GB2548615A

GB2548615A - A support fixture

Info

Publication number: GB2548615A
Application number: GB1605014.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Demeester Kris; Demeester Christopher
Original assignee: Probuild Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Probuild Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-24
Filing date: 2016-03-24
Publication date: 2017-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-24
Also published as: GB201605014D0; GB2548615B

Abstract

A support fixture for shuttering panels, for example those used to form basements, comprises a holding arrangement having an open front side 6, a surrounding wall 5 and a support plate 7. A connection arrangement 10 allows the fixture to be removably attached to another component such as a rib of a shuttering panel or a drag beam fixed to the ground. An insert (13, Figure 2) formed from a material such as wood is provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface. The material of the insert is softer than that of the holding arrangement, which may be formed from metal. The holding arrangement may be set at an angle. The fixture may be used in conjunction with a shuttering bracing component such as an acrow prop, which may be attached to the insert.

Description

Title: A support fixture Description of Invention THIS INVENTION relates to a support fixture, and in particular concerns a fixture for providing support to shuttering panels and the like during building work.

In recent years it has become increasingly popular, particularly in environments such as cities where space is limited, to increase the useable area of a house or other dwelling by adding a basement.

When adding a basement to an existing dwelling, it is generally necessary to dig or otherwise excavate a hole beneath the existing floor of the dwelling, and then to place shuttering panels so that concrete can be poured to form a floor and walls for the new basement area.

Many systems and devices have been developed for supporting shuttering panels in various kinds of building work. However, it has been found that these existing solutions often do not lend themselves to supporting shuttering when forming a basement, because of the very limited space that is available.

The present invention aims to provide a support fixture which will at least partially alleviate this difficulty. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed.

Advantageously, the surrounding wall substantially entirely surrounds the support surface.

Preferably, the surrounding wall is raised above the level of the support surface by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the insert.

Conveniently, at least some components of the holding arrangement are formed from metal.

Advantageously, the surrounding wall and the support surface are formed from metal.

Preferably, the support surface is fixed to the surrounding wall.

Conveniently, a standard metal screw may be removably driven into the material of the insert substantially without damaging the screw.

Advantageously, the material of the insert is wood.

Preferably, the support fixture further comprises a support element which provides a surface on which support fixture may rest to maintain the support fixture in a desired orientation with respect to the surface.

Conveniently, the support element is arranged with respect to the holding arrangement so that, if the surface of the support element rests on a ground plane, the holding portion is set at an angle to the ground plane.

Advantageously, the angle is around 45°.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a support fixture according to any preceding claim in combination with a further structural or building component, wherein the further component has one or more connection sites formed thereon, and wherein the connection arrangement of the support fixture may be removably attached to any of the one or more connection sites.

Preferably, the further component is a shuttering panel, and the one or more connection sites are formed on a rear surface of the shuttering panel.

Conveniently, the shuttering panel comprises one or more elongate ribs on the rear surface thereof, with the connection sites being located at spaced apart intervals on the or each elongate rib.

Advantageously, there are at least two ribs which are substantially parallel with each other.

Preferably, there are at least two ribs which are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Conveniently, the further component may be removably fixed in place with respect to a soft ground surface.

Advantageously, the further component is a drag beam. A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of bracing a component, comprising the steps of: providing a support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed; attaching the connection arrangement to a connection site of the component to be braced; providing an elongate bracing component; attaching a first end of the bracing component to a bracing site; and attaching a second end of the bracing component to the planar insert of the support fixture.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing a bracing site, comprising: providing a support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed; attaching the support fixture to a further component which may be removably fixed in place with respect to a soft ground surface; providing an elongate bracing component; attaching a first end of the bracing component to a component that is to be braced; and attaching a second end of the bracing component to the planar insert of the support fixture. n order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figures 1 and 2 show a first support fixture embodying the present invention; figure 3 shows a second support fixture embodying the present invention; figure 4 shows a drag beam suitable for use with the invention; and figure 5 shows a third support fixture embodying the present invention.

With reference firstly to figure 1, a first support fixture 1 embodying the present invention is shown.

The first support fixture 1 comprises a holding portion 2, which in the example shown takes the form of four generally planar walls 3. Each of the walls 3 is generally rectangular. The walls 3 are joined together at their ends 4 to form a short tube which is preferably rectangular, and most preferably square (i.e. a box kite-type configuration), so that the major faces 5 of two of the walls 3 face one another, and the major faces 5 of the two other walls 3 also face each other.

In the example shown, the walls 3 have bevelled ends 4 which are set at 45° to the main plane of the wall, to allow the walls 3 to fit together neatly at right angles to one another.

The walls 3 may be joined to each other by any suitable method, for instance by welding. The square shape formed by the four walls 3 has an open front end 6.

Support plates 7 are set at right angles to the walls 3 and are attached to the rear edges of the walls 3. The support plates 7 form a support surface which is generally parallel with, and aligned with, the rear edges of the walls 3.

In the examples shown, there are four support plates 7, one attached to each of the walls (although the support plates 7 may be formed integrally with the walls, in other embodiments). In the example shown the support plates 7 extend inwardly towards the centre of the square shape formed by the walls 3, but do not extend all the way to the centre. The support plates 7 are generally trapezoid in shape, and abut one another to form a generally continuous support surface, which has a central hole 8 formed therethrough. In the example shown the hole has a square or substantially square shape. In other embodiments, however, the support surface may entirely close the rear side of the interior shape defined by the walls 3.

In other embodiments, a single support plate may be fitted across the rear sides of the walls 3, thus entirely or partially closing the rear side of the shape formed by the walls 3.

The holding portion 2 therefore comprises a series of walls 3 which are arranged to create a closed or substantially closed shape having an open front end 6, and having one or more support plates 7 that form a support surface at or near the rear end of the closed shape.

In the example shown in figure 1, a connection plate 9 extends all of the way across the rear side of the support portion 2, being affixed to the rear side of two opposite support plates 7. A connection arrangement 10 is attached to the rear side of the connection plate 9. In the example shown, the connection arrangement 10 takes the form of two parallel attachment plates 11, which extend away from the connection plate 9 and are set generally at right angles thereto.

The attachment plates 11 each have an attachment hole 12 formed therethrough. In the example shown, the attachment hole 12 is generally round in shape. In the view shown in the figures, a generally cylindrical bar 15 passes through the attachment holes 12 formed in the attachment plates 11.

However, this bar 15 does not (in this example) form part of the first support fixture 1.

All of the above components are robustly attached to one another, for instance by welding. It is preferred that all of the components described above are formed from a strong, resilient material such as steel or another metal, which will retain its shape and withstand heavy loads, and also withstand the inevitable knocks and wear and tear that will be sustained during building work.

To complete the support fixture, a panel of a material such as wood, into which screws or the like can be removably driven, is fitted into the holding portion 2 so that it rests on the support surface formed by the support plates 7. The panel is preferably of substantially the same shape as the shape formed by the walls 3, so that it fits closely within the walls 3. This will help to prevent unwanted movement or “play” during use of the support fixture 1.

For instance, a plane of plywood or a similar wood may be formed and fitted into the holding portion 2 so that it rests on the support surface. The plywood plane may be held in place on the support surface by any suitable means, for instance by gluing or through screws or nails. If screws, nails or similar fixtures are used, it is preferred that they are driven into a rear side of the plywood, for reasons that will be understood from the following discussion. The screws, nails or other attachment means may be driven into the rear side of the plywood through attachment holes (not shown) formed in the support surface.

It is important that the panel of material is held firmly in place within the holding portion 2, but also that it can be removed and replaced at a later time. Screws are therefore a good method of attachment.

Figure 2 shows the support fixture 1 having a square of plywood 13 fitted on to the support surface, as discussed above.

In use, the connection arrangement 10 is attached to, for example, a portion of a shuttering panel. The shuttering panel may, for example, include a series of spaced-apart beams or ribs, which may be horizontal, vertical or oriented in any other way.

In one example, a shuttering panel may have a rib formed on its rear side having a hole formed therethrough, set substantially parallel with the plane of the panel and generally corresponding in size to the attachment holes 12 formed in the attachment plates 11 of the support fixture 1. The rib has a width which is slightly less than the space between the two attachment plates 11. The attachment plates 11 are positioned either side of the rib, so that the attachment holes 12 formed through the attachment plates 11 generally align with the hole formed through the rib. A connecting pin can then be pushed all the way through the attachment holes 12 in the attachment plates 11 and the hole formed in the rib, and secured at its ends to hold the support fixture 1 firmly in place with respect to the shuttering panel. A support member or beam such as an acrow prop may be attached to the support fixture.

An acrow prop will, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, generally include a connection plate at its end, having attachment holes formed therethrough. The connection plate may be placed against the square 13 of plywood that is attached to the support surface of the support fixture 1, and attached firmly thereto, for instance by means of screws which pass through the attachment holes in the connection plate of the acrow prop and are screwed directly into the square 13 of plywood.

It will therefore be understood that the combination of a strong and durable (preferably steel) frame, supporting a more deformable material such as wood, allows a support fixture which is robust and may be re-used many times, and which can be flexibly attached to a shuttering panel or other component that requires support. However, the presence of the softer material such as wood means that a supporting element such as an acrow prop may be attached to the support fixture 1 in an easy and readily removable manner, without requiring any precise alignment of the acrow prop with any part of the support fixture 1.

The robust walls 3 which surround the panel of more deformable material help to hold the panel firmly in place, while also helping to prevent lateral slippage of the acrow prop in the event that the connections between the acrow prop and the panel fail (for instance, if one or more screws connecting the acrow prop to the panel break or are pulled out of the panel).

For this reason, the walls 3 form a continuous or substantially continuous barrier around the support surface, that is raised with respect to the level of the support surface by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the panel which may be attached to the support surface.

Turning to figure 3, an alternative support fixture 14 is shown. The principal difference between this and the first support fixture shown in figures 1 and 2 is that the holding portion 2 is set at an angle of 45°, or around 45°, to the connection arrangement 10. As the skilled person will appreciate, this alternative support fixture 14 will be useful in situations where the angle at which a supporting member such as an acrow prop needs to be arranged with respect to a shuttering panel or the like is required to be around 45°.

It is envisaged that, for most building tasks, the support fixtures 1 where the connection arrangement 10 is substantially straight-on to the holding portion 2 (for instance as is shown in figures 1 and 2), and further support fixtures such as shown in figure 3 where the connection arrangement 10 is set at around 45° to the holding portion 2, will be sufficient. However, it should be appreciated that the angle at which the holding portion 2 is set to the connection arrangement 10 may be any other useful angle.

It is also envisaged that the angle between the connection arrangement and the holding portion may be adjustable. For instance, a hinge may be provided between the support arrangement and the connection arrangement, with threaded bolts or the like being provided to tighten the hinge to “lock” it in a desired position.

Any other suitable means for allowing the angle to be adjusted may be used. It is, however, expected that builders and other construction professionals will prefer relatively simple and rugged support fixtures, such as shown in figures 1,2 and 3.

In other aspects, the invention provides a support fixture, which may be as described above, in conjunction with a shuttering panel having at least one connection site, wherein the connection arrangement 10 of the support fixture may be removably attached to the connection site of the shuttering panel. Preferably, the shuttering panel has a generally planar front surface, which is adapted to face towards and help to shape concrete (or another material) as it is poured and before it has set. The connection site is provided on an opposite, rear side of the shuttering panel.

For instance, as discussed above, a shuttering panel may comprise a metal framework having spaced-apart beams or ribs, with holes of an appropriate size formed through the beams or ribs to provide connection sites. The connection sites may be provided at spaced-apart intervals, to allow a variety of locations at which the support fixtures may be attached.

Alternatively, the rear of the shuttering panel may be generally planar, but have one or more projections protruding therefrom, each of the projections comprising an attachment site. For instance, each projection may comprise a metal cylinder having a hole drilled or otherwise formed therethrough. A regular grid of such protrusions may be provided on the rear of the shuttering panel, to allow a grid of attachment sites to which support fixtures may be attached.

It will be understood that there is a wide variety of ways in which a shuttering panel may be formed with one or more connection sites on its rear side, and the above are given merely as examples.

Turning to figures 4 and 5, a further example of a device embodying the invention is shown. Figure 4 shows a drag beam 16, which in the example shown comprises an elongate beam 17 having a generally rectangular cross-section. A series of plates 18 (in this example, three plates 18) are affixed, for instance, by welding, to the beam 17 so that they extend outwardly generally at right angles to the main axis of the beam 17. In the example shown the plates 18 extend outwardly in both directions from the beam 17.

The plates 18 have holes 19 formed therethrough, and in the example shown in figure 4 two holes 19 are formed through each plate 18, one on each side of the beam 17.

In use, the drag beam 16 may be placed on an area of relatively soft ground, and ground stakes (not shown) may be driven through the holes 19 and into the ground. As the skilled reader will understand, the drag beam 16 will therefore strongly resist movement in the plane parallel with the ground, and therefore provides an anchored point to which other components can be fixed, or against which other components can be braced.

The beam 17 also has attachment holes 27 formed therethrough, to allow the beam to be attached to a support fixture, described in more detail below. In the example shown the attachment holes 27 are formed through the beam 17 in a direction generally perpendicular to the main axis of the beam, and generally parallel with the planes of the plates 18. Four attachment holes 27 are formed through the beam in the example shown, although any suitable number of attachment holes 27 may be formed.

Figure 5 shows a third support fixture 20. The third support fixture 20 has a holding portion 2 which has the same features as the support fixtures 1, 14 described above.

However, the third support fixture 20 has an elongate threaded bolt 21 protruding from the rear surface of the holding portion 2, and set at 45° to the plane of the holding portion 2. The bolt 21 is of a suitable diameter to pass through one of the attachment holes 27 formed in the drag beam 16. Either the attachment holes 27 themselves may be threaded, or nuts (not shown) may be threaded onto the bolt 21 to hold it in place with respect to the beam 17.

The third support fixture 20 also has a ground support 22, which has a surface 23 which may be placed on the ground (or another surface) when the third support fixture 20 is in use. Preferably, the surface 23 is oriented so that, when the surface 23 is placed against the ground, the elongate bolt 21 is generally parallel with the ground.

In the example shown, the ground support 22 is generally triangular and extends across the width of the holding portion 2. The ground support 22 has a first face 24 which is fixed to the rear surface of the holding portion 2, a second face 23 which is set at (or around) 45° to the first face 24 and which may rest on the ground in use, and a third face 25 which is set at right angles to the second surface 23, and again at (or around) 45° to the first face 24. In the embodiment shown the elongate bolt 21 is fixed to, and protrudes from, the third face 25.

The skilled reader will realise that the ground support 22 may take any other suitable form. Also, it is not necessary for the elongate bolt 21 to be attached to the holding portion 2 by way of the ground support 22.

It is envisaged that the drag beam 16 and third support fixture 20 will be used where there is no solid material/feature to support one end of an acrow prop, where the other end of the acrow prop is to be used to support a shuttering panel, as described above.

In these circumstances, the drag beam 16 will be placed on the ground, and stakes will be driven through the holes 19 formed in the plates 18, and into the ground. The third support fixture 20 will then be attached to the drag beam 16 by passing the elongate bolt 21 thereof through one of the attachment holes 27 and fixing it in place. Finally, one end of an acrow prop can be attached to a sheet of a relatively soft material, such as plywood, which is held by the holding portion 2, as described above.

The acrow prop may therefore be held in place between two support fixtures according to the invention, one of which is attached to the rear of a shuttering panel, and the other of which is attached to a drag beam.

The skilled reader will appreciate that other components and devices may also be attached to support fixtures embodying the invention, to allow supporting elements such as acrow props to be installed where needed.

It will be understood that embodiments of the invention may provide robust, flexible and practical devices that will allow building tasks, particularly in confined spaces, to be accomplished more quickly and easily.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed.

2. A support fixture according to claim 1 wherein the surrounding wall substantially entirely surrounds the support surface.

3. A support fixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surrounding wall is raised above the level of the support surface by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the insert.

4. A support fixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some components of the holding arrangement are formed from metal.

5. A support fixture according to claim 3, wherein the surrounding wall and the support surface are formed from metal.

6. A support fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the support surface is fixed to the surrounding wall.

7. A support fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein a standard metal screw may be removably driven into the material of the insert substantially without damaging the screw.

8. A support fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the insert is wood.

9. A support fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising a support element which provides a surface on which support fixture may rest to maintain the support fixture in a desired orientation with respect to the surface.

10. A support fixture according to claim 9, wherein the support element is arranged with respect to the holding arrangement so that, if the surface of the support element rests on a ground plane, the holding portion is set at an angle to the ground plane.

11. A support fixture according to claim 10, wherein the angle is around 45°.

12. A support fixture according to any preceding claim in combination with a further structural or building component, wherein the further component has one or more connection sites formed thereon, and wherein the connection arrangement of the support fixture may be removably attached to any of the one or more connection sites.

13. A support fixture and further component according to claim 12, wherein the further component is a shuttering panel, and the one or more connection sites are formed on a rear surface of the shuttering panel.

14. A support fixture and shuttering panel according to claim 13, wherein the shuttering panel comprises one or more elongate ribs on the rear surface thereof, with the connection sites being located at spaced apart intervals on the or each elongate rib.

15. A support fixture and panel according to claim 14, wherein there are at least two ribs which are substantially parallel with each other.

16. A support fixture and panel according to claim 14 or 15, wherein there are at least two ribs which are substantially perpendicular to each other.

17. A shuttering panel and further component according to claim 12, wherein the further component may be removably fixed in place with respect to a soft ground surface.

18. A shuttering panel and further component according to claim 17, wherein the further component is a drag beam.

19. A method of bracing a component, comprising the steps of: providing a support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed; attaching the connection arrangement to a connection site of the component to be braced; providing an elongate bracing component; attaching a first end of the bracing component to a bracing site; and attaching a second end of the bracing component to the planar insert of the support fixture.

20. A method of providing a bracing site, comprising: providing a support fixture comprising: a holding arrangement, having an open front side, a surrounding wall and a support plate provided at its rear side; a connection arrangement attached to the rear side of the holding arrangement, the connection arrangement allowing the support fixture to be removably attached to another component; and a generally planar insert comprising a quantity of a material provided in the holding arrangement, positioned within the surrounding wall and removably attachable to the support surface, the material being softer than the material from which the holding arrangement is formed; attaching the support fixture to a further component which may be removably fixed in place with respect to a soft ground surface; providing an elongate bracing component; attaching a first end of the bracing component to a component that is to be braced; and attaching a second end of the bracing component to the planar insert of the support fixture.

21. A support fixture substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A support fixture and panel substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A shuttering panel and further component substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.