CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 17/463,442 entitled “CLADDING ATTACHMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE”, which was filed on August 31 , 2021. The aforementioned application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to devices, systems, and associated methods for attaching cladding and/or other materials to building structures.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The construction and operation of buildings accounts for a significant portion of global energy-related carbon emissions. In recent years, there has been a focus on energy efficiency and the construction of better-insulated buildings. There are various ways of insulating the exterior walls of a building, and some of the most efficient methods include the use of "continuous" insulation with minimal thermal bridging across the building wall to limit thermal energy losses.

[0004] Cladding is typically applied to the exterior surfaces of buildings to provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance, and often to improve the appearance of the building. Cladding can be made from a wide variety of materials in different forms including, for example, aluminum and other metals, wood, brick, vinyl, and composite materials that can include blends of cement and recycled polystyrene, etc. Cladding can be applied over insulation with clips or anchors that are fastened to the building wall and extend through the insulation to support the cladding directly or via an arrangement of girts, rails, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of an exterior wall assembly of a building having a cladding attachment system configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0006] Figures 2A-2D are side isometric views of cladding component attachment devices configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0007] Figures 3A-3C are a series of partially exploded isometric views of a cladding component attachment device configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 3D is an assembled isometric view of the cladding component attachment device of Figures 3A-3C.

[0008] Figures 4A and 4B are isometric views illustrating two stages of forming a workpiece into a cladding component attachment device in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0009] Figure 5 is a rear isometric view of a cap of a cladding component attachment device configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0010] Figures 6A and 6B are partially exploded isometric views of a cladding component attachment device configured in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 6C is an assembled isometric view of the cladding component attachment device of Figures 6A and 6B.

[0011] Figure 7 is a rear isometric view of first and second base plates of the cladding component attachment device of Figures 6A-6C, configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0012] Figures 8A and 8B are partially exploded isometric and assembled isometric views, respectively, of a cladding component attachment device configured in accordance with further embodiments of the present technology.

[0013] Figures 9A-9C are a series of isometric views illustrating various stages of installing a plurality of cladding component attachment devices and thermal insulation on an exterior wall of a building, in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0014] Figures 10A-10C are exploded isometric, assembled isometric, and end views, respectively, of an insulation piercing tool configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0015] Figures 11 A-11 D are a series of isometric views illustrating various stages of installing a cladding component on a cladding component attachment device in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0016] Figures 12A and 12B are isometric views of exterior wall assemblies having different cladding support arrangements configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0017] Figure 13A is an isometric view illustrating a cladding component attachment accessory installed on a cladding component attachment device in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 13B is an isometric view of a cladding component installed on the accessory in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

[0018] Figures 14A-14D are cross-sectional side views of various cladding component attachment device installations configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following disclosure describes various embodiments of devices, systems, and associated methods for attaching cladding components to a wall (e.g., a continuously or near-continuously insulated exterior wall) or other substructure of a building. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the term "cladding component" is used herein for ease of reference to generally refer to any cladding support component or cladding material that may be attached to an exterior wall of a building. By way of non-limiting examples, such cladding components can include girts, rails, and/or other cladding support components, as well as cladding boards, panels, sheets, and other cladding materials. As described in greater detail below, various embodiments of the devices and systems described herein are modular devices and systems that can provide thermally insulated intermittent structural attachment solutions for attaching various types of cladding systems onto exterior wall assemblies having a relatively wide range of different insulation thicknesses. For example, some cladding component attachment devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology include a body formed from a tube (e.g., a steel tube) having a square or rectangular cross-section. In some of these embodiments, the tube can be cut, bent and/or otherwise processed during manufacturing to form the body so that it has fastening features on one side wall of the tube for attachment to a building wall structure, and a face on an opposite side wall of the tube onto which girts, rails, or other cladding support components can be attached in various orientations. As described in greater detail below, by using tubes of different cross-sectional size, the length or depth of the attachment device body can be varied to accommodate a range of different insulation thicknesses. Other cladding component attachment devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include a body that at least partially includes a support arm (e.g., a steel tube having a square cross-section) that is attached to a base which is in turn configured to be attached to a building wall structure. In these embodiments, the support arm extends outwardly from the wall and can include features for adjusting the length of the device if needed to account for the wall or substructure not being plumb.

[0020] Certain details are set forth in the following description and in Figures 1 -14D to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present technology. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, operations and/or systems often associated with cladding, cladding support components and systems, insulation, building structures, etc. are not shown or described in detail in the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the technology. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that the present technology can be practiced without one or more of the details set forth herein, or with other structures, methods, components, and so forth.

[0021] The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain examples of embodiments of the present technology. Indeed, certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used herein the terms "about," "generally," "substantially," and "approximately" refer to values within 10% of the stated value. In instances in which relative terminology is used in reference to something that does not include a numerical value, the terms are given their ordinary meaning to one skilled in the art.

[0022] The accompanying Figures depict embodiments of the present technology and are not intended to be limiting of its scope. The sizes of various depicted elements are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these various elements may be arbitrarily enlarged to improve legibility. Component details may be abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such as position of components and certain precise connections between such components when such details are unnecessary for a complete understanding of how to make and use the invention. Many of the details, dimensions, angles and other features shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the present technology. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, angles and features without departing from the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the present technology can be practiced without several of the details described below. In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical, or at least generally similar, elements. To facilitate the discussion of any particular element, the most significant digit or digits of any reference number refers to the Figure in which that element is first introduced. For example, element 110 is first introduced and discussed with reference to Figure 1 . [0023] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of an exterior wall assembly 100 having a cladding attachment system 102 configured in accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. The exterior wall assembly 100 can be an insulated exterior wall of a building, such as a commercial building, a residential building, etc., and can include insulation 106 that is positioned on an exterior side of an exterior wall 104. By way of example, the exterior wall 104 can form part of the building's primary structure, and can be comprised of concrete, wood, sheathing, studs (e.g., steel studs such as C-channel steel studs), or essentially any other type of exterior wall structure typically found on buildings, such as commercial buildings, residential buildings, etc. By way of example, the insulation 106 can include a mineral wool (e.g., ROCKWOOL®), foam boards or blocks (e.g., polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane), loose-fill or blown-in insulation (e.g., cellulose, fiberglass, other mineral (rock or slag) wool), etc., as well as other types of known building insulation materials.

[0024] The cladding attachment system 102 can include a plurality of cladding component attachment devices 110, or a plurality of cladding component attachment devices 120, that extend through the exterior insulation 106 and structurally attach a plurality of cladding components 108 to the building wall 104. In some embodiments, the cladding components 108 are elongate girts (e.g., galvanized steel girts having "hatshaped" cross-sections). In other embodiments, however, the cladding component attachment devices described herein can be used to attach a wide variety of different cladding support components to the building wall 104, including, for example, other types of girts, rails, and/or other types of secondary framing having various cross-sectional shapes (e.g., hat-shaped, Z-shaped, C-shaped, flat, etc.). Accordingly, although portions of the present disclosure describe the cladding component attachment devices 110, 120 for use in attaching girts to exterior building walls, it will be understood that the cladding component attachment devices 110, 120 and various embodiments thereof can be used to attach a wide variety of cladding and/or cladding support components to building walls in accordance with the present technology. Although referred to herein as "cladding component attachment devices 110, 120," in some embodiments, the attachment devices 110, 120 can also be referred to as "clips," "brackets," and the like. Similarly, in some embodiments, the cladding attachment system 102 can be referred to as a "clip and rail" attachment system, a "panel" attachment system, an "exterior finish" attachment system, and the like.

[0025] Although exterior cladding is not illustrated in Figure 1 , those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the cladding components 108 can support a wide variety of different types of cladding and facades including, for example, Longboard® siding (which is extruded, architectural-grade aluminum siding provided by Mayne, Inc. of 1777 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC, Canada), other types of metal (e.g., aluminum) cladding and panels, fiber cement panels, phenolic panels, aluminum composite material (ACM) panels, etc. Accordingly, the cladding component attachment devices and cladding attachment systems described herein are not limited to use with any particular type of cladding support component or arrangement, and/or any particular type of cladding or other exterior finish material, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

[0026] Figures 2A and 2B are side isometric views of cladding component attachment devices 110a and 110b, respectively, and Figures 2C and 2D are side isometric views of cladding component attachment devices 120a and 120b, respectively, configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Referring to Figures 2A-2D together, each of the cladding component attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b includes a base portion 202 (identified individually as base portions 202a-d, respectively) configured to be fastened to an exterior wall of a building, and a distal end portion 204 (identified individually as distal end portions 204a-d, respectively) configured to support a cladding support member, such as a girt, rail, or other cladding component. The cladding component attachment devices 110a and 110b shown in Figures 2A and 2B, respectively, represent two embodiments of a first version of an attachment device that can accommodate a first range of insulation thicknesses, and the cladding component attachment devices 120a and 120b shown in Figures 2C and 2D, respectively, represent two embodiments of another version of an attachment device that can accommodate greater thicknesses of wall insulation. [0027] Figures 3A-3C are a series of partially exploded isometric views of the cladding component attachment device 110b configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 3D is an assembled isometric view of the attachment device 110b. Although the cladding component attachment device 110b is described herein by way of example, it will be understood that the cladding component attachment device 110a is generally the same, or is at least generally similar, in structure and function to the cladding component device 110b, with the principle difference being that the body 302 of the attachment device 110b is longer than the body of the attachment device 110a and thus can be used with insulation of greater thickness. Accordingly, it will be understood that the cladding component attachment device 110a can be manufactured and used in the same manner, or at least generally the same manner, as the cladding component attachment device 110b. For ease of reference, the cladding component attachment device 110b and the other cladding component attachment devices described herein may be referred to at various times as a "component attachment device," an "attachment device," or even simply "a device".

[0028] Referring first to Figure 3A, the attachment device 110b includes a body 302 having first and second side walls 312a and 312b, respectively, extending between a base wall 318 and a distal end wall 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 302 also includes third and fourth side walls 322a and 322b, respectively, which are continuous with the end wall 320 and extend from the end wall 320 toward the base wall 318. More specifically, in this embodiment, the third side wall 322a extends between the first side wall 312a and the second side wall 312b toward an upper portion of the body 302, and the fourth side wall 322b extends between the first side wall 312a and the second side wall 312b toward a lower portion of the body 302. In some embodiments, the side walls 312a, b and 322a, b together define a rectangular cross-sectional shape, e.g., a square cross- sectional shape, in which each side wall 312a, b and 322a, b has a width of from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, from about 1 inch to about 2 inches, or about 1 .5 inches. In other embodiments, the side walls 312a, b and 322a, b can form a square cross-sectional shape of other sizes. In some embodiments, use of a rectangular or square shape for the distal end portion of the body 302 has the benefit of providing a shape with multiple flat surfaces that components (e.g., cladding components) can be fastened to.

[0029] The base wall 318 includes a plurality of fastener holes 330 (identified individually as fastener holes 330a-c) that, as described in greater detail below, are configured to receive fasteners 314a, b (e.g., threaded fasteners) which extend therethrough for fixedly attaching the body 302 to a surface of an exterior wall of a building or other building structure. The fasteners 314a, b can be appropriately selected based on the type of wall material (e.g., concrete, wood, metal, etc.) that the device 110b will be attached to. In some embodiments, each of the side walls 312a, b and 322a, b includes the same pattern of fastener holes 324 and 326a, b positioned adjacent to, or at least toward, the distal end wall 320 of the body 302. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the fastener holes 324 is generally aligned with the midpoint of the adjacent edge of the end wall 320, and the centerline or longitudinal axis of the fastener holes 324 is positioned at an angle (e.g., a 45° angle) relative to the surface of the corresponding side wall 312a, b and 322a, b. As described in greater detail below, in some embodiments, the fastener holes 324 are positioned at an angle to align with and receive fasteners 316a, b. In some embodiments, the fastener holes 324 can initially be unthreaded (untapped), and the fasteners 316a, b can be self-tapping fasteners (e.g., stainless-steel self-tapping fasteners having a diameter of, e.g., from about .12 inch to about .25 inch, or about .19 inch) for attaching a cladding component (e.g., a girt, rail, adapter, accessory, etc.) to the body 302 via an end cap 308 or otherwise. In other embodiments, the holes 324 can be threaded before fastener installation and/or the fasteners 316a, b can be other types of fasteners having other sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener holes 326a, b on each side wall 312a, b and 322a, b are positioned on opposite sides of the corresponding fastener hole 324 with centerlines that extend perpendicular to the surface of the corresponding side wall 312a, b and 322a, b. As described in greater detail below, in some embodiments, one or more of the fastener holes 326a, b can receive a fastener for attaching a cladding component (e.g., a girt, rail, etc.) to the body 302 via the end cap 308 or otherwise. In some embodiments, the fastener holes 326a, b can initially be unthreaded and configured to receive self-tapping fasteners. In other embodiments, the fastener holes 326a, b can be threaded before fastener installation.

[0030] The foregoing description of the fastener holes 324 and 326a, b is provided by way of example only. Accordingly, in other embodiments, the body 302 can include other arrangements of fastener holes and/or other attachment features for attaching the end cap 308 and/or a cladding component to the body 302. For example, in some embodiments, the distal end wall 320 can include one or more fastener holes (not shown) in addition to, or in place of, the fastener holes 324 and 326a, b for attaching the end cap 308 and/or a cladding component to the body 302. In yet other embodiments, other fastener hole arrangements can be used, or one or more of the fastener holes 324 and 326a, b can be omitted.

[0031] Figures 4A and 4B are side isometric views illustrating two stages of a process for forming a body 302a of the attachment device 110a (Figure 2A) in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Although Figures 4A and 4B show the body 302a for purposes of illustrating the forming process, it will be understood that the same forming process, or at least the same basic forming process, can be used to form the body 302 of the attachment device 110b, as well as bodies of other attachment devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. In some embodiments, the body 302a can formed from a workpiece 400 which can be cut or otherwise formed from a tube having a longitudinal axis 401 and a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape (e.g., a steel tube, such as a 304 stainless-steel tube, having a wall thickness of, e.g., from about .04 inch to about .12 inch, or about .0625 inch (16 gauge)). In other embodiments, the body 302a can be formed from other types of material, such as aluminum, other types of steel, extruded fiberglass, etc., having other wall thicknesses and/or other tubular or non-tubular cross-sectional shapes. In some embodiments, if the body 302a is to be used for a cladding component attachment device that is relatively short (e.g., the attachment device 110a of Figure 2A), then the workpiece 400 can be cut from a tube having a square cross-sectional shape in which a first side wall width W1 is equal to an adjacent second side wall width W2. For example, in some embodiments, the body 302a can be formed from a square tube in which both side wall widths W1 and W2 are from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, from about 1 inch to about 2 inches, or about 1 .5 inches. If an even shorter body is called for, it is contemplated that embodiments of the body 302a can be formed from a workpiece 400 having a rectangular cross-section in which the first side wall width W1 is greater than the second side wall width W2. Conversely, if a longer body is desired (such as the body 302 of the attachment device 110b), then the workpiece 400 can be cut from a tube having a rectangular cross-section in which the second side wall width W2 is greater than the first side wall width W1. For example, in some embodiments, the body 302 can be formed from a workpiece 400 having a rectangular cross-section in which the first side wall width W1 is from about 1 inch to about 2.5 inches, or about 1 .5 inches, and the second side wall width W2 is from about 2 inches to about 6 inches, from about 3 inches to about 5 inches, or about 4 inches.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4A, after the workpiece 400 has been cut from a piece of tube stock, cutouts 404a and 404b can be formed in opposite side walls of the workpiece 400 (e.g., by laser cutting, saw cutting, waterjet cutting, etc.) to shape the first and second side walls 312a and 312b. Other cutting and/or drilling on the workpiece 400 can be performed to further shape the base wall 318, the end wall 320, and/or the side walls 312a, b and 322a, b. Similarly, the fastener holes 324 and 326a, b can also be drilled, bored, laser cut, tapped, or otherwise formed in the corresponding side walls 312a, b and 322a, b at this time.

[0033] Once the workpiece 400 has been cut or otherwise formed to the shape shown in Figure 4A and the various holes 324 and 326a, b and 330a-c have been drilled, the portions of the tube forming the third side wall 322a and the fourth side wall 322b can be bent inwardly about corresponding bend lines 402a and 402b to create the finished body structure 302a as shown in Figure 4B. As the foregoing description illustrates, in some embodiments, the body 302a can be formed from a single piece of raw material to produce a unitary part. Although the foregoing description illustrates one process for forming the bodies of the attachment devices 110a and 110b (Figures 2A and 2B), this process is provided by way of example only. Accordingly, cladding component attachment devices configured in accordance with the present technology are not limited to those having bodies manufactured in the foregoing manner unless the context clearly requires otherwise. In other embodiments, for example, other methods, material stock, etc. can be used to form attachment device bodies configured in accordance with the present technology.

[0034] Returning to Figure 3A, in addition to the body 302, the attachment device 110b further includes a shim plate 306 and a washer plate 304. Both the shim plate 306 and the washer plate 304 can generally have the same basic planform shape as the base wall 318 of the body 302. In the illustrated embodiment, the shim plate 306 (which, in some embodiments, can also be referred to as a base plate, spacer, thermal break, etc.) includes a plurality of fastener holes 332a-c (which can also be referred to as fastener apertures, openings, etc.) that are positioned in alignment with the corresponding fastener holes 330a-c in the body 302, and are slotted and open to one side edge of the shim plate 306. In some embodiments, the shim plate 306 can be formed from a thermally insulative material (e.g., a non-metallic material), such as a thermoplastic material (e.g., polyamide, nylon, polycaprolactam, etc.). For example, in some embodiments the shim plate 306 can be formed (e.g., injection molded) from PA6 polyamide material comprising 33% glass, or about 33% glass, and can have a nominal thickness of from about .08 inch to about .325 inch, or about 0.125 inch. In other embodiments, the shim plate 306 can be formed from other thermally insulative materials to provide a thermal break between the body 302 and the surface to which the device 110b is mounted (e.g., an exterior wall surface of a building). If needed, more than one shim plate 306 can be used if necessary to adjust the position of the attachment device 110b relative to one or more adjacent attachment devices on a building wall so that the corresponding end walls 320 of the attachment devices all lie within the same plane, or at least approximately within the same plane. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the shim plate 306 can be provided in a variety of different thicknesses T that can be selected as needed during installation to adjust the position of the attachment device 110b relative to one or more adjacent attachment devices on the building wall. The washer plate 304 includes a plurality of fastener holes 328a-c which are positioned in general alignment with the corresponding fastener holes 330a-c and 332a-c in the body 302 and the shim plate 306, respectively. The washer plate 304 can be formed from a suitable metallic material, such as a flat sheet of 304 stainless-steel having a thickness of, e.g. , from .06 inch to about .12 inch, or about 0.09 inch. In some embodiments, the washer plate 304 can be omitted.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment device 110b further includes a sleeve 310 having a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape configured to fit (e.g., snugly) over the similarly shaped distal end portion of the body 302. The sleeve 310 can be formed from a suitably insulative material to serve as a thermal insulator between the body 302 and, e.g., surrounding insulation 106 (Figure 1 ). For example, in some embodiments, the sleeve 310 can be extruded from a thermoplastic material, such as PA66 polyamide material comprising 25% glass, or about 25% glass. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 310 has corrugated side walls with a series of channels 346 to enhance its thermally insulating properties. In other embodiments, the sleeve 310 can have side walls with other shapes (e.g. flat shapes) and/or can be formed from other materials, and in further embodiments the sleeve 310 can be omitted.

[0036] Figure 5 is a rear isometric view of the end cap 308 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Referring to Figure 5 together with Figure 3A, the end cap 308 (which, in some embodiments, can also be referred to as a spacer, thermal break, and the like) can include first and second side surfaces 344a and 344b, respectively, that extend perpendicular to an end face 340, and third and fourth side surfaces 342a and 342b, respectively, that are positioned between the first and second side surfaces 344a, b and extend at an angle (e.g., a 45° angle) relative to the end face 340. In other embodiments, the side surfaces 342a, b and/or 344a, b can be positioned at other angles relative to the end face 340, and/or one or more of the side surfaces can be omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the side surfaces 344a, b includes a first fastener hole 336a and a second fastener hole 336b that are configured to be positioned in general alignment with the corresponding fastener holes 326a and 326b, respectively, when the end cap 308 is positioned over the sleeve 310 on the distal end portion of the body 302. In some embodiments, the first and second fastener holes 336a, b can be "dimples" that extend only part of the way through the corresponding side wall of the end cap 308. In other embodiments, the first and second fastener holes 336a, b can be through-holes that extend all the way through the side wall of the end cap 308. Each of the third and fourth side surfaces 342a and 342b can include a corresponding fastener hole in the form of a dimple 334a and 334b (Figure 3A), respectively, that is configured to be in general alignment with the corresponding fastener hole 324 when the end cap 308 is positioned over the sleeve 310 on the distal end portion of the body 302. Additionally, as shown in Figure 5, the end cap 308 can include a recess or cavity 510 (e.g., a square cavity) having a plurality of protrusions or ridges 512 that extend inwardly from the side walls of the cap 308. The cavity 510 is shaped and sized so that the end cap 308 fits snugly (e.g. a friction fit) when positioned over the sleeve 310 on the distal end portion of the body 302, with the ridges 512 on the end cap 308 being slidably received in the corresponding channels 346 of the sleeve 310. As described in greater detail below, in some embodiments, the first and second side surfaces 344a, b can be used for attaching a cladding component (e.g., a girt, rail, accessory, etc.) having parallel side walls to the attachment devices 110, 120 described herein, and the third and fourth side surfaces 342a, b can be used for attaching a cladding component having side walls that are angled relative to each other to the attachment devices 110, 120.

[0037] In some embodiments, the end cap 308 can be formed from a thermally insulative (or at least partially thermally insulative) non-metallic material, such as a thermoplastic material (e.g., polyamide, nylon, polycaprolactam, etc.). For example, in some embodiments, the end cap 308 can be formed (e.g., injection molded) from PA6 polyamide material comprising 33% glass, or about 33% glass. In some embodiments, the end cap 308 can have a relatively low thermal conductivity that is less than the thermal conductivity of the body 302. For example, in some embodiments, the end cap 308 can have a thermal conductivity of from about 0.15 W/(m-K) to about 0.5 W/(m-K), or about 0.23 W/(m-K).

[0038] Turning next to Figure 3B, to at least partially assemble the attachment device 110b, the washer plate 304 is inserted against the interior surface of the body base wall 318 between the base wall 318 and the free edges of the third and fourth side walls 322a and 322b furthest away from the end wall 320. The sleeve 310 can also be positioned over the distal end portion of the body 302 at this time. In some embodiments, this level of subassembly can be carried out prior to shipment of the devices 110b to the worksite, with subsequent assembly occurring at the worksite during installation. Turning next to Figure 3C, prior to installation at the worksite, the shim plate 306 can be positioned against the backside of the base wall 318 and the fasteners 314a, b can be inserted through the fastener holes 328a, b, 330a, b and 332a, b in the washer plate 304, the base wall 318, and the shim plate 306, respectively, and threadably engaged with the building wall 104 (Figure 1 ). If it is determined that the distal end portion of the body 302 needs to be positioned further away from the building wall, then an additional shim plate 306 can be inserted behind the body 302 by means of the slotted fastener holes 332a, b before the fasteners 314a, b are fully torqued. Alternatively, the existing shim plate 306 can be slipped out from behind the body 302 (via the slotted holes 332a, b) before the fasteners 314a, b are fully torqued and a new, thicker (or thinner, if it is desired to position the distal end portion of the body 302 closer to the building wall) shim plate 306 can be inserted behind the body 302 to adjust the position of the end wall 320 as needed. If more than the two fasteners 314a, b are needed for loading requirements, then an additional fastener 314 (not shown) can be installed through the fastener holes 328c, 330c, and 332c in the washer plate 304, the base wall 318, and the shim plate 306, respectively. Once the attachment device 110b has been correctly positioned, the fasteners 314a, b can be fully torqued to fixedly attach the attachment device 110b to the building wall or other substructure.

[0039] Turning next to Figure 3D, the cladding component attachment device 110b can be further assembled by inserting the distal end portion of the body 302 together with the distal end portion of the sleeve 310 into the cavity 510 (Figure 5) in the end cap 308 to mount the end cap 308 to the body 302. As described in greater detail below, this step would normally occur after the insulation 106 has been installed on the building wall 104 (Figure 1 ). In one aspect of this embodiment, it will be appreciated that the square cross- sectional shape of the distal end portion of the body 302 and the complimentary square shape of the cavity 510 in the end cap 308 enables the end cap 308 to be attached to the distal end portion of body 302 in at least two different orientations. That is, in the orientation shown in Figure 3D, or a second orientation rotated 90 degrees (clockwise or counterclockwise) from the orientation of Figure 3D in which the side surfaces 342a, b are positioned adjacent to the first and second side walls 312a, b (Figure 3A), respectively, and the side surfaces 344a, b are positioned adjacent to the fourth and third side walls 322b, a (Figure 3A), respectively. As described in greater detail below, this enables the end cap 308 to be positioned on the body 302 in whichever of the two orientations is needed to best accommodate the cross-sectional shape (e.g., parallel side walls or angled side walls) and/or the orientation (e.g., vertical or horizontal) of the corresponding cladding component (e.g., girt, rail, accessory, etc.) that is subsequently mounted to the attachment device 110b.

[0040] Referring to Figure 3D, by way of example only, in some embodiments, the cladding component attachment device 110b can have a height H of from about 2 inches to about 8 inches, from about 3 inches to about 6 inches, or about 4 inches; a width W of from about 0.75 inch to about 3 inches, from about 1 inch to about 2 inches, or about 1.3 inches; and a length L of from about 3 inches to about 6 inches, from about 3.5 inches to about 5 inches, or about 4 inches. By way of comparison, in some embodiments, the attachment device 110a (Figure 2A) can have a height H and a width W that are the same as, or are at least approximately the same as, the height H and the width W of the attachment device 110b, but the attachment device 110a can have a shorter length L of from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, or about 2 inches. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the foregoing dimensions are provided by way of example only and are representative of various embodiments of the attachment devices 110a, b described herein. Accordingly, in other embodiments, attachment devices configured in accordance with the present disclosure can have other dimensions.

[0041] Figures 6A and 6B are partially exploded isometric views of the cladding component attachment device 120a configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 6C is an assembled isometric view of the cladding component attachment device 120a. Referring first to Figure 6A, in the illustrated embodiment, the attachment device 120a includes a base 602 and a support arm 612. In one aspect of this embodiment, the base 602 includes a first or upper base flange 618a and a second or lower base flange 618b, each having a corresponding fastener hole 630a and 630b, respectively, which are configured to receive corresponding fasteners 314a and 314b to fixedly attach the base 602 to a building wall or other substructure (e.g. , the building wall 104; Figure 1 ). Additionally, in some embodiments, the base flange 618b or both base flanges 618a, b can include additional fastener holes if additional fasteners are required to carry the loads imposed by the cladding component attached to the device 120a or to provide other fastener installation options. In addition to the base flanges 618a, b, the base 602 further includes a first or upper support flange 620a and a second or lower support flange 620b extending outwardly (e.g., horizontally) from the base flanges 618a, b. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower support flange 620b includes a fastener hole 622 (e.g., a threaded fastener hole) configured to receive and threadably engage a corresponding fastener 638 (e.g., a threaded fastener or, if the hole 622 is untapped, a self-tapping fastener, such as a self-tapping stainless-steel fastener, having a diameter of from about .19 inch to about .50 inch, or about .25 inch). Additionally, in some embodiments, the upper support flange 620a does not have a preformed fastener hole so that a fastener 639 (e.g., a self-drilling, self-tapping fastener, such as a self-drilling, self-tapping stainless steel fastener having a diameter of from about .19 inch to about .50 inch, or about .25 inch) can be threadably inserted through the support flange 620a in a desired location during final installation of the support arm 612, as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the base 602 can be formed from an extrusion that is cut transversely to produce the base 602 with a desired width. For example, in some embodiments, the base 602 can be formed from an aluminum extrusion, such as a 6063-T5 aluminum alloy extrusion. In other embodiments, the base 602 can be formed from other suitable materials including, for example, other aluminums, steels, fiberglass, composite materials, etc., using other suitable manufacturing processes including, for example, machining, welding, casting, molding, etc. [0042] In some embodiments, the support arm 612 is a tubular member having a rectangular (e.g., a square) cross-sectional shape defined by four side walls 636a-d. For example, in some embodiments, the support arm 612 can have a square cross-section in which each side wall 636a-d has a width of from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, from about 1 inch to about 2 inches, or about 1 .5 inches. In other embodiments, the support arm 612 can have a rectangular or square cross-section of other sizes. The side walls 636a-d form an interior passage through the support arm 612 that is configured to receive the support flanges 620a, b so that the outer surface of the first support flange 620a and the outer surface of the second support flange 620b fit against (or at least approximately against) the interior surfaces of the side walls 636a and 636b, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end portion of the first side wall 636a includes first and second fastener holes 640a and 640b, respectively, and the proximal end portion of the second side wall 636b includes an elongated hole or slot 642. In some embodiments, the centerlines of the fastener holes 640a and 640b can be spaced apart by a distance of, e.g., from about .25 inch to about 1 .5 inches, or about .5 inch, and the slot 642 can have a length of from about .5 inch to about 2 inches, or about 1.25 inches between a first end 643a and a second end 643b. In some embodiments, the distal end portions of each side wall 636a- d of the support arm 612 includes a pattern of fastener holes that is the same as, or is at least generally similar to, the corresponding pattern of fastener holes 324, 326a and 326b described above with reference to Figure 3A. For example, each side wall 636a-d can include first and second fastener holes 626a and 626b in the same configuration (e.g., the same size, orientation, spacing) as the corresponding fastener holes 326a, b described above with reference to Figure 3A, and a third fastener hole 624 positioned therebetween in the same configuration as the corresponding fastener hole 324 described above with reference to Figure 3A.

[0043] In some embodiments, use of a square tube for the support arm 612 has the benefits of providing a shape with multiple flat surfaces that components (e.g., cladding components) can be fastened to; providing structural strength in multiple different loading directions; and providing the ability to accommodate a wide range of exterior insulation thicknesses by simply varying the length of the tube. The support arm 612 can be formed from various types of suitable materials using various methods of manufacture. For example, in some embodiments, the support arm 612 can be formed from a hollow member (e.g., a tube) that is formed from a suitable metal, such as steel (e.g., a 304 stainless-steel tube having a wall thickness of, e.g., from about .04 inch to about .12 inch, or about .0625 inch (/.e., 16 gauge)). In other embodiments, the support arm 612 can be formed from other suitable materials including, for example, aluminum tubes, fiberglass tubes, composite tubes, etc. Additionally, although the support arm 612 in the illustrated embodiment is depicted as a tubular member having a square cross-sectional shape, in other embodiments, the support arm 612 can have other cross-sectional shapes including, for example, non-square rectangular shapes, other polygonal shapes, circular cross- sectional shapes, etc. In yet further embodiments, it is contemplated that the support arm 612 could be a non-tubular member having a cross-sectional shape that is at least partially open, such as an open channel (e.g., C-channel) shape, etc.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment device 120a further includes a first base plate 606 and a second base plate 608. The first base plate 606 can include a first fastener hole 632a and a second fastener hole 632b. Similarly, the second base plate 608 can also include a first fastener hole 628a and a second fastener hole 628b. In some embodiments, the first base plate 606 and the second base plate 608 can further include additional fastener holes as needed to accommodate additional fasteners if needed to carry higher loads, and/or to provide optional fastener positions if needed for a particular installation. In addition to the fastener holes 628a, b, the second base plate 608 further includes an aperture 634 (e.g., a rectangular or square-shaped aperture) configured to enable the support flanges 620a, b of the base 602 to extend therethrough.

[0045] Referring to Figure 7, the second base plate 608 also includes first and second projections or tabs 616a, b on each side thereof, which are configured to be received by corresponding recesses 614a, b, respectively, formed in the corresponding side portions of the first base plate 606 to couple the two parts together during assembly of the attachment device 120a as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the first base plate 606 and the second base plate 608 can be formed from insulative materials that provide a thermal break between the base 602 and the adjacent wall of the building to which the attachment device 120a is fixedly attached. Accordingly, in such embodiments, the first base plate 606 and the second base plate 608 can be referred to collectively as a "two-piece thermal break." For example, in some embodiments, the first and second base plates 606 and 608 can be formed from a thermoplastic material, such as an injection- molded PA6 material having 33% glass, or about 33% glass. In other embodiments, the first and second base plates 606 and 608 can be formed from other materials, such as other materials that provide relatively good insulative properties. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first base plate 606 can be provided in a variety of thicknesses T such that an appropriate thickness can be selected to shim the position of the base 602 relative to the adjoining wall as necessary to bring the distal end caps 308 of adjacent attachment devices 120a into plane with each other.

[0046] Returning to Figure 6A, in addition to the foregoing components, the attachment device 120a can further include the end cap 308 as described above with reference to, e.g. , Figures 3A and 5, and a sleeve 610. The sleeve 610 can have an overall length that is the same as, or at least approximately the same as, the length of the support arm 612, and can be the same in structure and function, or at least generally similar in structure and function, to the sleeve 310 described above with reference to Figure 3A. In some embodiments, the sleeve 610 provides a thermal break that enhances the thermal efficiency of the attachment device 120a, and can include two cutouts 604 on the proximal end portion of thereof to accommodate the fasteners 638 and 639.

[0047] Referring next to Figure 6A together with Figure 6B, the attachment device 120a can be assembled in one embodiment as follows: First, the first base plate 606 can be positioned against the back side of the base 602 and the second base plate 608 can be positioned over the base 602 with the support flanges 620a, b extending through the aperture 634. As the base flanges 618a, b of the base 602 are sandwiched between the first base plate 606 and the second base plate 608, the tabs 616a, b on the second base plate 608 snap into place in the corresponding recesses 614a, b in the first base plate 606, as shown in Figure 6B. Next, the proximal end portion of the support arm 612 can be positioned over the support flanges 620a, b of the base 602 so that the support flanges 620a, b extend into the proximal end portion of the support arm 612. The fastener 638 is then inserted through the slot 642 and threadably engaged with the hole 622 in the lower support flange 620b but not fully torqued. Next, the sleeve 610 can be installed over the distal end portion of the support arm 612.

[0048] Referring next to Figures 6A-6C together, to install the attachment device 120 to a building wall or other substructure (not shown), the fasteners 314a, b can be inserted through the corresponding fastener holes 628a, b, 630a, b and 632a, b, (Figure 6A) respectively, and threadably engaged with the building wall structure and fully torqued. Next, the overall length of the attachment device 120a can be adjusted (e.g., "levelled") if needed to account for the building wall or other substructure not being sufficiently flat or plumb. In this regard, it will be noted that the slot 642 in the proximal end portion of the support arm 612 provides a telescoping adjustability feature, whereby the user can adjust the overall length of the attachment device 120a by a distance equivalent to the length of the slot 642 minus the diameter of the fastener 638. More specifically, if the slot 642 has an overall length of 1 .25 inches and the fastener 638 has a diameter of .25 inch, then the slot 642 will provide 1 inch of adjustment. For example, if it is desired to make the attachment device 120a longer, the user can move the support arm 612 outwardly relative to the base 602 up to the point that the fastener 638 contacts the first end 643a of the slot 642 (Figure 6A). Conversely, if it is desired to make the attachment device 120a shorter, the installer can move the support arm 612 inwardly relative to the base 602 up to the point that the fastener 638 contacts the second end 643b of the slot 642 (Figure 6A). Once the length has been properly adjusted, the fastener 638 can be fully torqued and the fastener 639 can be inserted through either the first hole 640a or the second hole 640b in the support arm 612 and threadably engaged with the upper support flange 620a (by, e.g., self-drilling and self-tapping a corresponding hole in the support flange 620a). It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the support arm 612 includes the two fastener holes 640a and 640b in case use of one of the two holes causes the fastener 639 to contact or otherwise interfere with the fastener 638 during installation of the fastener 639. If that should occur during installation of the fastener 639 in one of the two holes 640a or 640b, the user can simply install the fastener 639 in the other of the two holes 640a or 640b to avoid the interference. In some embodiments, the adjustability feature described above can be achieved by other methods, and in other embodiments, the adjustability feature can be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, the proximal end portions of the first and second side walls 636a and 636b of the support arm 612 can each include a single fastener hole configured to receive a corresponding fastener for attaching the support arm 612 to the support flanges 620a and 620b. After the support arm 612 has been attached to the base 602, the end cap 308 can be mounted on (e.g., press-fit on) the distal end portion of the sleeve 610 and the support arm 612 (in the desired orientation) as described above with reference to Figures 3C.

[0049] With reference to Figure 6C, by way of example, the base of the attachment device 120a can have a height H of from about 2 inches to about 15 inches, from about 3 inches to about 10 inches, or about 4.8 inches; and a width W of from about 0.75 inch to about 4 inches, from about 1 inch to about 3 inches, or about 1.5 inches. It will be appreciated that the length of the support arm 612 can be selected (e.g., custom fit) to provide the attachment device 120a with virtually any desired overall length L to accommodate a wide range of installation applications. For example, in some embodiments, the support arm 612 can be sized to provide the attachment device 120a with an overall length L of from about 3 inches to about 24 inches or more, from about 3 inches to about 18 inches, from about 3 inches to about 12 inches, from about 4 inches to about 8 inches, or about 6 inches. Accordingly, embodiments of the attachment device 120a can be made to essentially any length that may be required for a particular application depending on, for example, the thickness of insulation applied to the exterior of the building wall. Additionally, the slot 642 enables the length of the attachment device 120a to be "fine-tuned" as described above to provide yet further adjustability of the overall length of the device 120a if needed. [0050] Figures 8A and 8B are partially exploded isometric, and assembled isometric views, respectively, of the cladding component attachment device 120b configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. The attachment device 120b can be at least generally similar in structure and function to the attachment device 120a described in detail above. For example, in some embodiments, the attachment device 120b can include a support arm 812 that is essentially the same in structure and function as the support arm 612 but longer. For example, in some embodiments the support arm 812 can have a length of from about 6 inches to about 36 inches, from about 8 inches to about 24 inches, or about 14 inches. In one aspect of the illustrated embodiment, however, the attachment device 120b includes a base member 802 that includes a reinforcing web 806 extending between an upper support flange 820a and a lower support flange 820b. Even with the addition of the web 806, the base member 802 can still be formed with the materials and extrusion techniques described above with reference to the base 602. The additional strength added by the web 806 may be necessitated by the additional loads imposed by the longer support arm 812. The attachment device 120b can also include a sleeve 810 that is generally the same as the sleeve 610 described above with reference to the attachment device 120a but longer to accommodate the longer support arm 812. Accordingly, like the sleeve 610 the sleeve 810 can include two cutouts 804 on the proximal end portion of the sleeve 810 to accommodate the fasteners 638 and 639 as shown in Figure 8B.

[0051] Figures 9A-9C are a series of isometric views illustrating various stages of a method for installing a plurality of the attachment devices 120b on an exterior wall 104 of a building, and for installing insulation 106 over the attachment devices 120b, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Although Figures 9A-9C and the associated description refer to the attachment device 120b for purposes of illustration, the methods of device installation described herein also apply in pertinent part to the attachment devices 120a, 110a, and 110b. Referring first to Figure 9A, the desired locations of the attachment devices 120b can be laid out and marked on an exterior surface 902 of the wall 104 in a suitable arrangement to accommodate the desired arrangement of cladding components (e.g., girts) and the expected load conditions. Prior to installation, the attachment devices 120b can be fully assembled except that the end cap 308 is not installed, the fastener 639 is not installed, and the fastener 638 is installed through the slot 842 and into the hole 822 in the base 802 (Figure 8A) but not fully torqued. At each of the marked locations, the fasteners 314a and 314b are inserted through the corresponding fastener holes in the second base plate 608, the base 802, and the first base plate 606 and threaded into the wall 104 and fully torqued. At this point, it may be necessary to "level" adjacent attachment devices 120b so that their distal end portions lie in the same vertical plane, or at least approximately the same vertical plane, and so that the final installation of, e.g., cladding, also lies in a relatively flat plane. In some embodiments, the devices can be leveled as described above by moving the support arm 812 in or out as needed relative to the base 802 (within the limits afforded by the slot 842), and then fully torqueing the fastener 638 to hold the support arm 812 in place while the fastener 639 is inserted through one of the two holes 840a or 840b and threadably engaged with the upper support flange 820a of the base 802 (Figure 8A). It will be appreciated that the steps for attaching the support arms 812 described above do not apply to the attachment devices 110a, b (Figures 3A-3D), but that the attachment devices 110a, b can be attached to the wall 104 and leveled with use of the shim plates 306 as described above with reference to Figure 3C.

[0052] Referring next to Figure 9B, in one aspect of the present technology, a piercing tool 900 configured in accordance with the present technology can be temporarily attached to the distal end portion of each of the support arms 812 to facilitate the installation of insulation over/around the attachment devices 120b. More specifically, referring to Figures 10A-10C, these Figures are an exploded isometric view, an assembled isometric view, and an end view of the piercing tool 900 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Referring to Figures 10A and 10B together, in some embodiments, the piercing tool 900 can be formed from two identical, or at least approximately identical, sheet metal parts 1004, that each have a first panel 1014a and a second panel 1014b which are formed at a 90° angle and include serrated edges 1006 and a pointed apex on one end portion thereof. Additionally, each half 1004 of the piercing tool 900 can include one or more tabs 1008a and 1008b extending from an edge of the first panel 1014a, and corresponding slots 1010a and 1010b in an edge portion of the adjacent second panel 1014b. As shown in Figure 10B, the piercing tool of this embodiment can be assembled by inserting the tabs 1008a, b into the corresponding slots 1010a, b and then bending the tabs over, tack welding the tabs to the adjacent panel 1014b, and/or otherwise joining the adjacent panels 1014a, b together at the connections to form the piercing tool 900 having a generally square cross-sectional shape, as shown in Figure 10C. More specifically, the panels 1014a, b form side walls of the piercing tool 900 that form a square cross-sectional shaped opening that is configured to fit snugly over the distal end portion of the sleeve 810 as shown in Figure 9B. If the attachment devices 110a or 110b are being used instead of the attachment devices 120a or 120b, the piercing tool 900 can be positioned over the distal end portion of the sleeve 310 of the devices 110a, b in a similar manner. If the attachment devices 110a, b and 120a,b are being used without a sleeve, the piercing tool 900 can be configured to fit securely over the distal end portion of, e.g., the body 302 or the support arm 612, 812, without a sleeve therebetween. As shown in Figure 10C, each panel 1014a, b of the piercing tool 900 further can include a shoulder 1012 or similar feature that extends inwardly to abut the distal end portion of the sleeve 810 (and/or the support arm 812) and prevent the piercing tool 900 from moving too far inwardly on the support arm in use. The method described above for forming the piercing tool 900 is but one example of a suitable method for forming a piercing tool configured in accordance with the present technology. In other embodiments, other forming methods (e.g., casting, machining, etc.) and/or other materials (e.g., composites, etc.) can be used to form a piercing tool having, e.g., sidewalls that define a square cross-sectional shape that is configured to fit snugly over the distal end portion of the sleeve 810 and have cutting edges for piercing insulation.

[0053] Returning to Figure 9B, once the piercing tools 900 have been positioned over the distal end portions of the individual support arms 812, insulation 106 (e.g., a mineral insulation material such as, for example, ROCKWOOL®) can be installed around the attachment devices 120b by use of a suitable tool 902 in the form of a pushrod having a square cross-section configured to fit within the openings (e.g., the square openings) in the distal end portions of piercing tools 900 and/or the support arms 812. More specifically, a sheet or other piece of insulation 106 can be positioned against the sharp edges 1006 of the piercing tools 900 (Figure 10A) in a desired location. Next, the pushrod 902 can be used to push the insulation 106 over one of the attachment devices 120b by aligning the pushrod 902 with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding support arm 812, and pushing on the insulation 106 with the distal end of the pushrod 902 until the distal end of the pushrod 902 passes through the opening in the piercing tool 900. As this happens, the distal end of the pushrod 902 pushes a portion (e.g., a square portion) of the insulation 106 in front of the pushrod 902 into the piercing tool 900, thereby cutting a square hole in the insulation 106 so that the insulation 106 can slide over the sleeve 810 of the attachment device 120b. This process can be repeated at each of the attachment devices 120b. Once this is done, the piercing tools 900 can be removed and the insulated wall 104 will be ready for installation of the end caps 308 on the distal end portions of the support arms 812 as shown in Figure 9C.

[0054] In some embodiments, using the piercing tool 900 to form the rectangular (e.g., square) opening in the insulation 106 creates a tighter fit between the insulation and the attachment device 120a than might otherwise be achieved, thereby reducing air gaps that could form around the devices which could reduce the overall effectiveness of continuous insulation. Additionally, in some embodiments, the insulation installation sequence described above may be easier than some conventional insulation installation techniques. For example, some conventional installation sequences typically install clips to the building wall, and then install girts on the clips before installing the insulation around the clips. As described above, however, in some embodiments of the present technology the cladding component attachment devices described herein are attached to the building wall 104 before the insulation 106, and then the insulation 106 is installed over/around the attachment devices before the girts or other cladding support components have been installed onto the attachment devices. In some embodiments, this can make it easier to install the insulation 106, as compared to, for example, some systems in which the insulation is installed after the girts have been installed.

[0055] It will be appreciated that the piercing tool 900 is but one example of a piercing tool that can be used with the attachment devices 110 and 120 described herein to facilitate installation of insulation over the attachment devices. Accordingly, various other types of piercing tools can be used for this purpose, and in yet other embodiments, no piercing tool at all can be used and instead holes can be cut into the insulation using other methods, and/or other types of insulation can be installed on the wall 104. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified the attachment devices described herein are not limited to use with any particular insulation and/or any particular piercing tool or other tool to facilitate installation of insulation.

[0056] Figures 11A-11 D are a series of isometric views illustrating various stages in a method for attaching a girt 108 to the distal end portion of the attachment device 120b. By way of example, the discussion that follows describes the girt attachment process in the context of the attachment device 120b. However, the attachment process shown and described applies equally to the other cladding component attachment devices described herein (e.g., the attachment devices 110a, b and 120a). Referring first to Figure 11 A, after the insulation 106 has been installed around the attachment device 120b and optionally fastened or strapped to the wall 104 (Figure 9C) using known methods, a distal end portion of the support arm 812 covered by the sleeve 810 will protrude outwardly from the exterior surface of the insulation 106 as shown in Figure 11 A. As shown in Figure 11 B, the end cap 308 can then be positioned on the distal end portion of the support arm 812 as described above with reference to, e.g., Figures 6B and 6C.

[0057] Referring next to Figure 11 C, in the illustrated embodiment, the girt 108 has a "hat-shaped" cross-section having flanges 1114 that extend outwardly from opposing, parallel side walls 1118. The side walls 1118 can include a series of equally-spaced elongate or slotted holes 1112, and each of the flanges 1114 can include a series of equally-spaced holes 1116. To install the girt 108 on the end cap 308 in this embodiment, the girt 108 is positioned over the end cap 308 such that the inner surfaces of the side walls 1118 are positioned in contact with, or at least directly adjacent to, the perpendicular side surfaces 344a, b on opposite sides of the end cap 308 (Figure 11 B). Fasteners 1110a and 1110b (e.g., self-tapping fasteners) can then be inserted through the slotted holes 1112 on each side of the end cap 308 that expose at least one of the fastener holes (e.g., dimples) 336a, b, and through the exposed fastener hole 336a, b, through the underlying portion of the sleeve 810, and threadably engaged with the corresponding fastener hole 626a, b (Figure 6A) in the distal end portion of the support arm 812 to fixedly attach the girt 108 to the attachment device 120b, as shown in Figure 11 D. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener holes 336a, b and the slotted holes 1112 are sized and/or spaced such that at least one of the fastener holes 336a, b will be exposed (accessible) regardless of the vertical positioning of the girt 108 relative to the end cap 308 in Figure 11 C. Although the girt 108 shown in Figures 11A-11 D has a hat-shaped cross-section for purposes of illustration, the cladding component attachment devices described herein are not limited to use with hat-section or "hat-channel" girts, and can be used to support girts and rails having other cross-sectional shapes, such as C- shapes, L-shapes, Z-shapes, flat shapes, etc. In some embodiments, for example, depending on the particular girt or rail configuration, the girt or rail can be fastened to the end cap 308 and the support arm 812 with one or more fasteners that only extend through one or more of the fastener holes 336a, b and the corresponding fastener holes 626a, b on one side of the end cap 308.

[0058] As will be clear from the foregoing discussion, the end cap 308 can be positioned on the distal end portion of the support arm 812 in two different orientations positioned at 90° to each other. For example, if it is desired to attach the girt 108 in a vertical orientation as shown in Figures 11A-11 D, the end cap 308 can be positioned on the support arm 812 such that the side surfaces 344a, b extend vertically, while the angled side surfaces 342a, b (Figure 3A) of the end cap 308 extend horizontally. Conversely, if it is desired to attach the girt 108 in the horizontal orientation, the end cap 308 can be rotated 90° relative to the position shown in Figure 11A and 11 B such that the surfaces 344a, b are oriented horizontally and the surfaces 342a, b are oriented vertically. As described below in reference to Figures 13A and 13B, in some embodiments, girts, rails and/or other cladding support components having one or more angled flanges, angled side walls, or other angled surfaces can be mounted to the end cap 308 by positioning the angled surfaces of the cladding support component against the angled surfaces 342a, b (Figure 3A) of the end cap 308. Such cladding support components can then be attached to the attachment device 110a, b and/or 120a, b by inserting the fasteners 316a, b (Figure 3A) through holes in the angled surfaces of the cladding support component, through the dimples 334a, b in the end cap 308 (Figure 3A), and then into the corresponding fastener holes 324 (for the devices 110a, b; Figure 3A) or the corresponding fastener holes 624 (for the devices 120a, b; Figure 6A).

[0059] Although, in some embodiments, girts, rails, adapters, and/or other cladding components can be attached to the attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b by use of the end cap 308 as described above, in other embodiments, the end cap 308 can be omitted and the girt, rail, etc. can be attached to the body 302 of the attachment device 110b, or to the support arm 612, 812 of the attachment devices 120a, b, respectively, without use of the end cap 308. For example, with reference to Figure 11 C, in some embodiments, the end cap 308 can be omitted and the girt 108 or other component can be attached to the distal end portion of the attachment device 120b by inserting the fasteners 1110a, b through the corresponding slotted holes 1112 in the girt 108, through the end portion of the sleeve 810, and then into the corresponding fastener hole 626a or 626b in the distal end portion of the support arm 812. In further embodiments, the sleeve 810 can also be omitted. Accordingly, it will be understood that embodiments of the cladding component attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b described herein are limited to use with the end cap 308 and/or the sleeve 310, 610, 810, and some embodiments of the present technology can be used without the end cap 308 and/or the sleeve 310, 610, 810.

[0060] The cladding component attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b described in detail herein can be used to attach girts, rails and/or other cladding components to wall structures in a wide variety of arrangements and orientations to suit particular applications and/or load requirements. As shown in Figure 12A, for example, in some embodiments, the attachment devices 110 or 120 can be used to attach a plurality of girts 108a to the wall 104 in a vertical orientation. Various types of cladding 1202 can then be fastened to the vertical girts 108a using any suitable methods and systems known in the art. By way of nonlimiting example, such cladding can include extruded aluminum siding, other types of metal siding and panels, fiber cement siding, phenolic siding, composite siding, etc. As shown in Figure 12B, for higher design loads (e.g., higher wind loads), a plurality of first girts 108b can be attached to the devices 110 or 120 in a horizontal orientation, and then an arrangement of second girts 108a can be attached to the horizontal girts 108a in a vertical orientation (using, e.g., sheet metal screws and/or other known methods) for a combination of horizontally and vertically positioned girts. The cladding 1202 can then be fastened to the vertical girts 108a. The attachment devices 110 and 120 can be attached to the wall 104 at different spacings depending on the design loads. By way of example only, in some embodiments, the attachment devices 110 and 120 can be positioned at a 32 inch lateral spacing and a 48 inch vertical spacing to support an arrangement of vertical girts 108a (as shown in Figure 12A) and sustain a design wind load of, e.g., less than 40 pounds per square foot on the cladding 1202. By way of another example, the attachment devices 110 and 120 can be positioned at a staggered 32 inch lateral spacing and a 48 inch vertical spacing to support an arrangement of vertical girts 108a and horizontal girts 108b (as shown in Figure 12B) and sustain a higher design wind load of, e.g., greater than 40 pounds per square foot on the cladding 1202.

[0061] Figure 13A is an isometric view of an adapter 1300 attached to the cladding component attachment device 110b in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, and Figure 13B is an isometric view of a girt 108 attached to the adapter 1300. Referring first to Figure 13A, by way of example the adapter 1300 is installed on the distal end portion of the cladding component attachment device 110b. However, the adapter 1300 can mounted to any of the attachment devices 110a, b or 120a, b described in detail above, either in place of the end cap 308 or by attaching the adapter 1300 to the attachment device by means of the end cap 308. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the adapter 1300 has an open channel or "C-channel" cross-section with a web 1306 and beveled or angled corner walls 1304a and 1304b on each side thereof. The adapter 1300 can be attached to the device 110b by inserting the fasteners 316a, b through holes in the beveled walls 1304a, b, through the dimples 334a, b in the angled side surfaces 342a, b of the end cap 308, and through the corresponding holes 324 in the third and fourth side walls 322a and 322b, respectively, of the body 302 (Figure 3A). Referring next to Figure 13B, once the adapter 1300 has been attached to the distal end portion of the attachment device 110b in the foregoing manner, the web 1306 provides a flat, unobstructed surface onto which the girt 108, or other girts, rails, etc. having other configurations, can be fastened at essentially any desired angle using fasteners 1302 (e.g., self-tapping fasteners) that extend through the holes 1116 in the flange 1114 and through the web 1306 of the adapter 1300.

[0062] Figures 14A-14C are cross-sectional side views illustrating example installations of the cladding component attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b, respectively, on a wall 104 having a range of different exterior insulation thicknesses. Referring first to Figure 14A, in some embodiments, the attachment device 110a can be used with insulation 106a having a thickness T of, e.g., up to 1 inch, or about 1 inch. As shown in Figure 14B, in some embodiments, the attachment device 110b can be used with insulation 106b-d having, e.g., a thickness T1 of about 1.5 inches; a thickness T2 of about 2 inches; or a thickness T3 of about 2.5 inches, respectively. Turning next to Figure 14C, in those applications having thicker insulation, the attachment device 120a can be used with insulation 106e having, e.g., a thickness T4 of about 3 inches, as well as other insulation 106f having a thickness T5 ranging from about 3 inches to about 6 inches. Additionally, in those embodiments in which the attachment device 120a includes a longer support arm 612 (Figure 6A) than is depicted in Figure 14C, the attachment device 120a can also be used with insulation 106f having thicknesses greater than 6 inches, such as a thickness T5 ranging from about 6 inches to about 24 inches, or from about 6 inches to about 15 inches. As shown in Figure 14D, in some embodiments the attachment device 120b can be used with insulation 106g having a thickness T6 of up to 6 inches, or about 6 inches, or an insulation 106h having a thickness T7 of from about 6 inches to about 36 inches or more, from about 6 inches to about 24 inches, or from about 6 inches to about 15 inches. In other embodiments, the cladding component attachment devices described herein and various embodiments thereof can be used with insulation having thicknesses that are greater than or less than the examples provided above. Moreover, in some embodiments, the attachment devices described herein may be used on walls without insulation. As the foregoing discussion of Figures 14A-14D illustrates, the cladding component attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b described herein can be used to accommodate a wide range of insulation thicknesses. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the insulation thicknesses provided above, as well as the corresponding dimensions of the attachment devices 110a, b and 120a, b described above, are provided by way of example only, and embodiments of the attachment devices described herein and configured in accordance with the present technology can have other dimensions without departing from the present disclosure.

[0063] The number and spacing of cladding component attachment devices on a building wall is typically determined by the dead load of the cladding, the wind loads, the potential seismic loading, as well as the structural capacity of the individual attachment devices. In general, if the structural capacity of the individual cladding component attachment devices is relatively low, then the attachment devices will have to be placed next to each other in relatively close proximity to carry the applied loads. This can increase the number of attachment devices required for any particular application, which has a tendency to reduce the overall thermal efficiency of the system because of the increased thermal bridging effect caused by the attachment devices. In one aspect of some embodiments of the present technology, the cladding component attachment devices described herein can be positioned at relatively high spacings because of their relatively high structural load capacity, thereby reducing the overall number of attachment devices required for a particular application and, consequently, increasing the overall thermal efficiency of the system. Additionally, due to the relatively high load capacity of some embodiments of the devices described herein, it is contemplated that the devices can also carry a portion of the dead load from the exterior insulation, which can have the additional benefit of reducing the number of anchors or other devices needed to support the insulation. This can result in cost savings and reduce the amount of penetrations in the insulation, which can potentially compromise the air and vapor barrier between the building wall and the cladding. Additionally, some embodiments of the cladding attachment systems described herein can also reduce thermal bridging by use of materials and thermal break components (e.g., the end caps 308, the base plates 306 and 606, the sleeves 310 and 610, etc.) which reduce thermal conduction. For example, in some embodiments, some of the components (e.g., the body 302, the support arms 612 and 812, etc.) can be made from stainless-steel due to its relatively low thermal conductivity and relatively high tensile strength. Similarly, some embodiments of the thermal break components described above can be made from materials, e.g., glass filled PA6, that provide the benefits of relatively high strength and relatively low thermal conductivity.

[0064] A further benefit of some embodiments of the attachment devices described above is that they can accommodate a wide range of insulation thicknesses by simply selecting a support arm (e.g., 612, 812) of appropriate length. Moreover, some embodiments of the attachment devices described above enable the installer to adjust for wall plumbness of up to, e.g., about one inch (or more), using the adjustability features described above. In other embodiments in which more than one inch of adjustability is required, a custom support arm length can be cut on-site to address the installation. Additionally, further benefits of some embodiments include the ability to stack multiple girts or other cladding attachment components in either a horizontal or vertical orientation (or other angular orientations), as well as the ability to stack multiple girts or other cladding component supports on top of each other to further augment available design options.

[0065] References throughout the foregoing description to features, advantages, benefits, or similar language do not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present technology should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present technology may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the present technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present technology.

[0066] Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference in the entirety, except for any subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent that the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, in which case the language in this disclosure controls. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further implementations of the invention.

[0067] The above Detailed Description of examples and embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention. Some alternative implementations of the invention may include not only additional elements to those implementations noted above, but also may include fewer elements. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.

[0068] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of the invention. Further, while various advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.

[0069] Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application.