PARTIALLY RIGID CHANNEL SECTION HAVING CLOSE TRANSVERSAL NOTCHES AND A CONTINUOUS LONGITUDINAL RIBBING LOCATED ON THE BASE FLANGE BETWEEN THE DISCONTINUOUS SIDE FLANGES

Abstract: The present invention relates to a partially rigid section obtained from a sheet (1) by notching the same in the crosswise direction and in positions close to one another and by bending it along longitudinal lines so that a central, longitudinal, continuous ribbing is formed. The section has a cross section like a double U with two vertical flanges connected to each other centrally and having a continuous squeezed bending (5). The top plan view of the section shows the crosswise notches which extend from the base of the central, vertical squeezed bending and are symmetric with respect to such bending and rise along the vertical side flanges. The section may also show a curved shape, with the side flanges being not necessarily parallel to each other, and may be provided with longitudinal slots both in the base flange and in the side flanges. In any case, however, the section always has a longitudinal continuous bending.

Description: Partially rigid channel section having close transversal notches and a continuous longitudinal ribbing located on the base flange between the discontinuous side flanges Among the plurality of cases that may occur in a yard, the most frequent is the erection of straight or curved partition walls. Usually, in case of straight partition walls, the present state of art makes use of U-shaped channel sections secured to the floor and the ceiling in which vertical uprights are inserted so as to form a carrying construction that will be then ceiled by a panelling of plaster board. In case of curved partition walls, however, particular flexible guide sections are used that can be easily shaped by hand, the cost of which, however, limits their spreading and induces workers to cut manually the rigid sections in order to bend them. Also in this case, the cost increases because of the longer time needed. The section of the present industrial invention is originated from the need in the yards of providing a section with a partially rigid construction that can be easily bent by hand, if necessary, in order to provide curved carrying constructions for supporting panelling typically employed for finishing the interiors of the rooms and using the technology of the light dry prefabrication. The section concerned has low cost that can be compared to the rigid guide sections even if they can be easily bent by hand so that they can perform the same function and be used under the same conditions as the known special flexible guide sections. In fact, in case of curved walls, the section of the invention can be easily shaped by hand and directly in the yard like the special flexible sections. It is secured to the floor and the ceiling following the bending of the wall, whereupon the vertical uprights are inserted after having preliminary cut a little central portion of their both end surfaces in order to allow the uprights to be received in the guide channel section which has a longitudinal continuous ribbing squeezed in the vertical plane in its central flange, such central flange and the side flanges being cut in the crosswise direction. It should be appreciated that the guide section can be perfectly bent on a continuous basis when it is bent according to an arc by a manual action at its ends. Because of such a feature it is avoided that the single portions of the section are placed along the desired bending arc. Once the uprights are positioned, they are received into the guide section that has three surfaces abutting against the side loads, while the known sections have only two of such surfaces. The present section is illustrated in the accompanying drawings that show some not limiting examples with the respective solutions for determined architectural embodiments . Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the sheet with the notches and the bending lines by which the guide section is obtained, Fig. 2 shows a sectioned view of the guide section obtained, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the guide section, Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the guide section under curved conditions to emphasise its flexibility, Figs . 5 and 6 show sectioned and perspective views of the section illustrated above but having one of the two side flanges which is not bent, respectively, Figs 7 and 8 show sectioned and perspective views of the guide section having, however, further bending at both side flanges, respectively, Figs. 9 and 10 show sectioned and perspective views of the guide section having an inside bending of one side flange while the other side flange is not bent so that both flanges are not coplanar but orthogonal to each other, respectively, Figs. 11 and 12 shows sectioned and perspective views of the guide section, the side flanges of which have further bending with angles greater than 90°, respectively, Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show variations of the guide section provided with longitudinal and transversal slots, Figs. 16 and 17 show perspective and sectioned views of a vertical upright inserted in two guide sections and partially notched in its side surface, respectively, Fig. 18 shows an intact upright received into two guide sections having the cross section shown in Fig. 11, Figs. 19 and 20 show architectural, operative construction details of the guide section. With reference to the Figures, the section is obtained from a flat sheet (1) from which some material of its surface (2) is cut and removed. It is bent along the longitudinal hatched lines (3) , (4) , (5) , (6) , (7) of the sheet. Slots (8) are provided to make the fastening of the section to other constructions easy. It should be noted that the notches in the material are interrupted near the bending lines (4) and (6) , while a squeezed bending (5) is formed along the longitudinal ribbing so that the section is given a longitudinal rigidity and may be bent in a plane parallel to the base flange. In this position the section may only be bent in the resting plane of the base flange, while it is rigid with respect to an orthogonal plane so that the bending of the section is perfectly coplanar to the resting plane. For such reason the section may be referred to as "partially rigid" section. In fact, it bends if its base flange is positioned vertically, while it is rigid if its base flange is positioned horizontally. Starting from the same notched sheet shown in Fig. 1, the section shown in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 6 can be obtained in which no bending along line (7) is made; in this way, one of the side flanges is coplanar to the base flange. Starting from the same notched sheet shown in Fig. 1, the section shown in Fig. 7 and in Fig. 8 can be provided by carrying out two further bendings (3 ' ) and (7') obtained by folding a portion of the side flanges outwards, thus forming lugs (9) and (9 1 ). Starting from the same notched sheet shown in Fig. 1, the section shown in Fig. 9 and in Fig. 10 can be obtained in which no bending along line (6) but only along lines (7) and (7') is made, with the end portion of one side flange being bent inwards so as to form lugs (10) . Starting from the same notched sheet shown in Fig. 1, the section shown in Fig. 11 and in Fig. 12 can be provided by carrying out two further bendings (3") and (7") obtained by folding the side flanges between the bending lines (3) -(3') and (7) -(7') by an angle greater than 90°. It should be noted that there is always the squeezed bending (5) in all of the possible configurations of the section, such a feature of the present invention being absolutely new. Further variations in the geometry of the notches shown in Fig. 1 fall in the domain of the present invention, even with the provision or not of slots along the bending lines (3), (3'), (3"), (4), (5), (6), (7), (7-), (7"). Some configurations that can be obtained by providing slots (11), (12) and (13) are shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15 given by way of a not limiting or binding example. The described and illustrated section differs from the flexible sections already existing on the market both because of its lower cost and because it provides a carrying construction which is more resistant to the side loads. The section can show different shapes even if the same inventive concept of the longitudinal squeezed ribbing, that gives the section a rigidity along the plane which is orthogonal to the bending itself, may be applied. Further advantages may be added to the advantages mentioned above and obtained by using the present guide profile. They will be self-evident if described in connection to particular architectural elements. In case of a straight or curved wall for which the guide section shown in Fig. 3 is used, it is first necessary that the end of the vertical uprights (14) to be inserted in the section are notched by removing a little central portion of material (15) and (16) therefrom, as shown in Fig. 16, in order to allow the upright to be exactly received into the guide section (Fig. 17) . Otherwise one may use the guide section shown in Fig. 11. In the latter case, it is not necessary to notch the vertical uprights as they rest on the side ribs that are formed by the bendings (3 ' ) - (3") and (7') -(7"), as shown in Fig. 18. The section shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 finds application as curved peripheral member for curved panelling or straps (Fig. 19) . Two special flexible sections to be coupled and secured to each other were hitherto necessary for such embodiment . The section shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 finds application as curved offsets, as shown in Fig. 20. Two special flexible sections to be coupled and secured to each other were hitherto necessary for such embodiment . The described and illustrated section makes always reference, as new component thereof, to the stiffening ribbing obtained by a squeezed bending. However, it is self-evident that it can be obtained under the same inventive step in any other way and take any cross section capable of performing the predetermined function. The stiffening ribbing may also be obtained, if necessary, by a suitable approach of two L- or U- sections and by securing them together. In any case, formal and structural modification of the proposed solution may be made under the same inventive step as it is defined in the appended claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A section obtained from a sheet provided with close transversal notches and a longitudinal continuous ribbing located between its side flanges in order to provide partially rigid sections that can be bent by hand to make a curved carrying construction. 2. The section of claim 1, characterized in that the ribbing is obtained from the sheet by a squeezed bending . 3. The section of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribbing can be obtained from the sheet in any way. 4. The section of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribbing can be obtained by a suitable approach of L- or U-sections and by securing them together. 5. The section of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribbing may take any suitable cross section. 6. The section of the preceding claims, characterized in that suitable longitudinal or transversal slots may be provided in such section. 7. The section of the preceding claims, characterized in that it may take any suitable shape for the function to be performed by bending the flanges of the section in different ways.

Inventors: GUERRASIO ANTONIO, GUERRASIO, ANTONIO
Applicants: GUERRASIO ANTONIO, GUERRASIO, ANTONIO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2