STRUCTURAL SECTION FOR FORMING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL

STRUCTURE

This invention relates, on the one hand, to a structural section for forming a three- dimensional structure, the structural section being made up of a number of interconnected parts. On the other hand, this invention relates to a structure made up of such sections. The structural section can be used in particular for forming a bearing structure for a building.

One of the known systems for forming a bearing structure is by means of skeleton construction. In this construction system the bearing structure is a timber, steel or armoured concrete skeleton. According to this construction system, the walls no longer have a bearing function, and the weight of the building is borne by the framework.

The skeleton is formed by solid columns of standard cross sectLonjthat are used as supporting sections for the structure and are placed vertically at a fixed distance from each other and interconnected by horizontally fixed (solid) beams having the same cross section.

However, this method of achieving a bearing structure has various disadvantages, i.e.: solid sections are expensive; solid sections are heavy and consequently difficult to manoeuvre; - the need for different parts with different dimensions in order to achieve a structure.

The object of this invention is to provide a structural section by means of which the erection of three-dimensional structures is considerably simplified, which is standard and which can be fixed together by simple means, so that a strong unit is obtained.

The object of the invention is achieved by providing a structural section for forming a three-dimensional structure, in which the structural section is made up of a number of interconnected parts. The invention is characterized in that the interconnected

parts are of a substantially tubular design and form an irregular pentagon when they are connected. With such a structural section it is possible to erect various structures which are light and yet strong. Furthermore, the structural sections according to the invention can be produced with a limited amount of labour and material. The structural section according to the invention is self-supporting. This structural section furthermore has the advantage that a structure can be formed with a number of specific (the same) sections according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the structural section according to the invention the abovementioned parts have a substantially rectangular cross section.

According to a more preferred embodiment of the structural section according to the invention, the parts of the abovementioned irregular pentagon are composed of:

- a first part extending along the entire length of the structural section; - a second part and a third part of different lengths from each other which are provided so as to be perpendicular to the two ends _^ of the first part;_

- a fourth part which is provided so as to be perpendicular to the abovementioned third part; a fifth part which connects the fourth part and the second part to each other.

More particularly, the second part of the structural section according to the invention is of a length that is shorter than the length of the third part.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the structural section according to the invention, the abovementioned structural section comprises at least one transverse connection situated between the first part and the fifth part. The structural section according to the invention preferably comprises two transverse connections between the first part and the fifth part.

In a preferred embodiment the abovementioned parts are provided with a number of holes situated at intervals along at least a part of their length, which holes are provided for the purpose of connecting various structural sections to each other. The distance between the holes preferably virtually corresponds to the diameter of the

circle of a tube with a virtually round cross section, or to the height of the shortest side of the rectangle of a tubular section with a virtually rectangular cross section.

The provision of a large number of holes makes it easily possible to fix other structures, lighting or machine parts to the structural section.

According to a most special embodiment of the structural section according to the invention, if two structural sections of identical dimensions are placed against each other in such a way that said sections virtually form a rectangle, the rectangle meets the following conditions: the height of the rectangle must be at least 9 times the distance between the holes; the length of the second part of each structural section is at least 3 times the distance between the holes; - the length of the third part of each structural section is at least the length of the second part plus at least once the distance between the holes; - ^~ thelehgth of the fourth part of each structural section is at least 3 times the distance between the holes.

In particular, if two structural sections of identical dimensions are placed against each other in such a way that said sections virtually form a rectangle, they will each rest with their fifth part against each other, the two sections overlapping each other sufficiently to form a strong connection. The overlapping is dependent upon the strength (as a function of the diameter) of the section used.

The abovementioned structural section is preferably made of one of the following materials: iron, aluminium, stainless steel, wood or plastic.

Another subject of this patent application relates to a structure, said structure comprising at least two structural sections of the type described above. Such formed structures have the great advantage that they can be erected and dismantled easily and quickly. Furthermore, once dismantled, the structural sections can be used for forming other structures.

This invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the detailed description below of various preferred sections according to the invention. The aim of this description is purely to give a clarifying example and to indicate further advantages and details of this invention, and it cannot therefore in any way be interpreted as a limitation of the field of application of the invention or of the patent rights demanded in the claims.

In this detailed description reference is made by means of reference numerals to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the structural section according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a structural section according to the invention provided with two transverse connections;

Figure 3 is a front view of the structural section shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows two structural sections of identical dimensions which are placed against each other in such a way that said sections virtually form a rectangle;

Figures 5 to 8 show various ways in which the structural sections, can, be ^" connected to each other;

Figures 9 and 10 show a structure made up of various structural sections according to the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 10, the structural section (1) according to this invention is made up of a number of interconnected parts which form an irregular pentagon when they are connected. The parts of the abovementioned irregular pentagon are composed of: - a first part (2) extending along the entire length of the structural section (1);

- a second part (3) and a third part (4) of different lengths from each other which are provided so as to be perpendicular to the two ends of the first part;

- a fourth part (5) which is provided so as to be perpendicular to the abovementioned third part (4); - a fifth part (6) which connects the fourth part (5) and the second part (3) to each other.

The fifth part (6) runs at an angle. The gradient of the fifth part (6) can be changed by changing the length of the first, second and/or third part (the length

of the fourth and fifth parts must be calculated, since the distance between two structural sections needs to be correct). The presence of a slanting side (6) means that this section (1) is ideal for use to form a slope, such as, for example, the slope of a roof structure.

A number of examples of dimensions of the various parts from which the structural sections (1) are composed are given below.

Example 1

Section used: 50 by 50 mm; distance between holes: 50 mm.

- length of the section (first part): 220 cm

- length of the second part (3): 30 cm - length of the third part (4): 60 cm

- length of the fourth part (5): 55 cm

- length of the fifth part (6): 167.70 cm

Example 2

Section used: 100 by 100 mm; distance between holes: 50 mm. (N.B. double row of holes provided per side of the section)

- length of the section (first part): 220 cm

- length of the second part (3): 40 cm

- length of the third part (4): 60 cm

- length of the fourth part (5): 73.33 cm

- length of the fifth part (6): 148.02 cm

Example 3

Section used: 25 by 25 mm; distance between holes: 50 mm.

- length of the section (first part): 110 cm

- length of the second part (3): 15 cm

- length of the third part (4): 25 cm

- length of the fourth part (5): 36.66 cm - length of the fifth part (6): 74.01 cm

The various parts of the structural section (1) according to the invention are of a substantially tubular design, and more particularly the abovementioned parts have a substantially rectangular cross section in which each side is of a length of, for example, approximately 50 mm. The strength of the section (1) can be adjusted by changing the wall thickness of the section or the dimensions of each side of the section. The structural section (1) can be reinforced by providing two transverse connections (7) between the first part (2) and fifth part (6), as shown in Figures 2 to 5.

The structural section (1) according to the invention _^ can _be__made of various , materials. Possible materials that can be used are: iron, aluminium, stainless steel, wood, plastic etc.

The aim is to fix the various structural sections (1) to each other, for example by means of bolts, so that a three-dimensional structure can be assembled, such as, for example: trusses, doors, walkways, channels, walls and the like. Figures 5 to 10 show a number of possible structures that can be assembled using the structural section (1) according to the invention. A particular structure can be assembled from structural sections (1) with the same dimensions, but can also be assembled by using a combination of sections with different dimensions (the irregular pentagonal shape is still retained).

In order to connect the various structural sections (1) to each other, the various parts are provided with a number of holes situated at intervals (8) along at least a part of their length. The holes extend along the entire periphery of the section, so that a part with a rectangular cross section has a hole (8) on each side (series of four holes). The various holes have a diameter of, for example, approximately 16 mm (as a function of a specific application, a greater or smaller diameter can be selected for the holes).

The distance between the adjacent holes (8) virtually corresponds to the diameter of the circle of a tube with a virtually round cross section or to the height of the shortest side of the rectangle of a tubular section with a virtually rectangular cross section. For instance, the holes of a section measuring 50 by 50 mm always lie at a distance of 50 mm from each other. If, as in Example 2, a broader section is selected, two rows of holes can be provided on each side. The holes can, however, also lie at a greater distance from each other. For instance, in Example 3 the holes lie at twice the diameter of the section from each other.

Through the presence of a large number of holes (8), at equal intervals, in the structural section (1), it is easily possible to fix other structures, lighting and the like. The individual structural sections (1) have limited dimensions and a limited weight, with the result that no heavy machinery is needed for the assembly. Furthermore, the section (1) is easy to transport and store. Owing to the fact that these are standard elements, the production cost will be low.

Two structural sections (1) of identical dimensions can be placed against each other in such a way that said sections virtually form a rectangle, as shown in Figure 4. The rectangle formed here meets the following conditions: - the height of the rectangle must be at least 9 times the distance between the holes;

- the length of the second part of each structural section is at least 3 times the distance between the holes;

- the length of the third part of each structural section is at least the length of the second part plus at least once the distance between the holes;

- the length of the fourth part (6) of each structural section (1) is at least 3 times the distance between the holes (8).