Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A MOUNTING METHOD FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
The present invention relates to a method of
mounting decking units forming parts of a building
construction onto a structure framework likewise forming
part of the construction, with the aid of a fastening
means, and also to a building construction produced by
said method, said building construction comprising a
structure framework and decking units applicable thereto
by means of a fastening means.
The method is applicable generally within a variety
of different sections of the building industry, but it is
primarily intended to be used to mount decking units such
as chipboard and gypsum wallboard and the like on
_ structure frameworks consisting of battens of wood or
steel or the like.
In principle, the method is likewise applicable for
mounting plywood boards, fibreboard and wood-wool slabs,
as also boards of wood or plastic and core-board. Instead
of a structure framework consisting of wooden or steel
battens the framework may for instance be a homogeneous
wall or ceiling panel of concrete, wood, or even sheet
metal or the like.
The method most commonly used today for mounting
decking units of the kind defined above on a structure
framework is to nail the units thereto with the aid of a
hammer/or by using screw fasteners that are applied by
motor-operated screw drivers/drilling machines, so called
gypsum screws being used for instance in the case of
gypsum wallboard.
In decking units having the standard dimensions 1200
x 2400 mm and a centre distance between the nails/ screws
of approximately 100 mm, approximately 60 nails or screws
are required for each decking unit, and it is readily
understood that the building workers that are employed to
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mount the decking units on the structure framework using
the methods described above sooner or later will be
afflicted with work-induced injuries, mainly wear
injuries, in the shoulder and back areas. The use of more
or less unsophisticated tools and machinery inevitably
leads to rather high levels of noise in the working area,
necessitating the use of hearing-protecting ear caps and
the like in order not to injure the hearing capacity.
To mount the decking units onto the structure
framework is rather time consuming owing to the
comparatively large number of nails/ screws required for
each decking unit and sometimes the work may require the
joint efforts of several building workers in order to
speed up the mounting work.
- 15 The principal object of the present invention is to
provide a method by means of which decking units may be
applied on the structure framework in an extremely
simplified and rapid manner while avoiding the above
described disadvantages and drawbacks.
This principal object is achieved by securingly
applying the fastener means, prior to the mounting
operation proper, on the decking units in front of the
structure framework and/or reversely, during the mounting
proper, applying said fastening means into
interconnecting engagement relationship with the opposite
one of the decking units and the structure framework. In
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
the fastening means consists of a double-sided adhesive
tape or the like, one side of which is securingly applied
on the decking unit or on the structure framework and the
opposite side of which is applied in interconnecting
engagement relationship with the structure framework or
with the decking unit. It is suitable that the double-
sided tape is coated at least on one of its sides but
preferably on both sides with an adhesive which is
activated only when it is in the position of
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interconnecting engagement relationship with the
structure framework or with the decking unit.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of
the invention, the fastening means is formed by a
separate adhesive which is securingly applied, completely
or partly, on the decking unit or on the structure
framework whereupon it is placed in interconnecting
engagement relationship with the structure framework or
the decking unit.
In order to achieve the activation of the adhesive
the latter preferably is two-component adhesive. One
component of the adhesive in this case preferably is
formed by a carrier of polymer or the like whereas the
second component of the adhesive preferably is formed by
- 15 a hardener enclosed in micro-capsules. The capsules are
crushed when the adhesive is placed in interconnecting
engagement relationship with the structure framework or
with the decking unit, whereby the hardener is caused to
be mixed with the carrier and the adhesive thus hardens
by chemical reaction.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of
the invention the fastening means consist of a Velcro
fastener or the like comprising two strips forming a bond
when pressed together into interengagement. One strip of
said fastener is attached to the decking unit or to the
structure framework whereas the other strip is attached
to the opposite one of said structure framework and said
decking unit.
As mentioned initially, the invention likewise
refers to a building construction comprising a structure
framework and decking units attachable to said framework
with the aid of a fastener means. This building
construction eliminates the above-described disadvantages
and drawbacks found in the prior-technology in that the
fastening mean is securingly applied on the decking unit
opposite the structure framework and/or reversely, and
may be placed in interconnecting engagement relationship
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with the opposite one of the decking unit and the
structure framework.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this
building construction the fastening means is formed by a
double-sided adhesive tape coated with an adhesive or the
like, alternatively by a separate adhesive or in
accordance with a further alternative by a Velcro
fastener or the like comprising two strips forming a bond
when pressed together into engagement with one another.
Preferably, the adhesive is made active when placed
in the interconnecting engagement relationship with the
structure framework or with the decking unit. Preferably,
the adhesive is a hardenable two-component adhesive.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
building construction the structure framework comprises a
number of essentially parallel, spaced-apart battens of
wood, metal etc. and the decking units comprise chipboard
and gypsum wallboard and the like, said structure
framework being covered at at least one side wholly or
partly with said boards, the latter in turn being
completely or partly applicable onto the battens with the
aid of the fastener means which extends at least along
the major portion of the battens and in the area adjacent
the edges of the board.
Owing to the particularities and measures defined
above the number of work-related injuries, primarily of
wear type, in the shoulder and back areas are
considerably reduced while at the same time the sound
levels at the working site may be reduced because the
more or less noisy mounting machines are no longer needed
since in principle, nails to be hammered or=screws to be
fastened no longer are used.
A further advantage brought above by the method
suggested herein is that the time required for the
mounting is reduced, whereby the efficiency is increased
to a corresponding degree with consequential gains to the
building workers as well as to the building firm.
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Yet another advantage provided by the suggested
method and building construction is that the decking
units do not abut directly against the framework but with
insertion of the fastener means, whether the latter is in
the form of a double-sided adhesive tape, a separate
adhesive, or a Velcro fastener. This arrangement results
in a desired noise reduction, i.e. dampening of the sound
transmission from one side of the building construction
to the other by way of the structure framework.
The invention will be described in detail in the
following with reference to the accompany drawing which
in a schematic, partly cut view as seen obliquely from
the front illustrates a building construction produced in
accordance with the method of the invention.
- 15 The building construction illustrated in the drawing
figure and generally disignated by reference 1 is, in
accordance with the embodiment shown herein, in the form
of a wall the structure framework 2 of which comprises a
number of essentially parallel spaced apart, vertically
positioned steel battens 3. Obviously, the battens 3 may
also be made from some other suitable material,
conventionally of e.g. wood or the like. In addition to
the steel battens 3 the structure framework 2 comprises a
lower horizontal steel batten or ground plate 4 and an
upper horizontal steel batton or top plate 5.
Decking units, generally designated by reference 6,
are to be mounted in a manner to be described further on
applicable to the structure framework 2 by means of a
fastening means 7, generaLly designated by reference 7.
30 In accordance with the preferred embodiment described
herein the decking units 6 consist of gypsum wallboard
r but the decking units obviously could equally well be
wood-based boards, such as plywood, chipboard, core-board
and fibreboard etcetera.
When needed, insulation 8 of a conventional kind may
be used in the structure framework, between the steel
battens 3 and the lower and upper steel battens 4 and 5.
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In accordance with the inventive a method of
mounting the above-defined decking units 6 on the
structure framework 2 with the aid of the fastening means
7, the latter means 7 is securingly applied, prior to the
mounting proper of the unit, on the decking unit 6
oppositely the structure framework 2 or, as illustrated
herein, on the structure framework, more precisely on the
face of the battens 3,4 and 5 that is turned towards the
decking units 6, the fastening means 7, during the very
mounting, being brought to interconnecting engagement
relationship with the oppositely positioned one of either
the decking unit or the structure framework, as the case
may be.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the
~- 15 drawing figure this fastening means 7 is formed by
double-sided adhesive tape 9 or some equivalent means,
one side 10 of which is in this case securingly applied
on the steel battens 3,4 and 5 of the structure framework
2 and the opposite side 11 is placed or is pressed into
the interconnecting engagement relationship with the
decking unit 6.
The double-sided adhesive tape is securingly
attached either on the decking units or on the steel
battens 3,4 and 5 of the structure framework 2 in the
factory or at the building site prior to the mounting
proper. During the mounting, any protective film or the
like with which the double-sided adhesive tape may be
provided is peeled away in order to allow the
interconnecting engagement with, in this case, the
decking units 6. The double-sided adhesive tape 9 is in
this case coated, at least on one side but preferably on
both sides 10, 11, with an adhesive which is activated
when securingly applied or when placed in the
interconnecting engagement with the steel battens 3, 4
and 5 or with the decking units 6.
As an alternative to the double-sided adhesive tape
9 the fastening means 7 may be formed by a separate
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adhesive, not shown, which is initially securingly
applied partly or wholly onto the decking unit 6 or onto
the structure framework 2, for instance by continuous or
intermittent application by means of a suitable tool,
: 5 whereafter it is placed in the interconnecting engagement
with the structure framework or with the decking unit.
Suitable adhesives may be some type of contact
adhesive, hot melt adhesive or the like, but preferably
the adhesive is a two-component adhesive. In this case
one of the components is formed by a carrier of polymer
or the like whereas the other component preferably is
formed by a hardener contained in micro-capsules. The
micro-capsules are crushed when the adhesive is placed in
the interconnecting engagement with the structure
- 15 framework 2 or with the decking unit 6, whereby the
hardener is mixed with the carrier and the adhesive thus
hardens by chemical reaction.
One of the most essential requirements on the
adhesive is that it should be able to maintain the bond
between the structure framework and the decking units for
a very long time. Consequently, the adhesive must not age
too rapidly, nor lose its adhesiveness or bonding
capacity. In addition, the adhesive must have a
composition making it capable of resisting fire during
the stipulated length of time, preventing the decking
units 6 from the dislodging from the structure framework
2 in case of fire.
As an alternative to the double-sided adhesive tape
9 as well as to the separate adhesive, fastener means 7
may, in accordance with a still more preferred embodiment
be formed by a Velcro fastener or the like, not shown,
comprising two strips forming a bond when pressed into
engagement with one another. One strip may be formed with
hooks and its rear be attached to the decking unit
whereas the other strip be formed with loops to effect
the interconnecting engagement with the hooks of the
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first strip and the rear of which is attached to the
structure framework, or the reverse.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the
drawing figure this structure framework 2 is covered
entirely on both of its sides with the decking units 6
(with the exception at the portion cut away for the sake
of clarity) but in accordance with another embodiment
only one of the structure framework sides is covered
partly or completely. In turn, the decking units 6 are
completely or partly applicable to the battens 3,4 and 5
with the aid of the fastening means 7, whereby should be
understood that the fastening means 7 need not extend
continuously along the battens and/or the area adjacent
edges of the decking units 6.
- 15 When needed, two or even three decking units 6 may
be mounted on the same side of the structure framework 2
as illustrated in the drawing figures, and these decking
units 6 may in this case be interconnected with the aid
of a fastening means 7 of any one of the types
illustrated and described, in this case double-sided
adhesive tape 9.
Obviously, the invention should not be regarded as
limited to the embodiments described and illustrated but
it could be modified ln a variety of optional ways within
the scope of the claimed protection.
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