IES20020057A2

IES20020057A2 - A wall tie

Info

Publication number: IES20020057A2
Application number: IE20020057A
Authority: IE
Inventors: James Gerard Madden
Original assignee: James Gerard Madden
Priority date: 2001-01-30
Filing date: 2002-01-29
Publication date: 2002-08-07
Also published as: GB2372516A; IE20020059A1; GB0202153D0

Abstract

A wall tie (1) for tying an outer masonry leaf (2) to an inner timber frame leaf (3) of a wall (4) comprises a zigzag masonry engaging portion (8) for interleaving between adjacent courses (9) of the masonry leaf (2). A shank (14) extending from the masonry engaging portion (8) is cranked at (15) and (16) to form a pin (10) for penetrating a strut (11) of the inner leaf (3) and a head portion (17) for facilitating hammering of the pin (10) into the strut (11). The pin (10) terminates in a sharpened tip (18) for penetrating a corresponding strut (11) of the inner leaf (3), and barbs (19) are provided for preventing withdrawal of the pin (10) from the strut (11). The pin (10) is hammered into a corresponding strut (11) by repeated hammer blows on the head portion (17) adjacent the pin (10). <Figures 1 & 4>

Description

OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNLNa-JW P p* 0¾¾ .

The present invention relates to a wall tie, and in particular, to a wall tie for tying a masonry leaf and a timber frame of a wall together.

Wall ties are extensively used in the construction of cavity walls of buildings, such as houses, offices, industrial premises and the like. Typically, cavity walls comprise an inner leaf and an outer leaf. In general, the inner leaf is the load bearing leaf. The outer leaf, in general, is a masonry leaf which is constructed from blocks, bricks or other suitable masonry materials. The inner leaf may also be a masonry leaf, but may also be constructed in the form of a timber frame. Where houses and buildings are constructed with the inner leaf in the form of a timber frame, such houses and buildings are referred to as timber frame buildings. Whether the inner leaf of the wall is formed by a timber frame or by a masonry leaf, it is essential that the two leaves of the wall be tied together, and this is achieved by the use of wall ties.

Wall ties may be constructed of wire, which may be galvanized steel or stainless steel. Wall ties are also constructed of sheet and plate metal. In the case of buildings in which the inner and outer leaves are of masonry, wall ties of wire construction or sheet or plate metal construction may be used. Typically, the wall ties are constructed so that respective opposite ends of the wall tie can be engaged in the respective leaves of the wall by interleaving the ends of the wall ties with the courses of blocks, bricks or the like. However, in timber frame buildings, wire ties do not lend themselves so easily to use in the tying of the timber frame leaf with the masonry leaf. Sheet metal ties are more commonly used. Such sheet metal ties, in general, comprise a masonry engaging end which is suitable for interleaving between adjacent courses of bricks or blocks of the masonry leaf. A shank extends from the· masonry engaging end to a cranked eye portion which is provided with a nail or screw accommodating opening for accommodating a nail or screw for securing the eye portion to a timber strut of the timber frame. While such wall ties may be adequate for tying the respective leaves of a timber frame building together, they are relatively difficult and in particular, inconvenient to use. As well as requiring the wall tie, a nail or screw is required with each wall tie for fastening the wall tie to the timber frame. This, thus, causes considerable inconvenience to a bricklayer.

Additionally, with the passage of time the nail or screw fasteners may fail, thus rendering the wall ties ineffective.

There is therefore a need for a wall tie which overcomes this problem.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a wall tie.

According to the invention there is provided a wall tie for tying a masonry leaf and a timber frame of a wall together, the wall tie comprising a masonry engaging portion for engaging the masonry leaf of the wall, and a penetrating portion for securing the wall tie to the timber frame by penetration into the timber frame, and an elongated shank joining the masonry engaging portion and the penetrating portion of the wall tie, and extending therebetween.

In one embodiment of the invention the penetrating portion of the wail tie comprises an elongated pin for penetrating a timber strut of the timber frame. Preferably, the ΙΕο 2 0 0 5 7 wall tie is cranked intermediate the shank and the pin to form a head portion for facilitating hammering of the pin into the timber strut. Preferably, the wall tie is double cranked intermediate the pin and the shank for forming the head, and advantageously, the wall tie is cranked at the respective cranked locations through 90°.

Advantageously, the masonry engaging portion and the penetrating portion extend in opposite directions from the respective opposite ends of the shank, and preferably, the masonry engaging portion and the penetrating portion lie in different spaced apart planes.

In one embodiment of the invention the penetrating portion is provided with barbs for preventing withdrawal of the penetrating portion once penetrating the timber frame.

In a further embodiment of the invention the penetrating portion terminates in a sharpened end, and ideally, in a bladed or pointed end.

In a further embodiment of the invention the masonry engaging portion of the wall tie is adapted for interleaving between adjacent courses of blocks or bricks of the masonry leaf of the wall, and ideally, the masonry engaging portion is of zigzag shape for facilitating purchase in mortar between the respective adjacent courses.

In a still further embodiment of the invention a drip means is formed in the shank for facilitating water run-off from the shank intermediate the masonry leaf and the timber frame.

In one embodiment of the invention the wall tie is formed of wire, and ideally, is of stainless steel wire. Preferably, the wire is of circular transverse cross-section.

Ideally, the wall tie is formed in one piece from a single piece of material.

Additionally, the invention provides a wall comprising an outer masonry leaf and an inner leaf of timber frame construction, and a plurality of wall ties tying the inner and outer leaves together, the wail ties being wall ties according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wall tie according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the wall tie of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wall tie of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wall tie in use, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the wall tie of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a wall tie according to the invention, ΙΕο 2 00 Β 7 which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for tying an outer masonry leaf 2 and an inner timber frame leaf 3 of a wall 4 of a timber frame building (not shown) together. The wall tie 1 is formed integrally in one piece of stainless steel wire 5 of circular cross-section of diameter 3.75 millimetres by bending the wire 5, and comprises a masonry engaging portion 8 which is formed by bending the wire 5 into a zigzag shape at bends 7 of 90°. The zigzag shaping of the masonry engaging portion 8 is such as to facilitate engagement of the masonry engaging portion 8 between adjacent courses 9 of brick or block work of the masonry leaf 2 by interleaving the masonry portion 8 between the adjacent brick or block work courses 9. A penetrating portion formed by an elongated pin 10 for engaging a timber strut of the timber frame leaf 3 by penetration is joined to the masonry engaging portion 8 by a shank 14. The shank 14 is cranked at 15 and 16 for defining the pin 10 and a head portion 17 of the pin 10 for facilitating hammering the pin 10 into the timber strut 11 of the timber frame leaf 3. The shank 14 is cranked through 90° at the cranked portions 15 and 16 for forming the head portion 17. The pin 10 terminates in a sharpened tip 18 which is formed by grinding or cutting the tip of the pin 10 from respective opposite sides to form a bladed edge with an included angle of 60°. Barbs 19 are provided on the pin 10 for preventing withdrawal of the pin 10 from the timber strut 11 once the pin 10 penetrates the timber strut 11.

A drip means formed by a downwardly cranked portion 20 in the shank 14 facilitates water run-off from the shank 14 between the masonry leaf 2 and the timber frame leaf 3 for preventing the passage of moisture from the masonry leaf 2 to the timber frame leaf 3.

IE Ο 2 Ο ο 5 7 In this embodiment of the invention the inner timber frame leaf comprises sheets 21 of heat insulating material located between the struts for preventing heat loss from the building. A vapour check sheet 22 of waterproof plastics film material is provided for lining the timber frame leaf 3 on the building interior side thereof. A plasterboard sheet 24 is secured to the timber frame leaf 3 over the vapour check sheet 22. The inner side of the inner timber frame leaf between the inner leaf and the outer masonry leaf is lined with a sheathing board 25 of the type which will be well known to those skilled in the art. A waterproof breather membrane 26 is applied over the sheathing board 25.

In use, the inner timber frame leaf 3 is initially constructed with the insulating sheets 21 located between the timber struts 11. The sheathing board 25 and the waterproof breather membrane 26 are then secured to the timber frame leaf 3. The outer masonry leaf 2 is then progressively built upwardly course 9 by course 9, and the wall ties 1 are interleaved at appropriate intervals both horizontally along the appropriate courses 9, and vertically upwardly, and the wall ties 1 are also secured to the inner timber frame leaf 3. When the outer masonry leaf 2 has been constructed to a level at which the wall ties 1 are to be located, each wall tie is placed on the course 9 of bricks or blocks, with the sharpened end 18 engaging the corresponding timber strut 11. The pin 10 is then hammered into the timber strut 11 by a hammer applying a series of hammer blows to the head portion 17. Ideally, the hammer blows are applied to the head portion 17 adjacent the pin 10. A layer of mortar is then laid across the course 9 of bricks or blocks ofthe masonry leaf 2, thus embedding the masonry portions 8 of the wall ties 1 therein. The next course 9 of bricks or blocks are laid on the mortar layer. ΪΕΟ 2 Ο ο 5 7 The advantages of the invention are many. By virtue of the fact that the wall tie according to the invention is provided in one piece, and comprises a penetrating portion for penetrating a timber strut of the timber frame leaf, there is no need for other fixing or fastening means for fixing and fastening the wall tie into the timber frame leaf. In particular, there is no need for additional nails or screws to secure the wall tie to the timber frame leaf. This, thus, leads to considerable ease of securing the wall tie to the inner timber frame leaf, and also provides a stronger joint to the inner timber frame leaf than can otherwise be achieved with wall ties known heretofore. Additionally, by virtue of the fact that the wall tie can be constructed from wire, the wall tie is of superior strength to those wall ties which are currently known for use with timber frame buildings. Additionally, by providing the wall tie of a stainless steel wire, a particularly strong wall tie is provided. Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the wall tie is constructed from wire permits the masonry engaging portion to be formed to rigidly and securely engage with good purchase in the masonry leaf of the wall. A further advantage of the wall tie according to the invention is that because the tie is of wire there is little or no danger of masonary, such as, morter and the like collecting on the shank, and thus, there is no danger of the wall tie becoming a bridge for moisture between the inner and outer leaves of the wall.

While the wall tie 1 has been described as being of stainless steel, the wail tie may be of any other suitable wire material, for example, steel wire, and where of steel wire, the steel wire may be galvanized. Additionally, while the wire of the wall tie has been described as being of a specific diameter, the wall tie may be of wire of any AflBd A IE 0 2 0 0 5 7 other suitable or desired diameter. It will also be appreciated that while the wire of the wall tie has been described as being of circular cross-section, the wire of the wail tie may be of other cross-sections, for example, square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or indeed, any other suitable or desirable cross-section.

Claims

1. A wail tie for tying a masonry leaf and a timber frame of a wall together, the wall tie comprising a masonry engaging portion for engaging the masonry leaf of the wall, and a penetrating portion for securing the wall tie to the timber frame by 5 penetration into the timber frame, and an elongated shank joining the masonry engaging portion and the penetrating portion of the wall tie, and extending therebetween.

2. A wall tie as claimed in Claim 1 in which the penetrating portion of the wall tie 10 comprises an elongated pin for penetrating a timber strut of the timber frame.

3. A wail tie as claimed in Claim 2 in which the wall tie is double cranked intermediate the shank and the pin to form a head portion for facilitating hammering of the pin into the timber strut.

4. A wall tie for tying a masonry leaf and a timber frame of a wail together, the wall tie being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 20

5. A wall comprising an outer masonry leaf and an inner leaf of timber frame construction, and a plurality of wall ties tying the inner and outer leaves together, the wall ties being wall ties as claimed in any preceding claim.