Patent Description:
As is known, a ventilated facade comprises a supporting metal structure fixed to the wall of the building by means of brackets and anchors, and a plurality of cladding plates, which are fixed to this structure in side-by-side positions, facing and spaced from the wall, in order to define an air space. This air space allows the facade to be ventilated in order to remove any possible moisture, insulate the building, protect the wall from the direct action of atmospheric agents and obtain a space for possible housing of systems and ducts.

To install the ventilated facade, the metal structure is first mounted on the wall, using metal elements and profiles which often have to be machined and/or positioned directly on site. In particular, solutions are known in which the supporting metal structure of the ventilated facade includes a series of uprights, which are fixed to the wall in positions horizontally spaced from one another, and a series of cross members which, in turn, are fixed to the uprights in positions vertically spaced from one another and support the cladding plates. In this type of solution, the cross members must be mounted so as to be perfectly horizontal and to observe the distances that have been previously defined, during design, in order then to obtain the correct positioning of the cladding plates.

Therefore, in the known solutions, each of the cross members requires careful operations in order to be "levelled", and/or to be positioned precisely at the required height at each of the uprights that have been previously fixed to the wall.

It is therefore clear that the installation procedure described above is quite lengthy and could in any case lead to inaccuracies in the positioning of the cross members and therefore in the final appearance of the cladding plates.

<CIT> discloses a structure according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The object of the present invention is to provide a supporting structure for installing a ventilated facade, which allows the above problems to be solved in a relatively simple and cost-effective way.

According to the present invention, a supporting structure and a ventilated facade are provided, as defined in claims <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The present invention also refers to a method for installing such a supporting structure, as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are then defined in the attached dependent claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:.

In <FIG>, reference number <NUM> indicates, as a whole, a ventilated facade (partially illustrated), which is coupled to an external wall <NUM> of a building and rises from a floor or ground <NUM> in front of the wall <NUM>. In this case, the wall <NUM> is provided with an insulating covering, not shown. The wall <NUM> could be made of bricks, concrete, lightweight bricks, structural uprights, structural sheet metal, wood, etc..

The facade <NUM> comprises a supporting structure <NUM> and a plurality of rows of panels <NUM> on top of one another, which are connected to the wall <NUM> by the structure <NUM>. Preferably, the panels <NUM> are modular or homologous, meaning that they are identical to each other. In particular, each panel <NUM> comprises a cladding plate <NUM>, preferably square or rectangular in shape, having a rear surface facing and spaced from the insulating covering of the wall <NUM>, so as to form a ventilation air space <NUM> along the wall <NUM>. Each plate <NUM> has a lower horizontal edge <NUM> and an upper horizontal edge <NUM>, which are juxtaposed in the vertical direction to corresponding edges <NUM> and <NUM> of adjacent plates <NUM>; the plate <NUM> then has two lateral vertical edges <NUM>, which are side by side, in the horizontal direction, with corresponding edges <NUM> of panels <NUM> that are adjacent along the same row.

Each panel <NUM> is supported in a fixed position by the structure <NUM> according to known techniques. For example, the solution in <FIG> relates to a concealed anchor, wherein each panel <NUM> has a rear frame consisting of two horizontal profiles <NUM>, which are mechanically fixed behind the corresponding plate <NUM>, are identical and spaced vertically from one another: each profile <NUM> has a fin <NUM> that protrudes downwards, so as to define, with the rear surface of the plate <NUM>, a horizontal groove <NUM> used to hang the panel <NUM> from cross members <NUM> which form part of the structure <NUM>. The variant in <FIG>, on the other hand, relates to a visible anchor, wherein the plates <NUM> are frameless and are held in a fixed position by clips 16a, 16b, 16c which are fixed to the cross members <NUM> and are attached to the edges <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of the plates <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the structure <NUM> comprises a plurality of vertical uprights <NUM>, which are aligned and spaced from one another along direction <NUM>, parallel to the wall <NUM>, for example at a predefined constant pitch, on the floor or ground <NUM>. The uprights <NUM> are fixed to the wall <NUM> by a plurality of anchoring devices <NUM> and support, in fixed positions, the cross members <NUM>.

In particular, each anchoring device <NUM> comprises an attachment member <NUM> having two opposite ends <NUM> and <NUM>: the end <NUM> is fixed in a known way (not shown) to the wall <NUM> (by means of a threaded rod, chemical anchoring, screw anchors, etc.), whereas the end <NUM> is fixed to a bracket <NUM> supporting a corresponding upright <NUM>.

Preferably, the bracket <NUM> of each anchoring device <NUM> comprises a flange <NUM> fixed to the end <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM>, for example by means of a screw or bolt, and a coupling portion <NUM>, which is C-shaped so as to define a seat <NUM>. The latter extends in a pass-through manner along a vertical axis <NUM> and is engaged by a rear portion <NUM> of the corresponding upright <NUM>. The cross-sections of the seat <NUM> and of the rear portion <NUM> of the upright <NUM> do not change along the axis <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the seat <NUM> has a front opening <NUM> which is defined by two vertical edges of the portion <NUM> and has a width, along direction <NUM>, smaller than the rear portion <NUM> of the upright <NUM>: the latter cannot be inserted or removed horizontally through the opening <NUM>, but must be inserted axially.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the portion <NUM> has at least one concave surface <NUM> defining at least part of the seat <NUM> and has, in cross-section, an arc-of-a-circle profile, the centre of which coincides with the axis <NUM>. The surface <NUM> is coupled to a corresponding external surface <NUM> of the rear portion <NUM>, so that the upright <NUM> can rotate about its axis <NUM>, so as to allow slight adjustments or settlements of its angular position during installation, as will be described below.

In the specific example, the surface <NUM> is curved convexly and has, in cross-section, the same arc-of-a-circle profile as the surface <NUM>, i.e., it has a shape that is complementary to the concavely curved shape of the surface <NUM>.

In greater detail, in the specific solution shown, two surfaces <NUM> are provided in each bracket <NUM>: these two surfaces <NUM> face each other along direction <NUM>, are coupled to respective surfaces <NUM> of the upright <NUM> and are joined together by a surface <NUM> at the back of the seat <NUM>. The surface <NUM>, in particular, has a protrusion <NUM> at the centre, which can come into contact with a rear surface <NUM> of the upright <NUM>, which in turn joins the two surfaces <NUM>. With the exception of the possible protrusion <NUM>, the remaining part of the surface <NUM> of the seat <NUM> is spaced from the rear surface <NUM> of the upright <NUM> to leave the latter free to rotate during installation. This rotation is then stopped by at least one locking element <NUM>, which in this case is defined by a screw or a pin, which crosses the portion <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> and the portion <NUM> of the upright <NUM>, for example at the surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

Each upright <NUM> also comprises a front portion <NUM> which emerges through the front openings <NUM> of the seats <NUM> and supports at least one vertical graduated bar <NUM>. In particular, with reference to <FIG>, each upright <NUM> supports a series of graduated bars 45a, 45b, 45c, etc. stacked on top of one another (i.e., vertically aligned and resting on top of one another).

The term "graduated" means that each bar 45a, 45b, 45c has a series of marks <NUM> on its own front portion <NUM>, which faces the cross members <NUM> and the panels <NUM>. The marks <NUM> are vertically spaced from one another in a predefined manner, for example, spaced from one another with a constant pitch, to depict different possible height positions. In general, these marks <NUM> can be defined by notches, dents, lines, protrusions, colourings, etc.. , which can also be combined with each other.

With reference to the preferred embodiment in <FIG>, the front portion <NUM> of the bars <NUM> protrudes horizontally towards the cross members <NUM> and the panels <NUM>, with respect to the front portion <NUM> of the uprights <NUM>. At the same time, the marks <NUM> include a series of recesses or notches 46a having a predefined height, equal to the vertical size of a rear portion <NUM> of the cross members <NUM>, and define respective seats engaged by said rear portion <NUM>, and the latter rests against the front portion <NUM> of the uprights <NUM>. Thus, in addition to obtaining precise positioning, the recesses 46a hold the cross members <NUM> in a fixed vertical position while the cross members <NUM> are fixed to the uprights <NUM>. The vertical distance between the recesses 46a is established at the design stage on the basis of the distance at which the cross members <NUM> can/must be mounted.

Preferably, the marks <NUM> comprise additional notches 46b, between pairs of consecutive recesses 46a: the notches 46b are arranged so that they are horizontally aligned with the edges <NUM> of the plates <NUM>, whereby they are used for a visual check of the correct assembly of the cross members <NUM> and the panels <NUM> at the end of the installation.

In particular, the graduated bars, with their marks <NUM>, are standardized and identical to each other. With reference to <FIG>, the graduated bars 45a are the bottommost ones on the respective uprights <NUM> and are aligned and arranged at the same height; consequently, the bars 45b of the different uprights <NUM> are also arranged at the same height (since they rest on the bars 45a), and so on for the bars 45c, etc..

In the example shown, each graduated bar consists of a single piece, defined by a metal profile. Alternatively, it may include a covering element, e.g., made of plastic material.

<FIG> shows a variant, with different cross-sections for the bar <NUM> and the upright <NUM>. For each upright <NUM>, in general, the bars <NUM> engage a seat <NUM> formed in the front portion <NUM> and defined by a vertical groove: in the example in <FIG>, preferably, the seat <NUM> has a cross-section shaped so as to guide the bars <NUM> vertically and hold them in a fixed position along the direction <NUM>, during installation. In particular, the seat <NUM> and the bars <NUM> have a U-shaped cross-section.

Each bar <NUM> has a base <NUM> resting against a back wall <NUM> of the seat <NUM>. During installation, the bars <NUM> are arranged on the walls <NUM> in a vertical reference position and then fixed by means of one or more locking elements <NUM>, visible in <FIG> (e.g., screws, passing through the base <NUM> and the wall <NUM>).

To install the structure <NUM> and therefore the ventilated facade <NUM>, the following procedure, already mentioned above in some respects, is followed.

After arranging the uprights <NUM> in front of the wall <NUM>, vertically and at predefined distances from one another along the direction <NUM>, the same uprights <NUM> are connected to the wall <NUM> by means of the anchoring devices <NUM> to make the positioning stable. Preferably, at this stage, the uprights <NUM> have freedom of rotation in the seats <NUM>, about the respective axes <NUM>, not yet being locked with respect to the brackets <NUM>.

The bars <NUM> are then arranged on the uprights <NUM>: their vertical position is adjusted so that the marks <NUM> provided on the different uprights <NUM> are aligned horizontally. For this purpose, for each upright <NUM>, the bottommost bar 45a is positioned first: the vertical positions of all the bars 45a are accurately adjusted and set, for example with levels or other common construction equipment, so that they are all at the same height.

With this positioning, the bars 45a are fixed to the respective uprights <NUM> and are then used as a fixed reference to stack the graduated bars 45b, 45c, etc.. At this stage, it is no longer necessary to adjust the position of the bars 45b, 45c, etc.. as this position is automatically defined by the latter bars 45b, 45c, etc.. being vertically resting on the bars 45a, which are arranged below and have already been fixed to the uprights <NUM> (the latter already having a fixed and stable vertical position).

After also fixing the bars 45b, 45c, etc.. to the uprights, the marks <NUM> visible on the different uprights <NUM> are all accurately aligned horizontally and therefore define a predefined and stable grid for positioning, aligning and assembling the subsequent components of the structure <NUM>. In detail, the grid consisting of the set of marks <NUM> represents a template which is available for positioning the cross members <NUM> at the desired heights and with a precise parallel orientation, without the need to use any other tool to measure the distances and/or to level the same cross members <NUM>. In other words, it is possible to exclusively refer to the marks <NUM> to mount the cross members <NUM> in the designed position.

In particular, as mentioned above, it is sufficient to insert the rear portions <NUM> of the cross members <NUM> in the recesses 46a to automatically obtain the horizontal orientation and the positioning of the cross members <NUM> at the correct height. Having calibrated the height of the recesses 46a according to the plan, the cross members <NUM> remain stationary in this position while they are fixed to the uprights <NUM> by means of one or more locking elements <NUM>, visible in <FIG> (e.g., screws).

During this fixing, the position of the uprights <NUM> in the seats <NUM> adapts automatically, due to the freedom of rotation described above. After fixing all the cross members <NUM>, the uprights <NUM> can be locked with respect to the brackets <NUM> by means of the elements <NUM>.

Lastly, once these operations for installing the structure <NUM> have been completed, the panels <NUM> are mounted on cross members <NUM> (for example, according to the technique shown in <FIG>).

From the foregoing, therefore, it appears that the bars <NUM> make it possible to greatly simplify installation operations and reduce operating time: in fact, after arranging the bars 45a at the same height, using the common techniques and tools available on the site, the latter no longer need to be used to position subsequent components (the bars 45b, 45c, the cross members <NUM>, etc.) due to the presence of the reference grid defined by the marks <NUM>, which is visible directly at the front portions <NUM> of the uprights <NUM>.

This results in high accuracy in the positioning of the cross members <NUM>, and therefore of the panels <NUM>. In this respect, the recesses 46a are particularly effective.

Furthermore, compared to the known solutions, the freedom of rotation of the uprights <NUM> in the seats <NUM>, due to the shape of the seats, makes the fixing of the cross members <NUM> easier and more precise.

Other advantages also appear to the people skilled in the art from the preferred features described above.

Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the structure <NUM> and facade <NUM> described with reference to the attached figures without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

In particular, the various components may be fixed using different methods and/or connecting elements other than the screws shown herein.

Claim 1:
- A supporting structure (<NUM>) for a ventilated facade (<NUM>), comprising:
- a plurality of uprights (<NUM>) which are vertical and are spaced from one another in a horizontal direction (<NUM>);
- anchoring means (<NUM>) for fixing said uprights (<NUM>) to a building;
- a plurality of cross members (<NUM>), which are parallel to one another, are arranged at different heights, are fixed to said uprights (<NUM>) and are configured so as to couple a plurality of panels (<NUM>) to said supporting structure (<NUM>) and, therefore, form said ventilated facade (<NUM>); further comprising, for each upright (<NUM>):
- at least one bar (45a), which is vertical and arranged on said upright (<NUM>), and
- fixing means (<NUM>) which lock said bar (45a) with respect to said upright (<NUM>), characterized in that said at least one bar (45a) is graduated.