NZ740190A - An insulation spacer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insulation spacer assembly. The assembly includes a pair of insulation spacers. Each spacer includes a top for supporting a roof; and legs depending from the top and defining one or more spaces in which insulation can be located. The spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together. Advantageously, the connection means may facilitate connection of the spacers together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights. ns for connecting the spacers together. Advantageously, the connection means may facilitate connection of the spacers together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights.

Description

AN INSULATION SPACER ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to insulation spacers. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to insulation spacers used in roofing of industrial building such as factories.

BACKGROUND The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

A known factory roof includes purlins supporting mesh. Insulation is supported by the mesh, and roof sheeting is fastened to the purlins. In practice, the insulation is undesirably squashed and compacted between the roof sheeting and the purlins.

Roof spacers can be provided between the purlins and the roofing sheets to impede compaction of the insulation. Each spacer includes a top for supporting the roof, and legs depending from the top. The legs define spaces in which insulation can be located.

The applicant has perceived that it can be difficult to align and position known roof spacers at heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insulation spacer assembly including: a pair of insulation spacers, each spacer including: a top for supporting a roof; and legs depending from the top and defining one or more spaces in which insulation can be located; wherein the spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together.

Advantageously, the connection means may facilitate connection of the spacers together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights.

The connection means may include a tongue of one spacer for insertion in a slot of the other spacer. The tongue may be located at a free end of the spacer. The tongue may be tapered to facilitate connection. The slot may be located at an elbow of the other spacer. The spacers may be elongate and connected end to end. The connection means may be located at ends of the spacers.

Each spacer may include a body, including the top, that is integrally formed as a single piece. Each body may be formed by folding sheet material. Each body may form a channel for strength. The body may include one or more of the legs thereby providing a robust structure. Each spacer may further include another one of the legs coupled to the body. Each other leg may be U-shaped. Each other leg may be welded to the body providing a strong connection. Each top may include a fastening hole superimposed over each other leg. At least one of the legs may be tapered to facilitate insertion through the insulation.

The assembly may further include wire mesh for supporting the insulation.

The insulation may be in the form of a blanket. The assembly may further include a purlin for supporting the mesh. The legs may include feet to facilitate fastening of the spacers to the purlin. The feet may include holes through which fasteners can pass.

Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way.

The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a side view of an assembled insulation spacer assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the unassembled insulation spacer assembly of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an insulation spacer assembly 100 as shown in figure 1. The assembly 100 includes a pair of insulation spacers 102a, 102b. A starter spacer 102a is initially installed followed by a joiner spacer 102b that is then connected to the starter spacer 102a.

Each spacer 102 includes a top 104 for supporting a metal sheeting roof 106.

Legs 108a, 108b depend from the top 104 and define spaces 110 in which insulation blankets (e.g. batts) can be located. The elongate spacers 102 include a tongue-in-slot connection means 111 for connecting the spacers 102a, 102b together end-to-end.

Advantageously, the connection means 111 at ends of the spacers 102a, 102b facilitates connection of the spacers 102a, 102b together in a simple incremental manner when working at heights.

Turning to figure 2, the connection means 111 includes a tongue 200 of the joiner spacer 102b for insertion in a slot 202 of the starter spacer 102a. The downward tongue 200 is located at a free end of the joiner spacer 102b and is tapered to facilitate insertion and connection. The slot 202 is located at an elbow of the starter spacer 102a.

Each spacer 102 includes a bent body 204 , including the top 104, that is integrally formed as a single piece by folding sheet material. Each body 204 forms a channel for strength. Each body 204 includes the legs 108a thereby providing a robust structure. Each spacer 102 further includes another central leg 108b, separately formed, and coupled to the body 204 by welding to form a strong connection. Each central leg 108b is U-shaped and tapered to facilitate piercing insertion through the insulation.

Each top 104 includes a fastening hole 206 superimposed over each central leg 108b for receiving a fastener (e.g. screw).

The legs 108 include feet 208 to facilitate fastening of the spacers 102 to a metal roof purlin 112 (see figure 1). The feet 208 include fastening holes 210 through which screw fasteners 114 can pass (see figure 1).

Returning to figure 1, the assembly 100 further includes mesh 116 for supporting the blanket insulation passing through the spaces 110. The assembly 100 also includes spaced purlins 112, supporting the mesh 116, that are aligned with the co- incident spacers 102a, 102b.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

The dimensions in figure 2 are all shown in millimetres. A person skilled in the art will realise that these dimensions can be readily changed for purpose.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims (21)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An insulation spacer assembly including: a pair of insulation spacers, each spacer including: a top for supporting a roof; and legs depending from the top and defining one or more spaces in which insulation can be located; wherein the spacers include connection means for connecting the spacers together.

2. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means facilitates connection of the spacers together in an incremental manner when working at heights.

3. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connection means includes a tongue of one spacer for insertion in a slot of the other spacer.

4. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tongue is located at a free end of the spacer.

5. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the tongue is tapered to facilitate connection.

6. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the slot is located at an elbow of the other spacer.

7. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacers are elongate and connected end to end.

8. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection means is located at ends of the spacers.

9. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each spacer includes a body, including the top, that is integrally formed as a single piece.

10. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each body is formed by folding sheet material.

11. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each body forms a channel for strength.

12. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the body includes one or more of the legs thereby providing a robust structure.

13. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein each spacer further includes at least one other leg coupled to the body.

14. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein each other leg is U-shaped.

15. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 13 of claim 14, wherein each other leg is welded to the body providing a strong connection.

16. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein each top includes a fastening hole superimposed over each other leg.

17. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the legs is tapered to facilitate insertion through the insulation.

18. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including wire mesh for supporting the insulation.

19. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation is in the form of a blanket.

20. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a purlin for supporting the mesh.

21. An insulation spacer assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the legs include feet to facilitate fastening of the spacers to the purlin, the feet preferably including holes through which fasteners can pass. Dated this 22nd day of February 2018 MARIO HURST by my attorneys Cullens Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys