Polymer-based bracket system for metal panels

Abstract

A system for supporting exterior panels on a substrate of a building structure. The system has a plurality of polymeric bracket members, and each of the bracket members have at least one anchor section, at least one web section and at least one support section. The polymeric bracket members provide a thermal break from the exterior panel to the substrate of the building structure. A plurality of exterior cladding units are held in place by the bracket members. A plurality of vents are disposed between the panels and the exterior panels, and a plurality of vents are also disposed between the panels and the substrate, thereby forming a ventilation system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supporting exterior cladding units on a substrate of a structure, comprising:
 a polymeric bracket system comprising a plurality of polymeric bracket members, wherein each of the bracket members includes at least one anchor section, at least one web section and at least one support section, wherein the at least one anchor section attaches to the substrate, the at least one web section operably connects the at least one anchor section to the at least one support section, and the at least one support section supports the exterior cladding unit;   each of the polymeric bracket members providing a thermal break from the exterior cladding units to the substrate;   each of the polymeric bracket members mounted to the building structure for mounting the exterior cladding units to the bracket members thereby forming channels disposed between the exterior cladding units and the building substrate when the exterior cladding units are mounted to the polymeric bracket members; and   a ventilation system having a plurality of vents formed by the mounting of the exterior cladding units to the polymeric bracket system.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels disposed between the exterior cladding units and the building substrate house insulation materials. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulation materials are selected from the group consisting of insulation panels, foam, fiberglass insulation, rigid insulation, semi rigid insulation, blanket insulation, loose fill insulation, spray foam in either fiberglass, rock wool, cellulose based, polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane or other polymeric insulation formulation. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation materials are insulation panels. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one web section further comprises retention ribs. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one anchor section further comprises guide channels. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of vents of the ventilation system comprise:
 a first group of vents disposed between the insulation materials and the exterior panels; and   a second group of vents disposed between the insulation materials and the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of vents of the ventilation system further comprise:
 lateral channels disposed on the at least one anchor section of the polymeric bracket members.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one web section further comprises apertures and retention pins. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric bracket members have an R-value in the range of about R1.5 to about R8 per inch. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the polymeric bracket members are comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers. 
     
     
         12 . A polymeric bracket member, comprising:
 at least one anchor section;   at least one support section;   at least one web section;   the anchor section having at least one channel;   the support section having at least one channel; and   the at least one channel of the support section adapted to retain an insert.   
     
     
         13 . A polymeric bracket member according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric bracket member has an R-value in the range of about R1.5 to about R8 per inch. 
     
     
         14 . A polymeric bracket member according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric bracket member is comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers. 
     
     
         15 . A polymeric bracket member according to  claim 12  wherein the at least one web section further comprises ribs adapted to retain insulating materials. 
     
     
         16 . A polymeric bracket member according to  claim 12  wherein the at least one anchor section further comprises guide channels. 
     
     
         17 . A polymeric bracket member according to  claim 12  wherein the at least one channel of the at least one anchor section is adapted to retain an insert. 
     
     
         18 . A bracketing system, comprising:
 a grooved polymeric stud;   first and second clips operably coupled to the stud;   the first and second clips further comprising attachment surfaces;   the first and second clips further comprising channels.   
     
     
         19 . A bracketing system according to  claim 18  wherein the grooved polymeric stud has an R-value in the range of about R1.5 to about R8 per inch. 
     
     
         20 . A bracketing system according to  claim 19  wherein the grooved polymeric stud is comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers.