ARCHITECTURAL FINS AND METHODS OF INSTALLING THEREOF

Abstract

An accent fin that can be installed directly onto a cladding panel comprising a rear portion for securing to the cladding panel and a front portion for securing to the rear portion. The front portion, the rear portion and the cladding panel define a cavity for receiving a sealant therein. The accent fins may be connected using guidepieces for extending over a greater portion of the building or over several cladding panels. The accent fin may be installed on a cladding having been already installed on a building. Retrofitting cladded buildings to include accent fins is possible.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of architectural features, and more particularly to decorative fins for buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Building facades can include decorative and architectural elements for improving the aesthetics or the function of the facade. Accent fins, also called decorative fins or architectural fins, can be installed onto buildings for providing shade, a specific wind directing profile, or to make a facade more aesthetically pleasing, for example by giving it a modern feel.

US publication 2023/0243148 describes a system for anchoring a fin to a structure, however the provided anchoring system is susceptible to corrosion and is not simple to install.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,162,520 describes a method of forming a facade, however the facade elements provided are susceptible to corrosion by water infiltration, as well as having pierced outer surfaces which are unaesthetic and susceptible to infiltration.

Decorative elements such as accent fins typically have to be installed at the same time as a building's cladding, such as in the seams between the cladding panels. This slows down construction by lengthening the building enveloping step. Furthermore, existing accent fins cannot be easily retrofitted onto existing buildings.

There is therefore a need for accent fins and decorative facade elements that address one or more of the disadvantages above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a broad aspect, an accent fin comprises a fastening portion comprising a rear wall having a rear middle portion configured to abut a cladding panel, the middle portion being configured to receive securing means for securing the rear wall to the cladding panel, and two side portions at opposite edges of the middle portion; two rear side walls extending outwardly from the side portions of the rear wall; a front portion for installing onto the fastening portion comprising: a front middle portion; two front side walls extending from opposite edges of the front middle portion, the front side walls configured to receive the rear side walls therebetween; and the front side walls being configured to extend to abut the cladding panel.

In embodiments, the side portions of the rear wall define a recess between the cladding panel and the rear wall, and the front side walls and the recess define a cavity for receiving a sealant therein. In embodiments, the sealant is silicone based.

In embodiments, the fastening portion and the front portion are configured to be secured to each other using screws.

In embodiments, the rear side walls comprise protrusions extending outwardly from the rear side walls, the front side walls comprise protrusions extending inwardly, and the front portion and the fastening portion are configured to be secured to each other by engaging the protrusions of the front and rear side walls, thereby clicking the front portion onto the fastening portion.

In embodiments, two or more accent fins having a respective bottom end adjacent to a respective top end, comprise at least one guidepiece for securing said two or more accent fins to each other.

According to a broad aspect, a method of installing an accent fin on a cladding comprises: providing one or more cladding panels; securing a rear portion of the accent fin to the one or more cladding panels and securing a front portion of the accent fin to the rear portion.

In embodiments, the rear portion and the front portion define a cavity abutting the cladding panel, and the method further comprises providing a sealant into the cavity.

In embodiments, the method further comprises placing a cap on one or more open ends of the accent fin.

Additional aspects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments which are exemplary and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top section view of an accent fin according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the accent fin of FIG. 1 installed on a cladding.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a section of the accent fin of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top section view of an accent fin configured to be assembled by clicking two portions in place.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the accent fin of FIG. 5 installed on a cladding.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a section of the accent fin of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows an accent fin installed in a horizontal orientation.

FIG. 8 shows two accent fins joined by a guidepiece.

FIG. 9 shown an exemplary method of providing a building facade according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the context of the present disclosure, the terms “accent fin”, “architectural fin”, “decorative fin” and “fin” are used interchangeably and do not limit the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an accent fin 100 comprising a fastening assembly is presented. The accent fin 100 is configured to be affixed to the facade of a building. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the fin 100 is configured to be secured to cladding panels 20 (shown in FIG. 2).

The fin 100 comprises a fastening portion 110 and an outer portion 150. The fastening portion 110 generally has a U-shape and comprises a rear wall 111 and two rear side walls 112 and 113 extending outwardly from the rear wall 111. The rear wall 111 comprises one or more apertures for receiving a screw 120 therein for fixing the fin 100 to the cladding panels 20.

The outer portion 150 comprises a front wall 151 and front side walls 151 and 152 extending inwardly towards the fastening portion 110 from the edges of the front wall 151. The generally U-shaped front portion 110 is configured to receive the rear side walls 112 and 113 of the fastening portion 110 between the front side walls 152 and 153, thereby allowing the front portion to slide over at least a portion of the fastening portion 110 and to be secured thereto. The fin 100 according to this embodiment defines a cavity 101 therein when assembled.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front side walls 152 and 153 of the front portion 150 extend along the rear side walls 112 and 113 of the fastening portion 110 to substantially abut the cladding panel 20. The fastening portion 110 is arranged such that the rear wall 111 and each of the rear side walls 112 and 113 connect obliquely, rather than at a right angle. It can be said that the rear wall 111 has a middle portion configured to abut the cladding panel and two side portions which extend from the middle portion to connect to the rear side walls. The oblique portion of the rear side wall 111 and each of the front side walls 152 and 153 of the front portion 150 define a cavity 160. As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity 160 is configured to receive a sealant 161 that seals and binds the side walls 152 and 153 and the rear wall 111 to the cladding panel 20.

FIG. 2 shows a fin 100 installed on cladding panels 20. The fin 100 is installed by fastening the fastening portion 110 to the cladding panels 20 at a juncture between the cladding panels 20. Other fastening positionings are possible.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the fin 100, where the front portion 150 is secured to the fastening portion 110 using screws 154, 155 which secure the front side wall 152 to the rear side wall 112 and the front side wall 153 to the rear side wall 113.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment featuring a click engagement is presented. The fin 200 comprises a fastening portion 210 having a rear wall 211 and rear side walls 212 and 213 extending outwardly and a front portion 250, having front side walls 252 and 253 extending inwardly. The rear wall 211 connects to the rear side walls 212 and 213 obliquely. The front side walls 252 and 253 extend over the fastening portion 210 to abut the face of the cladding panel 20. The walls 252, 253 and 211 define a cavity 260 which may receive sealant 261 therein.

The fin 200 comprises a cross-wall 254 extending between the side walls 252 and 253 thereby defining a cavity 255 defined entirely by the front portion 250. It is understood that the cross-wall 254 is optional and, when present, provides additional rigidity and/or structural resilience to the fin 200.

The rear side walls 212, 213 of the fastening portion 210 each comprise one or more protrusions 214 extending outwardly from an outer face of each of the rear side walls 212, 213. The front side walls 252, 253 of the front portion 250 comprise one or more protrusions 256 extending inwardly from each one of the front side walls 252, 253 towards the other side wall. The protrusions 256, 257 are situated such that, when the fin 200 is assembled, the protrusions 256 engage and slide over the protrusions 214, thereby clicking the front portion 250 of the fin 200 to the fastening portion. The protrusions may be ribs, ridges, or other protruding features suitable for securing two components clickably in place.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the cross-wall 254 is situated in the front portion 250 such that the front portion 250 may not be slid excessively over the fastening portion 210. Accordingly, the length of the front side walls 252, 253 between the ends configured to abut the cladding panel 20 and the cross-wall 254 is substantially equal to the distance between the rear wall 211 and the outward ends of the rear side walls 212, 213.

FIG. 5 shows the fin 200 of FIG. 4 installed on the cladding panel 20. In FIG. 4, the fin is secured substantially at a juncture between the cladding panels 20.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a fin 200 for installation onto a facade or a cladding panel.

FIG. 7 shows a fin 200 assembled on cladding panels 20 but not at a juncture between the panels 20. It is understood that the fastening means and the principles disclosed herein are useful for securing fins directly to a cladding panel without relying on structural features such as junctures between the cladding panels or features of the building's substructure, such as walls and/or floors. Accordingly, the fins according to the present disclosure are easier and more flexible to install on buildings.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a plurality of fins according to the present disclosure, or components thereof, may be joined for ease of assembly. The fin 100 is referred to for simplicity, however it is understood that other accent fins may be assembled according to the principles disclosed herein.

Two or more fins 100 each comprise a fastening portion 110 and a front portion 150. The fins 100 or the portions 110, 150 thereof may have differing lengths than the lengths or other characteristic sized of the cladding panels 20 on which the fins 100 are to be installed. For simplicity, the fins 100 in FIG. 8 will be referred to as having a top end and a bottom end, however it is understood that the fins 100 may be installed horizontally or in any other orientation.

Accordingly, two or more fastening portions 110, two or more front portions 150, or both, may be joined together by providing a guidepiece 180 configured to engage a bottom end of one of the portions 110, 150 and a top end of another one of the portions 110, 150 respectively. In FIG. 8, the guidepiece 180 is secured by means of screws and it is understood that the fastening portions 110 and/or front portions 150 may be configured to receive the screws.

The portions 110, 150 may comprise holes for receiving the screws therein, and optionally define recesses or other structural features for receiving the securing means while maintaining a substantially flush profile.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in use, the fins 100 according to the present disclosure are secured to cladding panels 20 having been installed on a building or other structure 10. The ability to install decorative elements such as fins 100 after the installation of the building's cladding 20 allows internal building construction, such as plumbing, electrical and/or finishing work to begin rapidly. Accordingly, decorative aspects of the building's facade may be provided at a later date, reducing pressures on the construction supply chain, improving the speed of installing the building's cladding and allowing work such as internal work and fin installation to proceed in parallel.

The fins according to the present disclosure may be made from metal, plastic, and other acceptable materials. For example, the fins may be made of aluminium, for example of aluminium sheet metal. The fins may be painted and/or pre-painted, for example prior to installation and/or prior to delivery to the building site.

The fins according to the present disclosure may be pre-pierced, thus having apertures for receiving screws and/or other securing and fixing means therein. The fins may also be configured to be pierced during installation and/or use, for example by piercing screws.

The fins according to the present disclosure may be provided with caps for closing extremities of the fins and sealing off the inside of the fin structure, for example for sealing off the cavities 101 and 255. The caps may comprise metal, plastic, silicone, rubber, and sealing means including but not limited to flanges, O-rings and other acceptable sealing means. Once installed, the caps may be substantially watertight.

The sealant 161, 261 provides additional resistance to infiltration of water, snow, dirt, debris, moisture and/or other undesirable elements into the structure of the fin 100. The sealant 161, 261 furthermore provides additional structural resistance to stresses, for example wind, heat, impact or other displacement or deformative stresses exerted upon the fin 100, 200. The durability of the decorative fin installation is improved and the need for anchoring and/or fastening points of the fin 100, 200 to the cladding panel 20 is reduced. Accordingly, a fin 100, 200 may be installed on cladding panels 20 using less screws or other fixing means, simplifying the task of installing the fin 100, 200, reducing overall construction time and reducing construction cost. The fins 100, 200 may also be retrofitted on a building, for example during a renovation or a refurbishment, and accordingly may be installed in cladding panels that were not configured to receive the fins 100, 200 during the original construction.

Fin assemblies comprising guidepieces 180 may be installed on facades comprising cladding panels of varying lengths and/or orientations, as the length of the fastening portion and/or front portion does not need to match the length of each cladding panel 20 for assembly. Accordingly, the number of mounting or fastening points for securing the fastening portions 110, 210 to the cladding panels may be reduced without affecting the structural resistance to stress of the fins 100, 200.

The guidepieces 180 also provide the advantage of improving the alignment of the fins 100, 200 along the entire length of the assembled fin, for example along the entire height of a building.

The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the present invention and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An accent fin, comprising: a fastening portion comprising a rear wall having a rear middle portion configured to abut a cladding panel, the middle portion being configured to receive securing means for securing the rear wall to the cladding panel, and two side portions at opposite edges of the middle portion;two rear side walls extending outwardly from the side portions of the rear wall;a front portion for installing onto the fastening portion comprising: a front middle portion;two front side walls extending from opposite edges of the front middle portion, the front side walls configured to receive the rear side walls therebetween; andwherein the front side walls are configured to extend to abut the cladding panel.

2. The accent fin according to claim 1, wherein the side portions of the rear wall define a recess between the cladding panel and the rear wall, and wherein the front side walls and the recess define a cavity for receiving a sealant therein.

3. The accent fin according to claim 2, wherein the sealant is silicone based.

4. The accent fin according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion and the front portion are configured to be secured to each other using screws.

5. The accent fin according to claim 1, wherein the rear side walls comprise protrusions extending outwardly from the rear side walls, the front side walls comprise protrusions extending inwardly, and the front portion and the fastening portion are configured to be secured to each other by engaging the protrusions of the front and rear side walls, thereby clicking the front portion onto the fastening portion.

6. An accent fin assembly comprising two or more accent fins according to claim 1, the two or more accent fins having a each a respective bottom end adjacent to respective top end of another of the two or more accent fins, further comprising at least one guidepiece for securing said two or more accent fins to each other by connecting said respective top end and bottom end.

7. A method of installing an accent fin on a cladding, comprising: providing one or more cladding panels;securing a rear portion of the accent fin to the cladding panel; andsecuring a front portion of the accent fin to the rear portion.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rear portion and the front portion define a cavity abutting the cladding panel, further comprising providing a sealant into the cavity.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising placing a cap on one or more open ends of the accent fin.