Spacing elements for metal surfacings and method for installing metal surfacings using said spacing elements

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a spacing element for metal surfacings comprising a central element, one end of which is terminated by a section designed for fixing to a metal sheet and the other end of same by a section designed for fixing to a supporting structure characterized in that said central element of the spacing element is made of elastic material. Moreover, the present invention concerns a method for installing metal sheets for the surfacing of walls which comprises the steps consisting of to install a plurality of upper and lower anchorages; fixing at least one spacing element to a supporting structure; hoisting the metal sheet; fixing the upper part of the metal sheet to a plurality of upper anchorages ; fixing the lower part of the metal sheet to a lower plurality of anchorages and tightening it in position; fixing the metal sheet to at least one spacing element; characterized in that the positioning of at least one spacing element to a supporting structure comprises the positioning of a spacing element made of elastic material.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a spacing element for metal surfacings and a method for installing metal surfacings using said spacing element.

[0002] The use of metal sheeting for the surfacing of the walls of buildings for aesthetic, decorative purposes, for controlling solar radiation and/or to prevent the intrusion of animals is becoming more and more widespread in modern architecture.

[0003] The use of said materials is posing a series of problems in connection with the systems for anchoring same to the supporting structure, problems which at times are evidenced by the solutions elaborated in the architectural project phase, which often envisage shapes and dimensions of the metal sheets that make it difficult to mount them as well as to maintain their aesthetic appearance independent of the prevailing ambient and/or atmospheric conditions.

[0004] One of the most frequent problems is connected with the pressure of the wind on sheets of large dimensions that are anchored exclusively at their upper and lower extremities, under which circumstances, in some cases, there is an undesirable tendency for the sheets to be forced towards the wall of the building thus surfaced until, at times, they come into direct contact with the wall itself.

[0005] In order to limit the effects of the aforesaid phenomenon, a known method is to arrange, at calculated intervals, spacing elements fixed between the wall of the building and the sheet metal surfacing.

[0006] The spacing elements currently on the market are made up of a fixing pin, allowing a certain amount of free play to compensate for the minimal vertical movements of the sheeting caused by mechanical forces and thermal expansion, attached to a stirrup-shaped fastening element, fixed by means of a double plug to the walls of the building.

[0007] Said devices present a number of drawbacks, which include the so-called "punch effect", which is created when, as a result of wind pressure, the metal sheeting is forced towards the wall of the building and is pressed against the fixed spacing elements.

[0008] In this event, the surface of the sheeting loses its smooth evenness and presents an inaesthetic appearance similar to that of a canvas resting on a plurality of pointed objects.

[0009] This effect is generally created even when the sheeting is displaced by only a few millimetres, i.e. also in the case of a light wind.

[0010] A further disadvantage of known types of spacing elements emerges in the hoisting phase of the sheeting, which is hampered by said elements which protrude as sharp points from the wall surface so that they easily get caught up in the sheeting.

[0011] Furthermore, the application of the currently used spacing elements requires a high degree of precision to prevent initial or subsequent defects in the sheeting being caused by thermal fluctuations.

[0012] Finally, the known types of spacing elements generally involve high production costs because of their jointed structure made up of precision elements (fixing pins, stirrup-shaped fastenings, plugs) which are designed from case to case so as to adapt the spacing elements to the particular needs of the project in hand.

[0013] The aim of the present invention here is to eliminate the difficulties complained of above in respect of the known types of spacing elements for metal sheeting by means of a device that offers the advantage of eliminating the inaesthetic effects, which, up to today, are created by a displacement of the sheeting.

[0014] Within the scope of this aim, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a spacing element for metal sheeting which also simplifies the mounting of the sheeting itself.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a spacing element for metal sheeting which can be produced at competitive costs.

[0016] A further object of this invention is to provide a method for installing the metal sheets in a shorter time and at competitive costs, while guaranteeing the elimination of the inaesthetic effects previously described.

[0017] These tasks, as well as other aims that are more clearly evident in the following, are achieved by the spacing element for metal sheeting according to the present invention, which comprises a central element, at one extremity of which there is a section designed for attachment to the metal sheet and at the other end there is a second section designed for fixing to a supporting structure, characterized in that the central element is made of flexible, elastic material.

[0018] For greater convenience, at least one section of the central part of the spacing element should be curved, preferably in the shape of a semicircle.

[0019] Moreover, these aims are achieved by the method for installing the metal sheets for the coating of walls according to the invention, which comprises the installation of a plurality of upper and lower anchorages; the positioning of at least one spacing element on a supporting structure; to rise the metal sheet; fixing the top of the metal sheet to the plurality of upper anchorages; fixing the bottom of the metal sheet to the plurality of lower anchorages and tightening it in position; fixing the metal sheet to at least one spacing element; and being characterized in that the positioning of at least one spacing element on a supporting structure comprises the positioning of an elastic, spacing element.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention result largely from the descriptions of a number of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the spacing element for metal sheeting illustrated by but not limited to those shown in the drawings, in which:

figures 1 a, 1 b and 1 c are representations of the spacing element according to the invention from the front, from the side and from above;

figure 2 is an axonometric view of the spacing element shown in figs. 1a,1b and 1c;

figure 3 is a side view of the spacing element according to the invention applied with a direct wall plug attachment;

figures 4a and 4b are axonometric representations of the channelled attachment element which is used for fixing the spacing elements according to the invention, and of said attachment element with inserted the spacing element according to the invention.

[0021] As illustrated schematically in figures 1 a, 1b, 1 c, and 2 the spacing element (1) for metal sheeting according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a semi-circular central element (6) at the two ends of which (2) and (3) there is a substantially ring-shaped section for ends of which (2) and (3) there is a substantially ring-shaped section for fastening to the wall (20) and the metal sheet (10) respectively

[0022] The fastening of the first end (3) to the wall (20) is performed in a known manner by means of screws (4) and the respective plugs, while the fastening of the second end (2) to the metal sheet (10) is performed by means of a small metal fastening device (5), for example a stud or rivet attachment, which enables extremely fast, easy and durable installation.

[0023] The spacing element (1) is fixed to the wall (20) and the metal sheet (10) in such a manner that the convex part of the semi-circular central element (6) is facing downwards.

[0024] This offers the advantage that the spacing element (1) does not constitute an obstacle when positioning the metal sheet (10); in effect, when the metal sheet (10) is hoisted into position, it comes into contact with the convex section of the central element (6) of the spacing element (1) or with the stud attachment (5), which facilitates the sliding of the sheet along said element thus enabling it to pass over the spacing element (1) without substantial impediment.

[0025] The spacing element (1) is made of flexible material enabling it to partially move with the metal sheet (10) when the latter is displaced towards and/or away from the wall (20) or in the event of vertical displacement due to thermal expansion and/or contraction.

[0026] The aforesaid characteristic completely eliminates the undesirable inaesthetic effects that are caused by the known types of spacing elements, which occur when the sheeting is displaced towards the wall (the punched effect) and in the event of thermal expansion and/or contraction of the metal sheet (10) resulting from an imperfect fitting of same.

[0027] Furthermore, the elimination of the so-called "punch effect" is further facilitated by the fact that the spacing element acts upon a relatively larger area of the surface of the metal sheet (10) and is no longer applied to small point-like surfaces of same.

[0028] Also the installation of the spacing element (1) is simplified in that minimal imprecisions in the positioning are absorbed by the flexible characteristic of the spacing element (1) itself.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4b, the first end (3) is additionally shaped to enable its insertion into a channelled attchment element (7) which is generally used when the mounting of the metal sheet (10) is effected at a distance from the wall (20) which no longer allows the direct attachment of the spacing element (1) to the wall itself.

[0030] In such cases, it is necessary to fix the spacing elements (1) to the appropriate fittings (7) which are then attached to the back of the sheet at the required distance.

[0031] The structural simplicity of the spacing element (1) according to the invention enables it to be produced at competitive costs, notwithstanding those parts that cannot be mass produced. These parts may, in fact, vary in respect of shape and dimensions according to the particular application.

[0032] Said spacing elements may be attached to whatever type of fastening attachments used for the sheets (10), i.e. whether screw-type mounting plates or suitable spring-operated elements.

[0033] In practice, the spacing element for metal surfacings according to the invention proves itself fully able to fulfil its purpose as well as achieving the additional intended aims in that, being constructed of elastic material, it is capable of absorbing any displacements of the sheet without said movements giving rise to the undesirable, inaesthetic effects described above.

[0034] It is also ensured that the method of installing the metal sheets according to the invention is simplified and that said installation can be implemented in a shorter time at competitive costs.

[0035] Not least, it is ascertained that the spacing element according to the invention may be produced at competitive costs and that it also offers advantages in terms of costs by virtue of its easy and rapid installation.

[0036] The invention, conceived in this manner, is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which being within the concept of the invention. Thus, for instance, the ends of the central element, used for fixing the spacing element to the wall, may be designed in whatever manner that satisfies the requirements of the project on hand.

[0037] Finally, all the details may be substituted by other elements and materials used and also the dimensions may be modified to suit the respective needs.

[0038] For this reason, the scope of protection contained in the claims must not be limited by the illustrations or by the preferred embodiments shown and described in the examples below, but rather the claims must comprise all of the characteristics of patentable innovation that are incorporated in the invention as presented here, including those characteristics that would be regarded as equivalent by the expert technician working in this field.

Claims

1. Spacing element for metal surfacings comprising a central element (6), a first end of which is terminated by a first section (2) designed for fixing to a metal sheet (10) and the other end of same by a second section (3) designed for fixing to a supporting structure (7, 20) characterized in that said central element (6) of the spacing element is made of elastic material.

2. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to Claim 1 characterized in that said central element (6) of the spacing element presents at least one curved section.

3. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to one of the claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said central element (6) of the spacing element is semi-circular.

4. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to any one of the claims from 1 to 3 characterized in that said first end (2) is fixed to the metal sheet (10) by means of stud elements (5).

5. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to any one of the previous claims characterized in that said supporting structure is a wall (20).

6. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to Claim 5 characterized in that said second end (3) is fixed to said wall (20) by means of at least one screw (4) and at least one plug, respectively.

7. Spacing element for metal surfacings according to any one of the claims from 1 to 4 characterized in that said supporting structure is a channelled attachment element (7).

8. Method of installing metal sheets (10) for the surfacing of walls comprising the following steps:

- to install a plurality of upper and lower anchorages;

- to position at least one spacing element (1) to a supporting structure (7,20);

- to hoist the metal sheet (10);

- to fix upper part of metal sheet (10) to said plurality of upper anchorages;

- to fix lower part of metal sheet (10) to said plurality of lower anchorages and tighten in position;

- to fix the metal sheet (10) to said at least one spacing element (1);

characterized in that said step consisting of positioning of at least one spacing element (1) to one supporting structure (7,20) involves the positioning of a spacing element (1) made of elastic material.

9. Method of installation of metal sheets (10) according to Claim 8 characterized in that said phase of positioning of the spacing element (1) to the supporting structure (7, 20) is performed in a manner in that the spacing element (1) so positioned constitutes at least one convex section facing downwards.

10. Method of installation of metal sheets (10) according to one of the claims 8 or 9 characterized in that fixing the metal sheet (10) to said at least one spacing element (1) is effected by means of stud elements (5).

11. Method of installation of metal sheets (10) according to one of the claims from 8 to 10 characterized in that said phase of positioning of at least one spacing element (1) to a supporting structure (7,20) constitutes fixing to a wall (20).

12. Method of installation of metal sheets (10) according to one of the claims from 8 to 10 characterized in that said phase of positioning of at least one spacing element (1) to a supporting structure (7,20) constitutes fixing to a channeled attachment element (7).

Drawing