AU2020203268B2

AU2020203268B2 - An insulation spacer assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2020203268B2
Application number: AU2020203268A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mario Hurst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-09
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2021-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-23
Also published as: AU2020203268A1; AU2022200083A1; AU2018201324A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insulation spacer assembly. The insulation spacer assembly includes a pair of insulation spacers. Each spacer includes a top for supporting a roof; and one or more legs depending from the top. The spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together to define spaces in which insulation can be located or spaces adjacent the insulation. Advantageously, the connection means may facilitate connection of the spacers together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights. (24946635_1):CLISH

Description

AN INSULATION SPACER ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to insulation spacers. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to insulation spacers used in roofing of industrial building such as factories.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] A known factory roof includes purlins supporting mesh. Insulation is supported by the mesh, and roof sheeting is fastened to the purlins. In practice, the insulation is undesirably squashed and compacted between the roof sheeting and the purlins.

[0004] Roof spacers can be provided between the purlins and the roofing sheets to impede compaction of the insulation. Each spacer includes a top for supporting the roof, and legs depending from the top. The legs define spaces in which insulation can be located.

[0005] The applicant has perceived that it can be difficult to align and position known roof spacers at heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005a] In an aspect, the present invention provides an insulation spacer assembly including: a pair of insulation spacers, each spacer including: a top for supporting a roof; and one or more legs depending from the top; la wherein the spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together to define spaces in which insulation can be located or spaces adjacent the insulation; wherein the connection means includes at least one tongue of one spacer for insertion in a respective at least one slot of the other spacer, and wherein the at least one tongue is tapered or rounded to facilitate a pivoting connection between the spacers whereby one spacer is pivoted relative to the other spacer in order to connect the spacers together.

[0006] Also disclosed herein is an insulation spacer assembly including: a pair of insulation spacers, each spacer including: a top for supporting a roof; and one or more legs depending from the top; wherein the spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together to define spaces in which insulation can be located or spaces adjacent the insulation.

[0007] Advantageously, the connection means may facilitate connection of the spacers together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights.

[0008] The connection means may include a tongue of one spacer for insertion in a slot of the other spacer. The tongue may be located at a free end of the spacer. The tongue may be tapered to facilitate connection. The slot may be located at an elbow of the other spacer. The spacers may be elongate and connected end to end. The connection means may be located at ends of the spacers.

[0009] Each spacer may include a body, including the top, that is integrally formed as a single piece. Each body may be formed by folding sheet material. Each body may form a channel for strength. The body may include one or more of the legs thereby providing a robust structure. Each spacer may further include another one of the legs coupled to the body. Each other leg may be U-shaped. Each other leg may be welded to the body providing a strong connection. Each top may include a fastening hole superimposed over each other leg. At least one of the legs may be tapered to facilitate insertion through the insulation.

[00010] The assembly may further include wire mesh for supporting the insulation. The insulation may be in the form of a blanket. The assembly may further include a purlin for supporting the mesh. The legs may include feet to facilitate fastening of the spacers to the purlin. The feet may include holes through which fasteners can pass.

[00011] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00012] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be

(24946635_1):CLISH regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00013] Figure 1 is a side view of an assembled insulation spacer assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00014] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the unassembled insulation spacer assembly of figure 1;

[00015] Figure 3 is a perspective view of one end of a joiner spacer in accordance with another embodiment;

[00016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the other end of the joiner spacer of Figure 3; and

[00017] Figure 5 shows the interconnection of two joiner spacers of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an insulation spacer assembly 100 as shown in figure 1. The assembly 100 includes a pair of insulation spacers 102a, 102b. A starter spacer 102a is initially installed followed by a joiner spacer 102b that is then connected to the starter spacer 102a.

[00019] Each spacer 102 includes a top 104 for supporting a metal sheeting roof 106. Legs 108a, 108b depend from the top 104 and define spaces 110 in which insulation blankets (e.g. batts) can be located. The elongate spacers 102 include a tongue-in-slot connection means 111 for connecting the spacers 102a, 102b together end-to-end.

[00020] Advantageously, the connection means 111 at ends of the spacers 102a, 102b facilitates connection of the spacers 102a, 102b together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights.

[00021] Turning to figure 2, the connection means 111 includes a tongue 200 of the joiner spacer 102b for insertion in a slot 202 of the starter spacer 102a. The downward

(24946635_1):CLISH tongue 200 is located at a free end of the joiner spacer 102b and is tapered to facilitate insertion and connection. The slot 202 is located at an elbow of the starter spacer 102a.

[00022] Each spacer 102 includes a bent body 204 , including the top 104, that is integrally formed as a single piece by folding sheet material. Each body 204 forms a channel for strength. Each body 204 includes the legs 108a thereby providing a robust structure. Each spacer 102 further includes another central leg 108b, separately formed, and coupled to the body 204 by welding to form a strong connection. Each central leg 108b is U-shaped and tapered to facilitate piercing insertion through the insulation. Each top 104 includes a fastening hole 206 superimposed over each central leg 108b for receiving a fastener (e.g. screw).

[00023] The legs 108 include feet 208 to facilitate fastening of the spacers 102 to a metal roof purlin 112 (see figure 1). The feet 208 include fastening holes 210 through which screw fasteners 114 can pass (see figure 1).

[00024] Returning to figure 1, the assembly 100 further includes mesh 116 for supporting the blanket insulation passing through the spaces 110. The assembly 100 also includes spaced purlins 112 or other rigid support beams, supporting the mesh 116, that are aligned with the co-incident spacers 102a, 102b.

[00025] Figures 3 and 4 show respective ends of a joiner spacer 102b' in accordance with another embodiment.

[00026] A pair of tongues 200' of one spacer 102b' are inserted in respective slots 202' of another like spacer 102b'. Each tongue 200'a is hooked, tapers at the tip, and is rounded to facilitate connection.

[00027] As can be seen in Figure 5, the tapered tips of the tongues 200' of a held spacer 102b' are inserted and hooked in respective slots 202' of an affixed spacer 102b', before the held spacer 102b' is pivoted downwards and the tongues 200' are fully inserted in the slots 202'for fastening of the held spacer 102b'.

[00028] The embodiment of Figures 3 to 5 provides more strength and is easier to install than the embodiment of Figures 1 to 2.

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[00029] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00030] The dimensions in figure 2 are all shown in millimetres. A person skilled in the art will realise that these dimensions can be readily changed for purpose.

[00031] The spaces 110 can also be located adjacent the insulation with the insulation spacer assembly 100 preventing the roof 106 from crushing the insulation.

[00032] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[00033] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

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Claims

1. An insulation spacer assembly including: a pair of insulation spacers, each spacer including: a top for supporting a roof; and one or more legs depending from the top; wherein the spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together to define spaces in which insulation can be located or spaces adjacent the insulation; wherein the connection means includes at least one tongue of one spacer for insertion in a respective at least one slot of the other spacer, and wherein the at least one tongue is tapered or rounded to facilitate a pivoting connection between the spacers whereby one spacer is pivoted relative to the other spacer in order to connect the spacers together.

2. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means facilitates connection of the spacers together in an incremental manner when working at heights.

3. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one tongue includes a pair of tongues located at a free end of the spacer for insertion in a respective pair of slots of the other spacer.

4. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one slot is located at an elbow of the other spacer.

5. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacers are elongate and connected end to end.

6. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection means is located at ends of the spacers.

7. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each spacer includes a body, including the top, that is integrally formed as a single piece.

8. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein each body is formed by folding sheet material.

9. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein each body forms a channel for strength.

10. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the body includes one or more of the legs thereby providing a robust structure.

11. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein each leg is U shaped.

12. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein each leg is welded or separately attached to the body providing a strong connection.

13. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein each top includes a fastening hole superimposed over each leg.

14. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the legs is tapered to facilitate insertion through the insulation.

15. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including wire mesh for supporting the insulation.

16. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation is in the form of a blanket.

17. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a support member for supporting the mesh.

18. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the legs include feet to facilitate fastening of the spacers to the support, the feet preferably including holes through which fasteners can pass.

Mario Hurst Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON

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