Structural member and a stepped structure

Abstract

A structural member ( 1 ) comprising: a run portion ( 2 ) formed by a sandwich structure having first ( 10 ) and second ( 20 ) plates and a core of a plastics or polymer material between and bonded to said metal plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween; and a rise portion ( 3 ) formed by a metal member/said rise portion being fixed to said run portion and with a first longitudinal end portion ( 41 ) of said metal member being inserted between said metal plates.

1 . A structural member comprising:
 a run portion formed by a sandwich structure having first and second plates and a core of a plastics or polymer material between and bonded to said metal plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween; and   a rise portion formed by a metal member, said rise portion being fixed to said run portion and with a first portion of said metal member being inserted between said metal plates wherein said first portion has a thickness substantially equal to the separation of said plates such that by being inserted between said metal plates said first portion spans the gap between the plates; and   further comprising a further rise portion, said further rise portion being formed by a further metal member and being fixed to said run portion and with a first portion of said further metal member inserted between said metal plates.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is formed by a part of said metal member being bent back on itself such that an outer surface of said metal member abuts both an inner surface of said first plate and an inner surface of said second plate. 
     
     
         4 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is formed by a part of said metal member being bent back on itself such that an inner surface of said metal member abuts both an inner surface of said first plate and an inner surface of said second plate. 
     
     
         5 . The structural member of  claim 2 , wherein said part is a longitudinal end. 
     
     
         6 . The structural member of  claim 1  wherein said first portion is a first longitudinal end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The structural member of  claim 2 , wherein said part is intermediate longitudinal ends of said metal member. 
     
     
         8 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is a portion of said metal member bent to form a shape sized to fit between and be in contact with said metal plates. 
     
     
         9 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said metal member is a rolled metal member. 
     
     
         10 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said metal member is generally L-shaped in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The structural member of  claim 9 , wherein said first portion comprises at least a part of the base of the L of the L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is inserted between said metal plates along a longitudinal edge of said run portion. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said first portions of respective rise portions are inserted between said metal plates along opposite longitudinal edges of said run portion. 
     
     
         15 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein one of said rise portions projects beyond a plane of an outer surface of one of said metal plates of said run portion and the other of said rise portions projects beyond a plane of an outer surface of the other of said metal plates. 
     
     
         16 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein said rise portion comprises at least one longitudinal corrugation. 
     
     
         17 . A stepped structure comprising a plurality of structural members according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The stepped structure of  claim 15 , wherein rise portions of adjacent structural members are connected to each other adjacent respective second longitudinal end portions, said second longitudinal end portion being at an opposite end to a first longitudinal end portion. 
     
     
         19 . The stepped structure of  claim 16 , wherein said connection between rise portions of adjacent structural members is made with a fastening member, preferably a threaded fastening member, preferably a bolt. 
     
     
         20 . The stepped structure of  claim 15 , further comprising a support member for supporting said structural members. 
     
     
         21 . The stepped structure of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one further member extending directly between said support member and a run portion, desirably wherein said structural members are fixed to said support member by a threaded fastening member which passes through said support member and into said rise portion. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The stepped structure of  claim 15 , wherein the stepped structure is a tiered seating structure. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)