GB2149437A

GB2149437A - Wall ties

Info

Publication number: GB2149437A
Application number: GB08323510A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric William Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-01
Filing date: 1983-09-01
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: GB8323510D0

Abstract

A nail-on wall tie 32 for interconnecting a timber-framed inner wall or window frame to a mortar-bonded wall 20 comprises at one end a spike portion 34, twisted into a helical formation, for insertion into a timber member 10 and, at the other end and extending from the shank 42, a triangular head 48 for reception in a mortar joint. A knee portion 40 perpendicular to the spike 34 and to the plane of the head 48 provides a striking face which may be struck to drive the tie 32 into the timber member 10. When the tie 32 is intended to bridge a cavity 18, a lip 44 may be formed in the shank 42 to encourage droplet formation from condensed water. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wall ties This invention relates to wall ties for inter-connecting a wooden structure, for example a timber-framed innerwal I or a window-frame, to a mortar-bonded structu-re, for exam ple a brick wall.

Timberframe building construction basically comprises a timberframe faced with an expanded polystyrene insulation layerand an external brickwork leaf spaced fromthe polystyrene layer so asto provide a cavity. To tie the brickwork leaf to the frame it is current practice to employ a type of brickfixing known as a frame cramp which has a body portion which lies in the joint and an upturned end portion which is drilled to receive two screws by which it is screwed against a vertical timber member. The operation of fixing such a frame cramp is clearly notonlytime- consuming but also interrupts the rhythm of bricklaying.Clearly it is not possible to substitute for the cramp a screw-in tie as, when turned, its head would foul the underlying brick course; nor is it feasible to substitute a tie having a simple pointed shank as the length of the shank would cause itto buckle when struckwith a hammer on the end remote from the shank; moreover, the configuration necessaryto provide good anchorage in the brickwork, for example triangular, is inherently springy and incompatible with acting as a head suitablefor receiving hammer blows.

These difficulties are overcome according to the firstaspectofthe present invention bythe provision of a nail-on wall tie comprising at one end a spike for insertion into a timber member, atthe other end and extending from a shank a head for reception in a mortarjoint, and a knee portion adjacentthe spike which provides a striking face by means of which the spike may be driven into the timber member.Preferably the knee portion extends perpendicularly to the spike so that it will abuttheface ofthetimber member when the spike is driven fully home; moreover, the knee portion should extend perpendicularly to the plane ofthe head so that itwill, in use, project above the upper surface ofthetop course of bricks and be conveniently situated for hitting with a hammer.

The head may have any suitable configuration, for exampletriangular; when the tie is intended to bridge a cavity the shank may be provided with an intermediate lip to encourage the formation of droplets from condensed water and their subsequent detachment.

The cross-section ofthe tie is normally circular but may be square or oblong, for example.

Although the tie according to the invention is preferably fabricated from stainless steel it may also, of course, be fabricated from other materials conventionally employed for the purpose, for example g,alVanisedsteel or phosphor bronze.

Accordingto a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a wall tie for interconnecting atimber structure with another structure and having a spike portion for insertion into the timber structure which is twisted into a helical formation to provide improved anchorage in the surrounding timber. Preferably the tip ofthe end portion is pointed.

Itwill be appreciated that a tie according to the first aspect ofthe present invention is advantageously provided with the above-defined spike portion.

Some embodiments ofthe invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an isometric view, partly cut away, of a portion of a timber frame construction wall incorporating a nail-in wall tie according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tie of Fig. 1 on a larger scale; Figure 3 is a side elevation ofthetie of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure4 is a plan ofthetie of Figs. 1,2 and 3; and Figures 5to 8 are corresponding views of another form of nail-in wall tie according to the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1 a timberframe wall construction is constituted by an outerwall (to be described later) and an innerwall which comprises a timber frame work including uprights lOs, Ob clad with laminated board 12 itselffaced with foamed polystyrene insulating sheet 14; a portion ofthe inner walk is shown cut away. Spaced from the insulating sheet 16 so as to form a cavity 18 is the outerwall which consists of a brickwork leaf 20 comprising bricks 22 each formed with a frog 24 on each bedding face. Two courses of the leaf 20 are shown, an upper course comprising bricks 22a, b, cand a lower course 28, together with an interposed mortarjoint 30.

The nail-on wall tie 32, best seen in Fig. 2, is integrallyformed from a length of stainless steel wire and comprises a spike 34twisted into a helical configuration 36 and terminating ion a point38; a knee portion 40; a shank 42 having a leading portion 43 slightly angled with respect otthe spike 34, an intermediate lip 44 and a rear neck portion 46 extending parallel to the spike 34; and a triangular head 48 lying in a plane perpendicularto that defined by the spike 34 and knee portion 40.

In use, the spike 34 of the tie 32 is driven into the timber upright 1 Ob by striking the knee portion 40 with a hammer until it lies against the surface ofthe upright, to achieve the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the spike 34 is firmly held in the upright 1 Ob by virtue ofthe helical configuration 34 and the head 48 is located above the frog 24 of the bricks 22b in the course 28 so as to be ready for embedding in the next layer of mortar to be applied. Any water subsequently collecting on the leading shank portion 43 of the shank 42 will run down to the lip 44from which it will subsequently fall as a droplet.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of a brickwork leaf 50 and of a timber window-frame 52 partially incorporated therein and including a rail 54 and stile 56. Above brick 22d of course 58 is positioned a nail-in wall tie 60 which functions as a frame cramp and resembles the tie 32 except in that it has a simple straight shank 62.

It will be appreciated that with both the ties 32,50 the respective upstanding knee portion 40 allows the spike 34to be driven into the timber upright without being obstructed by the bricks 22 of the last-laid course 28,58.

1. A nail-on wall tie for interconnecting a wooden structure and a mortar-bonded structure, the tie comprising at one end a spike portion for insertion into a timber member, at the other end, and extending

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wall ties This invention relates to wall ties for inter-connecting a wooden structure, for example a timber-framed innerwal I or a window-frame, to a mortar-bonded structu-re, for exam ple a brick wall. Timberframe building construction basically comprises a timberframe faced with an expanded polystyrene insulation layerand an external brickwork leaf spaced fromthe polystyrene layer so asto provide a cavity. To tie the brickwork leaf to the frame it is current practice to employ a type of brickfixing known as a frame cramp which has a body portion which lies in the joint and an upturned end portion which is drilled to receive two screws by which it is screwed against a vertical timber member. The operation of fixing such a frame cramp is clearly notonlytime- consuming but also interrupts the rhythm of bricklaying.Clearly it is not possible to substitute for the cramp a screw-in tie as, when turned, its head would foul the underlying brick course; nor is it feasible to substitute a tie having a simple pointed shank as the length of the shank would cause itto buckle when struckwith a hammer on the end remote from the shank; moreover, the configuration necessaryto provide good anchorage in the brickwork, for example triangular, is inherently springy and incompatible with acting as a head suitablefor receiving hammer blows. These difficulties are overcome according to the firstaspectofthe present invention bythe provision of a nail-on wall tie comprising at one end a spike for insertion into a timber member, atthe other end and extending from a shank a head for reception in a mortarjoint, and a knee portion adjacentthe spike which provides a striking face by means of which the spike may be driven into the timber member.Preferably the knee portion extends perpendicularly to the spike so that it will abuttheface ofthetimber member when the spike is driven fully home; moreover, the knee portion should extend perpendicularly to the plane ofthe head so that itwill, in use, project above the upper surface ofthetop course of bricks and be conveniently situated for hitting with a hammer. The head may have any suitable configuration, for exampletriangular; when the tie is intended to bridge a cavity the shank may be provided with an intermediate lip to encourage the formation of droplets from condensed water and their subsequent detachment. The cross-section ofthe tie is normally circular but may be square or oblong, for example. Although the tie according to the invention is preferably fabricated from stainless steel it may also, of course, be fabricated from other materials conventionally employed for the purpose, for example g,alVanisedsteel or phosphor bronze. Accordingto a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a wall tie for interconnecting atimber structure with another structure and having a spike portion for insertion into the timber structure which is twisted into a helical formation to provide improved anchorage in the surrounding timber. Preferably the tip ofthe end portion is pointed. Itwill be appreciated that a tie according to the first aspect ofthe present invention is advantageously provided with the above-defined spike portion. Some embodiments ofthe invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an isometric view, partly cut away, of a portion of a timber frame construction wall incorporating a nail-in wall tie according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tie of Fig. 1 on a larger scale; Figure 3 is a side elevation ofthetie of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure4 is a plan ofthetie of Figs. 1,2 and 3; and Figures 5to 8 are corresponding views of another form of nail-in wall tie according to the invention. As shown in Fig. 1 a timberframe wall construction is constituted by an outerwall (to be described later) and an innerwall which comprises a timber frame work including uprights lOs, Ob clad with laminated board 12 itselffaced with foamed polystyrene insulating sheet 14; a portion ofthe inner walk is shown cut away. Spaced from the insulating sheet 16 so as to form a cavity 18 is the outerwall which consists of a brickwork leaf 20 comprising bricks 22 each formed with a frog 24 on each bedding face. Two courses of the leaf 20 are shown, an upper course comprising bricks 22a, b, cand a lower course 28, together with an interposed mortarjoint 30. The nail-on wall tie 32, best seen in Fig. 2, is integrallyformed from a length of stainless steel wire and comprises a spike 34twisted into a helical configuration 36 and terminating ion a point38; a knee portion 40; a shank 42 having a leading portion 43 slightly angled with respect otthe spike 34, an intermediate lip 44 and a rear neck portion 46 extending parallel to the spike 34; and a triangular head 48 lying in a plane perpendicularto that defined by the spike 34 and knee portion 40. In use, the spike 34 of the tie 32 is driven into the timber upright 1 Ob by striking the knee portion 40 with a hammer until it lies against the surface ofthe upright, to achieve the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the spike 34 is firmly held in the upright 1 Ob by virtue ofthe helical configuration 34 and the head 48 is located above the frog 24 of the bricks 22b in the course 28 so as to be ready for embedding in the next layer of mortar to be applied. Any water subsequently collecting on the leading shank portion 43 of the shank 42 will run down to the lip 44from which it will subsequently fall as a droplet. Fig. 5 shows a portion of a brickwork leaf 50 and of a timber window-frame 52 partially incorporated therein and including a rail 54 and stile 56. Above brick 22d of course 58 is positioned a nail-in wall tie 60 which functions as a frame cramp and resembles the tie 32 except in that it has a simple straight shank 62. It will be appreciated that with both the ties 32,50 the respective upstanding knee portion 40 allows the spike 34to be driven into the timber upright without being obstructed by the bricks 22 of the last-laid course 28,58. CLAIMS

1. A nail-on wall tie for interconnecting a wooden structure and a mortar-bonded structure, the tie comprising at one end a spike portion for insertion into a timber member, at the other end, and extending from a shank, a head for reception in a mortarjoint, and a knee portion adjacent the spike portion which provides a striking face which may be struck to drive the spike portion into the timber member.

2. Atie as claimed in claim 1, in which the knee portion extends perpendicularly to the spike portion.

3. Atie as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the knee portion extends perpendicularlyto the plane ofthe head.

4. Atie as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 and comprising an intermediate lip to encourage, in use, the formation of droplets from water condensing on the tie.

5. Atie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the spike portion is twited into a helical formation.

6. Atie as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the spike portion has a pointed end.

7. Atie as claimed in any preceding claim and formed of stainless steel.

8. Awall-tiefor interconnecting a timberstructure with another structure and having a spike portion for insertion into a timber member which is twisted into a helical formation.

9. Atie as claimed in claim 8, in which the tip ofthe spike portion is pointed.

10. Atie as claimed in claim 8 or 9 and formed of stainless steel.

11. Awall-tie substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 or Figs. 5 to 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.

12. The features as herein disclosed, ortheir equivalents in any patentably novel selection.