Wall starter tie

Abstract

 A wall starter tie for connecting a new wall to an existing wall which comprises a spirally shaped rod, preferably arranged in the form of a 'U' with rectangular corners.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a wall starter tie.

[0002] Wall starter ties are used to provide a structural link against shear forces both lateral and vertical when building an extension wall against an existing masonry structure. They may also be used to link return walls in new masonry construct­ions.

[0003] According to the present invention a wall starter tie comprises of member having at least a portion thereof in the form of a spiral.

[0004] Preferably the whole of the member is in the form of a spiral and it may have portions angled to one another, normally a right angle.

[0005] The member may comprise two portions each at right angles to one another (and in the same plane). In one construction the member may comprise five portions at right angles to one another so as to form substantially a rectangle with the two ends thereof in close proximity in the centre of one side.

[0006] The member may be corrugated, serrated, slotted, holed or otherwise perforated.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention a joint between the two masonry walls includes a wall starter member as set forth.

[0008] The invention may be performed in various ways and various constructions will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a view of two walls showing how the wall starter ties according to the present invention are used, and

Figure 2 - shows various constructions of wall starter ties which may be used to join two masonry structures together.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1 the wall starter ties are generally of U-­shaped form with the angles of the U being square. The ends of the U are embedded into an existing wall to connect a new cavity wall construction.

[0010] The wall ties according to the present invention may be of any shape but some further constructions are shown in Figure 2. Figure 2A shows one form of wall tie according to the present invention for use in single walls of brick, block, stone or concrete. The two sides of the U are approximately 195 mm in length with the base being 50 mm.

[0011] Figure 2B shows a similar structure again with the sides of the U being 195 mm in length and also in this case the base being the same dimensions. These are suitable for 50 mm cavity wall constructions in brick, block, stone or concrete.

[0012] Figure 2C shows a construction in which the sides of the U are again 195 mm in length but the base is 220 mm. These are suitable for a 75 mm cavity wall construction again of brick, block, stone or concrete.

[0013] Figure 2D shows again a similar construction with the sides of the U being 195 mm but the base being 245 mm. These are suitable for 100 mm cavity wall constructions in the same materials.

[0014] All the above constructions are for use in connecting new walls to existing walls.

[0015] For use in connecting new walls to new walls another shape may be desirable and these are shown in Figure 2E. In all the cases illustrated here the "sides" of the U are a 195 mm in length, but as can be seen the tops are formed by having portions of the U extending towards one another so as to form an open portion with its ends in close proximity to one another to form a generally rectangular construction. The dimensions correspond to the dimensions shown in Figures 2A - 2D respectively for the particular constructions i.e. where the base is 50 mm in length for single walls with brick, block, stone or concrete and so on.

[0016] The starter ties according to the present invention will accommodate longitudinal, contractional and extensional movements due to block work and structural shrinkage.

[0017] They may be made of any suitable material but preferably of stainless steel or plastics, and are all of spiral form. Where the material is stainless steel or other metal it is formed from a flat strip of metal and which is subsequently twisted to form the spiral form shown. When made of other materials the same technique may be employed so as to produce a spiral of the appropriate shape.

[0018] The spiral may be of any suitable diameter, pitch or thickness to suit a given application and although generally rectangular or square shape U-shapes have been shown the starter tie may be of any suitable shape to achieve a particular fixing objective.

[0019] The helical sections may be fully embedded in a mortar joint, dry or fixed with water or suitable resin. Alternatively they may be fixed directly in to the masonry units of the wall and they may also be used in remedial situations. They may also be used to connect walls at oblique angles to one another as well as right angles as shown. The starter ties may be installed in each horizontal mortar course or staggered to suit individual requirements.

Claims

1. A wall starter tie comprising a member having at least a portion thereof in the form of a spiral.

2. A wall starter tie as claimed in Claim 1, in which the whole member is in the form of a spiral.

3. A wall starter tie as claimed in Claim 2, in which the member has portions angled to one another.

4. A wall starter tie as claimed in Claim 3, in which the angle is a right angle.

5. A wall starter tie as claimed in Claim 4, in which the member comprises two portions each at right angles (and in the same plane).

6. A wall starter tie as claimed in Claim 5, in which the member comprises five portions at right angles to one another so as to form substantially a rectangle with the two ends thereof in close proximity in the centre of one side.

7. A wall starter tie as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the member is corrugated, serrated, slotted, holed or otherwise perforated.

8. A joint between two masonry walls including a wall starter tie as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

9. A wall starter tie substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Drawing