AU2023266225A1

AU2023266225A1 - Veneer and fixing system

Info

Publication number: AU2023266225A1
Application number: AU2023266225A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Malcolm ROBERTSON Brent
Original assignee: Stone Facade Co Ltd
Current assignee: Stone Facade Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-24
Filing date: 2023-11-13
Publication date: 2024-06-13

Abstract

Described herein is a clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts all used in a mechanically fixed veneer. The clip may have a shape configured for use in a fixing system for a veneer. The fixing system may comprise the clip along with a disc linked to the substrate with the clip and disc interacting to provide a movable link to a veneer tile. The veneer uses tiles that link to the clip, to the disc and to the substrate. Associated methods of assembly of the fixing system and veneer are also described along with a related kit of parts. 33 10 0 '2-0 (5532 53F -TO FIG. 1 1/18

Description

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VENEER AND FIXING SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application derives priority from New Zealand patent application number 794873 filed on

24 November 2022 with WIPO DAS code DC54; and Zealand patent application number 802988 filed on

22 August 2023 with WIPO DAS code 4D6E; both incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Described herein is a veneer and fixing system. More specifically, a clip, fixing system, veneer, methods

of assembly, and a kit of parts, are described to mechanically fix a veneer onto a substrate.

BACKGROUND ART

Creating a tiled veneer on a building structure such as on a wall has been completed in the art. For

example, stone tiles may be adhered to building framing using cementitious adhesive. The resulting

stone veneer is made up of various stone tiles that abut one another. This style of stone veneer has

drawbacks in modern design as there are issues with load, retention, tile movement, substrate

movement, air movement and moisture movement, between the stone tiles and framing. Water may,

for example, become trapped behind the tiles leading to leaky buildings. This method of forming a stone

veneer also does not allow for stone tile movement in the event of temperature expansion and

contraction, seismic movement and wind loading movement. Stone tiles or similar potentially brittle

materials may be prone to stress build up, and can crack as a result, causing a loss in water tightness.

AU2006202795 describes a method of creating a stone veneer using round discs that fit into

complementary recesses in the stone tiles of the facade, the discs being linked to a substrate such as

building framing. This stone veneer has some bulk and requires machining of openings or rebates in the

stone tile base. As a result this method/product may be more time consuming to install, and hence

costlier than simply adhering stone tiles to a substrate. This method limits tile movement to a vertical

plane only as well and there is no provision for z-axis depth movement of the tile relative to the fixing

system or substrate. This method also requires a relatively thicker depth tile so that sufficient depth

remains either side of the rebate. Thinner walls either side the rebate can lead to cracking or wall

failure, at least about a side or sides of the round discs. The greater tile thickness leads to higher

material costs and greater tile weight.

It may be useful to address some of the above problems, or at least provides the public with a choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts

will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts all used in a

mechanically fixed veneer. The clip may have a shape configured for use in a fixing system for a veneer.

The fixing system may comprise the clip along with a disc linked to the substrate with the clip and disc

interacting to provide a movable link to a veneer tile. The veneer uses tiles that link to the clip, to the

disc, and to the substrate. Associated methods of assembly of the fixing system and veneer are also

described along with a related kit of parts.

In a first aspect, there is provided a clip configured for use in a fixing system for a veneer, the clip

comprising:

a top, base and sides with a front face configured to interact with a stone tile and a rear

face configured to interact with a fixing system disc;

the clip has an inverted U-shape cross-section configured so that the clip has an interior

between the front face and the rear face; and,

an upper surface of the interior of the clip is semi-circular and shaped to complement a

shape of part of the fixing system disc on which the clip is configured to be mounted over.

In a second aspect, there is provide a fixing system configured to mechanically fix a veneer to a

substrate, the fixing system comprising:

a clip substantially as described above;

a fixing system disc, the fixing system disc linked to a substrate; and,

wherein the clip is mounted over the fixing system disc so that an upper surface of the interior

of the clip bears on and slidingly engages the top of the fixing system disc.

In a third aspect, there is provided a veneer mechanically fixed to a substrate comprising:

a veneer made up of multiple tiles;

a substrate to which the veneer is fixed;

multiple fixing systems substantially as described above; and

wherein the clip attaches to at least one of the multiple tiles of the veneer.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of assembling a fixing system to a substrate by:

selecting a fixing system substantially as described above;

selecting a substrate; and

linking the fixing system disc to the substrate and mounting clips from the fixing system

over the fixing system discs so that the upper surface of the interior of the clips bears on and slidingly engages the part of the fixing system discs.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of mechanically fixing a veneer onto a substrate by:

selecting multiple tiles to form the veneer;

selecting a substrate to which the veneer to be mechanically fixed to; and

selecting multiple fixing systems substantially as described above; and,

linking the fixing system disc of each fixing system to the substrate and mounting the

fixing system clips over the fixing system discs so that an interior surface of the clips bear on

and slidingly engage the fixing system discs; and

linking the clips to the multiple tiles to form the veneer.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a kit of parts configured to fix a veneer to a substrate, the kit of parts

comprising:

a fixing system substantially as described above; and

a set of instructions for assembly.

Selected advantages of the above clip, fixing system, veneer, methods and kit of parts may be that:

- The tiles used may be narrower in depth than art fixing systems thereby reducing material cost

and tile weight;

- The fixing system may remove the need for use of adhesive hence, may be faster to assemble

and avoids the material cost associated with adhesives;

- The use of a clip and independence in attachment between the tile and substrate may allow for

a greater range of movement between the substrate, fixing system, clip and tile including

rotation movement and z-axis depth movement;

- The preparation needed of the tiles may be limited to drilling of partial holes in the rear of the

tiles unlike art methods that require the formation of a rebate in the tile base;

- The fixing system described may be used as an attachment or extension of existing disc style

fixing system using a rebate in the tile. This may be helpful where a veneer of tiles using a

rebate system needs damage correction or replacement;

- The fixing system, being metallic, is also recyclable and may be re-used.

Further advantages should become apparent from the further description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts will become apparent from the following description that is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the fixing system with the tile removed for

clarity and the substrate not shown;

Figure 2 illustrates a side cross-section view of the fixing system including the substrate and a tile;

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the fixing system with the tile offset from an assembled position

to show the otherwise hidden detail behind the tile;

Figure 4 illustrates a plan cross-section view of the fixing system, substrate and tile;

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the front face of the clip;

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the rear face of the clip;

Figure 7 illustrates a front elevation view of the clip;

Figure 8 illustrates a side elevation view of the clip;

Figure 9 illustrates a side elevation view of the clip in varying size;

Figure 10 illustrates a plan view of the clip;

Figure 11 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an alternative fixing system with the substrate

not shown;

Figure 12 illustrates a side cross-section view of the alternative fixing system including the substrate

and a tile;

Figure 13 illustrates a front view of the alternative fixing system with the tile offset from an

assembled position to show the otherwise hidden detail behind the tile;

Figure 14 illustrates a plan cross-section view of the alternative fixing system, substrate and tile;

Figure 15 illustrates a perspective view of the front face of the alternative clip;

Figure 16 illustrates a perspective view of the rear face of the alternative clip;

Figure 17 illustrates a front elevation view of the alternative clip;

Figure 18 illustrates a side cross-section elevation view of the alternative clip;

Figure 19 illustrates a side elevation view of the alternative clip;

Figure 20 illustrates a plan view of the alternative clip;

Figure 21 illustrates a perspective view of an offset washer;

Figure 22 illustrates a cross-section side view of the offset washer fitted with the alternative clip;

Figure 23 illustrates a front elevation view of the offset washer;

Figure 24 illustrates a side elevation view of the offset washer;

Figure 25 illustrates a plan elevation view of the offset washer;

Figure 26 illustrates a side cross-section elevation view of the offset washer; and

Figure 27 illustrates the exploded perspective view of the alternative fixing system with the

substrate not shown as shown in Figure 11 with an alternative adjustable spacer mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, described herein is a clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts all

used in a mechanically fixed veneer. The clip may have a shape configured for use in a fixing system for a

veneer. The fixing system may comprise the clip along with a disc linked to the substrate with the clip

and disc interacting to provide a movable link to a veneer tile. The veneer uses tiles that link to the clip,

to the disc and to the substrate. Associated methods of assembly of the fixing system and veneer are

also described along with a related kit of parts.

For the purposes of this specification, the term 'about' or 'approximately' or 'substantially' and

grammatical variations thereof mean a quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage,

dimension, size, amount, weight or length that varies by as much as 30, 25,20,15, 10, 9,8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3,

2, or 1% to a reference quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size,

amount, weight or length.

The term 'comprise'and grammatical variations thereof shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will

be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other

non-specified components or elements.

The term 'stone' is used for ease of reference which, for the purposes of this specification, encompasses

materials comprising: high density mineralised materials, ceramics, porcelain, thin stone, sintered stone,

composite materials, compressed cement board, aluminium composite panels, aluminium honeycomb

composite, metallic panels, composite plastic panels, glass composite panels, sign board, fibreglass,

mineralised panel, plastics, and combinations of these materials.

Clip

comprising:

face configured to interact with a fixing system disc;

between the front face and the rear face; and, an upper surface of the interior of the clip is semi-circular and shaped to complement a shape of part of the fixing system disc on which the clip is configured to be mounted over.

Clip Interior

As noted, the tile interior may have an inverted U-shaped cross-section shape. This inverted U-shape

cross-section shape may be as viewed from the clip side. The clip side may extend orthogonally away

from the front and rear faces of the clip. If a tile is fastened to the clip, the tile planar face maybe

orthogonal to the clip side or sides and the inverted U-shape cross-section described.

The clip interior may define a generally vertical plane axis extending between the top of the interior to:

a point intermediate the top of the interior and the base of the clip or,

may extend as far as the base of the clip.

The generally vertical plane axis may be parallel to a planar face of a veneer when the veneer is mounted

to the clip and the fixing system.

The inverted U-shape cross-section of the clip interior may define an opening between the front face and

the rear face of the clip.

Fixing System Disc and Interior Relationship

The inverted U-shape cross-section at the top of the clip may have a relatively narrow width. This

narrow width may be sized to complement, as a snug or sliding fit therein, the fixing system disc.

The clip interior may also define an opening into which the fixing system disc is received. The clip may

slidingly fit over the disc until an outer circumference of the disc bears on the top of the clip interior.

The clip may comprise a relatively narrow inverted U-shape cross-section width at the top of the clip that

may widen relative to the top of the clip to a wider mid-section width of the clip. Towards the base of

the clip, the width of the clip may narrow again, the wider mid-section width corresponding to a raised

planar portion of the front face of the clip.

The wider mid-section width of the clip may occur only about the front face of the clip. The rear face of

the clip may remain in a substantially common plane. When a disc is fitted into the clip interior, the

narrowed base of the front face of the clip may bear on a front face of the fixing system disc and the rear

face of the clip may bear on at least of the rear face of the fixing system disc.

Clip Front Face

Commensurate with the interior cross-section shape variation, the clip front face may move from the clip

top to extend outwards from the vertical plane axis of the clip via a step or steps to a raised planar portion of the front face. This raised planar portion may extend downwards (and optionally, outwards from a centre of the clip) to a lower shoulder or shoulders. The shoulders then move the front face back to a lower end of the front face. This lower end may be generally coincident with the plane of the top of the front face.

As will be noted further below, the front face may comprise an opening therein to receive a fastener

therethrough. The opening may be located about the raised planar portion of the front face. The

opening may be located centrally on the raised planar portion of the front face.

Clip Material

The clip may be a moulded part. The clip may be manufactured from metal or metal alloys, or composite

materials. In one example, the clip may be manufactured from stainless steel.

Tile Bolt

The clip interior may house a tile bolt used to fastened a tile to the clip.

The tile bolt may pass through an opening from the clip interior to the front face of the clip.

The tile bolt head may be located in the clip interior and a shaft of the tile bolt may extend from the clip

interior, through the opening in the lip and to a tile or other fixing used to link the clip and tile.

Clip Rear Face

The rear face of the clip may comprise a waist.

The waist may be located part-way between the top and bottom of the clip. The waist in this example

may be located generally about the middle of the clip vertical plane height, coincident with a mid-point

of a disc inserted into the interior of the clip. The waist may have a generally horizontal plane ending at

least about either side of the rear face. Intermediate each horizontal plane ending, the waist may be

semi-circular in shape. The semi-circular shape may correspond to a diameter of the opening in the clip

interior.

The waist may alternatively comprise two legs. In this example, the waist and the two legs may extend

downwards from the top of the clip to a point intermediate the top and bottom of the clip. The two legs

may extend beyond a point at which the waist terminates. The two legs may terminate about feet.

When viewed from the rear face of the clip, the waist and legs may form an inverted U-shape, the legs

forming the U-shape ends and the waist forming the U-shape semi-circular connection to the U-shape

ends.

The area between the waist (and legs if present) may define an elongated opening. This opening may be

defined by the waist location. As noted above, the waist may extend downwards from the top of the clip. The waist may extend from the top of the clip by approximately 5, or 10, or 15, or 20, or 25, or 30, or 35, or 40, or 45, or 50, or 55, or 60% of the overall clip height. That is, the waist terminates prior to, or at, or slightly below, a mid-point of the clip height.

Clip Legs

As noted above, the clip may in one example comprise legs terminating with feet although this is not

essential. The feet may extend partly outwards from a vertical plane defining a plane of the rear face,

the feet bearing on the fixing system disc or a part thereof when the fixing system disc is fitted to the

interior of the clip. The feet may interact with the disc outer circumference when a disc is fitted into the

clip.

The two legs, the feet, or both the two legs and the feet, may be resilient and provide a bias force

against the fixing system disc when the clip is fitted to the fixing system disc. The two legs or feet may

provide a bias force against the disc when fitted so as to lock the clip and disc together through friction

but, when the friction force is overcome, the legs or feet thereon may slidingly move about the disc

outer circumference at least to some extent. During sliding movement, the legs may act to correct any z

axis depth movement but still allows some small degree of movement. Allowance and subsequent

automatic correction of movement described may be useful in the event of movement of the substrate,

fixing system or tile.

Offset Washer

Optionally, the fixing system may further comprise an offset washer.

The offset washer may be used instead of a flat washer as part of the fixing system. The offset washer

may comprise a top, base and sides with a front face and a rear face.

The front face may have a stepped shape. For example, a lower front face portion and an upper front

face portion may be offset relative to each other so as to have a step in position across the face.

The lower front face portion may be configured to interact with a lower face of the disc. The upper front

face portion may be configured to interact with an upper face of the clip. Interaction in this case may be

abutment or bearing on interference.

The lower front face portion may be offset in a vertical plane relative to the upper front face portion.

The lower front face portion may sit forward of the upper front face portion. The extent of offset in a

vertical plane may correspond to the extent of offset between the disc and a rear face of the clip when

the clip is fitted over a disc during assembly of the fixing system. The offset washer lower front face

portion offset may terminate about or below a lower half of the disc. The termination point may

correspond to a termination point of the clip waist.

The offset washer described above may be useful to prevent rotation of the clip. The offset washer and

clip may fit around a disc as described. The offset washer front face step and step out of the clip rear

face may correspond to each other to provide a flat finish about the disc when assembled. The step of

the offset washer may have a shape that interacts and prevents rotation of the clip. Interaction may be

due to the step of the offset washer and the waist of the clip interfering when rotated, one preventing

the other from rotation movement as the surfaces interfere with one another.

Fixing System

substrate, the fixing system comprising:

a clip substantially as described above;

a fixing system disc, the fixing system disc linked to a substrate; and,

of the clip bears on and slidingly engages the top of the fixing system disc.

Fixing System Materials

The fixing system disc and other parts used to form the fixing system except the clip may be formed from

metals, metal alloys or materials with similar strength, hardness and elasticity properties. The fixing

system may be formed using stainless steel parts except the clip which may be formed from a plastic as

noted above.

Cavity Spacer Member

The fixing system may comprise a cavity spacer member. This member may be configured to provide a

gap or opening between the substrate and veneer. Cavity spacing members may take the form of

channel shaped battens or extrusions. The cavity spacing members may be elongated channel

extrusions. These channel extrusions may be fastened to a substrate.

The channel extrusion may have a C-shape cross-section channel with an initial U-shape back, legs

extending from the back and flanges extending inwards from the legs' ends. The initial U-shape back

may be fastened to the substrate so that an opening of the channel extends outwards from the

substrate.

The cavity spacer member may be fastened to the substrate using fasteners. Wood or concrete

substrates may require wood or concrete designed fasteners such as wood or concrete screws.

The cavity spacer member may be elongated in shape and extend for example from the top to the

bottom of a substrate to which the fixing system (and veneer) is to be applied.

The cavity spacer member may be manufactured from alloys, aluminium, steel or stainless steel.

Liner or Thermal Break

Intermediate the cavity spacer member and the substrate may be a wall liner such as building paper, a

thermal break material, or both building paper and a thermal break material. The thermal break

material may be a plastic or similar insulating material.

Backing Plate

The fixing system may comprise a backing plate. The backing plate may be fastened to the cavity spacer

member. The backing plate may be attached to a front face of the cavity spacer member. If the cavity

spacer member is a channel cross-section, the backing plate may be fixed to a channel opening by a

fastener that threadingly links to a bolt, the bolt located inside and interfering with the channel flanges.

A single fastener may link the backing plate to the cavity spacer member.

The backing plate may be manufactured from steel or stainless steel.

Mounting Pin

The fixing system may comprise a mounting pin. The mounting pin may link the fixing system disc to the

backing plate. The mounting pin may comprise an elongated shaft. The fixing system disc may be fixedly

attached to a first end of the elongated shaft and an opposing second end of the elongated shaft may be

linked to the backing plate. The second end may link via the mounting pin threadingly engaging the

backing plate. The distance from the fixing system disc to the backing plate may therefore be easily

adjusted by threading the mounting pin into or out of the backing plate threaded opening. The exact

mounting pin position relative to the backing plate may be fixed using a lock nut.

The disc on the first end of the mounting pin may have a diameter at least 1.5, or 2, or 2.5, or 3 times as

large as the diameter of the mounting pin itself (assuming the mounting pin is round). The disc may have

an outer circumference and be circular. The disc and the mounting pin longitudinal axis may share a

common central axis.

The disc may be relatively narrow in depth. The disc depth may correspond to the width of the clip

interior opening. The disc width may be less than 10, or 9, or 8, or 7, or 6, or 5mm.

The mounting pin and disc thereon may be manufactured from steel or stainless steel.

Independent Connection

The fixing system disc and the clip may connect together independently of a connection between the clip and a veneer tile. This independence may be one reason for the movement possible between the substrate, fixing system and tile.

Tile Bolt and Tile Connection

The clip and the veneer tile may be linked together via a tile bolt. The tile bolt may comprise a head and

a shaft. The head may be configured to be located within the interior of the clip and the shaft may

extend from the front face of the clip via an opening in the front face of the clip when the fixing system is

assembled. A tile bolt washer may be located between the tile bolt head and clip.

The tile may have an opening therein that receives the tile bolt shaft. The opening may be located on a

rear face of the tile. The opening may extend partly into the tile width. The opening may not open to a

front face of the tile. For example, if the tile has a width of 8mm, the opening extends only 4-7mm into

the rear face of the tile and does not open to the tile front face.

The tile bolt may fasten to a tile directly or indirectly.

Direct fastening may be via the tile bolt shaft entering the tile opening and fastening directly to the

opening itself.

The tile bolt may be configured to fasten to a tile indirectly. Indirect fastening may be via a tile plug. The

tile plug may comprise a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter corresponding to a diameter of an

opening in the tile so that the tile plug may have a snug fit or interference fit in the opening. The tile

plug may have an internal diameter commensurate with a diameter of the shaft of the tile bolt so that

the shaft may fit into the internal diameter of the tile plug.

The tile plug may comprise an anchoring feature so that, when the tile bolt is fitted to the tile plug, the

anchoring feature may engage walls of the opening in the tile.

In the inventor's experience, the connection from the clip to the tile is very strong and this method of

connection may be sufficient for veneer applications.

Substrate

The substrate referred to herein may be building frontage or face.

Examples of substrate to which the fixing system may be applied comprise: a wall, overhang, ceiling,

soffit, roof, reveal, head, sill, door, gate, fence, signage, or other planar face or frontage. That is, the

fixing system may not be limited to placement on a vertically orientated face and may be used on angled

faces or even horizontal plane faces, such as a ceiling or soffit.

For ease of reference, the fixing system is described in the context of a vertically aligned wall, top being

the ceiling side of the wall and bottom being towards the floor of the building. Reference to a wall or

vertical plane or alignment in the context of the fixing system should not be seen as limiting.

The fixing system described may also traverse a transition in direction e.g. from vertically aligned wall to

horizontally aligned ceiling. Again, reference to only use on a wall and one alignment should not be seen

as limiting.

The substrate itself may be manufactured from timber, steel, concrete, or structural insulated panels

(SIP).

A wall lining may be needed. The fixing system may have support channels and optionally a thermal

break fastened to the substrate that act to provide insulation and a cavity space if needed between the

veneer and substrate.

As noted elsewhere in this specification, the substrate may be an interior/internal or exterior/external

wall. The fixing system described is not limited to only interior or exterior features.

The substrate may be a planar wall.

The substrate may be a transition from one planar wall face to another planar wall face, each wall face at

a different orientation to one another e.g. a 90 degree transition. For example, the substrate may be an

external or internal corner transition.

Fastened

As noted above, the fixing system may be fastened to the substrate.

Fastening may be directly from the fixing system or a part thereof to the substrate. Intermediate layers

or parts may be used all linked together via the fastener(s).

Fastening may be by use of one or more mechanical fasteners. Examples of mechanical fasteners may

include screws, bolts, nails, and rivets.

Fasteners may be fitted in an even vertical plane.

Adjustable Spacer Mount

The cavity spacer member may be fixed directly to a substrate or may be fixed indirectly to a substrate

via a thermal break and/or wall lining, in either cases via fasteners.

This mount approach works well, however there is no ability in this approach to adjust the spacing

between the substrate and the cavity spacer member. Adjustment of the spacing between the substrate

80 and the cavity spacer member may be useful when the substrate is uneven. Building walls for

example may vary about a plane across the surface and adjusting the fixing system and veneer spacing

relative to the substrate may be useful to take up wall variations. The wall may also traverse minor

building features and it may be useful for aesthetics to not have the traversed features also transfer to

the veneer. Some adjustment described may avoid transfer of such traversed features to the veneer. In this case, an adjustable spacer mount may be used. The adjustable spacer mount may be configured to vary the spacing between the substrate and cavity spacer member. The spacing may be varied using the adjustable spacer mount from 1-10, or 1-9, or 1-8, or 1-7, or 1-6, or 1-5mm.

In one example, the adjustable spacer mount may comprise a bolt receiver directly or indirectly fixed to

the substrate and, a bolt fixed directly or indirectly to the cavity spacer member. The bolt may fasten

together with the bolt receiver and in doing so adjust the spacing between the substrate and cavity

spacer member. The bolt and bolt receiver may threadingly fasten together.

Veneer

a veneer made up of multiple tiles;

a substrate to which the veneer is fixed;

multiple fixing systems substantially as described above; and

wherein the clip attaches to at least one of the multiple tiles of the veneer.

Veneer Meaning

The term 'veneer' as used herein refers to the frontage or face of a wall, ceiling, soffit, roof, reveal, head,

sill or other building planar structure.

Further, unless stated different, a veneer in the context of this specification may be an internal feature

e.g. an interior/internal wall of a building and/or an exterior/external feature such as an external wall

face.

Tile Shape and Form

The tile may be a large format surface or panel.

The term 'large' in this context refers to an oblong tile shape or sheet with a width and/or height of at

least 0.5m. Tiles envisaged for use with this fixing system described herein may vary in width from 1, or

1.5, or 2, or 2.5, or 3, or 3.5 ,or 4, or 4.5, or 5, or 5.5, or 6, or 6.5, or 7, or 7.5, or 8, or 8.5, or 9, or 9.5, or

10m and may vary in height from 1, or 1.5, or 2, or 2.5, or 3, or 3.5 ,or 4, or 4.5, or 5, or 5.5, or 6, or 6.5,

or 7, or 7.5, or 8, or 8.5, or 9, or 9.5, or 10m.

They may be generally larger sheets or panels and the term 'tile' as used herein may refer to this larger

format of tile.

Each tile may be cuboid in shape with a top, bottom, sides, depth, a front face, a rear face and, at least

one opening, the at least one opening located on the rear face of each tile, the at least one opening configured to fasten at least one of the multiple tiles to the clip. The front face may be the final face viewed post assembly of the veneer and the rear face located on the opposing side of the tile from the front face. The rear face may be hidden behind the front face post assembly.

The tile top and bottom may be of an even length and the sides may be of an even length. The tile depth

may be substantially similar across a width and height of the tile. It is envisaged that the tile width may

be less than 12, or 11, or 10, or 9, or 8, or 7, or 6, or 5, or 4, or 3, or 2, or 1mm. This width may be

smaller than that used in fixing systems that require a fixing system disc to fit into a pre-formed recess in

the tile base. As a result, the tiles used may be lighter and less costly than tiles used in recess style fixing

system due to lower bulk.

At least one hole or opening may be located on the rear face of the tiles. The at least one opening may

be used to fasten the tiles to the clip. The at least one opening may protrude only partly into the rear

face of each tile and may not extend out of the front face of each tile.

Post assembly, the fixing system and fixing system clips may be hidden behind the veneer and are not

visible.

Veneer of Multiple Tiles

Multiple tiles may be used to create the final veneer. The veneer may be made up for example of

multiple tiles arranged in a desired pattern e.g. with a common side gap, common top gap, common

base, offset sides, offset heights and so on to give a veneer finish similar to a brick wall or pure stone

wall.

Each fixing system may be fixed to the substrate and at least one fixing system linked to a tile. One tile

may for example have 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10 fixing systems linking to a single

tile.

Tile Material

The tile may be manufactured from stone. The stone may be sintered stone. The stone may be a natural

stone such as limestone, or bluestone. Many different veneer products exist and the problem of how to

mount such products is common to many if not all of these products. Stone is a useful veneer product

given the longevity of the material (50+ lifespan material), thermal properties and aesthetics.

As noted above however, the term 'stone' as used herein encompasses a variety of materials, example

being: high density mineralised materials, ceramics, porcelain, thin stone, sintered stone, composite

materials, compressed cement board, aluminium composite panels, aluminium honeycomb composite,

metallic panels, composite plastic panels, glass composite panels, sign board, fibreglass, mineralised

panel, and combinations of these materials.

Tile Gaps

A small gap may be left between the tile sides, top and bottom. The gap may be to allow for expansion

and contraction of the tiles relative to the fixing system(s) and/or substrate. The term 'small' in this

context refers to a gap of 0.5 to 10, or 1-8, or 2-8, or 3-6, or 3-5mm in width.

This gap between the sides, or top, or bottom of multiple tile sides may run continuously along the

length of a group of tiles and may be common to multiple tiles fixed to the fixing system.

Sealant

Optionally, gaps between tiles (top, bottom and sides) may be filled (partly or fully) with sealant. All

gaps may be filled between the tiles.

The sealant may be substantially resilient. The sealant may be elastomeric. The sealant may expand and

contract with the surrounding materials and parts. The sealant may be silicone sealant or polyurethane

sealant.

The sealant may be applied after fixing of the tiles to the fixing system.

Absence of Adhesive

While adhesive could be used between parts of the fixing system e.g. between a cavity spacer member

and a substrate, adhesive is not required by the fixing system. The fixing system, fixing system clip and

veneer may all be assembled together mechanically without adhesive. Note that sealant as noted above

may be used between tile gaps but is a filler and not a structural adhesive. Avoiding adhesive may be

useful to reduce assembly cost and time. A mechanical fixing system also avoids chemical deterioration

sometimes associated with some adhesives. Note that the term adhesives as used herein refers to

chemical adhesives. Examples of chemical adhesives used in art fixing systems for veneers may include

epoxy or polyurethane based adhesives.

Insulative Capacity

The inventor has found that the above described fixing system may provide insulative effects. For

example, the fixing system may be fire insulative at least to building code requirements. The fixing

system may be thermally insulating particularly when installed using thermal break materials.

Methods of Assembly

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of assembling a fixing system to a substrate by: selecting a fixing system substantially as described above; selecting a substrate; and linking the fixing system disc to the substrate and mounting clips from the fixing system over the fixing system discs so that the upper surface of the interior of the clips bears on and slidingly engages the part of the fixing system discs.

selecting multiple tiles to form the veneer;

selecting a substrate to which the veneer to be mechanically fixed to; and

selecting multiple fixing systems substantially as described above; and,

and slidingly engage the fixing system discs; and

linking the clips to the multiple tiles to form the veneer.

A Kit of Parts

comprising:

a fixing system substantially as described above; and

a set of instructions for assembly.

The above kit may further comprise tiles used to form the veneer.

Movement Provisions

The assembled fixing system and veneer described may have provision to allow for relative movement

between the tiles, fixing systems, fixing system clips and substrate. This extent of movement possible is

in direct contrast to the lack of movement observed when tiles are directly adhered to a substrate. The

movement allowed for using the clip described herein may also offer advantages over art disc systems in

terms of movement since the clip creates independence in the connection between the clip and tile and

clip and disc. The fixing system itself, enabled by the clip, may allow for rotational movement of a stone

tile relative to the substrate in a vertical plane. The clip may also allow for some z-axis, depth

movement.

Expansion gaps described above may be provided for between the tile sides, top and bottom to allow for lateral movement between tile sides, top and/or bottom.

Overall, it is the inventor's experience, that the fixing system and veneer described herein provided

offers considerably better movement than other methods of forming a veneer and hence provides for

movement and long term durability and finish.

Advantages

As may be appreciated from the above description, the clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly

and kit of parts may provide a number of benefits in respect of providing a veneer on a substrate. These

benefits may comprise one or more of the following:

- Prevention of the concentration of stress seen in art fixing system products about adhesion

surfaces;

- The fixing system described may enable thejoining of different types of veneer materials to a

substrate;

- Seismic resilience in that the fixing system may provide for movement between tile joints to let

tiles of the veneer move separately from each other at least to some extent - the transfer of

energy from the substrate thereby being dissipated;

- Transitions in substrate orientation / change in plane may be addressed and catered for;

- The veneer may reduce or eliminate the transfer of vibration from the veneer to the substrate;

- The veneer (or at least the fixing system) may be lightweight, strong, stiff and durable;

- The veneer may provide a thermal barrier to heat transfer through the wall yet is impermeable

to moisture to the substrate;

- The veneer may provide excellent acoustic insulation and fire resistance;

- The fixing system may be hidden and may not affect the veneer exterior appearance;

and tile weight;

- The fixing system removes the need for use of adhesive hence, may be faster to assemble and

avoids the material cost associated with adhesives;

- The use of a clip and independence in attachment between the tile and substrate allows for a

greater range of movement between the substrate, fixing system, clip and tile including rotation

movement and z-axis depth movement;

rebate system needs damage correction or replacement;

- The fixing system, being metallic, is also recyclable and may be re-used.

The examples described above may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features

referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all

combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features.

Further, where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which

the examples relate, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set

forth.

WORKING EXAMPLES

The above described clip, fixing system, veneer, method of assembly and kit of parts are now described

by reference to specific examples and the following items and item numbering used in the Figures:

1 Fixing system

2 Cavity spacer member = elongated channel extrusion

3 Opening in cavity spacer member

10 Substrate fastener = coach bolt or concrete fastener

11 Substrate fastener washer

20 Thermal break or walling lining

30 Backing plate

31 Backing plate channel bolt opening

32 Backing plate mounting pin opening

40 Cavity fastener = bolt fixing backing plate to channel

41 Channel bolt washer

42 Channel nut

50 Mounting pin

51 Mounting pin lock nut

52 Mounting pin lock nut washer

53 Mounting pin shaft

54 Mounting pin disc

55 Mounting pin disc outer circumference

56 Mounting pin longitudinal axis

60 Tile bolt

61 Tile bolt head

62 Tile bolt washer

70 Tile plug

71 Tile plug sides

80 Substrate

100 Clip

101 Clip top

102 Clip base

103 Clip sides

104 Frontface

105 Rearface

106 Clip interior

107 Clip interior top

108 Clip interior housing tile bolt

109 Clip U-shape common vertical plane of the stone tile

110 Clip U shape orthogonal to the vertical plane of the stone tile

111 Clip planar vertical axis

112 Clip front face upper step

113 Clip raised planar front face portion

114 Clip shoulder from raised face to lower end of front face

115 Clip rear face waist

116 Clip rear face legs

117 Clip rear face feet

118 Opening in clip for tile bolt

200 Stone veneer tile

201 Tile top

202 Tile bottom

203 Tile sides

204 Tile front face

205 Tile rear face

206 Tile opening

207 Tile opening sides

208 Tile depth

500 Offset Washer

501 Top

502 Base

503 Sides

504 Front face

505 Lower front face portion

506 Upper front face portion

600 Clip

601 Top

602 Base

603 Sides

604 Front face

605 Rear face

606 Clip interior

607 Clip interior top

609 U-shape cross-section

611 Vertical plane axis

612 Step

613 Front planar face

614 Shoulder

615 Waist

618 Clip opening for bolt

620 Semi-circle shape

700 Adjustable spacer mount

701 Base plate

702 Bolt receiver

703 Lock nut

704 Lock nut

705 Bolt

EXAMPLE 1

Referring to Figure 1, an exploded perspective view is shown of the fixing system 1 incorporating the clip

100. The fixing system 1 is configured to mechanically fix a veneer (shown as a stone tile 200 in Figures

2-4) to a substrate 80 (best viewed in Figure 2 and Figure 4). The fixing system 1 comprises a clip 100

described further below. The clip 100 mounts on a disc 54 outer circumference 55 so that the disc 54

slidingly fits into the interior of the clip 100. The clip 100 is fully mounted over the disc 54 once the top

107 of the clip interior 106 bears on and slidingly engages the top or outer circumference 55 of the disc

54.

The disc 54 is fixed to a mounting pin 50. The mounting pin 50 comprises a shaft 53 with a longitudinal

axis 56 that links at one end to the disc 54 to a backing plate 30, the shaft 53 threading into or out of a

hole 32 in the backing plate 30. The exact length of shaft 53 may be locked relative to the backing plate

30 via a lock nut arrangement 51.

The backing plate 30 is fastened to a cavity spacing member shown in the Figures as being a C-shape

channel 2 via a channel bolt 40, washer 41 and nut 42. The C-shape channel 2 is fixed to the substrate 80

via bolts 10 (e.g. coach bolts for wood substrate or concrete screws for concrete substrate) and washers

11. Intermediate the channel 2 and substrate 80 may be a wall lining or thermal break 20.

The clip 100 has an opening 118 through which a tile bolt 60 passes. The tile bolt 60 has a head 61 that is

located inside the clip 100 and washer 62, also located inside the clip 100 interior 106. The tile bolt 60

shaft communicates with a tile plug 70. The tile plug 70 fits into an opening 206 in the tile 200. The tile

plug 70 may have anchor features (not shown) on the tile plug sides 71 that, when engaged, link the tile

plug 70 to the tile 200 opening sides 207.

Figures 5 to 10 show the clip 100 in detail. The clip 100 comprises a top 101, base 102 and sides 103

with a front face 104 configured to interact with a tile 200 and a rear face 105 configured to interact with

a disc 54. The clip 100 has an inverted U-shape cross-section 109 configured so that the clip 100 has an

interior 106 between the front face 104 and the rear face 105. A top 107 of the interior 106 of the clip

100 is semi-circular and shaped to complement the shape of part of the disc 54 on which the clip 100 is

mounted over.

The interior 106 inverted U-shape cross-section shape 109 as viewed from the clip 100 side 103 (best

seen in Figure 8) comprises a top relatively narrow section 107, a step 112 along the front face to a front

planar face 113 of the clip 100 and a shoulder 114 also on the front face 104 that returns the front face

104 of the clip 100 back to a narrowed cross-section width at the clip 100 base 102. If a tile 200 is

fastened to the clip 100, the tile 200 planar face 204 is orthogonal to the clip 100 side or sides 103 and

the inverted U-shape cross-section 109 described.

The clip 100 interior 106 may define a generally vertical plane axis 111 extending between the top 107 of

the interior 106 to the base 102 of the clip 100. The generally vertical plane axis 111 may be parallel to a

planar face of a veneer of tiles 200 when the tiles 200 are mounted to the fixing systems 1.

The inverted U-shape cross-section 109 of the interior 106 may define an opening at the base 102 of the

clip 100 between the front face 104 and the rear face 105 of the clip 100.

The inverted U-shape cross-section 109 at the top 107 of the clip 100 has a relatively narrow width sized

to complement, as a snug or sliding fit therein, the disc 54.

The clip 100 interior 106 may also define an opening 118 into which the disc 54 is received. The clip 100 slidingly fits over the disc 54 until an outer circumference 55 of the disc 54 bears on the top 107 of the clip 100 interior 106.

As shown, the rear face 105 of the clip 100 may remain in a substantially common plane. When a disc 54

is fitted into the clip 100 interior 106, the narrowed base 102 of the front face 104 of the clip 100 may

bear on a front face of the disc 54 and the rear face 105 of the clip 100 may bear on at least part of the

rear face 105 of the disc 54.

As noted above, the front face 104 comprises an opening 118 therein to receive a tile bolt 60

therethrough. The opening 118 is located about the raised planar portion 113 of the front face 104. The

opening 118 is located centrally on the raised planar portion 113 of the front face 104.

The clip 100 interior 106 houses the head 61 and washer 62 of the tile bolt 60 used to fastened a tile 200

to the clip 100. The tile bolt 60 passes through an opening from the clip 100 interior 106 to the front

face 104 of the clip 100.

The rear face 105 of the clip 100 as shown in the Figures may comprise a waist 115 and two legs 116.

The waist 115 and the two legs 116 extend downwards from the top 101 of the clip 100. The two legs

116 may terminate about feet 117. When viewed from the rear face 105 of the clip 100, the waist 115

and legs 116 may also form an inverted U-shape 110.

The feet 117 extend partly outwards from the clip 100 vertical plane axis 111, the feet 117 bearing on

the disc 54 or a part thereof when the disc 54 is fitted to the interior 106 of the clip 100. The feet 117

may interact with the disc 54 outer circumference 55 when a disc 54 is fitted into the clip 100.

The two legs 116, the feet 117, or both the two legs 116 and the feet 117, may be resilient and provide a

bias force against the disc 54 when the clip 100 is fitted to the disc 54.

A veneer of tiles 200 used with the fixing system 1 may be made up of multiple tiles 200 attached to

multiple fixing systems 1.

The tile 200 may be a large format surface or panel. Each tile 200 may be cuboid in shape with a top

201, bottom 202, sides 203, depth 208, a front face 204, a rear face 205 and, at least one opening 206,

the at least one opening 206 located on the rear face 205 of each tile 200, the at least one opening 206

configured to fasten at least one of the multiple tiles 200 to the clip 100. The front face 204 may be the

veneer face viewed post assembly and the rear face 205 located on the opposing side of the tile 100

from the front face 204. The rear face 205 may be hidden behind the front face 204 post assembly.

The tile 200 width may be less than 12mm. This width may be smaller than that used in art fixing

systems that require a disc to fit into a pre-formed recess in the tile base. As a result, the tiles 200 used

herein may be lighter and less costly than tiles used in art recess style fixing systems due to lower bulk.

At least one opening 206 is located on the rear face 205 of the tiles 200 used to fasten one or more tiles

200 to one or more clips 100. The at least one opening 206 protrudes only partly into the rear face 205

of each tile 200 and does not extend out of the front face 205 of each tile 200.

Post assembly, the fixing system 1 including the clips 100 may be hidden behind the veneer of tiles 200

and are not visible.

Adhesive is not required by the fixing system 1. Instead the fixing system 1 is a mechanical system.

The fixing system 1 may be assembled to a substrate 80 by linking the fixing system 1 disc 54 to the

substrate 80 and mounting clips 100 from the fixing system 1 over the fixing system 1 discs 54 so that the

upper surfaces 107 of the interior 106 of the clips 100 bear on and slidingly engage at least part of the

disc 54 outer circumference 55. The clips 100 may then be linked to the tiles 200 to form the veneer via

the tile bolts 60, tile plugs 70 and tile 200 openings 206.

The fixing system 1 may be sold as a kit of parts, the kit comprising at least one fixing system 1 and a set

of instructions. The kit of parts may also include tiles 200.

EXAMPLE 2

Referring to Figures 11 to 26, an alternative clip 600 is shown.

Figure 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the fixing system 1 incorporating the clip 600. The

fixing system 1 is configured to mechanically fix a veneer (shown as a stone tile 200 in Figures 12-14) to a

substrate 80 (best viewed in Figure 12 and Figure 14). The fixing system 1 comprises a clip 600 described

further below and optionally also, an offset washer 500 also described further below.

The clip 600 mounts on a disc 54 outer circumference 55 so that the disc 54 slidingly fits into the interior

of the clip 600. The clip 600 is fully mounted over the disc 54 once the top 607 of the clip interior 606

bears on and slidingly engages the top or outer circumference 55 of the disc 54.

Like in Example 1, the disc 54 is fixed to a mounting pin 50. The mounting pin 50 comprises a shaft 53

with a longitudinal axis 56 that links at one end to the disc 54 to a backing plate 30, the shaft 53

threading into or out of a hole 32 in the backing plate 30. The exact length of shaft 53 may be locked

relative to the backing plate 30 via a lock nut arrangement 51.

Like in Example 1, the backing plate 30 is fastened to a cavity spacing member shown in the Figures as

being a C-shape channel 2 via a channel bolt 40, washer 41 and nut 42. The C-shape channel 2 is fixed to

the substrate 80 via bolts 10 (e.g. coach bolts for wood substrate or concrete screws for concrete

substrate) and washers 11. Intermediate the channel 2 and substrate 80 may be a wall lining or thermal

break 20.

The clip 600 has an opening 618 through which a tile bolt 60 passes. The tile bolt 60 has a head 61 that is

located inside the clip 600 and washer 62, also located inside the clip 600 interior 606. The tile bolt 60

plug 70 to the tile 200 opening sides 207.

Figures 15 to 20 show the clip 600 in detail. The clip 600 comprises a top 601, base 602 and sides 603

with a front face 604 configured to interact with a tile 200 and a rear face 605 configured to interact with

a disc 54. The clip 600 has an inverted U-shape cross-section 609 configured so that the clip 600 has an

interior 606 between the front face 604 and the rear face 605. A top 607 of the interior 606 of the clip

600 is semi-circular and shaped to complement the shape of part of the disc 54 on which the clip 600 is

mounted over.

The interior 606 inverted U-shape cross-section shape 609 as viewed from the clip 600 side 603 (best

seen in Figure 18) comprises a top relatively narrow section 607, a step 612 along the front face to a

front planar face 613 of the clip 600 and a shoulder 614 also on the front face 604 that returns the front

face 604 of the clip 600 back to a narrowed cross-section width at the clip 100 base 602. If a tile 200 is

fastened to the clip 600, the tile 200 planar face 204 is orthogonal to the clip 600 side or sides 603 and

the inverted U-shape cross-section 609 described.

The clip 600 interior 606 may define a generally vertical plane axis 611 extending between the top 607 of

the interior 606 to the base 602 of the clip 600. The generally vertical plane axis 611 may be parallel to a

The inverted U-shape cross-section 609 of the interior 606 may define an opening at the base 602 of the

clip 600 between the front face 604 and the rear face 605 of the clip 600.

The inverted U-shape cross-section 609 at the top 607 of the clip 600 has a relatively narrow width sized

to complement, as a snug or sliding fit therein, the disc 54.

The clip 600 interior 606 may also define an opening 618 into which the disc 54 is received. The clip 600

slidingly fits over the disc 54 until an outer circumference 55 of the disc 54 bears on the top 607 of the

clip 600 interior 606.

As shown, the rear face 605 of the clip 600 may remain in a substantially common plane. When a disc 54

is fitted into the clip 600 interior 606, the narrowed base 602 of the front face 604 of the clip 600 may

bear on a front face of the disc 54 and the rear face 605 of the clip 600 may bear on at least part of the

rear face 605 of the disc 54.

As noted above, the front face 604 comprises an opening 618 therein to receive a tile bolt 60

therethrough. The opening 618 is located about the raised planar portion 613 of the front face 604. The

opening 618 is located centrally on the raised planar portion 613 of the front face 604.

The clip 600 interior 605 houses the head 61 and washer 62 of the tile bolt 60 used to fastened a tile 200

to the clip 600. The tile bolt 60 passes through an opening from the clip 600 interior 606 to the front

face 604 of the clip 600.

The rear face 605 of the clip 600 best seen in Figures 16-19 may comprise a waist 615. The clip 600 rear

face 605 waist 615 extends roughly hallway down the front face 604 of the clip 600. When the clip 600 is

mounted over a disc 54, the clip 600 interior 606 encloses approximately half of a top half of the disc 54.

No legs 116 may be used in this clip 600. The waist 615 instead comprises a flat finish about each side

603 of the clip 600 and a semi-circle shape 620 in-between. Like in Example 1, when viewed from the

rear face 605 of the clip 600, the waist 615 may also form an inverted U-shape 610.

Optionally, the fixing system 1 may further use an offset washer 500 best seen in Figures 22-26. The

offset washer 500 may not be used and only the clip 600 described above used in conjunction with a

standard flat washer. The offset washer 500 comprises a top 501, base 502 and sides 503 with a front

face 504, the front face having a lower front face portion 505 and an upper front face portion 506. The

lower front face portion 505 may be configured to interact with a lower face of the disc 54. The upper

front face portion 506 may be configured to interact with an upper face of the clip 600. The lower front

face portion 505 may be offset in a vertical plane relative to the upper front face portion 506. The lower

front face portion 505 sits forward of the upper front face portion 506. The extent of offset may

correspond to the extent of offset between the disc 54 and a rear face 605 of the clip 600 when the clip

600 is fitted over a disc 54. The offset washer 500 lower front face portion 505 offset may terminate

about or below a lower half of the disc 54.

multiple fixing systems 1.

The tile 200 may have similar features to that described in Example 1 above.

Post assembly, the fixing system 1 including the clips 600 may be hidden behind the veneer of tiles 200

and are not visible.

substrate 80 and mounting clips 600 from the fixing system 1 over the fixing system 1 discs 54 so that the

upper surfaces 607 of the interior 606 of the clips 600 bear on and slidingly engage at least part of the

disc 54 outer circumference 55. The clips 600 may then be linked to the tiles 200 to form the veneer via

the tile bolts 60, tile plugs 70 and tile 200 openings 206.

EXAMPLE 3

In this example, an alternative adjustable spacer mount 700 is described.

In Example 1 and Example 2 above, the cavity spacer member 2 is fixed directly to a substrate 80 or is

fixed indirectly to a substrate 80 via a thermal break and/or wall lining 20, in either cases via fasteners.

This mount approach works well however, there is no ability in this approach to adjust the spacing

between the substrate 80 and the cavity spacer member 2. Adjustment of the spacing between the

substrate 80 and the cavity spacer member 2 may be useful when the substrate 80 is uneven. Building

walls for example may vary about a plane across the surface and adjusting the fixing system and veneer

spacing relative to the substrate 80 may be useful to take up wall variations. The wall may also traverse

minor building features and it may be preferable for aesthetics to not have the traversed features also transfer to the veneer. Some adjustment described may avoid transfer of such traversed features to the veneer.

Figure 27 shows an example of an adjustable spacer mount 700. Figure 27 shows the exploded

perspective view of the alternative fixing system 1 with the substrate 80 not shown as shown in Figure

11, but in this case, with an alternative adjustable spacer mount 700 illustrated.

The example shown of the adjustable spacer mount 700 comprises a base plate 701, a bolt receiver 702,

two lock nuts 703, 704 and a bolt 705. The primary components of the adjustable spacer mount 700 are

the bolt receiver 702 and bolt 705 that threadingly fasten together and in doing so adjust the spacing

between the substrate 80 and cavity spacer member 2.

More specifically, the base plate 701may comprise a flat planar form. The base plate 701may have the

bolt receiver 702 fixed to (e.g. welded on) and extending orthogonally away from the base plate 701.

The base plate may comprise openings through which fasteners may pass that couple the base plate 701

to the substrate 80. Intermediate the substrate 80 and base plate 701 may be a thermal break and/or

building paper (not shown).

The bolt receiver 702 may have an elongated tubular shape with a more therein. The bore may be

threaded. The bore of the bolt receiver 702 has a thread that corresponds to the thread of the bolt 705

so that the bolt 705 may threadingly insert into or out of the bolt receiver 702. The extent of threading

into or out of the bolt receiver 702 may determine the spacing distance between the substrate 80 and

the cavity spacer member 2. The bolt receiver 702 depth and bolt 705 shaft length may determine the

extent of spacing possible. This spacing may be varied from 1-10, or 1-9, or 1-8, or 1-7, or 1-6, or 1-5mm.

The bolt 705 may at the cavity spacer member 2 end, be inserted through a hole 3 in the rear of the

cavity spacer member 2, a head of the bolt 705 being captured within the cavity spacer member 2 once

threaded through the hole 3. This head / cavity spacer member 2 interference connects the bolt 705 and

cavity spacer member 2. The bolt 705 head may comprise a tool feature therein to allow rotation of the

bolt 705 from outside of the cavity spacer member 2.

Intermediate the bolt 705 head and the bolt receiver 702 may be two locking nuts 703, 704. The locking

nuts 703, 704, may threadingly engage the thread on the bolt 705. The locking nuts 703, 704 may be

used to lock the position of the bolt 705 and bolt receiver 702. For example, the locking nut 703 closest

the bolt 705 head may be threaded towards the cavity spacer member 2 once the bolt 705 is threaded

through the cavity spacer member 2 opening 3. The lock nut 703 is threading moved until the lock nut

703 bears on the cavity spacer member 2. This then locks the position of the bolt 705 relative to the

cavity spacer member 2, the lock nut 703 urging the bolt 705 head onto the inside of the cavity spacer

member 2 about the opening 3. The second lock nut 704 may be threadingly moved towards the bolt

receiver 702 until the lock nut 704 bears on an end of the bolt receiver 702. At this point, the bolt 705 is

locked in position relative to the bolt receiver 702.

Aspects of the clip, fixing system, veneer, methods of assembly and kit of parts have been described by

way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto

without departing from the scope of the claims herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A clip configured for use in a fixing system for a veneer, the clip comprising:

face configured to interact with a fixing system disc;

between the front face and the rear face; and

2. The clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interior defines a generally vertical plane axis extending

between the top of the interior to the base of the clip, the generally vertical plane axis being parallel

to a planar face of a veneer when the veneer is mounted to the clip and the fixing system.

3. The clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inverted U-shape cross-section of the interior defines an

opening at the base of the clip between the front face and the rear face of the clip.

4. The clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inverted U-shape cross-section at the top of the clip has a

relatively narrow width that is sized to complement, as a snug or sliding fit therein, the fixing system

disc.

5. The clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clip comprises a relatively narrow inverted U-shape cross

section width at the top of the clip that widens relative to the top of the clip to a wider mid-section

width of the clip and, towards the base of the clip, the width of the clip narrows again, the wider

mid-section width corresponding to a raised planar portion of the front face of the clip.

6. The clip as claimed in claim 5 wherein the wider mid-section width of the clip occurs only about the

front face of the clip while the rear face of the clip remains in a substantially common plane.

7. The clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rear face of the clip comprises a waist.

8. The clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the waist comprises two legs, the waist and the two legs

extending downwards from the top of the clip, the two legs terminating about feet.

9. The clip as claimed in claim 8 wherein the feet extend partly outwards from a vertical plane defining

a plane of the rear face, the feet bearing on the fixing system disc or a part thereof when the fixing

system disc is fitted to the interior of the clip.

10. The clip as claimed in claim 8 wherein the two legs, the feet, or both the two legs and the feet, are

resilient and provide a bias force against the fixing system disc when the clip is fitted to the fixing

system disc.

11. The clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the waist is located about a middle of a vertical plane height

of the clip, coincident with a mid-point of a disc inserted into the interior of the clip.

12. The clip as claimed in claim 11 wherein the waist has a generally horizontal plane ending about

either side of the rear face and, intermediate each horizontal plane ending, the waist is semi-circular

in shape.

13. A fixing system configured to mechanically fix a veneer to a substrate, the fixing system comprising:

a clip as claimed in claim 1;

a fixing system disc, the fixing system disc linked to a substrate; and,

of the clip bears on and slidingly engages the top of the fixing system disc.

14. The fixing system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fixing system comprises a cavity spacer

member configured to provide an opening between the substrate and veneer.

15. The fixing system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fixing system comprises a backing plate, the

backing plate fastened to the cavity spacer member.

16. The fixing system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the fixing system comprises a mounting pin, the

mounting pin linking the fixing system disc to the backing plate, the mounting pin comprising an

elongated shaft with the fixing system disc fixedly attached to a first end of the elongated shaft and

an opposing second end of the elongated shaft linked to the backing plate.

17. The fixing system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the fixing system disc and the clip connect together

independently of a connection between the clip and a veneer tile.

18. The fixing system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the clip and the veneer tile are linked together via a

tile bolt, the tile bolt comprising a head and a shaft, the head configured to be located within the

interior of the clip and the shaft extending from the front face of the clip via an opening in the front

face of the clip when the fixing system is assembled.

19. The fixing system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the tile bolt is configured to fasten to a tile

indirectly via a tile plug, the tile plug comprising a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter

corresponding to a diameter of an opening in the tile so that the tile plug has a snug fit or

interference fit in the opening, and wherein the tile plug has an internal diameter commensurate

with a diameter of the shaft of the tile bolt so that the shaft fits into the internal diameter of the tile

plug.

20. The fixing system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the tile plug comprises an anchoring feature so

that, when the tile bolt is fitted to the tile plug, the anchoring feature engages walls of the opening

in the tile.

21. The fixing system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising an offset washer, the offset washer

comprising a lower front face portion and an upper front face portion and wherein the lower front

face portion and an upper front face portion are offset relative to each other so as to have a step in position across the face; and, wherein the lower front face portion is configured to interact with a lower face of the clip and the upper front face portion is configured to interact with an upper face of the clip.

22. The fixing system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising an adjustable spacer mount configured

to vary the spacing between a substrate and the cavity spacer member, the spacing being varied

using the adjustable spacer mount from 1-10mm.

23. A veneer mechanically fixed to a substrate comprising:

a veneer made up of multiple tiles;

a substrate to which the veneer is fixed; and

multiple fixing systems as claimed in claim 13;

wherein the clip attaches to at least one of the multiple tiles of the veneer.

24. The veneer as claimed in claim 23 wherein each tile is cuboid in shape with a top, bottom, sides,

depth, a front face, a rear face and, at least one opening, the at least one opening located on the

rear face of each tile, the at least one opening configured to fasten at least one of the multiple tiles

to the clip.

25. The veneer as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one opening protrudes only partly into the

rear face of each tile and does not extend out of the front face of each tile.

26. The veneer as claimed in claim 23 wherein the tile is manufactured from: high density mineralised

materials, ceramics, porcelain, thin stone, sintered stone, composite materials, compressed cement

board, aluminium composite panels, aluminium honeycomb composite, metallic panels, composite

plastic panels, glass composite panels, sign board, fibreglass, mineralised panel, and combinations of

these materials.

27. A method of assembling a fixing system to a substrate by:

selecting a fixing system as claimed in claim 13;

selecting a substrate; and

over the fixing system discs so that the upper surface of the interior of the clips bears on and

slidingly engages the part of the fixing system discs.

28. A method of mechanically fixing a veneer onto a substrate by:

selecting multiple tiles to form the veneer;

selecting a substrate to which the veneer to be mechanically fixed to;

selecting multiple fixing systems as claimed in claim 13; and linking the fixing system disc of each fixing system to the substrate and mounting the fixing system clips over the fixing system discs so that an interior surface of the clips bear on and slidingly engage the fixing system discs; and linking the clips to the multiple tiles to form the veneer.

29. A kit of parts configured to fix a veneer to a substrate, the kit of parts comprising:

a fixing system as claimed in claim 13; and

a set of instructions for assembly.

30. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 29 wherein the kit of parts further comprises tiles used to form

the veneer.