Building structures

A structure comprising:

• (a) a first member comprising:
• (i) a first longitudinally extending surface, and
• (ii) first locking means extending longitudinally along the surface and comprising a spline extending from the surface, and engagement means comprising a central region extending longitudinally along and joined to the spline only along a junction region of the spline spaced a first distance from the surface, the engagement means further comprising resilient flanges extending outwardly on both sides of the central region as well as downwardly toward the first surface, the flanges having edge portions spaced a free distance apart and spaced from the first surface by a second distance that is less than the first distance;
• and
• (b) a second elongated construction member comprising:
• (i) a second surface extending longitudinally along the second elongated member,
• (ii) a second locking means comprising a trough having walls extending longitudinally along the second surface and into the second member to receive the first locking means and comprising juxtaposed edge regions spaced apart by a distance less than the free distance between the edge portions of the flanges, the trough being wide enough, at all depths thereof within the second elongated construction member, to receive the locking means, the depth of the trough into the second construction member from the second surface thereof at all points in the trough being at least approximately equal to the distance from the first surface to a corresponding point on the locking member, whereby the trough can receive the locking means with the first and second surfaces in at least partial surface-to-surface contact with each other, and the walls of the trough can engage the edge portions of the flanges to retain the longitudinally extending flanges when the flanges are inserted into the trough, thereby locking the first and second members together.