GB2443490A

GB2443490A - Adjustable head restraint for a wall

Info

Publication number: GB2443490A
Application number: GB0624613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Michael Kerr
Original assignee: ACS Stainless Steel Fixings Ltd
Current assignee: ACS Stainless Steel Fixings Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-09
Filing date: 2006-12-09
Publication date: 2008-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-09
Also published as: GB0624613D0; GB2443490B

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable head restraint (10A; 10B) for use within the construction industry and provides a soft joint between the top of a blockwork (2 figure 5) non-load bearing wall and an overlying floor structure (3 figure 5) to allow for differential movement. The restraint comprises a fixing part 12A; 12B of elongate construction with a fixing means (14, 15; 16) at one end and a tail portion 13. The tail portion 13 of the fixing part 12A; 12B is inserted into one end of a sleeve 11 and a resilient means 17 is provided to act between the tail portion 13 and the sleeve 11. The resilient means 17, for example a leaf spring, urges the tail portion 13 into frictional contact with the sleeve 11 to hold the fixing part 12A; 12B in place within the sleeve 11, especially when the restraint 10A; 10B has been attached to a floor structure 3 prior to fixing of the sleeve 11 within the blockwork (2 figure 5) of a wall.

Description

AN ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINT

The present invention relates to an adjustable head restraint for use within the construction industry.

In buildings, non-loadbearing internal walls require a soft joint between the top of the blockwork of the wall and the overlying floor to allow for differential movement. However, the top of the wall must be restrained to prevent horizontal movement and to provide lateral stability. As shown in Fig. 5, adjustable head restraints i are therefore installed at the top of internal blockwork walls 2 which are connected to an overlying floor Structure 3. Such a head restraint 1 typically comprise a fixing 4 such as an angled frame cramp or tie, which can be attached to the floor structure 3 directly or anchored in a channel attached to the floor structure 3, and a sleeve 5, which is built into a vertical joint in the blockwork 2. The tail portion of the fixing 4 is inserted into the sleeve 5 so that it is restrained from horizontal movement but will still allow a degree of vertical movement of the floor structure relative to the blockwork.

Problems can arise during fitment of these types of head restraints i.

Usually, the fixing part 4 of the restraint is fitted to a floor structure 3 of the building during construction of the structural shell of the building and then, when the non-loading bearing internal walls 2 are built, the sleeve 5 is fitted to the fixing part 4 when it is built into the wall 2. However, it is very easy for the construction workers to forget or omit to fit the sleeve 5. To prevent this from happening, it is common for the sleeve 5 to be fitted to the fixing part 4 immediately after it has been attached to the floor structure 3 and prior to the internal wall 2 being built. The problem with this solution is that as the sleeve 5 only fits loosely around the internal portion of the fixing part 4 it tends to fall off. It is therefore common for construction workers to use sticky tape to hold the sleeve 5 in place. In addition, there is always a temptation for the construction worker to use a wedge to jam the sleeve 5 in position. Such practices, however, may interfere with the correct operation of the restraint i when in use.

The object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable head restraint that overcomes the aforementioned problem and removes the temptation to jam the sleeve in position.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable head restraint comprising a fixing part of elongate construction with a fixing means at one end and a tail portion; a sleeve into one end of which the tail portion of the fixing part can be inserted; and a resilient means which acts between the tail portion and the sleeve and urges same into frictional contact to hold the fixing part in place within the sleeve.

Preferably, the resilient means comprises a spring means which is located between the tail portion and the sleeve. Alternatively, the resilient means comprises a resilient cushion which is located between the tail portion and the sleeve.

Preferably also, the spring means comprises a leaf spring which is located within and is attached to the sleeve.

Preferably also, the leaf of the spring means is angled such that the apex of the angle contacts the tail portion of the fixing part.

Preferably also, the spring means comprises a hook at one end which is secured over an edge of the sleeve defining said one end into which the tail portion of the fixing part is inserted.

Preferably also, the sleeve is cranked at its end opposite said one end in order that it can be located around two sides of a building block.

Preferably also, the fixing part comprises a frame cramp.

Alternatively, the fixing part comprises a tie.

Preferably also, the sleeve defines a rectangular cross-sectional profile and the resilient means engages one of the shorter edges of the sleeve defining said profile. Alternatively, the resilient means engages one of the longer edges of the sleeve defining said profile.

Embodiments of adjustable head restraints in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figs. i and 2 are perspective views of two embodiments, respectively, of adjustable head restraints; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section along the line 111-111 of Fig. ; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spring means shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an adjustable head restraint in use.

The head restraints ioA and ioB shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 2 each comprise a sleeve ii and a fixing part, 12A or 12B respectively, which has a tail portion 13 that is inserted into one end of the sleeve ii. The fixing part 12A shown in Fig. 1 comprises a frame cramp in the form of an L-shaped member with a foot portion 14 that has aperture 15 by means of which the fixing 12A can be secured to a floor beam or floor decking by an appropriate fastener (not shown). IrpicaIly such fasteners comprise self-drilling screws or setscrews. In contrast, the fixing part 12B shown in Fig 2 comprises a tie which has its exposed end 16 shaped so that it is adapted to be fastened in a channel (not shown) which cast into or otherwise secured to the underside of the floor structure. In both cases, the tail portion 13 of the fixing parts i2A and 12B is inserted into the sleeve ii.

In both embodiments, a resilient means 17 is located within the sleeve ii such that it acts between the tail portion 13 and the sleeve 11 to urge the tail portion 13 into frictional contact with the sleeve ii. In these illustrated embodiments, the resilient means comprises a spring means 17 which exerts a force sufficient to hold the sleeve ii in place over the fixing part 12A or 12B when the latter has been secured to a floor structure but not so great that longitudinal sliding movement of the tail portion 13 within the sleeve ii is prevented or impeded. To this end, the spring means 17 preferably comprises a leaf spring, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which is inserted into the sleeve ii and comprises a hook 18 at one end that is secured over an edge of the sleeve ii. If the sleeve ii defines a rectangular cross-sectional profile, as in the two illustrated embodiments, then the hook 18 of the spring means 17 can be located either over one of the longer edges of the sleeve ii, as shown in Fig. 1, or over one of the shorter edges of the sleeve 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent an edge of the spring means 17 from scraping or otherwise damaging the tail portion 13, the leaf of the spring means 17 is angled such that an apex 19 of the angle contacts the tail portion 13, for example as shown in Fig. 3, rather than a free edge of the leaf.

Although the sleeve 11 may simply comprise a straight tube, it may also be cranked through 900, as at 20 in the illustrated embodiments, at its end opposite that where the tail portion 13 is inserted. This means that in use it can be located around horizontal and vertical sides of a building block as shown in Fig. 5. This helps to prevent the restraint i, ioB from working loose and detaching from a wall 2 in cases where there may be a relatively high degree of differential movement between the floor structure 3 and the wall 2.

It will be appreciated that other types of spring means apart from a leaf spring could be used to ensure frictional contact between the sleeve ii and the tail portion 13. For example, a spring could be arranged to act through an aperture in the wall of the sleeve ii.

In other embodiments, the resilient means could take the form of a resilient pad which secured to the interior of the sleeve and which exerts the necessary force to hold the sleeve 11 in place over the fixing part 12A or 12B.

The pad should be wholly or predominantly made of a resilient material such as nylon, rubber or a resilient foam material. Such a pad could be adhered to the interior of the sleeve or secured in place by an appropriate fastener.

Claims

1. An adjustable head restraint comprising a fixing part of elongate construction with a fixing means at one end and a tail portion; a sleeve into one end of which the tail portion of the fixing part can be inserted; and a resilient means which acts between the tail portion and the sleeve and urges same into frictional contact to hold the fixing part in place within the sleeve.

2. A head restraint as claimed in Claim i, wherein the resilient means comprises a resilient cushion which is located between the tail portion and the sleeve.

3. A head restraint as claimed in Claim i, wherein the resilient means comprises a spring means which is located between the tail portion and the sleeve.

4. A head restraint as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the spring means comprises a leaf spring which is located within and is attached to the sleeve.

5. A head restraint as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the leaf of the spring means is angled such that the apex of the angle contacts the tail portion of the fixing part.

6. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the spring means comprises a hook at one end which is secured over an edge of the sleeve defining said one end into which the tail portion of the fixing part is inserted.

7. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims i to 6, wherein the sleeve is cranked at its end opposite said one end in order that it can be located around two sides of a building block.

8. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims i to 7, wherein the fixing part comprises a frame cramp.

9. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the fixing part comprises a tie.

10. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims i to 7, wherein the sleeve defines a rectangular cross-sectional profile and the resi]ient means engages one of the shorter edges of the sleeve defining said profile.

11. A head restraint as claimed in any of Claims i to 10, wherein the sleeve defines a rectangular cross-sectional profile and the resilient means engages one of the longer edges of the sleeve defining said profile.

12. An adjustable head restraint substantially as described herein with reference to either Fig. 1, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 or Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.