AU2006203295A1 - Building assembly component - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

APPLICANT:

Invention Title: HILTIVE PTY LIMITED BUILDING ASSEMBLY COMPONENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: "BUILDING ASSEMBLY COMPONENT" Technical field This invention relates to a building assembly component.

The invention has particular application to a building assembly for and method of fastening cladding panels to buildings or building frames, and to a jointing system for use in such an assembly and method.

Background of invention A variety of methods and assemblies are known for fastening cladding panels to buildings or building frames. Examples of such methods and assemblies are described in our International Patent Applications PCT/AU01/01119 and PCT/AU2005/000156, the descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

These systems produce a substantially flat fagade.

Summary of Invention The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known building assemblies and methods, and to components for use therein.

In one aspect this invention resides broadly in a jointing system for supporting a plurality of cladding panels relative to a building or building frame, the jointing system including:an elongate support member having attachment means for attaching the support member to the building or building frame in substantially horizontal alignment, and an outer upwardly directed flange and an inner downwardly directed flange constituting opposed offset flanges for supporting the lower and upper edges respectively of adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels; whereby when the adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels are supported relative to the building or building frame by the jointing system, the lower edges of the cladding panels are spaced outwardly of the upper edges.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a method of fastening a plurality of cladding panels to a building or building frame, the method including:fastening to the building or building frame in substantially horizontal alignment a jointing system, the jointing system having elongate support members with attachment means for attaching the support members to the building or building frame and an outer upwardly directed flange and an inner downwardly directed flange constituting opposed offset flanges, and supporting a cladding panel relative to the building or building frame with the upper edge of the panel supported by the inner downwardly directed flange of a first support member attached to the building or building frame, and with the lower edge of the panel supported by the outer upper flange of a second support member attached to the building or building frame below the first support member; whereby when adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels are supported relative to the building or building frame by the jointing system, the lower edges of the cladding panels are spaced outwardly of the upper edges.

It is preferred that the support member is an aluminium extrusion.

It is also preferred that the attachment means is an inner upwardly directed flange.

It is also preferred that the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are connected by and offset along a web extending outwardly from the inner upwardly directed flange, the inner downwardly directed flange being proximate the inner upwardly directed flange.

It is also preferred that the outer upwardly directed flange is directed slightly inwardly of vertical.

It is also preferred that the downwardly directed inner flange is directed slightly outwardly of vertical.

It is also preferred that the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are substantially parallel.

It is also preferred that at at least its outer portion the web is directly slightly upwardly and the outer upwardly directed flange is substantially perpendicular to the web.

Preferably the panels have slots extending around the edges thereof and the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are receivable in the slots in the lower and upper edges respectively of the adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels.

It is preferred that the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange respectively constitute the outer flanges of an outer upwardly directed channel and an inner downwardly directed channel constituting opposed offset channels for receiving sealing means therein.

It is also preferred that the outer upwardly directed flange of the outer upwardly directed channel is shorter than the inner flange thereof.

Description of Drawings In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG 1 is a cross-sectional view of a support member in accordance with the invention; FIG 2 is a cross-sectional view of a support member attached to a building supporting vertically spaced cladding panels, and FIG 3 illustrates a cladding panel supported by a pair of vertically spaced support members.

Description of Preferred Embodiment of Invention The jointing system of the present invention has an elongate support member 20 in the form of an aluminium extrusion which is fastened to a building frame 11 by screws 31 as seen in FIGS 2 and 3 along an upwardly directed inner flange 21 constituting attachment means.

Elongate support member 20 has an outer upwardly directed flange 22 and an inner downwardly directed flange 23 which constitute opposed offset flanges for supporting the lower and upper edges 42,43 respectively of adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels 41. Upper and lower flanges 22, 23 are connected by and offset along web 24 extending outwardly from inner upwardly directed flange 21, lower downwardly directed flange 23 being proximate inner upwardly directed flange 21.

Outer upwardly directed flange 22 is directed slightly inwardly of vertical and inner downwardly directed flange 23 is directed slightly outwardly of vertical, the two flanges being substantially parallel. As best seen in FIG 3, the angle of inclination is such that the opposed flanges align with respective flanges of vertically adjoining support members 28,29 separated by the depth of a cladding panel. At least along the outer portion of its extent, web 24 is directly slightly upwardly with outer upwardly directed flange 22 being substantially perpendicular to web 24.

As best seen in FIG 2, panels 41 have slots 44 extending around the edges thereof and the outer upwardly directed flange 22 and the inner downwardly directed flange 23 are received in slots 44 in the lower and upper edges 42, 43 respectively of the adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels 41.

As is best seen in FIG 1, the outer upwardly directed flange 22 and the inner downwardly directed flange 23 respectively constitute the outer flanges of an outer upwardly directed channel 25 and an inner downwardly directed channel 26. The outer upwardly directed flange 22 of outer upwardly directed channel 25 is shorter than the other inner flange of channel 25. These opposed offset channels 25,26 are suitable for receiving sealing means therein. FIG 2 illustrates a seal 27 in inner downwardly directed channel 26.

As best seen in FIGS 2 and 3, in use a cladding panel 41 is fastened to a building or building frame 11 by fastening in substantially horizontal alignment elongate support member 20 by attachment means in the form of an inner upwardly directed flange 21. The support member 20 has an outer upwardly directed flange 22 and an inner downwardly directed flange 23 constituting opposed offset flanges.

Cladding panel 41 is supported relative to the building or building frame 11 with slot 44 in the upper edge 43 of panel 41 receiving inner downwardly directed channel 23 of a first support member 28 attached to the building or building frame 11, and with slot 44 in the lower edge 42 of panel 41 receiving outer upper channel 22 of a second support member 29 attached to the building or building frame 11 below the first support member 28.

The panels are progressively affixed upwardly with lower support member 29 being attached to building 11, panel 41 rested on support member 29 with slot 44 of lower edge 42 straddling outer upwardly directed flange 22.

Upper support member 28 is then seated on the upper edge 43 of panel 41 with upper edge slot 44 of the panel receiving the inner downwardly directed flange 23. The upper support member 28 is then positioned horizontal and fixed to building 11, and the process is repeated for another cladding panel positioned above the first.

It will be appreciated that adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels 41 are supported relative to the building or building frame 11 with the lower edges 42 of cladding panels 41 spaced outwardly of the upper edges 43 thereby achieving a weatherboard effect for the facade. Typically for a cladding panel with 450mm depth, the lower edges are spaced outwardly of the upper edges.

It will be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments describe fitting the panels and the support members to a building frame, these could also be fixed to a building per se as, for example, when cladding an older building or when fastening cladding to a new building of concrete slab construction or the like. In such cases, the support members can be affixed directly to the building, or as is preferred, bearers of top hat configuration in cross section are fixed to the building. To correct for any surface irregularities in the building, the top hat member is packed out as required to provide an accurate laser surveyed top surface on the top hat members. Support members in accordance with the invention are then fixed to the top hat members and the panels then fitted to the support members in the manner described above.

It will also be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments describe fitting the panels and the support members to the exterior of a building, the invention is equally applicable for fixing panels in interior walling within a building.

The jointing system of the present invention and building systems and methods utilising the system have a number of advantages over known systems.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Claims (12)

1. A jointing system for supporting a plurality of cladding panels relative to a building or building frame, the jointing system including:- an elongate support member having attachment means for attaching the support member to the building or building frame in substantially horizontal alignment, and an outer upwardly directed flange and an inner downwardly directed flange constituting opposed offset flanges for supporting the lower and upper edges respectively of adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels; whereby when the adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels are supported relative to the building or building frame by the jointing system, the lower edges of the cladding panels are spaced outwardly of the upper edges.

2. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support member is an aluminium extrusion.

3. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the attachment means is an inner upwardly directed flange.

4. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are connected by and offset along a web extending outwardly from the inner upwardly directed flange, the inner downwardly directed flange being proximate the inner upwardly directed flange.

A jointing system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the outer upwardly directed flange is directed slightly inwardly of vertical.

6. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the downwardly directed inner flange is directed slightly outwardly of vertical.

7. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are substantially parallel.

8. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein at at least its outer portion the web is directly slightly upwardly and the outer upwardly directed flange is substantially perpendicular to the web.

9. A jointing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels have slots extending around the edges thereof and the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange are receivable in the slots in the lower and upper edges respectively of the adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels.

10. A jointing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer upwardly directed flange and the inner downwardly directed flange respectively constitute the outer flanges of an outer upwardly directed channel and an inner downwardly directed channel constituting opposed offset channels for receiving sealing means therein.

11. A jointing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the outer upwardly directed flange of the outer upwardly directed channel is shorter than the inner flange thereof.

12. A method of fastening a plurality of cladding panels to a building or building frame, the method including:- fastening to the building or building frame in substantially horizontal alignment a jointing system, the jointing system having elongate support members with attachment means for attaching the support members to the building or building frame and an outer upwardly directed flange and an inner downwardly directed flange constituting opposed offset flanges, and supporting a cladding panel relative to the building or building frame with the upper edge of the panel supported by the inner downwardly directed flange of a first support member attached to the building or building frame, and with the lower edge of the panel supported by the outer upper flange of a second support member attached to the building or building frame below the first support member; whereby when adjacent vertically spaced cladding panels are supported relative to the building or building frame by the jointing system, the lower edges of the cladding panels are spaced outwardly of the upper edges.