The present invention relates to a fastener for attaching a first object to a second object and a tool for operation of the fastener.

Commonly, when attaching a first object, such as a batten or door/window framing, to a second object, such as a wall or an opening in a wall, it is desirable to have the batten or door/window framing substantially straight and vertical/horizontal. Invariably, however, the surface of the wall to which the batten or door/window framing is attached is not perfectly flat and vertical/horizontal. At present, to attach the batten or door/window framing to the surface of the wall, a tradesperson will place one or more packers of various thickness between one or more portions of the batten or door/window framing and the surface of the wall, putting in and taking out packers until a substantially straight and vertical/horizontal position of the batten or door/window framing is achieved. Only then can the batten or door/window framing be attached to the surface of the wall with fasteners. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener that will enable a tradesperson to attach a first object, such as a batten or door/window framing, to a second object, such as a wall, without the need for packers and to provide a tool for operation of the fastener.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fastener for attaching a first object to a second object comprising a shank having a first portion extending from a first end of the fastener provided with a thread in a first direction, a second portion adjacent the first portion and a third portion adjacent the second portion and extending to a second end of the fastener, a cylindrical cover having an outer surface provided with a thread in the first direction and an inner smooth surface, which is positioned over the third portion of the shank and is moveably attached to the shank to allow the cover to spin around the shank but not move lengthways along the shank, wherein the shank and cover are rotatable in a first rotational direction to threadedly engage the first portion of the shank in the second object and to threadedly engage the cover in the first object, to attach the first object to the second object with an inner surface of the first object adjacent an outer surface of the second object, and the shank is rotatable in a second, opposite, rotational direction to partially threadedly disengage the first portion of the shank from the second object, to move the second and third portions of the shank, the cover attached to the shank and the first object threadedly engaged with the cover, away from the second object to provide a gap between the inner surface of the first object and the outer surface of the second object, whilst maintaining attachment of the first object to the second object.

The fastener may comprise an attachment device for moveably attaching the shank with the cover. In a first embodiment, the attachment device may comprise a rim adjacent a groove on the second portion of the shank and a clip which rests in the groove against the rim and moveably attaches the cover with the shank.

In a second embodiment, the attachment device may comprise a rim adjacent a groove on the second portion of the shank and a raised section comprising a flat surface projecting substantially perpendicularly from the inner surface of the cover, which rests in the groove against the rim and moveably attaches the cover to the second portion of the shank.

The first portion of the shank may be provided with a thread in a right-hand direction. The first portion of the shank may be provided with a thread suitable for use with material of the second object. The first portion of the shank may be provided with a thread comprising any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread.

The third portion of the shank may be provided with a connector adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener.

The cylindrical cover may have an outer surface provided with a thread in a right-hand direction. The cylindrical cover may have an outer surface provided with a thread suitable for use with material of the first object. The cylindrical cover may have an outer surface provided with a thread comprising any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread. The cylindrical cover may have an inner surface which is substantially smooth. The cover may be provided with a connector adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tool for operation of a fastener of the first aspect of the invention.

In a first embodiment, the tool may comprise: an elongate body, a shank and cover connector at a first end of the body having a first coupling adapted for coupling with a connector of a shank of a fastener and a second coupling adapted for coupling with a connector of a cover of the fastener, a shank connector at a second end of the body having a coupling adapted for coupling with a connector of the shank of the fastener, and the couplings of the connectors being adapted for connection to a device for rotation of the shank connector and the cover connector.

The couplings may comprise a Torx® fitting.

In a second embodiment, the tool may comprise: a shank connector which is elongate and has a first coupling at a first end adapted for attachment to a shank of a fastener and a second coupling at a second end, a cover connector which is elongate and cylindrical and has a first coupling at a first end adapted for attachment to a cover of the fastener and a second coupling towards a second end, an activator which is elongate and has a first coupling at a first end and a second coupling at a second end, wherein the cover connector is movable from a first operative state to a second inoperative state, and in the first operative state, the shank connector is at least partially located within the cover connector with the first coupling of the shank connector proximate to the first coupling of the cover connector and the activator is partially located within the cover connector with the second coupling of the shank connector attached to the first coupling of the activator and the second coupling of the cover connector attached to the first coupling of the activator, and in the second inoperative state, the cover connector is removed from the tool, and the second coupling of the activator is adapted for connection to a device for rotation of the activator and rotation of the shank connector and the cover connector.

The shank connector may be in the form of a bit, such as a Torx® bit. The first coupling of the shank connector may comprise a hexagonal fitting adapted for attachment to the shank of the fastener. The cover connector may be in the form of a socket. The first coupling of the cover connector may comprise a hexagonal fitting adapted for attachment to the cover of the fastener.

The cover connector may be movable from the first operative state to the second inoperative state by pulling the cover connector axially along the activator and the shank connector, to remove the cover connector from the tool.

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

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a fastener according to the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a shank of the fastener of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross sectional representation of a cover of the fastener of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross sectional representation of a first embodiment of a tool according to the second aspect of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a fastener according to the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a shank of the fastener of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic cross sectional representation of a cover of the fastener of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a clip of the fastener of Figure 5, and

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a tool according to the second aspect of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a fastener 1 for attaching a first object (not shown) to a second object (not shown) comprises a shank 3 and a cover 5. Referring to Figure 2, the shank 3 has a first portion 7, a second portion 9 and a third portion 11. The first portion 7 extends from a first end 13 of the fastener 1. The first portion 7 is provided with a thread 15 in a first direction, which in this embodiment is a right-hand direction. The thread 15 of the first portion 7 is cut to match a type of material of the second object to be attached to the first object by the fastener 1. The thread 15 comprises for example, any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread depending on the material of the second object to be attached to the first object by the fastener 1.

The second portion 9 of the shank 3 is adjacent the first portion 7, as shown. The second portion 9 provides a part of an attachment device for attaching the shank 3 of the fastener 1 to the cover 5. This comprises a raised rim 19 and a groove 20 adjacent the rim 29, for attaching the shank 3 of the fastener 1 to the cover 5.

The third portion 11 of the shank 3 is adjacent the second portion 9, as shown, and the third portion extends to a second end 21 of the fastener 1 and has no thread. The second end 21 of the shank 3 is provided with a connector 23 adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener 1.

Referring to Figure 3, the cylindrical cover 5 has an outer surface 25 provided with a thread 27 in the first direction, which in this embodiment is a right-hand direction, extending from an end 28 of the cover 5. The thread T1 of the outer surface 25 is cut to match a type of material of the first object to be attached to the second object by the fastener 1. The thread T1 on the outer surface 25 comprises, for example, any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread depending on the material of the first object to be attached to the second object by the fastener 1. The cylindrical cover 5 has an inner surface 29 which is substantially smooth.

The cylindrical cover 5 provides a part of an attachment device for attaching the shank 3 of the fastener 1 to the cover 5. This comprises a raised section, having a flat surface projecting substantially perpendicularly from the smooth inner surface 29 of the cover 5. This rests in the groove 20 against the rim 19 of the shank 3 and moveably attaches the cover 5 to the second portion 9 of the shank 3. Adjacent a second end 33 of the cover 5, at least four longitudinal cuts 37 through the material of the cover 5 are provided, to allow for positioning of the cover on the shank 3 of the fastener 1.

The first end 28 of the cover 5 is provided with a connector (not shown) adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the cover 5 is attached to the fastener 1. The first end 13 of the shank 3 is inserted into the end 28 of the cover 5 and the shank 3 is screwed through the cover 5 until the raised section of the cover 5 rests in the groove 20 against the rim 19 of the shank 3 and moveably attaches the cover 5 to the second portion 9 of the shank 3. The cover 5 is movably attached to the shank 3 of the fastener 1, such that the cover 5 may spin around the shank 3 but cannot move lengthways along the shank 3.

In use, when the fastener 1, comprising the shank 3 and the cover 5 are rotated in a first rotational direction, which in this embodiment, is a clockwise rotational direction, the first portion 7 of the shank 3 is threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the second object (not shown) and the second portion 9 and the third portion 11 of the shank 3 and the cover 5 are threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the first object (not shown). The first object is attached to the second object with an inner surface of the first object adjacent an outer surface of the second object.

When the shank 3 is rotated in a second, opposite, rotational direction, which in this embodiment, is an anticlockwise rotational direction, the first portion 7 of the shank 3 is partially threadedly disengaged from the second object. This moves the third portion 11 of the shank 3, the cover 5 attached to the third portion 11 and the first object threadedly engaged with the cover 5, away from the second object. As the cover 5 is engaged with the first object, this pulls the first object away from the second object and this provides a gap between the inner surface of the first object and the outer surface of the second object, whilst maintaining attachment of the first object to the second object. This enables the first object to be attached to the second object but be in a substantially straight and vertical/horizontal attitude, without the need for packers between the first object and the second object.

Referring to Figure 4, a tool 40 for operation of the fastener 1 comprises a shank connector 42, a cover connector 44 and an activator 46. The shank connector 42 is elongate and has a first coupling 48 at a first end adapted for attachment to the shank 3 of the fastener 1 and a second coupling 50 at a second end. The shank connector 42 is in the form of a bit, such as a Torx® bit. The first coupling 48 of the shank connector 42 comprises, in this embodiment, a Torx® fitting adapted for attachment to the shank 3 of the fastener 1. The second coupling 50, in this embodiment, comprises a hexagonal fitting adapted for attachment to the activator 46.

The cover connector 44 of the tool 40 is elongate and cylindrical and has a first coupling 52 at a first end adapted for attachment to the cover 5 of the fastener 1 and a second coupling 54 towards a second end. The cover connector 44 is in the form of a socket. The first coupling 52, in this embodiment, comprises a hexagonal fitting adapted for attachment to the cover 5 of the fastener 1. The second coupling 54, in this embodiment, comprises a square fitting adapted for attachment to the activator 46. The cover connector 44 is attached to the activator 46 such that the cover connector 44 is capable of slight lateral movement with respect to the activator 46. This allows slight movement of the cover connector 44 with respect to the shank connector 42, if required, particularly on removal of the fastener 1 and cover 5 from the first and second objects.

The activator 46 is elongate and has a first coupling 56 at a first end and a second coupling 58 at a second end. The first coupling 56 comprises an inner fitting adapted for attachment to the second coupling 50 of the shank connector 42 which, in this embodiment, comprises an inner hexagonal socket fitting. The first coupling 56 further comprises an outer fitting adapted for attachment to the second coupling 54 of the cover connector 44 which, in this embodiment, is an outer square fitting. The second coupling 58, in this embodiment, comprises a hexagonal fitting adapted for connection to a device, such as a drill for rotation of the tool 40.

The tool 40 further comprises a spring 62 held in place in an aperture in the activator 46 by a screw 64, as shown. The spring 62 presses against a ball bearing 66 in the aperture, pushing the ball bearing 66 into engagement with a groove 68 formed in the cover connector 44. This acts to attach the cover connector 44 to the activator 46. The tool 40 further comprises a magnet 70 which is secured at an innermost end of the first coupling 56 of the activator 46, to assist in holding in place and magnetising the shank connector 42.

The cover connector 44 is placeable in a first operative state (shown in Figure 4) and a second inoperative state. In the first operative state, the shank connector 42 is substantially located within the cover connector 44 (as shown) with the first coupling 48 of the shank connector 42 proximate to the first coupling 52 of the cover connector 44. The activator 46 is partially located within the cover connector 44 (as shown) with the second coupling 50 of the shank connector 42 attached to the inner fitting of the first coupling 56 of the activator 46 and the second coupling 54 of the cover connector 44 attached to the outer fitting of the first coupling 56 of the activator 46.

To place the cover connector 44 in the second inoperative state, the cover connector 44 is removed from the tool 40, by pulling the cover connector 44 over and away from the shank connector 42. In doing so, the ball bearing 66 is pushed back against the spring 62, releasing the cover connector 44 from the tool 40.

The second coupling 58 of the activator 46 is adapted for connection to a device, such as a drill, for rotation of the activator 46. When the cover connector 44 is in the first operative state, rotation of the activator 46 causes rotation of the shank connector 42 (and the shank 3) and the cover connector 44 (and the cover 5). When the cover connector 44 is in the second inoperative state, rotation of the activator 46 causes rotation of the shank connector 42 (and the shank 3) and the cover connector 44, but, as this has had the first coupling 52 removed, the cover 5 will not be rotated.

The fastener 1 may be operated by the tool 40 to attach a first object comprising a batten to a second object comprising a wall. A hole is first drilled in and through the batten and in the wall, using a drill bit having two drilling portions, a first drill bit portion substantially matching the diameter of the shank 3 of the fastener 1 and the second drill bit portion substantially matching the diameter of the cover 5 of the fastener 1.

The cover connector 44 of the tool 40 is placed in its operative state where the first coupling 52 of the cover connector 44 and the first coupling 48 of the shank connector 42 are coupled with the cover 5 and the shank 3 of the fastener 1. With the batten placed against the wall, the first end 13 of the shank 3 of the fastener 1 is then inserted through the hole in the batten and into an outer end of the hole of the wall. The first coupling 48 of the shank connector 42 of the tool 40 is engaged with the connector 23 of the second end 21 of the shank 3 of the fastener 1 and the first coupling 52 of the cover connector 44 of the tool 40 is engaged with the connector of the end 28 of the cover 5 of the fastener 1. The second coupling 58 of the activator 46 of the tool 40 is connected to a drill, which is operated to rotate the activator 46 in a clockwise rotational direction. Rotation of the activator 46 causes rotation of the shank connector 42 and the cover connector 44 of the tool 40 and rotation of the shank 3 and the cover 5 of the fastener 1 in a clockwise rotational direction. The first portion 7 of the shank 3 is thus threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the wall and the cover 5 is threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the batten. The batten is thus attached to the wall with an inner surface of the batten adjacent an outer surface of the wall. When the fastener 1 is substantially fully inserted into the batten, the cover 5 will grip the batten and hold it in place against the wall.

When the outer surface of the wall is not flat, attaching the batten to the wall, with an inner surface of the batten adjacent the outer surface of the wall, may cause the batten to bend to substantially fit the contours of the non-flat outer surface of the wall. This, in turn, will distort the batten from being substantially straight and vertical/horizontal, which is undesirable. In this situation, a gap is required between the inner surface of the batten and the outer surface of the wall.

To adjust the batten, the cover connector 44 of the tool 40 is placed in its inoperative state by removing the cover connector 44 from the tool 40. The first coupling 48 of the shank connector 42 of the tool 40 is engaged with the connector 23 of the second end 21 of the shank 3 of the fastener 1. The first coupling 52 of the cover connector 44 by its removal from the tool 40 is disengaged from the connector of the end 28 of the cover 5. Rotation of the activator 46 will cause rotation of the shank connector 42 and the cover connector 44, but as the latter is disengaged from the cover 5, this will not be rotated.

The second coupling 58 of the activator 46 of the tool 40 is connected to a drill, which is operated to rotate the activator 46 in an anticlockwise rotational direction. Rotation of the activator 46 causes rotation of the shank connector 42 of the tool 40 and rotation of the shank 3 (but not the cover 5) of the fastener 1 in an anticlockwise rotational direction. The first portion 7 of the shank 3 is thus threadedly disengaged, or screwed out, of the wall, which causes the cover 5 of the fastener 1 to move away from the wall. As the cover 5 is threadedly engaged with the batten, it grips the batten and movement of the cover 5 of the fastener 1 away from the wall, moves the batten away from the wall. This provides a gap between the inner surface of the batten and the outer surface of the wall, whilst maintaining attachment of the batten to the wall. This allows the batten to be attached to the wall and to be substantially straight and vertical/horizontal, without the need for packers between the batten and the wall.

Referring to Figure 5, a fastener 80 for attaching a first object (not shown) to a second object (not shown) comprises a shank 83, a cover 85 and a clip 87. Referring to Figure 6, the shank 83 has a first portion 89 comprising a threaded portion, a second portion 91 comprising a fastening portion and a third portion 93 comprising a cover portion. The first portion 89 extends from a first end 95 of the shank 83. The first portion 89 is provided with a thread 97 in a first direction, which in this embodiment is a right-hand direction. The thread 97 of the first portion 89 is cut to match a type of material of the second object to be attached to the first object by the fastener 80. The thread 97 comprises for example, any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread depending on the material of the second object to be attached to the first object by the fastener 80.

The second portion 91 of the shank 83 is adjacent the first portion 89, as shown. The second portion 91 slopes radially outwards to form a rim 99. A groove 101 in the shank 83 is provided adjacent the rim 99.

The third portion 93 of the shank 83 is adjacent the second portion 91, as shown, and the third portion extends to a second end 103 of the shank 83 and has no thread. The third portion 93 of the shank 83 comprises a first part 94, adjacent the second portion 91 of the shank 83, and a second part 96 which extends from the first part 94 to the second end 103 of the shank 83. The first part 94 is of smaller diameter than the second part 96. The second end 103 of the shank 83 is provided with a connector (not shown) adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener 80. Referring to Figure 7, the cylindrical cover 85 has an outer surface 107 provided with a thread 109 in the first direction, which in this embodiment is a right-hand direction. The thread 109 of the outer surface 107 is cut to match a type of material of the first object to be attached to the second object by the fastener 80. The thread 109 on the outer surface 107 comprises, for example, any of a wood thread, a concrete thread, a machine thread, a plastic thread depending on the material of the first object to be attached to the second object by the fastener 80. The cylindrical cover 85 has an inner surface 111 which is substantially smooth. The cover comprises a first part 110, which extends from a first end 112 of the cover 85, and a second part 114 which extends from the first part 110 to the second end 113 of the cover 85. The first part 110 is of smaller diameter than the second part 114 The second end 113 of the cover 85 is provided with a connector (not shown) adapted for coupling with a tool for operation of the fastener 80.

Referring to Figure 8, the clip 87 comprises a partial ring-shaped body 115, made of resilient material. Radial cuts 117 through the material of the clip 87 are provided, to allow the body 115 to flex, for locating of the clip 87 in the groove 101 in the shank 83 and attaching of the cover 85 to the shank 83.

As shown in Figure 1, the cover 85 is attached to the shank 83. The first end 95 of the shank 83 is introduced into the second end 113 of the cover 85 and moved through the cover 85 until the first part 94 of the shank 83 fits in the first part 110 of the cover 85 and the second part 96 of the shank 83 fits in the second part 114 of the cover 85. In this position, the first end 112 of the cover 85 is adjacent the groove 101 in the shank 83. The clip 87 is flexed to increase its diameter and placed in the groove 101 and then allowed to return to its normal shape, in which the clip 87 fits around the groove 101. The cover 85 is then attached with the shank 83. The cover 85 is movably attached to the shank 83, such that the cover 85 may spin around the shank 83 but cannot move lengthways along the shank 83. The shank 83 is not able to move in a first direction, further through the cover 85, as the second part 96 of the shank 83 does not fit into the first part 110 of the cover 85. The shank 83 is not able move in a second, opposite, direction, out of the cover 85, as the clip 87 abuts the first end 112 of the cover 85.

In use, when the fastener 80, comprising the shank 83 and the cover 85 are rotated in a first rotational direction, which in this embodiment, is a clockwise rotational direction, the first portion 89 of the shank 83 is threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the second object (not shown) and the cover 85 is threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the first object (not shown). The thread 109 of the cover 85 and the thread 97 of the shank 83 are such that when an equal rotation is applied to the cover 85 and the shank 83, the cover 85 and the shank 83 move an equivalent distance in the first and second objects respectively. The first object is attached to the second object with an inner surface of the first object adjacent an outer surface of the second object.

When the shank 83, only, is rotated in a second, opposite, rotational direction, which in this embodiment, is an anticlockwise rotational direction, the first portion 89 of the shank 83 is partially threadedly disengaged from the second object. This moves the second portion 91, the third portion 93 of the shank 83, the cover 85 attached to the shank 83 and the first object threadedly engaged with the cover 85, away from the second object. As the cover 85 is engaged with the first object, this pulls the first object away from the second object and this provides a gap between the inner surface of the first object and the outer surface of the second object, whilst maintaining attachment of the first object to the second object. This enables the first object to be attached to the second object but be in a substantially straight and vertical/horizontal attitude, without the need for packers between the first object and the second object.

Referring to Figure 9, a tool 120 for operation of the fastener 80 comprises an elongate body 122, a shank and cover connector 124 at a first end of the body 122 and a shank connector 126 at a second end of the body 122. The shank and cover connector 124 has a first coupling 128 adapted for coupling with the connector of the shank 83 of the fastener 80 and a second coupling 130 adapted for coupling with the connector of the cover 85 of the fastener 80. In this embodiment, the first and second couplings 128, 130, each comprise a Torx® fitting. The shank connector 126 has a coupling 132 adapted for coupling with the connector of the shank 83 of the fastener 80. In this embodiment, the coupling 132 comprises a Torx® fitting.

The fastener 80 is operated by the tool 120 to attach a first object comprising, for example, a batten to a second object comprising, for example, a wall. A hole is first drilled in and through the batten and in the wall, using a drill bit having two drilling portions, a first drill bit portion substantially matching the diameter of the shank 83 of the fastener 80 and the second drill bit portion substantially matching the diameter of the cover 85 of the fastener 80.

With the batten placed against the wall, the first end 95 of the shank 83 of the fastener 80 is then inserted through the hole in the batten and into an outer end of the hole of the wall. The first coupling 128 of the shank and cover connector 124 at the first end of the body 122 of the tool 120 is coupled with the connector of the shank 83 and the second coupling 130 of the shank and cover connector 124 is coupled with the connector of the cover 85.

The shank connector 126 at the second end of the body 122 of the tool 120 is connected to a drill, which is operated to rotate the tool 120 in a clockwise rotational direction. Rotation of the tool 120 causes rotation of the shank and cover connector 124 of the tool 120 and, due to coupling therebetween, rotation of the shank 83 and the cover 85 of the fastener 80 in a clockwise rotational direction. The first portion 89 of the shank 83 is thus threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the wall and the cover 85 is threadedly engaged, or screwed, into the batten. The batten is thus attached to the wall with an inner surface of the batten adjacent an outer surface of the wall. When the fastener 80 is substantially fully inserted into the batten, the cover 85 will grip the batten and hold it in place against the wall.

When the outer surface of the wall is not flat, attaching the batten to the wall, with an inner surface of the batten adjacent the outer surface of the wall, may cause the batten to bend to substantially fit the contours of the non-flat outer surface of the wall. This, in turn, will distort the batten from being substantially straight and vertical/horizontal, which is undesirable. In this situation, a gap is required between the inner surface of the batten and the outer surface of the wall.

To adjust the batten, the cover and shank connector 124 of the tool 120 is decoupled from the shank 83 and the cover 85. The tool is rotated through 180 degrees and the shank connector 126 of the tool 120 is coupled with the connector of the shank 83 of the fastener 80. The shank and cover connector 124 of the tool 120 is connected to a drill, which is operated to rotate the tool 120 in an anticlockwise rotational direction. Rotation of the tool 120 causes rotation of the shank connector 126 of the tool 120 and rotation of the shank 83 (but not the cover 85) of the fastener 80 in an anticlockwise rotational direction. The first portion 89 of the shank 83 is thus threadedly disengaged, or screwed out, of the wall, which causes the cover 85 of the fastener 80 to move away from the wall. As the cover 85 is threadedly engaged with the batten, it grips the batten and movement of the cover 85 of the fastener 80 away from the wall, moves the batten away from the wall. This provides a gap between the inner surface of the batten and the outer surface of the wall, whilst maintaining attachment of the batten to the wall. This allows the batten to be attached to the wall and to be in a substantially straight and vertical / horizontal attitude, without the need for packers between the batten and the wall.