US2859843A - Surface-covering structure for a wall - Google Patents

Description

F. E. ALLEN 2,859,843

SURFACE-COVERING STRUCTURE FOR A WALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 5 V w /7 INVENTOR.

FRANCIS E. ALLEN} f Nov. 11, 1958 Filed Sept. 12, 1955 ATTORNEYS United. States Patent P The present inventionrelates to improvements in a surface-covering structure for a wall, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In my United States Patent No. 2,317,015, issued April 20, 1943, on a fastening means for metal panels, I disclose a clip that has a clamping portion for gripping the upstanding flange of a panel. The clip also has a hookshaped finger with an upstanding outer end designed'to enter a slot provided in the lower flange of the adjacent panel disposed in the next higher course of panels. The upstanding outer'end of the hook-shaped finger carries a tongue that will become wedged against the side of the slot that receives the finger, and holds the panel from moving toward or away from the-supporting surface to which the clip is attached.

A different type of clip is. illustrated in the William A. Barrows patent, Number 2,379,269, issued on June 26, 1945, and used for porcelain enameled panel mounting. This clip has spaced fingers for engaging with upper and lower faces of the top flange on the panel to support the panel. Such a clip prevents the top flange of the panel being provided with an upwardly extending weather flange. 1

Another patent issued to me on August 18, 1953, Patent No. 2,649,172, pertains to an architectural panel. It is this type of panel that I show in the present case as being supported by my improved clip.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting clip for architectural panels that has panel supporting and positioning fingers for gripping and supporting a panel at its top flange while providing space for receiving the weather flange that extends upwardly from the inner edge of the top flange. The fingers are so shaped as to permit the clip to be rocked into gripping position on the top flange for supporting the panel. The fingers also engage both surfaces of the weather flangea e The" clip has two supporting fingers and an intermediate positioning finger, the latter being designed to contact the outer surface of the top flange and the adjacent surface of the upstandingweather flange. The intermediate. positioningfinger is hook-shaped and the upstanding end vof the hookis designed to enter a slot provided in theb ottom flange of the next higher panel for bolding the lower end of thispanel from moving inwardly or outwardly with respect to the supporting wall to which the clip is attached;

.Still another object ofsmy invention is to provide novel means for permitting the clips for successive courses of panels tobe arranged one above another in a vertical line even though the clip supporting one panel is entirely concealed by the adjacentpanel disposed thereabov'e. f The bottom flange-of each panel has at least two slots spaced equal distances from the sides of the panel, andthe upstanding weather strip extending from the top flangeisprovided with openings or other type of mark equal in number to the slots and these openings 2,859,843 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 ice .or marks are centered with the slots. The operator then Drawings My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of two architectural panels, each being supported by two of my panel-mounting I clips.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the panels illustrated in Figure 1 and shows how the clips are secured to a supporting surface;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the clip and adjacent panel portion enclosed in the dot dash circle indicated at H1 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line V-V of Figure l; and

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the panel supporting clips. I

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a panel A of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,649,172. Two of the panels A are shown in Figure 1, and a brief description of one will suffice forboth. The panel A has a front flat surface 19 of rectangular shape and each of the four edges of the panel is flanged rearwardly as indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 14. The top flange is 11 and the left hand flange is 12 with the bottom flange being numbered 13 and the right hand flange is given number 14. Both the top flange 11 and the left hand flange 12 are provided with weather flanges 15 and 16 respectively. The two receding flanges 13 and 14 which in this case represent the bottom and right side of the panel areof somewhat less width than the flanges 11 and 12 (note flange 14 in Figure 4), so that when several panels are arranged in a group the sides 13 and 14 will overlie the weather flanges 15 and 16 of adjacent panels without causing the surface of the panel to protrude beyond the surfaces of adjacent panels. In Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the bottom flange 13 of the upper panel A, overlies the weather flange 15 of the next lower panel A.

The two weather flanges 15 and 16 are joined by a corner A see Figure 1, that is depressed or set back a distance equal approximately to double the thickness of the material of which it is formed. The right hand end of the Weather flange 15 has a depressed corner A and this corner is depressed or set back a distance equal to one thickness of the material of which it is formed. The reasons for these set back corners A and A are set forth in my Patent No. 2,649,172, and will not be explained in this case.

The mounting clip B is shown in an isometric view in Figure 6. The clip is formed of one piece of metal and has a main body portion 20 with a diagonal row of openings 21 therein. The two side edges of the body are inwardly turned to form side flanges 22 that reinforce the clip and also act as spacing members to space the panel A from the supporting surface a distance which is sufficient to permit the circulation of air between the panels and the supporting surface. This will prevent condensarear edge of the flange 13.

tion taking place due to air being confined within the panels.

It will also be noted from Figure 6 that the clip has two side panel-supporting finger portions 20 and 20 on the ends of which are formed fingers 23 and 24. A central panel-positioning finger 25 is positioned between the finger portions 20 and M The flanges 22 extend down into the fingers 23 and 24 and tend to reinforce finger portions. These fingers 23 and 24 engage with the under surface 11a of the top flange 11 and support the entire weight of the panel A (see Figure 4). The lower portions of the flanges 22 not only reinforce the panel-supporting fingers 23 and 24, but they also contact with the rear face 1521 of the weather flange 15 so as to prevent this fiangeand therefore the panel from moving toward the supporting wall C.

The central panel-positioning finger 25 has a forwardly and downwardly inclined portion 25a, see Figure 6, and a hook-shaped portion comprising a back 2512, bottom 25c, and front 25d. The rear surface of the back 25b of the hook contacts with the adjacent front face of the weather flange 15 and holds this flange as well as the panel A from moving away from the supporting wall C, see Figure 5. The bottom 25c of the hook contacts with the top surface of the flange 11 and cooperates with the side fingers 23 and 24 in gripping the flange and supporting the panel. The fingers 23, 24 and 25 therefore support the panel A and hold it rigidly in place. They prevent vertical movement of the panel A with respect to the clip B, and prevent horizontal movement of the panel toward or away from the supporting wall C. A screw 26, see Figure 5, secures the clip B to the supporting wall and the screw may be inserted in any one of the three holes 21. This gives a person the choice of a wider area to insert t re screw in the wall C.

The forward upstanding portion 25d of the hook 25 is for the purpose of positioning the lower flange 13 of the next higher panel A and holding this panel against movement in a horizontal plane toward or away from the supporting wall C. Figure shows the upstanding portion 25d, entering a slot 27, provided in the lower flange 13. This slot 27 is wider than the portion 25d (see Figure l), and thus it is only necessary to approximately straddle the opening '17 with the clip in order that this portion will enter the slot. This opening defines a reference means for positioning the clip. The inner surface of the back 251) contacts with the rear edge of the flange 13 and the inner surface of the upstanding portion 25d contacts with the rearmost side of the slot 27 disposed nearest the V In this way the flange 13 is gripped'by the hook 255 and the lower portion of the panel A cannot move toward or away from the supporting wall C.

It will therefore be seen that the clip B supports the top of one panel and also holds this top and the bottom of the next higher panel, against movement toward or away from the supporting wall. It is possible to space the lower flange 13 of one panel any desired distance from the upper flange 11 of the next lower panel, up to the height of the upstanding portion 25d because it is the portion that is received in the slot 27. Also the weather flange 15 will permit any desired Vertical spacing between adjacent panels up to the extent of the height of the upstanding portion 25d of the hook 25. Any type of filler D may be used between the upper flange 11 of one panel A and the lower flange 13 of the panel disposed directly thereabove. A caulking strip of the type shown in my copending case, Serial No. 394,562, filed November 27, 1953, now Patent No. 2,761,199, could be used if desired.

in the mounting of the panels on the wall C, it is necessary that the panels be arranged one above the other in vertical alignment. if the lower panel A in Figure 1, is taken as the first or lowest course of panels on the wall. it will be seen that the clips B, supporting the tops of these panels, will be concealed by the next course of panels. It would be difficult to align the second course of panels and the remaining courses in vertical alignment unless some way was provided for aligning the clips B of the second course vertically with respect to the clips supporting the lower course of panels. In other words some means should be provided 'for arranging the clips in successive courses, in vertical rows.

This is accomplished first by placing the end slots 27 in the lower flange 13 of the panel A, the same distance from the side flanges 12 and 14. If more than two slots 27 are provided, the additional slots would be positioned predetermined distances from the end slots. Secondly, the top weather flange 15 is provided with openings 17 equal in number to the slots 13, and the openings are positioned so as to be midway between the ends of the slots 27. For example in Figure 1, I have shown vertically arranged dot dash lines 28 and 29 that bisect the slots 27 in the lower flange 13 and also extend through the centers of the openings 17 provided in the weather flange 15.

The operator therefore in mounting the higher panel A, after the lower one has already been mounted, first places the slots 27 of the lower flange 13, in registration with the hooks 25 on the clips B that support the lower panel, and then he moves the panel downwardly to thread the upstanding portions 250. of the hooks through the slots. When now the top of the upper panel is swung toward the supporting wall C, the clips supporting the lower panel will be entirely hidden from view. This is where the openings 17 in the weather flange 15, play an important part. The operator slides the two clips B that have been already mounted on the top of the upper panel, into positions where the hooks 25 will cover the openings 17. The operator knows when the openings 17 will be positioned midway between the sides of the hook and this will inform him that the clips on the upper panel will be in vertical alignment with the concealed clips that support the lower panel. The upper clips can now be secured to the supporting surface C by inserting the screws 26 in any desired one of the three openings 21 in the clips. This operation is repeated for each course of panels as they are secured to the supporting wall. The clips in the successive courses will therefore be vertically aligned and this will assure that the panels A will be aligned vertically also.

The clips B perform a number of functions which have been set forth already and they are summarized as follows:

(1) Each panel floats because it is entirely supported in a vertical position by two or more clips that are attached to the top of the panel;

(2) The clips space the panels from the supporting wall so as to prevent dead air space;

(3) The clips can be snapped into place on the panel top and then slid along into correct position;

(4) The panels have openings in the top weather flange that are centered vertically with respect to the slots in the lower flange for constituting positioning means for the clips; 7

(5) The clips entirely support the top of the panel and hold the panel top as well as the bottom of the next higher panel, from moving in or out with respect to the supporting wall;

(6) The clips permit vertical spacing between adjacent courses of panels to be varied within predetermined limits,

(7) The clips enter slots in the panels and prevent the panels from walking along the side of the wall they cover; and

(8) The clips permit the panels to expand vertically and transversely within vertical limits, due to changes in temperature.

The clip is designed to give a large wall bearing surface to facilitate ,solid fastening and alignment for the panels. This large area also gives ample room to use mechanical fastening equipment such as explosive driven fasteners. The panels A may be provided with insulating strips E if desired, see Figure 5.

It is possible to use the clips B to engage with a side flange 12 of the panel A to prevent lateral creeping of the panel and for holding it against the wall C. The flange 14 has a slot 30 to receive the hook 25 of the clip and the side weather strip 16 has an opening 31 to permit the clip B on the flange 12 to register with the clip that has the tongue entering the slot 30.

I claim:

1. In a surface covering structure for a wall, in combination, a pair of architectural panels arranged one above the other in front of a wall, the lower panel having a front face provided with a rearwardly extending top flange at its top which projects toward the wall, said top flange having an upstanding weather flange connected thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent to the wall, the upper panel defining a front face fashioned with a rearwardly extending bottom flange at its bottom, said bottom flange projecting toward the Wall, said bottom flange of the upper panel being disposed adjacent to said top flange of the lower panel and having a slot formed therein, a mounting clip anchoring the panels to the wall, said clip having an upright main body portion secured to the wall, said clip having side finger portions extending downwardly from said main body portion in spaced relation to each other, said side finger portions each having a side finger for supporting a panel, said side fingers being spaced from each other and being formed at the ends of the side finger portions, a central panel positioning finger connected to said main body portion and positioned intermediate said side fingers, said central finger being disposed at a higher elevation on the clip than said side fingers, said side fingers extending forwardly from said finger portions and engaging with an under surface of said top flange of said lower panel to support the latter panel, said finger portions contacting with a rear face of the weather flange of said lower panel so as to prevent the latter flange from moving toward the wall, said central finger having a forwardly and downwardly inclined portion overlying the top of said weather flange, said central finger having a hook-shaped portion comprising a back, bottom and front extending downwardly from said inclined portion and in spaced relation to said side finger portions, the rear surface of said back contacting with an adjacent front face of said weather flange and holding this flange from moving away from said side finger portions and the wall, the bottom of said hook-shaped portion contacting the upper surface of said top flange of said lower panel above said fingers and cooperating with said fingers in gripping this flange and supporting said lower panel against vertical movement, the front of said hook portion extending upwardly through said slot in said bottom flange of said upper panel, a rear surface of the front of said hook contacting with a rearmost side of said slot in said bottom flange to thereby restrain said bottom flange from moving away from the wall, said back of said hook having a forward surface contacting a rear edge of the latter bottom flange to hold this flange from moving toward the wall.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including said mounting clip being adjustable laterally in either direction along said weather flange prior to attachment of said clip to the wall, said weather flange having reference means thereon at the approximate location to which the clip must be adjusted for entrance of said hook into the slot in said bottom flange of said upper panel.

3. A mounting clip for supporting an architectual panel comprising an upright body adapted to be secured to a wall, said body having a main portion adapted to extend parallel to and abut the wall, said body having side finger portions extending below said main portion, a pair of spaced side flanges extending longitudinally along said main body portion and said finger portions, said finger portions terminating in panel supporting fingers projecting outwardly from said finger portions to one side of said main body portion, said side flanges merging into said panel supporting fingers, said side flanges projecting outwardly of said main body and said finger portions to the same side as said panel supporting fingers, a central panel positioning finger disposed between said side finger portions, said central panel positioning finger being connected to said main body portion, but being spaced from said side finger portions, said central panel positioning finger comprising a first forwardly and downwardly inclined portion attached to said main body portion and extending outwardly and downwardly from said main body portion, on the same side as said flanges, a hook-shaped portion extending downwardly from said downwardly inclined portion, said hook-shaped portion comprising a back member extending parallel to said main body and said finger portions, a bottom extending laterally with respect to said main body and finger portions outwardly from said main body and finger portions in the same direction as said flanges, said hook-shaped portion further comprising a front member extending upwardly from said bottom member parallel to said main body portion, said back, bottom and front members of said hook-shaped portion being disposed outwardly from said side flanges, said panel supporting fingers terminating outwardly from said main body portion at substantially the inner end of said bottom with respect to said main body portion and being spaced below said bottom with respect to said main body portion.

Allen Apr. 20, 1943 Barrows June 26, 1945

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