Cover For A Building Wall With At Least Two Plate-shaped Components

Abstract

A cover (1), and a building wall (2) with the cover (1), has at least two plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) with top (front) and rear sides (4, 5) arranged at least largely in parallel to the building wall (2). The plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are fastened at spaced locations to the building wall (2) by one or more support element (8). Narrow side (end) surfaces (6) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged obliquely between the front and rear sides (4, 5) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b). The two plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged in relation to one another such that the oblique narrow side surfaces (6) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged plane-parallel and overlap each other in an overlapping area (9) in at least some sections.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a United States National Phase Application of International Application PCT/EP2018/065403 filed Jun. 11, 2018, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of European Application 17 000 991.4, filed Jun. 12, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention pertains to a cover or cladding for a building wall with at least two plate-shaped structural components. With their top (front) sides, which form a visible surface each, and with their rear sides, the plate-shaped structural components are arranged largely parallel to the building wall and are fastened to the building by means of at least one support component at a spaced location from the building wall.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0003] A plurality of respective facing elements having different configurations, which are usually fastened to the building wall at a spaced location by means of a substructure, are known for covering or facing buildings, especially the outer walls thereof. A building facade, which forms, on the one hand, a closed visible surface and protects the wall located under it against weather and makes possible an additional heat insulation at least in many cases, on the other hand, is embodied in many cases by such a facing. Furthermore, such facing elements are used in some cases to produce special design elements on the outer side of the building or to provide a special protective layer.

[0004] A facade panel made of ceramic material for facing a building wall is known, for example, from DE 203 12 122 U1. The facade panel described is intended for rear-ventilated curtain facade structures and has head rebates and foot rebates, with which the panel holders mesh in order to fasten the panels to a substructure and with this to the building wall.

[0005] Further, a facade panel, which is suitable especially for facing areas of a facade located between window openings, is known from DD 295 144 A5. To make it possible to prepare a uniform glass facade, the facade panels described have a transparent glass support, which has a coating on its rear side, so that the outer layer of the facade panels are matched in reflection and hue with that of the insulating glass panes of the windows.

[0006] Substructures, which are fastened to the building, on the one hand, and with suitable fastening devices to the facade panels, on the other hand, are usually provided for fastening facade panels to a building wall that is to be faced. Such a fastening system is described as an example in DE 10 2012 001 131 A1.

[0007] It is problematic in the case of the prior-art systems for covering or facing building walls, which are especially frequently intended for outer walls of buildings, that joints are usually present between the individual plate-shaped structural components because these joints interfere with the aesthetic appearance of the building, on the one hand, and must be sealed, on the other hand, in order to reliably protect the wall located under the panels from weather, especially from penetrating moisture.

SUMMARY

[0008] Based on the prior-art systems for covering or facing building walls as well as on the above-described problems, the basic object of the present invention is to perfect a cover for a building wall such that reliable sealing and protection of the wall, which is associated with this, against environmental effects is ensured, on the one hand, and an optically especially advantageous configuration of a building wall is made possible, on the other hand.

[0009] The above object is accomplished with a cover for a building wall according to the invention. Further, a building wall according to the invention accomplishes the above-described object.

[0010] The present invention pertains to a cover for a building wall with at least two plate-shaped structural components. The plate-shaped structural components are fastened here to the building by means of at least one support element at such a spaced location from the building wall that the top (front) sides forming the respective visible surfaces and the rear sides of the plate-shaped structural components, which said rear sides are located opposite these front sides, are arranged art least largely parallel to the building wall. Provisions are made according to the present invention for at least one of the plate-shaped structural components to have natural stone and for a joint or an abutting edge between the two plate-shaped structural components, whose narrow side surfaces overlap, to extend at least approximately in the horizontal direction. A panel arranged in a higher position at the building wall is in a higher position than the panel arranged under it in the overlapping area at the building wall, so that the front side of the panel arranged in a higher position in the overlapping area forms a visible surface.

[0011] The edges of the facade panels are thus configured according to the present invention in the overlapping area such that especially water is guided from the facade panel fastened in a higher location at the building wall over the joint to the lower facade panel. In the area of the joint, the surface forming the visible surface is in a higher position than the facade panel arranged in a higher position at the building wall and the facade panel arranged under it or in a lower position at the building wall. The terms higher and lower or arranged higher and lower are defined here in reference to the arrangement of the facade panels relative to the ground.

[0012] Based on the special configuration of the facade panels, it is possible to prepare especially narrow joints, on the one hand, and it is ensured, on the other hand, that the penetration of moisture and dirt into the area between the edges of the facade panels is made at least very difficult. It is significant in this connection that at least one of the narrow sides or the respective surface of a plate-shaped structural component is not arranged at right angles to the front side of the panel and to the rear side of the panel, i.e., no 90.degree. angle is formed between the oblique narrow side surface and the surfaces of the front side of the panel as well as the rear side of the panel.

[0013] Based on this configuration, at least one area is arranged at the narrow side of the plate-shaped structural components between the front side and the rear side such that the oblique narrow side surface forms an acute angle with one of the two adjoining surfaces forming the front side and the rear side, while it forms an obtuse angle with the respective other surface. It is, of course, conceivable not only to confer an oblique configuration on one of the narrow side surfaces, but to also arrange at least one of the other narrow side surfaces of a plate-shaped structural component obliquely between the front side and the rear side. If two narrow side surfaces of a plate-shaped structural component, which side surfaces do not adjoin one another, are arranged obliquely between the respective front side of the panel and the rear side of the panel, it is further advantageously conceivable in this case that these narrow side surfaces are located either in two parallel planes or else in planes extending at right angles in relation to one another.

[0014] According to the present invention, at least one of the plate-shaped structural components is manufactured from natural stone. An especially attractive configuration of the facade is possible if plate-shaped structural components are manufactured from natural stone, especially granite, marble or limestone. In addition, it is conceivable that at least one of the plate-shaped structural components has ceramic or metal, for example, aluminum, or else a composite, especially a composite that contains fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers, wood flour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.

[0015] According to another configuration of the present invention, at least one coating is applied to at least one of the plate-shaped structural components. Such a coating may be optionally a suitable surface sealing compound, which is prepared, for example, with a varnish, and/or a functional coating, which possesses, for example, especially reflection properties, and/or dirt-repellent properties.

[0016] The present invention also pertains otherwise to a building wall, which has a cover configured according to the present invention with at least two plate-shaped structural components. The at least two plate-shaped structural components, especially facade panels, are arranged with their main extension direction, i.e., with their outer and rear sides or the corresponding surfaces, at least approximately parallel to and at spaced locations from the building wall and are fastened to the building, preferably to the building wall, by means of at least one support element. The plate-shaped structural components are preferably fastened such that an air gap, which makes possible a rear ventilation of the plate-shaped structural components and hence a ventilation of the covered or faced building wall, is formed between the rear side of the plate-shaped structural components and the building wall. It is, of course, likewise conceivable to provide a heat insulation between the plate-shaped structural components and the building wall. According to a special variant, the building wall according to the present invention is characterized in that an insulating material, which contains Styropor, cellulose, polyurethane and/or rock wool, is provided in at least some sections between the building wall and at least one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components, which cover the building wall. It is likewise conceivable, in principle, to provide, in at least some sections, an insulation plaster between the plate-shaped structural components and the building wall, which insulation plaster is preferably at least a part of the support element at the same time.

[0017] Substructures that are fastened to the plate-shaped structural components, on the one hand, and to the building wall, on the other hand, are preferably considered for use as support element. It is conceivable, in principle, in this connection that such substructures are fastened to the building wall and/or to the plate-shaped structural components by suitable anchors, screw-wall plug combinations or by bonding. As an alternative to a substructure, it is likewise conceivable, in principle, that the support element has at least one adhesive or mortar and establishes an adhesive connection between the building wall and the plate-shaped structural component. The plate-shaped structural components are arranged at a spaced location from the building wall in this case as well.

[0018] Based on the oblique and overlapping arrangement of the narrow side surfaces, the individual plate-shaped structural components, which cover or face the structural component, can be mounted especially close to one another. According to a special variant of the present invention, a joint or an abutting edge between the two plate-shaped structural components, whose narrow side surfaces overlap, extends at least approximately in the horizontal direction. It is, of course, conceivable in addition or as an alternative that at least one joint or an abutting edge extends between the two plate-shaped structural components, whose narrow side surfaces overlap, at least approximately in the vertical direction.

[0019] It is especially advantageous if the overlapping area between the two plate-shaped structural components is arranged such that the panel arranged in a higher position at the building wall is in a higher location than the panel arranged under it in the overlapping area at the building wall, so that the front side of the panel arranged in the higher position in the overlapping area forms the visible surface and liquid running off from the top, especially water, is guided from the upper panel onto the lower panel, without penetrating into the joint between the panels. The advantage of the present invention is achieved now to the full extent, because joints between the individual plate-shaped structural components are avoided at least largely, on the one hand, and an especially suitable drip edge is formed by the overlapping arrangement of the oblique narrow side surface, on the other hand. Liquid running along the front sides of the plate-shaped structural components is thus reliably guided from one panel to the next without this liquid penetrating into the joints. The penetration of dirt is, of course, also prevented to a great extent and the cleaning of the surface of a building is facilitated due to the fact that the width of the joints is minimized, because an at least nearly closed surface is provided when the present invention is used.

[0020] The present invention will be explained in more detail below without limiting the general inventive idea with reference to the exemplary embodiments on the basis of the figures. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of two plate-shaped structural components configured according to the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a building wall with a cover attached thereto with plate-shaped structural components;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the visible surface of a building facade, which has plate-shaped structural components configured according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows in a sectional view two plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b, which are configured according to the present invention and are therefore suitable in a preferred manner for use as a cover 1 or facing of a building wall 2. The viewing direction "A" is directed towards the outer side or top (front) side of the cover 1. An overlapping area 9, in which obliquely arranged, narrow side surfaces 6 of the panels 3a, 3b are located opposite each other, is essential in the configuration of the two panels 3a, 3b, which have each a comparatively large-area top (front) side 4 acting as a visible surface and a rear side 5 located opposite to this front side 4. Such a configuration and arrangement of the narrow side (end) surfaces 6 of the plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b ensures that a joint 7 extending in FIG. 1 at right angles to the image plane can be minimized, so that the area between and behind the plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b is reliably protected against the penetration of moisture, against dirt and/or other environmental effects.

[0026] The plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b shown in FIG. 1, especially their oblique narrow side surfaces 6, are configured and arranged such that the upper panel 3a covers in the overlapping area 9 the lower panel 3b, so that liquid, which runs downwards from the top along the front side 4 of the upper panel 3a, is guided reliably onto the front side 4 of the lower panel 3b. An especially suitable drip edge, which ensures that liquid running off along the front side 4 of the upper panel 3a will not enter the joint 7 or the gap between the two panels 3a, 3b, is thus provided due to the wedge-shaped configuration of the upper panel 3a in the overlapping area 9. In addition to the advantage that the area located on the rear side 5 of the panels 3a, 3b is reliably protected against environmental effects, an aesthetically especially attractive visible surface is provided in this manner, which can, moreover, be cleaned in a comparatively simple manner and thoroughly because of the especially small joints 7 or abutting edges between the panels 3a, 3b.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows in a sectional view a detail of a building outer wall 2, on which plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b are fastened by means of a substructure acting as a support element 8. The viewing direction towards the outer or front side of the cover 1 is again marked by "A". According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2, a rear-ventilated facade is provided by the spaced location of the plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b from the building wall 2 and from the air gap thus formed.

[0028] The narrow side surfaces 6 extending at right angles to the image plane also have an oblique configuration and are arranged such that they overlap one another in the technical configuration according to FIG. 2 as well. The narrow side surfaces 6 of a panel 3a, 3b extend obliquely between the adjoining front side 4, which forms a visible surface, and the rear side 5 located opposite this. Based on this arrangement of the oblique narrow side surfaces 6, the narrow side surface 6 of the upper panel 3a forms an acute angle .alpha. with the front side 4 or the corresponding surface, while an obtuse angle .beta. is formed between the narrow side surface 6 and the rear side 5 of the panel 3a, which said rear side faces the building wall 2. This is precisely reversed in the case of the adjacent lower panel 3b, so that the oblique surfaces 6 thus formed are located opposite each other and define a constant gap from two sides.

[0029] As it was already explained in connection with the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows that based on the configuration and arrangement according to the present invention of the narrow side surfaces 6 of two plate-shaped structural components 3a, 3b, which side surfaces are located opposite each other, a comparatively small joint 7 is formed between the panels 3a, 3b and the panels 3a, 3b may even be arranged with a butt joint in at least some areas if desired and especially if no rear-ventilated facade shall be provided. At any rate, the shown embodiment and arrangement of the oblique narrow surfaces 6 of the panels 3a, 3 ensures that the joints 7 between the panels 3a, 3b and/or the areas arranged behind the panels 3a, 3b are reliably protected from environmental effects, such as precipitation and dirt. Further, a uniform surface is created in this manner, which makes do at least almost without joints 7 interfering with the aesthetic appearance and makes possible a comparatively simple cleaning of the visible surface.

[0030] Finally, FIG. 3 shows the front view of a building facade, which has a cover 1 or facing of the building outer wall 2 or building wall, which cover or facing is configured according to the present invention. It can be clearly seen that the individual rectangular facade panels 3a, 3b are mounted with the butt joint at least approximately, so that the joints are at least very small. This is achieved, in turn, due to the fact that the individual facade panels 3a, 3b have, on their narrow sides 6, surfaces extending obliquely between the top and rear sides 4, 5 on their narrow sides 6, which are arranged parallel opposite each other in an overlapping area 9.

[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 3, all four narrow side surfaces 6, i.e., both the long narrow side surfaces and the short narrow side surfaces, have an oblique configuration, and side surfaces 6 located on opposite sides of the panels 3a, 3b are arranged obliquely in such a manner that these surfaces are located in parallel planes. A panel 3a, 3b, which is a part of a wall facing 1 according to the present invention, is located in this manner in the respective overlapping areas 9 along the circumference of the panel 3a, 3b partially above and partially under the adjacent panels 3a, 3b. It is, however, especially significant in this connection that the upper panel of the two adjacent panels 3a, 3b is located higher in their overlapping area 9 than the lower panel, so that especially water running off from the top will reliably reach the front side 4 of the lower panel 3b via the overlapping area 9 from the front side 4 of the upper panel 3a, without penetrating into the joint 7 extending in the horizontal direction between the two panels 3a, 3b.

[0032] The great advantage of the present invention can consequently be seen in the fact that moisture reaching the top surface or visible surface of the plate-shaped structural components, which cover or face a building wall in at least some areas, can run off without problems. It is reliably avoided, above all, that liquid dripping off from the lower edge of an upper panel would penetrate into the joint and/or into an area located behind the panels. A building wall, especially a building outer wall, can thus be effectively protected against weather and dirt. At the same time, the configuration and arrangement according to the present invention of the plate-shaped structural components makes it possible to obtain an at least almost closed upper or visible surface, which is meaningful based on aesthetic aspects. Moreover, an at least almost closed surface without joints or with only very narrow joints offers the advantage that this closed surface can be cleaned in an especially simple manner and effectively.

[0033] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

1. A cover for a building wall, the cover comprising: at least two plate-shaped structural components, each of the structural components comprising: a front side and a rear side configured parallel to the front side, the front side and the rear side being each configured to be arranged at least largely parallel to the building wall and fastened to the building at a spaced location from the building wall by means of at least one support element; upper and lower oblique narrow side surfaces arranged obliquely between the front side and the rear side of the plate-shaped structural components, wherein the two plate-shaped structural components are arranged in relation to one another such that the oblique narrow side surfaces of the plate-shaped structural components are arranged plane-parallel in relation to one another and overlap each other at least in some areas in an overlapping area, wherein: at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprises natural stone, the arrangement in relation to one another the two plate-shaped structural components defines a joint or an abutting edge between the two plate-shaped structural components with the oblique narrow side surfaces overlaping each other, and the joint extends at least approximately in a horizontal direction, and one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components is in a higher position than the another one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components to provide a higher panel and a panel arranged under the higher panel at the building wall in the overlapping area, the front side of the higher panel forms a visible surface in the overlapping area.

2. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprises ceramic.

3. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprises a metal.

4. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components is manufactured at least partially of a composite.

5. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one coating is applied to at least one of the plate-shaped structural components.

6. A building wall and cover combination comprising: a building wall; a support element arrangement comprising at least one support element, the support element arrangement being connected to the building wall; and a cover fastened to the the support element arrangement, the cover comprising: at least two plate-shaped structural components, each of the structural components comprising: a front side and a rear side configured parallel to the front side, the front side and the rear side being each configured to be arranged at least largely parallel to the building wall and fastened to the building at a spaced location from the building wall by means of at least one support element; upper and lower oblique narrow side surfaces arranged obliquely between the front side and the rear side of the plate-shaped structural components, wherein the two plate-shaped structural components are arranged in relation to one another such that the oblique narrow side surfaces of the plate-shaped structural components are arranged plane-parallel in relation to one another and overlap each other at least in some areas in an overlapping area, wherein: at least one of the plate-shaped structural components has comprises natural stone, the arrangement in relation to one another the two plate-shaped structural components defines a joint or an abutting edge between the two plate-shaped structural components, with the oblique narrow side surfaces overlaying each other, and the joint extends at least approximately in a horizontal direction, and one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components is in a higher position than the another one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components to provide a higher panel and a panel arranged under the higher panel at the building wall in the overlapping area, the front side of the higher panel forms a visible surface in the overlapping area.

7. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the building wall is configured as a building outer wall.

8. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the joint, arranged between the two beveled narrow side surfaces of the plate-shaped structural components at least approximately horizontally.

9. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein air is arranged in at least some sections between the building wall and at least one of the plate-shaped elements.

10. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an insulating material, which contains Styropor, cellulose, polyurethane and/or rock wool, is arranged at least in some sections between the building wall and at least one of the plate-shaped elements.

11. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprises ceramic.

12. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprises a metal.

13. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components is manufactured at least partially of a composite.

14. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 13, wherein the composite comprises fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers, wood flour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.

15. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one coating is applied to at least one of the plate-shaped structural components.

16. A cover in accordance with claim 4, wherein the composite comprises fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers, wood flour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.

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