Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority from United States application No. 62/492766 filed 1 May 2017. For purposes of the United States, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §1 19 of United States application No. 62/492766 filed 1 May 2017and entitled SHELF ANGLE SUPPORT which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Field

[0002] This invention relates to apparatus for supporting brick veneer or other masonry on a building wall.

Background

[0003] It is becoming common in building construction to provide a building wall in which a brick veneer or other masonry is spaced apart from an outer surface of a building by a gap. The gap may include an air space. In some cases, insulation is provided in the gap.

[0004] A brick veneer can be relatively heavy. It is typical to provide a shelf formed from a metal angle iron that extends along a lower surface of the brick veneer. The shelf is attached to the building wall with brackets that space the shelf angle away from the building wall by a desired distance. Various supports for shelf angles are commercially available. Many of these have disadvantages when it comes to cost and/or ease of use.

[0005] One problem with many commercially available shelf angle support systems is thermal bridging. Such systems can conduct heat away from a building and in so doing can significantly reduce the insulation value of the building wall.

Summary

[0006] This invention has a number of aspects including:

• shelf angle supports useful for supporting brick veneers or other masonry;

• building constructions which incorporate shelf angle supports; and,

• methods for supporting shelf angles to building walls. [0007] Further aspects of the invention and features of example embodiments are described below and/or depicted in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate non-limiting example embodiments of the invention.

[0009] Figure 1 A is an exploded cross-sectional view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly.

[0010] Figure 1 B is a cross-sectional view of an assembled shelf angle support bracket assembly.

[0011] Figure 2 is a front view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly.

[0012] Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a shelf angle support with an optional angle brace.

[0013] Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a shelf angle with optional flashing according to one example embodiment.

[0014] Figure 4A is a cross sectional view of a shelf angle with optional flashing according to another example embodiment.

[0015] Figure 5 is a front view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly with dimensions of an example embodiment.

[0016] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly with dimensions of an example embodiment.

[0017] Figures 7A and 7B are top views of a shelf angle support bracket assembly of two example embodiments.

[0018] Figure 8 is a side view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly with dimensions of an example embodiment.

[0019] Figure 9 is cross-sectional view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly.

[0020] Figure 10 is an isometric view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly.

Detailed Description

[0021] Figure 1 A is an exploded cross-sectional view of a shelf angle support bracket assembly 10 according to an example embodiment of the invention. Assembly 10 comprises a spacer member 12 which is attached on an outer face 14A of a building wall 14. A shelf angle 16 is attached on an outer face of spacer member 12. In the illustrated embodiment, spacer member 12 comprises outer and inner plates 12A and 12B joined by at least one web 12C. For example, spacer member 12 may comprise a section of a rectangular tube or a steel c-section, as respectively shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, spacer member 12 is attached to wall 14 by an expansion bolt 17 which passes through an aperture 13A in inner plate 12A and a nut 17A . Shelf angle 16 is attached to outer plate 12A by a bolt 18 which passes through an aperture 13B in outer plate 12B and a nut 18A.

[0023] Sheets 20A and 20B of a thermally insulating material may be provided between spacer member 12 and wall 14 and/or between spacer member 12 and shelf angle 16. Sheets 20A and 20B may be of a substantially non-compressible, thermally- insulating material such as a suitable plastic, ceramic, or the like. Sheets 20A and 20B are equal in size to the faces of plates 12A and 12B that they bear against in some embodiments. The thickness of sheets 20A, 20B may be selected to maintain a desired insulating value for the overall wall constructions. In some embodiments, sheets 20A and/or 20B have thicknesses in the range of 0.2 inches to 1 inch.

[0024] The total thickness of spacer member 12, plates 20A and/or 20B, where present, and the vertical wall 16A of shelf support angle 16 may be selected to provide a desired spacing between the outer surface of wall 14A and the inner surface of a brick veneer to be built on shelf support 16.

[0025] Sheets 20A and/or 20B are formed with apertures which allow fasteners (e.g. bolt 17 or bolt 18) to pass through. The apertures in sheets 20A and/or 20B may respectively match the shapes of apertures 13A and 13B.

[0026] In some embodiments sheets 20A and/or 20B are bonded to spacer members 12 so that spacer members 12 together with sheets 20A and/or 20B may be handled as a unit.

[0027] In some embodiments, aperture 13A comprises a slot. This allows a range of possible positions for expansion bolt 17. In some embodiments, for example as shown in Figure 2, aperture 13A is provided by a slot which is angled to the horizontal such that, for a given position on a wall 14 of spacer member 12, there are a range of choices for the location of expansion bolt 17, and these choices vary both in horizontal position and vertical elevation. Also, with aperture 13A provided by an angled slot, for a given position of expansion bolt 17, spacer member 12 may be adjusted by moving it horizontally to achieve a desired vertical elevation.

[0028] In some embodiments aperture 13B also comprises a slot. In such

embodiments it can be advantageous to make aperture 13B in the form of a horizontally-extending slot (e.g. a slot extending transversely to spacer member 12). One benefit of making aperture 12B in the form of a horizontal slot is that holes in shelf angle 16 do not need to be placed precisely in the horizontal direction to line up with apertures 13A in space members 12.

[0029] In some cases aperture 13A comprises an angled slot as described above and aperture 13B comprises a horizontal slot as also described above and shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. One advantage of this arrangement is that during installation of shelf angle 16, the elevation at which spacer member 12 supports shelf angle 16 can be adjusted by moving the spacer member 12 horizontally. With aperture 13B having the form of a horizontal slot aperture 13B can accommodate such relative horizontal movement between the spacer member 12 and shelf angle 16.

[0030] Shelf angle 16 may have a considerable length. Shelf angle bracket assemblies 10 are spaced apart along the length of shelf angle 16 with a desired spacing between bracket assemblies 10. Supporting shelf angle 16 with spaced-apart bracket assemblies 10 tends to reduce thermal bridging. Providing insulating sheets 20A and/or 20B further reduces the thermal bridging.

[0031] Apparatus 10 may be used in a way that is very efficient. Spacer members 12 may be attached to a wall 14 along the part of wall 14 where a shelf angle 16 will be provided. After spacer members 12 have been attached to the wall, the shelf angle 16 may be temporarily placed against spacer members 12 and held in place, for example with clamps, while the desired locations of apertures 13B are marked on shelf angle 16. After that has been done, holes may be punched in shelf angle 16 to receive bolts 18. Such holes made, for example with a portable hydraulic hole punch or magnetic drill. Such hole punches are widely available. Shelf angle 16 may then be attached to spacer members 12, for example with bolts 18 and nuts 18A. In the illustrated embodiment, upper surfaces of spacer members 12 are angled to allow ready access for tightening nut 17A.

[0032] In another example application method, two support members 12 are attached to a wall and a shelf angle 16 is attached to the two support members 12 as described above. The two support members may, for example, be at or near opposing ends of shelf angle 16. Subsequently, additional support members 12 may be attached to the wall at a desired horizontal spacing along the shelf angle 16.

Positions of holes may be marked on shelf angle 16 and the additional support members may be pivoted aside to allow the corresponding holes to be punched or drilled in shelf angle 16 at the desired positions.

[0033] In any embodiments as described herein, if necessary, any of the support members 12 may be shimmed with spacers to accommodate any waviness in the surface of wall 14. In some embodiments thin spacer plates that are apertured to receive bolt 17 are provided. Such thin spacer plates may be added between a support member 12 and wall 14 and/or between a support member 12 and shelf angle 16, as needed.

[0034] In an example case, support plates may be provided in thicknesses of about 1/8 inch and about ¼ inch. Spacer plates may, for example, have approximately the same dimensions in directions parallel to wall 14 as sheets 20A, where sheets 20A are provided. Spacer plates may be made of a material such as steel, galvanized steel or stainless steel or a material having greater thermal insulation properties such as a suitable plastic, composite material or the like.

[0035] The design of shelf angle support brackets 10 allows for considerable variation. For example, the length of spacer members 12 may be varied. This may be advantageous in cases where it is desired to have a brick veneer (or other masonry) supported below the lower edge of a wall 14. This is illustrated in Figure 3. In Figure 3, spacer member 12 extends below lower end 14B of wall 14. Angle brace 24 extends between lower end 14B of wall 14 and a lower portion 12B of spacer member 10. Shelf angle 16 is supported by spacer member 12 below lower end 14B of wall 14.

[0036] Wall 14 may be constructed of any suitable material. Wall 14 may be made of cement, as illustrated in Figure 1 A. Other options for the construction of wall 14 include, but are not limited to, cinder blocks, wooden or metal studs, or the like. The fastener used to attach spacer member 12 to wall 14 may be selected based on the construction of wall 14. For example, a fastener member may comprise an expansion bolt, a lag screw, a bolt, or the like.

[0037] The system as described herein may be installed extremely efficiently.

Adaptation to compensate for non-planarity (waviness or the like) in the surface of wall 14 can be made readily.

[0038] Figure 1 B is a cross-sectional view of an assembled shelf angle support bracket assembly. When assembled, bolts 17 and 18 hold insulation 20A and 20B tightly between shelf angle 16, spacer member 12, and wall 14.

[0039] Figure 4 is a cross-section of a wall showing a brick veneer 42 supported by a shelf angle 16 which is in turn attached to a wall 14 by a plurality of shelf angle support brackets 10 as described herein. Figure 4 also shows how a flashing 44 may be carried down over the top of a spacer member 12 onto shelf angle 16. A piece of self-adhesive flashing 46 may be adhered to wall 14 and to flashing 44 such that any water falling down within cavity 48 between brick veneer 42 and wall 14 is carried to the outside by flashing 44 and 46. Also shown in Figure 4 are brick ties 50 which tie brick veneer 42 to wall 14 at locations above shelf angle 16. Insulation may be provided in gap 48 if desired.

[0040] Spacer member 12 may be made of any of a variety of materials including red iron, galvanized steel, mild steel, or stainless steel. Stainless steel is advantageous for providing reduced thermal conductivity.

[0041] Figure 4A is similar to Figure 4 and shows an alternative way to provide flashing. In Figure 4A the flashing comprises an angle flashing 47 that extends under shelf angle 16. A gap 48 may be provided under shelf bracket 16. Gap 48 may, for example, have a thickness that is similar to the spacing between two rows of bricks in brick veneer 42. Water that flows down wall 14 is caught by angle flashing 47 and directed to the outside of brick veneer 42. Advantageously, water being directed by flashing 47 does not need to come into direct contact with the bricks of veneer 42. This can reduce the formation of mineral deposits on the bricks. The design illustrated in Figure 4A can be used to advantage over windows as well as over lower sections of brick veneer 42. [0042] In methods according to some embodiment a shelf angle 16 is used to support scaffolding, such as a Hydro-Mobile™ mast-climbing work platform against pulling away from a building. One brick can be left out at a location at which the scaffolding is coupled to shelf angle 16. The brick may be placed as the scaffolding is being taken down.

Interpretation of Terms

[0043] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims:

• "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive

sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to";

• "connected", "coupled", or any variant thereof, means any connection or

coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof;

• "herein", "above", "below", and words of similar import, when used to describe this specification, shall refer to this specification as a whole, and not to any particular portions of this specification;

• "or", in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following

interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list;

• the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" also include the meaning of any

appropriate plural forms.

[0044] Words that indicate directions such as "vertical", "transverse", "horizontal", "upward", "downward", "forward", "backward", "inward", "outward", "vertical",

"transverse", "left", "right", "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "below", "above", "under", and the like, used in this description and any accompanying claims (where present), depend on the specific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. The subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations.

Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

[0045] Brick can include any masonry materials suitable for providing a veneer on a building.

[0046] Where a component (e.g. a bracket, bolt, fastener, washer, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a "means") should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0047] Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts with equivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omitting combining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments.

[0048] It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, omissions, and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.