GB2161844A

GB2161844A - Wall tie

Info

Publication number: GB2161844A
Application number: GB08517434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Guy Perry; David Graham Perry
Original assignee: CD TRULINE Ltd
Current assignee: CD TRULINE Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-11
Filing date: 1985-07-10
Publication date: 1986-01-22
Also published as: GB8517434D0; GB2161844B; GB8517432D0; GB2162217B; GB8517433D0; EP0173437A1; GB2161843B; GB8517435D0; GB2161515A; GB2162217A; GB2161843A

Description

1 GB 2 161 844 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Improvements in or relating to tie members This invention relates to tie members for use in tying first and second construction elements to one another, one of said elements being a wall of building components (e.g. bricks or blocks) interconnected via a jointing compound (e.g. mortar or cement). Generally the other of said building elements may be another wall of similar construction (either parallel thereto or at an angle thereto), a parallel skin (e.g. in a timber-frame construction), a timber door frame or a timber window frame, the tie member in these last two cases being often referred to as a cramp.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a tie member having a limb to extend substantially horizontally in the jointing compound between two courses of a wall, characterised in that said limb has at least part of its sides formed by a plurality of individual teeth extending at an angle to the main body of said limb.

Preferably said teeth extend normally to the main body of said limb.

Preferably, said teeth are of generally planar form and disposed in a plurality of individual planes angled to the general direction of said limb.

Preferably, on each side of the limb, all the planes of said teeth on that side are parallel to one 95 another and at the same angle to the limb's general direction.

In one preferred embodiment the tie member comprises a second limb extending substantially horizontally and in opposite direction to first-mentioned limb, said two limbs having similar features (such as those described above). Such a tie member may be for use in tying two similarly constructed, parallel walls to one another.

In another preferred embodiment the tie member comprises a second limb substantially at right angles to the first-mentioned limb. The second limb of such a tie member may be in use attached to an interior skin extending parallel to the wall in which the first limb is embedded, or to a window or door frame to be tyed in to said wall, or to an upright wall attachment member having retaining means to hold said second limb.

Advantageously, the teeth are each of generally triangular form.

Preferably, said teeth extend from the main body of the first limb in the same direction as the said second limb of the tie member.

Preferably said second limb is provided with one or more reinforcing ridges or channels extending longitudinally thereof. If further strengthening is required a laterally extending elongate depression may be formed in the arris between the first and second limbs of the tie member.

Description of the Drawings

By way of non-limiting example, embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a wall at- tachment member, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the part of Fig 1 between the lines A-A and B-B, Figure 3 is a side elevation in the direction of ar- row C in Fig 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line D-D in Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the part shown in Figs 2 and 3, Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the part shown in Figs 2 and 3, Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a tie member according to a first embodiment of this in vention for use with the attachment member of Figs 1-6, Figure 8 is a side view of the tie member of Fig 7, Figure 9 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow E in Fig 8, Figure 10 is an underneath plan view of the tie member of Fig 7, Figure 11 is a front elevational view of part of another wall attachment member, Figure 12 is a plan view of a tie member accord- ing to a second embodiment of this invention for use with the attachment member of Fig 11, and Figures 13 and 14 are schematic perspective views of tie members according to respectively third and fourth embodiments of this invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

The wall attachment member 10 of Figs 1-6 is a stainless steel stamping or pressing of generally Lshaped cross-section having a rear or main limb 12 and a forwardly extending limb 14 at an angle thereto. The main limb 12 is substantially wider and fractionally longer at its upper and lower ends 11,13 than the side limb 14. In use the main limb 12 is plumbed vertically and attached to the face of a first wall onto which a second wall is to be built at an angle thereto. The side limb 14 defines an alignment surface against which the end bricks, blocks or other building components of the second wall are in use aligned, the angle between the limbs 12, 14 (in this example, a right-angle) defin- ing in use the said angle between the first and second walls.

The elongate edge of main limb 12 opposite side limb 14 is rolled or peened over to provide an elongate reinforcing bead 16. Preferably the bead 16 is to the rearward surface of limb 12. The main limb 12 has apertures 18 therethrough disposed in substantially two general rows adjacent side limb 14 and bead 16 respectively. A central row of apertures 20 is provided at a wider longitudinal spacing than apertures 18. Each of these apertures 20 is bounded by an encompassing wall 19 directed rearwardly, e.g. to a depth of approximately 3mm, the wall 19 being integral with limb 12 and inclined thereto at an obtuse angle all round the hole 20.

Closely adjacent each side of each aperture 20, and substantially in line with said apertures 18 adjacent that side of limb 12, the main limb 12 is provided with a somewhat conical indentation 22 directed rearwardly, i.e. oppositely to the side limb 2 GB 2 161 844 A 2 14. The indentations 22 may extend to a depth greater than walls 19, e.g. to a depth of approxi mately 4mm. Midway between each pair of central apertures 20, the main limb is cut with two closely adjacent transverse slits at 21 that define between 70 them a finger 24 which is pressed out to extend (in the manner of a strap) in front of and spaced from the plane containing the main body of limb 12 such as to define a slot-like opening 25 when viewed in plan (see Fig 4).

A single row of apertures 26 is provided in the side limb 14, horizontally in alignment with apertures 18.

All the apertures 18, 20 and 26 have the form of elongate oval-like holes which essentially appear defined by two parallel sides coupled together by semi-circular ends. The elongate holes 18 and 26 are directed longitudinally of the alignment member 10 whereas the elongate holes 20 are directed transversely of the member's rear limb 12 and normal to its longitudinal centre-line.

The apparatus of this embodiment also comprises a plurality of tie members for sliding co-operation with the attachment member 10, such co- operation being by guided insertion of part of the tie member into a slot- like opening 25 and its retention therein by the transversely-directed finger 24. A suitable tie member 30, as shown in Figs 710, is of generally L-shaped form having longer and shorter limbs 32 and 34 at right-angles to one another. The shorter limb 34, which is the part to enter a slot-like opening 25 of the attachment member, and in use extend vertically, is provided with three similar longitudinally directed reinforc- ing ribs 36 of narrow trough-like cross-section. It also has its free end 38 tapered or provided with rounded or radiussed corners to provide a progressive reduction in the limb's cross-section as it extends towards its free end 38 thereby to facilitate entry of limb 34 into any one of the slot-like openings 25. A transversely directed, elongate depression 40 at the arris between limbs 32, 34 serves to reinforce this corner of the L-shaped tie member 30. The limb 32, which is to extend in use gener- ally horizontally in between two courses of end bricks, blocks or other building components of the second wall and in the second wall's direction, is provided at each side with a plurality of pressedout individual tags or sprags 42. These tags or sprags 42 provide triangular shaped teeth of generally planar form extending in a plurality of individual planes normal to the main body of limb 32, i.e. in use substantially vertically. On each side of limb 32, all the individual planes of said teeth 42 are parallel to one another and at the same angle, e.g. of between 30' to 60' (preferably about 45% to the extending direction of limb 32. The limb 32 also has a central row of separate conical depressions 44 to provide a reinforcement of the limb and/or to improve its mortar bonding capability.

In use, the existing first wall surface is first cleaned of dirt and foreign matter. The main or rear limb 12 of the wall attachment member 10 is then offered up to the face of the first wall, is posi- tioned with the upoer edge of the straps or fingers 130 24 at approximately the proposed level of the mortar or cement between horizontal courses of the second wall's building bricks, blocks or like components, and is plumbed to extend vertically. In this vertically plumbed position, appropriate fixing holes are marked on the wall through the apertures 20. The fixing holes are drilled and plugged, and the attachment member then secured to the wall by appropriate fasteners, e.g. coach-screws or the like, inserted through the apertures 20 into the prepared fixing holes. Prior to final tightening of the screw-threaded fasteners the vertical alignment of the attachment member 10 is checked, the elongate nature of holes 20 enabling adjustment to be effected. It will be appreciated that in this surfacial abutment position the conical indentations 22 create a substantial engagement pressure on the existing wall whilst serving to space the main plane of limb 12 away from the surface of the existing wall. Such spacing allows any uneveness or out-oftrue of that wall to be accommodated, and also permits mortar, cement or other jointing composition used in building the new wall to extend through the apertures 18 (and any unused apertures 20) and effect a somewhat keyed connection or join (thereby assisting in the bonding of the attachment member 10 to both the existing and newly-built walls). Moreover, substantial overtightening of the screwthreaded fasteners, which could cause excessive buckling or bowing of limb 12 and consequential deformation of the alignment limb 14, is effectively prevented by the rearwardly extending flange or integral wall 19 which encom passes each hole 20.

The first row or course of the new wall's building components is laid with the end component (with jointing composition applied) being placed end on against rear limb 12 and side on against the align ment surface provided by limb 14 extending for- wardly away from the existing wall (and, in this example, at right-angles thereto). Before commencing the second row or course of building components of the new wall, a tie member 30 is attached to the alignment member by downwardly sliding into the lowermost visible opening 25 the shorter limb 34 of tie member 30. Such sliding attachment is facilitated by the reducing cross- section free end 38 of limb 34, the guidance for such sliding being provided by the ends 23 of finger 24 (which ends connect finger 24 to the main planar body of the attachment member's limb 12). These ends 23 also serve to restrain the inserted tie member 30 against angular movement in a plane parallel to limb 12 and against sideways motion out of the member's limb 12. Longitudinal horizontal motion of the tie member towards and away from member 10 is restricted by the finger 24 itself and by the main planar body of limb 12. The latter is engaged by the tie member's limb 34 both above and below the finger or strap 24 thereby to restrain the tie member against angular movement in a plane normal to limb 12. The inwardly directed nature of the laterally extending elongate depression 40 (providing arris reinforcement of the tie member) assists in ensuring that the head of any 3 GB 2 161 844 A 3 fastener projecting from an adjacent aperture 20 does not unduly hinder the entry of the tie member's limb 34 into the slot-like opening 25, the length of this shorter limb 34 being commensurate with the spacing between an aperture 20 and the nearest finger 24 above or below it. Further tie members 30 are provided between appropriate upper courses as the new wall is built up, e.g. at 30Omm centres. Where necessary the limb 34 of tie member 30 can be inserted upwardly into a slotlike opening 25 and before the end building component below it is laid (rather than downward limb insertion after the end building component is laid, as described above).

It will be appreciated that the facility for guiding sliding motion of tie member 30 longitudinally of the wall attachment member 10 (i.e. vertically in use) that is provided by the co-operation of the tie member's limb 34 and the attachment member's slot-like opening 25, enables the apparatus to com pensate for or adjust for variations in vertical building tolerances or height differences between the various courses -especially upper courses -of the building components (a) in the new wall and (b) as compared between the new wall and the ex isting wall.

It will also be appreciated that the sideways movement of the new wall is restricted by the keyed bond of the mortar (between the new wall's courses) to the tie members' vertically directed and transversely angled teeth (provided by side tags or sprags 42) embedded in this mortar, the tie mem ber being held against lateral movement by the finger ends 23 of the attachment member 10 fas tened to the existing wall.

The apertures 26 in the side limb 14 of the at tachment member provide for a keyed connection of plaster or other rendering of the new wall at the vertical arris between it and the older wall.

Where the desired wall height exceeds the 105 length of attachment member 10, two (or more) such members may be connected longitudinally, the lower projecting end 13 of the upper member being positioned behind the upper projecting end 11 of the lower member 10. In this position the side edge of said end 13 is received within the top part of bead 16 of the lower member 10, and the bottom hole 20 of the upper member 10 overlies the top hole 20 of the lower member 10, the ob tusely angled walls 19 nesting within one another and aiding such alignment. It will be appreciated that the obtusely angled walls 19 need not totally encompass each hole 20 of an attachment member 10, but may extend over part only of such hole outline. In alternative arrangements the integral wall 19 may be at an acute angle (rather than an obtuse angle), at 90', or omitted altogether.

Where necessary or convenient a new wall (e.g.

a two-leaf cavity wall) may be built with its end abutting two limbs 12 of a pair of wall attachment members 10 disposed in a mutually mirror image formation with limbs 14 adjacent one another (in side the cavity) and the limbs 12 directed out wardly and away from the limbs 14. In this regard it will be noted from Fig 1 that the attachment member 10 is shown with its limb 14 providing a right-hand-side alignment surface. Where a lefthand-side alignment surface is required, the selfsame alignment member 10 is merely turned up- side down, i.e. rotated 180' about a horizontal axis normal to the plane of limb 12. In other words the self-same wall attachment member 10 can be used (alone or in mirror-image formation with another indentical wall attachment member 10) with its alignment limb 14 either to the left of its attachment limb 12 or to the right of its attachment limb 12. This is achieved because the straps or fingers 24 and the slot-like openings 25 provide guide means for permitting guided relative motion be- tween a tie member 30 and the attachment member 10 irrespective of the attitude adopted by the attachment member.

If desired each of the rearwardly directed conical indentations 22 may be burst through at its apex to provide sharp edged tips, e.g. of triangular or cruciform shape, that may enhance the frictional grip provided by the attachment member's indentations on the older (existing) wall.

Fig 11 shows an alternative form of wall attach- ment member 100 which, like the above-mentioned member 10, is a stamping or pressing of sheet steel, preferably stainless steel. The attachment member 100 has its main limb 112 formed with fixing holes 120 each having an obtusely angled encompassing skirt 119 integral with the remainder of the attachment member. Closely adjacent each hole 120 the main limb 112 is integrally provided with conical indentations 122, 123 serving a similar purpose as skirt 119, i.e. bowing restraint. A trans- verse rib 195 is provided mid-way between each pair of neighbouring holes 120 and the limb 112 may be embossed adjacent each rib 195 with the words "LEVEL WITH BRICK TOP" or a like expression. Instead of a single transverse finger or strap 24, the attachment member 100 is stamped to provide a plurality of pairs of longitudinally directed vertical fingers or straps 126 spaced forwardly of the front surface of limb 112. The fingers 126 are connected by their upper and lower ends 127 to the main body of limb 112 and provide pairs of opposite slot-like gaps 125. The two fingers 126 of each pair are parallel to one another and spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of a tie member 130 (see Fig 12).

The tie member 130 of Fig 12 comprises horizon- tal and vertical limbs 132, 134 and is similar to the tie member 30 of Figs 7-10 except that its vertical limb 134 is substantially shorter than limb 34, the transverse arris reinforcing depression 40 is omit- ted, and a notch 128 is provided in each side of horizontal limb 132 adjacent its root, i.e. where it meets vertical limb 134. In use, the tie member 130 is offered up to the space between a pair of stamped out fingers 126 and twisted about a hori- zontal axis normal to main limb 112 to rotate the side edges of vertical limb 134 such that they slide into the slot-like gaps 125 between the main body of limb 112 and its stamped out fingers 126 and rest behind these fingers. In such position the tie member 130 is guided for vertical motion with re- 4 GB 2 161 844 A 4 spect to the attachment member 100 over a dis tance limited by the length of the tie member's vertical limb 134, a stop to such motion being pro vided either by the free bottom end or the upper end of limb 134 engaging respectively the lower end or the top end 127 of the fingers 126. The depth of the notches 128 provides a width 129 be tween them substantially equal to the horizontal spacing between the fingers 126 of each pair so that the tie member 130 is restrained against side ways movement and is effectively guided for verti cal motion with respect to the attachment member 100. Optionally the attachment member 100 may be provided with a projecting side flange (not shown) to provide an alignment surface, the mem ber 100 thus having a generally L-shaped cross section.

In a modification of the embodiment of Fig 11, the fingers or straps 126 are not provided with the open outside edges shown but instead are also longitudinally connected to the main limb 112 so as to extend therefrom and form two shallow re ceptacles with their open "mouths" -defined by the inside edges of the straps 126 -facing one another.

These receptacles aid in preventing ingress of mor- 90 tar which might obstruct vertical sliding motion of the tie member.

It will be noted that the above-described and il lustrated embodiments of the invention provide for the tie member to be slidably connectable to the attachment member, and such as to be guided for vertical motion with respect thereto. Furthermore, in each said embodiment, the distance of such guided vertical motion is limited by the vertical di mensions of the tie member.

To facilitate the use of tie member 30 as a cramp for tying timber window frames or timber door frames in position a wall aperture, the limb 34 is provided with holes through which nails or screws can be inserted to fasten the tie member 30 to the 105 timber frame, the tie member's limb 32 being embedded in the mortar between courses of brick defining the wall opening to receive that frame.

Alternatively, where it is necessary to tie to gether two parallel walls of building blocks or bricks, e.g. as in cavity wall construction, a tie member such as that shown in Fig 13 or in Fig 14 may be employed. Each of these embodiments comprises first and second limbs 232 extending substantially horizontally and away from an inter mediate limb 233 or 333 interconnecting them.

Each limb 232 is similar to a limb 32 of tie member in that it comprises similarly formed, arranged and shaped teeth 42 and conical depressions 44.

The intermediate limb 233 in Fig 13 is bowed to be centrally uppermost to prevent build up of mortar thereon as the two walls are built up. For the same reason, the intermediate limb 333 in Fig 14 is twisted over to lie substantially vertically.

Claims

1. A tie member having a limb to extend substantially horizontally in the jointing compound be- tween two courses of a wall, characterised in that said limb has at least part of its sides formed by a plurality of individual teeth extending at an angle to the main body of said limb.

2. A tie member according to Claim 1, wherein said teeth extend normally to the main body of said limb.

3. A tie member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that said teeth are of generally planar form and disposed in a plurality of individ- ual planes angled to the general direction of said limb.

4. A tie member according to Claim 3, characterised in that on each side of said limb, all the planes of said teeth on that side are parallel to one another and at the same angle to the general di- rection of said limb.

5. A tie member according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the teeth are each of generally triangular form.

6. A tie member according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the main body of said limb is provided with a plurality of conical depres sions.

7. A tie member according to any preceding Claim, and further comprising a second limb sub stantially at right angles to the first-mentioned limb.

8. A tie member according to Claim 7, charac terised in that said teeth extend from the main body of said first limb in the same direction as the said second limb of the tie member.

9. A tie member according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that said second limb is pro- vided with one or more reinforcing ridges or chan- nels extending longitudinally thereof.

10. A tie member according to anyone of Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that said second limb reduces progressively in cross-section as it approaches its free end.

11. A tie member according to anyone of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that a laterally extending elongate depression is formed in the arris between the two said limbs of the tie member to provide for reinforcement thereof.

12. A tie member according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that said sides of the first-mentioned limb are provided with notches at the root of that limb adjacent said second limb, said notches serving to be engaged by restraining means of an upright, wall attachment member.

13. A tie member according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein said second limb is aper tured to provide fixing holes for attaching the tie member to another construction element.

14. A tie member according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, and further comprising a second limb extending in use substantially horizontally and in opposite direction to the first-mentioned limb, said second limb having features substan- tially similar to those of the first-mentioned limb.

GB 2 161 844 A 5

15. A tie member substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figs 7-10, or Fig 12, or Fig 13, or Fig 14 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed in the UK for HMSO, D8818935, 12185, 7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.