Abstract:
A wall fixture positionable between interior and exterior walls of a structure and including a first member having a flange extending from a web, the flange including mounting locations spaced along a length of the flange for supporting fasteners securable at a plurality of locations spaced along the interior wall and a second member having a flange extending from a web. The second member can be adjustably securable to the first member such that a distance between exterior sides of the flanges is variable. The flange of the second member can include mounting locations spaced along the flange for supporting fasteners securable at a plurality of locations spaced along the exterior wall. The web of one of the first and second members can define apertures sized to receive at least one of plumbing, conduit and wires.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/202,363, filed on Feb. 23, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wall fixture, and more particularly to a wall fixture for furring a solid wall. 
     SUMMARY 
     With recent developments in building codes, exterior walls including basement walls, must meet R-15 or better insulation values. This has led to the development of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), the use of Z-furring with foam panels, and other methods of insulating solid walls in general and in concrete, masonry, and block walls in particular. All of these methods of insulating solid walls have limitations, particularly with respect to secondary operations such as installing pipes, wires, plumbing, and other conduits. Other limitations include thermal bridging, porous construction, and outdoor exterior surfaces that do not provide adequate protection from the elements. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a wall fixture positionable between an interior wall and an exterior wall of a structure, the interior wall being positionable substantially parallel to and spaced a distance from the exterior wall, each of the interior and exterior walls extending between a floor and a ceiling of the structure. The wall fixture includes a web defining multiple apertures extending through the web between opposite sides of the web and sized to receive at least one of plumbing, conduit, and wires, a first flange extending outwardly from a first end of the web and being engageable with one of the interior wall and the exterior wall, the first flange including multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the first flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of the one of the interior wall and the exterior wall, and a second flange extending from a second end of the web opposite the first end of the web and being engageable with the other of the interior wall and the exterior wall. The second flange is pivotally connected to the web for movement relative to the web between a first orientation, in which the second flange is substantially parallel to the web, and a second orientation, in which the second flange is non-parallel to the web. The second flange includes multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the second flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of the other of the interior wall and the exterior wall. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides, a wall fixture positionable between an interior wall and an exterior wall of a structure, the interior wall being spaced a distance from the exterior wall, each of the interior and exterior walls extending between a floor and a ceiling of the structure. The wall fixture includes a first member having a flange extending from a web, the flange including multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of one of the interior wall and the exterior wall, and a second member having a flange extending from a web, the second member adjustably securable to the first member such that a distance between exterior sides of the flanges is variable, the flange of the second member including multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of an other of the interior wall and the exterior wall, the web of one of the first member and the second member defining multiple apertures extending through the web between opposite sides of the web and sized to receive at least one of plumbing, conduit and wires. A stop is positioned on one of the first member and the second member to limit relative movement between the first and second members and to prevent movement of the other of the first member and the second member across the apertures. 
     The present invention also provides a wall mounting system including an interior wall and an exterior wall of a structure, the interior wall being spaced a distance from the exterior wall, each of the interior and exterior walls extending between a floor and a ceiling of the structure, and a wall fixture positionable between the interior wall and the exterior wall. The wall fixture includes a first member having a flange extending from a web, the flange including multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of the interior wall, a second member having a flange extending from a web, the second member adjustably securable to the first member such that a distance between exterior sides of the flanges is variable, the flange of the second member including multiple mounting locations spaced along a length of the flange for supporting fasteners securable at multiple locations spaced along a height of the exterior wall. The web of one of the first member and the second member defines multiple apertures extending through the web between opposite sides of the web and sized to receive at least one of plumbing, conduit and wires. The web of the first member includes a channel having multiple indentations spaced along a length of the channel. The web of the second member includes multiple protrusions spaced along a length of the web, the web of the second member being insertable into the channel of the first member in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the web of the second member such that the protrusions engage the indentations to adjustably secure the first member to the second member and vary the distance between the flanges. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a wall fixture according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another cross-sectional view of the wall fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of the wall fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the wall fixture of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a wall fixture according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is another cross-sectional view of the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a portion of the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a portion of the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a wall mounting system constructed from the wall fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the wall mounting system of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a wall fixture  10  according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wall fixture  10  includes a web  15 , a first flange  20 , and a second flange  25 . The first flange  20  extends substantially perpendicularly from one end of the web  15  and the second flange  25  extends substantially perpendicularly from the opposite end of the web  15 . A latch  30  extends from the web  15 . A protrusion  35  extending from the second flange  25  defines a recess  37  for receiving the latch  30 . The second flange  25  is pivotally coupled to the web  15  by a hinge  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a stop  42  is provided near the hinge  40 . The wall fixture  10  can be made of plastic, including recycled plastic. The wall fixture  10  can be formed by extrusion. The hinge  40  can be a living hinge. In some embodiments, the latch  30  is received by a recess  37  defined by the second flange  25 . The stop  42  can be supported by either the web  15  or the second flange  25 . In some embodiments, both of the web  15  and the second flange  25  support a stop  42 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the wall fixture  10  in a first orientation. In the first orientation, the second flange  25  is substantially parallel to the web  15 . As shown by the arrow in  FIG. 1 , the second flange  25  can be pivoted about the hinge  40  to a second orientation. 
       FIG. 2  shows the wall fixture  10  in the second orientation. In the second orientation, the second flange  25  is non-parallel to the web  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second flange  25  is substantially perpendicular to the web  15 . The latch  30  engages the recess  37  in the second protrusion  35  such that the second flange  25  is releasably secured in the second orientation. The stop  42  limits the movement of the second flange  25  relative to the web  15 . 
       FIG. 4  shows mounting locations  45  through the first flange  20  and the second flange  25  and apertures  50  through the web  15 . The mounting locations  45  are spaced along a length of the first flange  20  and along a length of the second flange  25 . The mounting locations  45  are sized to receive fasteners, such as, for example, threaded fasteners, nails, cohesive bonding materials, glue, adhesive, pins, clips, clamps, inter-engaging elements, and any combination of such fasteners. The apertures  50  are spaced along a length of the web  15  and allow plumbing, conduit, wire, pipe, or other such construction components to pass through the web  15 . 
     In use, the wall fixture  10  is attached to an exterior wall, such as a concrete exterior basement wall. The wall fixture  10  in the first orientation is placed against the wall with the first flange  20  extending away from the wall. The second flange  25  is fastened to the wall by fasteners applied to the mounting locations  45 . After the second flange  25  has been fastened to the wall, the wall fixture  10  is rotated to the second orientation and secured by the latch  30 . A bonding material, such as closed cell foam, can be applied to the wall fixture  10 . The bonding material flows through the apertures  45  thereby increasing bond strength between the wall fixture  10  and the wall, increasing the structural integrity of the wall fixture  10 , and providing insulation value. An interior wall is fastened to the first flange  20  by fasteners applied to the mounting locations  45 . 
       FIGS. 5-10  illustrate a wall fixture  65  according to other embodiments of the invention. As show in  FIG. 5 , the wall fixture  65  includes a first member  70  and a second member  75 . The first member  70  includes a web  80  and a flange  85  extending substantially perpendicularly from the web  80 . The web  80  defines a channel  90  that extends into the web  80 . The channel  90  includes a series of indentations  95  defined between opposed rows of protrusions  97 . A stop  99  is positioned at the bottom of the channel  90 . In some embodiments, the flange  85  extends from the web  80  at an oblique angle. 
     The second member  75  includes a web  100  and a flange  105  extending substantially perpendicularly from the web  100 . The flange  105  includes a hook-shaped end  110 . A portion of the web  100  includes a series of protrusions  115 . The protrusions  115  are sized and shaped to be received by the indentations  95  and to engage the indentations  95  and the protrusions  97 . In some embodiments, the flange  105  extends from the web  100  at an oblique angle. In some embodiments, the flange  105  does not include the hook-shaped end  110 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a portion of the web  100  of the second member  75  inserted into the channel  90  of the first member  70 . The protrusions  115  engage the indentations  95  thereby adjustably securing the first member  70  to the second member  75 . The leading pair of protrusions  120  can be selectively inserted to multiple pairs of indentations. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the leading pair of protrusions  120  is inserted to a first position at a first pair of indentations  125 , thereby spacing the flange  105  at a first distance from the flange  85 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the leading pair of protrusions  120  is inserted to a second position at a second pair of indentations  130 , thereby spacing the flange  105  at a second distance from the flange  85 . The distance between the flange  85  of the first member  70  and the flange  105  of the second member  75  varies depending on the selective insertion of the web  100  into the channel  90  such that the leading pair of protrusions  120  engages a selected pair of indentations  125 . 
       FIG. 8  shows mounting locations  135  through the flange  105  of the second member  75 . The mounting locations  135  are spaced along a length of the second member  75  and are sized to receive fasteners, such as, for example, threaded fasteners, nails, cohesive bonding materials, glue, adhesive, pins, clips, clamps, inter-engaging elements, and any combination of such fasteners. 
       FIG. 9  shows mounting locations  135  through the flange  85  of the first member  70 . The mounting locations  135  are spaced along a length of the first member  70  and are sized to receive fasteners, such as, for example, threaded fasteners, nails, cohesive bonding materials, glue, adhesive, pins, clips, clamps, inter-engaging elements, and any combination of such fasteners. 
       FIG. 10  shows apertures  137  through the web  100  of the second member  75 . The apertures  137  are spaced along the length of the second member  75 . The apertures  137  allow plumbing, conduit, wire, pipe, or other construction components to pass through the web  100 . 
     In use, the wall fixture  65  is attached to an exterior wall  140 , such as a concrete basement wall, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The exterior wall  140  extends between a floor  145  and a ceiling  150 . The first member  70  is placed against the wall  140  with the web  80  extending away from the wall  140 . The flange  85  of the first member  70  is fastened to the wall  140  by fasteners applied to the mounting locations  135 . After the flange  85  has been fastened to the wall  140 , the second member  75  is inserted into the first member  70  in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the web  100 . The second member  75  is inserted to a selected position. The protrusions  115  of the web  100  engage the indentations  95  in the channel  90  thereby adjustably securing the second member  75  to the first member  70 . The second member  75  can be moved between possible positions along the web  80  of the first member  70  without the use of a tool. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the stop  99  limits relative movement between the first member  70  and the second member  75 . The stop  99  prevents movement of the first member  70  across the apertures  95  such that the apertures  95  are not covered by the web  80  of the first member  70 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a wall mounting system  155  including multiple wall fixtures  65 . As described above, the wall fixtures  65  are fastened to the exterior wall  140 . The wall fixtures  65  are fastened to each other using fasteners, such as, for example, threaded fasteners, nails, cohesive bonding materials, glue, adhesive, pins, clips, clamps, inter-engaging elements, and any combination of such fasteners. In use, the wall fixtures  65  allow a user to create a flat mounting surface even when the wall fixtures  65  are fastened to an exterior wall  140  that is not itself flat. The user adjusts the distance between the flanges  105  and the flanges  85  such that the flanges  105  are parallel and coplanar to each other to create the flat mounting surface. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , an interior wall  160  is fastened to the wall fixture  65 . The interior wall  160  extends between the floor  145  and ceiling  150  and can be constructed from, for example, foam panels, drywall, or other wall components. The flange  105  of the second member  75  is fastened to the interior wall  160  by fasteners applied to the mounting locations  135 . 
     Various alternatives to the certain features and elements of the present invention are described with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention. With the exception of features, elements, and manners of operation that are mutually exclusive of or are inconsistent with each embodiment described above, it should be noted that the alternative features, elements, and manners of operation described with reference to one particular embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments. 
     The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.