GB2332917A

GB2332917A - Building components inserted between the bricks of a wall during its construction

Info

Publication number: GB2332917A
Application number: GB9800123A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-05
Filing date: 1998-01-05
Publication date: 1999-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-05
Also published as: GB2332917B; GB9800123D0

Abstract

Insert members 20 for the location of components such as door casings, window boards and stud walls, are placed into the mortar between bricks before it has set. The members comprise spaced arms 22, 24 surrounded by areas of mesh 35, 36, 37 and a head portion 21 which is arranged to protrude from the brick face. Flap portions 32 engage the brick face. The head portion 21 has grooves 27 to facilitate trimming thereof. The major surfaces of the arms 22, 24 may be roughened to aid retention of the member.

Description

BUILDING INSERT MEMBERS The present invention relates to insert members for use during building and to a method of using them, in particular to accurately locate building components, such as door casings, window boards and stud walls.

When building a wall, bricklayers leave openings for windows and doors which are generally slightly oversize. When a joiner is to subsequently insert building components such as door casings or window boards, wooden plugs or wedges are first forced into the hardened mortar layers between adjacent bricks at spacings around the opening The protruding ends of the wedges are aligned and then serve as location means for, say, a door casing.

A disadvantage of this process is that driving-in of the wedges causes the bricks to lift away from each other, thus damaging and weakening the wall structure.

Furthermore, aligning the protruding ends of the wedges is a cumbersome and imprecise procedure.

Similar problems arise when providing points of attachment in brick walls for an interior or stud wall or partition.

The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention. there is provided an insert member suitable for inserting in mortar during bricklaying, comprising one or more arms arranged to extend through the mortar between bricks and having at one end a head portion of larger cross-sectional area and arranged to be positioned out of the gap and over the brick face.

Each arm may be at least partly surrounded by an area of mesh which facilitates an even embedding in the mortar. Where there are two or more arms the mesh may extend from one arm to the next.

The arms are generally parallel and preferably generally rectangular in crosssection with their major surfaces being substantially co-planar. The major surfaces may have raised and/or roughened portions.

The head portion preferably has a respective planar flap portion at a position directly adjacent to each arm.

In a first preferred embodiment, the head portion is shaped as a block with generally planar flap portions extending therefrom in the regions of the junctions with the arms.

The surfaces of the block parallel to the major surfaces of the arms may be provided with a plurality of parallel trimming grooves.

In a second preferred embodiment the head portion is a generally planar member coplanar with the flap portions.

The insert member is preferably of a soft plastics material, e.g. foamed plastics material, to assist the penetration and subsequent retention of nails etc.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of inserting members in a wall, for the subsequent location of building components, by embedding part of the members in the mortar between bricks during a brick-laying process, i.e. before the mortar has set.

For securing building components such as door casings or window boards, the insert members may be as in accordance with the first embodiment mentioned above.

For positioning and securing building components such as stud walls or partitions, the insert members may be as in accordance with the second embodiment mentioned above.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a prior art method of inserting a tapered piece of wood into a space between adjacent bricks; Fig.2 is a perspective view of an insert member in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and showing typical dimensions; Figs.2a,2b and 2c respectively show a sectional view on the line A-A of Fig.2, a sectional view on the line B-B of Fig.2. and a side view in the direction of arrow C of Fig.2; Fig.3 is a top perspective view of the insert member of Fig. 1 in use with a door casing with the overlying layers of bricks being omitted for clarity; Fig.4 is a top view of a modification of the insert member of Fig. 1 in use with a door casing; Fig.5 is a front view of a wall, with insert members according to Fig.l being used to locate a window board; Fig.6 is a perspective view of an insert member in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig.7 is a top perspective view of the insert member of Fig.6 showing the attachment of a stud wall.

Referring to the drawings, Fig.l shows the edge of a door opening in a wall 10. Normally, to provide a location point for a door casing, a joiner tapers one edge 12 of a piece of wood to form a wedge or plug 11. The tapering is not usually precise.

To secure the plug 11 to the wall, it is driven into a layer of set mortar 14 between bricks 15,16. Because the mortar has already set, this action frequently causes the bricks to lift off their seating, thus weakening the wall.

Five or six plugs 11 are used over the entire height of a door opening, and after insertion, their edges 18 need to be aligned, which is difficult to achieve quickly and accurately.

Fig.2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention constituted by an insert member 20 of generally planar configuration. A general U-shape is provided by a head portion 21 to which are attached two arms 22,24. The member 20 is conveniently formed by an integral moulded member of plastics material. in particular of relatively soft or foamed plastics.

Head portion 21 is thicker than arms 22,24 and its major side surfaces 26,28 are each provided with a plurality of parallel V-shaped grooves 27. At its junction with arm 22, head portion has a rectangular flap portion 32 which extends perpendicularly beyond the edge of surface 26. Similarly at its junction with arm 24, the head portion has a second rectangular flap portion 32 which extends perpendicularly beyond the edge of surface 28.

Between the inner edges of arms 22,24 there extends an area of taut mesh 35.

Areas 36,37 of stiff mesh are also provided along the outer edges of arms 22,24. The mesh areas are also conveniently of plastics material.

The overall dimensions of the member may be reduced to 75mm if desired.

Fig.3 illustrates the use of an insert member 20 when constructing an opening for a door. While laying layers of bricks, a bricklayer inserts a respective insert member 20 at, say, five evenly-spaced positions along each vertical edge of the opening. A member 20 is placed on a brick 40 with the lower flap portion 32 abutting against the vertical end face of the brick, and then mortar is applied so that the member is embedded in the layer. The mesh areas 35,36,37 permit the free flow of mortar therethrough during this process and assist in a firm anchoring of the member 20 when the mortar has set. The end brick of the next layer of bricks is laid with its vertical end face abutting against upper flap portion 32.

When the bricklaying is completed and the mortar has set, door casing 41 is then installed. Typically, the relative sizes of the door opening and the door casing 41 will be such that trimming of head portions 21 will be required along only one of the vertical edges. Accordingly. a first vertical side of the casing 41 is inserted against the members 20 along one vertical edge of the opening without trimming the head portions 21 there. This is conveniently achieved by nailing through casing 41, head portion 21 and an arm 22 or 24; during the insertion of the nails, the flap portions 32 serve to indicate the location of arms 22 and 24 within the wall.

Depending upon the relative size of the opening and the casing 41, the required size of the head portions 21 along the second vertical edge is then determined, and trimming is effected by cutting with a saw along the corresponding grooves 27.

Installation of the casing 41 is then completed as shown in Fig.4 with plasterboard 42 and architrave 43.

An advantage of the above-described arrangement is that the insert members are easily and quickly installed at the time of bricklaying, so that there is no need to disturb the mortar after it has set. Each insert member provides a firm support for the casing and, since it is made of plastics, has the advantage of not shrinking. Since the insert members are produced in advance. no time is spent on preparing wooden plug inserts on site. Also, since the insert members are of uniform size and shape. they are easy to insert and trim and so do not require skilled labour. Although normally all the insert members along one edge will be adjusted to the same extent, differential trimming can be used to cater for any inaccuracies in the bricklaying.

The soft plastics material of the insert member facilitates the penetration and subsequent holding of nails or other retaining elements.

Various modifications can be made to the above described insert members. For example, the mesh areas may be coplanar with one of the major surfaces of the arms rather than arranged between the major surfaces. Some or all of the mesh areas may be omitted.

Although a member with two arms has been described, it could have only one arm (i.e. be substantially T-shaped) with an optional mesh area at one or each side.

Alternatively, the member could have three arms (i.e. be substantially E-shaped) or more arms.

To assist in retaining the insert member in the mortar, the major surfaces of arms 22 and 23 may be provided with frictional means in the form of raised and/or roughened areas, such as t;iz generally tapered regions 48 shown in Fig.4.

One or both of the flap portions 32 may be omitted.

The V-shaped grooves 27 may also be omitted from one or both sides.

The insert members can be used to position building components other than door casings. For example, Fig.5 shows a member 20 in use in connection with a horizontal window board 50. By suitable installation of layers of bricks and mortar, a bricklayer leaves a gap of typically lcm to 2.5cm below the intended position of the window board. As the top layer of bricks is laid, insert members 20 are embedded in the mortar in the vertical gaps between the bricks. Trimming of head portions 21 and insertion of the window board 50 then follows as with the previously-described door casing.

Figs 6 and 7 illustrate an insert member 60 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention for use in the installation of stud walls or partitions. Insert member 60 is substantially the same as insert member 20 except that head portion 21 is replaced by a generally planar portion 61 incorporating the flap portions 32.

In use, insert members 60 are inserted in main brick wall 70 at vertical spacings at the location where the stud wall 65 is to be inserted. Although Fig.7 shows the insert member 60 protruding from wall 70, flap portions 32 will be normally substantially flush with wall 70. The omission of head portion 21 is not a disadvantage, because trimming is not a requirement here.

The piece of wood 66 forming the end of the stud wall is positioned by hammering nails 67 through the wood 66 and into arms 22,24 as guided by the positions of flap portions 32.

If desired, insert members 20 with head portions 21 could alternatively be used in the installation of a stud wall.

Apart from the option of trimming, insert members 60 have the same advantages as insert members 20. In addition. they can be used, during bricklaying, to indicate the precise position of the stud wall, so that an installer subsequently arriving on site does not need to recheck the building plans, thus simplifying the task.

If insert members 60 protrude from the wall 70 as shown, any gap will be hidden by subsequently applied plaster.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An insert member, suitable for inserting in mortar during bricklaying, comprising one or more arms arranged to extend through the mortar between bricks and having at one end a head portion of larger cross-sectional area and arranged to be positioned out of the gap and over the brick face.
2. An insert member according to claim 1, wherein each arm is at least partly surrounded by an area of mesh.
3. An insert member according to claim 2, wherein there are two or more arms and the mesh extends from one arm to the next.
4. An insert member according to any preceding claim comprising arms which are generally parallel and generally rectangular in cross-section with their major surfaces being substantially co-planar.
5. An insert member according to claim 4, wherein the major surfaces have raised and/or roughened portions.
6. An insert member according to any preceding claim, wherein the head portion has a respective planar flap portion at a position directly adjacent to the or each arm.
7. An insert member according to any preceding claim wherein the head portion is shaped as a block with generally planar flap portions extending therefrom in the regions of the junctions with the arms.
8. An insert member according to claim 7, wherein the surfaces of the block parallel to the major surfaces of the arms are provided with a plurality of parallel trimming grooves.
9. An insert member according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the head portion is a generally planar member coplanar with the flap portions.
10. An insert member according to any preceding claim which is of a soft plastics material.
11. An insert member according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the head portion is constituted by generally planar flap portions extending perpendicular to the or each arm.
12. An insert member substantially as herein described with reference to Figs 2, 3 and 5, Fig 4, or Fig 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A method of inserting members in a wall, for the subsequent location of building components, by embedding part of the members in the mortar between bricks during a brick-laying process, before the mortar has set.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the members are in accordance with any of claims 1 to 12.
15. A method of inserting member is a wall substantially as herein described, with reference to Figs 2 and 3, Fig 4, Fig 5 or Figs 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.