Method and apparatus for securing a profile

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for securing a tube of uniform cross section to a brickwork corner to serve as a profile. The apparatus comprises at least one collar for sliding onto the tube to define fixed reference surfaces to contact the two faces of the corner and to define adjustable abutments for contacting the two faces of the corner at a distance from the reference surfaces to permit adjustment of the attitude of the tube in two orthogonal planes, and a tensioning arrangement for applying a force directly or indirectly to the tube to urge the reference surfaces and the adjustable abutments into contact with the two faces of the corner.

1 . Apparatus for securing a tube of uniform square cross section, corner to corner, to a previously laid brickwork corner having two faces, to enable the tube to serve as a profile, the apparatus comprising
 at least one collar for sliding onto the tube to define
 (i) reference surfaces to contact the two faces of the corner, and 
 (ii) abutments for contacting the two faces of the corner at locations spaced along the tube from the reference surfaces, the abutments being adjustable to permit the attitude of the tube to be set in two orthogonal planes, and 
   a tensioning arrangement configured to be anchored to the two faces of the brickwork corner at a distance from the tube and to apply a force directly or indirectly to the corner of the tube remote from the brickwork corner to urge the reference surfaces and the adjustable abutments into contact with the two faces of the corner.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising two collars, the first incorporating the fixed reference surfaces and the second incorporating the adjustable abutments. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first collar has first reference surfaces for contacting the faces of an external corner and second reference surfaces for contacting faces of an internal corner, enabling the same first collar to be used in securing a profile to both an internal and an external corner. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the, or each, collar is capable of being clamped in any desired position along the tube to prevent the collar from moving or sliding relative to the tube during use. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each collar has a corner to be located adjacent the corner of the course of bricks and a clamping screw at an opposite corner to engage the corner of the tube opposite that adjacent the corner of the course of bricks. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning arrangement comprises a flexible cable or strap to be anchored to the brickwork corner. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning arrangement is composed of a plurality of interconnected rigid components to be anchored to the brickwork corner. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second collar is capable of being formed from an extruded square tube having on the exterior of at least two of its sides protrusions incorporating undercuts, and wherein the adjustable abutments are formed separately from the square tube and have grooves of complementary cross section to the protrusions and capable of being slid onto the protrusions, the abutments being prevented from separating from the square tube by the resulting form-locking fit. 
     
     
         9 . A method of securing a tube of uniform square cross section, corner to corner, to a previously built brickwork corner to serve as a profile, which method comprises
 sliding onto the tube at least one collar to provide
 (i) reference surfaces to contact the two faces of the corner, and 
 (ii) abutments for contacting the two faces of the corner at locations spaced along the tube from the reference surfaces, the abutments being adjustable to permit the attitude of the tube to be set in two orthogonal planes. 
   applying a force directly or indirectly to the corner of the tube remote from the brickwork corner by means of a tensioning arrangement, to urge the reference surfaces and the adjustable abutments into contact with the two faces of the corner, and adjusting the adjustable abutments to set the attitude of the tube in two orthogonal planes.   
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fixed reference surfaces and the adjustable abutments are provided on two separate collars, the method comprising sliding onto the tube the collar having the fixed reference surfaces and sliding onto the tube the second collar at a distance from the first collar. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of the collars is clamped to the tube to prevent the collar from moving or sliding relative to the tube during use. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the tensioning arrangement is anchored in perpends of the brickwork corner prior to positioning of the tube adjacent the brickwork corner with the reference surfaces and adjustable abutments facing the brickwork corner. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the tensioning arrangement is composed a plurality of interconnected rigid components, and wherein the components of the tensioning arrangement are assembled to one another prior to being anchored in perpends of the brickwork corner.