| CLAIMS: 1. An elongate structure formed by an array of at least substantially longitudinally ("longitudinally") extending staves to define an at least substantially hollow elongate form; wherein the staves arc profiled to mterengagc, stave to stave, to resist longitudinal relative movement; and wherein the staves are laterally cross-sectioned to provide a profile, or are otherwise provided with features, such that the staves interact to resist inward lateral relative movement; and wherein adjacent staves arc connected or otherwise held to each other and/or in register to resist lateral relative movement (whether outward or otherwise). 2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the staves have complementary profiles such that any given stave engages with an adjacent stave owing to the complementary nature of the profiles. 3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a corrugation. 4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a series of quadrilateral protrusions and recesses. 5. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the staves are tapered inwardly in their lateral cross-section to enable multiple staves to form a substantially circular, hollow elongate structure when connected together. 6. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein adjacent staves in the array are staggered with respect to one another such that the end of anyr one particular stave is not aligned with the end of an adjacent stave in the array. 7. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein staves of the elongate structure that are aligned in series meet at a butt joint. 8. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the array of staves surrounds an internal ring. 9. A structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein the internal ring aids in the location of the staves during assembly. 10. A structure as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the internal ring helps maintain the shape of the assembly of staves. 11. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the staves are connected together to form the array by screwing each stave to its adjacent stave. 12. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the staves arc wooden. 13. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the staves arc treated timber. 14. A structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the structure is suitable for use as a structural column. 15. A structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the structure is suitable for use as a structural beam. 16. A stave suitable to form part of an array of like staves to define an elongate structure; wherein the stave is profiled to facilitate interengagement with an adjacent like stave to resist longitudinal relative movement, and wherein the stave is laterally cross-sectioned to provide a profile, or is otherwise provided with features, such that, when assembled into an array, the stave interacts with other staves to resist inward lateral relative movement. 17. A stave as claimed in 16 wherein the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a corrugation. 18. A stave as claimed in claim 16 wherein the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a series of quadrilateral protrusions and recesses. 19. A stave as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18 wherein the stave is tapered inwardly in its lateral cross-section to enable multiple staves to form a substantially circular, hollow elongate structure when connected together. 20. A stave as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19 wherein the stave is wooden. 21. A stave as claimed in any of claims 16 to 20 wherein the stave is treated timber. 22. A method of assembling an elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first stave as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21, providing a second stave claimed in any of claim 16 to 21 , and connecting the second stave to the first stave, and pϊoviding subsequent staves as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21 , and connecting each subsequent stave to the last connected stave. 23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the stave to stave connection is achieved (at least in part) through the use of penetrative fasteners. 24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23 wherein the stave to stave connection is achieved (at least in part) through the use of screws. 25. A building structure constructed from one or more elongate structures as defined in the first aspect of the invention. 26. A building structure as claimed in claim 25 wherein the building structure is a lattice tower. 27. A building structure as claimed in claim 25 wherein the building structure is a mono tower. 28. A subassembly or assembly of staves as claimed rn any of claims 16 to 21 whether as an assembled mono tower or as part of an assembled mono tower or assembled lattice tower. 29. A method of assembling an elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first subassembly of staves as claimed m any of claims 16 to 21, providing a second subassembly of staves as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21, and connecting the second subassembly of staves to the first subassembly of staves, providing subsequent subassemblies of staves as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21 (if required) and connecting each subsequent subassembly of staves to the last connected subassembly to form an army of staves. 30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the connection between subassemblies is achieved (at least in part) through the use of penctratn c fasteners. 31. A method as claimed m claim 29 or 30 wherein the connection between subassemblies is achieved (at least in part) through the use of screws. 32. A method of providing a hollow elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first stave or subassembly of staves, providing a second stave or subassembly of staves and connecting them together, providing subsequent subassemblies of staves and/or staves and connecting them together to progress the assembly, wherein each stave is profiled to facilitate interengagement with adjacent staves to resist longitudinal relative movement, and wherein the staves are laterally cross- sectioned to provide a profile, or are otherwise provided with features, svich that, when assembled into a hollow elongate structure, the staves interact to resist inward lateral relative movement. 33. A hollow elongate structure assembled using the method of claim 32. 34. A system for the assembly of an elongate structure, the system reliant upon staves as claimed in claims 16 to 21 and a method as claimed in claims 22 to 24. 35. An elongate structure as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. 36. A stave as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. 37. A tower structure as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to self supporting or building structures and includes related components, methods, systems and subassemblies. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to wooden column or beam assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Towers are commonly erected for providing a raised point for mounting items such as telecommunication dishes. Such towers may be lattice towers or mono towers (or other free standing structures ("towers").
Lattice and mono towers are commonly constructed from wooden logs of a certain grade and dimension. If a large quantity of towers needs to be made it can be difficult to source the required quantity of constant diameter logs. Because of the scarcity of the appropriate logs, the construction of such towers can be expensive.
In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art of form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide structures, components for structures, related systems, methods and subassemblies (e.g of a column assembly) which overcome or at least ameliorate some of the above-mentioned disadvantages or which at least provide the public with a useful choice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the present invention consists in an elongate structure formed by an array of at least substantially longitudinally ("longitudinally") extending staves to define an at least substantially hollow elongate form;
wherein the staves are profiled to interengage, stave to stave, to resist longitudinal relative movement; and. wherein the staves are laterally cross-sectioned to provide a profile, or arc otherwise provided with features, such that the staves interact to resist inward lateral relative movement;
and wherein adjacent staves are connected or otherwise held to each other and/or in register to resist lateral relative movement (whether outward or otherwise).
Preferably the staves have complementary profiles such that any given stave engages with an adjacent stave owing to the complementary nature of the profiles.
Preferably the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a corrugation.
Preferably the profile to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a series of quadrilateral protrusions and recesses.
Preferably the staves are tapered inwardly in their lateral cross-section to enable multiple staves to form a substantially circular, hollow elongate structure when connected together. This is the preferred profile, in that respect, such that contiguous staves interact to resist inward lateral relative .movement.
Other options could include protuberances to index into recesses, etc.
Preferably adjacent staves in the array are staggered with respect to one another such that the end of any one particular stave is not aligned with the end of an adjacent stave in the array. This allows some disregard during assembly to "handedness" with respect to the profiles, etc.
Preferably staves of the elongate structure that are aligned in series meet at a butt joint.
Preferably the array of staves surrounds an internal ring.
Preferably the internal ring aids in the location of the staves during assembly. Preferably the internal ring helps maintain the shape of the assembly of staves.
Preferably the staves arc connected together to form the array by screwing each stave to its adjacent stave.
Preferably the staves are wooden.
Preferably the staves are treated timber.
Preferably the structure is suitable for use as a structural column.
Preferably the structure is suitable for use as a structural beam.
In a second aspect the present invention consists in a stave suitable to form part of an array of like staves to define an elongate structure; wherein the stave is profiled to facilitate interengagement with an adjacent like stave to resist longitudinal relative movement,
and wherein the stave is laterally cross-sectioned to provide a profile, or is otherwise provided with features, such that, when assembled into an array, the stave interacts with other staves to resist inward lateral relative movement.
Preferably the profiled to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a corrugation.
Preferably the profiled to facilitate stave to stave interengagement to resist longitudinal relative movement is a series of quadrilateral protrusions and recesses.
Preferably the stave is tapered inwardly in its lateral cross-section to enable multiple staves to form a substantially circular, hollow elongate structure when connected together.
Preferably the stave is wooden.
Preferably the stave is treated timber.
In a third aspect the present invention consists in a method of assembling an elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a first stave as described in the second aspect of the invention, providing a second stave as described m the second aspect of the invention, and connecting the second stave to the first stave, and
providing subsequent staves as described in the second aspect of the invention and connecting each subsequent stave to the last connected stave.
Preferably the stave to stave connection is achieved (at least in part) through the use of penetrative fasteners.
Preferably the stave to stave connection is achieved (at least in part) through the use of screws.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a building structure constructed from one or more elongate structures as defined in the first aspect of the invention.
Preferably the building structure is a lattice tower.
Preferably the building structure is a mono tower.
In another aspect the invention consists in a subassembly or assembly of staves as aforesaid whether as an assembled mono tower or as part of an assembled mono tower or assembled lattice tower. In another aspect the present invention consists in a method of assembling an elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a first subassembly of staves,
providing a second subassembly of staves, and connecting the second subassembly of staves to the first subassembly of staves,
providing subsequent subassemblies of staves (if required) and connecting each subsequent subassembly of staves to the last connected subassembly to form an array of staves.
Preferably the connection between subassemblies is achieved (at least in part) through the use of penetrative fasteners.
Preferably the connection between subassembles is achieved (at least in part) through the use of screws.
In another aspect the present invention consists in a method of providing a hollow elongate structure, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a first stave or subassembly of staves,
providing a second stave or subassembly of staves and connecting them together, providing subsequent subassemblies of staves and/ or staves and connecting them together to progress the assembly,
wherein each stave is profiled to facilitate interengagemcnt with adjacent staves to resist longitudinal relative movement,
and wherein the staves are laterally cross-sectioned to provide a profile, or are otherwise provided with features, siich that, when assembled into a hollow elongate structure, the staves interact to resist inward lateral relative movement.
In another aspect the invention consists in a system for the assembly of an elongate structure, the system reliant upon staves as previously defined and a method as previously defined.
In another aspect the invention consists in an elongate structure as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
In another aspect the invention consists in a stave as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
In another aspect the invention consists in a tower structure as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.
As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The term "lateral movement" means movement in any lateral direction whether inward or outward.
The term "stave" as used in this specification means elongate members that are suitable to be placed edge to edge to form a structure.
The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present/ related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.
The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are herby incorporated by reference.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a wooden stave of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a rear view of the wooden stave of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the wooden stave of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a perspective view of two like staves in engagement,
Figure 5 is a rear view of the two staves of Figure 4,
Figure 6 is a end perspective view of two like staves in engagement,
Figure 7 is a plan view of a column structure, Figure 8 ib a side view of the column structure of Figure 7,
Figure 9 is a side Λ lew of a column structure showing the staggering of staves, Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative stave with angle cut quadrilateral protrusions and iecesses on its profiled sides,
Figure 1OA is a perspective view of a stave with angle cut quadrilateral protiusions and recesses arranged differently to the stave of Figure 10,
Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative stave with square cut quadrilateral protrusions and recesses on its profiled sides,
figure 11 A is a perspective view of a stave with square cut quadrilateral protrusions and iecesses arranged differently to the stave of Figure 11,
Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the engagement of two staves with quadrilateral protrusions and recesses on its profiled side,
Figure 12A is a close up view of Figure 11,
Figure 13 shows a lattice tower constructed from a number of column structures, Figure 14 shows a mono tower constructed from staves,
Figure 15 a iear view of a stave tapered along its length,
Figure 16 is a front view of the stave of Figure 15,
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the stave of Figure 15,
Figure 18 a iear view of a stave tapered along its length,
Figure 19 is a front view of the stave of Figure 18, and
Figure 20 is a perspective view of the stave of Figure 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a stave 1. The stave 1 is pieferabl j manufactured fiom timber. Preferably the timber is pine however it may be any othci kind of timbei It should be appreciated that the stave 1 ma} be manufactured from an) other suitable material. The stave 1 is manufactured in a ways such that it has a profile 2 on two of its opposing sides. The sides arc profiled so that a stave 1 can engage with a like stave 1 as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
In the preferred embodiment the staves are manufactured from 50mm x 50mm squaie timber sections. However it should be appreciated that the size of the timber used van . The timber used to manufacture the staves 1 may be treated timber. The timber may be ACQ, MCQ, CCA, or LOSP treated timber.
To manufacture the staves 1 timber sections may be subjected to any suitable cutting, routing, ban saw, milling or like machine in order to produce the desired cross- section and edge profiles.
The profile 2 of the opposing sides of the stave 1 may be shaped in any way such as to facilitate complementary engagement with a like stave. In the preferred embodiment the profile of the opposing sides is corrugated. However, it should be appreciated that any other shape such that the staves can engage one another in a complementary manner may be employed.
As shown in Figure 4, the staves 1 are engaged with one another. Figures 4, 5 and 6 show two staves in engagement, however an entire array of staves can be engaged to form a substantially hollow, circular column structure. The staves have a tapered lateral cross-section as shown in the figures. This tapered cross section in the lateral direction enables them to be arranged into an substantially circular array 10 as shown in Figure 7.
The interengaging profiles 2 of the staves 1 aid in resisting longitudinal relative movement of the staves i.e. in the direction indicated by arrow 3 on Figure 4. A resistance to relative movement of the staves is important to maximise the structural rigidity of the elongate column formed from an array of staves.
Adjacent staves 1 are also connected to one another to further resist relative movement. Any suitable method of connecting adjacent staves together may be employed such as screwing, nailing, gluing. In the preferred embodiment screws 4 arc used to connect one stave to an adjacent stave. As shown in Figure 7 this method is used to connect all the staves together to form an array of staves.
The method by which the array 10 of staves 1 may be formed will now be described with reference to Figure 7. Firstly, two staves 1 arc provided and a first screw 4A is screwed through one of the staves, and into the adjacent stave. The screw 4A is screwed through on one of the profiled sides and exists on the opposing profiled side and then enters the adjacent stave. Preferably the screw 4A is screwed at a location in one of the "valleys" of the corrugated profile. A further stave 1 is then provided and that is screwed to the adjacent stave and so on until an array is formed by adding one stave at a time and screwing it to the adjacent stave in the array. The final stave can be placed into the array 10 however the final screw 4 cannot be screwed in through the profiled side as the array is complete and therefore the profiled side cannot be accessed. Therefore, the final screw 4B may be screwed from the external face into the stave.
Alternatively the array 10 of staves 1 may be formed from subassemblies of staves 1. A plurality of staves may be first connected together to form a subassembly, and then connected to other staves, or subassemblies of staves to form the array 10.
An internal ring 11 may be provided to assist in forming the array 10. The internal ring 11 may be a steel ring or a ring manufactured from any other material.
Figure 8 shows an example of the elongate structure 12 formed from an array of staves. The elongate structure is of indeterminate length. In the preferred embodiment of the invention 16 staves arc employed into the array to form the elongate structure.
However, any number of staves may be used as required.
With reference to Figure 9 there is shown an elongate structure 12 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In this preferred embodiment, the individual staves are staggered about the array with respect to adjacent staves. In this way, staves arranged in series meet at a butt joint 13. It is envisaged that a column structure of any desired length can be assembled using a number of staves arranged in an array, and staggered with respect to adjacent staves in the array as shown for example in Figure 9.
The elongate column structure formed from the array of staves is hollow, therefore cables or other services may be contained within the hollow centre.
It should be appreciated that, as well as column structures, other structures may be constructed using a number of staves arranged in an array. Structural beams arc an example of a structure that may be constructed.
Λs an alternative to the corrugated side profile of the staves 1, the stave profile 2 may be that as shown in Figure 10. Figure 10 shows a stave with the opposing side profiles being quadrilateral protrusions and recesses. The protrusions and recesses of a stave can engage in a complementary fashion with a like stave. This engagement could be considered a "dovetail" type connection. As with the staves shown in Figures 1 to 3, the stave shown in Figure 10 may have a tapered lateral cross-section to enable the staves to form an array. The same method of forming the array as was described above may be used to form the array with multiple staves as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 1OA shows a stave similar to the stave of Figure 10, however the protrusions and recesses on either side of the stave arc arranged differently. The stave of Figure 1OA is manufactured such that a protrusion on one side of the stave corresponds with a recess on the other side and vice versa. Manufacture of such a stave may produce less wastage that other variations.
Figures 11 and 1 IA show yet another alternative to the corrugated side profile of the staves 1. The quadrilateral protrusions and recesses of the stave 1 are square cut which is different to the staves of Figures 10 and 1OA which are angle cut. Similarly to the staves of Figures 10 and 1OA the staves of Figures 11 and HA can engage in a complementary fashion with a like stave. This engagement could be considered a "dovetail" type connection. As with the staves shown in Figures 1 to 3, the stave shown in Figures 11 and 11A may have a tapered lateral cross-section to enable the staves to form an array. The same method of forming the array as was described above may be used to form the array with multiple staves as shown in Figure 11 and 1 IA.
Figures 12 and 12A show the engagement between two staves with quadrilateral protrusions and recesses. Such an engagement resists longitudinal relative movement (i.e in the direction indicated by arrow 3) of the staves 1 with respect to one another.
Figures 13 and 14 show examples of the structures that may be erected using the elongate columns that may be created from the arrays of staves 1.
Figure 13 shows a lattice tower 20 consisting of a number of elongate structures formed from arrays of staves. Such a tower may be used to locate telecommunications equipment 21 for example.
Figure 14 shows a mono tower 22 which consists of a single elongate structure formed from an array of staves. Such a tower may also be used to locate
telecommunications equipment 21.
A mono tower 22 may have a uniform diameter, or may be tapered along its length as shown in Figure 14. In order to construct a tapered mono tower 22 the staves must be tapered in the longitudinal direction.
Figures 15, 16, and 17 show a tapered stave 30. The stave 30 is wider at its lower end 31 than at its upper end 32. Assembly of such tapered staves into an array as described above will create a tapered elongate column- Figures 18, 19 and 20 show an alternative tapered stave 33. The stave 33 is wider at its lower end 31 than at its upper end 32. Assembly of such tapered staves into an array as described above will create a tapered elongate column.
It should be appreciated that the elongate structures of the present invention may also be used as beams, pipes, sign posts, lamp posts, power poles or utility poles. Where in the foregoing desciiption reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.
Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.