Removable Cladding System With Interlocking Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cladding systems require the disassembly of multiple panels to remove a single panel, are difficult to install, and can be damaged by thermal expansion due to direct mechanical fixing, making them time-consuming and prone to damage.
Innovation Solution
A removable cladding system with dissimilar upper and lower longitudinal edges that allow for individual panel removal, using a combination of removable and fixed fastening means with a locking and releasable clamping mechanism to secure panels to the wall without direct mechanical fixing, allowing for easy installation and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If panels are fixed to the wall using direct mechanical connections, then the cladding system has strong fixation, but the panels cannot be removed individually and are damaged by thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding system is divided into modular panels that can be independently installed and removed. Each panel has its own fastening mechanism with locking and releasable clamping members, allowing individual panel access without disassembling the entire cladding system. This segmentation enables both strong overall fixation and individual panel removability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism incorporates dynamic elements including locking members that can be engaged and disengaged, and releasable clamping members that can transition between clamped and released states. This dynamic design allows the system to maintain strong fixation during normal use while enabling easy panel removal when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If panels are directly mechanically fixed to the wall, then the installation is simple, but thermal expansion causes damage to the panels
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism acts as an intermediary between the panel and the wall, providing a buffered connection that accommodates thermal expansion. The releasable clamping members and locking mechanism create a flexible joint that allows for dimensional changes due to temperature variations while maintaining secure attachment, thus preventing thermal expansion damage while keeping installation relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If a removable fastening mechanism with locking and clamping members is used, then individual panel removal is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism employs a nested structure where the locking member is integrated within the overall fastening assembly, and the releasable clamping members are positioned within the joint between adjacent panels. This nesting approach allows the complex functionality of individual panel removal to be achieved while minimizing the external profile and visual complexity of the fastening system.
4Reliability
If multiple panels must be disassembled to remove one panel, then the fixation is strong, but the loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding system is segmented into independently fastened panels, each with its own locking and clamping mechanism. This segmentation allows any single panel to be accessed and removed without requiring the disassembly of adjacent panels, dramatically reducing the time required for panel removal while maintaining strong overall system fixation through the distributed fastening approach.
Data Source
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AI summary
A removable cladding system for a wall or building or furniture work comprises a plurality of panels (3) where longitudinal edges of two adjacent panels (3) are blocked to each other and to the wall by a respective plurality of fastenings (5, 7). Each panel (3) is provided with a first longitudinal edge (11) and with a second longitudinal edge (13) parallel to the first longitudinal edge (11) which bears at least one concave housing means (15) and the second longitudinal edge (13) bears a first rib means (17) whose shape is approximately complementary to that of the concave housing means (15) in which (15) is insertable said first rib means (17) and at least one of the plurality of the fastenings (5, 7) for the edges of two adjacent panels (3). The first rib means (17) of one of said panels (3) is housed into the concave housing means (15) of the other (3), the fastening is formed at least by a set of removable fastening means (5) each comprising a locking means (21) lockable to the wall and abutting with the first longitudinal edge (11) bearing said concave housing means (15) of one of the two adjacent panels (3) and each removable fastening means (5) comprises a releasable clamping member (23) movable with respect to the corresponding locking means (21) and removably joinable to the latter (21). Said cladding system being characterized in that the said clamping member (23) is provided with at least one protruding first arm means (37) assigned, when the releasable clamping member (23) is interlockingly hooked to the respective locking means (21), to match with the concave housing means (15) so as to fix to the wall said concave housing means (15) of the first longitudinal edge (11) of the respective panel (3) containing the first rib means (17) of the second longitudinal edge (13) of the other panel (3). The release of the releasable clamping member (23) by the respective locking means (21) of said plurality of removable fastening means (5) for the edges (11, 13) of the two adjacent panels (3) allows to release said edges (11, 13).