End Cap Product

Abstract

An end cap for preventing ingress of moisture to the end face of a structural beam, wherein said structural beam comprises metal, stone, concrete, reinforced concrete, or a mixture thereof; said end cap comprising: (i) an end plate having a shape matching the transverse cross-section of said structural beam; and (ii) a skirt for holding said end plate in position; wherein said end plate and said skirt comprise or consist of a material for preventing transmission of moisture.

1 . An end cap for preventing ingress of moisture to the end face of a structural beam, wherein said structural beam comprises metal, stone, concrete, reinforced concrete, or a mixture thereof; said end cap comprising:
 (i) an end plate having a shape matching the transverse cross-section of said structural beam; and   (ii) a skirt for holding said end plate in position;   wherein said end plate and said skirt comprise a material for preventing transmission of moisture.   
     
     
         2 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said end cap comprises at least two end cap segments, each end cap segment comprising:
 (i) an end plate, wherein, when said end cap segments are combined to provide said end cap, the combined end plates form a shape matching the transverse cross-section of said structural beam; and 
 (ii) a skirt for holding said end plate in position; 
 wherein said end plate and said skirt comprise a material for preventing transmission of moisture. 
 
     
     
         3 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said skirt comprises
 a base edge which is directly connected to at least a portion of an edge of said end plate, said skirt extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said end plate. 
 
     
     
         4 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transverse cross-section of said structural beam is T-shaped, H-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, I-shaped, TY-shaped, U-shaped, Y-shaped, or regular or irregular trapezoid-shaped and excluding square shaped and/or rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said material for preventing transmission of moisture comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyethylene, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic, asphalt material, bitumen, and modified bitumen. 
     
     
         6 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said material for preventing transmission of moisture comprises a damp proof membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said end plate is planar. 
     
     
         8 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said end cap is a unitary body. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said skirt forms a continuous side wall along substantially the totality of the edges of the end plate. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said structural beam is a pre-cast concrete beam or a reinforced pre-cast concrete beam. 
     
     
         13 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said structural beam is for use in combination with blocks to form beam and block flooring. 
     
     
         14 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said end cap, when fitted to the end of said structural beam, is locatable upon the footings of a wall such that the wall can be built upwardly thereon. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said skirt and said end plate are between 0.5-3.5 mm thick. 
     
     
         17 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said skirt is at least 90 mm long and no more than 140 mm long. 
     
     
         18 . The end cap as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 (i) an end plate having a shape selected from the group consisting of T-shaped, H-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, I-shaped, TY-shaped, U-shaped, Y-shaped, and regular or irregular trapezoid-shaped excluding square and/or rectangular shaped; and 
 (ii) a skirt for holding said end plate in position; 
 wherein said end plate and said skirt comprise a material having water vapour resistance of at least 400 MNs/g, measured according to BS EN 1931 method B. 
 
     
     
         19 . A kit of parts for installing block and beam flooring, comprising a structural beam and an end cap as claimed in  claim 1 ; and
 optionally one or more flooring blocks.   
     
     
         20 . A kit as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said structural beam is a pre-cast concrete T-beam. 
     
     
         21 . A method for reducing corrosion of a structural beam comprising fitting an end cap as claimed in  claim 1  to a structural beam. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said end cap is fitted before or during installation of said structural beam in a building. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said end cap is fitted by pushing or sliding onto the end of said structural beam. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)