Lamella Facade System Tool-Free Mounting and Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for creating a lamella front surface on structures, such as buildings, are cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly when individual wood parts deteriorate or are damaged, leading to high repair costs and risks of damaging neighboring components.
Innovation Solution
A lamella front surface system with non-metallic lamellae that can be easily installed and uninstalled without tools, using a snap-lock mechanism with flexible projection legs and alignment projections to secure the lamellae in place, minimizing the risk of rot or fungus and accommodating changes in temperature and humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wood is attached directly to the structure by screws or similar, then the lamella front surface can be securely fixed, but the mounting process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
A metal mounting element is introduced as an intermediary component between the wood lamella and the structure. The mounting element has a first side for abutting against the structure and a second side with attachment means for the fixation element, eliminating the need for direct screw fixation into the wood and enabling tool-free mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation system is divided into separate functional components: the metal mounting element (providing structural attachment) and the fixation element (providing lamella retention). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall mounting process
2Ease of repair
If individual wood parts are damaged or deteriorate, then repair is needed, but it becomes extremely expensive and involves great risk of damaging neighbouring parts
Solution Approach 1:
The lamella front surface is composed of individual lamellae that are independently replaceable. When one lamella is damaged, only that specific element needs to be removed and replaced, not the entire structure, minimizing damage risk to neighbouring parts
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mounting element serves as a reusable intermediary that remains in place while only the wooden lamella is replaced. This separates the permanent structural component from the replaceable aesthetic component, simplifying repair operations
3Reliability
If fixation is carried out from the front of the lamella by means of screws or nails, then secure attachment is achieved, but the risk of introducing rot or fungus to the lamella increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing the lamella from the front face (which would require penetrating the wood), the system inverts the approach by attaching the mounting element to the structure first, then securing the lamella to the rear of the mounting element. This eliminates the need for front-face penetration and associated rot/fungus risks
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mounting element acts as a mediator that bears the fixation loads away from the wood, allowing secure attachment without penetrating the lamella itself, thereby preventing introduction of rot and fungus
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lamella is made to accommodate changes in temperature and humidity, then the natural expansion and contraction is allowed, but the appearance uniformity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system accommodates environmental parameter changes (temperature and humidity) by allowing the wood lamella to expand and contract freely within its mounting channels, while the rigid metal mounting element maintains overall geometric stability and appearance uniformity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lamella front surface system (1), comprising at least one lamella (2), at least two metal mounting elements (3) each having a mounting axis, configured to be attached to a support (4), e.g. the face of a building, each of the metal mounting elements comprising mounting side (6) abutting the face in its mounted position, an interfacing side (7) arranged opposite the mounting side, the interfacing side comprising attachment means (8), wherein the lamella front surface system further comprises a fixation element (5) having a longitudinal extension (FA) and having a body (9) having a first side (10) comprising interfacing means (12, 13) configured to be connected with the attachment means, and a second side (11) configured to support the lamella in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the mounting axis of the metal mounting elements, and wherein the lamella is made from a non-metal material. The present invention also relates to use of the lamella front surface system according to the present invention.