GB2278377A - Anchoring walls - Google Patents

Abstract

A restraining assembly, for restraining lateral movement of internal walls whilst allowing vertical movement, comprises a first member (1b) for attachment to a wall and a second member (20b) for attachment to (eg) a ceiling. The first member has at least two axially spaced formations (preferably slots) through which the second member slides. <IMAGE>

Description

"Restraining Assembly for Wall Members" This Application relates to a restraining assembly for wall members.

In the construction of internal walls which extend between support beams in the floor and ceiling respectively, it is desirable to attach the wall to the beam in the ceiling by a resilient connector which allows the ceiling support beam to move vertically with respect to the wall. Thus any vertical movement of the ceiling beam is not transferred to the floor beam, but is instead absorbed in the connector at the top of the wall. Where the connection between the wall and ceiling is rigid, unacceptable stress can be placed on the wall and transferred to the floor beam.

Conventional connectors for internal walls which address this problem, allow lateral as well as vertical movement of the wall with respect to the ceiling beam.

Lateral movement of the wall relative to the ceiling beam is undesirable since it destabilises the wall.

According to the present invention there is provided a restraining assembly for attaching a wall member to a supporting structure, the restraining assembly comprising a first member for attachment to the wall member and a second member for attachment to the supporting structure, the first member having first and second axially spaced formations which engage the second member and permit sliding movement of the second member in an axial direction with respect to the first member.

Said first and second formations are preferably axially aligned on the first member, and may restrain the second member from lateral movement with respect to the first member.

The preferred material of construction of the present invention is steel, most preferably stainless steel, although other materials, especially other metals may be used.

The spaced formations are preferably stamped in the first member during construction.

The formations may comprise slots in the first member or loops extending from one face of the first member.

Several slots and/or loops may be included. Loops may be formed in the first member by punching slots on either side of an area and stamping the area out of the plane of the first member, thereby forming a loop between the two slots. One embodiment of the restraining assembly of the invention may function adequately having only two slots in the first member, the slots defining a single loop between them which is stamped out of the plane of the first member. However, other embodiments may have several loops each similarly formed by a stamped area between a pair of slots. Two, three or more loops may be provided.

The present invention is not limited to use on internal walls but may be used for the lateral restraint of any wall member to a supporting structure. For example, the lateral restraint of an internal or external leaf of a cavity wall to a beam.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacture of a restraining assembly as hereinbefore defined, the method comprising forming the spaced formations of the first member by stamping from a flat plate.

Preferably, the plate is flat and may be of a metal such as stainless steel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first restraining assembly; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second restraining assembly; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third restraining assembly; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the third restraining assembly in use.

Referring now to the drawings, a first restraining assembly comprises a first member 1 of a general "L" shape having a portion la which, in use, is horizontally disposed, and a portion lb which, in use, is upstanding. The upstanding portion lb comprises a flat plate having three pairs of parallel slots therein, each pair of slots defining a generally rectangular area of the plate which is outwith the plane of the upstanding portion lb. Thus, the rectangular areas protrude from a face 8 of the upstanding portion Ib and provide restraining loops 5, 6 and 7. The slots and restraining loops 5, 6 and 7 are aligned along the axis of the upstanding portion lb.

A second member 10 is provided, also of a general t'L" shape and having a portion 10a which in use, is horizontally disposed, and a portion 10b which in use, is vertically disposed. The vertical portion 10b is restrained against the face 8 of the upstanding portion lb by edges of the slots and the restraining loops 5, 6 and 7. Thus the second member 10 is slidable along the axis of the first member 1 and when engaged by the slots and restraining loops 5, 6 and 7 of the first member, axial movement of two members relative to one another is permitted while lateral movement of the two members relative to one another is restricted.

The second member 10 has an elongate aperture 11 disposed in its horizontal portion 10a for attachment of the second member 10 to a ceiling support beam.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a second embodiment of the invention has a first member 1 as previously described; all reference numerals correspond. The second member 15 of the second embodiment comprises a portion 15a which, in use, is horizontally disposed, and a portion 15b which, in use, is vertically disposed. The vertical portion 15b engages with the first member 1 as previously described. The horizontal portion 15a of the second member has a circular aperture 16 for attachment of the second member 15 to a ceiling support beam.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a third embodiment of the invention has a first member 1 as previously described; all reference numerals correspond. The second member 20 of the third embodiment comprises a flat plate having a head portion 20a and a body portion 20b. The body portion 20b engages with the upstanding portion lb of the first member 1 as previously described. The second member 20 also has a neck portion 20c which is located between two slots in the plate disposed between the head portion 20a and the body portion 20b.

Referring now to Fig. 4, in use, the third embodiment has its first member 1 embedded within an upper layer 25 of blocks in an internal wall, with the horizontal portion la underlying the layer 25 and the upstanding portion lb being embedded between adjacent blocks of the layer 25. The protrusion of the restraining loops 5, 6 and 7 from the face 8 is minimized in order to reduce as far as possible the space taken up by the upstanding portion between the blocks. The width of the embodiments described herein is limited to 7 mm at the widest points (the restraining loops). Thus, the preferred embodiments can be securely embedded in a conventional 10 mm joint between the blocks. A plastic sleeve (not shown) may surround the restraining assembly in order to avoid mortar ingress.

The vertical portion 20b of the second member 20 is slotted into the restraining loops of the first member 1 and is thereby restrained from movement in all directions except axially with respect to the first member 1. The head portion 20a of the second member is disposed within a channel member 28 cast within a concrete ceiling support beam 30.

During construction of the wall, the restraining assembly with the plastic sleeve in place is located in the wall by insertion of the head portion 20a of the second member into a channel member 28 of a ceiling support beam 30. The assembly may then be slid as a whole along to the desired location adjacent a block of the top layer 25 of the wall. The horizontal portion la of the first member is located underneath the block and the upstanding portion ib is disposed against an end face of the block. Mortar is then applied around the assembly and block, and an adjacent block is located in the top layer 25 thereby embedding the restraining assembly securely in the wall.

In use, the first and second embodiments may be attached to the ceiling support beam 30 by bolts through apertures 11 or 16 respectively. In use of the first two embodiments, no channel member 28 is required to be cast within the ceiling support beam 30. The assembly may simply be disposed in place in the upper layer 25 of the wall having the horizontal portion la located underneath a block as previously described.

The second member 10 may then be affixed to the ceiling support beam 30 by passing a bolt (not shown) through the aperture 11. The aperture 11 in the first embodiment allows for some positional adjustment of the assembly once attached to the ceiling support beam 30 which receives the bolt. After drilling the hole for the bolt, and locating the assembly in the desired position in the wall, the bolt may be tightened and the second member 10, 15 secured to the ceiling support beam 30.

A restraining assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention allows vertical movement of the ceiling support beam 30 relative to the wall without disruption of rigid joints or transfer of stress from the ceiling to the floor, although the assembly does not permit lateral movement of the wall relative to the ceiling support beam 30, thereby allowing construction of a more secure internal wall.

The present embodiments of the invention provide an inexpensive and extremely effective restraining system for internal walls. In particular, the first member may be stamped from a single piece of stainless steel thereby minimizing labour costs in its production.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A restraining assembly for attaching a wall member to a supporting structure, the restraining assembly comprising a first member for attachment to the wall member and a second member for attachment to the supporting structure, the first member having first and second axially spaced formations which engage the second member and permit sliding movement of the second member in an axial direction with respect to the first member while restraining lateral movement of the second member with respect to the first member.

2. A restraining assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spaced formations are axially aligned on the first member.

3. A restraining assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein more than two formations are provided.

4. A restraining assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the formations comprise slots.

5. A restraining assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the spaced formations comprise loops protruding from a face of the first member.

6. A restraining assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein two or more loops are provided.

7. A restraining member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the formations are formed in the first member by stamping from a flat plate.

8. A restraining assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims which is formed from stainless steel.

9. A method of manufacturing a restraining member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, the method comprising forming the spaced formations of the first member by stamping from a flat plate.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the restraining assembly is formed from stainless steel.

11. A restraining assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of manufacturing a restraining assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.