Patent Publication Number: US-8978317-B1

Title: Coping for attachment to a wall with a non-structural exterior building facade

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to building construction and more specifically to a coping for attachment to a wall with a non-structural exterior building facade, which is not anchored to the exterior building facade. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     There are numerous types of non-structural exterior building facades, such as metal panels, exterior insulation finishing systems, or masonry panels. However, a drawback of the exterior building facades is their lack of structural integrity for the attachment of copings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,247 to Hickman et al. discloses a coping. U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,408 to Davidson discloses a coping assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 8,001,739 to Inzeo et al. discloses a parapet wall cover system. 
     Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a coping for attachment to a wall with a non-structural exterior building facade, which is anchored to a wall and not the exterior building facade. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a coping for attachment to a wall with a non-structural exterior building facade, which is not anchored to the exterior building facade. The coping for attachment to a wall with a non-structural exterior building facade (facade coping system) preferably includes at least one anchor clip and a coping cover. The anchor clip includes a clip support channel, a cover support and a spring support. The clip support channel includes a top member, a first side member and a second side member. The first side member extends downward from a first end of the top member and the second side member extends downward from a second end of the top member. A bottom end of the first side member is terminated with a first offset flange and a bottom end of the second side member is terminated with a second offset flange. A plurality of first holes are preferably formed through the clip support channel, adjacent a first side thereof and a plurality of second holes are preferably formed through the clip support channel, adjacent a second side thereof. 
     The cover support includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The cover support preferably includes a hat channel cross section. However, other cross sections may also be used. The hat channel cross section includes a support member, two vertical members and two flange members. The two vertical members extend downward from opposing sides of the support member. The two flange members extend outward from a bottom of the two vertical members. The two flange members and the two vertical member are notched to allow the horizontal and vertical portions to be bent substantially perpendicular to each other. The horizontal portion of the cover support is attached to the top member and the vertical portion is attached to the second side member. The spring support includes a base member and a support member. The support member extends upward from the base member. The base member is attached to the top member, adjacent the first side member. 
     The coping cover includes a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface extends downward from one side of the top surface and the second side surface extends downward from the other side of the top surface. A bottom end of the first side surface is terminated with a first attachment clip. A bottom end of the second side member is terminated with a second attachment clip. 
     The facade coping system also includes a splice channel, a corner support clip, a corner coping cover and an end cap coping cover. The splice channel includes a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface extends downward from a first side of the top surface and the second side surface extends downward from a second side of the top surface. The corner support clip includes a corner base member and a cover support member. The cover support member is attached to a top of the corner base member. The corner coping cover includes two shortened coping covers. Each shortened coping cover is mitered on one end. The mitered ends are joined to each other with any suitable attachment process. The end cap coping cover includes a shortened coping cover and an end plate. The end plate is attached to one end of the shortened coping cover. 
     The facade coping system is preferably attached to a wall in the following manner. The at least one anchor clip is attached to a top of the wall with a plurality of fasteners or the like. The second attachment clip of the coping cover is hooked on the second offset flange of the clip support channel. The first attachment clip of the cover channel is pushed over the spring support and hooked on the first offset flange. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facade coping system, which is anchored to a wall and not to an exterior building facade. 
     These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a corner support clip attached to a wall of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a splice channel before attachment to an anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of two anchor clips and a corner coping cover of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of two anchor clips attached to two walls, two channel splices placed on the two anchor clips and a corner coping cover attached to the two anchor clips of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of two adjacent anchor clips attached to a wall of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of two adjacent anchor clips attached to a wall and a splice channel placed on one of the two anchor clips of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of two adjacent anchor clips attached to a wall and an end cap coping cover hooked on the two adjacent anchor clips of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of two anchor clips attached to a wall of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an anchor clip attached to a wall shown in  FIG. 8  and a splice channel placed on the anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an anchor clip attached to a wall of  FIG. 9 , a splice channel placed on the anchor clip and a coping cover hooked on the anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of two adjacent coping covers retained on an anchor clip and splice channel of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a flat plane layout of a cover support of an anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a corner support clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of a corner support clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is an end view of a corner support clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of an anchor clip attached to a wall, a splice channel placed on the anchor clip and a coping cover retained on the anchor clip of a facade coping system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 17 , there is shown a cross sectional view of a facade coping system  1  retained on a wall  100 . The wall  100  includes a base portion  102 , a fastener stud  104  and a facade  106 . The facade coping system  1  preferably includes at least one anchor clip  10  and a coping cover  12 . With reference to  FIG. 13 , the anchor clip  10  includes a clip support channel  14 , a cover support  16  and a spring support  18 . The clip support channel  14  includes a top member  20 , a first side member  22  and a second side member  24 . The first side member  22  extends downward from a first end of the top member  20  and the second side member  24  extends downward from a second end of the top member  20 . A bottom end of the first side member  22  is terminated with a first offset flange  26  and a bottom end of the second side member  24  is terminated with a second offset flange  28 . 
     A plurality of first holes  30  are formed through the clip support channel  14 , adjacent a first side thereof and a plurality of second holes  32  are formed through the clip support channel, adjacent a second side thereof. With reference to  FIG. 8 , the anchor clip  10  is attached to the fastener stud  104  by inserting a plurality of fasteners  25  through the first and second holes  30 ,  32  and securing the plurality of fasteners  25  to the fastener stud  104 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 17 , the coping cover  12  includes a top surface  60 , a first side surface  62  and a second side surface  64 . The first side surface  60  extends downward from a first side of the top surface  60  and the second side surface  64  extends downward from a second side of the top surface  20 . A bottom end of the first side surface  62  is terminated with a first attachment clip  66 . A bottom end of the second side surface  64  is terminated with a second attachment clip  68 . The coping cover  12  is installed on the anchor clip  10  by hooking the second attachment clip  68 , under the second offset flange  28 . The first attachment clip  66  is pushed over the first end of the clip support channel  14  and below the first offset flange  26 , until the first attachment clip  66  hooks the first offset flange  26 . The spring support member  58  will pivot downward to allow the first attachment clip  66  to be pushed below the first offset flange  26 . 
     The second portion  36  includes a second support member  48 , two second vertical members  50  and two second flange members  52 . The two second vertical members  50  are bent to extend downward from opposing sides of the second support member  48 . The two second flange members  52  are bent to extend outward from a bottom of the two second vertical members  50 . The first portion  34  is bent substantially perpendicular to the second portion  36  on the bend line  35 . The tabs  46  are secured to first vertical members  40  with any suitable attachment process, such as Lance Lock. The first portion  34  is attached to the top member  20  with any suitable attachment process, such as Lance Lock. The second portion  36  is attached to the second side member  24 . 
     The spring support  18  preferably includes a spring base member  54 , spring vertical member  56  and a spring support member  58 . The vertical member  56  extends upward from the base member  54  and the spring support member  58  extends outward from spring vertical member  56 . The spring base member  54  is attached to the top member  20 , adjacent the first side member  22  with any suitable attachment process, such as Lance Lock. 
     With reference to  FIG. 17 , the coping cover  12  includes a top surface  60 , a first side surface  62  and a second side surface  64 . The first side surface  60  extends downward from a first side of the top surface  60  and the second side surface  64  extends downward from a second side of the top surface  20 . A bottom end of the first side surface  62  is terminated with a first attachment clip  66 . A bottom end of the second side member is terminated with a second attachment clip  68 . The coping cover  12  is installed on the anchor clip  10  by hooking the second attachment clip  68 , under the second offset flange  28 . The first attachment clip  66  is pushed over the first end of the clip support channel  14  and below the first offset flange  26 , until the first attachment clip  66  hooks the first offset flange  26 . The spring support member  58  will pivot downward to allow the first attachment clip  66  to be pushed below the first offset flange  26 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-3 ,  7  and  14 - 16 , the facade coping system  1  also includes a splice channel  70 , a corner support clip  72 , a corner coping cover  74  and an end cap coping cover  76 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the splice channel  70  includes a top surface  78 , a first side surface  80  and a second side surface  82 . The first side surface  80  extends downward from a first side of the top surface  78  and the second side surface  82  extends downward from a second side of the top surface  78 . At least two rows of butyl sealant  84  are preferably applied to the top surface  78 . The butyl sealant  84  seals two adjacent coping covers  12 ,  74 ,  76 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , the splice channel  70  is placed over the anchor clip  10 . With reference to  FIG. 10 , a first coping cover  12  is secured to the anchor clip  10  with the splice channel  70 . With reference to  FIG. 11 , a second coping cover  12  is attached to the anchor clip  10  with the splice channel  70 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 14-16 , the corner support clip  72  includes a corner base member  86  and a cover support member  88 . The corner base member  86  preferably includes a top member  90 , a ramp member  92  and a side member  94 . One end of the ramp member  92  extends upward from one end of the top member  90  and the side member  94  extends downward from the other end of the ramp member  92 . The side member  94  preferably includes a depressed area  96 , such that the coping covers  12 ,  74 ,  76  do not contact a middle of the side member  94 . A bottom of the side member  94  is terminated with an offset flange  98 . A plurality of first holes  110  are formed through the corner base member  86 , adjacent a first side thereof and a plurality of second holes  112  are formed through the corner base member  86 , adjacent a second side thereof. 
     The cover support member  88  preferably includes a support member  114 , two vertical members  116  and two flange members  118 . The two first vertical members  116  are bent to extend downward from opposing sides of the support member  114 . The two flange members  118  are bent to extend outward from a bottom of the two vertical members  116 . The two flange members  118  are attached to a top of the top member  90  with any suitable attachment process, such as Lance Lock. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the cover support member  72  is attached to a top of the fastener stud  104  by inserting a plurality of fasteners  75  through the first and second holes  110 ,  112  and securing the plurality of fasteners  75  to the fastener stud  104 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the corner coping cover  74  includes two shortened coping covers  12 ′. A mitered end  120  is formed on one end of each shortened coping cover  12 ′. The mitered end is 45 degrees relative to a length of the shortened coping cover  12 ′. The mitered ends  120  are joined to each other with any suitable attachment process. Installing the corner coping cover  74  requires placing the splice channel  70  over the anchor clip  10  and inserting two anchor clips  10  into each open end of the corner coping cover  74 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the two anchor clips  10  are attached to the two fastener studs  104  with the plurality of fasteners  25 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the end cap coping cover  76  includes a shortened coping cover  12 ″ and an end plate  122 . The end plate  122  is attached to one end of the shortened coping cover  12 ″ with any suitable attachment method. With reference to  FIG. 6 , two adjacent anchor clips  10  are attached to an end of the fastener stud  104  with a plurality of fasteners  25 . The splice channel  70  is placed on the anchor clip  10 , which is furthest away from an end of the wall  100 . The end coping cover  76  is attached to the two adjacent anchor clips  10 . The splice channel  70  seals a gap between the end cap coping cover  76  and a yet to be installed coping cover  12 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.