The invention relates to a reinforcement, in particular a reinforcement which can be rolled up and unrolled in the manner of a sheet, preferably a reinforcing fabric, for reinforcing a render layer, wherein the reinforcement has elongate spacers, preferably spacer profiles, which preferably extend substantially approximately parallel to one another and at a distance from one another in the and/or along the the reinforcement and which, including the reinforcement, predetermine a minimum layer thickness for the render layer.

A reinforcement of the aforementioned generic type is disclosed in DE 39 26 366 A1. This document describes a reinforcing mesh for reinforcing wall renders, said mesh being intended to be arranged approximately in the outer third of the render thickness and for this purpose having spacers which fix the relative position of the reinforcing mesh plane with respect to the surface to be rendered. The spacers are elongate profiles which are oriented parallel to the reinforcing mesh plane, extend parallel to one another and have a cross section which corresponds to the desired distance from the surface to be rendered, said profiles forming a structural unit with the reinforcing mesh. There is thus obtained a reinforcing mesh with integrated spacers which can also be provided on the building site as a roll product in the rolled-up state and which is unrolled for incorporation into the render. A comparable reinforcing fabric, in particular with spacers woven in a cord-like manner into the fabric, is disclosed in DE 10 2005 040 090 B4.

In the case of both known reinforcing fabrics, the spacers are round solid profiles in their cross section, in particular being dimensionally stable. This is advantageous in order to accomplish a reliable spacing function. The object on which the invention is based is to improve the ease of handling and in particular the transportability of a reinforcing fabric having spacers.

l This object is achieved according to the invention in that the spacers have a roll-up- promoting design which is nevertheless reliable for their spacing function.

The invention has thus identified in a surprising and inventive manner that a conflict of goals with the roll-up capability and the transportability and the space-saving storage of the known reinforcing fabrics is precisely based in the reliable dimensional stability of the spacers.

The inventive solution, then, advantageously affords better compatibility between roll-up capability and reliable spacing.

A first embodiment of the inventive solution results in an inventive reinforcement which is characterized by material cut-outs, preferably notches, arranged over the longitudinal extent of the spacers, preferably at regular distances from one another.

The notches according to the invention, preferably resulting in a serrated spacer lath, considerably facilitate rolling-up of the reinforcement according to the invention. At the same time, the, preferably dimensionally stable, material projections which delimit the notches or other material cut-outs are completely adequate for ensuring a reliable spacing function. Moreover, the teeth are preferably even better suited to penetrate into the render compound up to the surface to be rendered and to be directly supported there if the reinforcement, which is usually the case, is pressed and placed into a first render layer. A spacer according to the invention can be produced, for example, from polyvinyl chloride, a material which can be easily connected, in particular to a fabric material, using different connecting techniques.

An alternative or, where appropriate, also additional embodiment of the invention is characterized in the spacers having a variable cross-sectional profile in the direction of the application thickness of the render, the application thickness extending approximately perpendicularly to the reinforcing plane.

Specifically, a roll of a usually relatively thin reinforcing fabric with spacers can, as a result of the additional radial projection of the spacers, have a much greater diameter than a reinforcing fabric without spacers, which makes it considerably more difficult to handle, transport and store a generic reinforcing fabric with spacers.

Such a spacer according to the invention can be realized for example in that it has a hollow cross section which is produced from a material which is flexible to a certain degree but which straightens up or spreads up stiffly again in a resilient manner in such a way that the spacer can be squashed together during forceful rolling-up and unfolds again with the reinforcement unrolled, it being pointed out that, during rendering, preferably by spreading, no excessive force is exerted on the spacer in the direction of the surface to be rendered, because precisely a uniform minimum layer thickness is to be achieved. Such a spreading force is readily withstood by the spacer according to the invention with correct shape and material setting without impairing its reliable spacer function.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by the cross-sectional profile of the spacer having at least one region which can be folded over approximately parallel to the reinforcement plane.

In this particularly elegant and advantageous manner, a region of the spacer according to the invention can be substantially laid flat for rolling-up by being folded over. When unrolling the reinforcement, this region preferably straightens up automatically again. For this purpose, what has already been explained above applies, namely that, during rendering, preferably by spreading, no excessive force is exerted on the spacer in the direction of the surface to be rendered, meaning that there is no fear of bending or folding-over of this region during rendering.

This also applies when, as preferably provided according to the invention, the foldable region is of substantially lath-shaped design. Here, according to a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional profile of the spacer according to the invention can have approximately an L shape.

The base of the L shape can, in a particularly simple manner, be applied flat as a strip to the reinforcement, in particular a reinforcing fabric, and be connected thereto. The lath or second leg of the L shape then projects approximately perpendicularly to the spacing. To roll up the reinforcement, this upright lath can be folded over flat under a certain force loading, to be precise over the L base or, better and flatter still, in a plane next to the L base.

, Another embodiment of the spacer according to the invention provides that the foldable region is designed or arranged for automatic straightening-up. Advantageously, the region itself can thus straighten up automatically when unrolling the reinforcement and/or its connection region, that is to say as it were an articulated or hinge region, could be correspondingly designed so as, for example, to prestress the foldable region in the straightening-up direction. In a hinge region, in particular with the use of plastic, this can occur, for example, precisely contrastingly to a film hinge. A film hinge with a certain material weakening facilitates folding-over while, for example, a thickening which is bead-shaped or sausage-shaped for example can make folding-over more difficult but nevertheless allow it, and, on the other hand, can also favour or assist and promote straightening-up again.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least the foldable region and/or a connection region for the foldable region is formed from a so-called memory material.

There are available on the market, for example, metal alloys having the desired properties which, in particular, if desired, can also be used incorporated into a plastics material. However, there are already plastics, in particular polymers, which themselves show such properties.

In addition, or as an alternative, according to a further embodiment, the reinforcement according to the invention can, as already mentioned above, be characterized by at least the foldable region and/or a connection region for the foldable region being formed from a flexible intrinsically resilient material. Preferably, the material for at least one sub-region of the spacer can be a plastic, preferably PVC.

Exemplary embodiments from which there can also result further inventive features which, however, should be considered in principle only as exemplary and which are not intended to limit the subject matter of the invention or its scope of protection are illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a basic, enlarged section through a substrate with a render layer comprising a reinforcement according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a further enlarged end view of a spacer according to the invention for a reinforcement as shown in Fig. 1, in an erected position, and

Figure 3 shows the spacer as shown in Fig. 2, in a laid-flat position.

Figure 1 shows a basic, enlarged section through a substrate 1 with a surface to be rendered with a render layer 2 comprising a reinforcement 3 according to the invention. The reinforcement 3, in particular a reinforcing fabric, has spacers 4 which are arranged at regular distances from one another and which extend parallel to one another, said spacers being substantially designed as L profiles, preferably extending substantially along the whole breadth or length of the fabric web.

In the enlarged illustration of Fig. 1 , the substrate 1 is only indicated and moreover illustrated in interrupted form. The reinforcement 3 is inserted or pressed into the render layer 2, to be precise preferably in such a way that the reinforcement is situated approximately in the outer third of the layer thickness of the render layer 2. For example, the spacers 4 could preferably predetermine a minimum layer thickness of approximately 5 mm between reinforcement 3 and substrate 1 , and the render layer thickness above or on the outside of the reinforcement 3 could still be approximately 2 mm.

The use of the reinforcement 3 and the application of the render layer 2 would preferably proceed for instance as follows:

First, a render layer 2 (in particular a reinforcing mortar) of preferably approximately 5 to 7 mm is applied, manually or mechanically, to the substrate 1. Next, the reinforcement 3, in particular a reinforcing fabric, is cut to length, that is to say in particular suitably measured and correspondingly cut off, and, with the spacers 4 ahead, positioned on and pressed into the render layer 2.

Preferably, a batten is then used so that the reinforcement 3 with its spacers 4 can be pressed and embedded further and flat into the render layer 2 until the spacers 4 bear or butt against the surface of the substrate 1 . Next, or at the same time, the render is struck off on the strike-off lines formed by the spacers 4, with the result that a minimum material covering over the reinforcing web remains, with excess material being removed. In the case of too low an application thickness, render or mortar is, where appropriate, applied subsequently (additionally) and struck off again. In this manner, production of a uniform and planar rendered panel while maintaining a minimum layer thickness is facilitated and accelerated.

Through the choice and design of the material of the spacer according to the invention, the alkalinity, the fire behaviour, the hygrothermal loadability, etc., can in particular also be taken into account in an advantageous manner. Figure 2 shows a further enlarged end view or cross section of a spacer 4 according to the invention for a reinforcement 3 as shown in Fig. 1 , in the erected position. In the functional position shown, the spacer 4 has substantially an L shape which is formed by a base leg 5, a spacer leg 6 and a hinge joint 7 connecting both legs 5, 6. The base leg 5 lies flat against the reinforcing fabric of the reinforcement 3 and is fixedly connected thereto, for example by adhesive bonding, stitching, welding or the like.

In the functional position shown in Fig. 2, the spacer leg 6 ensures the correct distance between the reinforcement 3 and the substrate 1 to be rendered.

Figure 3 shows the spacer 4 as shown in Fig. 2, in the laid-flat position. Here, the spacer leg 6 is folded over from its functional position flat into the plane of the base leg 5 so as to be aligned therewith. In this bearing position, the reinforcing fabric can be rolled up in a space-saving manner, it being the case that the flat spacer 4 can be rolled up too.

The hinge joint 7 allows this folding-over of the spacer leg 6, but at the same time provides for a pre-stressing which is aimed at automatically straightening up the spacer leg again into the functional position in the direction of the arrow 8.

To lay the spacer 4 flat and for rolling up the reinforcement 3 with the spacers 4, a certain force loading is thus necessary, it being the case that an elasticity force is released again during unrolling and for straightening up the spacer legs 6.