GB2320307A

GB2320307A - Batten joiner

Info

Publication number: GB2320307A
Application number: GB9616365A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Groves Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-01
Filing date: 1996-08-05
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Also published as: GB9616365D0; GB2312724A; GB9623049D0; GB9609087D0

Abstract

A device for joining timber end-to-end, e.g. battens 7 used in the tiling or slating of roofs, consists of a tube 1 open along one side where the portions 3 are bent back on themselves and form pointed edges which cut into the batten as it is driven into tube 1 to hold it. A centre stop is provided in the tube 1 by a punched in tab. The projecting portions 3 allow hammering. Nail slots are provided in the sides of the tube, and the edges of these slots nearest the ends of the tube are bent to act as teeth that bite into the batten. The device is constructed of metal or plastics.

Description

2320307 BATTEN JOINTER THIS INVENTION relates to a device or clip suitable

for the end to end jointing of battens, of the type commonly used to support tiles or slates in the construction of a roof. When such battens are being fixed to the rafters prior to the laying of the roof covering material, the roofer lays the battens across the rafters and nails through them into the rafter below to obtain a fixing. Upon reaching the end of any particular batten, the roofer must cut the batten back to the rafter nearest the end of the batten so that the batten is jointed with the next one half way across the rafter. The cutting of the batten in-situ on the roof is quite awkward and there is a danger of tearing the underfelt with the saw. The cutting means that the roofer must carry up another tool kne saw) and it slows down the work. When nailing the two ends which butt together on one rafter it is common for the batten to split. 'I'ne increasing use of narrow section trussed rafters adds to the diffuculty of forming a butt joint directly over the rafter, and means that the fixing nail must be very close to the end of the batten, resulting in a weak joint. This procedure continues until the edge of the roof is reached. The overhanging batten is trimmed off and usually discarded, wasting considerable lengths of batten.

The batten jointer clip as described according to this invention is used to connect together end to end any two lengths of batten whether or not the joint falls directly over a rafter below. Thus in-situ cutting over the rafters and underfelt is avoided, and the laying and nailing of the battens proceeds without this delay. Wastage of batten is minimised.

The batten jointer clip is pushed or tapped onto the end of the batten that is about to to be laid, and the open end of the device then fastens similarly onto the batten already laid making the joint. Locking grips may be provided to secure the battens into the jointing device and nail holes are provided should the jointer fall directly over a rafter and require to be nailed. In this case the joined battens are fixed with one nail instead of two. Additionally, a tile or slate may be nailed to the batten through the batten jointer if required. Ihe batten jointer gives sufficient strength to the batten joint so that it may be safely walked upon in the same way as unjointed batten.

The jointer is capable of accepting and tolerating the variation in nominal size of batten from different suppliers, which being a sawn dimension timber are never absolutely identical. There is usually greater variation in width than thickness, because a variable thickness would upset the lay of the tiles or slates.

Different sized batten jointers are made for each different standard size of roofing batten. Other jointers similarly constructed can be used to join ant size section of timber.

2 A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying perspective drawing, Figure 1, and with reference to cross sections.

Figure 1. Referring to Figure 1, the device consists of a metal or plastic clip 1 formed into a shape that approximates in section to an open letter 'B'. The two upper edges 2 of the clip 1 are square, and the two lower edges 3 of the clip 1 are turned through 180 degrees about a radius and project into the interior ot the clip 1. fhe batten 1 is ready to be inserted into one end of the clip. The upper side with square edges 2 is designed to allow the unobstructed titting ot tiles onto the batten. See Figure 2.

Figure 2. In Figure 2, the rafter 8 supports battens 7, one of which is fitted with the invention 1. The tiles 9 are not disturbed.

Figure 3. Referring to Figure 3, the two radiused edges 3 of the lower side of the clip 1 are tapered to project further into the clip 1 towards the centre of the section. Figure 3 also shows a horizontal cross section A-A of the clip to illustrate this. The two lower edges 3 bite into the grain of the batten being introduced into the clip 1 and the tapered shape allows for variations in nominal width ot the sawn timber to be accommodated and held. The thickness or height of sawn batten is usually subject to less variation. Small variations in tnickness are accommodated by the springiness of the clip given that the lower side is open. The projecting radiuses of the edges 3 allow a hammer to be used to tap the clip 1 firmly onto the batten. A punched-in tab centre stop 4 is provided on the inner upper side of the clip to prevent a batten being tapped in further than the half-way mark. The centre stop 4 is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4. To allow nailing, overlapping nail slots _') are provided in the top and bottom of the clip. Thus should the clip fall directly over a rafter or where a tile must be nailed, a nail may be inserted right through the clip. The layout of the nail slots 5 is shown in a plan view in Figure 4. For clarity, the nail slots are omitted in the other diagrams.

Figure 5. The edges of the nail slots 5 nearest to each end of the clip are provided with a down-turn to act as teeth 0 that bite into the batten as it is introduced into the clip and so prevent easy removal of the batten. The teeth 6 are shown in Pigure b.

3

Claims

1. A device for joining timber end to end, particularly battens.

2. A device for joining battens that allows for variation in nominal size of the battens.

2. A device as in 1 and 2 that embodies tapering grips within the device to progressively secure the batten as it is introduced and accommodate variations in nominal sizing.

3. A device as in 1 and 2 that embodies sharp keep tabs, or teeth, that prevent withdrawal of the batten.

4. A device as in 1 and 2 above that is provided with a projecting striking tab so that the jointer may be installed and set with the aid of a hammer.

5. A device as in 1 - 5 above that is constructed of plastic.

either metal or

6. A device as in 1 and 2 above that is profiled in such a way as to avoid interference with the roofing medium e.g. tiles.

7. An open-sided clip tor joining smaller timber sections substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings and description attached.

7. A device as in 1 and 2 above which is provided with overlapping nail holes or slots so that the clip may be nailed tnrough or into in a number of positions.

4.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A device, or clip, for joining timber end to end, particularly battens of the type commonly used in the construction or a root to support tiles or slates or other roofing medium substantially as indicated in the drawings accompanying this application which raKes the torm or an open- sided clip that approximates in section to an open letter 'B' where one or more walls of the clip come into close contact wiLn Ine Dalten and one or more edges are turned inward to bite into and secure the batten. he two square (or minimally radiused) edges or the clip ouut up against the batten which has been inserted into the clip and the two rounded edges project into the clip and engage into the limber. inis arrangement aiiows tor variations in nominal width which can be quite marked. Variations in nominal thickness are usually much smaller and this smaiier variation is accommodated by the springiness of the clip.

2. A device, or clip, for joining timber end to end. particularl%, battens as in 1 above that is proviCeci witn a series or overlapping slots in the top and bottom of the clip that allow either through nailing onto a rafter below or allow a tile to be nailed to the batten without obstruction as to the lateral position of the nail, by choosing the correct slot.

3. A device, or clip, for joining timber end to end, particularly battens as in 1 above where the two rounded edges project sufficiently to allow a hammer to be used to knock the clip onto the batten and thus form a striking tab which is used in the application of the clip. Because the projecting metal is end-on to the namer blows, hard blows may be used and good transmission of force from the hammer to the clip is achieved.

4. A device, or clip, for joining timber end to end, particularly battens as in 1 above that is provided with a mid-way stop to prevent each batten from being inserted more than half way.

5. A device, or clip, for joining timber end to end, particularly battens as in 1 above where the edges projecting into the body of the clip are tapered to afford progressive engagement with the timber.

6. A device. or clip, tor joining timber end to end, particularly battens as in 1 above where the overlapping nailing slots have a down-turned leading edge wnien digs into the timber being inserted and provides a positive locking by helping to prevent withdrawal.