AU2018203604B2

AU2018203604B2 - Support Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2018203604B2
Application number: AU2018203604A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Fritz; Andrew Lovell
Original assignee: UFP Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: UFP Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-23
Filing date: 2018-05-22
Publication date: 2024-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-22
Also published as: AU2018203604A1

Abstract

SUPPORTASSEMBLY ABSTRACT In one aspect there is disclosed a support assembly (10) adapted to secure slats (12) in position on a building structure (14). The support assembly (10) includes an elongate, longitudinally extending support beam (18). The support beam (18) includes (i) a building structure attachment section (24) operatively adapted to attach the support beam (18) to the building structure and (ii) an opposing support clip section (26). The support assembly (10) further includes at least one support clip (22) operatively associated with the supportbeam(18) andadaptedto holdaslat(12). The at least one support clip (22) is adapted to be located within and moved along the support clip section (26). 10 FIGURE 1 1 0/ FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3

Description

FIGURE 1 1

/

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

SUPPORTASSEMBLY FIELD

[0001] The invention concerns a support assembly, in particular but not exclusively, a support assembly adapted to support the slats of slatted timber walls or ceilings.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Slatted ceilings having a timber look are currently in vogue. Such ceilings are not only decorative but also perform a sound absorbing function. Various slatted ceiling systems are known, many of which tend to be both costly and labour intensive to install.

OBJECT

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative support assembly adapted to secure the slats of slatted walls and ceilings in position.

SUMMARY

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a support assembly adapted to secure slats in position on a building structure, the support assembly including:

an elongate, longitudinally extending support beam having (i) a building structure attachment section operatively adapted to attach the support beam to the building structure and (ii) an opposing support clip section; and

at least one support clip operatively associated with the support beam and adapted to hold a slat;

wherein the at least one support clip is adapted to be located within and moved along the support clip section.

[0005] Preferably the building structure attachment section and the support clip section co operate to define two opposing sheet holding slots, each sheet holding slot operatively adapted to hold edge portions of a planar sheet.

[0006] Preferably the building structure attachment section includes an elongate, longitudinally extending base section and two opposing transverse guides outwardly extending from the base section, the guides being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

[0007] Preferably each guide defines a guide slot.

[0008] Preferably the support clip section includes an elongate, longitudinally extending track base and two opposing transverse edges outwardly extending from the track base, the track edges being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

[0009] Preferably the base section of the building structure attachment section and the track base of the support clip section are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

[0010] Preferably the base section and track base are connected via a connector section.

[0011] Preferably the connector section includes two elongate, laterally spaced apart connector braces.

[0012] Preferably the support beam is of unitary construction.

[0013] Preferably the support beam is produced by extrusion.

[0014] Preferably the at least one support clip includes an elongate clip base and two opposing transverse gripping members outwardly extending from the clip base, the gripping members being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

[0015] Preferably the gripping members each include a toothed surface adapted to grip surfaces of a slat held by the at least one support clip.

[0016] Preferably the clip base is operatively adapted to be located between the track edges.

[0017] According to a second aspect there is disclosed an elongate, longitudinally extending support beam, the support beam having (i) a building structure attachment section operatively adapted for attachment to a building structure and (ii) an opposing support clip section operatively adapted to hold at least one support clip,

wherein the building structure attachment section and the support clip section co-operate to define two opposing sheet holding slots, each sheet holding slot operatively adapted to hold edge portions of a sheet.

[0018] According to a third aspect there is disclosed herein a support clip operatively adapted to hold a slat, the support clip including a (i) clip base, and (ii) two opposing transverse gripping members outwardly extending from the clip base, wherein the support clip includes a hinge assembly adapted to allow the gripping members to be adjusted relative to one another, the hinge assembly including (i) a hinge member outwardly extending from one of the gripping members and (ii) a hinge member housing adapted to hold the hold the hinge member pivotally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a slatted timber ceiling incorporating an embodiment support assembly;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the slatted timber ceiling of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the slatted timber ceiling of Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a portion of an embodiment support beam and an embodiment support clip of the embodiment support assembly;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line 5-5 in Figure 4;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic end view of the embodiment support beam;

[0026] Figure 7 is a schematic end view of the embodiment support clip;

[0027] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a slatted timber ceiling incorporating a second embodiment support assembly;

[0028] Figure 9 is a schematic top view of the slatted timber ceiling of Figure 8;

[0029] Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a second embodiment support beam and a second embodiment support clip of the support assembly of Figure 8;

[0030] Figure 11 is a schematic end view of the support beam of Figure 10;

[0031] Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the second embodiment support clip of Figure 10;

[0032] Figure 13 is a schematic end view of the support of clip of Figure 12; and

[0033] Figure 14 is a schematic bottom view of the support clip of Figure 12.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Figures 1to 4 show an embodiment slat support assembly 10 adapted to secure a plurality of slats 12 in position on a building structure 14. In this specific embodiment the support assembly is incorporated in a slatted ceiling 16 where the building structure 14 includes a plurality of parallel roofing beams 18. The support assembly 10 includes three elongate, longitudinally extending support beams 20 which are parallel to each other. The support beams 20 include a plurality of support clips 22 which secure the slats 12 in position as described below.

[0035] Each support beam 20 has (i) a building structure attachment section 24, operatively adapted to attach the support beam 20 to the building structure 14, and (ii) an opposing support clip section 26. The building structure attachment section 24 and the support clip section 26 co operate to define two opposing sheet holding slots 28. Each sheet holding slot 28 is operatively adapted to hold edge portions of a planar sheet 31. In this embodiment the planar sheet 31 is an acoustic matt produced from a material which displays desired acoustic properties, in this instance being noise absorbing features. The acoustic matt 31 further serves to hide components behind it so as to provide an aesthetically pleasing and finished appearance.

[0036] Referring also to Figures 5 and 6, the building structure attachment section 24 includes an elongate, longitudinally extending base section 32 and two opposing transverse guides 34 outwardly extending from the base section 32. The guides 34 are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart as shown. Each guide 24 defines a guide slot 36 which is suitably sized so as to receive non-illustrated transverse edge portions of the roofing beams 18 slidably.

[0037] The support clip section 26, in turn, includes an elongate, longitudinally extending track base 38. Two opposing transverse edges 40 extend outwardly from the track base 38. The track edges 40 are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart as shown.

[0038] Referring to Figure 7, each support clip 22 includes an elongate clip base 42, and two opposing transverse gripping members 44 outwardly extending from the clip base 42. The gripping members 44 are co-extensive and laterally spaced so as to define a slat holding slot 46. The gripping members 44 each includes a toothed surface 48 adapted to grip outer surfaces of a timber slat 16 held within the slat holding slot 46. The clip base 42 is operatively adapted to be located between the track edges 40. During installation of the support assembly 10 the track edges will assist a tradesperson to locate the support clips 22 in position along the support beam 20.

The support clips 22 can then be secured in position with suitable, non-illustrated, fasteners such as rivets.

[0039] Referring in particular to Figure 6, the base section 32 of the building structure attachment section 24 and the track base 38 of the support clip section 26 are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart. The base section 32 and track base 38 are connected via a connector section 50. In the embodiment support beam 20 the connector section 50 includes two elongate, parallel, laterally spaced apart connector braces 52. The connector braces 52 define inner borders of the sheet holding slots 28 as shown.

[0040] In this embodiment the support beam 20 is of unitary construction and produced by extrusion of a metal product. The support clips 22 are also of unitary construction and produced from a metal. It will be understood that the support beam and the support clip could be produced from a range of different materials.

[0041] The embodiment support assembly 10 is adapted to connect to a non-illustrated standard commercially available wall grid system. In one application a support beam 20 can either slide over a 38mm section of a drywall grid or be screwed directly to a wall or ceiling. The size of the support clip can be varied to suit the size of timber required, for example 32m or 45mm. The embodiment support beam can carry a number of differently sized support clips as required for a particular application.

[0042] Figures 8 to 14 show a second embodiment support assembly 100 adapted to secure a plurality of slats 112 in position on a building structure. The support assembly 100 includes three elongate, longitudinally extending support beams 120 (or carrier rails) which are parallel to each other. The support beams 120 include a plurality of support clips 122 which secure the slats 112 in position as described below.

[0043] Each support beam 120 has (i) a building structure attachment section 124, operatively adapted to attach the support beam 120 to a structure 14, and (ii) a transverse support clip section 126. The embodiment building structure attachment section 124 comprises an elongate, longitudinal extending planar body. The support clip section 126, in turn, includes an elongate, longitudinally extending track base 138. Two opposing transverse edges 140 extend outwardly from the track base 138. The track edges 140 are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart as shown. As shown, the one edge includes a transverse lip 141 which defines a clip slot 143 to receive a portion of a base of a support clip 122 as described below. The support beam 120 further includes

(i) joiner portions 121 for receiving non-illustrated joiners in the support beam 120 and (ii) a hat section for hanging the support beam 120.

[0044] Referring to Figure 12 to 14, each support clip 122 includes (i) a clip base 142 and (ii) two opposing transverse gripping members 144a, 144b outwardly extending from the clip base 142. The gripping members 144a, 144b are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart. The gripping members 144a, 144b each includes a toothed surface 148 adapted to grip outer surfaces of a timber slat 16 held within the slat holding slot 46. The clip base 142 is operatively adapted to be located between the track edges 140 with a portion of the clip base 142 located within the clip slot 143.

[0045] Unlike the first embodiment support clip 22 which defines a slot holding slot for receiving a slat, the support clip 122 will be located within a non-illustrated interior space defined by the slats 112 with the toothed surfaces 148 of the gripping members 144a, 144b engaging walls of the slat defining the interior space. To facilitate location of the toothed surfaces 148 within such interior space the gripping members 144a, 144b are adjustable relative to one-another. In this embodiment, such movement is provided in that the support clip 122 includes a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly 150 includes a hinge member 152 outwardly extending from the toothed surface 148 of the gripping member 144a with is pivotally held within a hinge member housing 154.

[0046] To maintain the gripping members 114a, 114b in a spaced-apart relationship biasing means, here a coil spring 156 is provided. When the gripping members 114a, 114b are to be located within an interior space of a slat, the gripping member 114a can simply be caused to pivot towards the gripping member 114b so as to adjust the gripping members 114a, 114b relative to each other. Once located within the interior space, the resilience of the spring 156 will cause the gripping member 114a to return to its original position so that the gripping members 114a, 114b engage walls defining the interior space. The support clip 122 is now secured to the relevant slat.

[0047] As shown in Figure 14, the clip base 142 includes a fastener hole 160 through which a non-illustrated fastener can pass to secure the support clip at a desired position along the support beam 120.

[0048] The support beam 120 is of unitary construction and produced by extrusion of a metal product. The support clips 122 are also produced from a metal. It will be understood that the support beam and the support clip could be produced from a range of different materials.

[0049] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. A support assembly adapted to secure slats in position on a building structure, the support assembly including:

wherein the at least one support clip is adapted to be located within and moved along the support clip section;

wherein the building structure attachment section and the support clip section co operate to define two opposing sheet holding slots, each sheet holding slot operatively adapted to hold edge portions of a sheet.

2. A support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the building structure attachment section includes an elongate, longitudinally extending base section and two opposing transverse guides outwardly extending from the base section, the guides being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

3. A support assembly according to claim 2, wherein each guide defines a guide slot.

4. A support assembly according to claim 3, wherein the support clip section includes an elongate, longitudinally extending track base and two opposing transverse edges outwardly extending from the track base, the track edges being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

5. A support assembly according to claim 4, wherein the base section of the building structure attachment section and the track base of the support clip section are co-extensive and laterally spaced apart.

6. A support assembly according to claim 5, wherein the base section and track base are connected via a connector section.

7. A support assembly according to claim 6, wherein the connector section includes two elongate, laterally spaced apart connector braces.

8. A support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support beam is of unitary construction.

9. A support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support beam is produced by extrusion.

10. A support assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one support clip includes an elongate clip base and two opposing transverse gripping members outwardly extending from the clip base, the gripping members being co-extensive and laterally spaced apart so as to define a slat holding slot.

11. A support assembly according to claim 10, wherein the gripping members each include a toothed surface adapted to grip surfaces of a slat held by the at least one support clip.

12. A support assembly according to claim 11, wherein the clip base is operatively adapted to be located between the track edges.