GB2347697A

GB2347697A - Lintel with decorative panel resembling brick

Info

Publication number: GB2347697A
Application number: GB0004293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Harvey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-23
Filing date: 2000-02-23
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-23
Also published as: GB9904165D0; GB2347697B; GB0004293D0

Abstract

A panel (7) which is adapted to fit together with a lintel (1) has a number of shaped brick slips (9) attached to the surface of the panel (7). The brick slips (9) may be formed on the exterior and lower faces of the panel (7) and be of trapezoidal shape. The brick slips (9) may be attached to the panel (7) by adhesive and be arranged arcuately (fig 3). The lintel (21, fig 3, not shown) may also be arcuate to conform to the shape of the brick slips (28). The lintel (1) and panel (7) can be used in a cavity wall construction.

Description

LINTEL The present invention relates to a lintel, particularly but not exclusively, for cavity walls.

The production of a visually attractive window and door openings is often required in modern buildings.

Traditionally the way that a load bearing member was formed over a window or door reveal required that bricks, stone or other decorative materials be specially shaped in a generally trapezoidal cross-section so that load applied to the upper surfaces of said shaped bricks tended to lock the same together. The shaping of these bricks which includes stone or other decorative materials, was a skilled and time consuming business for a bricklayer and hence has been largely discontinued in modern practice.

Steel and concrete lintels are now used extensively in the building industry for disposition above door and window reveals. This has resulted in the brick work becoming simpler and quicker in construction and hence speeds the formation of load bearing structures but at a visual price.

Various attempts have been made to form arched door and window openings which do not require traditional skills but incorporate the utilization of a shaped steel or concrete lintel in one way or another. Among these are for example GB-B-2117811 and GB-B-2065653. Both these are directed to the use of a standard or horizontal lintel with arched supports therein to allow the formation of a plurality of full sized bricks or blocks to be located in an arcuate formation. The result of this is that even if the brickwork itself is arched, the top surface of the window or door orifice is generally horizontal.

No means has been currently provided however to lintel assembly to be easy to use while also providing. visually satisfactory appearance.

I have now found that if a load bearing structure i. formed to the correct shape but the intended exterior face o : the lintel is set back relatively to the intended face of th ( brick or block work which is to be used, then thin bricl slips in a predetermined array can be held, for example b adhesive means, to the intended exterior face of a ou cooperating panel adapted to conform therewith so . pleasing visual appearance is provided. The lintel or pane : for use therewith, may be made in any convenient shape an < can be prefabricated prior to arrival at a building site.

One advantage of using an arrangement in accordance wit} the present invention is that the prefabricated lintels witt brick slips attached are relatively light to use so that thE bricklayer's work is not slowed, whilst at the same time assuring that the visual appeal of a gaged arch for example is not compromised.

Accordingly therefore to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shaped panel adapted t < interfit with a lintel, said lintel providing a load bearinc structure, said panel comprising a plurality of brick slip : adhered to said shaped panel and disposed in a predetermine ( array. The brick slips may be formed on the intendec exterior face only, but it is often preferred to provide secondary brick slips to the lower face of said panel a : well. Preferably said panel is formed integrally with sai ( lintel but the panel may be formed as a separate unit wit ! brick slips attached by, for example, an epoxy resin. The composite panel is then bolted to said lintel prior to oa after assembly in a cavity or solid wall.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention a recessed portion of the lintel is adapted to conform to said secondary brick slips. This is particularly so when the lintel is generally elongate in configuration as generally used between succeeding layers of brick in a brick wall for example, said lintel then being provided with a forwardly directed longitudinal support. This longitudinal support may be provided with a portion which is spaced relatively upwardly to define a recess adapted to accommodate said secondary plurality of shaped brick slips. Alternatively the lintels in accordance with the present invention may comprise a major portion intended to extend generally arcuately. In such an arrangement the predetermined array may comprise a plurality of brick slips cut to form a substantially equal arcuate array disposed about the intended brick exterior and optionally the undersides of the arcuate lintel. In both cases the longitudinal support may be replaced by a temporary base plate which is removed after construction.

Preferably the predetermined array comprises a plurality of bricks slips having a thickness between 15 and 45 mm.

Lintels in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful for utilization in cavity walls.

The invention will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a front view from above of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of an arrangement of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention applied to an arcuate lintel for use with an appropriately shaped reveal.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a lintel 1 comprises an essentially inverted V-shaped member 2 formed with an upper horizontal portion 3, a lower rearwardly extending horizontal portion 4 and a forwardly extending horizontal portion 5. The inverted V-shape member 2 further comprises insulation 6 disposed between the leaves of the V-shape.

Lintels of this general type are to be found in many buildings.

Formed on the forwardly extending horizontal portion 5 is a panel 7 of a generally trapezoidal cross section terminating at its uppermost and wider end in a support surface 12.

A plurality of brick, stone or other decorative material, slips 9 having a thickness between 15 and 45 mm and shaped with an angular configuration are adhered to the panel 7 by means of an epoxy resin or other adhesive composition.

The brick slips 9 extend downwardly until they reach the plane of the forwardly extending horizontal portion 5. The panel 7 is retained to the forward surface of the inverted V-section member 2 by means of a steel tie 8 and of course may be secured to the forward horizontal portion 5 by means of clips, bolts or other securing means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention however as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the panel 7 terminates at its lower end in a recess 10 formed in the forwardly directed horizontal portion 5, said recess being adapted to accommodate a second plurality of brick slips (not shown).

Accordingly a re-entrant portion 11 is formed in said forwardly directed horizontal portion 5 to allow the brick slips to be inserted into the recess.

In use with the recess secured above a window or door reveal, the brick slips will be seen as integrally formed with the surrounding brick work and hence enhance the visual appeal of the brick work itself. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the forwardly extending longitudinal portion 5 is replaced by a temporary base plate which is fixed by means of screws or the like, and is removed after construction to reveal the recessed slips.

Turning now to Figure 3 there is provided an arched or arcuate lintel 21 formed with outer horizontal portions 23 adapted in use to fit upon one or more skins of a brick wall to form an arched cavity closer therein.

The arched lintel of Figure 3 is formed by a separate arcuate panel 27. A rear plate 24 and stop ends 25 are also provided along with an arcuate recess 26. The arched lintel of Figure 3 is of a generally stainless steel construction as is the arcuate panel 27. The said panel 37 is attached a first plurality of brick slips 28 and in this instance a secondary plurality 29 of brick slips disposed within the recess 26. The panel 27 may be secured either by means of bolts or other fixing means to a standard lintel or may be made integrally with said lintel. The arcuate recess 26 may be in part at least replaced by a temporary base plate fixed by screws or the like which is removed after construction.

In the formation of a window or door opening in a cavity wall, the window reveal is formed in the normal way by the bricklayer in accordance with architect's drawings.

At the point at which a load bearing lintel is required, one in accordance with the present invention is selected and positioned in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

In manufacturing a lintel in accordance with the present invention, the brick slips are secured to the outer face of the brick work so that its outer surface when installed is in the same plane as the brickwork finish of the building. The inner skin of the brick or block work then be continued in the usual way in accordance with normal building procedures.

It is only then necessary for the bricklayer to cut a brick for each side in each course or indeed to cut a single block at each side with a correct angle so that it butts up against the brick slips already secured to the panel. The brickwork can or block work then be continued in the normal way with courses above the reveal.

Accordingly the load in accordance with the present invention is taken by the lintel and the panel attached thereto; this load is not significantly transferred to the brick slips.

An advantage of the present invention lies in that the brick slips can be readily adhered to the panel in a factory in accordance with an architect's instructions and reviewed by him prior to the assembly on site.

The present invention relates therefore to a separate panel for adherence to a standard lintel or to such a lintel incorporating a similar panels being adapted to receive a plurality of shaped brick slips to their intended exterior face and preferably to intended underfaces as well.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shaped panel adapted to interfit with a lintel to form a load bearing lintel assembly, said panel comprising a plurality of brick slips adhered to said shaped panel and disposed in a predetermined array.

2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein said brick slips are formed on the intended exterior and lower faces of said panel.

3. A panel according to claim 1 or 2 formed integrally with said lintel.

4. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein the brick slips are adhesively mounted to said panel.

5. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined array comprises a plurality of brick slips cut to a trapezoidal shape and having a thickness between 15 and 45 mm.

6. A panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7 which is generally arcuately arranged and wherein said predetermined array comprises a plurality of brick slips each formed in a substantially equal arcuate formation.

7. A lintel assembly according to any preceding claim wherein a portion of a lintel is adapted to conform to said brick slips.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the lintel is of a generally elongate horizontal configuration and is provided with a forwardly directed longitudinal support and wherein a portion of the longitudinal support is recessed to accommodate a second plurality of shaped brick slips.

9. An assembly according to either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the longitudinal support is in part at least replaced by a temporary base plate which is removable after construction.

10. A lintel comprising a panel according to any of claims 1 to 6 comprising a major portion intended to extend generally arcuately.

11. A cavity wall opening comprising a panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or an assembly according to either of claims 8 or 9.

12. A shaped panel or lintel assembly including said shaped panel substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, any one of the accompanying drawings.