GB2421253A

GB2421253A - Fixing clip

Info

Publication number: GB2421253A
Application number: GB0427490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Walter Egercz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-15
Publication date: 2006-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-15
Also published as: GB2421253B; GB0427490D0

Abstract

A clip 1 for use in securing the edge of lead sheeting or the like to the wall of a building is substantially V shaped and is provided at the apex 2 of the V with an indentation or depression 3 which forms a projection or buckle inside the V shape of the clip 1. The projection or buckle serves as a locator for a tool to facilitate pushing the clip into a gap between two courses of a wall to secure a lead sheet in position on the wall. The end edges of the clip 1 may be provided with triangular teeth 5.

Description

1

2421253

FIXING CLIP

This invention relates to fixing clips and is particularly concerned with a fixing clip for use in securing lead flashing to the walls of buildings.

Lead flashing is conventionally fixed to the wall of a building by chiselling 5 out mortar between two courses of bricks or blocks, inserting the edge of a lead sheet into the gap that has been chiselled out and then inserting mortar into the gap to secure the lead sheet in position. Not only is this time-consuming, it has been found that the mortar fails to hold the edge of the lead sheet in the gap in a firm and secure manner.

10 The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the manner of securing the edge of lead sheeting to a brick or block wall.

According to the invention, there is provided a clip for securing the edge of lead sheeting or the like to a wall wherein the clip is substantially V-shaped and is provided at the apex of the V with a projection or buckle.

15 The projection or buckle serves as a locator for a tool in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Preferably, the projection or buckle is located on the inside of the V-shaped clip and is formed by creating an indentation or depression in the outside wall of the clip.

20 The clip is preferably made of a resilient material such as spring steel. The projection or buckle can also serve to increase or enhance the springiness of the steel.

The end edges of the clip are desirably serrated or provided with a series of preferably V-shaped cut-outs to form triangular teeth.

2

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a clip according to the invention;

5 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clip shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the clip shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tool for use with the clip shown in Figs. 1

to 3;

Fig. 5 shows a first stage of fitting a clip into a gap in a wall;

10 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a second stage of fitting a clip in a wall; and

Fig. 7 shows a clip according to the invention fully installed in a wall.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Reference will first be made to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings in which a clip

15 1 according to the invention is substantially V-shaped and in which the apex 2 of the clip is provided with an indentation 3. The indentation is formed in the material of the clip so as to form a projection or buckle 4 inside the V shape of the clip as shown in Fig. 3. The end edges of the clip are provided with a series of V-shaped cut-outs so that the ends of the clip terminate in triangular teeth 5.

20 The tool shown in Fig. 4 takes the form of a rectangular bar 6 formed with a V-shaped slot 7 at one end. The slot 7 is so configured that it can engage the projection or buckle 4 on the clip 1. The width of the bar 6 is substantially the same as the width of the clip 1.

3

When it is desired to fit lead flashing to the wall of a building, the mortar between two courses of bricks 8 and 9 is chiselled out in the normal manner to create a gap 10. Lead flashing in the form of a lead sheet 11 is then applied to the wall in the normal manner so that the sheet overlies the lower course of bricks 9 5 and an edge region 12 of the sheet 11 extends into the gap 10. The lead sheet is firmly and securely held in position by means of a series of the clips shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 5, the tool 6 is fitted to a clip 1 so that the buckle 4 is engaged by the notch 7 at the end of the tool and the apex 2 of the clip is fitted 10 into the gap 10. The clip is then pushed into the gap by the tool as shown in Fig. 6. The arms of the clip are forced towards one another by the bricks 8 and 9 as the clip 1 is forced into the gap 10 by the tool 6. When the clip has been fully pushed into the gap 10, as shown in Fig. 7, the tool can be withdrawn and the teeth 5 will engage the upper brick 8 and the edge region 12 of the lead sheet 11 to hold the 15 lead sheet in position.

A plurality of the clips 1 are fitted to the wall at suitably spaced intervals to hold the lead flashing firmly and securely to the wall. It has been found that not only do the clips hold the flashing in position firmly and securely but the clips provide a much quicker and more efficient method of securing the lead flashing to 20 a wall.

The clip is preferably made of a resilient material such as spring steel although other materials, including suitable plastics materials, may be used if desired. The buckle 4 serves to improve or enhance the springiness of the clip.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a brick wall, 25 it is equally applicable to walls constructed from blocks, stones or the like.

Claims

1. A clip for use in securing the edge of lead sheeting or the like to a wall wherein the clip is substantially V-shaped and is provided at the apex of the V with a projection or buckle.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the projection or buckle is located on the inside of the V-shaped clip and is formed by creating an indentation or depression in the outside wall of the clip.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clip is made of a resilient material.

4. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip is made of spring steel.

5. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end edges of the clip are serrated.

6. A clip according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end edges of the clip are provided with a series of teeth.

7. A clip according to claim 6, wherein the teeth are triangular in shape.

8. A clip for use in securing the edge of lead sheeting or the like to a wall, said clip being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

9. A tool for use with the clip claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said tool being provided with a notch adapted to engage with the projection or buckle on the clip.

5

10. A tool according to claim 9, wherein the tool takes the form of a substantially rectangular bar with the notch being provided at one end of the bar.

11. A tool when used with the clip claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, said tool being substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 4 of the

5 drawings.

11. A tool for use with the clip claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, said tool being substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 4 of the

5 drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows io

5. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end edges of the clip arc serrated.

7. A clip according to claim 6, wherein the teeth are triangular in shape.

9. A tool when used with the clip claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said tool being provided with a notch adapted to engage with the projection or buckle on the clip.