Cladding Systems

Abstract

A cladding system according to the present disclosure for cladding the exterior of a building, in particular the roof or facade, typically comprises at least two rails and at least one panel extending between the at least two rails in a mounted position. The at least one panel comprises two skirts. Each skirt has a rim extending parallel to the rear surface and has a recess extending from the rim into the skirt. The displaceable latch comprises a locking tooth that in a locked position extends into the recess forming an undercut. Each rail comprises an upwardly opening channel for receiving two adjacent skirts of two laterally adjacent panels in a mounted position. Each of the two laterally adjacent panels extends between two adjacent rails. At least one bolt is arranged in the channel to span across the channel. The channel is configured for a panel in a mounted position arranged in the recess behind the locking tooth.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cladding system for covering the exterior of a building, in particular the roof or facade, and to panels suitable for such a cladding system. [Background technology]

[0002] Known cladding systems usually comprise a support structure, such as a beam, which can be attached to the outer structure of the building. Panels are fixed to the support structure to cover the outside of the building. An example is solar panels arranged on the facade or roof of a building.

[0003] Several attempts to provide such cladding systems are known from the prior art and are briefly described below.

[0004] EP 2527763 A2, published in 2012 in the name of Markus Gisler (the applicant), relates to a cladding system comprising at least one structural member and at least two support members for releasably fixing the at least one structural member to a foundation. The structural member comprises a frame, the frame having an upper profile, a lower profile and two lateral profiles, a lower profile and two lateral profiles. The support member has a longitudinal profile with at least one retaining means, the two lateral profiles of the frame each having a recess in its outer wall, in which recess in each case one of the retaining means engages for releasable fixing of the structural member.

[0005] US10113317BA published in 2018 in the name of Gordon Sales Inc. relates to a wall and ceiling panel system that utilizes a concealed resilient beam to secure the panel to a wall or ceiling structure. A wall and ceiling panel system having features of the invention can include a panel configured for removable attachment to a latch assembly. The latch assembly can include a resilient beam dynamically secured to a base bracket, allowing the resilient beam to flex relative to the base bracket during the panel installation and removal process. The panel can include a keyed flange having at least one engagement slot configured to mate with the resilient beam, such that when the key flange of the panel mates with the resilient beam, the panel is secured to the latch assembly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] EP2527763A2 [Patent Document 2] US10113317BA Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Known cladding systems typically require a lot of manual labor during installation or the panels tend to become unintentionally detached from the supporting structure. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cladding system that addresses at least one of the above mentioned drawbacks or other drawbacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A cladding system according to the present disclosure for covering the exterior of a building, in particular the roof and / or facade, typically comprises at least two rails and at least one panel extending between the at least two rails in a mounted position. The at least two rails are typically configured to be mounted on the building structure in parallel lines spaced apart from one another. The at least one panel typically comprises two skirts extending downwards on either side from the rear face of the panel. Each skirt typically has a rim extending parallel to the rear face and comprises a recess extending from the rim into the skirt. A latch displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position comprises a locking tooth extending into the recess forming an undercut in the locked position. The latch is typically arranged on the panel, in particular on the skirt of the panel. Each rail comprises an upwardly opening channel for receiving two adjacent skirts of two laterally adjacent panels in a mounted position. The two laterally adjacent panels each extend between two adjacent rails. At least one bolt is disposed within the channel and straddles the channel to support at least one panel in a mounting position. The channel is configured to be in a mounting position for the panel disposed in the recess behind the locking tooth. Typically, each rail comprises a number of bolts disposed equidistantly to mount a number of panels adjacent to each other in the direction of the fall line. The upward and downward directions can be understood to be essentially perpendicular to the general extension of the building structure to which the cladding system can be attached. The fall line is generally parallel to the general extension of the building structure to which the cladding system can be attached.

[0009] For good performance, the latches are displaceable against the force of a spring from a locked position to an unlocked position. In a preferred embodiment, a base is attached to each skirt, the base having a stop configured to limit the displacement of the respective latch along the skirt. The stop may define at least one of an unlocked and locked position of the latch along the skirt. If present, a spring is disposed between the base and the latch to displace the latch from the unlocked position to the locked position. This allows the latch to be displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position by the restoring force of the spring without requiring manual intervention by the person installing the panel.

[0010] To allow easy latching, the locking tooth is provided with a ramp facing the rim and inclined relative to the rim. The ramp engages the bolt and translates the movement of the bolt into the recess into a displacement of the latch from a locked position to an unlocked position. Compared to the prior art, this removes the effort of displacing the entire panel along the rail and locking it with the bolt. A panel according to the present disclosure can be placed on the rail, while the latch snaps behind the bolt, automatically securing the interconnection of the panel and the rail.

[0011] Depending on the design, the latches are displaceable along the respective skirt essentially parallel to the rim. This allows a compact construction of the panels. To facilitate installation, recesses are arranged at the lower edge of the panels in the mounted position, in particular in the lower third of the respective skirt.

[0012] For ease of construction, the latches are at least partially housed in respective skirts forming guides for the latches. Preferably, the skirts have an essentially U-shaped or C-shaped cross section and at least partially surround the latches. In a preferred embodiment, the latches are laterally accessible for manually displacing them from the locked position to the unlocked position. In particular, the latches may be provided with engagement contours for engaging with a disassembly tool.

[0013] If appropriate, the skirt is made from an extruded profile, in particular a metal profile.

[0014] Depending on the field of application, the latch is designed as an essentially flat part. Preferably, the latch is made from sheet metal. Alternatively or additionally, the base can be made from sheet metal.

[0015] In some embodiments, the panel comprises an upper sealing extending along an upper edge of the panel in the mounted position to form a waterproof sealing with the upper adjacent panel. Alternatively or additionally, the panel comprises a lower sealing extending along a lower edge of the panel in the mounted position to form a waterproof sealing with the lower adjacent panel. The best possible results are obtained if the lower sealing is configured to at least partially overlap the upper sealing of the adjacent lower panel, or vice versa.

[0016] If present, the open channels in the rail may act as drainage channels for draining rainwater.

[0017] Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a panel suitable for the above mentioned cladding system. The aforementioned cladding system embodiments simultaneously disclose correspondingly designed panel embodiments and vice versa. Depending on the field of application, the panel can be a solar panel. For good performance, the solar panel is in a mounting position spaced apart from the building structure by a rail, ensuring airflow between them.

[0018] It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are intended to present embodiments and provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operation of the disclosed concepts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cladding system according to the present disclosure; [Diagram 2] 2 shows details of the first embodiment indicated by box A in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of a first embodiment of a panel according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 4 shows details of the first embodiment shown in box B in FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 shows the panels of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 before being connected together; [Figure 6] 2 shows the panels of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 in the process of being connected together; [Figure 7] 2 shows the interconnected panels of the first embodiment of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The disclosure described herein will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings set forth below, and should not be considered as limited to the disclosure set forth in the appended claims.

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Below, certain embodiments are described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Some, but not all, features are shown in the drawings. Indeed, the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Wherever possible, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cladding system 1 according to the present disclosure. Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the first embodiment indicated by box A in figure 1. In figure 3 a first embodiment of a panel 3 according to the present disclosure is shown in a partially exploded view. In figure 4 a detail of the first embodiment indicated by box B in figure 3 can be seen. In figures 5 to 7 the mutual connection of the first embodiment of the panel 3 with the rails 2 is shown in three stages.

[0023] A first embodiment of the cladding system 1 comprises a rail 2 and two panels 3, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of the panels 3 extends between the rails 2 in the mounting position. The rails 2 are usually attached to a structure, such as a roof batten (not shown) or a wall of a building, in parallel lines spaced apart from each other. Each rail 2 has an upwardly opening channel 11 for receiving two adjacent skirts 4 of two laterally adjacent panels 3 in the mounting position. Each of the panels 3 extends between two adjacent rails 2. As best seen in Figure 2, at least one panel 2 comprises two skirts 4, which extend downwards on either side from a rear face 5 of the panel 3. The rear face 5 often faces towards the structure of the building (not shown) in the mounting position. Each skirt 4 has a rim 6 extending parallel to the rear face 5 and a recess 7 extending from the rim 6 into the skirt 4. The recess 7 extends generally upwards from the rim 6 towards the rear face 5 of the panel 3. A latch 8 is arranged in the skirt 4 which is displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch 8 comprises a locking tooth 9 and in the locked position extends into the recess 7 forming an undercut 10. In FIG. 2 the latch 8 is shown in the locked position. In the channel 11 a bolt 12 is arranged to straddle the channel 11. The bolt 12 is arranged to be in the mounting position of the panel 3 arranged in the recess 7 behind the locking tooth 9. In the locked position the locking tooth 9 prevents the bolt 12 arranged in the recess 7 from disengaging from the recess 7. In this way the panel 3 and the rail 2 are prevented from being unintentionally separated.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, two bolts 12 are arranged per rail 2 so as to interconnect two adjacent panels 3 in the direction of the fall line.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the latch 8 is displaceable against the force of the spring 13 from the locked position to the unlocked position. The base 16 is attached to the skirt 4 by means of a screw 24. The base 16 is provided with a stop 17 which is in direct contact with the latch 8 and limits the displacement of the latch 8 along the skirt 4. The dashed lines show the assembly of the latch 8, the base 16 and the screw 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop 17 of the base 16 engages the latch 8 to limit its displacement, thereby defining the locked and unlocked positions. Disposed between the latch 8 and the base 16 is the spring 13 which is compressed when the latch is displaced from the locked position to the unlocked position. In this way, the spring 13 can exert a restoring force which displaces the latch 8 from the unlocked position to the locked position, especially when the bolt 12 is in the recess 7 / undercut 10 behind the locking tooth 9.

[0026] The locking tooth 9 includes a ramp 14 facing the rim 6, as best seen in Figure 4. The ramp 14 is inclined relative to the general extension of the rim 6. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ramp 14 engages the bolt 12 to translate movement of the bolt 12 towards the undercut 10 into a displacement of the latch 8 from a locked position to an unlocked position.

[0027] Typically, the skirt 4 is made from an extruded metal profile. In the embodiment shown, the skirt 4 has a C-shaped cross section, which forms a guide 18 in which the latch 8 is displaceable. Furthermore, the C-shaped cross section makes it possible to partially enclose the latch 8 while still ensuring lateral access to the latch 8. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the latch 8 has an engagement contour 19, which engages with a disassembly tool (not shown) that manually displaces the latch 8 from the locked position to the unlocked position. This is foreseen when the panel 3 is removed from the rail 2.

[0028] The base 16 and latch 8 are made from sheet metal so as to have a narrow cross section and to fit into a guide 18 formed by the skirt 4, without adding bulk to the skirt 4.

[0029] 1 and 3, a first embodiment of a panel 3 comprises an upper ceiling 21 that extends along an upper edge 21 of the panel in the mounted position to form a waterproof ceiling with an upper adjacent panel 3. Additionally, the panel 3 comprises a lower ceiling 22 that extends along a lower edge 23 of the panel 3 in the mounted position to form a waterproof ceiling with a lower adjacent panel 3. The lower ceiling 22 is configured to overlap the corresponding upper ceiling 23 and vice versa.

[0030] The upper sealing 21 can be a labyrinth sealing with a water channel leading to a channel 11 in the rail 2 which acts as a drainage channel 11 for draining atmospheric water.

[0031] Three stages of a panel 3 interconnected to a rail are shown in Figs. 5 to 7. In Fig. 5, the panel 3 is moved by its lower end 23 in a downward direction (indicated by the dashed arrow). The bolt 12, crossing the channel 11 of the rail 2, contacts the ramp 14 of the locking tooth 9. In Fig. 6, the panel 3 is moved further by its downward end 23 towards the rail 2. The bolt 12 displaces the latch 8 from the locked position to the unlocked position (indicated by the dashed arrow) via the ramp 14 located on the locking tooth 9. In this state, the spring 13 (not visible) is compressed against the base 16 by the latch 8. In Fig. 7, again the panel 3 is moved by its downward end 23 further towards the rail 2 to the installed position. The bolt 12 moves past the locking tooth 9 into the undercut 10 / recess 7. The spring 13 (not shown) moves the latch 8 to the locked position. In the locked position it is secured by a stop 17 on the base 16 .

[0032] Rather, the words used herein are words of description rather than of limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Cladding Systems 2 Rail 3 Panel 4. Skirt 5 Back 6 Rims 7 Recess 8 Latch 9 Locking teeth 10. Undercut 11 Channels 12 Volts 13. Spring 14 Inclined portion (locking tooth) 15 Bottom end (panel) 16 Base 17 Stopper (base) 18 Guide (skirt) 19 Engagement profile 20 Upper Ceiling 21 Upper end 22 Lower sealing 23 Lower end 24 Screws

Claims

1. A cladding system (1) for covering the exterior, including at least one of the roof and the facade, of a building, comprising: a. at least two rails (2) adapted to be attached to a building structure in parallel lines spaced apart from each other; b. at least one panel (3) comprising two skirts (4) extending downwardly on opposite sides from a rear surface (5) of the panel (3), each skirt (4) having a rim (6) extending parallel to said rear surface (5) and a recess (7) extending from said rim (6) into said skirt (4); c. a latch (8) displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch (8) having a locking tooth (9) extending into the recess (7) forming an undercut (10) in the locked position; d. each rail (2) comprises an upwardly opening channel (11) for receiving, in a mounted position, two adjacent skirts (4) of two laterally adjacent panels (3), each of said two laterally adjacent panels (3) extending between two adjacent rails (2); e. at least one bolt (12) disposed within and spanning the channel and configured to be in a mounting position for a panel (3) disposed in the recess behind said locking teeth (9); A cladding system (1) comprising:

2. 2. The cladding system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the latch (8) is displaceable from the locked position to the unlocked position against the force of a spring (13).

3. 3. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the locking tooth (9) has a sloped portion (14) facing the rim (6), the sloped portion (14) engaging with the bolt (12) and translating the movement of the bolt (12) into the recess (7) into a displacement of the latch (8) from a locked position to an unlocked position.

4. 4. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said latches (8) are displaceable along the respective skirts (4) essentially parallel to said rims (6).

5. 5. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recess (7) is arranged in the lower end (15) of the panel (3) in the mounting position, in particular in the lower third of the respective skirt (4).

6. 6. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a base (16) attached to each skirt (4), said base (16) having a stopper (17) configured to limit displacement of said latch (8) along said skirt (4).

7. 7. The cladding system (1) of claim 6, further comprising a spring (13) disposed between the base (16) and the latch (8) for displacing the latch (8) from the unlocked position to the locked position.

8. The cladding system (1) according to at least one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the latches (8) are at least partially housed in respective skirts (4) forming guides (18) for the latches (8).

9. The cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the skirt (4) has a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross section and at least partially surrounds the latch (8).

10. The cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the latch (8) is laterally accessible for manually displacing the latch (8) from the locked position to the unlocked position.

11. The cladding system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the latch (8) has an engagement profile (19) for engaging with a disassembly tool.

12. The cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said latch (8) is made from sheet metal.

13. 13. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the panel (3) has an upper sealing (20) extending along an upper edge (21) of the panel (3) in the mounted position and forming a waterproof sealing together with an adjacent upper panel (3).

14. 14. A cladding system (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the panel (3) has a lower ceiling (22) extending along a lower edge (23) of the panel (3) in the mounting position and forming a waterproof ceiling together with an adjacent lower panel (3).

15. The cladding system (1) according to at least one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the open channels (11) of the rails (2) serve as drainage channels (11) for draining rainwater.

16. A panel (3) suitable for a cladding system (1) according to at least one of the claims 1 to 15.

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