IE64630B1 - "A lintel" - Google Patents

Abstract

A lintel 1, comprises an outer plate member 7, an inner plate member 8 and a connecting member 10, 11 of inverted channel shape connecting the plate members 7, 8. Adhesion enhancing means for keying the lintel in position on a bed of mortar comprises a sheet of preformed plastics material for attachment along the underside of at least the inner plate member 8. The sheet has a plurality of slots or holes and spacing legs 22 extend from the sheet to engage the underside of at least one of the plate members 7, 8 to define a recess for accommodating mortar. The sheet alternatively may have keying lugs defining plaster receiving recesses therebetween.

Description

The invention relates to lintels, and more especially to lintels for supporting a cavity wall over an opening, the lintel being of the type comprisingία pair of spaced-apart elongated plate members for 5 supporting the inner and outer leaves of a wall, and a connecting member extending between the plate members .

According to one aspect the invention provides a lintel having an adhesion enhancing means on the lintel, the adhesion enhancing means comprising a sheet of plastics material having keying means for keying with a bed of mortar or the like, the sheet having an inturned lip portion to embrace a longitudinal edge of the lintel, in use, for retaining the sheet in position.

Preferably the lintel is for supporting a cavity external or internal wall over an opening, the lintel comprising:«I a pair of spaced-apart elongated plate members for supporting the inner and outer leaves of a wall, and a connecting member extending between the plate members, the adhesion enhancing means being provided on the lintel * for keying with a bed of mortar or the like.

Preferably the keying means comprises a plurality of spacedapart slots/holes in the sheet to define keying recesses for receiving mortar. Most preferably the sheet includes spacers extending from the sheet to engage the underside of portion of the lintel. In use, to define a recess for accommodating mortar between the plastics sheet and the underside of the lintel.

Ideally, the sheet includes an engagement means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material in the connecting part of the lintel. Preferably, the engagement means comprises an engagement leg extending from the adhesion enhancing means and having a barb means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material.

In one embodiment of the invention the connector member is an elongated generally inverted channel-shape member comprising a pair of side webs, the lower free longitudinal side edges of r the side webs of the channel being joined to the inner longitudinal edges of the plate members so that the plate members extend away from each other and outwardly of the channel member. In one case the plate members are generally coplanar. Alternatively, the plate members are of step construction in which the connecting member defines a locating member for abutting and locating a frame in an opening.

In one embodiment of the invention a heat insulating material is provided in the lintel. Preferably, the heat insulating material is provided along at least part of the connecting member of the lintel.

In another aspect the invention provides lintel adhesion enhancing means of preformed plastics material for keying a lintel with a bed of mortar or the like, the adhesion enhancing means comprising a sheet of plastics material having keying means for keying with a bed of mortar or the like, the sheet having an interned lip portion to embrace a longitudinal edge of the lintel, in use, for retaining the sheet in position.

Preferably the adhesion enhancing means comprises a sheet of plastics material having keying means for keying with a bed of mortar or the like. In one arrangement, the keying means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slots/holes to define keying recesses for receiving mortar. Preferably, the sheet includes spacers extending from the sheet to engage the underside of portion of the lintel, in use, to define a recess - 4 for accommodating mortar between the plastics sheet and the underside of the lintel. Typically the adhesion enhancing means includes an engagement means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material in a lintel. Preferably, the engagement means comprises an engagement leg extending from the adhesion enhancing means and having a barb means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which sFig. 1 is a perspective, partially cross sectional view of a lintel according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the lintel, in use; Fig. 3 is another cross sectional view of the lintel, in 15 use, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the lintel, in use; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a keying means used with the lintel; and - 5 Fig. 6 is a perspective, partially cross sectional view of a further lintel according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, there is illustrated a lintel according to one embodiment of the invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The lintel 1, in use, supports the inner and outer leaves 13, 14 respectively of a cavity wall above an opening. The lintel 1 comprises a pair of elongated plate members, namely, an outer plate member 7 for supporting the outer leaf 13 of a wall and an inner plate member 8 for supporting the inner leaf 14 of a wall. A connecting member extends between the plate members 7, 8 and in this case the connecting member is of generally inverted channel-shape in side view and comprises a pair of side webs 10, 11 extending from the plate members 7, 8 respectively and a connecting web 12 extending between the side webs 10, 11. It will be noted that the side web 10 is cranked intermediate the ends thereof to define an inclined portion 10a. In this case the lintel 1 is of stepped construction, the outer plate member 7 being spaced downwardly from the inner plate member 8 to define a step portion 15 for abutting against a frame 17, in use, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The lintel 1 also includes a block 16 of foam polystyrene material which in this case substantially fills the area between the side webs 10, 11 and the connecting web 12. In - 6 use, a layer of damp proof material 29 is provided between the inner and outer leaves 13, 14.

Adhesion enhancing means according to the invention, for keying the lintel 1 in position on a bed 19 of mortar, plaster or the like comprises a preformed plastics member 20 which is illustrated particularly in Fig. 5.

The keying member 20 comprises a plastics sheet 21 having a plurality of slots or holes 24 cut-away to define keying recesses. Spacing legs 22 extend from the sheet 21 to engage the underside of one of the plate members 7, 8 of the lintel 1 and define therewith a recess for accommodating mortar for keying and retaining the lintel 1 in position as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The keying member 20 includes an in-turned lip portion 25 which engages with the longitudinal edge of the plate member 8 of the lintel to retain the keying member 1 in position. A locking projection 27 extends to engage the underside of the plate member 8.

The keying member 20 also includes an engagement means comprising an engagement leg 30 with a barb 31 for engagement with the block of insulating material.

In use, the channel defined by the side webs 10, 11 of the lintel is opened slightly by clamping the plate members 7, 8 and pulling them outwardly. A block 16 of pre-shaped foam V insulating material is then inserted into the channel. The 3 5 keying member 20 is fitted by sliding it into position and the clamps are released, allowing the side webs 10, 11 to move inwardly to closely confine the block 16 of foam which is also engaged by the barb 31. The lintel 1 is then fitted in a conventional manner as described above.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is illustrated another lintel 73 according to the invention. In this case, the lintel is a flat type lintel which is recommended for blockwork external cavity walls with a rendered outer leaf. An adhesion enhancing means as described above with reference to Figs 1 to is used. The plate members 7, 8 of the lintel are substantially co-planar. In this case, adhesion enhancing sheets are fitted to both of the plate members 7, 8, as illustrated.

The particular advantages of an adhesion enhancing means of preformed plastics material is that it is of generally cheap construction and can be readily easily attached by any suitable means to the underside of the lintel, and cut to > length. Because the adhesion enhancing means is of plastics material, it does not degrade during storage of the lintel or in use. -flit will be appreciated that the adhesion enhancing means described above may be used in association with any suitable lintel.

Cj Very many variations and modifications on the specific 5 embodiments of the invention described will be readily apparent. In particular, the lintel may be of any suitable shape and configuration and may be formed in one, two or more sections. Preferably, however, the lintel is formed from a single sheet of metal material, preferably galvanised steel.

The lintel may be designed for use in external cavity wails, solid external walls, single or double skin internal walls and possibly also for timber frame constructions. The lintels may also be of composite construction.

These and many other variations and modifications will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (18)

1. A lintel having an adhesion enhancing means on the lintel, the adhesion enhancing means comprising a sheet of plastics material having keying means for keying with 5 a bed of mortar or the like, the sheet having an inturned lip portion to embrace a longitudinal edge of the lintel, in use, for retaining the sheet in position.

2. A lintel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lintel is for supporting a cavity external or internal wail over an 10 opening, the lintel comprising:a pair of spaced-apart elongated plate members for supporting the inner and outer leaves of a wall, and a connecting member extending between the plate members, the adhesion enhancing means being provided 15 on the lintel for keying with a bed of mortar or the like.

3. A lintel as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the keying means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slots/holes in the sheet to define keying recesses for receiving 20 mortar.

4. A lintel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sheet includes spacers extending from the sheet to engage the underside of portion of the lintel, in use, to define a recess for accommodating mortar between the plastics sheet and the 5. Underside of the lintel.

5. A lintel as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the sheet includes an engagement means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material in the connecting part of the lintel. 10

6. A lintel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engagement means comprises an engagement leg extending from the adhesion enhancing means and having a barb means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material.

7. A lintel as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the 15 connector member is an elongated generally inverted channel-shape member comprising a pair of side webs, the lower free longitudinal side edges of the side webs of the channel being joined to the inner longitudinal edges of the plate members so that the plate members extend 20 away from each other and outwardly of the channel member.

8. A lintel as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the plate members are generally coplanar.

9. A lintel as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the plate members are of step construction in which the connecting member defines a locating member for abutting and locating a frame in an opening.

10. A lintel as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9 wherein a heat insulating material is provided in the lintel.

11. A lintel as claimed in claim 10 wherein the heat insulating material is provided along at least part of the connecting member of the lintel.

12. A lintel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Lintel adhesion enhancing means of preformed plastics material for keying a lintel with a bed of mortar or the like, the adhesion enhancing means comprising a sheet of plastics material having keying means for keying with a bed of mortar or the like, the sheet having an inturned lip portion to embrace a longitudinal edge of the lintel, in use, for retaining the sheet in position.

14. Adhesion enhancing means as claimed in claim 13, wherein the keying means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slots/holes to define keying recesses for receiving mortar. 12 —

15. Adhesion enhancing means as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sheet includes spacers extending from the sheet to engage the underside of portion of the lintel, in use, to t define a recess for accommodating mortar between the 5 plastics sheet and the underside of the lintel.

16. Adhesion enhancing means as claimed in claim 14 or 15 including an engagement means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material in a lintel.

17. Adhesion enhancing means as claimed in claim 16, wherein 10 the engagement means comprises an engagement leg extending from the adhesion enhancing means and having a barb means for engagement with a block of foam insulating material.

18. Adhesion enhancing means substantially as hereinbefore 15 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.