Composite structural member

Abstract

A timber structural member includes: a first timber round having a first cooperating surface, a second timber round having second and third cooperating surfaces, and a third timber round having a fourth cooperating surface. The first cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the fourth cooperating surface. The first, second and third timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit, wherein the first cooperating surface contacts the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface contacts the fourth cooperating surface, and the first, second and third timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other. Fasteners spaced along the length of the structural member at both acute and obtuse angles from its longitudinal axis secure the first, second and third timber rounds together. The fasteners extend through the first, second and third timber rounds.

1 . A timber structural member comprising:
 a first timber round having a first cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof,   a second timber round having a second and a third cooperating surfaces extending longitudinally along the length thereof, and   a third timber round having a fourth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof wherein,   the first cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the fourth cooperating surface,   the first, second and third timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the first, second and third timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein   the first, second and third timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of fasteners spaced along the length of the member, the plurality of fasteners comprising fasteners provided at both acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member, the fasteners extending through the first, second and third timber rounds.   
     
     
         2 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , the third timber round further having a fifth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, the structural member further comprising a fourth timber round having a sixth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, wherein the fifth cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the sixth cooperating surface, wherein the first, second, third and fourth timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the fifth cooperating surface is in contact with the sixth cooperating surface, and the first, second, third and fourth timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of fasteners spaced along the length of the member, the plurality of fasteners comprising fasteners provided at both acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member, the fasteners extending through the first, second, third timber and fourth rounds. 
     
     
         3 . The timber structural member of  claim 2 , the fourth timber round further having a seventh cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, the structural member further comprising a fifth timber round having an eighth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, wherein the seventh cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the eighth cooperating surface, wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the fifth cooperating surface is in contact with the sixth cooperating surface, and the seventh cooperating surface is in contact with the eighth cooperating surface, and the first, second, third, fourth and fifth timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of fasteners spaced along the length of the member, the plurality of fasteners comprising fasteners provided at both acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member, the fasteners extending through the first, second, third, fourth and fifth timber rounds. 
     
     
         4 . The timber structural member of  claim 3 , the fifth timber round further having a ninth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, the structural member further comprising a sixth timber round having an tenth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, wherein the ninth cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the tenth cooperating surface, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the fifth cooperating surface is in contact with the sixth cooperating surface, and the seventh cooperating surface is in contact with the eighth cooperating surface, and the ninth cooperating surface is in contact with the tenth cooperating surface, and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of fasteners spaced along the length of the member, the plurality of fasteners comprising fasteners provided at both acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member, the fasteners extending through the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth timber rounds. 
     
     
         5 . The timber structural member of  claim 4 , the sixth timber round further having an eleventh cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, the structural member further comprising a seventh timber round having an twelfth cooperating surface extending longitudinally along the length thereof, wherein the eleventh cooperating surface is shaped to cooperate with the twelfth cooperating surface, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the fifth cooperating surface is in contact with the sixth cooperating surface, and the seventh cooperating surface is in contact with the eighth cooperating surface, and the ninth cooperating surface is in contact with the tenth cooperating surface, and the eleventh cooperating surface is in contact with the twelfth cooperating surface, and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of fasteners spaced along the length of the member, the plurality of fasteners comprising fasteners provided at both acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member, the fasteners extending through the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh timber rounds. 
     
     
         6 . The timber structural member of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the timber rounds, or all of the timber rounds, has/have a diameter of less than about 60 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners include adjacent fasteners provided at alternating acute and obtuse angles to the longitudinal axis of the structural member. 
     
     
         8 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are applied at an acute angle of between about 10° to about 70° to the longitudinal axis of the structural member, and at an obtuse angle of between about 110° to 170° to the longitudinal axis of the structural member. 
     
     
         9 . The timber structural member of  claim 1  comprising one or more holes interposed between adjacent acute and obtuse angled holes, wherein the acute and obtuse angled holes and/or the interposed holes are disposed along the plane running along the central longitudinal axis of the timber structural member. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cooperating surface is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the first timber round,   the second cooperating surface is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the second timber round,   the third cooperating surface is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the second timber round,   the fourth cooperating surface is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the third timber round,   the fifth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the third timber round,   the sixth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the fourth timber round,   the seventh cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the fourth timber round,   the eighth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the fifth timber round.   the ninth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the fifth timber round,   the tenth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the sixth timber round,   the eleventh cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the sixth timber round, and   the twelfth cooperating surface (where present) is a substantially flat surface provided by removing a minor segment along the length of the seventh timber round.   
     
     
         12 . The timber structural member of  claim 11 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth (where present), sixth (where present), seventh (where present), eighth (where present), ninth (where present), tenth (where present), eleventh (where present), or twelfth (where present) substantially flat cooperating surface is parallel to any other substantially flat cooperating surface of the timber structural member. 
     
     
         13 . The timber structural member of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth (where present), sixth (where present), seventh (where present), eighth (where present), ninth (where present), tenth (where present), eleventh (where present), and twelfth (where present) substantially flat cooperating surfaces are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the structural member is provided with a plurality of holes passing through the first, second, third, fourth (where present), fifth (where present), sixth (where present), and seventh (where present) rounds, each hole being shaped to receive one of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The timber structural member of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of holes includes holes formed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the structural member and holes formed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the structural member. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first timber round is provided with a first radial cut, and an end of the second timber round is provided with a second radial cut, and an end of the third timber round is provided with a third radial cut, and an end of the fourth timber round (where present) is provided with a fourth radial cut, and an end of the fifth timber round (where present) is provided with a fifth radial cut, and an end of the sixth timber round (where present) is provided with a sixth radial cut, and an end of the seventh timber round (where present) is provided with a seventh radial cut, the ends of the first, second third, fourth (where present), fifth (where present), sixth (where present), and seventh (where present) timber rounds being adjacent one another in the timber structural member, and the radial cuts shaped and positioned to allow the timber structural member to engage with a further member, the further member having a rounded cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The timber structural member of  claim 17 , wherein the axes of the first and/or second and/or third and/or fourth (where present), and or fifth (where present) and/or seventh (where present) radial cuts are angled to allow the timber structural member to form an angled connection with the further timber round. 
     
     
         21 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first timber round is provided with a first axial bore sized to receive a first connecting dowel, and an end of the second timber round is provided with a second axial bore sized to receive a second connecting dowel, and an end of the third timber round is provided with a third axial bore sized to receive a third connecting dowel, and an end of the fourth timber round (where present) is provided with a fourth axial bore sized to receive a fourth connecting dowel, and an end of the fifth timber round (where present) is provided with a fifth axial bore sized to receive a fifth connecting dowel, and an end of the sixth timber round (where present) is provided with a sixth axial bore sized to receive a sixth connecting dowel, and an end of the seventh timber round (where present) is provided with a seventh axial bore sized to receive a seventh connecting dowel the ends of the first, second, third, fourth (where present), fifth (where present), sixth (where present), and seventh (where present) timber rounds being adjacent one another in the timber structural member. 
     
     
         22 . The timber structural member of  claim 21 , wherein the first connecting dowel is centrally positioned within the first bore to be coaxial with the first timber round, and the second connecting dowel is centrally positioned within the second bore to be coaxial with the second timber round, and the third connecting dowel is centrally positioned within the third bore to be coaxial with the third timber round, and the fourth connecting dowel (where present) is centrally positioned within the fourth bore to be coaxial with the fourth timber round, and the fifth connecting dowel (where present) is centrally positioned within the fifth bore to be coaxial with the fifth timber round, and the sixth connecting dowel (where present) is centrally positioned within the sixth bore to be coaxial with the sixth timber round, and the seventh connecting dowel (where present) is centrally positioned within the seventh bore to be coaxial with the seventh timber round. 
     
     
         23 . The timber structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the first timber round is secured to the second timber round, and the second timber round is connected to the third timber round, and the third timber round is connected to the fourth timber round (where present), and the fourth timber round is connected to the fifth timber round (where present), and the fifth timber round is connected to the sixth timber round (where present), and the sixth timber round is connected to the seventh timber round (where present), by use of an adhesive applied to the first and/or second and/or third and/or fourth and/or fifth (where present) and/or sixth (where present) and/or seventh (where present) and/or eighth (where present) and/or ninth (where present) and/or tenth (where present) and/or eleventh (where present) and/or twelfth (where present) cooperating surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . An extended span timber structural member comprising two or more timber structural members according to  claim 1 , the timber structural members being connected to each other by the end faces. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)