Claims
- 1. A clip for concealed fixing of a cladding sheet to an underlying structure, the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib;
- the clip being formed from a folded sheet and including a base mountable to the underlying structure and disposed generally in a first plane, at least one retaining element upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a first fold line being formed between the base and the retaining element;
- the retaining element including opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to said base, each fixing portion including a first portion which extends substantially in the second plane, and a second portion which extends in a third plane which intersects both of the first and second planes, the second portion being joined to the first portion along a second fold line, each fixing portion including a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion; wherein
- the retaining element is configured such that, in use, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned with the second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the said rib of the sheet and the retaining element is shaped for snap fit engagement with the two re-entrant portions of the rib with the downwardly facing abutment surfaces being adapted to abut against respective ones of said re-entrant portions and the outwardly facing portions being adapted to extend in the longitudinal direction of said rib adjacent to said respective ones of said inner sides.
- 2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 herein the retaining element includes a planar portion which extends between the fixing portions generally in the second plane.
- 3. A clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the planar portion is configured to resist flexure of one fixing portion towards the other in the second plane.
- 4. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each fixing portion, the downwardly facing abutment surface is formed along a lower surface of the first and second portions and the outwardly facing abutment surface is formed along the second portion.
- 5. A clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lower surfaces of the first and second portions form part of respective ones of the edges of the retaining element.
- 6. A clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein on snap fit engagement of the sheet to the clip, the second portion of each fixing portion is adapted to have its downwardly facing abutment surface disposed in the longitudinal direction of the rib along a respective re-entrant portion, and its outwardly facing abutment surface adjacent to a respective inner side of the rib.
- 7. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outwardly facing abutment surfaces of respective fixing portions are inclined upwardly towards each other to facilitate snap fit engagement of the cladding sheet onto the clip.
- 8. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outwardly facing abutment surfaces include upper edges which are spaced apart so to form a recess in an upper end of the retaining element.
- 9. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining element includes an upper end having a crown tab, the crown tab being substantially parallel to said first plane so as to form an upper surface of the retaining element.
- 10. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip is configured such that when in engagement with the rib, the clip provides greater resistance to upward flexure transverse to the rib than it does to flexure in the longitudinal direction of the rib.
- 11. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip includes a pair of said retaining elements upstanding from the base, the retaining elements being spaced apart and being in opposing relationship with their respective first fold lines substantially parallel.
- 12. A clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein a fixing location, where the clip is adapted to be secured to underlying structure, is provided in said base between said first fold lines.
- 13. A clip as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing location has a centre located substantially at the mid point of a notional line which bisects the respective first fold lines.
- 14. A clip as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fixing location includes an aperture extending through the base which is adapted to receive fastening means to secure the clip to the underlying structure.
- 15. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, the clip is adapted to be aligned with the second plane substantially normal to the longitudinal direction of the rib.
- 16. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plane is substantially normal to the second plane.
- 17. A clip assembly for fixing a cladding sheet to an underlying structure, the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib, the assembly including a plurality of clips and a strap, the strap extending along a longitudinal axis and having a leading edge and a trailing edge, each clip being formed from a folded sheet and including a base disposed generally in a first plane by which the clip is mountable to the strap, a retaining element upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a first fold line formed between the base and the retaining element;
- the clips being aligned at predetermined intervals on the strap with their respective first fold lines extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the strap so that the clips are adapted to engage with respective ones of the ribs with the first fold lines extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ribs; and
- wherein the retaining elements of the clips are configured such that, in use, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clips with said ribs transverse to said first fold lines, each clip is aligned with its second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ribs and is shaped for snap fit engagement with the two re-entrant portions of a respective one of the ribs.
- 18. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the strap is arranged to be aligned with a like strap in end to end configuration and wherein one of said leading or trailing edges includes guide means arranged to receive the other of said leading or trailing edge of a like strap to facilitate correct alignment of the straps.
- 19. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the guide means comprises a channel adapted to receive the other edge of said like strap.
- 20. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bases of the clips are tack mounted to the strap at said predetermined intervals.
- 21. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the clip assembly is securable to the underlying structure by fastening means which are engageable with each of the bases of said clips.
- 22. A concealed fixing cladding system including a cladding sheet and a clip for securing the cladding sheet to an underlying structure;
- the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib;
- the clip being formed from a folded sheet and including a base mountable to the underlying structure and disposed generally in a first plane at least one retaining element upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a first fold line being formed between the base and the retaining element;
- the retaining element including opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to said base, each fixing portion including a first portion which extends substantially in the second plane, and a second portion which extends in a third plane which intersects both of the first and second planes, the second portion being joined to the first portion along a second fold line, each fixing portion including a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion; wherein
- the retaining element is configured such that, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned with the second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of a said rib of the sheet and is cooperable with the inner sides of the rib for snap fit engagement of the retaining element with the two re-entrant portions of the rib wherein the downwardly facing abutment surfaces abut against respective ones of said re-entrant portions and the outwardly facing portions extend in the longitudinal direction of said rib adjacent to said respective ones of said inner sides.
- 23. A cladding system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the retaining element including a planar portion which extends between the fixing portions generally in the second plane.
- 24. A cladding system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said planar portion is configured to resist flexure of one fixing portion towards the other in the second plane.
- 25. A cladding system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outwardly facing abutment surfaces of the respective fixing portions are inclined upwardly towards each other to facilitate snap fit engagement of the cladding sheet onto the rib.
- 26. A cladding system as claimed in claim 22, wherein, for each fixing portion, the downwardly facing abutment surface is formed along a lower surface of the first and second portions and the outwardly facing abutment surface is formed along the second portion.
- 27. A cladding system as claimed in claim 26, wherein, the lower surfaces of the first and second portions form part of respective ones of the opposite edges of the retaining element.
- 28. A cladding system according to claim 22, wherein the clip includes a pair of said retaining elements upstanding from the base, the retaining elements being spaced apart and being in opposing relationship with their respective first fold lines substantially parallel so as to be locatable in spaced relationship within the rib.
- 29. A cladding system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the base includes a fixing location between said first fold lines, said fixing location being adapted to enable the base to be fixed to the underlying structure.
- 30. A cladding system as claimed in 29, wherein the fixing location includes an aperture extending through the base which is adapted to receive fastening means to secure the clip to the underlying structure.
- 31. A cladding system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cladding sheet includes spaced apart male and female longitudinal edge regions, the cladding sheet being of generally planar configuration and arranged to be juxtaposed with a like cladding sheet with the female edge region of one sheet overlapping the male edge region of the other sheet to form a said longitudinal extending rib at said overlapping edge region;
- wherein said male edge region is upstanding from a plane of the cladding sheet to form a first rib part, the first rib part having a side portion including a re-entrant zone to provide offset upper and lower side walls interconnected by an intermediate wall, the intermediate wall having opposing upwardly and downwardly facing bearing surfaces and the upper side wall extending from the intermediate wall to the terminal edge of the cladding sheet; the male terminal edge of the cladding sheet being hooked; and
- wherein the overlapping edge regions are arranged to be secured to the underlying structure by a said clip with the male edge region being arranged to be located in a retained position with the hooked edge received within a recess located in the retaining element of said clip, the recess being located adjacent an upper edge of the outwardly facing abutment surface of one of said fixing portions of the retaining element; and
- wherein in said retained position, the side portion of the first rib part is engaged with the one fixing portion such that said upper wall of said first rib part is located adjacent to the outwardly facing abutment surface of the one fixing portion and the upwardly facing bearing surface of said first rib part is located against or approximate to the downwardly facing abutment surface of the one fixing portion.
- 32. A cladding system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the clip includes a pair of said retaining elements upstanding from the base, the retaining elements being spaced apart, and each having a fixing portion engaging the hooked edge of the male edge region when in the retained position.
- 33. A cladding system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the base includes a fixing location located between the first fold lines of said pair of retaining elements, the fixing location being adapted to receive fixing means to secure the clip to the underlying structure, the retaining elements being configured to provide a space to enable access to the fastening means, and wherein the male edge region in said retained position is arranged to be remote from said space so as to allow access to said fastening means.
- 34. A cladding system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the female edge region is upstanding from the plane of the cladding sheet to form a second rib part, the second rib part having opposed first and second side portions interconnected by an apical portion, the first side portion of the second rib part extending from the sheet to the apical portion and the second side portion extending downwardly from the apical portion to the other terminal edge of the sheet, the second side portion including a re-entrant zone to form offset upper and lower side walls interconnected by an intermediate wall having an upwardly facing bearing surface, wherein the female edge region of the cladding sheet is arranged to overlap with the male edge region of a like cladding sheet in the retained position, and wherein the retaining element of the clip is located intermediate the first and second side portions of the second rib part with the outer surface of the side portion of the male edge region interlocking with the inner surface of the second side portion of the female edge region with the upwardly facing bearing surface of the second rib part being arranged to engage the downwardly facing bearing surface of the side portion of the first rib part.
- 35. A cladding system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first side portion of the second rib part incorporates a re-entrant zone to provide offset upper and lower side walls interconnected by an intermediate wall having an upwardly facing bearing surface which is arranged to engage the downwardly facing abutment surface of the other fixing portion of said retaining element.
- 36. A clip for concealed fixing of a cladding sheet to an underlying structure, the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib, the clip including a generally planar base mountable to the underlying structure, and two retaining elements upstanding from the base, the clip being formed from a folded sheet having a first fold line formed between the base and each retaining element, the retaining elements being spaced apart and being in opposing relationship with their respective first fold lines substantially parallel and wherein, in use, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned so that the first fold lines extend in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of a said rib of the sheet with each retaining element shaped for snap fit engagement with the two re-entrant portions of the said rib.
- 37. A clip as claimed in claim 36, wherein each retaining element includes opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to said base, said fixing portions being locatable within the re-entrant portions of the rib on snap fit engagement of the clip to the sheet.
- 38. A clip as claimed in claim 37, wherein each retaining element includes a planar portion which extends between the fixing portions generally in a second plane transverse to the plane of the base.
- 39. A clip as claimed in claim 38, wherein the planar portion is configured to resist flexure of one fixing portion towards the other in the second plane.
- 40. A clip as claimed in claim 37, wherein each fixing portion defines a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion of the respective retaining element.
- 41. A clip as claimed in claim 40, wherein each fixing portion includes a first portion which extends substantially in the second plane, and a second portion which extends in a third plane which intersects both of the first and second planes, the first portion being joined to the second portion along a second fold line which is transverse to the first fold line.
- 42. A clip as claimed in claim 41, wherein, for each fixing portion, the downwardly facing abutment surface is formed along a lower surface of the first and second portions and the outwardly facing abutment surface is formed along the second portion.
- 43. A clip as claimed in claim 42, wherein the lower surfaces of the first and second portions form part of respective ones of the edges of the retaining element.
- 44. A clip as claimed in claim 41, wherein on snap fit engagement of the sheet to the clip, each fixing portion of respective retaining elements is adapted to have a portion of its downwardly facing abutment surface disposed in the longitudinal direction of the rib along a respective re-entrant portion, and its outwardly facing abutment surface adjacent to a respective inner side of the rib.
- 45. A clip as claimed in claim 40, wherein the outwardly facing abutment surfaces of respective fixing portions are inclined upwardly towards each other to facilitate snap fit engagement of the cladding sheet onto the clip.
- 46. A clip as claimed in claim 40, wherein the outwardly facing abutment surfaces include upper edges which are spaced apart so as to form a recess in an upper end of the respective retaining elements.
- 47. A clip as claimed in claim 40, wherein each retaining element includes an upper end having a crown tab, the crown tab being substantially parallel to the plane of the base so as to form an upper surface of the retaining element.
- 48. A clip as claimed in claim 34, wherein the clip is configured such that when in engagement with the rib, the clip provides greater resistance to upward flexure transverse to the rib than it does to flexure in the longitudinal direction of the rib.
- 49. A clip as claimed in claim 36, wherein a fixing location, when the clip is adapted to be secured to an underlying structure, is provided in said base between said first fold lines.
- 50. A clip as claimed in claim 49, wherein the fixing location has a centre located substantially at the point of a notional line which bisects the respective first fold lines.
- 51. A clip as defined in claim 50, wherein the fixing location includes an aperture extending through the base which is adapted to receive fastening means to secure the clip to an upper surface of the underlying structure.
- 52. A clip for concealed fixing of a cladding sheet to an underlying structure, the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib;
- the clip being formed from a folded sheet and including a base mountable to the underlying structure and disposed generally in a first plane, at least one retaining element upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a first fold line being formed between the base and the retaining element;
- the retaining element including opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to said base, each fixing portion including a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion, the outwardly facing abutment surfaces including upper edges which are spaced apart to form a recess in an upper end of the retaining element; wherein
- the retaining element is configured such that, in use, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned with the second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of a said rib of the sheet and the retaining element is shaped for snap fit engagement with the two re-entrant portions of the rib with the downwardly facing abutment surfaces being adapted to abut against respective ones of said re-entrant portions and the outwardly facing portions being adapted to be adjacent to said respective one of said inner sides.
- 53. A clip for concealed fixing of a cladding sheet to an underlying structure, the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib;
- the clip being formed from a folded sheet and including a base mountable to the underlying structure and disposed generally in a first plane, at least one retaining element upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a first fold line being formed between the base and the retaining element;
- the retaining element including opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to the said base, each fixing portion including a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion, the retaining element further including an upper end having a crown tab, the crown tab being substantially parallel to said first plane so as to form an upper surface of the retaining element; wherein
- the retaining element is configured such that, in use, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned with the second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of a said rib of the sheet and the retaining element is shaped for snap fit engagement with the two re-entrant portions of the rib with the downwardly faced abutment surfaces being adapted to abut against respective ones of said re-entrant portions and the outwardly facing portions being adapted to be adjacent to said respective ones of said inner sides.
- 54. A concealed fixing cladding system including a cladding sheet and a clip for securing the cladding sheet to an underlying structure;
- the cladding sheet being of the type including a plurality of ribs extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction with each rib having re-entrant portions on opposing inner sides of the rib;
- the clip including a base mountable to the underlying structure and disposed generally in a first plane, and two retaining elements upstanding from the base in a second plane transverse to the first plane, the clip being formed from a folded sheet having a first fold line formed between the base and each retaining element, the retaining elements being spaced apart and being in opposing relationship with their respective first fold lines substantially parallel;
- each retaining element including opposite edges which upstand from the base, and two fixing portions which project from respective ones of said opposite edges in spaced relationship to said base, each fixing portion including a downwardly facing abutment surface which is spaced from the base and an outwardly facing abutment surface which faces outwardly from the other fixing portion; wherein
- the clip is configured such that, when the cladding sheet is presented to the clip for fixing of the sheet to the clip, the clip is aligned with each second plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of a said rib of the sheet with the retaining elements locatable in spaced relationship within said rib and wherein each retaining element is configured to be cooperable with the inner sides of the rib for snap fit engagement of the retaining elements with the two re-entrant portions of the rib wherein the downwardly facing abutment surfaces of each retaining element abut against respective ones of said re-entrant portions and the outwardly facing portions of each retaining element being adjacent to said respective ones of said inner sides.
- 55. A cladding system as claimed in claim 54, wherein the base includes a fixing location between said first fold lines, said fixing location being adapted to enable the base to be fixed to the underlying structure.
- 56. A cladding system as claimed in claim 55, wherein the fixing location includes an aperture extending through the base which is adapted to receive fastening means to secure the clip to the underlying structure.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
PL9580 |
Jun 1993 |
AUX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/263,619 filed Jun. 22, 1994.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
263619 |
Jun 1994 |
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