NZ538133A - A batten - Google Patents

Abstract

A batten (10) to be secured to a frame (11) by a threaded fastener (12). The batten is of a channeled configuration and includes a pair of longitudinally extending mounted flanges (17, 18) that are to be attached to the frame. Spaced from the flanges are further flanges (23, 24) adapted to be sealingly attached to sheets (13, 14). (62) Addition to 530605

Description

538133 A BATTEN Technical Field The present invention relates to battens and more particularly but not exclusively to battens used to secure fibre cement sheets to a frame.

Background of the Invention Fibre cement sheets are secured to a frame by means of vertically extending battens and horizontally extending backing strips. The battens and backing strips lie behind the edges of the sheet.

Previously known battens are of a "U-shaped" transverse cross-section with longitudinally extending flanges that are secured to the frame. The batten has a pair of longitudinally extending generally parallel co-extensive webs and an end flange that is secured to the sheets. This previously known construction has the disadvantage that dimensional changes in the sheets due to changes in temperature and/or moisture can result in failure of the sheet. This will typically occur adjacent threaded fasteners that pass through the sheet and secure the sheet to the batten.

The above problem has been addressed by the batten described in Australian patent application 36492/00 (WO 00/63506). However, the batten of this Australian patent application has a number of problems including complexity in respect of connecting the sheets to the battens in a sealed manner.

Object of the invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a batten to secure sheets to a support, said batten including: a pair of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced mounting flanges which are to be secured to the support, said flanges being generally located in a common plane; a further flange, said further flange being located between the mounting flanges and being provided for said sheets to be secured thereto; a pair of webs, each web extends between the further flange and a respective one of the mounting flanges so that the batten is of a channel configuration; and wherein [R:M.IUI.l.|l(>521.doc:KEII said further flange has a longitudinally extending recess defining portion longitudinally dividing said further flange into a first and a second longitudinally extending attachment flange portion to which the sheets are attached so that the sheets are separated by the recess portion, with the recess portion extending toward said common plane from the flange portions.

Preferably, the further flange has a further recess portion so that said further flange has a central flange portion separating the first and second flange portions, with the first and second flange portions each being separated from the central portion by a respective one of the recess portions.

Preferably, said common plane is a first plane, and said first and second portions and central portion are located in a second common plane, said second plane being generally parallel to and spaced from said first plane.

Preferably, said further flange has a single longitudinally extending recess defining portion and therefore said further flange only has said first and said second longitudinally extending flange portions.

Preferably, said batten is formed from rolled sheet material.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic end elevation of a batten to which two fibre cement sheets are secured; and Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the batten of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing there is schematically depicted a batten 10. The batten 10 would be secured to a frame 11 by means of threaded fasteners 12 so that the batten 10 was generally vertically longitudinally extending.

The batten 10 secures fibre cement sheets 13 and 14 to the frame 11. The sheets 13 and 14 have edges 15 and 16 that are generally vertically oriented that would be joined in an appropriate manner.

The batten 10 is of a channel configuration and includes a pair of longitudinally extending mounting flanges 17 and 18 that are generally planar and located in a common plane 19. Each flange 17 and 18 has a longitudinally extending edge lip 20.

Transversely spaced from the frame 11 is a further flange 21. The further flange 21 includes a central flange portion 22 and two side flange portions 23 and 24. The [R:\LIBLI_J 16521 ,doc:Kl:H flangc portions 22, 23 and 24 are located in a common plane 25. The plane 25 is generally parallel to and transversely spaced from the plane 19. The flange portions 22, 23 and 24 arc generally planar.

The further flange 21 is also provided with at least one recess defining portion 5 26. In this embodiment there are two portions 26. The portions 26 are provided by a pair of longitudinally extending webs 27 joined by an arcuate base 28. Each portion 26 extends from the portions 22, 23 and 24 toward the plane 19.

The sheets 13 and 14 are secured to the portions 23 and 24 by means of threaded fasteners 29. The edges 15 and 16 are located so as to be adjacent the central portion 21, o with a gasket or seal strip 30 located between the edge portions of the sheets 13 and 14 and the central portion 21 so as to sealingly connect the sheets 13 and 14 to the batten 10.

The further flange 21 is attached to the flanges 17 and 18 by side webs 31. The side webs 31 are generally normal to the planes 19 and 25, with each side web 31 attaching a respective one of the web portions 23 and 24 with a respective one of the 5 mounting flanges 17 and 18.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the batten 10 only has one recess defining portion 26. The portion 26 separates the portions 23 and 24.

Preferably, the batten 10 is formed of sheet metal that is rolled to the configuration depicted. o In operation of the above described batten 10, dimensional changes of the sheets 13 and 14 are accommodated by elastic deformation of the webs 27 and 31.

[R:\L113LLJ1652 l.doc:K£l I

Claims (5)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A batten to secure sheets to a support, said batten including: a pair of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced mounting flanges which are to be secured to the support, said flanges being generally located in a common plane; a further flange, said further flange being located between the mounting flanges and being provided for said sheets to be secured thereto; a pair of webs, each web extends between the further flange and a respective one of the mounting flanges so that the batten is of a channel configuration; and wherein said further flange has a single longitudinally extending recess defining portion longitudinally dividing said further flange into a first and a second longitudinally extending attachment flange portions to which the sheets are attached so that the sheets are separated by the recess portion, with the recess portion extending toward said common plane from the flange portions.

2. The batten of claim 1 wherein, the further flange has a further recess portion so that said further flange has a central flange portion separating the first and second flange portions, with the first and second flange portions each being separated from the central portion by a respective one of the recess portions.

3. The batten of claim 1 or 2 wherein, said common plane is a first plane, and said first and second portions and central portion are located in a second common plane, said second plane being generally parallel to and spaced from said first plane.

4. The batten of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein, said batten is formed from rolled sheet material.

5. A batten substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. CSR Limited By the Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON & FERGUSON >>j Pen iitl of n# [R:\I.IBI .LJ16521 .doc:KEH