GB2543850A

GB2543850A - Return strap

Info

Publication number: GB2543850A
Application number: GB1519338.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcandrew Scott
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2015-11-02
Filing date: 2015-11-02
Publication date: 2017-05-03
Also published as: GB201519338D0

Abstract

The strap 1, for use with a masonry or joist hanger, has a first elongate plate 5 with a tab folded out of its plane at each end. The first tab 3 is bent to an angle between 1 and 90 degrees, the second tab 7 extends at right angles from the bar, forming the return. Preferably the strap is S-shaped with the tabs extending in opposite directions out of the plate. The first tab may be at an acute angle to the plate, and in use is folded flat against the bar after attaching to the hanger (fig.3,2). Strengthening ribs 13 may be provided across the fold lines 9,11 between the plate and the tabs. Different length straps may be chosen depending upon the width of the material the hanger is to be mounted on.

Description

RETURN STRAP

The present relates to a return strap for masonry hangers. In particular, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a releasable return strap for attachment to a variety of masonry hangers.

Masonry hangers of various types are well known in the construction industry and are utilised in the construction of a roof and/or floors, for example, to hang joist, beams or the like against other structural components. For example, beam hangers can be used against other joints or beams or can be hung from a masonry wall to retain a beam or joist against the wall. In order to locate the hanger and place it against the structure or component to which it is to be fixed, a user must offer up the hanger to the structure and attach same thereto on site. The return feature of a masonry hanger is typically a portion of the hanger that is turned down from the top panel providing a hook which extends down the opposite face of the masonry wall to that holding the front of the hanger into which the beam or joist is located. Most typically, returns are folded out of the same piece of material which forms the top plate of the hanger and forms additional lateral support wrapping the back of the hanger around the masonry or timber to which the hanger is attached. Masonry hangers therefore typically have the base plate against which the joist sits in position, side plates upstanding from the base and laterally restraining a joist in position, a top plate which sits on the top of a course of blockwork or masonry or in some situations another joist, followed by an optional return on the opposite face of the block work restraining the hanger in location. A problem associated with such hangers is that the distance between the inner surface of the return and the side flanges of the hanger is suitable for attachment of the hanger to only one width of blockwork or joist.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a return strap suitable for use with different blockwork widths.

It is the further aim of the present invention to provide a return strap which is attachable to a hanger or to hangers in situ on a building site.

The present invention provides a return strap for attachment to a masonry hanger comprising a hanger engaging member formed of a first and second portion interconnected by a fold line extending transversely across the hanger engaging member, the first portion and second portion being joined at an angle of between 1 and 90 degrees, in this first position the return strap is ready for attachment to a masonry hanger, the second portion extends away from the fold line to form a elongate portion and at a second free end thereof having a second fold line and a third portion extending from the opposite side of the second fold line the second and third portions forming a right angle return.

It is much by preference that the first, second and third portions together form a return strap of substantially S-shaped configuration. More specifically the first portion is folded out of plane of the second portion in a direction opposite to that which the third portion is folded away from the plane of the second portion.

The internal angle between the first and second portions is preferably such that once the hanger is connected to the return strap, a portion of the hanger is retained in the angle between the first and second portions of the return strap. More specifically the internal angle between the first portion and the second portion is preferably acute. More preferably the internal angle is between 1 and 45 degrees. The angle between the second portion and the third portion i.e. the internal angle, is preferably 90 degrees.

The second portion may be of varying lengths to accommodate any width of blockwork. It is much by preference that the second portion is between 100 and 150mm in length. Most preferably the second portion may be one of 100mm, 115mm or 140mm in its length dimension.

In embodiments of the invention, once the return strap has been placed into connection with a masonry hanger, the first portion may be folded flat against the material of the second portion. Therefore in a second position, the first portion and second portion are at approximately 0 degrees angle to one another. More specifically the first portion and second portion are folded into contact with one another in the second position thereof. In such position a portion of the hanger to which the return strap is attached is retained in the fold between the first and second portions of the strap so as to retain the hanger in contact with the strap.

In embodiments of the return strap, in a first position thereof, the first portion of the strap is fed through a slot in the top surface of the hanger and folded between the first and second positions of the strap. The third portion of the return strap is placed over the masonry blockwork to which the hanger is to be attached such that the third portion of the return strap is in abutment with a major surface of the block work. The return strap may be moved into its second position in which the first and second portions are proximate one another and the next course of block work place above the hanger and return strap combination.

Thus, the first portion of the return strap is moveable about the first fold line, between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the internal angle between the first portion and the second portion is acute. Most preferably the internal angle, a, is approximately 45 degrees. In the second position, the first portion is moved towards the surface of the second portion by rotation about the first fold line such that angle, a, is smaller in the second position than in the first position. In the second position, the angle, a, may be 5 degrees or less.

In embodiments of the invention the return strap is formed of steel. More specifically the return strap is formed of galvanised steel.

It is much by preference that the return strap is formed of three integral portions. More specifically it is much by preference that the strap is formed of a single piece of material.

It is much by preference that the return strap is formed of metal of between 0.5 and 3mm thickness. It is most preferable that the strap is formed steel material of between 0.9 and 2mm. In this way, the return strap provides no structural properties when connected to the hanger but does hold the hanger against the face of the blockwork.

By flattening the first and second portions of the return strap together it is ensured that the strap will not detach accidentally from the hanger to which it is attached.

It is envisaged that the material is flexible enough to bend flat between the first and second positions but may also be removed by prising the first portion away from contact with the second portion if it is necessary to disconnect or detach the return strap from the hanger.

The return strap may be provided with strengthening means. More specifically strengthening elements may be provided across one or more of the fold lines. More specifically the fold line between the second and third portions may be strengthened by a strengthening rib. The strengthening rib may extend across the fold line between the second and third portions of the return strap.

In order that the invention is readily understood and carried into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows a return strap according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1a shows the return strap of Figure 1 in perspective orientation;

Figure 1b shows the return strap of Figure 1 in plan view;

Figure 1c shows the return strap of Figure 1 from a bottom plan view;

Figure 1d shows the return strap of Figure 1 in side plan view;

Figure 1e shows the return strap of figure 1 in end plan view;

Figure 2 shows an alternative return strap according to the invention;

Figure 2a shows the alternative return strap in perspective view from a first front view;

Figure 2b shows the alternative embodiment of the return strap in the reversed perspective orientation;

Figure 2c shows a top plan view of the return strap of Figure 2;

Figure 2d shows a bottom plan view of the return strap of Figure 2;

Figure 2e shows a side plan view of the return strap of Figure 2;

Figure 2f show an end plan view of the return strap of Figure 2; and

Figure 3 shows the return strap of either Figure 1 or Figure 2 attached to a joist hanger referring to Figure 1. A return strap 1 as seen in Figures 1a to 1e, is formed of an S-shaped steel planar bar of 0.8mm galvanised steel. Strap 1 if formed of three integral portions being a first portion 3 a second portion 5 and a third portion 7. First portion 3 is attached to second portion 5 along a first fold line 9 transversely across the width of strap 1. The angle, a, formed between the first portion 3 and second portion 5 is an internal angle not exceeding 90 degrees. At the other free end of second portion 5, third portion 7 extends at an angle, β, in a direction opposite that in which the first portion 3 extends from the second portion 5 so as to form a return member of the strap. In its first position, shown best in Figures 1a and 1d, first portion 3 is folded at fold line 9 away from the surface of the second portion 5 so as to form internal angle alpha between portions 3 and 5. Third portion 7 is folded away from the opposing surface of the second portion 5 forming internal angle beta between second 5 and third portion 7. Third portion 7 is folded out of the plane of second portion 5 along a fold line 11. A strengthening rib 13 is provided in the uppermost surface of the strap between the second portion and the third portion 5 and 7 so as to reinforce angle beta in the first position of the hanger.

Figure 2 depicts an alternative return strap 100. All of the features shown in Figure 1 are increased by a factor of 10 in the alternative return strap 100 shown in Figure 2 except for strengthening rib 130. Angle, a’, is formed between the first portion 30 and the second portion 50 of strap 100 whereas angle, β’, is formed in the internal angle between second portion 50 and third portion 70. The alternative return strap of Figure 2 differs from that in Figure 1 in that the longitudinal dimension of the second portion 50 of the strap 100 of Figure 2 is shorter than the corresponding length dimension of the corresponding second portion 5 in the strap 1 of Figure 1. As can be seen from the alternative embodiments shown, a return strap having different dimensions can be provided so as to accommodate different widths of blockwork.

Figure 3 depicts a hanger 2 formed of a base 4 having side plates 6 and 8 upstanding at right angles thereto and back plates 10 and 12 connected to side plates 6 and 8 respectively and extending up to top plates 14 and 16 respectively. Top plates 14 and 16 are connected to back plates 10 and 12 along fold lines 18 and 20 respectively each of which fold lines are crossed by three strengthening ribs 22 extending from the back plates 10, 12 into top plates 14, 16. Fixing apertures 24 are found in top plates 14 and 16 and an elongate slot 26 is found in each top plate 14, 16. Each slot 26 has a length dimension slightly larger than the width dimension of a return strap 1, 100. In the depicted embodiment, a pair of return straps 1 are attached releasably to hanger 2 by feeding first portion 3 through slots 26 so that the first second portions 5 extend away from the top plates 14 and 16 so as provide a hanger with a releasable return strap. In use of the hanger 2 and return strap 1 combination, the first portion 3 of each return strap 1 is folded towards its second portion 5 so as to reduce angle a, in each strap 1. Thus, in use of the return strap 1, same can be connected to the hanger 2 in situ and folded into its deployed, second position in which first portion 3 is folded down so as to be proximate or touching second portion 5 thus making release of strap 1 from the hanger 2 much more difficult and less likely. In the second position of the strap 1, angle a is smaller than the angle a in the first position of the strap 1. Third portion 7 of each hanger is then placed against the face of the blockwork and back plates 10 and 12 of the hanger placed against opposite face of the blockwork thus placing the hanger in suitable orientation ready for receiving a joist and a further course of masonry on top of plates 14 and 16.

It will be understood that hanger 2 can be of any suitable masonry hanger configuration and that a strap 1 and the hanger 2 configuration of Figure 3 is shown by way of example only. Each of the hangers to which the return strap with the invention can be connected will have a slot 26 for receiving the first portion 3 of the return strap.

Claims

1. A return strap for attachment to a masonry hanger comprising a hanger engaging member formed of a first and second portion interconnected by a fold line extending transversely across the hanger engaging member, the first portion and second portion being joined at an angle of between 1 and 90 degrees, in this first position the return strap is ready for attachment to a masonry hanger, the second portion extends away from the fold line to form a elongate portion and at a second free end thereof having a second fold line and a third portion extending from the opposite side of the second fold line the second and third portions forming a right angle return.

2. A return strap according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third portions together form a return strap of substantially S-shaped configuration.

3. A return strap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first portion is folded out of plane of the second portion in a direction opposite to that which the third portion is folded away from the plane of the second portion.

4. A return strap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the internal angle between the first and second portions is such that once the hanger is connected to the return strap, a portion of the hanger is retained in the angle between the first and second portions of the return strap.

5. A return strap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the internal angle between the first portion and the second portion is acute.

6. A return strap according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the internal angle is between 1 and 45 degrees.

7. A return strap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal angle between the second portion and the third portion is 90 degrees.

8. A return strap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein once the return strap has been placed into connection with a masonry hanger, the first portion is folded flat against the material of the second portion.

9. A return strap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in a second position, the first portion and second portion are at approximately 0 degrees angle to one another.

10. A return strap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion of the return strap is moveable about the first fold line, between a first position and a second position.

11. A return strap according to claim 10, wherein in the first position, the internal angle between the first portion and the second portion is acute.

12. A return strap substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figure 1 and the accompanying description.

13. A return strap substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figure 2 and the accompanying description.

14. A return strap and hanger assembly substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figure 3 and the accompanying description.