JOINT ELEMENT AND ITS USE

Abstract: The object of the invention is an interlocking element intended for joining together building boards or sheets L1 and L2, and comprising a component A to be fastened to L1, and a component B to be fastened to L2. The cross-sectional profile of component A consists of part (a) which extends into the construction, and of part (b) which continues from part (a) and is oriented towards the centre of L1, and of part (c) which continues from part (b), bending 180 DEG and running in the opposite direction with respect to part (b), towards the joint seam (s) between L1 and L2. Component B comprises a part (m) which extends into the construction. According to the invention, component A in addition consists of part (d) which continues from part (c) in the shape of a Z-profile, and remains on the other side of the joint seam (s). Together parts (a) - (d) form an integrated piece. When components A and B are fastened to adjacent building boards or sheets, components A and B can be joined together by means of a clamping device K passing through L1. The point of the clamping device is pressed against the part assembly (bc) of component A, in which case part (m) of component B, fastened to L2, is clamped in the joint seam (s), as the lower arc of part (d) is pressed towards parts (a) and (m).

Description: JOINT ELEMENT AND ITS USE The object of the invention is an interlocking element intended for joining together building boards or sheets into a larger construction such as a wall or ceiling. The invention also comprises an interlocking system based on the interlocking elements, for joining building units together into a larger construction. The object of the invention also comprises building boards and sheets equipped with the components of the interlocking element, and building units made of these. Pre-fabricated units of very light partition walls intended mainly for open-plan offices are known. More solid, especially sound-proof separating walls must, however, be built on site from conventional building boards and other building materials needed. The coating of the building boards, such as painting must, therefore, also be done on site. It has not been worthwhile to pre-fabricate ready- coated building boards or building units made of building boards for more solid constructions. One of the reasons for this is that there is no appropriate interlocking system for joining together boards or units, which could be used without damaging the coating of finished sheets or units. Especially with building boards that break easily around the edges, such as gypsum board, it has been impossible to pre-fabricate ready-coated building units, also for the reason that their edges do not withstand transportation or handling on the building site. The third reason why building units for more solid structures have not been manufactured is that so far there has been no such interlocking system available by means of which one or more building units could easily be removed from a pre-fabricated unit construction without damaging them, and then replaced again. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the said disadvantages and to present an interlocking element and interlocking system by means of which building boards, building sheets and building units can easily be joined together into larger constructions. Building boards and sheets, and building units equipped with the components of the interlocking system relating to tfte invention can be finished already at the factory. The components of the interlocking system protect the edges of gypsum boards which are particularly prone to breaking during transportation and handling because the said components - which are prefarably of metal - provide the boards with metal edges. From a wall or other construction made of these building units, an unit can, if necessary, easily be removed and replaced again without breaking or damaging the unit. The interlocking system relating to the invention opens up completely new possibilities to equip building units already at the factory to a great extent. This type of wall unit can, for example, be equipped at the factory with conductor rails for electric wiring. The interlocking system relating to the invention also makes it possible to build sound-insulating constructions from building units. Boards or building units equipped with the interlocking arrangement relating to the invention are particularly well suited for use as wall structures but can also be used in other structures, such as ceilings. The characteristics of the invention are presented in claims 1, 3, 6, 8, 16, 17 and 20. The invention is described in greater detail in the following figures. Figure 1 shows the interlocking element when used for joining together two adjacent boards Figure 2 shows the interlocking element when used for joining together two adjacent building sheets Figure 3 shows a detail of an interlocking element incorporating a hook Figure 4 shows building units made of building boards and equipped with the interlocking system relating to the invention, when joined together adjacent to each other into a larger construction Figure 5 shows the construction relating to figure 4 with one of the building unit joints opened Figure 6 shows building units made of building sheets and equipped with the interlocking system relating to the invention, when joined together adjacent to each other into a larger construction Figure 7 shows the construction relating to figure 6 with one of the building unit joints opened Figure 8 shows the interlocking component assembly Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the interlocking component assembly Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of the interlocking component assembly Figure 11 shows a starting component of the interlocking system for mounting on a fixed construction Figure 12 shows a building unit when mounted on a fixed construction by means of the starting component relating to figure 11 Figure 13 shows the mounting of building units in a corner Figure 14 shows the vertical section of a wall unit fixed to the ceiling and floor Figure 15 shows the vertical section of a wall unit fixed to the ceiling Figure 16 shows the vertical section of a wall unit fixed to the ceiling Figure 1 shows the interlocking element when used for joining together two adjacent boards LI and L2. The interlocking element comprises two interlocking components: component A which is fastened to board LI, and component B which is fastened to board L2. The interlocking element is essentially of the same length as boards LI and L2, in other words, where a wall construction is concerned, the interlocking element extends from the floor to the ceiling, as do the boards. The cross-sectional profile of component A consists of a first part (a), extending from the plane of the outer surface of the construction over a certain distance into the construction and forms an almost right- angled construction with the outer surface, and of a second part (b) which continues from the first part (a) and forms an essentially right angle with part (a) and is oriented towards the centre of board LI, and of a third part (c) which continues from the second part (b), bending approximately 180 degrees and running in the opposite direction with respect to part (b), towards the joint seam (s) between boards LI and L2, and of a fourth part (d) which continues from the third part (c) in the shape of a Z-profile, and remains on the other side of the joint seam (s). Together the parts (a) - (d) form an integrated piece. Component B, which is fastened to the other board, L2, also has essentially the same length as LI and L2. Component B comprises a part (m), the cross section of which, as shown in the plane of figure 1, is no longer than the cross section of part (a), in order for the outer surface formed by the boards LI and L2 to be even. Part (m) extends from the plane of the outer surface of the construction over a certain distance into the construction, and forms an essentially right angle with the outer surface of the construction. Components A and B may be>fastened in different ways to the boards Ll and L2, respectively. In this figure, component A has a part (e) which is connected through part (f) to part (a). Part (e) is parallel to the side surface of board Ll and fastened to the board, for example, by means of screws 10 over the whole length of the board, on the surface remaining inside the construction. Part (f), located between parts (a) and (e) of component A, is an oblique part joining parts (a) and (e). Component B comprises part (n) which is connected to part (m) , through part (p). Part' (n) is fastened with screws 11, over the whole length of the board, against the inner surface of the board. When components A and B are fastened to adjacent boards Ll and L2 respectively, components A and B can be joined together by means of the clamping device K, which passes through board Ll. The point of the clamping device can be made to press against the part assembly (be) of component A, in which case part (m) of component B fastened to board L2 - the said part being pushed between parts (a) and (d) of component A - is clamped in the joint seam (s), as the lower arc of part (d) is pressed towards parts (a) and (m) . It is not necessary to arrange clamping devices K at regular intervals over the whole length of the board, but it suffices that there are clamping devices at both ends of the board. If a wall construction is concerned, it suffices that there are clamping devices, for example, near the floor and ceiling. The clamping device, which is preferably a screw, will then be covered by the skirting, or correspondingly by the cornice moulding or ceiling. The space 12 between the edge of board Ll and part (f) of component A, as well as the space 13 between the edge of board L2 and part (p) of component B are filled with jointing compound, preferably elastic cement which is smoothed to the level of the outer surface of the building board. The solution shown in this figure, according to which part (p) consists of two parts, (p' ) and (p''), is advantageous if the distance between the joint seam (s) and board L2 is relatively long, as is the case with the building unit interlocking system (figure 5), because this solution saves jointing compound. When it is a question merely of joining together two boards, the said distance could be much shorter and part (p) could here equally well be, for example, a single part connecting parts (m) and (n) obliquely. An interlocking element can be mounted on the side edges of the building boards, as shown in figure 1, so that component A is fitted on the first side edge and component B on the second side edge of the board, in which case this single board type suffices to assemble the construction. Alternatively, two types of boards can be made, so that a component A is fitted on both side edges of the first board type, and a component B is fitted on both side edges of the second board type. The desired construction can be assembled by using the first and second board types alternately. Figure 2 shows the interlocking element when used to join together two adjacent building sheets, Ll and L2. In this solution the side edge of the sheet Ll forms a seamless connection with part (a) of component A, and correspondingly the side edge of sheet L2 forms a seamless connection with part (m) of component B. This solution comprises a building sheet which is pre-equipped with interlocking components and from which different constructions can be made. As was the case with boards, two types of sheets can also be made so that parts (a) - (d) of component A are formed on both side edges of the first sheet type, and part (m) of component B is formed on both side edges of the second sheet type. The desired construction can be assembled by using the first and second sheet types alternately. Reference number 14 shows a sleeve made in the sheet into which the screw acting as the clamping device can be fitted. Alternatively, for example a plate screw can be used. To secure the joint, between components A and B, a hook can be provided on one component and a groove corresponding to the form of the hook on the other component in the vicinity of the point of contact between the components. Figure 3 shows a detail of an interlocking element provided with a hook 30. Figure 4 shows building units Rl and Rl, made of building units Ll - L4 and equipped with the interlocking system relating to the invention, joined together adjacent to each other into a larger construction, for example a wall. Figure 5 shows the construction of figure 4 with one joint of the building unit R2 opened. The first building unit Rl comprises two parallel building boards, Ll and L3, at a certain distance from each other and the adjacent building unit R2 comprises two building boards L2 and L4. At the joint seam between building units Rl and R2, component A of the interlocking element described above has been fastened to building boards Ll and L4, and component B of the interlocking element described above has been fastened to building boards L2 and L3. Component A is fitted to L4 in the same way as to Ll, and component B is fitted to L3 in the same way as to L2, as seen from both sides of the construction. In this figure, part (e) of component A mounted on board Ll is joined to part (n) of component B mounted on L3 by means of an intermediate part (t) . Similarly, part (e) of component A mounted on board L4 is joined to part (n) of component B mounted on board L2. If the intermediate part (t) forms a right angle with parts (e) and (n), the interlocking system also provides the best support for the building unit. Figure 4 shows that building units Rl, R2 and R3 are identical. In assembling the construction, they are turned alternately. In the solution described component A, component B and the intermediate part (t) connecting them together form an integrated interlocking component assembly. Figure 5 shows that by opening the clamping devices K of the interlocking system which keeps building unit R2 in place, unit R2 can be removed from the middle of the construction. The other building units can be removed in a similar way by removing the units by turns in opposite directions. In figure 5, building unit R2 is removed to the right. Building units Rl and R3, on the other hand, are removed to the left. In order for the building unit to be removed thus easily, the distance (v) - in the interlocking system - of the line passing through the joint seam (s) of Ll and L2 from the line passing through the joint seam (s') of L3 and L4 must be at least double with respect to the space required by the Z-profiled part (d) of component A in the transverse direction of the building unit. This ensures that the Z- profiled parts (d) of the different building units in the interlocking system are able to pass each other when one building unit is being removed. Since the distance between the edge of board L2 and the joint seam (s) (and correspondingly the distance between board L3 and the joint seam (s')) thus becomes rather long, it is preferable to make part (p), situated between the parts (m) and (n) of component B, of two adjacent parts (p' ) and (p''), so that the angle between parts (p' ) and (p''), opening inside the construction, is less than 180 degrees. This solution saves on the amount of jointing compound used between the edges of the boards and the parts (p), compared to a case where part (p) would join parts (m) and (n) as a straight piece. Figure 6 shows construction units Rl and R2, made in the same manner from building sheets Ll - L4 and equipped with the interlocking system, joined together adjacent to each other into a larger construction. Reference number 14 refers to a sleeve provided for the clamping device. Figure 7 shows the construction of figure 6 with one joint of building unit R2 opened. Insulating material is normally placed between the metal sheets of the building units so that the sheets are fixed to the insulating material, for example, by glueing. By means of the unit solution shown in figures 6 and 7, a very soundproof construction can be achieved thanks to there being no metal parts relating to the interlocking system, joining outer surfaces, between the outer surface metal sheets of the construction. A sound bridge formed by building units made of building boards can also be cut by cutting the intermediate part (t) and by joining the cut parts by means of a separate component. The interlocking component assembly shown in figure 8 can be modified, for example, as shown in figures 9 and 10. In figure 9, a piece has been cut off from the intermediate part (t) and replaced by a plastic profile 15. Figure 10 shows an interlocking component assembly in which the intermediate part (t) has been replaced by a two-part intermediate part (t'), the first part (tl) of which continues from part (e) but remains detached from part (n), and the second part (t2) of which continues from part (n) but remains detached from part (e). A certain distance is left between parts (tl) and (t2), and between them is fitted rubber insulation material or the like 16, where parts (tl) and (t2) are joined together. Figure 12 shows the starting point of the installation of a building unit from a solid structure to which the starting component 17 has been fixed. Figure 13 shows the mounting of building units to form a corner. The parts (t) belonging to the interlocking systems are joined together by means of support elements 31 before the installation of the building units. Electric wires can be installed in the building units relating to the invention if part (t) of the interlocking component assembly is provided with holes in the longitudinal direction of the interlocking system, through which holes the wires can be passed from one building unit to another. Conductor rails for electric wires can also be installed in these building units . Figures 14 - 16 show a vertical section of a wall unit and display three alternatives for fastening the building unit to the floor, ceiling, or both. In all these solutions there are U-shaped profile rails 18 and 19 fastened to both the floor and ceiling in the longitudinal direction of the wall. In figure 14 the building unit is fastened to both the floor rail 18 and the ceiling rail 19 by means of profile components 20 and 21 respectively, so that the unit shown in the figure is released to the right when the screw joints are opened. The units must be mounted to open alternately to the right and to the left. In figure 14, the fastening points of the units in the floor and ceiling rails remain under the skirting and the cornice, respectively. Figure 15 shows an embodiment in which the unit is fastened with screws only to the ceiling rail 19. The joint remains above the ceiling. On the bottom edge of the unit, a profile 22 corresponding to the floor rail 18 keeps the unit in place. The unit can be removed to the right by lifting it upwards after the screw joint in the ceiling has been opened. In this solution there is no need to use skirting. Figure 16 shows a solution in which the unit is fastened only to the floor rail. On the top edge of the unit, a profile 23 corresponding to the ceiling rail 19 keeps the unit in place. The unit is removed to the right by removing the skirting, opening the screw joint and lowering the unit. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An interlocking element intended for joining together different building boards or sheets Ll and L2 into a larger construction, such as a wall or ceiling, the said interlocking element comprising a component A fastenable to the side edge of the first building board or sheet Ll, and a component B fastenable to the the side edge of the second building board or sheet L2, the components A and B being essentially of the same length as the building board or sheet, and the cross-sectional profile of component A consisting of - a first part (a) extending from the plane of the outer surface of the construction over a certain distance into the construction and forming an almost right-angled construction with the outer surface, and - of a second part (b) which continues from the first part (a) and forms an essentially right angle with part (a) and is oriented towards the centre of the building board or sheet Ll in question, and - of a third part (c) which continues from the second part (b), bending approximately 180 degrees and running in the opposite direction with respect to part (b), towards the joint seam (s) between the building boards or sheets Ll and L2, and component B comprises a part (m) which extends from the plane of the outer surface of the construction over a certain distance into the construction, and forms an essentially right angle with the outer surface of the construction, characterized in that - component A in addition consists of a fourth part (d) which continues from the third part (c) in the shape of a Z-profile, and remains on the other side of the joint seam (s), the parts (a) - (d) together forming an integrated piece, and - the cross section of part (m) of component B is no longer than the cross section of part (a), and that - when components A and B are fastened to adjacent building boards or sheets Ll and L2 respectively, the components A and B can be joined together by means of a clamping device K passing through the first building board or sheet Ll, the point of which clamping device can be made to press against the part assembly (be) of component A, in which case part (m) of component B fastened to the other building board or sheet L2 - when the said part is pushed between parts (a) and (d) of component A - is clamped in the joint seam (s), as the lower arc of part (d) is pressed towards parts (a) and (m) . 2 . An interlocking element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in order to secure the joint between components A and B, in the vicinity of the point of contact between the components, there is a hook on one of the components and a groove corresponding to the form of the hook on the other component. 3. A building sheet Ll, which can be joined to another building sheet to form a larger construction, and in which the interlocking element claimed in claim 1 or 2 is incorporated, so that the first side edge of the building sheet forms a seamless connection with component B of the interlocking element, and the second side edge of the building sheet forms a seamless connection with component A of the interlocking element, or that both side edges of the building sheet form a seamless connection with component A of the interlocking element, characterized in that - part (m) of component B extends over a certain distance into the construction from the first side edge of the building sheet, essentially at right angles to the building sheet, and that part (a) of component A extends over a certain distance into the construction from the second side edge of the building sheet, essentially at right angles to the building sheet, in which case the adjacent building sheets Ll can be joined together by means of the adjacent components A and B as described above, or - part (a) of component A extends over a certain distance into the construction from both side edges of the building sheet Ll, essentially at right angles to the building sheet, in which case the building sheet Ll can be joined to another building sheet L2, both side edges of which form a seamless connection with part (m) of component B. 4. An interlocking element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that component A has a part (e) which is connected through part (f) to part (a), the said part (e) preferably being parallel to the surface of the building board and fastenable to the surface of the board remaining inside the construction. 5. An interlocking element as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that component B comprises a part (n) which is connected through part (p) to part (m) , the said part (n) preferably being parallel to the surface of the building board and fastenable to the surface of the board remaining inside the construction. 6. A building board Ll, which can be joined with another building board and in which the interlocking element claimed in claim 1, 2, 4 or 5 is incorporated so that the first side edge of the building board is fitted with component A of the interlocking element, and the second side edge of the building board is fitted with component B, or that both side edges of the building board are fitted with component A of the interlocking element, characterized in that - part (a) of component A extends over a certain distance into the construction from the first side edge of the building board, essentially at right angles to the building board, and that part (m) of component B extends over a certain distance into the construction from the second side edge of the building board, essentially at right angles with the building board, in which case the adjacent building boards Ll can be joined together by means of the adjacent components A and B as described above, or - part (a) of component A extends over a certain distance into the construction from both side edges of the building board Ll, essentially at right angles to the building board, in which case the building board Ll can be joined to another, adjacent building board L2, both side edges of which are fitted with component B of the interlocking element. •» 7. A building board as claimed in claim 6, in which an interlocking element complying with claim 4 or 5 is incorporated so that component A of the interlocking element is fitted on the first side edge of the building board and component B is fitted on the second side edge of the building board, or both side edges of the building board are fitted with a component A of the interlocking element, characterized in that the space (12) between the edge of the building board and part (f) of component A, as well as the space (13) between the edge of the building board and part (p) of component B are filled with jointing compound, preferably elastic cement which is smoothed to the level of the outer surface of the building board. 8. An interlocking system incorporating an interlocking element as claimed in any of the claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, and intended for joining together building units Rl and R2, made of building boards or sheets, into a larger construction such as a wall or ceiling, the first building unit Rl comprising two parallel building boards or -sheets Ll and L3 at a certain distance from each other, and the second building unit R2 comprising two parallel building boards or sheets L2 and L4 at a certain distance from each other, in which case the distance between Ll and L3 equals the distance between L2 and L4, and Ll and L2 form adjacent boards on the first side of the construction and L3 and L4 form adjacent boards on the second side of the construction, characterized in that it comprises, at the joint seam between building units Rl and R2, component A of the interlocking element which can be fastened to building boards or sheets Ll and L4, and component B of the interlocking element which can be fastened to building boards or sheets L2 and L3, in which case component A is fitted to L4 in the same way as to Ll, and component B is fitted to L3 in the same way as to L2, as seen from both sides of the construction. 9. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that when components A and B are fitted to building boards or sheets Ll - L4, the distance (v) of the line passing through the seam of Ll and L2 from the line passing through the seam of L3 and L4 is at least double with respect to the space required by the Z-profiled part (d) of component A in the transverse direction of the building unit. 10. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that part (p), situated between parts (m) and (n) of component B, consists of two adjacent parts (p') and (p' ' ) , so that the angle between parts (p' ) and (p' ' ) , opening inside the construction, is less than 180 degrees. 11. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that part (e) of component A, mountable on Ll, is joined by means of an intermediate part (t) to part (n) of component B, mountable on L3, and that part (e) of component A, mountable on L4, is joined by means of a similar intermediate part (t) to part (n) of component B, mountable on L2. 12. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the intermediate parts (t) form an essentially right angle with parts (e) and (n), and that, if desired, a separate component can be arranged in the intermediate part (t) to cut the sound bridge between the outer surfaces of the constructions. 13. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a piece has been cut off from the intermediate part (t) and replaced by a plastic profile or the like (15) . 14. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the intermediate part (t) is replaced by a two-part intermediate part (f), the first part (tl) of which continues from part (e) but remains detached from part (n), and the second part (t2) of which continues from part (n) but remains detached from part (e), and a certain distance is left between parts (tl) and (t2), in which rubber insulation material or the like (16) is fixed, at the point where parts (tl) and (t2) are joined together. 15. An interlocking system as claimed in any of the claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the intermediate part (t) or (f) is provided with holes in the longitudinal direction of the interlocking system, through which holes electric wires and the like can be passed into the building unit. 16. An interlocking component assembly acting as one part of an interlocking system relating to claim 11 intended for joining together building units, characterized in that it is an integrated piece comprising a component A and a component B joined together so that part (e) of component A is joined with part (n) of component B by means of intermediate part (t). 17. A building unit comprising two parallel building boards Ll and L3 at a certain distance from each other, between which are fitted, if desired, insulation material and/or support elements, and an interlocking component assembly as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the said interlocking component assembly is fitted to the first side edge of the building unit so that component A of the assembly is fastened to board Ll and component B of the assembly is fastened to board L3, and the said interlocking component assembly is also fastened to the second side edge so that its component A is fastened to board Ll and its component B to board L3. 18. A building unit as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the spaces (12) between the edges of board Ll and parts (f) of components A, as well as the spaces (13) between the edges of board L3 and parts (p) of components B are filled with jointing compound, preferably elastic cement, which is smoothed to the level of the outer surface of the building board. 19. An interlocking system as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that - part (a) of component A forms a seamless connection with both the first and second side edges of building sheet Ll, and - part (n) of component B forms a seamless connection with both the first and second side edges of building sheet L3. 20. A building unit comprising two parallel building sheets Ll and L3 at a certain distance from each other, between which are fitted, if desired, insulation material and/or support elements, and an interlocking component assembly as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that building sheets Ll and L3 form a seamless connection with components A and B of the interlocking system so that - part (a) of component A forms a seamless connection with both the first and second side edges of building sheet Ll, and - part (n) of component B forms a seamless connection with both the first and second side edges of building sheet L3. 21. A building unit as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 20, characterized in that inside it is fitted a conductor rail for electric wiring, transversely to the building unit, at a certain distance from the end of the building unit.

Inventors: KORDELIN TAPIO, KORDELIN, TAPIO
Applicants: KORDELIN TAPIO, SHIPPAX LTD OY, OY SHIPPAX LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B2, E04B9, E04C2, E04D3