Furring Strip With Interlocking Feature For Securing Cladding Material

Abstract

Disclosed is an entirely new metal or other material furring strip based on a “hat channel” design that incorporation a new interlocking feature that helps installers use these strips on vertical (cladding) applications. The hat channel design is any shape that comprises a cross sectional shape of an upside down u-shape with flaps on the bottom extending outwardly similar to the outline of a hat.

1 . An interlocking furring strip comprising a supporting base section and at least one lip attached on at least one side of the base, a pair of resilient legs extending from one end of the base, each one of the legs having a tab oriented at an angle from a plane defined by the legs, the tab for positively securing and supporting one or more furring strips inserted therebetween by a movement toward the base section. 
     
     
         2 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1 , further including a receiving end opposite the end having the resilient legs, the receiving end having two flaps that define an opening and the side of the base defining a vertical slot for receiving the tab and the flaps clip into the slot to form an interlocking furring strip. 
     
     
         3 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1  wherein the furring strip is covered in a coating to provide visual concealment and/or increased weather protection and/or prevent thermal bridging. 
     
     
         4 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1  wherein the furring strip is made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, composite, concrete, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1  wherein at least one lip has a pre-dilled hole. 
     
     
         6 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1  wherein the lip has a bottom further containing an insulative material. 
     
     
         7 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 6  wherein the insulative material is selected from a group consisting of rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoset, fiberglass, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1  wherein the lip is either continuous or intermittent along the side of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is oriented at about 90 degrees from the legs. 
     
     
         10 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1 , wherein the furring strip is configured in a hat channel design to provide a channel therein. 
     
     
         11 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 10 , wherein the channel is tapered. 
     
     
         12 . An interlocking furring strip comprising a supporting base section and at least one lip attached on at least one side of the supporting base section, an inserting end with a pair of resilient legs extending from one end of the supporting base section, wherein each of the legs is parallel and oriented at an angle from a plane defined by the supporting base section, wherein the pair of resilient legs are for positively securing and supporting one or more furring strips inserted therebetween by a movement parallel to the supporting base section. 
     
     
         13 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12 , further including a receiving end opposite an inserting end, wherein the receiving end has a second pair of resilient legs parallel to the supporting base section, wherein the supporting base section defines an opening, the second pair of resilient legs for positively securing and supporting one or more furring strips inserted therein. 
     
     
         14 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein the supporting base section is covered in a coating for providing a visual concealment, or a weather protection, or a prevention from thermal bridging, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein the supporting base section is made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, composite, concrete, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein the supporting base section is made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, composite, concrete, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein at the least one lip defines a pre-dilled hole. 
     
     
         18 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein the lip has a bottom further containing an insulative material. 
     
     
         19 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 17  wherein the insulative material is selected from a group consisting of rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoset, fiberglass, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12  wherein the lip is either continuous or intermittent along a side of the supporting base section. 
     
     
         21 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12 , wherein the furring strip is configured in a hat channel design for providing a channel therein. 
     
     
         22 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 12 , wherein the channel is tapered. 
     
     
         23 . The interlocking furring strip of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting base section defines a slot and wherein the tab clips into the slot.