Building facade system and method of providing building facade

Abstract

A building facade system is provided with an integrated anchor assembly having an anchor member. The anchoring member has a blade portion, an anchoring fist, and an anchoring fork. The blade portion has a head at a proximal end, a lateral surface with serrations, and a slotted opening. The anchor fist has a channel and a flange, the channel receiving the head of the blade portion to slide within the channel. The anchor fork has prongs defining slots with openings therebetween and a serrated surface that engages the serrations of the blade portion. When mounted to a building, the anchor yoke is seated on an upwardly extending flange of a structural member that is secured to a building floor panel. The anchor fist is secured to the vertical mullion by a shear connection formed by a fastener that couples the flange of the anchor fist to the lateral surface of the mullion.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 333,421, filed on April 21, 2022, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments presented herein generally relate to the field of building facade systems that form an exterior facade envelope around a building, such as a multi-residential or commercial office building, a high-rise building, a tower, a skyscraper, etc. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein provide a universal building facade system that is anchored from a building floor structure via an innovative structure of shear-braced, integrated anchors.

[0004] According to exemplary embodiments, the building facade systems presented herein can form an integral anchor without the need for expensive notching of vertical support members (e.g., mullions), which can often create difficulties and limited tolerances. The embodiments disclosed herein allow for the benefits of a single integral anchor system without many of the disadvantages inherent in notched vertical systems. For example, a system according to the embodiments presented herein can require fewer field-installed parts than conventional facade systems and can improve labor efficiency for installation while providing the ability to apply conventional fire blocking in the field as needed. Such designs go beyond certain known notched vertical facade systems that rely on a continuous shelf design that remains stretched, which can impact the field application of critical life-saving fire blocking materials. Background Art

[0005] Window / hybrid wall and curtain wall are two traditional types of building facade systems that are well known and commonly used. Typically, known curtain wall frames use multiple anchor subassemblies. Each subassembly consists of approximately half of a two-part large aluminum mating clip and may include a jack bolt and a serrated washer. When assembling such a system, one subassembly is typically pre-attached to the end of a building terminal plate by a first group of workers, and a second subassembly is mated to a pre-glazed panel by a second group of workers. When a third group of workers couples the pre-assembled panel anchor subassembly to a subassembly attached to a building floor slab, the two subassemblies that make up the entire anchor are coupled together. The pre-assembled panels of such systems may have multiple anchor parts that are structurally attached to the vertical structure / mullion along a shear or tensile vector.

[0006] Conventional curtain wall systems may utilize notched or non-notched vertical frames. Both notched and non-notched vertical frames are spaced more than an inch, or as much as several inches, from the terminating edge of the building floor slab. Unfortunately, such arrangements have been shown to provide a direct flame spread path between floors within twenty (20) minutes if a fire burns through the aluminum horizontal members. Therefore, if expensive fire blocking materials / measures are not added, known curtain wall configurations may present a life safety hazard by allowing vertical flame spread.

[0007] At least one notched curtain wall design relies on continuous shelves that remain in tension, which prevents the in-situ application of critical life safety fire containment measures in the field. More specifically, such continuous shelf designs may obscure gaps between vertical supports and the terminating edges of the building floor panels, which may require the installation of safety fire stop materials to the building panels prior to installation. Such conditions may prevent visual verification that is necessary to reliably confirm proper compression of the safety fire stop materials and the absence of gaps that would compromise the integrity of the safety fire stop. In addition to critical fire safety limitations, the unprotected gaps allowed by notched curtain wall systems also allow excessive sound to be transmitted upward to occupants above.

[0008] For curtain wall designs utilizing continuous shelving members, the inability to install traditional two-hour rated firestops and smoke seals on site can present a safety hazard to building occupants. For the safety and health of building occupants, building codes often require the implementation of separate firestopping measures, such as fire-resistant mineral wool and smoke-blocking silicone seals, installed after the panels are attached to the building to stop the spread of fire and smoke upward along the curtain wall between floors. The installation and use of such measures can be expensive, time consuming, and may not be feasible for certain continuous shelving design systems due to the individual shelving anchors that span between vertical members - such situations result in a "blind" application of firestop materials without adequate visual verification.

[0009] In contrast, window wall systems are well known as internally supported fenestration systems provided in modular and composite units, including transparent vision panels and / or opaque glass or metal panels that span from the top of a floor slab to the underside of an immediately higher floor slab - using the underlying floor slab as structural support. Thus, the window wall system bears weight directly on the underlying floor slab and may be comprised of any number of individual complete window units for filling a particular exterior opening on a particular floor. Thus, when a window wall system is fully installed within an exterior opening between floors in a building, the system operates independently of other window wall systems in the building.

[0010] Conventional building window / hybrid wall frames are known to use multiple parts, including a series of field-installed track parts at the top and bottom faces of the terminated ends of the floor panels, thereby forming a limited opening by two groups of workers. A third group then insulates and covers the panel edges using multiple field-installed bulk shipping parts. A fourth group installs the pre-assembled units within the confines of the top and bottom track systems set by the first group. Therefore, the installation process can be labor-intensive. In addition, because the window wall is internally supported, the glass aesthetic design is less continuous and more interrupted. The window wall may also be more susceptible to leaks due to the drying of the seal around the panel.

[0011] In view of the troublesome deficiencies of known curtain wall systems, there is a need in the art for a building facade system that can provide improved field-applied safety code compliant fire blocking and smoke sealing materials and better noise reduction without requiring excessive installation and / or maintenance time and expense. The innovations presented herein overcome the deficiencies associated with conventional curtain wall systems and eliminate the need for multiple work groups to assemble and install multi-part anchors as described above, and the innovations presented herein include the use of one-piece anchors, which are the first of their kind, allowing facade designers to use notched or non-notched vertical designs, and allowing for safe fire-stopping field applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a partial front view of a building facade system according to an exemplary embodiment provided herein.

[0013] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 Schematic notched vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a building facade system according to exemplary embodiments provided herein, taken along line AA.

[0014] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A schematic top plan cross-sectional view of a portion of a building facade system for notched vertical applications according to exemplary embodiments provided herein, taken along line BB.

[0015] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 Schematic non-notched vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a building facade system according to exemplary embodiments provided herein, taken along line AA.

[0016] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 A schematic top plan cross-sectional view of a portion of a building facade system for notchless vertical applications according to an exemplary embodiment provided herein, taken along line BB.

[0017] Figure 6 is an isometric view of an anchor assembly according to embodiments provided herein.

[0018] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps of a method for installing a building facade system according to embodiments provided herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, it being understood that this disclosure is considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments shown.

[0020] Embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to building facade systems and methods of forming building facade systems, substantially as shown and / or described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and as more fully set forth in the claims. It will be appreciated from this subject disclosure that embodiments presented herein can allow floor panels of a building structure to more tightly engage the interior of a building facade system through an integral anchor and an open-ended or closed slot of a vertical mullion. Embodiments further relate to an easily manufactured slot-free application that still provides all of the labor-saving benefits of an integral anchor assembly compared to multi-part anchor assemblies in conventional curtain walls.

[0021] It will be appreciated from this subject disclosure that the disclosed embodiments present an entirely new type of building facade system that provides for the application of fire containment measures required for the safety of building occupants and also meets international and local building codes after the frame is installed on the floor structure. It will be further appreciated that the disclosed embodiments provide a highly versatile building facade that is virtually universal in application, including a first-of-its-kind integrated anchor that enables the facade designer to use either a notched or non-notched design for the vertical support members, capable of providing critical field application safety fire protection in either condition.

[0022] The specific advantages, aspects and novel features of the disclosed systems and methods and details of the illustrated embodiments thereof will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, which refer to specific embodiments in which the invention may be implemented. The embodiments are intended to describe the various aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0023] Now referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 A portion of a building facade system 10 constructed according to an embodiment provided herein is schematically shown. Figure 1As schematically shown in FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment, a building facade system 10 may be comprised of a plurality of panel assemblies 12, including at least one building facade panel 15, which may be structurally assembled to a frame assembly comprised of vertical mullions 14 and horizontal members 16, 18. Figure 1 As shown schematically, panel assemblies 12 may be arranged side by side along a portion of the exterior of a building structure to form a building facade. According to an exemplary embodiment, the building facade may be composed of substantially vertical mullions 14 and horizontal members 16, 18 supported on the vertical mullions 14 to form a frame 13. The panel assemblies 12 may be vertically and horizontally aligned side by side and end to end with seals therebetween to protect the building interior and isolate the building interior from precipitation, wind, and temperature.

[0024] According to an exemplary embodiment presented herein, an infill panel 13 can enclose an interior space of a building between consecutive floor panels FS. The infill panel can be constructed of visual glass that can be transparent, opaque, colored, translucent, reflective and / or can be composed of any other material selected from a group including solid, perforated or patterned, steel, aluminum, glass, glass fiber reinforced cement (GFRC), ceramic, sintered stone, stone and polymer. The infill panel 13 can be further isolated and / or composed of one or more layers and can have different sizes or thicknesses as needed or desired. According to an exemplary embodiment, the infill panel can include a spandrel covering panel that can be configured to cover the spandrel area around the terminal end of the building floor panel FS. The infill panel 13 can be structurally assembled to a frame 13 including vertical mullions 14 and horizontal members to provide an integrated pre-installed panel assembly 12.

[0025] Figure 2-Figure 6 Schematically shows the method according to the method proposed in this paper and in Figure 1 Part of a building facade system 10 of an exemplary embodiment is schematically shown in FIG. Figure 2-Figure 6 In the exemplary embodiment schematically shown, the building facade system 10 may include an integral panel assembly mounted to the terminal end of a building floor slab FS, which has a vertical structure 14 with or without a notch, and the building facade system may generally include an anchor assembly 20, a vertical mullion 14, horizontal members 16, 18 and a building facade panel 15. Figure 2 and Figure 4 Schematically shown, the building facade system 10 may further include an interior trim assembly 30, shown as a floor closure subassembly, as well as fire stoppers 32, smoke seals 34 and associated fasteners, gaskets, seals, spacers, and dividers, as will be further described herein.

[0026] As in Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As best seen in FIG. 1 , the exemplary anchor assembly 20 may be comprised of a plurality of anchor members 21 that are laterally spaced apart from one another and secured to opposite sides of a vertical mullion 14. In particular, the vertical mullion 14 may include male and female mullion half-members that are generally rectangular in cross-section and securely snap together to form the vertical mullion 14. According to an exemplary embodiment, the anchor members 21 of the integrated anchor assembly 20 may be secured to an outer surface of each mullion half-member by a fastener 42, such as a shear bolt extending horizontally therethrough. As is well known, the vertical mullions 14 and horizontal members 16, 18 together form a frame 13 for supporting a building facade infill panel 15. The frame 13, as well as the frame components and hardware, may be comprised primarily of extruded aluminum, although other materials may be used without limitation.

[0027] The back plate 11 (such as a galvanized steel back plate) can be sealed to the frame 13 on all sides. Figure 2 and Figure 4 As best schematically shown in FIG. 1 , a portion of the vertical mullion halves may be provided with notched sections 35 to minimize the distance of the facade wall from the termination face of the floor slab FS and to allow for incidental building movement and thermal expansion without compromising the integrity of the building facade. Figure 2 ) may extend along a portion of the length of the vertical mullion 14 and permit the frame 13 to be positioned closer to the terminating edge of the floor slab FS and provide space for the application of fire blocking members 32 and smoke seals 34.

[0028] Based on the present disclosure, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that Figure 2-Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary anchoring location that may be part of a much larger building facade system. In particular, it is well known that the entire system may wrap around the entire exterior of a building structure or a large portion thereof, spanning multiple floors to form the exterior facade of a building. Therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and understand that Figure 2-Figure 5 Portions of the building facade system 10 shown in, anchor assemblies 20 and other components may be provided in an orderly arrangement around the exterior of a building structure at multiple locations and in the plural. In light of the subject disclosure, it will be further appreciated that the building facade system 10 shown and described herein may be comprised of a panel assembly 12 that may be assembled in a shop and does not require pre-attachment of anchors to a building floor structure. Such panel assemblies 12 according to exemplary embodiments may generally include an integral anchor assembly 20, a frame assembly 13 comprised of vertical frames 14 and horizontal members 16, 18, and a building panel 15 that is structurally mounted to the frame assembly.

[0029] like Figure 2-Figure 5As schematically shown in FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment, the integrated anchor assembly 20 can generally be composed of an anchor member 21, and preferably a pair of anchor members 21. As schematically shown in the figure, the anchor member 21 can have a blade portion 24 and an extruded anchor fist 22 extending vertically relative to the horizontal blade portion 24. The horizontal blade portion 24 can have an inner surface having inwardly protruding serrations 23 along at least a portion thereof. The horizontal blade portion 24 can be fixed to an extruded aluminum anchor fork 25 by a horizontal adjustment fastener 26, which can be threaded into the anchor fork 25.

[0030] The extruded aluminum anchoring prong 25 may have an outer surface with sharp-toothed serrations 27 consisting of a pattern or series of alternating elongated ridges and grooves; the ridges and grooves extend vertically across at least a portion of the width of the anchor blade 24. The serrations 27 along the outer surface of the anchoring prong 25 may engage with the serrations 23 along the inner side of the blade member 24 to facilitate horizontal alignment of the anchor assembly 20 with the panel assembly 12 including the frame 13 and the infill panel 15. Figure 2-Figure 6 As schematically shown, the blade portion 24 may extend in a first lateral direction from a head portion at a proximal end to an opposite distal end. The serrated services 23 of the blade portions of adjacent anchoring members 21 may be oriented to face each other, with corresponding serrated surfaces 27 of the anchoring forks 25 engaging along them.

[0031] according to Figure 2-Figure 5 In the exemplary embodiment schematically shown in FIG, the blade portion 24 of the anchor member 21 can have a proximal end having a head with opposing flanges and a threaded fastener 40, such as a set screw adjacent the head. The anchor fist 22 can have a channel for receiving the head portion of the blade 24, and the head of the blade portion 24 can slide in a substantially vertical direction within the vertical channel of the anchor fist 22 to permit vertical adjustment of the anchor assembly 20 and the panel assembly 12 including the frame and the infill panel 15. Such vertical adjustment can be achieved by rotating the fastener 40 against the head of the blade portion 24 within the channel of the anchor fist 22. The engagement of the blade portion with the anchor fist can configure the body of the blade portion to extend along a first horizontal direction to a distal end opposite the proximal head portion.

[0032] like Figure 2-Figure 5As shown schematically, the anchoring fork 25 may have tines extending downward with a slot between the tines. The slot is open at the bottom of the fork 25 and may be configured to receive a flange of an embedded angle 29, which may be fixed to the top surface of the floor slab FS located proximal to the termination edge. The embedded angle may include a first flange fixed to the floor slab and a second flange extending vertically therefrom. The anchoring fork 25 may be placed on the second flange extending upward of the embedded angle 29, thereby loading the weight of the panel 13 onto the top of the embedded angle 29 by gravity through the anchor blade. More specifically, the downwardly open slot of the anchoring fork 25 may receive the upwardly extending flange of the embedded angle 29. The fastener 50 may be inserted through the tines of the anchoring fork 25 and through the upwardly extending flange of the embedded angle 29 to further support the anchor assembly 20 thereon.

[0033] like Figure 2-Figure 5 As shown, the anchor prongs 25 may be threadedly engaged to the anchor blades 24 by horizontal adjustment fasteners 26 that can secure the assembly together. Tightening the horizontal fasteners 26 enables inward and outward adjustment of the faces of the infill panels 15 and the frame 13. Conversely, loosening the fasteners 26 can allow the frame 13 and the panel 15 to slideably adjust the inward or outward alignment of the faces of the panels on top of the upward facing flanges of the embedded angles 29, which may be covered by spacers 27. Spacers 27 may be composed of plastic or other polymeric materials and may be secured to the terminating ends of the upwardly extending flanges of the embedded angles 29 to facilitate precise fit of the anchor prongs 25 for achieving a strong gravity loaded connection.

[0034] According to exemplary embodiments, the anchoring configuration disclosed herein does not require the channel to be embedded into the floor slab FS, which is usually labor-intensive and may interfere with the installation of other facilities (such as electrical wiring or plumbing pipes) within the floor slab. Such benefits are highly desirable because it can reduce the overall cost of the building facade and can enable building designers to embed other useful systems into the floor slab FS without worrying about potential interference from the embedded channel used to support the facade system.

[0035] According to the embodiments presented herein, the fasteners 42 that secure the integral anchor assembly 20 to the vertical mullion 14 can extend in the second lateral direction and can be inserted through holes along the flange portion of the anchor fist 22, through the outer lateral surface of the vertical mullion 14. Such attachment can include a support insert to attach the integral anchor assembly 20 to the vertical mullion 14. The support insert can be composed of extruded aluminum or other ridged materials without limitation. Therefore, according to the exemplary embodiments presented herein, the vertical mullion 14 can be secured to the integral anchor assembly 20 by a shear connection, and the vertical mullion 14 is held in shear to suspend the frame 13 of the panel assembly 12 on the building floor slab FS.

[0036] According to the subject disclosure, it will be generally understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention and utilization of the integrated anchor assembly 20 according to the embodiment proposed herein can create a completely new variation of the building facade system, which is universal in application and does not require vertical notches to withstand structural forces. Such features can make the manufacture of the facade system more cost-effective and the application of safety and fire protection much simpler than the vertical member with notches, which is required for all previous integrated anchor designs to be structurally suitable for high-rise applications. Specifically, such innovations can provide the aesthetics envisioned by all existing types of building facade enclosure systems described above in a single system, and further provide significantly improved design freedom within a single integrated chassis. Such capabilities and improvements can be obtained without the need for multiple labor groups to cooperate with the type of curtain wall frame anchors used with existing curtain wall systems, because the frame itself contains all the required anchoring components and eliminates the need to pre-attach the anchors to the building, while also allowing the installer to install the required safety and fire protection system after the frame is fixed to the building. Such a capability is not achievable with any known notched curtain wall, which may rely on a single shelf anchor and in all cases require vertical notches to reduce structural eccentricity to permit the integral anchor to function structurally.

[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown schematically, the interior of the horizontal sill member 18 can be configured for attachment of an interior trim assembly 30. The interior trim assembly 30 can have an interior trim body including a top panel 30a and an interior panel 30b. The top panel 30a of the interior trim body can be configured to be secured to the inner edge of the horizontal sill member 18, for example, by a snap-fit ​​connection. Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown schematically, the top panel 30a can be substantially horizontal and the interior panel 30b can extend substantially vertically downward from the inner edge of the top panel. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that the size and shape of the interior trim body and / or the configuration of the panels 30a, 30b can be modified without limitation without departing from the novel scope of the embodiments presented herein.

[0038] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown schematically, the interior trim assembly 30 may have a trim support member 36 and a trim index 38. The trim assembly 30 may be made of extruded aluminum and / or other rigid materials, without limitation, and may be configured to be installed after the frame 13 and the anchor assembly 20 are secured in place and after all position adjustments have been made to the anchor assembly, the trim assembly comprising a trim body, a trim support member 36, and a trim index 38. As shown, at least a portion of the trim support member 36 may extend downwardly and away from the top panel of the trim body and extend substantially parallel to the interior panel 30b. The trim index 38 may be disposed between the trim support member 36 and the interior panel 30b, and a gasket (such as a friction or compression gasket) may be positioned between the interior panel 30b and the inner edge of the trim support member 36. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the trim support member 36 may be provided with a trim support member 36 and a trim index 38. Figure 2 and Figure 4 In an exemplary embodiment best schematically shown in the drawings, the trim finger 38 can be vertically adjustable and can be slidably engaged by a shim to seal the opening or space between the top surface of the floor slab FS and the terminating end of the interior trim panel 90. The interior finish shims and trim finger 38 can be provided to accommodate accidental building movement and concrete tolerances. According to an exemplary embodiment schematically shown in the drawings, the trim assembly 30 including the trim body, the trim support member 36, the trim finger 38 can be removable to enable access to the integral anchor 20.

[0039] Figure 7 Exemplary steps of a method 100 for installing a building facade system according to an embodiment provided herein are shown. Figure 7 In the exemplary embodiment schematically shown in FIG. 1 , method 100 may include providing an integrated anchor assembly 102 having an anchor member, and preferably a plurality of anchor members, including a blade portion, an anchor fist, and an anchor fork. Both the blade portion and the anchor fork may have a serrated surface, and the serrations may engage with each other.

[0040] According to an exemplary embodiment, the proximal end of the blade portion can be secured within the channel 104 of the anchor fist, and the anchor fork can be secured to the body 106 of the blade portion by a threaded fastener extending through a slotted channel through the side of the blade portion and into the anchor fork so that the spaced apart tines of the anchor fork extend downwardly below the blade portion to define a downwardly opening slot therebetween. An integral pre-installed panel assembly 108 can be formed by coupling the anchor member to a vertical mullion 110, coupling the vertical mullion to at least one horizontal support member to form a frame assembly 112, and structurally assembling the building panel to the frame assembly 114. According to an exemplary embodiment, coupling the integral anchor assembly to the vertical mullion can be achieved by a shear connection for supporting the mullion and panel assembly under shear. More specifically, the flange of the anchor fist can be oriented flush with the side surface of the vertical mullion, and the fastener can be inserted through an opening in the flange and into the mullion. The fastener can be tightened to orient it in a second lateral direction.

[0041] like Figure 7 As schematically shown in FIG. 1 , the embedded angle steel can be fixed to the top surface 116 of the building floor panel at its terminal edge. The pre-installed panel assembly can be fixed to the building 118 by placing the anchoring fork of the anchoring member on the embedded angle steel. More specifically, the downwardly opening narrow slot of the anchoring member can be positioned on the top portion of the vertically oriented flange of the embedded angle steel and at least receive the top portion. The fastener can be further used to fix the anchoring fork to the embedded angle steel by the fastener extending through the fork tines and the upwardly extending flange of the embedded angle steel.

[0042] Horizontal adjustment 120 of the panel assembly can be achieved by disengaging the serrated segments of the anchor tines and blade portions, moving or sliding the anchor tines relative to the blade portions, and reengaging the serrated segments so that the serrated segments of the anchor tines engage different portions of the serrated segments of the blade portions. It will be appreciated that such horizontal adjustment can be facilitated by a slotted channel that extends along at least a portion of the length of the blade portion 24. Fasteners that extend through the slotted openings of the anchor tines and blade portions can be tightened to fix the lateral position of the anchor tines relative to the blade portions. Horizontal adjustment of the anchor tines relative to the blade portions is sufficient to achieve reciprocating horizontal adjustment of the panel assembly relative to the building floor panels. Such horizontal adjustment can expand or limit the gap between the terminating edge of the floor panels and the inner edge of the vertical mullions.

[0043] Vertical adjustment 122 of the panel assembly can be achieved by rotating the fastener along the head of the blade portion. The head of the blade portion is received in the vertically oriented channel of the anchor fist. Rotating the fastener causes the blade portion of the anchor member to move vertically relative to the anchor fist. Such vertical movement enables reciprocating vertical adjustment of the panel assembly relative to the building floor plate, allowing the panel assembly to be raised and lowered to a desired height relative to the floor plate and adjacent panel assemblies.

[0044] according to Figure 7 The method of the exemplary embodiment schematically shown in the Figures may further include applying safety fireproofing 124 along the inner notched section of the vertical mullion between the inner side of the mullion and the terminating edge of the floor plate. Due to the structure of the anchor assembly proposed herein and the fact that it does not require a continuous shelf to support the facade, the embodiments proposed herein can achieve visual verification of the safety fireproofing to reliably confirm proper compression and the absence of voids, which is very important for being able to provide reliable fire resistance. The embodiments may further include applying a smoke seal 126, such as a liquid smoke seal of a fluid, over at least a portion of the fireproofing adjacent to the edge of the building floor plate to further seal the gap between the plate and the mullion. The smoke seal can form a seal between the horizontal header member and the building floor plate.

[0045] according to Figure 7 In an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 , the exemplary method may further include providing a floor closure subassembly having a vertically adjustable interior trim angle held in place by compression of adjacent shims, wherein the adjustable interior trim angle may be slidably adjusted in a substantially vertical direction to engage an interior finish of a building floor panel. The method provided herein may include securing the floor closure subassembly to at least one of the horizontal members of the panel assembly 128, and sealing an opening or space 130 between a top surface or an interior floor surface of the floor FS and the interior trim assembly by slidably adjusting the interior trim finger in a substantially vertical direction toward the floor panel.

[0046] As can be seen from the foregoing, many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that no attempt or should be made to infer limitations on the specific devices shown herein. Of course, it is intended that all such modifications falling within the scope of the claims be covered by the appended claims. As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention is very suitable for achieving all the purposes and objectives set forth above and other advantages inherent to the structure. It should be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are useful and can be used without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Because many possible embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, it should also be understood that all the contents set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0047] Additionally, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desired results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be deleted from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A building facade system with an integrated anchor assembly, the integrated anchor assembly comprising: Anchoring member, comprising: a blade portion having a proximal end with a head, an opposite distal end, and a lateral surface having serrations along at least a portion of its length, a slotted opening extending along at least a portion of the length of the blade portion; an anchor fist having a channel and a flange, the channel being configured to receive a head of the blade portion, the head being configured to slidably engage within the channel, and an anchor fork having a pair of tines defining a slot having an opening therebetween, the anchor fork having a serrated lateral surface along at least a portion thereof, the serrated lateral surface of the anchor fork engaging the serrations of the blade portion, the anchor fork being secured to the blade anchor by a fastener; When installed on a building, the anchor fork is oriented so that the opening of the narrow slot faces downward, the fork is placed on the upwardly extending flange of the structural member, the structural member is fixed to the building floor, located near its terminal edge, the flange of the structural member extends into the narrow slot of the anchor fork, the blade portion extends in a substantially lateral first direction, the channel of the anchor fist extends in a perpendicular vertical direction, and the anchor fist is fixed to the vertical vertical frame by a shear connection, and the shear connection is achieved by connecting the flange of the anchor fist to the lateral surface of the vertical frame with a fastener.

2. The building facade system according to claim 1, wherein: The integrated anchor assembly includes a plurality of anchor members, at least two of which are secured to opposite sides of the vertical mullion, with the serrations of the blade portion of each anchor member facing each other.

3. The building facade system according to claim 1, wherein: The integrated anchor assembly is a part of a panel assembly, which includes a panel frame and an infill panel. The panel frame is composed of vertical mullions and horizontal supports connected thereto, and the infill panel is supported on the panel frame.

4. The building facade system of claim 3, further comprising the panel assembly.

5. The building facade system according to claim 1, wherein: The structural member is an embedded angle having a second flange secured to the floor plate, the second flange being substantially perpendicular to the upwardly extending flange. The building facade system according to claim 5 , further comprising the embedded angle steel.

7. The building facade system according to claim 1, wherein: Vertical adjustment of the anchor assembly relative to the building floor slab can be provided by movement of the head portion of the blade portion within the channel of the anchor fist, such vertical movement being achieved by rotating a fastener within the channel against the head portion.

8. The building facade system according to claim 1, wherein: Horizontal adjustment of the anchor assembly relative to the building floor slab can be provided by disengaging the serrations of the blade portion from the serrated portion of the anchor fork, sliding the blade portion laterally relative to the anchor fork, sliding a fastener extending through the slotted opening laterally therein, and reengaging the serrations of the blade portion with the serrated portion of the slot along a different section of the anchor fork.

9. A building facade system, comprising: a panel assembly including a panel frame consisting of vertical mullions and horizontal supports coupled to the mullions and constituting a frame for the infill panel, and an infill panel supported on the panel frame; An integrated anchor assembly, comprising an anchor member, wherein the anchor member comprises: a blade portion having a proximal end with a head, an opposite distal end, and a lateral surface having serrations along at least a portion of its length, a slotted opening extending along at least a portion of the length of the blade portion; an anchor fist having a channel and a flange, the channel being configured to receive a head of the blade portion, the head being configured to slidably engage within the channel, and an anchor fork having a pair of tines defining a slot having an opening therebetween, the anchor fork having a serrated lateral surface along at least a portion thereof, the serrated lateral surface of the anchor fork engaging the serrations of the blade portion, the anchor fork being secured to the blade anchor by a fastener; When installed on a building, the anchor fork is oriented so that the opening of the narrow slot faces downward, the fork is placed on an upwardly extending flange of a structural member, the structural member is fixed to the building floor, located near its terminal edge, the flange of the structural member extends into the narrow slot of the anchor fork, the blade portion extends in a substantially lateral first direction, the channel of the anchor fist extends in a perpendicular vertical direction, and the anchor fist is fixed to at least one of the vertical mullions by a shear connection, and the shear connection is achieved by connecting the flange of the anchor fist to the lateral surface of at least one vertical mullion with a fastener.

10. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: The integrated anchor assembly includes a plurality of anchor members, at least two of the plurality of anchor members being secured to opposite sides of the at least one vertical mullion, with the serrations of the blade portion of each anchor member facing each other.

11. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: The integral anchor assembly is secured to the panel assembly and mounted to the building as a single unit.

12. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: The structural member is an embedded angle having a second flange secured to the floor plate, the second flange being substantially perpendicular to the upwardly extending flange.

13. The building facade system according to claim 9, further comprising the embedded angle steel.

14. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: Vertical adjustment of the anchor assembly relative to the building floor panel can be provided by movement of the head portion of the blade portion within the channel of the anchor fist, such vertical movement being achieved by rotating a fastener within the channel against the head portion.

15. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: Horizontal adjustment of the anchor assembly relative to the building floor slab can be provided by disengaging the serrations of the blade portion from the serrated portion of the anchor fork, sliding the blade portion laterally relative to the anchor fork, sliding a fastener extending through the slotted opening laterally therein, and reengaging the serrations of the blade portion with the serrated portion of the slot along a different section of the anchor fork.

16. The building facade system according to claim 14, wherein: Vertical adjustment of the anchor assembly actuates vertical adjustment of the panel assembly relative to the floor deck.

17. The building facade system according to claim 15, wherein: Horizontal adjustment of the anchor assembly actuates horizontal adjustment of the panel assembly relative to the floor slab, such horizontal adjustment changing the width of the gap between the terminating edge of the floor slab and the inner edge of the vertical mullion.

18. The building facade system according to claim 9, wherein: The infill panels are structurally mounted to the frame and are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of solid, perforated or patterned, steel, aluminum, glass, glass fiber reinforced cement (gfrc), ceramic, sintered stone, stone and polymer.

19. A method of providing a building facade system, comprising: An integral anchor assembly is provided having an anchor member, the anchor member comprising a blade portion, an anchor fist and an anchor fork, the blade portion having a proximal end with a head, an opposite distal end and a lateral surface having serrations along at least a portion of its length, a slotted opening extending along at least a portion of the length of the blade portion, the anchor fist having a channel and a flange, the channel being configured to receive the head of the blade portion, the head being configured to be slidably engaged within the channel, the anchor fork having a pair of tines defining a slot having an opening therebetween, the anchor fork having a serrated lateral surface along at least a portion of the serrations, the serrated lateral surface of the anchor fork engaging the serrations of the blade portion, the anchor fork being secured to the blade anchor by a fastener; securing the blade portion within the channel of the anchor fist and securing the anchor tines to the body of the blade portion by threaded fasteners extending through the slotted opening of the blade portion and into the anchor tines; orienting the anchoring fork so that the tines extend downwardly below the blade portion with the opening therebetween opening downwardly; forming a panel assembly by coupling the anchor member to a vertical mullion, coupling the vertical mullion to at least one horizontal support member to form a frame assembly, and structurally assembling a building panel to the frame assembly, the coupling of the anchor member to the vertical mullion being a shear connection whereby a flange of the anchor fist may be oriented flush with a side surface of the vertical mullion and a fastener may be inserted through an opening in the flange and into the mullion; securing a structural member to a top surface of the building floor slab proximate the terminating edge, and The panel assembly is secured to the building by seating the anchor prongs of the anchor member on the upwardly extending flanges of the structural member.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising horizontally and vertically adjusting the anchor assembly relative to the building floor plate, the vertical adjustment being achieved by rotating the fastener against the head portion within the channel, by moving the head of the blade portion within the channel of the anchor fist, and the horizontal adjustment being achieved by disengaging the serrations of the blade portion from the serrations of the anchor fork, sliding the blade portion laterally relative to the anchor fork, sliding the fastener extending along the slotted opening laterally, and reengaging the serrations of the blade portion with the serrations of the anchor fork along different sections of the anchor fork.

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