GB2099477A - Coping - Google Patents

Abstract

A coping arrangement comprises lower members (12) for bonding to a wall (24) and co-operating with upper members (20) to form a coping which is not susceptible to displacement across the wall. The members (12) have bars (16) engageable in recesses (22) in the members (20) whereby when mortar is applied to each of the members, a displacement of the mortar takes place and a desired thickness remains for bonding. The members (20) overlie the joins between adjacent members (12) such that a dampproof course becomes unnecessary. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in coping This invention is concerned with improvements in coping designed particularly for free standing walls and the like.

To complete a free-standing wall it is normally necessary to finish the wall with coping which presents an upper surface allowing water to run off to one or both sides of the wall, and which prevents the ingress of water vertically into the wall and thus prevents damage to the bricks and mortar used in the wall. The different types of coping previously proposed have been found to be susceptible to displacement across the width of the wall, and the requirement of a damp-proof course below the coping has added to this problem in view of the difficulties in properly bonding the coping to the wall through the dampproof course.

According to the present invention there is provided a coping arrangement comprising a first member having a body formed on one side with a plurality of integral upstanding parts thereon, and a second member having a body, on one side of which is defined a water displacement surface and in the opposed side of which is defined a recess for co-operating with each of the upstanding parts on the first member, the second member, when inverted, being locatable on the first member with each of the upstanding parts locating in the respective recess and providing a desired thickness of cementitious material between the members for bonding.

Preferably each upstanding part has a substantially dovetail cross-section with each recess having a substantially complementary cross-section.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of erecting a coping on a structure, including providing a plurality of first members each having a main body formed on one side with a plurality of integral upstanding parts thereon, and a second member having a body, on one side of which is defined a water displacement surface and in the opposed side of which is defined a recess for co-operating with each of the upstanding parts on the first member, bonding the first member to the structure, applying a cementitious material in a fluid state to at least an adjacent pair of the first members substantially to the level of the upstanding parts, applying a cementitious material in a fluid state to the second member to fill the recesses therein, and inverting the second member to locate on the pair of first members but overlying the joining edges thereof, whereby an amount of the cementitious material is displaced and a desired thickness of the cementitious material remains between the members for bonding.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a coping according to the invention in relation to a wall; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly cut-away, of the coping erected on a wall; Figs. 3a and 3b show, in end view, a variation of the coping mounted on different walls; and Figs. 4a and 4b show, in end view, another vairation of the coping mounted on different walls.

Referring to the drawings, an interlocking coping for a wall 8 comprises a first member 10 having a body 12 defined on one side by a substantially planar surface 14 and on the opposite side by a pair of spaced apart parallel upstanding bars 16. The body 12 is of a substantially rectangular configuration and the bars 1 6 extend between one pair of opposed edges parallel to the other pair of opposed edges.

The bars 1 6 are substantially equispaced along said one pair of edges. Each of the bars 1 6 has a dovetail cross-section.

The coping has a second member 18, preferably a water impervious tile, having a main body 20, one side of which has therein a pair of spaced apart parallel recesses 22, substantially of a cross-section complementary to the bars 1 6.

The body 20 is of substantially rectangular configuration and the recesses 22 extend between one pair of opposed edges substantially parallel to the other pair of opposed edges. Relative to the side in which the recesses 22 are defined, the opposed side of the body 20 is designed to slope from one of the other pair of opposed edges to the other across the body 20 with the sloping side being rounded off at each of the said other pair of opposed edges.

To erect the coping on a wall 24 (Fig. 2), the member 10 is applied to a bed 26 of mortar laid over an uppermost course 28 of bricks in the wall 24 in a position overlying a joint between the bricks in the wall 24. Further members 10 are similarly bonded to the wall and to each other. To assist in retaining the members 10 on the wall 24, clamps 30, preferably of stainless steel are embedded in the mortar of the wall 24 to extend vertically therefrom, the clamps 30 having turned horizontal legs 32 arranged to overlie the members 10 between the bars 1 6. Keying grooves 34 are preferably provided in the surfaces 1 4 of the members 10 and extend parallel to the bars 16.A drip tray 36, for example of stainless steel, is preferably embedded in the member 10 to overhang the wall 24, and the coping can easily accept reinforcing wires (not shown) located at the sides of the bars 16. To secure the member 18, mortar is applied to an adjacent pair of previously erected members 10 and the level of mortar is preferably built up to be flush with the upper surface of the bars 1 6 at either side of each of the bars 16, thus facilitating the application of the mortar. Similarly mortar is applied to the member 18 to fill the recesses 22 and this also facilitates the application of the mortar.

The member 18 is then inverted and located over the adjacent part of the members 10 so as to overlie the joint therebetween. The bars 1 6 are located in the recesses 22. The design of the bars 1 6 and the recesses 22 is such that the application of the member 18 causes displacement of an amount of the mortar to emit any trapped air and leave the desired thickness of mortar between the members, which makes an effective bond when the mortar sets. Further members 18 are located on the wall in a similar manner. The bond created by this interlocking coping is such that a damp-proof course need not be used to prevent vertical ingress of water. In addition however water repellant additives can be used in the mortar for waterproofing the joints.

The dovetail cross-section of the bars 1 6 and the recesses 22 further provides a keying effect which improves the interlocking. The mortar between the bars 1 6 and the recesses 22, when set, is subjected to some extent to compression and not shear in the event of attempted displacement. The location of the integral bars 1 6 within the recesses 22 prevents displacement of the upper members 18 across the width of the wall.

As the sloping side of the upper member 1 8 is the side which is visible when the wall is completed, it is essential that the sloping surface is not damaged when forming the member 1 8 by extrusion. It is therefore necessary to extrude the member 1 8 with the sloping surface uppermost and the material exsisting between the recesses 22 is effective to reinforce the member when being cut after extrusion and prevent sagging which would otherwise occur. When the amount of material in the member 1 8 differs at locations across the member 1 8 it is appropriate to prevent imbalance during extrusion and subsequent fracture after shrinkage by making an appropriate one of the recesses 22 wider than the other.

Figs. 3a and 3b show a coping 38 substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2 but having additional grooves 40 in the surface 14 outermost of the grooves 34. When used with a single brick wall 42 as in Fig. 3a, the coping 38 can overhang each side of the wall and the grooves 40 then function as drip grooves to prevent water passing along the underside of the overhang to the wall.

Fig. 3b shows the coping 38 used with a double brick wall 44 with no overhang and the grooves 40 then function as keying grooves.

Figs. 4a and 4b show a coping 46 substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1 but having only outermost grooves 48 in the surface 14.

When used with a double brick wall 50 as in Fig.

4a, the coping 46 overhangs the wall 50 at the lower side of the coping slope and the respective groove 48 functions as a drip groove, while the other groove 48 functions as a keying groove. Fig.

4b shows the coping 46 used with a cavity wall 52 where a cover 54, preferably of plastics, overlies the cavity. There is no overhang and each of the grooves 48 functions as a keying groove.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example it will be appreciated that the design of the sloping surface of the upper member 18 may be altered as desired to give a desired finish. Further the number of bars and recesses provided may differ from that described and, for example, may be three in number. It will be appreciated that the coping members are preferably so formed as to match the face brickwork of the wall on which the coping is to be erected.

Claims (15)

1. A coping arrangement comprising a first member having a body formed on one side with a plurality of integral upstanding parts therein, and a second member having a body, on one side of which is defined a water displacement surface and in the opposed side of which is defined a recess for co-operating with each of the upstanding parts on the first member, the second member, when inverted, being locatable on the first member with each of the upstanding parts locating in the respective recess and providing a desired thickness of cementitious material between the members for bonding.

2. A coping arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the upstanding parts has a substantially dovetail cross-section with each of the recesses having a substantially complementary cross-section.

3. A coping arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upstanding parts and the recesses extend along the lengths of the respective members.

4. A coping arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the upstanding parts and the recesses are substantially equispaced across the respective members.

5. A coping arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein two of the upstanding parts and correspondingly two of the receeses are provided.

6. A coping arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein three of the upstanding parts and correspondingly two of the recesses are provided.

provided.

7. A coping arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one groove is provided in a side of the first member body opposite to said one side.

8. A coping arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second member comprises a water impervious tile.

9. A method of erecting a coping on a structure, including providing a plurality of first members each having a main body formed on one side with a plurality of integral upstanding parts thereon, and a second member having a body, on one side of which is defined a water displacement surface and in the opposed side of which is defined a recess for co-operating with each of the upstanding parts on the first member, bonding the first member to the structure, applying a cementitious material in a fluid state to at least an adjacent pair of the first members substantially to the level of the upstanding parts, applying a cementitious material in a fluid state to the second member to fill the recesses therein, and inverting the second member to locate on a pair of first members but overlying the joining edges thereof, whereby an amount of the cementitious material is displaced and a desired thickness of the cementitious material remains between the members for bonding.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein at least one clamp is secured to the structure, and a respective one of the first members is bonded to the structure such that a part of the clamp overlies the first member to assist in retaining the first member on the structure.

11. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a drip tray is secured between the first members and the structure and extends substantially along the length of the structure.

12. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each of the first members is mounted on the structure to overhang at least one side thereof.

13. A method according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the cementitious material is provided with a water repellant additive.

14. A method according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein a damp-proof course is located between the first and second members.

15. A method according to any of claims 9 to 14, wherein reinforcing members are located at the side of the upstanding parts between the first and second members.

1 6. A coping arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A method of erecting a coping on a structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.