Patent Application
20230087996
Building facades may comprise outer coverings on buildings which non-structural and to provide a barrier between the building interior and the outside of a building. For example, a curtain wall system is designed to mount adjacent panels, whether vertically adjacent or horizontally adjacent, side by side to cover and obscure structural beams and columns behind the facade and thereby provide a uniform and continuous surface.
Glass panels are a commonly used facade, but other materials include metal panels, stone veneer and composite material panels. In some systems, material forming the facade is hung from a bracket system mounted along an exterior edge of an upper floor slab so that facade appears to hang from the ceiling. In other systems, facade materials are mounted to be supported at their lower ends into window sills that are fixed by screws or otherwise to the outer edge of a floor or subwall.
One general aspect includes an embed facade system including an inner channel (110) configured to receive one or more fasteners between an upper retaining flange (111) and a lower retaining flange (112). The embed facade system also includes an outer channel (120) defined between an upper outward flange (130), and a lower outward flange (140) and configured to receive one or more fasteners. The embed facade system also includes one of the inner channel and the outer channel coupled to a concrete reinforcement element. The embed facade system also includes another of the inner channel and the outer channel is removably coupled to a facade element by the one or more fasteners. The embed facade system also includes the facade attachment embedded in concrete with at least the inner channel or the outer channel exposed to a surface of the concrete to allow coupling of the facade element.
One general aspect includes a method for installing an embed facade attachment system in a reinforced concrete structure. The method also includes coupling an inner side of the embed facade attachment system to a reinforcing structure in the concrete structure; coupling a temporary concrete form to the embed facade attachment system at an outer side; pouring mixed concrete in the inner side of the concrete form to submerge the embed facade attachment system, except the outer channel; and removing the concrete form after the concrete is cured, to expose the outer channel of the embed facade attachment system.
One general aspect includes a method for installing an embed facade attachment system in a reinforced concrete structure. The method also includes coupling the embed facade attachment system at an outer side of the embed facade attachment system to a reinforcing structure laid out for the concrete structure; inserting a malleable concrete stop into an inner channel (110), pouring mixed concrete around the embed facade attachment system to submerge the embed facade attachment system, removing the concrete stop leaving the inner channel substantially free of concrete, inserting a fastener into the inner channel and securing a facade attachment plate using the fastener.
Aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and are not limited by the accompanying figures for which like references indicate the same or similar elements.
Various embodiments include an embed facade attachment. The embed facade attachment can be configured to removably couple a facade panel to a concrete or frame construction structure, such as a concrete wall or floor. The embed facade attachment further can be configured to be embedded in, and flush with, an exterior vertical surface of the structure, or a horizontal surface of the structure. The embed facade attachment can be made of any suitable materials, such as carbon steel, and by any suitable approach, such as extrusion.
As shown in
Continuing with
As shown in
Various embodiments can include a method for installing embed facade attachment system (100) in a reinforced concrete or frame construction structure (e.g., concrete wall (350)) (or other poured concrete structures, such as a concrete floor slab). The method can include: (a) coupling the embed facade attachment system at the inner side of the embed facade attachment system to a reinforcing structure (e.g. the threaded rebar (352)) laid out for the concrete structure, such that an inner channel (e.g., 110) and an outer channel (e.g. 120) of the embed facade attachment system both open substantially horizontally; (b) coupling a temporary concrete form (e.g., 360) to the embed facade attachment system at the outer side, which in some embodiments, can results in an opening of the outer channel (e.g., 120) being fully covered by the concrete form (e.g., 360); (c) pouring mixed concrete in the inner side of the concrete form (e.g., 360) to submerge the embed facade attachment system, except the outer channel (e.g., 120); and/or (d) removing the concrete form (e.g., 360), after the concrete is cured, to expose the outer channel of the embed facade attachment system.
In many embodiments, once installed, the embed facade attachment system (e.g., 100), including the upper outward flange (130), upper retaining flange (121), lower outward flange (140), and/or lower retaining flange (122) that are substantially coplanar on the outer side, can become flush with the exterior surface of the concrete structure. In some embodiments, items (a)-(d) of the method can be performed in any suitable orders, and one or more items can be omitted or altered. In the aforementioned embodiment, the embed facade attachment the outer channel is exposed to the exterior to allow horizontal coupling of the facade element.
In a number of embodiments, coupling the embed facade attachment system at the inner side to the reinforcing structure can include inserting a respective expanded end of each of one or more inner fasteners (e.g., the head of a T-bolt (e.g., T-bolt (354)) into the inner channel (e.g., 110) of the embed facade attachment system and allowing a respective other end of the each of the one or more inner fasteners (e.g., the threaded shank of the T-bolt (354)) to pass through and protruding from an opening of the inner channel (e.g., 110). The method also can include locking each of the one or more inner fasteners by the respective expanded end of the fastener engaging with an upper retaining flange (e.g., 111) and a lower retaining flange (e.g., 112) of the inner channel (e.g., 110) at a respective location for the each of the one or more inner fasteners. The respective location for each of the one or more inner fasteners can be evenly distributed along the length of inner channel (e.g., 110). In some embodiments, the embed facade attachment system further can include the one or more inner fasteners pre-installed in the inner channel (e.g., 110), and inserting and/or locking the one or more inner fasteners can be omitted from the method of installing the embed facade attachment system.
In some embodiments, coupling the embed facade attachment system at the inner side to the reinforcing structure further can include, after the one or more inner fasteners are inserted and/or locked in the inner channel (e.g., 110), using a coupler (e.g., 356) to couple the each of the one or more inner fasteners at the respective protruding end to an end of the reinforcing structure (e.g., rebar (352)). In some embodiments, the respective protruding end of each of the one or more inner fasteners and the end of the reinforcing structure can be externally threaded and configured to be engaged with coupler (356), which can be an internally threaded cylinder. In some embodiments when an end of the reinforcing structure and an inner fasteners have different outer radiuses, coupler (356) can have different corresponding inner radiuses at the opposing ends. In several embodiments, a washer (358) can be put on each of the one or more inner fasteners, between coupler (356) and the upper retaining flange (e.g., 111) and the lower retaining flange (e.g., 112) of the inner channel (e.g., 110). In embodiments where the one or more inner fasteners are pre-installed in the inner channel (e.g., 110) of an embed facade attachment system, coupler (356) and/or washer (358) further can be provided on each of the pre-installed one or more inner fasteners.
In some embodiments, coupling the temporary concrete form (e.g., 360) to the embed facade attachment system (e.g., 100) at the outer side can include nailing the temporary concrete form (e.g., 360) to the upper retaining flange (e.g., 121) and/or the lower retaining flange (e.g., 122) of the inner channel (e.g., 110). In certain embodiments, the temporary concrete form (e.g., 360) can be provided with embedded nails (e.g., 362).
Various embodiments can include a method for removably coupling a facade panel (not shown) on an embed facade attachment system (e.g., attachment (100) (
In a number of embodiments, the method further can include locking the each outer fastener by the respective expanded end of the each outer fastener engaging with an upper retaining flange (e.g., 121) and a lower retaining flange (e.g., 122) of the outer channel (e.g., 120) at a respective location for the each outer fastener. The method additionally can include using a coupler (e.g., 356) to removably couple the outer fastener at the respective protruding end to an attachment component of the facade panel. The coupler for removably coupling the outer fastener can be similar to or different from the coupler for coupling each of the one or more inner fastener. In a number of embodiments, the respective location for each of the one or more outer fasteners can be evenly distributed along the length of the outer channels (e.g., 120) or the facade panel. In some embodiments, the facade panel can be a post-sleeve for a railing system, a shear connection for a curtain wall, or another suitable type of connection to be attached to the outside of building portion (concrete wall) 300. In some embodiments, the aforementioned acts of the method can be performed in any suitable orders, and one or more acts can be omitted or altered.
Various embodiments can include a method for installing embed facade attachment system (100) in a reinforced concrete or frame construction floor as illustrated in
In other embodiments, the embed facade attachment system (100) shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In several embodiments, a first edge 412 at first end 212 extending between corner 317 at head top 415 and groove end 434 can be at an angle 431 with respect to head top 415. In some embodiments, angle 431 can be greater than 90 degrees, such that first edge 412 is not orthogonal to head top 415. For example, in some embodiments, angle 431 can be 354 degrees. In other embodiments, angle 431 can be between 90 and 120 degrees. A second edge 413 at second end 213 can be disposed similarly to first edge 412, such that head 110 has rotational symmetry when rotated 180 degrees around the axis extending through shank 420.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of these disclosures. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of these disclosures.
Although embed facade attachments and embed facade attachment systems have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that any element of
Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in such claim.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled together, but not be mechanically or otherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include electrical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.
As defined herein, two or more elements are “integral” if they are comprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or more elements are “non-integral” if each is comprised of a different piece of material.
As defined herein, “approximately” can, in some embodiments, mean within plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus five percent of the stated value. In further embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus three percent of the stated value. In yet other embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus one percent of the stated value.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/245,705, entitled “EMBED FACADE ATTACHMENTS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS”, filed Sep. 17, 2021, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63245705 | Sep 2021 | US |
