APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION OF A COMPOSITE BUILDING PANEL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to an apparatus and method for use in the installation of composite building panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Builders and home owners are frequently looking for just the right exterior surface for their buildings. Currently, however, the choice of finishing systems available is fairly restrictive. Two of the more popular choices in terms of appearance are brick and stone. However, natural stone is simply too expensive for use on anything other than a small number of applications where the market can bear the cost. Even brick has become too expensive for the low and middle class housing market. As such, builders typically look to cheaper vinyl and aluminum siding as the alternative. However, those materials are rarely considered as pleasing exterior finishes. Therefore, there exists a demand for an affordable alternative product, one which is aesthetically pleasing, requires little maintenance and, most of all, is easy to install, either during the building stage or as a renovation project.

In its co-pending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2, 107,847,

applicant describes a composite building panel which meets this demand. The present invention is related to an apparatus for use in the installation of a composite building

panel such as that described in applicant's co-pending Canadian patent application and to a method of using that apparatus in the installation of such a panel.

The prior art describes apparatus and methods of installing a variety of sheet wall panelling, building tiles and concrete slabs using discrete clips and adhesives. Reference is made for example to United States Patent No. 2,120,195, of Valenti, issued June 7, 1938, Canadian Patent No. 90,924 of Fisher issued January 12, 1905, Canadian Patent No. 686,819 of Medow, issued may 19, 1964, Canadian Patent No. 462,686 of Wardle, issued April 19, 1939 and Canadian laid-open Patent Application Serial No. 2,022,601 of Francis, filed, August 2, 1990. However, none of these references is directed towards an apparatus and method capable of use in the installation of a composite building panel similar to that of applicant's co-pending Canadian patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for use in the installation of a composite building panel. The apparatus comprises a corrugated member adapted to be adhered to the panel to form a back face of the panel when so adhered, anchor means integral with the corrugated member and extending longitudinally from an upper portion of the corrugated member and locking means integral with the corrugated member and extending longitudinally from a bottom portion of the corrugated member. The locking means is engageable with the anchor means of an adjacent panel having the corrugated member as a back face.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a track adapted to be mounted to the wall, which track includes a flange-receiving groove.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided at least one stiffener fastened to an inner surface of the corrugated member such that the stiffener extends within the panel when the corrugated member is adhered to the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which: -

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wall incorporating the apparatus and composite building panels in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a panel incorporating the apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side plan view of the corrugated member of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the inside surface of the corrugated member of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the stiff eners to be fastened to the apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view , partially cut away, of the track means

in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along line 7-7 of Figure 2.

While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAD ED DESCRD7TION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.

Turning to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 2 for use in the installation to a wall 4 of a composite building panel 10. The panel 10 is preferably of the type described in applicant's co-pending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,107,847.

With reference to Figure 2, the panel 10 comprises a front face 12, a top edge 14, a bottom edge 16, side edges 18 and a back face 20 formed by the corrugated member 22.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the corrugated member 22 is an elongated member preferably manufactured of galvanized steel, adapted to be adhered

to the panel 10 to form the back face 20 of the panel 10. Integral with the member 22 there is provided anchor means 24 extending longitudinally from an upper portion 26 of the member 22. Preferably, the anchor means 24 extends beyond the top edge 14 of the panel 10 when the member 22 is adhered to the panel 10. Integral with the member 22 and extending longitudinally from a bottom portion 28 of the member 22, there is provided a locking means 30 which preferably extends beyond the bottom edge 16 of the panel 10 when the member 22 is adhered to the panel 10. The locking means 30 is configured so as to be engageable within the anchor means 24 of a vertically adjacent panel 10 having the corrugated member 22 adhered thereto as back face 20.

The corrugated member 22 is defined by alternating wall engaging faces 32 and panel engaging faces 34 along its length. There may also be provided adherence sites 36 through which adherence of the member 22 to the panel 10 may be effected. As described in applicant's co-pending Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2, 107,847, the panel 10 is preferably filled with foamed insulating material. This material may be injected into the panel 10 through adherence sites 36 of member 22 when member 22 is placed in position relative panel 10 as a back face 20. Thus, the insulating foam will fill the inside of the panel 10, surrounding the panel engaging faces 34 of member 22 holding the member 22 in place as back face 20.

The anchor means 24 comprises is defined by a plurality of elongated strips. The first strip 38 extends longitudinally from the member 22. The second strip 40 curves about 180 degrees and extends longitudinally in a direction opposite

to the first strip 38 for less than the length of the first strip 38. The third strip 42 curves 180 degrees relative the second strip to extend longitudinally to finish in a plane parallel to the end of the first strip 38. Thus, the space between the second strip 40 and the third strip 42 defines a flange-receiving channel 44. There may also be provided fastening means (not shown), located within a mid-portion of said first strip 38, for mounting the member 22 to the wall 4.

The locking means 30 is a flange 46 extending from the bottom portion 28 of the member 22, such that it may extend beyond the bottom edge 16 of panel 10, when member 22 is in position as back face 20, or may be offset from the bottom edge 16 as shown in Figure 2. The flange 46 is oriented to engage within flange- receiving channel 44 when a first panel is vertically adjacent a second panel, each panel having a member 22 as a back face 20.

Fastened to the inside surface 48 of member 22, there may also be provided at least one elongated stiffener 50. As illustrated in Figure 5, the stiffener 50 has a Z-shaped configuration and may comprise a plurality of elongated strips secured together in Z-shaped configuration or may be a single elongated strip formed into a Z-shape. The first strip or face 52 is oriented to abut a portion of inner surface 48 and be fastened thereto through conventional means, such as spot welding, riveting and the like. The remaining strips or faces 54, 56 of stiffener 50 are oriented to extend within panel 10 when the member 22 is in place as back face 20 to provide holding power of the member 22 within the panel 10 and to provide increased rigidity and torsional stability of the member 22 relative the panel 10 and the wall 4. As discussed above, when the panel is filled with foamed insulating material, that

material will adhere to the inside surface of the corrugated member 22. The foamed material will also adhere to the stiffener 50 to provide extra holding force and torsional stability.

There may also be provided J-shaped track means 60, shown in Figure 6, comprising an elongated upstanding wall mounting face 62 and at least one elongated strip 64 to define a flange-receiving channel 66, similar in configuration to that of anchor means 24. There may also be provided fastening means (not shown) to mount the track means 60 to the wall 4. Further, there may be provided a lateral offset (not shown) within a top portion 68 of wall mounting face 62 in a direction opposite the orientation of the flange- receiving channel 66.

As seen in Figure 7, when the member 22 is adhered to the panel 10 to form back face 20, the anchor means 24 extends beyond the top edge 14 and the flange 46 of locking means 30 may be offset from the bottom edge 16. The stiffeners 50 are fastened to the member 22 and extend within the panel 10.

The method of using apparatus 2 to install a plurality of panels 10 is to fasten a first panel 70 at a first position along the wall 4 with a plurality of fasteners 72 spaced evenly along the length of the panel 10. Preferably, track means 60 is fastened to the wall 4 to receive panel 10 by means of engaging flange 46 into flange-receiving channel 66. A plurality of panels 70 may then be secured to the track means 60 and installed in side-by-side relation (not shown). There is thus created a first row of panels. A second panel 74, incorporating apparatus 2 is then presented to the wall 4 in vertically adjacent orientation to first panel 70 such that the flange 46 of second panel 74 is in mating relation with the flange-receiving channel

of anchor means 24 of first panel 70. A plurality of panels 74 may be secured in position in the same manner thus creating a second row of panels. This process is then repeated as required to completely cover the building exterior, as desired by the user.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention an apparatus and method for use in the installation of a composite building panel that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with example embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.