Building system

Abstract

The invention concerns a building system for building a structure such as a dwelling, garage, shop, school, hall or the like comprising a number of interconnecting components whose assembly is dictated by their size and shape, the invention extends to components of said building system; a kit of parts thereof; and a method for building dwellings, garages, shops, schools, halls or the like.

1 . A building system comprising:
 i) a plurality of ground engaging stakes at least one of which has, at an upper part thereof, a rectilinear cross-section, at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member and also having a channel having a rectilinear cross-section at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion and/or indentation, which channel is for mating with an upstanding member;   ii) a plurality of ground engaging elongate members wherein at least one end of each member is provided with a protrusion or indentation for mating with said stake;   iii) a plurality of upstanding members having a rectilinear cross-section and at least one side thereof has a protrusion or indentation for mating with said channel in said stake; and   iv) a plurality of capping members adapted to mate with the upper end of at least one upstanding member.   
     
     
         2 . The building system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one or a plurality of ground engaging stake(s) at least one of which has, at an upper part thereof, a rectilinear cross-section, at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member. 
     
     
         3 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said stakes are of uniform cross-section along their length, or the lower part is tapered to assist in ground penetration. 
     
     
         4 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said stakes are square-sectioned and have a protrusion or indentation provided on one, two, three or each side of their sides. 
     
     
         5 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said stakes have an indentation provided on one, two, three or each side of their sides. 
     
     
         6 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said ground engaging elongate members have at least one protrusion or indentation at each end. 
     
     
         7 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said channel in said stake is centrally or substantially centrally located. 
     
     
         8 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said channel is square-sectioned with a protrusion or indentation, on one, two, three or each side of its sides. 
     
     
         9 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein the upstanding member that mates with said channel is square-sectioned and it has a protrusion or indentation, on one, two, three or each side of its square-section. 
     
     
         10 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein said protrusions or indentations are dovetailed to assist in mating. 
     
     
         11 . The building system according to  claim 1  wherein
 i) said stakes and said ground engaging members; and/or 
 ii) said channel in said sakes and said upstanding members; and/or 
 iii) said capping members and the upper end of at least one upstanding member; 
 are fashioned in a complementary manner for mating theretogether. 
 
     
     
         12 . A kit of parts comprising a selected number and combination of the following for the purpose of building a structure:
 i) at least one or a plurality of ground engaging stake(s) which has/have, at an upper part thereof, a rectilinear cross-section, at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member and a central channel having a rectilinear cross-section at least one side thereof is provided with a protrusion or indentation, which channel is for mating with an upstanding member;   ii) at least one ground engaging elongate member, at least one end of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for mating with said stake;   iii) at least one upstanding member having a rectilinear cross-section and at least one side thereof has a protrusion or indentation for mating with said channel in said stake; and   iv) at least one capping member adapted to mate with the upper end of at least one upstanding member.   
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 12  further comprising at least one or a plurality of ground engaging stakes which has/have, at an upper part thereof, a rectilinear cross-section, at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member. 
     
     
         14 . The kit according to  claim 12  further comprising at least one or a plurality of rectilinear upstanding members each one with an indentation or channel along at least one of its elongate sides or an indentation or channel along opposite elongate sides wherein said indentation or channel is fashioned for mating with soil blocks. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for building a structure such as a dwelling, garage, shop, school, hall or the like comprising:
 i) positioning stakes in the ground at the designated corners, or underneath the designated walls, of said structure wherein each stake has an upper part that is rectilinear in cross-section and at least one side thereof is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member; optionally, at least one stake also having an inner channel that is rectilinear in cross-section and at least one side thereof is provided with a protrusion and/or indentation, which channel is for mating with an upstanding member;   ii) positioning a plurality of ground engaging elongate members between said stakes, at least one end of said ground engaging elongate member being provided with a protrusion or indentation for mating with said stake and mating same together using said protrusion or indentation;   iii) positioning an upstanding member in a channel provided in said stake wherein said upstanding member has a rectilinear cross-section and at least one side thereof has a protrusion or indentation for mating with said channel in said stake;   iv) positioning soil blocks on said ground engaging elongate members whereby a soil block wall is built; and   v) positioning at least one capping member on at least one upstanding member and an adjacent soil block wall wherein said capping member is adapted to mate with the upper end of at least one upstanding member.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein part iv) may be undertaken before part iii) but in either case a soil block wall is built between a pair of upstanding members or to the side of at least one upstanding member. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein at selected distances along a wall an upstanding member is inserted to add extra support wherein said upstanding member is rectilinear and has an indentation or channel along at least one of its elongate sides or an indentation along opposite elongate sides and further wherein said indentation or channel is fashioned for mating with soil blocks.