GB2426985A

GB2426985A - Bracket for a cladding system

Info

Publication number: GB2426985A
Application number: GB0611205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Toy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-09
Filing date: 2006-06-07
Publication date: 2006-12-13
Also published as: GB0511740D0; GB0611205D0

Abstract

A bracket 40 for a cladding system, in which adjacent edges of cladding panels 12a, 12b are seamed together, about an elongate profile 58 of the bracket 40. The bracket 40 comprises a body portion 42 with an elongate profile 58 on the body portion 42 which defines a first edge 44. The body portion 42 extends longitudinally beyond the elongate profile 58, extending the first edge 44 and forming at least one corner 62 of the body portion 42 contoured to provide a lead-in portion to the elongate profile 58. The at least one corner 62 ensures that the cladding panels do not snag as the sheets are drawn over the elongate profile 58. The bracket 40 may also be provided with foot formations 50 by which it may be secured to a suitable support structure (11 figure 1).

Description

BRACKETS

This invention relates to brackets and more particularly to brackets for use in cladding systems in which adjacent edges of cladding panels are seamed together about elongate profiles defined by brackets secured to a support structure.

Brackets for such systems are typically formed from an extruded 1-section, the cross member forming a base by which the bracket may be secured to a 1 0 support structure and a profile being formed along the edge of the stem remote from the cross member. Such brackets, made typically of aluminium, are light and resist corrosion, but have high thermal conductivity. Moreover, without additional machining, the ends of the profile are sharp and tend to snag and even puncture a cladding panel.

In accordance with UK Patent Application 2398804, a roof bracket was formed from a series of pressings and bent bar. This roof bracket configuration overcame many of the deficiencies of the extruded bracket used hitherto. This did however involve a multi-part construction.

The present invention now provides a cladding bracket which may be formed as a single part pressing.

According to one aspect of the present invention a bracket for a cladding system in which adjacent edges of cladding panels are seamed together about an elongate profile on the bracket, the bracket comprises a body portion, an elongate profile being provided on the body portion to define a first edge, the body portion extending beyond the elongate profile to extend said first edge, at least one corner of the body portion forming the extension of the first edge being contoured to provide a lead-in portion to the elongate profile.

At least one, preferably both corners of the body portion defining the extended first edge of the body portion are preferably rounded to provide a lead-in portion to the elongate profile, so that as the seamed edges of the cladding panels are drawn over the elongate profile, the sheets will not snag on the corners of the body portion. The profiled corners will also prevent snagging as the roof panel moves due to thermal expansion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elongate profile may be pressed out of the body portion adjacent the first edge thereof.

However, according to an alternative embodiment, a formation may be provided adjacent the first edge of the body portion to which the elongate profile may be secured.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of wing 1 5 portions extending parallel to one another from side edges of the body portion, the wing portions extending from a position spaced from said first edge of the body portion; a first foot formation extends normally to the body portion from a end thereof remote from the first edge; and said wing portions define a second foot formation which extends in a plane parallel to the first foot formation.

The first and second foot formations of the bracket may be co-planar, with one disposed to one side of the body portion and the other disposed to the other side of the body portion. The bracket may thus be secured to a planar support structure, by suitable means, which may for example engage through apertures in the foot formations.

Alternatively, the first and second foot formations may extend in planes which are spaced from one another so that the foot formations may engage opposite surfaces of a support bar of, for example the type described in E P0504505.

Preferably, the body portion, wing portions and/or foot portions may have reinforcing ribs or other reinforcing formations pressed therein. Moreover, in order to save weight and reduce the heat transfer path through the bracket, apertures may be provided in the body portion, particularly adjacent to the first edge thereof.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a roof structure of the kind to which the present invention is directed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with the present invention, for use on a roof structure of the type illustrated in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in Fig. 2, from the other side; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bracket shown in Fig. 2; Figure 5 is a partial side elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 2; Figure 6 is a section along the line Vl-Vl of Fig. 2; Figure 6a is a section of an alternative profile to that illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an elongate profile used in conjunction with the bracket shown in Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a section through the elongate profile shown in Fig. 8, attached to the bracket shown in Fig. 7; Figure 1 0 is a perspective view of an further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is an end elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 10, mounted on a support bar; and Figure 1 2 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in Fig. 1 0, mounted on a support bar.

As shown in Fig. 1 a roof structure has a superstructure 11, which may comprise a plurality of rafters and/or purlins or other beams which may span other supporting components of the roof. Cladding panels 1 2a, 1 2b are spaced above the superstructure 11 on brackets 20, so that insulative material 1 4 may be provided between the cladding panels 1 2a, 1 2b and a liner 1 6 secured directly to the superstructure 11.

The cladding panels 1 2a, 1 2b are corrugated sheets the longitudinal edges of which are seamed together as illustrated at 1 3, to form a weather proof join.

Conventionally the brackets 20 are formed from an aluminium extrusion of inverted "T" section. The cross piece 24 of the "T" section forming a base which may be secured to the superstructure 11 by means of, for example screws 26. An elongate profile 21, is provided at the upper end of a web portion 22 of the bracket 20, about which the seamed edges 1 3 of the cladding panels 12a,12b engage.

With roofs of this structure, series of brackets 20 are positioned at spaced intervals up the incline of the roof, with the longitudinal axis of the elongate profile 21 of each bracket 20 coincident with the axis of a seam 13 between adjacent cladding panels 12a,12b; a series of such brackets corresponding to each seam of the roof. The cladding panels 1 2a, 1 2b are typically rolled on site. A cladding panel 1 2a is then drawn up the roof, with the pre-formed seams 13 engaging the elongate profiles 21 of successive brackets 20 in the row of brackets 20 corresponding to that seam 1 3. The adjacent cladding 1 0 panel 1 2b, is then drawn up the roof, with the pre-formed seam 1 3 engaging the seam 1 3 of the previous cladding panel 1 2a.

In accordance with the present invention, the extruded bracket 20 may be replaced by a bracket 40 as illustrated in figures 1 to 6. The bracket 40 is a 1 5 one piece pressing formed from sheet material, preferably stainless steel.

The bracket 40 has an upstanding body portion 42 having parallel upper and lower edges 44,46. Along the lower side edges of the body portion 42, the sheet material is pressed to form two wing portions 48 which extend at right angles to one side of the body portion 42. The lower edge 46 of the body portion 42 is formed by pressing the sheet material to form a first foot formation 50 which extends at right angles to the opposite side of the body portion 42 to the wing portions 48. The lower edges of the wing portions 48, which are coplanar with the lower edge 46 of the body portion 42 are formed by pressing the sheet material at right angles, so flange formations 52a,52b extend from the lower edges of each of the wing portions 48 towards one another, to define a second foot formation 52 which is coplanar with the first foot formation 50. One or more apertures 54 are provided in the foot formations 50,52 by which the bracket 40 may be secured to the roof superstructure 11 by suitable means, for example screws 26.

Reinforcing ribs 56 are provided in the body portion 42 of the bracket 40.

Similar reinforcing ribs may also be provided in the wing portions 48 and/or the foot formations 50,52.

Adjacent and parallel to the upper edge 44 of the body portion 42, a portion of the sheet material intermediate of the sides of the body portion 42, is pressed out of the plane of the body portion 42 and an extension thereof is pressed over to form an elongate profile 58, the upper edge of which is level with the upper edge 44 of the body portion 42. Transverse reinforcing depressions 60 are pressed in the upper edge of the profile 58.

In this manner, the profile is reinforced, on one side of the body portion 42 by the deformed portion of the body portion 42 which form end walls 59.

Alternatively, the portion of the body portion 42 which is pressed to form 1 5 the profile 58, may be separated from corner portions 62 of the body portion 42 by vertical cuts, prior to being pressed.

Figure 6a shows an alternative profile 58 which may be used in place of the profile shown in Fig. 6.

The upper corners 62 of the body portion 42 are radiused, to provide a lead- in to the elongate profile 58, in order to prevent snagging of the cladding panel 12a,12b as it is drawn over the profile 58.

In the bracket 70 illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9, the height of the body portion 42 and wing portions 48 are increased to provide additional clearance between the roof superstructure 11 and the cladding panels 1 2a, 1 2b, which will allow a thicker layer of insulation 14.

In the bracket 70, an aperture 72 is provided in the lower part of the body portion 42. The aperture 72, in addition to lightening the bracket will also reduce the heat transfer path through the bracket 70. The aperture 72 has a lip formation 74 to strengthen the body portion 42 of the bracket 70.

A rectangular aperture 76 is provided adjacent and parallel to the upper edge 44 of the body portion 42 of bracket 70. An elongate recess 78 is pressed in the body portion 42 parallel to an between the aperture 76 and the upper edge 44 of the body portion 42. An elongate profile insert 80 is located in the aperture 76. The insert 80 has a longitudinal groove 82 extending from its upper edge 84. One side wall of the groove 82 has a longitudinal groove 86 while the other side wall has a longitudinal projection 88. The groove 86 and projection 88 correspond to the elongate recess 78, so that the insert 80 may be located with the portion of the body portion 42 between the aperture 76 and edge 44 located in the groove 82 and the insert 80 crimped, so that the groove 86 and projection 88 engage the elongate recess 78 in the body 1 5 portion 42. The corners 62 of the body portion 42 are again radiused to provide a lead in to the elongate profile 80.

The bracket 90 illustrated in Figs. 1 0 to 1 2, is designed for use with a modified roof structure, for example of the type disclosed in EP 0504505, in which the brackets 90 are supported on support bars 92, which in turn are supported on the roof superstructure 11 by brackets (not shown).

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and 1 2, the support bars 92 are of channel section having side walls 94,96 of different depth. The edges of the side walls 94,96 have inwardly directed flange formations 98,100.

The foot formation 50 of bracket 90 extends to the same side as the wing portions 48. The wing portions 48 extend below the lower edge 46 of body portion 42 with the foot formation 50 located therebetween, so that the wing portions 48 engage the side walls 94,96 and align the bracket 90 with the support bar 92. The wing portions 48 extend on either side of the bracket 90 to an extent corresponding to the depth of the side wall 94,96 of the support bar 92 on the respective side, so that the flange formation 52a,52b at the lower end of each respective wing formation will engage the flange formation 98,100 on the respective side wall 94,96. The bracket 90 will thus be slidingly supported on the support bar 92 and may optionally be located longitudinally thereof by means of suitable fastening means which may locate through an aperture 54 in the foot formation 50 or one of the wing portions 48.

With the bracket 90 described above, the series of brackets 90 defining one set of brackets corresponding to one seam of a cladding panel 1 2a may be slidingly located on support bars 92 and the cladding panel 1 2a, on the side of the bracket opposite the foot member 50, drawn over the profiles 58 on the brackets 90, before the brackets 90 are located on the support bar 92 1 5 by, for example screws locating through the aperture 54 in foot member 50.

The brackets 90 are then secured to the support bars 92, before the next panel 1 2b is drawn over the brackets 90. In this manner, the position of the brackets 90 may be adjusted the accommodate tolerance variations in the width of the cladding panel 1 2a.

According to a further modification to the bracket 90, the wing portion 48 on only one side extends below the first foot formation 50, the flange formation 52a on this wing formation 48 engaging an underside of the support bar 92. This modified bracket 90 may be located on the support bar 92 from the side. The modified bracket 90 may then be secured in position by fixing means through the foot member 50, as described above, or fixing means through the wing 48 into the side wall of the support bar 92.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, brackets 40 of the kind described with reference to figures 1 to 6, may be secured to the support bar 92. In order to provide alignment of the bracket 40 on the support bar 92, downwardly extending flange formations may be provided on the side edges of the foot formation 50, for engagement of the side walls 94,96 of the support bar 92.

In an alternative embodiment the side walls of the support bar 92 may be of equal depth, the wing portions 48 of the bracket 90 extending to the same depth and the flange formations 52a,52b being co-planar.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

1 0 For example, while the above embodiments describe roof structure, the brackets may be used with any similar cladding system, for example wall cladding systems. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the terms foot', upwardly', upper' and lower', when used herein, will depend on and should be construed with respect to the orientation of the bracket in use.

Claims

Claims.

1. A bracket for a cladding system in which adjacent edges of cladding panels are seamed together about an elongate profile on the bracket, the bracket comprising a body portion, an elongate profile being provided on the body portion to define a first edge, the body portion extending beyond the elongate profile to extend said first edge, at least one corner of the body portion forming the extension of the first edge being contoured to provide a lead-in portion to the elongate profile.

2. A bracket according to claim 1 in which both corners of the body portion defining the extended first edge are contoured.

3. A bracket according to claim 1 or 2 in which the or each corner of the 1 5 body portion are rounded in the plane of the body portion.

4. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate profile is pressed out of the body portion.

5. A bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the elongate profile is formed separately of the bracket, a formation being provided on the body portion of the bracket to which the elongate profile may be secured.

6. A bracket according to claim 5 in which the formation on the body portion comprises an aperture in the body portion, the aperture extending parallel to the first edge of the body portion and formations on the elongate profile engaging in the aperture.

7. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims in which a pair of wing portions extending parallel to one another from side edges of the body portion, the wing portions extending from a position spaced from the first end of the body portion; a first foot formation extending normally to the body portion from an end thereof remote from the first edge; and said wing portions defining a second foot formation which extends in a plane parallel to the first foot formation.

8. A bracket according to claim 7 in which the first and second foot formations are coplanar, the first foot formation extending to one side of the 1 0 body portion and the second foot formation extending to the other side of the body portion.

9. A bracket according to claims 7 or 8 in which the first and second foot formations extend in different planes spaced with respect to one 1 5 another longitudinally of the body portion.

1 0. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims in which reinforcing formations are provided in the body portion, wing portions, foot portions and/or elongate profile.

11. A bracket according to any one of the preceding claims in which apertures are provided in the body portion.

1 2. A bracket substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in figures 1 to 6, figures 7 to 9 or figures 1 0 to 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.