Coupling a wall panel of a wall cladding system to a background support

Abstract

In the field of wall cladding, a kit of elements which are configured to be assembled into a coupling assembly 1 for coupling a wall panel 3 to a background support 2, 7 is provided. The kit of elements comprises a plate element 30 having a plate 31, a support arrangement 5 of the plate element 30 in the coupling assembly 1, including an adjustment element 23, and a hanger element 40 which is configured to be placed on the plate element 30 in a functional supporting position. The plate element 30 has an interaction body 32 which is connected to the plate 31 and which is configured to interact with the adjustment element 23 to thereby realize adjustment of a position of the plate element 30 in the coupling assembly 1 in a direction perpendicular to the plate 31.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a kit of elements which are configured to be assembled into a coupling assembly for coupling a wall panel of a wall cladding system to a background support.

[0002] The invention also relates to a coupling assembly assembled from the kit of elements, a wall cladding system arranged on a background support, and a method of coupling a wall panel to a background support in a process of building a wall cladding system.

[0003] The invention is applicable to the field of wall cladding and wall cladding systems. Generally speaking, a wall cladding system is used to cover a wall such as the exterior wall of a building and normally comprises a plurality of wall panels arranged on the wall in a closely adjoining fashion so as to form a façade. An important function of the wall cladding system is a decorative function. The wall cladding system can also be functional to achieve further beneficial effects such as insulation and waterproofing.

[0004] A specific type of wall panel is a fiber cement panel. Fiber cement is a mineral composite with outstanding physical and aesthetic properties. Fiber cement panels are commonly used to create a ventilated façade, which is a kind of two stage construction, namely, an inner structure with a protective outer skin, wherein said outer skin is constituted by the wall panels. The skin protects the inner structure against the elements. The key features of a ventilated façade are an outer skin of wall panels, an air gap or cavity, and an insulated backing wall which controls air leakage. The wall panels shield the backing wall from the weather. The air gap and airtight backing wall combine to limit the effects of possible water penetration between the wall panels. The fact is that at the position of the air gap, the moisture can be evaporated and / or drained away safely. Hence, the air gap and airtight backing wall provide a secondary line of defense against the elements. Drained and ventilated façades are provided with openings at the top and bottom of the wall. Said openings provide both ventilation and an effective drainage route. This combination allows air to circulate and to dry the cavity between the inner and outer skins.

[0005] A well-known method of arranging wall panels such as fiber cement panels on a wall comprises steps of applying a layer of insulation material to the wall, creating a rail frame on the assembly of the wall and the insulation material by attaching rail elements to said assembly, at appropriate positions on said assembly, and attaching the wall panels to the rail frame. The latter may involve driving fasteners such as rivets through the wall panels and into the rail frame, from the front of the wall panels, in which case visible fixing of the wall panels is obtained. Invisible fixing of wall panels is another existing possibility, and various ways of realizing such fixing are known in the art, such as putting screws or hooks or the like into the wall panels at the back side of the wall panels, or using clips with hooks which are configured to engage on the wall panels at an edge position on the wall panels. In some cases, the wall panels are hung on continuous horizontal rails by means of hangers attached to the wall panels at the back side of the wall panels.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a new design of a coupling assembly which is used to couple a wall panel to a background support, particularly a design which enables invisible fixing of the wall panels and which can do without continuous horizontal rails for supporting the wall panels.

[0007] The invention provides a kit of elements which are configured to be assembled into a coupling assembly for coupling a wall panel of a wall cladding system to a background support. The kit of elements according to the invention comprises: a plate element having a plate with at least one generally straight support edge, a support arrangement of the plate element in the coupling assembly, including an adjustment element, and a hanger element which is configured to be placed on the plate element in a functional supporting position with a support edge of the plate up and in horizontal orientation, wherein: the plate element has an interaction body which is connected to the plate and which is configured to interact with the adjustment element to thereby realize adjustment of a position of the plate element in the coupling assembly in a longitudinal direction being a direction perpendicular to the plate.

[0008] The invention also relates to a coupling assembly assembled from the kit of elements of the type defined in the foregoing, wherein the plate element is supported on the support arrangement, and wherein the hanger element is placed on the plate element in a functional supporting position with a support edge of the plate up and in horizontal orientation.

[0009] Further, the invention relates to a wall cladding system arranged on a background support, comprising combinations of a wall panel and at least two coupling assemblies of the type defined in the foregoing, wherein each of the coupling assemblies couples the wall panel to the background support, and wherein the coupling assemblies are at a distance from each other as seen in horizontal direction.

[0010] Still further, the invention relates to a method of coupling a wall panel to a background support in a process of building a wall cladding system, comprising: providing at least two kits of elements of the type defined in the foregoing, attaching the respective hanger elements to a back side of the wall panel, creating respective anchor assemblies of a plate element and a support arrangement including an adjustment element at positions on the background support by taking the following actions at each of the positions: attaching the support arrangement to the background support, and putting the plate element in place on the support arrangement, adjusting the position of the respective plate elements in the longitudinal direction through interaction of the interaction body of the plate element with the adjustment element and eventually realizing a functional supporting position of the plate element with a support edge of the plate up and in horizontal orientation, and hanging the wall panel on the plate of the respective plate elements through the hanger elements.

[0011] It follows from the above definitions that the invention provides a way of supporting wall panels of a wall cladding system which involves hanging the wall panels on respective plates. The use of the plates is different from the conventional use of continuous horizontal rails for hanging the wall panels. Hanging the wall panels on the plates is very practical when it comes to realizing invisible fixing of the wall panels without a need for extensive framing. Also, on the basis of the way in which the coupling assembly according to the invention is assembled from the respective elements from the above-defined kit of elements, various useful possibilities of making adjustments as appropriate to hanging the wall panels in an accurately aligned fashion, both in position and orientation, are enabled.

[0012] The invention covers various practical ways of enabling adjustment of a position of the plate element in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the plate element has an interaction body which is connected to the plate and which is configured to interact with the adjustment element. It is practical if the adjustment element and the interaction body are configured to enable adjustment of their position relative to each other in the longitudinal direction on the basis of adjustment of their position relative to each other in a direction about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, that is to say, on the basis of rotation motion of at least one of the adjustment element and the interaction body about such axis. In this respect, it is possible that the adjustment element comprises a nut and the interaction body comprises a threaded bar, wherein the threaded bar is fixedly attached to the plate and extends in the longitudinal direction. A further option in respect of the interaction body is that the interaction body is fixedly attached to the plate at a central position on the plate.

[0013] As defined, the plate has at least one generally straight support edge. The invention covers any shape of the plate which involves the at least one support edge. Practical examples in this respect are related to a possibility of the plate having a plurality of support edges and include a hexagonal shape, a square shape and a triangular shape. In accordance with the invention, the plate is intended to be rotated in use during installation of the wall panel. Such rotation causes the plate to be displaced in the longitudinal direction as a result of the interaction of the interaction body with the adjustment element. Therewith the wall panel, at least at a location where the coupling assembly is attached to the wall panel, will be moved in the longitudinal direction or - more typically - will be arranged at a distance to the background support in the longitudinal direction that has been adjusted.

[0014] It is advantageous if the position of the plate element in the longitudinal direction can be set in discrete steps. In an embodiment in which a threaded bar is attached to the plate, at a central position on the plate, and in which the threaded bar is received in a nut, the length of such discrete steps is determined by a combination of the number of generally straight support edges and the pitch of the threaded bar and the nut. For example, in the case of a hexagonal plate, a straight edge of the plate is up and in horizontal orientation at every 60° of rotation, and the pitch of the threaded bar and the nut determine the displacement in the longitudinal direction between settings of the plate which differ 60°. The implementation thus enabled by the invention facilitates adjustment on an installation site, and even by people that are not regularly engaged in installation of wall panels.

[0015] For the purpose of obtaining further possibilities of position and orientation adjustment of wall panels, it is advantageous that the support arrangement of the plate element comprises several components besides the adjustment element such as a bracket and an L profile, wherein with reference to the larger wall cladding system context, the bracket is intended to be at a background support side and the L profile is intended to be at a wall panel side, and wherein the adjustment element is supported by the L profile. With reference to the possibility that the plate element is displaceable on the basis of a threaded bar interacting with a nut, as addressed in the foregoing, it is practical if the nut in that case is fixedly attached to the L profile. Another suitable type of profile than an L profile can be used as well as a support of the adjustment element.

[0016] Optionally, the bracket has a recess which is configured to snugly receive and accommodate part of the L profile, so that it is easy to put the L profile in a correct position relative to the bracket in a process of connecting the L profile to the bracket, and once a connection between the bracket and the L profile is established, that connection is firm and secure. Another interesting option involves the L profile being configured to be connected to the bracket at the position of at least one prefabricated connection area on the bracket and the at least one prefabricated connection area on the bracket being configured to absorb dynamic loads and expansion effects. In a practical case, the at least one prefabricated connection area on the bracket has at least one elongated screw hole. Generally speaking, connecting the L profile to the bracket by means of at least two screws is very practical, which does not alter the fact that alternatives are covered by the invention as well.

[0017] In an advantageous design, the hanger element has a recess which is configured to snugly receive and accommodate part of the plate including at least a portion of the support edge. This implies that in the larger context of a wall cladding system, in which context the hanger element is attached to a wall panel, it is achieved that the wall panel is held in an orientation which is substantially the same as the orientation of the plate without a need for further measures. A suitable shape of an interior surface of the recess for contacting the support edge of the plate is a generally planar, non-curved shape.

[0018] It is further advantageous if the hanger element has a height adjustment body for adjustment of a position of a wall panel in vertical direction. Such adjustment may be desired to ensure an adequately or perfectly parallel position of the wall panel to another wall panel. In a preferred implementation, the height adjustment body is movable between an extended position in the recess for contacting the plate on the support edge of the plate, and a retracted position. Such a height adjustment body may comprise a bolt, for example, in which case it is practical if the hanger element has a threaded hole through which the bolt can be displaced in a downward direction, such that an end portion of the bolt can enter the recess of the hanger element and can be retracted from the recess. In any case, the height adjustment body is suitable to be used for setting and finetuning a position of a wall panel in vertical direction. Also, in view of the intended use of at least two coupling assemblies with a wall panel, with the coupling assemblies at a distance from each other as seen in horizontal direction, it is possible to use the height adjustment body in the respective coupling assemblies to realize a horizontal orientation of the wall panel. This implies that a possible action involved in the method of coupling a wall panel to a background support in a process of building a wall cladding system is putting the height adjustment body of each of the hanger elements including such a body to an appropriate position so that an appropriate vertical position of the wall panel is set and the wall panel is put to a horizontal orientation.

[0019] In respect of the use of at least two coupling assemblies with a wall panel, it is further noted that it is practical if the coupling assemblies are at a similar position as seen in vertical direction. In the well-known case that the wall panel has a generally rectangular shape or a generally square shape, it is further practical if coupling assemblies are located at the position of top corners of the wall panel. Being assembled from the various elements as described in the foregoing, the coupling assemblies serve to hold the wall panel at a distance from the background support. This implies that the invention is suitable to be used to realize a wall cladding system including a ventilation space between the wall panels and the background support. Especially in the case of relatively large and / or heavy wall panels, it is feasible to have more than two anchor points for each of the wall panels to the background support.

[0020] It is observed for clarity that the invention covers an option of using two coupling assemblies according to the invention for the purpose of coupling a wall panel to a background support, in combination with using one or more coupling assemblies of another type. The latter coupling assemblies may be distinguishable from the coupling assembles according to the invention by offering less possibilities to adjust a position and / or an orientation of the wall panel. For instance, a coupling assembly of another type could be of corresponding construction to the coupling assembly according to the invention, but without means for adjustment in the longitudinal direction. The coupling assembly of the other type could even be on the basis of a rail, wherein such rail is arranged on the background support.

[0021] It is deemed preferable that coupling assemblies according to the invention would be used at a top position on the wall panel. It is further observed for clarity that it may not be necessary or desired that every coupling assembly of a plurality of coupling assemblies is provided with a height adjustment body.

[0022] The background support can be a wall covered with insulation material. The invention covers numerous other types of background support. In general, the background support can be a wall of a building with or without add-ons such as insulation material, support bars / rails or a pre-wall. If insulation material is present on the wall, indeed, this may be in any suitable form, such as in the form of an element, a panel or a foam layer.

[0023] The wall panel can be of any appropriate type, shape and size. Practical examples of the type of the wall panel are a fiber cement panel and a Trespa panel. A practical example of the shape of the wall panel is a planar shape with a rectangular periphery. A practical example of the size of the wall panel is a size in the order of one or two meters. A practical example of a thickness of the wall panel is a thickness in a range of 8 to 12 mm, such as a thickness of 10 mm. Another practical example of the shape of the wall panel is a shape on the basis of which the wall panel is suitable to be placed in a corner area of two background supports joining each other, particularly a shape with two portions extending at an angle relative to each other, such as an angle of about 90°. It is possible that the wall panel includes a fireproof sheet, optionally combined with a cover sheet (front sheet) of another material. The fireproof sheet may be a metal sheet, for example. In a process of coupling the wall panel to the background support by means of at least two kits of elements of the type defined in the foregoing, the invention offers a practical possibility to compensate for differences in a distance of portions of the wall panel to the background support, namely, by allowing for adjustment of the position of the respective plate elements in the longitudinal direction prior to hanging the wall panel on the plate of the respective plate elements through the hanger elements.

[0024] In the case that the support arrangement is composed of a number of components, a mounting process is feasible according to which one of those components is attached to the background support and the further component or components are attached to that first component. It is observed for sake of completeness that the order of these steps can be chosen freely. For example, it is feasible that an assembly of components is prefabricated first and attached to the background support in its entirety. The invention covers various possibilities of interconnecting the components, wherein use may be made of a mechanical coupling of complementary shapes, such as a plate and a recess, a tongue and a groove, a series of pins and correspondingly shaped holes and the like. While the opening (such as recess, groove or holes) is preferably arranged in the component which is attached to the background support, other possibilities are not excluded. A combination of plate and recess seems preferable for sake of robustness.

[0025] When using a plurality of coupling assemblies, it is an advantage of the present method that adjustment elements can be mutually aligned after their installation to the background support and before hanging the wall panel, especially in the case that the support arrangement comprises several components. Ways of achieving alignment are known per se in the art of construction, such as using a planar bar, or using a device emitting a laser beam. It is a further advantage that a wall panel may be taken off from the plate elements after an initial installation. Adjustment of the configuration of the support arrangement can then be done, followed by hanging the wall panel back on the plate elements. This is an adjustment possibility which comes in addition to the adjustment possibility which is described earlier and which involves adjusting a distance of the plate of the plate element relative to the background support in the longitudinal direction.

[0026] The present invention will be further explained on the basis of the following description, wherein reference will be made to the figures, in which equal reference signs indicate equal or similar components, and in which: figure 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of elements assembled into a coupling assembly, and also shows a portion of a stud and a portion of a wall panel which is coupled to the stud through the coupling assembly; figures 2 and 3 diagrammatically show a side view and a bottom view, respectively, of the coupling assembly, a portion of the stud, and a portion of the wall panel; figures 4 and 5 diagrammatically show a front view and a back view, respectively, of a plate element of the coupling assembly and a hanger element of the coupling assembly placed on the plate element; and figure 6 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a vertical wall and a number of wall panels coupled directly to the wall through respective coupling assemblies.

[0027] The invention is applicable to the field of wall cladding and wall cladding systems, and particularly relates to coupling a wall panel to a background support in a process of building a wall cladding system. In figures 1-3, elements assembled into a coupling assembly 1 are shown as one out of many possibilities in the scope of the invention. Further, in figures 1-3, a portion of a stud 2 and a portion of a wall panel 3 are shown. The stud 2 is arranged in a vertical orientation on a vertical wall or the like (not shown) and is representative of the background support of a wall cladding system of which the wall panel 3 is part. A practical example of the stud 2 is a light gauge steel stud. In the context of the invention, it is in no way essential to apply a stud 2, and in the shown example, it is also possible that the coupling assembly 1 is arranged directly on a wall or the like.

[0028] As seen in a direction from the stud 2 to the wall panel 3, the coupling assembly 1 successively comprises the following elements: a bracket 10, an L profile 20, a plate element 30, and a hanger element 40.

[0029] In the present example, the bracket 10 is connected to the stud 2 by means of two screws 4, and the L profile 20 is connected to the bracket 10 by means of two screws 4 as well. Other types of connection than a screw connection are feasible, but the screw connection involves the advantage that this is a reliable type of connection that is easy to establish with simple and widely available tools. Obviously, in the case of a screw connection, the number of screws is arbitrary.

[0030] The bracket 10 is generally L shaped, wherein a first portion 11 of the bracket 10 is associated with connection of the bracket 10 to the stud 2, and wherein a second portion 12 of the bracket 10 is associated with connection of the L profile 20 to the bracket 10. In the position of the bracket 10 on the stud 2, the second portion 12 projects relative to the stud 2. At the position of the second portion 12, the bracket 10 has a recess 13 for snugly receiving and accommodating part of the L profile 20, particularly part of a first portion 21 of the L profile 20. The screws 4 connecting the L profile 20 to the bracket 10 are present at the position of the first portion 21 of the L profile 20, particularly in front of the recess 13 of the bracket 10, as can best be seen in figure 3.

[0031] In a process of assembling the coupling assembly 1 so that a wall panel 3 can eventually be hung on the plate element 30 by means of the hanger element 40, an action of connecting the bracket 10 to the background support 2 is performed prior to an action of connecting the L profile 20 to the bracket 10. Advantageously, in the latter action, measures are taken to ensure that a position and an orientation of the L profile 20 as appropriate are obtained. For example, a spirit or laser level can be used to put the L profile 20 in a vertical orientation. By holding the L profile 20 in the appropriate position and orientation in an action of putting the screws 4 in place, fixation of the L profile 20 in the appropriate position and orientation is realized in a simple and effective fashion. The fact that the L profile 20 is partially positioned in a narrow recess 13 of the bracket 10 helps in holding the L profile 20 in the appropriate position and orientation.

[0032] As indicated in figure 2, it is possible that the bracket 10 is provided with prefabricated connection areas 14 having normal, circular screw holes and prefabricated connection areas 15 having elongated screw holes which are used to create a fixed point and a sliding point, respectively, so that one coupling assembly 1 can be functional to absorb dead loads and another coupling assembly 1 can be functional to absorb dynamic loads and expansion effects.

[0033] The plate element 30 is separately shown in figures 4 and 5, in combination with the hanger element 40. In the present example, the plate element 30 comprises a hexagonal plate 31 and a threaded bar 32 which is fixedly attached to the plate 31 at a central position on the plate 31 and which extends in a longitudinal direction being a direction perpendicular to the plate 31. Further, in the present example, a captive nut 23 is located on the L profile 20 at the position of a second portion 22 of the L profile 20, which captive nut 23 is fixedly attached to the L profile 20. In the coupling assembly 1, the threaded bar 32 of the plate element 30 is received in the captive nut 23 of the L profile 20. By rotating the plate element 30 about an axis A extending in the longitudinal direction, the threaded bar 32 displaces in the captive nut 23 in said direction. Hence, by rotating the plate element 30, a distance between the plate 31 and the L profile 20 can be varied. This implies that an appropriate distance of the wall panel 3 to the background support 2 can be set by putting the plate element 30 in an appropriate position relative to the L profile 20. In the present example, a lock nut 33 is arranged on the threaded bar 32 for locking the threaded bar 32 in place against the L profile 20. In this way, a set position of the plate element 30 can be fixed. In this respect, it is noted that a functional supporting position of the plate element 30 is a position in which one of the straight edges 34 of the plate 31 is up and in horizontal orientation. Due to the hexagonal shape of the plate 31, respective functional supporting positions of the plate element 30 are set as the plate 31 is rotated, with a mutual rotational distance of 60° and an associated mutual distance in the longitudinal direction. For example, the pitch of the threaded bar 32 and the captive nut 23 is chosen to be such that said mutual distance is in the order of 2 mm.

[0034] The hanger element 40 is the element of the coupling assembly 1 which is intended to connect to the wall panel 3. This can be done through any appropriate connection method, wherein it is possible to establish a connection which is of such a nature that nothing of the back construction on the wall panel 3 is visible at a front side of the wall panel 3. Once the bracket 10, the L profile 20 including the captive nut 23, and the plate element 30 are in place on the background support 2, a support arrangement 5 of the plate element 30 protruding from the background support 2 is obtained, and the wall panel 3 can be hung on the plate 31 by means of the hanger element 40. To this end, the hanger element 40 is provided with a recess 41. As indicated earlier, a functional supporting position of the plate element 30 is a position in which one of the straight edges 34 of the plate 31 is up and in horizontal orientation. Thus, in the functional supporting position of the plate element 30, the respective straight edge 34 of the plate 31 can serve as a support of the hanger element 40. In this respect, it is noted that an interior surface of the recess 41 for contacting the edge 34 of the plate 34 also has a straight appearance.

[0035] Besides the recess 41 for snugly receiving and accommodating part of the plate 31, particularly a top part of the plate 31, the hanger element 40 has a height adjustment body 42 which is arranged and configured to contact the top edge 34 of the plate 31 as present in the recess 41 when the hanger element 40 is placed on the plate element 30. In the present example, the height adjustment body 42 comprises a bolt which extends through a threaded hole in a top side of the hanger element 40. By rotating the bolt so that the bolt advances in a downward direction, it is achieved that the bolt contacts the plate 31 and pushes the top side of the hanger element 40 away from the plate 31 as the rotation motion continues. When the rotation motion is stopped, the obtained mutual position of the hanger element 40 and the plate element 30 is maintained on the basis of the engagement of the bolt with the hanger element 40 at the position of the threaded hole. Hence, by means of the height adjustment body 42, it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the hanger element 40 relative to the plate 31 and to thereby adjust the vertical position of the wall panel 3 to which the hanger element 40 is connected.

[0036] Each of the respective elements of the coupling assembly 1 may comprise any suitable material or combination of materials. A feasible option in this respect is metal such as steel or aluminum.

[0037] With reference to the above introduction and explanation of respective elements of the coupling assembly 1, it is noted that a method of coupling a wall panel 3 to a background support 2 in a process of building a wall cladding system and realizing proper alignment of the wall panel 3 in the wall cladding system comprises the following actions: providing two sets of the bracket 10, the L profile 20, the plate element 30, the hanger element 40, and any further components which are useful in assembling two coupling assemblies 1, such as screws 4, attaching the two hanger elements 40 to a back side of the wall panel 3, at the position of the top corners of the wall panel 3, creating two anchor assemblies 6 of a bracket 10, an L profile 20 and a plate element 30 at appropriate positions on the background support 2 by taking the following actions at each of the positions: attaching the bracket 10 to the background support 2 through the first portion 11 of the bracket 10, inserting part of the first portion 21 of the L profile 20 in the recess 13 of the bracket 10 and attaching the L profile 20 to the bracket 10, with the L profile 20 in a position as appropriate and a vertical orientation, putting the plate element 30 in place on the support arrangement 5, by inserting the threaded bar 32 in the captive nut 23 located on the L profile 20 and rotating the plate element 30 until both an appropriate distance of the plate 31 to the background support 2 is obtained and a straight edge 34 of the plate 31 is up and in horizontal orientation, and securing the position of the plate element 30 on the L profile 20 by means of the lock nut 33, hanging the wall panel 3 on the plate 31 of the respective plate elements 30, wherein the plates 31 are partially received in the recesses 41 of the hanger elements 40 and the wall panels 3 are automatically put in an orientation which is both more or less horizontal and parallel to the plates 31 as a result thereof, and putting the height adjustment body 42 of each of the hanger elements 40 to an appropriate position so that an appropriate vertical position of the wall panel 3 is set and the wall panel 3 is put to a horizontal orientation.

[0038] It follows from the above that the method of coupling a wall panel 3 to a background support 2 in a process of building a wall cladding system and realizing proper alignment of a wall panel 3 can be performed without a need for complex components or special tools, and does not require more than a normal level of technical skill of a person working on the wall cladding system. The combination of elements 10, 20, 30, 40 is designed such as to enable adjustment of position and orientation of the wall panel 3 in all directions as necessary to achieve optimal placement of the wall panel 3 in the wall cladding system.

[0039] Figure 6 illustrates an option of directly coupling wall panels 3 to a vertical wall 7, that is to say, without intermediate studs 2 or the like. On the right side of the figure, it is shown how respective anchor assemblies 6 of a bracket 10, an L profile 20 and a plate element 30 protrude from the wall 7 in a regular pattern. Each of the wall panels 3 is provided with a suitable number of hanger elements 40 at appropriate positions for engaging on the plates 31 of the anchor assemblies 6 covered by the respective wall panel 3, wherein it is advantageous if top hanger elements 40 are of the type including a height adjustment body 42, for setting and finetuning purposes as explained earlier. Further, by aligning the plates 31 included in the anchor assemblies 6 relative to each other in vertical direction, horizontal direction and longitudinal direction, it is achieved that the wall panels 3 can be positioned as envisaged in a design of a wall cladding system 8 comprising the wall panels 3.

[0040] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

[0041] Notable aspects of the invention are summarized as follows. In the field of wall cladding, a kit of elements 10, 20, 30, 40 which are configured to be assembled into a coupling assembly 1 for coupling a wall panel 3 of a wall cladding system 8 to a background support 2, 7 is provided. The kit of elements comprises a plate element 30 having a plate 31 with at least one generally straight support edge 34, a support arrangement 5 of the plate element 30 in the coupling assembly 1, including an adjustment element 23, and a hanger element 40 which is configured to be placed on the plate element 30 in a functional supporting position with a support edge 34 of the plate 31 up and in horizontal orientation. The plate element 30 has an interaction body 32 which is connected to the plate 31 and which is configured to interact with the adjustment element 23 to thereby realize adjustment of a position of the plate element 30 in the coupling assembly 1 in a direction perpendicular to the plate 31.

Claims

1. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) which are configured to be assembled into a coupling assembly (1) for coupling a wall panel (3) of a wall cladding system (8) to a background support (2, 7), comprising: - a plate element (30) having a plate (31) with at least one generally straight support edge (34), - a support arrangement (5) of the plate element (30) in the coupling assembly (1), including an adjustment element (23), and - a hanger element (40) which is configured to be placed on the plate element (30) in a functional supporting position with a support edge (34) of the plate (31) up and in horizontal orientation, wherein: - the plate element (30) has an interaction body (32) which is connected to the plate (31) and which is configured to interact with the adjustment element (23) to thereby realize adjustment of a position of the plate element (30) in the coupling assembly (1) in a longitudinal direction being a direction perpendicular to the plate (31).

2. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment element (23) and the interaction body (32) are configured to enable adjustment of their position relative to each other in the longitudinal direction on the basis of adjustment of their position relative to each other in a direction about an axis (A) extending in the longitudinal direction.

3. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjustment element (23) comprises a nut (23) and the interaction body (32) comprises a threaded bar (32), and wherein the threaded bar (32) is fixedly attached to the plate (31) and extends in the longitudinal direction.

4. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein the interaction body (32) is fixedly attached to the plate (31) at a central position on the plate (31).

5. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the plate (31) has a plurality of support edges (34).

6. Kif of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate (31) is configured to rotate and therewith to enable adjustment of the position of the interaction body (32), the plate (31) and the wall panel (3) relative to the adjustment element (23) in the longitudinal direction, wherein said plate (31) is to rotate about an axis (A) extending in the longitudinal direction so as to bring one support edges (34) up and in a horizontal position.

7. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-6, wherein the plate (31) has one of a hexagonal shape, a square shape and a triangular shape.

8. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein the support arrangement (5) comprises an assembly of a bracket (10) and an L profile (20), and wherein the adjustment element (23) is supported by the L profile (20).

9. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-8, wherein the hanger element (40) has a recess (41) which is configured to snugly receive and accommodate part of the plate (31) including at least a portion of the support edge (34), and wherein an interior surface of the recess (41) for contacting the support edge (34) has a generally planar, non-curved shape.

10. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hanger element (40) has a height adjustment body (42) which is movable between an extended position in the recess (41) for contacting the plate (31) on the support edge (34) of the plate (31), and a retracted position.

11. Kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-10, wherein the hanger element (40) is configured to be attached to the wall panel (3), and wherein the support arrangement (5) is configured to be attached to the background support (2, 7).

12. Coupling assembly (1) assembled from the kit of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-11, wherein the plate element (30) is supported on the support arrangement (5), and wherein the hanger element (40) is placed on the plate element (30) in a functional supporting position with a support edge (34) of the plate (31) up and in horizontal orientation.

13. Wall cladding system (8) arranged on a background support (2, 7), comprising combinations of a wall panel (3) and at least two coupling assemblies (1) as claimed in claim 12 coupling the wall panel (3) to the background support (2, 7), wherein the coupling assemblies (1) are at a distance from each other as seen in horizontal direction.

14. Method of coupling a wall panel (3) to a background support (2, 7) in a process of building a wall cladding system (8), comprising: - providing at least two kits of elements (10, 20, 30, 40) as claimed in any of claims 1-10, - attaching the respective hanger elements (40) to a back side of the wall panel (3), - creating respective anchor assemblies (6) of a plate element (30) and a support arrangement (5) including an adjustment element (23) at positions on the background support (2, 7) by taking the following actions at each of the positions: - attaching the support arrangement (5) to the background support (2, 7), and - putting the plate element (30) in place on the support arrangement (5), - adjusting the position of the respective plate elements (30) in the longitudinal direction through interaction of the interaction body (32) of the plate element (30) with the adjustment element (23) and eventually realizing a functional supporting position of the plate element (30) with a support edge (34) of the plate (31) up and in horizontal orientation, and - hanging the wall panel (3) on the plate (31) of the respective plate elements (30) through the hanger elements (40).

15. Method as claimed in claim 14, wherein adjusting the position of the respective plate elements (30) in the longitudinal direction involves rotating the plate (31) of the plate element (30) about an axis (A) extending in the longitudinal direction.

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