SEAM JOINT BUILDING SYSTEM

Abstract: A seam joint building system for joining structural panels at right angles. A male element (7) on one edge (4) of one panel (2) is adapted to fit into a female element (5) on a corresponding edge (3) of a second structural panel (1). The female element (5) has a reversed or folded-back character which provides structural rigidity when the panels are joined. The system is suitable for the construction of small structures such as collapsible animal houses.

Description: SEAM JOINT BUILDING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a seam joint building system which is particularly useful for joining structural panels to form a right angle. Joining of structural panels is a relatively mature art. Useful overviews of the prior art can be found in textbooks such as: "Sheet Metal Work" by John D. Bies, Theodore Audel & Co., a division of G.K. Hall & Co., Boston. Examples of seam joints are shown at pages 100 and 101 of this book and reference is made in particular to figures (N), (0), (Z) and (T). A feature of these examples is the use of a reversal of the direction or turning back of the sheet metal to form a joint which resists lateral disassembly and is, to some extent at least, weatherproof when.used for external construction. Panels having such reversed direction or turned back joints are assembled most easily by sliding longitudinally one element into the other. There is a need for relatively small structures for play purposes, storage or animal shelters, for example. The requirement is that these structures can be assembled and disassembled rapidly and yet be both sturdy and relatively weatherproof. One object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved means for joining structural panels to form a right angle. Such means comprises a seam joint which provides a so-called "slip" or " lock" seam. Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible animal house which in its erected position provides a sturdy, weatherproof shelter for pets. Yet another object is to provide a collapsible animal house or kennel which may be purchased readily in a supermarket situation and transported home in the boot of a family saloon. Furthermore, such a collapsible animal house or kennel may be transported readily from location to location, for example, from home to a week-end cottage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a seam joint building system for joining adjacent structural panels at right angles, said system comprising at least two structural panels, wherein a first structural panel is provided with a male element along one edge thereof and a second structural panel is provided with a female element along a corresponding edge thereof, said male element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said first structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof altered in direction to run generally parallel to said first structural panel, said female element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said second structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof reversed in direction to run generally perpendicular to said second structural panel, whereby said first structural panel may be joined at right angles to said second structural panel by sliding said male element into said female element. This invention further provides a seam joint as described above. When such a seam joint is used in the present invention it affords the advantages of improved rigidity of construction and strength and precise location of joints, as compared with previous attempts to provide such joints in, for example, collapsible or foldable animal houses. Such previous attempts have relied upon channel joint constructions, dovetail joints and even hinging. This invention, therefore, further relates to a collapsible animal house having a box-like structure with two end walls, two side walls, a floor and a roof, wherein vertical joining edges of said end walls and said side walls are provided with corresponding elements of a seam joint according to the invention each such seam joint being adapted to provide a weatherproof corner for such box-like structure. As compared with known houses, the present invention affords improved weatherproofing as well as ease and repeatability of assembly and disassembly. .The roof may be a single element, preferably sloped, but is more preferably a conventional peaked roof. Such roof may be attached to corresponding upper portions of said end walls and side walls by means of said seam joints. However, such means are not essential in this case and may be replaced by corresponding grooves or slots and interfitting male elements. The apex of said roof is preferably provided with an outer sealing element to improve weatherproofing. The floor is preferably of simple drop-in construction, adapted to rest upon corresponding support means at the bottoms of said end walls and side walls. Thus, when the animal house is carried around, the floor is retained in the structure. The material from which the structural panels are made is preferably of metal-clad, foam-filled construction. Such material has structural strength and rigidity and has good insulating properties. The U-channel edge section is also preferably of metal, as are the male and female elements. The U-channel edge section and male and female elements may be integral, that is, formed in one piece. If said elements are of metal the male and female elements may be seam welded to the U-chahnel edge sections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a seam joint building system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar cross-sectional view of a part of an alternative embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figs. 3 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are diagrammatic, cross-sectional views of a female element attached in various ways to a U-channel edge section; Figs. 4 (a) and (b) are similar diagrammatic, cross-sectional views of a male element attached in several ways to a U-channel edge section; Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a seam joint building system according to the invention; Figs. 6 (a) and (b) are diagrammatic plan views of yet another alternative emodiment of a seam joint building system according to the invention; Fig. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of an animal house according to the invention; Fig. 8 is a view also in perspective of the same house, assembled and rotated through 180 ; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of part of an assembled seam joint according to the invention, as applied to the animal house of Figs. 5 and 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, numeral 1 indicates a first structural panel and 2 a second structural panel supplied with U-channel edge sections 3 and 4 respectively along at least one side thereof. Numeral 5 indicates a female element attached to U-channel section 3 by means of seam weld 6. An interfitting male element 7 is shown attached to corresponding U-channel section 4. (A dotted line is used for the sake of clarity.) The male element 7 is attached to U-channel section 4 by seam welds 8. (Two are shown but one may suffice.) In Fig. 2, female element 9 is shown attached to a different point of U-channel section 3 (and faces in the opposite direction) . Again, a seam weld 10 is used to attach female element 9. Figs. 3 (a), (b) , (c) and (d) are self-evident, in the light of previous drawings showing different modes of attaching female elements 11, 13, 5 and 15 to U-channel section 3 by means of seam welds 12, 14, 6 and 16 respectively. Figs. 4 (a) and (b) are also self-evident, showing different modes of attaching male elements 7 and 17 to U- channel section 4 by means of seam welds 8 and 18 respectively. Referring to Fig. 5, an alternative embodiment according to the invention is shown, in which sandwich panels 19 and 20 are provided with corresponding U-channel sections 21 and 22 respectively. Male element 23 is formed integrally with U-channel section 21 and female element 24 is formed integrally with U-channel section 22. As can be seen from this figure, female element 24 is shown inset from the end of structural panel 20 and faces outwardly with respect to the major portion of the structural panel. Structural panel 19, and U-channel section 21, are so proportioned that the right-angled corner formed is flush, promoting the formation of a weathertight seal. Turning to Figs. 6 (a) and (b), a simple embodiment of the invention is shown, with structural panels 25 and 26 in which are formed directly female element 27 and male element 28. These correspond with the female and male elements shown in Fig. 5, the female element 27 being inset in a similar fashion. In Fig. 6 (b) , structural panels 25, 26, 29 and 30 are shown as joined to form a tube-like structure, the male and female elements being shown unnumbered for the sake of clarity. Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, numeral 51 indicates the animal house generally, 52 and 53 opposite end walls and 54 and 55 opposite side walls. Numeral 56 indicates the floor and 57 and 58 corresponding roof elements. (Roof element 58 is shown partially rotated horizontally to reveal its lower surface.) Numeral 59 indicates the reverse folded, female element of a seam and 60 the interfitting male element. In Fig. 9, male seam element 60 is shown fitted into female seam element 59. Numerals 61 and 62 indicate female slot elements on roof element 57 and 62A and 61A (not actually shown in drawing) interfitting male elements on end walls 53 and 52 respectively. Numerals 63 and 64 indicate female elements on roof element 58 and 63A and 64A interfitting male elements on end walls 53 and 52 respectively. Numeral 65 indicates a sealing element attached to roof element 57. Numeral 66 indicates a stop means on roof element 58, which abuts against the upper inner surface of side wall 54, when the roof is assembled. Numeral 67 refers to U-channel edge sections on floor 56 (these sections are also shown on each other element of the structure) . Numeral 68 refers to a structural, rigidifying element in floor 56. Numeral 69 refers to an opening in end wall 53.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A seam joint building system for joining adjacent structural panels at right angles, said system comprising at least two structural panels, wherein a first structural panel is provided with a male element along one edge thereof and a second structural panel is provided with a female element along a corresponding edge thereof, said male element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said first structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof altered in direction to run generally parallel to said first structural panel, said female element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said second structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof reversed in direction to run generally perpendicular to said second structural panel, whereby said first structural panel may be joined at right angles to said second structural panel by sliding said male element into said female element. 2. A seam joint building system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said female element is formed at a point inset from said corresponding edge and is formed to face outwardly, viewed from a point along that surface of said second structural panel from which said female element projects, whereby, when said structural panels are joined, a flush seam joint is formed. 3. A seam joint building system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structural panels are each provided with a U- channel edge section along at least those edges to be joined, said male and female elements being attached to corresponding portions of said U-channel edge section or formed integrally with said corresponding portions. 4. A seam joint building system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said structural panels are of sandwich construction. 5. In a building system for joining adjacent structural panels at right angles, said system comprising at least two structural panels, a seam joint wherein a first structural panel is provided with a male element along one edge thereof and a second structural panel is provided with a female element along a corresponding edge thereof, said male element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said first structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof altered in direction to run generally parallel to said first structural panel, said female element formed to project generally perpendicularly to said second structural panel and at a subsequent region thereof reversed in direction to run generally perpendicular to said second structural panel, whereby said first structural panel may be joined at right angles to said second structural panel by sliding said male element into said female element to form a seam joint. 6. A collapsible animal house having a box-like structure with two end walls, two side walls, a floor and a roof, the vertical joining edges of the four walls being provided with a seam joint, as claimed in claim 5 each such seam joint being adapted to provide a weatherproof corner for said structure. 7. A collapsible animal house according to claim 6, wherein the vertical edges of said end walls are provided with said female elements, and wherein the vertical edges of said side walls are provided with said male elements. 8. A collapsible animal house according to Claim 6, wherein the vertical edges of said side walls are provided with said female elements, and wherein the vertical edges of said end walls are provided with said male elements. 9. A collapsible animal house according to Claim 6, wherein said end walls and said side walls are each provided with a support lug at the bottom edges thereof to support said floor. 10. A collapsible animal house according to Claim 6, wherein said floor is of drop-in construction, said floor being provided with a lateral reinforcing member. 11. A collapsible animal house according to Claim 6, wherein said roof comprises two roof elements, each inner surface of said roof elements being provided with two folded elements or slots adapted to accommodate corresponding male elements on the upper portion of said end walls, a ridge capping attached to one of said two roof elements and bent to correspond with the roof shape formed by said two roof elements, a stop means provided on the lower inner surface of the other of said two roof elements between said two folded elements or slots, said stop means adapted to abut the upper inner surface of one of said side walls. 12. A collapsible animal house according to Claim 11, wherein walls, floor and roof are of sandwich construction provided with U-channel edge sections. mag:1/7

Inventors: BOOTH LESLIE WILLIAM, BOOTH, LESLIE, WILLIAM
Applicants: NAT COMMODITIES AUSTRALIA PTY, NATIONAL COMMODITIES AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16B5
IPC codes: A01K1, E04B1, F16B5