GB2131076A - Making an opening in a wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making an opening in a wall comprises cutting out a horizontal joint on one side of the wall to the depth of a brick, the length of the joint being greater than the length of the desired opening; inserting the horizontal portion 12 of an L-shaped elongate member into the joint, the member being provided with apertures 14 in its other limb; drilling holes 19 through the apertures right through the wall, cutting another joint on the other side of the wall and inserting a second L-shaped member whereby the apertures thereof correspond to the drill holes appearing in the wall face, bolting one member to the other through the wall and cutting out the desired opening in the wall beneath the members. The members may either be left in place as a permanent lintel or a lintel may be installed beneath the members, the latter subsequently being removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved support method and apparatus The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to a support method and apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a support method and apparatus which may be utilised when making an opening in a wall of a building.

Heretofore, when making an opening in a wall of a building, steel or timber needles and steel or timber props have been used. Firstly, the size of the desired opening is marked on the wall and a plurality of holes are provided in the wall above the level at which a lintel is to be inserted. Steel or timber needles are inserted in such holes and then a corresponding plurality of steel or timber props are utilised. Such props are extendible and have a foot which is locatable on the ground and an upper flange which contacts its associated needle when the prop is extended. Once the needle and props are in position then a portion of the wall is knocked out and a lintel is then inserted and secured. The area around the lintel is then made up and the props and needles removed.

In a 9 inch (22.86 cm.) thick wall, a 42 inch (11.43 cm.) lintel is usually inserted into one side of the wall. An identical procedure is carried out as indicated above but on the other side of the wall to enable another 421 inch (1 1.43 cm.) lintel to be inserted.

There are various problems associated with such construction in that the props are usually spaced from one another 4 foot (1 20 cm.) intervals and as these props act as load bearing props, it must be ensured that same are not knocked in any way, otherwise damage could possibly occur. Thus, special care has to be taken that any builder's equipment such as wheel barrows, buckets etc., must not come into contact with the load bearing props. Also, since such props are spaced from one another at regular intervals, it is sometimes difficult to work between the props when knocking the wall out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved support method and apparatus which does not require the use of needles and props.

According to the present invention there is provided a support apparatus comprising a pair or a plurality of pairs of elongate support devices, each device having a normally horizontal portion which, in use, is locable in an opening provided in a wall, and a normally vertical portion provided with a plurality of corresponding apertures therein, and a plurality of securing members for securely connecting the pair or pairs of support devices together by their normally vertical portions by passing through said corresponding apertures provided in each device.

Additional support members may be provided in the end regions of each support device to ensure that appropriate support is provided in the wall in which an opening is to be provided.

The securing members may be in the form of bolts or other like securing devices.

It is also possible to utilise four of such support devices, two having the normally vertical walls extending upwardly and the other two with their vertical walls extending downwardly. Such arrangement provides even more support should same be required.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a method of making an opening in a brick wall of a building, comprising: (a) cutting out a horizontal joint at the required height on one side of the wall to a depth corresponding to the depth of the brick, the length of the joint being greater than the length of the desired opening; (b) inserting the normally horizontal portion of an elongate support device into said joint, said support device also having a vertical portion having a plurality of apertures provided therein; (c) drilling holes through such apertures right through the wall to the other side; (d) cutting out a second joint on the other side of the wall at the same height as the first joint; (e) inserting a second support device whereby the apertures thereof correspond to the drill holes appearing in the wall face;; (f) securely attaching one support device to the other by means of securing members passing through the corresponding apertures; and (g) cutting out the desired opening in the wall.

Operation of the support apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be given in relation to the provision of an opening in a 9 inch (22.86) brick wali.

Firstly, a horizontal joint is cut out at the required height along a mortar line by a saw to a 42 inch (11.43 cm.) depth. The length of the joint will be greater than the length of the desired opening.

A support device in accordance with the present invention suitably comprises a steel angle iron. The normally horizontal leg of such angle iron is inserted into the joint which has been cut out. The vertical portion of the angle iron has a plurality of apertures provided therein at regular intervals and preferably in the form of two rows of apertures. Holes are then drilled through such apertures right through the wall to the other side.

A joint is then cut out on the other side of the wall and a second angle iron is inserted whereby the apertures thereof correspond to the drill holes appearing in the wall face. Attachment of one support device to the other is effected by means of bolts passing through the corresponding apertures. The number of apertures utilised, and accordingly the number of bolts, will depend upon the load which has to be supported.

In order to provide extra support a steel shoe is provided at both ends of each support device. The shoe is chamfered at its edge and provides extra support in the end regions of the angle iron.

Starting on one side of the wall one can then cut out a desired opening. A lintel is then located on one side of the wall under a support device and this is firmly located in place. A second lintel is then inserted on the other side of the wall and is again secured in place.

Once such lintel arrangement has been effected then the bolts may be removed and the angle irons removed from the wall. Alternatively, the support apparatus may be left in the wall in the form of a box lintel.

It will thus be seen that by utilising the support apparatus in accordance with the invention, same is kept well away from any contact with builder's equipment such as buckets, wheel barrows etc.

Moreover, there is no obstruction when knocking out the wail and thus it is much easier for the opening to be made in the wall.

Each support device can be of any desired length and the apertures can be arranged in any desired manner. Each support device is preferably in the form of an angle iron, the normally horizontal foot thereof preferably being of length 42 inches (11.43 cm.) and the height of the vertical portion being preferably 9 inches (22.86 cm.). It is of course possible for other dimensions to be selected.

The apparatus of the present invention has the great advantage that it can be used safely without any obstruction. Thus, it is particularly useful in stairways where the previously used needles and props caused much obstruction.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 1 A is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of a modified support device.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the support apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of elongate support devices 11, 11'. Such devices may be of any desired length, depending upon the size of the opening to be provided in a wall, and accordingly in Fig. 1, the devices 11, 11 are shown in a cut-away manner. Each support device 11, 11', has a normally horizontal portion 12, 12' and a normally vertical portion 13, 13'.

Each support device 11, 11' is provided with a plurality of apertures, 14, 14' in its end regions.

The support devices 11, 11', are securely connected together by means of a plurality of securing members 1 5. Additional support members 16, 16' can be provided in the end regions of each support device 11, 11' to ensure that appropriate support is provided in the wall in which an opening is to be provided.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 shows suppport device 11' in position in the wall and support device 11 about to be inserted in the wall.

By way of explanation, in relation to insertion of support device 11 into the wall, a horizontal joint 17 is cut out at the required height along a mortar line by a saw to the depth of the brick 18.

The length of the joint will be greater than the length of the opening to be made in the wall. The normally horizontal leg 12 of support device 11, generally in the form of a steel angle iron, is inserted into the joint 1 7 which has been cut out.

The apertures 14 appearing in vertical portion 1 3 are then aligned to correspond with the drill holes 1 9 appearing in the wall face, such holes 19 having been drilled through the wall when inserting support device 11' in place. Attachment of the devices 11, 11' to one another is effected by means of bolts 1 5 which pass through the corresponding apertures. Whilst two rows of apertures have been illustrated in each end of support devices 11, 11' it is to be understood that the number of apertures utilised, and accordingly the number of bolts 15, will depend upon the load which has to be supported.Moreover, it is also possible for apertures to be provided along the whole length of the vertical portion of the support device and not only in the end regions as illustrated.

In order to provide extra support a steel shoe 1 6, 1 6' is provided at both ends of each support device 11, 1 1'. The shoe 16 is chamfered at its edge and provides extra support in the end regions of the support device 11, ? 1'.

In order to ensure that the openings 19 in the wall are straight, it is possible to provide bosses 20 associated with the apertures 14, 14', as illustrated in Fig. 1A in the end regions of the support devices 11, 11', or, when additional support members are used, in the support members 1 6, 16'. The provision of such bosses make sure than the drill making the apertures in the wall passes straight through the wall and not at an angle thereto. This means that exact alignment between the apertures in the suppport devices 11,11' can be obtained.

Once the support apparatus as illustrated is firmly in place, then the desired opening is cut out beneath the support apparatus. Once such opening has been provided, then a lintel is located on one side of the wall under the support apparatus 11 and firmly located in place. A second lintel is then inserted on the other side of the wall underneath device 11' and again secured in place. The support apparatus in accordance with the invention can then be removed by a disconnection of the bolts and thereafter removal of the two support devices 11, 1 1'. Alternatively, if desired, the support apparatus in accordance with the invention can be left in the wall and duly boxed in. Such device can then itself constitute the lintel arrangement

Claims (16)

Claims

1. A support apparatus comprising a pair, or a plurality of pairs, of elongate support devices, each device having a normally horizontal portion which, in use, is locatable in an opening provided in a wall, and a normally vertical portion provided with a plurality of corresponding apertures therein, and a plurality of securing members for securely connecting the pair or pairs of support devices together by their normally vertical portions by passing through said corresponding apertures provided in each device.

2. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the securing members are in the form of bolts.

3. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each support device comprises a steel angle iron.

4. A support apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which additional support members are provided in the end regions of each support device, each such additional support member having apertures therein corresponding to those in the normally vertical portion of its associated support device.

5. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the additional support members are in the form of steel shoes, each shoe being chamfered at its edge which, in use, is located in the wall.

6. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which bosses are associated with each aperture.

7. A support apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the apertures in the additional support members have bosses associated therewith.

8. A support apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of making an opening in a brick wall of a building, comprising: (a) cutting out a horizontal joint at the required height on one side of the wall to a depth corresponding to the depth of the brick, the length of the joint being greater than the length of the desired opening; (b) inserting the normally horizontal portion of an elongate support device into said joint, said support device also having a vertical portion having a plurality of apertures provided therein; (c) drilling holes through such apertures right through the wall to the other side; (d) cutting out a second joint on the other side of the wall at the same height as the first joint; (e) inserting a second support device whereby the apertures thereof correspond to the drill holes appearing in the wall face;; (f) securely attaching one support device to the other by means of securing members passing through the corresponding apertures; and (g) cutting out the desired opening in the wall.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which each support device is in the form of a steel angle iron.

1 A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the securing members are in the form of bolts.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, in which additional support members are provided in the end regions of each support device, each additional support member having apertures therein corresponding to those in the normally vertical portion of its associated support device.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which each additional support member is in the form of a steel shoe which is chamfered at its edge which, in use, is located in the wall.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, in which, after the desired opening has been cut out, a lintel is located on one side of the wall under a support device and is firmly located in place, a second lintel is then inserted on the other side of the wall and is again secured in place, and the support devices and securing members are removed.

1 5. A method as claimed in claim 14, modified in that support devices and securing members are left in place.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated.