GB2485658A - Retainer clip for protective masonry cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A device 1, 2 for retaining a protective cover over exposed masonry 3 comprises a pair of fixing arms 1. The arms are arranged to retain the cover in position between a surface of a wall and their respective fixing arm. Also included is an alternative arrangement (Figures 3, 4 &5) including a retaining device which has a pair of arms to locate over the masonry, wherein the cover 7 is held above a masonry wall surface by a clip 5 attached to a rod 4, the rod removably attached to the retaining device 1, 2.

Description

A Cover Retainer This invention relates to a cover retainer! particularly but not exclusively for use in securing a waterproof sheet onto the surface of masonry, to prevent excessive rainwater from reaching the surface of the masonry and resulting in the ingress of water.

It is currently standard practice to use polythene and/ or hessian as a means of protecting masonry from the ingress of water and also frost damage. The polythene and/or hessian is usually secured using bricks or other such objects located on the top of the exposed masonry.

Whilst this current arrangement goes some way towards offering protection to the exposed masonry, there may be inherent problems associated with this method.

Such problems can include the time consuming nature of the method. This consequently has financial implications for construction workers who may be on a fixed price agreement for work commissioned. Additionally, it is highly conceivable that high winds may not only blow the waterproof sheeting around, thus creating difficulties when attempting to secure it in place, but also the loose bricks located on top of the exposed brickwork may be dislodged in high winds.

Furthermore, with such arrangements are associated obvious health and safety implications and additionally such arrangements also result in the masonry being exposed to the elements, thus increasing the likelihood of environmentally induced damage to the structure.

Furthermore, there is a danger associated with falling masonry when removing the protective sheeting. This risk is particularly prevalent in the event of the bricks used to secure the sheeting being dislodged, either as a result of high winds or as a consequence of the protective sheeting being dislodged in an alternative manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retainer, which is operable to physically restrain a cover and prevent its disconnection from the wall due to high winds or other external forces.

Thus and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a retaining device for fixing a protective cover over exposed masonry, said device including fixing arms which extend along a surface thereof, said arms being arranged to retain the cover in position between a surface of a wall and a respective fixing arm.

Preferably, the members of the retaining device comprise metals or heavy duty plastics materials and are capable of withstanding both the forces exerted on said device during use and also environmental forces including but not limited to extremes of temperature and moisture.

The device is preferably capable of acting as a retention device for covers that may be associated with protection of masonry or other materials.

Preferably the device is configured so as to effectively complement the shape and! or configuration of a variety of objects, such as for example a wall, so as when used in combination with a cover, is capable of securing said cover around the outermost surface of the object to protect it.

The retaining device preferably comprises two or more vertical members that may be located in a substantially perpendicular manner relative to an adjacent connecting member, so as to form a "clip" like device that comprises an open ended arrangement.

It will of course be appreciated that the arrangement of the individual members may also be varied so as to accommodate a range of differently shaped objects and thus may take an alternative form from the arrangement as previously described.

The connecting member is at an angular relationship, most preferably but not limited to 2O to the horizontal plane in order to facilitate water shed when the cover is in place in accordance with the device so that water ingress into the cavity of the wall is minimised.

The individual members of the retaining device may be capable of independent or concerted adjustment in order that they may suitably accommodate a variety of sizes of masonry or other such object or material to be protected.

The connecting member of the device may also incorporate the means to engage a separate component such as for example a rod to allow for an increase in the dimension of protection afforded by the cover when in use, including but not limited to when protecting walls incorporating a cavity. Said rod may be selectively moved whilst being engaged with said connecting member of the device.

Said rod or other such device may also possess a restraining device including but not limited to a clip that is capable of restraining a cover such as for example polythene.

Said restraining device preferably incorporates a means of restraining the cover material, such as for example a spring mechanism.

Said rod or other such device also preferably comprises a terminal component that is capable of detaching from the main body of the rod so as to allow the rod to be disengaged from the connecting member of the cover retaining device, and conversely, to allow said rod to be re-engaged to said retaining device.

Preferably, the dimensions of said rod are variable so as to allow it to be fitted to a range of sizes of cover retaining devices as well as allowing for the accommodation of varying sizes of cavity or other such void.

The invention will now be described in further detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows an embodiment without an additional rod component, in use in conjunction with masonry and; Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a rod like component of the device, in isolation, illustrating the features of the rod and; Figure 3 shows a rod like component engaging with the main body of the retaining device and; Figure 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cover retaining device incorporating an adjustable rod component, in use in conjunction with a cavity wall construction and; Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cover retaining device incorporating an adjustable rod component and showing the preferred angle of configuration of the connecting member; and Figures 6 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of a cover retaining device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a further embodiment of the cover retaining device in use comprising two substantially vertical members 1, extending in a substantially parallel configuration relative to each other and which are joined by a connecting member 2 that is most preferably and in the present example, at an angle of 2EYto the horizontal plane.

The connecting member is, in the present embodiment, of a dimension, such that the two vertical members I that are in inseparable communication with said connecting member 2, are set at a pre-selected width apart, as determined by the length of the connecting member 2.

When the invention is in use said connecting member 2 is located above the uppermost aspect of the masonry 3, whilst the two vertical members I are located in a substantially parallel manner relative to the side aspect of the masonry 3.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a view of a rod-like component 4 that is capable of engaging with the connecting member 2 (not shown) of the cover retaining device in a further preferred embodiment comprising, in combination, an arrangement of vertical and connecting members/struts (not shown) as described in association with Figure 1 and an adjustable rod-like component 4.

Said rod 4 comprises a restraining device 5 capable of restraining the cover material, which may be polythene or other such materials. In the present embodiment, said restraining device 5 principally comprises a spring mechanism 5a as a means of restraining the cover material! although it will of course be understood that alternative embodiments of the invention may incorporate alternative means of restraining the cover material.

The rod 4 also incorporates a removable terminus 6 that allows for the rod to be engaged and disengaged with the connecting member 2 of the main cover retaining device (not shown). This feature is additionally described with reference to Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown an illustration of the rod 4 engaging with the cover retaining device, specifically with the connecting member 2 thereof.

As depicted by the arrow 8, the rod is capable of parallel movement in relation to the connecting member 2, so as to be able to extend and retract the cover away from and towards the substantially vertical members I of the main cover retaining device. This movement allows for the invention in its present embodiment to accommodate a range of cavity widths when used in conjunction with a cavity wall or other such arrangement.

The terminal portion 6 of the rod 4 is capable of complete detachment from the main body of the rod 4. This allows for the rod to be completely disengaged from the connecting member 2 of the main cover retention device.

Also shown is the restraining device 5 of the rod 4, which allows for the secure connection of the rod to the cover 7.

As previously described with reference to Figure 2, said restraining device 5 comprises a spring mechanism 5a that securely restrains the cover. Said cover 7 then, in the present embodiment, lies parallel to the uppermost surface of the rod and terminal portion and then by virtue of gravitational force folds at an approximate angle of 7Orelative to the orientation of the rod 4, such that it becomes substantially parallel with the vertical members 1 of the main cover retaining device.

In use, the cover 7 is then additionally secured when the terminus 6 of the rod 4 is located in direct communication with masonry or other such constructions, so as to effectively trap the cover 7 between the terminus 7 of the rod 4 and the masonry 3 (not shown).

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention, incorporating an adjustable rod 4, in use in association with a cavity wall arrangement.

The main body of the cover retainer device is principally located on one of the walls 3 of the cavity wall arrangement, such that the two substantially vertical members 1 are parallel to the side aspect of said wall 3 and the connecting member 2 is located above the uppermost surface of the wall 3, thus effectively forming an open ended configuration that is complementary to the shape of the masonry 3.

The removable rod 4 is shown in engagement with the connecting member 2 of the main cover retainer device and is shown in the present Figure to be adjusted so as to exactly fit the width requirements of the cavity. The cover 7 (not shown) may then be connected to the restraining device 5 of the rod 4 and arranged in a similar manner to that described as in Figure 3.

This arrangement of the cover 7 (not shown) and the cover retainer device in combination serves to protect the uppermost surfaces of the wall 3 as well as protecting the cavity from the excessive ingress of moisture.

Additionally, but not necessarily, the terminus 6 of the rod 4 may also serve to anchor, by means of compression, a further cover (not shown) that may be located over the adjacent wall 3a.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown an illustration of an embodiment of the cover retaining device incorporating a rod-like component 4 and showing the relative angle of the connecting member 2 in relation to the horizontal plane and the vertical members 1.

The connecting member 2 is connected at one end to a vertical member 1 such that an internal angle of approximately 11Ois created between said connecting member 2 and the adjacent vertical member 1, whilst at the other end, said connecting member 2 is connected to a further vertical member 1 such that an internal angle of approximately 7Ois created between the connecting member 2 and said further vertical member 1. This effectively orientates the connecting member 2 at an incline of approximately, but not limited to 2O relative to the horizontal plane. This incline maximises water shed from the outer surface of the cover 7 when used in conjunction with the present cover retaining device and thus minimises water ingress into the cavity of the wall.

It will of course be appreciated that the dimensions of the connecting member 2 and the vertical members I may be variable in alternative embodiments, in order that they are able to accommodate a plurality of masonry dimensions.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the embodiments described above which are described by way of example only.

Thus, Figures 6 to 9 show a range of features in accordance with the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1. A retaining device for fixing a protective cover over exposed masonry, said device including fixing arms which extend along the surface thereof, said arms being arranged to retain the cover in position between a surface of a wall and a respective fixing arm.
2. 2. A device according to Claim I with the members of the retaining device comprise metals or heavy duty plastics materials and are capable of withstanding both of the forces exerted on the device during use and also environmental forces including extremes of temperature and moisture.
3. 3. A device as described in Claim 2 comprising a retention device for covers that may be associated with protection of masonry or other solid materials.
4. 4. A device as described in Claims 1 to 3 the device being configured so as to effectively compliment the shape and/or configuration of a variety of objects such as, for example, a wall so as when used in combination with a cover the wall is capable of securing the cover round the outermost surface of the object protected.
5. 5. A device in accordance with any one of Claims Ito 4 comprises two or more vertical members that may be located in a substantially perpendicular manner effective relevant to the adjacent member, to form a clip-like device that embraces an open-ended arrangement.
6. 6. A device according to Claim 5 may also which is operable to be varied so as to accommodate a range of differently shaped objects taking into account an alternative form of the object as previously described.
7. 7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the individual members of the retaining device may be capable of independent or link that they may suitably accommodate a variety of sizes of masonry or other such object or material to be produced.
8. 8. A device according to Claim 7 in which the device is also configured to incorporate the means, for example, of a rod.