GB2297100A

GB2297100A - Damp proof course arangement and its use with a lintel

Info

Publication number: GB2297100A
Application number: GB9500938A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin James Michael Knox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-01-18
Filing date: 1995-01-18
Publication date: 1996-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-18
Also published as: GB9500938D0; GB2297100B

Abstract

A damp proof course system for a cavity wall comprising an elongate rear member 16 associated with the inner leaf 11 and a tray member 17 associated with the outer leaf. The rear member 16 includes an elongate skirt 19 which extends forwards and downwards. The tray member 17 has a generally flat base 24, a rear wall 25 and an end wall 26 connected both the base 24 and the rear wall 25. The rear wall 25 is adjustable in its orientation with respect to the base 24. In use, the rear member 16 and the tray member 17 are arranged to overlap, with the rear wall 25 of the tray member 17 located behind the skirt 19 of the rear member 16.

Description

DANP PROOF COURSE SYSTEM The present invention relates to a damp proof course (DPC) system, in particular, a DPC system for use in connection with a lintel located in a cavity wall.

Currently, no satisfactorily convenient system exists for providing a DPC where a lintel is located in a cavity wall, for example, above a door or window.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a DPC system for use in connection with a lintel in a cavity wall which prevents lateral progress of water at the ends of the lintel.

According to the invention there is provided a damp proof course for a cavity wall, comprising an elongate rear member associated with the inner leaf of the cavity wall and a tray member associated with the outer leaf; the rear member including an elongate skirt extending forwards and generally downwards; the tray member having a generally flat base, a rear wall and an end wall connected both to the base and rear wall, the rear wall being adjustable in its orientation with respect to the base; the rear member and tray member being arranged in use to overlap, with the rear wall of the tray located behind the skirt of the rear member.

In use, the tray member would be located on the lintel with the rear wall extending upwards and rearwards into the cavity. The rear wall would be adjusted to follow the contour of the lintel. The end wall would be at a position at or laterally beyond the end of the lintel (or its bearing). The tray member is preferably shorter in length than the lintel but is of sufficient length to allow some lateral adjustability. In most cases, there would be two tray members, one at each end of the lintel.

In order to provide a waterproof junction between the tray member and the lintel, the tray member is preferably provided with a suitably positioned waterproof adhesive material on its under surface and its rear surface.

Thus, the base and rear wall may be sealed to the lintel.

The rear member may be in the form of a vertical backing member from which the skirt extends. In use, the rear member would be nailed or otherwise suitably attached to the inner leaf. The skirt may be hingedly connected to the backing member or may include a hinged portion.

Alternatively, the rear member may comprise a generally horizontal plate from which the skirt extends. IN use, in this case, the plate would be embedded in the mortar joint between adjacent courses of the bricks (or other building units) forming the inner leaf. Again, the skirt may be hingedly connected to the plate or may include a hinged portion.

The form taken by the adjustability of the rear wall of the tray member will depend upon the profile of the lintel with which it is to be used, the object being to enable the rear wall to match the limited profile. Thus, for example, in the case of an open back lintel, the rear wall of the tray member may extend vertically from the base for as long as it is connected to the end wall. The rear wall may then extend beyond the height of the end wall, and include a series of pre-formed lateral creases or fold lines to enable the upper parts of the rear wall to be orientated in accordance with the lintel profile.

Where the tray member is to be used with a box lintel, the rear wall may be hingedly connected to the base and connected to the end wall through a gusset. The orientation of the rear wall as a whole can then be adjusted, with the movement accommodated by the gusset.

In use, a tray member would be located at each end of the lintel (though conceivably a tray member may be required at only one end) and the rear member would be located with respect to the inner leaf, with its skirt overlapping the rear walls of the tray members. The skirt would then also overlap the lintel, between the two tray members. Thus, the lintel itself would co-operate with the rear member to provide a DPC between the tray members.

The invention also extends to the system described in combination with a lintel and to this combination in place in a cavity wall. The invention also encompasses a method of forming a DPC above a window or a door or the like by installing such a system or combination.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an isometric sketch of a system in accordance with the invention in position relative to a window during the construction of a cavity wall; Figure 2 is an isometric sketch of a first embodiment of a tray member for use in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the tray member of Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing a second embodiment of a tray member; Figure 6 is an end view of a system incorporating the tray member of Figures 2 and 3; and Figure 7 is an end view of a system incorporating the tray member of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 1 shows a DPC system in accordance with the invention above a window, in a cavity wall, having an inner leaf 11 and an outer leaf 12. The inner leaf 11 is shown to be made of breeze blocks and the outer leaf 12 of bricks, though any suitable building units may be used for either leaf. A window frame 13 is shown, defining a window space 14. A metal lintel 15 is located on the outer leaf 12, spanning the window space 14.

The DPC system includes an inner leaf cloak 16 and a pair of tray members 17. The cloak 16 comprises an elongate ribbed plate 18 with a skirt 19 extending downwardly from its front edge. The skirt 19 includes lip 21 attached to the plate 18 and a front portion 22 connected to the lip by way of a hinge 23. The cloak 16 would normally take the form of a plastics extrusion, cut to length.

Each tray member 17 comprises a base 24, a rear wall 25 and an end wall 26. The orientation of at least a part of the rear wall 25 is adjustable relative to the base 24. A compressible adhesive strip 27 is located on the under and rear surface of the tray member at the end opposite to the end wall 26.

In use, the lintel 15 is cemented in position in the outer leaf 12, overlying the window space 14. The tray members 17 are located in position, overlapping the ends of the lintel 15 using the lateral adjustability given by their length. The rear wall 25 of each tray member 17 is adjusted to fit the lintel 15 and they are fixed in position using their adhesive strips 27.

The cloak 16 is located in position at a higher level in the inner leaf 11. The ribbed plate 18 is embedded in a mortar layer and the skirt extends forwards and downwards into the cavity, overlapping the rear walls 25 of the tray members 17, and the lintel 15 itself. The construction of the inner and outer leaves 11, 12 is then continued.

Figures 2 and 3 show the first embodiment of the tray member 17 in more detail. The tray member 17 is made from a relatively rigid plastics material and comprises a base 24, a rear wall 25 extending from the base 24 and an end wall 26 fixed to both the base 24 and the rear wall 25. However, the end wall 26 is attached to the rear wall 25 for only a part of the height of the rear wall 25, as indicated at 28. The compressible waterproof adhesive strip 27 is located along the edge of the tray member 17 opposite to the end wall 26 on its under and rear surfaces.

The rear wall 25 therefore extends beyond that lower part 31 which is connected to the end wall 26. Immediately above the lower part 31, there is an intermediate portion 32 which has a series of pre-formed creases. Above this, there is a plain portion 33.

In use, the rear wall 25 is folded back along the appropriate crease to enable it to follow the contour of the underlying lintel 15. Two possible positions which can be achieved are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

This particular embodiment is suitable for use with an open back lintel as shown in Figure 6. Here, as can be seen, the tray member 17 and the lintel 15 are overlapped by the skirt 19 of the cloak 16. Descending water 34 is therefore diverted as shown, first by the skirt 19 and then by the rear walls 25 of the tray members 17 or by the lintel 15 itself.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative design of tray member 117, which is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a box lintel 115. The tray member 117 comprises a base 124, a rear wall 125 and an end wall 126. However, in this embodiment, the rear wall 125 is connected to the base 124 via a hinge 127 and to the end wall 126 via a gusset 128. Thus, the rear wall 125 can pivot rearwards about the hinge 127 to follow the contour of the box lintel 115 as shown in Figure 7.

Again, the tray member 117 and the lintel 115 are overlapped by the skirt 19 of the cloak 16. Descending water 34 is then diverted in the same way as in the previous embodiment.

Claims

Claims:

1. A damp proof course system for a cavity wall, comprising an elongate rear member associated with the inner leaf of the cavity wall and a tray member associated with the outer leaf; the rear member including an elongate skirt extending forwards and generally downwards; the tray member having a generally flat base, a rear wall and an end wall connected both to the base and rear wall, the rear wall being adjustable in its orientation with respect to the base; the rear member and tray member being arranged in use to overlap, with the rear wall of the tray member located behind the skirt of the rear member.

2. A damp proof course system as claimed in Claim 1, in which, in use, the end wall of the tray member is at or laterally beyond the end of the lintel.

3. A damp proof course system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the tray member is shorter than the lintel and of sufficient length to be laterally adjustable.

4. A damp proof course system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, including two tray members, one located at each end of the lintel.

5. A damp proof course system as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the tray member is provided with a waterproof adhesive material on its under surface and/or its rear surface.

6. A damp proof course system as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the rear member consists of a skirt extending from a backing member.

7. A damp proof course system as claimed in Claim 6, in which the skirt is hingedly connected to the backing member.

8. A damp proof course system as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the backing member is vertical and when in use is suitably attached to the inner leaf.

9. A damp proof course system as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the backing member is horizontal and when in use is suitably embedded in the mortar joint between adjacent layers of building units in the inner leaf.

10. A damp proof course system as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the rear wall of the tray member comprises: a vertical portion extending from the base which is connected to the end wall; an intermediate portion connected to the vertical portion, including a series of preformed lateral creases; and a plain portion attached to the intermediate portion.

11. A damp proof course system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, in which the rear wall of the tray member is connected to the base via a hinge and is connected to the end wall through a gusset.

12. A damp proof course system as claimed in any preceding Claim in combination with a lintel.

13. A damp proof course system as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9 in combination with a lintel in place in a cavity wall; the lintel being located in position over a feature in the outer leaf of the wall; the rear member being located with its backing member attached to the inner leaf and its skirt extending into the cavity; and a tray member attached at each end of the lintel by means of a waterproof adhesive material, the tray members being arranged to extend beyond the ends of the lintel; the skirt of the rear member being arranged to overlap the rear walls of the tray members.

14. A damp proof course system constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 or Figures 4, 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.