Abstract:
A composite cladding panel building system includes composite cladding panels, each panel having an interior layer made of an insulating material which is enclosed by an exterior layer made of a waterproof material; at least one support extrusion configured to be fixed to a supporting structure via at least one fixing surface and support an interior side of the composite cladding panel; and at least one corner extrusion configured to attach to the supporting structure in a gap formed between the exterior edges of two adjacent like composite cladding panels via a fixing extrusion attached to the supporting structure and to overlap the exterior edge of the adjacent panels to seal the gap.

Description:
STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is based on the provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Number 604761, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a composite cladding panel building system. In particular, the present invention relates to a composite cladding panel building system with prefabricated cladding panels for attachment to a building frame. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Buildings comprising a wooden or steel frame on which pre-formed cladding panels (such as aluminium panels) are mounted to form a non-load bearing exterior facade are known. Such buildings can be erected quickly and more cheaply than brick or block facade buildings. 
     The method of building with such panels involves taking measurements of each required panel from the building frame onsite and the required sized panel cut offsite with specialist cutting equipment before fitting the panel back onsite. This process may need to be repeated until all the required panels are installed. The disadvantages with such building methods are that they are time consuming, labour intensive and costly. 
     In addition, the current method of building with pre-formed cladding panels fitted to a building frame involves weather sealing the panels with silicone or such like. The disadvantage of this is that the silicone can break down after a period of time (such as 10 years) which then requires the panels to be resealed periodically, which can be inconvenient in terms of time and cost. 
     OBJECT 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a composite cladding panel system that addresses at least some of the problems of the prior art, such as those discussed above. Alternatively, it is an object of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a composite cladding panel building system comprising:
         a cavity batten which in use is secured to a building frame;   a composite cladding panel comprising:
           an exterior layer made of a waterproof material; and   an interior layer made of an insulating material; and   
           at least one support extrusion configured to be fixed to the cavity batten via at least one fixed surface;       

     wherein said cavity batten provides a cavity between said panel and said building frame. 
     Preferably, the interior layer is made from closed cell foam. 
     More preferably, the closed cell foam is extruded polystyrene foam. 
     Preferably, the exterior layer is metal sheet. 
     More preferably, the metal sheet is aluminum. 
     Preferably, the exterior layer is between 1 mm to 4 mm in thickness. 
     More preferably, the exterior layer is 3 mm in thickness. 
     Preferably, the exterior layer is fixed to the interior layer via double sided tape. 
     Preferably, the corner joint is selected from the group consisting of: a 90° interior corner joint; a 135° interior corner joint; a 90° exterior corner joint; and a 135° exterior corner joint. 
     Preferably, the composite cladding panel system also comprises at least one soffit extrusion configured to locate a top edge of the composite cladding panel relative to a soffit of a building roof. 
     Preferably, the composite cladding panel system also comprises at least one base extrusion configured to locate a bottom edge of the composite cladding panel relative to a base surface of a building. 
     Preferably, the composite cladding panel system also comprises at least one sill extrusion configured to locate a top edge of the composite cladding panel relative to a window sill of a building roof. 
     Preferably, the composite cladding panel system also comprises at least one head extrusion configured to locate a bottom edge of the composite cladding panel relative to a window or door head of a building. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a composite cladding panel for a composite cladding panel system comprising the method steps of:
         a. pressing an exterior layer made of a waterproof material onto a side of an interior layer made of an insulating material.       

     Preferably, the method for manufacturing a composite cladding panel also comprises the step:
         b. fixing the exterior layer to the interior layer using double sided tape.       

     Preferably, the method for manufacturing a composite cladding panel also comprises the step:
         b. vacuum sealing the exterior layer to the interior layer.       

     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for cladding the exterior of a building, the kit of parts comprising:
         a composite cladding panel comprising:
           an exterior layer made of a waterproof material; and   an interior layer made of an insulating material;   
           at least one support extrusion configured to be fixed to a supporting structure via at least one fixing surface.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1 a    shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a composite cladding panel for use with the composite cladding panel system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1 b    shows a sectional perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.  1   a;    
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a composite cladding panel for use with the composite cladding panel system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows front view of a building with a plurality of composite cladding panels as shown in  FIG. 1 a    built with the composite cladding panel system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of a horizontal and vertical join of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of the soffit of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the base of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of a 90° exterior corner of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of a 135° exterior corner of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of a 90° interior corner of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a sectional view of a 135° interior corner of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows a sectional view of a window sill of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of a window jamb of the building shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a sectional view of a window head of the building shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Composite Cladding Panel 
     In a first preferred form of the present invention, a composite cladding panel for a building system is generally indicated by arrow  1 ′. The panel ( 1 ′) comprises an exterior layer made of an aluminium sheet ( 2 ′) which is 3 mm in thickness and which enclose an interior layer ( 3 ′), which is 12 mm in thickness and is made of an insulating material in the form of extruded polystyrene closed cell foam. 
     The exterior surface of the aluminium sheet ( 2 ′) is powder coated during manufacture so that no finishing is needed after attachment to a wall of a building. The panel ( 1 ′) can be manufactured in different dimensions as needed (such as 0.9 m by 1.1 m). 
     The composite cladding panel ( 1 ′) is manufactured by a first step of pressing the aluminium sheet ( 2 ′) onto the insulating material ( 3 ′). The aluminium sheet ( 2 ′) is bonded onto the insulating material ( 3 ′) via double sided tape ( 4 ′). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a preferred second preferred form of the invention, a composite cladding panel for a cladding panel system is generally indicated by arrow  1 . The panel ( 1 ) comprises an exterior layer made of an aluminium sheet ( 2 ) which is 1 mm in thickness and which enclose an interior layer ( 3 ) made of an insulating material in the form of extruded polystyrene closed cell foam. 
     The exterior surface of the aluminium sheets ( 2 ) is powder coated during manufacture so that no finishing is needed after attachment to a wall of a building. The panels ( 1 ) can be manufactured in different dimensions as needed (such as 0.9 m by 1.1 m). 
     The composite cladding panel ( 1 ) is manufactured by a first step of pressing an exterior layer in the form of an aluminium sheet ( 2 ) onto a side of an interior layer in the form of an insulating foam core ( 3 ) and either fixing the aluminium sheet ( 2 ) to the insulating foam core ( 3 ) using double sided tape or vacuum sealing the aluminium sheet ( 2 ) to the insulating foam core ( 3 ). 
     Composite Cladding Panel System 
     The composite cladding panel system of the present invention provides for an integrated system (comprising panels, flashings and mouldings) for cladding a building in a shortened time period (such as  3  days for a medium sized residential house). The composite cladding panel system can be provided in kitset form which can be installed on site. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the panels ( 1 ′ or  1 ) are attached to a frame of a building so that they are spaced at regular intervals in the plane of the wall (generally indicated by arrow  100 ) to form vertical joins ( 5 ) or horizontal joins ( 6 ) (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The panels ( 1 ′ or  1 ) can be positioned underlying to a soffit ( 7 ) (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) of a roof (not shown), to form a base ( 8 ) with a floor (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), to form an exterior corner ( 9 ) (as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ), to form an interior corner ( 10 ) (as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ), to be positioned adjacent a sill ( 11 ) of a window ( 200 ) (as shown in  FIG. 11 ) and/or a jamb ( 12 ) of a window ( 200 ) (as shown in  FIG. 12 ) and/or head of a window ( 13 ; as shown in  FIG. 13 ). 
     In use, the panels ( 1 ′ or  1 ) are cut to size if needed on site with the use of a cutting tool such as a saw to cut through the aluminium sheets ( 2 ) and a Stanley knife to cut the insulating material layer ( 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the panels ( 1 ′ or  1 ) are attached via screws ( 14 ) to a frame ( 300 ) of a building by screwing a support extrusion  101  at least partially on, and between, adjacent panels ( 1 ′ or  1 ) into a horizontal 30 mm cavity batten  15  (screwed to the building frame  300 ) from the outside so that they are spaced at regular intervals in the plane of the walls of the building. Elongate flexible flashing ( 16 ) and a cap ( 17 ) are clipped over the exterior screw heads in the direction of arrow A to hide them and form an aesthetically attractive flushed exterior surface to the wall of the building. 
     The join formed between adjacent panels ( 1 ′) is taped over to weather seal the panels ( 1 ′) on site. 
     The following description in relation to  FIGS. 5 to 13  refers to the use of panel  1 . However a person skilled in the art would appreciate that panel  1 ′ could alternatively be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to Building Soffit 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , where a panel ( 1 ) is positioned below and perpendicular to the plane of a soffit ( 7 ) of a roof (not shown) via a top cap extrusion ( 18 ) and which is secured to a 30 mm top cavity batten ( 400 ) by a screw ( 500 ). The batten ( 400 ) is in turn secured to a building frame ( 300 ). 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to Building Base 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a panel ( 1 ) is secured in relation to a building frame base ( 8 ) via a base cap extrusion ( 19 ) configured to locate the panel ( 1 ) in a position perpendicular to the plane of the base ( 8 ) via fixing of the base cap extrusion ( 19 ) to a batten ( 20 ) via a screw ( 21 ). 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to an Exterior Corner of a Building 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , two adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) are positioned on two perpendicular wall frame members ( 22   a  and  22   b  respectively) via cavity support battens ( 23   a  and  23   b  respectively) and fixed via screws ( 25   a  and  25   b  respectively). The cavity support battens ( 23   a  and  23   b ) abut exterior boarding ( 24   a  and  24   b  respectively). The gap formed between the adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) at an exterior 90° corner of the building is covered via an exterior 90° corner jointer strip ( 26 ) which is attached to the building via the screws ( 25   a  and  25   b ). In this way, the exterior corner strip ( 26 ) overlaps the exterior edge of the panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) to seal the gap formed between them from the ingress of water behind the panels ( 1   a ,  1   b ) without the need for silicone (which can break down after a period of time and need replacing). 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , two adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) are positioned on two adjacent wall frame members ( 27   a  and  27   b  respectively) via fixing to cavity support battens ( 28   a  and  28   b ) via screws ( 29   a  and  29   b  respectively). The cavity support battens ( 28   a  and  28   b ) abut exterior boarding ( 29   a  and  29   b ). The gap formed between the adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) is covered via an exterior 135° cover jointer ( 30 ) in a similar way as described in relation to  FIG. 7 . 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to an Interior Corner of a Building 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  an interior 90° corner jointer strip ( 31 ) positions adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) in relation to perpendicular wall frame members ( 32   a  and  32   b  respectively) via fixing to 30 mm cavity battens ( 33   a  and  33   b  respectively) via screws ( 34   a  and  34   b  respectively). The cavity battens ( 33   a  and  33   b ) abut exterior board ( 35   a  and  35   b  respectively). The interior corner jointer ( 31 ) is attached to the cavity battens ( 33   a  and  33   b ) via the screws ( 34   a  and  34   b  respectively). In this way, the interior 90° corner jointer ( 31 ) overlaps the exterior edge of the panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) to seal the gap formed between them from the ingress of water behind the panels ( 1   a ,  1   b ) without the need for silicone. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) are positioned on two wall frame members ( 36   a  and  36   b  respectively) via fixing to cavity support battens ( 37   a  and  37   b ) via screws ( 38   a  and  38   b  respectively). The cavity support battens abut exterior boards ( 39   a  and  39   b  respectively). An interior 135° corner jointer ( 40 ) covers the gap formed between the adjacent panels ( 1   a  and  1   b ) and is fixed in the same way as described in relation to  FIG. 9 . 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to a Window Sill of a Building 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a top edge ( 600 ) of a composite cladding panel  1  is located and positioned relative to window sill ( 41 ), window frame ( 42 ) and window ( 43 ) via extrusion ( 44 ). The interior side surface of the panel ( 1 ) is supported via a 30 mm cavity batten ( 45 ). The extrusion ( 44 ) is supported on the window sill ( 41 ) via screws ( 46 ). The extrusion ( 44 ) also provides a barrier to the ingress of water between the window frame ( 42 ) and window sill ( 41 ). 
     The window sill ( 41 ) is positioned relative to a building frame ( 47 ) via support  48 . In turn, the window frame ( 42 ) is positioned relative to the window sill ( 41 ) via support  49 . 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to a Window Jamb of a Building 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a side edge ( 700 ) of a composite cladding panel ( 1 ) is located and positioned relative to a window ( 50 ), window jamb ( 51 ) and aluminium frame ( 52 ) via fixing to a 30 mm cavity batten ( 53 ) via screws (not shown). The edge of the panel ( 1 ) adjacent the window frame ( 52 ) is positioned via frame lip ( 52   a ) and seal ( 54 ). 
     The batten ( 53 ) is supported on wall board ( 55 ). The window jamb ( 51 ) is located relative to a building frame ( 56 ) via support ( 57 ). 
     Attachment of Composite Cladding Panel to a Window Head 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a panel ( 1 ) is positioned relative to a window head ( 58 ), window frame ( 59 ) and window ( 60 ) via fixing to a 30 mm cavity batten ( 61 ) via screw ( 62 ). In addition, the bottom edge ( 800 ) of the panel ( 1 ) is located via capping mould ( 63 ) which is fixed to the cavity batten ( 61 ) via the screw ( 62 ). The window frame ( 59 ) is supported on the window head ( 58 ) via channel ( 59   a ). The gap between the window frame ( 59 ) and wall board ( 64 ) on which the cavity batten ( 61 ) abuts is weather sealed with a flashing ( 65 ). 
     The above description in relation to  FIG. 12  (window jamb) and  FIG. 13  (window head) also applies to a door jamb or door head. 
     Advantages 
     The present invention offers notable advantages over the prior art including:
         Improved ease of use in constructing a building;   Improved maintenance of building constructed with the building system of the present invention; and   Improved aesthetic appearance having no screw threads visible on an exterior surface.
 
Alternatives
       

     The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features. 
     Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. 
     It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. 
     Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.