JP7828448B2 - Facade panel fastening system and method for fastening a facade panel to a support - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fastening system for fastening a facade (building exterior) panel to a support, a facade, and a method for fastening a facade panel to a support.

To install a facade consisting of several facade panels on a wall, it is known to attach a rail system to the wall, attach several hangers to the facade panels, and fasten each hanger to the rails of the rail system. For aesthetic reasons, the hangers are attached to the back of each facade panel so that they will not be visible in the completed facade. After the hangers are fastened to the rails, the horizontal and vertical positions of the facade panels are fixed. Removing a particular facade panel from its support, for example for replacement or repair, usually involves removing all panels above it.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening system, fastening method, and/or facade that allows facade panels to be easily fastened to a support.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fastening system for fastening a facade panel to a support comprises a hanger configured to be attached to the facade panel and a fixing element configured to be fastened to the support. The hanger has an upper leg, the upper leg having an abutment surface configured to face or abut against the support, and a through hole extending from the abutment surface through the leg in the thickness direction, the through hole having a hole diameter perpendicular to the thickness direction and a hole length along the thickness direction. The fixing element has a shaft, the shaft is configured to protrude from the support in the protruding direction when the fixing element is fastened to the support, and has a protruding portion having a protruding portion diameter perpendicular to the protruding direction that is smaller than the hole diameter and a protruding portion length along the protruding direction that is greater than the hole length. The protruding portion is configured so that the abutment surface faces or abuts the support and extends through the through hole when the fixing element is fastened to the support. This allows the upper leg to move along the protruding direction after the fixing element is fastened to the support.

According to one aspect, the shaft includes a neck portion that continues from the protruding portion in the protruding direction and has a neck diameter smaller than the protruding portion diameter and a neck length greater than the hole length. Furthermore, the through-hole opens to the side of the upper leg along its entire length through an opening that has a cross-sectional width smaller than the protruding portion diameter and greater than the neck diameter. This allows the upper leg to move laterally when the opening is aligned with the neck portion until the hanger is released from the support. According to one aspect, the neck portion connects to the protruding portion.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing element comprises a head that continues from the neck portion in the projection direction and has a head diameter perpendicular to the projection direction that is larger than the hole diameter. This limits movement of the upper leg along the projection direction, thereby reducing the risk of the facade panel being unintentionally detached, for example due to weather conditions. According to one embodiment, the head has an end face facing the projection direction and is provided with a receptacle for a driver. According to another embodiment, the head connects to the neck portion.

According to another aspect, the shaft comprises a fastening portion that continues from the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction and is configured to penetrate the support and fasten the fixation element to the support, the shaft comprising a shoulder or step configured to abut against the support when the fixation element is fastened to the support. According to one aspect, the fastening portion connects to the protruding portion. According to another aspect, the fastening portion is configured to drill a hole in the support. According to another aspect, the fastening portion comprises a thread, preferably a self-tapping thread. According to another aspect, the shoulder comprises a tapered chamfer.

According to another aspect, the fixing element includes a drill tip that connects to the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction and is configured to penetrate the support. According to one aspect, the drill tip connects to the protruding portion or the fastening portion.

According to another aspect, the hanger includes an adjustment element configured to adjust the distance between the abutment surface and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment surface faces or abuts against the support. According to one aspect, the upper leg includes an adjustment element.

According to another aspect, the fastening system further comprises a panel fastener configured to attach the hanger to the facade panel, the upper leg of the panel fastener protruding from the facade panel in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction when the hanger is attached to the facade panel.

According to another aspect, the hanger further includes a lower leg portion that protrudes from the facade panel in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction when the hanger is attached to the facade panel and is configured to abut against the lower part of the support when the facade panel is fastened to the support.

According to another aspect, a fastening system is provided on a facade comprising a facade panel and a support, the facade panel being attached to the support by the fastening system. According to a preferred aspect, the support comprises a rail attached to the wall of the building, and hangers engage the rail, thereby attaching the facade panel to the wall. According to one aspect, the hangers secure the facade panel to the wall.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for fastening a facade panel to a support. The method includes providing a hanger having an upper leg, the upper leg having an abutment surface and a through hole extending from the abutment surface through the leg in a thickness direction, attaching the hanger to the back side of the facade panel so that the upper leg protrudes from the facade panel, and positioning the hanger on the support so that the abutment surface faces or abuts against the support. The method further includes providing a fastening element having a shaft, the shaft having a protruding portion. The method further includes inserting the fastening element through the through hole and fastening the fastening element to the support so that the protruding portion protrudes from the support in the protruding direction, thereby allowing the upper leg to move relative to the support along the protruding direction.

According to one aspect, the method further includes providing the hanger with an adjustment element configured to adjust the distance between the abutment surface and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment surface faces or abuts the support; adjusting the horizontal position of the facade panel along the support before the fixing element is fastened to the support; and adjusting the vertical position of the facade panel along the support after the fixing element is fastened to the support. According to a preferred aspect, the upper leg is provided with the adjustment element.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are merely possible configurations, and in these configurations, individual features may be realized independently of one another or may be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drill and a facade panel. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the facade panel of FIG. 1. 2 is a perspective view of the facade panel of FIG. 1 with a set of hangers attached to the facade panel of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the facade panel of FIG. 3 . A side view of the semi-finished facade. A perspective view of the semi-finished facade. FIG. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hanger of FIG. 8 . FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hanger of FIG. 8 . FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastening system and a support; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a side view of the fastening system and support of FIG. 12. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastening system and a support; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of FIG. 15 . FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of FIG. 15 . FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of FIG. 15 .

Figures 1-6 generally illustrate how a facade (architectural exterior) panel 58, having a front side 59 and a back side 60, is attached to a wall 61 (shown in Figures 5-6) to construct a facade 62. The facade panel 58 has a thickness of no more than 8 mm and can be made of high-pressure laminate, fiber cement, similar materials, or a combination thereof.

In an initial step (Figures 1-2), blind holes 63 are drilled into the backside 60 of the facade panel 58 using a drill press 64 or the like and a drill 65. The depth of each blind hole 63 is determined by a depth stop, such as a stop shoulder 66 on the drill 65.

In a subsequent process (FIGS. 3-4), which may be performed in a factory, workshop, or on-site, a set of hangers 57, each having an upper leg 67 with a hook 73, a lower leg 68, and one or more through-holes 69, is fastened to the back side 60 of the facade panel 58 by inserting a panel fastener 41 through each of the through-holes 69 and into one of the blind holes 63 using an electric screw gun 71 or the like, preferably with a torque-controlled mounting bit 72. When the hangers 57 are fastened to the facade panel 58, the upper and lower legs 67 and 68 protrude from the facade panel 58 in the thickness direction of the upper leg 67 or lower leg 68, i.e., perpendicular to the back side 60. Two or more different types of hangers 57 may be used for a single facade panel 58. One type may be configured to support part of the weight of the facade panel 58, and another type may be configured to adjust the position of the facade panel 58.

In a further subsequent step (Figures 5-6), the facade panel 58 is fastened to the wall 61 by engaging the hanger 57 with a support 70, which is a rail previously attached to the wall 61, as further described below. When the facade 62 is completed, the front side 59 of the facade panel 58 is visible from the outside, while its back side 60, the hanger 57, and the fasteners 41 are not visible.

Figure 7 shows a hanger 75 that is attached to a facade panel and configured to support a portion of the weight of the facade panel, such as the facade panel 58 shown in Figures 1 to 6. The hanger 75 includes an upper leg 76 having an abutment surface 77 configured to face and abut against the support, a lower leg 82 configured to abut against the lower part of the support, and a base portion 83 that interconnects the upper leg 76 and the lower leg 82. The upper leg 76 includes a hook 74 configured to engage the rear of the upper part of the support. The base portion 83 is provided with a hole 84 for a panel fastener, such as the panel fastener 41 shown in Figure 4.

Figures 8-10 show a hanger 85 that is attached to a facade panel and configured to support part of the weight of the facade panel, such as the facade panel 58 shown in Figures 1-6, and adjust the position of the facade panel. The hanger 85 includes an upper leg 86 having an abutment surface 87 configured to face and abut against the support, a lower leg 92 configured to abut against the lower part of the support, and a base portion 96 that interconnects the upper leg 87 and the lower leg 92. The upper leg 86 includes a hook 98 configured to engage the rear of the upper part of the support. The base portion 96 is provided with two or more holes 97 for a panel fastener, such as the panel fastener 41 shown in Figure 4.

The upper leg 86 is provided with a through hole 88 that extends from the abutment surface 87 through the upper leg 86 in a thickness direction 90 (i.e., a direction intersecting the upper leg 86). The through hole 88 has a diameter _Dt perpendicular to the thickness direction 90 and a length _Lh along the thickness direction. The through hole 88 opens to a side surface 89 of the upper leg 86 through an opening 91 along its entire length _Lh . The opening 91 has a cross-sectional width w.

The hanger 85 further comprises an adjustment element 93, which is an adjustment screw configured to adjust the distance between the abutment surface 87 and the support when the abutment surface 87 faces or abuts the support. For this purpose, the upper leg 86 is provided with a threaded hole, and the adjustment element 93 comprises a threaded shaft 94 that fits into the threaded hole. The portion of the adjustment element 93 that protrudes from the abutment surface 87 defines the distance between the abutment surface 87 and the support. To adjust the vertical position of the hanger 85, and thus the facade panel, the adjustment element 93 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. For this purpose, the adjustment element 93 comprises an adjustment head 95 having a receptacle 99 for receiving a screwdriver such as a Torx®, Phillips, Hex, SL, Allen, or square.

Figure 11 shows a fixation element 10, which is a fixation screw. The fixation element 10 has a shaft 11, a head 21, and a drill tip 31. The shaft 11 has a fastening portion 12, a protruding portion 13, and a neck portion 14. The drill tip 31 connects to the fastening portion 12, allowing the fastening portion 12 to penetrate and drill a support, such as the support 70 shown in Figures 5 and 6. The fastening portion 12 has a self-tapping thread 15 that fastens the fixation element 10 to the support.

The protruding portion 13 connects to the fastening portion 12 in a protruding direction 20 and protrudes from the support in the protruding direction 20 when the fixing element 10 is fastened to the support. The protruding portion 13 has a protruding portion diameter _Dp perpendicular to the protruding direction 20 and a protruding portion length _Lp along the protruding direction 20. The shaft 11 has a shoulder 16 formed as a step that abuts against the support when the fixing element 10 is fastened to the support. The shoulder 16 has a tapered chamfer 17 that aligns the fixing element 10 so that the protruding direction 20 is perpendicular to the surface of the support when the shoulder 16 abuts against the support.

The neck portion 14 connects to the protruding portion 13 in the projection direction 20 and has a neck diameter _dn perpendicular to the projection direction 20 and a neck length _Ln along the projection direction 20. The head 21 connects to the neck portion 14 in the projection direction 20 and has a head diameter _dh perpendicular to the projection direction 20. The head 21 has an end face 22 facing the projection direction 20 and provided with a receptacle 23 for a driver, for example a Torx® driver, allowing a user to drive the fixation element 10 in rotation and fasten it to a support, for example by using an electric screwdriver.

Figures 12-14 show how a facade panel (not shown for clarity) can be attached to a wall 54 using a fastening system 50 comprising a hanger 85 shown in Figures 8-10, two fastening elements 52, and a fixing element 10 shown in Figure 11.

In the initial step (FIG. 12), as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, after the hanger 85 is attached to the facade panel by the fastening element 52 and the support 51 formed as a rail is attached to the wall 54 by the support fixture 53 or the like, the hanger 85 is placed on the support 51. The abutment surface of the upper leg 86 abuts against the support 51, and the hook 98 engages with the rear of the support 51. The horizontal position of the hanger 85 and the facade panel is then adjusted as desired by sliding the hanger 85 horizontally along the support 51.

In a subsequent step (FIGS. 13 and 14), the fixing element 10 is inserted through the through-hole 88 and fastened to the support 51 by the drill tip and fastening portion of the fixing element 10. As a result, the protruding portion of the fixing element 10 protrudes vertically from the support 51 through the through-hole 88. The protruding portion diameter _Dp is smaller than the hole diameter _Dt , and the protruding portion length _Lp is larger than the hole length _Lh , which allows the upper leg 86 and the hanger 85 to move vertically relative to the support 51. On the other hand, the protruding portion diameter _Dp is larger than the opening width w, which fixes the horizontal positions of the hanger 85 and the facade panel relative to the support 51.

The vertical position of the hanger 85 and facade panel is then adjusted as desired by moving the adjustment element 93 relative to the support 51, for example by rotating the adjustment head of the adjustment element, to adjust the vertical distance between the upper leg 86 and the support 51. During such vertical adjustment, the through-hole of the upper leg 86 slides over the protruding portion of the fixing element. While the vertical position of the hanger 85 may be adjusted before fastening the fixing element 10 to the support 51, it is preferable to fix the horizontal position of the hanger 85 before adjusting its vertical position.

Figures 15-18 show how the fastening system 50 can be used to remove a facade panel (not shown for clarity) from a wall 54. The method begins with the fastening system 50 in a fixed position after the hanger 85 has been secured to the support 51 (Figure 15).

In a first step (FIG. 16), the facade panel and hanger 85 are raised vertically so that the through-hole 88 in the upper leg 86 is at the same height as the neck portion 14 of the fastening element 10. As mentioned above, the protruding portion diameter _Dp is smaller than the hole diameter _Dt , which allows this vertical movement.

In a subsequent step (FIG. 17), the facade panel and hanger 85 are moved horizontally along the lateral direction so that the neck portion 14 of the fastening element 10 passes through the opening 91. The neck diameter _dn is smaller than the opening width w, and the neck length _Ln is larger than the hole length _Lh , which allows this horizontal movement. Note that the protruding portion diameter _Dp is larger than the opening width w, which fixes the horizontal position of the facade panel and hanger 85 as long as the upper leg 86 is not raised to the height of the neck portion 14. The head diameter _dh is larger than the hole diameter _dt , which allows the head to function as a stop for the upward movement of the upper leg 86. This reduces the possibility of the facade panel being accidentally detached, for example, by wind.

In a further subsequent step (Figure 18), the facade panel and hanger 85 are moved away from the wall 54 so that the facade panel is free. In this way, the facade panel can be removed from the wall, for example for repair or replacement, without having to remove any other panels above. Also, the vertical position of the facade panel can be readjusted by adjusting the adjustment element once the panel has been removed from the wall. To reassemble the facade panel on the wall, the reverse movements are performed in the reverse order.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made in the elements thereof and equivalent elements can be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. All elements and features of the disclosed embodiments may be present individually or in any combination in all other embodiments, unless mutually inconsistent. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (14)

A fastening system for fastening a facade panel to a support, comprising:
a hanger configured to be attached to the facade panel and having an upper leg, the upper leg having an abutment surface facing the support or configured to abut against the support, a through hole extending from the abutment surface through the upper leg in a thickness direction, the through hole having a hole diameter perpendicular to the thickness direction and a hole length along the thickness direction;
a fixing element having a shaft and configured to be fastened to the support, the shaft being configured to protrude from the support in a protruding direction when the fixing element is fastened to the support, the shaft including a protruding portion having a protruding portion diameter perpendicular to the protruding direction that is smaller than the hole diameter and a protruding portion length along the protruding direction that is greater than the hole length, and a neck portion that continues or connects to the protruding portion in the protruding direction and has a neck diameter that is smaller than the protruding portion diameter and a neck length that is greater than the hole length ;
the through hole opens along its entire length to a side of the upper leg through an opening having a cross-sectional width smaller than the diameter of the protruding portion and larger than the diameter of the neck;
A fastening system, wherein the protruding portion is configured to extend through the through hole when the abutment surface faces or abuts against the support and the fixing element is fastened to the support. The fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing element comprises a head that continues or connects to the neck portion in the projection direction and has a head diameter that is larger than the hole diameter perpendicular to the projection direction. The fastening system of claim 2 , wherein the head has an end face facing the projection direction and is provided with a receptacle for a driver. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shaft comprises a fastening portion that continues or connects to the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction, penetrates or pierces the support, and is configured to fasten the fixing element to the support, and the shaft comprises a shoulder or step that is configured to abut against the support when the fixing element is fastened to the support. The fastening system according to claim 4 , wherein the fastening portion comprises a screw thread or a self-tapping thread. The fastening system of claim 4 , wherein the shoulder comprises a tapered chamfer. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the fixing element continues or connects to the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction and comprises a drill point configured to penetrate the support. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hanger or the upper leg includes an adjustment element configured to adjust the distance between the abutment surface and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment surface faces or abuts against the support. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a panel fastener configured to attach the hanger to the facade panel, wherein the upper leg protrudes from the facade panel in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction when the hanger is fastened to the facade panel. The fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hanger further comprises a lower leg portion configured to protrude from the facade panel in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction when the hanger is attached to the facade panel and to abut against a lower portion of the support when the facade panel is attached to the support. A facade comprising a facade panel, a fastening system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , and a support, wherein said facade panel is attached to said support by said fastening system. 12. The facade of claim 11 , wherein the support comprises a rail attached to a wall of a building, the hangers engaging the rail to thereby attach or secure the facade panel to the wall. 1. A method for fastening a facade panel to a support, said method comprising:
A hanger having an upper leg portion, the upper leg portion having an abutment surface, a through hole extending from the abutment surface through the upper leg portion in a thickness direction , the through hole having a hole diameter perpendicular to the thickness direction and a hole length along the thickness direction ,
Attaching the hanger to the back side of the facade panel so that the upper leg protrudes from the facade panel;
Positioning the hanger on the support so that the abutment surface faces or abuts the support;
providing a fixation element having a shaft with a protruding portion and a neck portion ;
inserting the fixing element through the through hole; and fastening the fixing element to the support such that the protruding portion protrudes from the support in the protruding direction, thereby allowing the upper leg to move relative to the support along the protruding direction ,
the protruding portion has a protruding portion diameter perpendicular to the protruding direction that is smaller than the hole diameter and a protruding portion length along the protruding direction that is greater than the hole length, and the neck portion continues or connects to the protruding portion in the protruding direction and has a neck diameter that is smaller than the protruding portion diameter and a neck length that is greater than the hole length,
The through hole opens to a side surface of the upper leg portion through an opening having a cross-sectional width smaller than the diameter of the protruding portion and larger than the diameter of the neck along its entire length.
method . The hanger or the upper leg is provided with an adjustment element configured to adjust the distance between the abutment surface and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment surface faces or abuts against the support;
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: adjusting the horizontal position of the facade panel along the support before the fastening element is fastened to the support; and adjusting the vertical position of the facade panel along the support after the fastening element is fastened to the support .