Insulation

Abstract

 The invention relates to an insulating member 1 comprising a body 2 at least part 3 of the boundary surface of which comprises keying means 4 whereby a settable material 5 may be adhered thereto.
The member 1 is a body of polystyrene foam which is preformed so that it is complementary to, and hence insertable in, an interior cavity 6 of a metal lintel, the cavity being formed between spaced apart plate members 7, 8 which are drawn together at the top 9, leaving the bottom 10 open.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to insulation and particularly to the provision of an insulating member which can be inserted in a cavity of a lintel.

[0002] According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an insulating member, comprising a body at least part of the boundary surface of which comprises keying means whereby a settable material may be adhered thereto.

[0003] The keying means may comprise a bonding composition applied to the boundary surface.

[0004] The insulating member may be formed in situ in a hollow element, suitably using steam.

[0005] The member may comprise a preformed polystyrene-comprising component. This provides an effective insulator.

[0006] A part of the boundary surface may alternatively be deformed to provide the keying means as for example by having perforations such as blind holes formed therein. This provides an effective key.

[0007] The boundary surface may be deformed by a surface profile being formed therein, for example, a plurality of grooves formed therein. This construction is readily formed, and provides a good key particularly if the grooves are undercut.

[0008] The keying means may comprise a bonding material secured to the boundary surface, for example a woven material such as a mat, of natural or synthetic fibres. This provides a firm key, as does a sand or glass paper bonding material.

[0009] The keying means may also comprise a bonding composition and a bonding material secured to the boundary surface thereby.

[0010] The material may comprise a woven material such as a mat material of natural or synthetic fibres, or, alternatively, the material may comprise a sand or glass paper.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts comprising a lintel having an internal cavity and an insulating member as hereinbefore defined.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a lintel having an internal cavity which is open at one side, and, in the cavity, an insulating member as hereinbefore defined, the arrangement being that this member closes the cavity.

[0013] An insulating member, and a lintel having a cavity in which the insulating member is installed is schematically illustrated, by way of example, in end elevation in the accompanying drawing.

[0014] Referring to the drawings there is shown an insulating member 1 comprising a body 2 at least part 3 of the boundary surface of which comprises keying means 4 whereby a settable material 5 may be adhered thereto.

[0015] The member 1 is a body of polystyrene foam which is preformed so that it is complementary to, and hence insertable in, an interior cavity 6 of a metal lintel, the cavity being formed between spaced apart plate members 7, 8 which are drawn together at the top 9, leaving the bottom 10 open. The depth of the member 1 is such that it just equals the depth of the cavity 6, so that when the member 1 is inserted in the cavity 6, the cavity is effectively closed off in a plane in which lies front and rear (as in use) support plates 11, 12 of the lintel. Thus there is no need to provide a base plate for the lintel as the plates 11, 12 and surface 3 of the foam member comprise a substantially planar base plate. In order that a settable rendering or facing composition 5 such as plastic cement, mortar and the like can be secured to the lintel under the cavity 6 and the plate 12 the foam body 2 on its lower (as viewed) surface 3 has keying means in the form of longitudinally formed grooves 13, preferably undercut, into which the rendering 5 passes when applied to the lintel. When it sets, the rendering is effectively keyed in position by being fixed in the grooves 13 it being understood that the rear support plate 12 has through apertures 14 in which the rendering is also received for keying.

[0016] It will be understood that the grooves 13 referred to and described with reference to the accompanying drawings can be replaced by suitable other keying means such as a bonding composition or paint, a woven material or mat, perforations (blind holes in the surface) sand or glass paper or the like, in any desired combination.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the member 1 is formed in situ in a lintel. In this embodiment, the lintel as shown in Fig. 1 is suitably inverted, or laid on its side so that the limbs 7 or 8, or one thereof form(s) a temporary "base". Beads of expansible plastic such as polystyrene are then inserted in the cavity of the lintel, preferably be being blown in by a jet of carrier gas such as air. A layer of beads thus accumulates on the "base". Steam is then injected into the interior and this acts on the beads, causing them to foam and expand, join together and substantially to fill the interior 6 of the lintel, the foamed polystyrene adhering during this process firmly to the limbs 7, 8. When the foam has fully cured, the lintel can be turned to the upright position shown in Fig. 1, the open base being closed by the foam which can be additionally treated as by being roughened or as described before in order to provide keying or additional keying for plaster, rendering and the like.

[0018] In all embodiments, the need for a base plate is obviated, so saving on weight and material costs, and also a key for plaster is provided.

Claims

1. A lintel having an internal cavity which is open at one side, characterised by, in the cavity, insulation (2) formed in situ so that the insulation (2) closes the cavity.

2. A lintel according to Claim 1, characterised by the insulation (2) being formed by expansion.

3. A lintel according to Claim 3, characterised by the insulation (6) being formed by expansion using steam.

4. A lintel according to any preceding claim, the insulation (6) comprising expansible beads of polystyrene.

Drawing