GB2433271A

GB2433271A - Wall construction and supporting sill

Info

Publication number: GB2433271A
Application number: GB0525489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: K Taylor
Original assignee: LSSD UK Ltd
Current assignee: Era Home Security Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-15
Filing date: 2005-12-15
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0525489D0

Abstract

A wall construction comprises a wall panel 12 supported on a sill member 10, where the sill member has a generally upwardly directed surface 14 on which the panel is supported, and on which the sill member has a pivot formation 36 and a detent formation 38. The wall panel includes a pivot formation 42 which projects downwardly in the finished construction, and also a detent formation 44. The panel pivot formation is formed to rest on the sill surface to support the panel while the panel is in a slanted orientation, and permits the panel to slide over the sill surface by movement of the panel relative to the sill, to engage with the sill pivot formation. The engaged pivot formations form a pivot arrangement by which the panel is pivoted to bring it to the substantially upright final condition and thereby engage the detent formation. The engagement of the formations serves to prevent the upright panel continuing to move across the sill. Preferably, the detent formations 38, 44 engage by a snap-fit arrangement. A connector (66, Fig 6) may be used to prevent the wall panel tilting back to the slanted orientation. A sill structure is also defined, and comprises a beam portion on which a wall is supported in use, and a floor engaging portion which engages a floor structure in use.

Description

I

Wall Construction The present invention relates to wall construction.

Many temporary buildings and building extensions, such as conservatories, sun lounges and the like, have walls constructed from wall panels secured alongside each other by appropriate fixings, frames or the like. The panels may be glazed, blind, or formed as doors, windows etc. The panels are typically formed from extruded plastics material, internally reinforced by metal stiffeners. One previous suggestion uses wall panels which stand on a sill for support. There is a snap-fit arrangement between the wall panel and the sill. The panel is installed by pushing down to engage the snap-fit mechanism. We have realised that the force used to engage the snap-fit mechanism can be sufficient to cause glazed panels to become deglazed, and may result in excessive forces being applied, particularly if snap-fit features of the panel and sill are not in correct alignment, possibly resulting in damage.

The present invention provides a wall construction comprising a wall panel supported on a sill member, the sill member having a generally upwardly directed surface on which the panel is supported, and on which the sill member has a pivot formation and a detent formation, the wall panel having a pivot formation projecting generally downwardly in the finished construction, and a detent formation, the panel pivot formation being formed to rest on the sill surface to support the panel while the panel is in a slanted orientation, and to slide over the sill surface by movement of the panel relative to the sill, to engage with the sill pivot formation, the engaged pivot formations forming a pivot arrangement by which the panel may be pivoted to bring it to the substantially upright final condition and thereby engage the detent formations, the engagement of the formations serving to prevent the upright panel moving across the sill.

The sill pivot formation preferably projects up from the sill surface. The sill pivot formation preferably engages the panel pivot formation to resist the panel pivoting beyond the upright position. The sill pivot formation may have a head under which the panel pivot formation locates for initial pivoting, and which prevents the panel pivot formation lifting off the sill surface to pivot the panel beyond the upright position. The sill and/or panel pivot formation is preferably a flange portion extending along the sill or panel.

Preferably, at least one of the detent formations is a projection from the sill or panel toward the panel or sill, respectively. Both detent formations may be projections, as aforesaid. The projections may come alongside each other as the panel reaches the upright position, to prevent by abutment the panel moving across the sill in at least one direction. The detent formations may engage to resist the panel pivoting away from the upright position. The detent formations may be a snap-fit. Preferably, movement across the sill is prevented in one direction by engagement of the detent formations and in the other direction is prevented by engagement of the pivot formations.

The construction may further comprise a connector which, in use, fixes the wall panel to the sill member to prevent the wall panel tilting back to the slanted orientation. The connector may have features which engage with cooperating features on the wall panel or sill member to hold the wall panel or sill member. The connector may be formed to receive a fixing for fixing the connector to the wall panel or sill member.

The invention also provides a sill structure comprising a beam portion on which a wall is supported, in use, and a floor engaging portion which engages a floor structure, in use.

The floor structure may be engaged for support. The beam portion and the floor engaging portion are preferably integral portions of the sill structure.

The sill structure is preferably elongate and may be extruded. The floor engaging portion may provide a ledge on which the floor structure is supported, in use.

The invention also provides a building structure comprising a sill structure as defined above, a wall supported on the beam portion, and a floor structure supported on the floor engaging portion.

The floor structure may include joists supported on the floor support portion to be spaced above the ground beneath. The joists may be fixed to the sill structure to provide bracing in the building structure. The joists may carry a sheet providing a substantially continuous floor surface.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. IA to ID and Fig. 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating stages of construction of a wall; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a structure constructed by the wall construction of the invention; Figs. 4 to 9 are vertical sections though the sill and wall panel of a wall construction of the invention, at various scales and at various stages of construction; and Figs. 1OA and lOB are cut-away isometric views of the completed construction from inside and outside, respectively, showing a wall panel in its final position on the sill.

Overview The following description relates to a wall construction which may be used, for example, in the construction of a conservatory, sun lounge or other building extension or self-contained building. Fig. I illustrates the first step of the process. A series of sill members 10 have been placed in position on the ground, forming an octagon in this example. Each sill member 10 has an upwardly directed surface 14 on which the panel 12 is supported in the finished construction. Initially, the wall panel 12 is rested on the sill member in a slanted orientation (Fig. IA). Various cooperating formations (to be described) are provided on the sill member 10 and wall panel 12, allowing the panel 12 to slide over the sill member 10 until the formations engage, forming a pivot, as will be described. The pivot arrangement allows the panel 12 to be pivoted to bring it to the substantially upright final condition (Fig. I B). In doing so, further formations on the sill member 10 and wall panel 12 come into engagement to hold the panel 12, when upright, against moving across the sill 10. Once the first panel 12 has been positioned on the sill 10 in this manner, a second panel 12 can be introduced in slanted orientation onto the sill 10 (Fig. IC) until the pivot formations engage, and then brought up to the upright condition (Fig. ID). Accordingly, this process can be repeated until a ring of wall panels 12 has been installed around the circumference defined by the sill members 10.

Arrangements will be described for securing each panel 12 to its neighbours and for providing a roof on the structure being formed.

One example of a completed construction is illustrated in Fig. 3. It can be seen that the various panels include window lights, door apertures 18 or blind panels 20.

It should be clearly understood that many different circumferential shapes, panel designs, panel arrangements and combinations and roof arrangements can be used within the scope of the invention being described.

Pivot Arrancjements Having broadly described the manner in which wall panels 12 are installed on sill members 10, the formations which enable this process to take place can now be described in more detail, with particular reference to Figs. 4 to 10.

In this example, the sill 10 is an extruded item having a main box section 22 and a horizontal ledge 24. The box section 22 has an outer vertical face 26 which, in use, faces the outside of a building and may be grooved, ribbed or otherwise decorated for aesthetic effect. The inner face 28, facing into the building, is generally planar. The bottom face 30 of the box section 22 may be formed at 32 for securing the sill 10 to foundation structures (not shown). The upper face 14 has longitudinal flanges 36, 38, running along substantially the entire length of the sill 10. The flange 36 provides a pivot function and is thus termed the pivot flange. The flange 38 performs a detent function and is thus termed the detent flange.

The outline of the panel 12 is formed by lengths of hollow extrusion in this example, the interior of one of which is visible in the drawings by virtue of material being cut away from the panel 12. The lower face 40 of the panel 12, which will be generally horizontal and downwardly facing when construction is complete, carries longitudinal flanges 42, 44 and others. The flanges 42, 44 extend along substantially the whole length of the lower face 40. The flange 42 provides a pivot function and is thus termed the pivot flange 42. The flange 44 provides a detent function and is thus termed the detent flange 44.

The pivot flange 36 projects up from the surface 14 but is not perpendicular to the surface 14. Rather, the flange 42 is curved over toward the inner face 28. The detent flange 38 has a lower section 46 (Fig. 9), which is generally upright after installation, and a head 48 which curves toward the pivot flange 36 and has an upper, sloping lead-in surface 50. The head 48 meets the lower section 46 at a shoulder 52.

The pivot flange 42 of the panel 12 has an upper section 54 (Fig. 9) which is generally downwardly depending from the panel 12, after installation, and carries a head bead 56 along its length, forming a concavity 58. The head bead 56 projects toward the detent flange 44.

Similarly, the detent flange 44 has an upper section 60 which extends downwardly from the panel 12, after installation, and carries a head bead 62 which projects toward the pivot flange 42, forming a concavity at 64.

The four projections 36, 38, 42, 44 cooperate with each other in a manner which can be described with particular reference to Figs. 4 to 7, as follows.

In the initial step, illustrated in Figs. IA and 4, the slanted panel 12 is placed on the upper surface 14, so that contact with the surface 14 is by means of the pivot flange 42. This creates a line of contact between the pivot flange 42 and the surface 14 and thus a very small area of contact and very little friction. The panel 12 can be rested on the sill 10 in this way, and then slid over the surface 14 until the pivot flange 42 comes against the pivot flange 36, as shown in Fig. 4. When this arrangement is reached, the head bead 56 is located under the concave face of the pivot flange 36.

The engagement of the pivot flanges 36 and 42, and particularly the forms of the head bead 56 and the curvature of the pivot flange 36 creates a pivot arrangement by which the panel 12 may be pivoted from the slanted orientation shown in Fig. 4, to bring it to the substantially upright final condition (Figs. 5 etc.). As the panel 12 tilts up, the detent flange 44 moves down past the detent flange 38 (Fig. 5). In particular, the head bead 62 moves below the shoulder 52, guided by the lead-in surface 50, if required. In this example, the head bead 62 snaps past the shoulder 52, to resist the panel tilting back from the final, upright position. After bringing the panel to the upright condition the flanges 36, 38 are trapped between the flanges 42, 44, thus maintaining parallel alignment between the panel 12 and the longitudinal axis of the sill 10, and preventing the panel 12 further sliding on the surface 14.

Any tendency of the panel 12 to pivot beyond the upright position (toward the right as shown in Fig. 5) is resisted by engagement of the pivot flange 36 with the pivot flange 42. Specifically, the curvature of the pivot flange 36 reaches into the concavity 58 to hold the flange 42 down against the surface 14. Thus, the upper edge of the pivot flange 36 forms a head in the cavity 58, holding down the flange 42.

It is to be noted from the above description that correct alignment and positioning of the wall panel 12 has been achieved by a combined sliding and tilting action. The snap-fit function of the bead 62 and the shoulder 52 is only engaged after the pivot flanges have ensured there is parallel alignment between the panel and the sill axis, so that the risk of damage caused by forcing misalignment snap-fit features is expected to be minimal.

Fixing Connector Additional security of installation of the panel 12 is achieved by the use of a connector 66, to be described with particular reference to Fig. 10.

The connector 66 engages with the detent flange 38 and a third flange 68. The third flange 68 has a head bead 70 (Fig. 9) which projects toward the detent flange 38 to form a concavity 72 which faces a concavity 74 formed under the head 48 and facing the third flange 68.

The connector 66 has an upper limb 76 and outwardly splayed feet 78 which can be fitted into the concavities 72, 74 by a bayonet-type action, i.e. by introducing the connector 66 from above, turned about a vertical axis to allow the feet 78 to pass between the flanges 38, 68, and then turning the connector 66 about the vertical axis to move the feet 78 into the concavities 72, 74. The connector 66 can then slide along the sill 10, with the feet 78 retained in the concavities 72, 74. Accordingly, the connector 66 can slide to rest with the upper limb 76 against a panel 12 (Fig. I OA).

The upper limb 76 has apertures 80 which allow fixings (not shown), such as screws or bolts, to be used to secure the connector 66 to the panel 12. This prevents the panel 12 tilting back to fall off the sill 10. Consequently, the panel 12 can be left in this condition while a further panel 12 is installed alongside it, in the manner described above.

After a second panel has been installed in this way, the adjacent vertical edges of the adjacent panels 12 are connected by a connector which engages both panels and is not described in detail, being outside the scope of the present invention. This may be introduced from above the panels, as indicated in Fig. I D. In this example, the connector is in the form of a bar 82 which engages grooves or slots in both panels. Roof

After the walls of the structure have been installed by installing a line of wall panels, as described above, a roof structure 86 can be provided (Fig. 3) in any convenient manner. Floor

Returning to Fig. 8, there is shown a floor construction 90. This makes use of the ledge portion 24 which forms a continuous ledge around the inner face of the sill 10. Joists 92 are supported on the ledge 24 and may be secured in position by screws, bolts, brackets or other fixings. A horizontal sheet, such as a timber or board sheet 94 is then placed on the joists 92 and secured. This may overlap the surface 14, as shown.

Accordingly, the floor load is transferred to the joists 92 and then to the sill member 10, through the ledge 24. The sill member 10 is better able to support these loads because of the integral nature of the two portions 22, 24.

Furthermore, the presence of the joists 92 serves to brace the sill formed by the sill members 10.

We have found that the integrity of the resulting structure is sufficient to require only simple foundations under the sill members 10. In addition, the joists 92, which may be timber, are supported clear of the ground below, which assists in preventing deterioration and improves the thermal performance of the floor.

In the example illustrated, the ledge 24 engages the floor to provide support. In an alternative, the area bounded by the ledge 24 may be filled with settable material, such as concrete, screed or cement, laid directly onto the ground or suitably prepared ground, and poured up to the depth of the surface 14. Floor coverings can then be laid directly on the settable material, once set. In this example, the ledge 24 engages the settable material of the floor, to assist in holding the sill 10 in place, and thus to assist in holding the wall assembly in position.

Modifications It will be readily apparent that many variations and modifications can be made to the arrangements described above. In particular, many different shapes, forms, sizes and relative sizes of the various components could be devised, while still performing in the manner described. Many different materials could be chosen for the formation of the components, depending on strength, aesthetic, weight and thermal properties required.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A wall construction comprising a wall panel supported on a sill member, the sill member having a generally upwardly directed surface on which the panel is supported, and on which the sill member has a pivot formation and a detent formation, the wall panel having a pivot formation projecting generally downwardly in the finished construction, and a detent formation, the panel pivot formation being formed to rest on the sill surface to support the panel while the panel is in a slanted orientation, and to slide over the sill surface by movement of the panel relative to the sill, to engage with the sill pivot formation, the engaged pivot formations forming a pivot arrangement by which the panel may be pivoted to bring it to the substantially upright final condition and thereby engage the detent formations, the 1 5 engagement of the formations serving to prevent the upright panel moving across the sill.

2. A construction according to claim 1, wherein the sill pivot formation projects up from the sill surface.

3. A construction according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sill pivot formation engages the panel pivot formation to resist the panel pivoting beyond the : upright position.

**."25 4. A construction according to claim 3, wherein the sill pivot formation has *:*. a head under which the panel pivot formation locates for initial pivoting, and which prevents the panel pivot formation lifting off the sill surface to pivot the panel beyond the upright position. *i

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:"30 5. A construction according to any preceding claim, wherein the sill and/or panel pivot formation is a flange portion extending along the sill or panel 6. A construction according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the detent formations is a projection from the sill or panel toward the panel or sill, respectively.

7. A construction according to claim 6, wherein both detent formations are projections, as aforesaid.

8. A construction according to claim 7, wherein the projections come 1 0 alongside each other as the panel reaches the upright position, to prevent by abutment the panel moving across the sill in at least one direction.

9. A construction according to any preceding claim, wherein the detent formations engage to resist the panel pivoting away from the upright position.

10. A construction according to any preceding claim, wherein the detent formations are a snap-fit.

11. A construction according to any preceding claim, wherein movement across the sill is prevented in one direction by engagement of the detent formations and in the other direction is prevented by engagement of the pivot formations.

12. A construction according to any preceding claim; fuher comprising a connector which, in use, fixes the wall panel to the sill member to prevent the wall panel tilting back to the slanted orientation.

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* 13. A construction according to claim 12, wherein the connector has features which engage with cooperating features on the wall panel or sill ::30 member to hold the wall panel or sill member.

14. A construction according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the connector is formed to receive a fixing for fixing the connector to the wall panel or sill member.

15. A sill structure comprising a beam portion on which a wall is supported, in use, and a floor engaging portion which engages a floor structure, in use.

16. A structure according to claim 15, wherein the floor structure is engaged for support.

17. A structure according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the beam portion and the floor engaging portion are integral portions of the sill structure.

18. A structure according to claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the sill structure is elongate.

19. A structure according to claim 18, wherein the sill structure is extruded.

20. A structure according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the floor engaging portion provides a ledge on which the floor structure is supported, in use.

21. A building structure comprising a sill structure as defined in any of claims 15 to 20, a wall supported on the beam portion, and a floor structure supported on the floor engaging portion.

* s.q.l 22. A structure according to claim 21, wherein the fláor structure includes joists supported on the floor support portion to be spaced above the ground :30 beneath.

23. A structure according to claim 22, wherein the joists are fixed to the sill structure to provide bracing in the building structure.

24. A structure according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the joists carry a sheet providing a substantially continuous floor surface.

25. A wall construction substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A still structure substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A building structure substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. 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. S *

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