Patent ID: 8065850

Claim:
A façade assembly for buildings, comprising: a façade panel, having a front face and a rear surface; a load member, having a first end and a second end, and including: a base member extending between the first and second ends and; having a longitudinal axis; and a first plane perpendicular to the base member along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end; two side walls extending between the first and second ends, and extending away from the base member parallel to the first plane, to form parallel outer edge surfaces and a linear channel with the base member, wherein each of the side walls includes a curved edge, at each of the first and second ends, disposed between the sidewall outer edge surface and the base member, the first and second ends of each sidewall are in the shape of substantially similar butterfly heels, wherein the first and second ends of the load member are defined by the first and second ends of the side walls; and an interface connected to the side wall outer edge surfaces, extending perpendicular the first plane to a distal edge, the interface for contacting the façade panel rear surface, the interface having at least one coupling member extending therefrom, each coupling member having: a first end and a second end connected to the interface; a coupling member longitudinal axis extending therebetween, wherein the coupling member longitudinal axis is parallel to the first plane and the longitudinal axis of the base member; a width, wherein the coupling member width is measured perpendicular to the coupling member longitudinal axis and the first plane, each coupling member curved away from the interface and parallel to the first plane; and a thickness that is less than the width, wherein the thickness is measured parallel to the first plane and perpendicular to the coupling member longitudinal axis; wherein each coupling member is embedded in the façade panel to hold the façade panel rear surface against the interface surface and couple the façade panel to the load member; wherein the load member is coupled to the façade panel at an intermediate location of the façade panel; and wherein the load member is fixably attached to a building surface to construct a vertically and horizontally aligned façade assembly.