BRICK ANCHOR SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE FIXATION DE BRIQUES

English Abstract

An anchoring element for anchoring a conventional brick support to a wall such that bricks may be supported thereon. The brick support has an L- shaped cross section includes a supporting flange for supporting bricks and a mounting flange for mounting the supporting flange to extend laterally outward from the wall. The anchoring element is a U-shaped steel channel which include an elongate fastener slot in a base plate of the channel for mounting the base plate adjacent the wall. A pair of side plates extend vertically outward from the wall to form the sides of the U--shaped channel. Each side plate includes a recessed channel in a outward edge thereof defining a shoulder for supporting the supporting flange of the brick support thereon. A receiving slot in the recessed channel receives the mounting flange therein for securing the supporting flange in a horizontal orientation.

French Abstract

Élément pour la fixation d'un support de maçonnage classique à un mur, de telle sorte que les briques peuvent y être supportées. Le support de maçonnage comporte une section transversale en L et comprend une bride d'appui pour le support des briques, et une bride de montage pour monter la bride d'appui afin qu'elle s'étende latéralement vers l'extérieur du mur. L'élément de fixation est un canal en acier en U qui comprend une fente de fixation allongée sur la plaque de base du canal afin de permettre le montage de la plaque de base adjacente au mur. Une paire de plaques latérales s'étendent verticalement vers l'extérieur du mur afin de former les côtés du canal en U. Chaque plaque latérale comprend un canal encastré dans un rebord extérieur de ladite plaque, formant un épaulement pour supporter la bride d'appui du support de maçonnage sur ledit épaulement. Une fente d'accueil dans le canal encastré y reçoit la bride de montage pour fixer la bride d'appui dans une orientation horizontale.

Claims

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CLAIMS:
1. A brick anchor system for supporting bricks to be mounted on a wall
wherein the brick anchor system comprises:
a) an anchoring bracket extending outwards from an inner end adjacent
the wall to an outer end spaced from the wall and including a receiving slot
therein;
b) fastening means for securing the anchoring bracket to the wall; and,
c) a support element comprising: a mounting flange, and a supporting
flange connected to the mounting flange and extending laterally outward
from the wall for supporting bricks thereon;
d) the receiving slot comprising: a first portion extending inward
substantially horizontally from the outer end of the bracket defining a
shoulder; and a second portion extending upward from the first portion
defining a substantially vertical rearward edge with a substantially vertical
forward edge spaced from and facing only an upper portion of the vertical
rearward edge, wherein the support element is configured to be mounted
to the anchoring bracket by insertion of the mounting flange into the
second portion at an incline, and rotation of the support element until the
mounting flange enters a gap between the vertical rearward edge and the
vertical rearward edge, and the supporting flange is supported on the
shoulder.
2. The brick anchor system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an
elongate fastener slot in the anchoring bracket for receiving the fastening
means
therethrough such that the bracket can be fastened to the wall within a range
of
positions relative to the wall corresponding to different positions of the
fastener within
the slot.
3. The brick anchor system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the fastening
means comprises at least one bolt anchor embedded into the wall such that a
threaded

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bolt may be inserted through a respective aperture in the anchoring bracket
and
secured within each of the bolt anchors in the wall.
4. The brick anchor system according to claim 2, wherein the elongate
fastener slot extends in an inclined direction, which is angularly offset from
a vertical
axis extending across the anchoring bracket.
5. The brick anchor system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein
there is provided at least two anchoring brackets mounting the support element
thereon,
the anchoring brackets each having an elongate fastener slot therein for
receiving the
fastening means therethrough, the fastener slots being angularly offset from
vertical in
opposing directions.
6. The brick anchor system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein
there is provided a shim plate mounted between the anchoring bracket and the
wall
such that a spacing between the support element and the wall is adjustable by
replacing
the shim plate with an additional shim plate having a different thickness.
7. The brick anchor system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving
slot is of a fixed configuration.
8. The brick anchor system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the rearward
edge and forward edge are spaced apart by a fixed distance
9. The brick anchor system of one any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the
anchoring bracket is a single unitary member.
10. The brick anchor system of one any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support
element is secured to the anchoring bracket without a separate fastener.
11. A brick anchor system for supporting bricks to be mounted on a wall
wherein the brick anchor system comprises:

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a) an anchoring bracket extending outwards from an inner end adjacent
the wall to an outer end spaced from the wall and including a receiving slot
therein and a shoulder;
b) fastening means for securing the anchoring bracket to the wall; and,
c) a L-shaped support element comprising: a mounting flange for
engaging into the receiving slot in the anchoring bracket; and a supporting
flange connected to the mounting flange and extending laterally outward
from the wall for supporting bricks thereon and engaging the shoulder
when the mounting flange engages the slot,
wherein the receiving slot comprises a first portion extending inward
substantially
horizontally from the outer end of the bracket and defining the shoulder; and
a
second portion extending upward from the first portion defining a
substantially
vertical rearward edge and a substantially vertical forward edge spaced from
and
facing the substantially vertical rearward edge wherein a gap is provided
therebetween into which a portion of the mounting flange is insertable.
12. The brick anchor system according to claim 11 wherein there is provided
an elongate fastener slot in the anchoring bracket for receiving the fastening
means
therethrough such that the bracket can be fastened to the wall within a range
of
positions relative to the wall corresponding to different positions of the
fastener within
the slot.
13. The brick anchor system according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the fastening
means comprises at least one bolt anchor embedded into the wall such that a
threaded
bolt may be inserted through a respective aperture in the anchoring bracket
and
secured within each of the bolt anchors in the wall.
14. The brick anchor system according to claim 12 wherein the elongate
fastener slot extends in an inclined direction, which is angularly offset from
a vertical
axis extending across the anchoring bracket.

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15. The brick anchor system according to any one of claims 11 through 14
wherein there is provided at least two anchoring brackets mounting the support
element
thereon, the anchoring brackets each having an elongate fastener slot therein
for
receiving the fastening means therethrough, the fastener slots being angularly
offset
from vertical in opposing directions.
16. The brick anchor system according to any one of claims 11 through 15
wherein there is provided a shim plate mounted between the anchoring bracket
and the
wall such that a spacing between the support element and the wall is
adjustable by
replacing the shim plate with an additional shim plate having a different
thickness.
17. The brick anchor system of any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the slot
comprises opposed facing walls that are parallel to the wall and spaced apart
by a
distance, wherein the distance is fixed.
18. The brick anchor system of claim 11, wherein the rearward edge and
forward edge are spaced apart by a fixed distance
19. The brick anchor system of one any of claims 11 to 18, wherein the
anchoring bracket is a single unitary member.
20. The brick anchor system of any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the
support element is secured to the anchoring bracket in the absence of a
separate
fastener.

Description

CA 02591687 2007-07-04
BRICK ANCHOR SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to anchoring systems for bricks and more
particularly to an anchor system for anchoring a brick support to a wall.
BACKGROUND
When mounting bricks on the face of a wall structure, it is common to
support the first row of bricks on a steel support which extends laterally
outward from
the wall structure. The steel support must first be mounted on the wall before
any
brick laying can commence. This is commonly accomplished by welding the steel
support to a steel anchoring system embedded in the wall. Welding however is
an
expensive and time consuming task requiring speciallsed labour.
The use of brackets for mounting a brick support to a wall is disclosed in
co-pending Canadian Application No. 2,254,510, filed on November 25, 1998. The
present invention is concemed with certain improvements to brackets for
mounting a
steel brick support onto a wall structure.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
brick anchor system for supporting bricks to be mounted on a wall wherein the
brick
anchor system comprises:
an anchoring bracket extending outwards from the wall and including a
receiving slot therein;
threaded fastening means for threadably securing the anchoring bracket
to the wall;
a support element comprising:
a mounting flange for engaging into the receiving slot in the
anchoring bracket; and

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a supporting flange connected to the mounting flange and
extending laterally away from the wall for supporting bricks thereon; and
an elongate fastener slot in the anchoring bracket for receiving the
threaded fastening means therethrough such that the bracket can be fastened to
the
wall within a range of positions relative to the wall corresponding to
different positions
of the fastener within the slot.
In this arrangement the relative location of the anchoring elements
remains adjustable by positioning the threaded fasteners within the elongate
fastener
slots for accommodating any irregularities in the wall or any misalignment
between
adjacent anchoring elements. Once the brick support is then securely fastened
to the
wall by tightening the fasteners any further vertical displacement of the
anchoring
elements is inhibited by the resistance of lateral movement of the anchoring
elements
relative to the brick support due to the arrangement of the fastener slot.
The elongate fastener slot preferably extends in an inclined direction
which is angularly offset from a vertical axis extending across the anchoring
bracket.
The threaded fastening means may comprise at least one bolt anchor
embedded into the wall such that a threaded bolt may be inserted through a
respective aperture in the anchoring bracket and secured within each of the
bolt
anchors in the wall.
Preferably there is provided at least two anchoring brackets mounting
the support element thereon, the anchoring brackets each having an elongate
fastener slot therein for receiving the threaded fastening means therethrough,
the
fastener slots being angularly offset from vertical in opposing directions.
There may be provided a shim plate mounted between the anchoring
bracket and the wall such that a spacing between the support element and the
wall is
adjustable by replacing the shim plate with an additional shim plate having a
different

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thickness.
A recessed channel may be provided in a forward end of the support
member defining a shoulder for supporting the supporting flange of the brick
support
thereon such that the supporting flange extends laterally outward from the
wall.
When a recessed channel is provided, the receiving slot preferably
extends upward from a rearward edge of the recessed channel for receiving the
mounting flange of the brick support therein such that the supporting flange
is secured
in a lateral orientation on the shoulder of the bracket.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
brick anchor system for supporting bricks to be mounted on a wall wherein the
brick
anchor system comprises:
an anchoring bracket extending outwards from an inner end adjacent
the wall to an outer end spaced from the wall and including a receiving slot
therein;
threaded fastening means for threadably securing the anchoring bracket
to the wall; and
a support element comprising:
a mounting flange for engaging into the receiving slot in the
anchoring bracket; and
a supporting flange connected to the mounting flange and
extending laterally outward from the wall for supporting bricks thereon;
the receiving slot comprising:
a first portion extending inward substantially horizontaliy from the
outer end of the bracket defining a shoulder for supporting the supporting
flange
thereon; and
a second portion extending upward from the first portion defining
a substantially vertical rearward edge being spaced from the wall for guiding
the

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mounting flange into the second portion of the receiving slot.
The arrangement of the anchoring bracket which supports the brick
support spaced from the wall allows the insulation to be continuous along the
surface
of the wall, behind the brick support. This dramatically reduces the effect of
thermal
bridging. The substantially vertical orientation of the rearward edge being
spaced
from the wall is able to guide the mounting flange into the receiving slot
without
gouging any sheets of rigid insulation which are mounted on the surface of the
wall
around the anchoring bracket behind the brick support.
There may be provided an elongate fastener slot in the anchoring
bracket for receiving the threaded fastening means therethrough such that the
bracket
can be fastened to the wall within a range of positions relative to the wall
corresponding to different positions of the fastener within the slot.
The threaded fastening means preferably comprises at least one bolt
anchor embedded into the wall such that a threaded bolt may be inserted
through a
respective aperture in the anchoring bracket and secured within each of the
bolt
anchors in the wall.
The elongate fastener slot may extend in an inclined direction which is
angularly offset from a vertical axis extending across the anchoring bracket.
Preferably there is provided at least two anchoring brackets mounting
the support element thereon, the anchoring brackets each having an elongate
fastener slot therein for receiving the threaded fastening means therethrough,
the
fastener slots being angularly offset from vertical in opposing directions.
There may be provided a shim plate mounted between the anchoring
bracket and the wall such that a spacing between the support element and the
wall is
adjustable by replacing the shim plate with an additional shim plate having a
different
thickness.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the anchoring element shown
bolted to a wall and supporting a brick support thereon;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the anchoring element;
Figure 3 is a cross sectionai view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the brick anchor system of Figure 1
showing the anchoring bracket mounted with bolt anchors embedded in the wall;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the brick
anchor system; and
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the brick anchor system of Figure 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a brick
anchoring system generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The brick
anchoring
system 10 includes a plurality of anchoring brackets 12 which are arranged to
anchor
a brick support 14 to a wall structure 16, each anchoring bracket using a bolt
18 for
securement to the wall.
A first end 20 of each bolt 18 having a head 22 thereon, is embedded
into the wall structure. The threaded end 24 of the bolt extends laterally
outward past
a surface of the wall structure.
The anchoring bracket 12 is a steel channel which is generally U-
shaped In cross section. The base of the U-shaped channel is formed by a rear
plate
26 which is generally rectangular in shape.
A fastener slot 28 is formed in the rear plate 26 for receiving the
threaded end of the bolt. Threading a nut onto the bolt will engage the rear
plate
adjacent to the wall and secure the anchoring bracket in place.
The fastener slot 28 is an elongate aperture in the rear plate which
extends along an inclined axis 29 which is anguiariy offset from a vertical
axis 30

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extending across the plate member in a left hand configuration shown in Figure
3.
The inclined axis 29 is offset 22.5 degrees from the vertical axis 30.
Attematively, in a
right hand configuration the fastener slot appears as indicated by reference
numeral
31, being offset 22.5 degrees from the vertical axis in the opposite
direction. The
upright plate can thus be fastened to the wall at numerous locations relative
to the
wall corresponding to different positions of the bolt within the slot.
A pair of side plates 32 extend from respective sides of the rear plate 26
in a direction away from the wall to form the sides of the U-shaped channel.
The side
plates are generally rectangular in shape and lie in respective vertical
planes.
The side plates 32 are arranged to support the brick support 14 thereon.
The brick support 14 includes a mounting flange 34 which engages the anchoring
bracket 12 and a supporting flange 36 which is arranged to support bricks
thereon.
The mounting flange 34 and the supporting flange are mounted at right angles
to forrn
an L-shaped channel made of steel.
The side plates 32 each include a recessed channel 38 in a forward
edge 40 thereof. The recessed channel 38 defines a horizontal shoulder 42 at a
bottom end for supporting the supporting flange 36 of the brick support
thereon such
that the supporting flange extends substantially horizontally outward from the
wall.
A receiving slot 44 extends upward from a rearward edge 46 at a top
end of the recessed channel 38. The receiving slot 44 slidably receives an
edge
portion 48 of the mounting flange 34 therein such that the brick support 14
remains
secured to the anchoring bracket 12 when the weight of numerous bricks are
stacked
on the supporting flange 36.
The rearward edge 46 extends upward substantially vertically for the
most part. An upper portion of the rearward edge 46 along the receiving slot
44
extends upward at a slight rearward incline for accommodating the edge portion
48 of

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the mounting flange as it is inserted therein. A wedge shaped shim 49 is
inserted
between the mounting flange 34 and the rearward edge 46 as required to tightly
engage the mounting flange against a forward edge 50 of the receiving slot.
The
supporting flange will thus support a load while the mounting flange is
engaged in the
receiving slot.
In use, a plurality of the anchoring brackets are horizontally spaced
across a wall using a chalk line and a measuring tape. The anchoring brackets
are
mounted in an altemating arrangement from the left hand configuration with the
fastener slot appearing as shown by reference numeral 28 to the right hand
configuration with the fastener slot appearing as shown by reference numeral
31. The
brackets are mounted along the wall such that each anchoring bracket having a
left
hand orientation is adjacent an anchoring bracket having a right hand
orientation.
A brick support in the form of a standard size shelf angle is mounted
across the wall on the anchoring brackets. The anchoring brackets are first
bolted to
the wall by securing the bolts loosely by hand. The brick support is then
mounted on
the anchoring brackets by inserting a edge portion 48 of the mounting flange
34
upward into the receiving slot 44 of each anchoring bracket at an incline and
then by
pivoting the supporting flange 36 inward until the mounting flange engages the
rearward edge 46 of the recessed channel 38. The rearward edge 46 prevents the
brick support from being further pivoted within the recessed channel as the
weight of
the bricks is applied to the brick support. The bolts are then tightened
snugly and the
wedge shaped shims 49 are inserted as required.
Until the nuts on the respective bolts are tightened, the relative height of
each anchoring bracket is adjustable by sliding the anchoring bracket
laterally along
the brick support as the anchoring bracket is moved upward or downward
relative to
the bolt extending from the wall. This lateral movement of the anchoring
bracket

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relative to the brick support with the adjustment in height is due to the
inclination of
the fastener slot from the vertical.
Once the nuts are tightened on the bolts the brick support is secured to
the wall structure and bricks may be supported thereon. The inclination of the
fastener slot from the vertical acts to inhibit vertical displacement of the
anchoring
bracket along the mounting bolt through the resistance of the lateral movement
of the
anchoring bracket along the brick support. Having anchoring brackets of
opposing
orientation mounted adjacent to each other further restricts the entire brick
anchor
system from shifting positions relative to the wall once the bolts are
tightened.
In this arrangement the relative location of the anchoring brackets
remains adjustable as the brick support is mounted thereon for accommodating
irregularities in the wall or misalignment between adjacent anchoring
brackets. Once
the brick support is then securely fastened to the wall further vertical
displacement of
the anchoring brackets is inhibited by the resistance of lateral movement of
the
anchoring brackets relative to the brick support due to the arrangement of the
fastener
slot.
A wall structure 60 using the brick anchor system 10 is illustrated in
Figure 4 wherein the bolts for mounting the anchoring brackets have not been
embedded into the concrete as shown in Figure 1. The wall structure 60
includes a
foundation 62 supporting a reinforced concrete slab 64 thereon. A plurality of
concrete blocks 66 form an upright portion of the wall structure. The
anchoring
brackets 12 are mounted horizontally spaced along the outer face of the wall
structure
using bolt anchors 68 which are received in bores drilled into the concrete
slab 64.
The use of embedded bolts for mounting the anchoring brackets as
shown in Figures 1 to 3 operates similarly to the use of bolts which are
received in
embedded bolt anchors. Instead of tightening the nuts on the ends of the bolts
for

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securing the anchoring brackets, the bolts are simply tightened into their
respective
anchors which are received in bores in the concrete wall.
A shim plate 70 which is substantially similar in size to the anchoring
bracket, mounts between each anchoring bracket and the outer face of the wall
for
evenly engaging the concrete surface and for spacing each anchoring bracket
from
the wall as desired to accommodate for irregularities in the outer face of the
wall.
The brick support 14 is secured to the anchoring brackets 12 as
described previously. A continuous metal flashing 72 is supported on the brick
support and connects to a continuous flexible flashing 74 which extends over
the brick
supports and connects to a vapour barrier membrane 76 on the outer face of the
wall.
Sheets of rigid insulation 78 are mounted over top of the membrane 76
on the outer face of the wall. The arrangement of the anchoring bracket which
supports the brick support spaced from the wall allows the insulation to be
continuous
along the surface of the wall, behind the brick support. This dramatically
reduces the
effect of thermal bridging. The substantially vertical orientation of the
rearward edge
being spaced from the wall is able to guide the mounting flange into the
receiving slot
without gouging any sheets of rigid insulation which are mounted on the
surface of the
wall around the anchoring bracket.
The rigid insulation 78 is of a thickness which allows an air space 80 to
be incorporated into the wall structure between the insulation and the brick
facing 82
mounted on the brick support. Concrete block shear connectors 84 are mounted
within wall of concrete blocks and mounts wall ties 86 thereon for connection
to the
brick facing 82.
The anchoring brackets 12 are made in a variety of sizes each
corresponding to a desired thickness of the rigid insulation 78 and air space
80
located between the outer face of the wall and the brick facing. In this
arrangement, a

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standard size of brick support 14 may be used regardless of the spacing
between the
brick facing and the face of the wall desired for insulation.
The anchor system can also be used for supporting masonry veneer,
thin granite veneer, large stone panels or pre-cast concrete in place of the
bricks.
Once the brick support 14 is secured to the wall and properly shimmed, a
significant
load can be mounted on the brick support.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.

Representative Drawing