GB2220684A

GB2220684A - Insulating walls

Info

Publication number: GB2220684A
Application number: GB8916161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Ward; David Anthony Davies
Original assignee: WARD GROUP PLC
Current assignee: WARD GROUP PLC
Priority date: 1988-07-15
Filing date: 1989-07-14
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-14
Also published as: GB8916161D0; GB2220684B; GB8816861D0

Abstract

Sheets of insulation 11 are secured to structural steelwork 12 by means of studs 14a or 14b having snap-action detents 35 at one end for engaging in a hole in the steelwork and a flange 32 at the other for holding the insulation. The stud is hollow and further attachment devices can be engaged therein. These may be a wall tie 17a or a device 53a for engaging a lintel 19. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Attachment means in or for a building structure" Description of Invention This invention relates to an attachment means in or for a building structure to secure an element to a support member. The support member may comprise a part of a structural metal framework or part of a structural timber framework. The element may comprise an insulating material which may be in sheet form and/or an outer skin of a cavity wall and/or a lintel and/or a batten to which cladding may be connected.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved attachment means in or for a building structure to secure an element to a support member.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide in or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment means having a connecting part by which the attachment means is connected to the support member, and a retaining part which retains a component relative to the support member.

The component may comprise thermally and/or acoustically insulating material.

The component may be in sheet form.

The attachment means may be adapted to project transversely away from the support member and the retaining part may provide a shoulder which faces t'ne support member.

The retaining part may comprise a flange which projects transversely outwardly from a body part of the attachment means.

The body part may be elongate and the flange may be of generally disc shape and disposed at or adjacent an end of the body part.

The attachment means may be provided with a coupling means whereby the attachment means may be coupled to a coupling means of a further attachment means.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide in or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment means having a connecting part by which the attachment means is connected to the support member and a coupling part whereby the attachment means is coupled to a coupling means of the further attachment means.

In both aspects of the invention, the connecting part may be provided at an end of the body part, being the opposite end to the flange when the flange is provided, and comprise a deformable nose part adapted to inter-engage with a part of the support member.

The part of the support member may comprise an opening therein in which the nose part is received.

The nose part may be resiliently deformable.

The nose part may comprise a plurality of parts which may be displacable against resilient bias generally inwardly to reduce the crosssectional dimension of the nose part to permit of entry thereof into the opening followed by movement outwardly towards their original position to provide said inter-engagement.

Tre coupling means may comprise inter-engageable male and female parts.

The coupling means of the attachment means may comprise a socket and the coupling means of the further attachment means may comprise a projection.

The socket may comprise a bore extending inwardly from one end of the body towards the end thereof provided with said nose part.

The bore may extend inwardly from said one end to said other end and the projection of the further coupling means may have a head which is adapted to co-operate with the connecting part to effect connection of the attachment means to the support member and to couple the further attachment means to the attachment means.

When the connecting means comprises a deformable nose, the head may co-operate with the nose to retain or help to retain the nose in connecting relationship with the support member.

Where the nose comprises said plurality of movable parts, the head may engage one or more of the movable parts to retain the or each movable part in a radially outer position in which the or each part is held in interengagement with the support member.

The head may have a detent means for engagement with a co-operating part of the attachment means to restrain disengagement on coupling of the attachment means and the further attachment means.

The further attachment means may be provided with means to connect the further attachment means to a leaf of a brick wall, or to a lintel, or to a batten, to which cladding may be attached.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE I is a cross-sectional view through part of a building structure embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 is an end view of an attachment means embodying the invention, FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a further attachment means embodying the invention, FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to that of part of Figure 1 but showing an alternative form of further attachment means for connection to a batten, and FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the further attachment means shown in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown part of a building structure 10 comprising a structural steel framework II having support members 12 in the form of mullions. The mullions 12 are inter-connected by Z-section transoms 13 to which floor joists 13a are connected by cleats 13b and thus a structural framework is provided in conventional manner. If desired, however, the load bearing frame members may be of timber or any other suitable material.

An attachment means 14a, 14b is connected to the support members 12 at desired positions, as hereinafter to be described in more detail. In the illustrated example two attachment means are shown at 14a, 14b, but a suitable number and distribution of attachment means are provided to attach panels 16 as hereinafter to be described. Each of the attachment means 14a, 14b is provided with retaining means 15 which retain panels of thermally and acoustically insulating sheet material 16 in relotionship to the support members 12.

In Figure I the upper attachment means 14a has coupled thereto a further attachment means 17a which is provided with means 18a to connect the further attachment means to a brick outer leaf 19 of the building structure.

The lower attachment means 14b shown in Figure I has a further attachment means 17b coupled thereto, which is provided with means 18b to connect the further attachment means 17b to a lintel 19. The further attachment means 17b is also provided with means 18c whereby the further attachment means 17b can be connected to a timber batten 20 as shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, each attachment means 14a, 14b is made as a moulding in polypropylene, or any other suitable material, and comprises a generally cylindrical body 30 having 4 equally angularly spaced projecting ribs or fins 31. At one end the body 30 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting disc shaped flange 32 which provides the retaining means 15 described hereinbefore. The flange 32 has upstanding gripping ribs or dimples 32a provided on the flange thereof which connect the sheet material 16. The ribs or dimples 32a ensure that the sheet material 16 is firmly held as the ribs are pressed into the opposed flange of the sheet material.

The body 30 is provided with a connecting part 33 at the end of the body opposite to the flange 32. The connecting part 33 comprises a deformable nose part 34 comprising four movable parts 35 of substantially quadrant configuration separated from each other by slots 36 and from the fins 31 by slots 36a. The parts 35 are displacable radially inwardly against resilient bias provided by the inherent resilience of the body part 30 between the slots 36 so that the nose part 34 can be passed through an opening 37 provided in the support members 12 and then spring outwardly to their original position so as to receive the periphery of the opening 37 between shoulders 38a, 38b provided at the inner end of the parts 35 and the OSr end of the fins 31 respectively.If desired, the shape and number of the parts 35 may be varied from that described hereinbefore and other means for resiliently biasing the parts may be provided if desired.

The attachment means 14 is provided with a coupling means 40 which comprises an axially extending bore 41 which extends throughout the length of the body 30. Where the bore 41 passes through the nose part 34 the parts 35 are provided with a detent or abutment surface 42 of tooth shape in crosssection. The attachment means 14 is made of any suitable material such as polypropylene.

Referring now to Figure 4, the further attachment means 17a comprises a coupling means 50 in the form of a shank 51 having a head 52. The shank 5 1 is received within the bore 41 of the attachment means 14 and the head 52, which is of generally conical configuration, having a frustconical groove 52a therein, is adapted to inter-engage within the nose part 34 so that the detent surface 42 is received within the groove 52a. Consequently the presence of the nose part 52 prevents inward displacement of the parts 35 of the nose part 34, whilst engagement of the detent surface 42 within the groove 52a prevents withdrawal of the further attachment means 17a from coupling engagement with the attachment means 14.

The shank 51 is formed integrally with a body part 53, which is formed with annular flanges 54 which provide sharp edges to induce any liquid such as water which may tend to move along the further attachment means 17a to form drips and thus prevent transmittal along the length of the further attachment means 17a. At the opposite end of the body 53 to the coupling means 50 is provided a generally flat "fishtail" 55 having ribs S5a on opposite sides. The coupling means may be of any suitable configuration to be embedded in the mortar joint of an external masonry leaf 19. The further attachment means 17a is made as a one piece moulding in suitable thermally insulating material such as plastics materiel such as polypropylene.

Where it is desired in the structure to connect items other than a brick external leaf such as a lintel or a batten, an alternative form of further attachment means is provided such as that shown at 17b in Figures 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The attachment means 17b has a coupling means 50a identical to the coupling means 50 described hereinbefore, but the body 53a is of different configuration being, in the present example, of generally wedge shape having a projecting flange 60 to provide a rebate 61 in which a timber batten 20 can be received and secured by means of a fastener 62 when it is desired to connect a batten to the support member. The wedge shaped body 53 is provided with a further rebate 64 to receive a flange óS of a lintel 19.

In use, an attachment means 14 is pushed through a sheet of rigid insulation material, such as a sheet of foamed polyisocyanurate until the flange 15 abuts a surface of the sheet. Compression of the insulating sheet is prevented from over-compression by the tubular body 30 which penetrates the insulation and bears on the support member 12. The length of the body 30 varies depending upon the thickness of the insulating sheet with which it is intended to use the attachment means. The tubular body 30 and its associated fins 31, which also bear upon the member 12, is designed to constrain the attachment means 14 perpendicular to the support member 12.

The nose part 34 is entered into the aperture 37 in the support member 12 and as described hereinbefore deforms inwardly and then springs outwardly so that the attachment means 14 locates and restrains the insulating sheet in position. At this stage the attachment means may be removed andior repositioned as desired. An appropriate number of attachment means are provided as desired.

Where it is desired to connect a brickwork leaf to the support structure, for example, to provide the outer leaf of a cavity wall structure, then a further attachment means in the form described hereinbefore at 17a is provided. This further attachment means, which is in the form of a brickwork tie, when inserted within the attachment means 14 locks therewith as described hereinbefore and withdrawal of the further attachment means is prevented and withdrawal of the nose port of the attachment means from the opening 37 is also prevented. The thus coupled together attachment and further attachment means permits of compression and tensile loads to be transmitted between the support structure and the brickwork leaf 19.It is preferred that once the attachment and further attachment means have been coupled together, they cannot be uncoupled without destroying one or both of these components.

Where it is desired to connect a lintel or a batten to the support structure, then a further attachment means of the configuration described hereinbefore at 17b is provided and the coupling of the attachment means 14 and further attachment means 17b is as described hereinbefore in connection with the coupling of the attachment means 14 and further attachment means 17a.

The wedge shape body 53 effectively provides a stepped sprung integrally formed lug which can either restrain the top edge of the lintel 19 from rotation, or he fastened to a batten 20 by nailing or screwing and the baton itself may be fastened to a desired form of external cladding as an alternative to a brick leaf. The steel or timber structural framework, such as that shown at 12 in Figure 1, may be clad on the inside thereof with suitable material such as fibre board, plasterboard or the like, such as indicated generally at 66.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a metal or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

In In or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment meons having a connecting part by which the attachment means is connected to the support member, and a retaining part which retains a component relative to the support member.
2. An attachment means according to Claim I wherein the component comprises thermally and/or acoustically insulating material.
3. An attachment means according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the component is in sheet form.
4. An attachment means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means is adapted to project transversely away from the support member and the retaining part provides a shoulder which faces the support member.
5. An attachment means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retaining part comprises a flange which projects transversely outwardly from a body part of the attachment means.
ó. An attachment means according to Claim 5 wherein the body part is elongate and the flange is of generally disc shape and disposed at or adjacent an end of the body part.
7. An attachment means according to Claim 6 wherein the flange is provided with a plurality of projections to engage the component.
8. An attachment means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means is provided with a coupling means whereby the attachment means is coupled with a coupling means of a further attachment means.
9. In or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment means having a connecting part by which the attachment means is connected to the support member and a coupling part whereby the attachment means is coupled with a coupling means of a further attachment means.
10. An attachment means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting part is provided at an end of the body part, and comprises a deformable nose part adapted to inter-engage with a part of the support member.
II. An attachment means according to Claim 10 wherein the pert of the support member comprises an opening therein in which the nose part is received.
12. An attachment means according to Claim 10 or Claim II wherein the nose part is resiliently deformable.
13. An attachment means according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein the nose part comprises a plurality of parts which are displacable against resilient bias generally inwardly to reduce the cross-sectional dimension of the nose part to permit of entry thereof into the opening followed by movement outwardly towards their original position to provide said interengagement.
14. An attachment means according to Claim 8, Claim 9 or any one of Claims 10 to 13 when dependent on Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the coupling means comprises inter-engageable male and female parts.
15. An attachment means according to Claim 14 wherein the coupling means of the attachment means comprises a socket and the coupling means of the further attachment means comprises a projection.
16. An attachment means according to Claim IS wherein the socket comprises a bore extending inwardly from one end of the body towards the end thereof provided with said nose part.
17. An attachment means according to Claim 16 wherein the bore extends inwardly from said one end to said other end and the projection of the further coupling means has a head which is adapted to co-operate with the connecting part to effect connection of the attachment means to the support member and to couple the further attachment means to the attachment means.
18. An attachment means according to Claim 17 when dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 10 wherein the head co-operates with the nose to retain or help to retain the nose in connecting relationship with the support member.
19. An attachment means according to Claim 18 when dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 13 wherein the head engages one or more of the movable parts to retain the or each movable part in a radially outer position in which the or each part is held in inter-engagement with the support member.
20. An attachment means according to Claim 19 wherein the head has a detent means for engagement with a co-operating part of the attachment means to restrain disengagement on coupling of the attachment means and the further attachment means.
21. An attachment means according to Claim 8, Claim 9, or any one of Claims 10 to 20 when dependent on Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the further attachment means is provided with means to connect the further attachment means to a leaf of a brick wall, or to a lintel, or to a batten, to which cladding may be attached.
22. In or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
23. In or for a building structure comprising a support member, an attachment means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 - 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
24. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.