Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"BUILDING PANEL, ASSEMBLY AND METHOD"
Technical field
This invention relates to a building panel, and to a building assembly and
method.
The invention has particular but not exclusive application to a building
assembly and method for fastening cladding panels to building frames, and to
cladding panels for use in the assembly and method.
Background of Invention
It is known for cladding panels to be fastened to building frames by a
variety of methods and fastening assemblies. Australian patent 735352 in the
name of the present applicant illustrate one such method and fastening
assembly.
Summary of Invention
The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known building
panels, and building assemblies and methods.
This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a building assembly
including:-
a plurality of elongate jointing elements adapted to be fastened relative
to a building frame and each including an outwardly facing channel portion
and at least one flange extending laterally from the channel portion for
engaging a cladding panel;
a plurality of cladding panels having elongate recesses along and
proximate the edges thereof for engaging the at least one flange for
supporting the cladding panel to form a wall, and
elongate cover means fastenable to the at least one flange for covering
the channel portion.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of
fastening cladding panels to building frames, the method including:-
fastening an elongate jointing element relative to the building frame,
the jointing element including an outwardly facing channel portion for fixing
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the jointing element relative to the building frame and at least one flange
extending laterally from the channel portion for engaging a cladding panel;
forming an elongate recess along and proximate the edge of a cladding
panel;
engaging the flange in the recess, and
fastening elongate cover means to the at least one flange for covering
the channel portion.
It is preferred that the arrangement is such that the cover means when
fastened to the flange is receivable with the flange within the recess in the
cladding panel.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a wall cladding
assembly including:-
elongate jointing elements for mounting to a frame and having flanges
extending therefrom;
a plurality of walling members having elongate recesses along
opposed sides thereof for receiving the flanges whereby the plurality of
walling members is supported by the plurality of jointing elements to form a
wall, and
elongate cover means for fastening to the jointing elements to cover
the jointing elements between adjoining walling members.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of
assembling a wall, the method including:-
mounting a plurality of elongate jointing elements having flanges
extending therefrom to a frame;
supporting a walling member having elongate recesses along opposed
sides thereof between a pair of jointing elements by positioning the flanges
in
the recesses, and
fastening elongate cover means to the jointing elements to cover the
jointing elements between adjoining walling members.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a building assembly
including:-
a plurality of elongate jointing elements adapted to be fastened relative
to a building frame and each including an outwardly facing channel portion
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and at least one flange extending laterally from the channel portion for
engaging a cladding panel;
a plurality of cladding panels having elongate recesses along and
proximate the edges thereof for engaging the at least one flange for
supporting the cladding panel to form a wall, and
sealing means positionable between the building frame and an
elongate jointing element when fastened thereto for substantially sealing the
space between the building frame and the cladding panel against the ingress
of moisture.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of
fastening cladding panels to building frames, the method including:-
positioning sealing means between an elongate jointing element and
the building frame, the jointing element including an outwardly facing channel
portion for fixing the jointing element relative to the building frame and at
least
one flange extending laterally from the channel portion for engaging a
cladding panel, and the sealing means being adapted to substantially seal the
space between the building frame and the cladding panels against the ingress
of moisture;
fastening the elongate jointing element relative to the building frame;
forming an elongate recess along and proximate the edge of a cladding
panel, and
engaging the flange in the recess.
It is preferred that the sealing means is a longitudinally extending
gasket.
It is also preferred that the gasket includes longitudinally extending rib
means adapted to resiliently engage the inner surface of the cladding panels
when the at least one flange engages the recess.
It is also preferred that the rib means includes a plurality of parallel ribs
extending outwardly of the building frame when the gasket is positioned
thereagainst by the jointing element.
It is also preferred that the ribs are dimensioned such that engagement
of a flange of a jointing element in a recess in a cladding panel biases the
ribs
against the inner surface of the cladding panel.
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In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a wall cladding
assembly including:-
elongate jointing elements for mounting to a frame and having flanges
extending therefrom:
sealing means positionable between the frame and an elongate jointing
element when fastened thereto for substantially sealing the wall cavity
against
the ingress of moisture, and
a plurality of walling members having elongate recesses along
opposed sides thereof for receiving the flanges whereby the plurality of
walling members is supported by the plurality of jointing elements to form a
wall.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of
assembling a wall, the method including:-
positioning sealing means between a frame and a plurality of elongate
jointing elements, the sealing means being adapted to seal the wall cavity
against the ingress of moisture and the jointing elements having flanges
extending therefrom;
mounting the jointing elements to the frame, and
supporting a walling member having elongate recesses along opposed
sides thereof between a pair of jointing elements by positioning the flanges
in
the recesses.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a building assembly
including:-
a plurality of elongate jointing elements adapted to be fastened relative
to a building frame and each including an outwardly facing channel portion
and at least one flange extending laterally from the channel portion for
engaging a cladding panel, and
a plurality of cladding panels having elongate recesses along and
proximate the edges thereof for engaging the at least one flange for
supporting the cladding panel to form a wall;
the recesses being formed by affixing a longitudinally extending strip to
the panel proximate an edge thereof.
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In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a cladding panel for
use in a building assembly wherein a plurality of elongate jointing elements
are
adapted to be fastened relative to a building frame, the jointing elements
including an outwardly facing channel portion and at least one flange
5 extending laterally from the channel portion for engaging the cladding
panel,
the panel including:-
a substantially planar surface area, and
a plurality of elongate recesses along and proximate edges thereof for
engaging a flange for supporting the cladding panel to form a wall;
the recesses being formed by affixing a longitudinally extending strip to
the panel proximate an edge thereof.
In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of
fastening cladding panels to building frames, the method including:-
fastening an elongate jointing element relative to the building frame,
the jointing element having an outwardly facing channel portion for fixing the
jointing element relative to the building frame and at least one flange
extending laterally from the channel portion for engaging a cladding panel;
forming an elongate recess along and proximate the edge of the
cladding panel, the recess being formed by affixing a longitudinally extending
strip to the panel proximate an edge thereof, and
engaging the flange in the recess.
It is preferred that the strip has a longitudinally extending rebated lap,
the rebate constituting the recess when the strip is fixed to the panel.
It is also preferred that a longitudinally extending gasket is fixed to the
outer edge of the lap for sealing against the outwardly facing channel portion
when the flange is received in the recess.
It is also preferred that the strip is fixed to the panel such that the
distance between the outer edge of the lap and the edge of the panel is
slightly less than the combined thickness of the outwardly facing channel
portion and the gasket.
Description of Drawings
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In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put info
practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:-
FIG 1 is an exploded perspective view of a building assembly including
an edging cover strip in accordance with the present invention;
FIG 2 is an assembled plan view of the building assembly seen in FIG 1;
FIG 3 is an assembled plan view of a variation of the building assembly
seen in FIG 1;
FIGS 4-7 are sectional elevations of a building assembly including a
sealing element in accordance with the present invention, and progressively
illustrate the method of this aspect of the invention;
FIG 8 illustrates an assembled plan view of a building assembly
including a panes edge recess arrangement in accordance with the present
invention;
FIGS 9 to 18 illustrate other configurations where the various aspects
of the present invention can be utilised and wherein:-
FIG 9 illustrates typical soffit detail;
FIG 10 illustrates typical internal corner detail;
FIG 11 illustrates typical external corner detail;
FIG 12 illustrates another typical internal corner detail;
FIG 13 illustrates another typical external corner detail;
FIG 14 illustrates another typical external corner detail;
FIG 15 illustrates typical window sill detail;
FIG 16 illustrates typical window head detail;
FIG 17 illustrates typical wall base detail, and
FIG 18 illustrates typical parapet capping detail.
Description of Preferred Embodiment of Invention
One aspect of the invention is best explained by turning first to FIG 7
which shows cladding panel walling fixed in place on a building. As seen in
FIG
7, the building assembly of the present invention includes a plurality of
elongate
jointing elements 12 (of which only one is shown) adapted to be fastened
relative to a building frame~in the form of top hat section 11 by screws 13.
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Each jointing element 12 is in the form of a top hat section and includes an
outwardly facing channel portion 22 and at least one flange 17 (see FIG 4
wherein, as is preferable, a pair of flanges 17 are shown) extending laterally
from the channel portion 22 for engaging a cladding panel 10. A plurality of
cladding panels 10 have elongate recesses 18 formed in their edges (see FIG
6) for engaging the flanges 17 for supporting the cladding panels 10 to form
a wall. Sealing means in the form of an elongated or longitudinally extending
gasket 14 is positionable between building frame 11 and elongate jointing
elements 12 when fastened thereto for substantially sealing the space
between building frame 11 and the cladding panels 10 against the ingress of
moisture.
Gasket 14 is made from a resilient flexible material such as EPDM or
neoprene for example and has longitudinally extending parallel ribs 16 which
are adapted to resiliently engage the inner surface of cladding panels 10
when flanges 17 engage in recesses 18 in cladding panels 10. Ribs 16
extend outwardly of building frame 11 when gasket 12 is positioned
thereagainst by jointing element 12 when fastened to the building frame by
screws 13.
As is best seen in FIGS 6 and 7 ribs l6,are dimensioned such that
engagement of flanges 17 in recesses 18 biases the ribs against the inner
surface of cladding panels 10. Thus the outwardly extending height of ribs 16
is slightly greater than the external dimension of the channel portion 22 of
jointing elements 12 less the width of the inner portion of walling panel 10
formed by recess 18. This results in the biasing configuration seen in FIG 7
when the panels are slid over the flanges as seen in the directions of the
arrows in FIG 6.
In use, as seen progressively in FIGS 4 - 7, cladding panels are
fastened to building frames in the method of the present invention by
positioning sealing means 14 between an elongate jointing element 12 and
the building frame 11, fastening the elongate jointing element 12 relative to
the building frame, forming an elongate recess 18 in the edge of a cladding
panel 10, and engaging flange 17 in recess 18. The jointing element 12
includes an outwardly facing channel portion 22 for fixing jointing element 12
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relative to the building frame 11 and flanges 17 extending laterally from the
channel portion 22 for engaging cladding panels 10. The sealing means 14 is
adapted to substantially seal the space between the building frame 11 and the
cladding panels 10 against the ingress of moisture.
It will thus be appreciated that in one aspect the present invention can
be seen as a wall cladding assembly having elongate jointing elements 12 for
mounting to a frame 11 and having flanges 17 extending therefrom, sealing
means 14 positionable between the frame 11 and an elongate jointing
element 12 when fastened thereto for substantially sealing the wall cavity
against the ingress of moisture, and a plurality of walling members 20 having
elongate recesses 18 along opposed sides thereof for receiving the flanges
17 whereby the plurality of walling members 20 is supported by the plurality
of
jointing elements 12 to form a wall.
In use, a wall is assembled in accordance with the method of one
aspect of the invention by positioning sealing means 14 between a frame 11
and a plurality of elongate jointing elements 12, the sealing means 14 being
adapted to seal the wall cavity against the ingress of moisture and the
jointing
elements 12 having flanges 17 extending therefrom. The jointing elements 12
are mounted to the frame 11, and a walling member 20 having elongate
recesses 18 along opposed sides thereof is supported between a pair of
jointing elements 12 by positioning the flanges 17 in the recesses 18.
Another aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIGS 1 - 3 wherein
elongate cover means in the form of strips 15 are fastened to the flanges 17
as seen in FIG 2 for covering the channel portion 22. Strips 15 and flanges
17 when fastened together are receivable within recesses 18. Strips 15 are
provided in a range of colours so that a range of aesthetic choices are
available to coordinate with a range of panel colourings and tonings.
It will be appreciated that cover strip 15 may be fastened to flanges 17
before panels 10 are slid over the flanges (as illustrated) or alternatively
can
be inserted into recesses 18 and fastened to flanges 17 when the panels 10
have already been slid over flanges 17.
An alternative arrangement to that described above is illustrated in FIG 3
wherein recess 18 is in the form of a rebate, flange 17 being received in the
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rebate to retain the panel 10, the arrangement being such that cover strip 15
finishes flush with the face of panel 10.
Thus it will be appreciated that a building assembly in accordance with
this aspect of the invention includes a plurality of elongate jointing
elements 12
adapted to be fastened relative to a building frame 11 and each including an
outwardly facing channel portion 22 and at least one flange 17 extending
laterally from the channel portion 22 for engaging a cladding panel 10. The
building assembly also has a plurality of cladding panels 10 having elongate
recesses 18 along and proximate the edges thereof for engaging the at least
one flange 17 for supporting the cladding panel 10 to form a wall, and
elongate cover means 15 fastenable to the at least one flange 17 for covering
the channel portion 22.
In use, cladding panels are fastened to building frames in accordance
with the method of this aspect of the invention by fastening an elongate
jointing element 12 relative to the building frame 11, the jointing element 12
including an outwardly facing channel portion 22 for fixing the jointing
element
12 relative to the building frame 11 and at least one flange 17 extending
laterally from the channel portion 22 for engaging a cladding panel 10. An
elongate recess 18 is formed along and proximate the edge of a cladding
panel 10, the flange 17 is engaged in the recess 18, and elongate cover
means 15 are fastened to the at least one flange 17 for covering the channel
portion 22.
It will also be appreciated that a wall cladding assembly in accordance
with this aspect of the invention includes elongate jointing elements 12 for
mounting to a frame 11 and having flanges 17 extending therefrom, a plurality
of walling members 10 having elongate recesses 18 along opposed sides
thereof for receiving the flanges 17 whereby the plurality of walling members
10 is supported by the plurality of jointing elements 12 to form a wall, and
elongate cover means 15 for fastening to the jointing elements 12 to cover the
jointing elements 12 between adjoining walling members 10.
In use, a wall is assembled in accordance with the method of this
aspect of the invention by mounting a plurality of elongate jointing elements
12 having flanges 17 extending therefrom to a framel 1; supporting a walling
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member 10 having elongate recesses 18 along opposed sides thereof
between a pair of jointing elements 12 by positioning the flanges 17 in the
recesses 18, and fastening elongate cover means 15 to the jointing elements
12 to cover the jointing elements 12 between adjoining walling members 10.
5 Another aspect of the building assembly of the present invention is best
seen in FIG 8 and includes a plurality of elongate jointing elements 12 (of
which only one is shown) adapted to be fastened relative to a building frame
in the form of top hat section 11 by screws 13. Each jointing element 12 is in
the form of a top hat section and includes an outwardly facing channel portion
10 22 and at least one flange 17 (as is preferable, a pair of flanges 17 are
shown) extending laterally from the channel portion 22 for engaging a
cladding panel 10. A plurality of cladding panels 10 have recesses 18 formed
along and proximate their edges for engaging the flanges 17 for supporting
the cladding panels 10 to form a wall. Recesses 18 are formed by affixing a
longitudinally extending strip 19 to panel 10 proximate an edge thereof. Strip
19 is preferably an aluminium extrusion bonded to panel 10 and has a
longitudinally extending rebated lap 20, the rebate constituting recess 18
when strip 19 is fixed to panel 10.
A longitudinally extending gasket 21 is fixed to the outer edge of the lap
20 for sealing against the outwardly facing channel portion 22 when flange 17
is received in recess 18. Gasket 21 is preferably made of a closed cell foam.
Strip 19 is fixed to panel 10 such that the distance between the outer edge of
lap 20 and the edge of panel 10 is slightly less than the combined thickness
of
the outwardly facing channel portion 22 and gasket 21. Consequently gasket
21 will be compressed to seal against the outwardly facing channel portion 22
when flange 17 is received in recess 18.
In use, cladding panels 10 are fastened to building frames 11 in the
method of this aspect of the present invention by fastening an elongate
jointing element 12 relative to the building frame, the jointing element
having
an outwardly facing channel portion 22 for fixing the jointing element
relative
to the building frame and at least one flange 17 extending laterally from the
channel portion 22 for engaging a cladding panel 10. An elongate recess 18
is formed along and proximate the edge of the cladding panel 10, the recess
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being formed by affixing a longitudinally extending strip 19 to the panel
proximate an edge thereof. Flange 17 is then engaged in recess 18.
FIGS 9 to 18 illustrate the use of the various aspects of the present
invention in a variety of applications as listed above in the description of
the
drawings.
A range of materials can be used for the various components and the
scope of protection is not limited in this regard. Thus the panels for example
can be made of any suitable cladding material.
It will be appreciated that the various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have a number of advantages over known methods and
assemblies of fastening cladding panels to building frames. These include:-
The aesthetic flexibility possible by use of the coloured cover strip.
Removal of sealing gaskets from direct UV light (possible by use of the
real sealing arrangement) significantly extends the gasket effective life.
. Furthermore suitable gaskets for external mounting as in the prior art are
available in a limited colour range and the replacement of the external
gasket by a cover strip allows for the space between adjoining panels to
be better colour coordinated with panel colours.
The fixing of relatively thin panels to building frames is facilitated,
particularly panels which are sufficiently thin not to allow for grooves to be
formed in the edges.
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.