GB2399833A

GB2399833A - Telescopic strut for use e.g. with stud partitions

Info

Publication number: GB2399833A
Application number: GB0406521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leif Wilhelmsen; Johnny Espenes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-24
Filing date: 2004-03-23
Publication date: 2004-09-29
Also published as: SE0400713L; US20040232290A1; GB0406521D0; SE0400713D0; SE528058C2; DE102004013938A1; NO326411B1; NO20040647L; NO20040647D0

Abstract

A telescopic strut whose length can be adjusted for use between steel or wooden studs in partitions, e.g. of pasterboard, comprises two nesting channel section members 1, 2, each comprising a channel base 3, 4, and edge flanges 6, each member having an end plate 5 for connection to a stud. Holes 7 for the receipt of fasteners may be present, as may larger holes 8 for electric cable.

Description

UNIVERSAL BRACKET

This invention relates to a universal bracket for securing between stud partitions, timberwork or the like for the installation of equipment, fixtures s and fittings, plasterboard and similar components or materials.

When, for example, connection boxes for concealed wiring, so-called recessed boxes, are to be mounted behind plasterboard or a panelled ceiling, the installation engineer will often resort to the use of pieces of board or the like lo that are placed between the studs or beams and are used as a "nailing strip" in order to secure the box. This is time consuming and by no means an effective method.

Plaster walls and walls of some other materials have a limited and is inadequate load-bearing capacity for reliable attachment when fairly heavy articles such as, for instance, kitchen units and/or bathroom fittings are to be mounted directly on the wall without being secured to load-bearing structures. In such cases, more provisional solutions such as pieces of board or the like are used to spread the load. Direct attachment to the plaster wall alone will at best only provide a highly temporary "solution" which in all probability will result in problems at a subsequent point in time.

Plaster walls are generally constructed using standard 240 cm high boards mounted on a stud partition of steel sections. When the wall is to be higher Is than the standard height, the boards must be lengthened in height.

Currently, this is usually done using steel bands. However, a single steel band has little torsional rigidity, and moreover screws, nails, or similar fasteners may well result in unsightly bulges in the wall surface.

As stated above, there exists a dear need for fastening/connecting devices that can be used in connection with plaster walls and similar walls, which solve the problems and remedy the deficiencies of the prior art.

This is accomplished according to the invention with a universal bracket according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, lo with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of two exemplary embodiments of the bracket according to the invention; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the bracket and end piece taken along the lines A-A and B-B in Fig 1 respectively.

The bracket according to the invention consists of two elongate elements 1 and 2 having substantially the same profile, made of a sheet material in such to manner that each element 1 and 2 has a relatively broad central part, 3 and 4 respectively, which is defined by longitudinally flanged edge portions 6. The flanging of the edge portions 6 is provided by the respective central parts 3 and 4 of the sheet material being bent inwards at the edge areas as a first outward-projecting portion that forms substantially a right angle with the surface plane of the central part 3, 4, which first portion passes into a second portion that is substantially parallel to the said surface plane, as can be seen clearly from Figs. 3 and 4. An end piece 5 is provided at the opposite free ends of the respective elements 1 and 2. This end piece 5 may, for example, consist of a suitably dimensioned upward bend of the sheet material. The lo two elements 1 and 2 are dimensioned and adapted so that they fit into each other and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction. In this way, a telescopically adjustable "beam" is obtained that is torsion-proof and can readily be adapted to the width between wooden or steel studs, steel frames or timberwork and can easily be fastened thereto by means of screws or other suitable fasteners provided in the end pieces 5. Screw holes, indicated by the reference numeral 7, are provided for such fastening Screw holes 7 may also be provided in the respective central parts 3 and 4 for installation boxes and/or other equipment or material that is to be installed.

lo In both the end pieces 5 and the central parts 3 and 4 there may also be provided larger holes 8 adapted for flexible electrical tubing for connection/feedthrough etc. The elements 1 and 2 may be of different lengths and thicknesses. At the end pieces 5, a cut-out 9 may be provided in the bent portions 6, as indicated in Fig. 2. The cut-out has a width equivalent to the flange width of a steel stud and is adapted to receive such a stud or the like.

As a particular example of the dimensions and materials selection for an embodiment of the universal bracket according to the invention, the bracket to had a longitudinal displacement from 480 mm to 600 mm and more. It was made of galvanised steel having a thickness of 0.7 mm in the longest element 1 and 0.9 mm in the shortest element 2, which may also be used as an independent bracket. Both elements were provided with 3 mm holes spaced - 114 mm apart for the attachment of ceiling boxes. The longest element 1 was also provided with four 25 mm holes for the feedthrough of flexitubing. Each end piece 5 was provided as a 35 mm upward bend with two 5 mm holes for attachment to timberwork. The bracket according to the invention is not limited to the said selection of materials and embodiments as the patent protection is defined by the following claims which must also be interpreted as comprising all relevant equivalents.

Claims

1. A universal bracket for securing between stud partitions, timberwork or the like for the installation of equipment, fixtures and fittings, plasterboard and similar elements or materials, the bracket consisting of two elongate elements having substantially the same profile, made of a sheet material in such manner that each element has a relatively broad central part which is defined by longitudinally flanged edge portions, and wherein at each opposite free end of the respective elements there is provided an end piece, lo the two elements being dimensioned and adapted so that they fit into each other and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, thus providing a telescopically adjustable "beam" that is torsion-proof and can readily be adapted to the width between wooden or steel studs, steel frames or timberwork and can easily be fastened thereto by fasteners provided in the Is end pieces.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein the flanging of the edge portions is provided by the respective central parts of the sheet material being bent inwards at the edge areas as a first outward- projechng portion that forms substantially a right angle with the surface plane of the central part, which first portion passes into a second portion that is substantially parallel to the said surface plane.

3. A bracket according to clann 1 or 2, wherein the end piece is provided by a suitably dimensioned upward bend of the sheet material of the elements.

4. A bracket according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein in the end piece and/or the central parts of the elements there are provided relatively small holes for fastening means, for example, screws.

5. A bracket according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that in the end piece and/or the central parts of the elements there are provided holes or cut-outs adapted to receive preferably flexible electrical tubing, optionally for connections/feedthroughs etc.

6. A bracket according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that * is so dimensioned that it has a longitudinal displacement from about 480 mm to about 600 mm.

lo

7. A bracket according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that the elements and have different thicknesses.

8. A bracket according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the elements and have different lengths.

9. A bracket according to claim 8, characterized in that the longest element has a thickness of about 0.7 mm, and the shortest element a thickness of about 0.9 mm.

10. A bracket according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the sheet material is galvanised steel or a material with similar properties.

11. A universal bracket, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.