Dry joint aluminum wall panel attachment system

Abstract

The invention provides a dry joint wall panel attachment system, applying the rainscreen principle. Interlocking components are used to attach aluminum wall panels to an exterior wall.

1 . A dry joint aluminum wall panel attachment system for attaching a wall panel to an exterior building wall, the system comprising: 
 a bracket assembly fastened to the exterior wall;    an attachment clip fastened to the bracket assembly by a fastener, the attachment clip having a central fastening surface fastened to the bracket assembly and at least one wing member extending outwardly from the central fastening surface;    a wall panel having an exterior flat surface and at least two side surfaces bent generally perpendicularly to the exterior flat surface and defining a hollow interior portion;    a panel perimeter strip fastened to one side surface of the wall panel, the perimeter strip comprising: 
 a generally C shaped body member sitting inside a corner of the wall panel and extending along an inside portion of the side surface, and  
 a receiving member integrally attached to the body member that extends beyond the side surface of the wall panel and provides a slot adapted to engage and interlock the wing member of the attachment clip, thus connecting the wall panel to the attachment clip and thereby to the wall;  
   an infill strip dimensioned to fit in the slot of the panel perimeter strip proximate to the attachment clip so as to cover the fastener;    wherein the system is held together non-adhesively and wherein the wall panels are ventilated to permit ingress and egress of air and moisture to provide a pressure-balanced and moisture-drained interior environment.    
   
   
       2 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment clip comprises two wing members, each adapted to engage a panel perimeter strip of an adjacent wall panel.  
   
   
       3 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly comprises two back-to-back L angle brackets fastened to each other to form a generally Z shaped assembly, a first end of which is for attachment to the wall and a second end of which is for fastening to the attachment clip.  
   
   
       4 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panels comprise an aluminum composite material.  
   
   
       5 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panels comprise an aluminum composite material which is routed and bent to form the exterior and side surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel perimeter strip is pre-assembled to the wall panel before installation to the wall.  
   
   
       8 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel perimeter strip is fastened to the wall panel by rivet.  
   
   
       9 . The attachment system of  claim 8 , wherein the rivet contributes to the ventilation of the panel system.  
   
   
       10 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the infill strip is engaged with the slot of the panel perimeter strip prior to installing an adjacent wall panel.  
   
   
       11 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the infill strip is introduced to the slots of two adjacent panel perimeter strips after two adjacent wall panels have been installed.  
   
   
       12 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an isolation tape which is applied between the attachment clip and the bracket assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment clip comprises an aluminum attachment clip.  
   
   
       14 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly comprises a steel bracket assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the infill strip comprises a strip of aluminum composite material.  
   
   
       16 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel perimeter strip is made of aluminum.  
   
   
       17 . The attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a panel stiffener component placed inside the hollow interior portion of the wall panel to reinforce the exterior surface of the panel and prevent deforming or popping of the wall panel.