Wall module and façade assembly

Abstract

Module for a wall including a frame for supporting a façade panel on a supporting structure, the frame including a male section with an elongate strip on one edge and a female section with a groove to receive a strip of an adjoining module.

1 . Module for a wall including a frame for supporting a façade panel on a supporting structure, the frame including a male section with an elongate strip on one edge and a female section with a groove to receive a strip of an adjoining module. 
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the male and female sections are connected by a joiner which is fastened to both sections, and/or
 wherein the joiner includes two arms which are angled relative to each other, each arm being received in a corresponding recess in the associated male and female sections.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 2 , wherein the frame includes a joiner at each corner of the frame, and/or
 wherein the male section, and the female section each include a track for mounting a component with a ledge to support the facade panel.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 4 , including the component and façade panel. 
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes two male sections forming an upper profile and side profile of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 7 , wherein the frame includes two female sections forming a lower profile and side profile of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 8 , wherein the frame includes struts between the upper and lower profiles, the struts providing support to the façade panel. 
     
     
         10 . The module of  claim 9 , including interface units that fit into channels provided in the upper and lower profiles, the interface units being interconnected with the struts at top and bottom ends of the struts to fix the struts relative to the profiles, and/or
 including a facade sub-board fixed to the struts for holding façade facing material.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The module of  claim 10 , wherein one or more clips are fixed to the façade sub-board for supporting the façade panel. 
     
     
         13 . The module of  claim 12 , wherein one or more clips include a projecting tab for use as a mechanical supporting method of the façade panel. 
     
     
         14 . The module of  claim 10 , wherein the facade sub-board includes holes around a perimeter to receive fasteners for securing the façade panel to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 1 , including a rail attachment profile for connecting the frame to a supporting structure. 
     
     
         16 . The module of  claim 15 , including at least two rail attachment profiles. 
     
     
         17 . The module of any  claim 1 , wherein the male section has a rebated end to accommodate a strip of an adjoining frame, and/or
 wherein a rear side of the male section includes an integrated clip track for receipt of a fixture for locking the frame to the supporting structure.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the groove in the female section includes a seal insert, and/or
 wherein the groove includes internal notches to match with external ridges of the insert to hold the insert in place.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The module of  claim 1 , further including the façade facing material panel. 
     
     
         22 . A facade assembly of interconnected modules including a frame for supporting a facade panel on a supporting structure wherein a strip of a first module of a male section is received in a groove of a corresponding female section of an adjoining second module. 
     
     
         23 . The facade assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the frame of the first module is fixed to the supporting structure such that the strip of the first module projects partially into the groove of the female section of the adjoining second module. 
     
     
         24 . The facade assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the groove of the female section of the adjoining second module defines a space between the strip and a base of the groove which allows the first module to be disconnected from the supporting structure and the strip to be pushed into the space in order to provide clearance for the first module to separate from the supporting structure and other adjoining modules for independent removal of the first module from the supporting structure. 
     
     
         25 . The facade assembly of  claim 24  wherein the other adjoining modules have respective male and female sections which inter-fit with adjacent panels to form a grid of modules, or
 wherein the connected modules and associated inter-fitting male and female sections of the gride provide a waterproof wall. 
 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)