AU783917B2

AU783917B2 - Brickwork support system

Info

Publication number: AU783917B2
Application number: AU95156/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graham Law
Original assignee: Ancon CCL Ltd
Current assignee: Ancon CCL Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-01
Filing date: 2001-11-28
Publication date: 2005-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-28
Also published as: DE60107038T2; GB0029301D0; AU9515601A; ATE282123T1; EP1211364A3; DE60107038D1; ES2231394T3; EP1211364A2; EP1211364B1

Abstract

A brickwork support system for supporting brickwork cladding comprises a bracket (1,21) and a support member (2,22). The bracket (1,21) is attached through a fixing aperture (4,24) to a bolt extending from a cast-in channel member on a concrete wall. The bracket has a web portion (5,25) which contacts the concrete wall and two outwardly extending flanges (6,26). The flanges (6,26) are each provided with a substantially L-shaped slot (7,27) which receives a corresponding portion of the support member (2,22). The support member is provided with a load bearing projection (17,31) which engages and supports the brick cladding. The arrangement of the slots (7,27) and support member (2,22) allows relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member (2,22) and bracket (1,21) but prevents relative lateral horizontal movement, vertical movement and relative rotation of the two components. <IMAGE>

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: Ancon CCL Limited Graham Law WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Brickwood Support System" Details of Associated Application No(s): 0029301.9 filed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1/1 "Brickwork Support System" 1 This invention relates to a support system, 2 preferably but not exclusively for use in the 3 support of cladding or facing for a structure.

4 5 It is standard practice in building construction and 6 refurbishment to provide the building with a 7 cladding or facing. Consequently there are a large 8 number of known systems for supporting cladding or 9 facings on the face of a structure.

11 It is known to provide an angle section member 12 secured to the structure by bolts extending through 13 slots in an upwardly extending leg in the angle 14 section, to allow a small horizontal adjustment of the angle section. Normally, the angle section has 16 an outwardly extending leg which projects into a bed 17 joint between vertically adjacent bricks in the 18 cladding. A disadvantage of such a system is that 19 the bolts need to be located in the structure of the building with absolute accuracy in the vertical 1 direction, or the additional cost of providing a 2 cast-in serrated mounting means to provide a limited 3 degree of vertical adjustment, must be incurred.

4 Another disadvantage is that, in order to provide sufficient strength, the thickness of the angle 6 section may be close to or greater than the joint 7 thickness between vertically adjacent bricks. This 8 requires the use of more expensive, so-called pistol 9 bricks, if the original joint width is to be maintained at the position of the support.

11 12 To provide a more flexible system and in particular 13 to improve adjustability, it is known to provide a 14 horizontal locating bar on the structure, to which fabricated brackets are secured and are vertically ooseo: 16 adjustable by a screw system or the provision of 17 serrations. An angle section support is located in 18 seat portions provided in the bracket to provide 19 support to the cladding. These supports may be screwed into the bracket, but they may also be 21 simply hooked into the seats in the bracket, with *22 the supports being secured by the seats when in *23 operation.

24 Although the support hooked onto the bracket has a 26 number of advantages over the screwed-in support, 27 such as ease of manufacture and installation, the 28 disadvantage of existing hooked supports is that 29 they may easily be dislodged from their seats on the bracket. Furthermore, although less complicated 31 than screw-in supports, the existing hooked-on 32 supports are still relatively complicated to -3manufacture, with a resultant effect on manufacturing costs.

A support means of the type disclosed in the preamble of claim 1 is known from US A 6128883 and the publication by Kiwa N. V. entitled "Metalen Metselwerkondersteuring" (Certificatie en Keuringen, Number: K14391/01).

Both US A 6128883 and the publication by Kiwa N. V. disclose means for supporting cladding or facings consisting of a bracket and an angled section.

However, as the angled sections are again simply hooked into the brackets, they may also be easily dislodged.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a brickwork support system that is simple to produce and install, and which still retains a secure angle between the bracket and support without the need for additional components.

The preceding discussion of the background of the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that 15 the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or the world as at the priority date of the application.

**It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a brickwork support system that is simple to produce and install, and which still retains a secure 20 angle between the bracket and support without the need for additional S•components.

According to a first aspect the present invention resides in, a support means comprising at least one bracket provided with a first fixing means for securing to a first structure and at least one longitudinally extending support member for supporting a second structure at a distance from the first structure, the support member having a substantially horizontal load-bearing projection and a formation which is engageable with at least one corresponding slot on the bracket to -4provide vertical support of the support member, the support member formation and slot being shaped so as to permit relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and bracket and to prevent relative lateral horizontal movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member and bracket, characterised in that the support member formation includes a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially horizontal portion and the support member includes a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the load-bearing projection wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane.

According to a second aspect the present invention resides in a support means comprising a longitudinally extending support member having a load-bearing projection for supporting cladding for a building; and a plurality of spaced-apart brackets fixed to the wall of the building; the support member and the brackets S: being mutually engageable to permit relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and brackets and to prevent lateral movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member S: and bracket, characterised in that the support member is provided with a formation with which to engage the bracket, the formation including a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially horizontal portion, wherein the flange engages at least one corresponding slot on the bracket; and the support member includes a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the load-bearing projection, wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane.

According to a third aspect the present invention resides in a method of supporting cladding on a structure comprising securing a plurality of brackets to the structure, and engaging a support member with slots provided in said plurality of brackets by sliding the support member in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, the slots preventing relative lateral horizontal movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member and brackets, and supporting one or more cladding members on a loadbearing projection of said support member, characterised in that the engagement of the support member and brackets is facilitated by a formation on the support member, the formation including a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially horizontal portion; and the support member including a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the loadbearing projection, wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket and support member; i .o ooe •i o o go o *go 1 2 Figures are front, side and plan views 3 of a bracket similar to that of Figure 1 but having 4 a vertical slot; 6 Figure 3 is a side view of a brickwork support 7 system; 8 9 Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the brickwork support system; 11 12 Figure 5 shows a side view of a third 13 embodiment of the brickwork support system; :14 15 Figures are front, side and plan views o 16 of a fourth embodiment of the brickwork support 17 system; and 18 19 Figures are front, side and plan views of a fifth embodiment of the brickwork support 21 system.

22 •go• S 23 Figure 1 shows a bracket 1 for attachment through a 24 fixing aperture 4 to a bolt (not shown) extending 25 from a cast-in channel member on a concrete wall (or 26 an expanding bolt projecting from a hole drilled in 27 the concrete). Figure 1 also shows a support member 28 2 for supporting a second structure in the form of a 29 brick cladding, at a distance from the first structure. The support member 2 is movable relative 31 to the bracket 1 along the wall.

32 1 The fixing aperture 4 is a slot disposed at an angle 2 so as to allow adjustment in directions having a 3 vertical and/or horizontal component, and is formed 4 in a web portion 5 of the bracket 1 which contacts the concrete wall when in use. Figure 2 shows an 6 alternative arrangement of the fixing aperture 4 7 that is disposed in a substantially vertical 8 direction. In addition, Figure 2 also shows an 9 optional plurality of detent portions about the fixing aperture. The detent portions are shown here 11 as a sawtooth arrangement 13. The bracket may be 12 provided with the sawtooth arrangement 13 so as to 13 provide a more secure fixing. By placing a washer 14 or shim (not shown) with the same sawtooth pattern oooo 15 on the bolt before attaching the securing nut, the ooo 16 teeth of the washer will mate with the teeth of the 17 sawtooth arrangement 13 when the nut is tightened on 18 the bolt. This will then prevent any vertical slip 19 by the bracket when in use.

S o 21 The bracket 1 includes a pair of flanges 6 that ooo• eo 22 project in a plane substantially perpendicular to •ego 23 the web portion 5. The flanges 6 each have a 24 formation in the form of a substantially L-shaped 25 slot 7 that has substantially vertical and 26 horizontal portions 7a,7b and is formed so as to 27 receive a corresponding portion of the support 28 member 2. The horizontal portion 7b is wider than 29 the vertical portion 7a, to aid sliding, since in use the support member 2 does not bear against the 31 upper edge of the horizontal portion 7b.

32 1 The profile of the support member 2 is such that it 2 may fit into the slots 7 of the connecting sections 3 6. The support member 2 is made up of a first 4 substantially vertical portion 8a and a substantially horizontal portion 8b that enter the 6 slots 7, and a substantially vertical connecting web 7 10 which continues into a substantially horizontal 8 second section 11 which has a load bearing 9 projection 17 which extends in a plane perpendicular to the web portion 5 of the bracket 1 when in use.

11 12 The support member 2 is formed by pressing or 13 bending from one piece of sheet metal, typically 14 steel or stainless steel. The bracket 1 is also of unitary construction. The length of the support 16 member can be determined depending on the 17 requirements of the job. The advantage of producing 18 the support member from one piece of metal is that 19 no welding or complex folding is required. In some 20 existing support systems, the support member is 21 folded over such that two surfaces of the member are S 22 adjacent one another and then welded together. This ego• 23 leads to corrosion at the weld and where the two 24 surfaces meet, and the area must be descaled to avoid such problems., No such problems occur with 26 the arrangement of the present invention.

27 28 Figure 3 shows the bracket 1 and support member 2 29 arrangement when in use to support brick cladding 9 on the load bearing projection 17. A number of 31 brackets 1 are secured to the bolts (not shown) 32 extending from the concrete wall 12 and adjusted to 1 be in horizontal alignment to receive the support 2 member 2. The support member 2 is then slid through 3 the slots 7 of each bracket 1 such that the flange 4 8a of the support member 2 is secured in the substantially vertical portions 7a of the slots 7, 6 and the connecting web section 10 lies flush with 7 front edges 6a of the flanges 6.

8 9 By providing the support member 2 in continuous lengths, it is no longer necessary to provide a 11 plurality of support members and the clips that are 12 usually required to fix adjacent support members 13 together. The support member 2 of the present 14 invention may be supplied loose and adjusted on oooo 15 site, or else it can be tack welded to set the e .16 bracket positions.

S"17 eeo 18 By providing slots 7 that are formed to mirror the 19 profile of the support member 2, there is no need 20 for additional adapters to be inserted into the go. S: 21 slots 7 with the support member to obtain a secure •ego 22 fixing. For this reason, the installation of the oeoo 23 present invention is much simpler than existing 24 support systems that require the use of adjustable 25 clamps, spacers and the like to secure the support 26 member to the bracket. As a result, the manufacture 27 of the present invention is also simpler and more 28 cost effective than that of existing support 29 systems.

31 Once the support member is installed, it cannot be 32 moved laterally or vertically and cannot be 1 rotated. However, the formation of the support 2 member and slots in the bracket allow relative 3 longitudinal sliding movement of the support member 4 and brackets.

6 Thus, the main advantage of the present invention 7 over existing support systems is that the horizontal 8 position of the brackets may be adjusted thanks to 9 the permitted relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and brackets. This 11 accommodates errors in the drilling of the steelwork 12 to which the brackets are mounted, and also allows 13 the positioning of the brackets to avoid 14 reinforcement bars in concrete structures where the 15 brackets are mounted on such structures.

16 Furthermore, corner sections can be used where the 17 brackets are horizontally adjustable relative to the 18 support member. Such corner sections are made up of 19 two support members each usually having a 45 degree 20 end face so that placing the two end faces together 4O 21 produces a 90 degree corner. For small returns, the •g 22 two angled faces of the support members may be go 23 welded together. Alternatively, the end faces may oo 24 be mitred with a gap, usually 10mm, between the .e 25 faces. In addition, the brackets may be 26 manufactured in differing sizes or widths to 27 compensate for any uneven surfaces encountered, so 28 that the support member may still slide through the 29 slots of the brackets cleanly. Shims can be provided with the brackets for any fine adjustment 31 required when installing.

32 1 Modifications and improvements may be incorporated 2 without departing from the scope of the invention.

3 One modification to the present invention is shown 4 in Figure 4. Here, the bracket 1 has a number of slots 7 so that a number of support members 2 may be 6 accommodated at the same time. It should also be 7 noted, however, that in brackets having only one 8 slot, that slot may be positioned at any position on 9 the bracket, not just near the base as illustrated in the embodiments herein. A further modification 11 would be to replace the vertical portion 7a of the 12 slot with an upwardly sloping portion (not shown) 13 which is inclined at a non-perpendicular angle to 14 the horizontal portion 7b. The slot 7 may include a 0%a' 15 further non-vertical portion (not shown) at the end 16 of the vertical portion 7a, distal from the 17 horizontal portion 7b. The horizontal portion 7b go• 18 may be made narrow, to provide a closer fit to the 4* 19 web 8b of the support member 2, while the vertical 20 portion 7a may be longer to allow an increased oo 21 clearance and tolerance to the height of the flange o o 22 8a of the support member 2.

23 24 A further adaptation is shown in Figure 5, where the 25 front edge of the vertical portion 7a of the slots 7 26 and the front edges 6a of the flanges 6 are provided 27 with nib portions 40. The nib portions 40 are 28 protrusions which project from the respective 29 aforementioned edges on the flanges 6 in order to ensure that load transfer from the support member 2 31 to the bracket 1 takes place at pre-selected points.

32 1 Although it is envisaged that the support system 2 would be utilised with a number of brackets, it may 3 also be used with only one bracket and a short 4 length of support member, as shown in the embodiment of Figures Figure 5 shows a bracket 21 6 substantially the same as described in the previous 7 embodiments, with a fixing aperture 24 for receipt 8 of a bolt (not shown) so that the bracket 21 may be 9 fixed in the manner previously described. The bracket 21 has a web portion 25 which contacts the 11 first structure when in use and a pair of flanges 26 12 that project in a plane substantially perpendicular 13 to the web portion 25. The flanges 26 each have a 14 slot 27 that has substantially vertical and 15 horizontal portions 27a,27b and which receives a 16 support member 22, again substantially in the form 17 previously described.

18 19 The support member 22 is made up of a first substantially vertical portion 28a and a 21 substantially horizontal portion 28b whose shape 22 corresponds to the slots 27 of the bracket 21. Also 23 provided on the support member 22 is a substantially 24 vertical connecting web 30 which continues into a 25 substantially horizontal load bearing portion 31 26 which extends in a plane perpendicular to the web 27 portion 25 of the bracket 21. If required, the load 28 bearing portion 31 may be provided with a hook 32 29 with which to engage the cladding.

31 The difference between the embodiment of Figures 32 and the previously described embodiments is 1 that here the support system is provided with a 2 fixing arrangement to secure the support member 22 3 in position on the bracket 21. The fixing 4 arrangement comprises a fastener 23 and bolt 29 which are provided in order to prevent the support 6 member 22 moving in the longitudinal direction 7 relative to the bracket 21 under dynamic loading.

8 The fastener 23 is substantially U-shaped with an 9 aperture in the centre for receiving the bolt 29.

In this embodiment, the support member 22 also has 11 an aperture in the vertical portion 28a to allow the 12 bolt 29 to pass through. As seen best in Figure 13 once in position, the fastener 23 fits over 14 the edges of the two flanges 26 of the bracket 21.

Thus, once the bolt 29 is fitted through the 16 fastener 23 and the support member 22, and a nut 17 (not shown) is fitted to the bolt 29, the 18 combination of fastener 23 and bolt 29 holds the 19 support member 22 securely in place.

21 Figures show a further embodiment of the 22 brickwork support system of the present invention.

23 This embodiment is identical to that shown in 24 Figures save that a different type of 25 fastener is used in the fixing arrangement. In the 26 embodiment of Figures the fastener 33 27 comprises a plate member having a bolt receiving 28 portion 33a and a support member retaining portion :29 33b which is at an angle of more than 90 degrees to •coo 30 the bolt receiving portion 33a. Once the support 31 member 22 is installed in the bracket 21, the 32 fastener 33 is fixed in place as described in respect of the previous embodiment. With the fastener 33 provided with the angled retaining portion 33b, the support member 22 is held against the lower edge of the horizontal portion 27b of the slot 27, as best seen in Figure 7(b).

It is also envisaged that the system can be supplied with a number of brackets already held on the support member. In this case, folding tabs would be provided at opposite ends of the support member flange in order to prevent the brackets sliding off the support member when being installed. Once installed, the tabs can be folded back into the flange of the support member so as not to impede the positioning of the brackets.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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Claims

1. A support means comprising: at least one bracket provided with a first fixing means for securing to a first structure and at least one longitudinally extending support member for supporting a second structure at a distance from the first structure, the support member having a substantially horizontal load-bearing projection and a formation which is engageable with at least one corresponding slot on the bracket to provide vertical support of the support member, the support member formation and slot being shaped so as to permit relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and bracket and to prevent relative lateral horizontal movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member and bracket, characterised in that the support member formation includes: a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially horizontal portion; and the support member includes a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the load-bearing projection wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane. 20 2. The support means of Claim 1, wherein the connecting web of the support member contacts the bracket when the support member is in use. °°ooo

3. The support means of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first fixing means is interposed between the bracket and the first structure to provide a connection for the bracket to the structure. 25 4. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket is eoo. provided with an aperture, and wherein the first fixing means comprises a bolt ooieia or stud anchored to the first structure and extending through said aperture. -16- The support means of Claim 4, wherein the first fixing means further comprises a structural support channel to be set into the first structure and securing said bolt or stud.

6. The support means of Claim 5, wherein the support channel is adjusted to be cast into concrete of the first structure.

7. The support means of Claim 5, wherein the support channel is installed after completion of the first structure.

8. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot comprises a first substantially horizontal portion and a second substantially vertical portion.

9. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot is substantially L-shaped. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member flange portions fit within the slot of the bracket such that the load- bearing projection can engage and support the second structure.

11. The support means of Claim 10, wherein the bracket comprises a bracket web portion which contacts the first structure when in use, and wherein the load bearing projection projects in a plane substantially perpendicular to the web portion of the bracket.

12. The support means of Claim 11, wherein the bracket further comprises at least one bracket flange which projects in a plane substantially perpendicular to the web portion, the at least one slot being provided in the at least one eooe bracket flange to receive the support member flange. ooeoe

13. The support means of Claim 12, wherein the bracket is a channel member 25 having two bracket flanges, each bracket flange having a slot therein. -17-

14. The support means of Claim 13, wherein each bracket flange may have a number of slots thereon for engaging a corresponding number of support members. The support means of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first fixing means is adapted to allow adjustment of the bracket in directions having a vertical and/or horizontal component.

16. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket is provided with a second fixing means adapted to secure the support member to the bracket so as to prevent relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and bracket once said support member is in the desired position.

17. The support means of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprises one bracket, the support member engaging the bracket.

18. The support means of any one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of brackets, the support member engaging each of the brackets.

19. A support means comprising: a longitudinally extending support member having a load-bearing projection for supporting cladding for a building; 20 and a plurality of spaced-apart brackets fixed to the wall of the building; the support member and the brackets being mutually engageable to permit relative longitudinal sliding movement of the support member and the brackets and to prevent lateral movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member and bracket, 25 characterised in that the support member is provided with a formation with which to engage the bracket, the formation including: °a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially S° horizontal portion, wherein the flange engages at least one corresponding slot on the bracket; and -18- the support member includes a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the load-bearing projection wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane. A method of supporting cladding on a structure comprising: securing a plurality of brackets to the structure, and engaging a support member with slots provided in said plurality of brackets by sliding the support member in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, the slots preventing relative lateral horizontal movement, vertical movement and relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support member and brackets, and supporting one or more cladding members on a load-bearing projection of said support member, characterised in that the engagement of the support member and brackets is facilitated by a formation on the support member, the formation including: a flange having a first substantially vertical portion and a second substantially horizontal portion; and the support member including a connecting web connecting the second flange portion and the load-bearing projection, wherein the connecting web lies in a substantially vertical plane.

21. A support means substantially a herein described with reference to the 20 accompanying drawings. i. g..22. A method of supporting cladding on a structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S S. ;Dated this Twentieth day of October 2005. CCL Limited Applicant S Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia •Patent Attorneys for the Applicant