Patent Publication Number: US-7707794-B2

Title: Structure for constructing the structure

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/249,643 filed Oct. 13, 2005 which is currently pending. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a conveniently constructed structure which can be constructed by the method of the present invention by inexperienced individuals using few tools and a method for constructing the structures. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In many instances, individuals who have retired or who have recently moved to rural areas or individuals in urban areas are interested in constructing building as do-it-yourself projects. While the present invention is extremely useful and adapted to individuals who wish to construct building themselves, it is also well adapted to the construction of building by professionals who may use the method of the present invention to economically and efficiently to construct structures. The structures may be buildings, walls, fences and the like. 
   In the past, the construction of building has required the use of welding, complicated bracket and bolt assemblies and the like. 
   According to the present invention, a simple method is provided for constructing a structure using tools such as a saw, a screw driver, a power screw driver, self-tapping screws and the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, a method is provided for constructing a structure comprising: positioning a plurality of cylindrical members in an upright position; positioning a clip including an arcuate section adapted to matingly engage one of the cylindrical members at a selected location and a tab positioned on a first end of the clip to extend outwardly from the cylindrical member in a selected orientation when the arcuate section is positioned on the cylindrical member, the tab being adapted to support a plate on the cylindrical member at a selected location; positioning a plate having an opening adapted to fit closely around at least a portion of the cylindrical member and having at least one slot extending from a circumference of the opening and adapted to permit passage of a tab therethrough on a tab at a selected location; and, supporting a purlin on a clip and a plate on each of at least two cylindrical members to support the purlin in a selected position relative to the two cylindrical members. 
   The invention further includes a structure comprising: a plurality of cylindrical members in an upright position; a plurality of clips each having a first end positioned on at least two of the cylindrical members at selected locations, each of the clips comprising an arcuate section adapted to matingly engage one of the cylindrical members at a selected location and a tab positioned on the first end of the clip extending outwardly from the cylindrical member in a selected orientation when the clip is positioned in mating engagement with the cylindrical members; a plurality of plates having an opening adapted to fit closely around one of the cylindrical members and having at least one slot extending outwardly from a circumference of the opening and adapted to permit passage of a tab therethrough and positioned on a tab of a clip; and, a plurality of purlins supported at a selected location between at least a portion of the upright cylindrical members by a clip and a plate to form the building structure. 
   The invention also provides a connection for joining purlins comprising two plates orthogonally joined at their ends with each of the plates having a flange along one of its sides with an opening positioned at a selected angle through each flange and into each plate along the side of the plate at a selected angle for a distance equal to up to one third of width of each plate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a frame construction for a wall comprising two cylindrical members and supported purlins; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a clip used in the construction shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the clip shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the clip shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a plate useful with the clip shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the plate shown in  FIG. 5 , taken at line AA; 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of a purlin; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of a pipe having a clip mounted to the pipe; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of a pipe, including a clip positioned as shown in  FIG. 8 , with a plate, as shown in  FIG. 5 , positioned on the pipe; 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternate arrangement wherein a plate is used to support a purlin on each side of a pipe; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the plate shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a plate adapted for positioning around a cylinder to form a corner in a structure; 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of a connector for connecting two purlins; 
       FIG. 14  is an end view of the connector of  FIG. 13 , taken at lines BB; 
       FIG. 15  is an end view of a plate for mounting a purlin with its wide surface parallel to an axis of the cylindrical member. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of a plate, including a first plate and a second plate, including an opening adapted for positioning over a clip on a cylindrical member; 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of a connector for purlins comprising two plates, which are positioned orthogonally to each other; 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram of a purlin positioned on two cylindrical members to form a sloped roof for a building structure; 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic diagram of three cylindrical members positioned to support purlins at the cylindrical members and on a horizontal purlin at a location intermediate to the cylindrical members; 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic diagram of a junction of two purlins at two clips on a roof pipe; and, 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the discussion of the Figures, the same numbers will be used throughout to refer to the same or similar components. 
   The present invention is directed to a system for assembling component parts of a structure, which may be a wall, a fence or a complete building comprising walls, windows and a roof produced by the method of the present invention. The present invention is directed primarily to the construction of the structure, i.e., skeletal components of a building and it not limited to any particular type of siding, roof material or the like. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a structure  10  is shown and comprises first and second cylindrical supports  14  and  16  having a first axis  38  and a second axis  40 , which are supported from a surface  12  which may be a cement floor, an earth surface, a structural member (not shown), especially if it is desired to move structure  10  after completion of the structure or the like. The structure is completed by positioning clips  18  at selected locations on first and second cylindrical supports  14  and  16  as shown. The clips are discussed in detail subsequently but generally comprise an arcuate portion  44  fastened to a surface of a cylindrical support using screws to position a tab  20  on a bottom  50  of arcuate portion  44  relative to a cylindrical support. A plate  22 , which is also discussed subsequently in more detail, is then positioned around a cylindrical support and supported in position on the cylindrical support by tab  20 . A plurality of clips and plates are used to support purlins at selected locations on first and second cylindrical supports  14  and  16 . Purlins  24 ,  26  and  28  are shown positioned at selected location  30 ,  32  and  34  to form a frame which may be covered with an exterior siding material or any other desired material. 
   In cutaways shown at A, the plates are shown engaging purlin  28 . Desirably the distance  36  by which the ends of purlin  28  overlie plates  22  is at least one inch up to about 4 inches, although longer overlaps are not undesirable. As shown, the clips  18  are retained in position by screws  42  with plates  22  being secured to purlins  24 ,  26  and  28  by screws  42 . These screws are desirably self-tapping screws and are readily used to secure clips  18  to cylindrical supports  14  and  16 . The only tools required to construct the structure shown in  FIG. 1  are a saw or other device for cutting purlins and a screw driver for use to install the plates and clips as described herein. Clearly individuals who wish to produce structures for their own use can readily do so using the method of the present invention to produce structures according to the present invention. 
   In  FIG. 2 , a more detailed top view of a clip is shown. The clip includes an arcuate portion  44  which is curved to fit a section of a cylindrical member. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the arcuate portion is fastened to the cylindrical member by screws  42  which may be positioned through openings  46  to fasten the arcuate portion  44  to a cylindrical member. Arcuate portion  44  includes a bottom  50  which as positioned on a cylindrical member and used to secure a plate, provides a space  48  which is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the plate so that the tab  20  extends to support the plate in position as described below while providing space to restrain upward movement of the plate relative to clip  18 . This feature is shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 . The tab has a thickness sufficient to support a plate  22 . 
   In  FIG. 5  a plate  22  is shown. Plate  22  includes an opening  54  which includes two slots  56  which may be positioned as desired and an end  58 . The slots are positioned to facilitate passage of tab  20  through the plate so that when the plate is rotated, the tab is beneath the plate. The slots permit the positioning of the plate with opening  54  being no larger than required for passage over the outside of a cylindrical support. When the plate is rotated after passage of the tab through the plate, then the bottom  50  of the clip retains the plate in position relative to upward movement while the tab restricts movement of the plate in the opposite direction. 
   In  FIG. 6  an end view of plate  22  of  FIG. 5  is show. The end view shows a flange  60  positioned on one side of plate  22 . This flange is positioned to interact with a flange on purlins  24 ,  26  and  28 . This facilitates the positioning of the purlins on plate  22 . Desirably the purlins are fastened to plate  22  or a similar plate by screws which are desirably self-tapping screws which facilitate the assembly of the component parts. 
   In  FIG. 7  an end view of a purlin  70 , as known to the art, is shown. Purlins are available in a variety of lengths and are readily cut to a desired length. The purlin includes a flat portion  62  which is generally positioned on a top or a side as the purlin is installed. The purlin further includes side portions  64  with flanges  66  on the ends of side portions  64 . This construction provides an element which may be used as pipes or 2″×4″ wood boards are used in other constructions to form longitudinal members between cylindrical supports and perform other functions such as rafters and the like in construction in the method of the present invention. 
   In  FIG. 8 , a cylindrical support which is desirably a pipe, but could be a solid wooden support, a solid metal support or the like is shown. As shown the cylindrical member comprise a pipe  74  with a clip  18  positioned on the pipe. Screws  42  are used to hold arcuate portion  44  of clip  18  on the cylindrical member. As shown, tab  20  extends outwardly from cylindrical member  14  to form a tab  20  which retains a plate in position as discussed previously. 
     FIG. 9  shows a plate  22  as shown in  FIG. 5  in position on a cylindrical pipe  74 . As positioned, plate  22  is held in position by tab  20 , shown as a dotted line, and the bottom of arcuate portion  44 . 
   It will be understood that the plate can take a variety of configurations and as shown for instance in  FIG. 10  a plate  68  is shown which extends in two directions from cylindrical support  14 . This plate is held in position by a single clip, although two clips could be used as desired, and supports two purlins  24  and  70 . The use of the clip and plate is as described previously with the variation being that the plate is adapted to support a purlin on each side of the cylindrical member. 
   In  FIG. 11  a top view of plate  68  as shown in  FIG. 10  is shown. Plate  68  includes an opening  54 , two tabs  56  and includes ends  84  and  86 , both of which are capable of supporting a purlin. 
   In  FIG. 12  a further variation is shown of plate  72  adapted to position purlins at a selected location on a pipe  74  at right angles. While this plate is shown to position the purlins at right angles, it will be understood that other angles could also be used. This plate also may be supported by a single clip. In an alternate embodiment, the purlins at a corner could be supported as shown in  FIG. 1  for supporting the purlins on each of the cylindrical members. 
     FIG. 13  shows a junction plate  76  which is useful to join purlins at a 90° angle. While this junction plate has been shown for a 90° angle, it will be understood that other angles could be used as well. The junction plate comprises two plates  80  designed to slip inside the ends of two purlins. The junction plate also includes flanges  78  designed to interact with flanges  64  on the sides of the purlins. 
     FIG. 14  shows a view taken from line BB as shown in  FIG. 13 , an opening is position at  82  which comprises angular sides extending through each of the flanges and upwardly at an angle through a corner of each of the plates  80  adjoining the flanges. The angle can be of any suitable angle and the clip is desirably positioned so that the junction plate can be bent to any desired angle. The flanges interact with the sides of the purlin to secure a firm connection. 
   In  FIG. 15  an angled plate  88  is shown. Angled plate  88  comprises two plate surfaces  80  which include an opening  54 , as better shown in  FIG. 16 , with an opening  54 , including tabs  20  positioned on one of the sides so that one of the plates  80  is available in an upright position to connect a purlin in a position so that the flat surface  62  of the purlin is fastened by screws to the upright plate  80 . 
   In  FIG. 17  a plate is shown having flanges joined at a 90° angle which permits the installation of purlins on a supporting purlin surface. A first flange  80  is positioned flat on a purlin surface or a horizontal or angled purlin surface with a second purlin being fastened to the second plate in both cases with the connections simply being made by screw connections. 
   In  FIG. 18  a schematic diagram is presented showing first and second cylindrical supports included in a wall, supporting a purlin  70  to form rafters for a slanted roof. Flanges  88  are shown as supporting the ends of purlin  70  at the top of cylindrical supports  14  and  16 . While not shown, these plates may be of the configuration shown in  FIG. 16  for support on cylindrical supports  14  and  16 . Alternatively, if purlins  70  are desirably supported between cylindrical supports  14  and  16 , plates such as shown in  FIG. 17  may be used. This embodiment will be further discussed in connection with  FIG. 18 . 
   In  FIG. 19  a view of a wall comprising cylindrical supports  14  and  16  and a third cylindrical support  96  is shown. Purlins  70  are supported as discussed, at the tops of the cylindrical members by the use of a clip and plate with the purlins being screwed to the plate. To position purlins at an intermediate level supported by a horizontal purlin, an angled plate  88  as discussed above in connection with  FIG. 17  is used. By the use of screws, this plate can be fastened to a top surface of a purlin  24  and to a second purlin  70  joined to angle plate  88  at a selected angle. This enables the use of purlins as roof rafters for either a slanted roof construction, as discussed above or an angled roof construction as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . 
   In  FIGS. 20 and 21  a roof pipe  94  is supported as desired by supporting a purlin from a cylindrical member using a clip and a plate as shown for instance in  FIG. 16  or by an extended cylindrical support or the like. A peaked roof is then produced by the use of a clip and a plate such as shown in  FIG. 5  with a purlin at the roof pipe  94 . As mentioned previously, clips  18  secure purlins  70  at a selected location on pipe  94  by interaction of the tabs and the bottoms of the arcuate plates comprising the clips. The purlins are then locked in place on roof pipe  94  so that neither of the purlins can move along the length of roof pipe  94 . This permits purlins to be used as rafters at any selected angle, as shown for instances in  FIG. 21 . 
   As discussed previously, by the use of the clip and plate connection system of the present invention, a variety of plates can be used to connect purlins to the cylindrical members by the use of simple tools such as specifically a screw driver. These members may be wood cylinders, pipes, or the like and are preferably pipes. A drill could be used if desired but is generally not necessary with the use of self-tapping screws. Further the purlins can be cut to length with a simple saw so that homeowners or other do-it-yourselfers can produce structures without the need for complicated and expensive equipment or construction skills. 
   As indicated previously, the construction of the clips is such that the diameter of the openings  54  is sized to fit closely around the cylindrical member. Desirably the diameter of the opening  54  is slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical member. 
   While the present invention has been described by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is pointed out that the embodiments described are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments.