BUILDING ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a building element and particularly but not exclusively to a building element for creating a latticework on a floor, wall or ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a building element comprising a substantially elongate member, the elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, first and second sides, a cut away provided in the lower surface of the elongate member and extending from one side to the other, and first and second tongues extending from shoulders at respective ends of the elongate member.

The building element is advantageously designed to fit with a plurality of similar building elements for assembly into a visually pleasing latticed frame enclosing a plurality of open-spaces. The latticed frame or latticework is expandable ad infmitum by the continued addition of further similar building elements.

Preferably the length of each tongue is less than the width of the elongate member.

Preferably each tongue has a tang at its distal end formed by a slot in the upper facing surface of the tongue across the width of the tongue adjacent the shoulder.

Preferably a slot is provided in the base of the recess, the slot extending longitudinally of the elongate member, and adapted to receive at least one tang of a further building element.

The slot is preferably adapted to receive two tangs of adjacent building elements positioned end-to-end.

Preferably the recess is disposed mid-way along the length of the elongate member.

Preferably a second recess is disposed off-set to one side of the first recess in the lower surface of the elongate member.

Preferably a slot is provided in the base of the second recess, the slot extending longitudinally of the elongate member, and adapted to receive at least one tang of a further building element.

The off-set recess enables a different pattern of latticework to be created.

Preferably each shoulder lies perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

Preferably the end of each tongue is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

This produces a substantially rectangular latticework, with rectangular spaces between the building elements.

Alternatively each shoulder lies at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

The end of each tongue may lie at the acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

The acute angle may be directed to the other hand.

This produces a substantially diamond shaped latticework with diamond-shaped spaces between the building elements.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a latticework comprising a plurality of building elements in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in which the first and second tongues of at least one building element are received in recesses of adjacent building elements.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for creating a latticework comprising a plurality of building elements in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a plurality of a first embodiment of building elements of the invention, prior to assembly into a latticework;

FIG 2 shows a schematic plan view of the building elements of Fig 1 assembled in a latticework;

FIG 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of building element;

FIG 4 shows a schematic plan view of a plurality of building elements of Fig 3 assembled in a latticework;

FIG 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of building element;

FIG 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of building element;

FIG 7 shows a schematic plan view of a plurality of building elements of Fig 6 assembled in a latticework;

FIG 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a sixth embodiment of building element;

FIG 9 shows a partial side view of the building element of Fig 8 viewed along Line B-B, and a cross-section through the building element of Fig 8 viewed along Line A- A;

FIG 10 shows a cross-sectional view through a joint of three building elements of the sixth embodiment;

FIG 11 shows a schematic perspective view of an alternative half-lap joint end of a building element;

FIG 12 shows a schematic plan view of some alternative joints suitable for use with building elements of the invention;

FIG 13 shows a schematic plan view of a plurality of building elements of a seventh embodiment assembled in a latticework;

FIG 14 shows a schematic plan view of a plurality of building elements of an eighth embodiment assembled in a latticework; and

FIG 15 shows a schematic plan view of a plurality of building elements of a ninth embodiment assembled in a latticework;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig 1, a first embodiment of building element is indicated generally at 10. The building element 10 comprises a straight elongate member 12 of rectangular cross section, with a tongue 14 provided at one distal end and a similar tongue 16 provided at the other distal end. A recess 18 or cutaway is provided substantially mid- way along the length of the member 12. The width of the recess 18 is a clearance fit for width of the tongues 14,16 and therefore is substantially equal to the width of the elongate member 12. The recess 18 extends from one side of the elongate member 12 to the other and has a depth substantially equal to half the depth of the elongate member 12.

The tongues 14,16 extend across the full width of the member 12 and are formed as half laps, ie they are just less than half the thickness of the member 12. The length of each tongue 14,16, indicated at 20, is just less than half the width of the member 12 and extends from a shoulder 15. The tongues extend along the lower surface of the elongate member, ie the upper half of the member from the shoulder 15 is cut away to form each tongue.

In use a plurality of building elements 10 are assembled on a planar surface to form a latticework 22, indicated in Fig 2, for application as a floor, wall covering, ceiling covering or for incorporation in a patio or the like. Discrete square areas 24 created between the building elements 10 can be left empty or can optionally be filled with tiles of laminate, plastics, resin, ceramics, metal, glass, stone, marble, fabric, carpet or cork, wood or granular material, brick or earth for planting. The half lap tongues 14, 16 of each building element 10 fit into the recess 18 of adjoining respective building elements 10, disposed perpendicularly to the building element 10. As shown in Figure 1, each recess 18 receives two tongues 14,16 of building elements 10 disposed on either side of the recess 18.

Referring now to Fig 3, a second embodiment of building element is indicated generally at 30 and is broadly similar to the building element 10. The building element 30 comprises a straight elongate member 32 of rectangular cross section, with a tongue 34 provided at one distal end and a similar tongue 36 provided at the other distal end. A recess 38 or cutaway is provided part- way along the length of the member 32, closer to one end than the other. The tongues 34,36 extend across the full width of the member 32 and are formed as half laps, ie they are just less than half the thickness of the member 32. The length of each tongue 34,36 is just less than half the width of the member 32. The tongues 34, 36 and recess 38 are disposed on the same side of the member 32.

In use, a plurality of building elements 30 are assembled on a planar surface to form a latticework 40, as indicated in Fig 4. The tongues 34,36 of one member are inserted into the recesses of adjacent second and third members disposed at 90° to the first member. The latticework 40 includes discrete square areas 42,44 created between the building elements 30 in the same way as in the previous embodiment shown in Fig 2.

However, the areas 42 are larger than the areas 44, and the ratio of the sizes depends on the positioning of the recess 38 along the length of the member 32. The further the recess 38 is positioned away from the mid-point of the member 30, then the greater the difference in sizes of the respective square shaped areas 42,44 will be.

Referring now to Figure 5, a third embodiment of building element is indicated at 50. The building element 50 is similar to the first and second embodiments of building element 10,30, save that the building element 50 has two recesses 52,54 in its lower edge. The first recess 52 is disposed substantially mid-way along the length of the building element 50 and the second recess 54 is disposed between the central recess 54 and one end of the building element 50. In use, this provides the option of assembling a latticework in the arrangement of Fig 2, in which the square areas 24 are all of equal size, or in the arrangement of Fig 4, in which there are two different sizes of square areas 42,44.

Referring now to Fig 6, a fourth embodiment of building element is indicated generally at 60. In this embodiment, a straight elongate member 62 of rectangular cross section has a tongue 64 provided at one distal end and a similar tongue 66 provided at the other distal end. The ends of the elongate member 62 and the tongues 64,66 are cut at an angle α, typically around 60°. A recess 68 or cutaway is provided mid-way along the length of the member 62 and is also disposed at the angle α to the sides of the elongate member 62. The tongues 64,66 extend across the full width of the member 62 and are formed as half laps, ie they are just less than half the thickness of the member 62. The length of each tongue 64,66 is just less than half the width of the member 32. The tongues 64, 66 and recess 68 are disposed on the same side of the member 62.

In use, as shown in Fig 7, a plurality of building elements 60 are assembled into a latticework 70 with a plurality of similar building elements 72, which are handed the other way. The building elements meet at the angle α and spaces 74 between the members are substantially diamond shaped. In a fifth embodiment (not shown) the recess 68 is positioned off-set from the mid-way point of the building elements 60,72, enabling a latticework to be created with alternate different sizes of diamond shaped spaces. As in the previous embodiments, the building elements can be provided with

two or more recesses, enabling different patterns to be created using the same elements. It will be appreciated that the angle α can be varied, to create different effects.

Referring now to Fig 8, a sixth embodiment of building element is indicated generally at 80. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment of building element 10, shown in Figure 1, save that each tongue 82, 84 is provided with an undercut 86 across the width of the building element, spaced from the end of the building element. The undercut leaves a raised tang 88 disposed at the end of each tongue 82,84. A recess 90, disposed mid- way along the building element is also undercut with a longitudinal slot 92, as shown more clearly in Figs 9 and 10. The slot 92 is sized to receive the width of two tangs 88 of adjacent building elements 80 placed end-to-end. In use, this has the effect of the building elements 80 being locked together. The tongues 82,84 can also be provided with chamfered or angled sides 94,96 as indicated in Figure 11. The chamfers aid assembly into a latticework. Optionally the tongues of any of the embodiments described can have rounded or chamfered corners to aid assembly and to facilitate handling.

Figure 12 illustrates a number of alternative ways of interlocking the tongues of the building elements in the recesses. This may be, for example, by using single or double dovetail connections 110, dowel joints 112, biscuit joints (not shown), proprietary or custom-made connectors, click joints or other custom machined joints (114).

The material of the building elements may be wood, laminate, plastics, resin, ceramic, metal, glass, stone, marble, cementitious material, compressed materials or foams. When laying the building elements, for example, as a floor, if left un-bonded with adhesive, then they can be reused. The building elements can be manufactured in any sizes, but are ideally up to Im long, enabling them to be easily transported by car.

The building elements need not have straight sides, and can be shaped to provide interesting effects, for example, they can be used to create octagonal spaces, hexagonal spaces or even circular spaces for infill with contrasting materials.

Referring to Fig 13, octagonal spaces 98 can be created by incorporating triangular shaped end portions 100 at each end of the building elements; on either side of an otherwise straight sided building element, as shown in Fig 1.

Circular spaces 102, as shown in Fig 14, can be created by incorporating quarter circle curves 104 at the end of each building element on either side of an otherwise straight sided building element.

Hexagonal spaces 106 can be created, as shown in Fig 15, using building elements with angled ends, for example as shown in Fig 7, but with triangular portions 108 disposed at each end of each building element, the respective triangular portions 108 being disposed on either side of each building element. Two handed building elements are required to create this pattern, in similar manner to that created by the building elements of Fig 7.

The invention provides a covering which is decorative and attractive. It can be assembled with minimal skill, requiring only one or two types of component part. The building elements can be easily manufactured, for example, using known machining or moulding techniques. The building elements can be sized for ease of handling and can easily be stacked and palletized. The building elements can be sold in packs, for example containing a number of building elements suitable for covering a specific area. A completed latticework can be any desired shape or size, and can be embellished to suit different tastes, by using different infill materials between the building elements.

It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments may be combined in whole or in part in some or all of the illustrative embodiments. In addition, one or more of the elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments may be omitted, at least in part, and/or combined, at least in part, with one or more of the other elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, changes and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.