Fire retarding polymer bracket

Abstract

A bracket member for use in association with a building wall. The bracket member has a body wall, a first end wall, a second end wall and an intumescent coating. The body wall has a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as an inner end and an outer end. The first end wall extends from the inner end of the body wall, and is one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall. The second end wall extends from the outer end of the body wall, and is one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall. The second end wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, with the inner surface facing toward the first end wall, and the outer surface facing in a direction opposite thereto. The intumescent coating overlies the outer surface of the second end wall.

1 . A bracket member for use in association with a building wall, the bracket member comprising:
 a body wall, the body wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as an inner end and an outer end;   a first end wall extending from the inner end of the body wall, the first end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall;   a second end wall extending from the outer end of the body wall, the second end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall, the second end wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the inner surface facing toward the first end wall, and the outer surface facing in a direction opposite thereto; and   an intumescent coating overlying the outer surface of the second end wall.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket member of  claim 1  further comprising an end wall support member overlying at least a portion of the inner surface of the second end wall. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket member of  claim 2  further comprising an end wall support member overlying at least a portion of an outer surface of the first end wall. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket member of  claim 2  wherein the first end wall and the second end wall are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket member of  claim 4  wherein the body wall is perpendicular to each of the first end wall and the second end wall. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket member of  claim 1  wherein the bracket member comprises a plurality of pultruded fibers within a resin matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket member of  claim 6  wherein a plurality of the plurality of pultruded fibers that form the second end wall proximate the outer surface thereof have an intumescent coating. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket member of  claim 7  wherein the resin matrix further includes a filler comprising a hydrate. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket member of  claim 1  wherein the intumescent coating is applied directly to the outer surface of the second end wall. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket member of  claim 1  wherein the intumescent coating is applied to a substrate which is then overlyingly attached to the outer surface of the second end wall. 
     
     
         11 . A wall construction comprising:
 a wall structure having a first side and a second side, a lower end and an upper end, and an outer surface;   a plurality of substantially horizontal rows of bracket members extending between the first side and the second side of the wall structure, wherein the rows are spaced apart from each other between the lower end and the upper end thereof, each of the bracket members having:
 a body wall, the body wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as an inner end and an outer end; 
 a first end wall extending from the inner end of the body wall, the first end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall; 
 a second end wall extending from the outer end of the body wall, the second end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall, the second end wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the inner surface facing toward the first end wall, and the outer surface facing in a direction opposite thereto; and 
 an intumescent coating overlying the outer surface of the second end wall; 
   wherein the first end wall overlies the outer surface of the wall structure and is attached thereto;   an outer cladding overlying the wall structure, with the outer cladding overlying engaging the outer surface of the plurality of substantially horizontal rows of bracket members, and secured to the second end wall, wherein a plurality of voids are defined between the cladding and the second end wall of at least some of the plurality of substantially horizontal rows of bracket members.   
     
     
         12 . The wall construction of  claim 11  wherein the second wall further includes an end wall support member overlying at least a portion of the inner surface of the second wall of at least some of the plurality of substantially horizontal rows of bracket members. 
     
     
         13 . The wall construction of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal rows extend from the first side to the second side of the wall structure. 
     
     
         14 . The wall construction of  claim 11  wherein the outer cladding comprises a corrugated cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The wall construction of  claim 11  wherein insulation is positioned between at least some of the adjacent ones of the plurality of substantially horizontal rows of bracket members. 
     
     
         16 . A bracket member for use in association with a building wall, the bracket member comprising:
 a body wall, the body wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as an inner end and an outer end;   a first end wall extending from the inner end of the body wall, the first end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall;   a second end wall extending from the outer end of the body wall, the second end wall being one of oblique and perpendicular to the body wall, the second end wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the inner surface facing toward the first end wall, and the outer surface facing in a direction opposite thereto; and   wherein the bracket member comprises a plurality of pultruded fibers within a resin matrix, and wherein at least some of the pultruded fibers that form the second end wall proximate the outer surface thereof have an intumescent coating.   
     
     
         17 . The bracket member of  claim 16  wherein the resin matrix further includes a filler comprising a hydrate. 
     
     
         18 . The bracket member of  claim 16  wherein the resin matrix for at least the portion forming the second end wall proximate the outer surface thereof further comprises an intumescent material.