GB2135355A

GB2135355A - Cladding attachment assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2135355A
Application number: GB08303781A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Dinwiddy
Original assignee: TEAL CLADDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: TEAL CLADDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-11
Filing date: 1983-02-11
Publication date: 1984-08-30
Also published as: GB2135355B; GB8303781D0

Abstract

The assembly comprises a channel-section attachment member (1) having two walls (2, 3) joined by a basal attachment section (4), a longitudinally extending insert member (9) for urging one or both of the opposing faces of the channel walls into contact with cladding panel(s) (6), and fastener means (11) for locating the insert relative to the attachment member whilst fastening the assembly and associated panel (6) to the structure (13) to be clad. One or both of the channel walls may have a formation (5) for co-operation with a complementary (7, 8) on one or each panel. Thermal expansion may be accommodated by a slight rotation of each panel about an axis parallel to the length of the channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cladding attachment assembly This invention relates to an assembly for attaching cladding panelsto a structure to be clad such as an existing building orframework for a building.

Such assemblies often combinethefunctions of joining adjacent panels and attaching the panels to the structureto be clad. Known assemblies generally comprise an elongate metal attachment member and one or more flexible elongate gaskets, the panels being trapped between the components ofthe assem blyin such away as to form avisuallyacceptablejoin between the panels. The join should also be watertight if the cladding is external. It is usually necessary with such assemblies to fix the attachment members to the structure to be clad, arrange the panels in the desired position and then separatelyfixa gasket, often with a decorativetrim, overthetop.

The present invention provides a cladding attachment assembly for attaching a cladding panel to a structure, comprising a channel-section attachment member having two spaced apart, longitudinally extending wallsjoined by a longitudinally extending attachment section, a longitudinally extending insert member for urging one ofthe opposing faces ofthe channel walls into contact with a cladding panel, and fastener means for locating the insert relative to the attachment memberwhilstfastening the assembly and associated panel to the structure.

Preferably, the said one face has a formation for cooperation with a complementaryformation on a cladding panel, and the insert member urges the formations ofthe panel and the channel wall into co-operation whilst permitting a degree of rotation of the panel about an axis parallel to the length ofthe channel.

It will be appreciated that in an assembly according to the invention, the fastener means both locates the insert and attachment member and fastens the assembly with associated panel to the structureto be clad. One or more such fastener means may be used in association with each attachment member and insert, but each fastener means by itself will perform the functions of locating the insert and attachment member and, atthe same time, fastening the assembly and associated panel to the structure. The or each fastener means may be a screw which will pass through prepared apertures in the insert and attachmentsection of the attachment member into the structure. The head ofthe or each screw may be countersunk in the insert. The screw and insert may, if desired, be sealed offfrom the exterior.

Often, it is desirable for such assemblies to combine the functions of attaching cladding panels to a structure and joining adjacent panels In this case, the insert memberwill urge each ofthe opposing faces of the channel walls into contact with a cladding panel, and both of thefaces will preferably have formations for cooperation with a complementary formation on cladding panel The invention further provides a cladding attach ment assembly for attaching a cladding panel to a structure comprising a channel-section attachment member having two spaced apart, longitudinally extending wallsjoined by a longitudinally extending attachment section, one of the opposing faces ofthe channel walls having a formation for co-operation with a complementary formation on a cladding panel1 and a longitudinally extending insert memberfor urging theformations ofthe panel and channel wall into cooperation whilst permitting a degree of rotation of each panel about an axis parallel to the length ofthe channel.

Again, it is often desirable for such assemblies to combinethefunctions of attaching cladding panels to a structure and joining adjacent panels. To this end, both of the opposing faces of the channel walls may be provided with a said formation for cooperation with a complementaryformation as a cladding panel.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows, in section, a preferred embodiment of the invention attached with associated panels to a limb ofatimberframe; Figure 2 shows the effect of thermal expansion of the panels on the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows, in section, another preferred embodiment of the invention attached with associated panel to a limb of a timber frame.

The assembly shown in Figure 1 has a channelsection attachment member 1 made of a light, corrosion resistant metal such as extruded aluminium having two walls 2 and 3joined by a basal attachment section 4. Each wall carries an inwardly projecting longitudinally extending ridge 5. Two cladding panels 6, each formed with a lip 7 having a groove 8 machined therein complementaryto one of the ridges 5 are arranged so that the grooves on the panels co-operate with the ridges 5. An insert member 9 which is formed of a tough resilient material such as extruded vinyl rubber and is also of channel-section has a longitudi nallyextending ridge 10 on the outer surface of both of its walls.The ridges 10 are so positioned thatwhen the insert is in place (as shown in the drawing) they bear against the panels at the level of the grooves 8, thus urging the grooves against the ridges 5whilst permitting each panel to rotate slightly about an axis (not shown) parallel to the length ofthe channel. The insert 9 is located relative to the attachment member 1 by a screw 11 which has been passed through the channel of the insert member and through an aperture 12 in the base 4 ofthe attachment member into the timberframe 13. The assembly and associated panels are thus attached to the frame by the screw.

The advantage obtained by allowing the panels freedom to rotate slightly is evident from a consideration of Figure 2 which shows the effect of expansion of the panels 6. Forces generated in the panels as a result of expansion are relieved by rotation ofthe panels about axes x andy, and buckling ofthe panels is thus avoided.

Itwill be observed that the wall 2 of the attachment member 1 is shorterthan the wall 3. This isto allowthe assemblyto be used to join adjacent panels where the angle betweenthe panel andlipforoneorboth panels is less than the 90" shown in the figures.

Figure 3 shows afurtherembodiment ofthe invention for use with one panel only. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in thatthe wall 2 does not have a ridge 5. Also, the space between the panel 6 and wall 2 is blocked off fromthe exterior by sealant 14.

Claims

1. A cladding attachment assemblyfor attaching a cladding panel to a structure, comprising a channelsection attachment member having two spaced apart, longitudinally extending walls joined by a longitudinally extending attachment section, a longitudinally extending insert memberfor urging one ofthe opposing faces of the channel walls into contact with a cladding panel, and fastener means for locating the insert relative to the attchment memberwhilstfastening the assembly and associated panel to the structure.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1,wherein the said one face has a formation for co-operation with a complementaryformation on a cladding panel, and the insert member urges the formations ofthe panel and channel wall into co-operation whilst permitting a degree of rotation of the panel about an axis parallel to the length ofthe channel.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert member urges each of the opposing faces of the channel walls into contact with a respective cladding panel.

4. A cladding attachment assembly for attaching a cladding panel to a structure comprising a channel section attachment member having two spaced apart, longitudinally extending walls joined bya longitudi nallyextending attachment section, one ofthe opposing faces ofthe channel walls having a formation for co-operation with a complementary formation on a cladding panel, and a longitudinally extending insert memberfor urging the formations of the panel and channel wall into co-operation whilst permitting a degree of rotation of each panel about an axis parallel to the length ofthe channel.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein both ofthe opposing faces ofthe channel walls are provided with a said formation for co-operation with a complementaryformation on a respective cladding panel.