Interlocking Metal Sheets For Use As Roofing And/or Walling And/or Decking

Abstract

Interlocking metal sheets connected together at their longitudinal edges are used as a form and reinforcement for concrete to provide when the concrete is set, a reinforced concrete slab for building construction. Each sheet has upstanding ribs throughout its length and has interlocking clips at the longitudinal edges thereof. The ribs include a plurality of reinforcing bulges throughout their length and on both sides to connect the sheets to the set concrete and prevent separation particularly in a longitudinal or tensile direction of the metal sheets.

Description

The invention relates to interlocking metal roofing, walling or decking sheets which are connected together at their longitudinal edges to form a composite roof, wall or floor covering. The sheets are formed with spaced, parallel upstanding ribs formed longitudinally thereon for reinforcing the sheets, and each opposite longitudinal edge is formed to interlock with the edge of the next adjacent sheet. The ribs provide non-slip holding means for fixing screws or the like for covering panels such as ceiling members to the sheets, and in conjunction with connected edge locking clips they provide reinforcing means when the sheets are used as decking sheets and are embedded in concrete.

This invention relates to interlocking metal sheets which are connected together at their longitudinal edges to provide roofing and/or walling and/or a decking and whilst not limited thereto, the invention is particularly applicable to a decking and mould for a composite concrete structure.

Known interlocking sheets have a basic disadvantage in that when designed for use as roofing or walling sheets they are not suitable as a decking and mould for a concrete floor. On the other hand, known interlocking sheets provided for a concrete floor fail to provide adequate reinforcing for the concrete and also present difficulties in fixing ceilings or ceiling supports thereto.

The object of the present invention is to provide interlocking metal sheets which can be used as a roofing and/or walling and/or as a decking, and when used as a decking the concrete when set interlocks with the sheet and forms a composite reinforced concrete floor structure to which ceiling members or ceiling supports can be easily and effectively fixed.

According to the invention, each sheet has upstanding reinforcing ribs formed throughout the length thereof in spaced relationship and upstanding edge interlocking clips formed one on each opposite edge of the sheet throughout the length of the edge. Each rib comprises a pair of oppositely spaced legs upstanding from the plane of the sheet, the legs being set inwardly into near abutting relationship above the sheet and above the "abutting" parts formed into an inverted triangular head. The edge interlocking clips each comprise, one leg of a rib, one leg of the triangle with the head extended to the full width of the base of the triangle and has a downwardly inwardly flanged hook formed on the outer end for interlocking engagement with the clip of a next adjoining sheet.

One embodiment of the invention adapted as a decking and mould for a composite concrete floor structure is described with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a metal sheet showing the reinforcing ribs and interlocking edge clips, and reinforcing bulges formed in the abutting parts.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the metal sheet of FIG. 1 showing alternate means of fixing supplementary members, e.g., a ceiling thereto.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternate forms of reinforcing bulges formed in the abutting parts.

As illustrated each sheet 1 has two reinforcing ribs 2 formed throughout the length thereof in parallel spaced relationship and an interlocking clip 3 formed on each opposite edge of the sheet throughout the length of the edge.

Each rib comprises a pair of oppositely spaced legs 4 providing a cavity 5. Above the cavity the legs are set inwardly into abutting or near abutting relationship as at 6 (referred to hereafter as the "abutting parts") and above the abutting parts are formed into an inverted triangular head 7.

The interlocking clips 3 each comprise one leg 8 of the same sectional shape as a leg 4 one abutting part 9, one leg 10 of a triangle, which latter is extended to the full width of the base 11 of the triangle 10. The leg 10 and base 11 are dimensioned similarly to the inverted triangular heads 7 and a downwardly flanged hook 12 is formed on the free edge of base 11 for interlocking engagement with the clip 3, of the next adjoining sheet 1.

The legs 4 and 8 may have reinforcing bulges such as 13, FIG. 1, 13a, FIG. 3 or 14, FIG. 4, extending from the upper part of the spaced legs 4 to adjacent the apex of the triangular head 7. The bulges 13, 13a or 14 may be oppositely disposed or relatively staggered or they may be in the form of corrugations formed continuously along the abutting parts 6. Each edge locking clip 3 may also have similarly spaced and shaped bulges 13, 13a or 14 formed thereon on that side thereof juxtaposed the adjacent intermediate ribs 2.

Interlocking of a number of sheets to constitute a structure is attained by overlapping clips 3 of adjoining sheets, springing one leg 10 over the triangle base 11 and leg 10 of the next adjoining sheet.

When the sheets are used as a decking and mould for a concrete structure the concrete when set interlocks with the sheets by reason of the inverted triangular ribs 2 and clips 3 and forms therewith a composite reinforced concrete floor structure. The inverted triangular heads 7 are in turn reinforced against the pressure of the concrete thereon by the bulges 13, 13a or 14 whilst the bulges 13, 13a or 14 also provide reinforcement in a direction at right angles to the direction of the ribs 2.

If a gap exists between the abutting parts 6 before concrete is poured over the sheets 1, the weight of the concrete when poured forces the parts 6 together. Thus the width of the cavities 5 between the spaced legs 4 is substantially constant.

The spaced legs 4 of the ribs 2 provide a means for fixing ceiling brackets 15 or ceiling suspension supports 16 directly to the underside of the sheets 1. Self-tapping screws 17 or nails 18 for example, can be secured in engagement with the legs 4 in the space between said legs 4, or in engagement with the abutting parts 6, as seen particularly in FIG. 2. The screws 17 or nails 18 firmly embed in the metal of the sheets and provide adequate holding means for the brackets 15 or supports 16.

Claims

I claim:

1. Interlocking metal sheets for use as a form and reinforcement for concrete poured thereon to provide when the concrete is set, a reinforced composite slab for building construction, each said sheet including upstanding ribs formed throughout the length thereof in parallel spaced relationship, and upstanding interlocking clips formed one on each opposite edge of the sheet throughout the length of the edge, each rib comprising a pair of oppositely spaced legs upstanding from the plane of the sheet, the space between said legs providing a fastener receiving opening for attachment of building components to said slab, said legs being set inwardly into abutting relationship above the sheet and that portion above the abutting parts being formed into an inverted triangular head, said abutting parts including reinforcing bulges formed in spaced relationship therein throughout the length of said abutting parts, said bulges extending from the upper part of the spaced legs to adjacent the apex of the inverted triangular head at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said ribs and serving to connect the sheets to the set concrete so as to prevent separation thereof particularly in a longitudinal or tensile direction of the metal sheets, the edge interlocking clips each comprising one leg of a rib, one leg of a triangle with the head extended to the full width of the base of the triangle and having a downwardly, inwardly flanged hook formed on the outer end for interlocking engagement with the clip of the next adjoining sheet.