[0002] The invention also relates to a wooden wall framework, particularly a partition wall framework, to which surface boards, building boards, or the like, can be fastened, the framework comprising an upper profile, which is to be arranged close to a ceiling or is fastened to the ceiling, and a lower profile, which is to be arranged on a floor or is fastened to the floor, and at least one vertical column extending between the upper profile and the lower profile.

[0003] The invention further relates to a wooden profile of a lamella structure to be used as a lower profile or an upper profile in a wall framework, particularly a partition wall framework.

[0004] The wooden framework of the invention is meant to be used primarily for non-loadbearing partition walls in buildings. When implemented on a larger scale, the framework of the invention can also be used for load- bearing walls. The framework of the invention is mainly suitable for walls built at the building site, but components of the system can also be used to provide a framework for partition wall elements.

[0005] Light partition walls are either built on site or they are made of prefabricated elements. The wall structures are bordered by transverse side walls, ceiling structures above and floor structures below. In Finland, the structural height of walls in residential buildings is determined by the ceiling and floor structures, the minimum room height of 2500 mm and minimum storey height of 3000 mm. For these reasons, room heights vary between 2500 and 2760 mm. The frame thickness of walls is determined by the depth of the door post. The standard door post depth of 92 mm is usually applied in residential buildings. With a building board thickness of 13 mm, a wall frame

thickness of 66 mm is arrived at.

[0006] The dimensions of door posts in partition walls are standardized in Finland such that the free height of the post opening is always 2100 mm, the width of the openings being usually 700 mm (7M doors), 800 mm (8M doors) or 900 mm (9M doors). The points at which door posts in partition walls are to be fastened in their vertical direction have also been standardized.

[0007] The frameworks of light partition walls are usually made of cold-rolled steel profiles, cut-to-size or planed sawn timber, or LVL products (LVL = laminated veneer lumber).

[0008] When a steel frame is used, the building boards must be fastened using screws; nails or fasteners cannot be used. A wooden framework, on the other hand, allows machine nails or fasteners to be used, the work performance being thereby as much as three to four times faster than screw fastening. In addition, nails and fasteners are significantly cheaper than screws.

[0009] A weakness of wooden frameworks built on site is the lack of a system that would allow easy and quick assembly. The vertical columns of a steel framework can be fastened to the lower and upper profiles without separate fastening members; the vertical columns are inserted into slots provided for the lower and upper profiles, and the building boards placed on either side of the frame, together with their fastening members, secure the vertical columns in place. The vertical columns of wooden frames are fastened to the lower and upper profiles, almost without exception, by skew nailing, which is a fairly elementary method. Another way is to prenail the wooden frame in a horizontal position at the building site, after which it is erected and put in place. In that case the nails can be driven through the upper and lower profiles. When wooden frames are used, the position of the vertical columns must be carefully determined before the fastening.

[0010] Finnish utility model U990138 discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a wooden wall framework according to the preamble of claim 2. This known solution comprises T-shaped upper and lower profiles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of building a wooden wall framework, particularly a partition wall framework, and a wall framework that solve the above problems.

[0012] The object of the invention is achieved with a method which is characterized in that the upper profile or, correspondingly, the lower profile employed in the method is provided with a longitudinal groove running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile, the vertical column thus being movable in the longitudinal groove substantially only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile, and the vertical column is partly placed into the longitudinal groove.

[0013] The wall framework of the invention is characterized in that the upper profile or, correspondingly, the lower profile is provided with a longitudinal groove running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile, the vertical column being partly placed into the groove, and that the vertical column is movable in the longitudinal groove substantially only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile.

[0014] The preferred embodiments of the wall framework of the invention are disclosed in dependent claims 3 to 10.

[0015] The wooden profile of the invention is characterized in that the lamella structure is formed of three lamellae, i. e. two outer lamellae and a middle lamella, and that between the outer lamellae is formed a longitudinal groove at the middle lamella.

[0016] In the solution of the invention, the upper profile or the lower profile is provided with a groove running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile, the vertical column partly placed into the groove being only movable substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile. One of the advantages gained by this is that the vertical columns can be positioned in place even during the mounting of the boards.

For example, the side edges of a building board, i. e. the width of the board, can be used for determining the position of the vertical column in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the framework of the invention, the vertical column is provided with a tongue which is at least partly in said longitudinal groove, the vertical column being secured in place by a joint formed between the tongue and the vertical groove. This preferred structure provides a simple means for obtaining a framework having an even installation surface for a building board, i. e. the upper profile, the lower profile and the vertical columns provide level mounting surfaces for the building boards to be fastened to the framework.

[0018] In connection with partition walls, any bending and/or creeping that may take place in the roof structure or in the intermediate floor must usually also be taken into account. This is difficult in current systems, if the framework is made of rectangular, solid wood profiles. An arrangement comprising a clearance between the vertical column and the upper profile to allow movement between the upper profile and the vertical column to take place when the tongue of the vertical column is in the longitudinal groove of the upper profile enables creeping and bending to be taken into account in a simple manner, because due to the tongue of the vertical column and the clearance, the bending of the roof structures or intermediate floor structures is not prevented.

[0019] Any currently used building boards, such as gypsum board, plywood, fibre board, chipboard, may be used as surface boards for the framework of the invention; in addition, planed horizontal panels are also easy to use in a basic framework. The use of vertical panels requires cross members to be used between the vertical columns. At their simplest, the cross members may be similar to those above the door opening, only their length is determined by the clearance between the vertical columns. Similarly as the cross members above the door opening, these cross members can be mounted without nailing, by inserting tongues formed of their middle lamellae into apertures provided in the vertical columns.

[0020] A solid wood frame component made as a single part is affordable in price, but a problem in the frame component, such as a frame profile, is how to keep it straight. To avoid warping, frame profiles are made of LVL products or, for example, of three wooden lamellae glued together, the separate lamellae being either cut to size or finger-jointed. For this reason, a preferred embodiment of the framework of the invention employs a vertical

column and/or upper profile and/or lower profile of a lamella structure.

Preferably all of these frame components have a lamella structure.

[0021] However, a problem with both LVL profiles and glued lamella profiles is their solid rectangular profile which complicates mounting and fastening. Another problem is the relatively high costs of manufacture of these frame profiles. For this reason, a preferred embodiment of the framework of the invention comprises outer lamellae formed of lamellae pieces. Also the middle lamella can be advantageously made of a plural number of lamella pieces.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the framework of the invention the middle lamella in the vertical column is made of pieces of lamella such that there is an aperture between the pieces to allow pipes and wires, for example, to be freely mounted into the frame structure. The same vertical space also allows the cross members to be mounted above door openings without nailing.

The standard position of the cross member above the door defines a firm position for a vertical piece fastened to the vertical column.

[0023] The above solution using pieces of lamellae provides raw material costs which are highly superior in terms of economy to the prior art wood profiles. The reason for this is that the framework components can be made of relatively short pieces of wood.

[0024] Increased savings in raw material costs are obtained by shaving the vertical column, lower profile, upper profile and/or cross member to produce symmetrical bevels at the glued seams on either side of the profile.

These bevels allow the profiles to be manufactured by gluing together lamellae made of rough-edged wood. The use of rough-edged wood is particularly preferred. However, the solution of the invention also covers an alternative where the lamellae are made of full-edged lamella raw material and the bevels are not made on both sides of the profile but on one side of it, or not at all. The bevels also facilitate the mounting work in that they guide the tongue which is at the end of the component more easily into the longitudinal groove in the upper or lower profile or into the aperture in the vertical column.

[0025] The framework of the invention is suitable for a system comprising standardized product components.

LIST OF DRAWINGS [0026] In the following the invention will be described in greater detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a wooden wall framework of the invention; Figure 2 shows a section of a vertical column taken along line A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section of the vertical column taken along line B- B in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a joint between the vertical column and a lower profile taken along broken line C-C in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a joint between the vertical column and an upper profile taken along line D-D in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows the upper or lower profile ; Figure 7 shows the vertical column ; Figure 8 shows a cross member; Figure 9 is an end view of the upper or lower profile; Figure 10 shows a horizontal wall beam; Figures 11a-11d show the manufacture of the upper and lower profiles; and Figures 12a-12d show the manufacture of vertical columns, cross members and horizontal wall beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0027] Figure 1 shows a wooden wall framework, particularly a partition wall framework, to which surface boards, building boards or the like (not shown in the Figures) can be fastened.

[0028] The framework comprises an upper profile 1 which is to be arranged close to a ceiling 2 or is fastened to the ceiling 2, as shown in Figure 1. The framework also comprises a lower profile 3 which is to be arranged on a floor 4 or is fastened to the floor 4, as shown in Figure 1. The framework further comprises at least one vertical column 5 extending between the upper profile 1 and the lower profile 3. Figure 1 shows frameworks comprising a plural number of vertical columns 5 which are, moreover, substantially vertical.

[0029] The upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, the lower profile 3 comprises a longitudinal groove 6 into which the vertical column 5 is partly

placed. Preferably the upper profile 1 and the lower profile 3 are both provided with such longitudinal groove 6, and there may be several of them. In a more preferred case there is a uniform longitudinal groove 6 extending between the ends (not indicated with a reference numeral) of the upper profile or, correspondingly, those of the lower profile. The upper profile or, correspondingly, lower profile 3 shown in Figure 9 has a substantially U- shaped cross-section. The longitudinal groove 6 extends preferably substantially on the entire length of the upper profile 1 and/or, correspondingly, lower profile 3.

[0030] This arrangement allows the position of the vertical column 5 to be changed according to the width of the wall material boards, for example, such that the seam between two wall material boards coincides with the vertical column 5 whereby the wall material boards can be appropriately fastened to the vertical column 5.

[0031] The dimensions and shape of the longitudinal groove 6 and those of the vertical column 5 are preferably selected such that the lower profile 3 or, correspondingly, the upper profile 1 are arranged to secure the vertical column 5 in place in the longitudinal groove 6. In other words, the section of the lower profile 3 or, correspondingly, the upper profile 1 that borders the longitudinal groove 6 is arranged to keep the vertical column 5 in place in the longitudinal groove 6. Between the longitudinal groove 6 and the vertical column 5 there may be for example a friction joint or a shape-mated joint. This allows the vertical column 5 to be fastened to the lower profile 3 or, correspondingly, to the upper profile 1 without separate fastening members.

The cross-section of the longitudinal groove 6 can be made slightly smaller, for example, than that of the vertical column 5. Figure 4 shows a tongue 7 of the vertical column, which will be described in greater detail below, the tongue being made slightly broader than the distance between outer lamellae 8 of the lower profile 3 that forms the longitudinal groove 6, the vertical column 5 being thereby fastened to the lower profile 3. A correspondingly implemented joint between the upper profile 1 and the vertical column 5 is shown in Figure 5.

[0032] The longitudinal groove 6 is preferably arranged to prevent the vertical column 5 partly placed therein from moving in a direction deviating from the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, the lower profile 3. More preferably, the longitudinal groove 6 is made into a form which allows the vertical column 5 partly placed therein to

be moved in the longitudinal groove 6 substantially only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, the lower profile 3.

More preferably still the vertical column 5 can be moved both with regard to the upper profile 1 and the lower profile 3.

[0033] Figures 4 and 5 show vertical columns 5 in which the end (not indicated with a reference numeral) of the vertical column 5 comprises a tongue 7 which is at least partly in the longitudinal groove 6. The vertical column 5 fastens to the upper profile 1 or lower profile 3 preferably through a joint formed between the tongue 7 and the upper profile 1 or lower profile 3.

The vertical column 5 preferably comprises two tongues 7, one at either end of the vertical column 5. This kind of vertical column 5 is shown in Figure 7.

[0034] Figures 1 and 5 show a clearance 9 preferably arranged between the vertical column 5 and the upper profile 1, the clearance allowing movement to take place between the upper profile 1 and the vertical column 5 when the tongue 7 of the vertical column 5 is in the longitudinal groove 6 of the upper profile 1. This type of preferred arrangement allows for movement between the ceiling 2 and the floor 4, for example.

[0035] The partition wall framework shown in Figure 1 further comprises a horizontal wall beam 20 to which the upper edge of a surface board, building board or the like (not shown in the Figures) can be fastened.

This wall beam allows the upper edge of the surface board, building board or the like to be fastened such that movement between the upper profile 1 and the vertical column 5 may take place. The horizontal wall beam 20 shown in Figure 10 is provided with apertures 14 through which the vertical columns 5 can be arranged. The wall beam 20 in Figure 1 is arranged such that the tongues 7 of the vertical columns run through the apertures 14 in the wall beam 20. Moreover, the wall beam 20 shown in Figure 10 comprises apertures 14 at both ends of the beam.

[0036] Figures 6 to 8 and 10 show a vertical column 5, upper profile 1, lower profile 3 and horizontal wall beam 20 which have a lamella structure.

In the Figures there are three lamellae, the lamella structure comprising two outer lamellae 8 and a middle lamella 10 in between, or a plural number of middle lamella pieces 11.

[0037] The longitudinal groove 6 is preferably formed at the middle lamella 10 between the outer lamellae 8, the middle lamella 10 forming the bottom of the longitudinal groove 6, as shown in Figure 9.

[0038] In Figures 4,5 and 7, said tongue 7 of the vertical column 5 comprises a middle lamella 10, more specifically a middle lamella piece 11, projecting at the end of the vertical column 5. In Figure 7, there is a projecting middle lamella piece 11 at both ends of the vertical column 5. Furthermore, in Figures 6 and 7 the middle lamella 10 is made of a plural number of middle lamella pieces 11. In the vertical column 5 shown in Figure 7 and in the horizontal wall beam 20 shown in Figure 10 an aperture 14 is formed between the middle lamella pieces 11. The outer lamellae 8 of the lower profiles 3 and the upper profiles 1 may also be made of a plural number of outer lamella sections (not shown in the Figures) glued together, for example, into a butt joint at the middle lamella pieces 11.

[0039] The lower profile 3, the upper profile 1 and the vertical columns 5 may preferably be provided with a beveled longitudinal edge 12, which allows rough-edged wood to be used. The Figures show lower profiles 3, upper profiles 1 and vertical columns 5 made of lamellae having a beveled longitudinal edge 12. The beveled longitudinal edge 12 is preferably a longitudinal edge (not indicated with a reference numeral) bordered by a seam 16 between two adjacent lamellae, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The beveled longitudinal edge 12 may also guide the vertical column 5 or the tongue 7 into the longitudinal groove 6.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a framework comprising a cross member 13 between two adjacent vertical columns 5, the cross member being partly arranged into an aperture 14 provided at least in one of the vertical columns 5.

In Figure 1 this cross member 13 is substantially horizontal. Such cross members 13 can be used for example at door openings (no indicated with a reference numeral). The dimensions and shape of the aperture 14 and those of the cross member 13 are preferably selected such that the aperture 14 is arranged to secure the cross member 13 in place into the aperture 14. In other words, the portion of the lower profile 3 or, correspondingly, the upper profile 1 that defines the aperture 14 is arranged to secure the vertical column 5 in place into the aperture 14. The aperture 14 and the cross member 3 can be joined for example by a friction joint or a shape-mated joint. This allows the cross member 13 to be fastened to the vertical column 5 without separate fastening members. For example, the cross-section of the aperture 14 can be made slightly smaller than that of the cross member 13. The tongue 7 of the cross member 13 is preferably made slightly broader than the distance

between the outer lamellae 8 that forms the aperture 14 in the vertical piece, this allowing the cross member 13 to be fastened to the vertical column 5. The cross member 13 is movable substantially only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vertical columns 5. This allows the height of the door opening to be adjusted, for example.

[0041] As shown in Figure 8, the cross member 13 comprises preferably a tongue 7 that can be positioned into an aperture 14. The cross member 13 shown in Figure 8 comprises two tongues 7: one tongue 7 to be placed into an aperture 14 in the vertical column 5 and another tongue 7 at the other end of the cross member 13 to be placed into an aperture 14 in an adjacent vertical column 5.

[0042] In a finished wall framework, the vertical column/columns 5, upper profile 1, lower profile 3, cross member/members 13 and horizontal wall beam 20 preferably provide a mounting surface which is substantially level with other corresponding mounting surfaces, a uniform mounting surface for wall material being thereby provided on the framework. In the Figure this is achieved by making the cross-sections of the vertical columns 5, upper profile 1 and lower profile 3 substantially similar in shape and dimensions.

[0043] The outermost lamellae of the lower profile 1 and the upper profile 3, i. e. the outer lamellae 8, can also be made of lamellae cut to size or by using fingerjointed lamellae. The outer lamellae 8 can also preferably be made of outer lamellae portions (not shown), i. e. from material pieces, such that in the finished profile the outer lamellae portions are joined by butt joints.

If the middle lamella 10 is formed of similar middle lamella pieces 11, the butt joints are always at the middle lamella piece 11. This allows pieces of lamellae to be made into a 6000 mm long profile, for example, without a separate phase being needed for extending the lamellae. In that case the upper profiles 1 and the lower profiles 3 are fastened to the ceiling 2 or floor 4 preferably at the middle lamella pieces 11. Consequently, no requirements need to set to the stiffness of the profile, the main thing being only that the profile has sufficient strength and stiffness for handling. The upper profiles 1 and lower profiles 3 only function as a fastening base for the building boards and as a mounting member for the vertical columns 5. A profile made with butt joints is "looser"than one made of a single piece of wood or a finger-jointed profile.

However, this"looseness"is an advantage in the lower profile 1 and the upper

profile 3 because it allows any warping of the profile, for example, to be straightened more easily when the profile is being mounted and fastened.

[0044] The raw material used for the framework of the invention may be spruce or pine wood. However, the invention also covers frame components made of other wood raw material. Similarly, the frame profiles can be made of different kinds of building boards.

[0045] The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a wooden wall framework, particularly a partition wall framework, to which framework surface boards, building boards, or the like, can be fastened. The method comprises steps to provide said framework by arranging at least one vertical column 5 between an upper profile 1, which is to be arranged close to a ceiling 2 or is fastened to the ceiling 2, and a lower profile 3, which is to be arranged on a floor 4 or is fastened to the floor 4.

[0046] The upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, the lower profile 3 used in the method comprises a longitudinal groove 6 running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile 3, the vertical column 5 being movable in the longitudinal groove substantially only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the upper profile 1 or, correspondingly, that of the lower profile 3. The vertical column 5 is placed partly in the longitudinal groove 6. The dimensions and shape of the longitudinal groove 6 with respect to those of the vertical column 5 are selected such that the lower profile 3 or, correspondingly, the upper profile 1 secures the vertical column 5 in place in the longitudinal groove 6.

[0047] The description below provides an example of how the framework of the invention can be accomplished. The construction of the framework begins at the building site where the dimensions of a wall that is to be built are measured and its position marked on the floor 4, walls 15 and ceiling 2. Door openings are also marked on the floor 4. The lower profile 3 is fastened in place.

[0048] When the lower profiles 3 are in place, vertical columns 5 are fastened to perimeter walls 15.

[0049] Next, similarly to the fastening of the lower profiles 3, the upper profiles 1 are fastened to the ceiling structures, the vertical column 5 fastened to the perimeter wall 15 supporting one end of the upper profile 1 during the fastening, which facilitates the work essentially.

l0050] Completed mounting of the lower profiles 3 and upper profiles 1 fastened to the perimeter walls 15 is followed by the mounting of the vertical columns 5. Vertical columns 5 are inserted along the centre lines of building boards and at the seams between them and left loose ; the cross members 13 above the doors are also put in place into the door openings.

[0051a The framework components can been fastened to the surrounding structures by nailing them, manually or with a machine, or by means of screwing, shooting or plugging, depending on the material of the surrounding structures; nailing or screwing is mostly used in wooden structures and shooting and plugging in concrete and brick structures.

[0052] After the mounting of the framework and fitting of the pipes starts the fastening of the building boards. They are fastened by nailing, either manually or with a machine. Nailing is essentially quicker than screwing, although the system of the invention also allows screwing to be used.

[0053] The upper profile 1, lower profile 3, vertical columns 5, cross members 13 and horizontal wall beams 20 can be manufactured using schaalboard, which is abundantly produced in timber industry, as raw material.

[0054] Figures 11a-11d show an upper profile 1 and a lower profile 3 made of three lamellae (the dimensions of which may deviate from those given here): a plank 29 of 22 x 100 mm is dimensioned and cut to a measure of 20.5 x 47 mm using a planing machine to produce a middle lamella 30 for a glue blank. Planks of 25 x 100 mm are dimensioned to a measure of 23 x 97 mm to produce outer lamellae 31 of the glue blank. The outer lamellae 31 and the middle lamella 30 of the glue blank are glued together to produce an H- profile of an asymmetric cross-section which forms the glue blank. The blank may also be a symmetric H-profile. In the gluing step the lamellae can also be extended by means of butt joints.

[0055] After the gluing the glue blank is cut into two pieces of a U- shaped cross-section, the higher one of which is the upper profile 1 that is to be fastened to the ceiling and lower one is the lower profile 3 that is to be mounted to the floor. The higher profile is meant to ensure that the tongue 7 of the vertical column can move in the longitudinal groove 6 and stay there.

[0056] In connection with the dimensioning and the cutting, simple machining, such as different bevels, can be done on the items.

[0057] Figures 12a-12d show vertical columns 5 made of three lamellae (the measures of which may deviate from the ones given here): a

plank 29 of 22 x 100 mm is dimensioned to a measure of 20 x 95 mm to produce a middle lamella 40 of a glue blank. Planks of 25 x 100 mm cut to the correct length are dimensioned to 23 x 95 mm to provide outer lamellae 41 of the glue blank. Before the gluing, the middle lamella 40 can be cut into suitable middle lamella pieces (not shown in the Figures) for the gluing blank to produce the apertures 14. In the gluing phase the lamellae can also be extended by means of butt joints.

[0058] After the gluing the glue blank is split symmetrically to produce two vertical columns 5. If middle lamella pieces 11 have not been used to produce apertures 14, the apertures 14 can be machined before or after the splitting. If necessary, length calibration is carried out before or after the splitting. In connection with the dimensioning and the splitting, simple machining, such as different bevels, can be done on the items.

[0059] The cross members 13 and the horizontal wall beams 20 can be manufactured similarly as the vertical columns 5.

[0060] It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways.

The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.