GB2256656A - Wall tie. - Google Patents

Abstract

A tie assembly comprising a metal plate 11, a little smaller than the end of a standard brick, and a metal tie 12, pivotally attached to the plate 11. The plate 11 is screwed to an existing wall 18 and the tie 12 is embedded in the mortar layer between two courses of bricks in a new wall 17 to be built at right angles. <IMAGE>

Description

BRICKWORK TIE ASSEMBLY The present application relates to a brickwork tie assembly, in particular, a tie assembly for connecting a wall to be built, to an existing structure. While the invention is to be described in relation to standard bricks, it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other constructional units, and the term "brick" should be interpreted accordingly.

Originally, when a wall was to be added to an existing wall, at right-angles, it was conventional practice to chisel out a half brick every fourth course in order to provide a key for the new wall. This was a difficult, skilled and tie consuming task.

A significant advance was made with the introduction of so-called "wall starters". These are elongate metal guides or tracks which are screwed to an existing wall to extend vertically. Metal ties are arranged to extend horizontally from the guides at intervals. Thus a new wall can be connected to an existing wall anywhere along its length by first attaching a guide to the existing wall at the required location and then building the new wall outwards from the guide, with the ties being located at intervals up the guide and embedded -in appropriate mortar joints in the new wall.

However, wall starters of this kind suffer a number of disadvantayes. Firstly, different profiles of guide are require for different sizes of buildiny units. Secondly, the vertical spacing for the location of the ties may not be appropriate where anything other than a wholly conventional arrangement of the building units is employed. Thirdly, the guides cause a continuous "cold patch" down the existing wall.

Fourthly, the guides may have to be cut to size, particularly when the new wall is relatively low.

Finally, although less costly than the traditional system, the wall starter system is quite expensive, particularly from the point of view of the retailer who may be forced to keep a range of guides to accommodate various brick types.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative system which is versatile, inexpensive and minimises the presence of cold patches.

According to the invention, there is provided a brickwork tie assembly for securing a subsequent wall to an existing structure, comprising a generally flat plate, a tie, and means for fixing the plate to the existing structure; the plate being of the same order of magnitude in size as the end face of a standard brick; the tie being generally elongate and attached to the plate, and being arranged to extend generally perpendicular therefrom.

Such a system can be used with any type of constructional unit or even with combinations of different types in the same wall. Furthermore, the tie assemblies are simple to use and are inexpensive.

Preferably the plate and/or tie is of stainless or galvanised steel. Either may be coated with a plastics material such as a polyester or an epoxoy.

Alternatively, the plate and/or tie may be made of some other material, such as a plastics material, provided that it is compatible with the other constructional materials employed and the environment in which it is to be used.

Preferably, the tie is a single length or wire bent into the elongate from, each end being attached to the plate, though any other convenient form may be adopted. The attachment may be permanent or the tie may be removable. Preferably, the plate has two apertures arranged to accept the tie, whereby the orientation of the tie relative to the plate may be adjusted. Conveniently, the apertures are fonned by indents punched out of tie plane of the plate. In a preferred embodiment, the tie extends from the plate for a distance which is greater than the length of one standard brick.

Preferably, the fixing means comprises one or more holes in the plate and separate respective screws or bolts. The screws or bolts may be screwed into predrilled holes in which irserts may have been located.

The invention also extends to a wall construction comprising a series of brick courses and tie assemblies as defined, with their plates fixed to an existing structure and their ties embedded in the mortar between the selected brick courses of the wall. Such a wall construction does not suffer from a continuous vertical cold patch.

The invention also extends to a method of constructing a wall and for simultaneously securing the wall to an existing structure which comprises: fixing the plate from a tie assembly as defined to the existing structure at the required position; laying a course or courses of bricks to the level of the plate; locating the tie with respect to the plate; embedding the tie in a layer of mortar; laying a further course or courses of bricks; and repeating the procedure to the desired height.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a tie in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is a part cut-away perspective view of a tie assembly in use, in accordance with the invention.

A tie assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a plate 11 and a tie 12. The plate 11 is rectangular, measuring about 95mm by 60mm, in lmm thick galvanised or stainless steel, though any shape or size between about 7Omm and llOmm in length, and about 4Omm and 75mm in height would be acceptable. It has a generally central hole 13 and a pair of yokes or indents 14 punched out from the plane of tlie plate 11.

The yokes 14 define apertures 15.

The tie 12 is formed from lmm galvanised or stainless steel wire. It is bent into a shape which is about 300mm long, about 60mm wide at its widest point and includes a number of kinks. The two ends of the wire 16 are adjacent each other and are bent outwards.

The tie 12 is removably attached to the plate 11 by inserting the two ends 16 into the apertures 15.

Alternatively, the ends 16 could be inserted from behind the plate 11 as it is shown in Figure 1 and located against the plate 11 outwards from the yokes 14. The orientation of the tie 12 can be pivotally adjusted.

The tie assembly 11, 12 can be used to tie a new wall 17 back to an existing structure 18 (such as a wall). At the required position along the structure 18 and at a suitable height, a bore is pre-drilled.

The plate 11 is screwed to the structure 18 by inserting a screw 19 through the hole 13 into the bore.

The tie 12 is alien attached to the plate 11 and embedded in a layer of mortar between two brick courses. This is repeated at vertical intervals, for example every fourth course, though other intervals may be preferred.

As can be seen, the tie 12 is sufficiently long to span a joint between two bricks in the course below, and indeed the course above. It therefore acts not only to tie the new wall 17 to the existing structure 18, but also to strengthen any potential lines of weakness in the new wall 17 near existing structure 18.

The junction between the new wall 17 and the existing structure 18 is finished in the normal way, for example with a waterproof mastic pointing.

Claims (15)

1. A brickwork tie assembly for securing a subsequent wall to an existing structure, comprising a generally flat plate, a tie, and means for fixing the plate to the existing structure; the plate being of the same order of magnitude in size as the end face of a standard brick; the tie being generally elongate and attached to the plate, and being arranged to extend generally perpendicular therefrom.

2. A tie assembly as claimed in Claim lin which the plate and tie are of galvanised or stainless steel.

3. A tie assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the tie is a single length of wire bent into the elongate form, each end being attached to the plate.

4. A tie assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the plate has two apertures arranged to accept the tie, whereby the orientation of the tie relative to the plate may be adjusted.

5. A tie assembly as claimed in Claim 4 in which the apertures formed by indents punched out of the plane of the plate.

6. A tie assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the tie extends from the plate for a distance which is greater than the length of one standard brick.

7. A tie assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the fixing means comprises one or more holes in the plate and separate respective screws or bolts.

8. A brickwork tie assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A wall construction comprising a series of brick courses and tie assemblies as claimed in any preceding Claim with their plate fixed to an existing structure and their ties embedded in the mortar between the selected brick courses of the wall.

10. A method of constructing a wall and for simultaneously screwing the wall to an existing structure which comprises: fixing the plate from a tie assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim to the existing structure at the required position; laying a course or courses of bricks to the level of the plate; embedding the tie in a l layer of mortar; laying a further course or courses of bricks; and repeating the procedure to the desired height.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10 in which each plate is screwed to the existing structure.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 in which a hole is pre-drilled in the existing structure and an insert is located in the hole, in order to receive a screw passing through the plate.

13. A method as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 12 in which a tie assembly is located above every fourth course of bricks.

14. A method as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 13 in which the tie js arranged to span the joint between the two adjaceiit bricks.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 10, substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.