MXPA94001397A - Device and method for fixing a plate to unedifi - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for fixing a plate to a building, characterized in that it comprises: a horizontal profile that can be fastened to said building and that has a first pair of stirrups to support said plate, a second pair of stirrups to support said plate, formed in the body of said plate, a connecting member for connecting said plate to said horizontal profile, an external part of said connecting member being provided with an external pair of stirrups which are complementary and which are adapted to engage said second pair of stirrups, an internal part of said connecting member being provided with an internal pair of stirrups that are elastically flexible, complementary and adapted to engage said first pair of stirrups in a jump-jointed manner; stirrups and said internal pair of stirrups being substantially parallel

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FIXING A PLATE TO A BUILDING Inventor (s): PIETRO ANTONIO BELTRAMI, Italian, residing in: Via Ghevio 4, 2SÜ41 - ARONA (Novara) Italy Causaire: FORMITALIA PTE LTD. A society of Singapore, domiciled at: 2 Shenton Way. O1 * -05 I.C.B. Building, 0106 Singapore.

SUMMARY A device for fixing a frame (10) to a vertical wall that includes: a horizontal profile (12) that can be fastened to the wall; a first pair of plate support stirrups (13) formed in the horizontal profile (12); a second pair of plate support stirrups (1M-) formed in the body of the plate (10); a connecting member (15) for connecting elastically in the form of a union by means of a jump of the plate (10) to the horizontal profile (12). The invention also relates to the method of assembly. The invention allows to obtain an excellent aesthetic effect and high reliability.

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY The present invention relates to an X device for fixing a plate to a building and to the method of fixing. Very similarly, the field of the present invention relates to a plate made of a stone material that is relatively thin, for example i.5-2 cm, or made of ceramic material, or glass / crystal, or aluminum, or any other material that can be used for facade walls. In particular, plates made of ceramic material with respect to the stone are preferred, since they have a superior mechanical strength and can be thinner. The plates are used to cover walls on the inside and on the outside of buildings. Ss know several methods to cover buildings with plates; for example, cement mixtures are used, which, however, are not suitable for the precise execution of the work and do not offer sufficient reliability as regards safety in the case of very large facades, such as, for example, skyscrapers. Other methods, described, for example, in German patent application No. 2627502 and European patent application No. 463673, provide external support hooks that allow, in various ways, to adjust the plates on the walls. This system, in addition to the aesthetic imperfections due to the presence of hooks, has considerable problems if a single plate has to be replaced, since it is necessary to remove all the adjacent region of plates until reaching the so-called gutter. Adjustment tiers are also rather long and complicated operations are required. Italian patent No.0216661, Spanish utility model No. 9002602, German patent application No. 1664060, French utility model No. 2652132 describes systems for fixing plates to walls including grooves formed on the plates so that those grooves they can be hooked by means of a connecting member that connects the plates to horizontal profiles that are fixed to the wall. However, in practice it has been observed that this system is not without disadvantages, since the plates tend to break under high pressures, for example under the force of the wind, which for very tall buildings reaches a speed of 150-200 m. / hr and produces higher pressure peaks on the plates. Furthermore, the assembly is not sufficiently accurate, since the grooves formed on the plates are not all identical, due, for example, to the wear of the disk of the tool that produces these grooves, and a proportional misalignment is a direct consequence of this. In addition, despite the need to tighten a large number of screws ds security, there is still some game; This game is very dangerous because it produces an imprecise alignment and produces a dangerous effect in the course of time, allowing a "flutter" effect induced by the wind within this game. In addition, the types of adjustment are rather long and complicated operations are still necessary. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages with a device and method that allows a precise adjustment, with an excellent aesthetic effect; reducing working time at the same time. An object of the invention is to avoid the play between elements to provide a durable and reliable assembly even in the presence of strong winds. Another object of the invention is to avoid manual adjustments of parts such as, for example, screws, bolts, etc. to achieve the dual purpose of reducing working time and eliminating critical parts that always tend to break and rust. Another object of the invention is to obtain perfect planarity, independently of the depth of the grooves formed in the plate. Another object is to allow the installation of plates even on inclined walls or on facts. Another object is to allow the prefabrication of a complete wall with plates in a factory. Another object of the invention is to reduce the depth of the cantilever portion of the connection member from a length of approximately 20-25 mm to 3-10 mm, thereby increasing the overall reliability of the entire system.

This purpose, these objects and others are achieved by the device according to the invention to form a plate to a wall or a roof that includes: A horizontal profile that can be mounted on the wall; - A first pair of stirrups to support the plate, formed in the horizontal profile; - A second pair of stirrups to support the plate, formed in the body of the plate itself. - A connection member for connecting the plate to the horizontal profile; - An external part of the connecting member being provided with an external pair of stirrups that are complementary or that are suitable for engaging the second pair of stirrups; - An internal part of the connecting member being provided with an internal pair of stirrups that are elastically flexible, complementary and suitable for engaging the first pair of stirrups in a snap-fit manner; said external pair of stirrups and said internal pair of stirrups being substantially parallel. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device, illustrated only by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention during assembly; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the device of Figure 1 after the test; Figure 3 is a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention during assembly; Figure 4 is a side view of the device of Figure 3 after assembly; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the device of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the device according to a third embodiment of the invention during assembly; The figure & is a sectional side view of the device of figure 7 after assembly; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a detail of the device of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a detail of the devices according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; With reference to figures 1 to 10, the device according to the invention for fixing a plate 10 to a vertical wall 11 includes a horizontal profile 12 which can be fastened to the wall 11. A first pair of support brackets 13 are formed in the horizontal profile and extend horizontally. In particular, the first pair of stirrups 13 is disposed on a plane that is substantially parallel to the wall. A second pair of stirrups 14 is formed in the body of the plate 10. The stirrups 14 can be obtained either by machining the plate 10 with a rotating disk tool or, with particular reference to the second preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, directly during the molding of the earthenware. In this second case, the series of stirrups 14 has the so-called dovetail configuration. A connecting member, generally designated by the reference number 15, connects the plate 10 to the profile 12. In particular, the connecting member 15 has an external part, where "external" designates the direct part towards the plate, and a internal part, where "internal" designates the part directed towards the wall. The outer part of the connecting member 15 has an external pair of stirrups 16 that are configured in complementarity with the second pair of stirrups 14, so that it is capable of properly engaging them. The inner part of the connecting member 15 is provided with an internal pair of stirrups 17 which are elastically visible due to the flexing of the portion 16. The stirrups 17 are configured complementary to the first pair of stirrups 13 and are suitable for engaging with a union action by jump. Preferably, the outer part of the connecting member 15 includes a fifth pair of stirrups 19 which is suitable for engaging a rear region 21 of the plate 10 which is arranged parallel to the outer face 22 of the plate 10. In particular, the rear area 21 of the plate 10 is simply a region that can act as a reference to maintain the parallel arrangement of the outer face 22 of the plate 10. Preferably, the inner part of the connecting member 15 includes a sixth pair of stirrups 23; these stirrups are complementary and are suitable for elastically engaging, in a jump-jointed manner, a seventh pair of stirrups 24 disposed on the profile 12. The sixth pair of stirrups 23 and the seventh pair of stirrups 24 act to generate a force that is directed in such a way as to prevent the disengagement between the first pair of stirrups 13 and the inner pair of stirrups 17. In particular, the elastic end 23 of the connecting member 15 forms the sixth pair of stirrups 23. In this way, the engagement between the first pair of stirrups 13 and the internal pair of stirrups 17 is ensured, since the end 23 is located in the seat 23 and prevents the connection member from being extracted by force. Preferably, the outer pair of stirrups 16 and the inner pair of stirrups 17 are formed from a bent portion of the connecting member 15. According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting member 15 is formed by a single piece of elastic steel bent with a thickness between 0.3 and 6.0 mm, preferably between 0.35 and 0.55 mm and most preferably between 0.4 and 0.5 mm. Preferably, the connecting member includes a central region 25 that bulges inward toward the wall 11. This central region is adapted to engage by an extension 26 of the profile 12, whereby the extension 26 can be pressed against the frontal region 25. to deform elastically the central region 25 and change the position of the external pair of stirrups 16, to improve the coupling with the second pair of stirrups 14. Most preferably, the extension 26 of the profile 12 has concave angular configuration, and the central region in depression 25 has a convex angular configuration. The coupling of the concave-convex shapes improves the vertical stability of the plate. According to the first embodiment, with particular reference to figures i, 2, 5, 7-9, the outer pair of stirrups 16 is tapering inwards. According to the second preferred embodiment, with particular reference to Figures 3, 4 and 6, the outer pair of stirrups 16 widens outwardly. Preferably, the length of the connecting member 15, measured horizontally, is between 15 and 50 mm, most preferably between 20 and 40 mm, and most preferably still between 25 and 35 mm. The end 27 of the outer pair of stirrups 16 can be rounded, to reduce the shear stress on the plate and the likelihood of breaking. It is noted that the pair of external stirrups 16 can elastically relax in the space 26 formed between the connecting member 15 and the profile 12. Similarly, also the internal pair of stirrups 17 can relax elastically in the region 29 between the connecting member 15 and profile 12. This elastic relaxation allows some controlled movement of plate 10 with respect to wall 11. In this way, not only are games kept under control, but it is also possible to reduce the impact of forces externally on the various links. With respect to the portion 16 of the connecting member 15, the profile 12 acts as a support that vertically supports the connecting member 15 to prevent undesired deformations. in particular, the profile 12 externally supports the connecting member 15 substantially along the entire portion joining the pair of external stirrups 16 with the pair of internal stirrups 17. The unsupported portion has a length of about 3 mm. The method according to the invention thus includes the use of a plurality of devices as described above. In a first step, the connecting members 15 fit the plates 10. For this purpose it is sufficient to slide the stirrups 16 laterally between the stirrups 14 until the connecting members 15 are located in the required region of the plates 10. stirrups 14 are usually obtained on the sides of the plates 10, but can also be obtained on the internal part of the plates 10. In this case, the stirrups 14 are dead stirrups and the connecting members 15 can be mounted on the plates 10, by a manual pressure perpendicular to the ends 23, for pumping against one another and for deflecting the stirrups 16, with particular reference to the modality reported in Figures 1, 2, 5. When the stirrups 16 are deflected, it is possible to insert them in the stirrups 14 of the plate. This operation can be impossible with plates having a greater thickness and with longer stirrups 16. In the latter case, with particular reference to FIG. 10, each stirrup 14 comprises a chamber 30 having a rectangular cross section that is obtained in the body of the plate. The chamber 30 is large enough to have inside the brackets 16 that can slide laterally within the brackets 14. The connecting members 15 can also be placed in any required position. This first step can be done before the time of the final installation and in a suitable location, different from that of the construction site. In a second step, the plates prepared in this way are adjusted by joining coupling by jumping the first pair of stirrups 13 of the pair of internal stirrups 17. This coupling occurs by simple pressure, to force the end 23 to flex and allow entry of the connecting member 15 in its seat. The correct insertion can be verified acoustically, since it is possible to clearly hear first the jump of the insertion of the pair of internal stirrups 17 and then the jump of the sixth pair of stirrups 23. Simultaneously, the extension 26 of the profile is located automatically against the depressed part 25 of the connecting member so that by means of the simple pressing operation to insert the plate all the stirrups are placed under tension to ensure optimal locking. The particular extension configuration 26 and the depressed portion 25 of the connecting body 15 is an additional centering means between the abutments 14 and the central part of the profile 12, to achieve an improved horizontal self-alignment of the upper and lower edges of the assembled plates . If it is necessary to replace a defective plate in a finished wall, the defective plate can be removed or broken and then a new plate can simply be inserted by snap coupling without disturbing the surrounding plates. In practice it has been observed that the invention allows to obtain a very stable fixation with excellent aesthetic finish, which is shown by an optimal coplanarity of the plane of the face, by the regularity thereof, that is, of the spaces between the plates, both horizontally and vertically. This is achieved automatically by pressure coupling between the connecting members 15 and the profile 12, thus avoiding the need for manual adjustment operations carried out for example by means of screws, brackets, silicone sealants, etc. In addition, unlimited durability is assured for the damping action of the connecting member 15, especially if suitable materials are used, such as, for example, elastic stainless steel for the connecting member 15.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A device for fixing a plate (10) to a building, characterized in that it comprises: a horizontal profile (12) that can be fastened to said building and that has a first pair of stirrups (13) to support said plate (10); a second stop of stirrups (14) to support said plate (10), formed in the body of said plate; a connecting member (15) for connecting said plate (10) to said horizontal profile (12); an external part of said connecting member (15) being provided with an external pair of stirrups (165 which are complementary and adapted to engage said second pair (14) of stirrups; an internal part of said connecting member (15); ) being provided with an internal pair of stirrups (17) that are elastically flexible, complementary and adapted to engage said first pair of stirrups (13) in a snap-fit manner, said external pair of stirrups (16) and said internal pair of stirrups (17) being substantially parallel

2. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to claim 1, further characterized in that said external part of the connecting member (15) comprises a fifth pair of stirrups (19). ) adapted to engage a rear area (21) of said plate (10) which is arranged parallel to an external face of said plate (10)

3. A device for attaching a plate to a building in accordance with according to claims 1 and 2 further characterized in that said internal part of the connecting member (15) comprises a sixth pair of stirrups (23) that are complementary and suitable for snap-fastening elastically and in the form of a jump connection to a seventh pair of stirrups ( 24) located on said profile (12); said sixth and seventh pairs of stirrups generating a force that is directed to prevent uncoupling between the first (13) pair of stirrups and the pair of internal stirrups (17).

4. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to claims 1 and 2 further characterized in that said sixth pair of stirrups (23) are formed by the elastic end of said internal part of the connecting member (15). A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said external pair (16) and / or said internal pair (17) of stirrups are formed with a bent part of the connection member (15). 6. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said external part of the connection member (15) comprises a central region in depression (25) adapted to be hooked by an extension (26) of said profile (12) to elastically deform the position of said external pair of stirrups (16) and improve the engagement with the second pair of stirrups (14). A device for fixing a plate to a building according to claim 6 further characterized in that said extension (26) of the profile (12) has a concave angular shape and said central region in depression (25) has a convex angular shape; the coupling of said concave-convex shapes improving vertical stability. 6. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said external pair of stirrups (16) widens outwards. 9. A device for fixing a plate to a building in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said outer pair of stirrups is narrowed inwardly. A device for attaching a plate to a building in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said connecting member (15) is formed from a single piece of bent elastic steel. 11. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to claim 10 further characterized in that the thickness of said steel is comprised between 0.3 and 0.6 mm, preferably between 0.35 and 0.55 mm, and most preferably between 0.4 and 0.5 mm. 12. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the horizontal length of said connecting member (15) is comprised between 15 and 50mm, preferably between 20 and 40mm , and most preferably between 25 and 35 mm. 13. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the end of said external pair of stirrups (16) is rounded. A device for fixing a plate to a building according to at least one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said external (16) and / or internal (17) pair of stirrups allow some elasticity in order to dampen external forces and / or improve the centering. 1

5. A device for fixing a plate to a building in accordance with at least one of the preceding re-vignetisations, further characterized in that said profile (12) externally supports the connecting member (15) substantially along the entire portion that joins to said external pair of stirrups (16) with said internal pair of stirrups (17). 1

6. A method for assembling a plate wall by using a plurality of devices according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises; a first step in which said connecting members (15) fit over the plates (10); and a second step in which said plates (10) are assembled by joint coupling by jump of said first pair (13) of stirrups and said internal pair of stirrups (17). A method for assembling a wall of plates according to claim 16, further characterized in that it replaces a defective plate (10) in a finished wall, comprising the breaking or removal of said defective plate (10) and the insert by coupling by jumping from a plate (10) without acting on the surrounding plates. In testimony of whI sign the above in this Mexico City, D.F. on the 23rd day of the month of February 1994. By: FORMITALIA PTE LTD. 3 / mvs * mepb *