EP0288376A1 - Fixing device for the plates of a façade cladding - Google Patents

Abstract

This device comprises a rail (1) provided with a web (8) from which leave a fixing flange (2) and an assembly flange (18) of considerable height, and clips (20) capable of fitting into the assembly flange (18). The web of the rail supports the plates (12) of a first row, the row directly above. The clips have a substantially S shape and comprise a U-shaped channel (28) for receiving the assembly flange (18) and a shoulder (30) for fitting into a groove (24) of the edge of a plate (22) of the next or directly lower row which is thus firmly retained regardless of the depth to which the flange (18) penetrates into the receiving channel (28). <IMAGE>

Description

Façade coverings and in particular cladding often use facings formed by thin plates which are arranged with open horizontal and vertical joints without any overlap and which are supported by a primary framework, mounted on the wall to be coated.

The plates are fixed to the primary framework for example by means of members which pass through them such as nails, screws, rivets or the like. But in this case all the fixing heads remain visible, which is detrimental to the overall appearance of the facing. In addition, the crossings of the fixing members risk being incipient fractures when the material which constitutes the plates does not have a sufficiently high resistance.

The replacement of the through members by inserts incorporated in the plates and hanging on framework profiles, generally horizontal, makes the fixing invisible but increases the danger of rupture and requires having a material having high performance. mechanical so that the bond is solid and durable.

It is therefore generally considered preferable to use as a fastening device plates, profiles, most often metallic, which are arranged horizontally opposite the horizontal connections between the rows of plates and constitute the beams of the primary framework. These profiles include a vertical wing for attachment to the wall which is extended by a core terminated by a vertical rim. The vertical rim, which extends both upwards and downwards, is inserted during mounting in grooves made in the upper and lower horizontal sections of facing plates. The plaques high are supported by the rail while the lower plates are held against spillage by the lower part of the vertical rim. Such a fixing device is invisible from the outside. However, the facing plates must benefit from very small dimensional tolerances as well as high dimensional stability under thermal effect because the retention of the assembly is determined by the depth of the groove formed in the edge of the plates. Such a device is therefore difficult to use with facing plates made of inexpensive materials, the manufacture of which must allow large tolerances.

A similar fixing can also be obtained by assembling the plates to the profile or smooth by means of lugs, hooks or clips made integral with these profiles, which enclose the entire edge of the plate and form a return on the outer face of the latter. It is then possible to use particularly thin plates or made of a fragile material in which the groove is difficult to produce. Unfortunately the clip or hook thus becomes visible, which is unattractive while the requirements of very low manufacturing tolerances and dimensional stability are the same as with the previous fixing device.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for fixing the plates of a facade coating which while being simple to perform, can easily allow the establishment of plates in an inexpensive material, from a technology of simple manufacturing, and ensure a robust and reliable fixing, despite the installation clearances, dimensional variations and manufacturing tolerances tion.

This invention in fact relates to a device for fixing the plates of a facade covering comprising a heddle having a fixing wing on the facade which is extended by a retaining core of a first row of plates and retaining clips plates of a second row directly adjacent, assembled to this heald, in which each clip is connected to the heald by means of an assembly wing which is solidiare of one of these elements and fitted into the other and which has a significant length, greater than the sum of at least the total of the plate manufacturing dimensions differential, the maximum dimension difference due to thermal shrinkage and the minimum joint opening desired between two rows of plates .

Thanks to these arrangements, the two ends of the upper part of the plates can be held securely and robustly, the connection between the arm and the clip being always ensured.

According to one embodiment, the assembly wing is integral with the rail and the clip has an S-shape and comprises on the one hand a channel for receiving the assembly wing and on the other hand a flange d 'nesting on the edge of the plate.

Preferably the edge of the clip cooperates with a longitudinal groove in the edge of the plate so that it is invisible from the outside and that the facing has a perfectly aesthetic appearance.

Centering flanges of the assembly wing are also provided between the latter and the clip.

The description below of embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings, will also highlight the advantages and characteristics of the invention.

• - la Fig. 1 est une vue éclatée d'un dis­positif de fixation selon l'invention,
• - les Figs 2 et 3 sont des vues schématiques en élévation, du dispositif de fixation montées sur une paroi et supportant des plaques de parement fabriquées avec des tolérances différentes,
• - les Figs. 4 et 5 montrent des dispositifs de fixation comportant une lisse selon une variante de réalisation qui est reliée par des clips à la fois aux plaques supérieures et aux plaques inférieures.
• - la Fig. 6 montre une autre variante de réalisation de la lisse et des clips,
• - la Fig. 7 concerne une variante de réa­lisation dans laquelle l'aile verticale d'assemblage du clip a une paroi double sur toute sa hauteur,
• - les Figs 8 et 9 sont des vues analogues à la Fig. 7 dans lesquelles l'aile d'assemblage n'est double que sur une partie de sa hauteur,
• - les Figs 10 et 11 montrent deux autres variantes de réalisation du dispositif de fixation,
• - la Fig. 12 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de la Fig. 11.

In these drawings:

• - Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a fixing device according to the invention,
• - Figs 2 and 3 are schematic elevational views of the fixing device mounted on a wall and supporting facing plates manufactured with different tolerances,
• - Figs. 4 and 5 show fixing devices comprising a rail according to an alternative embodiment which is connected by clips to both the upper plates and the lower plates.
• - Fig. 6 shows another alternative embodiment of the heddle and clips,
• - Fig. 7 relates to an alternative embodiment in which the vertical clip assembly wing has a double wall over its entire height,
• - Figs 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 7 in which the assembly wing is only double over part of its height,
• - Figs 10 and 11 show two other alternative embodiments of the fixing device,
• - Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 11.

As these drawings show, the fixing device according to the invention comprises a profile or smooth 1 which is preferably made of metal but can also be made of a rigid plastic material, and which, in the embodiments shown, is arranged horizontally so as to secure the plates of two superimposed rows, but can, of course, be used vertically to connect the plates of two rows side by side.

The profile shown has a vertical wing 2 intended to come to bear on a support and thus allow the fixing of the profile, either directly on the wall to be coated, or on an intermediate frame with possibly an insertion of a thermal insulator, or even on a rigid insulating material such as plastic foam which covers the facade. This fixing is carried out by means of screws 4 passing through holes 6 of the vertical wing or by any other appropriate means, in particular to the type of support.

The vertical wing 2 is extended at its lower part by a substantially horizontal core 8 which, in the embodiment shown in Figs 1 to 3, is terminated by a flange 10 projecting upwards and substantially parallel to the wing vertical 2. The wing 8 and its rim 10 constitute a support for sheets of covering materials 12 provided on their lower edge with a groove 14 and thus capable of being fitted onto the rim 10 of the profile 1, as well as the shows for example Fig. 2. Preferably, the rim 10 is provided at its end with a bulge 16 whose width is substantially equal to that of the groove 14 so that it comes into contact with the walls of this groove and ensures centering of the plate 12 fitted. Of course, the height of the rim 10 is similar to that of the groove 14 so that the plate 12 is supported by the core 8 of the heddle 1.

From the underside of the core 8 leaves a second wing 18 which has a significant height relative to that of the rim 10. The wing 18 is further offset from this edge by a distance which corresponds to at least half the width of a covering plate 12. This lower vertical wing 18 is intended to cooperate with at least one clip 20 for retaining a lower plate 22 which has a longitudinal groove 24 in its upper edge 26.

The clip or hook 20 has substantially an S shape and thus comprises on the one hand a channel 28 for fitting onto the vertical wing 18 and on the other hand a flange 30 for penetration into the groove 24 of the lower plate 22.

When mounting the coating, which is carried out from bottom to top, at least one clip 20 and preferably several, their number depending on the length of the plate and the material which constitutes it, is placed on each of the plates 22 of a lower row. The rim 30 of this clip 20 then penetrates practically to the bottom of the groove 24 of the plate 22 and the plate 32 which connects this rim to the channel 28 rests on the edge 26 of this plate. A heald 1 is then brought closer to the set of clips thus mounted and its vertical assembly wing 18 penetrates into each channel 28 to a depth determined by the desired distance between the rows of plates 22 and 12, this is to say according to the desired joint opening between the edges of the plates. Bosses, 34 which in the embodiment shown are formed on the two internal walls of the channel 28 of the clip 20 but can also be carried by the assembly wing 18 itself, ensure the centering and lateral locking of this last in the clip 20. In addition, the flange 30 preferably has, like the flange 10, at its end a bulge 31 which ensures its centering in the groove 24. Thus the lower plate 22 is securely retained against any risk of tilting outwards by the combined action of the rim 30 and the vertical wing 18.

It is clear that the vertical wing 18 having a great height can penetrate more or less far inside the channel 28. As a result the same beam 1 can ensure the maintenance of plates 22 of different height such as plates 22 and 22 has Figs 2 and 3. Indeed, when the position of the heald 1 relative to the plate 22 of greater height has been determined so as to establish between them a distance corresponding to the minimum desired opening of the seal 36 between the rows of plates 12 and 22, the rail 1 is fixed to the support 40, by means of screws 4 for example. The wing 18 penetrates fairly deeply into the channel 28 of the clips 20 carried by this plate 22 (Fig. 2). On the other hand, it penetrates much less deeply into the clips 20 a of a plate 22 a of the same row, the height of which is less than that of the plate 22. For example as shown in FIG. 3 the wing 18 does not enter the channel 28 a of the clip 20 a except at a depth similar to the height of the flange 30. The plate 22 is however held securely against any spillage by the cooperation of the flange 30 and the wing 18 which still takes place over the entire height of the rim 30.

Consequently, the height of the assembly wing 18 must be at least equal to the total sum of the plate dimension differential due to manufacturing tolerances, the depth of the groove formed on the upper edge of the plate, the minimum opening of the desired joint and also of the maximum dimension deviation of the plates under the effect of shrinkage thermal. By giving this wing sufficient height, it is possible to securely and robustly attach facing plates produced by a simple manufacturing technique from inexpensive material, and consequently having significant dimensional tolerances by their nature and made of their manufacture.

The device is also advantageously supplemented by the addition of breakable means acting as a stop between the clip and the heddle when the relative position of these two elements corresponds to the minimum opening of the desired joint.

These breakable means can be carried by the clip 20 and be constituted by an inclined tongue 42 carried by the plate 32 of this clip or by a tongue 44 projecting inside the channel 28 near the bottom of the latter. They can also be carried by the vertical wing 18 and have for example the shape of a tongue 48 projecting laterally from this wing or by a cylindrical boss 50 projecting on either side of the wing. This boss 50 and the tongue 48 are placed in the upper part of the wing so as to abut against the plate 32 or against the upper part of the channel 28, when the fixing device is put in place. These breakable means 42 to 50 thus play the role of template warning that the position of the heddle corresponds to the opening of the desired joint. However, they always correspond to a position in which the wing 18 is spaced from the bottom of the channel 28 so that no load transmission is likely to take place via this wing between the arm 1 and the clip 20, that is to say between the arm 1 and the lower row of plates 22. If for a any reason such as an expansion of the material which constitutes the plates a transmission of the vertical loads due to the self weight of the facing plates 12 tends to occur, the force exerted on the breakable means 42 to 50 causes their rupture and thus allows a slight relative displacement of the arm and the clip but avoids this transmission.

Of course, the space between the wall 40 and the facing plates 12, 22 can constitute a ventilated air space. In this case, the core 8 of the heddle is provided with means for recovering and evacuating the infiltrated water comprising, for example, holes 52 and an inclined portion 54 between these holes and the vertical fixing wing 2.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the end flange 10 of the core 8 of the heald is removed and the upper face of the core 58 of the heald 61 is provided with a hollow rib 60 open towards the outside, that is to say in the direction opposite the fixing wing 2. This rib is provided with a longitudinal internal projection 62 forming a hook and is extended externally by a vertical flange 64 directed upwards. At least one L-shaped hook 66 cooperates with the cavity of the rib 60 to hold each of the upper plates 12. In fact, the hook 66 has a branch 68 which penetrates into the groove 14 of the plate 12, while at opposite its head 70 is locked inside the rib 60 against the projection 62. The same beam can thus be used for supporting plates 12 of different dimensions.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5 the hook 66 may have between its branch 68 and its head 70 a branch 72 long enough to extend over the entire edge of the plate 82 so that the branch 68 is outside the covering. In this case, the clip 80 for holding the lower plate also includes a plate 74 capable of extending over the entire edge of the lower plate 83 so that its rim 75 is located outside the covering. The upper and lower covering plates 82 and 83 are then devoid of longitudinal groove, which makes it possible to reduce their thickness.

When it is thus desired to use two particularly thin plates it may be considered preferable to provide the core 8 of the heddle 81 (FIG. 6) with a vertical flange situated in the extension of its assembly wing. Such a vertical rim 76 preferably has a significant height and it cooperates with a clip substantially in an S, 78 which surrounds it completely and extends over the entire edge of the facing plate 82 so as to support it. This clip 78 therefore has a return 79 which is visible from the outside.

In other cases, it is advantageous to reinforce the vertical wing for assembling and holding the lower row of plates, to produce this wing with a double wall over at least a portion of its height. For example, as shown in Fig. 7 the assembly wing has two parallel walls 84 and 86 of the same height slightly spaced. Centering bosses 88 are preferably formed on the outer face of each of these wings so as to come into contact with the lateral walls of the channel 28 of each clip 20. The spacing of the walls 84 and 86 may be such as holes 52 of evacuation of the infiltrated rainwater are practiced between them and that they thus contribute to the recovery and evacuation of this water.

The vertical wing can also have a substantially Y-shaped shape which is turned over and comprise a rectilinear portion 90 (FIG. 8) separating into two branches 92 and 94 which are bent so as to each comprise a vertical portion parallel to the main branch 90. The bosses 98 are provided on these vertical portions 96 and 94 so as to come into contact with the clip 20 and to ensure the centering of the assembly.

Likewise, in another variant, the assembly wing has a main vertical wall 100 (FIG. 9) from which a tilted lateral branch 102 starts which is bent to have a vertical portion 104 parallel to the main branch, these two portions vertical being provided with bosses 108 for centering in the clip 20.

In Figs 7, 8 and 9 the vertical double-walled assembly wing is carried by a heald 1 provided with an upper edge 10, but it will clearly appear that it can be joined in the same way to a heald of another shape and in particular a heald provided with a rib 60.

According to another alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the device comprises a heddle 110 successively forming a vertical wing 112 for fixing on the support, a substantially horizontal core 114 and a flange 116 for fitting into a lower groove of the plates of covering, but this core 114 is pierced with a longitudinal slot in which comes a vertical wing 118 secured to a clip 120 for retaining the lower plate 22. This clip 120 then simply has the shape a stirrup, one of the branches 122 of which fits into the groove 24 of the lower plate 22 in the same manner as the flange 30 of the clip 20 and the plate 124 of which connects the two branches of the stirrup has a width slightly greater than the half thickness of the plate 22 so that the second branch 126 is very close to the internal surface of the plate 22. Preferably, each of the two branches 122 and 126 of the stirrup 120 is terminated by a bulge 128 completing centering.

The slot in the core 114 of the heddle 110 can be a continuous slot 117 and extends over the entire length of the profile. It is then protected by a hollow rib 130 projecting upwards which forms a channel 132 for receiving the assembly wing. Beads 134 carried for example, as shown in FIG. 10, by the internal walls of this rib, ensure the centering of the wing 118 inside the channel 132.

The slot of the core 114 can also be simply local and have a length slightly greater than that of the wing 118 as shown at 136 in Figs. 11 and 12. The production of the heddle is then considerably simplified but its mounting on the clips 120 must be carried out with precision so that each of the wings 118 is exactly opposite a slot 136.

Whatever the embodiment of the device, the positioning of the covering plates is carried out in a simple manner but the latter are fixed reliably even when the plates are thin, that is to say have a thickness of less than two centimeters, and are made with large dimensional tolerances. Each of horizontal rows of plates can indeed be securely supported by the horizontal rail on which it rests while still being sufficiently maintained at its upper part by the clips assembled on the next rail. Likewise, each of the plates of a vertical row can be held at its two ends by the combined action of two vertical beams and clips which are associated with them. Even dimensional variations due to thermal effects do not risk reducing the solidity of this assembly.

In addition, whenever necessary, the covering retains an aesthetic appearance, all the fixing devices being invisible and the same fixing devices making it possible to give the horizontal opening of the joints the appropriate dimension so that these joints are more or less open depending on the desired aesthetic effect.

This invention has an additional advantage; it ensures the ease of replacing a plate of the covering, without disassembly of the surrounding plates or of the beams. Indeed, a broken plate, after having been removed, can be replaced while keeping the fixing device invisible (in the case of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10) by inserting the clip (s) maintenance in the rail, then lateral sliding of these clips to position them on standby on the plates located on either side of the plate to be replaced. The new replacement plate is then fitted onto the bottom rail, kept in the vertical position, then the clips left waiting on the adjacent plates are slid towards the new plate to resume their position in which it is held.

Claims (15)

1. Device for fixing the plates of a facade covering comprising a heald having a fixing wing on the facade extended by a retaining core of a first row of plates and clips for retaining the plates of the next row assembled at this heald, characterized in that each clip (20, 120) is connected to the heald (1, 110) by means of an assembly wing (18, 118) which is integral with one of these elements and is nested in the other and which has a significant length, greater than the sum of at least the total of the differential of the dimensions of manufacture of the plates, the maximum dimension difference due to the thermal shrinkage and the minimum opening of the joint desired between rows of plates. 2. Device according to claim1, characterized in that the assembly wing (18) is integral with the heald (1) and starts from the face of the core (8) of the latter opposite to the fixing wing (2). 3. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that centering beads (34, 98, 128) are interposed between the assembly flange (18, 100, 118) and the clip and are attached to one of these bodies. 4. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises breakable projections (42 to 50) for spacing the heald and the clip. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clip (20) has an S-shape and has a flange (30) fitting into a longitudinal groove (24) of the edge (26) of the plate (22) and in that the height of the assembly wing (18) takes account of the depth of this groove. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the core (8) of the heddle (1) is terminated by a flange (10), directed in the same direction as the fixing wing, fitting into a longitudinal groove (14) of the edge of the plates of the first row. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clip has a shape substantially in S and comprises a return (75) of nesting on the entire edge of the plate. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the core (8) of the heddle is provided with a hollow boss (60) for receiving hooks (66) for fixing the edges of the plates of the first row. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the core of the heddle is terminated by a wing (76,18), projecting on its two faces, for assembling two clips (78, 80) in the form of S which are fitted in one direction on it and in opposite direction each on a covering plate (82, 83) of a different row. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the assembly wing (18) has a double wall (84.86 - 92.94) over at least part of its length. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the assembly wing comprises two parallel and symmetrical walls (84,86) which are slightly spaced. 12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the assembly wing has a flat wall (90, 100) from which at least one bent branch (92, 94, 102) extends. 13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly wing (118) is integral with a clip (120) in the form of an interlocking stirrup on the edge of the covering plate and is retained in a slot in the core (114) of the heddle. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the slot (136) has a length slightly greater than that of the assembly wing (118). 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the slot (117) of the heddle is a longitudinal slot extending over the entire length thereof and in that it is surrounded by a closed rib (130) for receiving and centering the assembly wing (118).

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