WALL CLADDING ATTACHMENT ELEMENT

Abstract

 Wall cladding attachment element (1), which comprises a main body (2) designed to be fixed to a wall (200) and adapted to support a cladding element (100) provided with a first groove (102) and with a second groove (104). The attachment element (1) comprises a first wing (21), which is designed to be fixed to the wall (200), and a second wing (22), which extends like a shelf from the first wing (21). The first wing (21) and the second wing (22) delimit a positioning cavity (23), which is designed to receive the cladding element (100). Furthermore, the attachment element (1) comprises a first retention member (3), extending protruding from the first wing (21), and a second retention member (4) extending protruding from the second wing (22), which are configured to be elastically deformed and they are adapted to be engaged in compression respectively in the first groove (102) and in the second groove (104) of the cladding element (100).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall cladding attachment element, according to the preamble of the independent claim 1.

[0002] The attachment element in question is designed to be advantageously used for making claddings (for example, decorative, protective, thermal insulating, etc.) on vertical walls of buildings ("wall cladding" or "siding"), in particular for making facade claddings, both for indoor and outdoor environments.

[0003] To this end, advantageously, the attachment element in question is designed to fix cladding elements (such as panels, boards, slats, strips) to a support structure of the wall so as to obtain an outer cladding of the latter.

[0004] Generally, the attachment element in question relates to the field of production of fixing systems (in particular structural steelwork components) for making claddings using panels made of any material (such as wood, synthetic material, WPC, metal material, etc.).

State of the art

[0005] In the building industry, it is known to apply - on the walls of houses or buildings in general - outer claddings (known in the technical jargon of the industry as "wall cladding" or "siding"), for various purposes for example protection, decorative, insulation purposes, etc.

[0006] In particular, the typical structure of a panel cladding comprises a load-bearing sub-structure consisting of a framework made of various materials (such as wood, metal, synthetic material) designed to be anchored to the wall to be clad. On such load-bearing sub-structure, several covering panels are fixed which are arranged adjacent to each other, which form the cladding of the facade.

[0007] The covering panels are fixed using attachment systems which hold each panel rigidly fixed to the load-bearing sub-structure.

[0008] Attachment systems are known which provide for simply arranging the panels resting on the load-bearing sub-structure and fixing them using screws or nails which transversely pass through the panels up to being engaged in the load-bearing sub-structure. Although simple from a construction standpoint and despite allowing to easily remove each single panel, the latter system of the known type can be used in limited applications (substantially solely for wooden panels) and it has the further advantage of subjecting the panels to greater stresses and having to apply - on the panels - screws or nails which remain exposed therefore deteriorating the aesthetic appearance of the cladding.

[0009] With the aim of at least partly overcoming such drawbacks, hooking systems - which provide for anchoring the panels to the load-bearing sub-structure using hooked plates which engage special longitudinal grooves obtained in the thickness of the flanks of the panels - have been introduced on the market.

[0010] A first type of these hooking systems (whose example is described in the patent EP 2278090) comprises several substantially C-shaped plates. Each plate comprises a flat central portion, which is designed to rest against the sub-structure and on which a through hole is made, which is traversed by a screw for fixing the plate to the sub-structure. Furthermore, each plate comprises a first and a second wing, which extend like a shelf starting from the ends of the flat central portion and from each of which there extends a retention pin designed to be engaged in the longitudinal grooves of two corresponding adjacent sides of two adjacent panels.

[0011] The main drawback of this solution of the known type lies in the fact that it is not possible to remove a single panel without also removing the adjacent one given that each shaped plate holds the sides of two distinct panels.

[0012] With the aim of at least partly overcoming such drawback, attachment systems - in which the decorative panels are individually fixed to one or more corresponding attachment elements, therefore without any fixing constraint between two adjacent panels - have been introduced on the market.

[0013] In greater detail, this type of fixing system (whose three examples are described in patent application n° EP 3521528, in patent n° EP 1945881 and in patent application n° US 2014/0305064) comprises several attachment elements, each of which comprise a substantially flat main body.

[0014] In greater detail, the main body is provided, on the front side thereof, with a resting surface designed to receive the panel to be installed and it is designed to be fixed, on the rear side thereof, to the sub-structure through appropriate fixing means, for example screws or rivets.

[0015] Furthermore, the fixing device comprises several retention pins, which extend protruding from the resting surface of the main body, which are designed to be snap-engaged in corresponding longitudinal grooves obtained in the panel so as to fix it to the sub-structure.

[0016] In particular, the grooves of the panel are specifically shaped with an intermediate constriction which defines an inner undercut for engaging the retention pins. To this end, the latter can be elastically deformed, so that, when they are inserted into the grooves, they can be compressed when they pass through the constriction of the groove and, upon overcoming such constriction, they widen due to elastic return being engaged in the inner undercut.

[0017] A first drawback of such attachment elements of the known type lies in the fact that, in case of installation of covering panels for the inner or outer wall of a building, the weight of the single panel must be fully supported by the retention pins. However, given that such fixing devices, and therefore the retention pins, are made of elastic material, the latter can easily deteriorate over time, jeopardising the structural wholeness of the facade in the long term.

[0018] A further drawback of such attachment elements lies in the fact that the panels must be provided with specific grooves shaped to be snap-coupled to the retention pins of the attachment elements. Therefore, the processing to obtain the longitudinal groove is more complex, resulting in an increase of production times and costs. Furthermore, patent application US 2017/0002572 discloses a fixing system comprising an attachment element with a C-shaped cross-section and provided with a flat central portion designed to be indirectly fixed to the sub-structure by means of a retention clip. Furthermore, the attachment element comprises two lateral wings extending protruding from the central flat portion and from each of which there extends a retention appendage. The two retention appendages are designed to be arranged within corresponding longitudinal grooves of the panel formed on the flanks of the latter. In particular, in order to perform such coupling, the attachment element has to be inserted into the panel from one end of the latter by sliding it longitudinally along the panel.

[0019] The main drawback of this solution of the known type lies in the fact that installing the panel requires coupling - by sliding - the panel to the attachment element before fixing the latter to the wall and the attachment element can be fixed to the wall only subsequently requiring the use of an additional retention clip. Such solution of the known type is therefore complex to construct also requiring long times for installing and replacing the panels.

Summary of the invention

[0020] In this situation, the technical problem on which the present invention is based lies in overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art known to date, by providing a wall cladding attachment element, which is capable of safely and reliably supporting the cladding elements to be fixed to the wall.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall cladding attachment element, which does not require using particular processes on the cladding elements. A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall cladding attachment element, that is constructively simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0022] A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall cladding attachment element, which is adapted to the engagement with cladding elements of different types and sizes.

[0023] A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall cladding attachment element, which allows to easily replace each single cladding element in particular without the need to remove the cladding elements arranged adjacent to each other. A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall cladding attachment element, which allows a quick and simple installation of the cladding elements.

Brief description of the drawings

[0024] The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforementioned objects, are clearly observable from the content of the claims outlined below and the advantages thereof will be more apparent from the detailed description that follows, provided with reference to the attached drawings, which represent an embodiment thereof provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

• figure 1 shows a perspective view of the attachment element subject of the present invention;
• figure 2 shows a perspective view of the attachment element of figure 1 installed on a wall of a building;
• figure 3 shows a perspective view of two attachment elements of figure 1 installed on a sub-structure for supporting a wall, to which respective cladding elements are fixed.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0025] With reference to the attached drawings the wall cladding attachment element subject of the present invention has been indicated in its entirety with 1.

[0026] The attachment element 1 in question is designed to be advantageously used for making claddings (for example, decorative, protective, thermal insulating, etc.) on vertical walls of buildings ("wall cladding" or "siding"), in particular for making facade claddings, both for indoor and outdoor environments.

[0027] To this end, the attachment element 1 subject of the present invention is designed to fix cladding elements 100 (such as panels, boards, slats, strips) to a wall 200 so as to obtain an outer cladding of the latter.

[0028] In greater detail, with reference to the example of figure 3, the cladding element 100 (which can be made of various materials, such as wood, synthetic, WPC, etc.) extends linearly preferably with an elongated shape and advantageously constant cross-section, between two end portions along a longitudinal axis L, and it is provided with a rear lateral flank 101, which is designed to be arranged facing towards the wall 200, and a front lateral flank 107, which is designed to remain exposed. Furthermore, the cladding element 100 is provided with a lower flank 103 and an opposite upper flank 104, which extend along the longitudinal axis L and they are arranged to provide connection between the rear lateral flank 101 and the front lateral flank 107.

[0029] Preferably, the rear lateral flank 101 is provided with a first groove 102, which is defined by a first concave inner surface 105 of the cladding element 100 and it is arranged between the lower flank 103 and the upper flank 104. Furthermore, the lower flank 103 is provided with a second groove 104, which is defined by a second concave inner surface 106 of the cladding element 100 and it is arranged between the rear lateral flank 101 and the front lateral flank 107. Advantageously, both the grooves 102, 104 extend between the two end portions along the longitudinal axis L. The attachment element 1 in question comprises a main body 2, which is designed to be fixed to the wall 200 and it is adapted to support the cladding element 100 of the type briefly described above.

[0030] In greater detail, the main body 2 comprises a first wing 21, which is designed to be fixed to the wall 200. Such first wing 21 is provided with a rear face 211, which is designed to be faced toward the wall 200 preferably abutting against the latter, and with an opposite front face 212, which is designed to be faced toward the rear lateral flank 101 of the cladding element 100 preferably abutting against the latter.

[0031] In particular, in use, the attachment element 1 (and in particular its first wing 21) can be directly fixed to a face of the wall 200 of the building, or, like in the example of figure 3, it can be fixed to a support structure 201 in turn fixed to the face of the wall 200 of the building, so as to leave space, known in the technical jargon as interspace, between the face of the wall 200 and the cladding consisting of several cladding elements 100, in order to allow air to flow through between the wall 200 and the cladding to reduce the likelihood of moisture forming at the wall 200. Obviously, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, the wall 200 may be both fully solid (for example made of a masonry or wooden structure) and partially open (for example defined by a wooden or metal framework).

[0032] According to the idea on which the present invention is based, the main body 2 comprises a second wing 22, which extends like a shelf from the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and it is provided with an upper face 221 which delimits, with the front face 212 of the first wing 21, a positioning cavity 23.

[0033] In greater detail, the positioning cavity 23 is designed to receive the cladding element 100 arranged with the rear lateral flank 101 thereof facing toward the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and with the lower flank 103 thereof resting on the upper face 221 of the second wing 22.

[0034] The main body 2 comprises a first retention member 3, which extends protruding from the front face 212 of the first wing 21 along a first extension direction X, is configured to be elastically deformed at least transversely to the above-mentioned first extension direction X, and it is adapted to be engaged in compression in the first groove 102 of the cladding element 100.

[0035] Furthermore, the main body 2 comprises a second retention member 4, which extends protruding from the upper face 221 of the second wing 22 along a second extension direction Y, is configured to be elastically deformed at least transversely to the above-mentioned second extension direction Y, and it is adapted to be engaged in compression in the second groove 104 of the cladding element 100. In this manner, the claimed configuration of the attachment element 1 enables its second wing 22 (which protrudes like a shelf from the first wing 21) to support the weight of the cladding element 100, while the retention members 3, 4 (being compressed in the respective grooves 102, 104) develop, at least due to elastic reaction, on the relative inner surfaces 105, 106 of the cladding element 100, forces which enable to retain the cladding element 100 constrained to the attachment element 1, however without such retention members 3, 4 having to bear the entire weight of the cladding element 100.

[0036] Therefore, given that the weight of the cladding element 100 is mainly supported by the second wing 22, the retention members 3, 4 are not subjected to strong mechanical stresses due to the weight of the cladding element 100 and, therefore, they are not easily subjected to breakage that could make the cladding element 100 of the wall 200 of the building to fall.

[0037] In this manner, the attachment element 1 in question allows to safely and reliably support the cladding elements 100 without the risk of the latter detaching from the wall 200.

[0038] Furthermore, advantageously, given that each retention member 3, 4 of the attachment element 1 subject of the present invention is engaged to the corresponding groove 102, 104 of the cladding element 100 in compression, neither screws or rivets are required to fix the cladding element 100 to the attachment element 1. In this manner, the installation of the cladding on the wall 200 is quicker, hence significantly reducing the installation costs.

[0039] Advantageously, the first wing 21 of the attachment element 1 is adapted to be fixed to the wall 200 using fixing means 300, such as screws or nails. To this end, preferably, the first wing 21 is provided with one or more through holes 213 adapted to be engaged by the aforementioned fixing means 300.

[0040] Advantageously, the aforementioned first retention member 3 and second retention member 4 extend within the positioning cavity 23 defined by the wings 21, 22 of the attachment element 1, so as to penetrate into the corresponding grooves 102, 104 of the cladding element 100 which occupies the positioning cavity 23.

[0041] In particular, the aforementioned positioning cavity 23 is closed at the rear part and below, respectively, by the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and by the upper face 221 of the second wing 22, while such positioning cavity 23 is open at the upper part and frontally to allow the insertion of the cladding element 100. Advantageously, the first retention member 3 comprises at least two first arms 31, which extend, arranged adj acent to each other, along the first extension direction X, between respective first base ends 311, which are joined to the first wing 21, and respective first free ends 312 spaced apart from each other according to a direction transversal to the first extension direction X.

[0042] In greater detail, the first arms 31 of the first retention member 3 can be elastically deformed with mutual approaching at least of the respective first free ends 312, so as to insert - into the first groove 102 - the first arms 31 compressed one towards the other which, due to elastic return, are adapted to act on the first inner surface 105 of the first groove 102.

[0043] Preferably, in a manner similar to the first retention member 3, the second retention member 4 comprises at least two second arms 41, which extend, arranged adjacent to each other, along the second extension direction Y, between respective second base ends 411, which are joined to the second wing 22, and respective second free ends 412 spaced apart from each other according to a direction transversal to the second extension direction Y.

[0044] In greater detail, the second arms, 41 of the second retention member 4 can be elastically deformed with mutual approaching at least of the respective second free ends 412, in order to insert - into the second groove 104 - the second arms 41 compressed one towards the other which, due to elastic return, are adapted to act on the second inner surface 106 of the second groove 104.

[0045] In this manner, in particular, the arms 31, 41 of the retention members 3, 4, in use, press abutting against the inner surface 105, 106 of the relative groove 102, 104, generating friction forces which prevent the retention members 3, 4 from slipping off from the respective grooves 102, 104.

[0046] Preferably, the first extension direction X of the first retention member 3 and the second extension direction Y of the second retention member 4 are arranged with an inclination comprised between +10° and -10° respectively with respect to the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and to the upper face 221 of the second wing 22, for example substantially orthogonal to the respective aforementioned face 212, 221. Advantageously, given that the engagement of the retention members 3, 4 in the grooves 102, 104 of the cladding element 100 is given by the elastic reaction force generated by their configuration in compression (and in particular by the action described above of the respective arms 31, 41), there is no need for shaping the grooves 102, 104 with specific profiles so as to guarantee the firm retention of the cladding element 100.

[0047] For example, the first 102 and the second groove 104 extend along the longitudinal axis L with substantially constant and rectangular cross-section. In this manner, due to the simplicity of the shape of the aforementioned grooves 104, 106 on the cladding element 100, the operation of removing the material to obtain the grooves 102, 104 is quicker and without the need for complex and specific tools, significantly reducing the costs for manufacturing the cladding element 100.

[0048] In greater detail, with reference to the example of figure 3, the first groove 102 is delimited by two first lateral surfaces 105a, which extend counter-faced with respect to each other by the rear lateral flank 101 towards the internal of the cladding element 100, and a first end surface arranged to connect the two first lateral surfaces 105a. Furthermore, in a manner entirely similar to the first groove 102, the second groove 104 is delimited by two second lateral surfaces 106a, which are counter-faced with respect to each other by the lower flank 103 towards the internal of the cladding element 100, and a second end surface arranged to connect the two second lateral surfaces 106a.

[0049] Advantageously, the first arms 31 are adapted to act, due to elastic return, in compression against the first lateral surfaces 105a of the first groove 102 and the second arms 41 are adapted to act - due to elastic return - in compression against the second lateral surfaces 106a of the second groove 104.

[0050] Preferably, the first arms 31 extend symmetrically with respect to the first extension direction X of the first retention member 3 and the second arms 41 extend symmetrically with respect to the second extension direction Y of the second retention member 4.

[0051] Advantageously, the first arms 31 extend in a divergent fashion one with respect to the other from the corresponding first base ends 311 towards the corresponding first free ends 312, which are arranged at a mutual distance greater than the mutual distance between the first base ends 311.

[0052] Preferably, in a manner similar to the first arms 31, the second arms 41 extend in a divergent fashion one with respect to the other from the corresponding second base ends 411 towards the corresponding second free ends 412, which are arranged at a mutual distance greater than the mutual distance between the second base ends 411. According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, with the cladding element 100 not engaged to the attachment element 1, the first free ends 312 of the first retention member 3 are arranged at a mutual distance greater than the width of the first groove 102 (measured with respect to a direction transversal to the first extension direction X and to the longitudinal axis L). Furthermore, preferably, the second free ends 412 of the second retention member 4 are arranged at a mutual distance greater than the width of the second measured groove 104 (with respect to a direction transversal to the second extension direction Y and to the longitudinal axis L).

[0053] In this manner, when the first arms 31 and the second arms 41 are arranged respectively within the first groove 102 and the second groove 104, the first free ends 312 and the second free ends 412 are pushed mutually approaching respectively by the first lateral surfaces 105a of the first inner surface 105 of the first groove 102 and by the second lateral surfaces 106a of the second inner surface 106 of the second groove 104.

[0054] Advantageously, each first arm 31 of the first retention member 3 comprises a first inner face 32 facing toward the first inner face 32 of the other corresponding first arm 31, and an opposite first inner face 33. In greater detail, each first arm 31 comprises at least one corresponding first tooth 34, which extends protruding from the corresponding first outer face 33 and it is adapted to penetrate into the first inner surface 105 of the first groove 102 of the cladding element 100.

[0055] Preferably, in a manner similar to the first arms 31 of the first retention member 3, each second arm 41 of the second retention member 4 comprises a second inner face 42 facing toward the second inner face 42 of the other corresponding second arm 41, and an opposite second outer face 43. In greater detail, each second arm 41 comprises at least one corresponding second tooth 44, which extends protruding from the corresponding second outer face 43 and it is adapted to penetrate into the second inner surface 106 of the first groove 104 of the cladding element 100.

[0056] Advantageously, each first arm 31 comprises several corresponding first teeth 34 arranged in series between respective first base ends 311 and the respective first free end 312. Furthermore, in an entirely similar manner, each second arm 41 comprises several corresponding second teeth 44 arranged in series between the respective second base end 411 and the respective second free end 412.

[0057] Advantageously, with the first arms 31 arranged in the first groove 102, each first tooth 34 - due to the compression force due to elastic return of the two first arms 31 - penetrates into the first inner surface 105 of the first groove 102, and in particular in the corresponding first lateral surface 105a. Furthermore, in an entirely similar manner, with the second arms 41 arranged in the second groove 104, each second tooth 44 -due to the compression force due to elastic return of the second arms 41 - penetrates into the second inner surface 106 of the second groove 102, and in particular in the corresponding second lateral surface 106a.

[0058] In this manner, the first and the second teeth 34, 44 substantially engage (by shape coupling) the respective retention members 3, 4 to the inner surfaces 105, 106 of the respective grooves 102, 104 further preventing them from slipping off from the latter. Therefore, the first and the second teeth 34, 44 contribute to holding the cladding element 100 in position in the positioning cavity 23 of the attachment element 1, reducing the likelihood of the fixing between the cladding element 100 and the attachment element 1 deteriorating over time, for example due to harsh weather or normal temperature cycle across the seasons, increasing the service life of the cladding.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the main body 2 is made of a single body, that is in particular the first wing 21, the second wing 22, the aforementioned first retention member 3 and the aforementioned second retention member 4 are made of a single body.

[0060] In this manner, the construction complexity of the attachment element 1 is reduced significantly leading to a decrease in production and installation times and costs. Advantageously, the second wing 22 of the main body 2 is elastically foldable with respect to the first wing 21, so that, in particular, the angle between the first wing 21 and the second wing 22 can change following the elastic deformation at least of the second wing 22.

[0061] As addressed hereinafter, such characteristic particularly facilitates the assembly and the possible subsequent disassembly of the cladding element 100 from the attachment element 1.

[0062] As a matter of fact, in particular, during the step for installing the cladding element 100 the angle between the two wings 21, 22 can be widened for example by bending the second wing 22, to insert the cladding element 100 into the positioning cavity 23 from the open front and/or upper side of the latter. Following the coupling of the retention members 3, 4 in the respective grooves 102, 104 of the cladding element 100, the main body 2 resumes, due to elastic return, substantially the initial angle between the first wing 21 and the second wing 22, for example following the elastic return of the latter.

[0063] Similarly, in order to disassemble the cladding element 100 from the attachment element 1, it suffices to bend - for example - the second wing 22 to disengage the retention members 3, 4 in the respective grooves 102, 104 of the cladding element 100, therefore being able to remove the latter by substantially pulling forward, without the need to remove the adjacent cladding elements 100.

[0064] In particular, the main body 2 (and specifically its first and second wing 21, 22) is made of elastically deformable material.

[0065] Advantageously, the main body 2, the aforementioned retention member 3 and the aforementioned second retention member 4 are made of a plastic material, or metal material.

[0066] The main body 2 is substantially L-shaped. In particular, the first wing 21 extends between an upper edge (free), and an opposite lower edge, and the second wing 22 extends between a rear edge, which is joined to the lower edge of the first wing 21, and an opposite front edge (free). Advantageously, the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and the upper face 221 of the second wing 22 define - among others - in the positioning cavity 23, an angle substantially comprised between 70° and 120°, preferably substantially between 90° and 120°.

[0067] In particular, the aforementioned L-shape with the claimed configuration of the aforementioned retention members 3,4 allows to frontally apply the cladding element 100 to the attachment elements 1 after the latter have already been fixed to the wall 200, as described in detail hereinafter. Furthermore, the cladding element 100 can be removed from the front side of the attachment elements 1 without the need to remove the adjacent cladding elements 100 and, furthermore, without the need to remove the attachment elements 1 from the wall 200.

[0068] Suitably, the first and the second wing 21, 22 are plate-shaped, in particular with their respective substantially flat front 212 and upper face 221.

[0069] Advantageously, the second wing 22 is inclined with respect to the first wing 21 by an angle substantially comprised between 90° and 120° (in detail such angle being defined between the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and the upper face 231 of the second wing 22).

[0070] Advantageously, the main body 2 (and the relative first and second wing 21, 22) extends between two opposite ends along a third extension direction Z which, in use, is designed to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the cladding element 100.

[0071] Preferably, the retention members 3, 4 extend, in particular continuously, from one end to the other of the main body 2.

[0072] Forming an object of the present invention is also a wall cladding, obtained using the attachment elements 1 and the cladding elements 100 of the type described above, whose references will be maintained hereinafter.

[0073] In greater detail, the aforementioned cladding comprises several cladding elements 100 and several attachment elements 1, which are designed to be fixed to the wall 200 to be clad and they support the corresponding cladding elements 100.

[0074] In particular, each cladding element 100 is supported by several (at least two) attachment elements 1 arranged spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis L of the cladding element 100, preferably at least in proximity of the end portions of the latter.

[0075] According to the invention, the attachment elements 1 are designed to be fixed to the wall 200 at the first wing 21 and they receive - resting thereon - the corresponding cladding element 100 in the positioning cavity 23. In greater detail, the front face 212 of the first wing 21 is faced toward the rear lateral flank 101 of the cladding element 100 (preferably receiving in abutment such rear lateral flank 101) and the upper face 221 of the second wing 22 receives - resting thereon - the lower flank 103 of the cladding element 100.

[0076] The first retention member 3 of each attachment element 1 is inserted - elastically deformed in compression - into the first groove 102 of the cladding element 100 and it acts abutting - due to elastic reaction - against the first inner surface 105 of the cladding element 100. Furthermore, in an entirely similar manner, the second retention member 4 of each cladding element 1 is inserted - elastically deformed in compression - into the second groove 104 of the cladding element 100 and it acts abutting - due to elastic reaction - against the second inner surface 106 of the cladding element 100. This allows to retain - in a particularly firm manner - the cladding elements, as already described above.

[0077] Operatively, when installing the wall cladding 200 of a building, the attachment elements 1 are fixed to the wall 200 or to the support structure 201 using fixing means 300. Subsequently, the cladding elements 100 are fixed to the corresponding attachment elements 1 using the first 3 and the second retention member 4, which respectively engage the first 102 and the second groove 104 of the corresponding cladding element 100.

[0078] To this end, in particular, the cladding element 100 is arranged so that the first groove 102 is in proximity of the first retention member 3 and the second groove 104 is in proximity of the second retention member 4. Subsequently, the cladding element 100 is pushed towards the front face 212 of the first wing 21 and towards the upper face 221 of the second wing 22 of each attachment element 1, so that the first and the second retention members 3, 4 penetrate respectively into the first groove 102 and the second groove 104 of the cladding element 100. Advantageously, during the installation step, the angle between the two wings 21, 22 can be widened for example by bending the second wing 22, to insert the cladding element 100 into the positioning cavity 23 from the open front and/or upper side of the latter.

[0079] In particular, the operator can push the rear side 101 of the cladding element 1 towards the front face 212 of the first wing 21 to insert the first retention member 3 into the first groove 102 of the cladding element 100. At the same time, the second wing 22 bends to allow the second retention member 4 to enter into the second groove 104 of the cladding element 100.

[0080] Following the coupling of the retention members 3, 4 in the respective grooves 102, 104 of the cladding element 100, the main body 2 resumes, due to elastic return, substantially the initial angle between the first wing 21 and the second wing 22, for example following the elastic return of the latter.

[0081] Advantageously, in a usual application, the cladding elements 100 are installed arranged one adjacent to the other along a direction transverse to their longitudinal axis L.

[0082] Preferably, in order to disassemble the cladding element 100 from the attachment element 1, the operator may simply bend for example the second wing 22 to widen the angle between the two wings 21, 22 again and allow to remove the first and the second retention member 3, 4 respectively from the first and second groove 102, 104 of the cladding element 100, substantially by pulling the latter forward (that is moving away from the first wing 21 of the attachment element 1). In this manner, the cladding element 100 can be removed without the need to remove the adjacent cladding elements 100.

[0083] In this manner, in particular, upon fixing the attachment elements 1 onto the wall 200 or onto the support structure 201, the installation of the cladding elements 100 is quick, given that it does not require using for example screw fixing means for such operation, significantly reducing the installation times and therefore the overall installation costs.

[0084] The invention thus conceived attains the pre-set objects.

Claims

1. Wall cladding attachment element (1), which comprises a main body (2) intended to be fixed to a wall (200) and adapted to support a cladding element (100) having a rear lateral flank (101) provided with a first groove (102), which is defined by a corresponding first inner surface (105), and a lower flank (103) provided with a second groove (104), which is defined by a corresponding second inner surface (106); said main body (2) comprising:

- a first wing (21), which is designed to be fixed to said wall (200) and it is provided with a rear face (211), which is designed to be faced toward said wall (200), and with an opposite front face (212);

- a second wing (22), which extends like a shelf from the front face (212) of said first wing (21) and it is provided with an upper face (221) which delimits, with the front face (212) of said first wing (21), a positioning cavity (23), such positioning cavity (23) being designed to receive said cladding element (100) arranged with said rear lateral flank (101) facing toward the front face (212) of said first wing (21) and with said lower flank (103) resting against the upper face (221) of said second wing (22);

said attachment element (1) being characterized in that said main body (2) is substantially L-shaped and it further comprises:

- a first retention member (3), which extends protruding from the front face (212) of said first wing (21) along a first extension direction (X), is configured to be elastically deformed at least traverse to said first extension direction (X), and it is adapted to be engaged in compression in the first groove (102) of said cladding element (100);

- a second retention member (4), which extends protruding from the upper face (221) of said second wing (22) along a second extension direction (Y), is configured to be elastically deformed at least traverse to said second extension direction (Y), and it is adapted to be engaged in compression in the second groove (104) of said cladding element (100).

2. Attachment element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each said retention member (3, 4) comprises at least two corresponding arms (31, 41), which extend, arranged adjacent to each other, along the corresponding said extension direction (X, Y), between respective first base ends (311, 411), which are joined to the corresponding said wing (21, 22), and respective free ends (312, 412) spaced apart from each other;
wherein the corresponding arms (31, 41) of each said retention member (3, 4) can be elastically deformed with mutual approaching at least of said respective free ends (312, 412), to insert into the respective said groove (102, 104) the corresponding arms (31, 41) compressed one towards the other which, due to elastic return, are adapted to act on the corresponding inner surface (105, 106) of the respective said groove (102, 104).

3. Attachment element (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said arms (31, 41) extend in a divergent fashion one with respect to the other from the corresponding said base ends (311, 411) towards the corresponding said free ends (312, 412), which are arranged at a mutual distance greater than the mutual distance between said base ends (311, 411).

4. Attachment element (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each arm (31, 41) of the corresponding said retention member (3, 4) comprises a respective inner face (32, 42) facing toward the inner face (32, 42) of the other corresponding said arm (31, 41), and a respective opposite outer face (33, 43);
each said arm (31, 41) comprising at least one corresponding tooth (34, 44), which extends protruding from the corresponding said outer face (33, 43) and it is adapted to penetrate into the corresponding inner surface (105, 106) of the corresponding said groove (102, 104).

5. Attachment element (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that each said arm (31, 41) comprises several corresponding said teeth (34, 44) arranged in series between the respective said base end (311, 411) and the respective said free end (312, 412).

6. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (2), said first retention element (3) and said second retention element (4) are made of a single body.

7. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (2), said first retention element (3) and said second retention element (4) are made of a plastic material.

8. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first retention element (3) and said second retention element (4) extend into said positioning cavity (23).

9. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second wing (22) is elastically foldable with respect to said first wing (21).

10. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first wing (21) is adapted to be fixed to said wall (200) by means of fixing means (300), and it is provided with one or more through holes (213) adapted to be engaged by said fixing means (300).

11. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said positioning cavity (23) is closed at the rear part and below, respectively, by the front face (212) of said first wing (21) and by the upper face (221) of said second wing (22), and said positioning cavity (23) is open above and frontally so as to enable the insertion of said cladding element (100).

12. Attachment element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (2) is made of a single body.

13. Wall cladding, which comprises:

- several cladding elements (100), each of which is provided with a rear lateral flank (101) provided with a first groove (102) defined by a corresponding first inner surface (105) and with a lower flank (103) provided with a second groove (104) defined by a corresponding second inner surface (106);

- several attachment elements (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which are designed to be fixed to said wall (200) at said first wing (21) and receive resting thereon the corresponding said cladding element (100) in said positioning cavity (23); wherein, the front face (212) of said first wing (21) is faced toward the rear lateral flank (101) of said cladding element (100) and the upper face (221) of said second wing (22) receives resting thereon the lower flank (103) of said cladding element (100);

wherein the first retention member (3) of each said attachment element (1) is inserted, elastically deformed in compression, in the first groove (102) of said cladding element (100) and it acts abutting, due to elastic reaction, against said first inner surface (105) of said cladding element (100);

wherein the second retention member (4) of each said attachment element (1) is inserted, elastically deformed in compression, in the second groove (104) of said cladding element (100) and it acts abutting, due to elastic reaction, against said second inner surface (106) of said cladding element (100).

Drawing