GB2488406A

GB2488406A - Frame system for creating wall panels inside a rest room and mounting sanitary ware such as urinals or toilets

Info

Publication number: GB2488406A
Application number: GB201202500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Rees; Lee Cartwright
Original assignee: RS BUILDING PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: RS BUILDING PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-14
Filing date: 2012-02-14
Publication date: 2012-08-29
Also published as: GB201202500D0

Abstract

The present invention comprises a profile section 24 suitable for the use in the construction of a washroom false wall. The profile section 24 includes a base wall 26, with upstanding side walls 44 and an inner wall 42 between the two side walls. The side walls each define a channel 46 facing away from the inner wall which is located closer to one of the side walls than the other. Also claimed is a bracket 16 comprising two parts 16a, 16b each with a base portion and two side walls extending from the base portion wherein the side walls of the bracket part are substantially perpendicular to each other and have a lip configured to engage a side wall channel in the profile. In use four of the brackets and profiles are used to form a frame for forming a false wall onto which bathroom equipment can be mounted.

Description

Frame System The present invention relates to a frame system and particularly to a frame system suitable for the support of washroom facia panels and plumbed washroom accessories such as hand basins, urinals and toilet bowls.

When constructing a washroom in a location such as, for example, an office or a hotel, plumbed items such as hand basins, urinals and toilet bowls are typically mounted on a false wall which is spaced from a wall of the room in which the washroom is situated. The mounting of such items allows the necessary plumbing features such as hot and cold water supply conduits, drain conduits, cisterns and flushing mechanisms to be located out of sight in the space defined between the false wall and the room wall. Access to the plumbing features may be provided through removable panels which are mounted to a frame. The plumbed items are also typically mounted to panels which in turn are supported by the frame. Additionally facia panels are supported on the frame to complete the false wall.

Typically, the false wall is comprised of a frame to which is constructed on site. The frame may be constructed from lengths of wood which are connected to one another with appropriate fixings According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a profile section suitable for the use in the construction of a washroom false wall, the profile section including a base wall having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the profile section further having a opposed end walls and an inner wall provided intermediate the end. walls, wherein the inner wall and the end walls extend from the first side of the of the base wall, where in each end wall is provided with a first open sided channel which opens in a direction away from the inner wall, and wherein the inner wall is positioned on the base wall at a location which is closer to one of the end walls than the other so as to define two panel location recesses on said first side of the base wall of differing widths.

The first open sided channel of each end wall provides a location to which an appropriately configured bracket can be attach to the profile section so as to connect a first length of profile section to an second length of profile section. The panel location recesses permit panels having a predcfined thickness to the fitted to the profile section.

The inner wall is preferably higher than the end walls. The open sided channels of the end walls are preferably substantially U shaped in cross-section.

Each end wall is preferably provided with a further open sided channel. The further open sided channel opens in a direction opposite to the first open sided channel and towards the inner wall. The further open sided channel is thus provided on an opposite side of the end wall to the first open sided channel. The further open sided channels of the profile section provide a location to which fixtures may be connected to the profile section.

The second side of the base wall may be provided with one or more formations to which a fixture may be located. The second side of the base wall may be provided with first and second recesses into which complementarily shaped projections of a fixture may be received.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket suitable for connecting a first length of profile section according to the first aspect to a second length of profile section according to the first aspect, the bracket including first and second bracket portions, each bracket portion having a substantially planar base with first and second walls extending there from, said walls being positioned substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein each wall is provided with a lip configured to engage, in use, a first open sided channel of a profile section according to the first aspect, where in further the base of each bracket portion is provided with a feature which permits connection of the bracket portions to one another.

The bracket portions can be fitted around first and second lengths of profile section such that the lips are received in the first channels present on each side of the profile sections and then connected to one another to capture the profile sections.

The base of each bracket portion may be substantially trapezoidal when viewed in plan with the walls being provided on the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid. The connection feature of each bracket portion may be an aperture of the base. In use, the apertures of each bracket portion may be aligned such that an appropriately configured fastener many be inserted therethrough to connect the bracket portions to one another.

Each bracket portion may be provided with a plurality of connection features.

Each wall of each bracket portion many be provided with a feature that permits the bracket portion to in use be secured to a profile section. The feature may be defined by an aperture of the wall through which a fastener may extend into the profile section.

The bracket may further be provided with a formation to permit mounting of the bracket to a support surface. The formation may comprise aligned apertures of the base.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket portion having a substantially planar base with first and second walls extending there from, said walls being positioned substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein each wall is provided with a lip configured to engage, in use, a first open sided channel of a profile section according to the first aspect, where in further the base of each bracket portion is provided with a feature which permits connection of the bracket portion to another similarly configured bracket portion.

The base of the bracket portion may be substantially trapezoidal when viewed in plan with the walls being provided on the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid. The connection feature of the bracket portion may be an aperture of the base. In use, the aperture of the bracket portion may be aligned with the corresponding aperture of another bracket portion such that an appropriately configured fastener many be inserted therethrough to connect the bracket portions to one another. The bracket portion may be provided with a plurality of connection features.

Each watt of the bracket portion many be provided with a feature that permits the bracket portion to in use be secured to a profile section. The feature may be defined by an aperture of the wall through which a fastener may extend into the profile section The bracket portion may further be provided with a formation to permit mounting of the bracket formed from two such bracket portions to a support surface. The formation may comprise an aperture of the base.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame comprising four tengths of profite section according to the first aspect and four brackets according to the second aspect, the tengths of profite section being positioned such that the panel location recesses are provided around the exterior perimeter of the frame.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a washroom wall including a frame according to the fourth aspect and a plurality of panels, the panels comprising exterior panels which are received in one or more of the panel location recesses, and one or more interior panets that are carried by brackets mounted to the inner periphery of the frame.

One or more of the interior panets may inctude an item of sanitary ware.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a profile section suitable for the use in the construction of a washroom false wall, the profile section including a base wall having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the profile section further having a opposed end walls, wherein the end walls extend from the first side of the of the base wall and define therebetween a panel location recess, wherein each end watt is provided with an open sided channel which opens in an outward direction away from the panel location recess.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a profite section suitable for the usc in the construction of a washroom false wall, the profile section including a base wall having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the profile section further having a first pair opposed end walls extending from a first side of the base wall and a second pair of opposed end walls extending from the second side of the base wall, wherein a panel location recess is defined between the first pair of opposed end walls and wherein further each of the first pair of end walls is provided with a first open sided channel which opens in a direction away from the panel location recess, and wherein the second side of the base wall is provided with a projection which is located intermediate the second pair of opposed end walls.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a profile section suitable for the use in the construction of a washroom false wall, the profile section including a base wall having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the profile section further having a opposed end walls, wherein the end walls extend from the first side of the of the base wall and define therebetween a panel location recess, wherein the base wall is provided with open sided channels at each end and which open in an outward direction away from the panel location recess.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the corner of a frame according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a profile section according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a top plan view of a bracket according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a bottom plan view of the bracket of figure 3; Figure 5 shows a side view of the bracket of figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the detail indicated by letter A in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a front view of a washroom wall including a frame according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a plan view of a bracket and profile sections; Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a further profile section; Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a further profile section; and Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a further profile section.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a corner of a frame generally designated 10. The frame corner 10 includes first and second profile sections 12,14 which are arranged such that respective ends 12a, 14a are positioned at substantially 90 degrees to one another. The configuration of the profile sections 12,14 is described in greater detail below. The profile sections 12,14 are maintained in this arrangement by a bracket generally designated 16. The bracket 16 includes first and second bracket sections 16a,16b which are positioned on opposing sides of the profile sections 12,14 and are subsequently joined to one another to encapsulate the profile sections 12,14 there between.

There is further shown a threaded rod 18 which extends through aligned apertures 20a,20b of the bracket sections 16a, 1 6b. The threaded rod 18 is connected to the bracket sections 16a, 16b by nuts 22 located on opposing sides of the bracket 16. The threaded rod 18 provides a means by which the frame having the corner 10 shown may be mounted to a support surface, for example a wall.

Referring now to figure 2 there is shown a cross sectional view of a profile section generally designated 24. Both profile sections 12,14 of figure 1 have the same cross-sectional shape. The profile section 24 has a base wall 26 having opposing ends 26a,26b. The base wall 26 has an inner side 28 and an outer side 30. The terms "inner" and "outer" are construed with reference to a closed quadrilateral frame constructed from lengths of the profile section 24. The inner side 28 of the base wall 26 faces the space enclosed by the frame. The inner side 28 of the base wall 26 is provided with a central v-groove 32 which is positioned equidistantly from the ends 26a,26b of the base wall 26.

The inner side 28 of the base wall 26 is further provided a pair of key ways 34 which are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The key ways 34 are provided on opposing sides of the central v-groove 32. Each key way 34 has opposed side walls 36a,36b and a base wall 38. The base wall 38 is further provided with a central v-groove 40. The central v-groove 32 and key ways 34 are provided on the profile section 24 for the location of panel mounting brackets as will be described in greater detail below.

The outer side 30 of the base wall 26 is provided with an upstanding inner wall 42 which extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base wall 26. The inner wall 42 is offset such that is closer to one end 26a of the base wall 26 than the other end 26b. The outer side 30 of the base wall 26 is further provided with a pair of end walls 44. The end walls 44 are shorter in height than the inner wall 42. Each end wall 44 has a serpentine which is either substantially S or reverse S shaped. Each end wall 44 defines a first recess 46 which is open outwardly with respect to the inner wall 42 such that the first recesses 46 face away from one another on opposing sides of the profile section 24.

Each end wall 44 further defines a second recess 48 which is open inwardly with respect to the inner wall 42 such that the second recesses 48 face both the inner wall 42 and one another. In the embodiment shown, the first recess 46 are substantially U shaped in cross-section whereas the second recesses 48 have a substantially quadrilateral cross section. As will be described in greater detail below, the first recesses 46 in use co-operate with the brackets 16 of the present invention. The second recesses 48 provide an attachment location for the connection of items to the profile section 24.

The inner and end walls 42,44 further define on the outer side 30 of the base wall 26 first and second panel location recesses 50,52. Due to the offset position of the inner wall 42 relative to the centre of the base wall 26, it will be appreciated that the first panel location recess 50 is wider than the second panel location recess 52. The recesses 5 0,52 are sized to receive panels having standard thicknesses.

The profile section 24 may be extruded from a ductile material, for example Aluminium alloy.

Referring now to figures 3 to 6 there is shown a bracket section generally designated 54. The bracket sections 16a, 16b of figure 1 correspond to the bracket section 54 of figures 3 to 6. The bracket section 54 includes a substantially trapezoidal base 56.

The base 56 has a pair of parallel sides 58, 60 and a pair of non-parallel sides 62, 64.

The non-parallel sides 62, 64 are arranged at substantially 90 degrees to one another.

The base 56 is further provided with an aperture 66 sized to receive a threaded rod therethrough. The base 56 is further provided with a pair of connection apertures 68.

The connection apertures 68 are sized so as to be able to receive respective fasteners therethrough in order to in use fasten two bracket sections 54 to one another. Prior to being fastened the bracket sections 54 are positioned such that their respective connection apertures 68 are aligned. Two bracket sections 54 may be fastened by, for example, blind rivets or self tapping screws extending through the connection apertures 68.

Each non parallel side 62,64 of the base 56 is provided with an upstanding wall 70.

Each wall 70 extends along the full length of a non-parallel side 62,64 and projects in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base 56. The top 72 of each wall 70 is curved over and away from the base 56 SO as to define a lip 74.

Each wall 70 is further provided with a connection aperture 76. The connection aperture 76 permits the bracket section 54 to be connected in use to a profile section by the use of an appropriately configured fastener. For example, a self tapping screw may extend through the connection aperture 76. It will be appreciated that a bracket formed from two such bracket sections 54 serves to both join two pieces of profile section to one another and to facilitate mounting of a frame to a support surface.

The bracket section 54 may be formed by first cutting or stamping a bracket section blank from a sheet of material, and then bending the blank to form the walls 70 to and lips 74. For example, the bracket section may be formed from 2mm thick HR4 low carbon steel.

In use, a quadrilateral frame can be constructed from appropriate lengths of profile section 24 and bracket sections 54. Firstly, four pieces of profile section 24 are cut to desired lengths. The pieces of profile section are joined at their ends to form corners by brackets formed by two bracket sections 54. A bracket section 54 is provided on each side of the pieces of profile section such that the lips 74 of the bracket sections 54 are received in the first recesses 46 of the pieces of profile section. The bases of each bracket section face one another and their respective connection apertures align.

The bracket sections 54 can then be joined to one another by appropriate fasteners extending through the connection apertures 68 thereof It will this be understood that the bracket sections 54 are retained to the pieces of profile section by the bracket section lips 74 being received in the first recesses 46 provided on each side of the profile section. In order to prevent a piece of profile section being slidable relative to the a bracket section along its longitudinal axis and thereby rigidify the quadrilateral frame, a fastener may be inserted through the connection aperture 76 of each bracket section wall 70. Threaded rods can be located to the aligned rod apertures 66 of the bracket sections 54 in order to facilitate mounting of the frame to a support surface.

Figure 7 shows a false wall generally designated 78 which includes frames 80 formed from pieces of profile section and bracket sections according to the present invention.

The wall 78 includes three quadrilateral frames 80 each of which is formed from four pieces of profile section 24 and four brackets 82 each comprising two bracket sections. A bracket 82 is provided at each inner comer of each frame 80. The wall 78 further includes panel sections 84 which are provided around the exterior of the frames 80. The panel sections 84 are received in one of the two panel location recesses of the profile section pieces 24. Depending upon the thickness of the panel sections 84, the profile section pieces will be arranged with the appropriate width panel location recess outermost.

The frames 80 further server to support facia panels 86,88,90 which in turn support sanitary wear. In the embodiment shown the facia panels 86,88,90 support a hand basin 92, a urinal 94 and a toilet bowl 96. The facia panels 86,88,90 are connected to the frames 80 through panel mounting brackets 98 connected to the inner side of the base wall of each length of profile section 24. Each bracket 98 is substantially L shaped and has first and second arms which are provided a substantially 90 degrees to one another. One of the arms is provided with projections which are received in the key ways on the base wall of the profile section 24. The interaction of the projections with the key ways ensures consistent placing and orientation of the brackets 98 on the profile sections 24. The brackets 98 arc connected to the profile sections 24 by the use of appropriate fasters, such as self-tapping screws, which extend through an apertures in the bracket and corresponding apertures drilled through the profile section 24. The v-groove 32 provided on the profile section 24 marks the drilling location of the apertures and further serves to locate the bit of a drill at the commencement of a drilling operation. The other of the arms of the bracket 98 is provided with apertures which are configured to receive fasteners associated with the facia panels.

The false wall 78 is completed by the attachment of additional facia panels (not shown) above and, where appropriate, below the sanitary wear supporting facia panels 86,88,90. The wall 78 as a whole is mounted to a support surface, for example a structural wall positioned behind the false wall 78 by threaded rods connected to the brackets 82 as described above.

While the brackets and bracket sections described above have been used in connection with the provision of corners for a frame, it will be appreciated that the brackets may be used to connect a length of profile section at a location that is intermediate the ends of another length of profile section. Figure 8 shows a bracket 16 which has been positioned so as to locate a length of profile section 14 at a position intermediate the ends of another length of profile section 12. The connection of lengths of profile section in this manner can be undertaken in order to reinforce or strengthen a frame, or to provide a frame within a frame to support heavy items that are intended to be supported by the outer frame.

Figures 9 to 11 show additional profile sections generally designated 100, 102 and 104 which may be used in connection with the previously described profile section 24 and bracket 54. Features common to the profile section 24 described with reference to figure 2 are identified with like reference numerals, The profile section 100 of figure 9 differs in that the inner wall 42 is omitted. This profile section 100 may be utilised in place of the previously described profile section 24 in applications where no flash gap between the frame and a panel is necessary. Such applications include recessed units and top and bottom rails for boxed out units.

Referring now to figure 10, there is shown a profile section 102 which is intended for use at the bottom of a frame. The outer side 30 of the section 102 is provided with a pair of walls 106 located at respective opposite ends 26a,26b of the base wall 26. The base wall 26 is further provided with a centrally located projection 108. The central projection 108, in use, is receivable in an appropriately shaped recess of a base rail.

Figure 11 shows a profile section 104 which can be located within the boundary of a frame and which provides an attachment location for load bearing items such as, for example, hinged grab rails and cantilever WCs. The profile section 104 is provided with extended sidewalls 44 each of which can be gripped between a bracket of the type previously described. It will be appreciated that each bracket section fits around the respective ends 44a,44b of a sidewall 44. The base wall 26 of the profile section 104 is provided with v-groove 32 which serves to locate the bit of a drill when a hole is to be drilled through the profile section 104.

Claims

Claims 1. A profile section suitable for the use in the construction of a washroom false wall, the profile section including a base wall having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the profile section further having opposed end walls and an inner wall provided intermediate the end walls, wherein the inner wall and the end walls extend from the first side of the of the base wall, where in each end wall is provided with a first open sided channel which opens in a direction away from the inner wall, and wherein the inner wall is positioned on the base wall at a location which is closer to one of the end walls than the other so as to define two panel location recesses on said first side of the base wail of differing widths.
2. A profile section as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner wall is higher than the end walls.
3. A profile section as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the open sided channels of the end walls are substantially U shaped in cross-section.
4. A profile section as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each end wall is provided with a further open sided channel.
5. A profile section as claimed in claim 4 wherein the further open sided channel opens in a direction opposite to the first open sided channel and towards the inner wall.
6. A profile section as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second side of the base wall is provided with one or more formations to which a fixture may be located.
7. A profile section as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second side of the base wall is provided with first and second recesses into which complementarily shaped projections of a fixture may be received.
8. A bracket suitable for connecting a first length of profile section according to any preceding claim to a second length of profile section according to any preceding claim, the bracket including first and second bracket portions, each bracket portion having a substantially planar base with first and sccond walls extending there from, said walls being positioned substantially perpendicular to one another, whcrein each wall is provided with a lip configured to engage, in use, a first open sided channel of a profile section according to the first aspect, where in further the base of each bracket portion is provided with a feature which permits connection of the bracket portions to one another.
9. A bracket as claimed in claim 8 wherein the base of each bracket portion is substantially trapezoidal when viewed in plan with the walls being provided on the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid.
10. A bracket as claimcd in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the connection feature of each bracket portion is an aperture of the base.
11. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 wherein each bracket portion is provided with a plurality of connection features.
12. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11 wherein each wall of each bracket portion is provided with a feature that permits the bracket portion to, in use, be secured to a profile section.
13. A bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein the feature is defined by an aperture of the wall through which a fastener may extend into the profile section.
14. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13 wherein the bracket is further provided with a formation to permit mounting of the bracket to a support surface.
15. A bracket as claimed in claim 14 wherein the formation comprises aligned apertures of the bases of the bracket portions.
16. A bracket portion having a substantially planar base with first and second walls extending there from, said walls being positioned substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein each wall is provided with a lip configured to engage, in use, a first open sided channel of a profile section according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein further the base of each bracket portion is provided with a feature which permits connection of the bracket portion to another similarly configured bracket portion.
17. A bracket portion as claimed in claim 16 wherein the base of the bracket portion may be substantially trapezoidal when viewed in plan with the walls being provided on the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid.
18. A bracket portion as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the connection feature of the bracket portion is an aperture of the base.
19. A bracket portion as claimed in claim 18 wherein the bracket portion is provided with a plurality of connection features.
20. A bracket portion as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19 wherein each wall of the bracket portion is provided with a feature that permits the bracket portion to, in use, be secured to a profile section.
21. A bracket portion as claimed in claim 20 wherein the feature is defined by an aperture of the wall through which a fastener may extend into the profile section
22. A bracket portion as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21 wherein the bracket portion is further provided with a formation to permit mounting of the bracket formed from two such bracket portions to a support surface.
23. A bracket portion as claimed in claim 22 wherein the formation comprises an aperture of the base.
24. A frame comprising four lengths of profile section, at least one of which is according to any of claims ito 7 and four brackets according to any of claims 8 to 15, the at least one length of profile section being positioned such that the panel location recesses are provided to the exterior perimeter of the frame.S25. A washroom wall including a frame as claimed in claim 24 and a plurality of panels, the panels comprising exterior panels which are received in one or more of the panel location recesses, and one or more interior panels that are carried by brackets mounted to the inner periphery of the frame.26. A washroom wall as claimed in claim 25 wherein one or more of the interior panels includes an item of sanitary ware.27. A profile section substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as iS shown in figures i, 2, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.28. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figures i, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.29. A bracket portion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figures 1, 3 to 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.30. A frame substantially as hereinbeforc described with reference to or as shown in figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.31. A washroom wall substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.