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  
       [0001]     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  
       [0002]     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.  
         [0003]     The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     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.  
         [0007]     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.  
         [0008]     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.  
         [0009]     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.  
         [0010]     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.  
         [0011]     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.  
         [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     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.  
         [0014]     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.  
         [0015]     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.  
         [0016]     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.  
         [0017]     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.  
         [0018]     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.  
         [0019]     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.  
         [0020]     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.  
         [0021]     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 
    
    
       [0022]     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:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a section view of a cladding element according to a preferred embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view in section of the cladding assembly according to a preferred embodiment;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a mounting means and a frame member connected together;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a mounting means showing anchor and retaining means according to a preferred embodiment;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a mounting means showing two fixing points for fasteners and a catch in the form of a tie;  
         [0028]      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;  
         [0029]      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;  
         [0030]     FIGS.  8  to  10  are stages of assembly of cladding element to mounting shown in side elevation view;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a cladding assembly mounted to a frame;  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of a cladding assembly showing a detail of the overlapped section;  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a similar view to that shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  is a roof cladding assembly shown mounted to a rafter in side elevation view including a starter cladding overlap element;  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  is a similar view to that shown in  FIG. 14  in a wall application;  
         [0036]      FIG. 16  is a side elevation view of a ridge capping which finishes off a roof cladding assembly in sealed manner; and  
         [0037]      FIG. 17  is an exploded view of that shown in  FIG. 16  showing ridge capping mounting elements. 
     
    
       [0038]     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.  
         [0039]     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.  
         [0040]     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 .  
         [0041]     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 .  
         [0042]      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.  
         [0043]     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 .  
         [0044]     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.  
         [0045]     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 .  
         [0046]     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 .  
         [0047]     Seals are provided at  56 ,  58  and  60 , to reduce the ingress of water across the cladded barrier  10 .  
         [0048]     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 .  
         [0049]     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 .  
         [0050]     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 .  
         [0051]     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  40   a  of a base cladding element  13  is mounted in retaining means  26   a  for vertical support as well as, retention against the frame  22 .  
         [0052]     Rebate  76  is positioned against retention means  26   a  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.  
         [0053]     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.  
         [0054]     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.  
         [0055]     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.  
         [0056]     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.