Cladding

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to cladding for buildings, in particular, domestic buildings, industrial buildings such as storage facilities and the like. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cladding element suitable for use in a cladding assembly, the cladding element having a main body including a ridge which when the cladding element is assembled into the cladding assembly mates with a corresponding recess in an adjacent cladding element, the cladding element in use at least partly mounted in a mounting element connected to a structure so as to affix the cladding element to the structure without fasteners penetrating through or into the cladding element.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cladding for buildings, in particular, domestic buildings, industrial buildings such as storage facilities and the like. In this specification, the term “cladding” is not to be limited to wall cladding, but is intended to encompass roof cladding and any other suitable dividing structure.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many kinds of wall cladding and roof covering have been contemplated. Known kinds include terracotta, concrete, masonry, timber shakes and shingles, slate roofing, steel, brick and stucco. These materials and designs are often associated with high cost, requirements for expert installation, large weight, and high consumption of time at installation.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cladding element suitable for use in a cladding assembly, the cladding element having a main body including a ridge which when the cladding element is assembled into the cladding assembly mates with a corresponding recess in an adjacent cladding element, the cladding element in use at least partly mounted in a mounting element connected to a structure so as to affix the cladding element to the structure without fasteners penetrating through or into the cladding element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mounting means for mounting a cladding element, the mounting assembly including an anchor means and a retaining means, wherein the anchor means is fixed to a structure and the retaining means is in the form of a recess corresponding with a projection on the cladding element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cladding assembly including: a plurality of cladding elements and one or more mounting means for mounting the plurality of cladding elements, the mounting means itself fixed to a structure, the mounting means including one or more retaining means so that the cladding elements are retained on the structure without penetration of fasteners through or into the cladding elements.

Preferably the mounting means includes an anchor portion which is anchored to the frame. In some embodiments the anchor portion is fixed to the frame with adhesive, and in other embodiments the anchor portion is fixed with fasteners such as nails or screws or the like.

Preferably the retaining means includes a catch. In one preferred embodiment the catch is a tie in the form of a strut which in one form is disposed in a plane which is parallel to, and spaced from a font wall of the frame member when installed.

In other preferred embodiments the catch is in the form of a recess having a plate, the plate disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from the front wall of the frame member when installed. In both embodiments of catch, the catch is spaced from the frame member when installed by a perpendicular link or plate, so that the catch is in the form of an angle.

The main body of the cladding element may include one or more voids for the purpose of receiving insulation, and services such as water, electricity and the like. Preferably the voids run horizontally when the cladding element is in the installed condition.

Preferably, the cladding element includes a tongue which is adapted to cooperate in use with the retaining means by being inserted into the retaining means, either under the tie or between the tie and the frame or by being inserted into the recess. Preferably the tongue is disposed at a base region of the cladding element so that the cladding element may stand in the retaining element, supported above the ground thereby.

A bight is preferably provided adjacent the tongue, to provide a primary and/or secondary support for the cladding element wherein the tie or the end of the plate angle may abut an interior periphery of the bight.

Each cladding element may also include a keeper so that an adjacent cladding element may be kept in place against the frame and or mounting means, in part by an adjacent cladding element.

Preferably the keeper is in the form of a cover which is integral with and extends from the main body of each cladding element. In one embodiment, viewed in section, the cover is in the form of a proboscis spaced a selected distance from the tongue.

Preferably one or more seals is provided to minimise ingress of water across a cladded barrier formed by a plurality of cladded elements disclosed herein. In one form a first seal includes, when assembled, over lapping walls of the adjacent cladding elements wherein the cover of an upper cladding element extends over a top edge to the outside of the adjacent cladding element below.

Preferably there is provided an interior region where the two cladding elements overlap, and provided within the overlap region are one or more projections, bosses, ridges or other convolutions in the surface of either or both mating adjacent cladding elements.

In one form, two ridges (bosses in section) are provided, each on an opening face of the overlapping portions of adjacent cladding elements when assembled. The bosses when assembled abut one and other so that likelihood of water working upwards through to the other side of the cladding assembly layer is reduced. Preferably, the bosses abut in an offset manner when installed as sealing may be adversely affected if they abut symmetrically.

A second seal may be provided in the form of a step, extending outwardly from an upper region of an outer face of a lower cladding element. Preferably, two steps are provided. The second seal is affected when the cover over laps a step, an inner wall of the cover abutting an outer of the step. A third seal is effected when an end of the proboscis is inserted into the second step.

The upper region of the lower cladding element is kept against the mounting means or frame by the keeper (in the form of the cover) abutting the step.

In preferred embodiments a rebate is provided at the top of the cladding element when installed so as to accommodate the retaining means and tongue behind it when assembled, to maintain a general flatness of cladded assembly following the contour of the frame elements.

In one form the retaining means is one or more individual ties or catchers fixed to a singular anchor body, itself fixed when assembled, to a frame member. In other forms there is provided a plurality of individual anchors, each affixed to a respective retaining means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to enable a clearer understanding, the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to drawings and description of preferred embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a section view of a cladding element according to a preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in section of the cladding assembly according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a mounting means and a frame member connected together;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a mounting means showing anchor and retaining means according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a mounting means showing two fixing points for fasteners and a catch in the form of a tie;

FIG. 6 is a similar means to that shown in FIG. 5 having only one fixing point and a tie having a strut which in use is spaced from a face of the frame;

FIG. 7 is a mounting means in isometric projection, similar to FIG. 4 however the mounting is not continuous but would be used to install the assembly with a plurality of discrete mounting means;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are stages of assembly of cladding element to mounting shown in side elevation view;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a cladding assembly mounted to a frame;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a cladding assembly showing a detail of the overlapped section;

FIG. 13 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a roof cladding assembly shown mounted to a rafter in side elevation view including a starter cladding overlap element;

FIG. 15 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 14 in a wall application;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a ridge capping which finishes off a roof cladding assembly in sealed manner; and

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of that shown in FIG. 16 showing ridge capping mounting elements.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a cladding assembly (in particular, shown in FIG. 11), the assembly generally indicated at item 10. A cladding element 12 includes a main body 14, which includes two longitudinal voids for insulation, as is, by evacuating the air from the interior thereof, our for receiving insulating fibres our services such as pluming, electrical, communications, etc.

A mounting means 18 is also shown in at least FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to 7. The mounting means 18 includes an anchor 20 which is adapted to be anchored to a frame member 22 when assembled. The anchor is fastened as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 to a side wall 24 of the frame member 22 by fasteners (not shown) such as nails, screws and the like.

Retaining means 26 are provided in FIGS. 2 to 4 and in the form of a catch 28 which is in the form of a recess 30. The recess 30 has a plate 32 disposed parallel to and spaced from a support wall 34 of the retaining means. The plate 32 is connected to the support wall 34 by a link plate 36 so that the recess 30 is formed by an angle 38.

Another two embodiments of mounting means 18 are shown at FIGS. 5 and 6, generally indicated at 118 and 218. In these embodiments, the retaining means 226 and 326 are in the form of ties 227 and 327 which includes struts 229 and 329 which lie in a plane when installed perpendicular to and spaced from a front wall 35 of the frame member 22.

FIG. 4 displays the first embodiment of mounting means 18 which is continuous, having regularly spaced retaining means 26 to accommodate corresponding cladding elements, the advantage being that measurements need not be made to asses the correct location of retaining means and fasteners need not penetrate the cladding elements to retain it in place.

The cladding element 12 includes the tongue 40 which when assembled cooperates with the retaining means 26 by being inserted in the recess 30 or behind the ties 277 and 327.

The tongue is disposed at a base region 42 of the cladding element 12 when installed, so that the cladding element 12 may stand in the retaining means 26, supported above the ground in this manner.

A bight 44 is provided adjacent the tongue 40 to provide primary or secondary support for the cladding element 12, wherein the tie 227 or 327 or the end plate angle 46 will abut the interior periphery 48 of the bight 44.

A keeper in the form of a cover 52 is provided so that an adjacent, lower cladding element 13 may be kept in place against the support wall 34 or frame wall 35. The cover 52 is in the form of a proboscis 54.

Seals are provided at 56, 58 and 60, to reduce the ingress of water across the cladded barrier 10.

The keeper 50 overlaps the adjacent lower cladding element 13 with a cover element 52 in the form of a proboscis 55 each integral with the keeper 50. The proboscis 54 abuts a step of the lower cladding element 13 when assembled so that the cladding is held against the mounting means 18 and or the frame member 22, creating a line of cladding generally following the contour of the frame member 22.

In a region 70 overlapped by the keeper 50 there are provided convolutions of the opposing walls of the adjacent cladding elements 12 and 13. A ridge or boss 62 is provided on one side of the proboscis 54, the ridge adapted to abut, when assembled, with a corresponding ridge 64 on the overlapped cladding element 13. The ridges or bosses 62, 64 abut at an offset position so that dust and water is less likely to be forced upwards into the overlap 70 and across the cladded barrier 10.

Other steps are provided at 72, 74 to further reduce ingress of water. The proboscis 54 when assembled rests an end portion 66 thereof into step 72 to minimise dust and water ingress. A rebate 76 is provided in the upper region of the cladding element to accommodate the tongue 40, so as to maintain a continues contour substantially corresponding to frame 22.

To assemble, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, firstly the mounting means 18 is anchored to a side of the frame 22 with fasteners. Tongue 40a of a base cladding element 13 is mounted in retaining means 26a for vertical support as well as, retention against the frame 22.

Rebate 76 is positioned against retention means 26a and upper cladding element 12 is then installed by inserting tongue 40 into retaining means 26. Proboscis 54 overlaps cladding element 13 to retain the upper portion of 13 in place against frame 22 and provides sealing at the end of phase thereof.

Each cladding element 75 provides an end to fit under the proboscis 54 when assembled to maintain good sealing action of the overlap at the end of the assembly 10. A starter element 99 is provided at the base edge of the roofline, underneath the proboscis of the adjacent cladding element to assist with a seal formation.

The cladding elements 12, 13 may be made from any suitable material or process including plastics, wood, steel, carbon fibre, GRP, and may be made from any suitable process such as extrusion, pultrusion, and the like or milling, and may be clear to let light through or filter sun light to remove UV or any suitable process.

Roof ridges 85 are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, themselves having mounting means 86 having anchors 87 and retaining means 88 in the form in the form of an elongate head 89 insertable into a bore 90 on the roof ridge 85. Seals are similarly provided as at other Figures.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A mounting system for installation of a surface covering comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a surface of an associated structure, the mount portion, the mounting bracket including, a first generally planar bracket surface including an inward face a second generally planar bracket surface secured to the first bracket surface so as to form an angle of at least 90 degrees therebetween, and the first bracket surface including a plurality of catches, each catch having a cavity defined by a first catch wall portion extending outwardly from a first edge thereof at a selected angle from the outward face of the first bracket surface, and wherein each catch includes a second catch wall portion extending outwardly from each corresponding first catch wall portion at a second edge thereof disposed opposite to and generally parallel to the first edge at an angle such that each second wall portion has a directional component thereof parallel to the first generally bracket surface; and

a cladding member adapted to be selectively fixedly received into the mounting bracket, the cladding member including, a first generally planar cladding wall portion, a second cladding wall portion secured relative to the first cladding wall portion so as to define a void therebetween, the first cladding wall portion including a keeper at a first edge thereof, the second cladding wall portion including a tongue at a first edge thereof, wherein the first edge of the first cladding wall portion and the first edge of the second cladding wall portion are generally parallel to one another, the second cladding wall further including a rebate on a second edge thereof, which second edge is generally parallel to the first edge of the first cladding wall, the tongue portion adapted to be matingly received into a cavity of a first of the plurality of catches, and the rebate adapted to be received adjacent to the first catch wall of a second of the plurality of catches.

2. The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of claim 1, further comprising means disposed in the second bracket surface adapted for receiving an associated fastener so as to secure the bracket to a structural element of the associated structure.

3. The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of claim 2 wherein the void is adapted to receive at least one of an insulator and an electrical transmission medium therein.

4. The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of claim 2, further comprising a step formed adjacent to the rebate, which step is adapted to channel fluid generally along a path generally parallel to the rebate.

5. The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of claim 4 wherein each second cladding wall portion includes a keeper disposed at an edge distal of the rebate.