U.S. patent application number 11/305289 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for thin stone or thin brick veneer wall system and clips therefor.
Invention is credited to Robert Huff, Mark Shouldice.
Application Number | 20070151190 11/305289 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38222896 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070151190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huff; Robert ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Thin stone or thin brick veneer wall system and clips therefor
Abstract
A wall system, particularly for thin stone or thin brick veneer
walls, has a plurality of stones or bricks with grooves running
along the upper and lower edges and a plurality of clips for
linking the stones or bricks. One type of clip having one or more
connecting flanges links an upper stone or brick to a lower stone
or brick with the one or more connecting flanges housed within the
groove in the lower edge of the upper stone or brick and within the
groove in the upper edge of the lower stone or brick. The one or
more connecting flanges of the clip depend from one or more base
flanges of the clip and have a width just equal to the distance
from the rear face to the groove of the upper and lower stones or
bricks. The one or more base flanges of the clip depend from a
support flange of the clip. The support flange has one or more
apertures for accepting a screw or nail for fastening the clip to a
structural wall.
Inventors: |
Huff; Robert; (London,
CA) ; Shouldice; Mark; (Shallow Lake, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANDLEY LAW GROUP LLP
495 METRO PLACE SOUTH
SUITE 210
DUBLIN
OH
43017
US
|
Family ID: |
38222896 |
Appl. No.: |
11/305289 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/592.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 13/14 20130101;
E04F 13/0846 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/592.5 |
International
Class: |
E04B 2/00 20060101
E04B002/00 |
Claims
1. A thin stone or thin brick wall system comprising: (a) a
plurality of stone or brick facing elements, each facing element
having a weight, a thickness, an upper edge and a lower edge, the
upper edge, the lower edge or both the upper and lower edges of
each facing element having a groove running along the edge at a
distance from a rear face of the facing element, the groove having
a length, a width and a depth; and, (b) a plurality of clips for
linking the facing elements, the plurality of clips comprising one
or more first clips for linking upper facing elements to lower
facing elements, each of the first clips having one or more
connecting flanges housed within the groove in the lower edge of
one of the upper facing elements and within the groove in the upper
edge of one of the lower facing elements, the one or more
connecting flanges of the first clip depending from one or more
base flanges of the first clip, the one or more base flanges of the
first clip depending from a support flange of the first clip, the
support flange having one or more apertures for accepting fastening
means for fastening the first clip to a structural wall, and the
one or more base flanges having a width just equal to the distance
from the rear face to the groove of the upper and lower facing
elements.
2. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the first clip has a length
less than half the length of the groove to permit positioning of
the first clip at any one of a plurality of positions along the
groove.
3. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the one or more connecting
flanges of each of the first clips do not bottom-out in the grooves
so that the weight of the upper facing elements is borne by the
base flanges of the first clips.
4. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the one or more apertures in
the support flange is one aperture.
5. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the one or more base flanges
of the first clip comprises first and second base flanges, the
first and second base flanges depending from the support flange of
the first clip to provide a mortar joint between the first and
second base flanges, and wherein the one or more connecting flanges
of the first clip comprises an upwardly depending flange depending
from the first base flange and a downwardly depending flange
depending from the second base flange.
6. The wall system of claim 5, wherein the mortar joint has a
spacing of about 10 mm.
7. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the one or more base flanges
of the first clip comprises one base flange, and wherein the one or
more connecting flanges of the first clip comprises an upwardly
depending flange and a downwardly depending flange, the upwardly
and downwardly depending flanges depending from the one base
flange.
8. The wall system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of facing
elements have front faces with beveled edges.
9. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stone or
brick facing elements comprises detail pieces, and wherein the
plurality of clips comprises one or more sill clips for retaining
the detail pieces, each sill clip having a connecting flange that
is housed within a groove in an edge of one or more of the detail
pieces, the connecting flange of the sill clip depending from a
first base flange of the sill clip, the first base flange of the
sill clip depending from a support flange of the sill clip, the
support flange of the sill clip having one or more apertures for
accepting fastening means for fastening the sill clip to the
structural wall.
10. The wall system of claim 9, wherein the sill clip comprises a
second base flange depending from the support flange of the sill
clip to thereby provide a mortar joint between the first and second
base flanges.
11. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clips
comprises one or more starter strips for supporting facing
elements, each starter strip having an upwardly depending flange
that is housed within the groove in the lower edge of one or more
of the facing elements, the upwardly depending flange of the
starter strip depending from a base flange of the starter strip,
the base flange of the starter strip depending from a support
flange of the starter strip, the support flange of the starter
strip having one or more apertures for accepting fastening means
for fastening the starter strip to the structural wall, the base
flange of the starter strip having a width greater than the
distance from the rear faces to the grooves of the facing elements,
and the starter strip having a length long enough to span two or
more facing elements arranged side-by-side.
12. The wall system of claim 11, wherein the base flange of the
starter strip has one or more drainage holes.
13. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of facing
elements have first and second side edges, one or more of the first
and second side edges have side grooves therein for receiving the
one or more connecting flanges of one or more of the first clips
for linking the facing elements side-by-side.
14. The wall system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the facing
elements is a one-piece corner facing element comprising a first
part having a first outer face attached to a second part having a
second outer face, the first outer face at right angles to the
second outer face.
15. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clips are
made of stainless steel.
16. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the thickness of each
facing element is about 1.25 inches.
17. The wall system of claim 16, wherein the weight of each facing
element is less than about 15 lbs/square foot.
18. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the structural wall
comprises sheet material, and wherein the support flanges of the
first clips are fastened to the sheet material.
19. The wall system of claim 18 further comprising vertical
drainage board between the sheet material and the plurality of
facing elements.
20. The wall system of claim 19 further comprising
weather-resisting wall wrap between the drainage board and the
sheet material.
21. The wall system of claim 20 further comprising a fabric layer
between the drainage board and the plurality of facing
elements.
22. The wall system of claim 21, wherein the structural wall
comprises wood studs on which the sheet material is mounted.
23. A clip for linking first and second stone or brick facing
elements in a thin stone or thin brick wall system, each facing
element having a weight, a thickness, an upper edge and a lower
edge, the first facing element having a groove in the lower edge
thereof, the second facing element having a groove in the upper
edge thereof, each groove running along its respective edge at a
distance from a rear face of its respective facing element, each
groove having a length, a width and a depth, the clip comprising:
(a) one or more connecting flanges housable within the groove in
the lower edge of the first facing element and within the groove in
the upper edge of one of the second facing elements; (b) the one or
more connecting flanges depending at right angles from one or more
base flanges; (c) the one or more base flanges depending at right
angles from a support flange, the support flange having one or more
apertures for accepting fastening means for fastening the clip to a
structural wall; and, (d) the one or more base flanges having a
width just equal to the distance from the rear face to the groove
of each facing element.
24. The clip of claim 23 having a length less than half the length
of each groove to permit positioning of the clip at any one of a
plurality of positions along the grooves.
25. The clip of claim 23, wherein the one or more connecting
flanges do not bottom-out in the grooves so that the weight of the
first facing element is borne by one of the one or more base
flanges of the clip.
26. The clip of claim 23, wherein the one or more apertures in the
support flange is one aperture.
27. The clip of claim 23, wherein the one or more base flanges
comprise first and second base flanges, the first and second base
flanges depending at right angles from the support flange to
provide a mortar joint between the first and second base flanges,
and wherein the one or more connecting flanges comprises an
upwardly depending flange depending at a right angle from the first
base flange and a downwardly depending flange depending at a right
angle from the second base flange.
28. The clip of claim 27, wherein the mortar joint has a spacing of
about 10 mm.
29. The clip of claim 23, wherein the one or more base flanges
comprise one base flange depending at a right angle from the
support flange, and wherein the one or more connecting flanges
comprises an upwardly depending flange and a downwardly depending
flange depending at right angles from the one base flange.
30. The clip of claim 23, wherein the one or more base flanges
comprises a cylindrical base flange depending at a right angle from
the support flange, and wherein the one or more connecting flanges
comprises a circular flange depending outwardly at a right angle
from the cylindrical base flange.
31. The clip of claim 23 made of stainless steel.
32. A sill clip for retaining a detail piece in a thin stone or
thin brick wall system, the detail piece being a stone or brick
facing element, the facing element having a thickness and an edge,
the edge having a groove therein running along the edge at a
distance from a rear face of the facing element, the groove having
a length, a width and a depth, the sill clip comprising: (a) a
connecting flange that is housable within the groove in the edge of
the facing elements; (b) the connecting flange depending at a right
angle from a first base flange; (c) the first base flange depending
at a right angle from a support flange, the support flange oriented
upwardly; (d) the support flange having one or more apertures for
accepting fastening means for fastening the sill clip to a
structural wall; (e) the first base flange having a width just
equal to the distance from the rear face to the groove of the
facing element; and,
33. The sill clip of claim 32 having a length less than half the
length of the groove to permit positioning of the sill clip at any
one of a plurality of positions along the groove.
34. The sill clip of claim 32 further comprising a second base
flange depending at a right angle from the support flange to
thereby provide a mortar joint between the first and second base
flanges.
35. The sill clip of claim 34, wherein the mortar joint has a
spacing of about 10 mm.
36. The sill clip of claim 32, wherein the one or more apertures in
the support flange is one aperture.
37. The sill clip of claim 32 made of stainless steel.
38. A starter strip for supporting stone or brick facing elements
in a thin stone or thin brick wall system, each facing element
having a weight, a thickness and an edge, the edge having a groove
therein running along the edge at a distance from a rear face of
the facing elements, the groove having a length, a width and a
depth, the starter strip comprising: (a) a linking flange that is
housed within the groove in the edge of one or more of the facing
elements; (b) the linking flange depending from a base flange; (c)
the base flange depending from a support flange; the support flange
having one or more apertures for accepting fastening means for
fastening the starter strip to a structural wall; the base flange
having a width greater than the distance from the rear faces to the
grooves of the facing elements; and, (d) the starter strip having a
length long enough to span two or more adjacent facing
elements.
39. The starter strip of claim 38, wherein the base flange has one
or more drainage holes.
40. The starter strip of claim 38, wherein the one or more
apertures in the support flange are two or more apertures.
41. The starter strip of claim 38, wherein the linking flange has a
height that does not bottom-out in the groove.
42. The starter strip of claim 38 made of stainless steel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to thin stone or thin brick
veneer wall systems and to clips for fastening facing elements
thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Masonry veneer walls are typically constructed by laying
bricks, blocks or other stone product in courses and mortaring the
top of each course as the wall is being built from the bottom up.
Conventionally, the lower course of bricks, blocks or other stone
product is supported on a foundation (e.g. poured concrete) or an
engineered angle iron to carry the mass load. Such construction
requires a skilled masonry contractor and is very time consuming.
Further, since individual bricks, blocks or other stone products
are relatively thick and heavy at full depth, such construction is
also expensive and leads to veneer walls of great weight.
[0003] To decrease the weight of the veneer wall, stone-like or
brick-like products comprising polymeric materials or
polymer/cement composites have been developed. Such materials tend
to be lighter in weight but lose aesthetic appeal since they do not
look sufficiently like brick or natural stone. In addition, such
products are more costly and, in most cases, require a specific
contractor to install them.
[0004] So-called thin stone or thin brick products have been
developed, which are made by splitting cement blocks and then
further dressing the front face if desired. Such products have a
more natural stone or brick appearance, however, finding ways to
easily, inexpensively and quickly construct veneer walls using such
thin stones or thin bricks has been problematic. Typically in the
art, thin stone or thin brick veneer walls are constructed by the
so-called "lick and stick" method, which involves the use of epoxy
adhesive to secure the thin stone or thin brick to plywood or OSB
cladding, or which involves the use of metal lath with a scratch
coat of Portland mortar. Such an adhered thin stone or thin brick
system is inherently less secure since improper application of the
adhesive can lead to stones or bricks separating from the wall,
which is both a nuisance and a safety problem. Such adhered thin
stone or thin brick systems are typically only used in lower floor
applications of residential and commercial buildings. Design
professionals hesitate to use them on multi-floor buildings.
Further, the adhered thin stone or thin brick system has not, in
the past, been used in conjunction with other wall elements such as
drainage board and weather-resistant wrap, thus thin stone or thin
brick products have been preponderantly used in commercial building
applications.
[0005] Various bracket or clip systems have been developed to affix
veneer panels of various sorts to a structural wall. Although
useful in particular cases, such systems lack versatility and
simplicity, requiring brackets or clips with complicated structures
and/or several separate components. Such brackets or clips are more
difficult to secure to structural walls and/or require tedious and
time-consuming alignment of panels. There remains a need in the art
for a more versatile, secure and mechanically stronger thin stone
or thin brick veneer wall system that is easier and faster to
install requiring less skilled labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] There is provided a thin stone or thin brick wall system
comprising: a plurality of stone or brick facing elements, each
facing, element having a weight, a thickness, an upper edge and a
lower edge, the upper edge, the lower edge or both the upper and
lower edges of each facing element having a groove running along
the edge at a distance from a rear face of the facing element, the
groove having a length, a width and a depth; and, a plurality of
clips for linking the facing elements, the plurality of clips
comprising one or more first clips for linking upper facing
elements to lower facing elements, each of the first clips having
one or more connecting flanges housed within the groove in the
lower edge of one of the upper facing elements and within the
groove in the upper edge of one of the lower facing elements, the
one or more connecting flanges of the first clip depending from one
or more base flanges of the first clip, the one or more base
flanges of the first clip depending from a support flange of the
first clip, the support flange having one or more apertures for
accepting fastening means for fastening the first clip to a
structural wall, and the one or more base flanges having a width
just equal to the distance from the rear face to the groove of the
upper and lower facing elements.
[0007] There is further provided a clip for linking first and
second stone or brick facing elements in a thin stone or thin brick
wall system, each facing element having a weight, a thickness, an
upper edge and a lower edge, the first facing element having a
groove in the lower edge thereof, the second facing element having
a groove in the upper edge thereof, each groove running along its
respective edge at a distance from a rear face of its respective
facing element, each groove having a length, a width and a depth,
the clip comprising: one or more connecting flanges housable within
the groove in the lower edge of the first facing element and within
the groove in the upper edge of one of the second facing elements;
the one or more connecting flanges depending at right angles from
one or more base flanges; the one or more base flanges depending at
right angles from a support flange, the support flange having one
or more apertures for accepting fastening means for fastening the
clip to a structural wall; and, the one or more base flanges having
a width just equal to the distance from the rear face to the groove
of each facing element.
[0008] There is yet further provided a sill clip for retaining
detail pieces of a thin stone or thin brick wall system, each
detail piece being a thin stone or thin brick facing element, the
facing element having a thickness and an edge, the edge having a
groove therein running along the edge at a distance from a rear
face of the facing element, the groove having a length, a width and
a depth, the sill clip comprising: a connecting flange that is
housable within the groove in the edge of the facing elements; the
connecting flange depending at a right angle from a first base
flange; the first base flange depending at a right angle from a
support flange, the support flange oriented upwardly; the support
flange having one or more apertures for accepting fastening means
for fastening the sill clip to a structural wall; and, the first
base flange having a width just equal to the distance from the rear
face to the groove of the facing element.
[0009] There is still yet further provided a starter strip for
supporting stone or brick facing elements in a thin stone or thin
brick wall system, each facing element having a weight, a thickness
and an edge, the edge having a groove therein running along the
edge at a distance from a rear face of the facing elements, the
groove having a length, a width and a depth, the starter strip
comprising: a linking flange that is housed within the groove in
the edge of one or more of the facing elements; the linking flange
depending from a base flange; the base flange depending from a
support flange; the support flange having one or more apertures for
accepting fastening means for fastening the starter strip to a
structural wall; the base flange having a width greater than the
distance from the rear faces to the grooves of the facing elements;
and, the starter strip having a length long enough to span two or
more adjacent facing elements.
[0010] The wall system of the present invention, including the
clips therefor, is useful in constructing so-called "thin stone" or
"thin brick" veneer walls. Thin brick and thin stone differs from
regular brick or stone cladding by virtue of the way in which the
facing element is manufactured and by virtue of the size and weight
of the facing element. Thin stone or thin brick may be manufactured
by splitting concrete blocks and, if desired, further dressing the
outer face of the stone. Thin brick may also be manufactured by
molding clay into brick-shaped objects and firing the clay for
hardness. Thin stone or thin brick is about 1.25 inches thick and
building codes require thin stone or thin brick to be not heavier
than 15 pounds per square foot, as opposed to regular stone which
is typically 3.5 inches thick and may be heavier than 15 pounds per
square foot. The code for thin stone arises primarily from prior
art adhered thin stone cladding systems in which the stone is
affixed to a building by an epoxy adhesive or with metal lath and a
scratch coat of mortar (the so-called "lick & stick"
method).
[0011] The wall system of the present invention advantageously
provides a more versatile, secure and mechanically stronger veneer
wall than has been previously realized in the art for thin stone or
thin brick. Facing elements are easier and faster to install than
in previous systems, and require less skilled labor thereby
permitting general tradesman and even the average building owner to
erect a thin stone or thin brick veneer wall.
[0012] Further, the present wall system advantageously permits
mounting of facing elements on any variety of structural walls
(e.g. wood studs, steel studs and concrete), and may actually
increase the strength of a stud wall, rather than decrease it as is
the case with prior art systems. Additionally, the present system
permits excellent water management and ventilation between the
veneer and the structural wall.
[0013] Yet further, the present wall system advantageously permits
construction of thin stone or thin brick veneer walls having
virtually any kind of appearance. For example, construction of
random bond veneer walls having random size coursing by mixing
different heights and lengths of stone or brick, or single size
coursing with stones or bricks of the same height and length are
both possible using the same wall system. It is also possible to do
big dimensional stone units without sacrificing strength or
appearance. Either a mortar joint wall or a mortarless wall, or
even a mixture of both, may constructed using the present wall
system. Pre-prepared corner facing elements are easily incorporated
into the present wall system and may be used to provide a full
Bed-Depth stone appearance at the corners.
[0014] In a wall system of the present invention, facing elements
preferably have grooves formed and/or cut into both the upper and
lower edges. The grooves preferably run along the edges at a fixed
distance from the rear face of the facing element. Preferably, the
grooves run along the entire length of the upper and lower edges.
The facing elements may also have grooves formed and/or cut into
one or both, preferably both, side edges. The grooves in the side
edges preferably have the same depth and width as those in the
upper and lower edges, and are preferably the same distance from
the rear face. In a particularly preferred embodiment, there is one
continuous groove running along the edges around the perimeter of
the facing element.
[0015] Two types of facing elements may be defined depending on
their location in the wall. A first type is used in the middle of
the wall and the second type is a corner element. The first type of
facing element is generally of a panel type construction having a
rear face, a front (outer) face, upper and lower edges and side
edges. The front face is a surface that presents in one direction
only.
[0016] Corner elements (the second type of facing element) have a
rear face, a front (outer) face, upper and lower edges and side
edges as well, but they generally have complicated profiles so that
the front face presents in two or more directions. Corner elements
are preferably one-piece constructions having parts held together
by connecting pins, the pins preferably set in an adhesive, e.g. an
epoxy adhesive. The pins are preferably steel pins, more preferably
stainless steel or galvanized steel, even more preferably stainless
steel. Such corner elements permit the use of standard sized stones
or bricks while maintaining a clean appearance at corners. In one
example, the corner element is generally L-shaped comprising a
first part attached to a second part. The outer face of the first
part is longer than and at a right angle to the outer face of the
second part. A plurality of such corner elements may be vertically
overlapped alternating the directions of the first and second parts
to provide a veneer wall with a clean looking corner having a full
Bed-Depth appearance.
[0017] In forming a veneer wall, a plurality of facing elements are
mounted on a structural wall and arranged next to each other in a
desired pattern. In order to mount the facing elements on the
structural wall and to link the facing elements to each other, a
plurality of specially designed clips are used. Each clip comprises
a support flange, one or more base flanges, and one or more
connecting flanges for insertion into the grooves in the facing
elements. Each clip is fastened individually to the structural
wall, therefore each facing element is individually secured to the
structural wall leading to improved mechanical strength for the
veneer wall. The profile of each clip depends on its particular
function in the wall system. Three types of clips may be defined
depending on where they are used in the wall system.
[0018] A first type of clip is used between upper and lower facing
elements to link the upper and lower stone facing elements and to
mount the stone facing elements to the structural wall. The first
type of clip has a support flange, one or more base flanges
depending from the support flange, preferably at a right angle, and
one or more connecting flanges depending from the one or more base
flanges, preferably at right angles. Preferably, the support flange
has one or more apertures, preferably one aperture, for accepting
fastening means for fastening the clip to the structural wall. The
one or more connecting flanges are housed within the groove on the
lower edge of the upper facing element and within the groove on the
upper edge of the lower facing element. The one or more connecting
flanges preferably do not bottom-out in the grooves so that the
weight of the facing elements is borne by the base flange.
[0019] The one or more base flanges of the first type of clip have
a width just equal to the distance from the groove to the rear face
of the facing elements. The length of the first clip is preferably
much less than the length of the groove so that the clip may be
positioned at any one of a plurality of positions along the groove.
This provides great versatility in respect of where the clip will
be fastened to the structural wall and the size of the facing
element being used. This versatility leads to the ability to create
virtually any pattern of stone or brick on the veneer wall while
having each stone or brick mounted individually to the structural
wall. This versatility also facilitates retrofitting of old
buildings or sections of old buildings.
[0020] Facing elements for veneer walls may be of any convenient
length and height. For example, some standard heights for stone
include 3.5, 5.5 and 7.5 inches, while some standard lengths
include 5.0, 10.5 and 15.5 inches. For bricks, standard
width.times.height.times.length in inches are, respectively, for
modular size 3.625.times.2.5.times.7.625, for utility size
3.625.times.3.625.times.11.625, and for premier size
3.5.times.3.times.9.75. The lengths and heights of facing elements
can be customized for any particular application. Dimensions of
facing elements are preferably set to allow the system to course
out in an architectural grid. Architectural grids are preferably
4''.times.4'' or 100 mm.times.100 mm depending on location to allow
for windows, openings, corners and overall placement of walls. When
using facing elements of various heights in a single veneer wall,
it is preferable that the height of one bigger facing element is
equal to the height of two smaller facing elements plus the height
of the clip, so that level joint lines can be maintained across the
span of the veneer wall.
[0021] Preferably, the first clip has a length less than half the
length of the groove. However, it is possible to utilize first
clips having lengths of 4-foot or 8-foot, for example, and having
drainage holes in the base flange or flanges for single height
coursing.
[0022] The first clip may be utilized in a similar manner to link
facing elements in a side-by-side arrangement. Instead of orienting
the one or more connecting flanges linking vertically arranged
facing elements, the clip can be positioned to orient the
connecting flanges horizontally. The flanges are then housed within
the grooves on the side edges of adjacent facing elements.
[0023] A first embodiment of the first clip may be utilized in
constructing a veneer wall having mortar joints. The first clip in
the first embodiment has two base flanges in spaced-apart relation
depending from the support flange. An upwardly depending flange
depends from a first base flange and a downwardly depending flange
depends from a second base flange. Therefore, when the upper and
lower stone facing elements are linked by the clip, the
spaced-apart base flanges provide space for a mortar joint between
the upper and lower facing elements. In a similar way, mortar
joints can be formed between horizontally adjacent facing elements.
Preferably, the spaced-apart base flanges are about 10 mm apart,
which automatically provides 10 mm mortar joints over the entire
veneer wall, which is standard in the stone facing industry. Once
the veneer wall has been constructed, the mortar joints may be
filled with mortar by any suitable means, for example, mortar guns,
grout pumps, trowels, etc. Mortar filling the mortar joint helps
prevent the clip from deflecting or collapsing since the mortar
fills the space between the base flanges thereby providing support
for the base flanges. Mortar may also enter the grooves thereby
helping key the upwardly and downwardly depending flanges into the
grooves. This helps strengthen the clip and adds to overall
strength of the wall system.
[0024] A second embodiment of the first clip may be utilized in
constructing a veneer wall having mortar joints. The first clip in
the second embodiment has a cylindrical base flange. Depending
outwardly at a right angle from one end of the cylindrical base
flange is a circular connecting flange. Depending inwardly at a
right angle from the other end of the cylindrical base flange is a
circular support flange. The diameter of the cylindrical base
flange provides spacing for the mortar joint and is preferably
about 10 mm. Since the connecting flange is circular, the
orientation of the clip when fastened to the wall is not important
as the connecting flange will be housed in the grooves of the
facing elements on any side of the clip. Fastening the clip to the
structural wall may be accomplished by inserting the fastening
means (e.g. a screw) through the central bore of the cylindrical
base flange and through an aperture in the support flange. Since
the base flange is cylindrical, both the length and the height of
the clip are equal to the diameter of the base flange. The width of
the clip corresponds to the cylindrical height. Once the veneer
wall has been constructed, the mortar joints may be filled with
mortar by any suitable means, for example, mortar guns, grout
pumps, trowels, etc. Mortar filling the mortar joint helps prevent
the clip from deflecting or collapsing since the mortar fills the
cylindrical bore of the base flange thereby providing support for
the base flanges. Mortar may also enter the grooves thereby helping
key the connecting flange into the grooves. This helps strengthen
the clip and adds to overall strength of the wall system.
[0025] A third embodiment of the first clip may be utilized in
constructing a mortarless veneer curtain wall. The first clip in
the third embodiment has one base flange with upwardly and
downwardly depending flanges depending from one end of the base
flange. Therefore, when the upper and lower facing elements are
linked by the clip there is virtually no space at the joint between
the facing elements. To accommodate the thickness of the base
flange, a thin portion of the edges at the rear face of the facing
elements may be ground to form a seat. The third embodiment of the
first clip can provide consistent horizontal leveling with a
standard spacing (e.g. 0.03125 inches). Stacking facing elements in
such a mortarless veneer curtain wall can give a stacked-stone
appearance. The edges at the front face of the facing elements may
be beveled to make the joint look like a mortar joint. Similarly,
mortarless joints can be formed between horizontally adjacent
facing elements.
[0026] A second type of clip is a sill clip useful for detail
pieces such as window/door surrounds, candles, headers, keystones
and stencil stones. Sills clips are similar to the first embodiment
of the first clip except that they do not have either the upwardly
or downwardly depending flange since there is no facing elements on
one side of the sill clip.
[0027] A third type of clip is a starter strip. Starter strips are
utilized to support facing elements of the veneer wall from below,
from above or from one side, but not from any combination thereof
simultaneously. Starter strips are particularly useful at the very
bottom of the wall, the very top of the wall, the extreme sides of
the wall, or over window or door openings. Starter strips are
useful wherever there is a significant boundary at an edge of the
veneer wall. Starter strips may be straight or curved. Curved
starter strips are particularly useful to span archways and the
like.
[0028] The starter strip has a support flange, a base flange
depending from the support flange, preferably at a right angle, and
a linking flange depending from the base flange, preferably at a
right angle and preferably depending in the same direction as the
support flange. Preferably, the support flange of the starter strip
has one or more apertures, preferably two or more apertures, for
accepting fastening means for fastening the starter strip to the
structural wall. The linking flange is housed within the groove on
the edge of the facing element. The linking flange preferably does
not bottom-out in the groove. Preferably the base flange of the
starter strip has one or more drainage holes for permitting
moisture to escape from the behind the veneer wall.
[0029] The starter strip has a length long enough to span two or
more adjacent facing elements. The starter strip has a length
preferably from about 3 to 12 feet, more preferably about 4 or
about 8 feet. The base flange preferably has a width greater than
the distance from the groove to the rear face of the facing
element. The greater width accommodates other wall elements behind
the facing elements.
[0030] Clips are fastened to the structural wall by fastening
means, for example screws and nails, preferably screws. All clips
and fastening means preferably comprise strong, durable material,
for example plastic and/or steel, in particular galvanized steel or
stainless steel. Stainless steel is preferred.
[0031] Typical wall construction, residential or commercial,
comprises a structural wall clad with a veneer wall. The structural
wall may be wood frame construction (e.g. 2.times.4 or 2.times.6
wood studs), steel frame construction, or poured concrete block
construction. The structural wall preferably includes sheet
material, for example wood-based sheet material (e.g. plywood,
OSB), non-combustible sheet material or combinations thereof,
mounted on the frame. In constructing a thin stone or thin brick
veneer wall with the system of the present invention, clips are
secured to the structural wall, particularly to the sheet material,
and the facing elements set on the clips. The veneer wall is
generally built from the bottom up in courses, and, if desired,
each course is leveled to ensure a consistent appearance over the
entire veneer wall. If mortar joints are used, the mortar joints
are then filled with mortar, for example Type N Mortar, which is
particularly recommended for thin stone applications. Type N Mortar
is 1 part Type N Portland Lime cement mixed with 3 parts masonry
sand. Type N Portland Lime cement is a mixture of 1 part Portland
cement with 1 part hydrated lime. Type N-High Bond mortar (e.g.
Quikrete.TM.) is also particularly useful since it is available in
pre-blended bags, and all one must do is add water.
[0032] Although the wall system of the present invention can be
mounted on a structural wall without any other wall elements, it is
preferable, and often required by building codes, to use other wall
elements, in particular to protect the structural wall from the
effects of moisture. Other wall elements include, for example,
weather-resisting wall wrap (e.g. Tyvek.TM., Typar.TM., etc.),
rubber membranes, vertical drainage board (e.g. J-DRain.TM.), drain
fabric (e.g. felt paper), etc.
[0033] Further features of the invention will be described or will
become apparent in the course of the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood,
embodiments thereof will now be described in detail by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0035] FIG. 1A is perspective view of a thin stone facing element
useful in a wall system of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 1B is a top view of the stone facing element of FIG.
1A;
[0037] FIG. 1C is a side view of the stone facing element of FIG.
1A;
[0038] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a thin stone facing element
having a shorter length than the stone facing element of FIG.
1A;
[0039] FIG. 1E is an enlarged view of a portion of the side view of
FIG. 1C;
[0040] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a corner stone facing
element useful in a wall system of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 2B is a top view of the corner stone facing element of
FIG. 2A;
[0042] FIG. 2C is a right side view of the corner stone facing
element of FIG. 2A;
[0043] FIG. 2D is a left side view of the corner stone facing
element of FIG. 2A;
[0044] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a starter strip of the
present invention;
[0045] FIG. 3B is a side view of the starter strip of FIG. 3A;
[0046] FIG. 3C is a front view of the starter strip of FIG. 3A;
[0047] FIG. 3D is a top view of the starter strip of FIG. 3A;
[0048] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
first clip of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 4B is a side view of the clip of FIG. 4A;
[0050] FIG. 4C is a front view of the clip of FIG. 4A;
[0051] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
first clip of the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 5B is a side view of the clip of FIG. 5A;
[0053] FIG. 5C is a front view of the clip of FIG. 5A;
[0054] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
first clip of the present invention;
[0055] FIG. 6B is a side view of the clip of FIG. 6A;
[0056] FIG. 6C is a front view of the clip of FIG. 6A;
[0057] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a sill clip of the present
invention;
[0058] FIG. 7B is a side view of the sill clip of FIG. 7A;
[0059] FIG. 7C is a front view of the sill clip of FIG. 7A;
[0060] FIG. 8A is a side cross-sectional view of a section of a
wall system of the present invention having mortar joints between
stones; and,
[0061] FIG. 8B is a side cross-sectional view of a section of a
mortarless wall system of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, thin stone facing element 1
comprises front face 2, rear face 3, upper edge 4, lower edge 5 and
two side edges 6. Groove 7 in the upper edge runs the entire length
of the stone facing element from one side to the other side. Groove
8 in the lower edge runs the entire length of the stone facing
element from one side to the other side. The front face of the
stone facing element is dressed for aesthetic appeal since the
front face presents outwardly when mounted in a veneer wall. Stone
facing element 1 is 15.5 inches long by 7.5 inches in height. Stone
facing element 9 depicted in FIG. 1D is the same as stone facing
element 1 except that stone facing element 9 is only 5.0 inches
long. Stone facing elements 1 and 9 may be used together in a thin
stone veneer wall, and together with other sized stone facing
elements if desired, to provide a more random appearance to the
veneer wall.
[0063] Referring specifically to FIG. 1E, an enlarged portion of
the side view depicted in FIG. 1C shows upper edge 4, groove 7 in
the upper edge, a portion of front face 2 and a portion of rear
face 3. Distance A is the thickness of stone facing element 1 and
is 1.25 inches. Distance B is the distance from the groove to the
rear face and is 0.625.+-.0.0625 inches. Distance C is the depth of
groove 7 and is 0.25 -0/+0.125 inches. Distance D is the width of
groove 7 and is 0.086 inches. Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, groove 8 in
lower edge 5 has similar dimensions and location as groove 7 in the
upper edge 4. Groove size and location is similar in stone facing
element 9 of FIG. 1D.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, one-piece corner stone facing
element 10 comprises short part 19a and long part 19b having front
faces 12a, 12b respectively, forming a right angle. Upper edge 14
has groove 17 running the entire length of both the short part and
the long part. Where the short part meets the long part, groove 17
undergoes a change in direction of 90-degrees. Groove 18 in lower
edge 15 is similar to groove 17 in upper edge 14. Left side edge
16a is the side edge of short part 19a and right side edge 16b is
the side edge of long part 19b. The short and long parts have rear
faces 13a,13b respectively. Front faces 12a,12b form the front
(outer) face of the corner stone facing element and rear faces
13a,13b form the rear (inner) face of the corner stone facing
element. In building a corner of a veneer wall, corner stone facing
elements may by stacked with the short and long parts in
alternating directions in order to give a full Bed-Depth appearance
to the corner.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, stainless steel starter strip 20
is 4 feet long and comprises support flange 21 depending upwardly
at a right angle from one edge of base flange 22. Depending
upwardly at a right angle from the other edge of base flange 22 is
linking flange 23. Seven apertures 24 (only one labeled) in support
flange 21 are 0.177 inches in diameter, which is sized to accept #8
stainless steel screws for fastening the starter strip to OSB,
plywood and/or non-combustible sheets of a structural wall. Twelve
drainage holes 25 (only one labeled) in base flange 22 permit
drainage of moisture out the bottom of the starter strip. The first
and last apertures of the seven apertures 24 are each 1.5 inches
from their respective ends of the support flange and apertures 24
are 7.5 inches apart, measured from the centers of the apertures.
The first and last drainage holes of the twelve drainage holes 25
are each 2 inches from their respective ends of the base flange and
drainage holes 25 are 4 inches apart, measured from the centers of
the drainage holes. The drainage holes are 0.25 inches in
diameter.
[0066] Referring specifically to FIG. 3B, a side (end) view of the
starter strip is shown, but not to the same scale as FIGS. 3A, 3C
and 3D. Distance E is the height of the support flange, which is
1.+-.0.125 inches. Distance F is the width of the base flange,
which is 1-0/+0.0625 inches. Distance G is the height of the
linking flange, which is 0.1875+0/-0.03125 inches.
[0067] The starter strip is made by stamping out the desired
apertures and drainage holes in a single flat strip of #24 AWG
stainless steel (0.027 inches thick), and then bending the strip
appropriately to form the starter strip.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, stainless steel clip 30 is useful
for linking upper and lower stone facing elements in a thin stone
veneer wall with mortar joints. Upwardly depending flange 33a
depends upwardly at a right angle from one edge of upper base
flange 32a. Downwardly depending flange 33b depends downwardly at a
right angle from one edge of lower base flange 32b. Upper and lower
base flanges 32a,32b respectively, are parallel to and spaced-apart
from each other to form a mortar joint. Support flange 31 joins
upper and lower base flanges 32a,32b at the ends of the base
flanges opposite the ends from which the upwardly and downwardly
depending flanges depend. Upper base flange 32a depends from
support flange 31 at a right angle from the upper edge of the
support flange. Lower base flange 32b depends from support flange
31 at a right angle from the lower edge of the support flange.
Aperture 34 in support flange 31 is 0.177 inches in diameter, which
is sized to accept a #8 stainless steel screw for fastening the
clip to OSB, plywood or non-combustible sheet of a structural
wall.
[0069] Referring specifically to FIG. 4B, distance H is the height
of the support flange, which is 10.+-.0 mm. This provides a mortar
joint about 10 mm wide. Distance I is the width of the base flange
which is 0.75.+-.0.03125 inches and is about the same as the
distance from a groove in a stone facing element to the rear face
of the stone facing element. Distance I also provides a mortar
joint about 0.75 inches deep. Distance J is the height of the clip,
which is 0.78125 inches. Distance K is the height of upwardly
depending flange 33a, which is 0.1875+0/-0.03125 inches. The height
of downwardly depending flange 33b is the same as the upwardly
depending flange.
[0070] Referring specifically to FIG. 4C, distance L is the
distance from the center of aperture 34 to the edge of the clip,
which is 0.5 inches. Distance M is the length of the clip, which is
1 inch.
[0071] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, stainless steel clip 90 is useful
for linking upper and lower stone facing elements in a thin stone
veneer wall with mortar joints. Circular outwardly depending flange
93 depends outwardly at a right angle from one end of cylindrical
base flange 92. Circular outwardly depending flange 93 is upwardly
depending at 93a and downwardly depending at 93b. Support flange 91
forms a base of cylindrical base flange 92 at the end opposite
outwardly depending flange 93. Support flange 91 depends at a right
angle from and inwardly into cylindrical base flange 92. Aperture
94 in support flange 91 is 0.177 inches in diameter, which is sized
to accept a #8 stainless steel screw for fastening the clip to OSB,
plywood or non-combustible sheet of a structural wall. The
cylindrical shape of base flange 92 and the circular shape of
outwardly depending flange 93 provides n-fold symmetry around an
axis through the middle of base flange 92 and aperture 94, which
removes the need to specifically orient upwardly and downwardly
depending flanges in order to connect upper and lower facing
elements in a thin stone or thin brick wall system.
[0072] Referring specifically to FIG. 5B, distance HH is the
interior diameter of the cylindrical base flange, which is 10.+-.0
mm. This provides a mortar joint about 10 mm wide. Distance II is
the width of the base flange (cylindrical height) which is
0.75.+-.0.03125 inches and is about the same as the distance from a
groove in a stone facing element to the rear face of the stone
facing element. Distance II also provides a mortar joint about 0.75
inches deep. Distance JJ is the height of the clip (circular
diameter of outwardly depending flange 93), which is 0.78125
inches. Distance KK is the distance that outwardly depending flange
93 extends beyond base flange 92, which is 0.1875+0/-0.03125
inches.
[0073] Referring specifically to FIG. 5C, distance LL is the
distance from the center of aperture 94 to the edge of the clip,
which is 0.390625 inches. Distance MM is the length of the clip
(circular diameter of outwardly depending flange 93), which is
0.78125 inches. Distances JJ and MM are the same.
[0074] Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, stainless steel clip 40 is useful
for linking upper and lower stone facing elements in a thin stone
veneer wall with mortarless joints. Upwardly depending flanges 43a
depend upwardly at a right angle from one edge of base flange 42.
Downwardly depending flange 43b depends downwardly at a right angle
from one edge of base flange 42. Support flange 41 depends upwardly
from base flange 42 at a right angle from the end of the base
flange opposite the end from which the upwardly and downwardly
depending flanges depend. Aperture 44 in support flange 41 is 0.177
inches in diameter, which is sized to accept a #8 stainless steel
screw for fastening the clip to OSB, plywood or non-combustible
sheet of a structural wall. Since clip 40 has a single base flange,
the upwardly and downwardly depending flanges meet and no mortar
joint is formed.
[0075] Referring specifically to FIG. 6B, distance N is the height
of the support flange, which is 10 mm. Distance O is the width of
the base flange, which is 0.8125 inches, and is about the same as
the distance from a groove in a stone facing element to the rear
face of the stone facing element. Distance P is the height of
upwardly depending flanges 43a, which is 0.1875+0/-0.03125 inches.
The height of downwardly depending flange 43b is the same as the
upwardly depending flanges.
[0076] Referring specifically to FIG. 6C, distance Q is the length
of downwardly depending flange 43b, which is 0.375 inches. Distance
R is the length of one of the upwardly depending flanges 43a, which
is 0.3125 inches. Both upwardly depending flanges have the same
length. Distance S is the length of the clip, which is 1 inch.
[0077] Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, stainless steel sill clip 50 is
useful for retaining stone facing elements around a window sill in
a thin stone veneer wall with mortar joints. Downwardly depending
flange 53 depends downwardly at a right angle from one edge of
lower base flange 52b. There is no upwardly depending flange. Upper
and lower base flanges 52a,52b respectively, are parallel to and
spaced-apart from each other to form a mortar joint. Support flange
51 joins upper and lower base flanges 52a,52b at the ends of the
base flanges opposite the end of the lower base flange from which
the downwardly depending flange depends. Upper base flange 52a
depends from support flange 51 at a right angle from the upper edge
of the support flange. Lower base flange 52b depends from support
flange 51 at a right angle from the lower edge of the support
flange. Aperture 54 in support flange 51 is 0.177 inches in
diameter, which is sized to accept a #8 stainless steel screw for
fastening the clip to OSB, plywood or non-combustible sheet of a
structural wall.
[0078] Referring specifically to FIG. 7B, distance T is the height
of the support flange, which is 10.+-.0 mm. This provides a mortar
joint about 10 mm wide. Distance U is the width of lower base
flange 52b which is 0.75.+-.0.03125 inches and is about the same as
the distance from a groove in a stone facing element to the rear
face of the stone facing element. Distance U also provides a mortar
joint about 0.75 inches deep. Distance V is the height of the clip,
which is 0.59375 inches. Distance W is the height of downwardly
depending flange 53, which is 0.1875+0/-0.03125 inches.
[0079] Referring specifically to FIG. 7C, distance X is the
distance from the center of aperture 54 to the edge of the sill
clip, which is 0.5 inches. Distance Y is the length of the sill
clip, which is 1 inch.
[0080] Clips may be made by stamping out appropriately spaced
apertures in a single strip of #20 AWG stainless steel (0.0359
inches thick), bending the strip appropriately to form a bent strip
of the correct profile, and then cutting individual clips out of
the bent strip. Also, sill clips may be conveniently produced in
small quantities on a job site by cutting off either the upwardly
or downwardly depending flange of clips of FIG. 4.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 8A, a side cross-sectional view of a
section of a thin stone veneer wall system having mortar joints
depicts upper and lower stone facing elements 101,102 respectively,
mounted to a wood stud wall clad with 5/8'' plywood 103. The upper
and lower stone facing elements are linked by stainless steel clip
30, which is secured to the plywood with #8 stainless steel screw
110. Clip 30 provides for a 10 mm mortar joint 130 between the
upper and lower stone facing elements. Lower stone facing element
102 is retained at its lower edge by starter strip 20, which is
secured to the plywood with #8 stainless steel screw 111. Upper
stone facing element 101 is retained at its upper edge by sill clip
50, which is secured to the plywood with #8 stainless steel screw
112. Sill clip 50 provides for a 10 mm mortar joint 150 beneath
window sill 104.
[0082] Between the plywood and the stone facing elements adjacent
the plywood is a layer of Tyvek.TM. wrap 105. Between the Tyvek.TM.
layer and the stone facing elements is a corrugated vertical
drainage panel, J-DRain.TM. 300, 106, and between the J-DRain.TM.
300 and the stone facing elements is a layer of felt cloth 107 to
prevent mortar from clogging channels in the J-DRain.TM. 300.
Screws 110,112 securing clip 30 and sill clip 50 respectively
pierce the J-DRain.TM. 300 layer since the clips are only about as
wide as the distance from the groove to the rear face of the stone
facing elements. Screw 111 securing starter strip 20 does not
pierce the J-DRain.TM. 300 since the starter strip is wider than
the distance from the groove to the rear face of the stone facing
element and is wide enough to accommodate the stone facing element
and the J-DRain.TM. 300. Drainage holes in the base flange of the
starter strip permit drainage of any moisture caught between the
stone facing elements and the plywood.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 8B, a side cross-sectional view of a
section of a mortarless thin stone veneer wall system depicts upper
and lower stone facing elements 201,202 respectively, mounted to a
wood stud wall clad with OSB 203. The upper and lower stone facing
elements are linked by stainless steel clip 40a, which is secured
to the OSB with #8 stainless steel screw 210. Lower stone facing
element 202 is retained at its lower edge by starter strip 20,
which is secured to the OSB with #8 stainless steel screw 211.
Upper stone facing element 201 is retained at its upper edge by
stainless steel clip 40b, which is secured to the OSB with #8
stainless steel screw 212. Clip 40a provides a standard spacing of
0.0625 inches between upper and lower stone facing elements
201,202. The mortarless thin stone veneer wall continues upwardly
from upper stone facing element 201 in a similar fashion.
[0084] Between the OSB and the stone facing elements adjacent the
plywood is a layer of Tyvek.TM. wrap 205. Between the Tyvek.TM.
layer and the stone facing elements is a corrugated vertical
drainage panel, J-DRain.TM. 300, 206. Screw 210 securing clip 40
pierces the J-DRain.TM. 300 layer since the clip is only about as
wide as the distance from the groove to the rear face of the stone
facing elements. Screw 211 securing starter strip 20 does not
pierce the J-DRain.TM. 300 since the starter strip is wider than
the distance from the groove to the rear face of the stone facing
element and is wide enough to accommodate the stone facing element
and the J-DRain.TM. 300. Drainage holes in the base flange of the
starter strip permit drainage of any moisture caught between the
stone facing elements and the OSB.
[0085] Other advantages which are inherent to the structure are
obvious to one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described
herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the
invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will
be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the
inventor to be encompassed by the following claims.
* * * * *