Building Envelope Systems

Abstract

The present invention discloses a complete, economical, weather resistant, and highly energy efficient building envelope systems for walls, roofs, floors, soffits for both interior and exterior applications. The building envelope systems aim to improve performances of wall, roof and soffit assemblies by implementing fiber reinforced polymers (FRP's) through elimination of most mechanical fasteners, thereby to provide lightweight wall assemblies with good thermal and acoustic performance, and hence significantly increased weatherproofing of wall assemblies. Moreover, the present system allows full adjustability to plane and level walls, and consistency in façade mounting regardless of facade material type.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building envelope system, said system comprising:
 at least one sub-framing member adapted to eliminate sheathing fasteners and weather barriers in order to provide good thermal and acoustic performance;   a head track for prefabricated walls;   a head track seal configured to prevent water from gaining access between prefabricated wall sections;   a compressible insulation adapted to use between wall panels and above window and other openings on walls and other locations in order to prevent a fire from climbing the building;   a compressible insulated rubber-like seal configured to be attached on said head track in order to make a continuous seal across as many premanufactured and installed wall sections as possible to eliminate the sealing problem of that type of panel intersection;   at least one sill track adapted to provide a water-proof wall, roof, floor, soffit or other structural building system which is sealed at the outer-most location on the wall panels while insulating between wall panels;   a side seal configured to partially or fully encompass the ends of the sub-framing and sheathings to provide a completely sealed side or edge of wall panel; and   an insulation strut configured to be structurally attached to said at least one sub-framing member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member comprises: a first tip which terminates at a return, which extends into a base creating a first slot and having a face, said base terminates into an end having a second tip, from said base extends a first finger near said end, from said base also extends an arm which is between said first finger and said first tip and having an inside corner, all of which extend away from said face in the same direction, and a second slot is created between said arm and said first finger, an under arm is located between said second slot and a third slot, said third slot is located between said under arm and a radiused tip, said radiused tip terminating perpendicularly to a second finger which terminates into said under arm, beyond said second finger on said arm and still extending away from said face, said arm terminates perpendicularly into a leg, said leg and said second finger create a fourth slot, said leg has an inside face and an outside face and terminates into a reduced end, said reduced end starting at a decline and ending at a third tip. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member comprises: said base which may terminates at each end with a first pair of parallel legs with tips respectively on one end, and a second pair of parallel legs with tips respectively on the other end, wherein each pair of parallel legs facing opposite directions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member may have two mirror image sides rotated 180 degrees from each other, with the mirror image beginning in the middle of said arm between said base and said leg, thereby said at least one sub-framing member accepts a fiber-reinforced plastics sheet from all four parallel leg locations. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member allows said fiber-reinforced plastic sheets or other sheets to be added on both sides, whether adhered or not, to provide an exterior façade as well as interior waterproofing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member comprises: a first clip with a first tip sliding into said first slot and a second tip pushed with friction along said arm until said second tip snaps into place at said inside corner; a second clip with a first tip sliding into said second slot and a second tip pushed with friction over said radiused tip until it snaps into place against said under arm and into said third slot; and a third clip with a first tip frictionally fit into said fourth slot, wherein said third clip is pushed until a return is forcefully and frictionally fit onto said third tip. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said first clip, said second clip, and said third clip are made of a material such as galvanized steel which may be cut on a shear and bent on a brake press, and are used when additional pull-out strength is needed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one sub-framing member comprises: a screw-boss configured to be used on said inside corner of said under arm and said leg, wherein said screw-boss comprising of a ramp creating a first slot between said ramp and said under arm, said ramp extends to a radius which terminates at an end, said end creates a second slot between said end and said leg, a hollow is created inside of said radius, said under arm and said leg and is circular in shape except at said second slot. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head track comprises: a first tip extending to a first vertical finger which terminates at an inside bend, said inside bend extends at a first arm, said first arm extends perpendicularly to a second finger which extends to a return which then terminates parallel to said second finger at a second tip, and said second finger located on the opposite side of said first arm, said first arm terminates substantially parallel to a second arm, however at said second arm, a third finger extends perpendicularly and parallel to said second finger, said third finger consists of a ledge which extends perpendicularly from it and away from said second finger, then terminating to a perpendicular tip which is parallel to said third finger and away from said second arm, a first slot is created between said ledge and said second arm, a second slot is created between said third finger and said perpendicular tip. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein extending from said second arm away from said third finger may terminate into said under arm, said third slot, said radiused tip, said second finger, said leg, said fourth slot, said reduced end, said decline, and said third tip of said at least one sub-framing member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said head track may be extended into said at least one sub-framing member with said screw-boss located under said inside corner of said under arm and said leg. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head track seal comprises: a first end extending vertically to a return which then extends parallel to said first end via a wall creating a slot therebetween, said wall terminates at a first corner which extends perpendicularly to a base, said base terminating perpendicularly at a second corner which extends to a second end. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said compressible insulation comprises: a body, a tapered end, a back, and a front may be exposed to the elements and is intumescent coated or dipped. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said compressible insulated rubber-like seal comprises: a rounded end extending vertically to an arm which terminates substantially at a first perpendicular rounded corner, said first perpendicular rounded corner extends to a sloped top which extends to a second perpendicular rounded corner which then terminates perpendicularly to a bottom creating a first cavity which may be filled with an insulation ‘g’, said bottom extends away from said first rounded corner perpendicularly to an incline corner, said incline corner extends upwards to a first member which creates a second cavity between it and said second rounded corner, said first member extends to a return which then extends to a second member which terminates at an end, said first member and said second member form a slot therebetween, 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said slot fits over said first tip and said first vertical finger of said head track, allowing said seal to rest on said head track to make a continuous seal across as many premanufactured and installed wall sections as possible to eliminate the sealing problem of that type of panel intersection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sill track comprises: a first end extending to a sloped drip edge which extends substantially parallel to a base, prior to said base, a first finger extends perpendicularly upwards and parallel to a second finger which also extends perpendicularly upwards and parallel to said first finger to create a first slot, said second finger extends to an s-bend which then extends parallel to and above said second finger at an upward member having a second end, said base extends to a corner at an arm which extends perpendicular upwards to a first return which extends to a third end to create a second slot, said base further extends to an upright creating a third slot between said upright and said arm, said upright extends to a second return which extends to a downward member to a fourth end, said fourth slot is created between said downward member and said upright. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one sill track comprises: said base which may terminates at a vertical arm which terminates at a return, in the middle of said vertical arm, a leg extends out perpendicularly to terminate perpendicularly to a member which terminates at an end, at the top of said leg, a finger extends upwards and perpendicularly from it creating a slot between said finger and said vertical arm. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said side seal comprises: two ends at each end facing each other in mirror image, both of which terminate at respective returns, said returns terminate at a base which connects said returns, respective slots are created between said ends and said base, said base may be routed out on a back to match said at least one sub-framing member to make an air-tight fit and seal using adhesives. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said side seal holds a seal that comprises a base extends at an angle to fingers which terminate at ends, air gaps between said fingers may be filled with liquid or other insulation materials before or after installation onto a building, said fingers and said ends will contact other surfaces when installed onto said building, each creating its own independent seal on all sides. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said fingers may be of different lengths and have rounded or other shaped ends. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said insulation strut comprises: a first end extending to a first radiused arm which terminates at a first bend which then extends substantially perpendicularly to a first arm, said first arm extends to a second bend which extends substantially perpendicularly to a first leg, said first leg extends substantially perpendicular to a first finger at a third bend, said first finger extends to a radiused return which extends to a second finger to create a mounting hole within said radiused return, said second finger extends parallel with said first finger and terminates substantially perpendicularly to a second leg at a fourth bend, said second leg extends substantially perpendicularly to a second arm at a fifth bend, said second arm extends substantially perpendicular to a second radiused arm at a sixth bend, with said second radiused arm terminating at a second end. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said insulation strut is structurally attached to said at least one sub-framing member, wherein said insulation strut inserted through a hole, rotates perpendicular to said at least one sub-framing member until lock washers press firmly against an insulation, at which time a fastener is mechanically fastened through said mounting hole of said insulation strut and into said at least one sub-framing member to permanently fix them together. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claims 1 to 22 , is made up of fiber-reinforced plastics that provides for external thermal efficiency for prefabricated walls. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claims 1 to 22 , may be manufactured using a pultrusion process or other acceptable method of manufacture. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claims 1 to 22 , is made to encompass a fiber-reinforced plastic sheathing and weather barrier, which along with adhesives used on the full perimeter of the sheathing and weather barrier, will provide a water-proof wall, roof, floor, soffit or other structural building system which is sealed at the outer-most location on the wall panels while insulating between the wall panels.