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(11) | EP 0 687 780 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Structural sheeting |
| (57) Structural sheeting is formed of resilient sheet material (10) to have longitudinal
peak formations (14) and longitudinal valley formations (16) extending alternatingly
alongside one another. Each peak formation (14) has a top (14.1) and sides (14.2)
receding convergingly from the top. Each valley formation (16) has a bottom (16.1)
and sides (16.2) arising convergingly from the bottom. Adjacent peak and valley formations
(14,16) respectively share common sides (14.2,16.2). Components complemental to the
sheeting and snugly receivable within peak or valley formations, and structures built
of the sheeting and such components are disclosed. |
[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to structural sheeting. It relates also to structural sheeting in combination with structural accessories suitable for use with such structural sheeting and to structures formed of such structural sheeting and structural accessories.
[0002] In accordance with this invention, there is provided structural sheeting formed of resilient sheet material, the sheeting having longitudinal peak formations and longitudinal valley formations extending alternately alongside one another, each peak formation having a top and sides receding convergingly from the top, each valley formation having a bottom and side arising convergingly from the bottom, one side of each peak formation forming a corresponding side of an adjacent valley formation.
[0003] From an opposed side, the peak formations may represent valley formations and the valley formations may represent peak formations.
[0004] The sheeting may be of metal sheet material. Instead, it may be of synthetic sheet material. The material may be corrosion resistant, or may be treated to be corrosion resistant. Thus, in an advantageous embodiment, the sheeting may be in the form of galvanized steel sheeting. It is envisaged that the sheeting may be relatively thin e.g. between about 0,5 and 1 mm thick, advantageously about 0,6 or 0,8 mm thick.
[0005] An included angle between adjacent sides may be between about 10° and about 30°, conveniently between about 150 and about 20°. Thus, in respect of any one side, the angle of convergence may be one-half of the respective values mentioned above.
[0006] The invention extends to structural sheeting as defined above in combination with a plurality of joining members suitable to join two sheets of said structural sheeting when said two sheets are arranged in opposing relationship alongside each other such that corresponding valley formations of the sheets oppose one another and extend alongside one another, each joining member having opposing, interconnected male formations, each male formation being adapted for snug receipt within a respective valley formation, tenon-mortise-fashion, to interconnect the sheets.
[0007] Such structural sheeting in combination with the plurality of joining members in which said two sheets are joined by means of a plurality of the joining members may be arranged to form a double wall or cavity wall structure. Said double wall or cavity wall structure may be one of a plurality of double wall or cavity wall structures, which may be arranged to form wall structures of a building structure.
[0008] The invention extends yet further to structural sheeting as defined above in combination with a plurality of attachment members for attaching an object to said structural sheeting, each attachment member having a male formation complemental to a valley formation of the sheeting and adapted for snug receipt within the valley formation, and attachment means to allow attachment of said object to the attachment member and thus to the sheeting. Each attachment member may have projecting lugs extending from the male formation. The attachment means may then include aligned apertures through the respective lugs. The apertures of the attachment members may be aligned in a plurality of rows. The combination may then comprise elongate elements such as lengths of wire received through the aligned apertures of each respective row. The structural sheeting in combination with the plurality of attachment members may form a backing of a wall. The combination may further comprise foraminous sheet material suspended on the elongate sheet elements to be generally parallel to and spaced from the structural sheeting, and a filling substance (which may be settable) located between the backing formed by the structural sheeting and the foraminous sheet material, plaster-fashion or gunite-fashion.
[0009] The joining members and the attachment members may be of bent sheet material, conveniently of the same material as the structural sheeting.
[0010] The structural sheeting may be provided in the form of a plurality of sheets formed of said structural sheeting, and the plurality of sheets may be arranged in parallel, laterally adjacent, overlapping arrangement such that a peak formation of one sheet is received male/female fashion within a peak formation of an adjacent sheet. The arrangement may further comprise a plurality of securing members, each securing member having opposed and interconnected wing formations complemental to the peaks of the structural sheeting and being snugly received within the inner peak formation of said one sheet received within the peak formation of said adjacent sheet, the wings engaging said walls of said inner peak formation.
[0011] The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings
Figure 1 shows, in fragmentary end view, structural sheeting in accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 shows two sheets of sheeting of Figure 1 arranged laterally alongside each other and interconnected to each other to form a composite sheet;
Figure 3 shows, in three dimensional view, a securing member used for securing together adjacent interconnected sheets to form a composite sheet as depicted in Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows, in three dimensional, fragmentary view, a double wall formed of a pair of sheets of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention, covered by a roof;
Figure 5 shows, to a larger scale, in plan view, a detail of the structure of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows, in fragmentary plan view, a wall formed of sheeting in accordance with this invention;
Figure 7 shows, in three dimensional fragmentary view, an attachment member used in formation of the wall of Figure 6;
Figures 8 and 9 show, in end views, further embodiments of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention, with modified peak and valley profiles;
Figure 10 shows, in fragmentary plan view, a building structure comprising walls formed of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention;
Figure 11 shows, schematically, in sectional side view, a further embodiment of a building structure formed of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention;
Figure 12 shows, in diagrammatic side view, yet another embodiment of a building structure formed of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention, in the form of an open-sided roofed structure;
Figure 13 shows the building structure of Figure 12 in diagrammatic cross-sectional view;
Figure 14 shows, in part sectional side view, a building structure similar to the structure of Figure 11;
Figure 15 shows, in three dimensional view, a joining arrangement forming part of the structure of Figure 14;
Figures 16 and 17 show, in side views, components of bent steel sheeting forming part of the arrangement of Figure 15;
Figure 18 shows, in three dimensional view, a strip of sheeting forming part of the arrangement of Figure 15;
Figure 19 shows, in side view, the arrangement of Figure 15; and
Figure 20 shows, in sectional side view, an arrangement similar to the arrangement of Figure 19, but at a lower end of the structure of Figure 14.
[0012] With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, structural sheeting in accordance with this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The structural sheeting is, in this embodiment, of galvanized steel sheeting 12. The sheeting is resilient and is relatively thin, of the order of 0,6 or 0,8 mm thickness.
[0013] The sheeting 10 is of rolled construction having a plurality of peak formations 14 and valley formations 16 in longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, alternating arrangement.
[0014] Each peak formation 14 includes a top 14.1 and a pair of sides 14.2 receding convergingly from the top 14.1. The top 14.1 is curved, more specifically concavely curved, to enhance resilience. The top 14.1 and sides 14.2 blend into each other in curved fashion as indicated by reference numeral 14.3.
[0015] Each valley formation 16 includes a bottom 16.1 which is likewise curved, more specifically convexly curved when viewed from above. It further includes a pair of sides 16.2 rising convergingly from the bottom 16.1. The respective sides 16.2 blend in curved fashion as shown at 16.3 into the bottom 16.1. The curved construction enhances resilience.
[0016] Each side 14.2 of a respective peak formation 14 represents also a side 16.2 of an adjacent valley formation 16.
[0017] The included angle between adjacent sides, in this embodiment, is between about 10° and about 15° i.e. the angle of convergence of each side is between about 5° and about 7½°.
[0018] Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there are depicted further embodiments of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention, with modified peak and valley profiles. The sheeting of Figure 8 is generally indicated by reference numeral 110, and has peak formations 114 and valley formations 116, as in the case of the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2. The peak formations 114 have top walls 114.1 and converging side walls 114.2, and the valley formations have bottom walls 116.1 and converging side walls 116.2. The side walls 114.2, 116.2 also blend into the top walls 114.1 and bottom walls 116.1, respectively, in curved fashion as shown at 114.3, 116.3. The top walls 114.1 and bottom walls 116.1 in this case are provided with elongate indentations or grooves 114.4 and rounded bulges or ridges 116.4 respectively, to enhance resilient deformation of the peak and valley formations 114, 116.
[0019] The sheeting of Figure 9 is generally indicted by reference numeral 210, and similarly has peak formations 214 and valley formations 216, with top walls 214.1 and side walls 214.2, and bottom walls 216.1 and side walls 216.2 respectively.
[0020] However, unlike the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 8, the side walls 214.2 of a peak formation are connected to the top wall 214.1 via angled intermediate formations 214.5; likewise the side walls 216.2 of a valley formation 216 are connected to the bottom wall 216.1 via angled formations 214.5. The angled formations 214.5, 216.5 will permit resilient deformation.
[0021] With reference more specifically to Figure 2, it is shown that a pair of sheets of the sheeting 10 can be arranged in corresponding orientation alongside each other in overlapping relationship such that a peak formation 14 of one sheet is received male/female fashion or tenon-mortise-fashion internally in a peak formation of the adjacent sheet. In this regard, it is to be appreciated that peak and valley formations seen from one side, represent valley and peak formations seen from an opposed side.
[0022] The adjacent and overlapping sheets are secured together by means of a securing member 70 as depicted in Figures 2 and 3. A securing member 70 has a cross-sectional shape and dimensions to fit snugly within a valley formation 16. It is shown received in a valley formation straddling an edge 10.1 where one of the sheets 10 terminates. The securing member 70 has opposed and interconnected wing formations 72, 74 shaped to abut against the side walls 16.2 and curved formations 16.3 of the valley formation 16, to be retained in position by the converging side walls 16.2.
[0023] The wing formations 72, 74 are open loop formations interconnected by a slightly curved limb 76. The wing formations 72, 74 have free edge portions 72.1, 74.1 to permit resilience and thus displacement in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 3. It will be evident that the wing formations 72, 74 being resiliently deformable, permits the securing member 70 to be clipped into place within the valley formation 16, to hold the two adjacent sheets together and to prevent lifting of the edge 10.1 of a sheet 10.
[0024] Instead of or in addition to the securing member 70, adjacent sheets 10 may also be bonded together along the area adjacent the edge 10.1, by means of a suitable adhesive, such as a slow-setting epoxy bonding material, or the sheets 10 may be fastened along the edge 10.1 by way of form punching with the aid of a form punch tool (not shown). The use of an epoxy bonding material will have the further advantage of rendering the joint water-tight.
[0025] It should be understood that two or more sheets 10 may also be arranged in longitudinally aligned end-to-end overlapping relationship (not shown), such that peak and valley formations of one sheet will be received within and extend partly into corresponding peak and valley formations of an adjacent sheet. Again, securing members 70 or a form punched connection, with or without bonding with a suitable bonding material, may be used to secure together series aligned sheets 10 to form composite sheets.
[0026] With reference to Figures 4 and 5, a pair of sheets of sheeting 10 can further be arranged in opposing arrangement such that corresponding peak formations 14 oppose each other and extend alongside each other. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a joining member 20 having a pair of opposed tenon formations 22. Each tenon formation 22 is complemental to an internal or mortise formation formed internally by each peak formation 14 to be snugly received within such mortise formation. In this fashion, the joining member 20 is received within the opposing peak formations 14 of the opposing sheets 10 to interconnect the sheets 10. In practice, a plurality of spaced joining members 20 are used to interconnect sheets.
[0027] Conveniently, the joining member 20 is formed of rolled and bent sheet material, generally in the form of a figure 8 such that edges are attached, e.g. spot welded, to a web extending diagonally through the joining member 20 when seen in cross section.
[0028] In the manner shown and described, a cavity wall is formed of pairs of sheets and a plurality of joining members.
[0029] By way of development, the joining members 20 can act as posts or stanchions to support a beam 21 extending above the cavity wall. Retaining plates 23 are received within the joining formation and abut the beam 21 externally to locate it laterally. Sheeting 10 acting as roof sheeting extends over and is carried by the beam 21.
[0030] With reference to Figures 6 and 7, in accordance with the invention, there is provided an attachment member 30 having a cross section generally similar to that of a peak formation 14 but of slightly smaller dimensions such that it is snugly receivable within a cavity or mortise formed by a peak formation 14. The attachment member 30 has free edge portions formed into flanges 36. Pairs of apertures 38 are line bored through the flanges 36 such as to receive an elongate tie element bent in the form of a loop 40 as shown in Figure 7, or to receive an elongate element 42, e.g. in the form of a length of wire extending transversely e.g. perpendicularly to the general extent of the sheeting to suspend from laterally spaced attachment members 30.
[0031] In Figure 6, a wall having a thickness is formed of sheets of sheeting 10 interconnected in the manner shown in Figure 2 and having a plurality of attachment members 30 operatively received at predetermined positions such that lengths of wire 42 extend from one attachment member 30 to another.
[0032] Further, in accordance with the invention, from one side, a settable packing substance 44 is applied to the sheeting 10, plaster-fashion or gunite-fashion such that the packing substance fills the cavities within the peaks 14 and fills a space between the valley formations and the wire 42 to form a layer having an outer surface 46. The outer surface 46 can be flattened and smoothed plaster-fashion and can be finished e.g. by means of painting.
[0033] Similarly, if desired, the interior of the wall may be filled up by providing attachment members, similar to the attachment members 30 but adapted snugly to be accommodated in valley formations, spanning elongate elements and applying a packing substance. Wire mesh or the like, e.g. so-called "chicken wire" may be spanned to coincide generally with a desired interior plane of the wall to be formed to enhance clinging of the packing substance to the sheeting. The packing substance may be of a kind having beneficial heat insulating properties. It may, for example, be a gypsum-cement mixture containing fibres (e.g. of paper), non-combustible synthetic plastics pebbles (e.g. of polystyrene) and the like. It may then be finished in any suitable and desired fashion.
[0034] With reference to Figure 10, a building structure is formed having outer walls 52 which, optionally, may be in the form of walls as described and illustrated with reference to Figure 6. The building structure has inner walls 54 in the form of cavity walls such as the cavity wall illustrated and described with reference to Figure 4. The positions of stanchions 20 in the inner walls 54 are shown. The stanchions 20 are in the form of joining members 20 illustrated and described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The stanchions 20 can also be used at edges or ends of walls to receive frames such as door and window frames, and, in double format, to support an arch, the position of which is shown in chain-dot lines at 25.
[0035] At a strategic position, for example in a centre of the building structure, there is provided a centre column 27 in the form of a metal pipe. Walls 54 extend from the column 27. Advantageously, in each wall 54, a stanchion 20 is provided proximate the column 27 and is secured in any convenient fashion to the column.
[0036] With reference to Figure 11, a further building structure 60 is illustrated. The building structure 60 is formed of sheeting 10.2 generally in accordance with the invention and similar to the sheeting 10 of Figure 1. The sheeting 10.2 has bent-over end portions 10.3.
[0037] The building structure 60 has an internal chine in the form of a column 27 such as the column 27 of Figure 10. Inner walls formed of sets of sheeting 10.1 arranged in opposing or back-to-back relationship and interconnected by means of stanchions in the form of joining members 20 generally as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 extend from the column 27. A roof of the building structure 60 is formed of sheeting 10.4 similar to the sheeting 10 of Figure 1. The sheeting 10.4 is bent along a transverse line 10.5 to correspond with the position of the chine. A beam 21 such as the beam 21 of Figure 4 is supported on the column 27 and the sheeting 10.4, at the bend line 10.5, rests on the beam 21. The sheeting 10.4 is superimposed over the bent edge portions 10.3 such that peak formations of the bent edge portions 10.3 are received tenon-mortise-fashion within internal cavities formed by the peak formations of the sheeting 10.4. In this fashion, the roof 10.4 is received on the chine.
[0038] Similarly, a floor 10.7 is formed of sheeting similar to the sheeting 10 of Figure 1 and is underposed underneath the chine such that peak formations of end portions 10.3 of the sheeting 10.2 are received within internal cavities formed by corresponding peak formations of the sheeting 10.7.
[0039] The building structure 60 is erected on a foundation 64 including raised wall or pedestal portions 66 supporting the building structure 60 spaced from the general level of the foundation 64.
[0041] The roof sheeting 10.4 and floor sheeting 10.7 are joined by means of similar, bent sheeting to form end walls.
[0042] Referring now in particular to Figures 12 and 13, there is illustrated an embodiment of a building structure constructed of sheeting 10 in accordance with the invention, the structure being generally indicated by reference numeral 80 and being in the form of an open-sided, roofed, building structure in the nature of a car port.
[0043] The building structure 80 includes a roof or canopy 81 and three legs 82 spaced along each side thereof. Each leg 82 is supported by means of a height adjustable foot 83 on a substrate.
[0044] At each end and in the centre of the building structure, there is provided a tubular member bent into an arch 84 having the profile, seen in end view in Figure 13, of the building structure. Support structure 87 interconnects the arches 84.
[0045] Sheeting 10 in accordance with the invention is formed to span over the arches 84. Each arch 84 is received in a peak formation of the sheeting. At sides of the structure, between the respective legs 82, the sheeting is omitted, leaving the legs 82 and rendering the structure open sided. The openings are finished by means of trimming strips 85.
[0046] Inward of each of the arches 84 at ends of the building structure, and at both sides of the arch 84 at the centre of the building structure, a truncated arch 84.1 is received in a peak formation adjacent the peak formation accommodating the respective arches 84. Each arch 84 is, internally of the sheeting 10 covering the arches, clamped by means of clamps provided for this purpose to the truncated arch or arches 84.1 adjacent thereof.
[0047] By way of development, for strength purposes, especially in structures having large spans, a reinforcing, bow-shaped panel 88 is built in underneath the canopy 81. The panel 88 is conveniently of sheeting 10 with curved end portions extending toward and up to the legs to form a tangential arrangement at each side. Anchoring plates 89 are provided at the sides. Each anchoring plate 89 is secured to the leg assembly 82 to extend downwardly internally of the leg. A lower end portion of the plate is inwardly turned as shown at 89 to form an abutment for a lower edge of the panel 88 and inwardly and upwardly flanged as shown at 89.2 to embrace the lower edge of the panel 88 and to enhance the finish.
[0048] It is regarded as an important advantage that the invention provides sheeting having mortise- and tenon-type formations, more specifically dovetail fashion, to allow inter-attachment of sheeting in interlocking fashion generally as described. Furthermore, accessories such as the joining members or stanchions 20 and attachment members 30 can easily be clipped into appropriate formations of the sheeting. In this fashion, a structure can easily be erected by means of pre-formed sheeting and accessories. Erection generally does not require skilled labour and is user-friendly and also dimensionally and structurally accurate. Furthermore, cavity walls can be erected in the fashion described and single walls can be treated in a fashion similar to plastering as described to provide strength, mass, and rigidity to walls and to provide a surface or surfaces which can be finished in conventional fashion e.g. by means of painting. If desired, finishing may merely be by painting, instead by a surface agent including particulate material to give it a textured surface, instead by ceramic tiles or the like, instead by guniting. Thus, the basic building panels allow a wide variety of finishes to be applied thereto.
[0049] It is further an advantage that the sheeting and also the accessories can be manufactured by mass production techniques, thus curtailing costs. The sheeting and accessories further allow for easy transport thereof.
[0050] Thus, it is envisaged that this invention will enable mass housing to be produced inexpensively, and effectively in respect of time and labour. Building units can easily be transported to the building site and can be erected in situ. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that the sheeting, being of relatively thin thickness sheet material, can be formed in various shapes, especially rounded shapes to give interesting features of appearance to structures formed thereby.
[0051] By way of development and with reference to Figures 14 to 20 inclusive, a structure similar to the structure 60 shown in Figure 11 can be covered along sides thereof by means of structural sheeting in accordance with the invention. More specifically, it is proposed to cover extremities of such sheeting along sides of the structure of Figure 14 by means of structural components in the form of resilient, bent elements manufactured of sheeting to render the structure waterproof. Thus, as shown in Figure 14, the structure 60 is covered along sides thereof by means of structural sheeting in accordance with this invention and as described above. Extremities of such sheeting are covered by means of a gable trim arrangement generally indicated by reference numeral 91 and which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 15 to 19 inclusive.
[0052] With reference also to Figure 15, the sheeting 10.4 which forms the roof of the structure 60, is joined to the sheeting 10 by means of the arrangement 91. The arrangement 91 comprises, first, a stanchion 20 received within the peak formation along a side of the roof sheeting 10.4. Superimposed on the stanchion 20 and the peak formation within which it is received, there is provided a gable forming element indicated by reference numeral 92 and which is shown in more detail in Figure 16. To the gable forming element 92, there is attached a strip 93 of sheeting 10 in accordance with this invention. The strip 93 is, conveniently, about 100 mm wide. In this regard, it is emphasized that such a strip 93 can, for example, be obtained from sheeting 10 by cross cutting the sheeting 10. Thus, the width dimension of the strip 93 will correspond to the length dimension of sheeting 10. The strip 93 is shown in Figure 18.
[0053] The individual sheets of the sheeting 10 are attached, tenon-mortise fashion as has been described above, to the strip 93.
[0054] A cover element 94, which is shown in more detail in Figure 17, covers the arrangement 91 to render it waterproof by guiding any water over the joints and thus preventing water from entering the joints.
[0056] It is to be appreciated that anchoring of the gable forming element 92 and the cover element 94 is enhanced by the use of the stanchion 20.
[0057] With reference more specifically to Figure 16, the gable forming element 92 has an incomplete valley formation 92.1 corresponding to a valley of sheeting 10. It further has a completed peak formation 92.2 corresponding to a peak formation of sheeting 10. An outer flange or side of the peak formation 92.2 is elongated as shown at 92.3 and an edge thereof is inwardly turned up as shown at 92.4 to provide a nicely finished and relatively blunt edge to the element 92. The element 92 is clipped onto a peak formation and into a valley formation of the sheeting 10.3 in a fashion similar to what is described above.
[0058] With reference more specifically to Figure 17, the cover element also has an incomplete valley formation 94.1, and an incomplete peak formation 94.2, respectively corresponding partially to a valley formation and a peak formation of sheeting in accordance with the invention. From a decumbent portion or crown of the incomplete peak formation, the covering element is extended laterally and, via a relatively large radius curve as shown at 94.3, into a downwardly directed flange 94.4. An edge of the element is turned outwardly as shown at 94.5 to provide a drip formation.
[0059] Thus, and with reference more specifically to Figure 19, the gable forming element 92 is first placed in position. Thereafter, the strip 93 is attached to the gable forming element 92, e.g. by means of spot welding, form punching, or the like.
[0060] As mentioned above, the sheeting 10 is clipped onto the strip 93 in a fashion described above. If desired, openings in the sheeting 10 and strip 93, as seen from above, may be closed by means of plugs 95.
[0061] Last, the cover member 94 is placed in position over the gable forming member 92 and such that its extension or flange 94.4 covers the top and overlaps upper end portions of the sheeting 10, and securing members 70 (as shown in Figure 3) are located at spaced positions in a valley formation to anchor the components forming the arrangement 91.
[0062] Similarly, and with reference more specifically to Figure 20, the structure can be rendered waterproof towards its lower extremities. First, a gable forming member 92, in inverted orientation, is placed underneath the sheeting 10 forming a floor of the structure 60. The flange 92.3 thus extends upwardly along the outside of the structure. A drip element 96, as shown in Figure 22, has a panel 96.1 by means of which it is fixed on the outside of the forming member 92. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the panel 96.1 it has a portion 96.2 which is curved outwardly and downwardly at a relatively large radius and an outwardly bent extremity 96.3 forming a drip formation.
[0063] A strip 93 as shown in Figure 19, is attached outwardly of and along the panel 96.1. Lower extremities of the sheeting 10 are clipped to the strip 93 in tenon-mortise fashion as described above.
[0064] If desired, plugs 95 can be used to close open end portions or gap of the sheeting 10 and strip 93.
[0065] The components and features described with reference to Figures 14 to 20 add to the versatility in which the other components, especially the sheeting, in accordance with the invention, can be used. Furthermore, the components described with reference to Figures 14 to 20 enhance the integrity of structures such as the structure 60 built in accordance with the invention. It is to be appreciated that those components can be applied and used even by unskilled workers, and that they generally have all the advantages mentioned in relation to the components of Figures 1 to 13 above.
[0066] Further by way of development, the Applicant envisages that a structure in accordance with this invention, for example the structures of Figures 11, 12 and 14, may be finished in respect of any surface (including for example roof surfaces) in a manner as described with reference to Figure 6 and elsewhere in this specification. Thus, as a final finishing layer or layers, there may be applied plastering, guniting, wall covering, paint, epoxy or like adhesive coated with particulate material such as river sand, a ceramic finish, or the like, or any suitable and desirable combination thereof.
1. Structural sheeting formed of resilient sheet material, the sheeting having longitudinal
peak formations and longitudinal valley formations extending alternately alongside
one another, each peak formation having a top and sides receding convergingly from
the top, each valley formation having a bottom and side arising convergingly from
the bottom, one side of each peak formation forming a corresponding side of an adjacent
valley formation.
2. Structural sheeting as claimed in Claim 1 in which an included angle between adjacent
sides is between about 10° and about 30°.
3. Structural sheeting as claimed in Claim 1 in combination with a plurality of joining
members suitable to join two sheets of said structural sheeting when said two sheets
are arranged in opposing relationship alongside each other such that corresponding
valley formations of the sheets oppose one another and extend alongside one another,
each joining member having opposing, interconnected male formations, each male formation
being adapted for snug receipt within a respective valley formation, tenon-mortise-fashion,
to interconnect the sheets.
4. Structural sheeting in combination with a plurality of joining members as claimed
in Claim 3 in which said two sheets are joined by means of a plurality of the joining
members and form a double wall or cavity wall structure.
5. Structural sheeting in combination with a plurality of joining members as claimed
in Claim 4 and forming a plurality of double wall structures or cavity wall structures,
in which the plurality of double wall structures or cavity wall structures is arranged
to form wall structures of a building structure.
6. Structural sheeting as claimed in Claim 1 in combination with a plurality of attachment
members for attaching an object to said structural sheeting, each attachment member
having a male formation complemental to a valley formation of the sheeting and adapted
for snug receipt within the valley formation, and attachment means to allow attachment
of said object to the attachment member and thus to the sheeting.
7. Structural sheeting in combination with a plurality of attachment members as claimed
in Claim 6, in which each attachment member has projecting lugs extending from the
male formation, and in which the attachment means includes aligned apertures through
the respective lugs.
8. Structural sheeting in combination with a plurality of attachment members as claimed
in Claim 7, in which the attachment members are received in respective valley formations,
in which the apertures of the attachment members are aligned in a plurality of rows
and in which the combination comprises elongate elements received through the aligned
apertures of each respective row.
9. Structural sheeting in combination with a plurality of attachment members as claimed
in Claim 8 which form a backing of a wall, which combination further comprises foraminous
sheet material suspended on the elongate sheet elements to be generally parallel to
and spaced from the structural sheeting, and a filling substance located between the
backing formed by the structural sheeting and the foraminous sheet material, plaster-fashion
or gunite-fashion.
10. Structural sheeting as claimed in Claim 1 including a plurality of sheets formed of
said structural sheeting, in which the plurality of sheets are arranged in parallel,
laterally adjacent, overlapping arrangement such that a peak formation of one sheet
is received male/female fashion within a peak formation of an adjacent sheet, and
further comprising a plurality of securing members, each securing member having opposed
and interconnected wing formations complemental to the peaks of the structural sheeting
and being snugly received within the inner peak formation of said one sheet received
within the peak formation of said adjacent sheet, the wings engaging said walls of
said inner peak formation.