NZ230796A - Light fitting support strap-bracket - Google Patents

Description

-■> -' PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No. 230796 dated 27 September 1989 "A STRAP AND ITS METHOD OF USE" I, TREVOR JAMES BUNTING, of 33 Rembrandt Place, Christchurch, New Zealand, being a British Subject and New Zealand Citizen, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to 5 be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to supporting light or other electrical fittings and more particularly to a strap adapted for placement on timber framing and designed to support wiring for light or other electrical fittings when cladding is placed over the framing. 5 A problem inherent in building construction is to provide support for light fittings over light weight claddings like gibralter board which does not have sufficient strength to provide support for screws used for fixing light fittings. A further problems is to locate electrical wiring for light or wall 10 fittings. At present if a light or other fitting is to be placed in a ceiling or wall and is not directly over an adjacent ceiling joist, batten, stud or dwang it is not uncommon for an electrician to have problems locating his pre-wiring after the ceiling or wall cladding is placed in position.

An object of the invention is to overcome at least in part the above-identified disadvantages and to provide a strap for supporting light or other electrical fittings and the wiring thereof and a method of using the strap.

Further object and advantages of the invention will become 20 apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a strap adapted for fixing to building framing, the strap being an elongate length of rigid material with a plurality of 25 fixing holes a plurality of wiring holes and partly formed wiring holes therein. 2 230796 The strap can be formed from a metal material/ aluminium or a rigid plastics materials. Preferably the strap is formed from a galvanised metal material. The strap is preferably about 20mm in width and is supplied in a variety of lengths as required. 5 The fixing holes can be punched or drilled therein at regular intervals along the length thereof.

The wiring holes can be about 10mm in diameter and be punched, drilled or otherwise formed at regular intervals along the length of the strap. Alternatively the wiring holes can be 10 formed as knock outs in which the holes are partially punched or pressed in the strap and the user readily knocks out whatever hole or holes are required.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using the strap according to the first 15 aspect, the method including placing a length of strap in position between adjacent framing timber before internal cladding is placed on the framing by fixing reams placed through the fixing holes optionally knocking out one or more of the knock outs to form wiring holes in positions as required, feeding electrical wiring 20 through said one or more wiring holes in the strap, forming in a cladding an aperture at the point where the wiring is located, fixing the cladding to the framing with the end(s) of the electrical wiring extending through the aperture to enable a ceiling rose or the like electrical fitting to be mounted on the 25 cladding to the strap by a fixing means or to enable the placement of a downlight in known manner in the ceiling after the strap is 3 250796 cut and moved and the aperture enlarged to form space for the downlight.

Further aspect of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspect will become apparent from the following description.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which Figure 1; shows a perspective view of a length of strap according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2: shows diagrammatically the use of a length of the strap relative to a timber ceiling frame; and Figure 3: shows a section through a timber ceiling frame with a ceiling rose mounted thereon.

The following example will be described with reference to a strap according to the invention being fixed in association with a ceiling. It is to be appreciated that the strap can also be used in association with internal wall claddings if required.

As is shown in Figure 1 the strap is elongate and is generally indicated by arrow 1. The strap is about 20mm in width and has formed therein a plurality of fixing holes 2 and either wiring holes 3 a wiring hole knock outs (not shown). The strap can be constructed from a metal material, for example galvanised steel or aluminium. Alternatively the strap can be constructed from a rigid plastics or fibre reinforced plastics material. The strap is provided in a variety or lengths or in a continuous length so that a user of the strap can cut same to any desired length as required. If knock outs are incorporated they may be formed by incomplete punching or pressing of holes in the strap.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 3 a length of the strap 1 is supported between a pair of ceiling battens 4 which are themselves supported by ceiling joists 5. The strap 1 is positioned prior to the placement on the battens 4 of a ceiling cladding like gibralter board 6. The strap 1 is positioned so that one of its wiring holes 3 or knock outs is positioned directly over wherever a light or other fitting is to be situated.

The tradesman fixing the cladding provides a hole in the cladding through which an end of the electricians pre-wiring 7 is fed. The wire 7 having been previously placed in position by an electrician or his assistant who has pre-wired the building.

As is shown in Figure 3 a ceiling rose 8 can then be fixed relative to the ceiling by fixing means which are fixed to the strap, for example, P.K. or other self-threading screws 9 which are used to fix the ceiling rose 8 to the strap 1 with the cladding sandwiched therebetween.

The provision of the strap increases the strength of the normall6 insufficiently strong cladding material so that it can support firmly in position a light fitting or fittings.

In an alternative construction not shown in the drawings the invention can be used to locate wiring for a downlight which is installed above the cladding in known manner. The strap is fitted as described above and when an electrician is to install a downlight the aperture is enlarged and the strap cut. The strap is bent back on either side of the hole to enable the downlight to 2307-5 be fitted within the ceiling space. The provision of the strap allows for perfect placement of the downlight and makes it very easy for the electrician to locate his pre-wiring Thus by this invention there is provided a strap for 5 supporting wiring for light fittings or other electrical fittings and a method of using the strap in building construction.

Particular examples of the invention have been described by way of example and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of 10 the appended claims.

Claims (10)

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method of providing support for a light fitting relative to interior cladding of a building, the method including placing a length of strap in position between adjacent framing timber before internal cladding is placed on the framing, placing fixing means through fixing holes in the strap and knocking out one or more of knock out holes to form wiring holes in required positions, feeding electrical wiring through said one or more wiring holes in the strap, forming in a cladding an aperture at the point where the wiring is located, fixing the cladding to the framing with the end(s) of the electrical wiring extending through the aperture to enable a ceiling rose or an electrical fitting to be mounted on the cladding and to the strap by attachment means or to enable the placement of a downlight in known manner in the ceiling after the strap is cut and moved and the aperture enlarged to form space for the downlight.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

3. A strap when used in the method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein is an elongate length of rigid material with a plurality of fixing holes, a plurality of wiring holes and partly formed wiring holes therein.

4. A strap as claimed in claim 3 wherein the strap is formed from a metal material, aluminium or a rigid plastics materials.

5. A strap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the strap is formed from a galvanised metal material.

6. A strap as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the strap "is' about 20mm in width and is supplied in a variety of lengths as required.

7. A strap as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the fixing holes are punched or drilled therein at regular intervals along the length thereof.

8. A strap as claimed in any of the of claims 3 to 7 wherein the wiring holes are about 10mm in diameter and are punched, drilled or formed at regular intervals along the length of the strap.

9. A strap as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the wiring holes are formed as knock outs in which the holes are partially punched or pressed in the strap and a user readily knocks out whatever hole or holes are required.

10. A strap as claimed in claim 3 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification. TREVOR JAMES BUNTING By His Attorneys [ n.:* r patekt OFF ICS I" inn?