Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02715551 2010-09-24
NEW ZEALAND
PATENTS ACT, 1953
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
BATTENS
We, CAVITY BATTEN SYSTEMS HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated
under the laws of New Zealand of 118 St Leger Road, Te Awamutu, New Zealand,
do hereby
declare this invention to be described in the following statement:
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The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to battens
typified
by those discussed in some aspects in our New Zealand patent specification
536129/542948.
The aforementioned patent specification, in respect of the cladding envelope
of a
residential or commercial dwelling (and particularly but not solely the
walls), proposes the
use of battens to ensure a battened cavity not restrictive of drainage and/or
ventilation fluid
flow. Battens proposed had the capability of distancing the cladding (whether
with direct or
indirect contact with the cladding) from a framing structure (whether wood,
metal or other,
and whether directly or indirectly in contact therewith eg, through a building
paper or other
laid up material).
Such a batten involved the use of a pre-cursor material that was extruded to
define a
sheet like material of the thickness of the batten with the extrusion axis
having a plurality or
passageways. The strip was then formed by separation at least substantially
transverse to the
extrusion axis (whether by cutting or other separation process) into strip
forms.
The extrusion defines both outside webs or sheets and web or sheet spacing
bridges.
There is preferably at least one interposed web or sheet between the outside
web or sheets.
Whilst there can be irregularity, staggering or regularity in the provision of
the passageways,
preferably there are three webs or sheets regions of the extrusion held apart
by substantially
perpendicular bridging regions of the extrusion.
The full content of New Zealand patent specification 536129/542948 is here
included
by way of reference both in respect of its forms and methods of use.
The present invention relates to a batten to be utilized as a spacer (directly
or
indirectly) between framing (directly and/or indirectly) and (directly or
indirectly) outer
cladding of buildings; wherein the batten is derived from an extrusion
defining passageways
and/or channels;
and wherein at least some of those passageways and/or channels of the batten
include a filling or are blocked.
Optionally the filling is a foam. Preferably it is a stable heat insulating
foam such as
polyurethane.
Most preferably the batten is at least primarily of a moisture impervious low
thermal
conductivity plastics material (eg, polypropylene) and most preferably the
filling is a thermal
insulating foam (eg polyurethane foam) or other material (eg solid
polyurethane, other
materials, etc).
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Preferably the batten has at least two layers of passageways or flutes or two
layers of
fillable void forms selected from open flutes and/or closed flutes.
Preferably passageways of one layer of passageways in the batten are at least
in part
filled.
In another aspect the invention is a batten of an elongate strip form
wherein a precursor material has been extruded to define a sheet like material
of the
thickness of the batten with extrusion axis extending passageways and/or
channels;
and wherein the strip form axis has been defined by separation (e.g. cutting)
into
strip forms at least substantially transverse to the extrusion axis;
and wherein prior to, during or after such separation, at least some of the
passageways and/or channels have been filled or blocked.
Preferably the extrusion has outside webs or sheets, an interposed web or
sheet, and
web spacing bridges. Preferably the batten has rectangular or square sectioned
passageways,
preferably in two layers.
Most preferably the extrusion had a form substantially as hereinafter
described with
reference to Figure 1.
The cavity drainage and/or ventilation system arising from the use of the
batten will
protect the structural framing and/or will provide the prospect of convection
or forced
ventilation for a range of purposes. For example passing heated air down from
under a roof
cladding.
The present invention also consists in a fluted batten to interpose between
cladding
and a support structure, the batten being of a plastics material (and/or other
non moisture
absorbing and/or transmitting materials) of thickness of a desired set out (or
less than a
desired set out distance) distance, the batten having across its set out
thickness, passageways
and/or channels (preferably defined by extrusion), at least one of which is
foam filled or
blocked.
In still a further aspect the present invention consists in the use of a
batten in
accordance with any aspect of the present invention.
In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a structure which
comprises
or includes
a frame forming part of a building,
a plurality of battens each in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, such
battens being affixed (eg by nailing, screwing, riveting, adhesive and/or
other) to the frame
directly or indirectly, and
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cladding spaced from the framing cladding the framing, the spacing being
determined at least to some extent by said plurality of battens.
Preferably said battens are arrayed in such a way as to enable movement of
moisture
or other fluid (eg air, water, etc) or to assist mechanical air movement or
convectional air
movement or natural pressure differential air movement.
Preferably filled passageways and/or channels are closer to the frame than the
cladding.
In yet a further aspect the present aspect consists in a structure where the
cladding is
spaced from a frame in a manner substantially as described at our website
www.cavibat.co.nz
and where at least some of the passageway or flutes are filled.
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference
to the
accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 shows a preferred batten of the present invention.
The preferred form of battens are substantially as described in our
aforementioned
patent specification the full content of which is here included by way of
reference. Most
preferably the form is as in Figure 3 of NZ536129/542948 but includes partial
filling with
thermal insulating material.
The form is preferably substantially as shown in Figure 1 which more or less
accords
to that described in our website www.cavibat.co.nz, the full content of which
(as prior to the
date of this application) is here included by way of reference.
Preferably an extrusion 1 of a suitable material (metal or plastics) but
preferably an
insulating plastics material (such as polypropylene) is extruded to define
extrusion axis
passageways 2 and 3.
Whilst it is possible for fewer or more flutes or passageways to be provided,
preferably the arrangement is a substantially regular form of extrusion as
shown and
preferably an outer substantially planar region 4, an interposed parallel
substantially planar
region 5 and another parallel and outside substantially planar region 6.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate how, if desired, there can be
zigzag forms,
irregular forms, or other passageway defining arrangements, or even channel
defining
arrangements whether in conjunction with closed section passageways or not,
that will serve a
similar purpose when the extrusion is transversely cut to a batten form of any
of the
dimensions referred to in the aforementioned patent specification and/or
website, or
otherwise.
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In our website a calculation is given as to the thermal conductivity of the
unfilled
form. That thermal conductivity can be greatly reduced by the provision of a
thermal
insulating fill in some of the passageways 2 and/or 3.
Preferably it is all of the passageways 2 ie, one layer of passageways that is
filled and
none or very few of the other passageways 3. Obviously, however, there could
be staggered
filling between layers of passageways and other options to enhance the
resistance to thermal
conduction of the battened region between the cladding and frame.
Preferably the filling material is a material that does not prevent
penetrative fixing or
other fixing of the batten to the structure and/or cladding.
Moreover if desired the batten sizes can be increased beyond those given in
the
aforementioned patent specification if there is to be little other insulation
over a region.
Preferably, however, the battened region is sufficiently enhanced as to
thermal conductivity
so as not to lessen resistance to heat transfer of a wall, ceiling and/or roof
region of thermal
insulation at that zone.
As stated previously the preferred fill material for the passageways 2, as
shown, is a
foam or a solid material such as foam or solid material is preferably a
plastics material but
could be fibrous or other material. Most preferably, it is a polyurethane
foam. By way of
example it can be inserted prior to the transverse cutting. A suitable
methodology of insertion
of the foam can be similar to that considered viable for such products as that
marketed under
the brand EUROFLUTETM
By way of example an extruded sheet can be jig presented to robotic injection
needles with the passageways declining from the injection zone. Polyurethane
foam premix
can occur at or adjacent that zone and the liquid composition can run down
each declining
passageway so that as foaming occurs the whole length will be foam blocked.
Thereafter
transverse cutting provides the battens.
In a less preferred form foam premix can be injected after cutting.
In use preferably a plurality of battens such as shown in Figure 1 can be
affixed
against building paper on the outside of a frame (for example a steel stud or
timber stud) and
then be nailed or otherwise be fixed. Thereafter the cladding can overlay the
battens thereby
to define a cavity behind the cladding.
Suitable cladding materials include any of those of or used by the companies
mentioned in the aforementioned website eg products of for example James
Hardy, Diamond,
Steel and Tube, etc.
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Reference herein to "cladding", whilst envisaging most preferably the cladding
of the
building envelope, does not rule out internal cladding of a framed structure
ie, the battens can
be used behind internal linings of a building structure (whether of exterior
cladding materials
or not eg, plasterboard).
Any suitable spacing is contemplated (eg. 18mm, 25mm or other). For example
25mm is ideal as a roof batten and 18mm is ideal as a wall cladding spacer.
Canada for
example allows a 10mm wall cladding spacer.
The present invention provides options providing an improved thermal
resistivity
over the invention of the aforementioned patent specification.
