This invention relates to a support structure for supporting a structure such as a wall, and particularly, but not exclusively to a support structure for supporting a wall in which an opening for, for example, a door or a window is to be formed.

When partially knocking down a wall to form a door or a window, or to enlarge an existing door or window it is necessary to support the wall above the area to be knocked down in order to prevent the wall from collapsing.

It is known to support a wall by passing a structure through the wall substantially at right angles to the wall, above the area which is to be knocked down. The structure is then supported using one or more temporary support structures which extend from the ground to the structure, and thus support the wall. Each temporary support structure has a variable height to adapt it for use at different levels above ground or floor level. The height of the temporary support structure may be varied pneumatically or by means of a screw thread for example.

According to the invention there is provided a support structure for supporting a wall having an area in which an aperture is to be formed, the support structure comprising: a first beam having a centre point; at least one first attachment means for attaching the first beam to the wall above the area; and first and second bearings attachable to the wall whereby in use the first beam bears down on the bearings at opposite sides of the centre point.

By means of the invention, the use of known temporary support structures is not necessary. This means that the support structure according to the invention may be conveniently used at any desirable height above ground or floor level, as it is not necessary to make contact with the ground or floor, as is the case with known temporary support structures.

The wall above the area to be knocked down is supported by the first beam which is attached to the wall and which bears upon the first and second bearings.

Once the support structure has been correctly positioned, a portion of the area to be knocked down may be initially knocked out to leave a space for a support lintel to be positioned in the spaced created. The remaining wall below the lintel may then be knocked out, once the support lintel has been positioned in the space created for it.

Preferably the invention further comprises second and third beams fixedly attached to each of the first and second bearings respectively, and second and third attachment means for attaching the second and third beams, and hence the first and second bearings to the wall on the either side of the area to be knocked down.

Preferably one or more of the first, second and third attachment means comprises a support bracket, having a structure receiving portion and a support portion adapted to be inserted into a slot in the wall. The slot may be formed at an appropriate place relative to the area to be knocked down.

Advantageously the first beam is positioned substantially horizontally above the area to be knocked out, and the second and third portions are positioned at each end of the first structure, in a substantially vertical position.

Conveniently, one or more of the attachment means comprises a second receiving portion into which other structures may be inserted.

The presence of the second receiving portion enables access to be gained more easily to the area of the wall to be knocked down. The presence of the second receiving portion avoids the wall which is to be knocked being obscured by the presence of

the first beam.

Advantageously the support structure further comprises a lintel support attachable to the support structure by means of the second receiving portion, which lintel support is adapted to support the support lintel which has been inserted into a space created in the wall.

The support lintel may thus be supported while sections of the wall below the lintel are built up, and once the mortar has set, the lintel support structure may be removed. By means of the lintel support means it is not necessary to wait for mortar to set before inserting the lintel, and thus the process of creating a hole in the wall and inserting a support lintel is speeded up.

The first, second and third beams may be formed integrally with the second and third beams formed approximately at right angles to the first beam, and positioned at either end of the first portion. Alternatively the first, second and third beam may be formed separately from one another.

The first beam may have a fixed length or a variable length. The length may be varied by any convenient means.

Preferably the support structure further comprises first, second and third outer sleeves receivable in the first, second and third attachment means respectively and adapted to receive the first, second and third beams of the support structure respectively.

The sleeve provides a convenient means for allowing the length of each beam to be varied as appropriate to suit the size of the area to be knocked down.

Conveniently, the first beam comprises first and second first beam portions contained within the first sleeve. The length of

the first beam may be varied by varying the distance between the first and second first beam portions.

Advantageously, the first attachment means are secured around the first beam by means of a pin and bolt arrangement.

Advantageously the second and third attachment means are secured around the second and third portions respectively, by means of one or more bolts.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a support structure according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a more detailed representation of a first attachment means of the support structure of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional representation of the first attachment means of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a more detailed representation of the second portion and second attachment means, of the support structure of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional representation of the portion of the support structure illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 8, 9, 10a and 10b are schematic representations of a further embodiment of the support structure incorporating a

liήtel support.

Referring to Figure 1, a support structure according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The support structure comprises a first beam 11, a second beam 12 and a third beam 13. The first beam is enclosed within a first outer sleeve 14, the• second beam is enclosed within a second outer sleeve 15 and the third beam 13 is enclosed within a third outer sleeve 16. The first beam comprises first and second beam portions 100, 110. The length of the first beam 11 may be varied by varying the distance between the two portions 100, 110 within the sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 comprises retaining means (not shown) for limiting the movement of the portions 100, 110.

The first sleeve 14 is attached to a wall 17 by means of first attachment means 18. The second outer sleeve 15 is attached to wall 17 by means of second attachment means 19, and the third outer sleeve 16 is attached to wall 17 by means of third attachment means 20. The support structure 10 is positioned above an area 21 which is to be knocked out to form, for example, a window or door. The beams 12, 13 are further supported by bolts 22.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, first attachment means 18 is shown in more detail. The attachment means 18 comprises a structure receiving portion 23 in which the first sleeve 14 is receivable and a support portion 31, which is insertable in a slot in a wall. In use, the area to be knocked out will first of all be marked on the wall, for example, by using chalk. Slots are then formed in the wall at appropriate positions, and the first attachments means 18 are positioned in the slots by means of support portion 31.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 second attachment means 19, and second sleeve 15 are shown in more detail. In this embodiment of the invention, the attachment means 19 and the sleeve 15 co-

operate with one another to enable the structure 10 to be attached to the wall 17. The sleeve 15 comprises a bearing 51, which is insertable into a pre-formed slot in the wall and which supports first beam 11. The slot will have been formed at an appropriate point relative to the area 21 to be knocked out. Third attachment means 20 and sleeve 16 are substantially identical to attachment means 19 and sleeve 15.

In use, after the slots have been formed to receive the attachment means as described above, the second and third attachment means and outer sleeves 15, 19 and 16, 20 are positioned in the slots by means of bearings 51 positioned on outer sleeves 15 and 16 respectively. The outer sleeves 15, 16 are then fixed to the wall, by means of bolts 40 on each attachment means 19, 20. The outer sleeves are thus positioned on the wall in a substantially vertical position.

The first outer sleeve 14, and beams 11, 12 and 13 are then positioned in the two outer sleeves 15, 16. The outer sleeve 14 is supported in first attachment means 18. A pin 32 is associated with each first attachment means 18, and allows the first sleeve 14 to be held in position by means of bolt 33 which co-operates with pin 32 on each attachment means 18. The bolts 33 and 22 are all tightened to an appropriate level of tightness. The brickwork from the top portion of area 21 may now be taken out to allow a support lintel to be positioned. The remainder of area 21 may then be taken out using normal building practice.

Referring to Figure 6, a second embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the outer sleeve 14 which contains beam 11 is attached directly to beam 12.

Referring to Figure 7, a portion of a third embodiment of the invention is shown.

In this embodiment, the first beam 71 comprises a plurality of

beam portions 72. The beam portions 72 are connected to one another by means of hinges 73 and bolts 74. Once the beam 71 has been positioned in the wall, the bolts are tightened to convey a rigidity and strength to the beam 71.

Referring to Figures 8, 9, 10a and 10b a further embodiment of the invention is shown. The first attachment means 80 comprises a structure receiving portion 23 into which the first sleeve 14 is receivable, and a support portion 31 insertable into a slot into a wall 90. The attachment means comprises a second structure receiving portion 81 into which a further support structure may be inserted if desired.

The second structure receiving portion 81 comprises two portions 81a and 81b. Portion 81a is positioned below first receiving portion 23. The presence of structure 81a results in the first beam when positioned in portion 23 being positioned above the highest level of bricks which are required to be removed in order to create a hole in the wall 90. A second portion 81b is adapted to receive a lintel support 82. The lintel support 82 comprises a first portion comprising an outer structure 83 and an inner structure 84 which is slidable within the outer structure 83. Both the inner and outer structures 83, 84 comprise a plurality of apertures 85. The height of the lintel support may be varied by varying the position of the inner structure 84 within the outer structure 83. Once the desired height of lintel support has been achieved, the height may be held fixed by inserting a pin through appropriate holes 85, which holds constant the relative position of the portions 83, 84. The lintel support 82 further comprises bar 86 onto which a lintel 87 may be placed. The lintel 87 may be held close up against the top edge 91 of the wall. The lintel 87 may be supported at either end by a lintel support structure. While the weight of the lintel is thus supported, parts of the wall below the lintel may be built up. Because the weight of the lintel is supported by lintel support 82, the weight of the lintel will not bear down on fresh mortar forming the wall

beneath the lintel. This means that it is not necessary to wait for the mortar to set, as is the case in conventional building methods.