GB1593799A

GB1593799A - Apparatus for retaining ancillary equipment on a beam or lintel

Info

Publication number: GB1593799A
Application number: GB48804/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Current assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Priority date: 1977-11-23
Filing date: 1977-11-23
Publication date: 1981-07-22
Also published as: FR2410166A1; FR2410166B1; BE866299A; IE46773B1; ZA782284B; NL7804088A; DE2825226A1; IE780739L

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR RETAINING ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT ON A BEAM OR LINTEL (71) We, CATNIC COMPONENTS LIM ITED, a British Company, of Pontygwindy Estate, Caerphilly, Glamorgan CF8 2WJ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to apparatus for retaining ancillary equipment on a beam or lintel.

A beam or lintel is often required to support ancillary equipment such as pelmets, curtain rails or light fittings when it is in position in a wall of a building because the beam or lintel often provides an optimum position for mounting such equipment.

Where that beam or lintel is made of metal or concrete, it is usually virtually impossible, however, for a workman, handyman or Doit-Yourself home-occupier to drive nails or screws into it in order to provide a fixing for the ancillary equipment. This is because there is not anchorage for the nails or screws.

He is therefore compelled to place the ancillary equipment elsewhere, in a position other than the optimum one.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide apparatus which enables ancillary equipment to be secured to a beam or lintel.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus comprising a beam or lintel and a device for retaining an anchorage for ancillary equipment adjacent the beam or lintel, the beam or lintel being provided with a plurality of holes in a face of the beam or lintel and the device comprising one or more resilient portions which can engage in the holes to secure the device to the beam or lintel, the arrangement being such that when the device is secured to the beam or lintel there is defined between the device and the beam or lintel a space for receiving the anchorage. This makes for relatively easy manufacture of the apparatus as the holes can be simply formed in the beam or lintel face and the portions can be formed integrally with the retaining device when forming it.

When the retaining device is secured to the beam or lintel there may be defined a space for receiving the anchorage.

An anchorage such as a length of timber can be easily inserted in the space.

The retaining device may comprise two resilient interconnected arms each having a free end with the space being between the arms. Thus the arms may be urged together for insertion in the holes in the beam or lintel, so that when they are released they spring outwardly and grip the boundary of the hole in which they are inserted. In this way the retaining devices are positively prevented from dislodgement and are readily fitted.

The arms may be interconnected by a projecting portion projecting towards an imaginary line between the free ends of the arms. The portion forms a gripping part which engages the anchorage in use and helps to retain it firmly in position so that when the ancillary equipment is being fitted to the beam or lintel, the anchorage remains stationary and provides a firm base for inserting screws or nails.

There may be a series of retaining devices spaced apart in a row along the face for holding an anchorage such as a length of timber in position on the lintel.

The free ends of the arms may have lips for engaging the face on the opposite side to that in which the retaining device is held.

This helps to prevent dislodgement of the retaining device from the beam or lintel.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a perspective view of part of a lintel forming part of the apparatus; Figure 2 shows an enlarged end view of a retaining device forming another part of the apparatus; and Figure 3 shows the apparatus being used to retain an anchorage for ancillary equipment to the lintel.

The drawings show apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a sheet metal lintel 1 for use in spanning an aperture in a cavity wall (not shown). When so installed, a face 2 of the lintel 1 comprises the rear or inner face and lies adjacent the inner surface of the wall. Plaster or rendering (not shown) of that inner face fills the channel-shaped recess 3. The face 2 has a series 4 of holes through it. The boundaries of the holes 4 constitute securing means adapted to co-operate with the free ends of resilient arms 5 of a metal channel-shaped retaining device 6 for securing an anchorage for ancillary equipment to the face 2 of the lintel 1. The free ends of the arms 5 have lips 9. The arms 5 are spaced apart by a distance which enables them to be engaged in any two holes 4, not necessarily adjacent ones. The arms 5 each have a size such that they can be inserted in holes 4.The arms 5 are connected by a connecting portion or web 7 of the retaining device 6. The web 7 is bowed in a direction towards the free ends of the arms 5 to form an indented part or portion 8 projecting towards an imaginary line between the free ends of the arms 5.

In use of the apparatus, assuming the lintel 1 is in position in a cavity wall, the retaining device 6 is gripped so that the arms 5 are flexed towards one another, and they are then offered up to the face 2 so that one, say the lower one as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, can be inserted in a selected hole 4 for mounting the retaining device at a desired position in that face 2. An anchorage in the form of a timber batten 10 is then placed between the face 2 and the web 7. The retaining device is then turned while the arms 5 are still being gripped so that the upper, as viewed, arm can be inserted in a hole 4 above the one in which the lower arm is inserted. The device 6 is then released.

When so inserted and released the arms 5 try to return to their unflexed state and so grip the boundary surfaces of their respective holes 4. The lips 9 are engaged behind the face 2 and so prevent accidental dislodgement of the retaining device (Figure 3). The part 8 engages the anchorage 10 and helps to secure it in position. Screws, nails or the like can then be driven into the anchorage to effect a simple mounting of, for example, a curtain rail. After fixing of the anchorage 10 the remaining parts of the recess 3 are filled with rendering, plaster and the like.

The lintel has holes 11 through its bottom face 12.

It will be understood that there may be more than one retaining device 6 for each batten, in which case these devices are spaced along the batten.

The apparatus embodying the invention and above described can be modified. For example, the arms 5 may not have the lips 9.

Also, the web 7 may be straight, not indented as shown. The retaining devices may be made in a single forming step from round or flat section spring steel, although they may be made of plastics or metal coated with plastics rather than metal. A single lintel may be put up for sale with a pack such as a plastics bag of retaining devices fixed to it, the number depending on the length of the lintel. The pack may have an identification such as a colour code to identify the number of clips and the length of lintel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus comprising a beam or lintel and a device for retaining an anchorage for ancillary equipment adjacent the beam or lintel, the lintel being provided with a plurality of holes in a face of the beam or lintel and the device comprising one or more resilient portions engageable in the holes to secure the device to the beam or lintel, the arrangement being such that when the device is secured to the beam or lintel there is defined between the device and the beam or lintel a space for receiving the anchorage.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which there are two resilient portions which comprise two arms each having a free end, said space being between the arms.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, in which the whole device is made of resilient material.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the arms are interconnected by a connecting portion projecting towards an imaginary line between the free ends of the arm for engagement, in use with the anchorage.

5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4, the free ends of the arms each having an outwardly turned lip.

6. Apparatus comprising a beam or lintel and a device for retaining an anchorage for ancillary equipment adjacent the beam or lintel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. An anchorage for ancillary equipment for a wall, secured in position by apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 2 shows an enlarged end view of a retaining device forming another part of the apparatus; and Figure 3 shows the apparatus being used to retain an anchorage for ancillary equipment to the lintel. The drawings show apparatus embodying the invention. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a sheet metal lintel 1 for use in spanning an aperture in a cavity wall (not shown). When so installed, a face 2 of the lintel 1 comprises the rear or inner face and lies adjacent the inner surface of the wall. Plaster or rendering (not shown) of that inner face fills the channel-shaped recess 3. The face 2 has a series 4 of holes through it. The boundaries of the holes 4 constitute securing means adapted to co-operate with the free ends of resilient arms 5 of a metal channel-shaped retaining device 6 for securing an anchorage for ancillary equipment to the face 2 of the lintel 1. The free ends of the arms 5 have lips 9. The arms 5 are spaced apart by a distance which enables them to be engaged in any two holes 4, not necessarily adjacent ones. The arms 5 each have a size such that they can be inserted in holes 4.The arms 5 are connected by a connecting portion or web 7 of the retaining device 6. The web 7 is bowed in a direction towards the free ends of the arms 5 to form an indented part or portion 8 projecting towards an imaginary line between the free ends of the arms 5. In use of the apparatus, assuming the lintel 1 is in position in a cavity wall, the retaining device 6 is gripped so that the arms 5 are flexed towards one another, and they are then offered up to the face 2 so that one, say the lower one as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, can be inserted in a selected hole 4 for mounting the retaining device at a desired position in that face 2. An anchorage in the form of a timber batten 10 is then placed between the face 2 and the web 7. The retaining device is then turned while the arms 5 are still being gripped so that the upper, as viewed, arm can be inserted in a hole 4 above the one in which the lower arm is inserted. The device 6 is then released. When so inserted and released the arms 5 try to return to their unflexed state and so grip the boundary surfaces of their respective holes 4. The lips 9 are engaged behind the face 2 and so prevent accidental dislodgement of the retaining device (Figure 3). The part 8 engages the anchorage 10 and helps to secure it in position. Screws, nails or the like can then be driven into the anchorage to effect a simple mounting of, for example, a curtain rail. After fixing of the anchorage 10 the remaining parts of the recess 3 are filled with rendering, plaster and the like. The lintel has holes 11 through its bottom face 12. It will be understood that there may be more than one retaining device 6 for each batten, in which case these devices are spaced along the batten. The apparatus embodying the invention and above described can be modified. For example, the arms 5 may not have the lips 9. Also, the web 7 may be straight, not indented as shown. The retaining devices may be made in a single forming step from round or flat section spring steel, although they may be made of plastics or metal coated with plastics rather than metal. A single lintel may be put up for sale with a pack such as a plastics bag of retaining devices fixed to it, the number depending on the length of the lintel. The pack may have an identification such as a colour code to identify the number of clips and the length of lintel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus comprising a beam or lintel and a device for retaining an anchorage for ancillary equipment adjacent the beam or lintel, the lintel being provided with a plurality of holes in a face of the beam or lintel and the device comprising one or more resilient portions engageable in the holes to secure the device to the beam or lintel, the arrangement being such that when the device is secured to the beam or lintel there is defined between the device and the beam or lintel a space for receiving the anchorage.