GB2384501A

GB2384501A - Cladding support structure

Info

Publication number: GB2384501A
Application number: GB0301837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Burke
Original assignee: Red Bank Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hanson RBMC Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-28
Filing date: 2003-01-27
Publication date: 2003-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-27
Also published as: GB0201895D0; GB2384501B; GB0301837D0

Abstract

A cladding support structure, shown in cross section, is comprised of at least one cladding element (1, Fig 1), a bracket 4, securing means 29, 30 and a rail, wherein the cladding element (1, Fig 1) is attached to the bracket 4, and the bracket is adjustable lengthwise relative to the rail, and fixed in position via the securing means 29 and 30. The rail is defined by a base wall 17 and two side walls, wherein each side wall has an inwardly turned flange 18, 19. When secured, faces 39 and 40 of the bracket may bear against the respective return portions 18 and 19. Forwardly projecting arms 52 with upturned ends 53, and longitudinally extending clips 54 may form a space in which to receive the corners of adjacent cladding elements (1, Fig 1).

Description

Improvements in or relating to cladding systems The invention relates to systems for cladding buildings, and especially to systems for the hanging of cladding elements, for example, cladding tiles.

In a known tile cladding system, the tiles are suspended from brackets which are engaged in horizontally extending rails. A multiplicity of horizontal rails, extending parallel to one another, are supported by two or more vertically extending rails. The brackets must be individually affixed to the horizontal rails. The assembly of the complete structure is complicated and time-consuming.

In the cladding system of GB 2 352 255, cladding elements are mounted on brackets which are engaged in vertical rails. The brackets have a back plate including a dovetail-section portion which is a close sliding fit into a channel of corresponding crosssection. In that arrangement, when the relatively heavy cladding elements are mounted on the brackets, there will be an undesirable tendency for the sides of the channel to be urged outwards, reducing the security of the mounting.

There remains a need for cladding systems which are simple to assemble, whilst offering secure mounting for cladding elements, for example tiles.

The present invention provides a support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and

securing means, the elongate rail comprising a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket having a front portion having receiving means for receiving at least one cladding element and a rear portion which is slidingly engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail, and the securing means being operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail, wherein the pathway comprises a channel having a base wall, first and second side walls extending from opposed sides of the base wall and a return portion extending from each said side wall, each said return portion extending inwardly relative to the side wall from which it extends.

The support system of the invention permits ready displacement of brackets relative to the rails, and makes assembly of the system relatively simple, whilst providing secure mounting for the cladding.

Advantageously, the securing means comprises bearing means mounted on the bracket which can be caused to bear upon the rail thereby urging the bracket against a securing surface. Preferably, at least one return portion has a face which is opposed to and inclined towards the base wall. It is preferred for the opposed return portions to be symmetrically formed.

If desired, at least one return portion may have a

face which is opposed to and substantially parallel with the base wall.

Advantageously, the rear portion of the bracket comprises a pair of parallel, substantially planar members which are so spaced apart from one another that their outer surfaces are substantially contiguous with lateral outer limits of the pathway. Preferably, the rear portion of the bracket comprises two spaced members which are able to engage with the return portions of the rail on operation of the securing means. Preferably, the two spaced members of the bracket can be caused to engage with the return portions by means of friction. Advantageously, the securing means comprises screw-threaded means mounted upon the bracket and arranged for permitting the depth of engagement of the bracket within the pathway to be adjusted. Preferably, the securing means comprises a nut that is retained in a fixed position relative to the bracket and screw-threaded means engaged in the nut and screw-threadedly movable relative to the nut and the bracket. In a preferred embodiment in which a screw-threaded means, for example a bolt, bears on the rail and urges two spaced members of the bracket against opposing returns on opposing sides of the pathway, there are three regions at which force is applied between the bracket and the rail.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that, in use, the rail will extend vertically, thereby permitting

vertical displacement of the bracket relative to the rail.

Advantageously, the receiving means for receiving cladding includes at least one arm having an upwardly extending portion. Advantageously, the system further comprises at least one arm having a downwardly extending portion. Preferably, the or each receiving means comprises resiliently deformable clip means associated with each arm for urging a cladding element towards the respective arm. The clip means is preferably laterally displaced with respect to the respective arm but generally opposed thereto. That arrangement makes it a relatively simple matter to form the arm and the clip means (and preferably the rest of the bracket) integrally, that is, in one piece.

Preferably, the system comprises a pair of spaced arms having upwardly extending portions and a pair of spaced arms having downwardly extending portions.

The invention further provides a support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and securing means, the elongate rail comprising a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket having a front portion having first and second receiving means for receiving adjacent corners of a pair of horizontally adjacent cladding elements and a rear portion which is slidingly engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally

relative to the rail, and the securing means being operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail, wherein the rear portion of the bracket comprises first and second opposed longitudinally extending plate members.

Moreover, the invention provides a support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and securing means, wherein the elongate rail comprises a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket has a front portion having receiving means for receiving at least one cladding element and a rear portion which is slidingly engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail, and the securing means is operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail.

The invention also provides a cladding system including a support system of the invention having a plurality of rails and a multiplicity of brackets, the system further comprising a multiplicity of cladding elements. It will be appreciated that, in general, the cladding system will comprise a multiplicity of vertically extending rails.

Furthermore, the invention provides a cladding element for use in a cladding system having a plurality of rails and a multiplicity of brackets which can be affixed upon the rails and serve to mount an array of

like elements, the element having a central region which is of generally planar configuration bounded by an upper region that is displaced rearwardly relative to the central region. Preferably, the cladding element has a downwardly depending flange associated with its rear surface, the flange being so dimensioned and configured that, in use, the bottom extremity of the flange is positioned forwardly with respect to the upper extremity of the adjacent cladding element positioned immediately below. Advantageously, the depending flange has a rear face which at least in a lower region is inclined downwardly and toward the front face of the flange.

The cladding element of the invention offers the possibility of reducing water penetration behind the cladding elements by means of promoting the migration of water towards the front surface of the cladding as will be described in more detail below.

Advantageously, the central region is bounded at its lower edge by a lower edge portion in which a rear surface of the element is inclined towards the front surface. That is believed further to reduce the water penetration in use.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of an assembled cladding system including a

support system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a first form of rail suitable for use in a support system according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a second form of rail suitable for use in a support system according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view from above of the rail of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled support system of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bracket of the support system of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of the bracket of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view from above of the bracket of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan view from above of an assembled cladding system including seal means between adjacent cladding elements; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a sealing support element; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a sealing member; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a cladding

member according to a further aspect of the invention.

With reference to Fig. 1, an assembled cladding system is made up of an array of cladding elements 1 which are supported upon a support system 2 made up of vertically extending rails 3 and brackets 4. In Fig. 1 a portion, only, of the assembled cladding system is shown, with only two cladding elements, and only a portion of the vertically extending rail 3. It will be appreciated that it will be usual for the cladding system to have a multiplicity of cladding elements 1, and for the support system to consist of a number of parallel, spaced, vertically extending rails and a multiplicity of brackets, each rail serving to mount a number of brackets, spaced vertically from one another.

The cladding elements 1 have a substantially planar central portion 5 with a front face 6 and rear face 7. At the top of the central portion 5 is an upper edge portion 8, which is displaced rearwardly with respect to the plane of the central portion. At the bottom of the central portion 5 is a lower edge portion 9 in which the rear face is inclined towards the front face, whereby the lower edge portion tapers towards the lower edge 9a of the element 1. An elongate protrusion 10 extends rearwardly from rear face 7 at a position approximately one third of the way from the bottom of the central region, and is provided with a depending flange 11. The protrusion 10 and

flange 11 extend across substantially the entire width of the element 1.

The cladding elements 1 are retained in the desired position by brackets 4 supported on the rails 3. The brackets are so positioned on the rails 3 that they can receive a portion of the depending flange 11 of an upper element 1 and the upper edge portion of the immediately adjacent lower element 1 as shown in Fig. 1. In the system of Fig. 1, each cladding element is engaged by four brackets, two on each of two adjacent vertically extending rails. Thus, the depending flange 11 is supported by two horizontally spaced brackets 4, on adjacent rails. The upper edge portion 8 is engaged by two further brackets, which are above the first-mentioned brackets and similarly horizontally spaced from one another.

As may be seen from Fig. 2, the rail 3 has a shaped profile having opposed side flanges 12,13 which serve to mount the rail on a vertical surface, for example, using screws. For that purpose, apertures (not shown in Fig. 2) may if desired be provided at suitable intervals in the side flanges 12,13. Flanked by the flanges 12,13 is a channel 14 defined by two channel side walls 15,16 and a base wall 17. Each side wall 15,16 is provided at its outer edge, that is, the edge remote from the base wall 17, by a respective return 18,19, which is so turned inwardly that it is inclined towards the base wall 17. The base

wall 17 is interrupted at a point intermediate the channel side walls 15,16 by a longitudinal opening 20 defined by edges 21,22. A second channel 23 is provided behind the longitudinal opening 20, and side walls 24,25 of the channel 23 extend from respective positions in the vicinity of the respective edges 21, 22 rearwardly to a base wall 26, which extends between the walls 24,25 and forms a bearing surface as will be further described below. The profile of the rail 3 is shown in plan view from above in Fig. 4.

The rail 3 of Fig. 2 is integrally formed. It is of substantially uniform cross-section along at least most of its length and is preferably an extrusion, for example of aluminium. Only an upper portion of rail 3 is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows another form of rail 27 suitable for use in a support system of the invention. Like parts are indicated using the same reference numerals as in Fig. 2. The rail 27 is of box construction, and may be affixed to a vertical surface using rear wall 28 of the box. Once again, the rail may be an extrusion, for example, of aluminium.

Fig. 5 shows the support system of Fig. 1 in assembled form, including the rail 3 (described above with reference to Fig. 2) and a bracket 4. The rail and bracket are retained together by means of a screw threaded bolt 29 and nut 30. The bracket 4 has a central portion 31 which is dimensioned and configured

to cooperate with the channel 14 of the rail 3, and two lateral portions 32,33.

The central portion 31 has a planar member 34, bounded by opposed wall members 35,36 which extend perpendicular to the planar member 34. The wall members 35,36 each have a respective rearwardly extending portion 37,38 and a respective forwardly extending portion 39,40. The forwardly extending portion 39,40 are shorter and thicker than the rearwardly extending portions 37,38, and are dimensioned and configured so as to be able to cooperate with the inner surfaces of the respective returns 18,19. The overall length of the wall members 35,36 is so chosen that the central portion 31 is able to fit relatively snugly into the channel 14 of the rail 3, whilst permitting slidable movement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail except when, by adjusting of the bolt 29 and nut 30, the portions 39,40 are urged against the returns 18,19 thereby locking the assembly against longitudinal displacement.

The bracket 4 is shown in more detail in Figs. 6 to 8. Positioned centrally in the planar member 34 is an aperture 41 for receiving the bolt 29. A channel 42 extends longitudinally along the rear surface of the planar member 34. The aperture 41 communicates with the channel 42. The base of the channel 42 is formed by the rear surface of the planar member 34. Opposing

channel lateral walls 43,44 extend rearwardly from the rear surface of the planar member 34 and are provided at their rearward extremities with edge portions 45,46 which serve to define a longitudinally extending slot 47. The relative dimensions of the channel 42 and the nut 30 are so chosen that the nut may (when not secured in position) slide along the channel 42, but cannot be rotated therein. The slot 47 is arranged to receive the stem of the bolt 29, when the latter is inserted through aperture 41.

Each lateral portion 32,33 has respective lateral base member 47,48, with each of which there is associated an upwardly extending clamp means 49 and a respective downwardly extending clamp means 50.

Each upwardly extending clamp means 49 includes hook means 51a, having a forwardly projecting arm 52 which is upturned at its distal end to form an upwardly extending arm member 53. Associated with the hook means 51a is a clip 54, which consists of an arm 55 which extends generally upwardly, and slightly forwardly of the respective lateral base member 47, 48.

The distal end 56 of the arm 55 is curvedly deformed in the rearward direction relative to the respective lateral base member 47,48. Each downwardly extending clamp means 50 is of similar construction to the clamp means 49 including hook means 51b which are of like construction to hook means 51a except that the distal ends of arms 52 are turned downwards to form a

downwardly extending arm member 57 and each associated clip has a downwardly and forwardly extending arm 58, deformed at its distal (lower) end to project rearwardly relative to the respective lateral base member 47,48. The clips 54 are laterally displaced relative to the hook means 51a, 51b, respectively, and are each at the lateral extremity of the bracket 4.

The clamp means 49 and 50 each define a receiving space for receiving an edge portion of a cladding element, the receiving space having an inner region 59 which is wider than the entrance region 60 of the clamp means.

The bracket 4 may advantageously be formed as an aluminium extrusion, with subsequent cutting and deformation to form the clamp means 49,50.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9, spacer means 61 is provided between adjacent cladding elements 1 so as to reduce relative movement thereof and to reduce water penetration. As shown in Fig. 10, mounting means for the spacer means 61 may be in the form of an elongate member 62 having at its rear extremity a projection 63 which is so dimensioned and configured that it may be freely inserted into the channel 23 through the opening 20 in one orientation whilst on subsequent rotation of the member 62 through 900 about its longitudinal axis withdrawal of the projection 63 through opening 20 is prevented by the edges 21,22 thereof. At the forward extremity of the member 62 is an essentially

cylindrical mounting 64 for the spacer means. With reference to Fig. 11, the spacer means 61 has a curved channel 65 of substantially uniform radius for receiving the mounting 64. The spacer means has two pairs of elongate flaps 65 which are resiliently deformable and can engage with the edges of two adjacent cladding elements as shown in Fig. 9. In general, it will be desirable for at least two elongate members 62 to be provided for mounting of each spacer means 61.

As mentioned above, another separate aspect of the invention is represented by the form of the cladding element, which is shown in perspective view in Fig. 12.

The cladding element of Fig. 12 may be used in combination with the support system of the invention or may instead be used with any other suitable form of support system. As may be seen from Fig. 1, the configuration of the cladding element as shown in Fig.

12 permits an array of cladding elements to be assembled in such a manner that the upper portion of a lower element is located behind the lower portion of the cladding element immediately adjacent above, thereby tending to cause water to flow onto the front, rather than the rear, of the immediately adjacent element below. The depending flange 11 is dimensioned and configured such that, in the assembled array, the bottom extremity of the flange is not behind, and is preferably in front of, the top extremity of upper edge

portion 8 of the adjacent element beneath. The configuration of the lower edge portion of the elements and of the lower edge of depending flange 11 further promotes the delivery of any rain water forwardly onto the element below, reducing the amount of water that may penetrate behind the cladding elements 1.

Claims

Claims 1. A support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and securing means, the elongate rail comprising a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket having a front portion having receiving means for receiving at least one cladding element and a rear portion which is slidingly engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail, and the securing means being operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail, wherein the pathway comprises a channel having a base wall, first and second side walls extending from opposed sides of the base wall and a return portion extending from each said side wall, each said return portion extending inwardly relative to the side wall from which it extends.
2. A support system according to claim 1, in which the securing means comprises bearing means mounted on the bracket which can be caused to bear upon the rail thereby urging the bracket against the return portion.
3. A support system according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which at least one return portion has a face which is opposed to and inclined towards the base wall.
4. A support system according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which at least one return portion has a face which is

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opposed to and substantially parallel with the base wall.
5. A support system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rear portion of the bracket comprises a pair of parallel, substantially planar members which are so spaced apart from one another that their outer surfaces are substantially contiguous with lateral outer limits of the pathway.
6. A support system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rear portion of the bracket comprises two spaced members which are able to engage with the return portions of the rail on operation of the securing means.
7. A support system according to claim 6, in which the two spaced members of the bracket can be caused to engage with the return portions by means of friction.
8. A support system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the securing means comprises screw-threaded means mounted upon the bracket and arranged for permitting the depth of engagement of the bracket within the pathway to be adjusted.
9. A support system according to claim 8, in which the securing means comprises a nut that is retained in a fixed position relative to the bracket and screwthreaded means engaged in the nut and screw-threadedly movable relative to the nut and the bracket.
10. A support system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rail is arranged to

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extend vertically, thereby permitting vertical displacement of the bracket relative to the rail.
11. A support system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the receiving means for receiving cladding includes at least one arm having an upwardly extending portion.
12. A support system according to claim 11, which further comprises at least one arm having a downwardly extending portion.
13. A support system according to claim 11 or claim 12, in which the or each receiving means comprises resiliently deformable clip means associated with each arm for urging a cladding element towards the respective arm.
14. A support system according to claim 13, in which the clip means is laterally displaced with respect to the respective arm but generally opposed thereto.
15. A support system according to claim 13 or claim 14, which comprises a pair of spaced arms having upwardly extending portions and a pair of spaced arms having downwardly extending portions.
16. A support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and securing means, the elongate rail comprising a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket having a front portion having first and second receiving means for receiving adjacent corners of a pair of horizontally adjacent cladding elements and a rear portion which is slidingly

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engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail, and the securing means being operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail, wherein the rear portion of the bracket comprises first and second opposed longitudinally extending plate members.
17. A support system according to claim 16, in which the first and second plate members can be located between a base wall of the pathway and a bearing surface generally opposed to said base wall.
18. A support system for cladding comprising an elongate rail, a bracket and securing means, wherein the elongate rail comprises a longitudinally extending pathway, the bracket has a front portion having receiving means for receiving at least one cladding element and a rear portion which is slidingly engageable within the longitudinally extending pathway of the rail so as to permit displacement of the bracket longitudinally relative to the rail, and the securing means is operable to secure the bracket at a selected position longitudinally relative to the rail.
19. A cladding support system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any one of Figs. 1 to 12.
20. A cladding system comprising a support system according to any one of the preceding claims and

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including a plurality of rails and a multiplicity of brackets, the system further comprising a multiplicity of cladding elements.
21. A cladding element for use in a cladding system having a plurality of rails and a multiplicity of brackets which can be affixed upon the rails and serve to mount an array of like elements, the element having a central region which is of generally planar configuration bounded by an upper region that is displaced rearwardly relative to the central region.
22. A cladding element according to claim 21, which has a downwardly depending flange associated with its rear surface, the flange being so dimensioned and configured that, in use, the bottom extremity of the flange is positioned forwardly with respect to the upper extremity of the adjacent cladding element positioned immediately below.