GB2052599A - Artificial Thatch - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastics straw-like material comprises an extruded and thus constant diameter tube of plastics having a paper-thin wall and may be used for roof thatching, for thermal insulation in the wall cavity or loft of a building or for fencing.

Description

SPECIFICATION Plastics Straw-like Material This invention relates to a plastics straw-like material, particularly useful for thatching a roof, for cavity or loft insulation or for fences.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a plastic straw-like material comprising an extruded and thus constant diameter tube of plastics having a paper-thin tube wall. Preferably the plastics material comprises a polypropylene or a PVC preferably with fire extinguishing properties.

The material is light in weight, strong in tension and very flexible, whilst at the same time being very resistant to breaking by flexing. The material thus is similar in its handling properties to traditional materials used in roof thatching and may be used in identical manner. The raw plastics is loaded with an appropriate colouring agent so that the colour of the extruded product simulates that of traditional thatching.

The tube wall of the extruded product is very thin and the product compares with plastics drinking straws, except that it is cut in much longer lengths, for example of the order of 3 feet.

The tube is straight, of constant diameter and constant wall-thickness along its length of several feet and its central duct is open along its length.

Tubes of different sizes (perhaps three sizes of, for example 1/8 inch, 3/1 6 inch and 1/4 inch) may be grouped together when thatching to impart a natural appearance. The material may be woven into a preformed mat.

An appropriate polypropylene with fire extinguishing properties is marketed by ICI. The properties of the material with respect to fire is accordingly comparable or better than the traditional thatching. The material differs from previously proposed synthetic thatching in that such synthetic thatching has comprised solid plastics elements the handling properties of which have not been sufficiently similar to those of traditional thatching.

The plastics material in accordance with the invention may be used for thermal insulation in the wall cavity of lofts (between the joists) of buildings. For example in the wall cavity, the material may be stacked vertically with the opposite ends of the individual extruded tubes pinched and welded closed. Any moisture is thus free to run downwards over the outer surfaces of the tubes, and thermally insulating cell of air is trapped within the individual tubes.

The plastics material in accordance with the invention may be used for fences. Thus, fencing panels may be manufactured, each comprising several groups of the tubes extending horizontally across the panel and the interwoven with several groups of the tubes extending vertically, the tubes in each group lying side-by-side but not necessarily of the same diameters. The ends of the tubes may be welded to respective ones of the four sides of a frame of the panel.

Alternatively, fencing may be formed as a continual roll comprising the plastics tubes laid vertically and conveniently held together in the roll-form.

Claims

1. A plastics straw-like material, comprising an extruded and thus constant diameter tube of plastics having a paper-thin tube wall.

2. A plastics straw-like material as claimed in claim 1, in which the plastics comprises a polypropylene or PVC having fire extinguishing properties.

3. A plastics straw-like material as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the plastics is loaded with a colouring agent such that the colour of the extruded product simulates that of traditional thatching.

4. Roof thatching comprising plastics strawlike material as claimed in any preceding claim.

5. Thermal insulation of a building, comprising plastics straw-like material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. Thermal insulation as claimed in claim 5, provided between the joists in the loft of the building.

7. Thermal insulation as claimed in claim 5, provided in the wall cavity of the building.

8. Fencing comprising plastics straw-like material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Plastics Straw-like Material This invention relates to a plastics straw-like material, particularly useful for thatching a roof, for cavity or loft insulation or for fences. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a plastic straw-like material comprising an extruded and thus constant diameter tube of plastics having a paper-thin tube wall. Preferably the plastics material comprises a polypropylene or a PVC preferably with fire extinguishing properties. The material is light in weight, strong in tension and very flexible, whilst at the same time being very resistant to breaking by flexing. The material thus is similar in its handling properties to traditional materials used in roof thatching and may be used in identical manner. The raw plastics is loaded with an appropriate colouring agent so that the colour of the extruded product simulates that of traditional thatching. The tube wall of the extruded product is very thin and the product compares with plastics drinking straws, except that it is cut in much longer lengths, for example of the order of 3 feet. The tube is straight, of constant diameter and constant wall-thickness along its length of several feet and its central duct is open along its length. Tubes of different sizes (perhaps three sizes of, for example 1/8 inch, 3/1 6 inch and 1/4 inch) may be grouped together when thatching to impart a natural appearance. The material may be woven into a preformed mat. An appropriate polypropylene with fire extinguishing properties is marketed by ICI. The properties of the material with respect to fire is accordingly comparable or better than the traditional thatching. The material differs from previously proposed synthetic thatching in that such synthetic thatching has comprised solid plastics elements the handling properties of which have not been sufficiently similar to those of traditional thatching. The plastics material in accordance with the invention may be used for thermal insulation in the wall cavity of lofts (between the joists) of buildings. For example in the wall cavity, the material may be stacked vertically with the opposite ends of the individual extruded tubes pinched and welded closed. Any moisture is thus free to run downwards over the outer surfaces of the tubes, and thermally insulating cell of air is trapped within the individual tubes. The plastics material in accordance with the invention may be used for fences. Thus, fencing panels may be manufactured, each comprising several groups of the tubes extending horizontally across the panel and the interwoven with several groups of the tubes extending vertically, the tubes in each group lying side-by-side but not necessarily of the same diameters. The ends of the tubes may be welded to respective ones of the four sides of a frame of the panel. Alternatively, fencing may be formed as a continual roll comprising the plastics tubes laid vertically and conveniently held together in the roll-form. Claims

1. A plastics straw-like material, comprising an extruded and thus constant diameter tube of plastics having a paper-thin tube wall.

2. A plastics straw-like material as claimed in claim 1, in which the plastics comprises a polypropylene or PVC having fire extinguishing properties.

3. A plastics straw-like material as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the plastics is loaded with a colouring agent such that the colour of the extruded product simulates that of traditional thatching.

4. Roof thatching comprising plastics strawlike material as claimed in any preceding claim.

5. Thermal insulation of a building, comprising plastics straw-like material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. Thermal insulation as claimed in claim 5, provided between the joists in the loft of the building.

7. Thermal insulation as claimed in claim 5, provided in the wall cavity of the building.

8. Fencing comprising plastics straw-like material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.