Thermal wall anchor

Abstract

A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie to join an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall includes an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a driven end portion and a driving end portion. The driven end portion is adapted to be threadedly mounted on the inner wythe of the cavity wall. The driving end portion includes a drive head including a receptor opening for capturing a portion of a veneer tie. The receptor opening extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through the drive head. A thermal spacer is attached to the elongate bod. The thermal spacer has a conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of the elongate body and is configured and arranged to reduce thermal transfer in the cavity wall along the elongate body.

1 . A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie to join an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall, the wall anchor comprising:
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a driven end portion and a driving end portion, the driven end portion being adapted to be threadedly mounted on the inner wythe of the cavity wall, the driving end portion including a thermally-conductive drive head including a receptor opening for capturing a portion of a veneer tie, the receptor opening extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through the thermally-conductive drive head; and   a thermal spacer attached to the elongate body, the thermal spacer having a conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of the elongate body and being configured and arranged to reduce thermal transfer in the cavity wall along the elongate body.   
     
     
         2 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal spacer is a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, plastic, epoxy and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises first and second thermally-conductive portions, the thermal spacer being positioned between the first and second thermally-conductive portions to create a thermal break between the first and second thermally-conductive portions. 
     
     
         4 . The wall anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the thermal spacer is threadedly attached to the first and second thermally-conductive portions. 
     
     
         5 . The wall anchor of  claim 4 , further comprising a threaded stud interconnecting the thermal spacer with at least one of the first and second thermally conductive portions of the elongate body. 
     
     
         6 . The wall anchor of  claim 5 , wherein the threaded stud is a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, plastic, epoxy and fiberglass. 
     
     
         7 . The wall anchor of  claim 5 , wherein the threaded stud is a first threaded stud interconnecting the thermal spacer and the first thermally-conductive portion of the elongate body, the wall anchor further comprising a second threaded stud interconnecting the thermal spacer and the second thermally-conductive portion of the elongate body. 
     
     
         8 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a threaded portion at the driven end portion and at least one barrel portion adjacent the threaded portion. 
     
     
         9 . The wall anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal spacer is attached to the threaded portion and engages a free end of the at least one barrel portion. 
     
     
         10 . The wall anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal spacer is threadedly attached to the threaded portion. 
     
     
         11 . The wall anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one barrel portion comprises a hollow body having a circumferential wall defining a hollow interior. 
     
     
         12 . The wall anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one barrel portion comprises at least one opening extending through the circumferential wall to the hollow interior. 
     
     
         13 . The wall anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one barrel portion comprises a plurality of openings extending through the circumferential wall to the hollow interior. 
     
     
         14 . The wall anchor of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of openings reduces the material of the hollow body by an amount in a range of about 5% to about 35%. 
     
     
         15 . A wall anchor for use in a cavity wall to connect to a veneer tie to join an inner wythe and an outer wythe of the cavity wall, the wall anchor comprising an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a driven end portion, a driving end portion, and at least one barrel portion positioned between the driven end portion and the driving end portion, the driven end portion being adapted to be threadedly mounted on the inner wythe of the cavity wall and including a threaded portion, the driving end portion including a thermally-conductive drive head having a receptor opening for capturing a portion of a veneer tie, the receptor opening extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through the thermally-conductive drive head, the at least one barrel portion comprising a hollow body having a circumferential wall defining a hollow interior. 
     
     
         16 . The wall anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one barrel portion comprises at least one opening extending through the circumferential wall to the hollow interior. 
     
     
         17 . The wall anchor of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one barrel portion comprises a plurality of openings extending through the circumferential wall to the hollow interior. 
     
     
         18 . The wall anchor of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of openings reduces the material of the hollow body by an amount in a range of about 5% to about 35%. 
     
     
         19 . The wall anchor of  claim 18 , further comprising a thermal spacer engaging a free end of the hollow body. 
     
     
         20 . The wall anchor of  claim 19 , wherein the thermal spacer is attached to the threaded portion. 
     
     
         21 . The wall anchor of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a barrel portion including first and second thermally-conductive portions, a glue of a material different than the thermal spacer and the barrel portion, the glue connecting the thermal spacer to the first and second thermally-conductive portions, the thermal spacer separating the thermally conductive portions to provide a thermal break in the barrel portion. 
     
     
         22 . The wall anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a thermally-conductive portion, the drive head being formed as one piece of material with the thermally-conductive portion.