# US 11,028,596 B2 · Façade system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,596 B2 - Document ID: US11028596B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/633,093 - Filed: 2018-07-24 - Published: 2020-06-04 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-26 - Assignees: Ash & Lacy Holdings Limited - Applicants: Ash & Lacy Holdings Limited - Inventors: Jonathan Evans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028596B2 ## CPC - E04F 13/0803: {with load-supporting elongated furring elements between wall and covering elements} - E04F 13/0825: {engaging side holes preformed into the covering elements} - E04F 13/083: {Hooking means on the back side of the covering elements} - E04F 13/0864: {composed of superposed elements which overlap each other and of which the flat outer surface includes an acute angle with the surface to cover} - E04F 13/0889: {characterised by the joints between neighbouring elements, e.g. with joint fillings or with tongue and groove connections} - E04F 13/12: of metal {or with an outer layer of metal or enameled metal (E04F13/0864 takes precedence)} - E04F 13/18: of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials (of plastic-bound fibres or chips E04F13/16 ){or with an outer layer of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials; plastic tiles (E04F13/0864 takes precedence)} - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract A plank (10) for a fagade system comprises a facia (12), a joining lip (20), and a hook (30). The joining lip (20) is recessed behind and extends alongside the facia (12) to overlap with an adjacent plank. The hook 30 extends behind the facia to engage a wall-mounted retainer (38, FIG. 3D). The plank 10 comprises a rail 26 to conceal the hook (30). In one aspect, the rail 26 extends beyond the hook to abut the wall, to restrict a tilt of the plank. In one aspect, the joining lip 20 comprises alignment features (22) for positioning another retainer (40, FIG. 3D). In one aspect, the facia (12) comprises blind grooves (52, FIG. 8B) mimicking inter-plank interstitial grooves. The aspects individually and combined reduce the resources required for covering a large wall area with aligned cladding facias. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plank for an extruded plank façade system comprising a plurality of such planks as cladding suitable for a vertical walling structure, the plank being of the type comprising a facia, a joining lip, and an attachment hook structure, wherein the joining lip is recessed behind the facia and extends along a side of the facia to be at least partially overlapped by an adjacent facia of another plank to be provided and to define at least part of a joint groove between the facia and the adjacent facia, wherein the attachment hook structure extends back behind the facia to allow the plank to engage, via the attachment hook structure, a retainer fixed to the walling structure, wherein the plank further comprises a rail to at least partially conceal the attachment hook structure, and wherein the joining lip comprises a plurality of alignment features for positioning another retainer to be provided, the other retainer to be engaged by an adjacent plank, wherein the alignment features are arranged on the joining lip, and wherein each alignment feature permits a tight seating with said other retainer at different distances from the facia, such that aligning the other retainer with any one of the alignment features defines an interstitial distance of the joint groove between the facia and the adjacent facia. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, wherein the rail extends back from the facia beyond the attachment hook structure, whereby, when the plank is attached to the walling structure by way of the attachment hook structure on the retainer, the rail abuts the walling structure, thereby limiting a tilt of the plank about the attachment hook structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plank according to claim 2, wherein the attachment hook structure has a contact level with the walling structure where it attaches to the retainer, wherein the rail has a contact level with the walling structure where it contacts the walling structure, and wherein the contact levels of the attachment hook structure and of the rail are spaced apart less than the width of the joining lip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, wherein the joining lip comprises a plurality of one of lip protrusions and lip recesses, the lip protrusions and lip recesses, respectively, constituting alignment features for said retainer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The plank according to claim 4, wherein the lip protrusions are provided by ridges, and/or wherein, respectively, the lip recesses are provided by grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The plank according to claim 4, wherein the alignment features constituted by said plurality of lip protrusions and lip recesses, respectively, are unequally spaced apart with respect to the distance from the facia. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, wherein the attachment hook structure comprises a retainer-engaging face that is inclined relative to the plank plane, such that, the deeper the attachment hook structure is set into the retainer, the closer the plank is held on the walling structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, wherein the facia comprises an outer flat that, when the plank is mounted to the walling structure, faces away from the walling structure, and wherein the facia comprises on the outer flat one or more facia grooves extending parallel to the joining lip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, comprised in a plank arrangement for an extruded plank façade system further comprising said retainer, wherein the retainer comprises an attachment mechanism allowing the retainer to be fixed to a walling structure, a retaining lip for engagement with the attachment hook structure, and a spacing element defining a distance between the walling structure and the retaining lip when the plank is installed on the walling structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The plank according to claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises at least one of a retainer protrusion and a retainer recess for alignment with one of a corresponding lip recess and lip protrusion on the joining lip of the plank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The plank according to claim 9, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a bolt comprising a bolt head arrangement providing the spacing element and the retaining lip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The plank according to claim 11, wherein the bolt head arrangement comprises a flange extending around at least part of the circumference of the bolt head to provide the retaining lip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The plank according to claim 11, wherein the spacing element of the bolt head arrangement is provided by a portion of a shaft of the bolt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The plank according to claim 9, wherein the retainer is dimensioned to be smaller than the space between the attachment hook structure and the rail, thereby avoiding interference of the retainer with the rail's abutment with an underlying walling structure when the attachment hook structure is held on the retaining lip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The plank according to claim 9, wherein the retaining lip comprises an inclined plank-engaging face to engage the attachment hook structure, such that, the deeper the attachment hook structure is set into the tapered plank-engaging face, the closer the plank is held on the walling structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The plank according to claim 1, comprised in a walling structure comprising a plurality of said planks.