NZ603229B - A cladding support member - Google Patents

Abstract

603229 An elongate cladding support member (101) comprising an attachment portion (1), a cladding support portion (2) and a connecting portion (3) connecting the attachment portion and the cladding support portion. The cladding support member further comprises a capping portion (5) extending from the attachment portion and a window frame overlap portion (6) extending from the capping portion. A front face (2A) of the cladding support portion forms an angle of between 6' and 9' to the attachment portion. om the attachment portion and a window frame overlap portion (6) extending from the capping portion. A front face (2A) of the cladding support portion forms an angle of between 6' and 9' to the attachment portion.

Description

A CLADDING SUPPORT MEMBER The present invention relates to support member and assembly for rboards which includes a head ng portion.

Background to the Invention Weatherboards are used as exterior cladding in many countries.

Weatherboard cladding requires a closure beneath the lowermost weatherboard. The closure must be capable of excluding vermin such as rats and mice, but must still allow for air to circulate into the space behind the weatherboards. The closure component must also be installed level.

In order to support the lowermost rboard at the correct angle. timber wedges are typically cut to suit. This can be time consuming.

Similar procedures are required for the weatherboard which is installed immediately above a window. However, the lation of this weatherboard is further complicated by the need to correctly install a head flashing over the window.

The reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general dge in any country.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a cladding support member and/or a method of installing a weatherboard which will overcome or ameliorate ms with such support members and/or s at present, or at least one which will provide the public with a useful choice.

Other objects of the t invention may become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only.

Brief Summary of the ion According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongate cladding support member comprising an attachment portion, a cladding support portion and a connecting portion ting the attachment portion and the cladding support portion, the cladding support member further comprising capping n ing from the attachment n and a window frame overlap portion extending from the g portion, wherein a front face of the cladding support portion forms an angle of between 6° and 9° to the attachment portion.

Preferably the capping portion extends from the attachment portion at an angle of between 100° and 110°, most preferably at substantially 105°.

Preferably the window frame overlap portion extends from the capping portion at an angle of n 100° and 110°, most preferably at substantially 105°.

Preferably the window frame overlap portion is substantially parallel to the attachment portion.

Preferably the window frame p portion comprises a lip. ably the connecting portion comprises ventilation apertures therethrough.

Preferably the ventilation apertures have a cross-sectional area of at least 1000mm2 of cross- section open area per metre of length of the cladding support member.

Preferably the cladding t portion forms an angle of between 6° and 9° to the attachment portion, most preferably around 8°.

Preferably the distance between the centre of an outer face of the cladding support portion and 3O an outer face of the attachment portion is between substantially 25mm and 35mm, preferably substantially 30mm. Alternatively the distance is between 5mm and 15mm, ably substantially 10mm. ably the cladding support member has a substantially uniform transverse cross-section.

Preferably the attachment portion, cladding support portion, capping portion and window frame overlap portion are preferably lly , most preferably of substantially constant thickness.

Preferably the cladding support member comprises a plastic extrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present ion there is provided a cladding t assembly comprising the cladding support member of the first aspect and an end cap provided between the ting portion and the flashing n.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a weatherboard above a window in a structure, the method including the steps of i) Attaching a cladding support member of the first aspect to the structure above the window, such that the window frame overlap portion overlaps an upper portion of a frame of the window; ii) Applying a sealant to an outer face of the cladding support portion; and iii) ling a weatherboard above the cladding support member such that an inner surface of the weatherboard abuts the outer surface of the cladding support portion.

Preferably the method comprises instailing the weatherboard such that at least 5mm clearance is provided between a bottom surface of the weatherboard and the flashing portion.

The invention may also be said broadly to t in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all ations of two or more of said parts, elements or es, and where ic integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if dually set forth.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a cladding support member and/or a method of installing a weatherboard is substantially as herein described, with reference to the anying drawings.

Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 Is a perspective view from one side of a cladding support assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the opposite side of the ng support ly of Figure 1.

Figure 2A is a side view of the opposite side of the cladding support assembly of Figure 1, with the end-cap d for clarity.

Figure 3 Is a rear view of the cladding support assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the ciadding support assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-section side view of the cladding support member of Figure 1 in use.

Figure 6 is a section side view of a cladding support member according to another embodiment of the invention in use.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring first to Figures 1 — 4, a ciadding support assembly according to one embodiment of the t invention is generally nced by arrow 100. The ment shown in Figures 1-4 is adapted for use in a “direct fix” construction, rather than a cavity construction.

The cladding support assembly 100 comprises a substantially uniform elongate cladding support member 101 comprising an attachment portion 1 which can be penetrated by a ity of fasteners when in use, to connect the support member 101 to a frame of a structure. The support member 101 is ably a y body, more preferably an extrusion. In preferred embodiments the support member may be made from aluminium.

The support member 101 further comprises a cladding support portion 2 which is connected to the attachment portion 1 by a connecting portion 3.

The support member 101 further comprises a flashing portion 4. The flashing portion 4 comprises a capping portion 5 and a window frame overlap portion 6.

Each of the attachment portion 1, cladding support n 2, g portion 5 and window frame overlap portion 6 are preferably generally planar, and of ntially constant thickness. ing next to Figures 2 and 2A in particular, an outer face 2A of the cladding t portion 2 forms an angle A of between 6° and 9° to an outer surface 1A of the attachment portion 1, most preferably around 8°.

The distance D between the centre of the outer face 2A of the cladding support portion 2 and the outer face 1A of the attachment portion 1 is typically between 25mm and 35mm, preferably around substantially 30mm, for embodiments which are to be used with a cavity spacer, and between 5mm and 15mm, preferably around substantially 10mm for embodiments which are used without a cavity spacer.

The capping portion 5 extends from the attachment portion 1 at an angle B of between 100° and 110°. most preferably at substantially 105°.

The window frame overlap portion 6 extends from the capping portion 5 at an angle C of between 100° and 110°, most ably at substantially 105°. The window frame overlap portion 6 is preferably substantially parallel to the outer surface 1A of the attachment portion 1.

The window frame overlap portion 6 preferably comprises an outwardly extending lip 7. The lip 7 is preferably substantially parallel to the capping n 5.

Referring back to Figures 1 to 4, an end cap 8 may be provided to cap the sides of the support member 101 in use. The end cap 8 may be adapted to fit into the space between the ting portion 3 and the capping portion 5 in an interference fit, as best seen in Figure 1.

The end cap 8 may comprise an outer face 9 which overlaps the ends of the connecting portion 3 and capping portion 5. In preferred embodiments the ly 100 comprises an end cap 8 at either end of the support member 100.

Referring next to Figure 4 in particular, the connecting portion 3 is ably substantially continuous, but comprises a plurality of ventilation res 10 therethrough.

The ventilation res 1 0 ably have a cross-sectional area of at least 1000mm2 of cross~section open area per metre of length of the ng support member, but are preferably sufficiently narrow that vermin such as rats and mice cannot pass through them.

Referring next to Figure 5, a cladding t member 101 is shown installed on a frame member 20 of a structure, above a window frame 21. The cladding support member 101 is lly installed such that its longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal.

The cladding t member 101 is mounted to the frame member 20 by means of suitable fasteners, typically nails 22, which are driven through the attachment portion 1 and into the frame member 20. The support member 101 is mounted such that the window frame overlap portion 6 overlaps the top of the window frame 21 by at least 10mm.

A suitable sealing tape or building underlay product 23 is preferably used to seat the top of the attachment portion 1.

A bead of suitable sealant is provided along the outer surface 2A of the cladding support portion 2. A weatherboard 24 is then fastened to the frame 20, with its inner surface 24A resting on the cladding support portion 2. The weatherboard is led such that a gap of at least 5mm is provided between the lower surface 248 of the weatherboard and the capping portion 5 of the flashing portion 4. This ensures a le space for air to flow to and from the ventilation apertures 10.

Referring next to Figure 6, the installation procedure for installing a cladding support member 101A which is adapted for use with a cavity wall construction is ntiaily the same as that described above with reference to Figure 5, with the exception that a cavity batten 25 is installed after the support member 101A, but before the first weatherboard.

Those skilled in the art wilt appreciate that the present invention provides a ng support 3O member which provides a suitable window head flashing, a ventilated vermin strip, and a support for a weatherboard or r cladding.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise", “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

Where in the foregoing description, nce has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known lents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

WHAT WE

Claims (1)

1. CLAIM IS . An elongate cladding support member comprising an attachment portion, a cladding support portion and a connecting portion connecting the attachment portion and the ng t portion, the cladding support member further comprising a capping portion extending from the ment portion and a window frame p n extending from the capping portion, wherein a front face of the cladding support portion forms an angle of between 6° and 9° to the attachment portion. 10 The elongate cladding support member of claim 1, wherein the g portion extends from the attachment portion at an angle of between 100° and 110° The elongate cladding support member of claim 2, wherein the capping portion extends from the attachment portion at an angle of substantially 105°. The elongate cladding support member of claim 1 or 2, wherein the window frame overlap portion extends from the capping portion at an angle of between 100° and 110°. The te cladding support member of claim 4 wherein the window frame overlap 20 portion extends from the capping portion at an angle of substantially 105°. The elongate cladding support member of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the window frame overlap portion is substantially parallel to the ment portion. 25 The elongate cladding t member of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the window frame overlap portion ses a lip. The te cladding support member of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting n comprises ventilation apertures therethrough. The elongate cladding support member of claim 8, wherein the ventilation apertures have a cross-sectional area of at least 1000mm2 of section open area per metre of length of the cladding support member. 35 10. The elongate cladding support member of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cladding support portion forms an angle of substantially 6° to the attachment portion. 11. The elongate cladding support member of any one of claims 1 to 9. wherein the cladding support portion forms an angle of substantially 8° to the attachment portion. 12. The elongate cladding support member of any one of the preceding claims wherein the distance between the centre of an outer face of the cladding support n and an outer face of the attachment portion is between substantially 25mm and 35mm. 13. The elongate cladding t member of claim 12 wherein the distance n the 1O centre of the outer face of the cladding support portion and the outer face of the attachment portion is substantially 30mm. 14. The te cladding support member of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the distance between the centre of an outer face of the cladding support portion and an 15 outer face of the attachment portion is between 5mm and 15mm. 15. The elongate cladding support member of claim 14 wherein the distance between the centre of the outer face of the cladding support portion and the outer face of the attachment portion is substantially 10mm. 16. The elongate cladding support member of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cladding t member has a substantially uniform transverse cross-section. 17. The elongate cladding support member of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the 25 attachment portion, cladding support portion, capping portion and window frame overlap n are generally planar. 18. The elongate cladding support member of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the attachment portion, cladding support n, capping n and window frame overlap 30 portion are of substantially constant thickness. 19. The elongate cladding support member of any one of the ing claims wherein the ng support member comprises an aluminium extrusion. 20. A cladding support assembly comprising the ng support member of any one of claims 1 to 19 and an end cap engaged between the connecting portion and the flashing portion. 21. A method of installing a weatherboard above a window in a ure, the method comprising the steps of: i. Attaching a cladding t member of any one of claims 1 to 19 to the structure above the window, such that the window frame overlap portion ps an upper portion of a frame of the window; 10 ii. Applying a sealant to an outer face of the cladding support portion; and iii. Installing a weatherboard above the ng support member such that an inner surface of the weatherboard abuts the outer surface of the cladding support portion. 15 22. The method of claim 21 further sing the step of installing the weatherboard such that at least 5mm clearance is provided between a bottom surface of the weatherboard and the flashing portion. 23. The method of claim 21 or 22 further comprising the step of inserting at least one end 20 cap into a space between the connecting portion and the capping portion. 24. A cladding support member substantially as herein described, with reference to