Apparatus and Methods For Connecting Timber Flanges

Abstract

A method and apparatus for constructing a single story or multistory building using timber as a major structural material. The apparatus includes a connector plate having a series of pins extending therefrom. In a building component, each pin engages with a relatively small diameter timber flange by way of an axial bore hole formed in each flange. In this way, the flanges form a timber structural member useful in the formation of a framework of a building structure. The plate of the connector provides a fastener for fastening to other similar connectors or to other building structures. Various combinations of connectors and building flanges may be used to construct a single story building, and furthermore may be used in the construction of a multistory building.

1 . A connector for collocating a group of timber flanges, the connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with a timber flange. 
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the main region comprises means for fastening the connector to a substantially similar or identical second connector, or to a building structure. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the main region comprises a first substantially planar region and a second substantially planar region, the first and second planar regions forming an angle of about 90 degrees, the first planar region comprising means for connecting the connector to a substantially similar or identical second connector, and the second planar region comprising means for connecting the connector to a building structure. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4  wherein the means for connecting the connector to a substantially similar or identical second connector or the means for connecting the connector to a building structure is an aperture configured to accept a fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of engaging members are disposed in an ordered array with reference to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the main region consists of, or comprises, a plate and each of the plurality of engaging members is a dowel or pin extending from the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 1  configured to end join a first group of timber flanges to a second group of timber flanges, the connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with an axial bore of timber flange, the plurality of engaging members comprising a first group and a second group, wherein the first group extends in a first direction and the second group extends in a second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 8  wherein the main region comprises opposing first and second substantially planar faces, wherein the first group of the engaging members extend substantially orthogonal to the first planar face and the second group of engaging members extend substantially orthogonal to the second planar face. 
     
     
         10 . A building component comprising:
 (i) a first connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with a timber flange, and   (ii) a plurality of timber flanges, each of the timber flanges having an axial bore into which is received one of the engaging members.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The building component of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of timber flanges is a true round or a peeler core. 
     
     
         14 . The building component of  claim 10  wherein a longitudinal surface is formed by removing a longitudinal segment of each of the timber flanges so as to provide a substantially planar surface, and wherein a substantially planar surface of each of the plurality of timber flanges contacts a substantially planar surface of at least one other timber flange. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The building component of  claim 14  wherein two contacting timber flanges are secured together with a fastener extending at an angle to the long axes of the timber flanges. 
     
     
         17 . The building component of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (iii) a second connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with a timber flange, and   wherein the plurality of timber flanges comprises a first group of timber flanges collocated by the first connector and a second group of timber flanges collocated by the second connector, the first and second groups of timber flanges oriented end-to-end, the first and second connectors being fastened together so as to form a structurally integral unit.   
     
     
         18 . The building component of  claim 17  comprising a structural column, wherein the first and second connectors are disposed on, and fixed to, the upper face of the column, or a plate engaged with the top of the column, and the first connector is fastened to the second connector. 
     
     
         19 . The building component of  claim 17  comprising a third connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with a timber flange, the third member further comprising a support member extending from the main region in a direction generally away from the engaging members, the support member of the third connector interposed between the first and second connector, and the first connector is connected to the second connector. 
     
     
         20 . The building component of  claim 19  comprising a third group of timber flanges collocated by the third connector. 
     
     
         21 . The building component of  claim 19  comprising a fourth connector comprising a main region, the main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members each of which is configured to engage with a timber flange. 
     
     
         22 . The building component of  claim 21  comprising a fourth group of timber flanges collocated by the fourth connector and the fourth connector is fastened to the first and second connectors. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The building component of  claim 22  wherein the first and second group of timber flanges are configured as joists, the third group of timber flanges is configured as column of a (n+1) storey of a building, and the fourth group of timber flanges is configured as column of a (n) storey of the building. 
     
     
         25 . A method of constructing a building component, the method comprising use of a building component comprising:
 (i) a connector comprising a main region having extending therefrom a plurality of engaging members and   (ii) a plurality of timber flanges each of which comprises an axial bore configured to receive one of the engaging members,   
       wherein the method comprises engaging one of the plurality of axial bores with one of the plurality of engaging members.