A cladding assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cladding assembly for cladding a structure, including a frame member, a frame formed by frame members and a preformed panel including a panel member. The preformed panel is formed by a frame member fastened at least partially around an outer edge of the panel member or the panel member being operatively associated with the frame. The frame member of the present invention includes at least two ends and at least five walls including a structure facing wall, an opposed panel member abutting wall, an intermediate wall positioned between and extending substantially parallel to the structure facing wall and the panel member abutting wall, a connecting wall and either an outer frame wall or an inner frame wall. In some embodiments, the panel member is a fire retardant panel member.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A frame of a preformed panel for use in a cladding assembly for cladding a structure, said frame comprising:
 at least two frame members adapted to be fastened to at least one panel member for forming the preformed panel, each frame member comprising:   at least two ends; and   at least five walls comprising:
 a structure facing wall; 
 an opposed panel member abutting wall having an outer surface and an opposed inner surface; 
 an intermediate wall positioned between and extending substantially parallel to the structure facing wall and the panel member abutting wall; 
 one of:
 an outer frame wall extending between the panel member abutting wall and the intermediate wall; and 
 an inner frame wall extending between the structure facing wall and the intermediate wall; and 
 
 at least one connecting wall extending between one of: an outer edge of the intermediate wall and an inner edge of the structure facing wall; and an inner edge of the intermediate wall and an outer edge of the panel member abutting wall, 
   wherein:
 when said frame member comprises the outer frame wall, the inner surface of the panel member abutting wall at least partially abuts against the at least one panel member; and 
 when said frame member comprises the inner frame wall, the outer surface of the panel member abutting wall at least partially abuts against the at least one panel member; and 
   at least two joining components, each joining component operatively associated with each said frame member to join the at least two frame members together.   
     
     
         25 . The frame of  claim 24 , wherein each said frame member comprises the outer frame wall which extends between the panel member abutting wall and the intermediate wall and wherein the inner surface of the panel member abutting wall at least partially abuts against the at least one panel member. 
     
     
         26 . The frame of  claim 24 , wherein each said frame member comprises the inner frame wall, which extends between the structure facing wall and the intermediate wall and wherein the outer surface of the panel member abutting wall at least partially abuts against the at least one panel member. 
     
     
         27 . The frame of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one panel member is a fire retardant panel member. 
     
     
         28 . The frame of  claim 24 , wherein each of said at least two joining components comprises two component pieces each attachable to one of the at least two frame members to be joined and wherein the two component pieces are hinged together. 
     
     
         29 . The frame of  claim 28 , wherein each of said two component pieces has a substantially T-shaped cross section and comprises an elongate frame coupling member and a hinge member for rotatably coupling the hinge member of a like joining component piece. 
     
     
         30 . A preformed panel for use in a cladding assembly for cladding a structure, said preformed panel comprising:
 the frame as defined in  claim 24 ; and   at least one fire retardant panel member operatively associated with the frame to form the preformed panel.   
     
     
         31 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member is formed from a mixture comprising at least 30 wt % magnesium oxide and at least one binding or filling agent. 
     
     
         32 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member comprises an interior portion positioned in between two opposed surfaces of the panel member, the interior portion including at least a first reinforcing mesh positioned in the middle of the interior portion, the panel member comprising at least a second reinforcing mesh at or near one of the two opposed surfaces of the panel member. 
     
     
         33 . The preformed panel of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member comprises at least a third reinforcing mesh positioned at or near the other of the two opposed surfaces of the panel member. 
     
     
         34 . The preformed panel of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member comprises no more than 60 wt % magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         35 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member is fastened to the frame such that the inner surface of the panel member abutting wall of each of the at least two frame members forming the frame at least partially abuts against the least one fire retardant panel member. 
     
     
         36 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member is fastened to the frame such that the outer surface of the panel member abutting wall of each of the at least two frame members forming the frame at least partially abuts against the least one fire retardant panel member. 
     
     
         37 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein each of the at least two frame members forming the frame defines a channel or groove for at least partially receiving an outer edge of the least one fire retardant panel member, wherein the channel or groove is defined between the panel member abutting wall, the outer frame wall and the intermediate wall of each frame member. 
     
     
         38 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one fire retardant panel member is fastened to the frame by one or more couplers associated with each of the at least two frame members forming the frame, wherein each coupler has a substantially L-shaped cross section including a frame coupling member configured to clamp over at least two shoulders of each frame member, including a first shoulder defined on the outer surface of the panel member abutting wall of the frame member and a second shoulder defined on an outer surface of the structure facing wall of the frame member, and a panel member fastening member configured to be fastened to the at least one fire retardant panel member. 
     
     
         39 . The preformed panel of  claim 30 , further comprising a cover panel adapted to be fitted over the frame and the at least one fire retardant panel member. 
     
     
         40 . A cladding assembly for cladding a structure, said assembly comprising:
 a plurality of the preformed panel as defined in  claim 30 ; and   one or more fasteners for fastening each of the plurality of the preformed panel to the structure.   
     
     
         41 . The cladding assembly of  claim 40 , where each frame member forming the frame of each said preformed panel comprises a receiving opening for receiving the one or more fasteners for fastening the frame of each said preformed panel to the structure. 
     
     
         42 . The cladding assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more tags each adapted to be associated with at least one of said at least two frame members of the frame of each said preformed panel via the receiving opening.