Multi-element constructional assembly

Abstract

A constructional assembly includes a first rigid member, such as a wood beam or surface; a metallic surface having a repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves, one side of the surface secured to one side of the rigid member, and a second rigid member secured to an opposite side of the metallic surface. The repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves may employ a variety of geometries or corrugations, inclusive of patterns which are sinusoidal, trapezoidal, saw tooth, square wave, and triangular. This assembly is exceedingly stable, light, economical, and may be readily provided with internal apertures providing pre-formed passageways thru which electrical wiring, plumbing, air ducts, data lines and the like may be readily passed during the construction of a building.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Area of the Invention

The present invention relates to a constructional element with corrugated central surface.

2. Prior Art

Use of corrugated panels as an element in a wall or floor assembly has had only limited use, which has generally been that of end supports or foundation elements in a position transverse to the end of a support beam or the like. The same is reflected in such references as U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,727 (2001) to Butler, entitled Interlocking Corrugated Panel Wall Cast In-Situ.

The present invention recognizes the potential application of so-called narrow gauge steel, i.e., steel having a gauge in a range of about 1 to about 3 mm. for the formation of a surface having a repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves, e.g., corrugations. Therein, such elements are employed as a center support means and truss substitute within a larger constructional assembly in the nature of an internal part of a support panel of a larger structure. The prior art does not, to the knowledge of the inventor, suggest such a constructional assembly or the use of corrugated narrow gauge steel in such a fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive constructional assembly comprises a first rigid member in the nature of a wood beam or sheet of plywood; a metallic surface formed of a material such as narrow gauge steel having a repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves therein, in which one side of said surface is secured to said first rigid members; and a second rigid member formed of a material such as wood, secured to an opposite side of said corrugated surface. The corrugations may take a variety of geometries including, without limitation, a sinusoidal pattern, trapezoidal pattern, saw tooth pattern, square wave pattern, or a pattern of triangular ridges and flat grooves.

It is an object of the invention to provide a composite constructional assembly in which a corrugated surface of a narrow gauge steel is secured between upper and lower elements of a material such as wood.

It is another object to provide a constructional assembly of the above type, said surface of corrugated narrow gauge steel may be provided with a plurality of holes or apertures sufficient to permit passage of wires and conduits therethrough.

It is a further object to provide an assembly that can form a wall, panel, or part of a ceiling and floor.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and claims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic xy plane view of a prior art ceiling and floor assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet of corrugated narrow gauge steel suitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1 however showing the provision of a corrugated sheet with a plurality of apertures.

FIG. 4 is an x-z plane cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the inventive constructive assembly.

FIGS. 5 thru 8 are cross-sectional views showing various patterns of corrugations which may be employed in the practice of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic xy plane showing the use of a trapezoidal pattern of corrugations between the upper and lower rigid wood surfaces of the assembly.

FIG. 10 is an xz plane, cross-sectional view taken along Line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view of the inventive constructional assembly mounted upon one floor of a multi-story building under construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the schematic view of FIG. 1, there is show a prior art, truss-supported system wherein a floor 22 is secured above a ceiling 24 through use of a series of triangular steel trusses 26. This technology traditionally employs medium gauge steel elements 28 and, as such, requires extending welding at joints 30 of the system. In such prior art, conduits could be horizontally positioned within spaces 32, however the vertical exiting or positioning of conduits between floors constituted a labor and cost-intensive exercise.

The present invention utilizes narrow gauge steel in a range of gauges between about 22 and about 14, that is, between about 1 and 3 millimeters, as a support and spacing surface between a first rigid member or surface, preferably a wood beam 54 or wood-like material, and a second oppositely disposed wood beam 56 or wood-like beam or surface. See FIG. 9. More particularly, a surface 40 (see FIG. 2) having a repetitive sequence of ridges 42 and grooves 44 formed of a narrow gauge sheet of stainless steel in shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 is shown such a steel sheet 140 of smaller z-axis dimension which, however, has been provided with a plurality of openings or apertures 46 having an edge dimension 50. A similar view, showing the use of square apertures 48, is shown in the plan view of FIG. 4. Therefrom it may be appreciated that the diameter of an aperture 48 often falls in a range of about 3 to 4 ridge and groove diameters in general, can have a length in a range of between about 50 to about 250 mm. This dimension is also applicable to said edges 50 of the square apertures shown in FIG. 3. Said ridges and grooves themselves will typically have a diameter or edge dimension of about 15 to 75 millimeters, and the depth of grove typically will also fall in a range of about 15 to about 75 mm.

In FIGS. 5 to 8 are shown alternate xy plane cross-sections of the ridge-and-groove pattern shown in FIGS. 24. More particularly, FIG. 5 shows a sinusoidal pattern 62, FIG. 6 a trapezoidal pattern 64, FIG. 7 a saw tooth pattern 66, and FIG. 8 a square wave pattern 68 which is taken along Line 8-8 of FIG. 4. Therefrom it may be appreciated that a wide range of undulating or corrugated patterns may be employed with respect to the narrow gauge steel sheet 40 or 140 employed in the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 9-11, there is shown use of the trapezoidal pattern 64 of FIG. 6 having ridges 42 and grooves 44 associated therewith. Further shown in said figures is the manner in which an upper wood beam 54 may be attached, as by riveting 66, to ridge 42 while a lower wood beam 56 is similarly attached to the bottom of each groove 44. Therein, embodiment, said holes 48 (see FIG. 11) may be placed within the corrugated structure of sheet 64 so as to provide for conduit space 58 between a ceiling 57 and wall floor 59 of a larger constructional system 60. It is to be appreciated that an assembly of the type shown in FIG. 11 may readily be employed in a vertical orientation as an interior wall or panel to thereby provide a cost-effective, exceedingly stable constructional element provided with all necessary conduit space prior to construction.

It is to be further appreciated that combinations of the above may be employed in a horizontal xy plane in selected locations within a structure to provide for pre-formed constructional conduits which electrical wiring, plumbing, air ducts, data lines and the like may be readily passed therethrough during the construction process.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.

Claims

1. A constructional assembly comprising: (a) a first rigid member; (b) a metallic surface having a repetitive sequence of ridges and grooves therein, one side of said surface secured to said first rigid member; and (c) a second rigid member, said element secured to an opposite side of said surface.

2. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said surface comprises: a steel sheet having a gauge in a range of about 22 to about 14.

3. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves of said surface comprises a corrugated surface.

4. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves defines a sinusoidal pattern.

5. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves defines a trapezoidal pattern.

6. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves defines a saw tooth pattern.

7. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said ridges and grooves define a square wave pattern.

8. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves define a pattern of triangular ridges and flat grooves.

9. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves of said second surface comprises ridges having a width in a range of about 15 to 75 mm depths a range of 15 to 75 mm.

10. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 2, in which said sequence of ridges and grooves of said second surface comprises grooves having a depth in a range of about 15 to about 75 mm.

11. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 10, in which ridges and grooves of said surface include a plurality of transverse apertures having a greatest linear dimension in a range of about 50 to about 250 mm.

12. The constructional assembly as recited in claim 5, in which parallel opposing surfaces of said trapezoidal pattern are secured between said first and second members.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, in which said first members comprises part of a floor, and said second member comprises a part of a ceiling.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 12, in which said first and second members comprise respective sides of a wall of a building.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 14, in which said ridges and grooves of said second surface include a plurality of apertures having a greatest linear dimension in a range of about 50 to 250 mm, whereby electrical wiring, data lines, plumbing, air ducts and the like may be passed therethrough.