BUILDING INSULATION AND CLADDING SYSTEM

Abstract

A building insulation and cladding system wherein a plurality of tracks are securable to a building exterior. A plurality of building structures each have a lower edge groove. A plurality of clips are configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks. The clips engage one of the plurality of tracks and include a rail to be received in the building structure lower edge groove and to support the building structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are aspects of a new building insulation and cladding system and methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many older energy inefficient buildings in existence. Retrofitting existing buildings to lessen their carbon footprint can offer a cost effective solution for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. In some cases, building panels are installed onto the existing building. See published U.S. Application No. US2022/0049502 incorporated herein by this reference. Many such retrofitting system and building wraps are difficult and time consuming to install and/or are expensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Featured in one example is a system wherein an existing structure can be insulated by installing a subframe to the building exterior (which may include existing sheathing covered by breather, water resistant, and/or insulative layers), installing special, unique clips onto the subframe, and successively placing the bottom of one building structure (e.g., panel) to be supported on top of one set of clips and then snap fitting the top of that building structure underneath the bottom of another higher up set of clips to join vertically adjacent building structures together and to the subframe and building exterior and also to retain a lower building structure in place while the next upper building structures are installed. The top and bottom profiles of clips and the top edge and bottom edge of each building structure include complementary features which allow the bottom edge of a building structure to seat onto and be supported by the top of a set of clips and to allow the top edge of that building structure to be rotated and snap fit under another set of clips (and also, in one version supporting, at least partially, the building structure above it). The next upper adjacent building structure also preferably has a bottom edge profile which retains the top of the building structure beneath it in place against the building exterior.

Featured is a building insulation and cladding system comprising a plurality of tracks securable to a building exterior a plurality of building structures each having a lower edge groove, and a plurality of clips configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks. The preferred clips include means for engaging one of the plurality of tracks and a rail to be received in the building structure lower edge groove and to support the building structure.

In one version, each clip further includes a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf. The building structure may further include a top edge profile with at least a first and second ascending steps and each clip may further include lower teeth for engaging the second step. The building structure may further include an outer lower edge to be seated on or near the first step of a building structure beneath it. The means for engaging may include upper and lower tabs engaging the track, the upper tab including an upward extension and the lower tab including a spring finger with a barb which catches the track.

Typically, the track is a z-girt vertically disposed member with spaced slots therein and the clip means for engaging include spaced tabs inserted into the spaced slots. The clips can be made of plastic.

The building structure may include an insulative panel with an exterior epoxy coating, an insulative layer between the building structures and existing building sheathing, a breather layer behind the insulative layer, a water-resistant barrier behind the insulative layer, and/or a protective outer coating.

Also featured is a building insulation and cladding system comprising a subframe for mounting to a building exterior and including spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side tracks with front face clip slots and upper and lower subframe members connected between the spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side track. A plurality of building structures each have a lower edge groove. A plurality of clips are configured to join an upper building structure to an adjacent lower building structure and to secure both building structures to the subframe. The clips include spaced tabs each received in a side track front face clip slot and a rail to be received in a building structure lower edge groove.

Also featured is a method of insulating and cladding a building exterior. A subframe is mount to a building exterior, the subframe include spaced vertically extending side tracks with a series of clip slots. A plurality of clips are installed into the subframe vertically extending side track clip slots. The method may further include successively installing vertically adjacent building structures onto the clips while securing the building structures to the subframe.

A building insulation and cladding system preferably includes a plurality of tracks securable to a building exterior, a plurality of building structures each having an upper edge with a first profile, and a lower edge with a second profile, and a plurality of clips configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks. The clips include means for engaging the tracks, a top surface profile complementary to the building structure lower edge second profile to support a building structure on the clip, and a bottom surface profile complementary to the building structure upper edge first profile to snap fit a building structure under the clip.

The clips top surface profile may include a rail and the building structures each have a lower edge second profile with a groove receiving the clip rail therein. Each clip top surface profile may further include a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure lower edge second profile further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf. The building structure upper edge first profile may include at least a first and second ascending steps. Each clip bottom surface profile may include bottom teeth for engaging the second step.

The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing two vertically adjacent building structures here in the form of panels installed on the building exterior;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of an exemplary building insulation and cladding system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing an example of the various components of a building insulation and cladding system in accordance with an example;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are schematic isometric views of various types of clips;

FIGS. 5A-5F are schematic views showing the assembly of a subframe joint;

FIGS. 6A through 6D are schematic views showing how the clips can be coupled to the subframe; and

FIGS. 7A through 7F are schematic views showing a method of insulating and cladding an existing building exterior.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.

In one example, the building insulation and cladding system includes a plurality of spaced vertically extending tracks 10 (for example a Z-girt shaped track). Securable to the building exterior which may include building wall 12 with existing sheathing 14 covered with a vapor permeable membrane 16 (e.g., an adaptive weather resistant barrier (AWRB)) and/or additional insulation and/or other waterproof layers. Tracks 10 can be secured to the building exterior using fasteners. Tracks 10 can be assembled together as a subframe including L-angle top member 18 and a similar bottom L-angle member (not shown in FIG. 1) and the subframe then fastened to the building exterior. Other subframe combinations are possible.

Then, clips 20 (e.g. made of plastic) are fitted to the tracks. Preferably, each clip 20 includes a top rail 22 which is received in a lower edge groove 24 of a building structure 26 to support the building structure on top of a row of clips.

Also, the clips preferably include means such as a lower gripping surface with teeth 27 (FIG. 3) 28 configured to allow the top edge 32 of a lower building structure 26 in FIG. 1 to snap fit underneath clip 20 and is thus held in place by teeth 27 at least while the next building structure in FIG. 1 is installed on the top of the spaced clips. Thereafter, outer lower edge 30 of each building structure in FIG. 1 prevents the top edge 32 of the lower building structure in FIG. 1 from pivoting outwardly.

The building structures can be in the form of panels as shown in FIG. 1 and/or configured around windows, doors, and the like as shown in FIG. 2. The building structures may include an insulation core 40, FIG. 1 and outer coating 42. The building structures may also include other insulation components 50, FIG. 2 pre-configured as a set for a given building layout. In one example, the building structures include a wood fiber or hemp wool insulation core. Coating 42 may be an epoxy.

As shown in FIG. 3, additional insulation and/or protective layers can be used in the system such as mineral wool insulation 50 behind building structure panels 26. Breather and/or water-resistant layers can also be used.

FIG. 3 also shows how clip 20 includes spaced rearwardly extending upper tab 60a and lower tab 60b which are received in spaced slots 62a, 62b in track 10. Tab 60b may include a spring finger 64b as shown which flexes into slot 62b and springs upward so barb 65 catches the track 10. Tab 60a includes upwards extension 61 held against the back side of track 10.

In one preferred version as shown in FIG. 3, each building structure 26 includes a top edge profile with first (70a) and second (70b) ascending steps and a bottom edge profile with outer lower edge 72 to be seated on or near the tread of first step 70a of the lower building structure. Preferably, the tread of step 70b engages the underside of the clip allowing the top edge of each building structure to snap fit underneath a set of clips. In some versions, the tread of step 70a of the lowermost building structure 26 in FIG. 3 supports outer lower edge 72 of the next upper adjacent building structure 26 in FIG. 3. In other versions, there is a space between step 70a and outer lower edge 72 which can be sealed by a gasket if desired.

Also, preferably, each clip 20 further includes top shelf 78 inward of rail 22 and each building structure 26 includes inner lower edge 80 which may seat on clip shelf 78. In other examples, the building structure is supported only by the clip rail.

FIG. 3 also shows how clip rail 22 seats in panel 26 lower edge groove 24.

FIG. 4A depicts the structure of a long panel clip 20 while FIG. 4B shows a typical short version and FIG. 4C shows a panel clip that also joins two adjacent vertical tracks.

In FIGS. 5A-5F, vertical track 10 is fastened to L-angle member 18 in order to assemble a subframe joint.

In FIG. 6A-6D, a clip is shown being inserted and mated with a vertical track.

FIG. 7A shows a method of assembly and hanging of a subframe on a mockup of an existing building structure with numerous vertical tracks 10 and upper and lower subframe members connected between the spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side tracks. Successive rows of clips are then installed as shown in FIG. 7B and the building structure panels 26 are then dropped into place starting with the lowermost building structure panels seated on the lowermost row of clips and snap fit underneath the next uppermost row of clips. FIGS. 7D-7F depict additional panels being inserted and attached to the clips and to the building exterior. Thus, as can be seen the plurality of clips are configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks and this to the building exterior. The clips preferably include a top surface profile complementary to the building structure lower edge profile to support a building structure on the clip and the clips have a bottom surface profile complementary to the building structure upper edge profile to snap fit a building structure under the clip. Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant cannot be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended.

Claims

1. A building insulation and cladding system comprising: a plurality of tracks securable to a building exterior;a plurality of building structures each having a lower edge groove; anda plurality of clips configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks, said clips including: means for engaging one of the plurality of tracks, anda rail to be received in the building structure lower edge groove and to support the building structure.

2. The system of claim 1 in which each clip further includes a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the building structure further includes a top edge profile with at least a first and second ascending steps.

4. The system of claim 3 in which each clip further includes lower teeth for engaging the second step.

5. The system of claim 3 in which the building structure further includes an outer lower edge to be seated on or near the first step of a building structure beneath it.

6. The system of claim 1 in the means for engaging includes upper and lower tabs engaging the track, the upper tab including an upward extension and the lower tab including a spring finger with a barb which catches the track.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the track is a vertically disposed member with spaced slots therein and the clip means for engaging include spaced tabs inserted into the spaced slots.

8. The system of claim 1 in which the clips are made of plastic.

9. The system of claim 7 in which the track is a Z-girt.

10. The system of claim 1 in which the building structure includes an insulative panel with an exterior epoxy coating.

11. The system of claim 1 further including an insulative layer between the building structures and existing building sheathing.

12. The system of claim 11 further including a breather layer behind the insulative layer.

13. The system of claim 11 further including a water-resistant barrier behind the insulative layer.

14. The system of claim 1 in which the building structures include a protective outer coating.

15. A building insulation and cladding system comprising: a subframe for mounting to a building exterior and including: spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side tracks with front face clip slots, andupper and lower subframe members connected between the spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side tracks;a plurality of building structures each having a lower edge groove; anda plurality of clips configured to join an upper building structure to an adjacent lower building structure and to secure both building structures to the subframe, said clips including: spaced tabs each received in a side track front face clip slot, anda rail to be received in a building structure lower edge groove.

16. The system of claim 15 further including an insulative panel between the spaced vertically extending Z-shaped side tracks.

17. The system of claim 15 in which each clip further includes a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf.

18. The system of claim 15 in which the building structures further include a top edge profile with at least a first and second, ascending steps.

19. The system of claim 18 in which each clip further includes lower teeth for engaging the second step.

20. The system of claim 18 in which the building structures further include an outer lower edge to be seated the first step of the building structure beneath it.

21. The system of claim 18 in which there is an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab including an upward extension engaging the track and the lower tab including a spring finger with a barb which catches the track.

22. The system of claim 15 in which the clips are made of plastic.

23. The system of claim 16 further including a breather layer behind the insulative layer.

24. The system of claim 16 further including a water-resistant barrier behind the insulative panel.

25. The system of claim 15 in which the building structures include a protective outer coating.

26. A method of insulating and cladding a building exterior, the method comprising: mounting a subframe to a building exterior, the subframe including:spaced vertically extending side tracks with a series of clip slots;installing a plurality of clips into the subframe vertically extending side track clip slots; andsuccessively installing vertically adjacent building structures onto the clips while securing the building structures to the subframe.

27. The method of claim 26 in which each clip includes a top rail and each building structure includes a lower edge groove seated on a clip rail.

28. The method of claim 26 in which each clip further includes a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf.

29. The method of claim 26 in which the building structure further includes a top edge profile with at least a first and second ascending steps.

30. The method of claim 29 in which each clip further includes a lower teeth for engaging the second step as the building structure top edge profile is pressed underneath the clip.

31. The method of claim 29 in which the building structure further includes an outer lower edge to be seated on or near the first step.

32. The method of claim 29 in which each clips includes upper and lower tabs engaging the track, the upper tab including an upward extension and the lower tab including a spring finger with a barb which catches the track.

33. The method of claim 26 in which each clip includes spaced tabs inserted into the spaced clip slots.

34. The method of claim 26 in which the clips are made of plastic.

35. The method of claim 26 in which the track is a Z-girt.

36. The method of claim 26 in which the building structure includes an insulative panel with an exterior epoxy coating.

37. The method of claim 26 further including installing an insulative layer between the building structure and existing building sheathing

38. The method of claim 26 further including installing a breather layer behind the insulative layer.

39. The system of claim 21 further including installing a water-resistant barrier behind the insulative layer.

40. A building insulation and cladding system comprising: a plurality of tracks securable to a building exterior;a plurality of building structures each having: an upper edge with a first profile, anda lower edge with a second profile; anda plurality of clips configured to join two adjacent building structures and to secure the building structures to the tracks, said clips including: means for engaging the tracks,a top surface profile complementary to the building structure lower edge second profile to support a building structure on the clip, anda bottom surface profile complementary to the building structure upper edge first profile to snap fit a building structure under the clip.

41. The system of claim 40 in which the clips top surface profile includes a rail and the building structures each have a lower edge second profile with a groove receiving the clip rail therein.

42. The system of claim 41 in which each clip top surface profile further includes a shelf inward of the rail and each building structure lower edge second profile further includes an inner lower edge to be seated on the clip shelf.

43. The system of claim 40 in which the building structure upper edge first profile includes at least a first and second ascending steps.

44. The system of claim 43 in which each clip bottom surface profile includes bottom teeth for engaging the second step