Technical Field The present invention concerns a system of structure elements to form different erect constructions. The erect constructions may be fences, pergolas, tents, summerhouses etc. for use outdoors, or may be bookshelves, shop fittings etc for use indoors.

Prior Art It is previously known to use columns, crossbeams, fittings etc. to form different erect constructions. With the expression"erect constructions"as used in the present description is meant fences, pergolas, tents, summerhouses, bookshelves, shop fittings etc.

It is common to use massive columns when forming the different parts as stated above. Such massive columns will have a substantial weight which is a drawback regarding transport of the structural elements. They usually have a rectangular section in order to minimize the weight in relation to the bearing capacity and their fittings cannot be integrated in the column. The rectangular section will further need the use of different kinds of fittings to be able to attach beams in all four directions.

Columns similar to the present invention can be built manually. However, it will prove complicated and time- consuming and need considerable specialized skills to achieve correct alignment and the heights that are requested.

The Invention One object of the present invention is to supply a system of standardised structural elements, which could be used to form different erect constructions.

A further object of the present invention is that the structural elements without any alterations or additional. devices shall be possible to extend in four directions at any time and from any column in the system.

Still a further object of the present invention is that the structural elements should be fairly simple to connect to each other, in order to form different constructions.

Still a further object of the present invention is that the structural elements should be adapted to facilitate transport.

Yet a further object of the present invention is that the number of different parts needed to form the structural elements should be kept at a minimum.

These objects are met by a system of structural elements to form erect constructions, which elements comprise columns, crossbeams and fittings. The columns are formed of at least two battens arranged at a distance from each other.

Further objects and advantages with the present invention will be obvious for a person skilled in the art from reading the detailed description of preferred embodiments below.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be described further below by way of an example and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of different structural elements and illustrating forming of a column according to the present invention; Figs. 2a and 2b are side views of different fittings according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a node formed by the fittings of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a footing according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the forming of erect constructions according to the present invention ; Fig. 6 is a horizontal view in section of a node according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a vertical view in section of the node of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a transportation position; Fig. 9 is an example of a fence formed by using the structural elements of the present invention; and *Fig. l0 is an example of a pergola formed by using the structural elements of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The present invention comprises a number or a system of structural elements for forming erect constructions. The structural elements in the shown embodiment comprise battens 9, crossbeams 3, different types of fittings 4,5, 6 and footings 7. The fittings are batten fittings 4,5 and beam fittings 6.

The columns 1, 2 are normally formed of two battens 9 ("2-u column") or four battens 9 ("4-u column"), respectively. Preferably, the battens 9 are square-sawed.

In other embodiments (not shown) battens which are not square-sawed are used. The battens 9 are fixed to each other two and two in an equal distance from each other. The distance between the two battens 9 normally corresponds to the width of one crossbeam 3 plus the thickness of two batten fittings 4,5. In the shown embodiment the width of one batten 9 corresponds to the width of one crossbeam 3.

This is an advantage in transport, as one batten 9 could be placed in said distance between two battens 9 fixed to each other, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The crossbeams 3 are sawed in a rectangular form and are of different lengths. In the shown embodiment the crossbeams 3 have a width corresponding to the width of the battens 9. At each end of each crossbeam 3 a beam fitting 6 is attached by means of screws, nails or the like.

Depending on the intended use the crossbeams 3 may have different dimensions.

There are two different kinds of batten fittings 4, 5. The first type of batten fitting 4 has a number of openings 10 for receiving screws, nails or the like to be inserted in the battens 9. In the shown embodiment there are four openings 10 in each batten fitting 4 of the first type, but a person skilled in the art realizes that any number of openings 10 may be used to fasten the batten fittings 4 to the battens 9. The first type of batting fitting 4 is also furnished with two slits 11 going halfway through the batting fitting 4 from one long side. The other type of batten fitting 5 differs from the first type of batten fitting 4 only in that it has no openings 10 for receiving fastening means. Thus, also the second type of batten fittings 5 has two slits 11. In Fig. 3 the co- operation between the batten fittings 4,5 of both types in forming a node is indicated.

The column 1 formed of two battens 9 is the basic product of the present invention. These columns 1 may have different heights but will always need at least two batten fittings 4 of the first type. The two batten fittings 4 are placed near the ends of the battens 9, to keep the battens 9 together and equidistant. A number of further batten fittings 4 may be placed between the batten fittings 4 at the ends. The position of at least some of the batten fittings 4 are adapted to the intended use of the columns 1, 2, as the batten fittings 4 are used in connecting cross beams 3 and possible further parts to the columns 1, 2. The basic column 1 may be used to form columns 2 having four

battens 9 or may be used as columns 1 on their own. When the columns 1 of two battens 9 are used on their own as columns, pairs of batten fittings 4 are placed on opposite sides of the battens 9 to be able to receive crossbeams 3 on both sides.

As indicated in Fig. 1 a column 2 made from four battens 9 is easily created. In the shown example four battens 9, six batten fittings 4,5 of each type and one footing 7 are used.

In many constructions use is made of columns 1, 2 of both kinds. The columns 1 made of four battens 9 are formed, in that two columns 2 made of two battens 9 are connected to each other. The four battens 9 are placed equidistant from each other in such a way that in cross section the four battens 9 form the corner areas of an imaginary square. In other embodiments (not shown) the cross section of the column 2 is rectangular. The columns 2 are formed, in that. batten fittings 5 of the second type are connected to the batten fittings 4 of the first type fixed to the battens 9. To form the column 1 of four battens 9, two columns 2 of two battens 9 are placed close to each other having batten fittings 4,5 on the same height. The slits 11 of the batten fittings 4 fixed to the battens 9 are open upwards. The other batten fittings 5 are attached to the first batten fittings 4, in that the slits 11 of the second batten fittings 5 are received in the slits 11 of the batten fittings 4 fixed to the battens 9.

Thus at each point of connection or node there are four batten fittings 4,5. The slits of the batten fittings 4,5 coincide with the inner corners of each batten 9 in the formed column 1 of four battens 9. The first type of batten fittings 4 are normally fixed to the battens 9 in such a position that the other batten fittings 5 will be placed adjacent and abutting one side of one batten 9, due to the position of the slits 11.

The columns 2 of four battens 9 makes it possible to extend the erect construction in one to four directions by hooking the crossbeams 3 in the nodes formed by the co- operating batten fittings 4,5. Each beam fitting 6 has two holes to receive screws or other fastening means. The beam fitting 6 has the form of a plate, one end of which has the two holes. The other end of said plate has a certain elasticity and is to be hooked on the batten fittings 4,5 at the nodes. (See Figs. 5 to 7) At the bottom of each column 1, 2 a footing 7 is placed. In the drawings only a footing 7 adapted to columns 2 made of four battens 9 is shown. However, a person skills in the art realizes that the columns 1 made of two battens 9 are furnished with a corresponding footing having other dimensions. The footing 7 is made of a plate having four wings 16 bent to a vertical position. The wings 16 have openings 13 to receive fastening means, such as screws or nails, fixing the footing 7 to the bottom of the column 2. Furthermore, the footing 7 has a number of openings 14 in the horizontal part enabling it to be screwed to the ground. The openings 14 are oval to allow a certain horizontal adjustment. The footing 7 is screwed to a wooden floor (not shown) or a square-sawed vertical beam (not shown) that can be buried in the earth. When needed the screws may be replaced by thick bars to be enrobed in cement. In all the above cases the screws or the bars will have a thick head to support the four battens 9 of the column 2 and thus creating a space between them and the ground. The smaller openings of the horizontal part of the footing 7 are made to adjust the column 2 in exact position. As an example the opening 15 in the centre of the footing 7 may help to assure an exact distance between the centres of the columns 2.

In addition to the structural elements described above accessories 8 of many different kinds may be added to

the system to create any construction from a simple fence to a summerhouse.

In Fig. 9 a fence built by using structural elements according to the present invention is shown as an example.

To build the fence a number of accessories 8 are added. The shown part of the fence is formed of two columns 2, connected by two crossbeams 3. On the crossbeams 3 a number of wooden boards are fixed and each column 2 has a wooden plate at the top as protection.

In Fig. 10 a pergola is shown as an example. The pergola differs from the fence of Fig. 9 in that the columns 2 are higher and that there are three crossbeams 3.

By th ; present invention it is possible to build pergola right into a house and place a door under the upper crossbeam 3.

When the system of structural elements according to the invention is used for building e. g. a summerhouse or a playhouse the walls of the house may be built on or attached to the crossbeams 3. The crossbeams 3 are attached to the columns 1, 2 as stated above.

If the erect. construction is to be used outdoors the columns 1, 2 are normally placed on a footing as described above. As the battens 9 forming the columns 1, 2 normally are made of wood it is an advantage if they are placed at a small distance above the ground, in order to minimize the risk of negative influence from the ground.

The system of structural elements may also be used indoors to build bookshelves, shop fittings, screenings, partition walls etc. For indoor use the footing has the form of a plate or the like (not shown).

Even if the system of structural elements is developed with the use of wood in mind, except for the fittings and anchor normally made of metal, a person skilled in the art realises that other materials may be used. Such other materials are e. g. metals used also for

the columns, crossbeams etc., which metals preferably are light metals. Different plastics may also be used.

The system of structural elements is suitable to use for different constructions for self-assembly. In transport and storing the columns 1 made of two battens 9 may be joined two and two as described above. However, it is also possible to transport and store the columns 1 or even the battens 9 separated from each other.