GB2110266A

GB2110266A - Sheet metal facade units

Info

Publication number: GB2110266A
Application number: GB08233113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stig Eliasson; Ake Svensson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-26
Filing date: 1982-11-19
Publication date: 1983-06-15
Also published as: IT8249568A0; DE3243936A1; AU551842B2; MX155940A; SE444465B; ES269021Y; AU9089182A; IT1148497B; JPS58204264A; GB2110266B; FR2516965A1; NZ202583A; SE8107067L; ES269021U

Abstract

A facade unit of sheet metal intended together with a plurality of identical facade units and attachment devices for the units to constitute a facade lining for buildings. Each facade unit has a substantially plane upper portion (3) intended to be an outer surface, and its lower and, respectively, upper short side is designed for cooperation with an attachment device. One, the first, lateral edge of each facade unit is bent so as to comprise, seen in cross- section, a U-shape where the bottom of the U is in parallel with the upper portion (3). According to the invention, a first leg of the legs (8) of the U is bent inward over the bottom of the U, so that the leg together with the bottom of the U forms a V-shaped portion. The second lateral edge (9) of the facade unit is bent downward entirely or partially inward beneath the upper portion (3) of the facade unit to form, seen in cross-section, an S- shaped portion, where the outer free portion of the S is bent to be substantially in parallel with the upper portion (3). The free portion of the S, in cross-section, has a length, which corresponds to the length of the bottom of the U, whereby after the insertion of a second lateral edge (9) into a first lateral edge (8) of an adjacent facade unit in such a manner, that the end of the free portion (24) of the S is inserted into said V-shaped portion, the free portion of the S is locked against movement perpendicular to and in parallel with the upper portion (3) of an adjacent facade unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Facade unit This invention relates to a facade unit of sheet metal for residentail buildings. The invention, more precisely, relates to the edge design of a facade unit.

Facade units of the kind here referred to and attachment devices therefor are known previously, a.o., through SEPS 7711004-7 and 7801496-6.

Both these patents disclose a facade unit, which is designed so that a substantially entirely smooth facade is obtained. Both these facade units according to said patents have in common, that each facade unit has a plane upper surface intended to constitute the outer surface, from which a tongue is formed extending from the lower and, respectively, upper short side of the facade unit. The tongues extend upward from the upper surface and form an angle therewith. Each tongue, further, is bent at its free end in such a manner, that each tongue together with the associated bent portion has V-shaped crosssection. The free legs of the bent portions are, in cross-section, substantially in parallel with said upper surface.The bent portion of the upper tongue of a facade unit and the bent portion of the lower tongue of a facade unit located closest above said first facade unit are intended to abut one another, whereby the tongues co-operate in forming a joint capable to carry vertical forces.

According to SE-PS 7801496-6 the tongues co-operating in this manner also are utilized for attaching the facade units on attachment device serving for this purpose.

The longssides of the facade units set forth in said Swedish patent specifications are designed for co-operation with the long sides of the adjacent facade unit, in that one long side of each facade unit has a downwardly bent edge, and the other long side of the facade unit is provided with a substantially U-shaped groove, which also is formed with a portion bent down from the upper surface of the facade unit and folded.

At a joint between two adjacent facade units, said downward bent edge is intended to be inserted into and to cooperate with the U-shaped groove.

Such a joint, however, is capable only to take up horizontal forces lying in the plane of the facade units. The joint, further, is not always entirely sealed against wind and weather.

One problem particulariy strongly desired to be solved is to be able, by means of a joint between the long sides of facade units, to take up horizontal forces directed perpendicularly to the plane of the facade units. One essential requirement to be met by such a joint has been, that the joint must be designed so as not to render the mounting of the facade units more difficult compared to facade units designed to form the aforementioned known joint.

The present invention solves the aforesaid problem, in that it offers such a design of the long sides of the facade units, that a stable, sealed joint is obtained, which is capable to take up horizontal forces irrespective of their direction when the uppper surface of the facade units is in a vertical plane.

The present invention, thus, relates to a facade unit of sheet metal, which is intended together with several identical facade units and attachment devices for the units to constitute a facade lining for residential buildings, factory buildings and other premises, where every facade unit comprises a substantially plane upper portion intended to be the outer surface, and where the lower and, respectively, upper short side of the facade unit are formed so as to co-operate with an attachment device, and where from the plane upper portion of each facade unit, along each of the long sides thereof, a lateral edge is bent down, where a first one of these is bent to include a U-shape in cross-section, where the bottom of the U is in parallel with said upper portion.

The invention is characterized in that a first one of the legs of the U, which leg is located closest to the long side of the facade unit, is bent inward over the bottom of the U, so that the leg together with the bottom of the U forms a portion with V shaped cross-section, that a second one of the legs of the U, which leg is free, is bent upward so that said U-shape is formed by the two legs and the bottom of the U, that the second lateral edge of the facade unit opposed relative to said first lateral edge is bent down entirely or partially inward beneath the upper portion and, together with the upper portion seen in a cross-section, forms a substantially S-shaped portion, where the outer free portion of the S is bent to be substantially in parallel with the upper portion of the facade unit and points in the direction from the long side of the facade unit, and that the free portion of the S in cross-section has a length substantially corresponding to the length of the bottom of the U, whereby after the insertion of a second lateral edge of a facade unit into a first lateral edge of an adjacent facade unit in such a manner, that the end of the free portion of the S is inserted into said V-shaped portion, the free portion of the S is locked against movement perpendicular to and in parallel with the bottom of the U and, thus, against such movement relative to the upper surface of the facade units.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a lateral edge of a facade unit according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a second lateral edge of a facade unit according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a section along the line A-A in Fig. 4 of two co-operating lateral edges forming a joint.Fig. 4 is a horizontal view of a facade unit surrounded by facade units adjacent in horizontal direction according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5 is a section after the line C-C in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a crosssection of one lateral edge of a facade unit according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 shows a second lateral edge of a facade unit according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 is a section along the line B B in Fig. 9 of two co-operating lateral edges forming a joint, Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of a facade unit surrounded by facade units adjacent in horizontal direction according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 9 facade units 1, 2 of sheet metal are shown which are intended together with a plurality of identical units and attachment devices (not shown) for the units to constitute a facade lining for residential buildings, factory buildings and other premises.

Every facade unit 1, 2 has a substantially plane upper portion 3, which is intended to constitute the outer surface of an assembled facade. From the upper and, respectively, lower short side of the facade unit 1, 2 an upper 4 and, respectively, lower tongue 5 are formed. Said tongues 4, 5 extend upward in the direction from the upper surface 3 so as to form an angle with the upper surface. The upper tongue 4 as well as the lower tongue 5 are bent at their free ends in such a manner, that each tongue together with the associated bent portion 6, 7 forms a V-shape in cross-section, as appears from Fig. 5. The free legs of the bent portions 6, 7 seen in crosssection are in parallel with the upper portion, which also below is called the upper surface 3.

From the plane upper surface 3 of every facade unit two parallel lateral edges 8,9:10, 11 are intended to constitute the vertical downward bent sides of the facade unit.

A first one of these lateral edges 8; 10 is bent to comprise a U-shape 12; 13 in cross-section, where the bottom 14; 1 5 of the U is in parallel with the upper surface 3.

The facade units 1, 2 are intended to cooperate with an attachment device, in such a manner, that the bent portions 6, 7 of the tongues co-operate with a U-shaped portion (not shown), which is secured on a house wall or the like. The bent portion 6 of the upper tongue 4 of a facade unit and the bent portion 7 of the lower tongue 5 of a facade unit located thereabove are inserted into the same U-shaped section, as described in SE-PS 7801496-6.

In Figs. 4 and 9 a facade unit 1,2 is shown which, for the sake of clearness, joins the adjacent facade unit only in horizontal direction.

The present invention relates, more precisely, to the design of the lateral edges 8, 9; 10, 11 of the facade units 1,2. According to the invention, a first leg 16; 17 of the U 12; 13,which leg is located closest to the long side of the facade unit 1, 2, is bent inward over the bottom 14; 1 5 of the U, so that the leg 16; 17 together with the bottom 14; 15 of the U forms a portion 18; 19 with Vshaped cross-section. The second leg 20; 21 of the legs of the U 12; 13, which led is free, is bent upward so that at said U-shaped is formed by the two legs 16,2017,21 and the bottom 14; 15 of the U.

The other lateral edge 9; 11 of the facade unit 1,2 is bent down entirely or partially inward beneath the upper portion 3 of the facade unit 1,2 and forms, together with the upper surface portion, a portion 22; 23, which seen in a cross section has substantially S-shape, as appears from Figs. 2 and, respectively, 7. The outer free portion 24; 25 of said S-shaped portion 22;23 is bent so as to be substantially in parallel with the upper portion 3 of the facade unit. This portion 24; 25 points in the direction from the long side of the facade unit. Said portion 24; 25, further, has a length, which substantially corresponds to the length of the bottom 14; 1 5 of the U.

At the insertion of a second lateral edge 9; 11 into a first lateral edge 8; 10, thus, a coupling between the two lateral edges 8, 9 and, respectively, 10, 11 is established, as appears from Figs. 3 and, respectively, 8. Owing to the design of the lateral edges, upon insertion of the free portion 24; 25 of the S into the V-shaped portion 18; 19, the free portion 24; 25 of the S, and therewith two facade units thus coupled together, will be locked against mutual movement perpendicularly to and in parallel with the bottom 14; l5oftheU.

The only movement permitted when two units are coupled together is a relative movement directed perpendicularly to the plane of the paper in Figs. 3 and 8. As appears from Figs. 1 and 6, that portion of the first lateral edge 8; 10 which is located between said first leg 16; 1 7 of the U and the upper portion 3 of the facade unit, is designed so that the first leg 1 6; 17 of the U at its end, which is located closest to said upper portion 3, transforms to a portion 26; 27, which is substantially in parallel with said upper portion, and which in its turn transforms to a portion 28; 29, which is substantially perpendicular to said upper portion 3 and thereby is connected to the same.

It is to be pointed out that, when the facade units via their tongues 1 6 are suspended on the afore-mentioned U-shaped section, no facade unit can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 3 of the facade unit 1, 2. Owing to the present design of the lateral edges, therefore, all facade units are entirely locked relative to all adjacent facade units.

The insertion of a second lateral edge into a first lateral edge is effected as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 3. The facade unit is turned from the position indicated by dashed lines as shown by means of the dashed arrows in Fig. 3.

Upon mounting a facade unit on an adjacent facade unit suspended on the U-shaped section, the lateral edges are inserted one into the other, as shown in Fig. 3. The facade unit to be suspended is displaced upward relative to the facade unit already suspended, so that the tongues 1 6 after the inward turning shown in Fig. 3 are located above the U-shaped section.

Thereafter the facade unit turned inward is moved downward to abut the U-shaped section.

According to a first embodiment of the invention an intermediate portion 30 between the outer portion 24 of the S and said upper portion 3 is plane. Said intermediate portion 30, further, forms an angle with said upper surface 30 and, seen in a cross-section, has a length corresponding to the distance from the transition of the free end 20 of the U 12 in the bottom 14 of the U to the connection of the first lateral edge 8 to the upper portion 3 of the facade unit 1.

Hereby, as appears from Figs. 3 and 4, the joint 31 between two adjacent facade units 1, seen from their upper surface 3, will be at minimum.

At this embodiment, the free leg 20 of the U is slightly bent outward, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to facilitate alternatively render possible the insertion of a second lateral edge 9 into a first lateral edge 8.

By this embodiment of the facade units 1, thus, a substantially entirely smooth facade is obtained.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, an intermediate portion 31 between the outer portion 24 of the S and said upper portion 3 transforms from the outer portion 24 of the S to a portion 32, which forms an angle with said upper portion 3, and from said last mentioned portion 32 transforms to a portion 33, which is perpendicular to the upper portion 3 of the facade unit 2, as appears from Fig. 7.

When the facade units 2 are designed according to this embodiment, a joint 34 between two adjacent facade units 2 is formed. This joint 34 has a width which, seen in cross-section, corresponds to the length of the portion 32 forming an angle with the upper surface 3.

At this embodiment, the free leg 21 of the U preferably is designed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom 1 5 of the U.

By this embodiment of the facade units 2, thus, a facade is obtained, in which every facade unit is fenced about by a groove or joint 34.

The lateral edges 8,9; 10, 11 preferably are bent, in the way described above, along the entire long sides for the plane upper portion 3 of the facade units 1,2.

The embodiments set forth above, of course, can be varied without abandoning the invention idea.

The problems referred to in the introductory portion above are solved by the present invention.

In addition, an essential advantage is gained in that the lateral edges 8, 9; 10, 11 described above constitute strong reinforcements of the long sides of the facade units 1; 2, whereby the upper portion 3 of the facade units 1; 2 is maintained plane even when relatively substantial forces tend to curve the upper portion 3.

The present invention, therefore, must not be regarded restricted to the embodiments set forth above, but can be varied within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A facade unit of sheet metal intended together with a plurality of identical facade units and attachment devices for the units to constitute a facade lining for residential buildings, factory buildings and other premises, where each facade unit has a substantially plane upper portion intended to be an outer surface, where the lower and, respectively, upper short side of the facade unit are formed for co-operation with an attachment device, and from the plane upper portion of each facade unit, along each of their long sides, a lateral sdge is bent downward, and a first one thereof is bent so as to include a U-shape in cross-section, and the bottom of the U is in parallel with said upper portion, characterized in that a first leg of the legs of the U, which leg is located closest to the long side of the facade unit, is bent inward over the bottom of the U, so that the leg together with the bottom of the U forms a portion with V-shaped cross-section, that a second leg of the legs of the U, which leg is free, is bent upward so that said U-shape is formed by the two legs and the bottom of the U, that the second lateral edge of the facade unit opposed relative to the first lateral edge is bent downward entirely or partially inward beneath the upper portion of the facade unit and, seen in a crosssection, forms together with the upper portion a substantially S-shaped portion, where the outer free portion of the S is bent so as to be substantially in parallel with the upper portion of the facade unit and points in the direction from the long side of the facade unit, and that the free portion of the S in cross-section has a length corresponding substantially to the length of the bottom of the U, whereby after the insertion of a second lateral edge of one facade unit into a first lateral edge of an adjacent facade unit in such a manner, that the end of the free portion of the S is inserted into said V-shaped portion, the free portion of the S is locked against movement perpendicular to and in parallel with the bottom of the U, and thereby such movement relative to the upper surface of the facade units.

2. A facade unit as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the lateral edge which is located between said first leg of the U and the upper portion of the facade unit is formed so, that the first leg of the U at its end located closest to the upper portion of the facade unit transforms to a portion which is substantially in parallel with the upper portion, and which in its turn transforms to a portion which is substantially perpendicular to said upper portion and joins the same.

3. A facade unit as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an intermediate portion between the outer portion of the S and said upper portion of the facade unit is plane and forms an angle to said upper portion and, seen in a cross section, has a length corresponding to the distance from the transition of the free end of the U in the bottom of the U to the connection of the first lateral edge to the upper portion of the facade unit, whereby the joint between two adjacent facade units, seen from their upper surface, is at minimum.

4. A facade unit as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an intermediate portion between the outer portion of the S and said upper portion of the facade unit transforms from the outer portion of the S to a portion forming an angle with said upper portion and from there transforms further to a portion, which is perpendicular to the upper portion of the facade unit, whereby the joint between two adjacent facade units, seen from their upper surface, has a width, which seen in a cross-section is corresponded by the length of said portion of the second lateral edge forming an angle with the upper surface.

5. A facade unit substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs.

1 to 5 or Figs. 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.