Beam or post for a construction system

Abstract

A hollow beam or post for a construction system, the beam or post comprising a core element formed of a straight hollow central element having a cross-section provided with four diametrically opposed hollow outer projections in the shape of outwardly flaring dovetails, which are arranged crosswise. Said four hollow outer projections have narrowed inner ends which are spaced apart from the narrowed inner ends of the adjacent hollow outer projections and are connected by segments of the hollow central element. Four straight hollow surrounding elements are assembled around the core element to form a square surrounding the core element, the four surrounding elements having an inner cross-sectional shape that is complementary to the four diametrically opposed outer projections of the core element.

1 . A hollow beam or post for a construction system, the beam or post comprising:
 a core element formed of a straight profiled hollow central element, and   straight surrounding elements; which are assembled around the core element in correspondence with the profile thereof, forming a square surrounding the core element,   wherein   the core element formed of a straight hollow central element having a cross-section provided with four diametrically opposed hollow outer projections in the shape of outwardly flaring dovetails, which are arranged crosswise, these four hollow outer projections having narrowed inner ends which are spaced apart from the narrowed inner ends of the adjacent hollow outer projections and are connected by segments of the hollow central element, and   the straight surrounding elements are hollow and each has an inner wall whose internal shape is complementary to the four diametrically opposed outer projections of the core element and its segments when the elements are assembled around the core element.   
     
     
         2 . The beam or post according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner end of a hollow outer projection of the core element is connected, by an extension of a segment of the hollow central element, to the opposite outer end of said hollow outer projection. 
     
     
         3 . The beam or post according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner end of a hollow outer projection of the core element is connected, by an extension of a segment of the hollow central element, to the opposite inner end of said hollow outer projection. 
     
     
         4 . The beam or post according to  claim 1 , wherein each surrounding element comprises two hollow inner projections which engage around the dovetail shape of one of the diametrically opposed outer projections of the core element, the hollow inner projections of two adjacent surrounding elements filling the space around a segment of the central hollow element and between two adjacent hollow projections of the core element. 
     
     
         5 . The beam or post according to  claim 4 , wherein the hollow inner projections of each surrounding element are supported by a part forming an essentially straight outer side of the beam or post. 
     
     
         6 . The beam or post according to  claim 5 , wherein said part which supports the inner projections of each surrounding element comprises inclined flanks provided on one side with a projection and on the other side with a recess, this projection on the inclined flank of one part fitting into the recess on the inclined flank of an adjacent part when the beam or post is assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The beam or post according to  claim 6 , wherein said part supporting the inner projections of each surrounding element comprises a straight outer face with recesses, said outer face defining on each side, with an inclined flank thereof, an opening which extends along the beam or post. 
     
     
         8 . The beam or post according to  claim 5 , wherein said part supporting the inner projections of each surrounding element comprises a plurality of openings that extend along the beam or post and that are capable of receiving inserts for connecting two beams or posts by means of a butt-joint. 
     
     
         9 . The beam or post according to  claim 8 , wherein each insert comprises a rib arranged to lock the insert inserted in an opening of the surrounding element. 
     
     
         10 . The beam or post according to  claim 7 , associated with an elongated profile of an essentially rectangular cross-sectional shape provided with two projections on one side and a recess on the opposite side, the projections being arranged to assemble with the straight outer face of a surrounding element of the beam or post with its recesses. 
     
     
         11 . The beam or post according to  claim 7 , associated with a first elongated profile of an essentially rectangular cross-sectional shape, each end of the first elongated profile resting on a shoe assembly comprising a tenon arranged to be assembled with a recess, and with a second elongated profile of an essentially rectangular cross-sectional shape, each end of the second elongated profile resting on a shoe assembly comprising a tenon arranged to be assembled with the other recess of the surrounding element, the first elongated profile and the second elongated profile being perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The beam or post according to  claim 1 , wherein each core element is associated with two straight surrounding elements which are assembled around the core element forming a square, each one of the two straight surrounding elements comprising an inner wall which, when the straight surrounding elements are assembled around the core element, covers two outer projections of the hollow central element as well as the segment; connecting these two outer projections. 
     
     
         13 . The beam or post according to  claim 12 , wherein the inner wall of each straight surrounding element comprises a plurality of hollow outer profiles arranged outside the inner wall, these hollow outer profiles covering the outer projections as well as the segment connecting these two outer projections. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly of several hollow beams or posts for a construction system according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of beams of all the same length and a plurality of posts of all the same length. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of several hollow beams or posts for a construction system according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one beam or at least post is reinforced by a cylindrical or tubular part inserted into the hollow of the central element of a core element. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of several hollow beams or posts for a construction system according to  claim 14 , wherein the beams and/or posts are assembled by a butt-joint by inserts inserted in the ends of the openings extending along the surrounding elements. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of several hollow beams or posts for a construction system according to of  claim 14 , wherein two adjacent sides of a central post are each attached to another post, the height of the construction being determined by the length of the central post.