PRECAST CLADDING PANELS WITH PROFILED PANEL EDGES

Abstract

A precast cladding panel has upper and lower edges that, as viewed in transverse vertical cross-section through the panel, are profiled for overlapping engagement with complementarily-profiled edges of vertically-adjacent cladding panels in a coplanar cladding panel assembly mounted to a supporting structure. The upper edge of the panel defines a convex horizontal ridge, and the lower edge of the panel defines a concave horizontal recess, such that the convex horizontal ridge on the upper edge of one panel will project into the concave recess of the lower edge of a similar panel mounted immediately above it. The convex configuration of the upper edge of the panel promotes drainage of water out of horizontal joints between panels in the mounted assembly of cladding panels, and the overlapping engagement of vertically-adjacent panels impedes or prevents the entry of wind-driven rain into the cladding structure via the horizontal joints between panels.

Claims

1. A precast cladding panel having an upper panel edge and a lower panel edge, wherein, when viewed in transverse cross-section: (a) the upper panel edge has a convex profile; and (b) the lower panel edge has a concave profile matingly engageable with the convex profile of the upper panel edge.

2. The precast cladding panel as in claim 1 wherein the convex profile of the upper panel edge is defined by one or more curved lines.

3. The precast cladding panel as in claim 2 wherein the one or more curved lines comprise a circular line.

4. The precast cladding panel as in claim 1 wherein the convex profile of the upper panel edge is defined by two or more straight lines.

5. The precast panel as in claim 1, further having a first panel side edge having a convex profile, and a second panel side edge having a concave profile matingly engageable with the convex profile of the first panel side edge.

6. The precast panel as in claim 1, further having a first panel side edge and a second panel side edge, each having a convex profile.

7. The precast panel as in claim 1, further having a first panel side edge and a second panel side edge, each having a concave profile.

8. The precast panel as in claim 1, further having a first panel side edge having a convex profile and a second panel side edge having a concave profile.

9. An assembly of two precast cladding panels in accordance with claim 1, said two cladding panels being mounted one above the other to a vertical support structure such that: (a) a continuous air space is formed between the cladding panels and the support structure; and (b) the convex profile on the upper panel edge of the lower one of the two cladding panels extends into the concave profile on the lower edge of the upper one of the two cladding panels, so as to visually occlude the horizontal joint space between the two cladding panels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which numerical references denote like parts, and in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section through an assembly of cladding panels in accordance with the present disclosure, mounted onto a supporting structure using panel hangers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,151,117. In this illustrated embodiment, the convex upper edges and concave lower edges of the cladding panels are of circular configuration as seen in cross-section.

[0019] FIG. 2A is an enlarged sectional detail of a horizontal joint between two vertically-adjacent cladding panels of the assembly shown in FIG. 1, schematically illustrating the drainage of water from the joint by gravity, as induced by the convex profile of the upper edge of the lower panel.

[0020] FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional detail similar to FIG. 2A except that the convex upper edges and concave lower edges of the cladding panels define a triangular profile as seen in cross-section.

[0021] FIG. 2C is an enlarged sectional detail similar to FIG. 2B except that the convex upper edges and concave lower edges of the cladding panels define a trapezoidal profile as seen in cross-section.

[0022] FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged sectional details of horizontal joints in mounted assemblies possible styles of “keyed” cladding panels, illustrating the pooling of water on flat surfaces on the upper edges of the lower panels.

[0023] FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional detail of a horizontal joint in a mounted assembly of prior art cladding panels having flat upper and lower edges, illustrating the pooling of water on the flat surface of the upper edge of the lower panel.

DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly of precast cladding panels 1 in accordance with the present disclosure, mounted onto a vertical support structure 4 by means of panel hangers 2 (shown by way of non-limiting example as horizontal panel hangers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,151,117). In this exemplary assembly, panel hangers 2 are configured such that when embedded in cladding panels 1 and mounted to support structure 4 by means of suitable fasteners F as shown, a continuous air space 3 is formed between support structure 4 and cladding panels 1.

[0025] As seen in FIG. 1 and in enlarged detail in FIG. 2A, each cladding panel 1 has an upper panel edge 1U formed with a convex cross-sectional profile, and a lower panel edge 1L formed with a convex cross-sectional profile. When panels 1 are mounted onto support structure 4 as shown, the convex profile of lower panel edge 1L projects upward into the concave profile of upper panel edge 1U, with a vertical gap G between the two panels. Preferably, vertical gap G will be made as small as reasonably possible, allowing for manufacturing tolerances and other practical considerations, to minimize the vertical surface area through which water (such as from wind-driven rain or spray from landscaping irrigation equipment) might enter the horizontal joints between vertically adjacent the panels 1 in the installed panel assembly, while still enabling effective drainage of water from the horizontal joints.

[0026] However, if water does enter the horizontal joints between panels 1, it will tend to drain from the joints by gravity, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A, due to the convex profile on upper panel edges W. This is in contrast to cladding panels that have flat surfaces on their upper edges (as illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C), and upon which water can pool with minimal if any tendency to drain out of the joints. As well, rainwater flowing down the outer face of the panels, or condensation flowing down the inner face of the panels, will be deterred from entering the horizontal panel joints by the convex profile of the upper panel edges 1U, and therefore will tend to continue flowing down the outer or inner panel face (as the case may be) and can be drained away at the bottom of the cladding panel structure.

[0027] Preferably (but not necessarily), the convex profile of lower panel edge 1L and the concave profile of upper panel edge 1U are configured such that when looking directly at the horizontal joint between two cladding panels 1 in the plane of the joint, the convex profile of lower panel edge 1L will visually occlude or block the horizontal joint space between the panels, and thus make it difficult or impossible to see the supporting structure behind the panels.

[0028] FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate exemplary alternative embodiments cladding panels 1 in accordance with the present disclosure in which the convex profile of lower panel edge 1L and the concave profile of upper panel edge 1U are defined by straight lines rather than curved lines as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

[0029] It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications to embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the present teachings, including modifications that may use structures or materials later conceived or developed. It is to be especially understood that the scope of the present disclosure and claims should not be limited to or by any particular embodiments described, illustrated, and/or claimed herein, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the disclosure as a whole. It is also to be understood that the substitution of a variant of a described or claimed element or feature, without any substantial resultant change in functionality, will not constitute a departure from the scope of the disclosure or claims.

[0030] In this patent document, any form of the word “comprise” is intended to be understood in a non-limiting sense, meaning that any element or feature following such word is included, but elements or features not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element or feature by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one such element or feature is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one such element or feature. Any use of any form of any term describing an interaction between recited elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements in question, but may also extend to indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure.

[0031] Relational terms such as but not limited to “vertical”, “horizontal”, and “coplanar” are not intended to denote or require absolute mathematical or geometrical precision. Accordingly, such terms are to be understood as denoting or requiring substantial precision only (e.g., “generally vertical” or “substantially horizontal”) unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Any use of any form of the term “typical” is to be interpreted in the sense of being representative of common usage or practice, and is not to be interpreted as implying essentiality or invariability.