Thermally insulated wall anchor

Abstract

A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall includes an elongated shaft and a receiving section configured to be in attachment with the elongated shaft. The receiving section defines at least one aperture configured to receive a portion of the veneer tie. The receiving section defines a thermal insulating member comprising non-metallic material. The receiving section has no metallic material surrounding the at least one aperture and is configured such that no metallic material is exposed out of the receiving section to an air cavity between the inner wythe and outer wythe when the wall anchor is in an installed state.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall, the wall anchor comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a receiving section configured to be in attachment with the elongated shaft;   wherein the receiving section defines at least one aperture configured to receive a portion of the veneer tie and an abutting section configured to abut an outward facing surface of the inner wythe;   wherein the receiving section defines a thermal insulating member comprising non-metallic material;   wherein the receiving section has no metallic material surrounding the at least one aperture; and   wherein the receiving section is free of metallic material up to at least the abutting section.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The wall anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving section further comprises a collared section and wherein a first end of the elongated shaft is in attachment with the collared section. 
     
     
         4 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving section further defines a shape configured to engage with a tool that provides a driving force to drive a second end of the elongated shaft into the inner wythe. 
     
     
         5 . The wall anchor of  claim 4 , wherein the shape is defined by at least one recess within an outward facing end of the receiving section. 
     
     
         6 . The wall anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the wall anchor further includes a flanged section between the collared section and receiving section. 
     
     
         7 . The wall anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the abutting section also abuts an inward facing surface of the flanged section. 
     
     
         8 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving section comprises a high temperature material. 
     
     
         9 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving section comprises a high temperature coating. 
     
     
         10 . The wall anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the high temperature material comprises at least one of an ablative material, a boron fiber material, a carbon fiber material, a ceramic matrix composite material, a composite material, an epoxy matrix composite, a fatigue composite material, a fiber composite, a fiber-matrix interface, a filament material, a filament wound structures composite material, a filament-matrix material, a flammability composite materials, a glass fiber reinforced plastic material, a honeycomb material, an insulation composite material, a laminate material, a metal filament system, a metal matrix composite (MMC), a nanocomposite, an off-gassing/out-gassing composite material, a polymer matrix composite, a reinforcing fibers composite material, a stacking sequence composite material, a surface property composite material, whisker composite, a woven composite material and any combination of the foregoing material. 
     
     
         11 . The wall anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the high temperature coating comprises at least one of an ablative material, a boron fiber material, a carbon fiber material, a ceramic matrix composite material, a composite material, an epoxy matrix composite, a fatigue composite material, a fiber composite, a fiber-matrix interface, a filament material, a filament wound structures composite material, a filament-matrix material, a flammability composite materials, a glass fiber reinforced plastic material, a honeycomb material, an insulation composite material, a laminate material, a metal filament system, a metal matrix composite (MMC), a nanocomposite, an off-gassing/out-gassing composite material, a polymer matrix composite, a reinforcing fibers composite material, a stacking sequence composite material, a surface property composite material, whisker composite, a woven composite material and any combination of the foregoing material. 
     
     
         12 . A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie that joins an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall, the wall anchor comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a receiving section configured to be in attachment with the elongated shaft;   wherein the receiving section defines at least one aperture configured to receive a portion of the veneer tie, and a washer configured to abut an outward facing surface of the inner wythe;   wherein the receiving section defines a thermal insulating member comprising non-metallic material; and   wherein the receiving section is free of metallic material up to at least the washer.   
     
     
         13 . The wall anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving section further comprises a collared section and wherein a first end of the elongated shaft is in attachment with the collared section. 
     
     
         14 . The wall anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving section further defines at least one recess within an outward facing end of the receiving section that is configured to engage with a tool wherein the tool provides a driving force to drive a second end of the elongated shaft into the inner wythe. 
     
     
         15 . The wall anchor of  claim 13 , wherein the wall anchor further includes a flanged section between the collared section and receiving section. 
     
     
         16 . The wall anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the washer abuts an inward facing surface of the flanged section. 
     
     
         17 . The wall anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving section comprises at least one of a high temperature material and a high temperature coating. 
     
     
         18 . A method of anchoring a veneer wall to an inner wythe for horizontal load transfer, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing an anchoring end of an anchor shaft of a wall anchor to an inner wythe such that a receiving end of the wall anchor protrudes into a space between the inner wythe and an outer wythe such that the space between the inner wythe and the outer wythe is free of metallic material when the wall anchor is in an installed state; and   placing a portion of a veneer tie into at least one aperture of the wall anchor.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled)