Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
FASTENING MEMBER AND SIDING BOARDS ATTACHMENT
STRUCTURE USING THE FASTENING MEMBER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fastening member used for fastening
exterior wall boards such as ceramic siding boards to a building frame. The
invention also relates to siding boards attachment structure employing the
fastening member.
Description of the Related Art
During the construction of an exterior wall of a building, a siding board 40
as shown in Fig. 5 that has an underlying rabetted portion 44 and an overlying
rabetted portion 42 at peripheral edges thereof, is fastened to a building
frame
using a fastening member. Fig. 6 shows a fastening member 50 disclosed in JP
Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-27031 A. The fastening member 50, which
is formed by sheet metal work, includes support portions 51 a, 51 b adapted to
abut
on a back surface of an upper and a lower building board, respectively, when
fastened, a locking portion 52 formed by successively bending a central
portion of
the support portion 51, a substrate portion 53 above the support portion 51a,
and a
bend portion 54 at the lower edge of the support portion 51b. When the metal
fastening member 50 is fixed to the building frame, the substrate portion 53
and
the end of the bend portion 54 constitute the mount portions via which the
metal
fastening member 50 is mounted on the building frame.
During construction, the overlying rabetted portion 42 at the lower edge of
an upper board is locked on the locking portion 52, with the back surface of
the
exterior wall abutting against the support portion 51a. The underlying
rabetted
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portion 44 at the upper edge of a lower board is locked on the locking portion
52,
with the back surface of the board abutting against the support portion 51b.
The
fastening member 50 further includes a depressed opening 61 formed in the
support portion 51 a that has such a depth as to reach the building frame and
that
helps stabilize the mounting of the fastening member 50 to the building frame.
When the boards have been fastened, a space is established between the back
surface of the boards and the building frame, the space corresponding to the
interval between the face of the substrate portion 53 and the face of the
support
portion 51, so that ventilation can be ensured.
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-302889 A (1997) discloses a fastening
member 70 that is also formed by sheet metal work, as shown in Fig. 7. The
fastening member 70 includes a substrate portion 71 that constitutes a mount
portion that is fixed to the building frame, and support portions 72, 72
formed at
either side edge of the substrate portion 71 such that they protrude forwardly
while
extending longitudinally. The fastening member further includes a locking
portion 73 formed laterally between the support portions 72, 72 on either
side,
with the end of the locking portion 73 located more forwardly than the support
portions 72, 72. The locking portion 73 is formed by bending a lower region of
the substrate portion 71. The locking portion 73 includes rise portions 75, 75
formed by bending either side of the end thereof upward, and a fall portion 76
formed by bending a center portion of the end thereof downward. The upper
board is fastened by having the overlying rabetted portion 42 at the lower
edge
thereof locked on the rise portions 75, 75, with the back surface of the board
abutting against the support portions 72, 72. The lower board is fastened by
having the underlying rabetted portion 44 at the upper edge thereof locked on
the
fall portion 76, with the back surface of the board similarly abutting against
the
support portions 72, 72. When the boards have been fastened, a space is
established between the back surface of the boards and the structural frame
that
corresponds to the height of the support portions 72, so that ventilation is
ensured.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the fastening member 50 shown in Fig. 6, since the locking portion 52 is
formed by laminating the steel sheet two fold, the fastening member is rather
heavy and requires much steel, resulting in higher cost.
In the fastening member 70 shown in Fig. 7, the locking portion 73 is
formed of a single sheet and is therefore less heavy and less costly. However,
since the locking portion 73 is extended from the substrate portion 71 that is
the
mount portion on the building frame, the locking portion 73 of the fastening
member 70 is longer than the locking portion 52 of the fastening member 50
shown in Fig. 6, in which the locking portion 52 is extended from the support
portion 51. Thus, the strength of the locking portion 73 is rather unreliable,
particularly when a heavy, large-sized board is to be fastened.
Further, the fastening member 70 is designed to support the back surface
of the board exclusively with the left and right support portions 72, 72.
Thus,
when the adjacent portions of two laterally adjacent boards are to be fastened
with
a single fastening member 70, the back surface of each board must be supported
by
one of the two, i.e., left and right, support portions 72, resulting in a
fastening
stability problem.
In view of the aforementioned problems of the prior art, some embodiments
of the present invention provide an improved fastening member formed of a
single
steel sheet that can be manufactured using a smaller amount of steel so that
it is
light and inexpensive, that is equipped with a sufficiently strong locking
portion,
and that is capable of stably supporting a board. Some embodiments of the
present invention provide a highly stable exterior wall structure that employs
the
aforementioned fastening member.
In one aspect, the invention provides a fastening member for boards, said
fastening member comprising a left-side and a right-side support portion on
either
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side thereof, said support portions being adapted to abut on
a back surface of a board when said board is fastened, said
fastening member comprising, in an intermediate region
between said left-side and right-side support portions, from
top to bottom: a substrate portion that constitutes a mount
portion to be fixed to a building frame; a central support
portion that abuts on the back surface of a board when
fastened; a locking portion extending from a lower edge of
said central support portion and being adapted to be locked
on an upper and a lower edge of boards when fastened; and a
lower support portion that abuts on the back surface of a
board when fastened, wherein: said fastening member is formed
from a single sheet of steel; each of said left-side support
portion, right-side support portion, lower support portion,
and central support portion has the shape of a long and
narrow strip and is formed as a continuous part by drawing
the single sheet of steel; said substrate portion is formed
in a large area of an upper region of the steel sheet,
excluding the regions of said left-side support portion,
right-side support portion and central support portion; said
left-side support portion, right-side support portion and
central support portion together form an H shape; said
substrate portion is formed by depressing a portion of an
upper region of the steel sheet toward a back surface of the
fastening member; and said locking portion is formed by
cutting a portion of a lower region of the steel sheet and
raising it toward a front surface of the fastening member.
In the above fastening member, the locking portion
is provided by cutting out a portion of the steel sheet as
the material for the metal fastening member and then
utilizing the cut-out steel sheet. Thus, the fastening
member can be manufactured entirely from a single steel
sheet, so that the weight and cost of the fastening member
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of the invention can be reduced as compared with the
conventional fastening member 50 shown in Fig. 6. Moreover,
as the locking portion is extended from a support portion,
the length of the locking portion can be reduced as compared
with the conventional fastening member 70 shown in Fig. 7,
in which the locking portion 73 is extended from the
substrate portion 71. As a result, the locking portion of
the invention has a sufficient strength despite the fact
that it is made from a single sheet.
Furthermore, as the back surface of the board is
supported by the individual support portions provided on
either side of the fastening member and at the top and
bottom of the locking portion, the back surface of the board
can be more reliably supported than it is supported only by
the two support portions provided on either side of the
conventional fastening member 70 shown in Fig. 7. In
particular, when fixing the lower ends of two boards where
they are laterally adjoined to each other, using a single
fastening member, each board can be supported at two
locations, namely either one of the support portions on the
sides and the central support portion. Thus, the boards can
be fastened in a stable manner.
In one embodiment, the locking portion comprises
at least one rise portion and at least one fall portion at
an edge thereof. In this embodiment, the locking portion
can be formed by a simple bending process and yet the upper
and lower ends of the board can be reliably locked by the
thus formed locking portion.
In one embodiment, an area on either side of lower
edges of said fall portion is bent toward the back surface
of said fastening member such that the bent portions press
against the board when fastened. In this embodiment, the
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board can be maintained in a position such that it is
continuously pressed against the support portions, thereby
stabilizing the fastened state. Moreover, by forming the
tip of the bent portion in such a shape that the tip cuts
into the surface of the board, an additional fastening
stability can be provided by the wedge effect.
In one embodiment, at least one of said right-
side, left-side, and lower support portions comprises a
collar portion extending from an external edge thereof
further outward, wherein said collar portion is located in
the same plane as that of said substrate portion. In this
embodiment, the collar portion as well as the substrate
portion is abutted against the building frame, so that the
fastening member can be fixed to the building frame more
stably.
In one embodiment, a cut is provided in an upper
edge of said substrate portion near said left-side and
right-side support portion. In this embodiment, should a
strong wind pressure (negative pressure) act on a board that
has been fastened, the areas
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of the substrate portion near the cuts are temporarily deformed to absorb the
wind
pressure (negative pressure), thereby preventing an excessive load from being
put
on the rabetted portion of the board that is locked on the locking portion.
Thus, a
stable fastened condition can be maintained for a long time.
In another aspect, the invention provides siding boards attachment
structure comprising a plurality of said fastening members that are mounted in
multiple rows such that their substrate portions abut on a fixing surface of a
building frame, and a plurality of boards each with a rabetted portion
provided at
at least an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein said boards are fastened in
multiple rows such that they have their back surfaces abutting on said left-
side,
right-side, central, and lower support portions of the fastening members, the
rabetted portion at the upper edge is locked on said locking portion of an
upper
fastening member, and the rabetted portion at the lower edge is locked on said
locking portion of a lower fastening member.
In this exterior wall structure, as the fastening member is lightweight and
less costly, construction cost can be reduced while achieving a reliable
fastened
state. Furthermore, as a ventilation space is formed on the back surface of
the
boards that are fastened, the problem of dew condensation, for example, can be
prevented.
Thus, the fastening member of the invention is made from a single sheet
and is therefore lightweight and low cost, and yet the fastening member is
capable
of reliably supporting the board via the locking portion and support portions
thereof. Thus, the fastened state of the board can be maintained in a stable
manner for a long time using the exterior wall structure according to the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant
advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better
understood
by reference to the following detailed description when considered in
connection
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with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening member
according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a steel sheet as the material of the fastening
member shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an board having been fastened to a building
frame using the fastening member shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along line IV - IV of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows an example of an board.
Fig. 6 shows an example of the conventional fastening member.
Fig. 7 shows another example of the conventional fastening member.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the drawings, a fastening member according to an
embodiment of the invention and siding boards attachment structure utilizing
the
fastening member are described. Fig. I is a perspective view of the embodiment
of the fastening member of the invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the
exterior wall structure utilizing the fastening member.
A fastening member 10 shown includes a left-side supporting portion 12L
and a right-side supporting portion 12R on the sides thereof that will abut on
the
back surface of an exterior wall when fastened. The fastening member 10 also
includes, in the intermediate region between the left- and right-side portions
12L
and 12R, a substrate portion 11 that is to be fixed to a building frame. Below
the
substrate portion 11, the intermediate region includes a central support
portion
12C that will abut on the back surface of a board when fastened. Further
below,
there are a locking portion 21 to be locked on the upper and lower edges of
boards
when fastened, and then a lower-side support portion 12U that will abut on the
back surface of a board when fastened. The support portions 12L, 12R, 12C, 12U
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have the same height and are formed as a continuous portion. These support
portions 12L, 12R, 12C, 12U support the back surface of a board.
The fastening member 10 is formed by punching, drawing and bending a
single sheet of steel, such as a stainless steel plate or alloy plated steel
plate. Fig.
2 shows a steel plate 100 as the material for the fastening member 10. The
steel
plate 100 has a thickness of about 1.0 mm, which is rather thick, such that
the
number of reinforcing ribs to be provided in the fastening member 10 can be
reduced. Numerals in parentheses shown in Fig. 2 indicate the corresponding
parts of the finished fastening member 10 of Fig. 1.
An example of the process of manufacturing the fastening member 10 will
be described below. First, the steel plate 100 (see Fig. 2), in which fixing
screw
openings 31, nail openings 34, cuts 36, and a cut N are already formed, is
punched.
The cut N is formed in a lower portion 100B of the steel plate 100 roughly in
the U
shape as seen in a plan view. The area encircled by the cut N forms an
extending
portion 102 that will form the locking portion 21 of the fastening member 10
when
the processing of the plate is finished. The extending portion 102 includes
three
protruding portions 102a, 102b, and 102c at the end thereof that will form the
rise
portions 22 and fall portion 23 of the locking portion 21 when the processing
of
the plate is finished.
The steel plate 100 is then drawn along the two-dot chain lines of Fig. 2
such that the steel plate 100 is partly bulged to form the left-side support
portion
12L and the right-side support portion 12R on either side of the steel plate
100, the
central support portion 12C at the lower region 100B, and the lower support
portion 12U. As a result, in the central portion 101 in the upper region 100A
of
the steel plate 100, there is formed the substrate portion 11 that is
depressed
toward the back surface by about several millimeters. Further, a collar
portion 13
is formed along the outer edge portions of the left-side, right-side, and
lower
support portions 12L, 12R, and 12U. During the aforementioned drawing process,
a raised portion 32 within which nail openings 34 are to be disposed and
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reinforcing ribs 35 are simultaneously formed.
Then, the extending portion 102 that is formed in the lower region 100B of
the steel plate 100 in advance is bent at a right angle along the upper side
thereof
(dashed line L 1 in Fig. 2) towards the front surface. Further, the left and
right
protruding portions 102a and 102c at the end of the extending portion 102 are
bent
diagonally upward along dashed lines L2a and L2c of Fig. 2 such that the rise
portions 22, 22 are formed. The protruding portion 102b at the center of the
end
of the extending portion 102 is bent diagonally downward along a dashed line
L2b
of Fig. 2 such that the fall portion 23 is formed. The locking portion 21 is
thus
formed in a shape that conforms to the rabetted portions of the board that is
fastened. The edge portions on either side of the end of the fall portion 21
are
further bent toward the back surface along dashed lines L3, L3 shown in Fig. 2
such that bent portions 23a, 23a are formed.
While the fastening member 10 is completed by the above-described
bending process, the fastening member of the invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiment. For example, the collar portion 13 and the cuts 36
may be omitted.
Hereafter siding boards attachment structure utilizing the above-described
fastening member 10 will be described. Fig. 3 shows an board 40 as shown in
Fig.
5 that has been fastened using the fastening member 10. Fig. 4 shows a cross
section taken along line IV - IV of Fig. 3. In the illustrated example, the
fastening member 10 is fixed, via a waterproof paper P and a furring strip 2,
to a
building frame 1 by a nail 3 passed through the nail opening 34 formed in the
substrate portion 11. Specifically, after the fastening member 10 is
positioned
such that the locking portion 21 externally fits on the underlying rabetted
portion
44 at the upper edge of a lower board 40A that is located at a lower position,
the
fastening member 10 is fixed by utilizing the nail opening 34. The nail
opening
34 is formed in an upper slanted surface 33 of the raised portion 32. Thus,
the
fastening member 10 is pushed downward as a whole as the nail is driven, so
that
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the fastening member 10 can be stably fixed. Furthermore, the board 40A is
pressed against the building frame 1 by the bent portions 23a, 23a formed on
either
side of the fall portion 23. The back surface of the board is therefore
pressed
against the support portions 12L, 12R, and 12U in an air-tight manner, and the
lateral movement of the board is prevented by the resultant wedge action, so
that
the fastening member can be more stably fixed. The fastening member 10 can be
fixed alternatively by a bis utilizing the screw openings 31.
Near the root of the underlying rabetted portion 44 at the upper edge of the
lower board 40A, there is placed a caulking material 4 in advance for leakage
:
control purposes. After a required number of the fastening members 10 are
fixed
horizontally at predetermined intervals, a required number of upper boards
40B,
which are located at a higher position, are disposed laterally such that the
overlying rabetted portions 42 at the lower edges thereof internally fit on
the
locking portions 22 of the fastening members 10. Thereafter, additional
'15 fastening members 10 are mounted on the underlying rabetted portions 44 of
the
upper edge of the upper boards 40B, which are now lower boards, in a similar
manner, and are then fixed by nails. The same process is repeated for a
required
number of rows, thereby completing the exterior wall structure of the
invention.
In the above-described exterior wall structure, the board 40 can be stably
'20 supported by the locking portion 11 and the individual support portions
12L, 12R,
12C, and 12U of the fastening member 10. Between the back surface of the board
40 and the furring strip 2, there is formed a space S by the support portions
12L,
12R, 12C, and 12U of the fastening member 10 that corresponds to the height of
the support portions. As a result, good ventilation can be obtained on the
back
'25 surface of the board, so that the problem of dew condensation, for
example, can be
prevented. In accordance with the exterior wall structure of the invention,
the
fastening member is lightweight and yet has an excellent mechanical strength,
so
that it can maintain the fastened condition for a long time in a stable
manner.
Moreover, in cases where the cuts 36 are provided in the substrate portion 11,
as in
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the fastening member 10 in the above embodiment, areas near the cuts 36 would
be
deformed if a strong wind pressure (negative pressure) acted on the board,
thereby
reducing the load that is put on the rabetted portion of the board 40 locked
on the
locking portion 21.
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