Cladding

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to cladding for buildings, in particular, domestic buildings, industrial buildings such as storage facilities and the like. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cladding element suitable for use in a cladding assembly, the cladding element having a main body including a ridge which when the cladding element is assembled into the cladding assembly mates with a corresponding recess in an adjacent cladding element, the cladding element in use at least partly mounted in a mounting element connected to a structure so as to affix the cladding element to the structure without fasteners penetrating through or into the cladding element.

1 . A mounting system for installation of a surface covering comprising: 
 a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a surface of an associated structure, the mount portion, the mounting bracket including, 
 a first generally planar bracket surface including an inward face a second generally planar bracket surface secured to the first bracket surface so as to form an angle of at least 90 degrees therebetween, and  
 the first bracket surface including a plurality of catches, each catch having a cavity defined by a first catch wall portion extending outwardly from a first edge thereof at a selected angle from the outward face of the first bracket surface, and wherein each catch includes a second catch wall portion extending outwardly from each corresponding first catch wall portion at a second edge thereof disposed opposite to and generally parallel to the first edge at an angle such that each second wall portion has a directional component thereof parallel to the first generally bracket surface; and  
   a cladding member adapted to be selectively fixedly received into the mounting bracket, the cladding member including, 
 a first generally planar cladding wall portion,  
 a second cladding wall portion secured relative to the first cladding wall portion so as to define a void therebetween,  
 the first cladding wall portion including a keeper at a first edge thereof,  
 the second cladding wall portion including a tongue at a first edge thereof, wherein the first edge of the first cladding wall portion and the first edge of the second cladding wall portion are generally parallel to one another, the second cladding wall further including a rebate on a second edge thereof, which second edge is generally parallel to the first edge of the first cladding wall,  
 the tongue portion adapted to be matingly received into a cavity of a first of the plurality of catches, and  
 the rebate adapted to be received adjacent to the first catch wall of a second of the plurality of catches.  
   
   
   
       2 . The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of  claim 1 , further comprising means disposed in the second bracket surface adapted for receiving an associated fastener so as to secure the bracket to a structural element of the associated structure.  
   
   
       3 . The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of  claim 2  wherein the void is adapted to receive at least one of an insulator and an electrical transmission medium therein.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of  claim 2 , further comprising a step formed adjacent to the rebate, which step is adapted to channel fluid generally along a path generally parallel to the rebate.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting system for installation of a surface covering of  claim 4  wherein each second cladding wall portion includes a keeper disposed at an edge distal of the rebate.