GB2447295A

GB2447295A - Utility pipe draught proofing apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2447295A
Application number: GB0704556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Cameron Challinor; Matthew James William Reaney
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-09
Filing date: 2007-03-09
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-09
Also published as: GB0704556D0; GB2447295B

Abstract

The invention provides a sealing device 10 for sealing of an aperture defined by a building member 54 such as plasterboard. The device 10 includes a mounting member (12, fig.1), which defines a substantially planar first aperture (22, fig.3) through which, in use, a utility member 52, such as a pipe, passes. The device 10 includes sealing means (30, fig.1) for providing a substantially airtight seal between the mounting member (12) and the utility member 52 in use. The sealing means (30) are arranged to permit the utility member 52 to pass through the first aperture (22) at an oblique angle (64, fig. 10) to the plane of the first aperture (22). The apparatus allows draught proofing around pipework where it exits wall cavities using a sweeping bend to avoid the use of fittings and joints.

Description

Sealing Device The present invention relates to a sealing device,

particularly but not exclusively a sealing device for sealing an aperture defined by a building member through which in use a utility member passes.

Building regulations impose ever tighter requirements on the draught proofing of new buildings. One point where draughts can occur is where central heating pipes pass through apertures formed in dry lining sheet materials such as plasterboard which are used to dry line block or stud walls.

Typically, such pipes are formed of flexible plastics material, and the installer will utilise the flexible properties of the plastic pipe wherever possible to avoid the use of pipe fittings and joints for reasons of speed of installation, economy, and also integrity of installation. However, avoiding the use of fittings and joints leads to the situation in which the pipe is passing through the dry lining sheet material at an oblique angle. Furthermore, one advantage of using plastic pipe is that the flexibility of the pipe permits an item such as a radiator to which a pipe is connected to be moved while still connected to the pipe. However, to enable this, the pipe advantageously has to flex and move relative to the plasterboard sheet material. Conventional sealing arrangements have proved to be either too rigid, or have proved unable to seal effectively to a pipe passing through the plasterboard sheet material at an oblique angle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing device for sealing an aperture defined by a building member, the device including a mounting member which defines a substantially planar first aperture through which in use a utility member passes, the device including sealing means for providing a substantially airtight seal between the mounting member and the utility member in use, the sealing means being arranged to permit the utility member to pass through the first aperture at an oblique angle to the plane of the first aperture.

Possibly, the sealing means define a sealing aperture, which may be substantially planar. Possibly, the plane of the sealing aperture is not coplanar with the plane of the first aperture. Possibly, the plane of the sealing aperture is at an angle to the plane of the first aperture.

Possibly the aperture defined by the building member is substantially planar, and the plane of the first aperture is substantially parallel with the building member aperture.

Possibly, the sealing means permit movement of the utility member relative to the first aperture. Possibly the sealing means include a sealing member, which may be formed of a flexible material, and may be formed of a resiliently deformable material, and may be formed of rubber or a plastics material.

Possibly the sealing member includes a mounting for mounting the sealing member to the mounting member. Possibly the mounting comprises a continuous first channel defined by the sealing member in which a part of the mounting member is receivable.

Possibly, the sealing member includes a formation which increases the flexibility of the sealing member. Possibly the formation comprises a second channel defined by the sealing member which extends continuously around an outer surface of the sealing member.

Possibly, in one embodiment, the part of the mounting member which is receivable in the sealing channel is the edge defining the first aperture.

Possibly the device defines a plurality of first apertures. Possibly the device defines a plurality of sealing apertures, which may correspond in number to the plurality of the first apertures.

In another embodiment, the mounting member defines a second aperture and the part of the mounting member which is receivable in the sealing channel is the edge defining the second aperture. Possibly the mounting member defines a recess, which extends between the first aperture and the second aperture.

The second aperture may be planar, and the plane of the second aperture may be at an angle to the plane of the first aperture.

Possibly the sealing member includes a pair of channel walls, which define the sealing channel. Possibly one of the channel walls forms a flange, which extends outwardly beyond the other channel wall. Possibly the channel wall forming the flange is the channel wall away from the sealing aperture.

Possibly the device defines a plurality of second apertures. Possibly the device defines a plurality of sealing apertures, which may correspond in number to the plurality of the second apertures.

The plane of the second apertures may be substantially parallel with the plane of the corresponding sealing apertures. The device may comprise a pair of second apertures, and a corresponding pair of sealing apertures.

Possibly, the plane of one of the sealing apertures is angled relative to the plane of the other sealing apertures.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sealing a utility member passing through an aperture defined by a building member, the method including the steps of locating a sealing device between the utility member and the building member, the -sealing device including a mounting member which defines a substantially planar first aperture through which in use the utility member passes, the device including sealing means for providing a substantially airtight seal between the mounting member and the utility member in use, the sealing means being arranged to permit the utility member to pass through the first aperture at an oblique angle to the plane of the first aperture.

The device may include any of the features defined in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a sealing device in a disassembled condition; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front of the sealing device of Fig. 1 in an assembled condition; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sealing device of Figs. 1 and 2 in the assembled condition from the rear; Figs. 4A and 4B are perspective views of alternative configuration of central heating pipes mounted to a wall; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the central heating pipes of Fig. 4A shown schematically behind a sheet of dry lining material such as plasterboard; Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the front of the sealing device of Figs. 1 -4 in an installed condition; Fig. 7 is a perspective schematic view of the sealing device behind a radiator; Fig. & is a perspective view from the front of another sealing device; Fig. 9 is a front view of another sealing device; Fig. 10 is a sectional side view of the sealing device of Fig. 9 along section line X-X.

Fig. 1 shows a sealing device 10, the sealing device 10 including a mounting member 12, the mounting member 12 including a substantially planar flange part 14 extending outwardly from a projecting part 16. Referring to Fig. 3, the projecting part 16 defines a recess 26 which extends from a first aperture 22 defined by the flange part 14 to a pair of second apertures 24 defined by a pair of angled faces 18 of the projecting part 16.

The angled faces 18 are substantially planar and define the plane of the second aperture 24. The plane of the angled faces 18 is at an angle to the plane of the first aperture 22, which is coplanar with the plane of the flange part 14. Each of the angled faces 18 is also at an angle with the other of the angled faces 18, so that the angled faces 18 face away from each other. With the flange part 14 in an in use vertical position, the angled faces 18 face downwardly and away from each other.

The sealing device includes sealing means which include a pair of generally frusto conically shaped sealing members 30. Each sealing member is formed of a flexible, resiliently deformable material such as rubber or a plastics material. Each sealing member 30 is generally conical in shape and hollow, defining a passage 42 which extends internally along the longitudinal axis of the sealing member 30, the passage 42 tapering in cross section from one end to the sealing aperture 38 at the other end.

Each sealing member 30 defines a sealing channel 32 which extends continuously around the outer surface thereof, the sealing channel 32 being defined on one side by a first channel wall 34 and on the other side by a second channel wall 36, the second channel wall 36 extending further outward than the first channel wall 34 to form a flange.

Each sealing member 30 includes a means for increasing the flexibility of the sealing member 30 in the form of a second channel 40, which extends continuously around the outer surface of the sealing member 30.

In this example, each of the sealing members 30 is symmetrical about a central axis 62.

The mounting member 12 defines a plurality of mounting holes 20. A lip 18 extends rearwardly from the perimeter of the matting member 12.

To assemble the sealing device 10, each of the sealing members 30 is located through one of the second apertures 24. This is most easily accomplished by inserting the sealing member 30 into the second aperture 24 from the rear of the sealing device 10 via the recess 26, the frusto conical shape of the sealing member 30 aiding insertion from this direction, the larger second channel wall 36 impeding insertion from the opposite direction. The sealing member 30 must be deformed to permit the first channel wall 34 to pass through the second aperture 24, until the edges of the angled faces 18 are received within the sealing channel 32 of each of the sealing members 30.

Fig. 2 shows the sealing device 10 in the assembled condition.

In the assembled condition, the plane of each of the sealing apertures 38 is substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the plane of the corresponding second aperture 24, and is at an angle to the plane of the first aperture 22, and the plane of one of the sealing apertures 24 is at an angle to the plane of the other of the sealing apertures 24.

Figs. 4 -7 shows the sealing device 10 in use. Figs. 4A and 4B each show a pair of utility members in the form of pipes 52 which are located against a wall 50. In Fig. 4A the pipes run vertically down the wall 50, and in Fig. 4B the pipes run horizontally along the wall 50. Referring to Fig. 5, a building member in the form of a dry lining sheet member such as plasterboard 54 is affixed to the waIl 50, typically by means of wooden battens or dabs of adhesive such as plaster (not shown), which space the plasterboard 54 from the wall 50. An aperture 56 is formed in the plasterboard 54, the tails of the pipes 52 passing through the aperture 56.

The sealing device 10 is located over the pipes 52, each pipe 52 passing through one of the sealing apertures 38 of the sealing device 10. The tapered passage 42 of the sealing members 38 aids location of the pipes 52.

The sealing device 10 is mounted to the plasterboard 54 by fasteners such as screws which are located through the mounting holes 20 into plasterboard fixings (not shown), so that the lip 28 of the mounting member 12 locates against the plasterboard 54.

With the tails of the pipes 52 protruding outwardly, downwardly and away from each other from the sealing device 10, if necessary each of the pipes 42 can be pulled further through the sealing device 10, the tapered passage 42 permitting outward movement of the pipes 52, but resisting inward movement. Referring to Fig. 7, a radiator 58 is then connected to the pipes 52 and mounted to the plasterboard 54.

The sealing aperture 38 is sized to provide a tight fit which is substantially airtight to the pipes 52. The flexibility of the sealing members 30 permits movement of the pipes 52 relative to the sealing device 10, so that in the installed condition, the radiator 58 can be moved, for example, for maintenance without damage to the sealing device 10 or the integrity of the seal provided between the pipes 52 and the plasterboard 54. The feature of the planes of the sealing apertures 30 being at an angle to the plane of the first aperture 22 permits the pipes 52 to be installed at an oblique angle to the first aperture 22 reducing the risk of excessive deformation of the sealing aperture 38 which could cause the airtight seal to be lost. In this specification, the term "oblique angle" is used to mean an angle which is not 00 nor 900 i.e. not parallel nor perpendicular. In one example, the angle between the sealing aperture 38 and first aperture 22 could be in the range 200 to 400 and could be approximately 30 The angle of the plane of the sealing aperture 38 to the first aperture 32 permits the flexible pipe 52 to be bent rather than requiring the use of a pipe fitting, thus improving installation speed and efficiency while permitting sealing of the plasterboard aperture 56 to reduce draughts. For optimal sealing, the plane of the sealing aperture 38 should be substantially perpendicular to the pipe 52 as the pipe 52 passes through the sealing aperture 38. The gap available between the plasterboard 54 and the radiator 58 is generally at most around 23mm, which is too small to permit the pipe 52 to project perpendicularly from the wall and permit the use of conventional sealing devices. The device 10 of the invention permits optimal sealing to the pipe 52 when projecting at an oblique angle. The recess 26 defined by the mounting member 12 provides extra space to permit the pipes 52 to be bent with a larger radius, reducing the risk of damage to the pipes 52 during installation.

To improve sealing of the sealing device 10 still further, a second sealing member (not shown) could be located between the mounting member 12 and the plasterboard 54. The second sealing member could be formed of a flexible and/or deformable material, and could be in the form of a gasket, which could be formed of rubber or a plastics material, or alternatively could be formed of a mastic material applied as a bead, for example by an applicator gun.

The second channel 40 acts in the manner of a corrugation, improving the flexibility of the sealing member 30.

Figs. 8 -10 show other examples of the invention, many features of which are similar to the features already described in relation to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 -7. Where features are similar, the same reference numerals have been used and these features will not be described in detail again for the sake of brevity.

Fig. 8 shows another sealing device 110 which includes the mounting member 12, the mounting member 12 including a flange part 14 extending outwardly from a projecting part 16. In this example, the projecting part 16 includes a single downwardly facing angled face 18, which defines a single second aperture 24 in which a sealing member 30 is locatable. The sealing device 110 could be of particular use in an installation in which a single pipe 52 passes through the plasterboard 54.

Figs. 9 and 10 show another sealing device 210, the sealing device 210 including a mounting member 12 which is substantially planar and defines a pair of first apertures 22 in each of which a sealing member 30 is locatable.

Each sealing member 30 is formed of a flexible, resiliently deformable material and defines a sealing channel 32 in which in the assembled condition as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the edges of the mounting member 12 defining the first aperture 22 are receivable. The sealing member 30 is hollow, defining a passage 42, and further defines a sealing aperture 38 which communicates with the passage 42. In contrast to the sealing members 30 shown in the previous embodiments, in which the sealing aperture 38 is aligned along the central axis of the sealing member 30, in this example, the sealing aperture 38 is off set from the central axis 62 of the sealing member 30, so that in the assembled condition, the plane of the sealing aperture 38 is at an angle 64 to the plane of the first aperture 22 and the plane of the mounting member 12.

The sealing device 210 is used in a similar manner to that described for the previous embodiments, with pipes 52 being located through the first apertures 22 and the sealing apertures 38. In this example, the sealing members 30 could be rotated within the first apertures 22 to enable the best sealing fit of the sealing apertures 48 to the pipes 52 to be utilised.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The mounting member and sealing members could be formed of any suitable material, and could be of any suitable size and shape.

The sealing device Could include any suitable number of sealing members 30.

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

II

1. A sealing device for sealing an aperture defined by a building member, the device including a mounting member which defines a substantially planar first aperture through which in use a utility member passes, the device including sealing means for providing a substantially airtight seal between the mounting member and the utility member in use, the sealing means being arranged to permit the utility member to pass through the first aperture at an oblique angle to the plane of the first aperture.

2. A sealing device according to claim 1, in which the sealing means define a sealing aperture.

IS 3. A sealing device according to claim 2, in which the sealing aperture is substantially planar.

4. A sealing device according to claim 3, in which the plane of the sealing aperture is not coplanar with the plane of the first aperture.

5. A sealing device according to claims 3 or 4, in which the plane of the *:::* sealing aperture is at an angle to the plane of the first aperture.

6. A sealing device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the aperture defined by the building member is substantially planar, and the plane of the first aperture is substantially parallel with the building member aperture.

7 A sealing device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means permit movement of the utility member relative to the first aperture.

8. A sealing device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means include a sealing member.

9. A sealing device according to claim 8, in which the sealing member is formed of a flexible material.

10. A sealing device according to claims 8 or 9, in which the sealing member is formed of a resiliently deformable material.

11. A sealing device according to any of claims 8 to 10, in which the sealing member is formed of a plastics material.

12. A sealing device according to any of claims 8 to 10, in which the sealing is member is formed of a rubber material.

13. A sealing device according to any of claims 8 to 12, in which the sealing member includes a mounting for mounting the sealing member to the mounting member. 21)

14. A sealing device according to claim 13, in which the mounting comprises a continuous first channel defined by the sealing member in which a part of :.:: the mounting member is receivable.

p.'. 25 15. A sealing device according to any of claims 8 to 14, in which the sealing member includes a formation which increases the flexibility of the sealing member. * ** * * S S.. S

16. A sealing device according to claim 15, in which the formation comprises a second channel defined by the sealing member which extends continuously around an outer surface of the sealing member.

17. A sealing device according to any of claims 14 to 16, in which the part of the mounting member which is receivable in the first channel is an edge defining the first aperture.

18. A sealing device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the device defines a plurality of first apertures.

19. A sealing device according to any claims 2 to 18, in which the device I 0 defines a plurality of sealing apertures.

20. A sealing device according to claim 19 when dependent on claim 18, in which the plurality of sealing apertures correspond in number to the plurality of the first apertures.

21. A sealing device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting member defines a second aperture and the part of the mounting member which is receivable in the first channel is an edge defining the second aperture.

22. A sealing device according to claim 21, in which the mounting member defines a recess, which extends between the first aperture and the second aperture.

23. A sealing device according to claims 21 or 22, in which the second aperture is planar.

24. A sealing device according to claim 23, in which the plane of the second aperture is at an angle to the plane of the first aperture. jo

25. A sealing device according to any of claims 21 to 24, in which the sealing member includes a pair of channel walls, which define the first channel.

26 A sealing device according to claim 25, in which one of the channel walls forms a flange, which extends outwardly beyond the other channel wall.

27. A sealing device according to claim 26, in which the channel wall forming the flange is the channel wall away from the sealing aperture.

28 A sealing device according to any of claims 21 to 27, in which the device defines a plurality of second apertures.

29. A sealing device according to claim 21 to 28, in which the device defines a plurality of sealing apertures.

IS

30. A sealing device according to claim 29 when dependent on claim 28, in which the plurality of sealing apertures correspond in number to the plurality of the second apertures.

31. A sealing device according to claim 30, in which the plane of the second apertures is substantially parallel with the plane of the corresponding sealing apertures. *... * S * *.

32. A sealing device according to claim 31, in which the device comprises a c.'. 25 pair of second apertures, and a corresponding pair of sealing apertures.

S *.*

S

33. A sealing device according to claim 32, in which the plane of one of the sealing apertures is angled relative to the plane of the other sealing *SS * aperture.

34. A method of sealing a utility member passing through an aperture defined by a building member, the method including the steis of locating a sealing device between the utility member and the building member, the sealing device including a mounting member which defines a substantially planar S first aperture through which in use the utility member passes, the device including sealing means for providing a substantially airtight seal between the mounting member and the utility member in use, the sealing means being arranged to permit the utility member to pass through the first aperture at an oblique angle to the plane of the first aperture. I 0

A method according to claim 34, in which the sealing device includes any of the features defined in any of claims 1 to 33.

36. A sealing device as hereinbefore described and with reference to the IS accompanying drawings 37. A method of sealing a utility member as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. 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. * *. S * S S..

S * .. * S S S.. S

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