Building system

Abstract

A building system is provided such that a building designer, given the various loads a structure must bear, can determine and configure the components of the structure, such as walls, floors and roof trusses, and fabricate those components from chords and clips. The chords and clips are designed in such a way as to permit location of the clips at the desired locations within the chords as required to bear the load. Chords and clips with varying characteristics are provided for assembly of components with varying requirements.

1 . A kit of parts for construction of a plurality of beams for inclusion in a frame of a building structure, such as a floor, ceiling, truss or wall, which structure is required to be capable of bearing a maximum load selected from a range of loads, comprising:
 i) a plurality of chords; and   ii) a plurality of clips;   
     wherein, each chord has at least one opening sufficient to receive a clip at a lengthwise point along the chord as required to bear the load; and 
     wherein, each clip has at least one pair of opposing tag portions, each with a thickness that is sufficient for insertion into the opening of first and second chords to permit the fastening of the clip to the first and second chords by fastening means. 
   
   
       2 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section of each chord is generally “T” shaped and the opening is located proximate the distal end of the elongate portion of the chord. 
   
   
       3 . The kit of parts of  claim 2  wherein the chords and the clips are metal. 
   
   
       4 . The kit of parts of  claim 2  wherein the chords are formed from a continuous piece of metal. 
   
   
       5 . The kit of parts of  claim 3  wherein the fastening means is chosen from a group comprising clinching, bolting and screwing. 
   
   
       6 . The kit of parts of  claim 5  wherein each clip is chosen from the group comprising plate clips and tubular clips. 
   
   
       7 . The kit of parts of  claim 6  wherein each plate clip is formed into a flat piece. 
   
   
       8 . The kit of parts of  claim 7  wherein each plate clip is quadrilateral in shape. 
   
   
       9 . The kit of parts of  claim 8  wherein each plate clip has at least one indentation at each border between the tag portions and non-tag portions of the plate clip which is sufficient in depth to prevent the further entry of the tag portion into the opening of the chord. 
   
   
       10 . The kit of parts of  claim 9  wherein each plate clip has an opening, which opening has a smooth return and is sufficient for the passage of an electrical wire from one side of the plate clip to the other. 
   
   
       11 . The kit of parts of  claim 10  wherein the shape of each plate clip is chosen from the group comprising trapezoidal, square and rectangular. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of parts of  claim 6  wherein each tubular clip is formed into a tubular piece and wherein the tag portions are located at opposing ends of the tubular piece. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of parts of  claim 3  wherein the metal has a gauge between about 22 GA and 14 GA. 
   
   
       14 . A kit of parts for construction of a plurality of beams for inclusion in a frame of a building structure, such as a floor, ceiling, truss or wall, which structure is required to be capable of bearing a maximum load selected from a range of loads, comprising:
 i) a plurality of substantially identical chords; and   ii) a plurality of clips;   
     wherein, each chord presents a lengthwise continuous member having a top portion, opposing side wall portions, connecting portions and an elongate portion generally orthogonal to the top portion extending below the top portion and connected to the connecting portions and having an opening proximate its distal end sufficient to receive a clip at any lengthwise point along the elongate portion of the chord as required to bear the load; and 
     wherein, each clip has at least one pair of opposing tag portions, each with a thickness that is sufficient for insertion into the opening in the elongate portion of first and second chords to permit the fastening of the clip to the first and second chords by fastening means. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of parts of  claim 14  wherein the cross-section of each chord is generally “T” shaped. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of parts of  claim 15  wherein the chords and the clips are metal. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of parts of  claim 15  wherein the chords are formed from a continuous piece of metal. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of parts of  claim 16  wherein the fastening means chosen from a group comprising clinching, bolting and screwing. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of parts of  claim 18  wherein each clip is chosen from the group comprising plate clips and tubular clips. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of parts of  claim 19  wherein each plate clip is formed into a flat piece. 
   
   
       21 . The kit of parts of  claim 20  wherein each plate clip is quadrilateral in shape. 
   
   
       22 . The kit of parts of  claim 21  wherein each plate clip has at least one indentation at each border between the tag portions and non-tag portions of the plate clip which is sufficient in depth to prevent the further entry of the tag portion into the opening of the chord. 
   
   
       23 . The kit of parts of  claim 22  wherein each plate clip has an opening between the indentation, which opening has a smooth return and is sufficient for the passage of an electrical wire from one side of the plate clip to the other. 
   
   
       24 . The kit of parts of  claim 23  wherein the shape of each plate clip is chosen from the group comprising trapezoidal, square and rectangular. 
   
   
       25 . The kit of parts of  claim 19  wherein each tubular clip is formed into a tubular piece and wherein the tag portions are located at opposing ends of the tubular piece. 
   
   
       26 . The kit of parts of  claim 15  wherein the metal has a gauge between about 22 GA and 14 GA. 
   
   
       27 . A kit of parts for construction of a plurality of beams for inclusion in a frame of a building structure, such as a floor, ceiling, truss or wall, which structure is required to be capable of bearing a maximum load selected from a range of loads, comprising:
 i) a plurality of substantially identical chords; and   ii) a plurality of clips;   
     wherein, each chord presents a lengthwise continuous member having a top portion, opposing side wall portions, connecting portions and an elongate portion generally orthogonal to the top portion extending below the top portion and connected to the connecting portions and having an opening proximate its distal end sufficient to receive a clip at any lengthwise point along the elongate portion of the chord as required to bear the load; 
     wherein, each clip has at least one pair of opposing tag portions, each with a thickness that is sufficient for insertion into the opening in the elongate portion of first and second chords to permit the fastening of the clip to the first and second chords by fastening means; 
     wherein each beam, when constructed, comprises first and second chords joined together by a specified number of spaced apart clips, the number of clips for each beam being selected according to a recipe which determines a substantial minimal number of clips required for each beam in order for said building structure to withstand the maximum load at a given length and depth of beam at a given beam spacing.