Construction members and method for forming curved walls and the like

Abstract

A method of constructing curved building structures employ flexible support members formed from metal strip, having flexible elongate spines with substantially perpendicular flanges or tabs fixable to the building members, so that the building structures can be assembled flat and then curved on erection to the desired curved configuration.

1 . A method of constructing a curved building structure, the method including the steps of: 
 a) forming a respective slot or kerf in end faces of a plurality of timber building members, the slots or kerfs extending between opposed faces of the building members;    b) providing at least two support members, each support member having a flexible elongate spine with a plurality of flanges or tabs extending substantially perpendicularly to at least one side of the spine;    c) placing the building member at desired spacings with their respective end faces substantially aligned;    d) inserting the spine of at least one support member into each slot or kerf of the end faces of the building members;    e) fastening the flanges or tabs to the end faces of the building members aligned therewith, to form a building structure;    f) curving the building structure to the desired curved profile(s); and    g) fastening one or more of the flanges or tabs, intermediate the building members, to supporting structure(s).    
     
     
         2 . A method of constructing a curved building structure, the method including the steps of: 
 a) forming a respective slot at ends of webs of a plurality of metal building members, the metal building members each having a web interconnecting respective flange members, each slot being formed by cutting or slitting the and bending or deforming a mounting tab or flange from a portion of the web to extend substantially perpendicular to the web;    b) providing at least two support members, each support member having an elongate flexible spine with a plurality of flanges or tabs extending perpendicularly to at least one side of the spine;    c) placing the building members at desired spacings with their respective web ends substantially aligned;    d) inserting the spine of at least one support member into each slot in the web ends of the building members;    e) fastening the spine(s) of the support member(s) to the mounting tabs or flanges aligned therewith to form a building structure;    f) curving the building structure to the desired curved profile(s); and    g) fastening one or more of the flanges or tabs, intermediate the building members, to supporting structure(s).    
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the supporting structures comprise floor(s), ceiling(s), or adjacent wall portions or the like; and  
 the building members are wall studs or building framing members, to which are fixed wall panels, skirting, cornices and the like building components.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the slots or kerfs are aligned with, or axially offset relative to, the center line of the building members.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the support members are formed from metal strips, which may be galvanized, zinc-coated or otherwise corrosion-protected.  
 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the support members are of substantially T-section, where the flanges or tabs alternately extend to opposite sides of the spine.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the support members are of substantially L-section.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein: 
 a pair of the L-section support members are provided with their respective spines back-to-back and their flanges or tabs directed in opposite directions.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the flanges or tabs are provided at regular intervals along the spine and are provided with at least one hole therethrough to receive a fastener for fixing to a building member.  
 
     
     
         10 . A curved building structure erected by the method as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A support member operable to interconnect a plurality of spaced building members for a curved building structure, the support member including: 
 a flexible elongate spine having a plurality of flanges or tabs extending to at least one side of the spine, the spine and/or spaced ones of the flanges or tabs being fastenable to the building members and intermediate ones of the flanges and tabs being fastenable to a supporting structure for the curved building structure.    
     
     
         12 . A support member as claimed in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the support members are formed integrally from metal or plastic strip; and the flanges or tabs are provided at spaced intervals along the spine.  
 
     
     
         13 . A support member as claimed in  claim 12  wherein: 
 at least one hole is provided through each flange or tab to receive a fastener to fix the flange or tab to an adjacent building member or the support structure.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the supporting structures comprise floor(s), ceiling(s), or adjacent wall portions or the like; and  
 the building members are wall studs or building framing members, to which are fixed wall panels, skirting, cornices and the like building components.  
 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the slots or kerfs are aligned with, or axially offset relative to, the center line of the building members.  
 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the support members are formed from metal strips, which may be galvanized, zinc-coated or otherwise corrosion-protected.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the support members are of substantially T-section, where the flanges or tabs alternately extend to opposite sides of the spine.  
 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the support members are of substantially L-section.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein: 
 a pair of the L-section support members are provided with their respective spines back-to-back and their flanges or tabs directed in opposite directions.  
 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the flanges or tabs are provided at regular intervals along the spine and are provided with at least one hole therethrough to receive a fastener for fixing to a building member.  
 
     
     
         21 . A curved building structure erected by the method as claimed in  claim 2.