Facade structure

Abstract

A slip brick arrangement for use in a façade cladding system comprises a slip brick and a spacer element (20c). The slip brick comprises at least one rail-engaging groove to engage with a brick-retaining rail to be provided. The spacer element (20c) comprises a main spacer body (22c) to be positioned inside the rail-engaging groove. The main spacer body (22c) comprises a protrusion (32c) to hinder sliding of the spacer element (20c) towards the brick-retaining rail. A variant of the spacer element (20c) is made from an unitary sheet providing a main spacer body (22c) and an arm (24) extending from the main spacer body (22c) to engage in the rail-engaging groove, wherein the main spacer body (22c) comprises a lanced portion (28) providing the protrusion (32c). The spacer element (20c) helps to retain a slip brick in an intended position.

1 . A slip brick arrangement for use in a façade cladding system, the slip brick arrangement comprising a slip brick and a spacer element, wherein the slip brick comprises at least one rail-engaging groove to engage with a brick-retaining rail to be provided, and wherein the spacer element comprises a main spacer body at least part of which is to be positioned inside the rail-engaging groove, and wherein the main spacer body comprises a protrusion to hinder sliding of the spacer element towards the brick-retaining rail. 
     
     
         2 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising an arm extending from said main spacer body, the arm constituting a part to be positioned inside the rail-engaging groove to hold a portion of the main spacer body laterally on the slip brick thereby to maintain a distance between the slip brick and another slip brick to be provided. 
     
     
         3 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element comprises a generally planar surface portion and the protrusion extends away from the planar surface portion. 
     
     
         4 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element is made from sheet metal. 
     
     
         5 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided by a tab. 
     
     
         6 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is integral with the main spacer body. 
     
     
         7 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the main spacer body is made from spring steel. 
     
     
         8 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the main spacer body is arched. 
     
     
         9 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is located on a concave side of the main spacer body. 
     
     
         10 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the protrusion protrudes outside the concave side of the main spacer body. 
     
     
         11 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is located near an end of the main spacer body. 
     
     
         12 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion provides an abutment surface opposite the rail-engaging groove whereby the arm is urged into the rail-engaging groove when the protrusion abuts against the brick-retaining rail. 
     
     
         13 . A spacer element for use with a slip brick to be provided, the slip brick being of the type comprising a rail-engaging groove, wherein the spacer element is made from an unitary sheet providing a main spacer body and an arm extending from the main spacer body to engage in the rail-engaging groove, wherein the main spacer body comprises a lanced portion providing a protrusion. 
     
     
         14 . The spacer element of  claim 13 , wherein the main spacer body is made from spring steel. 
     
     
         15 . The spacer element of  claim 13 , wherein the main spacer body is arched. 
     
     
         16 . The spacer element of  claim 13 , wherein protrusion is located on a concave side of the main spacer body. 
     
     
         17 . The spacer element of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the protrusion protrudes outside the concave side of the main spacer body. 
     
     
         18 . The spacer element of  claim 13 , comprised in a façade cladding system. 
     
     
         19 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 18 , comprising a plurality of slip bricks carried between brick-retaining rails, wherein the rail-engaging grooves of the slip bricks extend vertically. 
     
     
         20 . The slip brick arrangement of  claim 18 , comprised in a horizontally extending façade.