Building array

Abstract

A building array ( 800, 900, 902 ) comprising at least one building element ( 100, 200 ) having a first face ( 102, 202 ), a second face ( 104, 204 ) and a peripheral edge member ( 108, 208 ), the first face and second face being spaced apart to define an intermediate portion ( 106, 108 ), the peripheral edge member extending around the intermediate portion whereby at least a portion of the peripheral edge member comprises an edge profile ( 112, 212 ); and at least one boundary element ( 300, 400, 500, 600 ) comprising a planar base member ( 304, 404, 504, 604 ) removably attachable to a structural support element ( 802 ), at least one flange ( 306, 406, 506, 606 ) extending substantially orthogonally from the planar base member and an edge restraining formation ( 310, 410, 510, 610 ) extending laterally from the flange remote from the planar base member. The edge restraining formation is configured for releasably engaging with the edge profile of the building element. The at least one building element and the at least one boundary element are arrangeable together in series on a structural support element to form the building array.

1 . A building array comprising
 at least one building element comprising a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge member, the first face and second face being spaced apart to define an intermediate portion, the peripheral edge member extending around the intermediate portion whereby at least a portion of the peripheral edge member comprises an edge profile; and   at least one boundary element comprising a planar base member removably attachable to a structural support element, at least one flange extending substantially orthogonally from the planar base member and an edge restraining formation extending laterally from the flange remote from the planar base member, wherein the edge restraining formation is configured for releasably engaging with the edge profile of the building element, whereby the at least one building element and the at least one boundary element are arrangeable together in series on a structural support element to form the building array.   
     
     
         2 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second face, the intermediate portion and the peripheral edge member are integrally formed together as a single unit. 
     
     
         3 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate portion is variable. 
     
     
         4 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge member comprises two pairs of spaced apart opposing side edges positioned in a contiguous orthogonal arrangement relative to each other such that each side edge in a pair is in abutment with both side edges in the other pair thereby extending around each side of a substantially rectangular building element enclosing the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         5 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge profile can be formed on one or more of the side edges of the building element. 
     
     
         6 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge profile divides the peripheral edge member of the building element into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion corresponding to the section of the building element including and adjacent to the first face and the second portion of the building element including and adjacent to the second face. 
     
     
         7 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the building element is smaller relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge profile is in the form of a recess, channel or groove. 
     
     
         9 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first face is adapted to receive a range of surface treatments. 
     
     
         10 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatments are mechanically or chemically fixed to the first and/or second face to modify the aesthetic or physical properties of the building array. 
     
     
         11 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the boundary element comprises a boundary edging element whereby the base member, flange and edge restraining formation are arranged to form a substantially ‘C’-shaped channel. 
     
     
         12 . A building array as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the boundary edging element is a capping member that is adapted to receive the first face of the building element. 
     
     
         13 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the boundary element comprises a boundary joining element, comprising at least two spaced apart flanges extending substantially orthogonally from the planar base member, whereby the two spaced apart flanges and base member are configured to form at least one substantially “U” shaped channel each flange terminating in a edge restraining formation extending substantially parallel to the planar base member. 
     
     
         14 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the boundary joining element comprises a planar base member which is configured together with flanges to provide three conjoined channels wherein the central channel is a substantially “U”-shaped channel, the base member and flanges of the boundary joining element forming the base member and side members of the central channel and the channels on either side of the central channel are substantially ‘C’-shaped channels facing in opposing directions, the flanges, base member and edge restraining formation forming the base members and respective side members of each channel. 
     
     
         15 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base member of the boundary element further comprises at least one fixing indicator selected from the group comprising apertures, recesses, and surface markings. 
     
     
         16 . A building array as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one cover element for concealing at least a portion of a boundary element. 
     
     
         17 . A building array as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the cover element comprises a top member including a first cover element face and a second cover element face and a pair of legs, each leg extending substantially orthogonally from the second cover element face. 
     
     
         18 . A building array as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the each leg of the cover element further comprises a restraining formation shaped to form a frictional fit of the cover element into the “U” shaped channel of the boundary joining element. 
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a building array on a structural support element, the method comprising the steps of;
 (a) installing a boundary element on at least a portion of the structural support element using at least one conventional fixing means, the elongate boundary element comprising a planar base member removably attachable to a structural support element, at least one flange extending substantially orthogonally from the planar base member and an edge restraining formation extending laterally from the flange remote from the planar base member;   (b) seating a first building element into the boundary element, the building element comprising a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge member, the first face and second face being spaced apart to define an intermediate portion, the peripheral edge member extending around the intermediate portion whereby at least a portion of the peripheral edge member comprises an edge profile configured for releasably engaging the edge restraining formation, the building element being seated such that the edge restraining formation of the boundary element engages with the edge profile of the building element;   (c) installing a further boundary element on a further portion of the structural support element using at least one conventional fixing means such that the edge restraining formation of the further boundary element engages with a further portion of the edge profile of the building element to secure the building element in position on the structural support element   
     
     
         20 . A method of constructing a building array on a structural support element as claimed in  claim 19 , the method comprising the steps after step (b) and before step (c);
 (b1) installing a boundary element on a further portion of the structural support element using at least one conventional fixing means, the boundary element comprising at least two spaced apart flanges extending substantially orthogonally from the planar base member, whereby the two spaced apart flanges terminate in first and second edge restraining formations respectively, the two spaced apart flanges and base member are configured to form at least one substantially “U” shaped channel; such that the first edge restraining formation of the boundary element engages with an portion of the edge profile of the building element of step (b) to secure the building element of step (b) in position on the structural support element; and   (b2) seating a further building element such that the second edge restraining formation of the boundary element engages with a portion of the edge profile of the further building element;   (b3) installing a further boundary element from step (b1) on a further portion of the structural support element using at least one conventional fixing means, such that the first edge restraining formation of the boundary element engages with an portion of the edge profile of the building element of step (b2) to secure the building element of step (b2) in position on the structural support element; and   (b4) repeating the steps of (b2) and (b3) as required.