GB2378967A

GB2378967A - Fixing bracket having a wide flexible tongue

Info

Publication number: GB2378967A
Application number: GB0219596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilhelm Nauth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-23
Filing date: 2002-08-22
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-22
Also published as: GB0219596D0; DE10141357C2; GB2378967B; DE10141357A1; FR2828903A1; FR2828903B1; CH696271A5

Abstract

Fixing bracket 10 for aligning and mounting of facade elements 1 secured at profile rods 3 to a building wall 7, having a wall leg 20 and a cantilever leg 30, whereby the cantilever leg 30 includes at least a positioning element and a flexible tongue in a tongs region for tong-like clamping of the profile rods 3. For this, the fixing bracket 10 has a double s-shaped profile with a central inner section which does not abut the building wall 7 and parallel offset outer sections on both sides, whereby form-stiffening sections are arranged between the inner section and the outer sections. The flexible tongue comprises a surface which amounts to at least 60% of the surface of the tongs region. The flexible tongue has a base width which amounts to at least 70% of the fixing bracket width. It receives all bores, recesses and/or breakouts for the at least two-dimensional attachment of the profile rods 3 at the cantilever leg 30.

Description

Fixing bracket having a wide flexible tongue.

The invention relates to a fixing bracket for aligning and mounting of façade elements which are fixed to profile rods at a wall of a building, having a wall leg and a cantilever leg, whereby the cantilever leg comprises at least one positioning element and a flexible tongue in a tongs region for the tong-like clamping of the abovementioned profile rods.

From EP 1101881 A2 is known a metal fixing bracket having a respective stiffening corrugation along its wall leg and cantilever leg in the region of the side rims. The fixing bracket abuts the building wall thereby-with good heat conductivity-with a large surface. The cantilever leg comprises a small flexible tongue which only allows a momentary fixing function. The profile rod mounted at the fixing bracket which is fixed to the positioning elements of the cantilever leg, is loaded strongly during the drilling of the profile. Thereby, a gap results between the positioning elements and the profile rod by means of the yielding of the flexible tongue. This spacing causes an unintentional migration of the drilling tool during drilling, so that intolerable position deviations result during the subsequent riveting or screwing together of the fixing bracket and the profile rod.

Furthermore, from DE 3729824 Al is known a metal two-part fixing bracket with a cantilever leg having an integrated flexible tongue, which also accommodates a profile rod between the cantilever leg and the flexible tongue. The profile rod has to be drilled from above in the flexible tongue region, and from below in the outer cantilever leg region for the screwing together or riveting the profile rod to the fixing bracket Furthermore, a two-part metal fixing bracket is known from DE 19754022 Al. The cantilever leg receiving the flexible tongue is suspended from the wall leg. The profile rod supported on the cantilever leg is only attached to the flexible tongue. The two- part form of the fixing bracket means, in spite of the larger weight, a loss of form stiffness compared to a one-part fixing bracket and also requires additional fitting efforts.

The present invention is based on the problem to develop a rigid, light fixing bracket which allows a fast, exact and permanent fitting of the façade elements with easy manipulation.

This problem is solved with the characteristics of the main claim. For this, the fixing bracket has a double s-shaped profile with a central inner section which does not abut the building wall and parallel offset outer sections on both sides, whereby formstiffening stiffening sections are arranged between the inner section and the outer sections. The flexible tongue comprises a surface which amounts to at least 60% of the surface of the tongs region. The flexible tongue has a base width which amounts to at least 70% of the fixing bracket width. It receives all bores, recesses and/or breakouts for the at least two-dimensional attachment of the profile rods at the cantilever leg.

The cantilever leg of the fixing bracket has a flexible tongue with a large surface having a wide base of the flexible tongue. The flexible tongue accommodates all horizontal forces occurring such as amongst others the wind force bearing on the façade with a horizontally arranged cantilever leg. It does not take part in supporting the force of the weight of the façade element. The positioning elements as parts of the cantilever leg take on the force of the weight.

This functional separation ensures a very long life of the fixing brackets. The fixing brackets carry the façade elements essentially free of thermal tensions, whereby particularly tear corrosion is prevented. If, for example, a façade element is held, with at least two fixing brackets arranged above each other, the flexible tongue of the upper fixing bracket, which is carrying the profile rod, can evade upwardly in the direction of extension during a thermal extension in the vertical direction. The flexible tongue is thereby only loaded at a bending location defined therefore.

The fixing bracket is a unit made of sheet metal only as an example. Corrosionresistant steel, steel having a corrosion-resistant coating, an aluminium alloy or comparable materials can be used as material for example. Fibre-reinforced plastic materials are also possible.

Further details of the invention result from the dependent claims and from the following description of a schematic example of an embodiment.

Figure 1: Front view of the fixing bracket; Figure 2: Section through the wall leg and plan view of the cantilever leg; Figure 3: Sectional side elevation of the fixing bracket; Figure 4: Fixing bracket with wall, profile bar and façade element.

Figure 4 shows a façade element (1) which is mounted to a façade (7) by means of a fixing bracket (10) via a profile bar (3).

The fixing bracket (10) consists of a wall leg (20) and a cantilever leg (30). Both legs (20,30) of the exemplified embodiment are part of a profiled steel plate. The steel plate is equipped with a metallic coating of a zinc-aluminium-alloy. The profile (11) of the fixing bracket (10) consists essentially of a central inner section (12), two stiffening sections (13, 14) and two outer sections (15,16), see figure 2. The central inner section (12) corresponds to about 73% of the entire width (19) of the fixing bracket (10). The stiffening sections (13,14) are mounted to it on both sides with about 450. Their respective width is, according to figure 2, about 7-8% of the entire width (19). An adjacent outer section (15,16) is mounted outwardly to each stiffening section (13,14) at the outside thereof. The outer sections (15,16) respectively have a width corresponding to 5-6% of the entire width (19). They are offset in a parallel manner to the respective corresponding inner sections (12). The spatial offset is about 6-7% of the entire width (19). The strength of the sheet metal is about 1.6% of the entire width (19).

The wall leg (20) has a height corresponding to for example about 54% of the entire width (19). In the centre of the wall leg (20) there is a longitudinal hole (21), the longitudinal direction of which is parallel to the lateral outer edges (28). The longitudinal hole (21) is meant for example for a screw or a threaded bolt having a MIO-thread. Its length corresponds to about 2.5 times of its width. It has a peripheral rim reinforcement (22) which extends to the façade (7) according to figure 4. The rim reinforcement (22), which has been produced by transformation, has a depth

corresponding to nearly three times the strength of the sheet metal. The rim reinforcement (22) stiffens the entire wall leg (20).

At the centre height of the longitudinal hole (21) are arranged-on the side facing away from the façade (7)-respective marking notches (25) at the outer sections (15, 16), which ease the mounting. The fixing bracket (10) is usually fixed to the façade or for example to a ceiling by means of a screw (9) or another suitable fixing means. For example, a six-sided screw with a flange is secured in the wall (7) by means of a dowel (8), see figure 4.

Due to the rigid profile (11) of the fixing bracket (10), the wall leg (20) abuts the building wall (7) with only 10-12% of its surface. Only the outer sections (15,16) abut. Hereby, a minimal heat transfer between the usually warmer façade elements (1) and the building wall (7) results. With a mounting according to figure 4, the channel (18) resting between the façade (7) and the wall leg (20) allows a thermal pull, so that the fixing bracket (10) acts as a cooling fin. The minimal gap surface between the façade (7) and the wall leg (20) also minimises the susceptibility to corrosion of the fixing bracket (10), as condensate cannot remain in capillary gaps having a large surface.

Additionally, an insulating body (60) can be arranged between the wall leg (20) and the façade (7), see figure 2, which is shown there with dotted lines. The insulating body (60) is for example a rectangular plate having a central longitudinal hole. The inner contour of the longitudinal hole fits on the rim reinforcement (22) without play or with a clamping seat. The insulating body (60) can thereby be fixed to the fixing bracket (10) without loss. This eases the handling of this unit at the building site considerably.

The cantilever leg (30) is connected with an angle of 900 to the wall leg (20). It has, at least in its rear region, the same profile (11) as the wall leg (20). The maximum curvature radius of the 90 bend is about 10% of the entire width (19) of the wall leg (20). The depth of the cantilever leg (30) corresponds to about 74% of the entire width (19) in the shown exemplified embodiment.

The cantilever leg (30) has a so-called tongs region (40) which extends from the free end of the leg (30) in the direction of the 90 bend. In the exemplified embodiment, the depth of the tongs region (40) is about 58% of the entire width (19). A flexible tongue (41) is arranged in the tongs region (40) in the inner section (12) of the profile (11). Its width, the so-called base width (43) is about 67% of the entire width (19), so that a respective small rim strip (31,32) remains on both sides of the flexible tongue (41) from the inner section (12), see figures 1 and 2.

The flexible tongue (41) proceeds like a quarter flat spring at least approximately parallel to the rim strips (31,32), see figure 3. It is formed from the inner section (12) by for example punching or transformation. A bore (55) is arranged at the respective inner punching section for minimising the notch tensions. In this region, the base (42) of the flexible tongue has an angle of about 60 with regard to the rim strip (31,32) upwardly, for then for example to proceed again to the free ends of the rim strips (31, 32). The flexible tongue (41) has again approached the rim strips (31,32) in a height of about 1 mm in a depth spacing of 10% of the entire width (19) in front of the free end of the rim strips (31, 32).

In this region, there is a respective downwardly curved cam (53) in the proximity of the individual rim strips (31,32), which cam respectively represents closest contact location to the rim strip (31,32) for the receiving profile rod (3). This extends in an arc-like manner upwards towards the free end of the flexible spring (41). Hereby, an introduction wedge is formed between the flexible tongue end and the rim strip ends for an easy insertion of a profile rod (3), which is clamped in a tong-like manner between the flexible tongue (41) and the rim strips (31,32), see figure 4. At the cantilever leg (30) at the upper side of the outer sections (15,16) are also mounted depth markings (35). They are approximately 32% of the flexible tongue depth in front of the free ends of the positioning elements.

The profile rod (3) shown in figure 4 includes a base piece (4) and a transverse piece (5). The transverse piece (5) is for example glued to the façade element (1). During the mounting of the façade element (1) to the fixing bracket (10) which has already been secured to the façade (7), the base piece (4) is inserted between the flexible tongue (41) and the rim strips (31,32). The flexible tongue (41) lies thereby on the

base piece (4) by means of the cams (53). The façade element (1) can be moved to and fro with the profile rod (3) in the normal direction of the façade element (1) and along the profile rod (3) with little friction and without any traces of scratches. The cams (53) and the corresponding chamfers (36) at the rim strips (31,32) provide for this. The chamfers (36), as well as corresponding chamfers (46) at the front edge of the flexible tongue are for example bevels of 450. These chamfers (36,46) considerably reduce, together with rounded edges at the wall and cantilever legs (20, 30) the risk of injury to the fitter.

During the positioning of the profile rod (3), the fitter recognises, due to the visibility of the depth markings (35), that the base piece (4) is not inserted far enough into the cantilever leg (30).

Usually, there are several bores (51) and longitudinal holes (52) between the cams (53). In the exemplified embodiment, one can see from figure 2 a respective bore (51) between the cams (53) in their immediate vicinity. The diameter of the bores (51) is for example 5.1 mm. Two longitudinal holes (52) are arranged between the bores (51). The width of the longitudinal holes (52) corresponds to the diameter of the bores (51), while the length of the longitudinal hole corresponds for example to the threefold of the bore diameter.

The cams (53), the bores (51) and the longitudinal holes (52) are arranged in a mirrorsymmetric manner with regard to an imaginary centre line of the cantilever leg (30).

The centre line (38) is parallel to a side edge (56) of the flexible tongue (41). The centre of the longitudinal holes (52) is spaced about 24% of the entire width (19) to the side edges (56). Between the longitudinal holes (52) and the flexible tongue base (42), on the upper side (57) of the flexible tongue are arranged, parallel to the side edges (56), long hole marking notches (45) which mark the centre of the longitudinal holes (52). These notches proceed in the direction of the flexible tongue base (42) over an imaginary connecting line between the depth markings (35).

The cantilever leg (30) can be extended between the base (42) of the flexible tongue and the wall leg (30) in steps of for example 30 mm. At least six extensions are possible.

For the exemplary mounting of façade elements (1) with the help of these fixing brackets (10) horizontal marking lines are initially mounted to the still uncladded façade (7). These lines have the vertical distance of the fixing brackets (10) which are arranged one above the other. The fixing bores (70) are drilled into the building wall (7) at the marking lines. The dowels (8) are inserted into the bores (70). After the aligning of the fixing brackets (10) by means of their marking notches (25) at the building wall or the façade (7) via their fixing bores (70), the fixing brackets (10) are mounted to the building wall (7) by means of the flange screws (9). The upper side (57) of the flexible tongue points hereby for example upwards.

The façade element (1) is now inserted respectively between the flexible tongue (41) and the positioning elements (31,32) by means of the base piece (4) The positioning elements (31,32) take the force of the weight of the façade elements (1). The respective base piece (4) is pushed under the flexible tongue (41) until the depth marking is reached or exceeded. The fitter looks hereby onto the upper side (57) of the flexible tongue.

After the positioning, the base pieces (4) are drilled for the subsequent rivet attachment. The bores (51) and/or longitudinal holes serve hereby as a drill tool guide.

Immediately after the so-called drilling in place, blind rivets (6) are inserted into the bores (51) and/or longitudinal holes (52) and are riveted. The bores (51) are thereby used for bearing locations which are free from a freedom degree. The connecting elements, for example rivets, screws, bending tongues, etc, which connect the flexible tongue (41) with the profile rod (3) in the axial direction of the bores (51) or other recesses are possibly inserted with play or without residual clamping force, so that the profile rod (3) has an at least small pivotal mobility around the previously mentioned axial direction.

If thermal expansions have to be adjusted, the longitudinal holes come into their use.

The rivets (6) are riveted there with little play, so that the respective rivets (6) can travel together with the façade element (1) in the corresponding longitudinal hole (52).

During the entire assembly, the fitter has only worked from the upper side (57) of the flexible tongue at the fixing bracket (10). This affected amongst others the positioning, the drilling and the riveting.

List of reference numerals:

1 façade element 2 adhesive 3 profile rod 4 base piece 5 transverse piece 6 rivet 7 wall, building wall, façade (uncladded) 8 dowel 9 screw, flange screw 10 fixing bracket 11 profile 12 inner section, central 13,14 stiffening sections 15,16 outer sections 18 channel 19 fixing bracket width, entire width 20 wall leg 21 longitudinal hole 22 rim reinforcement 25 marking notches 28 outer edge 30 cantilever leg 31,32 positioning elements, rim strips 35 depth markings 36 chamfers at the rim strip 38 centre line

40 tongs region 41 flexible tongue 42 flexible tongue base 43 base width 45 hole marking notches 46 chamfers at the flexible tongue 51 bores 52 longitudinal holes, recesses 53 cams 55 bores at the punching section end 56 side edges 57 upper side of flexible tongue 60 insulating body 70 façade bore

Claims

Claims : 1. Fixing bracket for aligning and mounting of façade elements secured at profile rods to a building wall, having a wall leg and a cantilever leg, whereby the cantilever leg comprises at least one positioning element and a flexible tongue in a tongs region for the tong-like clamping of the above-mentioned profile rods, - whereby the fixing bracket (10) has a double s-shaped profile (11) with a central inner section (12) which does not abut the building wall (7) and parallel offset outer sections (15,16) on both sides, whereby form-stiffening stiffening sections (13,14) are arranged between the inner section (12) and the outer sections (15,16), - whereby the flexible tongue (41) comprises a surface which amounts to at least 60% of the surface of the tongs region (40), - whereby the flexible tongue (41) has a base width (43) which amounts to at least 70% of the fixing bracket width (19) and - whereby the flexible tongue (41) receives all bores (51), recesses (52) and/or breakouts for the at least two-dimensional attachment of the profile rods (3) at the cantilever leg (30).
2. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the wall leg (20) and the cantilever leg (30) include an angle of 90 .
3. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that a respective rigid positioning element (31,32) is arranged on both sides of the flexible tongue (41).
4. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible tongue (41) has a rectangular outline in the parallel direction to the wall leg (20) and in the normal direction to the positioning element (31,32).
5. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible tongue (41) comprises bores (55) in the region of its base at the transfer locations to the positioning elements (31,32) for reducing a notching action.

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6. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer sections (15,16) of the wall leg (20) abutting the building wall (7) have a bearing surface which is less than 12% of the wall leg surface.
7. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible tongue (41) lies on a secured profile bar (3) over at least two cams (53).
8. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the wall leg (20) comprises a recess (21) for the attachment to the building wall (7) to be cladded, which recess has an edge reinforcement (22).
9. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the recess (21) is a longitudinal hole.
10. Fixing bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the fixing bracket is formed in a mirror-symmetric manner to a centre plane which intersects the wall leg (20) and the cantilever leg (30) in the centre and normal to their central surfaces.