GB2141156A - Wall cladding - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall construction comprises an array of spaced mounting clips 2, 3, 4, secured to a support structure and a multiplicity of building blocks 1 arranged in side-by-side disposition and in successive courses in engagement with said clips, wherein the mounting clips include outwardly divergent resilient limbs and the building blocks include rearwardly divergent clip engaging surfaces 5 at or adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively cooperating with adjacent convergent limbs of correspondingly spaced clips. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wall cladding This invention relates to wall cladding and in particular to cladding in which a layer of bricks is secured to a wall or other supporting structure. Cladding may be used for providing a fresh surface of building blocks upon an existing wall or for providing a wooden or other structure with a facing of building blocks.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a wall construction comprises an array of spaced mounting clips secured to a support structure and a multiplicity of building blocks arranged in side-by-side disposition and in successive courses in engagement with said clips, characterised in that the mounting clips include outwardly divergent resilient limbs and the building blocks include rearwardly divergent clip engaging surfaces at or adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively cooperating with adjacent convergent limbs of correspondingly spaced clips.

The limbs of the clips may be smoothly outwardly divergent or may diverge in a stepped manner.

The array of clips preferably comprises a plurality of vertically or horizontally extending parallel clips. Vertically extending clips are most convenient.

Each block may be engaged between adjacent clips of the array.

More preferably each block may be engaged between alternate clips of the array, for example between the first and third clips. In this circumstance the block may be provided with a rearwardly facing recess adapted to receive, but not necessarily to engage, the second clip of the aforementioned example.

According to a second aspect of the invention a clip for wall cladding in accordance with the first preferred aspect of this invention comprises a pair of outwardly diverging resiliently deformable projections.

The clips may be conveniently composed of a plastics material.

The clips may be generally channel shaped and may be provided with ribs or corrugations on the outer block-engaging surfaces of the projections. The ribs are preferably arranged to facilitate insertion of a block between a pair of clips but to resist removal of the block.

The clips may be of sufficient length to extend between a large number of blocks, such as the entire height or width of a wall.

Alternatively the clip may have only the height of one or of a small number of blocks.

Horizontally extending clips may be provided with ducts or channels to conduct water in the manner of gutters.

According to a third aspect of this invention a building block comprises rearwardly diverging surfaces at or adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to cooperate in use with adjacent convergent limbs of clips in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

A preferred block includes a generally centrally located rearwardly facing channel adapted to receive but not to engage a said clip. The block may form an array in which successive courses are staggered, a clip passing through a central channel of one block engaging the ends of the blocks in adjacent courses.

Opposite ends of each block may be provided with male or female surfaces adapted to engage surfaces of adjacent blocks in a course.

Each block may incorporate a facing portion arranged to provide a decorative or hardwearing exterior to the cladding. The facing may overlap one or more edges of the block so as to overlie the point of contact between the block and, for example, a lower block.

This provides a weatherproof seal between the blocks, preventing ingress of water.

Corner blocks may be provided to engage clips adjacent to a corner. The blocks may be generally L-shaped. The clips may be located on either side of a corner.

The invention is further described by means of example with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a partial view of cladding in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a block as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation on A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevation on B of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternative block; Figure 6 is a perspective broken view of a clip.

The building block 1 shown in Figures 2 to 4 is shown in Figure 1 secured by means of clips 2, 3 which engage rearwardly divergent surfaces 5 of the block. The clips, one of which is shown in Figure 6 are generally channel shaped having outwardly divergent projections 6, 7 provided with ribs 8. The body 9 of the clip may be secured to battens by means of nails or screws. The block 1 incorporates a central channel 10 adapted to receive a clip 4 but not to engage the latter.

Cladding in accordance with the invention may be assembled by resiliently deforming projecticns of the clips 2 and 3 and then inserting a block 1 into engagement with the projections. A channel 1 5 serves as a gutter when the clip is disposed horizontally.

The block incorporates male 11 and female portions 1 2 which interlock with adjacent similar blocks to provide a secure and weatherproof seal.

Facing 1 3 is offset below the main body of the block 1, so as to overlap the joint between the block and those in an underlying course.

A cavity 1 4 is provided to receive mortar so that the cladding appears to be pointed in a conventional manner.

Figure 5 shows a similar block which does not have a central channel. Such a block may be used for interconnecting the larger blocks.

Although the mounting clips hereinbefore disclosed include outwardly divergent limbs for respective cooperation with correspondingly inclined surfaces of adjacent building blocks, it is to be understood that individual clips each providing a single limb may be used in pairs for engagement with respective inclined surfaces of the blocks, and the invention is intended to include such clips.

Claims (18)

1. A wall construction comprising an array of spaced mow ting clips secured to a support structure and a multiplicity of building blocks arranged in side-by-side disposition and in successive courses in engagement with said clips, characterised in that the mow ting clips include outwardly divergent resilient limbs and the building blocks include rearwardly divergent clip engaging surfaces at or adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively cooperating with adjacent convergent limbs of correspondingly spaced clips.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limbs of the clips are smoothly outwardly divergent.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limbs of the clips diverge in a stepped manner.

4. A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said array of clips comprises a plurality of vertically or horizontally extending parallel clips.

5. A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each block is engaged between adjacent clips of the array.

6. A construction as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each block is engaged between alternate clips of the array.

7. A clip including a pair of outwardly diverging resiliently deformable projections, adapted for use in wall cladding in accordance with any preceding claim.

8. A generally channel shaped clip as claimed in claim 7.

9. A clip as claimed in claim 7 or 8, provided with ribs or corrugations on the outer block-engaging surfaces of the projections.

10. A clip as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, arranged to extend between a large number of blocks.

11. A clip as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, provided with a duct or channel to conduct water.

12. A building block adapted for use in a wall construction in accordance with any of claims 1 to 6, the block including rearwardly diverging surfaces at or adjacent opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate in use with adjacent convergent limbs of clips in accordance with any of claims 7 to 11.

13. A block as claimed in claim 12, including a generally centrally located rearwardly facing channel.

14. A block as claimed in claim 12 or 1 3, opposite ends of which are provided with male or female surfaces adapted to engage in use surfaces of adjacent blocks in a course.

1 5. A block as claimed in any of claims 1 2 to 14, incorporating a facing portion arranged to provide a decorative or hard-wearing exterior.

16. A block as claimed in claim 15, wherein the facing overlaps one or more edges of the block.

1 7. A wall construction substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A building block substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.