Panel anchor and method

Abstract

An anchor for anchoring panels for the construction of buildings is provided. The anchor comprises a backing, a retention plate, and a bracket. The backing and retention plate are attached to a strut of a building frame to be covered by a panel. The bracket is slidably connected to the backing. The panel is disposed overtop of the anchor and fastened to the bracket.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An anchor for anchoring a panel over a building section, the building section having at least one strut, the anchor comprising:
 a backing having a cross-section, a top, and a bottom, the bottom of the backing being releasably fastenable to the strut;   a retention plate having shoulders at a first end, the retention plate being releasably fastenable to the top of the backing; and   a bracket having at least one leg, the at least one leg shaped to mate with the cross-section such that the bracket is slidably receivable by and connectable to the backing, one end of the bracket being abutable against the shoulders of the retention plate, and the panel being releasably fastenable to the bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the backing is made of extruded polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section is substantially T-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section forms at least one notch, and wherein the at least one leg is engageable with the at least one notch. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is made of extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the retention plate is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the retention plate includes apertures for receiving fasteners for attachment to the backing. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the backing is fastenable to the strut by fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is fastenable to the bracket by fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . A method for anchoring a panel over a building section, the building section having at least one strut, the method comprising:
 providing an anchor having a backing, a retention plate, and a bracket, the backing having a cross-section, a top, and a bottom, and the bracket having a top and at least one leg, the at least one leg is shaped to mate with the cross-section for slidable connection to the backing;   securing the bottom of the backing to the at least one strut;   securing the retention plate to the top of the backing, the retention plate having shoulders at a first end;   slidably connecting the bracket to the backing;   abutting one end of the bracket against the shoulders;   securing the panel to the top of the bracket.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the panel includes alternating peaks and troughs, and wherein the panel is securable to the top of the bracket at an underside of the peaks. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket is shaped to mate with the underside of the peaks. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the panel is securable to the top of the bracket by a fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket is pre-punched with an aperture for receiving the fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one strut is slanted and wherein the shoulders are closer to the ground than a second end of the retention plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the backing is made of extruded polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the profile is substantially T-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the cross-section forms at least one notch, and wherein the at least one leg is engageable with the at least one notch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bracket is made of extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the retention plate is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the retention plate includes apertures for receiving fasteners for attachment to the backing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the backing is securable to the strut by fasteners. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bracket surrounds a substantial portion of the backing and the retention plate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein more than one anchor is securable to the at least one strut and the panel is securable to the more than one anchor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the underside of each of the alternating peaks is securable to at least one anchor. 
     
     
         26 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising securing an edge of the panel to the building section at one of the alternating troughs. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the building section includes an end bracket, and wherein the one of the alternating troughs is fastenable to the end bracket.