Construction system for wall cladding

Abstract

A construction system (1) for wall cladding having uprights (2) and cross-members (3) to be held between two uprights not aligned vertically, in which the cross-members (3) have two opposing terminals (33) of a deformable material with two bends. The uprights (2) have an anchor (22) where terminals (33) of the cross-members can be attached, with the anchor, for this purpose, having, for each terminal (33), at least two entry parts (A, B) arranged spatially to maintain the relationship with the two bends (a, b) of the terminal, with each bend insertable into one of the entry parts, first requiring elastically deforming one terminal (33) or the upright such that the bends are pressed against the entry parts. The system can be completed with a series of cladding pieces (10) prepared to be suspended from one or more cross-members (3) at the same time.

Claims

1. A construction system (1) for wall cladding, comprising a series of uprights (2) and a series of cross-members (3) configured to be supported between two uprights that are not aligned vertically, wherein: each of the cross-members (3) is elongated and has two opposing terminals (33) filiform or shaped to generate elastic force, made of an elastically deformable material and bent back onto itself to form at least two bends, and the uprights (2) are equipped with anchor means (22) in which the terminals (33) of the cross-members can be secured by restoring force, said anchor means comprising, for each terminal (33), at least two entry parts (A, B), in the form of slots or openings, spatially arranged in relation to the at least two bends (a, b) of the terminal, each one of the at least two bends configured to be inserted simultaneously into one of the entry parts, first requiring that said terminal (33), said upright (2) or both the terminal and the upright, be elastically deformed so that said bends are pressed tightly against said entry parts through elastic reaction; and wherein each cross-member is a one-piece construction that includes the opposing terminals, wherein the opposing terminals form opposite ends of the cross-member; and wherein each cross-member and the corresponding opposing terminals form an integral one-piece construction, wherein the opposing terminals form integral opposite ends of the cross-member.

2. The construction system (1) according to claim 1, comprising a series of cladding pieces (10) prepared to be suspended from one or more of the cross-members (3) at the same time.

3. The construction system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the anchor means (22) are formed in a sheet (22a), the first entry part (A) being formed by a slot (23) arranged in a first edge of the sheet, and the second entry part (B) formed by an opening (24) passing through said sheet, or by an auxiliary slot (25) arranged in the edge opposite the first edge of the sheet.

4. The construction system (1) according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the slots (23) and the auxiliary slot (25), if any, are not straight slots.

5. The construction system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the terminal (33), which is bent back onto itself, forms, a generally U-shaped frame with an interior branch (34), exterior branch (35), and a connecting bridge (36); and an anchoring end (37) terminating in a terminal tip (38), the anchoring end extending at an angle with respect to the exterior branch (35) of the frame, the terminal (33) being able to be attached to the sheet (22a) by inserting the connecting bridge (36) into the slot (23), the interior and exterior branches holding the sheet (22a), one on each side thereof, and the terminal tip (38) being inserted at the same time into the opening (24), or if applicable, into the auxiliary slot (25).

6. The construction system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the sheet (22a) is oriented perpendicular to the direction in which the cross-member (3) extends and the frame is also oriented perpendicular to the direction of extension of the cross-member.

7. The construction system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second entry part (B) is an opening (24) passing through the sheet (22a), the exterior branch (35) of the anchor frame is shorter than the interior branch (34); and the length of the anchoring end (37) is such that the anchoring end passes through the sheet and can provide support for the interior branch (34) of the frame.

8. The construction system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second entry part (B) is the auxiliary slot (25), the sheet (22a) is provided with an adjustment window (26) and the interior branch (34) of the frame with a bend (34a) that engages into the adjustment window (26).

9. The construction system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the anchor means (22) comprise a sheet (22a), with the first and second entry parts (A, B) formed by two anchor through holes (27, 28).

10. The construction system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the terminal (33), which is bent back onto itself, forms at least two bends (39a, 39b) that correspond to said openings through the plate, with the terminal able to be aligned on the sheet (22a) through the anchor through holes (27, 28).

11. The construction system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the anchor through holes (27, 28) are not coplanar.

12. The construction system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the sheet (22a) is oriented perpendicular to the direction of extension of the cross-member (3) and comprises a tab (29) that extends in the direction of the cross-member on which one of the anchor through holes (27) is formed; and the terminal (33) is bent back onto itself in a first bend (a) that orients a first section (41) of the terminal for insertion into the anchor through hole (27); and a second bend (b) determining an anchoring end (37), wherein the terminal tip (38) is positioned, at an angle with the first section of the terminal, and is able to be inserted into the second anchor through hole (28).

13. The construction system (1) according to claim 12, wherein the anchor through hole (27) extends to the edge of the sheet (22a), offering a lateral access (27a) for the insertion of the terminal (33).

14. The construction system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the anchor means (22) comprise a sheet (22a), with the first and second entry parts (A, B) being formed by opposing sides (30a, 30b) of a through slot (30) formed in said sheet; and the terminal (33) is bent back onto itself, determining a sort of spring with two branches, one interior (41) and one exterior (42), a connecting bridge (43), each branch having an anti-return bend (41a, 42a) oriented in the direction of the opposite branch, with each aimed at fitting by restoring force in one side (30a, 30b) of the through slot, requiring the compression of the spring, bringing the branches together and inserting the bridge into the through slot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an example of a system according to the invention, with the cladding pieces removed to show a possible organization of the uprights and cross-members, noting that this organization does not necessary have to be identical between each pair of adjacent parallel uprights;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another example of a system according to the invention, in this case, with cladding pieces;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of another example of the system according to the invention, with the cladding pieces removed to illustrate that the cross-members may have shapes that are not inscribed within an imaginary plane, giving the system a 3D or three-dimensional configuration;

(4) FIG. 4a to FIG. 11 schematically show some of the embodiments considered in the invention, especially for attaching the terminals of the cross-members into the corresponding anchor means on uprights, with each figure illustrating a terminal and anchor means pair in the position prior to engagement and in engagement position, respectively;

(5) FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a particular embodiment of the invention, which exemplifies how the system in the invention is also suitable for forming junctions between cross-members to form three-dimensional constructions;

(6) FIGS. 13 to 15 show several alternatives for the suspension of cladding pieces on the cross-members of systems according to the invention; and

(7) FIGS. 16 and 17 schematically show the versatility of the system according to the invention, illustrating different construction systems, taking advantage of the modular nature of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The construction system of the invention is exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 3 in the form of wall cladding, comprising a series of uprights 2; a series of cross-members 3 intended to be supported between two uprights that are not aligned vertically; and optionally, a series of cladding pieces 10 (shown in FIG. 2) prepared to be suspended from one or more cross-members at the same time.

(9) These FIGS. 1 to 3 are intended to show the versatility of the system being able to form a sort of mesh, which, in addition to being able to present different shapes, allows the installation of cladding pieces 10 not necessary arranged in perfectly aligned rows and columns.

(10) To this end, the uprights, normally arranged vertically, are provided with anchor means distributed along their length where a series of terminals provided on the cross-members 3 can be attached firmly.

(11) The uprights 2 can be fastened to the surface or wall to be cladded using conventional methods. Alternatively, the system may be suspended or hung, depending on the preferred orientation.

(12) FIG. 4a to FIG. 10 show options within the scope of the invention in which the uprights 2 have the form of a sheet 22a and are essentially arranged perpendicular to the surface to be covered by the system or the plane of the façade in the case of a ventilated façade. Specifically, the uprights 2 may be based on a sheet 22a made of cut or die punched steel depending on the required design, to determine anchor means 22 therein to which a series of terminals 33 of the cross-members 3 can be attached. Advantageously, the uprights 2 can be supplied on rolls, which facilitates pre-assembly of the uprights and cross-members at the factory, because it is easy to cut them to the required length, depending on each mesh to be carried out, and punch or perforate as required.

(13) The uprights 2 can also be formed by a concatenation of sheets 22a, connected by screws or clips, firmly or jointed, which not only does not prevent pre-assembly of uprights 2 and cross-members 3, but also makes it possible, if desired, to finish the assembly of the uprights at the worksite, using sections prepared at the factory, which are connected at the worksite.

(14) The fact that the uprights 2 are elements that can be disassembled makes it possible to shore the sheets at worksites, which is very useful in cases in which openings need to be made, for example, for windows, after the façade has been installed.

(15) In regard to the terminals 33, or to the cross-members 3 in their entirety if they are one piece, these may be flat bars or have a rounded cross-section. The latter case is shown in the aforementioned FIG. 4a to FIG. 10. The cross-members may, for example, be made of iron, stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, or even plastic materials.

(16) In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4a to FIG. 10, the anchor means 22 for each terminal 33 of a cross-member comprise various entry parts in the form of slots or openings, spatially arranged to maintain correspondence to the bends formed in the terminal 33, each of the bends being able to grip simultaneously in one of said entry parts such that, by elastic reaction, these bends are held tightly against the entry parts when the terminal attempts to return to its original shape, and all of this such that the terminal 33, as a whole, is secured to the anchor means.

(17) For this purpose, at least one of the uprights 2 and the terminals 33 of the cross-members 3, whether the cross-members 3 are of one piece or of several, have the flexibility to be mutually attached by restoring force. That is to say, in order to arrange the bends of the terminals 33 in the recesses or entry parts, respectively, of the uprights 2, or the uprights 2 must be elastically deformed; or these terminals 33 must deform elastically; or both components (uprights 2 and terminals 33) must deform elastically and then be restrained by restoring force when they tend to adopt their original form again. Advantageously, the connection between uprights 2 and cross-members 3 is not only reversible, but can be carried out without the use of screws or the like.

(18) As will be seen, the spatial distribution of the anchor means 22 and the bends of each terminal 33 that are inserted therein prevents the cross-members 3 from moving in the x, y, and z planes, with respect to the associated uprights 2, once the two terminals 33 have been inserted into the uprights.

(19) In the example in FIG. 4a and 4b, in the sheet 22a, a first entry part A is formed by a slot 23 arranged in a first edge of the sheet 22a, and a second entry part B is formed by an opening 24 that passes through the aforementioned sheet 22a. Correspondingly, the terminal 33 of the cross-member 3 is bent back onto itself, determining bends a, b that grip the aforementioned entry parts A, B.

(20) More specifically, the terminal 33 is bent to form a U-shaped frame with an interior branch 34, an exterior branch 35, and a connecting bridge 36; and an anchoring end 37, where the terminal tip 38 is located, angled with respect to the exterior branch 35 of the frame, allowing the terminal 33 to be attached to the sheet 22a by inserting the connecting bridge 36 into the slot 23, with the interior and exterior branches holding the sheet 22a, one on each side, and at the same time, inserting the tip 38 of the terminal 33 into the opening 24, previously requiring that the terminal 33 be elastically deformed to separate the branches of the U-shaped frame and/or the sheet 22a be elastically deformed.

(21) Although FIGS. 4a and 4b (as well as the rest of the examples) show only one part of the sheet 22a, it is clear that the sheet extends upwards and downwards, being provided with anchor means 22 similar to those shown distributed along the entire length thereof.

(22) Note that the sheet 22a in the example is symmetrical and that it is essentially provided with two slots 23 and two openings 24 at the same level, which allow another terminal from another cross-member, not shown, to be attached to the same sheet 22a, with this other cross-member extending from the opposite side of the sheet 22a.

(23) The example in FIG. 5 is similar to the example in FIGS. 4a and 4b, although in this case, the exterior branch 35 of the anchor frame is shorter than the interior branch 34 and the length of the anchoring end 37 is such that it passes through the sheet 22a such that this anchoring end 37, when passing through the sheet 22a, can provide support for the interior branch 34 of the frame, offering greater stability to the system.

(24) It should be noted that the sheet 22a may be provided with multiple openings 24 at different levels, associated with a same terminal 33, so that there is no mechanical interference between two terminals 33 anchored at the same level on the sheet 22a, such that each one of the two cross-members 3 extend from one of the sides of the sheet 22a.

(25) In the example in FIG. 6, the number of supports or contacts between the terminal 33 of a cross-member 3 and the sheet 22a of the upright 2 is increased.

(26) In this case, the anchor means 22 for each terminal 33 comprise a number of three entry openings A, B, and C intended to cooperate with an equal number of bends a, b, and c in the terminal 33 in the following manner.

(27) The first, second, and third entry openings A, B, and C formed in the sheet 22a are determined by a slot 23 in one edge of the sheet 22a; one auxiliary slot 25 in the other edge of the sheet 22a; and an adjustment window 26, respectively, formed in the central portion of the sheet 22a. In turn, the terminal 33, although it is bent back onto itself, now has a slightly different configuration from those shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5, again determining a general U-shaped frame with an interior branch 34, an exterior branch 35, and a connecting bridge 36; and an anchoring end 37, wherein the terminal tip 38 is located, at an angle with the exterior branch 35 of the frame. The interior branch 34 of the frame has a bend 34a that engages into the adjustment window 26 of the sheet 22a.

(28) Therefore, in the anchoring position, the terminal 33 can be attached to the sheet 22a by inserting the connecting bridge 36 into the slot 23, with the interior and exterior branches holding the sheet 22a, one on each side thereof, inserting the terminal tip 38 into the auxiliary slot 25 and simultaneously engaging the bend 34a into the adjustment window 26 of the sheet 22a, previously requiring that the terminal 33 be elastically deformed separating the branches of the U-shaped frame and/or elastically deforming the sheet 22a.

(29) In the example, the size of the adjustment windows 26 is sufficient to hold or receive the bend 34a of two terminals 33, if two terminals 33 are inserted at the same level of the upright 2.

(30) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the anchor means 22 of the sheet 22a comprise a first and second entry openings A and B determined by a slot 23 arranged in a first edge of the sheet 22a, and an auxiliary slot 25 arranged in the opposite edge of the sheet 22a, respectively. Correspondingly, the terminal 33 of the cross-member is bent back onto itself in the form of a spiral to form a U-shaped frame, this time towards the interior of the cross-member 3, with an exterior branch 35, and interior branch 34, and a connecting bridge 36; and an anchoring end 37, where the terminal tip 38 (which is hidden in this view) is located, in this case angled with respect to the interior branch 34 of the frame, allowing the terminal 33 to be attached to the sheet 22a by inserting the connecting bridge 36 into the slot 23, with the interior and exterior branches holding the sheet 22a, one on each side thereof, and the terminal tip 38 being inserted into the opening 25 at the same time, previously requiring that the terminal 33 be elastically deformed separating the branches of the U-shaped frame and/or elastically deforming the sheet 22a.

(31) Unlike the previous embodiments, in the example in FIG. 7, the dimensions of the U-shaped frame are such that they allow the central portion of the cross-member 3 to extend from an area close to one of the edges of the sheet 22a, instead of from the central portion of the sheet 22a.

(32) The variant in FIG. 11 is a variant that allows the uprights 2 to be arranged parallel to the surface to be covered, or, if applicable, to the façade.

(33) In this case, the anchor means 22 comprise in the sheet 22a, a first and second entry opening A, B, formed by two anchor through holes 27 and 28, respectively. Correspondingly, the terminal 33 is formed in the cross-member 3 oriented essentially perpendicular thereto and bent back onto itself, determining a first and a second bend 39a, 39b that correspond with the anchor through holes 27 and 28, allowing the terminal 33 to be aligned in the sheet 22a, with the second bend also serving as an anti-return element, preventing the anchoring end 37 of the terminal 33 from being removed from the anchor opening 28 into which it was inserted during the attachment of the terminal 33 to the upright 2.

(34) In the example, the first bend 39a has a generally U-shaped frame, and the same numerical references used to designate the parts of the previous variations will be used to describe it, distinguishing an upper branch 34, a lower branch 35, and a connecting bridge 36, with a length similar to the distance between the anchor through holes 27 and 28; and the second bend 39b ends with an anchoring end 37, where the terminal tip 38 is located. In this case, in order to insert the terminal 33 into the sheet 22a, the U-shaped frame must be deformed elastically, this time bringing their upper and lower branches 34 and 35 together, which will then expand, causing the terminal 33 to be secured to the sheet 22a by restoring force.

(35) Alternatively or simultaneously it may be necessary to elastically deform sheet 22a.

(36) The invention considers that in other embodiments, the anchor through holes are not coplanar, as illustrated, for example, in the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9.

(37) In the embodiment in FIG. 9a, the sheet 22a is oriented perpendicular to the direction of extension of the cross-member 3 and comprises a tab 29 that extends in the direction perpendicular to the sheet 22a, in which the first of the anchor through holes 27 is formed; with the terminal 33 bent back onto itself in a first bend a that orients a first section 41 of the terminal 33 precisely for insertion into the aforementioned first anchor through hole 27. A second bend b creates an anchoring end 37 in the terminal 33, where the terminal tip 38 is located, at an angle with the first section 40 of the terminal for insertion into the second anchor opening 28, all as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b.

(38) To achieve the coupling position, the terminal 33 must be elastically deformed around the first bend a and the first section 40 of the terminal 33 inserted into the first anchor through hole 27 and/or the sheet 22a must be elastically deformed. By elastic reaction of the elastically deformed parts, when the anchoring end 37 is lined up with the second anchor through hole 28, the anchoring end will automatically be held in the second anchor through hole 28.

(39) The invention considers that the first anchor through hole 27 is open to the exterior, for example, by means of a lateral opening 27a in the tab 29 through which the first section 40 can be inserted, laterally, into the first anchor through hole 27, as illustrated in the detail of FIG. 9b. This lateral opening will preferably be arranged such that the terminal 33 and/or the sheet 22a must be elastically deformed to insert the terminal 33 into the first anchor through hole 27. This prevents the terminal 33 from being withdrawn accidentally from the first anchor through hole 27 when it adopts its adjustment position on the sheet 22a.

(40) FIG. 8 shows an alternative in which the terminal 33 has two bends to form a sort of hook and the sheet 22a has a housing 44, obtained by stamping the sheet 22a or formed by an extension welded onto the sheet 22a, intended to receive the terminal 33 through an access opening 45 and where the hook can be engaged.

(41) In the specific example, the terminal 33 is bent to form a first bend that is followed by a straight section 41 whose end is also bent to form a second bend b, which is followed by the anchoring end 37 of the terminal 33. In order to achieve the coupling position of the terminal 33 to the sheet 22a, it is first necessary to elastically deform the terminal around the first bend towards the exterior and/or the sheet 22a, inserting the terminal in the housing 44 and so that by restoring force it will tend to adopt its original shape when the anchoring end 37 is lined up with an anchor opening 23 included for this purpose in the sheet 22a, specifically in the front wall of the housing.

(42) It should be noted that the housing 44 has a V-shaped cross-section, such that the first section 40 of the terminal will be supported, self-centered, against the vertex of the V-shaped cross section, thus preventing lateral displacements of the cross-member 33.

(43) Another possible embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 10. In this case the anchor means 22 comprise in the sheet 22a, a first and a second entry opening A, B, formed by the opposing edges 30, 31 of a same through slot 30 formed in said sheet 22a. Correspondingly, the terminal 33 is bent back onto itself, creating a sort of spring with two branches, an interior branch 41 and an exterior branch 42, and a connecting bridge 43, with each branch having an anti-return bend 41a, 42a oriented in the direction of the opposite branch and each intended to fit by restoring force in one corresponding side 30a or 30b of the through slot 30, requiring elastically deforming the sheet 22a and/or the compression of the spring, bringing the branches closer together and inserting the bridge into the through slot 30 in the sheet 22a. The sheet 22a and/or the spring will tend to expand, i.e., recover its original shape, fitting the spring snugly in the through slot 30.

(44) FIG. 12 is an example that shows a schematic view of how a same sheet 22a can be prepared so that multiple terminals 33 from the respective cross-members 3 can simultaneously be attached therein. This example shows the sheet 22a of an upright 2 with slots and openings so that four terminals 33 of four cross-members 3 can be attached to it at the same level, with the sheet 22a determining a sort of junction from which the four cross-members 3 project orthogonally with respect to each other, with two of these in opposing positions attached to the sheet 22a using a solution similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b; and the other two cross-members 3, also in opposing positions, are attached to the sheet 22a using a solution similar to that illustrated in FIG. 11.

(45) FIGS. 13 to 15 show some of the options that the system of the invention allows for supporting the cladding pieces 10.

(46) While the cross-member between the terminals 33 may be straight, as shown in FIG. 13, the invention considers that this is not so and that the cross-member 3 may be curved, recessed, spiral, etc., so that the façade can acquire relief or volume inwards, outwards, or both.

(47) The cross-members 3 are suitable for suspending cladding pieces 10, which may be of different shapes, such as bricks, ribbed tubes, circular wires, etc. preferably equipped with one or more through holes 10a or grooves for insertion of the corresponding cross-members 3.

(48) As shown, one or more cross-members 3 may pass through each piece 10 at a time.

(49) FIGS. 14 and 15 show that the design of the cross-members, while allowing them to be coupled or fastened to two uprights 2 by their terminals 33, it also allows the suspended piece or pieces 10 to be positioned, limiting the lateral movement of the piece or pieces 10 so that they cannot shift towards the terminals 33. This could be achieved by making cross-members 3 with curves 3a or protrusions.

(50) The pieces 10 may be made of any material, depending on the mechanical characteristics that are desired. The pieces 10 may simply be embellishments, with no structural function or load at all. For example, the invention considers that the pieces 10 may be made of steel, plastic, glass, ceramic, stoneware, wood, composites, etc. or any of their multiple types of finish.

(51) When a single cross-member 3 passes through the pieces 10, the wind resistance of the completed system is reduced, because when the wind blows, the pieces 10 have the capacity to move, rotating around the cross-member 3 if it has a circular or at least rounded cross-section.

(52) The system according to the invention is extremely versatile as shown in FIG. 16. This FIG. 16 shows different variants of the system in a drawing and lateral elevation. In example 1, the uprights 2 are straight and vertical and the cross-members 3 are distributed uniformly and are equidistant, illustrating some pieces 10, with a single cross-members 3 passing through each one; in example 2, the uprights 2 are installed in pairs and although the cross-members 3 in this case are distributed uniformly and are equidistant, coinciding on the same level on the two uprights 2, the illustration shows pieces 10 through which a single cross-member 3 passes, but also pieces 10 through which two cross-members 3 pass on the same level; in example 3, the uprights 2 are not vertical, but rather form a curved line in order to, for example, give volume to the ventilated façade, and in addition, the cross-members 3 are not only not equidistant between the uprights 2 but also show two pieces 10 suspended from two cross-members 3 at a different level which in the two pieces 10 are positioned at different distances from each other.

(53) Lastly, FIG. 17 shows a schematic view and a front elevation view of another possibility within the scope of the invention. In this case, the system represented combines cross-members 3 that extend between two adjacent uprights 2 with cross-members 3 that extend between two non-adjacent uprights, the terminals 33 of which are also not necessarily attached to anchor means 22 arranged on the same level on the aforementioned uprights 2.