Mounting bracket and method for mounting cladding panels to a structure

Abstract

A mounting bracket is provided for mounting a cladding panel to a structure. The mounting bracket comprises a body ( 2 ) having first and second walls ( 4,6 ) spaced from one another and a third wall ( 8 ) extending between the first and second walls ( 4,6 ). A first aperture ( 24 ) is located in the first wall ( 4 ) and a second aperture ( 26 ) is located in the second wall ( 6 ). The apertures ( 24,26 ) are substantially co-axial and adapted to receive a fixture therein. The mounting member also comprises at least one pair of resilient flanges ( 12 ) projecting from the third wall ( 8 ), the pair of flanges ( 12 ) adapted to clamp a portion of a cladding panel between them. A new fixture for securing such mounting members to the structure is also provided.

1 . A mounting bracket for mounting a cladding panel to a structure,
 the mounting bracket comprising:   a body having first and second walls spaced from one another and a third wall extending between the first and second walls;   a first aperture located in the first wall, and a second aperture located in the second wall, wherein the apertures are substantially co-axial and adapted to receive a fixture therein; and   at least one pair of resilient flanges projecting from the third wall, the pair of flanges adapted to clamp a portion of a cladding panel between them.   
   
   
       2 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of flanges are adapted such that the channel has a greater width at the third wall than at the end of the flanges remote from the body. 
   
   
       3 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a fourth wall spaced from the third wall and extending between the first and second walls, and the mounting bracket further comprises a second pair of resilient flanges projecting from the fourth wall in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of the first pair of flanges, the second pair of flanges adapted to clamp a portion of a further cladding panel between them. 
   
   
       4 . The mounting bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second pairs of flanges are adapted such that the first and second channels have a greater width at the third and fourth walls, respectively, than at the end of the flanges remote from the body. 
   
   
       5 . The mounting bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth walls of the body are substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       6 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the body is cuboidal, and the first, second, third and fourth walls define the walls of the cuboid. 
   
   
       7 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second aperture is greater at the outer surface of the second wall than at any point internal thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The mounting bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the body has a substantially L-shaped profile and the third and fourth walls are substantially at right angles to one another. 
   
   
       9 . The mounting bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the second wall comprises first and second portions, wherein the first portion is substantially at right angles to the second portion. 
   
   
       10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the second aperture is located at the vertex of the angle between the first and second portions of the second wall. 
   
   
       11 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the body and flanges are elongate and the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of pairs of first and second apertures spaced along the length of the body. 
   
   
       12 . The mounting bracket of  claim 8  further comprising fifth and sixth walls which are substantially at right angles to the first and second walls, respectively, and a third aperture located in the fifth wall of the body, and a fourth aperture located in the sixth wall of the body, wherein the third and fourth apertures are substantially co-axial and adapted to receive a second fixture therein. 
   
   
       13 . The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the second and fourth apertures is greater at the outer surface of their respective walls than at any point internal thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the body and flanges are elongate and the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of pairs of first and second, and third and fourth, apertures spaced along the length of the body. 
   
   
       15 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the flanges is provided with a plurality of openings located in the surface thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The mounting bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the openings extend across the entire depth of the one or more flanges. 
   
   
       17 . A method of mounting a cladding panel to a structure comprising a plurality of structural elements, the method comprising the steps of:
 fixing one or more first mounting brackets in accordance with  claim 1  to a structural element;   clamping a first end of a cladding panel between two resilient flanges of the first mounting bracket whilst supporting a second end of the cladding panel;   clamping the second end of the cladding panel between two resilient flanges of one or more second mounting brackets in accordance with  claim 1 ; and   fixing the second mounting bracket to an adjacent structural element.   
   
   
       18 . A fixture comprising:
 a threaded elongate body, the body having a driving head formed at a first end thereof and a point formed at a second end thereof; and   a collar having an internal recess adapted to receive the driving head therein;   wherein the collar has an abutment extending radially outwards from the body and facing the second end thereof.   
   
   
       19 . The fixture of  claim 18 , wherein the abutment is at a first end of the collar and a second end of the collar is located adjacent the driving head, wherein the second end of the collar includes a lip portion having a greater diameter than the remainder of the collar and the external circumference of the lip portion has a rounded profile. 
   
   
       20 . The fixture of  claim 19 , wherein the collar has a concave profile where its diameter increases from the first end towards the lip portion. 
   
   
       21 . The fixture of  claim 19 , wherein the collar has an axial length greater than the largest diameter of the lip portion. 
   
   
       22 . The fixture of  claim 18 , wherein the body and head are formed separately from the collar. 
   
   
       23 . The fixture of  claim 22 , wherein the collar is formed from aluminum and the body and head are formed from steel.