GB2256661A - Cavity closer - Google Patents

Abstract

A range of cavity closers can be produced by coupling a plate portion (1) to a body portion (10) in different configurations. By having asymmetrically located locking formations (6, 12), relative inversion of the plate portion (1) before coupling gives a differently shaped closer. The body (10) may be rectangular in section with recesses (12) (engageable by projections (6) of the plate portion) differently disposed on different faces. A body (10) may also engage wall ties, and/or a clip for engaging insulating material in a cavity. The body (10) may have a rearward face that is concave so that cavity insulation can extend into it. <IMAGE>

Description

CAVITY CLOSER The present invention relates to cavity closers, such as are used to close the cavity of a cavity wall at openings, e.g. for windows or doors.

A known type of cavity closer is a unitary elongate member that provides plate portions for overlying the end faces of the two skins of a cavity wall, and a body portion that extends rearwardly so as to fit into the wall cavity. This imposes considerable constraints.

Such a cavity closer is suitable for a site with a specific geometry and dimensions, and very little variation can be tolerated. It also virtually dictates the order in which the building operations are carried out.

Thus in one aspect the present invention provides a two-piece cavity closer, having separate plate and body portions having means whereby they can be connected together in a configuration such that, in use, the plate portion can overlie the end faces of the skins of a cavity wall, with the body located generally within the cavity. It can therefore be installed at existing openings more easily, as two parts that are connected in situ, but is equally suitable for insertion as a single piece, e.g. during construction of a wall. The plate and body portions have means whereby they can be interlocked in a variety of different configurations, providing a range of possible configurations for the assembled closer. Thus a single model can be used for windows/doors set either mid-cavity or to varying degrees to one side of the cavity, and for cavity walls of a wide range of forms.In particular, the plate and body portions have complementary interlocking formations that are asymmetrically located and which are still interlockable if one is inverted. Owing to the asymmetry, this inversion leads to a new configuration.

Suitably the plate portion has one or more rearward projections, and the body portion has one or more recesses in which the projections are engageable. By having a projection and a recess which are offset from the centres of the respective portions, and mutually engageable in different relative orientations, different configurations of the assembled cavity closer are possible. Desirably, the body portion is generally rectangular in section, with recesses in a plurality of sides, including sides of different lengths. If sides of the same length both have recesses, they may be differently positioned (such that engagement of a plate portion gives different results). Recesses not used for engaging a plate portion may serve other purposes, e.g.

for coupling wall ties, and/or to allow the entry of mortar for bonding. A recess may be a channel with a narrow mouth and a wider inner portion. Wall ties with correspondingly shaped fixing shanks may be provided.

In a first preferred embodiment of the two-piece cavity closer, the cavity closer comprises: a plate having anchoring projections on one face and attachment projection means on the other; and a cavity core or body of rectangular cross-section, and having on each face a shaped recess which corresponds to the attachment projection means of the plate; preferably the anchoring projections and at least one recess are off-centre. Each shaped recess can be used to receive an attachment projection means and thereby lock together the plate and the cavity core.

Desirably the cavity core is a hollow body filled with an insulating medium.

Slab insulation is commonly used to reduce heat loss in modern day building. The slab insulation might be fibre, polystyrene or of a similar nature and is normally fixed within the cavity against the inside skin.

Unfortunately, bad joints in slab insulation can result in cold bridging and cold spots within the structure.

Adjacent a cavity opening where there is a cavity closer, there may be defective insulation if the insulation material in the cavity (such as slab insulation) is not properly installed relative to the closer. In further aspects the invention is concerned to alleviate this problem. Thus in a second aspect the invention provides a retaining clip for retaining insulation material (particularly slab insulation material) to a cavity closer. The cavity closer may comprise a body with a recess in which the clip is engageable. It may be as defined above, having recesses on a plurality of faces selectively usable for retaining a retaining clip, a wall tie, or a plate. In a further aspect the invention provides an assembly comprising a cavity closer and insulation material retained together by means of a retaining clip. The assembly may be a building structure including a cavity wall.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the problem of insulation gaps adjacent cavity closer is alleviated by providing a cavity closer having a portion intended to face the interior of a cavity; said facing portion have a concave or recessed shape so that insulation material can extend into the cavity closer.

Desirably the cavity closer is shaped to engage a retaining clip as defined above. It may have a said facing portion which is concave in profile, e.g. Vsectioned, desirably with a recess in the concavity for engaging a retaining clip.

In order that the present invention may be more easily understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of a plate member of a cavity closer embodying the invention; Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of a cavity core member for use with the plate member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of a specially shaped wall tie; Fig. 4 shows a perspective, part-sectional, view of the complete cavity closer when positioned in a wall cavity; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of a cavity wall assembly which is a second embodiment of the invention, including cavity insulation, a cavity closer and a retaining clip.

The cavity closer shown in Figs 1-4 has a core 8 detachably connectable to a plate member 1 and to wall ties 9. As shown in Fig. 1, the plate member 1 has a substantially flat plate portion 2 which is elongate out of the plane of Fig. 1 (c.f. Fig. 4). On one surface there are angled ribs 4 which extend vertically (in the illustrated orientation). In use these help to anchor the plate to the plaster. The projections also act as water capillary stops. On the opposite face of the plate portion 2, a pair of vertical flanges 5 project to define an attachment clip 6. Each flange 5 has an outwardly projecting formation 7 adjacent its free end so that the two flanges define a single projection with an enlarged head. The clip 6 is integral with the plate portion and is positioned off-centre (as shown).

Figure 2 shows a cavity core 8. This can be hollow and can contain an insulating medium 10. It has the form of a vertically extending column of rectangular section.

Each vertical face of the cavity core has a longitudinal channel 12, which widens away from its mouth, dimensioned so as to receive the attachment clip 6, on the plate 2 by snap-engagement, with resilient deformation of the flanges 5 as they are pushed through the mouth. These channels 12 are preferably off-centre as shown.

Desirably the channels in equivalent (opposite) faces are offset to different extents. Thus engaging a plate member at one face of the core 8 gives a different result fro engaging it at the opposite face. Since the clip 6 is off-centre; inverting the plate member (assuming its clip 6 to be off-centre) gives another two possibilities.

Engagement at the other faces of the core 8 gives another set of configurations which differ in the lateral (cavity-bridging) thickness of the core 8.

Fig. 3 shows a wall tie 9. This has an elongate flat blade portion 14, which has a central opening 16.

The blade portion 14 is connected to a base 18, which has an enlarged end portion so as to be receivable into any recess 12 on the cavity core 8, and held against withdrawal through the mouth of the recess without twisting.

Fig. 4 shows the cavity closer as it would be assembled when in use, in a cavity wall having skins 20 separated by a cavity 22, the skins ending with flush ends 23 at a cavity opening.

The cavity core 8 is positioned in the cavity, 22 adjacent the opening. The plate portion 2 is positioned to overlie the flush ends 23 of the wall, with its attachment clip 6 held in a recess 12 of the core. The projections 4 of the plate position 2 are secured in a layer of plaster 24 applied over the plate portion and flush ends 23. Two of the recesses 12 located adjacent to the cavity wall skins 20 hold the bases 18 of two wall ties 9. The head portions 16 of these ties are secured in skins of the cavity wall 20, extending between courses.

It will be appreciated that both the plate member 1 and the core 8 can be manufactured in long lengths (e.g.

as plastics extrusions, the core extrusion preferably being filled with insulator, e.g. a foamed plastics composition) and cut to length on site. The closing plate member 1 can be installed in any of a multiplicity of positions, to suit (e.g.) the desired positioning of a window frame. It can be secured to a window (or door) frame (e.g. by nailing or screwing) and subsequently installed and connected to the core member which may have been built into the wall. Alternatively, the core and plate can be connected to form a unit which is then located and the wall is built up around it. The core member is suitably about 75 X 50mm.

Thus the arrangement can suit cavities of 50mm wide of 75mm wide. Indeed, one might use the 50mm dimension to suit any cavity width from 50mm up to 70mm, and then use the 75mm dimension to suit any cavity from 75mm up to 80mm or more. By manufacturing also other rectangular sizes, we might for instance be able to accommodate 90mm cavities. Differently dimensioned core members can be fitted to the same standard plate member.

Fig. 5 shows a cavity closer that has much in common with the one already described with reference to Figs. 14, and corresponding elements are given the same reference numerals but raised by 100. Thus there is a case 108 which is an elongate member having longitudinal narrow-mouthed recesses 112. A plate member 101 has a pair of flanges 105 by which it is engageable in a recess 112. Lateral recesses 112 may retain wall ties 109. The case 108 may be a hollow shell (e.g. a plastics extrusion) containing insulating material 110 (e.g. a plastics foam).

The core 108 is shaped to define a rectangle.

However one "face" 150 (which generally faces into the cavity 122 as shown) is not a flat face. Instead it is concave (in vertical section as shown), the intermediate region 151 being spaced inwardly of the vertices 152. In this example it has a V-profile. The engagement recess 112 opens into the deepest part of the concavity. This recess 112 engages an insulation retaining clip 154.

This clip 154 may be plate-like. It has a head 156 with flanges 158 like the recess engaging flanges 105 of the plate member; and bracing flanges 160 designed to abut the concave face 150 to stabilise the clip. A body portion 162 extends away from the head. Towards its free end there may be a curved or angled portion 164 which will tend to approach a skin 120 (generally the inner skin) of the wall. As shown, the cavity 122 contains slab insulation 166, lying adjacent the inner skin 120.

Its front end portion projects into the concavity provided by the shaped rear face 150 of the closer core 108. It is retained in close contact with that face by the clip 154 which resiliently compresses it (owing to the resilience of the insulation material 166 and/or of the clip 154).

Desirably the recesses 112 in at least some of the other faces of the core 108 are asymmetrically placed.

Thus inverting the core 108 or the plate 101 before connecting them will give a differently shaped cavity closer. Furthermore the core could be rotated through 900 in the plane of Fig. 5 to provide a closer suitable for a wide cavity. This would not offer a concave face to the cavity interior, though there would still be a recess 112 engageable by the clip 154. Of course, more than one face of the core could be concave or recessed for receiving insulation.

Claims (16)

1. A cavity closer assembly having separate plate and body portions which can be connected together to produce a cavity closer such that, in use, the plate portion can overlie the end faces of at least one of the skins of a cavity wall, with the body located generally within the cavity; the plate and body portions having complementary interlocking formations that are asymmetrically located and which are still connectable if one is inverted, interconnection with and without such inversion leading to respective different configurations.

2. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking formations comprise, on the plate portion, one or more rearward projections; and on the body portion, one or more complementary recesses in which the projections are engageable.

3. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 2 wherein the body portion is generally rectangular in section, with said complementary recesses in a plurality of sides, including sides of different lengths.

4. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the body has two sides of the same length which both have complementary recesses, which are differently positioned such that engagement of a plate portion gives different configurations.

5. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 2, 3 or 4 further including one or more wall ties each having a head engageable in a complementary recess.

6. A cavity closer assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the cavity core is a hollow body filled with an insulating medium.

7. A cavity closer assembly according to any preceding claim including a clip engageable with the body portion for extending thence into a wall cavity and engaging insulation material provided in the cavity.

8. A cavity closer assembly having plate and body portions such that in use, the plate portion can overlie the end face of at least one of the skins of a cavity wall, with the body located generally within the cavity, and a clip engageable with the body portion for extending thence into a wall cavity and engaging insulation material provided in the cavity.

9. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the body portion has a plurality of recesses on different faces selectively engageable with a projection on the plate portion or with a portion of the clip.

10. A cavity closer assembly according to claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the body portion has a portion intended to face the interior of a cavity; said facing portion having a concave or recessed shape so that insulation material can extend into the cavity closer.

11. A cavity closer assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A cavity wall assembly comprising inner and outer cavity wall skins defining a cavity, an opening, and a cavity closer assembly according to any preceding claim arranged to close off the opening.

13. A cavity wall assembly according to claim 12 wherein the cavity contains slab insulation and the cavity closer assembly is according to any of claims 7-10 having a clip engaged with the body portion of the closure and with the slab insulation.

14. A cavity wall assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. A kit of parts for use in constructing a cavity wall assembly according to claim 12, 13 or 14 comprising an elongate body portion extrusion and an elongate plate portion extrusion, from which extrusions desired lengths can be cut for producing a cavity closer assembly according to claim 1.

16. A clip having a head for engaging a recess in the body of a cavity closer, and a body extending from the head and shaped to engage cavity wall insulations.