GB2334978A

GB2334978A - Cavity tray

Info

Publication number: GB2334978A
Application number: GB9828458A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian David Rickuss
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-07
Filing date: 1998-12-24
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-24
Also published as: GB9828458D0; GB9804781D0; GB2334978B

Abstract

A cavity tray 10 for location in a cavity wall structure has substantially planar front and rear portions 12, 14 extending at an angle relative to one another and interconnected by an angled portion 16 from which project three substantially planar lugs 18, 20, 22. The lugs 18, 20 form auxiliary water channels 24, 26, while the lug 22 defines a main water channel 28. The lug 20 overlies the lug 22 in use whereby any debris falling towards the cavity tray 10 is caught by the lugs 18, 22 and prevented from entering into the main channel 28. Rainwater penetrating the outer leaf of the cavity wall can be caught directly by the cavity tray 10 or, by way of edge recesses in the lugs 18, 20, can overflow into the channel 28 which is kept clear of debris, so that the rainwater can run freely to intended vents or weeps.

Description

1 Cavity Tr The invention relates to a cavity tray for a cavity wall.

2334978 in cavity wall structures comprising inner and outer walls (or leaves) spaced apart, water is known to penetrate the outer leaf, particularly when rain is driven at the wall by strong winds. This water tends to run down the inside of the outer leaf, and it is important to prevent the water reaching door or window frames or seeping into the inside of the building. This can be a problem particularly where a new lean-to extension meets an existing building, so that the original external wall becomes an internal partition. It is important to protect this internal partition from dampness and penetration of rainwater.

It is known to provide cavity trays between the outer and inner leaves of a cavity wall to collect and channel water away from the inner leaf to vents or weeps in the outer leaf of the cavity wall.

According to the present invention there is provided a cavity tray for location between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall structure, the cavity tray including a channel for water and means for intercepting debris falling towards the channel.

Preferably the tray has a body defined by substantially planar front and rear portions. The means defining the water channel may locate between the front and rear portions of the tray body. The channel defining means may comprise a lug projecting from the tray body to one side thereof, and wending along the length of the body.

Preferably also the debris intercepting means locates between the front and rear portions of the tray body, and may comprise a plurality of spaced parallel lugs projecting from the tray body to one side thereof, and extending along the length of the tray body.

2 The channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs may project in a spaced parallel relation from the tray body. Preferably two lugs define the debris intercepting means and the channel defining lug locates to one side of the debris intercepting lugs, the one of the latter adjacent to the channel defining lug effectively overlying same whereby to prevent debris entering the water channel. Each of the channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs is preferably recessed in its outer edge at spaced intervals along its length, the orientation of the lugs enabling water to pass over one lug to the other.

I 13 Preferably the front and rear portions of the tray body extend at an angle relative to one another whereby, in use, the front portion can fit between adjacent bricks of adjacent courses of the outer leaf of the cavity wall and the rear portion can extend upwardly and inwardly of the wall cavity towards the inner leaf. The front and rear portions of the tray body may be interconnected by an intermediate angled portion from which the channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs project inwardly of the tray in an angled relation to each of the front and rear portions, each of the debris intercepting lugs defining a further water channel with the internal surface of the tray body.

The cavity tray may be closed at one or both ends, an outer part of the front portion may include a groove therein, and the rear portion of the tray body may include markings to aid location of the cavity tray. The tray is preferably formed of a plastics material.

Preferably the cavity tray has a rib formed at the outer edge of the front portion and, for installation of the cavity tray, a strip is detachably connected to the front portion in latching engagement with the rib, the strip being manually removable after installation and thereby defining a gap in mortar in the respective leaf of the cavity wall structureJor receiving a member which can protect the brickwork from penetrating moisture.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 3 Fig. 1 is a sectional end view of a cavity tray; Fig. 2 is a front view of the cavity tray, i.e. as viewed in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the cavity tray, i.e. as viewed in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cavity tray; Fig. 5 is an underneath plan view of the cavity tray; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a cavity wall fitted with a cavity tray prior to completion with lead flashing; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-section similar to Fig. 6 but complete with lead flashing; and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the use of a plurality of cavity trays near a sloping roof structure.

Referring to the drawings, a cavity tray 10 is preferably formed of a plastics material and includes a substantially planar front portion 12, a substantially planar rear portion 14, and an intermediate portion 16 extending therebetween.

Three substantially planar lugs 18, 20, 22 respectively are formed on the intermediate portion 16 of the tray 10 to extend upwardly and inwardly of the tray in a parallel spaced relation. Each lug 18 -22 extends along the length of the tray 10 whereby, when viewed directly from above, i.e. in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 1, the lug 18, with the rear portion 14, forms an elongate channel 24 along the length of the cavity tray, the lug 20, together with the intermediate portion 16, defines an elongate channel 26 along the length of the tray 10, and the lug 22, with the intermediate portion 16, defines an elongate channel 28 extending along the length of the tray 10. The lug 20 extends to a greater distance outwardly of the intermediate portion 16 and the lugs 18 and 22, and each lug is formed in its outer edge with the plurality of spaced recesses 30.

The cavity tray 10 as shown in the drawings is closed at either end by an 4 1 1.

end wall 32 which extends from the rear portion 14 of the tray forwardly over the whole length of the front portion 12, but extends only partly over the height of the rear portion 14 above the front portion 12.

On the lower surface of the intermediate portion 16 there are formed a plurality of spaced parallel support ribs 34, extending between the rear portion 14 and partly over the lower surface of the front portion 12. The ribs 34 project from the intermediate portion 16 and from an -adjacent part of the front portion 12 by a greater spacing than from the remainder of the front portion 12. Four of the ribs 34 are formed on the tray 10 and between each of respective pairs of the ribs 34, three further spaced parallel strengthening ribs 36 are formed. Each of the ribs 34, 36 terminates short of the outer peripheral edge of the front portion 12 in a common cross rib 38 which in turn is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel webs 40 on the side thereof remote from the ribs. An edge rib 42 is formed to extend along the outer edge of the front portion 12 on the lower surface thereof, and a further edge rib 44 is formed to extend along the outer edge of the rear portion 14 on the outer surface thereof.

Before being installed in use, a profiled strip 46 (Fig. 6) is removably attached to the front edge of the front portion 12 of the cavity tray 10. The strip 46 is preferably formed of a plastics material and has a channel part defined by spaced walls 48, 50 on a common base 52, a lug 54 extending into the channel from the base 52 and having a latching nose 56. In alignment with the wall 50 but extending from the base 52 from the opposed side thereof is a detaching leg 58 with a finger end tag 60. The strip 46 is push fitted onto the cavity tray 10 with the front portion 12 of the latter locating between the channel wall 48 and the lug 54 until the nose 56 engages behind the edge rib 42. Engagement of the free end of the channel wall 50 against the webs 40 ensures proper location of the strip 46.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a cavity wall includes inner and outer leaves, the outer leaf 62 being shown. The cavity tray 10 is fitted between the inner and outer leaves to catch rainwater which penetrates the outer leaf 62 and runs down the inside of the cavity. The front portion 12 fits between adjacent bricks 66, 68 of adjacent courses of the outer leaf 62 of the cavity wall, with the leg 58 of the strip 46 projecting outwardly of the outer leaf 62. The rear portion 14 of the cavity tray 10 extends upwardly and inwardly to engage against the inner leaf of the cavity wall.

When the cavity tray 10 is set in position, the strip 46 can be removed manually by means of the leg 58 with the finger tag 60, unclipping the strip from the front portion 12 of the cavity tray 10. The strip 46 thereby provides a gap in the mortar of the outer leaf 62. Lead flashing 70 can then be introduced to the cavity to extend outwardly of the brickwork and thereby protect same from penetrating moisture. The flashing 70 is retained in position by a clip 72 (Fig. 7) which is preferably formed of a plastics material and is U-shaped, being defined by spaced walls 74, 76, the latter having a latching nose 78 formed on its inner surface. The clip 72 can be push fitted over the outer edge of the front portion 12 of the cavity tray 10 until the nose 78 latches behind the edge rib 42 of the tray 10, thereby effectively clamping the lead flashing 70 in position.

Each cavity tray 10 is pref erably approximately 3 3 0 mm long, and a number of cavity trays 10 are placed end to end to form a continuous channel for the rainwater. Where a pitched roof 80 abuts a wall (Fig. 8), a plurality of cavity trays 10 may be arranged as shown in the drawing, allowing water to cascade from tray to tray, and eventually out of a weep hole (not shown). In this instance, the cavity tray has only one end wall 32 to provide a stop to prevent rainwater seeping in the wrong direction.

The rear portion 14 of the cavity tray 10 is provided on each surface with information and installation directions 82, 84 to aid correction location in a variety of different situations.

Any debris which might fall in the cavity towards the cavity tray 10 is caught principally by the lugs 18, 20, the latter effectively extending above the lug 22 and thereby preventing debris from entering into the channel 28. The 6 recesses 30 in the lugs allow excess water to pass from the lug 18 into the channel 24, and also from the lug 20 into the channel 26. The channel 28 is thus kept clear of debris and the rainwater can run freely to the intended vents or weeps.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the debris intercepting lugs may differ from that described and shown.

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Claims

Claim-S-:-

1. A cavity tray for location between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall structure, the cavity tray including a channel for water and means for intercepting debris falling towards the channel.

2. A cavity tray according to Claim 1, wherein the tray has a body defined by substantially planar front and rear portions.

3. A cavity tray according to Claim 2, wherein means defining the water channel locates between the front and rear portions of the tray body.

4. A cavity tray according to Claim 3, wherein the channel defining means comprises a lug projecting from the tray body to one side thereof, and extending along the length of the body.

5. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the debris intercepting means locates between the front and rear portions of the tray body.

6. A cavity tray according to Claim 5, wherein the debris intercepting means comprises a plurality of spaced parallel lugs projecting from the tray body to one side thereof, and extending along the length of the tray body.

7. A cavity tray according to Claim 6 when dependent upon Claim 4, wherein the channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs project in a spaced parallel relation from the tray body.

8. A cavity tray according to Claim 7, wherein two lugs define the debris intercepting means and the channel defining lug locates to one side of the debris intercepting lugs, the one of the latter adjacent to the channel defining lug effectively overlying same whereby to prevent debris entering the water channel.

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9. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 6 to 8 when dependent on Claim 4, wherein each of the channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs is recessed in its outer edge at spaced intervals along its length, the orientation of the lugs enabling water to pass over one lug to the other.

10. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the front and rear portions of the tray body extend at an angle relative to one another whereby, in use, the front portion can fit between adjacent bricks of adjacent courses of the outer leaf of the cavity wall and the rear portion can extend upwardly and inwardly of the wall cavity towards the inner leaf.

a

1 i 11. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 6 to 10, when dependent upon Claim 4, wherein the front and rear portions of the tray body are interconnected by an intermediate angled portion from which the channel defining lug and the debris intercepting lugs project inwardly of the tray in an angled relation to each of the front and rear portions, each of the debris intercepting lugs defining a further water channel with the internal surface of the tray body.

12. A cavity tray according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tray is closed at one end.

13. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the tray is closed at both ends.

14. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 2 to 11, or Claim 12 or 13 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein a rib is formed at the outer edge of the front portion and, for installation of the cavity tray, a strip is detachably connected to the front portion in latching engagement with the rib, the strip being manually removable after installation and thereby defining a gap in mortar in the respective leaf of the cavity wall structure, for receiving a member which can protect the brickwork from penetrating moisture.

15. A cavity tray according to Claim 14, wherein a further strip is provided 9 for attaching to the outer edge of the front portion of the cavity tray, when the latter is in situ in the respective leaf of the cavity wall structure, whereby to retain the protective strip in position.

16. A cavity tray according to any of Claims 2 to 11, 14 or 15, or Claim 12 or 13 when dependent upon Claim 2, wherein the rear portion of the tray body includes markings to aid location of the cavity tray.

17. A cavity tray according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tray is formed of a plastics material.

18. A cavity tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.