Building Elements

Abstract

A building element for use in construction of buildings and the like comprises a flat body portion and first and second connecting members. The connecting members can be attached to the body portion following manufacture or else they can be integrally formed with the body portion. The body portion and connecting members are divided by fold lines in order that they may be folded into particular shapes for use, e.g. a building block. Each end of the body portion has a means for engaging the other end of the body portion once the element has been folded into shape in order that the building element shape is retained. The connecting members also include attachment means that can attach the formed building element to other adjacent elements. The elements are formed from punched or cut sheet steel and/or plastics materials and are formed into the desired shapes on site by hand.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A building block comprising:
 a body portion having first and second ends and a plurality of transverse fold lines which divide the body portion into a plurality of panels, the panels each having first and second longitudinal edges and being adapted to fold relative to one another to form sides of the block;   at least one first tab member extending from the first end of the body portion;   at least one first tab receiving aperture adjacent the second end of the body portion and adapted to receive the at least one first tab member;   at least one second tab member extending from the first longitudinal edge of each panel; and   a flange portion extending from the second longitudinal edge of each panel, each flange portion including at least one second tab receiving aperture.   
     
     
         39 . The block of  claim 38 , wherein each flange portion is integrally formed with its respective panel and is adapted to be folded substantially perpendicular to its respective panel. 
     
     
         40 . The block of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the panels includes a strengthening formation thereon. 
     
     
         41 . The block of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the panels is provided with a third aperture adapted to receive a reinforcing means. 
     
     
         42 . The block of  claim 38 , wherein the block is formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         43 . The block of  claim 38 , wherein the block is formed from a plastics material. 
     
     
         44 . The block of  claim 38 , further comprising a securing flange adjacent the second end of the body portion, wherein the at least one first tab receiving aperture is formed in the securing flange. 
     
     
         45 . The block of  claim 44 , wherein the securing flange is integrally formed with the second end of the body portion and is adapted to be folded substantially perpendicular to the second end. 
     
     
         46 . The block of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 at least one first connecting member attached to the first longitudinal edges of the panels, each second tab member being integrally formed with the first connecting member;   at least one second connecting member attached to the second longitudinal edges of the panels, each second tab receiving aperture being formed in the second connecting member;   a third connecting member attached to the second end of the body portion, the securing flange being integrally formed with the third connecting member; and   a fourth connecting member attached to the first end of the body portion, each first tab member being integrally formed with the fourth connecting member.   
     
     
         47 . The block of  claim 46 , wherein the third and fourth connecting members are each provided with a resilient engagement member adapted to engage with one another. 
     
     
         48 . The block of  claim 46 , wherein the first and second connecting members are each formed from a single piece of material and each is adapted to follow the perimeter of the block. 
     
     
         49 . The block of  claim 46 , further comprising a plurality of first and second connecting members attached to the respective longitudinal edges of each panel. 
     
     
         50 . The block of  claim 46 , wherein each of the connecting members is attached to the body portion using an attachment method selected from the group comprising riveting, gluing and crimping. 
     
     
         51 . The block of  claim 46 , wherein each connecting member is formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         52 . The block of  claim 46 , wherein each connecting member is formed from a plastics material. 
     
     
         53 . A building block comprising:
 a body portion formed from a plurality of integrally formed panels, each panel being folded relative to an adjacent panel along a fold line to form a substantially cuboidal body;   at least one first tab member extending from a first end of the body, and at least one first aperture provided in a second end of the body, the first tab member and first aperture engaging with one another to secure the first and second panels together;   wherein each panel has a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edge of each panel including at least one second tab member extending therefrom, and the bottom edge of each panel including a side flange portion having at least one second aperture adapted to receive a second tab member from an adjacent building element.   
     
     
         54 . The block of  claim 53 , wherein one or more of the panels includes a strengthening formation thereon. 
     
     
         55 . The block of  claim 53 , wherein one or more of the panels is provided with an additional aperture adapted to receive a reinforcing member. 
     
     
         56 . The block of  claim 53 , wherein the tab members and apertures are integrally formed with the body portion. 
     
     
         57 . The block of  claim 53 , wherein the body portion has an end flange portion, the at least one first aperture being formed in the end flange portion. 
     
     
         58 . The block of  claim 57 , wherein the end flange portion is divided from the body portion by a fold line, and wherein the end flange portion is adapted to be folded substantially perpendicular to the body portion. 
     
     
         59 . The block of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 at least one first connecting member attached to the top edges of the panels, each second tab member being integrally formed with the first connecting member;   at least one second connecting member attached to the bottom edges of the panels, each second tab receiving aperture being formed in the second connecting member;   a third connecting member attached to the second end of the body portion, the end flange being integrally formed with the third connecting member; and   a fourth connecting member attached to the first end of the body portion, each first tab member being integrally formed with the fourth connecting member.   
     
     
         60 . The block of  claim 59 , wherein the third and fourth connecting members are each provided with a resilient engagement member adapted to engage with one another. 
     
     
         61 . The block of  claim 59 , wherein the first and second connecting members are each formed from a single piece of material and each is adapted to follow the perimeter of the block. 
     
     
         62 . The block of  claim 59 , further comprising a plurality of first and second connecting members attached to the respective top and bottom edges of each panel. 
     
     
         63 . The block of  claim 59 , wherein each of the connecting members is attached to the body portion using an attachment method selected from the group comprising riveting, gluing and crimping. 
     
     
         64 . The block of  claim 59 , wherein each connecting member is formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         65 . The block of  claim 59 , wherein each connecting member is formed from a plastics material.