Mounting assembly for a pressure equalized rainscreen system and a method of mounting a panel

Abstract

Systems and methods for a pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) and for mounting the same to a building. The PER system is mounted using a plurality of mounting strips that demarcate wall portions corresponding to panels for covering those wall portions. Each panel is movably engaged with a mounting strip for support and to allow deformation of the panel once fastened to the exterior wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system for an exterior wall, comprising:
 a plurality of mounting strips configured to fasten to the exterior wall to define a plurality of mounting locations; and   a plurality of panels for covering the exterior wall, each panel anchored to the exterior wall by fastening to at least one of the plurality of mounting locations and movably engaged with at least one of the plurality of mounting strips to support the panel and allow deflection of the panel relative to the at least one of the plurality of mounting locations.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips define a plurality of wall portions corresponding to the plurality of panels, the plurality of wall portions and the plurality of mounting strips forming a tessellation of the exterior wall to cover the exterior wall. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips include a guide, at least one of the panels configured to movably engage with a mounting strip of the plurality of mounting strips by slidably engaging with the guide. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips includes a first guide and second guide lateral to the first guide, at least one of the panels configured to movably engage with one or more of the plurality of mounting strips by slidably engaging with the first guide and the second guide. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a panel defining
 a cavity adjacent to the exterior wall for pressure equalization,   a first one or more openings for draining moisture out of the cavity, and   a second one or more openings for flowing air for pressure equalization of the cavity,   the panel configured to hinder flowing air via the first one or more openings and to hinder draining moisture via the second one or more openings, the second one or more openings opening into a slot defined by the panel, the slot configured to form a flow restriction for air flowing through the second one or more openings to cause a venturi effect for pressure equalization, the second one or more openings receiving flowing air via the slot, and the slot being recessed at least partially behind the panel to open at least partially vertically downward to hinder flow of moisture into the cavity via the second one or more openings.   
     
     
         6 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a panel defining
 a cavity adjacent to the exterior wall for pressure equalization,   a first one or more openings for draining moisture out of the cavity, and   a second one or more openings for flowing air for pressure equalization of the cavity,
 the panel configured to hinder flowing air via the first one or more openings and to hinder draining moisture via the second one or more openings, the panel defining a receptacle connected to the cavity to collect moisture from the cavity, the first one or more openings opening into the receptacle to drain moisture collected in the receptacle and hindering flow of air into the cavity via the first one or more openings, and the second one or more openings opening into a slot at least partially defined by an outer wall of the receptacle, the slot configured to form a flow restriction for air flowing through the second one or more openings for pressure equalization, the slot being recessed into the panel relative to the receptacle to hinder flow of moisture into the cavity via the second one or more openings. 
   
     
     
         7 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a panel defining
 a cavity adjacent to the exterior wall for pressure equalization,   a first one or more openings for draining moisture out of the cavity, and   a second one or more openings for flowing air for pressure equalization of the cavity,
 the panel configured to hinder flowing air via the first one or more openings and to hinder draining moisture via the second one or more openings, the first one or more openings including a circular aperture of diameter less than 0.25 inches and the second one or more openings including an oblong aperture with an area at least three times larger than an area of the circular aperture. 
   
     
     
         8 . The pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a panel defining
 a cavity adjacent to the exterior wall for pressure equalization,   a first one or more openings for draining moisture out of the cavity, and   a second one or more openings for flowing air for pressure equalization of the cavity,
 the panel configured to hinder flowing air via the first one or more openings and to hinder draining moisture via the second one or more openings, the second one or more openings opening proximal to the exterior wall relative to the first one or more openings to form a layer of moving air that displaces moisture away from the exterior wall and into the first one or more openings, the second one or more openings opening into a slot defined by the panel, the slot being configured to form a flow restriction for air flowing through the second one or more openings to cause a venturi effect for pressure equalization, the panel defining a receptacle connected to the cavity to collect moisture from the cavity, and the first one or more openings opening into the receptacle to drain moisture collected in the receptacle and hindering flow of air into the cavity via the first one or more openings. 
   
     
     
         9 . A mounting assembly for non-sequential installation of a plurality of panels of a pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system on an exterior wall, the mounting assembly comprising:
 a plurality of mounting strips configured to fasten to the exterior wall to define a plurality of wall portions corresponding to the plurality of panels, the plurality of wall portions and the plurality of mounting strips forming a tessellation of the exterior wall covering the exterior wall, each panel of the plurality of panels configured to cover a wall portion of the plurality of wall portions by fastening to at least one mounting strip of the plurality of mounting strips at least partially demarcating the wall portion and movably engaging with at least one mounting strip of the plurality of mounting strips at least partially demarcating the wall portion to provide support and allow deformation of the panel.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips include one or more guides for slidably engaging with one or more of the plurality of panels to retain and position the one or more of the plurality of panels for fastening. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each wall portion of the plurality of wall portions is rectangular. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting assembly  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips are distributed over the exterior wall to form a grid defining the plurality of wall portions. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of mounting strips include one or more guides for slidably engaging with one or more of the plurality of panels to retain and position the one or more of the plurality of panels for fastening, the one or more guides including a vertical guide and a horizontal guide. 
     
     
         14 . A method of mounting a panel of a pressure equalized rainscreen (PER) system on an exterior wall, comprising:
 anchoring the panel to the exterior wall by fastening the panel to a first mounting strip fastened to the exterior wall; and   movably engaging the panel with a second mounting strip to support the panel to cover a wall portion of the exterior wall and allow deflection of the panel relative to the first mounting strip.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein movably engaging the panel with the second mounting strip includes slidably engaging the panel with a guide at least partially lateral to the first mounting strip.