GB2199879A - Tool for fitting insulation material - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool 1 for fitting insulation 2, 3 in a loft comprises a roll engaging arcuate member 10 and a toothed member 5 which are integrally moulded with a handle portion 15. Insulation is first rolled off a roll 3 by engaging with the arcuate member 10 and is then pushed into the correct position underneath the eaves of a roof by engaging the teeth 6 in the mat 2. The height and width of the tool may be shortened, if desired. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOOL FOR FITTING FIBROUS MATERIAL The invention relates to a tool for fitting a mat of fibrous material, in particular for fitting a mat of fibrous insulation material.

The terms "teeth" or "toothed" as used in this specification refer to projecting portions such as pins, serrations and the like of any suitable cross-section for engaging a mat of fibrous material.

Mats of fibrous material, in particular, insulatioiw material are generally difficult to fit. This is particularly the case when fitting a mat of insulation material in the loft of a domestic dwelling. The insulation material in a loft often has to be fitted in positions where access is difficult. In particular, it is generally difficult to fit the insulation material into the narrow angle between the roof and the floor joists in the loft. For adequate insulation it is important to fit the insulation material as close as possible to the junction of the roof and the floor, however, it is also important to leave sufficient space free from insulation at the junction of the roof and floor so that air can circulate freely to minimise condensation risk.In general, most insulation is fitted poorly in this area, either not sufficiently into the junction leading to excessive heat loss or covering the junction with consequent ventilation difficulties.

There is, therefore, a need for a tool particularly for use in fitting insulation in a loft.

This invention is directed towards providing such a tool.

According to the invention there is provided a tool for fitting a mat of fibrous material, particularly fibrous insulation material comprising mat engaging means for engaging the mat of fibrous material and handle means for positioning the mat into a desired location.

In one embodiment of the invention the means for engaging the mat comprises an elongate member extending transversely of the handle means and having teeth for engaging a mat of fibrous material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the teeth extend rearwardly at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle means. Typically the angle is between 500 and 850 and preferably is approximately 700.

Usually the mat is provided in a roll and the tool includes roll engaging means for engaging a roll to roll off the mat.

In one embodiment of the invention the roll engaging means comprises an arcuate member for engaging portion of the roll.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the elongate toothed member extends from the roll engaging member.

Typically the elongate toothed member and the roll engaging member are integrally formed. For example, they may be -integrally moulded from a plastics material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the handle means extends rearwardly from the arcuate member.

Preferably, the handle means includes a socket portion for reception of an extension handle.

Preferably, the handle means is integrally moulded with the arcuate member.

In one embodiment of the invention the length of the arc of the roll engaging member is variable. Typically, the roll engaging member includes at least one elongate line of weakness to allow portion of the roll engaging member to be broken off to vary the size of the roll engaging member.

In another embodiment of the invention the width of the tool is adjustable. Typically at least one radially extending line of weakness is provided to allow portion of the roll engaging member and toothed member to be broken off to vary the width of the tool.

In another embodiment of the invention a pair of supports are releasably mounted to the roll engaging means, the supports having a paint roller extending therebetween.

In another aspect the invention provides a paint applicator comprising a roller rotatably mounted on a pair of supports, a drip tray extending between the supports and a handle extending from the drip tray.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention the supports are releasably mounted to the drip tray.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the drip tray is of arcuate shape in transverse cross section.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a tool according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the tool of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of the tool of Figs. 1 and 2 in one position of use, Fig. 4 is a side, partially cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the tool of Figs. 1 and 2 in another position of use, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tool according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the front of a tool according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 is a perspective view from the rear of the tool of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the tool of Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, there is illustrated a tool indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for fitting a mat of fibrous material, in this case a mat 2 of fibrous insulation material provided on a roll 3. The tool 1 comprises matengaging means which in this case is formed by a toothed or serrated member 5 having downwardly extending matengaging teeth 6. Means for engaging the roll 3 is provided by an arcuate member 10 which forms an extension of, and in this case, is integrally moulded with the member 5 from a plastics material. A handle 15 extends rearwardly from the convex surface of the arcuate member 10. The handle 15 may also be integrally moulded with the toothed member 5 and arcuate member 10 or may be formed separately and subsequently fixed, for example, by screwing to the arcuate member 10.The handle 15 includes a socket portion 16 for reception of an elongate handle extension 17 such as a conventional brush handle, or the like, which may be push-fitted in the socket portion 16 of the handle 15.

It will be noted that the toothed member 5 and teeth 6 extend an acute angle A to the longitudinal axis of the handle 15. In this case the angle A is approximately 700 which assists in fitting the mat of insulation material in inaccessible locations such as the angle between the roof and the floor joists in a loft as will be described in more detail below.

In use, and referring initially to Fig. 3, the roll 3 of insulation material is positioned between a pair of floor joists 20, and the arcuate member 10 is engaged against portion of the roll 3 to roll off the mat 2 by pushing the tool in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 3. To position the mat 2 correctly at the junction between the floor joists and roof 21 in a loft, the teeth are inserted into the mat of insulation in order to push the mat backward and forward in the direction of the arrows C at the junction between the floor and roof joists to adjust the position of the end of the mat for maximum insulation coverage is achieved while permitting ventilation.

The width of the tool will depend on the distance between the roof joists. Roof joists are typically spaced at about 400 mm in which case the width of the tool would be approximately 300 mm. If the joists were spaced at a distance of 600 mm the tool may be approximately 400 to 450 mm wide. Similarly, the radius of the arcuate member 10 will depend on the size of the roll of insulation, typically being in the order of 200 mm.

By varying the width of the tool and the radius of the arcuate member, the correct positioning of the mat at the joint between the floor and roof joists m'ay'be achieved, the teeth 6 being engaged as close as possible to the front edge of the mat and the upper edge of the arcuate member 10 making contact with the roof joists. In this position when the upper edge of the arcuate member 10 engages against the roof joists the mat will be in the correct position leaving sufficient space for ventilation at the junction between the floor and roof joists.

Referring to Fig. 5 there is illustrated a tool according to another embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 25. The tool 25 is similar to that described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the arcuate member 10 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending lines of weakness 26 which allow one or more sections 27 of the arcuate member 10 to be broken off to reduce the height of the arcuate member 10.

Similarly, the toothed member 5 may also include one or more lines of weakness 28 which may be broken off again to reduce the height of the member. Thus, the tool may be used for different pitches of roof so that the correct location of the insulation would occur when the tool would be jammed against the roof joist at the junction between the floor and roof joists. The lines of weakness may be marked on the tool.

It is envisaged that the width of the tool may also be varied by including one or more radially 'extending lines of weakness across the arcuate member and toothed member, allowing sections of the tool to be broken off to vary the width.

It will be appreciated that while the tool has been described specifically for fitting fibrous insulation material in a loft, it may be used in other applications, indeed, it is envisaged that it may be used with other fibrous materials and not specifically restricted to insulation material.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 8 there is illustrated another tool 30 according to the invention which is similar to the tool described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the tool is modified to provide a paint applicator according to the invention. A pair of end supports 31,32 are clipped on to the arcuate member 10 using any suitable releasable fastening means. A paint roller 33 is releasably secured in the end supports 31,32 by wing nuts 34. In use, as illustrated in Fig. 8 the arcuate member 10 defines a drip receiving tray for collecting drips from the roller 33 in painting a wall or ceiling 35.

Claims (23)

1. A tool for fitting a mat of fibrous material, particularly fibrous insulation material, comprising mat engaging means for engaging the mat of fibrous material and handle means for positioning the mat into a desired location.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for engaging a mat comprises an elongate member extending transversely of the handle means and having teeth for engaging a mat of fibrous material.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the teeth extend rearwardly at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle means.

4. A tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the angle is between 500 and

5. A tool as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the angle is approximately 700.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tool includes a roll engaging means for engaging a roll of the fibrous material.

7. A tool as claimed in Claim 6 wherein thee roll engaging member is arcuate in transverse cross-section for engaging portion of the roll.

8. A tool as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 wherein the mat engaging member forms an extension of the roll engaging member.

-

9. A tool as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the mat engaging member and roll engaging member are integrally formed.

10. A tool as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the mat engaging member and the roll engaging members are integrally moulded of a plastics material.

11. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 10 wherein the handle means extends rearwardly of the roll engaging member.

12. A tool as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the handle means comprises an elongate handle having a socket portion at the free end thereof for reception of an extension handle.

13. A tool as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 wherein the handle means is integrally moulded with the roll engaging member.

14. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 11 wherein the length of the arcuate roll engaging member is adjustable.

15. A tool as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the arcuate roll engaging member includes at least one elongate line of weakness extending across the member to allow portion of the arcuate roll engaging member to be broken off to vary the size of the roll engaging member.

16. A tool as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 16 wherein the width of the tool is adjustable.

17. A tool as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the toothed member and arcuate roll engaging member include at least one radially extending line of weakness to allow portion of the roll engaging member and toothed member to be broken off to vary the width of the tool.

18. A tool as claimed in any of claims 6 to 17 in which a pair of supports are releasably mounted to the roll engaging means, the supports having a paint roller extending therebetween.

19. A paint applicator comprising a roller rotatably mounted on a pair of supports, a drip tray extending between the supports and a handle extending from the drip tray.

20. An applicator as claimed in claim 19 in which the supports are releasably mounted to the drip tray.

21. An applicator as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein the drip tray is of arcuate shape in transverse cross section.

22. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

23. An applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawings.