GB2160908A

GB2160908A - Cavity wall tie

Info

Publication number: GB2160908A
Application number: GB08510650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Robert Wood
Original assignee: ENSOR WIRE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ENSOR WIRE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-06-13
Filing date: 1985-04-26
Publication date: 1986-01-02
Also published as: GB8510650D0; GB2160908B

Abstract

The tie comprises a length of wire having end regions 11, 12 connected to a mid region 16. Each end region has bends or kinks 13, 14, 15 which lie in first plane(s) and the mid-region has bead(s) or kink(s) lying in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane(s). One or each end of the tie may terminate in an open or closed loop 19a, b for fastening to a wall leaf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wall tie This invention relates to a new or improved wall tie of the type which extends between inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall structure.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide a wall tie comprising a length of wire having end regions connected to a mid region, each end region having a plurality of bends or kinks which lie in respective first planes, the mid region having at least one bend or kink which lies in a second plane generally perpendicular to the first planes.

Thus either end region of the wall tie can be securely embedded in mortar for example of one leaf of a cavity wall structure, whilst the bend or kink in the mid region provides a drip element from which moisture which may adhere to the wall tie, drips. This is particularly important where the wall tie does not extend exactly horizontally, as the moisture otherwise tends to run along the wall tie to dampen the leaf of the wall at the lowest end.

If desired, at least one of the ends of the tie may terminate in a loop. Preferably, the.loop lies in the respective first plane. This provides two advantages: First, in constructing a wall the risk if injury where a tie is projecting from an inner or outer leaf of a cavity wall structure where the outer or inner leaf is still to be built, is reduced.

Secondly, the tie can be adapted for use in a cavity wall structure in which one leaf is brick and the other is, for example, timber. By bending the tie about an axis which lies in the horizontal plane so that one end region is at 90* to the other, the loop can be used to receive a pin, nail or screw or other fastener, by which that end of the tie can be secured to the timber leaf. The tie can be bent about said axis during manufacture, or supplied unbent, so that a user could bend the tie if required.

The loop may be a smaller curvature than the bends or kinks of the end regions of the tie, and may be open, but preferably is a closed loop. Both ends of the tie may terminate in a loop.

Particularly where the tie is used to extend betwen inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall, the bends or kinks of both end regions may lie in a common first plane, or at least parallel first planes.

Where the tie is used to extend between a masonry inner or outer leaf and, for example, a timber outer or inner leaf, the first planes of the end regions may be transverse relative to one another to enable a fastener to be passed through a loop into the timber wall leaf.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a cavity wall construction having an inner leaf and an outer leaf, with a wall tie according to the first aspect of the invention extending between the inner and outer leaves.

One of the leaves may be masonry with an end of the wall tie being entrapped in mortar of said masonry, said one end of the wall tie which has the loop, being secured to the other leaf by a fastener passing through the loop.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a wall tie in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified wall tie similar to that shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further wall tie in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a wall tie similar to the wall tie of Fig. 3 but modified; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tie of Fig. 1 which has been modified for use in a timber-brick cavity wall structure application.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a first embodiment of a wall tie in accordance with the invention comprises a length of wire 10 of a gauge to provide adequate tensile strength, each end region 11, 12, of the tie having formed therein, three bends or kinks 13, 14, 15, each lying in a common, generally horizontal plane, the bends being connected by troughs 8 and 9.

The two bends 13, 14, nearest the free ends of the length of wire, are of identical size and configuration, but the third bend 1 5 which is innermost, is connected to a mid region 1 6 of the tie 10. It can be seen that the bends formed in the end regions 11, 12, are oppositely handed so that the ends of the tie extend in opposite directions.

The mid region 1 6 has a pair of kinks 17, 18, mutually connected and formed in a generally perpendicular plane, the lowest of which, in the present example kink 18, providing a drip element to allow moisture to drip from the tie 10 intermediate the end regions 11, 12.

Each free end 1 9a, 1 9b of the tie is bent round towards bend 13, to form a small loop L again in a horizontal plane.

In use, the end regions 11, 12, are each embedded in mortar in one leaf of a wall of a cavity wall structure, for example mortar which extends horizontally between two courses of bricks or blocks or other masonry, whilst the mid region 1 6 extends between the leaves of the wall structure.

Fig. 2 shows a similar wail tie 10', with a wall tie 10 of Fig. 1, the ends regions 11', 12' being identical to end regions, 11, 12, having three bends, and the free ends 1 9a', 1 9b' being bent to form small loops L' but instead of two mutually connected kinks in the mid region 16', a pair of bends 20, 21, separated by a straight part 22 are provided.

The bends 20, 21, both extend downwardly in a common generally vertical plane and each provide a drip element for the wall die 10'.

Thus although the wall tie 10 of Fig. 1 can be inserted between the leaves of the wall cavity structure with either of the bends 17, 18, lowermost to provide the drip element, the wall tie 10' of Fig. 2 has to be inserted with both of the bends 20 and 21 extending downwardly as shown to provide the drip elements.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a further embodiment of a wall tie in accordance with the invention is shown at 25. Again the wall tie has end regions 26, 27, adjoining a mid region 28.

The mid region 28 is substantially identical to mid region 1 6 of the Fig. 1 wall tie 10, but the end regions 26, 27, are different.

Rather than having three bends, each end region 26, 27, has only first and second beonds 30, 41, with a trough 32 therebetween, the crest of bend 31 extending directly to the mid region 28, and there being a small kink 33 betwen bend 31 and the mid region 28, to permit this. Again each free end 29 is bend to form a loop.

The wall tie 25' of Fig. 4 is similar to the wall tie 25 of Fig. 3, but the mid region 28', instead of being similar to the mid region 1 6 of Fig. 1, is similar to the mid region 16' of Fig. 2, having a pair of generally vertically downwardly depending bends 35, 36, connected by a straight part 37. Each end region 26', 27' is identical toend region 26, 27, of the Fig. 3 wall tie.

Each of the wall ties described have end regions with one or more bends or kinks in a generally horizontal plane, adjoining a mid region with at least one drip element which extends downwardly in a generally vertical plane.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the tie 10 of Fig. 1 has been bent through 90 about an axis A (which is also shown in Fig. 1) during manufacture, so that one end region 1 2 is at 90 to the other end region 11.

Thus the loop L formed at the free end 1 9b of the end region 1 2 is generally vertical, and a pin, such as pin P, or a nail, screw or other elongate fastening can thus pass through the loop L and into, for example, a timber leaf of a cavity wall structure comprising a brick leaf in which end region 11 is embedded, and a timber leaf.

Of course, in place of a timber leaf, the tie may be used in this way with any other leaf into which it is desired to drive a fastener such as pin P to secure one end of the tie 10 to that leaf.

Of course, any of the other ties of Figs. 2 to 4 could be bent in the mid region during manufacture, so that one of the loops thereof can be used to accommodate an elongate fastener.

The ties may however be provided to the user of the tie in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 so that the user would bend the tie as shown in Fig. 5, for use in particular bricktimber cavity wall structure applications as required.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A wall tie comprising a length of wire having end regions connected to a mid region, each end region having a plurality of bends or kinks which lie in respective first planes, the mid region having at least one bend or kink which lies in a second plane generally perpendicular to the first planes.

2. A wall tie according to Claim 1 wherein at least one of the ends of the tie terminates in a loop.

3. A wall tie according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each loop is a closed loop.

3. A wall tie according to Claim 2 wherein the loop lies in the respective first plane.

4. A wall tie according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the loop is of smaller curvature than the bends or kinks of the end regions.

5. A wall tie according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein each end of the tie terminates in a loop.

6. A wall tie according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein each end of the tie terminates in a loop.

7. A wall tie according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bends or kinks of both the end regions lie in a common first plane or parallel first planes.

8. A wall tie according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the first planes of the bends or kinks of the end regions are transverse relative to one another.

9. A wall tie substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A cavity wall construction having an inner leaf and an outer leaf, with a wall tie according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 extending between the inner and outer leaves.

11. A cavity wall construction according to Claim 10 where appendant to Claim 2 wherein one of the leaves is masonry, an end of the wall tie being entrapped in mortar of said masonry, said one end of the wall tie being secured to the other leaf by a fastener passing through the loop.

1 2. Any novel feature or novel combina tion of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-6 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- Claims 7-12 above have been re-numbered as 4-9 and their appendancies corrected.

1. A wall tie comprising a length of wire having end regions connected to a mid region, each end region being bent to provide a plurality of bends or kinks which lie in respective first planes, each end region terminating in a loop which also lies in the respective first plane, the bends or kinks being provided between the loop and the mid region, the mid region being bent to provide at least one bend or kink which lies in a second plane generally perpendicular to the first planes.

2. A wall tie according to Claim 1 wherein each loop is of smaller curvature than the bends or kinks of the respective end region.