Connector system and building components for use in building construction

Abstract

An example connector system embodiment may be used to quickly align and interconnect two framing members, planar panels or other building components, e.g. during erection of prefabricated or component housing. The connector system includes a male connector and a female connector. The connectors can be attached to, or may be integrally formed with, respective building components to be interconnected. The male connector comprises a tapered protrusion having a cross-sectional extent that decreases monotonically, in at least one dimension, in the direction of protrusion, so as to impart a taper to the tapered protrusion in the at least one dimension. A corresponding female connector comprises a receptacle for receiving the tapered protrusion. The taper may facilitate centering of the male connector with respect to the female connector during mating of the connectors. Depending on the orientation of the connectors, the facilitation of centering may be enhanced by gravity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to copending Patent Cooperation Treat Application PCT / CA2012 / 000363, Publication No. WO2013155587 A1, filed on Apr. 16, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present disclosure pertains to a connector system and building components for use in building construction, such as during the erection of prefabricated, modular or component housing for example.BACKGROUND[0003]Various approaches for erecting prefabricated houses, or other structures, are known. One approach has been to build an entire house, such as a container home, in a factory, transport the completed house to a building site and attach it to a foundation. For this approach to be possible, it may be necessary for the house to be manufactured so as not to exceed maximum transportation load sizes that may be imposed by law. Even if possible, it may be impractical to transport an entire house from a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pair of building components for use in building construction, the pair of building components comprising a first building component comprising an integrally formed male connector, the male connector having a tapered protrusion, the tapered protrusion protruding from the connector body, the tapered protrusion having a cross-sectional extent that decreases monotonically, in at least one dimension, in a direction of protrusion, thereby imparting a taper to the tapered protrusion in the at least one dimension; a second building component comprising an integrally formed female connector having a receptacle for receiving the tapered protrusion of the male connector upon mating of the male connector with the female connector, wherein the taper of the tapered protrusion is for facilitating centering of the male connector with respect to the female connector in the at least one dimension through sliding engagement between the tapered protrusion and at least part of the receptacle during the mating of the male connector with the female connector.

Problems solved by technology

Even if possible, it may be impractical to transport an entire house from a factory in view of potential transportation difficulties such as physical obstacles on roadways between the site and factory (e.g. bridges, tunnels, overhead obstructions and the like).

Indeed, the potential difficulty and cost of transportation may be a deterrent for using this approach, particularly as the distance between the building site and the factory increases.

Although the pieces will be smaller than the entire house, the cost of transportation may still be a deterrent for using this approach, and legal or practical size limitations may still need to be observed.

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