Attachment system for panel or facade

• US 20090145071A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seco Architectural Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altech Panel Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Radford, Jerry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/506.80
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0805 with additional fastening elements between furring elements and the wall
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/083 Hooking means on the back side of the covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0889 characterised by the joints between neighbouring elements, e.g. with joint fillings or with tongue and groove connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/061 used to finish off an edge or corner of a wall or floor covering area in connection with floor fabrics A47G27/045; sealings between walls and baths A47K3/008
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0517 U- or C-shaped brackets and clamps

Abstract

Panels (20A, 20B) are attached to extrusions (66A, 66B) by fasteners 90. Clips (70) are attached to a structure (50) by fasteners (35). The extrusions and the clips engage in a manner which allows the panels to move in any direction, as needed, without the panel detaching from the structure and falling. The extrusions also provide for the use of optional reveal strips (87). An extrusion has a restraining area (86), a reveal strip stop area (58), and a T-slot (65). A clip has a T-channel (74), a tensioning stop arm (69), and a secondary reinforcing arm (80). The panels can be installed in rows, in columns, or diagonally, as desired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a first panel and a second panel to a structure, each panel having a main portion, a lip, and a hole in the lip, the apparatus comprising:

a clip, comprising;

a clip base having a first area and a second area,

a generally “

T”

-shaped track extending from the first area,

a generally “

L”

-shaped stop having a first base extending from the second area and an arm extending from the distal end of the first base, the arm generally extending parallel to the clip base and away from the first area, and

the clip base having a hole between the “

T”

-shaped track and the “

L”

-shaped stop and adapted to accommodate a fastener to secure the clip to the structure; and

first and second extrusions, each extrusion comprising;

a generally “

U”

-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm, the second arm having an end and a base, the “

U”

-shaped base adapted to receive the “

L”

-shaped stop of the clip,

a first leg extending from the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base and having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the extrusion to a panel, the first extrusion to be secured to the first panel and the second extrusion to be secured to the second panel,

first and second generally “

L”

-shaped extensions extending from the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base, the first extension extending from the end of the second arm, the second extension extending from the base of the second arm, the second arm, the first extension and the second extension forming a generally “

T”

-shaped opening adapted to receive the “

T”

-shaped track; and

wherein the “

U”

-shaped base of the first extrusion receives the “

L”

-shaped stop and the “

T”

-shaped opening of the second extrusion receives the “

T”

-shaped track.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprises a generally “

L”

- shaped extension having a base and an arm and extending from the clip base, the “

T”

-shaped track being between the “

L”

-shaped extension and the hole, the base of the “

L”

-shaped extension extending at approximately 90 degrees from the clip base, the arm extending at approximately 90 degrees from the distal end of the base of the “

L”

-shaped extension, the arm generally extending parallel to the clip base and toward the second area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one extrusion further comprises a third arm extending at approximately 90 degrees from the base of the “

U”

-shaped base and forming a first receptacle area with respect to the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base and a second receptacle area with respect to the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base, the first receptacle adapted to receive a reveal strip, the second receptacle adapted to receive the “

L”

-shaped stop of the clip.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the third arm has a knob on the end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the “

L”

-shaped stop has a knob on the distal end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first base of the generally “

L”

-shaped stop of the clip extends from the second area at approximately 90 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arm of the generally “

L”

-shaped stop of the clip extends from the distal end of the first base at approximately 90 degrees.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first leg of the extrusion extends at approximately 90 degrees from the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first or second generally “

L”

-shaped extensions of the extrusion extend at approximately 90 degrees from the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base.

10. An apparatus to secure a panel having an extrusion to a structure, the apparatus comprising:

a clip base having a first area and a second area;

a generally “

T”

-shaped track extending from the first area and adapted to engage the extrusion;

a generally “

L”

-shaped stop adapted to engage the extrusion, and having a first base extending from the second area at approximately 90 degrees and an arm extending from the distal end of the first base at approximately 90 degrees, the arm generally extending parallel to the clip base and away from the first area; and

the clip base having a hole between the “

T”

-shaped track and the “

L”

-shaped stop and adapted to accommodate a fastener to secure the clip to a structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising a generally “

L”

-shaped extension having a base and an arm and extending from the clip base, the “

T”

-shaped track being between the “

L”

-shaped extension and the hole, the base of the “

L”

-shaped extension extending at approximately 90 degrees from the clip base, the arm extending at approximately 90 degrees from the distal end of the base of the “

L”

-shaped extension, the arm generally extending parallel to the clip base and toward the second area.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the “

L”

-shaped stop has a knob on the distal end.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first base of the generally “

L”

-shaped stop extends from the second area at approximately 90 degrees.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the arm extends from the distal end of the first base at approximately 90 degrees.

15. An apparatus to secure a panel to a structure having a clip attached thereto, the apparatus comprising:

a generally “

U”

-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm, the second arm having an end and a base, the “

U”

-shaped base adapted to engage the clip;

a first leg extending from the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base and having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the apparatus to the panel; and

first and second generally “

L”

-shaped extensions extending from the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base, the first extension extending from the end of the second arm, the second extension extending from the base of the second arm, the second arm, the first extension and the second extension forming a generally “

T”

-shaped opening adapted to engage the clip.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 and further comprising a third arm extending at approximately 90 degrees from the base of the “

U”

-shaped base and forming a first receptacle area with respect to the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base and a second receptacle area with respect to the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base, the first receptacle adapted to receive a reveal strip, the second receptacle adapted to engage the clip.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the third arm has a knob on the end.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first leg extends at approximately 90 degrees from the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein at least one of the first or second generally “

L”

-shaped extensions extends at approximately 90 degrees from the second arm of the “

U-”

shaped base.

20. A surface treatment for an underlying object, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a main portion, a lip, and a hole in the lip;

a clip, comprising;

a clip base having a first area and a second area,

a generally “

T”

-shaped track extending from the first area,

a generally “

L”

-shaped stop having a first base extending from the second area and an arm extending from the distal end of the first base, the arm generally extending parallel to the clip base and away from the first area, and

the clip base having a hole between the “

T”

-shaped track and the “

L”

-shaped stop and adapted to accommodate a fastener to secure the clip to the underlying object; and

first and second extrusions, each extrusion comprising;

a generally “

U”

-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm, the second arm having an end and a base, the “

U”

-shaped base adapted to receive the “

L”

-shaped stop of the clip,

a first leg extending from the first arm of the “

U”

-shaped base and having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the extrusion to a panel, the first extrusion to be secured to the first panel and the second extrusion to be secured to the second panel, and

first and second generally “

L”

-shaped extensions extending from the second arm of the “

U”

-shaped base, the first extension extending from the end of the second arm, the second extension extending from the base of the second arm, the second arm, the first extension and the second extension forming a generally “

T”

-shaped opening adapted to receive the “

T”

-shaped track;

wherein the “

U”

-shaped base of the first extrusion receives the “

L”

-shaped stop and the “

T”

-shaped opening of the second extrusion receives the “

T”

-shaped track.

21. An apparatus to secure a panel to a structure having a clip attached thereto, the clip having a unitary “

T”

-shaped protrusion therefrom, the apparatus comprising;

a base, adapted to substantially engage and surround the top of the unitary “

T”

-shaped protrusion; and

a panel attachment section extending from the base and having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the apparatus to the panel.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the panel attachment section comprises a first section extending from the base.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first section of the panel attachment section extends at approximately 90 degrees from the base.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the panel attachment section further comprises a second section extending from, and substantially perpendicular to, the first section.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the panel attachment section further comprises a third section extending from, and substantially perpendicular to, the second section.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the third section has the hole to accommodate the fastener.

27. An apparatus for slidably securing two objects to each other, the apparatus comprising:

a first component, comprising;

a first section having a generally “

T”

-shaped track, and

a second section having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the first component to one of the two objects; and

a second component, comprising;

a first section having a generally “

T”

-shaped receptacle for receiving the generally “

T”

-shaped track of the first attachment component; and

a second section having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the second component to the other one of the two objects.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein one of the two objects is a panel, and the other of the two objects is a structure.

29. An apparatus for slidably securing two objects to each other, the apparatus comprising:

a first component, comprising;

a first section having a unitary, generally “

T”

-shaped track, and

a second section having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the first component to one of the two objects; and

a second component, comprising;

a first section having a generally “

T”

-shaped receptacle for receiving the generally “

T”

-shaped track of the first attachment component; and

a second section having a hole therein to accommodate a fastener to secure the second component to the other one of the two objects.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of the two objects is a panel, and the other of the two objects is a structure.