Multipartite profiled rod for the production of skeleton building constructions
United States Patent [1 1 Mengeringhausen et al.  
 1 1 MULTIPARTITE PROFILED ROD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SKELETON BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS [75] Inventors: Max Mengeringhausen. Wurzhurg:  
 Walter Josef Stumpf, Hochherg. both of Germany [73] Assignee: Mero A.G.. Zug. Switzerland [221 Filed: Nov. 29, I972 [21] Appl. No.: 310,541  
 [451 Apr. 8, 1975 Primar Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant E.raminerLeslie A. Braun Attorney. Agent, or FirmBrady, OBoyle &amp; Gates {57] ABSTRACT A generally circular cross section rod-shaped supporting core element having at least two spaced apart points on the periphery thereof longitudinally extending undercut grooves. At least two profiled facing or sheathing rails encompassing the core element entirely or partially. with each rail having two longitudinally extending clamping flanges in spaced parallel relation. with enlarged free end portions, and which are elastically deformable to a limited extent and adapted to be snapped into the undercut longitudinal grooves of the core element to sheath the core element. By exchanging the outer facing rails with a minimum number of standard differently profiled facing rails a great variety of differently profiled rod cross sections may be obtained.  
 12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATEWEUAFR 8 m5 MULTIPARTITE PROFILED ROD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SKELETON BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS This invention relates to a multiple-part profiled rod for the manufacture of skeleton building constructions with filling panels, particularly for structures used in exhibitions and expositions. for showcases. shelves. stores. and interior decoration.  
  In light-metal construction. multipartite profiled bars. the individual elements of which can be connected by clamping action to form a releasable or permanent coupling in order to obtain a given cross section for the profiled bar. are known in numerous embodiments. However. all of these conventional constructions have in common that their individual elements cannot be arbitrarily combined with other elements to provide a plurality of varying profiled rod cross sections. as they are necessary. for example. in structures for fairs and expositions to meet various requirements. Therefore. it has been necessary heretofore to keep in store a large number of different profiled rails to produce the required rod cross sections.  
  Therefore. this invention is based on the problem of providing a profiled rod construction which makes it possible. with a relatively small number of individual profiled rails. to obtain a plurality ofdifferent combinations of profiled rod cross sections. wherein these profiled rails make storage simpler and are to be readily and quickly composable. for example also directly at the site of utilization.  
  This problem is solved. in accordance with the present invention. by a multipartite profiled rod which is characterized by a rod-shaped supporting core element with a circular or approximately circular cross section. provided at at least two points. spaced apart in the peripheral direction of the core element. with undercut longitudinal grooves, and by at least two profiled rails encompassing the core element entirely or partially, these rails exhibiting two clamping flanges which extend axially parallel and are elastically deformable to a limited extent. which flanges can be radially snapped into the undercut longitudinal grooves of the core element with extensions formed at the free edges of these flanges. The advantage of this construction resides in that it is possible. already with relatively few different profiled rails. which can be clamped on the uniform core element. to compose a great number of different profiled rod cross sections in a simple and rapid way. as they are required especially for the construction of exposition stands, shelves. and showcase structures, but also in stores and interior decoration. While it is possible, on the one hand. to assemble a great variety of different profiled rod cross sections in a simple manner. the storage of the required profiled rails is, on the other hand, advantageously made simpler and less expensive as compared to the conventional constructions. The clamping flanges which are radially snapped into the undercut longitudinal grooves of the core element connect the respective profiled rail practically undetachably and thus absolutely reliably with the supporting core element.  
  In an advantageous further embodiment of this invention, respectively one pair of undercut longitudinal grooves is provided at at least two points disposed at a mutual spacing in the peripheral direction of the core element. whereas the extensions on the clamping flanges are facing each other. This provides a particularly satisfactory. non-tiltable mounting of the profiled rails at the core element, the profiled rails resting advantageously on the core element.  
  A further embodiment of the invention resides in that the extensions at the edges of the clamping flanges have enlarged rounded end portions. This facilitates the snap-connection and, above all. makes it possible to miniaturize the clamping flanges, which is absolutely necessary in order not to exceed the customary cross sectional dimensions of the profiled rods for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing.  
  In accordance with a further feature of this invention, the vertical extension of the clamping flanges and the depth of the undercut longitudinal grooves are dimensioned so that the profiled rails, in the installing position. are tangent to the outer circumference of the core element. This results in the advantage that the clamping flanges, with their relatively weak cross section. are relieved of stresses effective from the outside in a vertical or almost vertical direction on the profiled rail and to be transmitted by the profiled rod.  
  In another embodiment of the present invention. the profiled rails can be provided with wedge-shaped ribs on their longitudinal rims. the outer sides of these ribs forming connection surfaces for adjacent profiled rails. Thereby. the profiled rails can support one another advantageously along their rims. while they can simultaneously form a facing which completely encloses the core element. which supports the structure; this facing can be adapted to a great variety of architectural requirements.  
  In a special. advantageous embodiment of the inven tion. the core element is provided with four pairs of undercut longitudinal grooves uniformly distributed along the periphery of the core element, for the reception of four profiled rails of equal width. the connecting surfaces of which are in alignment with two planes inter secting in the axis of the core element. This results in a profiled rod having a rectangular cross section. as it is most frequently required for the purposes mentioned hereinabove.  
  In accordance with a further feature of the invention. the profiled rail can be provided on both sides with pairs of clamping flanges arranged in mirror symmetry and on their longitudinal edges with Vshaped connecting faces. and can form a connecting rail for coupling two core elements. With the aid of several such coupling rails. connecting respectively two core elements. it is possible to combine numerous core elements with one another in a symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangement, yielding. again enclosed with profiled rails. further modified profiled rod cross sections having an increased load bearing strength. etc.  
  The profiled rail can be provided, on its outer side oppositely to the clamping flanges, with a web disposed in the center or eccentrically and extending in the longitudinal direction. for receiving or supporting filling ceiling panels. floor panels. or the like.  
  Furthermore. the profiled rail can carry. on its outer side oppositely to the clamping flanges. two or more longitudinally extending holding or guiding webs disposed at lateral spacings from one another. for glass panes. glass sliding doors. or the like.  
  It is furthermore possible to combine two profiled rails to an l-shaped coupling rail by means of a connecting strap extending between the outer sides of the pro filed rails in a central and longitudinally extending position. such a coupling rail is especially advantageous for suspended ceiling structures.  
  The profiled rail can further carry a connecting rail for electric lighting means on its outside facing away from the clamping flanges. Connecting rails for other purposes. e.g. for the suspension or plug-in of accessories. can likewise be provided on the outside of the profiled rail.  
  In another suitable modification of the invention, the profiled rails can be provided with a longitudinally extending, laterally projecting leg. and two such profiled rails can receive, in a diametral arrangement at the core element, between them with their legs a filling wall panel. floor plate. or the like, wherein the panel or plate is supported at the core element with its end face. optionally in a shape-mating connection. This variant is especially advantageous when using relatively thickwalled panels and correspondingly strong core elements, as they are required, for example. for multiplestory building constructions.  
  In accordance with a further embodiment of this invention, the profiled rails can be provided with two opposed, longitudinally extending, laterally projecting legs which are at an angle with respect to the base plane of the profiled rail; this makes it advantageously possible to connect panels to the core element also under various angles.  
  It is furthermore possible to dimension the width of the undercut longitudinal grooves at the core element in such a manner that respectively one longitudinal groove receives the two clamping flanges of one profiled rail.  
  The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings. showing several embodiments. to wit:  
  FIGS. 1-5 illustrate several different profiled rail cross sections which can be clamped on the circumference of a core element;  
  FIG. 6 shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a showcase construction with a multipartite profiled rod in accordance with the invention.  
  FIG. 7 is a cross section of two profiled rods forming a portion of a suspended ceiling;  
  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of two profiled rods joined by a coupling rail, forming part of a ceiling construction and carrying a connecting rail for an electric lighting means;  
  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified core element with changed profiled rails for receiving a panel employed as filler element in the supporting skeleton of a building construction; and  
  FIGS. I and II each shows a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 9, but with modified profiled rails. making it possible to join two filler panels under different angles.  
  The profiled rails 14 shown in FIGS. 1-4 exhibit, on their insides. two clamping flanges 10 extending in an axially parallel direction and being elastically deformable to a limited extent; these flanges carry on their free edges mutually facing, integral enlarged rounded end portions II. The profiled rails 1-4 are provided with wedge-shaped ribs 12 on their longitudinal edges; the longer outer sides 13 of these ribs constitute connecting surfaces for adjoining profiled rails. as will be explained below.  
  The profiled rails I and 2 are provided, on their externally disposed sides, with a longitudinally extending, eccentric or central web 14 or 15, whereas the profiled rails 3 and 4 carry, on their outer sides, two or three longitudinally extending webs 16 or 17, respectively. the function of which will be described below in connection with FIG. 6.  
  The profiled rail 5 illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided on both sides with pairs of clamping flanges 10 disposed in mirror symmetry and likewise exhibiting enlarged rounded end portions 11 on their free edges. The two longitudinal edges of the profiled rail 5 are thickened and provided with opposed V-shaped junction surfaces 13&#39;. The profiled rail 5 forms a coupling rail, the function of which will be explained below in conjunction with FIG. 8.  
  FIG. 6 illustrates a detail of a showcase construction wherein a profiled rod 18 is arranged, composed of a tubular supporting core element 19 with a circular cross section and profiled rails 1, 2, and 4 (according to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4), as well as a profiled rail 20 with a smooth outer surface. forming a socalled cover rail. The profiled rail 20 has likewise two corresponding clamping flanges 10 with enlarged rounded end portions 11.  
  Four uniformly distributed pairs of undercut longitudinal grooves 21-24 are worked into the periphery of the core element 19, into which the clamping flanges 10 of the profiled rails l, 2, 4, and 20 are snapped with their enlarged rounded end portion 11 in such a mannet that they can no longer be radially detached from the core element. FIG. 6 furthermore shows that the profiled rails I, 2, 4, and 20 are in contact by means of their connecting surfaces 13, wherein the latter are in alignment with two planes intersecting in the axis of the core element. Besides, the profiled rails are tangent, with their inner sides, to the outer circumference of the core element.  
  The profiled rail 4 serves for the reception and guidance of two glass sliding doors 25, 26 resting on plastic runner rails 27, 28 between the webs 17. The eccentric web 14 of the profiled rail 1 carries a bottom panel 29 of the showcase, while a facing wall panel 30 of the bottom structure of the showcase is placed, with a corresponding groove 31, on the central web 15 of the profiled rail 2.  
  The profiled rod 32 shown in FIG. 7 contains two core elements I9 of the structure as shown in FIG. 6, connected by an I-shaped coupling rail 33. The latter is likewise provided, for this purpose, with clamping.  
 flanges l0 and enlarged rounded end portions 11, as well as junction faces 13. The complete outer facing of the upper core element 19 is accomplished by three profiled rails 20, corresponding to the profiled rail 20 illustrated in FIG. 6. In contrast thereto, laterally of the lower core element 19, profiled rails I are attached by clamping, which rails carry ceiling panels 35 with their eccentric webs 14. The complete facing of the lower core element 19 is again accomplished by a profiled rail 20. Consequently, the profiled rod 32 constitutes a supporting profile for so-called suspended ceiling constructions, wherein the core element I9 is attached by its front faces to vertical supporting columns, not shown.  
  FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the coupling rail 5 accroding to FIG. 5, combining two core elements I9. The upper core element 19 carries two profiled rails 2 laterally clamped thereon; ceiling panels 150 are placed on the webs of these rails, these webs being denoted by 15. To the topside of the upper core element 19, in turn, a profiled rail 20 is clamped as a cover rail, while also two cover rails 20 are clamped laterally onto the lower core element 19, and the paneling of the lower core element 19 is completed by a further profiled rail 36 carrying, on its outer side facing away from according clamping flanges 10, a connecting rail 37 for electric lighting means, not shown.  
  The V-shaped connecting faces 13&#39; of the coupling rail 5 (see also FIG. 5) are in contact with the corresponding joining surfaces 13 of the profiled rails 2 and 20, respectively, and the profiled rail 36 is likewise provided with similar connecting surfaces 13. Also in the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the individual profiled rails are tangent to the outer periphery of the core elements, and the connecting faces of the various profiled rails are likewise in alignment with two planes intersecting in the axis of the core elements.  
  The embodiments of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 make it readily apparent that there is a great variety of possibilities of manufacturing profiled rod cross sections by exchanging the outer profiled rails, by means of a single core element (with a minimum number of different profiled rails), in order to satisfy all kinds of different requirements in fair or exposition construction, shelf building, store construction. and interior decoration, etc.  
  The tubular core element 40 of polygonal cross sec tion in the embodiment of FIG. 9 is provided, for example, with eight relatively wide, undercut longitudinal grooves 41, into which can be radially snapped respectively the two clamping flanges 10 of profiled rails 42 and 43. The profiled rails 42 and 43 have junction faces I30 and 131, respectively, and furthermore, the profiled rails 42 are provided with longitudinally extending, laterally projecting legs 44, between which a platform panel 55 is received which contacts with its end face the core element 40. The panel 55 can be, for example, a wall panel in a multiplestory building composed of profiled rods, as well as connectors for the rods and panels.  
  In the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11, a tubular core element 40 with longitudinal grooves 41 is likewise employed, into which are snapped. according to FIG. 10, the clamping flanges 10 of two profiled rails 46 and 47 in a diametral arrangement. The profiled rails 46 and 47, respectively, are provided with opposed, longitudinally extending, and laterally projecting legs 48, 49 and 50, 51, respectively, extending at an angle with respect to the basic plane of the profiled rails and making it possible to join standard panels 55 at an inclined angle to the core element 40, as illustrated in FIG. 10.  
  FIG. 11 shows a similar arrangement of the panels 55, but with a right-angle connection to the core element 40. The profiled rails 56 and 57 clamped diametrally to the core element 40 exhibit, for this purpose, legs 58, 59 and 60, 61, respectively, bent at a right angle; between these legs, the standard panels 55 are received. In this embodiment, the panels 55 are provided with ceramic tiles 62 in alignment with the legs 60, 61 of the profiled rail 57. The panels 55 form, for example, terminal walls or partitions of moist spaces.  
  It can be seen from FIGS. 10 and 11 that, in both cases, the panels 55 abut the core element 40 with the end face, which means that the profiled rails 46, 47 or 56, 57 need not transmit any substantial forces effective in the panel plane or perhaps approximately in the panel plane. FIGS. 10 and 11 show furthermore that it is possible, with the aid of profiled rails which can be correspondingly attached in different ways, to obtain in a simple manner a great variety of different panel connecting angles with respect to the supporting core element. It is furthermore possible, with the assistance of corresponding profiled rails, which are not shown, to join even more than two panels 55 with the core element.  
  While the invention has been described in certain preferred embodiments, it is realized that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is to be understood that no limitations upon the invention are intended other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims.  
 We claim:  
  1. Multipartite profiled rod for building construction, comprising a rod-shaped supporting core element having a generally circular cross section; undercut longitu dinal grooves in the core element at at least two points, spaced apart in the peripheral direction of the core element, at least two profiled rail members encompassing said core element; said rail members each having a side portion and two spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending clamping flanges connected to said side portion intermediate the ends thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom, said flanges having outwardly extending free edges, said clamping flanges being elastically deformable to a limited extent and having enlarged rounded end portions on the free edges; said enlarged rounded end portions on the free edges of said clamping flanges facing each other, said clamping flanges being radially snapped into said undercut longitudinal grooves of the core element to firmly connect said rail members to said core element; the height of said clamping flanges and the depth of said undercut longitudinal grooves being dimensioned so that the portions of the sides of said profiled rails intermediate the clamping flanges abut and are tangential to the outer periphery of said core element, whereby stresses are transmitted directly from the rail sides to the core element thereby relieving the clamping flanges from said stresses.  
  2. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1, wherein one pair of undercut longitudinal grooves is provided at at least two points disposed at a mutual spacing around the periphery of said core element.  
  3. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 in which said profiled rails have wedge-shaped ribs at their longitudinal rims, the outer sides of said ribs forming junction surfaces for adjacent profiled rails.  
  4. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 3 and said core element having four pairs of undercut longitudinal grooves uniformly distributed over the circumference of said core element, four of said profiled rail members of equal width, and the junction surfaces of said four profiled rail members being in alignment with two planes intersecting in the axis of said core element when said four profiled rail members are connected into respective pairs of longitudinal grooves of said core element.  
  5. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 in which pairs of clamping flanges are arranged in mirror symmetry on both sides of one of said profiled rail members, and V-shaped connecting surfaces on the longitudinal edges thereof to form a coupling rail for joining ttto of said core elements.  
  6. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of said profiled rail members has. on its outer side opposite to the clamping flanges. a longitudinall extending web disposed substantially normal to said profiled rail member. for the reception or support of filling wall panels. bottom panels. or the like.  
  7. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of said profiled rail members has. on its outer side opposite to the clamping flanges. two or more holding or guiding webs disposed at a lateral spacing from each other and extending in the longitudinal di rection and disposed substantially normal to said pro filed rail member.  
  8. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 including .1 further profiled rail member spaced from one of said two profiled rail members and a connecting web extending centrally between their outer sides in a longitu dinal direction. whereby an l-shaped coupling rail is provided.  
  9. A profiled rod as set forth in claim 1 in which one of said profiled rail members having connecting means on the outer surface thereof. and a connecting rail for slectrit lighting means connected it \Llltl connecting means ul its outer side lacing .otut lmm the clamping flanges thereof H]. t profiled Tltl as set forth in Llnllli l. in which at least one ofthe profiled 7 til member i prmided with a longitudinallt extending leg pro ecting laterally to one side of said core element. and that two such profiled rail members connected diametral on the core element are adapted to receive between them with their said legs a filling wall or bottom panel or the like, the panel being supported with its end face at the core eleltllti 11. A profiled rod as set forth in claim I. in which at least one of the profiled rail members has two opposed. longitudinally extending. laterally protecting legs extending at an angle with respect to the base plane of the said profiled rail member 12. A profiled rod as set forth in claim I. in which the width of the undercut longitudinal grooves in said core element is dimensioned to be so large that respectively one longitudinal groove receites the two clamping flanges of one of said profiled rail members.