WO1991019056A1

WO1991019056A1 - Support member for panel walls and the like

Info

Publication number: WO1991019056A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonia Lupo Mucci
Original assignee: Brennar Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-06-04
Filing date: 1991-06-04
Publication date: 1991-12-12

Abstract

A support member for attaching wall panels (10) to a wall structure (8) comprises a positioning bolt (3), a support plate (1) for threadingly engaging the bolt and a lock nut (4) for locking against the plate to secure the plate in position on the bolt. In use the bolt (3) is fixed, using a masonry anchor (7) or the like in a hole (9) drilled in a wall structure (8) so that the bolt extends outwardly from the structure. The plate is screwed onto the bolt to the desired position and locked by the lock nut. An array of such support members is arranged on a wall structure and the plates are adjusted to be co-planar. The protrusion of the bolt through the plate is cut-off once adjustment is completed and wall panels (10) are attached to the plates using screws (110) or by gluing or otherwise.

Description

TITLE: SUPPORT MEMBER FOR PANEL WALLS AND THE LIKE

This invention relates to a support member for wall panels and the like and in particular to a support member which may be used with like support members to suspend such panels from a wall or other structure.

In modern building construction, after completion of a shell structure, often the internal and external surface of a concrete shell is rough and uneven. To improve the aesthetics and internal lining conditions of the building, often various types of panels are suspended from the interior and exterior of the concrete shell. For example plasterboard sheets are used to line the internal walls and such sheets are usually either fixed directly to the concrete wall or fixed to battens which are first fixed to the concrete wall. More often than not the concrete wall is very uneven or non-planar requiring packing to be inserted behind the panels such that the visible exterior surface is planar. Installation of this packing to provide a planar support surface is time consuming and in the case of a concrete shell, cannot be satisfactorily glued to the shell because of lack of adherence due to moisture in the shell.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support member for wall panels and the like which overcomes one or more of the existing problems in fixing wall panels.

In accordance with the object, the invention provides a support member for suspending wall panels and the like from a wall structure, characterised in that, said support member comprises a threaded positioning means adapted to be fixed to the wall structure, a support plate having a threaded portion for threadingly engaging said positioning means so as to move along said positioning means by rotation on said thread with the plane of said plate normal to the direction of movement of said support plate along said positioning means, and a locking means for locking said support plate in a predetermined position relative to said positioning means.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of suspending a wall panel or the like from a wall structure, said method comprising fixing a plurality of threaded positioning means to said wall structure in spaced ^•relationship so as to extend outwardly from a face of the wall structure, positioning a threaded support plate on each said positioning means, adjusting the relative position of each plate by rotation on its respective positioning means so that the support plates are co-planar and locking each support plate in position on its respective positioning means removing a part of the positioning means which extends outwardly away from said wall beyond said plates and attaching a wall panel or the like to the support plates.

The foregoing and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the support member in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the support member shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3a-3d illustrate the various steps involved in installing the support member of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure . is a sectional side elevation showing three support members installed on a wall;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of an array of support members installed on a wall structure to support a wall panel;

Figure 5a is an enlargement of the part shown within the circle of Figure 5j

Figures 6a and 6b are a front and side elevation, respectively, of the support plate; and

Figures 7a, 7t and Jc illustrate respectively the positioning bol , lock nut and masonry anchor shown in Figures 3 -3cL

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support member comprises a support plate 1, a threaded positioning bolt 3 and a lock nut 4. The support plate 1 has secured to its rear or inner face a threaded nut 2. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate each of these items separate from the others.

Referring to Figures 3a-3d, to install the support member firstly the positioning bolt 3 is anchored to a wall structure 8 at one end. This may be done by drilling a hole 9 in the wall structure and cementing the bolt 3 into place. However, a masonry anchor 7 or any other such as an anchor bolt is preferably used. Support plate 1 with threaded nut 2 are then moved along the positioning bolt 3 by rotation of the nut 2 on the bolt 3 - At a predetermined distance from the wall the plate 1 is locked in place by lock nut 4 which is locked against the nut 2.

As shown in Figures -\ and 5_> the distance which each support plate 1 must be moved along each positioning bolt 3 is determined using a plumb line to ensure that all the support plates are planar and the plane is vertical. Once the support plates have been moved along their respective bolts to the predetermined distance, they are locked in place relative to the positioning bolts 3 and wall structure 8.

The portion 5 of positioning bolts 3 which protrudes beyond the front face of the support plate is then removed by cutting with an angle grinder or other like tool.

A wall panel 10 can then be fastened to the support plate by any suitable means such as adhesive or screws 11 as shown in Figure 5- The plates are arranged in a grid pattern as is evident in Figure 5 and the edges of adjoining panels (not shown) abut each other midway between opposite vertical edges of the line of plates such as along a line X-X in Figure 5-

On the exterior of buildings the support member may be affixed to vertical steel columns, for example, for the purpose of supporting external facia sheets. Alternatively the support members may be affixed to the external concrete or other shell structure in a similar manner to that described in the particular embodiment hereinabove. In the case of -fixing to steel columns a hole is drilled in the column and a pair of lock nuts are used on either side of the column to lock the positioning bolt to the column. This alternative way of fixing the bolt may be used in other circumstances where appropriate.

It should be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for attaching wall panels to an existing wall or building structure. Once mounted it is a simple task for the tradesman to adjust the support plates of a grid arrangement to provide a planar structure for receiving wall panels and to lock the plates in position.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A support member for suspending wall panels and the like from a wall structure (8), characterised in that, said support member comprises a threaded positioning means (3) adapted to be fixed to the wall structure, a support plate (1) having a threaded portion (2) for threadingly engaging said positioning means so as to move along said positioning means by rotation on said thread with the plane of said plate normal to the direction of movement of said support plate along said positioning means, and a locking means (4) for locking said support plate in a predetermined position relative to said positioning means.

2. A support member as defined in claim 1, characterised in that, said threaded positioning means (3) comprises a bolt and said locking means (4) comprises a nut on said bolt for locking against said support plate.

3. A support member as defined in claim 2 further comprising anchor means (7) for threadingly engaging said bolt and adapted to fix said bolt to said wall structure. . A support member as defined in claim 3, characterised in that said anchor means comprises a masonry anchor.

5. A method of suspending a wall panel (1) or the like from a wall structure (8), said method comprising fixing a plurality of threaded positioning means (3) to said wall structure in spaced relationship so as to extend outwardly from a face of the wall structure, positioning a threaded support plate (1) on each said positioning means, adjusting the relative position of each plate by rotation on its respective positioning means so that the support plates are co-planar and locking each support plate in position on its respective positioning means removing a part of the positioning means which extends outwardly away from said wall beyond said plates and attaching a wall panel or the like to the support plates.

6. A method according to claim 5 characterised in that said positioning means comprise bolts and said method further comprises drilling holes. (9) in said wall structure at each fixing point and fixing each bolt therein using a masonry anchor (7). 7. A method according to claim 6 characterised in that, locking each support plate on its respective positioning means comprises tightening a nut (4) on each bolt against the respective support plate.