Covering element support arrangement

Abstract

A covering element support arrangement for attaching covering elements to a building and/or a building component having a carrier means for receiving covering elements thereon, the carrier means comprising a metal plate comprising a plurality of apertures disposed thereon for being engaged by mechanical fastening means for fixing the covering elements to the carrier means, wherein the plurality of apertures are aligned in a predetermined bond pattern.

1 . A covering element support arrangement for attaching covering elements to a building and/or a building component, the covering element support arrangement comprising a carrier means for receiving covering elements thereon, the carrier means comprising a metal plate comprising a plurality of apertures disposed thereon for being engaged by mechanical fastening means for fixing the covering elements to the carrier means, wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in a predetermined bond pattern. 
     
     
         2 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are elongate apertures. 
     
     
         3 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate apertures comprise a major axis, wherein the major axes of at least some of the elongate apertures are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the metal plate of the carrier means. 
     
     
         4 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are arranged in a row extending longitudinally along the metal plate, wherein the apertures arranged in the row are generally spaced apart over a longitudinal dimension of the metal plate. 
     
     
         5 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are arranged in a plurality of rows extending longitudinally along the metal plate, wherein the apertures of each row are generally spaced apart over a longitudinal dimension of the metal plate and wherein the plurality of rows are generally spaced apart from one another over a width dimension of the metal plate. 
     
     
         6 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of apertures are located adjacent two opposing longitudinal edge portions of the metal plate. 
     
     
         7 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the apertures located adjacent to two opposing longitudinal edge portions of the metal plate are elongate apertures having a major axis, wherein the major axes of the apertures are oriented in a widthwise direction of the metal plate. 
     
     
         8 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein less than 50% of the carrier means is open. 
     
     
         9 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein between 1% and 20% of the carrier means is open. 
     
     
         10 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the length of the apertures is between 10 mm and 50 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distance between adjacent apertures is greater than 5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment means for attaching the covering elements to the carrier means, the attachment means comprising the mechanical fastening means, wherein the mechanical fastening means are engageable with the plurality of apertures and the covering elements to fix the covering elements to the carrier means. 
     
     
         13 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical fastening means comprises at least one bracket engageable with two adjacent covering elements for fixing the adjacent covering elements to the carrier means. 
     
     
         14 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the bracket is manoeuvrable laterally between adjacent covering elements when located in the gap between covering elements and/or is rotatable about its axis when located between two adjacent covering elements such that it can be maneuvered to align with an attachment means receiving means on the carrier means to enable fixing thereto. 
     
     
         15 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein, the, or each, bracket comprises a base that is fixable to the carrier means, the base comprising an aperture, hole or slot for allowing a fixing means to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the base of the or each bracket comprises an elongate aperture for allowing a fixing means to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the or each bracket comprises an engagement means for engaging with one or more covering elements, wherein the engagement means is shaped such that it does not obscure the view of the base of the bracket in use. 
     
     
         18 . A covering element support arrangement as claimed in any  claim 17 , wherein the or each bracket comprises a pillar for connecting the base to the engagement means. 
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a support arrangement for covering elements attachable to a building or building component, the method comprising: providing a carrier means for receiving at least one covering element; and forming a plurality of apertures in the carrier means, wherein the apertures are engageable by mechanical fastening means for fixing covering elements to the carrier means, and wherein the apertures are arranged in a predetermined bond pattern. 
     
     
         20 . A covering element support arrangement for attaching covering elements to a building or building component, the covering element support arrangement comprising a carrier means for receiving covering elements thereon, the covering element support arrangement comprising attachment means for attaching covering elements to the carrier means, the attachment means comprising mechanical fastening means that can be fastened to the carrier means and that are engageable with covering elements to fix the covering elements to the carrier means, the mechanical fastening means comprising a bracket for fixing two adjacent covering elements to a carrier means, the carrier means comprising a plurality of attachment means receiving means for receiving the mechanical fastening means to fix the mechanical fastening means to the carrier means, wherein the bracket is configured such that it is manoeuvrable laterally between adjacent covering elements when located in the gap between covering elements and/or is rotatable about its axis when located between two adjacent covering elements such that it can be maneuvered to align with an attachment means receiving means on the carrier means to enable fixing thereto.