Patent ID: 7752818
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: E04F

Abstract:
1. An aluminum cladding system comprising a frame of vertical and horizontal channeled frame members to receive precision precut panel edges of adjacent panels, wherein each panel is self-aligned coplanarly by insertion of its edge into the channeled frame member in contact with a channel bottom, wherein a flat surface of each panel is in the same plane for a smooth surface of a panel arrangement; a U-shaped retaining clip having a base and two upwardly extending, deformable sidewall arms that are forced apart by installation of a self-drilling screw, that passes through a hole in the base of the clip and into the frame member wherein countersink edges of a head of the screw contact mated chamfered edges of the clip; wherein a further rotation of the screw causes the arms of the deformable clip to separate, spread apart and force tips of the arms to symmetrically imbed into the precision precut edges of the panel members for captivation of the adjacent panels.