WO2020220058A1

WO2020220058A1 - A building kit

Info

Publication number: WO2020220058A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2020/050020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert William Lambert
Original assignee: LAMBERT, Dean
Priority date: 2019-04-23
Filing date: 2020-04-22
Publication date: 2020-10-29
Also published as: ZA202108580B

Abstract

The building kit (10) includes a building element (12) which is shaped and configured to allow complementary stacked engagement between a plurality of such building elements (12), a locating member (14) for locating stacks (16) of building elements (12 arranged in a side-by-side manner so as to form a wall (18) of aligned stacks (16), the locating member (14) being sized, shaped and configured to be received complementally between rows (20) of stacked building elements (12), a support means in the form of an elongate support member (22) for supporting the stacks (16) of building elements (12) in the aligned condition and a connecting member (24) for connecting the stacks (16) of building elements (12) to the support member (22).

Description

A BUILDING KIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a building kit. In particular, this invention relates to a building kit for building low cost structures, typically for residential housing and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a building kit which includes: - a building element which is shaped and configured to allow complementary stacked engagement between a plurality of such building elements; a locating member for locating stacks of building elements arranged in a side- by-side manner so as to form a wall of aligned stacks, the locating member being sized, shaped and configured to be received complementally between rows of stacked building elements; a support means for supporting the stacks of building elements in an aligned condition; and a connecting member for connecting the stacks of building elements to the support means.

The building element may have a generally planar form, preferably being in the form of a panel, and may include four side regions which typically form two pairs of opposing side regions. A first pair of opposing side regions may include engagement formations for allowing a plurality of building elements to be stacked on top of each other in complementary engagement. In particular, the engagement formations may include a raised portion defined on one of the first pair of side regions and a complementally shaped recessed portion defined in a second of the first pair of side regions. The raised and recessed portions defined on the first pair of opposing side regions may be shaped and/or configured to permit complementary cup-and-cone engagement therebetween. The engagement formations may extend along lengths of the first pair of opposing side regions. In particular, the engagement formations may be of any suitable geometric shape in section, preferably being generally triangular in section.

A groove may be defined in one, preferably both, of a second pair of opposing side regions of a building element, which groove may be sized, shaped and/or configured to form a cavity between building elements, preferably stacks thereof, placed in a side-by-side manner for receiving binding material therein, preferably being in the form of cement or grout. The binding material may be reinforced for increasing the structural strength of the wall of stacked building elements.

A top-most building element of a stack of building elements may be sized, shaped and/or configured to receive and/or support a part of a roof thereon. In particular, top-most building elements of a wall of stacked building elements may be shaped to form a gable for supporting a roof thereon. A top-most side region of the top-most building element may be angled relative an opposing side region thereof, which top-most side region may be angled according to a desired angle of a roof. The top-most building element may have a generally trapezoidal or triangular shape when viewed in plan, preferably being in the form of a right trapezoid typically having one pair of parallel opposing side regions. The top-most side region of the top-most building element may include a groove defined therein for receiving an elongate strengthening member therein, preferably in the form of a flat bar, further preferably being a 30mm x 10mm flat bar.

The building element may be manufactured from any suitable settable material such as a suitable plastics or cementitious material, preferably being manufactured from a cementitious material. The building element may have a width such that a door or window is capable of replacing one or more building elements in a wall without having to re-size surrounding building elements in the wall to ensure correct spacing. In particular, the building element may have a length, width and thickness in the ranges of 350mm to 500mm, 750mm to 1000mm and 80mm to 120mm, respectively, preferably being 415mm, 880mm and 100mm, respectively. A window frame may be provided for allowing a window to be placed in the wall of stacked building elements. The window frame may have a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements in the wall with the window frame. In particular, the window frame may have a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element, respectively. More particularly, the window frame may have a width and height in the range of 750mm to 2000mm and 350mm to 1000mm, respectively, preferably being 880mm and 415mm, respectively.

A door frame may be provided for allowing a door to be placed in the wall of stacked building elements. The door frame may have a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements in the wall with the door frame. In particular, the door frame may have a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element, respectively. More particularly, the door frame may have a width and height in the range of 750mm to 1500mm and 1750mm to 2500mm, respectively, preferably being 880mm and 2075mm, respectively.

The window and/or door frames may include engagement formations located on opposing upper and lower side regions thereof which are sized, shaped and/or configured to engage with the raised and recessed portions, respectively, of the engagement formations of the building elements when placed into the wall.

The locating member may be sized, shaped and/or configured to correspond to the shape of the engagement formations of adjacent stacked rows of building elements for allowing the locating member to be received complementally therebetween. In particular, the locating member may have a generally L-shaped cross-section for allowing receipt thereof between generally triangular sectional shaped raised and depressed portions. The locating member may have a length which corresponds to a width of the wall of stacked building elements. More particularly, opposing end regions of the locating member may extend beyond a width of the wall for accommodating attachment of the connecting member thereto. The locating member may be manufactured from any suitable rigid material, preferably being a metallic material or any suitable synthetic resinous material, further preferably being steel. The locating member may be in the form of an angle iron, preferably being a 25mm x25mm angle iron.

The support means may be in the form of an elongate support member. The elongate support member may be fast to a ground surface or foundation. The elongate support member may be manufactured from any material of sufficient strength to support a building. In particular, the support member may be manufactured from concrete, preferably being reinforced with a reinforcing rod, preferably being in the form of an elongated metallic rod. The elongate support member may include a plurality of receiving formations mounted thereon, preferably being arranged in a spaced apart configuration along a length of the support member. The receiving formations may be spaced apart a distance which corresponds to a distance between locating members received between stacked building elements. The receiving formations may be sized, shaped and/or configured to allow interconnection with the connecting members, preferably being in the form of hook formations. The receiving formations may be in the form of plates having a plurality of apertures defined therein for receiving the hook formations therein. The plates may be mounted on the reinforcing rod of the support member. In particular, the apertures may be arranged in a radially spaced apart configuration for allowing hook formations of a plurality of walls to be received therein, for example, when an elongate support member is positioned between adjacent walls or between walls forming a corner. The reinforcing rod may be configured to protrude from a cementitious portion of the support member for allowing a portion of a roof to be attached thereto.

A base may be provided for supporting structures assembled from walls of stacked building elements and support means. The base may be manufactured from any suitable cementitious material, preferably being concrete. The base may be in the form of a pre-cast slab of concrete. The base may be of any suitable geometric shape, preferably being generally rectangular or square. The shape of the base may be dependent on the size and shape of a structure to be supported thereby. The base may have a thickness in the range of 50mm to 150mm, preferably being 100mm. It is to be appreciated that the base serves to alleviate the necessity to build foundations to support the structures built from walls of stacked building elements.

It is to be appreciated that should a building be erected utilising the building kit, outermost support means typically include unused receiving formations which allow for extension of the building at any later stage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The building kit in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: -

Figures 1 and 2 are three-dimensional schematics showing exploded views of a wall constructed with the building kit in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional schematic showing the wall in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a sectioned plan view of the wall shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5a is a plan view of a part of the building kit;

Figures 5b and 5c are three-dimensional schematics showing upper and lower side regions of the part shown in Figure 4a;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a building constructed from the building kit;

Figure 7 is a three-dimensional schematic showing a variation of the part shown in Figures 5a to 5c; and

Figures 8a and 8b are enlarged and close-up three-dimensional schematics of a further part of the building kit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a building kit 10 in accordance with the present invention.

The building kit 10 includes a building element 12 which is shaped and configured to allow complementary stacked engagement between a plurality of such building elements 12, a locating member 14 for locating stacks 16 of building elements 12 arranged in a side-by-side manner so as to form a wall 18 of aligned stacks 16, the locating member 14 being sized, shaped and configured to be received complementally between rows 20 of stacked building elements 12, a support means in the form of an elongate support member 22 for supporting the stacks 16 of building elements 12 in the aligned condition and a connecting member 24 for connecting the stacks 16 of building elements 12 to the support member 22.

Referring now to Figures 4a to 4c, the building element 12 has a generally planar form, typically being in the form of a panel which includes four side regions which typically form two pairs of opposing side regions 26 and 28, respectively. The first pair of opposing side regions 26 include engagement formations 30 for allowing a plurality of building elements 12 to be stacked on top of each other in complementary engagement. In particular, the engagement formations 30 include a raised portion 32 defined on one of the first pair of side regions 26.1 and a complementally shaped recessed portion 34 defined in a second of the first pair of side regions 26.2. The raised portion 32 and recessed portion 34 defined on the first pair of opposing side regions 26 are shaped and configured to permit complementary cup-and-cone engagement therebetween. The engagement formations 30 extend along lengths of the first pair of opposing side regions 26. In particular, the engagement formations 30 are of any suitable geometric shape in section, typically being generally triangular in section, as shown in the Figures.

As most clearly shown in Figures 4a to 4c, a groove 36 is defined in one, typically both, of a second pair of opposing side regions 28 of a building element 12, which groove 36 is sized, shaped and configured to form a cavity 38 between building elements 12, typically stacks 16 thereof, placed in a side-by-side manner for receiving binding material (not shown) therein, typically being in the form of cement or grout. Although not shown, the binding material can be reinforced for increasing the structural strength of the wall 18 of stacked building elements 12.

As most clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7, a top-most building element 40 of a stack 16 of building elements 12 is sized, shaped and configured to receive and support a part of a roof 42 thereon. In particular, top-most building elements 40 of a wall 18 of stacked building elements 12 are shaped to form a gable 44 for supporting a roof 42 thereon. A top-most side region 46 of the top-most building element 40 is angled relative an opposing side region 48 thereof, which top-most side region 48 is angled according to a desired angle of a roof 42. The top-most building element 40 has a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed in plan, typically being in the form of a right trapezoid typically having one pair of parallel opposing side regions. The top most side region 48 of the top-most building elements 40 include a groove 50 defined therein for receiving an elongate strengthening member therein, typically in the form of a 30mm x 10mm flat bar 52.

The building element 12 is manufactured from any suitable settable material such as a suitable plastics or cementitious material, typically being manufactured from a cementitious material. The building element 12 has a width such that a door or window is capable of replacing one or more building elements 12 in a wall 18 without having to re-size surrounding building elements 12 in the wall 18 to ensure correct spacing. In particular, the building element 12 has a length, width and thickness in the ranges of 350mm to 500mm, 750mm to 1000mm and 80mm to 120mm, respectively, typically being 415mm, 880mm and 100mm, respectively.

Referring now to Figure 7, a window frame 54 is provided for allowing a window (not shown) to be placed in the wall 18 of stacked building elements 12. The window frame 54 has a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements 12 in the wall 18 with the window frame 54. In particular, the window frame 54 has a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element 12, respectively. More particularly, the window frame 54 has a width and height in the range of 750mm to 2000mm and 350mm to 1000m, respectively, typically being 880mm and 415mm, respectively.

A door frame 56 is provided for allowing a door (not shown) to be placed in the wall 18 of stacked building elements 12. The door frame 56 has a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements 12 in the wall 18 with the door frame 56. In particular, the door frame 56 has a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element 12, respectively. More particularly, the door frame 56 has a width and height in the range of 750mm to 1500mm and 1750mm to 2500mm, respectively, typically being 880mm and 2075mm, respectively.

The window and door frames 54 and 56 include engagement formations (not shown) located on opposing upper and lower side regions 58 and 60, respectively, which are sized, shaped and configured to engage with the raised and recessed portions 32 and 34, respectively, of the engagement formations 30 of the building elements 12 when placed into the wall 18.

The locating member 14 is sized, shaped and configured to correspond to the shape of the engagement formations 30 of adjacent stacked rows 20 of building elements 12 for allowing the locating member 14 to be received complementally therebetween. In particular, the locating member 14 has a generally L-shaped cross- section for allowing receipt thereof between generally triangular sectional shaped raised and depressed portions 32 and 34, respectively. The locating member 14 has a length which corresponds to a width of the wall 18 of stacked building elements 12. More particularly, opposing end regions 62 of the locating member 14 extend beyond a width of the wall 18 for accommodating attachment of the connecting member 24 thereto. The locating member 14 is manufactured from any suitable rigid material, typically being a metallic material or any suitable synthetic resinous material, further typically being steel. The locating member 14 is in the form of an angle iron, typically being a 25mm x25mm angle iron.

Referring now to Figures 8a and 8b, the elongate support member 22 is fast to a ground surface or foundation (not shown). The elongate support member 22 is manufactured from any material of sufficient strength to support a building. In particular, the support member 22 is manufactured from concrete, typically being reinforced with a reinforcing rod 64 in the form of an elongated metallic rod. The elongate support member 22 includes a plurality of receiving formations, typically in the form of plates 66, mounted thereon, typically being arranged in a spaced apart configuration along a length of the support member 22. The plates 66 are spaced apart a distance which corresponds to a distance between locating members 14 received between stacked building elements 12. The plates 66 are sized, shaped and configured to allow interconnection with the connecting members 24, typically being in the form of hook formations 68. The plates 66 have a plurality of apertures 70 defined therein for receiving the hook formations 68 therein. The plates 66 are mounted on the reinforcing rod 64 of the support member 22. In particular, the apertures 70 are arranged in a radially spaced apart configuration for allowing hook formations 68 of a plurality of walls to be received therein, for example, when an elongate support member 22 is positioned between adjacent walls 18 or between walls forming a corner.

The reinforcing rod 64 includes a threaded portion 72 which is configured to protrude from a cementitious portion of the support member 22 for allowing a portion of a roof 42 to be attached thereto.

Although not shown in the Figures, a base can be provided for supporting structures assembled from walls 18 of stacked building elements 12 and elongate support members 22. The base is manufactured from any suitable cementitious material, typically being concrete. The base is in the form of a pre-cast slab of concrete. The base can be of any suitable geometric shape, typically being generally rectangular or square. The shape of the base is dependent on the size and shape of a structure to be supported thereby. The base has a thickness in the range of 50mm to 150mm, typically being 100mm. It is to be appreciated that the base serves to alleviate the necessity to build foundations to support the structures built from walls of stacked building elements.

It is to be appreciated that should a building be erected utilising the building kit

10, outermost support members typically include unused receiving formations which allow for extension of the building at any later stage.

It is, of course, to be appreciated that the building kit in accordance with the invention is not limited to the precise constructional and functional details as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and which may be varied as desired.

The inventor believes that the building kit in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that it provides a wall having a smooth or continuous profile, typically lacking misaligned stacks causing the wall to have an undesired staggered form. A further advantage is that a building erected from the building kit is capable of being extended at a later stage.

Claims

1. A building kit which includes: - a building element which is shaped and configured to allow complementary stacked engagement between a plurality of such building elements; a locating member for locating stacks of building elements arranged in a side- by-side manner so as to form a wall of aligned stacks, the locating member being sized, shaped and configured to be received complementally between rows of stacked building elements; a support means for supporting the stacks of building elements in an aligned condition; and a connecting member for connecting the stacks of building elements to the support means.

2. A building kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the building element is in the form of a generally planar panel.

3. A building kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the building element includes four side regions which form two pairs of opposing side regions.

4. A building kit as claimed in claim 3 wherein a first pair of opposing side regions includes engagement formations for allowing a plurality of building elements to be stacked on top of each other in complementary engagement.

5. A building kit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the engagement formations include a raised portion defined on one of the first pair of side regions and a complementally shaped recessed portion defined in a second of the first pair of side regions.

6. A building kit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the raised and recessed portions defined on the first pair of opposing side regions may be shaped and configured to permit complementary cup-and-cone engagement therebetween.

7. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 4 to 6 wherein the engagement formations extend along lengths of the first pair of opposing side regions.

8. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 4 to 7 wherein the engagement formations are of any suitable geometric shape in section.

9. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 4 to 8 wherein the engagement formations are generally triangular in section.

10. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a groove is defined in one of a second pair of opposing side regions of a building element.

1 1 . A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a groove is defined in both of the second pair of opposing side regions of the building element.

12. A building kit as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the groove is sized, shaped and configured to form a cavity between building elements placed in a side-by-side manner for receiving binding material therein.

13. A building kit as claimed in claim 1 1 or 12 wherein the groove is sized, shaped and configured to form a cavity between stacks of building elements placed in a side- by-side manner or receiving binding material therein.

14. A building kit as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the binding material is in the form of cement or grout.

15. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 12 to 14 wherein the binding material is reinforced for increasing the structural strength of a wall of stacked building elements.

16. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a top-most building element of a stack of building elements is sized, shaped and configured to receive and support a part of a roof thereon.

17. A building kit as claimed in claim 16 wherein top-most building elements of a wall of stacked building elements are shaped to form a gable for supporting a roof thereon.

18. A building kit as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein a top-most side region of the top-most building element is angled relative an opposing side region thereof according to a desired angle of a roof.

19. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 16 to 18 wherein the top-most building element has a generally trapezoidal or triangular shape when viewed in plan.

20. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 16 to 19 wherein the top-most building element is in the form of a right trapezoid typically having one pair of parallel opposing side regions.

21 . A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 16 to 20 wherein the top-most side region of the top-most building element includes a groove defined therein for receiving an elongate strengthening member therein.

22. A building kit as claimed in claim 21 wherein the elongate strengthening member is in the form of a flat bar.

23. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element is manufactured from any suitable settable material such as a suitable plastics or cementitious material.

24. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element is manufactured from a cementitious material.

25. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element has a width such that a door or window is capable of replacing one or more building elements in a wall without having to re-size surrounding building elements in the wall to ensure correct spacing.

26. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element has a length in the range of 350mm to 500mm.

27. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element has a width in the range of 750mm to 1000mm.

28. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the building element has a thickness in the range of 80mm to 120mm.

29. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a window frame is provided for allowing a window to be placed in a wall of stacked building elements.

30. A building kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein the window frame has a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements in the wall with the window frame.

31 . A building kit as claimed in claim 29 or 30 wherein the window frame has a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element, respectively.

32. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 29 to 31 wherein the window frame has a width in the range of 750mm to 2000mm.

33. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 29 to 32 wherein the window frame has a height in the range of 350mm to 1000mm.

34. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 29 to 33 wherein the window frame includes engagement formations located on opposing upper and lower side regions thereof which are sized, shaped and configured to engage with the raised and recessed portions, respectively, of the engagement formations of the building elements when placed into the wall.

35. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a door frame is provided for allowing a door to be placed in a wall of stacked building elements.

36. A building kit as claimed in claim 35 wherein the door frame has a width and height so as to allow replacement of one or more building elements in the wall with the door frame.

37. A building kit as claimed in claim 35 or 36 wherein the door frame has a width and height which are multiples of the width and height of a building element, respectively.

38. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 35 to 37 wherein the door frame has a width in the range of 750mm to 1500mm.

39. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 35 to 38 wherein the door frame has a height in the range of 1750mm to 2500mm.

40. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 35 to 39 wherein the door frame includes engagement formations located on opposing upper and lower side regions which are sized, shaped and configured to engage with the raised and recessed portions, respectively, of the engagement formations of the building elements when placed into the wall.

41. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the locating member is sized, shaped and configured to correspond to the shape of the engagement formations of adjacent stacked rows of building elements for allowing the locating member to be received complementally therebetween.

42. A building kit as claimed in claim 41 wherein the locating member has a generally L-shaped cross-section for allowing receipt thereof between generally triangular sectional shaped raised and depressed portions.

43. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the locating member has a length which corresponds to a width of a wall of stacked building elements.

44. A building kit as claimed in claim 43 wherein opposing end regions of the locating member extend beyond a width of the wall for accommodating attachment of the connecting member thereto.

45. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the locating member is manufactured from any suitable rigid metallic or synthetic resinous material.

46. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the locating member is manufactured from steel.

47. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the support means is in the form of an elongate support member which is fast to a ground surface or foundation.

48. A building kit as claimed in claim 47 wherein the elongate support member is manufactured from any material of sufficient strength to support a building.

49. A building kit as claimed in claim 47 or 48 wherein the support member is manufactured from concrete.

50. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 47 to 49 wherein the support member is reinforced with a reinforcing rod.

51. A building kit as claimed in claim 50 wherein the reinforcing rod is configured to protrude from a cementitious portion of the support member for allowing a portion of a roof to be attached thereto.

52. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 47 to 51 wherein the elongate support member includes a plurality of receiving formations mounted thereon for receiving the connecting members therethrough.

53. A building kit as claimed in claim 52 wherein the receiving formations are arranged in a spaced apart configuration along a length of the support member.

54. A building kit as claimed in claim 52 or 53 wherein the receiving formations are spaced apart a distance which corresponds to a distance between locating members received between stacked building elements.

55. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 52 to 54 wherein the receiving formations are sized, shaped and configured to allow interconnection with the connecting members.

56. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the connecting members are in the form of hook formations.

57. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the claims 52 to 56 wherein the receiving formations are in the form of plates having a plurality of apertures defined therein for receiving the hook formations therein.

58. A building kit as claimed in claim 57 wherein the plates are mounted on a reinforcing rod of the support member.

59. A building kit as claimed in claim 57 or 58 wherein the apertures are arranged in a radially spaced apart configuration for allowing hook formations of a plurality of walls to be received therein.

60. A building kit as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein a base is provided for supporting structures assembled from walls of stacked building elements and support means.

61. A building kit according to the invention, substantially as hereinbefore described or exemplified.

62. A building kit, as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

63. A building kit, including any new or inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.