DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to building elements such as studs which are used as frame members in the construction of buildings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Typically, studs are of channel section and are formed of galvanised iron. The studs may stand vertically and be interconnected by similar horizontal channel section frame members. To form a building wall exterior planks may be affixed to the studs in overlapping manner so that rain water and the like runs down the plank face without percolating same. In the past the planks have been aff¬ ixed to the studs by nails or the like. The present invention provides a metal building stud to which planks can be affixed without the use of nails or the like.

The concept of the present invention is also applicable to buildings which have frames formed of other materials such as wood or asbestos. In that case a strip or channel section member can be affixed to existing frame members so as to provide a means to which planks can be affixed without the use of nails or the like. The building elements of the present invention are envisaged for use with construction of walls but they may also be used for construction of roofs in which case the building elements are laid in slopy manner with the lugs facing outwardly.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a building element which comprises a wall characterised in that the wall has one or more lugs projecting outwardly of the wall, the or each lug having an outer portion arranged to support a lower side of a first laterally extending plant and an inner portion arranged to receive an upper side of a second laterally extending plank. Preferably, the building elements are such that the or each lug projects outwardly through a gap in the wall and more preferably the or each lug is integrally formed with the wall. Further, the building element preferably comprises a plurality of the lugs at intervals. In accordance with another aspect of the present invent- ion there is provided a method of constructing a wall or roof which comprises erecting a number of building elements in accordance with the present invention in spaced manner so that the lugs of each element face outwardly and the corresponding lugs of adjacent members are in alignment, and then placing planks laterally with lower sides resting on an outer lug portion and with upper sides received in an inner lug portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a building stud in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the building stud of

Figure 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the building stud of

Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure

3;

FIGURE 5 is partial side elevation similar to Figure 2 but to an enlarged scale showing a lower end of the stud of Figure 1 mounted in a building structure;. FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a building channel in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a building strip in accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is shown a channel section, galvanised iron, building stud 10. As shown in Figure 5, the stud 10 in use, rests on a base 14 such as a concrete base. The building stud 10 is mounted vertically to form a

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framework for mounting of planks to form a wall of a building.

On one side wall of the building stud 10 a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting lugs 20 is formed. Each lug 20 comprises an inner section 22, a step 24 and an outer section 26.

Further, at its lowermost end in use, the stud 10 comp¬ rises a projection 28. The projection 28 has a foot 30. The projection 28 is cut from the side wall of the stud 10 containing the lug 20 and projects beyond the end of the side wall.

As shown in Figure 5, in use, a lowermost plank 32 has its lower side resting on the foot 30 of the projection 28. As shown in Figure 5, the projection 28 fits snugly across a side of a horizontal channel section member 31 to locate positively the stud 10 and hold it in place. The lowermost plank has its upper side snugly received in the inner portion between the inner section 22 and the step 24 of the lowest lug 20. The next plank 34 and all succeeding planks in the wall have their lowermost sides resting on an outer section 26 of one lug 20 and their upper sides received in the inner portion found below the inner section 22 and the step 24 of the next higher stud 20. Conveniently, once a plank was in place any free end of the foot 30 or outer sections 26 could, as shown in Figure 5, be turned up by any suitable means to engage the lower end of the plank and assist in retaining it in place. Alternatively, the lower ends of the planks could be glued to the stud 20 and in this case any of said free ends could be broken off.

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Of course, to form a wall, in practice, a number of studs 10 would be placed vertically at spaced intervals so that each plank rests on a number of lugs 20. Conveniently, the stud 10 may be manufactured by being firstly rolled out from a pre-slit coil cut to the required width. The rolled out portion is then cut to the required length in flat form.

Then the lugs 20 on each stud 10 is formed in a fly wheel press in known manner by punching out a hole and then pushing out the material from the hole and bending the punched out material to form a lug 20. Subsequently, the flat member with the lugs 20 formed is bent to the required profile in a metal bending machine. In Figure 6, there is shown a building channel 40 of similar construction to the building stud 10 and like reference numerals denote like parts. However, the channel 40 is not intended to be self supporting. As shown, the channel 40 contains a number of apertures 42 between lugs 20. The apertures 42 enable the channel 40 to be nailed to an existing timber or asbestos vertical frame member. Thus, the channel 40 is supported by the existing frame member rather than forming a frame member in its own right. The channel 40 is formed with a projection 44 with a foot 46. The projection is cut from a wall of the channel 40 and projects beyond the end of the wall.

The projection 44 enables the lower end of the channel 40 to be. mounted about a transverse channel section member to hold positively the channel 40.

The foot 46 provides a mounting for the lower side of a plank 32 in similar manner to that shown in Figure 5. In Figure 7, there is shown a building strip 50 of similar construction to the building stud 10 and the building channel 40 except that the strip 50 contains no side portions. As with the channel 40, the strip 50 has apertures 52 between lugs 20 and is arranged to be nailed to an existing timber or asbestos vertical frame member. The strip 50 has a foot 54 to provide a mounting for the lower side of a plank 32 in similar manner to that shown in Figure 5.

In each case a plurality of the channels 40 or strips 50 are mounted in vertical spaced relation so that they can provide a mounting for planks in similar manner to the stud 10.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.