Title:

Connection device for connection of building members and building

United States Patent Application 20040103612

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A connection device for connection of building members, and a building comprising members thus connected, exhibiting innovative function and effect which have not been found in the prior art. The connection device for connection of vertical members and horizontal members which comprise a building consists of a base body on which second connection portions are provided to be connected to first connection portions provided on building members such as vertical members, horizontal members, the first connection and the second connection being connected to each other by a first fitted annular body to be fitted by groove contact onto edges of both the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and a second fitted annular body adapted to be taper press fitted onto the first fitted annular body.

Inventors:

Jo, Ko (Tokyo, JP)
Kotaki, Hiroyuki (Tokyo, JP)
Kurata, Hiroyuki (Tokyo, JP)

Application Number:

10/307959

Publication Date:

06/03/2004

Filing Date:

12/03/2002

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

TSUZUKI CO., LTD. (Higashi-Osaka City, JP)

Primary Class:

52/655.1

Other Classes:

135/909

International Classes:

E04B1/21; E04C3/20; E04C3/26; E04C3/34; (IPC1-7): E04H12/00; E04H15/32

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20040103612

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Primary Examiner:

CUOMO, PETER M

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

OBLON, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P. (ALEXANDRIA, VA, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A connection device for connection of building members, such as vertical members and horizontal members, which comprise a building, the connection device comprising a base body on which are provided second connection portions to be connected to first connection portions provided on building members such as the vertical members and the horizontal members, the first connection portion and the second connection portion being connected to each other by a first fitted annular body to be fitted by groove contact onto edges of both the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and a second fitted annular body which is taper press fitted onto the first fitted annular body.

2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the second connection portions are provided in two or more locations on the base body.

3. The connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base body, second connection portions, building members, and the first connection portions are hollow members.

4. A building, wherein building members such as vertical members and horizontal members are connected together by the connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to form a frame.

5. The connection device according to claim 3, wherein the building members are hollow bodies having a square cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction.

6. The connection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein inner holes of the building members are circular in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

7. The connection device according to claim 3, 5 or 6, wherein the building members are formed from concrete.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection device for connection of building members and a building comprising members thus connected.

[0002] Buildings having a frame composed of building members such as columns, beams, or the like have been extensively built for a long time, and there have been increasing opportunities for using building members of concrete as well as wooden building members. Correspondingly, it has been desired to propose innovative measures in addition to conventional measures for mutual connection of building members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In view of the above, the applicant of the present application has developed an epoch-making connection device of very high commercial value for connection of building members and a type of building comprising members thus connected.

[0004] An explanation will be given to the gist of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0005] The gist of the invention resides in a connection device for connection of building members, such as vertical members 1 and horizontal members 2, which constitute a building, and second connection portions 5, to which are connected first connection portions 4 which are provided on building members such as the vertical members 1 and the horizontal members 2, provided on the base body 3, the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 being connected to each other by a first fitted annular body 6 to be fitted by opposing grooves onto an edge of both the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5, and a second fitted annular body 7 which is taper press fitted onto the first fitted annular body 6.

[0006] Also, the gist of the invention according to claim 1 resides in a connection device for connection of building members in which the second connection portions 5 are provided in two or more locations on the base body 3.

[0007] Also, the gist of the invention according to claim 1 or 2 resides in a connection device for connection of building members in which the base body 3, second connection portions 5, building members, and the first connection portions 4 are hollow members.

[0008] Further, the invention relates to a building in which building members such as vertical members 1 and horizontal members 2 are connected together by the connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to form a frame.

[0009] Also, the invention relates to a connection device, in which the building members are hollow bodies having a square cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction.

[0010] Further, inner holes of the building members are preferably circular in cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction.

[0011] Further, the building members are preferably formed from concrete.

[0012] In the invention, the first connection portion 4 provided on a building member such as vertical members 1 and horizontal members 2, and the second connection portion 5 provided on the base body 3 are caused to approach each other and the first fitted annular body 6 is fitted onto the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5, so outer surfaces of the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 fit into an inner surface of the first fitted annular body 6, and further the second fitted annular body 7 is taper press fitted onto the first fitted annular body 6 so that the first fitted annular body 6 is fixed, thus connecting the respective building members to the base body 3.

[0013] Accordingly, the building members are rigidly connected to the base body in a rapid and sure manner.

[0014] As described above, the invention exhibits innovative function and effects which have not been found in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view showing a first embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing an essential part of the first embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which the first embodiment is used; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view showing a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment, which embodiments are described below.

[0021] First, an explanation will be given to the first embodiment.

[0022] The first embodiment serves to connect columns 1 and beams 2 which serve as vertical members and horizontal members constituting a building, using a base body 3 provided with second connection portions 5 which are connected to first connection portions 4 provided on building members such as the columns 1 and beams 2, the first connection portions 4 and the second connection portions 5 being structured to be connected to each other by means of a first fitted annular body 6, which is fitted onto an edge of the first connection portion 4 and an edge of the second connection portion 5 for groove fitting, and a second fitted annular body 7 which is further fitted onto the first fitted annular body 6 for taper fitting.

[0023] An explanation will be given below in detail to respective parts according to an embodiment.

[0024] The base body 3 is a suitable hollow, metallic member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four cylindrical portions 8 being formed on the peripheral surface projecting radially, and cylindrical holes 8c of the cylindrical portions 8 and an inner hole 3a of the base body 3 being structured to communicate with each other (In addition, while in the present embodiment the cylindrical portions 8 are shown as projecting from the base body 3 in six directions, configurations in which the cylindrical portions project in, for example, one direction, or two orthogonal directions, or three directions, are suitably adopted provided that a feature of the invention is displayed.

[0025] The respective cylindrical portions 8 are formed to have a flange 8b at their edges, the flange facing the base body formed with a groove 8a. When this groove and flange are butted against a cylindrical portion 9 described later, the groove 8a and the flange 8b form the first connection portion 4 which together with a groove 9a and a flange 9b (the second connection portion 5) formed on an edge of the cylindrical portion 9 define a grooved portion 10, which enables a part of the inner surface of the first fitted annular body 6 to be fitted onto both the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5.

[0026] The cylindrical portion 9 is a suitable metallic member formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, set to the same diameter as that of the cylindrical portions 8 of the base body 3.

[0027] Also, the cylindrical portion 9 is foxed at an edge with a flange 9b, a groove 9a being formed on the flange facing the base body.

[0028] Also, the cylindrical portion 9 is formed at the base end thereof with a fixed attachment piece 9c, which is to be secured to an end surface of building members such as the columns 1, beams 2, or the like, the fixed attachment piece 9c being formed with a plurality of holes 9c′, each of which permits a length of steel threaded rod 11 exposed from an end surface of the building member and enables fixed attachment of the cylindrical portion 9 to the end surface of the building member by screwing a nut 13 onto the steel threaded rod 11.

[0029] The first fitted annular body 6 is a suitable metallic member formed to assume a C-shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, cut at one position and possessing elasticity affording slight opening. Accordingly, such elasticity is made use of to allow the first fitted annular body 6 to be fitted onto the grooved portion 10 defined by the first connection portion 4 associated with the cylindrical portion 9 and the second connection portion 5 associated with the base body 3.

[0030] Also, the first fitted annular body 6 is formed on its outer peripheral surface with an inclined surface, which is taper press fitted into an inner surface, described later, of the second fitted annular body 7.

[0031] Also, the first fitted annular body 6 is formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof with two ridges 6a.

[0032] The first fitted annular body 6 is structured to have its grooves fitted onto the grooved portion 10 to connect both the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 to each other when it is fitted onto the grooved portion 10 defined by the first connection portion 4 associated with the cylindrical portion 9 and the second connection portion 5 associated with the base body 3. Concretely, the two ridges 6a are fitted into the depression 9a and the depression 8a, and the flange 9b and the flange 8b are positioned between the two ridges 6a.

[0033] The second fitted annular body 7 is a suitable metallic member formed to assume an annular-shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and structured to be preset to a diameter affording fitting the inner surface of the second fitted annular body 7 onto the outer peripheral surface of the first fitted annular body 6 by taper press fitting (a wedging action is generated).

[0034] Also, in the embodiment, the building members such as the columns 1, beams 2, or the like are hollow bodies formed from concrete.

[0035] Concretely, molding of the columns 1 and the beams 2 is carried out by means of a so-called hollow centrifugal molding technique.

[0036] The so-called hollow centrifugal molding technique is one, in which a square-shaped form is rotated while concrete placing is performed, and when rotation of the form is stopped and the form is removed, inner circular holes 1a, 2a are formed centrally in the longitudinal direction of the form. A hollow body obtained by the hollow centrifugal molding technique is very rigid since centrifugal forces press the concrete.

[0037] In the embodiment, the square-cylinder form is used to make the columns 1 and the beams 2 square in cross section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the inner holes 1a, 2a are circular.

[0038] Also, in the embodiment, the columns 1 and he beams 2 are formed to be of a PC concrete structure (prestressed concrete structure), in which steel wires 11 (piano wire, reinforcement, or the like) as tension members are introduced and tensioned, thus making rigid building members of high durability.

[0039] With a building having a framed structure, in which the columns 1 and the beams 2 structured in the above manner are used and connected together by a connection device according to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the respective hollow holes 1a, 2a, 3a, 8c, 9d in the columns 1, the beam 2, the base body 3 and the cylindrical portion 9 can be also made use of as piping such as gas pipes, water service pipes and a space in which wiring such as electric wires and telephone wires can be placed.

[0040] The reference numeral 12 denotes fire resistive covering materials.

[0041] Since the embodiment is configured in the above manner, the first connection portion 4 provided on a building member, such as the column 1 and the beam 2 comprising a building, and the second connection portion 5 provided on the base body 3 are caused to approach each other and the first fitted annular body 6 is fitted onto the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 so that portions of the outer surfaces of the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 fit into the inner surface of the first fitted annular body 6, and further the second fitted annular body 7 is taper press fitted onto the first fitted annular body 6 so that the first fitted annular body 6 is fixed, thus connecting the respective building members to the base body 3.

[0042] Accordingly, the building members are rigidly connected to the base body 3 in a rapid and sure manner.

[0043] An explanation will be given below to a second embodiment.

[0044] According to the second embodiment, a first fitted annular body 6 composed of a pair of half bodies 6A, 6B is adopted as shown in FIG. 5, and adapted to be fitted onto the grooved portion 10 defined by the first connection portion 4 associated with the cylindrical portion 9 and the second connection portion 5 associated with the base body 3 in such a manner that it sandwiches the grooved portion from right and left.

[0045] The other features are the same as those of the first embodiment, and so an explanation therefor is omitted.

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