Cladding Element Edge Terminus Profile Water Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cladding systems for façades and walls face challenges in achieving weather resistance without complex lamination processes and compromising assembly simplicity, particularly due to the reliance on lamination films for a continuous bond between layers.
Innovation Solution
A cladding element design featuring a composite body with an inlay laminated between two cover layers, where a cover strip overlaps the edge terminus profile and fastening tabs include terminus strips to ensure a weather-resistant connection, and a tapering edge terminus profile acts as a water protection mechanism, enhancing pullout resistance with lamination webs and undercut recesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If lamination films are used to create a continuous bond between cover layers and inlay, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and weather resistance reliability worsen due to the need for precise circumferential bonding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective covering into separate functional elements: edge terminus profiles at corners and cover strips at edges, rather than relying on a continuous circumferential lamination bond. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex continuous bonding while maintaining structural integrity through discrete protective elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces edge terminus profiles and cover strips as intermediary elements that physically cover and protect the lamination bonds at critical exposed areas. These intermediaries shield the vulnerable circumferential bonds from weather exposure, allowing simpler lamination processes while maintaining weather resistance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If edge terminus profile protrudes beyond cover layers, then water protection capability is improved, but assembly complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The edge terminus profiles are pre-laminated to the inner cover layer and inlay during manufacturing, creating a pre-assembled unit with integrated water protection features. This preliminary action ensures proper positioning and bonding before field installation, simplifying on-site assembly while maintaining effective water protection geometry.
3Reliability
If terminus strips are added to fastening tabs, then weather resistance is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function and edge protection function into a single integrated component: the fastening tabs include terminus strips that simultaneously provide mechanical attachment and protect the exposed end faces of the inlay and cover layers. This merging eliminates the need for separate protective elements at fastening locations, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining weather resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design provides a simpler, weather-resistant construction that maintains assembly ease while preventing water ingress and ensuring a seamless appearance, with improved pullout resistance and water management through the tapering edge terminus profile and lamination web features.
Implementation Method 1
laminating an inlay between two cover layers, of which at least the outer cover layer consists of glass, with the aid of lamination films
Implementation Method 2
Water may be prevented from reaching behind the cladding elements through the horizontal connecting joint by the terminus web, which may protrude upward in this case. The water penetrating into the connecting joint may be rather drained outward again as a consequence of the tapering edge terminus profile
Implementation Method 3
the edge terminus profile tapers from the attachment web toward the opposing longitudinal edge in accordance with the protrusion of the outer cover layer in relation to the cover strip
Data Source
AI summary
A cladding element may have a composite body made up of two rectangular cover layers, of which at least the outer cover layer may consist of glass, and an inlay laminated in between the two cover layers. The composite body may include fastening tabs laminated in between the inner cover layer and the inlay on two opposing edge sides and an edge terminus profile protruding beyond the inner cover layer on one of the two edge sides between the fastening tabs, which may form an attachment web projecting from the protruding longitudinal edge for an identical cladding element. To provide advantageous construction conditions, the edge side opposite to the edge terminus profile may be covered by a cover strip frontally overlapped by the outer cover layer, which may be laminated like the edge terminus profile in between the inner cover layer and the inlay.