Construction assembly and coupling

Abstract

A construction assembly comprises a ground anchor base (40) and an upright body (50) rising therefrom and extending in a height direction from the anchor base. The upright body is connected firmly to the anchor base via connecting means. The connecting means comprise a receiving cavity (15) in a first connecting part (10) on a first of the anchor base and the upright element. At least a part (25) of a second connecting part (20) on a second of the anchor base and the upright element is receivable therein. Transversely of the height direction the receiving cavity (15) is linearly accessible to the second connecting part (20, 25) receivable therein, wherein an edge (24) of the second connecting part is received under an adjacent edge (18) of the first connecting part (10) when guided into the receiving cavity (15).

Description

[0001] Construction assembly and coupling

[0002] The present invention relates to a construction assembly comprising a ground anchor base and an upright body rising therefrom and extending in a height direction from the anchor base, which upright body is connected firmly to the anchor base via connecting means. The invention also relates to a coupling inside such a construction assembly.

[0003] A construction assembly of the type stated in the preamble is applied on a large scale as part of a bearing construction for a structure, such as a covering, fence or building. The anchor base provides for a firm connection at the ground level of the local soil and the structure can be connected thereto in soil-stable and permanently fixed manner via the upright. For the upright use is usually made of a wooden post with a rectangular or even square cross-section with sides typically in the order of 80 to 250 millimetres, depending on the load to be accommodated. The anchor base usually comprises a concrete pad footing with centrally therein a threaded cavity in which is received a threaded end extending centrally from the post. A set of such construction assemblies is usually mutually aligned as bearing construction for a structure to be erected.

[0004] A drawback of this known method is that, for the bearing construction, not only does a set of anchor bases have to be mutually aligned, but so does a corresponding set of stud poles on the anchor bases. These must for this purpose be provided relatively accurately in the heart of a bore and screw bolt in order to be anchored mutually in line in the threaded cavities of the concrete pad footings. This method furthermore requires a rotation of the uprights in order to be fastened in the threaded cavities. A rectangular upright element thereby requires a ative to its surroundings and thereby cannot for instance be applied connecting tightly to an already present outer wall. The placing thereof is moreover relatively time-consuming, and optional replacement is laborious.

[0005] The present invention has for its object, among others, to provide a construction assembly which obviates these drawbacks to at least significant extent.

[0006] In order to achieve the stated object a construction assembly of the type described in the preamble has the feature according to the invention that the connecting means comprise a first connecting part on a first of the anchor base and the upright element and a second connecting part on a second of the anchor base and the upright element, that the first connecting part defines a receiving cavity in which the second connecting part is at least largely receivable, that the second connecting part protrudes transversely of the height direction at least substantially linearly into the receiving cavity of the first connecting part, and that an edge of the second connecting part is received under an adjacent edge of the first connecting part when guided into the receiving cavity.

[0007] The second connecting part couples and fixes the two parts of the construction assembly relative to each other by a translation transversely of the height direction, wherein the second connecting part slides fittingly into the receiving cavity of the first connecting part. If desired, the upright body can thus be arranged tightly against an existing wall or outer wall. Because both the first connecting part and the second connecting part receivable therein can be arranged on the relevant part of the construction assembly beforehand, the mutual coupling on site in that case requires no further alignment or tolerance.

[0008] In a particular embodiment the construction assembly has the feature here that at least one of the first connecting part and the second connecting part comprises an external contour which connects at least partially to a corresponding contour of a connecting surface of respectively the first and / or second of the anchor base and the upright element. At least a part of a contour of both or of one of the two thus fits precisely onto the contour of a connecting surface of the part of the construction assembly to be equipped therewith. The two contours can thus be placed one on the other in simple manner for a dimensionally stable mutual alignment, after which the construction assembly can then be correctly equipped in this situation with the first connecting part and / or the second connecting part.

[0009] A mutual alignment and fastening is otherwise not necessary an alternative embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, characterized in that at least one of the first connecting part and the second connecting part receivable therein is formed integrally with respectively the first and / or second of the anchor base and the upright body. The relevant part of the construction assembly thus forms one whole with the first connecting part or the second connecting part, so that a mutual alignment and mounting can be dispensed with. In respect of the receiving cavity a particularly practical embodiment of the construction assembly has the feature according to the invention that the receiving cavity is comprised by a shoe with a flat bottom, which shoe is attached to the first of the anchor base and the upright body via at least one attaching member, and that the shoe comprises in the bottom, at the position of the at least one attaching member, a recess for receiving the at least one attaching member under the bottom in recessed manner. With the flat bottom, the shoe provides a stable base for the second connecting part. The recess in the bottom allows for an attaching member countersunk fully therein, so that it does not impede a movement of the second connecting part.

[0010] A particular embodiment of the construction assembly has the feature here according to the invention that the at least one attaching member comprises at least one screw bolt which is fittingly receivable in a corresponding threaded cavity in the first of the anchor base and the upright body, particularly a single at least substantially central screw bolt which is fittingly receivable in an at least substantially central threaded cavity of the anchor base. A plastic, particularly a recycled plastic, more particularly polypropylene, is advantageously used as material for the shoe.

[0011] In respect of the second connecting part a further embodiment of the construction assembly is characterized according to the invention in that the second connecting part comprises a sliding sole which is received with a sliding surface in the receiving cavity, which sliding sole is attached to the second of the anchor base and the upright body via at least one attaching member, and that the sliding sole comprises in the sliding surface, at the position of the at least one attaching member, a recess for receiving the at least one attaching member under the sliding surface in recessed manner.

[0012] The sliding sole is characterized by a flat, relatively wide sliding surface with which the sole is received in the receiving cavity. This sliding surface provides therein a stable positioning which enhances the stability and strength of the construction assembly as a whole. One or more recesses in the sliding sole allow for one or more attaching members to be received in fully countersunk manner so that they will not impede a movement in this receiving cavity.

[0013] A particular embodiment of the construction assembly has the feature here according to the invention that the at least one attaching member comprises a number of screw members which are fittingly receivable in the second of the anchor base and the upright body, particularly in the upright body. A plastic, particularly a recycled plastic, more particularly polypropylene, is advantageously used as material for the sliding sole.

[0014] In a further particular embodiment the construction assembly has the feature according to the invention that the edge comprises on the sliding sole a shoulder which, when guided into the receiving cavity, is received under an adjacent shoulder of the first connecting part. The shoulder extends here from the sliding sole particularly laterally and / or at an end surface and preferably forms here, as does the shoulder on the first connecting part, an angle of about 90 degrees relative to an adjacent part of the sliding sole. A particularly strong connection provides here a further particular embodiment of the construction assembly wherein at least one of the first connecting part and the sliding sole comprises a monolithic body, particularly from stainless steel, preserved steel, aluminium, copper or a copper alloy.

[0015] In order to prevent an inadvertent release of the second connecting part from the receiving cavity a preferred embodiment of the construction assembly has the feature according to the invention that the first connecting part comprises in at least one side wall a passage in which is receivable a locking member which is intended and configured to secure the second connecting part in the receiving cavity. Such a locking member comprises for instance a screw or bolt, particularly an Allen bolt, which sinks wholly into the passage.

[0016] In order to enhance the second connecting part being received smoothly therein, a further preferred embodiment of the construction assembly has the feature according to the invention that the second connecting part is received in the receiving cavity with an intentional clearance. Sand or other soil which may be carried along with the second connecting part in practice can be received in this clearance, while the second connecting part will nevertheless find its way without impediment.

[0017] Use can per se be made for the anchor base of any body suitable for a given concrete situation. With a view to receiving and anchoring directly in the bottom below ground level a particularly practical embodiment of the construction assembly however has the feature according to the invention that the anchor base comprises a concrete pad footing. The upright body can likewise also be chosen freely depending on the concrete application. For the purpose of erecting a fence, covering or other architectural structure a particularly practical embodiment of the construction assembly however has the feature according to the invention that the upright body comprises a beam body, particularly a wooden beam.

[0018] The invention also relates to an assembly of the above described shoe and sliding sole for the construction assembly according to the invention, and to the constituent parts thereof, and the invention will be further elucidated below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

[0019] Figures 1 A-1 B show a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a first connecting part with a receiving cavity for a first exemplary embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention in respectively a top view and a bottom view;

[0020] Figures 2A-2B show a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a second connecting part for the first exemplary embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention in respectively a top view and a bottom view;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an anchor base for application with the first connecting part of figure 1A / B and the second connecting part of figure 2A / B receivable therein;

[0022] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, using the first connecting part of figure 1 A / 1 B and the second connecting part of the figure 2A / 2B received therein;

[0023] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an anchor base with an integrated second connecting part for a second exemplary embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention;

[0024] Figures 6A-6B show a perspective view of connecting means for a third exemplary embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention; and

[0025] Figures 7A-7B show a perspective view of connecting means for a fourth exemplary embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention.

[0026] It is otherwise noted here that the figures are purely schematic and not all drawn to (the same) scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numeral.

[0027] Figures 1 A-4 show the constituent parts of a first embodiment of a construction assembly according to the invention. The construction assembly comprises a ground anchor base 30, see figure 3, to be received at or below ground level. In this example use is made for this purpose of a heavy concrete pad footing 30 which is dug in, although use can also be made of a screw pile which works itself into the ground. Arranged centrally in the concrete pad footing 30 is a bore 45 which is provided with a screw thread, for instance a thread M16 for receiving a corresponding screw bolt 34. An elongate vertical upright body 50 can be mounted thereon, see figure 4, for which purpose use is in this example made of a wooden post, for instance of hardwood with flanks with a typical width in the order of 80 to 200 millimetres. In this case use is in this respect made for the post 50 of a square cross-section with a typical dimension of 120 millimetres wide. A coupling 10, 20, the constituent parts of which are shown in further detail in figures 1 A-2B, serves to firmly and fixedly connect the two parts to each other.

[0028] The coupling comprises on one side a first connecting part in the form of a shoe 10 with therein a receiving cavity 15 for receiving a part 25 receivable therein, which forms part of a second connecting part 20 of the coupling. Located centrally in a flat bottom of the receiving cavity 15 is a recess 13 into which a head of the screw bolt 34 can sink completely. A continuous opening 12 in the recess 13 opens on a rear side 11 of the shoe 10, see figure 1 B, so that the bolt 34 can be screwed into the threaded cavity 45 of the anchor base 30 and the shoe 10 can be fastened solidly and immovably onto the anchor base 30. The shoe 10 additionally comprises a number of additional recesses 17 with passages 14 for smaller screw members, for instance one or more wood screws or concrete screws, whereby the shoe 10 can if desired be fixed via plugs onto the concrete pad footing 45 or can be secured directly onto for instance an anchor base or wooden or plastic post.

[0029] On the other side, the coupling comprises a second connecting part 20 which can be received in the receiving cavity 15 fittingly, although with a certain clearance, with at least a distal part 25. In this case this second connecting part 20 comprises the sliding sole shown in figure 2A. In the orientation shown in figure 2A it is fastened at the bottom of the plastic or wooden post 50 by means of a set of screw members 35, although, if desired, it can also be mounted on an anchor base if the post is equipped with the first connecting part. For this purpose the sliding sole 21 comprises in the sliding surface 21 shown further in figure 2B a set of recesses 23 with passages 22 for the screw members 35. A head of the screw members 35 disappears completely therein so that a smooth movement of the shoe 20 with the sliding sole 21 into the receiving cavity 15 of the shoe 10 will not be impeded by a head 34 of a screw 35.

[0030] In this example the sliding sole 20 is embodied, as is the shoe 10, with external dimensions of 120 millimetres, corresponding with the width dimension of the wooden post 50. At an end surface a contour of the shoe 10 thereby fits closely onto a contour of a connecting surface on the underside of the post 50. A correct mutual alignment between the two parts 10, 50 is hereby obtained in particularly practical manner. In this situation the screw members 35 are then driven into the post 50, which prevents the sliding sole 20 from shifting. From an aesthetic viewpoint, smaller dimensions can otherwise also be opted for for the sliding sole and shoe in order to thereby create an aesthetic recess between the ground anchor 30 and the post 50 resting thereon.

[0031] The wooden post 50 can now be slid upright, with the sliding sole 20 fastened thereto, laterally into the receiving cavity 15 of the shoe 10. A certain intentional clearance between sliding sole 20 and receiving cavity 15 provides space for any sand or soil which may inadvertently be carried along there, so that the second connecting part 20 does not become stuck here. As can be seen in figures 1 A and 2A, the edges 24 of sliding sole 20 are chamfered and the adjacent edges 18 of receiving cavity 15 in shoe 10 have a complementary form. The edges 24 of sliding sole 20 are thus received under the adjacent edges 18 of receiving cavity 15 and the two parts 10, 20 become locked in each other vertically, i.e. transversely of the infeed direction of sliding sole 20. A suitable locking member, such as an Allen bolt or screw, can be driven inward via a passage 16 in the edge 18 of the receiving cavity 15, see figure 1 A, in order to fix the situation now reached so that the post 50 with sliding sole 20 will not shoot out of cavity 15 inadvertently.

[0032] Finally, the situation shown in figure 4 is reached, wherein the upright element 50 and the anchor base 30 are connected firmly to each other via the above described coupling 10, 20 and wherein the upright element extends vertically above the ground level. A number of such construction assemblies can thus be placed at a mutual distance in order to realize an architectural structure therewith or thereon.

[0033] Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention. In this case both the anchor base and the sliding sole of figures 2A and 2B form part of one unitary body 40. The sliding sole 20 thus forms one whole with the anchor base. This whole 40 is in this case manufactured from plastic, preferably a recycled plastic, such as polypropylene, although the body can instead for instance also be poured from concrete. With the thus created body 40 the upright body 50 of figure 4 can for instance be united with the first connecting part of figures 1 A and 1 B fastened thereto in a similar manner as in the first exemplary embodiment. As alternative, the upright body 50 can otherwise also be embodied integrally with the relevant first connecting part. In that case the shoe 10 of figure 1 A for instance forms an integral part of the upright body so as to be slid over the sliding sole 20 of the anchor base 30 therewith as one unitary whole.

[0034] A third exemplary embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention is shown on the basis of the connecting means of the figures 6A and 6B intended therefor. This embodiment is broadly similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment of figures 1 A-3, albeit that use is in this case made of monolithic connecting parts 10, 20 formed wholly from metal. Metal parts impart additional strength, stiffness and dimensional stability to the mutual connection. A stainless metal is preferably opted for therefor, such as stainless or preserved steel, aluminium, copper or a copper alloy. In this case the sliding sole 20, 25 further comprises at the flanks and the distal end surface thereof a right-angle shoulder 24 which is received under an edge 18 of the receiving cavity 15 projecting in correspondingly right-angled manner. For a mutual lateral locking of a connecting assembly to be formed therefrom a recess 16 is provided in the edge 18 of the receiving cavity 15 for the purpose of receiving a pin or other locking member which is received in a corresponding indentation 26 in sliding sole 20.

[0035] The figures 7A and 7B show a fourth exemplary embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention on the basis of the connecting means intended therefor. This embodiment is broadly similar to that of the third exemplary embodiment of figures 6A and 6B, albeit that in this case the receiving cavity 15 in shoe 10 lacks a bottom. When the rear side 11 of shoe 10 is fastened against either the anchor base 30 or the upright element 50, this bottom is formed by an end surface of the upright element so as to thereby laterally bound the receiving cavity 15. In this case the sliding sole 20 also further comprises at the flanks and the distal end surface thereof a right-angle shoulder 24 which is received under an edge 18 of the thus formed receiving cavity 15 projecting in correspondingly right-angled manner. For a mutual lateral locking of the connection to be formed therewith a recess 16 is provided in the edge 18 of the receiving cavity 15 for the purpose of receiving a pin or other locking member which is received in a corresponding indentation 26 in sliding sole 20. Grooves 19 on the rear side 11 of the shoe enhance drainage from the inside in the case of rain entering or the like.

[0036] Although the invention has been further elucidated above with reference to only several exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many further variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. The stated dimensions and materials are thus given only by way of example, and other materials, dimensions and also forms can be applied for this purpose. In the examples the receiving cavity was in each case comprised by the anchor base, and the second connecting part receivable therein by the upright body. The receiving cavity can vice versa also be formed on the upright body, and the second connecting part on the anchor base.

Claims

Claims:1 . Construction assembly comprising a ground anchor base and an upright body rising therefrom and extending in a height direction from the anchor base, which upright body is connected firmly to the anchor base via connecting means, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a first connecting part on a first of the anchor base and the upright element and a second connecting part on a second of the anchor base and the upright element, that the first connecting part defines a receiving cavity in which the second connecting part is at least largely receivable, that the second connecting part protrudes transversely of the height direction at least substantially linearly into the receiving cavity of the first connecting part, and that an edge of the second connecting part is received under an adjacent edge of the first connecting part when guided into the receiving cavity.

2. Construction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the first connecting part and the second connecting part comprises an external contour which connects at least partially to a corresponding contour of a connecting surface of respectively the first and / or second of the anchor base and the upright element.

3. Construction assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the first connecting part and the second connecting part receivable therein is formed integrally with respectively the first and / or second of the anchor base and the upright body.

4. Construction assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the receiving cavity is comprised by a shoe with a flat bottom, which shoe is attached to the first of the anchor base and the upright body via at least one attaching member, and that the shoe comprises in the bottom, at the position of the at least one attaching member, a recess for receiving the at least one attaching member under the bottom in recessed manner.

5. Construction assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one attaching member comprises at least one screw bolt which is fittingly receivable in a corresponding threaded cavity in the first of the anchor base and the upright body, particularly a single at least substantially central screw bolt which is fittingly receivable in an at least substantially central threaded cavity of the anchor base.

6. Construction assembly according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the shoe is formed from a plastic, particularly from a recycled plastic, more particularly from polypropylene.

7. Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting part comprises a sliding sole which is received with a sliding surface in the receiving cavity, which sliding sole is attached to the second of the anchor base and the upright body via at least one attaching member, and that the sliding sole comprises in the sliding surface, at the position of the at leastone attaching member, a recess for receiving the at least one attaching member under the sliding surface in recessed manner.

8. Construction assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one attaching member comprises a number of screw members which are fittingly receivable in the second of the anchor base and the upright body, particularly in the upright body.

9. Construction assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the sliding sole is formed from a plastic, particularly from a recycled plastic, more particularly from polypropylene.

10. Construction assembly according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the edge comprises a shoulder which extends from the second connecting part and, when guided into the receiving cavity, is received under an adjacent shoulder of the first connecting part.11 . Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first connecting part and the sliding sole comprises a monolithic body, particularly from stainless steel, preserved steel, aluminium, copper or a copper alloy.

12. Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connecting part comprises in at least one side wall a passage in which is receivable a locking member which is intended and configured to secure the second connecting part in the receiving cavity.

13. Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting part is received in the receiving cavity with an intentional clearance.

14. Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchor base comprises a concrete pad footing.

15. Construction assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upright body comprises a beam body, particularly a wooden beam.

16. Shoe as applied in the construction assembly according to claim 4, 5 or 6.

17. Sliding sole as applied in the construction assembly according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10.

18. Coupling comprising an assembly of the shoe according to claim 16 and the sliding sole according to claim 17.

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