GB2349220A

GB2349220A - Gap measuring device

Info

Publication number: GB2349220A
Application number: GB0009170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Finlayson Danskin
Original assignee: Danskin Flooring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Danskin Flooring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-24
Filing date: 2000-04-14
Publication date: 2000-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-14
Also published as: GB2349220B; GB9909390D0; GB0009170D0

Abstract

A gap measuring device (20) comprises a body (21) for inserting into a gap (18) there being means marked on the body (21) for determining the size of the gap (18). The gap measuring device (20) can be used in flooring systems for measuring the gap between a through-batten (16) and a saddle member (12) or packing piece (18) placed on a saddle member (12).

Description

MEASURING DEVICE The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to building systems, and particularly, though not exclusively, to flooring systems, and related components. The invention is also concerned with a gap measuring device which may be used in installation of such systems.

In traditional constructions it is common for concrete sub-floors to be uneven and outwith the relevant tolerances. There is thus generally a degree of stepping between adjacent units of the sub-floor and a measure of longitudinal camber.

GB 2,310,227A, GB 2,314,351A (INSTAFIBRE) and GB 2,321,070A (DANSKIN) disclose a building component in combination with one or more packing pieces (also known as spacers), the building component comprising a base element adapted to be positioned on a surface of a building structure the building component being adapted to allow the insertion of each packing piece between the base element and the supporting batten in a direction transverse to the longitudinal channel.

A common method of determining the number of packing pieces necessary to support a batten is by placing a number of packing pieces in a saddle member of the building component and estimating whether more or less are needed.

Hence, there is no simple direct and fast way of determining the height of a gap between a saddle member and a through-batten in order to establish the required number and sizes (thicknesses) of packing pieces.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the disadvantages mentioned hereinbefore.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a gap measuring device (tool), the device comprising a body at least a part of which is inserted into a gap, in use, and means marked (calibrated) on the body for determining the gap size.

Advantageously the gap size determining means are marked on a surface of said body.

Said body may comprise a substantially wedge-shaped body upon which are marked indicia such as numerals corresponding to the height, in cross-section, of the wedge where the indicia are marked.

Preferably said device is adapted for use in a building system, such as a flooring system.

Preferably, an edge of a surface of the gap measuring device which is marked with indicia corresponding to the height of the wedge in cross-section is stepped at intervals corresponding to predetermined heights.

Alternatively, the surface is continuous, i. e. substantially linear.

Preferably, the indicia marked on the gap measuring tool correspond to the height of the device (gap) in metric measurements such as millimetres. Alternatively, the indicia correspond to the height in imperial measurements such as inches, or the number and/or thickness of packing pieces required to fill the gap. For example a plurality of packing pieces may be provided being divided into subsets of one or more packing pieces of a given thickness and a given colour.

In one embodiment of the device the gap size determining means (indicia) may, therefore, comprise or include one or more coloured markings such as dot (s), the coloured markings providing an indication of the number of packing pieces of a given thickness and colour required to pack the gap.

Preferably, attachment means (such as a hole) is provided on the gap measuring device for attachment to a substrate. The attachment means may facilitate hanging of the device from a users belt, work pouch or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for measuring the size of a gap between a through-batten and a saddle member or packing piece placed upon a saddle member, said method comprising inserting a gap measuring device according to the first aspect of the present invention into a gap between a through-batten and a saddle member or packing piece placed upon a saddle member until said measuring device contacts both the batten and the saddle member or packing piece, and establishing from the measuring device the height of the aforementioned gap.

Preferably, the gap measuring device is received into the aforementioned gap substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the batten.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provide use of a device according to the first aspect in the installation of a building system such as a flooring system.

There now follows a description of a number of embodiments of a gap measuring device according to the present invention. It will be understood that the description which is intended to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, is given by way of example only, and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of several saddles of a building system together with a through-batten illustrating the use of various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective, side, and top views respectively of a gap measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention for use in a building system as illustrated in Figure 1 ; Figures 3 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective, side, and top views respectively of a gap measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention for use in a building system as illustrated in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gap measuring device of Figures 2 (a)- (c) in use together with various components of the building system of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of the gap measuring device of Figures 2 (a)- (c) in use with a saddle and through batten of the building system of Figure 1 shown in a sectional view.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated a building system (such as a flooring system) generally designated 10, comprising a plurality of saddle members 12 resting on a surface 14 and including a through-batten 16.

Surface 14 is depicted as uneven, resulting in a gap 18 being formed between one of the saddle members 12 and batten 16. Typically, a suitable number of packing pieces (not shown) are employed to fill the gap 18 to enable batten 16 to be supported by all saddles 12.

A gap measuring device 20,20', as illustrated in Figures 2 (a), (b) and (c) and Figures 3 (a), (b) and (c) may be employed to calculate the number and size of packing pieces required to pack the gap 18.

Figures 2 (a), (b) and (c) depict a gap measuring device 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This device 20 comprises a body 21 having a series of ascending steps 22 with each step being of a predetermined and specified height from a base 23 of the device 20. The height of each step 22 from the base 23 is marked 24 on each step 22 or adjacent each step 22 on a side surface 25 of the body 21 by indicia such as numerals.

Figures 3 (a), (b) and (c) depict a gap measuring device 20'according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where a measuring surface 26'is continuous from a narrowest end 28'of the device 20'to a widest end of the device 20'. The height of the surface 26'from base 23'is marked with indicia such as numerals 24'at regular intervals.

A ring 34,34'may be provided on the device 20,20' to secure the device 20,20'to a user's belt or the like for storing between use.

Reference is now made to Figures 4 and 5 which illustrate the gap measuring device 20,20'in use. The device 20,20'is inserted into the gap 18 between a bottom surface of the batten 16 and a top surface of the saddle member 12. As can be seen from Figures 4 and 5 saddle member 12 provides a cruciform channel 35 defined by four upstanding L-shaped brackets 36 dependent from the top surface of the saddle member 12.

Flooring panel 32 is also illustrated in Figure 4 which, in use, rests on batten 16.

When the device 20 is inserted into and fills the gap 18 and cannot be inserted any further without raising batten 16, the indicia such as numerals on the device 20, 20'are read so as to establish the total amount of packing required to support the batten 16 at that point. The device 20,20'is then removed by the user and the appropriate number of substantially planar packing pieces (not shown) placed in position.

Where the size (height) of a gap 18 is to be determined, the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 (a) to (c) may be advantageous. The raised steps 22 in this embodiment seek to prevent the device 20 from being inserted too far and accidentally raising the batten 16 higher than is necessary-thereby giving a false reading of the packing required.

However, the device 20'may be advantageous when used in conjunction with, for example, a laser level. The continuous surface 26'of the device 20'allows the user to push the device 20'firmly between the saddle member 12 and the batten 16 in order to lift the batten 16 until it is at substantially the same height as the laser level. The size of the resulting gap 18 can then be read from the markings 22'on the device 20'.

In a preferred form it is envisaged that a plurality of colour coded packing pieces of different thicknesses may be provided, e. g. : Thickness Colour 3mm black 4mm white 5mm blue lOmm beige/brown It is further envisaged that in the preferred form the device 20,20'is provided with indicia in the form of spaced numerical markings along the device 20,20' corresponding to the height of the device 20,20'at a given point. Further or alternatively the indicia may comprise colour coded markings such as dots. Thus to take an example, in use, the device 20,20'is inserted into the gap 18. If the gap 18 is say 7mm then a user will read from the indicia on the device 20,20'"black dot, white dot", i. e. a black packing piece (4mm) and a white packing piece (3mm)-total 7mm-are required.

It may be appreciated that a principle advantage of a device according to the present invention is that the user is able to determine the height of a gap between a saddle member and batten and hence, the number of packing pieces required, with relative ease by inserting the gap measuring device into the gap. This device, therefore, seeks to mitigate the need to determine the height of the gap by placing pieces within the gap and determining whether the alignment of the batten is maintained.

It will further be appreciated that the embodiments of the present invention hereinbefore described are given by way of example only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

It will, for example, be appreciated that the packing pieces will normally be of a substantially planar form.

However, the planar packing pieces may be substantially rectangular or cruciform in nature.

It will further be understood that although the devices 20,20'hereinbefore described have a substantial width, W, a device of the present invention may be substantially two-dimensional, i. e. planar, having a negligible width, W. In using such a device one must ensure that the device is inserted correctly into the gap to ensure an accurate reading is obtained.

Claims

1. A gap measuring device comprising a body at least a part of which is inserted into a gap, in use, and means marked on the body for determining the size of said gap.

2. A gap measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the gap size determining means are marked on a surface of said body.

3. A gap measuring device according any of 1 or 2, wherein the body of the device comprises a substantially wedge-shaped body upon which are marked indicia corresponding to the height, in cross section, of the wedge body where the indicia are marked.

4. A gap measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the marked indicia are numerals.

5. A gap measuring device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is adapted for use in a building system.

6. A gap measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the device is adapted for use in a flooring system.

7. A gap measuring device according to any preceding claim, wherein an edge of a surface of the device which is marked with indicia corresponding to the height of wedge in cross section is stepped at intervals corresponding to predetermined heights.

8. A gap measuring device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein an edge of a surface of the device which is marked with indicia is continuous.

9. A gap measuring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gap size determining means comprise a plurality of spaced coloured markings.

10. A gap measuring device as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for attaching the device to another body.

11. A method for measuring the size of a gap between a through-batten and a saddle member or packing piece placed upon a saddle member, said method comprising inserting a gap measuring device into a gap between a through-batten and a saddle member or packing piece placed upon a saddle member until said measuring device contacts both the batten and the saddle member or packing piece, and establishing from the measuring device the height of said gap.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the gap measuring device is received into said gap substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the batten.

13. Use of a gap measuring device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 in installation of a building system.

14. Use of a gap measuring device according to claim 13, wherein the building system is a flooring system.

15. A gap measuring device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 (a) to (c) and Figures 4 & 5, and also Figures 3 (a) to (c).

16. A method of measuring a size of a gap between a through-batten and a saddle member or packing piece as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figures 2 (a) to (c), 4 & 5 and Figures 3 (a) to (c).

17. Use of a gap measuring device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 (a) to (c), 4 & 5 and Figures 3 (a) to (c).