GB2289906A - Connecting posts (e.g.windposts) to walls - Google Patents

Abstract

A post, e.g. a windpost 30, is connected to a wall by a connector having an element 5 for releasable connection to the post, and a further element, 15 or 16, for connection to the wall. Element 16 is arranged for embedding in a masonary joint, and element 15 for bolting to the wall. <IMAGE>

Description

It Connector and Structural Post Assembly" This invention relates to a connector and to a structural post assembly utilizing the connector.

Structural posts such as windposts are well known in the art of buildings construction and are used to provide support to a wall of a building in order to increase its resistance to wind loading. Windposts usually span vertically between floors of a building to provide addition lateral support for panels of brickwork.

Windposts have generally L- or U- shaped cross-sections and are usually located in a cavity wall between an inner structural leaf of blockwork and an outer leaf of masonry. A typical windpost usually has a plate or cleat welded to its bottom end, the plate or cleat being bolted to a concrete slab or steel edge beam of the inner structural leaf in order to secure the windpost to the inner structural leaf at floor level.

Typically, the windpost also has a cleat bolted to its top end, the top cleat being bolted to a concrete slab or steel edge beam of the floor above.

Typically, the windpost has a series of apertures along its length, each aperture being adapted to receive one end of a conventional wall tie, the other end of the wall tie then being embedded in the masonry and/or blockwork in the outer or the inner leaf in order to tie the windpost more securely to the wall.

Generally, windposts must be made specifically to order since the apertures for the ties must be positioned relative to the bottom fixing such that they coincide with the horizontal joints in the inner blockwork leaf and the outer masonry leaf of the wall. The sizing of conventional bricks and blocks is such that the horizontal joints are made at 225 mm centres between blocks of an inner leaf and these joints generally coincide with horizontal joints between bricks of an outer leaf. However, the position of the first horizontal joint above a concrete floor often varies between different projects and can even vary within a single project. This requirement for windposts to be specifically designed involves additional effort in the production of the windpost and leads to a limitation of possible adjustment on site.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for retaining a structural post on a wall, the connector having means for attachment to the wall and releasable means for securing it to the post so as to prevent movement of the post relative to the connector, whereby upon release the connector and the post are relatively movable longitudinally of the post.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a structural post assembly, comprising a structural post, a cavity wall having two leaves, and a connector having means for attachment to the wall and releasable means for securing it to the post so as to prevent movement of the post relative to the connector, whereby upon release the connector and the post are relatively movable longitudinally of the post, the connector and post being disposed between the two leaves, and the connector being attached to one of the leaves and to the post.

The assembly may also include one or more wall ties spanning between the post and one or both of the leaves.

The present invention also provides the use of a connector as hereinbefore defined for the support of a structural post on a wall.

Two or more connectors may be used to attach the post to the wall, and may be provided at and/or between the top and/or bottom portions of the post.

The releasable securing means to allow the connector to be fixed in position on the post may comprise tensioning means, for example a screw and nut assembly or a lever arrangement, although other forms of releasable securing means are contemplated.

The connector can be slidably attached to the structural post to allow positioning of the connector relative to apertures in the post. Once in a desired position, the connector may be fixed in place, for example by operating the tensioning means on the connector to tighten the connector around the post.

Once the connector is fixed in the desired position on the post, it may be attached to the wall (for example, to the inner structural leaf of the wall) to fix the assembly thereto. Thus, embodiments of the present invention can be made which allow on-site adjustment of the distance between the attachment point of the assembly to a floor of a building and the first horizontal joint above the attachment point to receive a wall tie.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method for attaching a structural post to a wall in order to provide support for the wall, the method comprising providing a connector as hereinbefore defined, measuring the distance on the wall between an attachment point for the connector and an attachment point for a wall tie, securing the connector to the post at a corresponding distance along the post from an attachment point for a wall tie on the post, and attaching the connector to the wall.

Alternatively the connector can be attached to the wall before it is attached to the structural post. Thus the present invention also provides a method for attaching a structural post to a wall in order to provide support for the wall, the method comprising providing a connector as hereinbefore defined, attaching the connector to the wall, adjusting the position of the post relative to the connector so as to facilitate the attachment of wall ties between the post and the wall, and securing the connector to the post.

Optionally, the connector can substantially surround the structural post or may have a "U-shaped" crosssection which abuts the post on two or three sides.

The means for attachment of the connector to the wall may comprise an anchor for embedding in a masonry joint in the wall or may comprise a cleat which can be attached (for example by being bolted) to the wall.

The cleat may have a general "L-shaped" or "U-shaped" cross-section. The cleat may be bolted to a side face of the wall or to a top face of a structural component thereof such as a block or brick or a concrete slab.

The anchor or cleat is preferably welded or bolted to the connector. Optionally, the anchor or cleat may be formed as an integral part of the connector.

The connector may be fitted to conventional designs of structural post and adjusted for use in a diverse range of situations. Any portion of the structural post protruding beyond the connector and surplus to requirements may be cut off on site or left in place as desired.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an element of a third embodiment of a connector of the invention; Fig. 4 is a top view of an element common to the connectors shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 shows the Fig. 4 element in side view; and Fig. 6 shows a windpost and a connector for use in a structural post assembly of the invention, in perspective view.

Fig 7 is a perspective view of a element of a fourth embodiment of a connector of the invention: Fig 8 is a perspective view of an element of a fifth embodiment of a connector of the invention; Fig 9 is a further view of the element of Fig 8; Fig 10 is a further perspective view of the element of Figs 8 and 9; Fig 11 is a perspective view of an element of a sixth embodiment of a connector of the invention; and Fig 12 a, b, c and d are perspective views of windposts and connectors for use in assemblies of the fourth embodiment of the invention; Referring now to Fig 1 of the drawings a connector 1 has a steel band 5 of substantially C-shaped crosssection, the band 5 preferably being of approximately 50 mm width and having two lips 6, 7, each of which has an aperture drilled therethrough to receive a bolt (not shown).The two apertures are aligned to enable the bolt to be placed therethrough.

The connector 1 has a substantially L-shaped cleat 15.

The cleat 15 has one of its legs welded to the band 5 (although other forms of attachment of the cleat to the band may be employed). In the other leg of the cleat 15 there is an aperture to receive a bolt (not shown) for attachment of the cleat 15 to a leaf of a wall or structure.

A second embodiment of a connector 2 is shown in Fig.

2. The connector 2 also has the band 5 of substantially C-shaped cross-section having lips 6, 7 as previously described. The connector 2 has an anchor in the form of a flat plate 16 of sheet steel welded at one end of the plate 16 to the band 5, the plate 16 having a serrated upper surface at one end portion 16a and one or more slots 18.

An element 3 of a third embodiment of a connector is shown partially in Fig. 3. Instead of the band 5, the connector element 3 comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket 20 having lips 21, 22 which extend laterally from opposite side walls of the bracket 20. The connector element 3 also has a plate 25 which has a tab 27 at one end 25a which is bent so as to be parallel to the plate 25 but to lie in a different plane. Near the other end 25b of the plate 25 a threaded stem of a bolt 28 is provided welded on the plate 25.

When the tab 27 engages a slot 23 in the lip 21 of the bracket 20, the plate 25 can pivot about the axis of the slot 23 and the bolt stem 28 can be readily located in an aperture 24 in the other lip 22 of the bracket 20. A nut 29 can then be screwed onto the bolt 28 and tightened so as to close the open side of the U-shaped bracket 20 with the plate 25. Alternatively, plate 25 could be provided with an aperture through which a conventional bolt could be passed.

Figs. 4 and 5 show, in top view and side view respectively, an element common to the first and second embodiments of the connectors 1 and 2. The element incorporates tensioning means in the form of a bolt 10 and a nut 11.

Fig. 6 shows a windpost 30 and a connector 4 for use in a structural post assembly. The connector 4 is similar to the connector 2. Connector 4 also has a plate 16 and is releasably secured to the windpost 30 by virtue of the band 5 which substantially surrounds the windpost 30. While slidably secured to the windpost 30, the connector 4 can be located at a desired position relative to slots (not shown) in the windpost 30. Once in the desired position, the connector 4 can be tightened around the windpost 30 using a nut and bolt tensioning means as described above. Once the connector 4 is fixed in position, the plate 16 can be embedded in a joint between blocks of an inner structural leaf of a wall of a building or may be bolted thereto through one or more slots 18.The plate 16 may be embedded in/bolted to the leaf as it is being constructed and the windpost 30 may thereafter be secured in the connector at the desired position.

In addition to being located at the top and/or bottom of a windpost 30 at the level of floors of a building, the first, second or third embodiments of the connector can be located at levels therebetween and can be attached to the inner or outer leaf of a wall of the building.

The connector can be secured to conventional designs of windpost 30 and adjusted for use in a particular situation, thereby allowing standard components to be used for a large number of different projects. Any portion of the windpost 30 which protrudes above the top connector or below the bottom connector can conveniently be left in place in the cavity or cut off on site.

An element of a fourth embodiment of a connector 40 is shown in Fig 7, and the fourth embodiment 40 is shown attached to a windpost 30 in Fig 12. The connector 40 comprises two substantially U-shaped brackets 45, 46 which are formed of steel such as stainless steel.

Each bracket 45, 46 has two lips a and b which extend laterally from opposite sides of the respective bracket 45, 46. Each lip a, b has a hole to receive fixing means.

In use, the brackets 45, 46 are located on opposite side of the windpost 30 so that the lips a and b on the respective brackets 45, 46 meet at the mid-point of opposite sides of the windpost 30 as shown in Fig 12.

Fixing means such as bolts inserted through the apertures in the lips a and b and nuts on the bolts are tightened to fix the brackets 45, 46 together around the windpost 30.

Fig 8 shows an element of a fifth embodiment of a connector 48 which comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket 50 which is formed of steel such as stainless steel. The bracket 50 has two lips a and b which extend laterally from opposite sides of the bracket 50 and have holes to receive fixing means as previously described. Bracket 50 has long arms which can extend substantially the whole width of a windpost 30 (ie about 60mm) so that the bracket 50 can surround the windpost 30 on three sides.

The connector 48 also has a flat generally rectangular plate 51 which has a hole at each end to receive fixing means. The plate 51 and the bracket 50 co-operate so as to allow alignment of the holes in the lips a and b of the bracket 50 with the holes in the plate 51.

Fixing means such as bolts 52 can be passed through the apertures in the bracket and the plate when the connector 48 is located on a windpost 30. By tightening nuts 53 against the plate 51, the connector 48 can be clamped at a desired level on a windpost 30.

Fig 9 shows a modification to the embodiment shown in Fig 8 in that the bolts 52 can be first inserted through the plate 51 and the nuts tightened against the bracket 50 rather than against the plate 51 as described for the previous embodiment.

If desired, the bolts 52 or simply bolt stems can be welded in place on the plate 51 as shown in Fig 10.

Fig 11 shows a modification to the third embodiment of the connector. The element of the connector 58 shown in Fig 11 has a substantially U-shaped bracket 60 having lips 61 and 62 which extend laterally from opposite sides of the bracket 60. The element 58 also has a plate 25 as previously described for the third embodiment.

The connector element 58 differs from the connector element 3 in that the lip 62 has a laterally extending slot 64 rather than an aperture to engage the bolt 20.

Thus when the tab 27 engages the slot 63 in the lip 61, the plate 25 can pivot about the axis of the slot 63 and the bolt 20 engages the slot 64 without having to be precisely located in an aperture such as the aperture 24 in the third embodiment. As previously described for the third embodiment, plate 25 could be provided with an aperture through which a conventional bolt could be passed rather than having a bolt stem 28 welded in place.

In use, the brackets 45, 46 of the connector 40 are located on opposite sides of a windpost and the apertures in the lips a and b of each bracket are brought into alignment adjacent one another. Fixing means such as a bolt (not shown) is passed through each of the apertures and a nut on the bolt is tightened so as to clamp the brackets 45, 46 firmly around the windpost. With the connector 40, the joint between the brackets 45 and 46 is made at approximately the midline of opposite sides of the windpost 30.

The means for attachment of the connector 40 to the wall can comprise one or more flat steel plates which can be oriented so as to be parallel to the arms of the brackets 45, 46 and thus parallel to the long axis of the windpost when in use, such as plates 41. In that configuration, the plates can be bolted to the surface of a wall. Alternatively, the means for attachment can comprise one or more plates disposed in a plane perpendicular to the arms of the brackets 45, 46 and thus parallel to the long axis of the windpost when in use such as plate 42 which can be embedded within a leaf of a wall.

The means for attachment of the connector 40 to the wall can be for example welded or bolted to the connector 40, although other suitable forms of attachment may be used.

Each embodiment of a connector of the invention can have means for attachment comprising plates oriented in the same configuration as either plates 41 or plate 42 or both.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Claims:

   1A connector for retaining a structural post on a wall, the connector having means for attachment to the wall and releasable means for securing it to the post so as to prevent movement of the post relative to the connector, whereby upon release the connector and the post are relatively movable longitudinally of the post.
2. 2 A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for attachment of the connector to the wall comprises an anchor for embedding in a masonry joint in the wall.
3. 3 A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for attachment of the connector to the wall comprises a cleat adapted to be bolted to the wall.
4. 4 A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the releasable means for securing the connector to the post comprises a screw and nut assembly.
5. 5 A structural post assembly, comprising a structural post, a cavity wall having two leaves, and a connector having means for attachment to the wall and releasable means for securing it to the post so as to prevent movement of the post relative to the connector, whereby upon release the connector and the post are relatively movable longitudinally of the post, the connector and post being disposed between the two leaves, and the connector being attached to one of the leaves and to the post.
6. 6 An assembly as claimed in Claim 5, including one or more wall ties spanning between the post and one or both of the leaves.
7. 7 An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein two or more said connectors attach the post to the wall.
8. 8 An assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said connectors are provided between the top and bottom portions of the post.
9. 9 A method for attaching a structural post to a wall in order to provide support for the wall, the method comprising providing a connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, attaching the connector to the wall, adjusting the position of the post relative to the connector so as to facilitate the attachment of wall ties between the post and the wall, and securing the connector to the post.
10. 10 A method for attaching a structural post to a wall in order to provide support for the wall, the method comprising providing a connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 , measuring the distance on the wall between an attachment point for the connector and an attachment point for a wall tie, securing the connector to the post at a corresponding distance along the post from an attachment point for a wall tie on the post, and attaching the connector to the wall.