GB2210395A

GB2210395A - Wall tie for joining new walls to old walls

Info

Publication number: GB2210395A
Application number: GB8822369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Timothy Rouston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-23
Filing date: 1988-09-22
Publication date: 1989-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-22
Also published as: GB8822369D0; GB8722343D0; GB2210395B

Abstract

A wall tie for securing a new wall to an existing wall is provided in one piece and can be secured to the existing wall with no tools other than a drill. The tie is generally Y-shaped and comprises a screw-threaded shank 16, 28 to be received in a plug in the existing wall, and the diverging arms of the Y 20, 22 allow the tie to be readily manually rotated. The new wall is then built with the arms of the Y incorporated into it. <IMAGE>

Description

WALL TIES This invention relates to wall ties. An example of an application of the invention is to wall ties suitable for securing a new wall to an existing wall.

Various kinds of wall ties have been previously proposed. These include a generally figure-eight shaped wire construction, and bracket-and-screw assemblies.

Certain hammer-in constructions have been proposed for various purposes, though not for use as wall ties.

As regards the figure-eight shaped wire construction, it will be understood that this has little or no utility for joining new walls to existing walls, due to the difficulty of inserting it into the existing wall. As regards the bracket-and-screw assemblies, these are generally too clumsy and slow for convenient use. Not only do they include a multiplicity of parts which are liable to be lost, but they also require additional tools including screwdrivers etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in relation to wall ties, and an object of the present invention is to provide improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a wall tie and a method of making same as defined in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention described below there is provided a hand-screwed wall tie in which the actual tie and the fixing screw are manufactured as one.

This enables the tie to be screwed into the wall by hand without the use of a spanner, hammer or screwdriver.

In the described embodiment, the tie is not intended for use for cavity walls, but for brickwork, bloc work or stonework which is to be tied into an existing building or structure.

In the embodiment, the tie comprises galvanised steel with the fixing screw varying in length from one inch to four inches, the splayed end of the generally Y-shaped tie being approximately three millimetres thick, but this varying according to the strength requirements imposed by the circumstances of the use.

In the embodiment, a variety of materials can be employed for the tie, including any suitable metal, preferably being inherently or subjected to a treatment so as to be corrosion resistant. For example, a coating of a water repellent may be applied. The fish-tail or splayed end can be of varying lengths, angles, thicknesses and shapes. The twist, kink or joggle in the limbs of the splayed end can be at any suitable angle or height. Where necessary, the degree of twist of joggle should be sufficient to meet building regulations.The length of the screw can vary according to requirements eg 8, 10, 12 m i 1 Ii m e t r e 5 etc. T h e t i e could a I s o be m anu fa c t u r ed i n a high tensile wire or bar instead of having a fish-tail or splayed end. Plastic materials, particularly recently developed very strong plastics, could be used to form the tie.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a tie; Fig 2 shows a plan view of the tie of Fig 1; Fig 3 shows a side elevation view of the tie, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow III in Fig 1; Figs 4 and 5 show end elevations of the tie, the directions of viewing being indicated by arrows IV and V in Fig 1; and Fig 6 shows a perspective view illustrating the tie in use.

As shown in the drawings, a wall tie 10 comprises a first portion 12 for fastening to an existing wall, and a second portion 14 to be incorporated into a new wall.

First portion 12 comprises a fastener in the form of a screw 16 having a point 18 and secured to second portion 14.

Second portion 14 is arranged so that it can be used to rotate first portion 12 manually. Second portion 14 is generally Y-shaped being formed from galvanised mild steel sheet having limbs 20, 22 formed with joggles 24, 26 respectively to fit the brickwork in use, as described below.

The shank 28 of screw 16 is formed with a slot 30 to receive the shank portion 32 of second portion 14, and the latter is suitably fixed therein by means of a double spot weld. Alternative secure fixing methods may of course be employed.

It will be seen from Figs 3 to 5 that the limbs 20 and 22 of second portion 14 of wall tie 10 lie in different planes with the joggled portions 24, 26 linking them to the shank 32, whereby not only is extraction of the wall tie from the mortar of the wall in use rendered more difficult, but also lateral movement with respect to the lengthwise axis of screw 16, also rendered more difficult.

Fig 6 illustrates the wall tie in use. As shown, first portion 12 is incorporated into an existing wall 34.

The latter is suitably drilled and a plug (not shown) is inserted therein. The wall tie is offered up to it and manually screwed into the plug by holding the second portion 14 thereof. The limbs 20, 22 effectively act as levers for the turning operation. The new wall can now be built around the projecting tie. In practice, the existing wall 34 is drilled and plugged at suitable intervals and the ties inserted as building progresses.

It can be seen that the tie 10 links existing wall 34 to the new wall 36 in a simple manner. The tie is readily inserted without the use of any tools other than a drill.

The tie is readily incorporated into the mortar 38. After setting of the latter the joggles 24, 26 therein strongly hold the tie against endwise and lateral loads.

Interestingly, the wall tie provides a simple construction whereby a wall tie can be easily manually mounted on an existing wall with a minimum of tools. The one piece construction greatly simplifies use and storage.

The in-built structure of the second portion 14 provides leverage for rotation during mounting. The integral fastener greatly simplifies attachment to an existing wall.

The structure is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiment are the following. Considerable modification of second portion 14 could be provided. For example, it could be in generally T-shaped or L-shaped form. The joggled portions 24, 26 could be modified in various ways to achieve similar effects. Any suitable construction providing secure attachment to the new wall and leverage for turning the fastener would suffice for certain applications. Instead of the screw 16, a suitable bolt could be provided for applications where it could engage a threaded nut or sleeve.

Claims

A A wall tie comprising a first portion for fastening to an existing wall and a second portion to be incorporated into a new waLl, characterised in that said first portion comprises a fastener secured to said second portion.
2 A wall tie according to claim 1 characterised in that said first portion is screw-threaded and said second portion is arranged so that it can be used to rotate said first portion manually.
3 A wall tie according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said first portion comprises a screw.
4 A wall tie according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said first portion comprises a bolt.
5 A wall tie according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said second portion comprises a shank portion joined to said first portion, and a wider portion remote therefrom.
6 A wall tie according to claim 5 characterised in that said second portion is generally Y-shaped.
7 A wall tie according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said second portion is formed from sheet metal and said sheet metal is formed with joggles or otherwise includes portions lying in two or more non-parallel planes whereby extraction from said new wall after setting in mortar therein is rendered more difficult.
8 A wall tie according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said first portion is slotted and receives said second portion in said slot.
9 A wall tie according to claim 5 characterised in that said second portion is generally T-shaped.
10 A wall tie according to claim 5 characterised in that said second portion is generally L-shaped.
11 A wall tie substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
12 A method of joining a new wall to an existing wall characterised by the step of employing a wall tie according to claim 1, drilling the existing wall, securing the wall tie to the existing wall by manually manipulating the tie, and building the new wall with the wall tie incorporated therein.
13 A pack of parts for joining a new wall to an existing wall comprising a supply of wall ties according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and a corresponding supply of wall plugs for insertion in holes drilled into an existing wall to which a new wall is to be secured, and adapted to receive said fastener of said first portion.