Panel assembly, panel system and panelling method

Abstract

A panel assembly includes a panel with rear and front surfaces, a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel, and one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail. The one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate while connected to the panel via the first rail.

1 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising rear and front surfaces;   a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel;   one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail;   wherein the one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate, while connected to the panel via the first rail.   
     
     
         2 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a fixing portion of each bracket extends beyond an edge of the panel, said fixing portion being configured to be fixed to the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The panel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fixing portion comprises one or more openings configured to accept a mechanical fixing. 
     
     
         4 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion extends beyond the edge of the panel sufficiently to allow access to the fixing portion by a device configured to drive a mechanical fixing. 
     
     
         5 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a reference edge and the first rail is arranged substantially at the reference edge. 
     
     
         6 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein only one first rail is provided and only the brackets connected to the one first rail are configured to be fixed to a substrate while connected to the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The panel assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the panel is configured to be fixedly attached to the substrate only via the one first rail and the brackets connected thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the fixed attachment is provided by one or more mechanical fixings. 
     
     
         9 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail comprises one or more rail engaging parts, and each bracket comprises one or more bracket engaging parts respectively configured to engage with each other to connect each bracket to the first rail. 
     
     
         10 . The panel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more rail engaging parts comprises a female part and the one or more bracket engaging parts comprise a male part. 
     
     
         11 . The panel assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more rail engaging parts comprises a first wall substantially parallel to the rear surface of the panel, and a second wall substantially parallel to the rear surface of the panel, wherein a gap is provided between the first and second walls; and
 the one or more bracket engaging parts comprises a third wall configured to fit into the gap between the first and second walls of the one or more rail engaging parts.   
     
     
         12 . The panel assembly of  claim 9 , comprising two rail engaging parts and two respective bracket engaging parts. 
     
     
         13 . The panel assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the two rail engaging parts are arranged at opposing edges of the first rail. 
     
     
         14 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each bracket is configured to slide along the first rail. 
     
     
         15 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each bracket is configured to slide onto the first rail to connect the bracket to the first rail. 
     
     
         16 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each bracket comprises a body portion extending substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the panel and connected at a first end to the first rail, and a fixing portion extending substantially parallel to the rear surface of the panel at a second end of the body portion opposite the first end. 
     
     
         17 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each bracket comprises an abutment portion configured to provide a surface for abutment against further panel assembly positioned adjacent the panel assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The panel assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the abutment portion extends beyond an edge of the panel. 
     
     
         19 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail is fixed to the rear surface of the panel by one or more mechanical fixings. 
     
     
         20 . The panel assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more mechanical fixings passes completely through the panel. 
     
     
         21 . The panel assembly of  claim 1  comprising a finishing layer connected to the front surface of the panel. 
     
     
         22 . The panel assembly of  claim 20 , comprising a finishing layer connected to the front surface of the panel, wherein the finishing layer is arranged to cover the one or more mechanical fixings. 
     
     
         23 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second rail, wherein the second rail is configured to connect to one or more further brackets that are each fixed to the substrate. 
     
     
         24 . The panel assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the first rail and second rail are arranged substantially at opposite edges of the panel to each other. 
     
     
         25 . The panel assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the second rail comprises a flange configured to abut the edge of the panel at which the second rail is arranged. 
     
     
         26 . The panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly is assembled prior to fixing the panel assembly to the substrate. 
     
     
         27 . A kit of parts for assembling the panel assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least one first rail and at least one bracket. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of parts of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one panel. 
     
     
         29 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising front and rear surfaces;   a rail connected to the rear surface of the panel;   one or more adjustment fixings, connected to the rail and configured to engage with a respective adjustment bracket fixed to a substrate, and the distance between each adjustment bracket and the rear surface of the panel is adjustable by actuating the adjustment fixing.   
     
     
         30 . The panel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the adjustment fixing comprises a head and a threaded shaft and is arranged to pass through an opening in the rail such that the head faces the rear surface of the panel and the threaded portion extends substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the panel and is free to rotate within the opening in the rail;
 the threaded shaft of the mechanical fixing is configured to engage with a threaded opening in each adjustment bracket fixed to a substrate; and   the distance between each adjustment bracket and the rear surface of the panel is adjustable by rotating the mechanical fixing.   
     
     
         31 . The panel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the panel comprises an opening for access to each adjustment fixing for actuating the adjustment fixing from the front side of the panel. 
     
     
         32 . The panel assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising one or more adjustment brackets. 
     
     
         33 . The panel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein each adjustment bracket comprises a body portion extending substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the panel and comprising the threaded opening at a first end, and a fixing portion extending substantially parallel to the rear surface of the panel at a second end of the body portion opposite the first end. 
     
     
         34 . A kit of parts for assembling the panel assembly of  claim 29 , comprising at least one rail and at least one adjustment fixing. 
     
     
         35 . The kit of parts of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one bracket. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of parts of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one panel. 
     
     
         37 . A panel system comprising a plurality of panel assemblies fixed to a substrate, wherein the panel assemblies are:
 according to  claim 29 ; and/or   comprising:
 a panel comprising rear and front surfaces, 
 a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel, 
 one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail; and 
   wherein the one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate, while connected to the panel via the first rail.   
     
     
         38 . The panel system of  claim 37 , comprising:
 a start-of-run panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising rear and front surfaces; 
 a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel; and 
 one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail, wherein the one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate, while connected to the panel via the first rail; 
 a second rail, wherein the second rail is configured to connect to one or more further brackets that are each fixed to the substrate, and wherein the first rail and second rail are arranged substantially at opposite edges of the panel to each other; 
   a mid-run panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising rear and front surfaces; 
 a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel; and 
 one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail, wherein the one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate, while connected to the panel via the first rail; and 
   wherein the panel assemblies are fixed to the substrate in a run starting with the start-of-run panel assembly.   
     
     
         39 . The panel system of  claim 38 , comprising an end-of-run panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising front and rear surfaces;   a rail connected to the rear surface of the panel; and   one or more adjustment fixings, connected to the rail and configured to engage with a respective adjustment bracket fixed to a substrate, and the distance between each adjustment bracket and the rear surface of the panel is adjustable by actuating the adjustment fixing; and   wherein the run ends with the end-of-run panel assembly.   
     
     
         40 . The panel system of  claim 37 , wherein adjacent panel assemblies to abut each other at respective adjacent edges, such that brackets fixing a first panel assembly to the substrate are covered by the panel of a second panel assembly. 
     
     
         41 . A method of panelling a substrate comprising fixing the panel system according to  claim 37  to the substrate. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , comprising assembling each panel assembly prior to fixing the panel assembly to the substrate. 
     
     
         43 . A method of manufacturing a panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising rear and front surfaces,   a first rail connected to the rear surface of the panel,   one or more brackets connected to the first rail and configured to travel along the first rail, wherein the one or more brackets are configured to be fixed to a substrate, while connected to the panel via the first rail; or   according to  claim 29 ;   the method comprising forming openings configured to receive mechanical fixing for connecting the rail by computer controlled machining, prior to connecting the rail to the rear surface of the panel.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the panels are additionally cut to size during the computer controlled machining. 
     
     
         45 . A building comprising the panel system of  claim 37 . 
     
     
         46 . The building of  claim 45  comprising at least a ground floor building module and a first floor building module.