GB2052596A

GB2052596A - Elongate Frame Member

Info

Publication number: GB2052596A
Application number: GB8014210A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Jensen Building Products Inc
Current assignee: Jensen Building Products Inc
Priority date: 1979-05-07
Filing date: 1980-04-30
Publication date: 1981-01-28
Also published as: JPS55148857A; BR8002783A

Abstract

A construction member includes a pair of chords 8 and 12 arranged in a parallel, spaced apart relationship and a plurality of blocks 16 disposed between and joining the chords. A block 16a or 16b is disposed at each end of the member to project a certain distance outwardly from the ends of the chords. The construction members are joined together for building purposes by placing the end of one member against a top or bottom of another member so that the projecting portion of the end block extends between the chords of the other member, and so that the ends of the chords of the one member abut the tops or bottoms of the chords of the other member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Construction Member and Method This invention relates to a construction member and method for using same in construction houses, mobile homes, and like, in place of conventional studs, trusses or joists.

Construction costs have increased dramatically within recent years in large part due to the increased cost of construction materials which, for wood construction, typically consists of heavy, solid lumber"2x4's", "2x6's", etc. The desirablity of having construction material which would both be less expensive than conventional materials and lighter-weight ie apparent. Further, since wood is in relatively short supply it would be desirable to employ construction material and methods which would use less wood while at the same time providing strong and stable completed structures.

In the course of construction houses, mobile homes and similar dwelling or business structures, it is usually necessary to extend wiring, plumbing, and similar accessory elements through the construction members used to build the structure. Of course, if solid lumber materials are used, then openings must be drilled or cut in the construction members to allow extension therethrough of these accessory elements. It would thus be desirable to provide construction members which would allow for easy passage of such accessory elements without the requirement of cutting or drilling in the members.

In using solid lumber studs, trusses or joists, it is frequently necessary to join the end of one member to the top or bottom of another member in a generally perpendicular relationship. In order to join the members, nails are typically driven at an angle through one member into the member against which it abuts. In this manner the two members are held together simply by the nails which can be difficult and inconvenient to place at the angle and location indicated. It would be desirable, in view of this, to provide construction members which would readily fit or nest together and which would accommodate the ready fastening together by nails or other fastening elements.

A number of construction members for replacing studs, trusses or joists have been suggested including those disclosed in U.S.

Patent Nos. 3,298,151 and 3,849,963. However, the construction members disclosed in these patents are fairly complicated in construction and would therefore be fairly complicated to fabricate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, light-weight, easy to fabricate construction member for use in place of studs, trusses, joists and the like and for use in constructing a variety of structures including dwelling, utility buildings, fences, etc.

It is anotherbbject of the invention to provide such a construction member which includes openings therein to facilitate the passage therethrough of electrical wiring, plumbing, or other accessory elements.

It is still another object of the invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a construction member in which the ends of the members fit or nest into the tops, bottoms or ends of other members to facilitate joining the members together for building purposes.

The above and other objects of the invention are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment thereof which includes first and second chords disposed in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, and a plurality of spacer blocks disposed between and joined to the chords to form a unitary structure. The blocks are generally uniformly spaced along the length of the member, with a block disposed between the two chords at each end of the member.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, at least at one end of the member a block is disposed to extend outwardly of the ends of the chords a predetermined distance to allow insertion thereof between the chords of another member to facilitate joining two members together. For joining the end of one member to the top or bottom of another member in a generally perpendicular reiationship, the end block is positioned to extend outwardly a distance substantially equal to or less than the thickness of the chords so that the block will extend into the opening between the chords of the other construction member without extending through and out the other side of the member.For joining the end of one member to the end of another, the end block in one member is omitted and the end block in the other is positioned so that when the two members are joined together, such end block extends within the chords of the two members about the same distance.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective, fragmented view of a construction member made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective, fragmented view of several construction members joined together in accordance with the principles of the construction method; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of construction members showing how they can be joined end-to-end.

Fig. 1 shows a construction member 4 fragmented in the middle thereof which is made in accordance with the present invention. The construction member includes first and second chords 8 and 12 advantageously made of wood but, if desired made of other materials such as plastic, fiber glass, press board, or the like. The chords 8 and 1 2 are spaced apart as shown and are disposed in a generally parallel relationship between which are placed a plurality of blocks 1 6.

The blocks are affixed to each chord 8 and 12 by glue, staples 20, nails, or similar fastening material or devices or any combination thereof.

The block 1 6 advantageously are also constructed of wood, plastic, fiber glass, press board, etc., and have a thickness (the dimension illustrated by the arrow 24) which is substantially the same as the thickness of the chords 8 and 12. The blocks 1 6 are uniformly spaced apart along the length of the construction member 4 so that the distance from the end of each block to the corresponding end of any adjacent block is substantially the same. In Fig. 1 this distance is shown as A and would be selected, for example, to be the same as conventional spacing of studs used for constructing walls in a house. The reason for this will be discussed momentarily.

A block 16a and a block 1 6b are positioned at respective ends of the construction member 4 between the chords 8 and 12. These blocks extend outwardly from the ends of the chords a predetermined distance indicated by the arrow 28. This distance when the members are used for wall studs as will be described momentarily, is substantially the same as or less than the thickness of the chords 8 and 12 as indicated by the arrow 24. When the construction members are to be joined end-to-end, the distance of projection outwardly of the blocks is typically greater than the thickness of the chords. As will be explained more fully in 9 moment, positioning the blocks 1 6a and 1 6b in this manner facilitates joining two or more construction members together for building purposes.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown in fragmented view three construction members 32, 36 and 40. Illustratively, construction member 40 could be the bottom or floor plate of a housing wall, construction member 32 could be the top or ceiling plate, and construction member 36 could be one of a plurality of wall studs joining the ceiling plate 32 with the floor plate 40. The construction member 36 is joined to the member 32 and 40 by positioning the ends of the construction member 36 respectively against the bottom side of member 32 and top side of member 40 so that the blocks 44 and 48 of member 36 extend between the chords of construction member 32 and the chords of construction member 40 as shown. Since the spacer blocks are of substantially uniform width, the blocks 44 and 48 fit snugly within the chords of the construction members 32 and 40.Also, to assist in proper spacing of the construction member 36, it is positioned so that the end blocks of the member are adjacent to spacer blocks 52 and 56 of construction members 32 and 40 respectively. Studs or construction members to be positioned adjacent to construction member 36 would similarly be placed against corresponding ends of the next adjacent spacer blocks of members 32 and 40. Thus, by proper positioning of the spacer blocks, it is an easy matter to properly position construction members used as wall studs so that the spacing is proper for whatever spacing is conventional or standard for the building or other structure being constructed.For example, sixteen inches is a conventional spacing between wall studs in housing (although twenty four inches is sometimes used) and so if the construction members of Fig. 2 being used to construct a house, the spacer blocks would advantageously be spaced so that corresponding ends of adjacent blocks of a construction member were separated by about sixteen inches.

After the construction member 36 is properly positioned as shown in Fig. 2, it is a simple matter to secure the member in place by driving nails or the like 60 and 62 through the chords of construction members 32 and 40 into the end blocks 44 and 48. Additionally, nails or the like could be driven through the end blocks 44 and 48 into the spacer blocks 52 and 56 respectively.

This would secure the construction member 36 firmly in place with relatively little labour being required.

Fig. 3 is a fragmented view showing the manner in which construction members 70, 74 and 78 would be joined end-to-end. Member 70 includes a longer than usual end block 80, member 74 omits the end block at one end and includes a longer than usual end block 84 at the other end, and member 78 omits one end block, etc.

Construction member 70 and 74 are joined together by inserting end block 80 between the chords of construction member 74 as indicated by the arrow 8e, and then nailing or otherwise fastening the end block 80 in place. Similarly, construction members 74 and 78 are joined together by inserting end block 84 of member 74 between the chords of member 78 and nailing the block. In this manner, construction members can be joined end-to-end in a convenient and yet secure fashion.

A construction member and method have been described which simplifies building methods for certain kinds of structures. The construction member itself is simple to fabricate and yet it provides a lightweight, sturdy element for use as a stud, joist, or the like. It is readily seen that because of the spacing of the spacer blocks, openings are left in the construction members to allow the threading of electrical wiring, plumbing or similar accessory elements. Positioning of the end blocks in the construction members to project outwardly from the ends of the chords also facilitates ease of joining the ends of one construction member to the top or bottom sides or ends of other construction members as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

It should be understood that the specific embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that numerous alternative embodiments and arrangements could be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such alternative embodiments and arrangements. For example, construction members could be fabricated using end blocks as shown, but substituting for the other blocks metal spacer plates such as those disclosed in copending U.S. application, Serial No. 906,067.

Also, the construction member of the present invention lend themselves to use in a variety of situations including construction of fences and almost any structure where individual elements must be joined together.

Claims

1. A construction member comprising a plurality of spacer blocks disposed between and joining together a first and second elongate chord in a generally parallel relationship, the spacer blocks being separated from one another along the length of the chords a substantially uniform distance, at least two of the blocks being disposed between the chords at each end thereof.

2. A member as claimed in Claim 1, in which the outer cross-sectional dimension of the member is substantially the same as that of a conventional two-by-four stud.

3. A member as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the spacing from one end of any spacer block to the corresponding end of an adjacent spacer block is substantially the same as conventional spacing between wall studs of a house.

4. A member as claimed in Claim 3, in which the spacing is sixteen inches.

5. A member as claimed in Claim 1, in which the plurality of spacer blocks consist of two blocks, disposed between the chords at the ends thereof, spacer plates, disposed between and joining the chords, having a generally flat central portion whose plane is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the member and two generally flat wing portions affixed to the chords on opposite sides thereof in a generally parallel relationship with each other and at generally a right angle with the central portion.

6. A member as claimed in Claim 1, in which the ends of the chords at least at one end of the construction member terminate in substantially the same plane, the spacer block located at the one end being disposed to project a predetermined distance outwardly from the ends of the chords.

7. A member as claimed in Claim 6, in which the spacer block located at the other end of the construction member is disposed to project a predetermined distance outwardly from the ends of the chords.

8. A member as claimed in Claim 6, in which the spacer block located at one end projects the ends of the chords a distance substantially equal to or less than the thickness of the chords.

9. A member as claimed in Claim 6, in which the spacer block located at one end projects from the ends of the chords a distance greater than the thickness of the chords, the other end of the construction member including no spacer block.

10. A construction method comprising providing construction members composed of a pair of chords maintained in a generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship by spacer blocks disposed between and joined to the chords, one of the blocks of a first construction member disposed at one end of the member to project a certain distance outwardly from the ends of the chords and joining the one end of the first construction member to another construction member by placing the one end against the other construction member so that the end of the one block extends between the chords of the other construction member.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the joining step comprises joining the one end of the first construction member to the side of another construction member so that the first construction member is substantially perpendicular to the other construction member.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, in which the first construction member is joined to the other construction member so that the end block of the first construction member is disposed adjacent to the end of a spacer block of the other construction member.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the joining step comprises joining the one end of the first construction member to the end of another construction member in a generally endto-end relationship.

14. A construction member constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A construction method substantially as herein described.