Method and apparatus for cladding elongated structural members

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the attachment of sheet cladding and other thin surfaces to structural frame members such as in space frames and other lattice structures. A batten assembly may be either partially integrated into an elongated structural member or attached by fasteners. A batten receiver provides a pair of sheet margin receiving channels and a fastener guide channel. The batten receiver may be integrated into the surface of the elongated structural member which for example, may be a tubular member or I-beam. The mating batten comprises shoulders which are essentially congruent to the receiving channels. Between the shoulders, an elongated recess mates with a pair of guide walls in the receiver. A fastener such as a metal screw having a cutting tip, may be installed through the recess and the guide channel and into the wall of the elongated structural member to provide secure connection of the batten members to one another. The shoulder and receiving channels receive the sheet margins in compressive engagement. The invention herein permits the cladding of elongated structural members in an aesthetically pleasing flush mounting configuration which allows for water run-off from the cladding sheet surfaces. The invention also provides an advantageous hidden round seal configuration which while also being aesthetically more pleasing, is also more protective of the seal integrity. This invention also provides batten attachments of sheet cladding and other thin surfaces to elongated members of a tubular cross-section.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for affixing cladding sheets directly to elongated structural members, the sheets having shapeable margin portions; the apparatus comprising: 
 a batten assembly having a receiver affixed to said structural member for receiving said margin portions and a mating batten for correspondingly engaging said receiver for retaining said margin portions in a locked relation with said structural member; said assembly being substantially co-linear with said structural member; said mating batten being substantially co-planar with said cladding sheets adjacent said structural member.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  where said structural member is taken from the group of structural members having at least one of cross-sections consisting of I-beam, circular, triangular, square, rectangular and more than four sides.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said batten assembly further comprises a fastener forcing said mating batten to compressively engage said receiver.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 3  wherein said fastener also secures said receiver to said structural member.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said receiver is made integral to said structural member.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said receiver comprises at least one channel for receiving at least one of said margin portions and wherein said mating batten has a shoulder shaped congruently to said channel for trapping said at least one margin portion therein.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 3  wherein said receiver comprises a guide channel for guiding said fastener into said receiver.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said mating batten comprises a substantially circular slot and an elongated elastomeric O-ring seal located in said slot, said slot being located to engage said seal with said margin portions while being entirely hidden between said mating batten and said receiver.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said batten assembly is spaced from said structural member by at least one standoff stud connected to both said assembly and to said structural member.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 9  wherein said cladding sheets and said structural members are made of dissimilar metals.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10  wherein said dissimilar metals are aluminum and steel.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said batten assembly extends substantially the entire length of said structural member.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said batten assembly is made of a material which is substantially non-conductive to electrical energy.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said batten assembly is substantially non-conductive to thermal energy.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for cladding elongated structural members having a tubular cross-section; the apparatus comprising: 
 a batten assembly having a first portion affixed to a radial wall of at least one of said tubular members and a second portion selectively engaging said first portion in at least partial congruent relation to trap cladding therebetween in compressive relation; said batten assembly being configured to be substantially co-planar with said cladding adjacent said at least one tubular member.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  wherein said first portion of said batten assembly is integral to said at least one tubular member.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  further comprising a seal retaining slot in said second portion and an elongated elastomeric seal located in said slot, said slot being located between engaging parts of said first and second portions when said cladding is trapped therebetween.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of spaced fasteners, said first portion having a fastener guide channel for guiding said fasteners through said batten assembly and into said radial wall of said at least one tubular member.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  wherein said batten assembly is spaced from said structural member by at least one standoff stud connected to both said assembly and to said structural member.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  wherein said batten assembly is made of a material which is substantially non-conductive to electrical energy.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus recited in  claim 15  wherein said batten assembly is substantially non-conductive to thermal energy.  
     
     
         22 . A method for cladding elongated structural members; the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a batten assembly having a batten receiver and a mating batten, the batten receiver having at least one channel for receiving the margin of a cladding sheet, the mating batten having a shoulder that is substantially congruent to said channel;    b) affixing said batten receiver to one said structural member;    c) bending said sheet margin to conform to said channel;    d) placing said sheet margin in said channel so that said cladding sheet will be flush with said batten assembly;    e) trapping said margin in said channel by positioning said shoulder of said mating batten in said channel; and    f) fastening said mating batten to said batten receiver.    
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 22  wherein step b) comprises the step of making the batten receiver an integral part of said one structural member.  
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 22  wherein step b) comprises the step of connecting said receiver to said one structural member by using a standoff stud to space said receiver from said structural member;  
     
     
         25 . The method recited in  claim 22  wherein step a) comprises the step of making said batten assembly out of a material which is substantially non-conductive to at least one of thermal and electrical energy.  
     
     
         26 . A method for joining cladding sheets to one another; the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a batten assembly having a batten receiver and a mating batten, batten receiver having two parallel channels for receiving respective margins of cladding sheets to be joined, the mating batten having a pair of shoulders that are substantially congruent to said channels;    b) bending said sheet margins to conform to said channels;    c) placing said sheet margins in said channels so that said cladding sheet will be flush with said batten assembly;    d) trapping said margins in said channels by positioning said shoulder of said mating batten in said channels; and    e) fastening said mating batten to said batten receiver.