GB2169628A - Fixing brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

One form of fixing bracket 1 for use in a cladding system in which a layer of insulation is interposed between the underlying wall surface and the cladding is formed in one piece and comprises a platform area (6 Figure 2) from which legs (7 Figure 2), 8 and 9 extend in one direction for spacing the platform area (6) from a wall surface 20 and from which lugs (10 Figure 2) and 11 extend in the opposite direction the lugs (10) and 11 being spaced apart to locate a batten 21 between them. Cladding boards 24 are fixed to the battens 21. At a corner of the cladding system another form of fixing bracket is used and this is substantially of 'Z' shape (Figure 4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixing brackets This invention relates to fixing brackets for fixing cladding to a wall surface, for example a concrete wall surface, in situations where a layer of insulating material is disposed between the wall surface and the cladding.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and economically fabricated fixing bracket which bridges the insulation layer and provides through small contact area with the wall solid support for cladding fixing battens while substantially preventing distortion of the compressible insulation layer.

According to one aspect of the invention a fixing bracket is formed in one piece and comprises a platform area from which legs extend in one direction for spacing the platform area from a wall surface and from which lugs extend in the opposite direction, the lugs being spaced apart to locate a batten between them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cladding fixing system having specially formed corner fixing brackets which similarly to the aforesaid fixing brackets substantially prevent distortion of the compressible insulation layer.

According to another aspect of the invention a corner fixing bracket is formed in one piece and is substantially of 'Z' shape, whereby one outer limb of the 'Z' can be connected to a wall surface and the other outer limb can be secured to a batten and the central limb extends across the thickness of the insulation on said wall surface at a corner.

Preferably the fixing brackets are formed by stamping and bending a sheet metal blank.

Constructions of fixing bracket in accordance with the invention and the way in which they are applied in a cladding system will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a blank from which a first fixing bracket is formed, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bracket formed from this blank, Figure 3 is a broken away perspective view showing one way in which the bracket is used in a cladding system, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a corner fixing bracket, Figure 5 shows a first manner of use of the corner fixing bracket in a cladding system, and Figure 6 shows a second manner of use of the corner fixing bracket in a cladding system.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings the first fixing bracket 1 is formed from a sheet metal blank 2 (Figure 1), by bending it along three fold lines 3, 4, 5 to provide a rectangular platform area 6 and three legs 7, 8 and 9 which are formed by the bent over portions of the blank 2 and extend substantially in the same direction as each other and substantially at right angles to the platform area 6. Bent out from the platform area 6 substantially in the opposite direction to the legs 7, 8 and 9 are two parallel lugs 10 and 11.

Six short stiffening struts 13 are pressed into the bracket 1 during the forming operation. Thus two struts 13 are provided in each of the legs 7, 8 and 9 and extend across the corners between the legs and the platform area 6. Two prongs 14 are pressed inwardly from each of the lugs 10 and 11 so that they extend towards each other from the facing surfaces of the lugs.

One way in which the brackets are used is shown in Figures 3. As seen in Figure 3 the cladding is to be secured to a concrete wall 20 through battens 21 by the brackets 1. The three legs 7, 8 and 9 of the brackets 1 pierce the layer of insulation 22, for example of polystyrene, and abut at their free ends against the surface of the concrete wall. Thus the brackets 1 are located against the concrete wall 20 with the platform area 6 spaced from the wall 20 and on the outside of the insulating layer 22.

The lugs 10 and 11 provide between them a location for a batten 21. The battens 21 may be temporarily held initially by the prongs 14 which dig into the battens 21.

The batten 21 and brackets 1 are secured together to the wall 20 by bolts or screws passing through the battens 21 and the brackets 1. The bolts or screws 23 pass through the opening in the platform area 6 left after bending out the lugs 10 and 11. Cladding boards 24 (Figure 3) are nailed to the battens 21.

Thus the cladding boards 24 are solidly mounted to the concrete wall without distortion of the insulation layer 22 and the brackets 1 have minimal contact area with the wall so that the metal of the brackets forms minimal cold bridging between the wall and the cladding. As can also be seen from Figure 3, the insulation layer at 25 completely fills the space within the legs 7, 8 and 9 of the brackets as opposed to this space forming an air gap, since the legs 7, 8 and 9 simply penetrate the insulating layer.

The fixing brackets 1 are designed for a specific thickness of insulation for example 50 mm. If a different thickness of insulation is to be used, say 25 mm., then the legs 7, 8 and 9 of the brackets 1 are shortened by severing the blank along lines 27, 28 and 29.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the corner bracket 30 is formed from a single blank by bending it along two parallel fold lines to form it into substantially a 'Z' shape having the two outer limbs 31 and 32 and the centre limb 33. Each of the limbs 31 to 33 is provided with screw-holes 34 and the limbs 31 and 33 are provided with stamped out prongs 35. Half of the prongs on the limb 31 extend from one face of the bracket 30 and the other half extend from the opposite face. Those on limb 33 all extend in the same direction. A strengthening strut 36 extends across the corner between tha limbs 32 and 33. The strut 36 is formed similarly to the struts 13 of the fixing brackets 1.

The manner of use of the corner brackets 30 in a cladding system depends upon the thickness of the insulation layer. Each particular size of corner bracket is designed to accommodate two thicknesses of insulation layer, one being twice as thick as the other.

Figure 5 shows a corner of a cladding system which uses a thinner layer of insulation 37 between the concrete wall 20 and the cladding, and Figure 6 shows the use of the thicker layer of insulation 38. In both cases the limb 32 of the fixing bracket is screwed to one wall surface of the concrete wall 20 at a corner by screws 39, so that the limbs 33 extends away from the wall surface and across the thickness of the insulating layer and lies substantially flush with the other wall surface.

In Figure 5, the layers of insulation 37 extending along the two wall surfaces is stopped at the corner and the angle between the limbs 31 and 33 accommodates two battens 40 and 41 which are screwed together and to the limb 31. The prongs 35 assist in temporarily locating the battens 40 and 41 initially. The cladding boards 24 are nailed to the battens 40 and 41.

In Figure 6 the layer of insulation 38 on one wall surface extends into the angle between the limbs 32 and 33 of the fixing bracket and battens 43 and 44 are screwed together and to the outer side of the limb 31 of the corner bracket. Prongs 35 in the limb 31 temporarily hold the batten 43 initially.

It can be seen therefore that in order to accommodate the thickness of insulation the limbs 31 and 33 are of the same length and equal to the thickness of the thicker layer of insulation.

Claims (12)

1. A fixing bracket for fixing cladding to a wall surface in situations where a layer of insulation is disposed between the wall surface and the cladding, said bracket being formed in one piece and comprising a platform area from which legs extend in one direction for spacing the platform area from a wall surface and from which lugs extend in the opposite direction, the lugs being spaced apart to locate a batten between them.

2. A fixing bracket according to claim 1, wherein prongs extend towards each other from each of said lugs for digging into said battens.

3. A fixing bracket according to claim 1 or 2 and formed from a sheet metal blank.

4. A fixing bracket according to claim 3, wherein said lugs are pressed out of said platform area to leave a hole in said platform area.

5. A fixing bracket according to claim 4, wherein said prongs are pressed out of said lugs.

6. A corner fixing bracket for fixing cladding to a wall surface in situations where a layer of insulation is disposed between the wall surface and the cladding, said bracket being formed in one piece and being of substantially 'Z' shape, whereby one outer limb of the 'Z' can be connected to a wall surface and the other outer limb can be secured to a batten and the central limb extends across the thickness of the insulation on said wall surface at a corner.

7. A corner fixing bracket according to claim 6, wherein two adjacent limbs of the 'Z' are of substantially equal length.

8. A cladding system employing fixing brackets according to any one of the preceding claims secured to a wall surface, said cladding system having a plurality of battens and a plurality of said fixing brackets associated with each batten, and cladding boards secured to said battens.

9. A fixing bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

10. A fixing bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

11. A cladding system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3.

12. A cladding system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.