AU699628B2 - Support assembly - Google Patents

Description

~i P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT r r r a r r Ill r c r

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Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: RANDOLF ANDREW WIRKUS and MICHELLE ANN WIRKUS Randolf Andrew Wirkus

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 13th Floor, 379 Queen Street RAh BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) SEC.

-0 104 Invention Title: "A Support Bracket" 0 Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos: Australian Patent Application No. PM7676 filed 25.8.94 and PN3191 filed 26.5.95.

Divisional Application Details: PCT/AU94/ee428-filed 15 August 1994.

S The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2.

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Ii 2 A SUPPORT BRACKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a glass block wall and in particular to a support bracket used in the construction of a glass block wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention employs a support assembly utilising channels formed in glass bricks of the type made from two hollow halves welded together and wherein a separation strip or frame element is located between adjacent glass bricks. The separation strip or frame element has opposed longitudinally extending beading locating the separation strip in the channels of said adjacent glass bricks, the separation strip being supported at its end by a bracket telescopically engaging the separation strip.

In one embodiment the bracket employs a plurality of fingers adapted to project into a hollow portion of the separation strip to thereby support the 10 separation strip at a predetermined orientation relative to a main frame member.

In a further ormbodiment the bracket includes a plurality of fingers adapted to straddle the separation strip thereby projecting into the channels of adjacent glass bricks with fingers projecting into the channels above and below the separation strip. The fingers are typically about the same thickness as the beading 15 so that the fingers locate flush or below the beading in tht separation strips.

Typically two fingers are positioned on either side of the separation strip, the fingers protruding generally at 900 to the bracket body, the bracket body being t generally planar and being adapted to be fastened to a wall, frame or the like.

Preferably, the bracket includes a marker or position indicating means so the bracket can be located at a predetermined position so that the separation strip _ii 3 supported by the bracket is positioned generally at 900 to the wall or support to which the bracket is fitted.

Typically, the separation strip is self locating in a channel of the glass bricks and includes a hollow into which support member fingers project.

In one application the present invention is used in a glass block fire wall comprising a plurality of glass blocks forming a wall, frame elements separating adjacent glass blocks, the frame elements being made from a fire resistant material, typically a compressed fibrous cement with the frame elements being supported by brackets.

Typically horizontal and vertical frame elements are employed in the wall.

The frame elements are preferably elongate prefabricated compressed fibrous cement strips having channels or recesses in opposite faces thereof. The strips are typically medially bulged in shape having relatively narrow edges so that in profile the strips taper toward their edges.

15 Preferably the strips are secured in position using brackets having fixed end S sockets with opposite ends of the strips plugging into respective sockets. The se;: sockets are preferably carried on mounting brackets or plates secured to a support by fasteners. The bracket or plate preferably includes an aperture forming the socket or the socket can be formed as a projecting ring-like member shrouding 20 a marginal end portion of the strip.

Cl The glass block fire wall preferably includes three separate materials applied between the blocks, firstly a fire-proof silicon or equivalent is applied as a bedding in a space between each block and the framing strip and then grouting in the form of a fire rated sealant or equivalent is used between blocks adjacent I

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4 the respective edges of the framing strips.

The glass block wall is typically built up with a peripheral gap which is later filled with a fire-proof material. Preferably a polyurethane expanding foam or fire-proof ceramic fibre blanket designed to absorb expansion and contraction is compacted into the gap around the glass block wall, then the gap is sealed with fire rated sealant.

In another aspect the present invention resides in a glass block wall frame element supported by a bracket comprising a strip of compressed fibrous cement or functional equivalent, the strip preferably having opposed tapered marginal edge portions and being medially bulged and having opposite faces including channels or recesses extending longitudinally therein and being telescopically retained by the bracket.

In another aspect the invention resides in an anchor bracket for a frame element of a glass block wall, the bracket having a socket adapted to support an 15 end portion of a framing strip against transverse movement. The socket is preferably shaped to correspond with the cross-sectional shape of the framing strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS S o *not "oIn order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and wherein:- 4* Figure 1 is a part construction of a glass block wall according to the present invention; Figures 2 to 4 are sections illustrating typical embodiments of the invention; Figure 5 is a completed glass block wall; Figure 6 is a front view of a typical bracket; and Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket of Figure 6 also showing assembly details in phantom.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a still further embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a glass block wall 10 shown partially completed and employing a plurality of glass blocks il forming the wall. The frame elements 12 are made from milled compressed fibrous cement, are positioned between the blocks and are secured in place at their ends using anchor brackets 13 screwed or otherwise fastened to a wall or frame as shown in Figure 1.

*4 V As can be seen in Figure 1 the brackets 13 include a projecting socket portion 14 and the framing elements 12 fit neatly into the projecting socket

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portion 14. The projecting socket portion 14 in use creates a gap at 15 between S 20 the peripheral glass blocks and the wall and this gap must be filled. Likewise grouting is applied between the glass blocks.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 4 there is illustrated in section various different shaped separation strips 12, and as is evident from Figures 2, 3 and 4 a layer of silicon is applied at 17 between the glass blocks and the strips. This r r i i I layer of silicon assists in bonding the strips to the glass blocks and therefore resists cracking of the layer between the glass blocks and the strips should a fire cause expansion of the wall. A fire-retardant sealant is employed as grouting at 16.

A full glass block fire wall is shown in Figure 5. As can be seen a peripheral gap is formed at 15 and this is filled. Preferably this is filled according to the description set out above.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 an alternative bracket is illustrated and as can be seen the bracket is made up of a plate 13 and a hollow ring section 14 having a peripheral roll 18, the ring section being made separately of the plate so it fits into position shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 8 to 10 there is illustrated a separation strip 25 having tapered marginal edges 26 and 27 and shoulders 28 and 29 so that the separation strip can automatically locate in channels of commonly available glass bricks.

The separation strip 25 is hollow in that it includes two chambers 30 and 31 adapted to take fingers 32 and 33 of bracket 34 so that the separation strip 25 can 'be suitably aligned in relation to a frame 35 and glass bricks 36.

A pointer 37 is employed on bracket 34 so the bracket can be centrally located relative to the support Referring to Figure 11, there is illustrated a glass brick wall 200 comprising 20 a plurality of glass bricks 201,the glass bricks 201 being supported by separation strips 202 carrying beading 203 and being held in place by brackets 204, the brackets 204 having projecting fingers 205 which are adapted to extend into channels 206 of the glass bricks 201 so the fingers 205 are disposed between the separation strips and the glass bricks.

7 This can be see in more detail in Figure 12 where like numerals have been used to illustrate like features.

As can be seen the bracket 204 includes a pla'e section 207 secured to a timber frame 208 by a pair of screws 209 and 210, the bracket 204 being located in place by aligning the pointer portion 211 with a locating line 212 drawn on the timber frame 208. This enables the bracket 204 to be located in the proper position so that the separation strip 202 (shown in phantom) is automatically positioned correctly due to the position of the projecting fingers 205. As can be seen, the fingers 205 have been positioned to straddle the end 213 on the 10 separation strip 202.

In the case illustrated the fingers 205 are just thick enough so that they do not extend above the beading on the separation strip 202 so that they fit flush and

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are positioned between the separation strip and the adjacent glass bricks without interfering with the positioning of the glass bricks in the glass brick wall.

15 The brackets 204 are typically made from sheet metal stamped into the general shape illustrated in Figure 12.

.:Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of 5S550S the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A glass block wall comprising runs of glass blocks, a separation strip between each run, the separation strip being secured to supports at opposite ends of the strip by respective brackets, each bracket and separation strip being coupled together by means enabling relative longitudinal movement of the separation strip during assembly of the wall.

2. The glass block wall of claim 1 wherein each bracket includes a projecting finger and each separation strip locates on the fingers for said relative longitudinal movement. d:

3. The glass block wall of claim 1 wherein each bracket includes a socket and 0 -the separation strip is telescopically slidable in the socket of the bracket. 9@*o

4. The glass block wall according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket is L-shaped and includes a position indicating means so the bracket can be located at a predetermined position so that the separation strip supported t 9o by the bracket is positioned generally at 90 degrees to a wall or support to which the bracket is fastened. o:

5. A glass block wall according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket includes position indicating means to aid alignment of the bracket when being used.

6. A glass block wall according to claim 3 wherein the separation strips are formed from a fibrous cement.

7. A glass block wall according to caim 3 wherein the socket is formed as a projecting ring-like member fitting into a base plate and shrouding a marginal end portion of the strip. 9 DATED this 1 3th day of, August 1998 RANDOLF ANDREW WIRKUS and MICHELLE ANN WIRKUS By their Patent Attorneys I NTELLPRO 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 0900 0000 0 0 0 0 C 00 0 C 0* 00 0 0 *C C 0000 000000 0 0 ir ABSTRACT A glass block wall 10 shown partially completed and employing a plurality of glass blocks 11 forming the wall. The frame elements 12 are made from milled compressed fibrous cement, are positioned between the blocks and are secured in place at their ends using anchor brackets 13 screwed or otherwise fastened to a wall or frame *4 I S 5S