Building elements and building element assemblies formed therewith

Abstract

A building element comprises a profile defined by a web, a pair of side flanges extending perpendicular to the web and outer corners joining the side flanges, respectively, to the web. The web includes a constriction extending in the same direction as the side flanges, planar segments disposed on opposite sides of the constriction, and inner corners joining the constriction to the planar segments. The constriction has a width that is about one-third the overall width of the building element. The constriction is bisected by a constriction axis perpendicular to the planar segments, and the constriction axis may be located along the height of the building element so as to be spaced from one of the side flanges a distance of or about one-third the overall height of the building element. The constriction forms an angle of or about 70°.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A building element comprising 
 a profile extending lengthwise between first and second ends, said profile having a substantially uniform cross-section defined by a web, a pair of side flanges extending perpendicular to said web, and outer corners respectively joining said side flanges to said web, said web having a constriction, a pair of planar segments respectively disposed on opposite sides of said constriction, and inner corners respectively joining said planar segments to said constriction, said constriction including a pair of arms extending angularly inwardly from said inner corners, respectively, to a curved base having an apex contained in a plane, said planar segments having outer surfaces, respectively, contained in a plane parallel to said plane of said apex, said side flanges respectively extending from said outer corners in the same direction as said constriction to tips, respectively, contained in a plane parallel to said plane of said apex, said building element having an overall width between said plane of said planar segments and said plane of said tips, said constriction having a width between said plane of said planar segments and said plane of said apex about one-third said overall width.    
     
     
         2 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein said side flanges include planar portions, respectively, having outer surfaces contained in parallel planes perpendicular to said plane of said planar segments, and said building element has an overall height between said planes of said planar portions.  
     
     
         3 . The building element recited in  claim 2  wherein said constriction is bisected by a constriction axis perpendicular to said plane of said planar segments and said constriction axis is centrally located along said overall height of said building element.  
     
     
         4 . The building element recited in  claim 3  wherein said overall width is about one-half said overall height.  
     
     
         5 . The building element recited in  claim 2  wherein said constriction is bisected by a constriction axis perpendicular to said plane of said planar segments and said constriction axis is located along said overall height of said building element so as to be spaced a distance of one-third said overall height from one of said planes of said planar portions and a distance of two-thirds said overall height from the other of said planes of said planar portions.  
     
     
         6 . The building element recited in  claim 5  wherein said overall width is about one-fourth said overall height.  
     
     
         7 . The building element recited in  claim 2  wherein said tips terminate at side edges and said planar portions respectively extend from said outer corners to said side edges.  
     
     
         8 . The building element recited in  claim 2  wherein said planar portions respectively extend from said outer corners to said tips and said tips include end flanges extending from said planar portions, respectively, outwardly away from one another.  
     
     
         9 . The building element recited in  claim 2  wherein said planar portions respectively extend from said outer corners to said tips and said tips include end flanges extending from said planar portions, respectively, inwardly toward one another.  
     
     
         10 . The building element recited in  claim 9  wherein said end flanges extend linearly from said planar portions, respectively, perpendicular to said planar portions and parallel to said planar segments.  
     
     
         11 . The building element recited in  claim 12  wherein said planar portions are joined to said end flanges by curved outside corners, respectively.  
     
     
         12 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein said arms extend linearly from said inner corners to said base and define an included angle of about 70 degrees.  
     
     
         13 . The building element recited in  claim 12  wherein said inner corners are curved and said outer corners are curved.  
     
     
         14 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein said arms are joined to said inner corners at junctions, respectively, and said constriction has a height between said junctions no greater than one-fourth said overall height.  
     
     
         15 . The building element recited in  claim 14  wherein said constriction has a height of about 4.2 cm.  
     
     
         16 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein said web comprises at least one additional constriction between said side flanges.  
     
     
         17 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said side flanges includes an inward protrusion.  
     
     
         18 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said side flanges includes an outward protrusion.  
     
     
         19 . A building element comprising 
 a profile extending lengthwise between first and second ends, said profile having a substantially uniform cross-section defined by a web, a pair of side flanges extending perpendicular to said web, and outer corners respectively joining said side flanges to said web, said web having a constriction, a pair of planar segments respectively disposed on opposite sides of said constriction, and inner corners respectively joining said planar segments to said constriction, said planar segments having outer surfaces, respectively, contained in a plane, said constriction having a pair of arms extending angularly inwardly toward one another from said inner corners, respectively, to a curved base having an apex, said constriction being bisected by a constriction axis perpendicular to said plane of said planar segments, said side flanges respectively extending from said outer corners in the same direction as said constriction to tips, respectively, contained in a plane parallel to said plane of said planar segments, said side flanges having outer surfaces, respectively, disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to said plane of said planar segments, said building element having an overall height between said parallel planes of said side flanges and an overall width between said plane of said planar segments and said plane of said tips, said constriction axis being located along said overall height a distance of about one-third said overall height from one of said planes of said side flanges.    
     
     
         20 . The building element recited in  claim 19  wherein said overall width is about one-fourth said overall height.  
     
     
         21 . The building element recited in  claim 19  wherein said constriction has a width between said plane of said planar segments and said plane of said apex about one-third said overall width.  
     
     
         22 . The building element recited in  claim 21  wherein said arms are joined to said inner corners at junctions, respectively, and said constriction has a height between said junctions no greater than one-fourth said overall height.  
     
     
         23 . The building element recited in  claim 19  wherein said arms define an angle of about 70 degrees with each of said arms defining an angle of about 35 degrees with said constriction axis.  
     
     
         24 . The building element recited in  claim 19  wherein said tips comprise end flanges angled from said side flanges, respectively.  
     
     
         25 . The building element recited in  claim 19  wherein said constriction axis is located said distance of about one-third said overall height from said plane of a bottom one of said side flanges.  
     
     
         26 . The building element recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said side flanges includes a protrusion.  
     
     
         27 . A building element comprising 
 a profile extending lengthwise between first and second ends, said profile having a substantially uniform cross-section defined by a web, a pair of side flanges extending perpendicular to said web, and outer corners respectively joining said side flanges to said web, said web having a constriction bisected by a constriction axis parallel to said side flanges, a pair of web segments respectively disposed on opposite sides of said constriction, and inner corners respectively joining said web segments to said constriction, said constriction including a pair of arms extending linearly and angularly inwardly from said inner corners, respectively, to a curved base with each of said arms defining an angle of about 35° with said constriction axis.    
     
     
         28 . The building element recited in  claim 27  wherein said web segments are planar.  
     
     
         29 . The building element recited in  claim 27  wherein said constriction axis is centrally located between said side flanges.  
     
     
         30 . The building element recited in  claim 27  wherein said constriction axis is non-centrally located between said side flanges.  
     
     
         31 . The building element recited in  claim 27  wherein said tips include end flanges angled from said side flanges, respectively.  
     
     
         32 . The building element recited in  claim 27  wherein each of said side flanges includes a protrusion.