GB2516849A

GB2516849A - Wall Fixing Plug

Info

Publication number: GB2516849A
Application number: GB201313752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Waite; Lawrence Webb
Original assignee: RETRO ECO Ltd
Current assignee: RETRO ECO Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-01
Filing date: 2013-08-01
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: GB2510790B; GB201411137D0; GB201313752D0; GB2510790A

Abstract

A wall fixing plug 1 for fixing an article to a wall 3 which is covered by a facing 5 comprises a disc having first and second parallel faces 15, 17. In use, the wall fixing plug 1 is attached to the wall 3. The first face 15 abuts the wall 3 and the second face 17 blocks a hole 13 in an outer surface 11 of the facing 5.

Description

WALL FIXING PLUG

This invention relates to wall fixing plugs, and in particular to wall fixing plugs for walls covered by a facing.

W02012/175959 discloses a system for retro-fitting insulation to solid walls which uses studs for fixing insulation to the solid wall, the studs defining a channel between the front wall of the stud and underlying wall. This enables services to be routed in a well-defined location. Apertures in the front wall of the stud allow access to cables and pipes in the channel without causing deterioration in the acoustic or thermal performance of the insulation.

The wall is covered with a facing, such as plasterboard, to provide the desired aesthetic appearance. The facing and insulation are not load bearing components, so that there can be difficulties fixing heavy items to the wall, such as radiators or televisions.

The invention provides a wall fixing plug as defined in the claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a wall fixing plug for fixing an article to a wall, the wall being covered by a facing having an outer surface and having a hole therein, comprising: a disc having first and second parallel faces and a means for attaching the plug to the wall; wherein, in use, the first face abuts the wall and the second face blocks the hole in the outer surface of the facing.

This wall fixing plug can enable articles to be attached to the wall covered by the facing in between studs. This can enable the free selection of fixing points, e.g. for radiators or televisions. The plug can be designed to make sure that the benefits of the facing, e.g. insulative and/or aesthetic, are substantially intact.

The wall fixing plug can be cylindrical. This can make installation easy, particularly where the wall fixing plug is installed after the wall is covered by the facing, in that the hole for the wall fixing plug can be core drilled while the facing is in place.

The means for attaching the plug to the wall can comprise an off-centre hole. A screw can be driven through the hole in the plug to attach the plug to the wall. As the hole is off-centre, rotation of the plug is hindered, this can make installation of the plug easier. It also means that when a heavy abject is attached to the plug, rotation of the plug is prevented. This could then cause movement of the fixing position.

The means for attaching the plug to the wall can comprise adhesive.

The means for attaching the plug to the wall can comprise a bed of nails.

The wall fixing plug can further comprise a protective sleeve covering at least a part of the first face. This can provide strength and protection from damp ingress.

The protective sleeve can be of plastics or metal. This can provide additional strength and protection from damp ingress.

In use, the second face can be flush with the outer surface of the facing. This means that the insulation in the facing may still be effective. It also means that the outer surface of the facing may substantially preserve its aesthetic appearance.

The wall fixing plug can further comprise a cap covering at least a part of the second face. This can provide additional strength. The cap can be of plastics or metal.

The cap can further comprise a flange which, in use, at least partially overlaps the outer surface of the facing. This can make sure that the benefits of the facing, e.g. insulative, are substantially intact.

The cap can comprise adhesive and/or a bed of nails for attaching the plug to the outer surface of the facing. This can provide additional strength, which may be particularly advantageous when fixing articles to non-load bearing walls.

The second surface can present flat-grain or edge-gain wood. This means that the plug is less likely to split if screws are inserted into the surface to attach articles.

The invention also provides a method of fixing an article to a wall covered by a facing having an outer surface, comprising: core drilling a hole in the facing; inserting a plug of the invention in to the hole; attaching the plug to the wall; and attaching the article to the plug.

The invention also provides a wall fixing kit comprising: a core drill and a wall fixing plug of the invention, wherein the wall fixing plug and the core drill are of a complementary size.

The invention also provides a wall covered by a facing having an outer surface and having a hole therein, fitted with a wall fixing plug of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a wall fixing plug of the invention in use in a sectional view; Figure 2 shows the wall fixing plug of Figure 1 in use in a part-sectional perspective view; Figure 3 shows the wall fixing plug of Figure 1 in plan, sectional, perspective and part-sectional perspective views; Figure 4 shows another wall fixing plug of the invention in sectional and part-sectional perspective views; Figure 5 shows a cap of a wall fixing plug of the invention in plan and sectional views; Figure 6 shows a sleeve of a wall fixing plug of the invention in plan and sectional views; Figure 7 shows a wall fixing plug of the invention fitted with the cap of Figure 5 and the sleeve of Figure 6 in a sectional view; and Figure 8 shows the wall fixing plug of Figure 7 in use in a sectional view.

The invention provides a wall fixing plug for fixing an article to a wall which is covered by a facing. The wall fixing plug is a disc having first and second parallel faces. In use, the wall fixing plug is attached to the wall. The first face abuts the wall and the second face blocks a hole in the outer surface of the facing. The wall fixing plug enables freer selection of fixing points.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a wall fixing plug in use.

The wall fixing plug, indicated generally at 1, is for fixing an article to a wall 3, which is covered by a facing 5. The facing 5 comprises a layer of insulation 7 and a layer of plasterboard 9, the facing 5 has an outer surface 11. There is a hole 13 in the facing 5.

The wall fixing plug 1 is a disc having first and second parallel faces 15, 17. A screw 19 is provided as a means for attaching the plug ito the wall 3.

As shown, in use, the first face 15 abuts the wall 3 and the second face 17 blocks the hole 13 in the outer surface ii of the facing 5. In fact, the second face 17 is flush with the outer surface 11 of the facing 5.

This wall fixing plug 1 enables articles to be attached to the wall 3 covered by the facing 5 in between studs. This enables the freer selection of fixing points, ag.

for radiators or televisions. The plug 1 can be designed to make sure that the benefits of the facing 5, ag. insulative and/or aesthetic, are substantially intact.

The wall fixing plug 1 is cylindrical. This can make installation easy, particularly where the wall fixing plug 1 is installed after the wall 3 is covered by the facing 5, in that the hole 13 for the wall fixing plug 1 can be core drilled while the facing 5 is in place on the wall 3.

There is provided a means for attaching the plug 1 to the wall 3. In the example shown, this comprises an off-centre hole 21 in the plug 1 through which a screw 19 passes. As the hole 21 is off-centre rotation of the plug 1 is hindered, this can make installation of the plug 1 easier, as well as preventing rotation of the plug caused by a torque introduced by the weight of the attached object.

The hole has a countersunk part for receiving the head of the screw 19 to reduce the length of the screw which projects from the solid wall 3, thereby providing a secure fixing of the plug to the wall. The countersunk depth can depend on the thickness of the plug, which corresponds to the overall thickness of the facing 5.

If necessary, the means for attaching the plug 1 to the wall 3 may further comprise a wall plug for the screw 19 which is first fitted to the wall before the plug in inserted.

Articles can be attached to the plug 1 by means of a further screw 22. In one example, the plug 1 is of wood and the second surface 17 presents flat-grain or edge-gain wood. This means that the plug 1 is less likely to split when the further screw 22 is inserted into the second surface 17 to attach articles. Other materials could be used providing they are able to retain a suitable fixing 19.

Figure 3 further illustrates the plug 1 of Figures 1 and 2, wherein like parts are denoted by like reference numerals. The hole 21 in the plug 1 can be seen to be isunken and this also means the head of the screw 19 is below the second surface 17 in use. This can present a surface without projections, which may be desired if the article is best fixed to a flat surface.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative wall fixing plug, indicated generally at 31. In this embodiment the wall fixing plug is substantially as described above, only the differences will be described and like reference numerals indicate like parts. The wall fixing plug 31 further comprises a protective sleeve 33 covering the first face of the wall fixing plug. A hole 35 is provided in the protective sleeve which corresponds with the off-centre hole 21 in the plug 31. The protective sleeve 33 also covers part of the side of the plug 31. The protective sleeve 33 is of metal. The sleeve 33 can provide additional strength and also protection from damp ingress.

Figure 5 illustrates a cap 41 of a wall fixing plug, when the wall fixing plug is assembled, the cap 41 covers the second face. The cap 41 also covers part of the side of the plug. The cap 41 is of metal. The cap 41 can provide additional strength.

The cap 41 further comprises a flange 43 which, in use, overlaps the outer surface of the facing. The flange 43 of the cap 41 can make sure that the benefits of the facing, e.g. insulative, are substantially intact.

The cap 41 also comprises a bed of nails 45 on the flange 43 for attaching the plug 41 to the outer surface of the facing. The bed of nails 45 can provide additional strength, which may be particularly advantageous when fixing articles to non-load bearing walls.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative protective sleeve 51 of a wall fixing plug according to the invention. The protective sleeve 51 covers the first face of the wall fixing plug. The protective sleeve 51 also covers part of the side of the plug. The protective sleeve 51 is of metal. The protective sleeve 51 can provide strength and protection from damp ingress.

A hole 35 is provided in the protective sleeve 51 which can correspond to the off-centre hole through the plug. The sleeve also comprises a bed of nails 53 on the first face for attaching the plug to the underlying wall. This is of particular interest when the underlying wall is not a solid wall, but is a further layer of plasterboard for

example.

Figure 7 illustrates a wall fixing plug 61 comprising the cap 41 of Figure 5 and the sleeve 51 of Figure 6 and a core cylinder 63 of wood.

Figure 8 illustrates the wall fixing plug 61 of Figure 7 in use with a non load-bearing wall 3, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts. The wall 3 comprises a facing 5 as described above. The facing 5 comprises a layer of insulation 7 and a layer of plasterboard 9, the facing 5 has an outer surface 11.

There is a hole 13 in the facing 5.

The wall 3 is in this example a further layer of plasterboard, and this shows how the fixing plug can be used with a partition wall rather than with an insulated solid wall.

As shown, in use, the first face 15 of the plug 61 abuts the wall 3 and the second face 17 of the plug 61 blocks the hole 13 in the outer surface 11 of the facing 5. In fact, the flange 43 overlaps the outer surface 11 of the facing 5. This overlap can make sure that the benefits of the facing 5, e.g. insulative, are substantially intact.

The bed of nails 45 of the cap 41 attaches the plug 61 to the outer surface 11 of the facing 5. This can provide additional strength when fixing articles to the non-load bearing wall 3.

The bed of nails 53 of the sleeve 51 attaches the plug to the wall 3. This can provide further strength.

Articles can be attached to the plug 1 by means of a further screw 22 as explained above. Because of the use of the wall fixing plug 61 articles can be fixed to the wall 3 in between studs 63.

In use, an article can be fixed to a wall 3 covered by a facing 5 having an outer surface 11, by core drilling a hole 13 in the facing 5. A plug 1, 31, 61 of the invention is then inserted in to the hole 13 and the plug 1, 31, 61 is attached to the wall 3.

Articles may then be attached to the plug 1, 31, 61.

A tight fit can be achieved by core drilling to make the hole 13 of the same size as the plug 1,31,61.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the means for attaching the plug to the wall could comprise or consist of adhesive.

The articles could be attached to the plug by any convenient attaching means instead of the screw 22, e.g. nails, adhesive. The cap may additionally or alternatively comprise adhesive to affix it to the facing. The cap may be of any appropriate material, e.g. plastics. The protective sleeve may be of any appropriate material, e.g. plastics.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A wall fixing plug for fixing an article to a wall, the wall being covered by a facing having an outer surface and having a hole therein, comprising: a disc having first and second parallel faces and a means for attaching the plug to the wall; wherein, in use, the first face abuts the wall and the second face blocks the hole in the outer surface of the facing.
2. A wall fixing plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall fixing plug is cylindrical.
3. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for attaching the plug to the wall comprises an off-centre hole.
4. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for attaching the plug to the wall comprises adhesive.
5. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for attaching the plug to the wall comprises a bed of nails.
6. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a protective sleeve covering at least a part of the first face.
7. A wall fixing plug as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protective sleeve is of plastics or metal.
8. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in use, the second face is flush with the outer surface of the facing.
9. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a cap covering at least a part of the second face.
10. A wall fixing plug as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cap is of plastics or metal.
11. A wall fixing plug as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the cap further comprises a flange which, in use, at least partially overlaps the outer surface of the facing.
12. A wall fixing plug as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cap comprises adhesive and/or a bed of nails for attaching the plug to the outer surface of the facing.
13. A wall fixing plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second surface presents flat-grain or edge-gain wood.
14. A method of fixing an article to a wall covered by a facing having an outer surface, comprising: core drilling a hole in the facing; inserting a plug as claimed in any preceding claim in to the hole; attaching the plug to the wall; and attaching the article to the plug.
15. A wall fixing kit comprising: a core drill and a wall fixing plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the wall fixing plug and the core drill are of a complementary size.
16. A wall covered by a facing having an outer surface and having a hole therein, fitted with a wall fixing plug as claimed in any one of claims ito 13.