Systems and methods for installing cladding panels

Abstract

A hanging system for securing cladding panel on a building structure, the cladding panel having a mounting channel extending at least partly across a surface thereof. An embedded anchor block has a core and two engaging portions outwardly projecting from the core, the two engaging portions operable to lock the anchor block in the mounting channel of the cladding panel in an interlocking fit when the embedded anchor block is received within the mounting channel, and the embedded anchor block having an outer surface that is configured to be flush or near flush with the surface of the cladding panel when the embedded anchor block is received within the mounting channel. A hanging clip removably connects or fastens to the anchor block, the hanging clip having an engagement surface to engage the outer surface of the anchor block. The cladding panel is secured to a building structure by fastening the anchor block to the hanging clip which is securable to a support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cladding panel assembly comprising:
 a cladding panel;   a mounting channel extending laterally across said cladding panel; and   an anchor block received in the mounting channel of the cladding panel, said anchor block and said mounting channel having cross-sectional shapes defining an interlocking fit so that said anchor block is slidable laterally within the mounting channel.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the embedded anchor block has a dovetail shape. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting channel has a cross section complementary to a cross section of a shape of the embedded anchor block. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a hanging clip removably mounted to the embedded anchor block with a first adjustable fastener permitting vertical adjustment of the hanging clip relative to the anchor block. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first adjustable fastener comprises a threaded shaft received in a bore extending inward from the outer surface, and received through a slot in the hanging clip. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , comprising a flange projecting outwardly from the cladding panel for receiving a second adjustable fastener to adjustably fix the cladding panel to a building. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the flange is part of a bracket received in a slot defined by the hanging clip. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second adjustable fastener comprises a shaft received through a slot in the flange. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the outer surface of the embedded anchor block comprises grooves thereon for preventing slippage when removably connected or fastened with the engagement surface of the hanging clip. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the engagement surface of the hanging clip comprises grooves thereon for preventing slippage when removably connected or fastened with the embedded anchor block. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cladding panel further comprises a reinforcing layer on the surface in a form of at least one of cloth, mesh and grating. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for hanging a cladding panel onto a building structure, the cladding panel comprising a mounting channel extending laterally across a surface thereof, the kit comprising:
 an anchor block having a cross-sectional shape for interlocking reception in the mounting channel of the cladding panel such that the anchor block is laterally Is; and   a hanging clip configured for mounting to the anchor block using a first adjustable fastener received through a slot such that the vertical position of the hanging clip relative to the anchor block is adjustable.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the first adjustable fastener comprises a threaded shaft received in a bore extending inward from the outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , comprising a bracket mountable to the hanging clip to receive a second adjustable fastener to fix the cladding panel to the building structure. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the bracket is configured for reception in a slot defined by the hanging clip. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket comprises a flange with a slot therein for receiving said second adjustable fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the anchor block comprises grooves thereon for preventing slippage when removably connected or fastened with an engagement surface of the hanging clip. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement surface of the hanging clip comprises grooves thereon for preventing slippage when removably connected or fastened with the anchor block. 
     
     
         19 . A method for installing a cladding panel onto a building structure, the cladding panel having a mounting channel extended across at least a part of a surface of the cladding panel, the anchor block having at least one bore extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof, the method comprising:
 inserting the anchor block into the mounting channel of the cladding panel in an interlocking fit and adjusting the position of the anchor block by sliding the anchor block within the mounting channel;   removably securing a hanging clip to the embedded anchor block by inserting a fastener through a corresponding bore extending through a body of the hanging clip and the at least one bore of the anchor block;   adjusting the vertical position of the hanging clip relative to the anchor block using the fastener; and   securing the cladding panel onto the building structure by connecting or fastening the hanging clip to a support   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein securing the cladding panel comprises fastening a bracket to the support, the bracket extending away from the cladding panel, and further comprising adjusting the position of the bracket relative to the cladding panel.