GB2110262A - Lintel - Google Patents

Abstract

A lintel (10) has elongate front and rear leaves (12, 14). The front leaf (12) has a ledge (16) which extends forwardly and the rear ledge (14) has a ledge (18) which extends rearwardly. The leaves (12, 14) are secured together at an upper region of the lintel (10) and have lower portions spaced apart. Between the lower portions of the leaves is a spacer block (30) formed with a hook portion (36) which extends into the upper region of the lintel and is secured there against downward movement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lintel This invention relates to lintels comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material.

A lintel of this general type is described in U.K.

Patent Application 8015696. Both leaves have a horizontal ledge for supporting one of the skins of a cavity wall, and an upstanding portion which fits within the cavity between the skins. The upper parts of the two upstanding portions are secured together, while a block of timber is fitted between the lower parts of the two upstanding portions. In general it would be desirable to install the timber blocks ('distance pieces') at the factory, and to deliver the complete lintels to building sites.

Generally the timber blocks are off-cuts, not dimensioned precisely. It is known to have a lintel in which the leaves are resiliently urged against the blocks to hold them in place, allowing some tolerance for differing block sizes. But in a lintel containing several blocks there is still a risk that the smaller blocks will be loose. They may then become displaced, e.g. during storage or transport.

According to the present invention there is provided a lintel comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material, at least one of which is elongate so as to be adapted to span an aperture in a building, said leaves being secured together at an upper region of the lintel and having lower portions which are spaced apart; and at least one spacer block located between said spaced lower portions and restrained against downward movement by detent means which extend into the upper region of the lintel and are secured there against downward movement.

The detent means may be secured by a hook portion hooked over an edge or ledge portion of one of the leaves.

The or each spacer block may comprise a foamed plastics resin material. The detent means may be integral with the block, which may be a unitary moulding.

A lintel embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure is a vertical section.

The lintel 10 has elongate front and rear leaves 12, 14 of sheet metal, the length being chosen to span an aperture e.g. over a window or door. The front leaf 1 2 has ledge 1 6 which extends forwardly (to support the outer skin of a cavity wall), and the rear leaf 14 has a ledge 18 which extends rearwardly (to support the inner skin of a cavity wall). The rear leaf has an upwardly extending wall portion 20. At its upper margin it is bent over forwardly in triangular cross-section to form a channel 22 which is open from below. The front leaf 12 has a upwardly extending wall portion 24 which is generally parallel to the rear wall portion 20, an angled portion 26 which extends towards the rear wall portion 20, and an upright marginal portion 28 which is received in the channel 22.

Between the leaves 12, 14 there are a plurality of like distance pieces 30. Each such piece 30 abuts both of the upwardly extending wall portions 20, 24 with surfaces lying flush against them, and largely fills the space between them.

Adjacent the rear surface of each piece 30 a flange-like portion 32 extends upwardly, flush 'with the rear wall portion 20, into the channel 22.

There it hooks over the marginal portion 28 of the front leaf 12.

The marginal portion 28 is provided with a plurality of pressed-out forward protrusions 34.

As shown, the hooked-over portion 36 of the piece 30 embraces the protrusions 34.

The bottom of each distance piece 30 is approximately level with the ledges 1 6, 18.

Adjacent its front there is a rearwardly-extending slot 37 for securing a mesh 38 of expanded metal. The mesh 38 extends rearwardly along the underside of the ledge 1 8, and is folded over the rear edge thereof and secured. It serves for keying plasterwork etc.

The distance pieces 30 are preferably mouldings cast in phenolic resins reinforced with glass fibre. Suitable resins are exemplified in European Patent Application 79301887.0, published under No. 10353. They can be strong and fire-resistant, and may be lighter than timber blocks. The resin has excellent insulating properties. A spacer 30, cast with an integral flange 32, 36, can be fitted in place by lateral sliding. It will be noted that it prevents contact between the leaves 1 2, 14. This is desirable to form a thermal break. Furthermore, if the leaves are of different metals, e.g. stainless steel (12) and plain or galvanised sheet steel (14), as described in our British Patent Application 8111958, this isolation is desirable to prevent electrolytic action.

The distance pieces 30 may be further secured in place by adhesion to one or both of the leaves 12, 14. The upper portions of the leaves may be so formed that the leaves are secured together so as to be resiliently urged to clamp the pieces 30.

The protrusions 34 and hooked-over portions 36 cannot be withdrawn downwardly out of the channel 22. This prevents accidental dismantling of the lintel 10.

Suitably, each distance piece is 50 mm long, and the centres of adjacent pieces are 300 mm apart. Typical lengths for lintels range from 600 to 3600 mm.

Claims (Filed on 16/11/82) 1. A lintel comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material, at least one of which is elongate so as to be adapted to span an aperture in a building, said leaves being secured together at an upper region of the lintel and having lower portions which are spaced apart, and at least one spacer block located between said spaced lower portions and restrained against downward movement by detent means which extend into the upper region of the lintel and are secured there against downward movement.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   SPECIFICATION Lintel This invention relates to lintels comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material.

   A lintel of this general type is described in U.K.

   Patent Application 8015696. Both leaves have a horizontal ledge for supporting one of the skins of a cavity wall, and an upstanding portion which fits within the cavity between the skins. The upper parts of the two upstanding portions are secured together, while a block of timber is fitted between the lower parts of the two upstanding portions. In general it would be desirable to install the timber blocks ('distance pieces') at the factory, and to deliver the complete lintels to building sites.

   Generally the timber blocks are off-cuts, not dimensioned precisely. It is known to have a lintel in which the leaves are resiliently urged against the blocks to hold them in place, allowing some tolerance for differing block sizes. But in a lintel containing several blocks there is still a risk that the smaller blocks will be loose. They may then become displaced, e.g. during storage or transport.

   According to the present invention there is provided a lintel comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material, at least one of which is elongate so as to be adapted to span an aperture in a building, said leaves being secured together at an upper region of the lintel and having lower portions which are spaced apart; and at least one spacer block located between said spaced lower portions and restrained against downward movement by detent means which extend into the upper region of the lintel and are secured there against downward movement.

   The detent means may be secured by a hook portion hooked over an edge or ledge portion of one of the leaves.

   The or each spacer block may comprise a foamed plastics resin material. The detent means may be integral with the block, which may be a unitary moulding.

   A lintel embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure is a vertical section.

   The lintel 10 has elongate front and rear leaves 12, 14 of sheet metal, the length being chosen to span an aperture e.g. over a window or door. The front leaf 1 2 has ledge 1 6 which extends forwardly (to support the outer skin of a cavity wall), and the rear leaf 14 has a ledge 18 which extends rearwardly (to support the inner skin of a cavity wall). The rear leaf has an upwardly extending wall portion 20. At its upper margin it is bent over forwardly in triangular cross-section to form a channel 22 which is open from below. The front leaf 12 has a upwardly extending wall portion 24 which is generally parallel to the rear wall portion 20, an angled portion 26 which extends towards the rear wall portion 20, and an upright marginal portion 28 which is received in the channel 22.

   Between the leaves 12, 14 there are a plurality of like distance pieces 30. Each such piece 30 abuts both of the upwardly extending wall portions 20, 24 with surfaces lying flush against them, and largely fills the space between them.

   Adjacent the rear surface of each piece 30 a flange-like portion 32 extends upwardly, flush 'with the rear wall portion 20, into the channel 22.

   There it hooks over the marginal portion 28 of the front leaf 12.

   The marginal portion 28 is provided with a plurality of pressed-out forward protrusions 34.

   As shown, the hooked-over portion 36 of the piece 30 embraces the protrusions 34.

   The bottom of each distance piece 30 is approximately level with the ledges 1 6, 18.

   Adjacent its front there is a rearwardly-extending slot 37 for securing a mesh 38 of expanded metal. The mesh 38 extends rearwardly along the underside of the ledge 1 8, and is folded over the rear edge thereof and secured. It serves for keying plasterwork etc.

   The distance pieces 30 are preferably mouldings cast in phenolic resins reinforced with glass fibre. Suitable resins are exemplified in European Patent Application 79301887.0, published under No. 10353. They can be strong and fire-resistant, and may be lighter than timber blocks. The resin has excellent insulating properties. A spacer 30, cast with an integral flange 32, 36, can be fitted in place by lateral sliding. It will be noted that it prevents contact between the leaves 1 2, 14. This is desirable to form a thermal break. Furthermore, if the leaves are of different metals, e.g. stainless steel (12) and plain or galvanised sheet steel (14), as described in our British Patent Application 8111958, this isolation is desirable to prevent electrolytic action.

   The distance pieces 30 may be further secured in place by adhesion to one or both of the leaves 12, 14. The upper portions of the leaves may be so formed that the leaves are secured together so as to be resiliently urged to clamp the pieces 30.

   The protrusions 34 and hooked-over portions 36 cannot be withdrawn downwardly out of the channel 22. This prevents accidental dismantling of the lintel 10.

   Suitably, each distance piece is 50 mm long, and the centres of adjacent pieces are 300 mm apart. Typical lengths for lintels range from 600 to

   3600 mm.

   Claims (Filed on 16/11/82) 1. A lintel comprising front and rear leaves of sheet material, at least one of which is elongate so as to be adapted to span an aperture in a building, said leaves being secured together at an upper region of the lintel and having lower portions which are spaced apart, and at least one spacer block located between said spaced lower portions and restrained against downward movement by detent means which extend into the upper region of the lintel and are secured there against downward movement.
2. 2. A lintel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detent means are secured by a hook portion hooked over an edge portion of one of the leaves.
3. 3. A lintel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each spacer block comprises a foamed plastics resin material.
4. 4. A lintel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the detent means is integral with the block.
5. 5. A lintel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the detent means and block are a one piece moulding.
6. 6. A lintel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.