AU615175B2 - Improvements to building constructions - Google Patents

Description

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S I Io1,, C Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Name of Inventor Address for Service Application Number GARY MICHAEL LYNCH M/S 1020, FERNVALE Q 4305 S As above JOHN R.G. GARDNER, P.O. BOX 255, BROADBEACH Q 4218 S PI 0114 filed 30 January 1987 FORM Regulation 13(2) COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me 1 2 THIS INVENTION relates to improvements to building constructions and in particular aspects to improved shadehouse constructions and other constructions which protect a growing crop against damage by predators such as birds.

Conventional shadehouses suffer a number of disadvantages generally due to their susceptibility to wind damage.

For example, high winds tend to create a suction effect in such buildings so as to cause ballooning of the roof and waves to be formed in the shadecloth material longitudinally of the structure.

This can cause damage to the building framework and in some instances the building to collapse. The above disadvantages are accentuated because normally a large area of the shadecloth material is unattached to the framework of the building. Other constructions for providing protection to a growing crop which may :i incorporate a bird mesh or the like to surround the crop have not proved in the past to be particularly sound.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages by providing a building construction p irticularly applicable to shadehouse type or predator protection buildings which will provide such buildings with a high resistance to collapse or damage in high wind situations. The present invention also aims to provide a roof for a building construction and an improved method and means for constructing such a building construction. Other objects and advantages of the 2 9 invention will become apnarent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention provides in a first aspect a building construction S including a plurality of upstanding support members, a plurality of elongated flexible elements supported by said support members §0* and arranged in a grid pattern to form a support for a roof covering for said building, said elements comprising a first set of spaced apart substantially parallel longitudinally extending elements and a second set of spaced apart substantially parallel elements extending transversely of, and intersecting said longitudinally extending first ,set of elements, and wherein said roof covering comprises sheet fabric material passing alternately L I-* 3 above and below the elements of one of said sets to form a woven roof covering.

Preferably said roof covering comprises lengths of said roof fabric material arranged in a side by side attitude and extending parallel to the elements of said other set of said elements, said lengths of fabric having opposite woven patterns relative to adjacent said lengths.

Suitably, said elements of said second set comprise cables or wires and said fabric material comprises shade cloth, mesh material or the like.

Preferably at least at some points of intersection of said elements, said elements are secured to the upper ends of respective said support members. Suitably, said elements at said S some of said points of intersections are releasably clamped to the 1 6 upper ends of said support members by clamping means. Preferably, said clamping means includes a pair of opposed clamping members and t I means for urging said clamping members towards each other to clampingly secure said elements therebetween. Suitably, at least S one of said support members includes a first portion adapted to be located in a foundation to define an upstanding spigot, a second elongated portion engaged at one end with said spigot to be supported in an upstanding attitude thereby and a third clamping S portion including said clamping members engaged with the opposite end of said elongated portion. Preferably, said elongated portion ,2 5, comprises a hollow member locatable over said upstanding spigot 4 0 and wherein one of said clamping members includes a spigot portion receivable in said hollow member.

Preferably said elements include respective opposite side and end elements, said elements at their points of intersection op 86- being supported by said support members and extending downwardly at an inclined angle to be anchored in the ground.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a roof for a building comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel elongated flexible elements and a plurality of further spaced apart substantially parallel elongated flexible elements extending transversely of and intersecting said pair and 3a a roof covering of sheet fabric material, said material passing alternately above and below said further elements to form a woven roof covering.

Preferably said roof covering comprises lengths of said material, said lengths being disposed side-by-side, adjacent said lengths having an opposite woven pattern relative to adjacent said lengths. Suitably, said fabric material comprises shade cloth, mesh or the like.

Suitably, the base perimeter of the building construction is defined by an elongated element such as a cable which is secured to the ground by means of anchors held by a foundation and the shadecloth or mesh material may be attached to the perimeter element in any suitable fashion.

The roof portion of the building construction may be f6 of substantially planar form or alternatively may be of pitched construction.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical building constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are respective end and side elevational :views of the building of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are respective cross sectional view along lines A-A and B-B of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the building S construction of Fig. 1; 'Tf Fig. 7 illustrates the preferred perimeter ground anchor for the building; Fig. 8 illustrates in perspective exploded view the preferred form of upstanding support for the building; Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate preferred shade cloth configurations for the building.

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Fig. 11 illustrates in side view a further alternative building construction according to the invention; Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate in plan and side views a building construction for protecting crops from birds or other predators; Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate alternative side or end wall configurations for the building of Figs 12 and 13.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 7 there is illustrated the building construction 10 in this case a shadehouse according to the present invention including in a first embodiment, a perimeter cable 11 which is located on the ground to define the required external 9# configuration of the building and which is suitably anchored to the ground by means of the anchors 12 shown in Fig. 7.

5 The anchors 12 are arranged as illustrated at spaced o 1 positions along the perimeter cable 11 and locate over that o 9 cable 11 to be anchored in a suitable concrete foundation 13.

The anchors 12 also provide tie off points for the frame St cables of the construction as described below. The anchors 12 suitably comprise bar or strip bent to the form illustrated however they may take any convenient form as desired.

o In the embodiment of Fig 1, a pair of side o 4& cables 14 and a pair of end cables 15 extend between respective anchors 12 at opposite sides of the perimeter of the P5 building 10 to be connected to the respective anchors by means of turnbuckles 16 whilst further shorter lengths of cable 17 extend between the side and end cables 14 and respectively and the perimeter cable 11 to be tied off at further anchors 12 to define inclined side wall cover supports for the building. Further cables 18 extend from the intersection of the cables 14 and 15 to the corners of the perimeter cable 11 to be connected to further anchors 12 via turnbuckles or other connector. The building construction also includes further intermediate longitudinally and transversely extending cables 14' and 15' which extend to be tied off at opposite ends at anchors 12 on the perimeter cable 11.

At each position where the respective cables 14, 14' and 15' intersect and cross upstanding support posts i j i 19 suitably of the type illustrated in Fig. 8 are provided.

Each support post 19 includes a first ground engaging portion 20 which in this embodiment is in the form of a pipe which is flattened or otherwise deformed at one end 21, the deformed end 21 being located in a concrete foundation to resist pull out whilst the opposite end extends above the ground to serve as a spigot to be engaged by a rectangular hollow sectioned post member 22 suitably connected to the ground engaging portion 20 by means of a transverse bolt 23 which passes through aligned apertures therein. At the upper end of the post member 22 is provided a cable clamping 0 assembly 24 which comprises a first spigot member S locatable in the upper end of the post member 22 to be :1 secured thereto by means of a further transverse through bolt 26 and which is provided with a transverse flange 27 o upon which the intersecting cables locate and seat. A

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clamping member or plate 28 is provided above the flange 27 whilst respective bolts 29 pass through aligned apertures in the plate 28 and flange 27 to enable clamping of the cables therebetween. If desired, the flange 27 may be provided c It with threaded apertures for engagement by the bolts.

So as to protect the shadecloth or other covering against damage, it is preferred that the respective cables 14, 15, 14' and 15' be provided with a covering above suitably in the form of a plastic conduit 30 threaded about the cables.

To further support the shadecloth or other covering further cables or wires 31 are provided to extend at spaced apart locations and generally parallel to the cables between opposite sides of the perimeter cable 11. Further longitudinally extending wires 32 are provided between the end cables 15 and intersect the wires 31. The wires 31 and 32 at their points of intersection with the cables or other wires may be tied thereto by simple wire ties whilst at the pesimeter cable 11, the wires 31 may be secured by fanner grips. The wires 32 may be secured to the cables 15 at each end by twitching-off or by means of wire clamps.

It will be seen that the arrangement of cables and wires described above will provide a grid for supporting the 6 shade cloth and take any load on the shade cloth due for example to high winds.

As shown in Fig. 6, the shade cloth 33 is arranged in a woven pattern passing alternately above and below respective wires 31. The adjacent lengths of shadecloth 33 are arranged in an opposite woven pattern and the side edges of the shadecloth 33 may be secured to the wires 31 and/or cables 14' by clips 35 of any suitable form.

In an alternative arrangement and as shown in Fig. 9, respective pairs of shadecloth lengths 33 are sewn together along adjacent longitudinal edges whilst pockets 34 are sewn into the opposite longitudinal edges, these pockets accepting respective lengths of high tensile wire 35. The pairs of shadecloth lengths 33 formed as above may then be interconnected with further pair of lengths such as by spaced hogg rings 36 or any other suitable fasteners. The shadecloth may then be arranged on the supporting cables and wires so that the shadecloth wires run adjacent the respective longitudinally extending cables 14 and 14' to enable them to be joined thereto by suitable ties which may comprise hogg rings. At its opposite ends, the shadecloth 33 may be simply looped about the perimeter cable 11 and clipped thereto whilst the shadecloth wires may be secured to the perimeter cable 11 by fanner it 1 grips.

o For shadecloth of the type shown 'in Fig. 10, respective 025,, longitudinal edges may be interconnected by hogg rings 37 and secured to high tensile wire to form the required covering and again supported on the cables in the above described manner with every oo second wire located over a cable 14 or 14' to be secured thereto.

eo B It will be apparent in the above construction that the °30| 'o respective support posts 19 will prevent uplift of the shadecloth 33 and that the resultant shadehouse will therefore be resistant to high wind loads. It is also preferred that the posts 19 be arranged diagonally to the respective cables in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

The building construction 10 can be extended in modules in either direction and may terminate in flat rather 7.

than inclined walls as shown in Fig. 11 in which case the end supporting posts 19' are preferably of a heavier construction than the inner posts 19. Furthermore, the end posts 19' are preferably braced by braces 38 which are supported in foundation 39 at one end and which clamp about the post spigots at their opposite ends. Further diagonal bracing may also be provided. In larger buildings, the respective anchors 12 at the corners of the building may be supported in an enlarged foundation 41 as shown in Fig. 1. In some constructions, the shadehouse may be formed to have a peaked o00 00 roof in which case the central upstanding posts 19 are 0 lengthened so that the cables on either side thereof are 0 .0 inclined outwardly. This is particularly advantageous in 000a40 °0 f areas subject to hail then wioll tend to be shed from the .o .5 shadehouse roof. In this configuration, gaps are preferably ooOs provided at the sides of the roof to permit the hail to be 0 0 shed.

The end vertical wall 41 of this building of Fig.

O 11 may be closed off by a fixed covering of shadecloth or ot J;0 comprise a roll-up covering as desired. The inclined walls of this building construction or that of Figs.l 1 to 5 may also be eprovided with a roll-up covering such as shadecloth if desired Figs. 12 to 15 illustrate an alternative building construction 43 according to the invention which includes a mesh roof or side covering to protect a growing crop from birds or other predators. In this instance the main perimeter cables 44 and 45 and intermediate cables 46 are tied off via turnbuckles 47 to anchoring wires 48 which are looped 30 around to be anchored by logs 49 buried in the ground. Further diagonal braces 50 similarly anchored are provided at the corners of the building 43.

Transversely extending wires 51 for supporting the mesh roof are anchored by pegs 52 driven into the ground.

Strips of mesh 53 are disposed between respective wires 51 and/or cables 45 and 46 and secured by wire twitches or any other fasteners.

It will be realised that many variations may be made to the above described invention without departing from 8.

the broad scope and spirit thereof. For example, many different fastening devices may be provided for attaching the shadecloth or mesh to its supporting wires and/or to the cables. Similarly, other means apparent to persons skilled in the art may be employed in place of the turnbuckles for tensioning the cables or for connecting the cables to the anchors. Many different forms of anchor may also be used for the structure and if required, the perimeter cable 11 may be eliminated. The shade cloth or mesh may be of any suitable type and the covering may in so.ie instances comprise .00o plastics sheeting whilst the connecting elements and posts 0o are preferably of galvanised construction. The above desc- I ribed principle may also be applied to buildings of other 00 0 r 0 shapes such as domed roof buildings for example igloo style o" 15 buildings. In a preferred construction, the corner support 0. 0oo post members are 76x76 RHS members whilst the intermediate members are 64x64 RHS members. The cables may suitably be 0 9mm. and the shadecloth wires 3.55mm HT as may be the inters s mediate wires 31., the latter being suitably spaced apart 0 00« o g 2O The posts 19 of course may be in many different o0: forms and may if desired be constructed in one piece.

o Furthermore grooves may be formed in the upper surface of the plate 27 to partially accommodate the clamped cables or wires. The spigot ends 25 and 20 may be of RHS section to 0 215 be received within the opposite ends of the member 22 or alternatively the member 22 may be of circular cross section form.

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Claims (11)

1. A building construction including a plurality of upstanding support members, a plurality of elongated flexible elements supported by said support members and arranged in a grid pattern to form a support for a roof covering for said building, said elements comprising a first set of spaced apart substantially parallel longitudirally extending elements and a second set of spaced apart substantially parallel elements extending transversely of, and intersecting said longitudinally extending first set of elements, and wherein said roof covering comprises sheet fabric material passing alternately above and below the elements of one of said sets to form a woven roof covering.

2. A building construction according to Claim 1 wherein said roof covering comprises lengths of said roof fabric material arranged in a side by side attitude and extending parallel to the elements of said other set of said elements, said lengths of fabric having opposite woven patterns relative to adjacent said lengths.

3. A building construction according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said elements of said one set comprise cables or wires. t

04. A building construction according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said fabric material comprises shade cloth or mesh material. A building construction according to any one of the 0 preceding claims wherein at least at some points of intersection of said elements, said elements are secured to the upper ends of o o respective said support members.

6. A building construction according to Claim 5 wherein said elements at said some of said points of intersections are releasably clamped to the upper ends of said support members by clamping means.

7. A building construction according to Claim 6 wherein said clamping means includes a pair of opposed clamping members and means for urging said clamping members towards each other to clampingly secure said elements therebetween.

8. A building construction according to Claim 7 wherein at least one of said support members includes a first portion adapted to be located in a foundation to define an upstanding spigot, a second elongated portion engaged at one end with said spigot to be supported in an upstanding attitude thereby and a third clamping portion including said clamping members engaged with the opposite end of said elongated portion.

9. A building construction according to Claim 8 wherein said 0 elongated portion comprises a hollow member locatable over said upstanding spigot and wherein one of said clamping members includes a spigot portion receivable in said hollow member. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said elements include respective opposite side and end elements, said elements at their points of intersection being supported by raid support members and extending downwardly at an inclined angle to be anchored in the ground. t i 01 1 A roof for a building comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel elongated flexible elements, and a plurality of further spaced apart substantially parallel elongated flexible elements extending transversely of and intersecting said pair, and a roof covering of sheet fabric material, said material passing alternately above and below said further elements to form a woven o roof covering.

12. A roof according to Claim 11 wherein said roof covering comprises lengths of said material, said lengths being disposed side-by-side, adjacent, said lengths having opposite woven patterns relative to said adjacent said lengths.

13. A roof according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said 11 fabric material comprises shade cloth, mesh material or the litfe. 13. A building construction substantially as horoinbe ora described with reference to the accompanying drawqinge.

14. A roof Substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings. DATED this nineteenth day of f June 1991 GARY MICHAEL LYNCH By My Patent Attorney JOt N'f G.GARDNER Os 0 1 00 0 It 00 0 01 V S 0 0~0s 0~00 0 S 05 Cs it-.