Stiffeners for metalog structures

Abstract

A plurality of metalogs form a freestanding wall or fence, or structure comprising walls, upper floors whenever applicable and/or roof of a building. Each metalog has an axis. A stiffener extends through a set of aligned holes in the metalogs at right angles to the axes. One or more additional stiffeners may similarly extend through one or more additional sets of aligned holes in the same metalogs. The stiffeners function to resist forces acting in a direction parallel to the axes of the metalogs and therefore enhance the stability of the structure and obviate otherwise required X-bracing.

Claims

1. A structure comprising: a plurality of intersecting hollow metalogs forming a freestanding wall or fence, or at least one of a wall, upper floor and roof of a building structure, each of the metalogs having an axis, ends, holes formed at locations spaced apart from the ends, and a diameter, corner connectors attaching the metalogs to each other at their respective ends, and a stiffener comprising a rod or a tubular element of smaller diameter than the diameter of the metalogs and not being subject to compressive loads, the rod or tubular element extending from top to bottom of the structure and with a snug fit through the holes formed in the metalogs to resist horizontal forces and thereby to enhance the stability of the structure.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener is in a plurality of pieces, further comprising a link connecting the pieces.

3. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the diameter of the metalogs to the diameter of the rod or tubular element is at least 3 to 1.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein the ratio is approximately 10 to 1.

5. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener is made of metal, wood, or a synthetic material.

6. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the axes of the metalogs are horizontal and the stiffener extends at right angles to the axes of the metalogs.

7. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the stiffener is in one piece.

8. A structure according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of stiffeners spaced apart from the connectors and from one another.

9. A structure according to claim 1 wherein each of the metalogs is formed with the holes being at least a pair of spaced-apart holes, the holes of each of the metalogs being aligned and the stiffener passing through the holes.

10. A structure according to claim 1 wherein each of the metalogs is formed with the holes being at least a pair of holes at diametrically opposite locations, the holes of each of the metalogs being aligned and the stiffener passing through the holes.

11. A method comprising the steps of: providing a set of hollow metalogs each of the metalogs having an axis and ends, providing a set of corner connectors supporting the metalogs at each of the ends, forming a first pair of holes in each of the metalogs of the set at a location spaced apart from the ends, arranging the metalogs to form at least a part of a free-standing wall or fence, or at least one of a wall, upper floor and roof of a building structure, aligning the first pair of holes, providing a first rod or tubular element, configuring the first rod or tubular element to pass through the first pair of holes, and passing the first rod or tubular element with a snug fit through the first pair of holes, the rod or tubular element extending from top to bottom of the free-standing wall or fence, or at least one of a wall, upper floor and roof of a building structure and not being subject to compressive loads.

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising the steps of: forming a second pair of holes in each of the metalogs of the set of metalogs at a location spaced apart from the ends and from the first pair of holes, aligning the second pair of holes, providing a second rod or tubular element, configuring the second rod or element to pass through the second pair of holes, and passing the second rod or tubular element with a snug fit through the second pair of holes, the second rod or tubular element extending from top to bottom of the free-standing wall or fence, or at least one of a wall, upper floor and roof of a building structure and not being subject to compressive loads.

13. A method according to claim 11 comprising the step of forming the rod or tubular element of metal.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the respective axes extend parallel to one another, comprising the step of extending the stiffener at right angles to the axes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A better understanding of the objects, features, and advantages of the invention can be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof in conjunction with the appended figures of the drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view showing the process of adding metalog stiffeners according to the invention to a metalog superstructure;

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view showing the metalog superstructure of FIG. 1 after the installation of the stiffeners;

(4) FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view showing the structure of a preferred embodiment of the lower end of a stiffener facilitating its insertion into holes formed in metalogs as explained below;

(5) FIG. 4 is an isometric perspective view with a break indicating that a one-piece stiffener can optionally extend from top to bottom of a building superstructure wall;

(6) FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view showing the process of employing the structure of FIG. 3 as a bridge for adding an optional extension to the stiffener of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view showing the structure of FIG. 5 after the addition of the extension;

(8) FIG. 7 is an end view of metalogs with a stiffener extending through holes arranged so that, on each metalog, the holes are at diametrically opposite positions, and the holes of one metalog are aligned with those of the others;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is an end view of metalogs with a stiffener extending through holes arranged so that, on each metalog, the holes are displaced from diametrically opposite positions, and the holes of one metalog are aligned with those of the others; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a building superstructure 10 comprising walls 12 formed of metalogs 14 mounted on an optional concrete slab 15. The axes of the metalogs 14 in a given wall 12 are horizontal and parallel to one another. Provision is made for openings 16 for one or more doors 18 and windows 20, plus vents, plumbing and electrical connections and any other required openings (not shown). In accordance with the invention, stiffeners 22 are provided. They are passed through a pair of holes 24 formed in each of the metalogs 14.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 after installation of the stiffeners 22. Each stiffener 22 extends from the top 26 to the bottom 28 of a wall 12. The stiffeners 22 stiffen the walls 12 of the superstructure 10 as explained below and make it highly resistant to forces generated for example by wind having components parallel to the walls.

(14) As FIG. 3 shows, the stiffeners 22 are preferably configured at the bottom to facilitate entry into the holes 24 formed in the metalogs 14 and speed their installation by unskilled labor. In the illustrated embodiment, the formation 30 resembles a battlement, with crenellations 32 alternating with structure analogous to merlons 34.

(15) As FIG. 4 shows, the formation 30 tapers in towards its lower end 36. This facilitates its entry into the holes 24 shown in FIG. 1 while enabling a snug fit (i.e., a fit with little play) of the main portion 38 of the stiffener 22 within the holes 24.

(16) FIG. 5 shows a link 40 connecting two sections 42 and 44 that together form a stiffener 22. The link 40 has a tapered battlement-like formation 30 as described above to facilitate its entry into the lower section 42. The link 40 protrudes well above the top 68 of the lower section 42 to provide good support for the upper section 44. FIG. 6 shows the composite stiffener 22 after assembly of the upper and lower sections 42, 44 as described above.

(17) A one-piece stiffener 22 as shown in FIG. 4 is preferred in most cases, but the structure of FIGS. 5 and 6 provides an alternative if the height of the wall 12 or other considerations recommend it.

(18) Since the metalogs 24 are substantially cylindrical, they are substantially circular in cross section and, except for oval sections that are also possible, have a diameter in cross section corresponding to the diameter of a circle. (Oval sections have major and minor diameters plus other diametric chords.) FIG. 7 is an end view of metalogs 14 with a stiffener 22 extending through holes 24 arranged so that, on each metalog 14, the holes 24 are at diametrically opposite positions, and the holes 24 of one metalog 24 are aligned with those of the others. FIG. 8 shows the same structure as viewed from above.

(19) The arrangement of FIGS. 7 and 8 is usually preferred, but the invention also extends to the case of FIGS. 9 and 10, where the stiffeners 22 extend through holes 24 arranged so that, on each metalog 14, the holes 24 are displaced from diametrically opposite positions. In the case of FIGS. 9 and 10, as in the case of FIGS. 7 and 8, the holes 24 accommodating a given stiffener 22 of one metalog 14 are aligned with those of the other metalogs 14 accommodating the same stiffener 22.

(20) Each stiffener 22 comprises a rod or a tubular element of considerably smaller diameter than the diameter of the metalogs. The ratio ratio of the diameter of the metalogs to the diameter of the rod or tubular element is at least 3 and is preferably approximately 10 to 1.

(21) The stiffeners 22 are not subject to compressive loads and partly for that reason they can be made out of relatively thin material. Moreover, the stiffeners 22 do not even require a complete circular section. In other words, they may comprise strip material roll-formed on or off a construction site into tubes with a circular or oval section, without even requiring the longitudinal joint or gap to be closed.

(22) Another reason the stiffeners can be made out of relatively thin material is that they are supported by the metalogs 14, even as they stiffen the structure formed by the metalogs 14. That is, if the metalogs 14 have a diameter of, say x cm, the stiffeners 22 are supported at intervals that do not exceed x cm in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 and that are even less in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10. The stiffeners 22 when engaged with the metalogs 14 as described herein impart a stiffness to the structure formed by the metalogs 14 that is quite surprising and out of proportion to the light weight of the stiffeners 22.

(23) The stiffeners 22 can be made of metal, wood, or a synthetic material and extend at right angles to the axes of the metalogs.

(24) As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the metalogs 14 have opposite ends 50. Corner connectors 52 respectively support the ends 50, and the stiffeners 22 are spaced apart from the ends 50 and connectors 52. Where multiple stiffeners 50 are employed in a given wall, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stiffeners 22 are spaced apart from the connectors 52 and from one another.

(25) In greater detail, a method according to the invention comprises the steps of spacing a first stiffener a first distance apart from the first connecting means, as illustrated in the back wall in FIG. 2 by the separation between either stiffener 22, say the nearer one, and the nearest corner connectors 52, the first stiffener passing through a first set of aligned holes 24 in the metalogs 14; and spacing a second stiffener a second distance apart from the first stiffener on a side of the first stiffener opposite the first connecting means, as illustrated in the back wall in FIG. 2 by the separation between the two stiffeners in that wall, the second stiffener passing through a second set of aligned holes in the metalogs and being a third distance apart from the second connecting means, as illustrated in the back wall in FIG. 2 by the separation between the second stiffener and the second connecting means (i.e., the corner connectors 52 in the far corner of FIG. 2).

(26) Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel and highly effective structure and method for further stabilizing metalogs so as to obviate X-bracing. The invention provides an improved means and method of stiffening metalog structures.

(27) The invention provides a stiffener for an assembly of metalogs that enables the metalogs to resist forces (due for example to wind) that act in a direction parallel to the axes of the metalogs. It is readily adaptable to existing metalog technology and requires little expense for parts and labor. Moreover, it has a mutual relation to the metalogs such that, while the stiffener itself is light and thin and as a standalone item has little resistance to lateral or compressive forces, it affords a surprising stiffness to the wall or other structure comprising the metalogs, especially as regards the ability of that structure to withstand forces having a component acting in a direction parallel to the plane in which it lies.

(28) Many modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein will readily occur to those having ordinary skill in the art. The invention extends to all embodiments thereof that are within the scope of the appended claims.