Façade cladding system and bracket therefor

Abstract

A bracket for fastening a sub-frame assembly that includes a planar base portion, a planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable connected to the planar base portion at a connection joint, a plurality of fixing holes provided on the planar base portion and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable, and at least one strengthening rib provided on the planar base portion, the connection joint, and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable. The planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable includes a thumb hold portion configured to engage the sub-frame assembly. The planar base portion is configured to be connected to a load-bearing wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket for fastening a sub-frame assembly, comprising:
 a planar base portion;   a planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable connected to the planar base portion at a connection joint;   a plurality of fixing holes provided on the planar base portion and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable; and   at least one strengthening rib provided on the planar base portion, the connection joint, and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable,
 wherein the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable comprises a thumb hold portion configured to engage the sub-frame assembly, and 
 wherein the planar base portion is configured to be connected to a load-bearing wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket is configured to accommodate for dead loads and wind loads when the bracket is connected to the load-bearing wall, and   wherein the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable is configured to accommodate linear thermal expansion and contraction.   
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable has a length between 3 inches and 12 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is composed completely of steel. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is formed from a material having low thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the sub-frame assembly comprises a rail portion. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fixing holes comprises oblong holes and/or circular holes. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable is connected to the planar base portion at the connection joint at about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket consists of the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable and the planar base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strengthening rib is formed parallel to side edges of the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable and/or the planar base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one strengthening rib is continuously formed on the planar base portion and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable through the connection joint. 
     
     
         12 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the planar base portion and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable is between 0.134 and 0.05 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to be positionable in a horizontal or a vertical position with respect the load-bearing wall. 
     
     
         14 . A rainscreen cladding system comprising:
 a plurality of sub-frame assemblies;   a plurality of secondary portions configured to connect to a plurality of exterior panels and to the plurality of sub-frame assemblies;   a plurality of fasteners; and   a plurality of brackets connectable to the plurality of sub-frame assemblies and a load bearing wall, each of the plurality of brackets comprising:
 a planar base portion; 
 a planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable connected to the planar base portion at a connection joint; 
 a plurality of fixing holes provided on the planar base portion and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable; and 
 at least one strengthening rib provided on the planar base portion, the connection joint, and the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable,
 wherein the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable comprises a thumb hold portion configured to engage at least one of the plurality of sub-frame assemblies, and 
 wherein the planar base portion is configured to be connectable to a load-bearing wall, and 
 
 wherein the plurality of fasteners connects the planar flanged portion that is fixable or slidable to the at least of the plurality of sub-frame assemblies, the planar base portion to the load-bearing wall, the plurality of secondary portions to the sub-frame assemblies, and/or the exterior panels. 
   
     
     
         15 . The rainscreen cladding system assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of exterior panels connected to the plurality of secondary portions, wherein the plurality of secondary portions is connected to the plurality of sub-frame assemblies.