STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

• US 3,685,863 A
• Filed: 10/30/1969
• Issued: 08/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans Oetiker AG, Maschinen- und Apparatefabrik
• Original Assignee: Hans Oetiker
• Inventors: Oetiker, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Faw, Jr., Price C.
• Application Number:
  US04/872,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 52/645,740,726 287/64,65,63,55,104
• US Class Current: 403/286
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/2403 Connection details of the elongated load-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2415 Brackets, gussets, joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/389 Brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/5868 Hinged connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/69 Redundant disconnection blocking means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/50 Bridged by diverse connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/553 Laterally inserted section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7123 Traversed by connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7152 Lapped rod ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7171 Two rods encompassed by single connector

Abstract

Structural elements adapted to be connected with each other into structural units by the form-locking engagement of complementary parts constituted by apertures and projections, and formlockingly as well as force-lockingly secured in their assembled positions by locking members engaging the structural elements on several sides.

Claims

1. Structural elements formed by parts having substantially opposite flat surfaces, of which the flat surface of one part is provided with substantially identical apertures, and adapted to be assembled into structural units, characterized in that connector means are proVided on the structural parts for formlockingly connecting together two structural elements, the connector means forming in effect at least one male part on one structural part engaging in a complementary aperture extending through the other structural part to form-lockingly connect with one another two structural elements, the height of the male part being at most substantially equal to the thickness of the other structural part so that the overall thickness of the two interlocked parts is equal overall to the thickness of the two structural parts and the surfaces thereof opposite their abutting surfaces are substantially flat and devoid of any projections in a direction away from the respectively opposite part, and locking means at least partly surrounding and engaging the thus formlockingly assembled structural elements on the two opposite flat surfaces thereof to form-lockingly as well as force-lockingly hold said assembled structural elements in their assembled conditions, said locking means being provided exclusively with flat surfaces engaging with the opposite flat surfaces of the structural parts to enable sliding assembly and disassembly.

2. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said means means is of approximately C-shape.

3. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means is of approximately double-L-shape with the two L'"'"''"'"'s disposed at an angle to each other corresponding to the angle formed by leg portions of an angular member constituting one of said structural elements.

4. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means has such a cross-sectional profile as to engage the assembled structural elements at least in part on all exposed surfaces thereof.

5. Structural elements according to claim 4, characterized in that the structural elements are apertured, leaving therebetween web portions constituting the male parts of said connector means.

6. Structural elements according to claim 5, characterized in that the structural elements are constituted of regularly apertured band material with at least some web portions between adjacent apertures raised to form said male parts.

7. Structural elements according to claim 5, wherein said structural elements are relatively flat in transverse cross section with only some web portions raised.

8. Structural elements according to claim 5, wherein all web portions are raised to form male parts.

9. Structural elements according to claim 4, characterized in that connector means forming male parts are formed integrally with a structural element.

10. Structural elements according to claim 9, characterized in that the male parts are formed by claw-like projections punched out from the corresponding structural element.

11. Structural elements according to claim 9, characterized in that the structural element including the connector means forms an angular section with at least two angularly disposed parts.

12. Structural elements according to claim 11, characterized in that the structural element with the connector means has several angularly disposed parts each provided with male parts.

13. Structural elements according to claim 9, characterized in that the structural element with the connector means has several angularly disposed parts each provided with male parts.

14. Structural elements according to claim 13, wherein said male parts are spot-welded to a structural element.

15. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that each structural element is apertured leaving therebetween web portions constituting in effect said male parts.

16. Structural elements according to claim 15, wherein all web portions are raised to form male parts.

17. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that connector means forming male parts are formed integrally with a structural element.

18. Structural elements according to claim 17, characterized in that the structUral element with the connector means forms an angular section with at least two angularly disposed parts.

19. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector means is a separate connector member including at least one male part and provided with a toothed aperture means, insert means provided with complementary toothed surface portions for engagement in the toothed aperture means in any predetermined position and having at least one male part, the two last-mentioned male parts being adapted to be inserted into complementary apertures of the structural elements while said locking means holds the thus-assembled parts form-lockingly and force-lockingly in their respective positions.

20. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector means includes two symmetrical angle members, each provided on one leg portion with at least one male part adapted to engage into the corresponding aperture of a respective structural element, the other leg portion of one of the angle members being provided with an unthreaded bore while the leg portion of the other angle member is provided with a threaded bore, and a threaded connecting means extending through the unthreaded bore and engaging with the threads of the other bore, each angular member being form-lockingly and force-lockingly held in the assembled position with its corresponding structural element by a respective locking means.

21. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector means provides a pivotal connection between two apertured structural elements and includes a first connector member with complementary male parts and a first bore, a second connector member provided with apertures corresponding to the apertures in a structural element and with a bore located in substantial alignment to the first-mentioned bore with the male parts of the first connector member engaging in the apertures of one of the structural parts and said second connector member disposed on the opposite side of said one structural part, and pivot means having a body portion complementary to an aperture in a structural element and pin portions adapted to engage into the bores, the other structural element being in engagement with said body part and being pivotally held between the two connector members.

22. Structural elements according to claim 21, characterized in that the male parts on said first connector member have about the thickness of two structural elements whereas the thickness of said body portion corresponds to the thickness of a structural element.

23. Structural elements according to claim 1, characterized in that said connector means are separate connector elements of a shape complementary to the apertures in the structural elements, and in that said locking means surrounds the aligned structural elements on all sides thereof and is provided in one major surface with a recessed portion to enable assembly.

24. Structural elements according to claim 23, characterized in that said locking means is provided with aligned apertures within the center portion thereof, the connector members being inserted into aligned apertures of the structural elements, leaving therebetween one set of aligned empty apertures, and securing means extending through the aligned apertures of the locking means and the aligned apertures, left free, of the structural members, to hold the locking means in place.

25. A structural assembly comprising two structural flat parts of substantially identical thickness, at least one of said two structural parts being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced apertures of predetermined configuration extending through said one structural part, at least the other of said two structural parts being provided with a plurality of similarly regularly spaced male projections of a shape complementary to said predetermined shape and of a height at most equal to the thickness of a structural part, the opposite surface of said other structural part being substantially planar except of said projections and the two structural parts in their assembled condition, when the projections engage in corresponding apertures, being disposed completely between two parallel planes spaced apart a distance of substantially twice the thickness of a structural part and extending through the relatively flat outer surfaces of each structural part, readily detachable locking means slidingly engaging over the thus assembled, flat outer surface of the two structural parts to form-lockingly as well as force-lockingly hold together said assembled structural parts, said locking means including substantially flat opposite engaging surfaces spaced apart a distance of about the thickness of the two assembled structural parts and engaging with said outer surfaces of the structural parts.

26. The combination according to claim 25, wherein said locking means is of approximately C-shaped configuration in cross section.

27. The combination according to claim 25, wherein said structural parts are of flat band steel, each with regularly spaced apertures.

28. The combination according to claim 27, wherein said band steel parts form web portions between said regularly spaced apertures with some of said web portions bent out of the plane of the respective flat band steel.

29. The combination according to claim 25, wherein both structural parts essentially consist of relatively thin and bendable ladder-type, flat band steel material having regularly spaced apertures forming web portions therebetween which are adapted to bend out to form said projections.