133,134 which are similar in shape and configuration as the slots 120 of the elongate member 102.
• the sleeve member 130 of the present embodiment also has the slots formed on two opposing side surfaces 130a,130b (103b not shown).
• the sleeve member 130 are generally similar in construction as the stiffener 102 except that the cross-sectional perimeter of the sleeve member 130 is less than the cross-sectional perimeter of the stiffener 102 so that a sleeve member 130 is slidably receivable within a stiffener 102 (at both ends). The effective length of the stiffener 102 is then extended by sliding the sleeve member 130 such that a desired effective length is reached.
• each of the slots 120 of the sfiffener 102 along the same vertical axis are spaced from each other in a predefined manner.
• each slot 120 along one axis is offset from adjacent slots 120', 120" along the other substantially parallel axis such that a first and second recesses 122,123 of the slot 120 is aligned with one recess of each adjacent slot 120,120".
• first recess 122 is aiigned with a second recess 123' of an adjacent slot 120' to form a first recess pair 126 as shown in Figure 3.
• second recess 123 of the slot 120 is also aiigned in the same manner as the first recess 122" of the slot 120" to form a second recess pair 128.
• the location of the recesses 122,123 along the slot 120 and the slot's length are strategically selected, the reason of which will become apparent later.
• Figure 10 shows a rear perspective view of the tie 7 which includes a planar section 20 having two lugs 21 formed thereon. It can be seen that the lugs 21 extend both rearwardly and to the side of the planar section 20. The lugs 21 are arranged to be inserted through openings 121 ,121 ' to . engage with slots. 120,120' in the side wall of the stiffener 102 to attach the tie 7 thereto. The length of the slots 120,120' is greater than the length of the lugs 21 to permit movement of the tie 7 and therefore, adjustment of the position of the tie 7 with respect to the stiffener 102.
• the planar section 20 of the tie 7 is connected to a ribbed section 23.
• the ribbed section 23 has a rib formation 25.
• the ribbed section 23 makes an angle of approximately 90° with the planar section 20, such that when the lugs 21 are inserted into the slots 120,120', the ribbed section 23 of the tie 7 extends substantially perpendicularly to the side wall of the stiffener 102.
• Figure 13 depicts different views of a variation T of the tie member.
• the tie member T is also generally L-shaped with a planar section 20 connected to an extended section 23'.
• the tie member T also has lugs 21' to engage to the slots 120 of the stiffeners 102,103.
• the extended section 23' does not have a rib formation 25.
• perforations 27 are formed on the extended section 23' and in this example,, the perforations 27 formed the word StiflexTM in different representations (see view A of Figure
• the base plate 110 is press-formed from pre-galvanised steel and includes a generally flat member 112 and connection means in the form of two pairs of substantially L-shaped angled projections 114,116, each pair being of different lengths and are spaced apart according to the width of stiffener 102,103 and sleeve members 130,135.
• the base plate 110 also includes stoppers 1 18a, 118b,1 19a,119b each arranged at one end of respective angled projections 114,1 16 such that the stoppers are disposed at the ends between the two projection pairs 114,116.
• Each pair of projections 114,116 includes opposing lugs 1 14a, 114b, 116a, 116b which faces inwards to each other and are arranged to be received in respective recess of the recess pair 126 (or 128) of adjacent slots formed on respective side surfaces 102a, 102b of the stiffener 102,103.
• Figures 5a to 5d shows how one base plate 1 10 mates with an end of one stiffener 102 (which is shown at an angle merely for the purposes of illustrating the connection process although in use, this is not necessary so).
• the stiffener 102 is selectively cut, either on site or from the factory, such that the distance of the recess pairs 128 from the edge 102e matches the effective height of the projection . pairs 114,116.
• Figures 5a to 5d illustrate only one side surface 102a
• the recess pair of adjacent slots 120 on the other side surface 102b are also arranged in the same manner as the side surface 102a shown in the figures.
• the base plate 110 is first held at an acute angle with respect to the edge of the stiffener and with the projections 114,116 facing towards the stiffener 102 as shown in Figure 5a, the base plate 110 is brought towards the stiffener in. the direction.
• the base plate 110 is selectively connectable releasabiy with the stiffener 102 as explained above or to the sleeve member 130. Since the base plate 1 10 can be connected to either the sleeve member 130 or the stiffener 102, the user assembling the support member system 100 can decide when the base plate 110 is to be connected to the stiffener 102, for example, when fixing to a lower support structure such as the lower support 9 of Figure 1 , the base plate 110 can be connected directly to the lower end of the vertical stiffener 102. Direct connection would thus reduce the number of sleeve members 130 required.
• the base plate 110 is connected to a sleeve member 130 and the sleeve member 130 inserted within the upper end of the vertical sfiffener 102.
• Selecting whether to connect the base plate 1 10 to either the stiffener 102 or to the sleeve member 130 also applies when the stiffener is used in a horizontal orientation, in the case of the horizontal stiffener 103 of Figure 2.
• the present system affords the flexibility of ordering stiffeners of a common length (thus easier to manage) and the effective length of each stiffener extended using the sieeve members 130, if necessary.
• a sieeve member 135 is inserted therein to extend the stiffener's effective length.
• the configuration of the horizontal sieeve member 135 is the same as that of the "vertical" sleeve member 130 and the difference in reference numerals is for ease of explanation.
• a horizontal sleeve member 135. is only required at one end of the stiffener and thus, the other end of the stiffener can be directly connected to a base plate 110.
• a side base plate 11 1 is required which is a variation of the base plate 110 and this is shown in Figure 7 which has different views of the base plate variation.
• the side base plate 11 1 is similar in design as the base plate 110 (and thus similar parts have similar reference signs with a prime') except that the side base plate 111 includes a rear attachment section in the form of four rear lugs 117 . which are arranged in accordance with the positions of the openings 121 of the slots 120 on the stiffener.
• the lugs 1 17 are formed by punching our sections of the plate 111' to from the lugs 117 which extend rearwardly behind the piate 111'. This permits the rear surface of the plate 111' to be placed against the side surface of the stiffener 102 and the lugs 117 inserted through the respective openings 121.
• the vertical base plate 1 11 is preferably used only at one orientation i.e. with the shorter projections 1 14' at the top. With this orientation, the side surface 135a of the sleeve member 135 (see Figure 2) abuts against the stoppers 118a', 118b' while the other surface 135b of the sleeve member 135 remains engaged with the respective recesses on the .
• the base plate 111 remains siidabiy engaged with the sleeve member 135.. If the orientation is reversed (i.e. with the longer projection 116' at the top), the side surface 135b will slide beyond the shorter projections 114' and thus this is not preferred.
• the length of the stiffener 102,103 (and also the sleeve member 130,135) is selectively cut so that the stiffener or the sleeve member can mate with the projections of the base plate 110,1 11.
• the arrangement of the slots 120,131 on the stiffener 102,103 and the sleeve member 130 are strategically offset from each other so that two opposing recesses from adjacent slots 120 are aligned with each other as explained above.
• the spacing between slots 120 along the same vertical axis is 100mm, and the length of each slot is chosen so that it can be used as a guide to cut the stiffener 102,103 or the sleeve member 130,135 so that these are suitable to be connected to the base plate 1 10,111.
• each end of the slot 120 serves as an indicator for cutting the sleeve member 130,135 and when cut, the distance of the recess pair 128 from the cut edge will be suitable for mating with the projections 114,116,114', 116' of the base plate 110,111.
• the stiffeners 102,103 are installed by first installing the vertical stiffener 102.
• the vertical stiffener 102 is installed by inserting the base . plates 110 to either the stiffener 102, 103 or the sleeve member 130,135.
• the length of the vertical stiffener typically, the length of the vertical stiffener
• 102 is chosen to be nominally shorter than the height of the vertical gap into which the stiffener has to fit and difference is compensated by the sleeve member 130 to ensure that the combination of the sleeve member 130 and stiffener 2 extend from the lower support surface 9 to the upper support surface
• the base plate 110 is first connected to one end of the sleeve member 130 in the manner explained earlier.
• the sleeve member 130 with the upper base piate 1 10 connected is inserted into the top end of the hollow vertical stiffener 102.
• the bottom end of the vertical stiffener 102 is directly connected to a lower base piate 110 in the manner explained earlier.
• fasteners are driven through the holes (not shown) in the lower plate 110 to secure the piate 110 (and thus the lower end of the vertical stiffener 102) to the lower support 9.
• the sleeve member 130 is withdrawn from the vertical stiffener until the upper base plate 1 10 contacts the upper support 8.
• the length of the sieeve member 130 is chosen such that when the upper base plate 110 contacts the upper support 8, a portion of the sleeve member 130 remains inserted in the stiffener 102. Again fasteners are used to attach the upper base plate 1 10 fixedly to the upper support 8 and thereby retain the vertical stiffener 102 in the correct position.
• the wall 1 is constructed and tie members 7 are mounted at appropriate intervals (typically every 300 to 400mm vertically) to engage with the slots 120 on the side surfaces of the vertical stiffener 102 such that the ribbed section 23 is mechanically locked to the wall 1 by the ribbed section 23 being located between layers of bricks and held by the cement mortar between the layers.
• tie members 7 are mounted at appropriate intervals (typically every 300 to 400mm vertically) to engage with the slots 120 on the side surfaces of the vertical stiffener 102 such that the ribbed section 23 is mechanically locked to the wall 1 by the ribbed section 23 being located between layers of bricks and held by the cement mortar between the layers.
• the side plate 111 is inserted to an end of the horizontal stiffener 103 that is to be connected to the vertical stiffener 102 whereas the other end is inserted with a base plate 110 since the other end is connected to a side support structure such as a column.
• the base plate 110 is similarly fastened to the column as explained above whereas, the lugs 117 in the side plate 111 are inserted into the slots 120 of the adjacent vertical stiffener 102 to mount the . horizontal stiffener 103 onto the last layer of bricks. Each end brick is then laid. Continuation- of construction of the wall 1.
• tie members 7 can similarly be engaged to the slots 120 on the side surface 103a of the horizontal stiffeners 103 (and the sleeve member 135) to engage between adjacent layers of bricks as the wall portion 6 is being constructed.
• sleeve member 130,135 is used to extend the effective length of the stiffeners 102,103. It will be noted that the sleeve member 130,135 need not be fully inserted into each respective stiffener 102,103 and this enables the stiffeners 102,103 to support wall portions that are higher/longer than the length of the stiffeners 102,103. It is only necessary for a portion of the sleeve member 130,135 to be maintained within with the stiffener 102,103 and the minimum engagement portion required for each stiffener assembly is calculated based on geometry and loading considerations.
• the . preferred embodiment has an advantage of providing a support member system in which the length of the stiffeners 102,103 do not have to be specially manufactured for each application.
• Figure 8 shows the flexibility of the support member system 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention for supporting different masonry wall structures 150 with concrete columns 160. It should be noted that the system 100 is depicted in simplified form without the slots 120, the base plates 110 or the sleeve members 130 for ease of showing the flexibility of the system.
• the stiffeners 102,103 can have different shapes other than a rectangular box construction as shown by the elbow shaped obtuse angle stiffener 152.
• a corner base plate 154 which is a variation of the base plate 110 and an example of which is shown in Figure 9 and includes views from different angles.
• Projections 155,156 are similar in shape and configuration as the projections 114,116 of the base plate 110, although the projections 155,156 can be of the same size. Aiso, there is no need for the use of stoppers, but the plate 154 is bent at an end 157 as shown in Figure 9 which functions like a stopper.
• the comer base piate 154 is used when installing the end stiffener 153 to support the wall section 158 such that the bent end 157 abuts against the free side surface of the stiffener 153 as indicated by arrow DD in Figure 8.
• Figure 11 is a top view of a variation 160 of the side plate 111.
• the variant side plate 160 has projections 161 ,162 and stoppers 163,164 similar in construction as the projections 114', 116' and stoppers 118', 119' of the side plate 11 1.
• the variant side plate 160 aiso has lugs 165 formed rearwardly providing the same function as the lugs 117 of the side plate 111. However, it would be apparent (by a comparison between Figure 1 1 and View C of Figure 7) that a difference is that in the variant plate 160, the projections 161 ,162 are off centre of the plate 160.
• the stiffeners 102,103 are shown in simplified form for ease of explanation.
• one side surface of the vertical stiffener 102 is used to support a first wall section 170 and the other side surface of the vertical stiffener 102 is arranged to support a second wall section (not shown in order to show the horizontal stiffener 103).
• the first and second wall sections are offset from each other and thus, the plate 160 can be used to connect the horizontal stiffener 103 to the vertical stiffener 102 and yet carry out the function of supporting the second wall section. It shouid be apparent that the relative positions of the projections 161 ,162 and the lugs 165 can be adapted to suit different applications. •
• Figure 14 shows another application of the variation side plate 160.
• one side surface 102f of the vertical stiffener 102" is used to support a. first wall section 170' and the other side surface 102g of the vertical stiffener 102" is arranged to support a second wall section (not shown in order to show the horizontal stiffener 103").
• the width of the side surface 102g does not match the width of the horizontal stiffener 103" as can be seen from the figure and thus, if the horizontal stiffener 103" is mounted to the vertical stiffener 102" with the side base plate 1 1 1 of Figure 7, the side surface 103h of the horizontal stiffener 103" will not be flushed with the side surface 102h of the vertical stiffener 102". Consequently, using the variation side plate 160 would alleviate the above problem so that, after engagement, the horizontal stiffener 103" is offset of the central axis of the vertical stiffener 102 but allows the side surfaces 103h to be flushed with the side surface 102h of the vertical stiffener 102".
• the described embodiment is not to be construed as limitation.
• oniy two of the four side surfaces of the stiffeners 102,103 and sleeve members 130,135 have the slots 120.
• the other two side surfaces can aiso be incorporated with the slots 120 so that the other two side surfaces can also be used to support a wall depending on application.
• the size and dimension of the vertical and horizontal stiffeners 102,103 need not be the same although this is shown to be so in the described embodiment.
• the size and dimension of the stiffeners 102,103 can vary as can be appreciated from Figure 8.
• the preferred embodiment shows the horizontal stiffener 103 being mounted to a side surface 102a of the vertical stiffener 102 but the horizontal stiffener 103 can also ' be mounted to the sleeve member 130 since the sleeve member 130 also has the slots 120 to engage with the rear lugs 117 of the side base plate 1 11 , although normally, the horizontal stiffener 103 is more likely to be mounted to the vertical stiffener 102 rather than to the sleeve 130.
• the base piate 110 is selectively connectable to the stiffener 102,103 or to the sleeve member 130,135 but the base piate 110 may be adapted to be releasably connectable to just the sleeve member 130,135.
• the stiffener When the stiffener is used in a vertical orientation, the lower end can then be connected to a conventional base plate, although this is not preferred, Further, the sleeve member 130 can be configured to be insertable only in one end of the vertical and/or horizontal stiffener 102,103 although it is preferred for the sleeve member to be selectively insertable in either end.
• the base plate 110 may be adapted to be connectable only to the stiffener.
• the preferred embodiment shows the sleeve member 130,135 being insertable and receivable within the stiffener 102,103.
• this is not necessarily so and other releasable attachments are envisaged (eg. the stiffener is receivable within the sleeve members).
• the base plate 110 has two short and two long projections but it is envisaged that just one of each is sufficient . although the mating with the recesses of the stiffener or the sleeve member would not be as good as if pairs of projections are used.
• the orientation of the aligned recess pairs 126,128 of ⁇ the slot 120,120', 120" faces inwards towards each other. However, it is envisaged that ihe recess pairs can also face outwards (in the same direction as the openings of the slots) but it is apparent that lugs of the projection pairs 114,116 need to be modified accordingly.
• the recess pairs 126,128 are shown to be aligned but this is not essential since it is envisaged that the recess pairs 126,128 can aiso be offset from each other and the projections 114,116 will have to be modified accordingly (i.e. one set of projection could be higher than the other).
• lugs 1 17 are shown in the side. plates 111 ,160 but it should be understood that more/less lugs could be provided depending on the dimension of the side surface (and the configuration of the slots 120) of the vertical stiffener 102 to which the side plates 111 ,160 are to be attached.
• the base plate 1 10 can be fixedly connected thereto by any suitable means.

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• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
• Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
• Harvester Elements (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)
• Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Pallets (AREA)
• Supports For Plants (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-09-16 SG SG200505952-2A patent/SG130956A1/en unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-09-12 PL PL06784278T patent/PL1931836T3/pl unknown
  • 2006-09-12 PT PT67842781T patent/PT1931836E/pt unknown
  • 2006-09-12 DK DK06784278.1T patent/DK1931836T3/en active
  • 2006-09-12 ZA ZA200803282A patent/ZA200803282B/xx unknown
  • 2006-09-12 TW TW095133649A patent/TWI402401B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-09-12 SI SI200631982T patent/SI1931836T1/sl unknown
  • 2006-09-12 WO PCT/SG2006/000266 patent/WO2007032746A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-09-12 CN CN2006800338469A patent/CN101278096B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-09-12 MY MYPI20080625A patent/MY153661A/en unknown
  • 2006-09-12 RS RS20150710A patent/RS54341B1/en unknown
  • 2006-09-12 ES ES06784278.1T patent/ES2550581T3/es active Active
  • 2006-09-12 KR KR1020087008972A patent/KR101307027B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2006-09-12 RU RU2008110845/03A patent/RU2412310C2/ru active
  • 2006-09-12 EP EP06784278.1A patent/EP1931836B1/en active Active
  • 2006-09-12 BR BRPI0616244-4A patent/BRPI0616244B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-09-12 HU HUE06784278A patent/HUE025912T2/en unknown
  • 2006-09-12 ME MEP-2015-710A patent/ME02263B/me unknown
  • 2006-09-13 AR ARP060103997A patent/AR054960A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-09-14 UY UY29792A patent/UY29792A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2006-09-14 JO JOP/2006/0317A patent/JO3124B1/ar active
  • 2006-09-18 PE PE2006001130A patent/PE20080860A1/es active IP Right Grant
• 2008
  • 2008-03-11 IL IL190071A patent/IL190071A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-03-16 EG EG2008030445A patent/EG24989A/xx active
  • 2008-08-25 HK HK08109442.7A patent/HK1118315A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2015
  • 2015-11-02 CY CY20151100974T patent/CY1117131T1/el unknown
  • 2015-11-03 HR HRP20151167TT patent/HRP20151167T1/hr unknown

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