Improvements in supports for an internal wall of a building

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device and method for supporting an internal wall. The device comprises an elongate support device 1 with detachable foot assemblies 4 installed at each of its e

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the supporting of the upper section of internal walls during the removal of the lower section in a building. Background The use of supports for walls during building renovations are known and are usually comprised of temporary beams, used to hold up a structure while structural work is being done. Traditionally builders would use a cut sectioned piece of RS J (Rolled Steel Joist) box section steel or even planks of wood as a temporary makeshift needle to support the upper section of the internal wall where a number of bricks on both skins of internal wall (above the floor chamber) would have been removed to create an aperture in order for a RSJ box section steel to be threaded through to support both sides of a wall with bricks or slabs placed between the flooring and makeshift horizontal beam. However, these methods have unknown variables with regards to load capacity and more disturbance is created to the upper section of the internal wall when removing a number of bricks on several course levels to create an aperture for a horizontal support to pass through. In addition; there is no secure way of securing the props to the makeshift supports, using these methods. Therefore, the traditional and commonly known methods of enabling suitable strengthening of the wall structure located above the upper floor level during the removal of the lower section of the wall, below the floor level, are more complex and involve the need to purposely cut a sectioned piece of RSJ / box section steel to provide a horizontally disposed beam as a support to the upper section of the internal wall. It is further complicated by the aforementioned added need to remove a number of bricks by hand on both skins of the internal wall to create an aperture in order for the RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist) box section steel to be threaded through to support both sides of said wall with bricks or slabs placed between the flooring and makeshift beam. The said bricks or slabs are used to pack out the space above and below the support structures and provide a form of levelling and weight load spread. This is constantly adding more labour time and potential cost to the work and all as part of the preparation stages. Planks of wood would also need to be prepared and transported, adding weight to the equipment for a job, to be used as ‘make shift’ temporary supports to hold the wall. Therefore, to overcome this problem and provide a solution, a universal device and method can be applied which provides a substantially longer adjustable wall support for internal walls above the floor level, during removal of said wall below. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a support for an internal wall to enable suitable strengthening of the wall structure located above the upper floor joist level, during the removal of the lower section of the wall which is below the floor joist level. The floor is often configured in the traditional way and includes the use of joists, which are horizontal structural members used in framing to span an open space, often between beams that subsequently transfer loads to vertical members. When incorporated into a floor framing system joists serve to provide stiffness to the subfloor sheathing, therefore allowing it to all successfully function as a horizontal diaphragm. Joists are often doubled or tripled, placed side by side, where conditions warrant, such as where wall partitions require support and they must exhibit the strength to support the anticipated load over a long period of time. In many countries, the fabrication and installation of all framing members including joists must meet building code standards. Considering the cross section of a typical joist, the overall depth is critical in establishing a safe and stable floor or ceiling system and thus must be supported as part of the process herein. Traditionally builders would have used a cut sectioned piece of RSJ / box (Rolled Steel Joist) section steel or even planks of wood as a temporary makeshift horizontal support beam to support the upper section of the internal wall where a number of bricks on both skins of internal wall (above floor chamber) would have been removed to create an aperture in order for the RSJ / box section steel to be threaded through to support both sides of wall with bricks or slabs placed between the flooring and makeshift horizontal beam. As aforementioned, these methods have unknown variables with regards to load capacity and more disturbance is created to the upper section of an internal wall when removing a number of bricks on several course levels to create an aperture for a horizontal support to pass through, with no reliable way of securing the vertically disposed props to the makeshift supports. Props are used vertically to engage, in this solution, with the underside of the floor / joist section and have a timber load spreader between the upper end of the vertical prop and the underside of the floor joist to help maintain an even weight distribution and levelling between the joist and the prop. The end of the prop under traditional measures, as aforementioned, cannot be secured to the makeshift horizontal supports, also known as ‘needles’ and this could give way to potential movement or an inaccuracy of the weight distribution, which at these large weights and downward pressures is quite crucial and is safer and more beneficial when under a control. Props of this type usually have at least two sections which extend upwards to lengthen the prop to the correct height to contact with the area in need of support and include Acrow props, this is a brand name (Trade Mark) but has become a common term for a general support prop in the building industry. Props in general are often made of strong metal tubing and can be adjusted, often using a pin through and threaded collar method with a timber load spreader at the upper end extremity to go between the end of the prop and the joist, in this example. This offers support underneath the joist above them from the ground floor onto which the props stand. In the disclosed invention herein, a prop is installed to support underneath the first-floor joists on both sides of the lower section of the internal wall, wherein the internal wall stands between them, as shown in the accompanying Figures. Both vertically disposed props have wooden planks acting as the aforementioned timber load spreaders to their upper ends. To add crucial support to the upper section of the internal wall a device is installed. The device may be configured having an elongate support body which may be hollow and of a reinforced length of at least, but not limited to, 1000mm-3000mm to accommodate installation of substantial width thereto. To each end of the device with elongate support body is a detachable adjustable foot assembly, a foot is required at each end of the device with elongate support body to enable it to remain stable level and at the correct height when installed through the hole aperture and onto the timber load spreaders on top of the floor joist. The longer length of the device with elongate support body in combination with the foot assembly fitted onto each end, enables it to have sufficient length to seat directly above the aforementioned props vertically disposed below each foot, underneath the floor joist, creating a stable distribution of balanced downward weight, as shown in the accompanying Figures. Therefore, timber planks (acting as a load spreaders) are placed across the floor on the first floor level, in order to be used as a horizontally disposed platform for the two detachable adjustable foot assemblies on each end of the device with elongate support body. A pocket is then made above the floor chamber so that the device with elongate support body can be horizontally inserted transversely through the aperture hole created in the internal wall, this is achieved by the device with elongate support body being slid through and at this time, the device elongate support body only has one of the two-foot assemblies fitted. Once said device with elongate body is inserted through the aperture hole in the upper wall it is in position and the second adjustable foot can be installed on it at each end and secured using a retaining rod with R-clips, enabling both adjustable feet to be wound up simultaneously to the correct height to engage the elongate support body of the device within the aperture through the wall and support the upper section of internal wall. The final step once all devices with elongate support bodies are secured and in position, is to remove the lower section of interna! wall to allow the steel beam to be installed, as shown in Figure 2. The elongate support body of the device enables it to support an internal wall by providing a centrally located brace at the aperture point which is safely held by the substantial width of the elongate body of the device. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support for an internal wall which has all the advantages of the prior art internal ■wall supports and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new support for an internal wall which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support for an internal wall which is of durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved support for an internal wall which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved support for an internal wall which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a view of the support for an internal wall installed with the whole wall intact. Figure 2 shows a view of the support for an internal wall installed with the lower section of the wall removed. Detailed Description of Figures A typical embodiment of the support for an internal wall is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the device with substantial elongate support body 1, which may be hollow, internally reinforced and shaped accordingly to engage detachable foot assemblies 4 at each end and the device overall being of a length of at least, but not limited to, 1000mm-3000mm to accommodate installation of substantial width capacity thereto. To each end of the elongate support body is an adjustable detachable foot assembly 4, a detachable foot assembly 4 is required at each end of the device with elongate support body 1 to enable the device to remain stable, level and at the correct height when installed onto the timber load spreaders 7 on top of the floor joist 5. The longer length of the device with elongate support body 1 and having the detachable foot assembly 4 fitted onto each end of the device with elongate support body 1, enables it to have sufficient length to seat directly above the vertical props 9 and 10 vertically disposed below each detachable foot assembly 4, underneath the floor joist 5 and standing on the floor 11 creating a stable distribution of balanced downward weight, which is even, as shown in Figure 1. Timber load spreaders 6 between the upper end of the props 9 and 10 and the floor joist provide stable and even weight distribution also. A pocket is then made above the floor chamber so that the device with elongate support body 1 can be horizontally inserted transversely through the aperture hole 12 created in the upper internal wall 3, this is achieved by the device with elongate support body 1 being slid through said aperture hole 12 and at this time, the device with elongate support body only has one of the two foot assemblies fitted. The end without any foot assembly 4 is small enough to be inserted into the aperture hole 12 and slid further through to be located at a suitable positioning on the opposing sides of the wall, as shown. Once the device with elongate support body 1 is horizontally inserted transversely through the aperture hole 12 in the upper internal wall 3 it is in position and the second detachable foot assembly 4 can be attached and both detachable foot assemblies are secured at both ends of the horizontally disposed device with elongate support body 1 using a retaining rod with R-clips enabling both adjustable detachable foot assembly’s 4 to be wound up or down simultaneously to the correct height required to engage within the aperture hole through the wall and support the upper section of upper internal wall 3. The final step once all device eiongate support bodies 1A are secured and in position, this being a repeat of the installation process previously described in the likely event of one or more devices with elongate support bodies being required to be installed through the upper wall section to support a wall 3A, is to remove the lower section of internal wall leaving space 8 to allow a steel beam to be installed as the long term support, as shown in Figure 2. Support being maintained by way of the device (s) with elongate support body 1A and the two opposed detachable foot assemblies 4A at each end of the device with elongate support body 1A to enable the device to remain stable onto the timber load spreaders 7 A on top of the floor joist SA. The vertical props 9A and 10A vertically disposed below each detachable foot assembly underneath the floor joist 5A and standing on the floor 11 A. Timber load spreaders 6A between the upper end of the props 9A and 10A and the floor joist are shown and provide even the aforementioned weight distribution. The device with elongate support body 1A is shown horizontally inserted transversely through the aperture hole 12A in the upper internal wall 3A as described previously. The elongate support body of the device enables it to support an internal wall by providing a centrally located brace at the aperture point which is safely held by the substantial width of the elongate body of the device.

Claims

1) A support for an internal wall comprising; a device with elongate support body having detachable foot assemblies installed at each of its ends, disposed timber load spreaders and at least two vertical extendable support props which are installed to support underneath the first floor joists on both sides of a lower section of an internal wall, in use, said device with elongate support body being installed horizontally transversely through an aperture hole created in said internal wall above the floor joist in the upper section of said internal wall with said foot assemblies adjusted in height, levelled and mounted onto said timber load spreaders on top of the floor joist to support the upper section of the internal wall.2) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein both vertically disposed props have wooden planks acting as timber load spreaders to their upper ends contacting with the underside of the floor joist.3) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device with elongate support body may be configured as an internally reinforced elongate support body which may be hollow and of a length of at least, but not limited to 1000mm-3000mm to accommodate installation requirements with substantial widths.4) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in use, the elongate support body of the device only has one of the two foot assemblies installed, to enable the opposing end to be slid through said hole aperture in the upper section of the internal wall.5) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 4 wherein, in use, the second adjustable foot may be installed onto the end of the elongate body of the device, which has been inserted through the hole aperture, once the elongate body of the device is inserted to the required position.6) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 5 wherein, in use, both detachable feet secured at both ends of the horizontally disposed device with elongate body use a retaining rod with R-clips to enable both adjustable feet to be wound up simultaneously to the correct height, to engage within the aperture through the wall and support the upper section of internal wall.7) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 6 wherein an adjustable detachable foot assembly is used at each end of the elongate support body of the device to enable it to remain stable.8) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 7 wherein an adjustable foot assembly is at each end of the elongate support body of the device enables it to remain level and at the correct height when installed through the hole aperture in the support wall.9) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 8 wherein an adjustable foot assembly at each end of the elongate support body of the device enables it to support an internal wall by providing a centrally located brace at the aperture point which is safely held by the substantial width of the elongate body of the device.10) A support for an internal wall as claimed in claim 9 wherein, in use, to create a stable distribution of balanced downward weight, the longer length of the elongate support body of the device with said foot assembly fitted onto each of its ends, enables said device to have sufficient length to seat directly above the said support props vertically disposed underneath the floor joist, below each said foot.

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