Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastening system for fastening a fagade panel to a support, a fagade and a method of fastening a fagade panel to a support.

Background Art

In order to mount a fagade comprising multiple fagade panels to a wall, it is known to fasten a rail system to the wall, fasten several hangers to the fagade panels and attach the hangers each to a rail of the rail system. For esthetical reasons, the hangers are fastened to a back side of each fagade panel such that the hangers are invisible in the later finished fagade. After the hangers have been attached to the rail, a horizontal and vertical position of the fagade panel are fixed. Removing a specific fagade panel from the support, e.g. for exchange or repair, usually incurs removing all panels above the specific panel. It is an object to provide a fastening system, a fastening method and/or a fagade incurring an easy attachment of a fagade panel to a support.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, a fastening system for fastening a fagade panel to a support comprises a hanger configured to be fastened to the fagade panel and a fixing element configured to be fastened to the support. The hanger has an upper leg, wherein the upper leg has an abutment face configured to face, or abut on, the support and is provided with a through hole extending from the abutment face through the leg in a thickness direction, wherein the through hole has a hole diameter across the thickness direction and a hole length along the thickness direction. The fixing element has a shaft, the shaft comprising a protruding portion configured to protrude from the support in a protruding direction when the fixing element is fastened to the support and having a protruding-portion diameter across the protruding direction smaller than the hole diameter and a protruding-portion length along the protruding direction greater than the hole length. The protruding portion is configured to extend through the through hole when the abutment face faces or abuts on the support and the fixing element is fastened to the support. The upper leg is thereby allowed to move along the protruding direction after the fixing element has been fastened to the support.

According to an embodiment, the shaft comprises a neck portion following the protruding portion in the protruding direction and having a neck diameter smaller than the protruding- portion diameter and a neck length greater than the hole length. Further, the through hole, along its entire length, is open to a lateral side of the upper leg through an opening having a cross-sectional width smaller than the protruding-portion diameter and greater than the neck diameter. The upper leg is thereby allowed to move to the lateral side until the hanger is free from the support when the opening is aligned with the neck portion. According to an embodiment, the neck portion joins the protruding portion.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing element comprises a head following the neck portion in the protruding direction and having a head diameter across the protruding direction greater than the hole diameter. Movement of the upper leg along the protruding direction is thereby limited, thus reducing the risk of unintentional removing the fagade panel e.g. due to weather conditions. According to an embodiment, the head has an end face facing in the protruding direction and provided with a receptacle for a driver. According to an embodiment, the head joins the neck portion.

According to another embodiment, the shaft comprises a fastening portion following the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction and configured to penetrate the support and fasten the fixing element to the support, wherein the shaft comprises a stop, or step, configured to abut on the support when the fixing element is fastened to the support. According to an embodiment, the fastening portion joins the protruding portion. According to another embodiment, the fastening portion is configured to drill into the support. According to another embodiment, the fastening portion comprises a thread, preferred a self-tapping thread. According to another embodiment, the stop comprises a tapered chamfer. According to another embodiment, the fixing element comprises a drill tip following the protruding portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction and configured to penetrate the support. According to an embodiment, the drill tip joins the protruding portion or the fastening portion.

According to another embodiment, the hanger comprises an adjustment element configured to adjust a distance between the abutment face and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment face faces or abuts on the support. According to an embodiment, the upper leg comprises the adjustment element.

According to another embodiment, the fastening system further comprises a panel fastener configured to fasten the hanger to the fagade panel, wherein the upper leg protrudes from the fagade panel in a direction transverse to the thickness direction when the hanger is fastened to the fagade panel.

According to another embodiment, the hanger further comprises a lower leg protruding from the fagade panel in a direction transverse to the thickness direction when the hanger is fastened to the fagade panel and configured to abut on a lower portion of the support when the fagade panel is fastened to the support.

According to another embodiment, the fastening system is provided in a fagade comprising a fagade panel and a support, wherein the fagade panel is attached to the support by the fastening system. According to a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a rail fastened to a wall of a building, wherein the hanger engages the rail, thereby attaching the fagade panel to the wall. According to an embodiment, the hanger secures the fagade panel to the wall.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of fastening a fagade panel to a support comprises providing a hanger having an upper leg, wherein the upper leg has an abutment face and is provided with a through hole extending from the abutment face through the leg in a thickness direction, fastening the hanger to a back side of the fagade panel such that the upper leg protrudes from the fagade panel, and positioning the hanger on the support such that the abutment face faces, or abuts on, the support. The method further comprises providing a fixing element having a shaft, the shaft comprising a protruding portion. The method further comprises inserting the fixing element through the through hole and fastening the fixing element to the support such that the protruding portion protrudes from the support in a protruding direction, thereby allowing the upper leg to move with respect to the support along the protruding direction.

According to an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the hanger with an adjustment element configured to adjust a distance between the abutment face and the support in the protruding direction when the abutment face faces or abuts on the support, adjusting a horizontal position of the fagade panel along the support before the fixing element is fastened to the support, and adjusting a vertical position of the fagade panel along the support after the fixing element is fastened to the support. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper leg is provided with the adjustment element.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail by way of example hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The described embodiments are only possible configurations in which the individual features may however be implemented independently of each other or may be omitted.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drill and a fagade panel;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fagade panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fagade panel of Fig. 1 with a set of hangers attached to it;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fagade panel with of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a semi-finished fagade;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a semi-finished fagade;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hanger;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a hanger;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hanger of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the hanger of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a fixing element;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a fastening system and a support;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the fastening system and support of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a fastening system and a support;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of Fig. 15; and Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the fastening system and support of Fig. 15.

Description of Embodiments

Figs. 1-6 generally demonstrate a method of attaching a fagade panel 58 having a front side 59 and a back side 60 to a wall 61 (shown in Figs. 5-6) to build a fagade 62. The fagade panel 58 may have a thickness of only 8 mm and be made of high pressure laminate, fiber cement, a similar material or a combination thereof.

In an early step (Figs. 1-2), the fagade panel 58 is provided with blind holes 63 by drilling into the back side 60, using a drilling machine 64 or similar and a drill 65. A depth of each blind hole 63 is determined by a depth stop, such as a stop shoulder 66 on the drill 65.

In a subsequent step (Figs. 3-4), which may be performed in a plant, a workshop, or on a jobsite, a set of hangers 57 each having an upper leg 67 comprising a hook 73, a lower leg 68, and one or several through-holes 69 is fastened to the back side 60 of the fagade panel 58 by inserting a panel fastener 41 through each of the through-holes 69 into one of the blind holes 63, using an electric screw gun 71 or similar and a preferably torque-controlled setting bit 72. The upper leg 67 and the lower leg 68 protrude from the fagade panel 58 in a thickness direction of the upper or lower leg 67, 68, i.e. a direction transverse to the back side 60, when the hanger 57 is fastened to the fagade panel 58. Two or more different kinds of hangers 57 may be used for one fagade panel 58. A first kind may be configured to carry part of the weight of the fagade panel 58, another kind may be configured to adjust a position of the fagade panel 58.

In a further subsequent step (Figs. 5-6), the fagade panel 58 is attached to the wall 61 by engaging the hangers 57 to a support 70 formed as a rail previously fastened to the wall 61 , as further explained below. Once the fagade 62 is finished, the front side 59 of the fagade panel 58 is visible from an outside view, whereas its back side 60, the hangers 57, and the fasteners 41 are invisible. In Fig. 7, a hanger 75 configured to be fastened to a fagade panel and carry part of the weight of the fagade panel, e.g. the fagade panel 58 shown in Figs. 1-6, is shown. The hanger 75 comprises an upper leg 76 having an abutment face 77 configured to face and abut on a support, a lower leg 82 configured to abut on a lower portion of the support, and a base portion 83 interconnecting the upper leg 76 and the lower leg 82. The upper leg 76 comprises a hook 74 configured to engage behind an upper portion of the support. The base portion 83 is provided with a bore 84 for a panel fastener, e.g. the panel fastener 41 shown in Fig. 4

In Figs. 8-10, a hanger 85 configured to be fastened to a fagade panel, carry part of the weight of the fagade panel, e.g. the fagade panel 58 shown in Figs. 1-6, and adjust a position of the fagade panel is shown. The hanger 85 comprises an upper leg 86 having an abutment face 87 configured to face and abut on a support, a lower leg 92 configured to abut on a lower portion of the support, and a base portion 96 interconnecting the upper leg 87 and the lower leg 92. The upper leg 86 comprises a hook 98 configured to engage behind an upper portion of the support. The base portion 96 is provided with two or more bores 97 for a panel fastener, e.g. the panel fastener 41 shown in Fig. 4.

The upper leg 86 is provided with a through hole 88 extending from the abutment face 87 through the upper leg 86 in a thickness direction 90 (i.e. in a direction crossing the upper leg 86). The through hole 88 has a hole diameter D _t across the thickness direction 90 and a hole length Lh along the thickness direction. Along its entire length Lh, the through hole 88 is open to a lateral side 89 of the upper leg 86 through an opening 91. The opening 91 has a cross- sectional width w.

Further, the hanger 85 comprises an adjustment element 93 formed as an adjustment screw and configured to adjust a distance between the abutment face 87 and the support when the abutment face 87 faces or abuts on the support. To this end, the upper leg 86 is provided with a threaded hole and the adjustment element 93 comprises a threaded shaft 94 running in the threaded hole. Any portion of the adjustment element 93 protruding from the abutment face 87 defines a distance between the abutment face 87 and the support. In order to adjust a vertical position of the hanger 85 and thus the fagade panel, the adjustment element 93 is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. To this end, the adjustment element 93 comprises an adjustment head 95 having a receptacle 99 for receiving a driver, such as a Torx, Philipps, Hex, SL, Allen, Square or similar driver. In Fig. 11 , a fixing element 10 formed as a fixing screw is shown. The fixing element 10 has a shaft 11 , a head 21 and a drill tip 31. The shaft 11 comprises a fastening portion 12, a protruding portion 13 and a neck portion 14. The drill tip 31 joins the fastening portion 12 and enables the fastening portion 12 to penetrate and drill into a support, e.g. the support 70 shown in Figs. 5-6. The fastening portion 12 comprises a self-tapping thread 15 to fasten the fixing element 10 to the support.

The protruding portion 13 joins the fastening portion 12 in a protruding direction 20 and protrudes from the support in the protruding direction 20 when the fixing element 10 is fastened to the support. The protruding portion 13 has a protruding-portion diameter D _p across the protruding direction 20 and a protruding-portion length L _p along the protruding direction 20. The shaft 11 comprises a stop 16 formed as a step which abuts on the support when the fixing element 10 is fastened to the support. The stop 16 comprises a tapered chamfer 17 to align the fixing element 10 such that the protruding direction 20 is oriented perpendicular to a surface of the support while the stop 16 abuts on the support.

The neck portion 14 joins the protruding portion 13 in the protruding direction 20 and has a neck diameter d _n across the protruding direction 20 and a neck length L _n along the protruding direction 20. The head 21 joins the neck portion 14 in the protruding direction 20 and has a head diameter dh across the protruding direction 20. The head 21 has an end face 22 facing in the protruding direction 20 and provided with a receptacle 23 for a driver, e.g. a Torx driver, enabling a user to rotationally drive the fixing element 10 and fasten the fixing element 10 to the support, e.g. by using a power-driven screwdriver.

Figs. 12-14 demonstrate a method of attaching a fagade panel (not shown for better visibility) to a wall 54 by using a fastening system 50 comprising the hanger 85 shown in Figs. 8-10, two fastening elements 52 and the fixing element 10 shown in Fig.11 .

In an early step (Fig. 12), after the hanger 85 has been fastened to the the fagade panel by the fastening elements 52, e.g. as shown in Figs. 1-4, and after a support 51 formed as a rail is fastened to the wall 54 e.g. by a support fastener 53, the hanger 85 is positioned on the support 51. The abutment face of the upper leg 86 abuts on the support 51 and the hook 98 engages behind the support 51. Then, a horizontal position of the hanger 85 and the fagade panel is adjusted as desired by sliding the hanger 85 horizontally along the support 51 . In a subsequent step (Figs. 13-14), the fixing element 10 is inserted through the through hole 88 and fastened to the support 51 by the drill tip and the fastening portion of the fixing element 10. The protruding portion of the fixing element 10 thereby protrudes from the support 51 in a vertical protruding direction through the through hole 88. The protruding-portion diameter D _p is smaller than the hole diameter D _t , and the protruding-portion length L _p is greater than the hole length Lh, thereby allowing the upper leg 86 and the hanger 85 to vertically move with respect to the support 51. On the other hand, the protruding-portion diameter D _p is greater than the opening width w, thereby fixing the horizontal position of the hanger 85 and the fagade panel with respect to the support 51 .

Then, a vertical position of the hanger 85 and the fagade panel is adjusted as desired by moving the adjustment element 93 against the support 51 , e.g. by rotationally driving the adjustment head of the adjustment element, in order to adjust a distance between the upper leg 86 and the support 51 in the vertical direction. During such a vertical adjustment, the through hole of the upper leg 86 slides on the protruding portion of the fixing element. While the vertical position of the hanger 85 may be adjusted before the fixing element 10 is fastened to the support 51 , it is desirable to fix the horizontal position of the hanger 85 before adjusting its vertical position.

Figs. 15-18 demonstrate a method of removing the fagade panel (not shown for better visibility) from the wall 54 using the fastening system 50. The method starts from the fixed position of the fastening system 50 after fastening the hanger 85 to the support 51 (Fig. 15).

In a first step (Fig. 16), the fagade panel and the hanger 85 are lifted along the vertical direction such that the through hole 88 of the upper leg 86 is on the same level as the neck portion 14 of the fixing element 10. As described above, the protruding-portion diameter D _p is smaller than the hole diameter D _t , thereby allowing this vertical movement.

In a subsequent step (Fig. 17), the fagade panel and the hanger 85 are moved horizontally along a lateral direction such that the neck portion 14 of the fixing element 10 passes the opening 91 . The neck diameter d _n is smaller than the opening width w, and the neck length L _n is greater than the hole length Lh, thereby allowing this horizontal movement. It is to be noted that the protruding-portion diameter D _p is greater than the opening width w, thereby fixing the horizontal position of the fagade panel and the hanger 85 unless the upper leg 86 is lifted to the level of the neck portion 14. The head diameter dh is greater than the hole diameter d _t , the head thereby acting as a stop for the lifting movement of the upper leg 86. Unintentional removing the fagade panel e.g. by wind is thus unlikely.

In a further subsequent step (Fig. 18), the fagade panel and the hanger 85 are moved away from the wall 54 such that the fagade panel is free. In this way, the fagade panel may be removed from the wall e.g. for repair or replacement, without the need to remove any other panels above. Also, the vertical position of the fagade panel may be readjusted, by turning the adjustment element while the panel is taken off the wall. Reassembling the fagade panel to the wall is performed by the opposite movements in the opposite order.

While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. All elements and features of the disclosed embodiments may be present individually or in any combination in all other embodiments, as long as not contradicting to each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.