Profiled beam element for constructing a cellular element

Abstract

A profiled beam element for constructing a cellular element comprising a top flange, a bottom flange, and a web wherein the top flange and the bottom flange extend in the same direction from the web and together with the web enclose an inner space configured to accommodate at least two further profiled beam elements placed in a sequence. The profiled beam element is characterized in that at least one of the top flange or the bottom flange comprises at least three substantially flat portions interconnected and vertically displaced with respect to each other by interconnecting regions comprising linear interlocking members wherein, the portions and the interlocking members are configured to cooperate with the portions and the interlocking members of further profiled beam elements placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together.

1 . A profiled beam element ( 10 ) comprising a top flange ( 11 ), a bottom flange ( 12 ), and a web ( 13 ) wherein the top flange and the bottom flange extend in the same direction from the web and together with the web enclose an inner space ( 17 ) configured to accommodate at least two further profiled beam elements ( 10 ′,  10 ″) placed in a sequence;
 characterized in that at least one of the top flange or the bottom flange comprises at least three substantially flat portions ( 14   abc ,  15   abc ) interconnected and vertically displaced with respect to each other by interconnecting regions ( 23   abcd ,  25   abcd ) comprising linear interlocking members; wherein the portions and the interlocking members are configured to cooperate with the portions and the interlocking members of further profiled beam elements placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together. 
 
     
     
         2 . The profiled beam element according to  claim 1 , wherein the portions and the interconnecting regions are integral parts of the top flange and/or the bottom flange arranged such that the portions are of the same or similar size and bound in a longitudinal direction by the interconnecting regions. 
     
     
         3 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the interlocking members are configured to form snap-fit connections with the interlocking members of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein a vertical separation between the top flange and the bottom flange is smallest between the portions that are closest to the web and increases with each successive portion away from the web. 
     
     
         5 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the profiled beam element further comprises a plurality of linear mating protrusions ( 37 ) along at least one portion of at least one flange, wherein the linear mating protrusions are located away from the interconnecting regions and configured to cooperate with the linear mating protrusions of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together. 
     
     
         6 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange further comprise at least one linear protrusion ( 22 ) along an edge in the longitudinal direction configured to cooperate with at least one linear depression ( 24 ) located in the interconnecting region of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together. 
     
     
         7 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise at least one linear protrusion ( 26 ) and/or linear depression ( 24 ) in the region between two consecutive portions configured to cooperate with at least one linear depression and/or protrusion of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the portion of the top flange that is the furthest from the web has a wear surface coating ( 16 ). 
     
     
         9 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise a region of relatively reduced thickness configured to cooperate with the top flange and/or the bottom flange of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to form a recess for adhesive ( 41 ). 
     
     
         10 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the top flange, the bottom flange, and the web are made from a continuous sheet of self-supporting material. 
     
     
         11 . The profiled beam element according to  any preceding claim , wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise a lip ( 33 ) along the longitudinal edge of the top flange and/or the bottom flange and a slit ( 35 ) located at a distance from the longitudinal edge configured to engage with the lip of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together. 
     
     
         12 . A method for constructing a cellular element ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of profiled beam elements according to any of  claims 1-11 ;
 wherein the method comprises arranging the plurality of profiled beam elements in a sequence such that at least one profiled beam element has at least two further profiled beam elements partially accommodated within the inner space   characterized in that the portions of the top flange and/or the bottom flange not enclosed within the inner space of the profiled beam element, form a substantially flat surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises a step of placing an adhesive in the recess for adhesive in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together. 
     
     
         14 . A cellular element constructed according to the method of  claim 12 or 13 . 
     
     
         15 . The cellular element according to  claim 14 , wherein the cellular element further comprises a plurality of closing elements ( 51 ) configured to close plurality of longitudinal openings ( 18 ), wherein each opening is bound in a vertical direction by the top flange and the bottom flange of the profiled beam element and in the transversal direction by the webs of the profiled beam element and the further profiled element placed in the sequence, and wherein the closing elements are placed at least at each end of the cellular element in the longitudinal direction.