WO2007004013A2

WO2007004013A2 - Multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls

Info

Publication number: WO2007004013A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/001784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Frascari
Original assignee: Techlever S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-07-01
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: EA011942B1; CN101213342A; EP1899546A2; ITRE20050072A1; WO2007004013A3; EA200800217A1

Abstract

A multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls is composed of a movable plate (1) for lower anchorage, a movable plate (2) for upper anchorage and a base plate (3) for connection to the uprights (4, 41) and/or crosspieces (4') of the framework. These elements may be assembled together, position- adjusted to the right opening and closing position for support and connection of the facework components (12) and are self -locking.

Description

Multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls

DESCRIPTION

The present invention addresses a multi elements support for facework of walls, particularly ventilated walls.

Prior art support means for ventilated walls are known to be substantially composed of uprights comprising specially shaped fixed plates for engagement of the edges of the facework components, such as slabs, tiles and the like.

These support means are also known to suffer from several drawbacks, which often cause mounting procedures to be difficult and time-consuming and laying operations to be inaccurate. Particularly, these drawbacks are caused by the fact that such support means allow no position adjustment, no removal of individual damaged, worn or improperly mounted slabs or tiles, and that they are not suitable to fit any displacement cause by thermal expansion, and are not designed to facilitate pre-assemblies on their corresponding support profiles.

The problem on which the present invention is based is to provide a multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls whose structural and functional features obviate such drawbacks .

This problem is solved by the provision of a multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls according to claim 1.

The multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls according to the invention is composed of a movable plate for lower anchorage, a movable plate for upper anchorage and a base plate for connection to the uprights and/or crosspieces of the framework; the base plate may be configured for attachment on or between the edges of the profiles that form the uprights of the framework, or for fixed anchorage on straight uprights and/or crosspieces; the movable plates have upper and lower anchor tabs ; the support elements may be assembled together and position- adjusted and are self-locking and vertically slideable to opening and closing positions for supporting and locking the ventilated wall facework components; through the mounting procedure or maintenance or replacement works, the elements may be moved to intermediate, adjustable positions; the elements may be also preassembled, either directly on the uprights and/or crosspieces of the framework, when the latter are not engaged on the wall, or on wall-mounted uprights and/or crosspieces, and each may be individually position-adjusted to alignment and/or wholly removed even during operation; the components include positioning means and antiremoval safety means.

Some of the advantages that can be achieved by the multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls according to this invention include the following: - the base plate may be designed for hook-like or interlocking connection, or for attachment by screws, rivets and the like, depending on the design of the profiles that form the uprights of the framework, thereby allowing use thereof in any application, - the multi elements supports is not only designed for attachment on wall-mounted uprights and/or crosspieces of frameworks, but also for preassembly on unmounted framework uprights and/or crosspieces, thereby allowing pre-alignment thereof, as well as faster operations, shorter mounting times, shorter scaffold renting times and better working time management, due to the possibility of working indoors in case of bad weather or during winter, the multi elements support allows easy correction of alignment, joint width and position of the facework components to be mounted to the wall, with very close tolerances, as a function of the setting gage and precision of the components and of their connection distances, the multi-element nature of the inventive support, or the provision of positioning and safety means therein allows proper pre-assembly and mounting of the facework components, prevents them from moving closer to each other and/or inadvertently opening during operation, and affords individual removal of defective, imperfect, damaged or improperly mounted components, by partial compensation of successive joints,

- the multi-elements support may be used in the same manner and for the same purposes in exposed or hidden applications, depending on the type of vertical wall facework components being used. The invention will be now described in further detail, with reference to embodiments provided by way of example and without limitation, with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of a dual anchor support according to the invention, in a vertically aligned position,

- Figures 2a, b and c are perspective views of different base plate connections, compatible with the movable elements of the inventive support, for application on different types of uprights and/or crosspieces designed to form ventilated wall frameworks, - Figures 3a, b, and c are perspective views of a support according to the invention for exposed application, at the start of the facework component mounting procedure, in the intermediate step of upper connection of such components and in the end step of positioning of the lower anchors for base support of other components,

- Figures 4a and b are perspective and sectional views of an embodiment of movable plates with inclined tabs for hidden application on oblique and grooved edges of facework components,

- Figures 5a and b are perspective and sectional views of an embodiment of a movable plate for simultaneous upper and lower connection, designed for exposed or hidden application on normal or vertically grooved edges of facework components, and

- Figures 6a and b are embodiments of movable plates for simultaneous upper and lower connection, designed for hidden application on profiled edges of facework components . Referring to the annexed figures, the support of the invention, in its basic configuration, is composed of a movable plate 1 for upper anchorage, a movable plate 2 for lower anchorage and support, and a base plate (3) for connection to the uprights 4, 4' or crosspieces 4" of the framework to be mounted to the wall .

Depending on upright and/or crosspiece types, the base plate 3 is specially formed to provide different connection means, namely, without limitation:

- with a lower tab 5 having side notches 6, whose edges are secured by friction, at the desired height, to the sides 7 of the "C" shaped uprights 4 thanks to the pressure exerted by the movable plates 1 and 2 which are manually forced, in pairs, into the gap 8 between the outer front sides 9 of the profile 4 and the rear surface 10 of the base plate 3,

- with flat lower tabs 5', to be press fitted at the desired height between the folded edges 7' of specially shaped uprights 4 ' , with fixed fastening means, such as rivets, screws, bolts or the like 5", on crosspieces or any flat surfaces 4"; in this case, the base plate 3 may have tabs for upper 13 or lower 16 anchorage (so defined depending on whether they are designed to engage the upper or lower edges respectively of the facework component 12 which are disposed below or above the base plate 3 respectively) and allow attachment of one of the two movable plates 1 or 2 only.

In addition to the above, other embodiments of the means for stably connecting and/or positioning the base plate 3 may be obviously envisaged, to allow attachment thereof to the framework, it the latter is formed of uprights and/or crosspieces having particular and different configurations, provided there exists the above gap 8 for manual press fit of said movable plates 1 and 2 or one of said movable plates 1 and 2 only.

According to a different embodiment, the base plate 3 is replaced by a functionally equivalent fastening member, which is adapted to be directly attached to the vertical profiles 4, 4¹ and/or the crosspieces 4", which are designed to form the overall framework for the facework 12 of the ventilated wall. Such fastening member also allows to engage corresponding apertures 24 and 25 of the movable plate 1 for lower anchorage and the movable plate 2 for upper anchorage, to ensure attachment of such movable anchor plates to said profiles 4, 4' and/or crosspieces 4".

The above fastening member is preferably a pin, but a screw, an expansion bolt, a rivet, a stud or a structurally and/or functionally equivalent member may be also used.

Thanks to the conformation of the apertures 24 of the movable anchor plate 1, which form vertically extending slots, the distance between said movable plate 1 for lower anchorage and the movable plate 2 for upper anchorage may be vertically adjusted.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, during assembly of the facework components, the multi elements support, in its preassembled configuration, is placed and aligned on an upright 4, with the movable plates 1 and 2 inserted in coupled pairs in the positioning gap 8, but partly lifted so that the upper edges 11 of the facework components 12 may be introduced under (arrow F) and beyond the tabs for upper anchorage 13 of the movable plate 1, that is to say the tabs designed to engage the upper anchorage tabs 11 of the facework components 12, which are disposed below the base plate 3.

Then, the movable plate 1 is pushed down until said anchor tabs 13 are in retained relation with said upper edges 11 of the facework components 12 (see Figure 3b)—, whereas the movable plate 2 remains in a lifted position with a lower retainer 17 thereof being engaged in a complementary upper receptacle 18 of the base plate 3 .

By later pushing the movable plate 2 down, and fitting its retainers 17 in the complementary- corresponding receptacles 18, the movable plate 2 is aligned with the pre-assembled parts, and its lower anchorage tabs 16 (i.e. the tabs designed to engage the lower edges 11 of the facework component 12 below the base plate 3) are oriented in such a manner as to provide anchorage and support to the lower edges of other of other facework components 12 placed above them.

To prevent any undesired vertical sliding motion to an opening position, the movable plate 1 has a lower vertical safety tongue 14, to be introduced in an opening 15 of the base plate 3 and folded into engagement therewith to permanently lock the support. Whenever a particular component should be removed, the tongue 14 may be straightened and the plate 1 may be pulled up again. The retainer means 17 may be, for example, simple engravings or ridges projecting from the front wall of said movable plate 2. The retainer means are designed for coupling relation with corresponding engagement means 18, essentially consisting of holes formed on the surface of said base plate 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the multi elements support of the invention is of the dual, i.e. upper and lower, anchorage type, for simultaneous attachment of contiguous corners of four components of a ventilated wall facework, i.e. two upper and two lower corners ; for particular applications, such support may be configured with one upper or lower anchorage arrangement only. The support as disclosed above is typically used with the retaining ends of the anchor tabs 13 and 16 either exposed on the exterior surface of the facework components 12 to be supported (see Figures 3a, b, c) or hidden if the edges of the facework components have vertical grooves 19; in the latter case, movable plates 1' may be simply used, with the anchor tabs 13' and 16' extending in both upward and downward directions, still associated to base plates 3, with the movable plates 2 being omitted (see Figures 5a, b) .

If the facework components 12 have inclined drip edges 20 and grooves 21, the retaining ends of the anchor tabs 13" and 16" of the movable plates 1", 2" may be correspondingly inclined to be used in hidden arrangement (see Figures 4 a,b) .

Conversely, if the edges of the profiled facework components 12 are shaped with semicircular 22 or trapezoidal 23 profiles, movable plates 1' ' ' , 1^IV may be used, having complementary profiles 22' and 23', still associated to base plates 3, with the movable plates 2 being omitted. (See Figures 6a, b) .

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain preferred exemplary and non limiting embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes to shapes, retaining and support details and assemblies may be made without departure from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A multi elements support for facework of ventilated walls, characterized in that it comprises a movable plate (1) for lower anchorage, possibly a movable plate (2) for upper anchorage and a base plate (3) having means for position-adjustable connection to uprights (4, 4') and/or crosspieces (4"), which are designed to form the framework of the ventilated wall facework (12) ; said movable plate (1) having at least one tab (13) for upper anchorage and a lower vertical safety tongue (14) , said movable plate (2) having at least one tab (16) for lower anchorage and support and retainer means (17) , suitable to be associated in coupling relation with corresponding engagement means (18) on said base plate (3) , the latter further having an opening (15) for engagement of said safety tongue (14) of said movable plate (1) .

2. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises said movable plate (2) for upper anchorage.

3. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection means of said base plate (3) consist of a lower tab (5) having side notches (6) , whose edges can be anchored by friction, at the desired height, to the sides (7) of channel-shaped uprights (4) ; said anchorage being obtained by manually forcing said movable plates (1) and/or (2) into a gap (8) between the outer front sides (9) of said uprights (4) and the rear surface (10) of said base plate.

4. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection means of said base plate (3) consist of flat lower tabs (5'), suitable to be press fitted at the desired height between the folded edges (V) of said uprights (4 ' ) .

5. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection means of said base plate (3) consist of fixed fastening means, such as rivets, screws, bolts or the like (5"), on said uprights and/or crosspieces (4") or any flat surfaces in general .

6. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the base plate (3) may have a tab for upper (13) or lower

(16) anchorage and allow attachment of one of the two movable plates (1) or (2) only.

7. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, once the mounting procedure is completed, said lower vertical safety tongue (14) of said movable plate (1) is folded into retaining relation in the opening

(15) of said base plate (3) ; said engagement being releasable when needed.

8. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to I₁ characterized in that the retaining ends of the anchor tabs (13) and

(16) of said movable plates (1) and (2) are adapted to be mounted either in exposed positions on the exterior surface of the facework components (12) to be supported or in hidden positions if the edges of the facework components have vertical grooves (19) .

9. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it only comprises movable plates (1) having oppositely extending anchor tabs (13 ') and (16) for simultaneous anchorage either in exposed positions on the exterior surface of the facework components (12) to be supported or in hidden positions if the edges of the facework components have vertical grooves (19) .

10. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the retaining ends of the anchor tabs (13") and (16") of said movable plates (1") and (2") are inclined, for facework components (12) having inclined drip edges (20) and grooves (21) .

11. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, if the edges of the profiled facework components. (12) are shaped with semicircular (22) or trapezoidal (23) profiles, movable plates (I' ' ' , 1^IV) are only used, having complementary profiles (22') and (23'), still associated to base plates (3) , with the movable plates (2) being omitted.

12. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it may be mounted and aligned in a position adjustable manner on the uprights (4, 4') and/or crosspieces (4") of frameworks, regardless of their being already wall-mounted or yet unmounted.

13. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said retainer means (17) are engravings or ridges, which are designed for coupling relation with corresponding engagement means (18) formed on said base plate (3), essentially consisting of complementary holes; said coupling being operative in the intermediate or final support assembly steps.

14. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a fastening member is provided instead of said base plate (3), which is adapted to: be secured to said uprights (4, 4') and/or crosspieces (4") which are designed to form the framework for the ventilated wall facework (12) ; - engage corresponding apertures (24, 25) of said movable plate (1) for lower anchorage and said movable plate (2) for upper anchorage, to ensure attachment of such movable plates for lower and upper anchorage to said uprights (4, 4') and/or crosspieces (4").

15. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the apertures (24) of one of said movable plate (1) for lower anchorage and said movable plate (2) for upper anchorage are vertically extended slots to allow vertical adjustment of the distance between said movable plates for lower and upper anchorage .

16. A support for facework of ventilated walls as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said fastening member is a pin.