# US 2013/0152498 A1 · Polymer-based bracket system for exterior cladding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152498 A1 - Document ID: US20130152498A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/763,915 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-04 - Assignees: Advanced Architectural Products, LLC - Inventors: G. Matt Krause - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152498A1 ## CPC - E04F 13/0821: {the additional fastening elements located in-between two adjacent covering elements} - E04B 1/61: of slab-shaped building elements with each other - E04B 1/7629: {Details of the mechanical connection of the insulation to the wall} - E04B 9/28: with the slabs, {panels,} sheets or the like having grooves engaging with horizontal flanges of the supporting construction or accessory means connected thereto - E04C 2/243: {one at least of the material being insulating} - E04C 2/388: {with a frame of other materials, e.g. fibres, plastics} - E04F 13/0817: {extending completely through the covering elements} - E04F 13/0826: {engaging side grooves running along the whole length of the covering elements} - E04F 13/0828: {engaging the outer surface of the covering elements, e.g. at the corners} - E04F 13/12: of metal {or with an outer layer of metal or enameled metal (E04F13/0864 takes precedence)} - E04B 2001/389: {Brackets} - E04C 2/20: of plastics - E04F 13/07: composed of covering or lining elements; Sub-structures therefor; Fastening means therefor - E04F 13/08: composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements, (E04F13/072 takes precedence; borders, skirtings E04F19/02; {of webs or fabrics E04F13/002; fixing strips E04F19/06; separate provisional spacers between adjacent tiles E04F21/0092; implements or means for setting tiles E04F21/18}) - E04F 13/0801: {Separate fastening elements (E04F13/088, E04F13/0885 take precedence)} - E04F 13/0803: {with load-supporting elongated furring elements between wall and covering elements} - E04F 13/081: {with additional fastening elements between furring elements and covering elements} - E04F 2201/01: Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) ## Abstract A system for supporting exterior panels or cladding units on a building substrate. The system includes a plurality of polymeric bracket members, wherein each of the polymeric bracket members further includes an anchor section, adapted to be coupled to the building substrate, and a support section adapted to couple to the exterior cladding unit. In assembly, as disposed between the building substrate and the exterior cladding units, the polymeric bracket members provide a thermal break from the exterior cladding units to the building substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A building wall construction comprising: a building substrate; a layer of insulation disposed within an interior cavity of the wall construction adjacent to the building substrate; a plurality of polymeric brackets coupled to the building substrate; one or more exterior cladding units coupled to the polymeric brackets; and wherein, the polymeric brackets have a low thermal conductivity, and further wherein the wall construction is free of thermal bridges between the one or more exterior cladding units and the building substrate, such that condensation formed on the wall construction is realized only on the one or more exterior cladding units, such that the interior cavity of the wall construction is free from condensation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The building wall construction of claim 1, wherein: the layer of insulation includes one or more insulation panels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The building wall construction of claim 1, wherein: each polymeric bracket of the plurality of polymeric brackets includes: an anchor section adapted to couple to the building substrate; a support section adapted to couple to the one or more exterior cladding units; a web section connecting the anchor section to the support section; at least one channel disposed on the anchor section and adapted to receive an insert; and at least one channel disposed on the support section and adapted to receive an insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The building wall construction of claim 3, including: a channel aperture disposed on the at least one channel of the anchor section; and a channel aperture disposed on the at least one channel of the support section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The building wall construction of claim 4, wherein: the insert adapted to be received in the anchor section includes first and second ends having a connection portion disposed there between; first and second engagement tabs disposed within the connection portion, the first and second engagement tabs including engagement members disposed thereon; and wherein the engagement members of the first engagement tabs are adapted to engage the channel apertures of the anchor section when the insert is received therein, and further wherein the engagement members of the second engagement tabs are adapted to engage an adjacent polymeric bracket, thereby connecting adjacent brackets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The building wall construction of claim 5, wherein: the first and second engagement tabs are resilient engagement tabs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The building wall construction of claim 6, wherein: each polymeric bracket of the plurality of polymeric brackets is comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The building wall construction of claim 7, wherein: each polymeric bracket of the plurality of polymeric brackets comprises an R-value in the range of about R.2 to about R8 per inch. ### Claim 9 A polymeric bracket system for supporting exterior cladding units on a substrate of a building structure, comprising: a plurality of polymeric anchor members, wherein each of the anchor members include an anchor section and an anchor connection landing, wherein the anchor section is adapted to couple to the substrate of the building structure; a plurality of support members, wherein each of the support members include a support section and a support connection landing, wherein the support section is adapted to couple to an exterior cladding unit, and further wherein the support connection landing is adapted to couple to the anchor connection landing; a leveling assembly associated with the anchor connection section and the support connection section, the leveling assembly comprising; a plurality of apertures disposed on the anchor connection landing of the polymeric anchor members and a plurality of apertures disposed on the support connection landing of the support members, wherein the apertures of the anchor connection landing and the support connection landing are adapted to align with one another in assembly to form sets of aligned apertures, at least one adjustable connecting fastener adapted to extend through any one of the sets of aligned apertures of the anchor connection landing and the support connection landing, wherein at least one of the apertures of the sets of aligned apertures comprises horizontally disposed oblong apertures for accommodating variations in the substrate of the building structure, such that the polymeric anchor members and the support members can be positioned with respect to one another to accommodate for variations in the substrate of the building structure to provide level exterior cladding units; and the plurality of polymeric anchor members adapted to provide a thermal break between the exterior cladding units and the substrate of the building structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The polymeric bracket system of claim 9, including: support channels disposed on the support section and anchor channels disposed on the anchor section, wherein the support channels and the anchor channels are adapted to receive rigidifying inserts. ### Claim 11 A polymeric bracket system for supporting exterior cladding units on a substrate of a building structure, comprising: a plurality of polymeric brackets coupled to and spaced apart along the substrate of the building structure, each polymeric bracket having an anchor portion adapted to couple to the substrate of the building structure, and a support portion spaced apart from the anchor portion defining an interior space there between; a layer of insulating material disposed within the interior space; an elongate support member adapted to couple to the support portions of the plurality of polymeric brackets; one or more exterior cladding units adapted to couple to the elongate support member; and wherein the plurality of polymeric brackets provides a thermal break between the exterior cladding unit and the building structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The polymeric bracket system of claim 11, including: support channels disposed on the support portion and anchor channels disposed on the anchor portion, wherein the support channels and the anchor channels are adapted to receive rigidifying inserts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The polymeric bracket system of claim 11, including: one or more channels disposed on the elongate support member, the one or more channels adapted to receive one or more rigidifying inserts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The polymeric bracket system of claim 11, wherein: the plurality of polymeric brackets are comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers. ### Claim 15 A building wall construction comprising: an exterior building substrate; a layer of insulation disposed within an interior cavity of the wall construction adjacent to the exterior building substrate; a plurality of polymeric brackets coupled to the exterior building substrate, each polymeric bracket including an anchor section coupled to the building substrate and an attachment landing disposed within the interior cavity of the wall construction; one or more exterior cladding units coupled to the polymeric brackets at the attachment landing; and wherein, the polymeric brackets have a low thermal conductivity, and further wherein the wall construction is free of thermal bridges between the one or more exterior cladding units and the exterior building substrate, such that a thermal break is formed between the exterior cladding units and the building substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The building wall construction of claim 15, wherein: each polymeric bracket of the plurality of polymeric brackets is comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermoset resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, vinylesters epoxies, phenolic resins, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polyphenylsufone resin, polyarylsulfones, polyphthalimide, polyamides, aliphatic polyketones, acrylics, polyxylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyphthalamides, polystyrenes, polyphenylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyfluorocarbons and blends thereof, wherein the polymeric material is reinforced with a reinforcing fiber selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fibers, cellulose fibers, nylon fibers, and aramid fibers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The building wall construction of claim 16, wherein: each polymeric bracket of the plurality of polymeric brackets comprises an R-value in the range of about R.2 to about R8 per inch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The building wall construction of claim 17, including: rigidifying inserts operably coupled to one of the anchor section and the landing section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The building wall construction of claim 17, including: support channels disposed on the support section and anchor channels disposed on the anchor section, wherein the support channels and the anchor channels are adapted to receive rigidifying inserts. ### Claim 20 A polymeric bracket system for supporting exterior cladding units on a building substrate, comprising: an elongate support member adapted to couple to the building substrate, the support member including a generally planar body portion having a connecting portion extending therefrom; a plurality of polymeric brackets having an anchor section and a support section, wherein the anchor section of each polymeric bracket further comprises a channel, wherein the connecting portion of the elongate support member is slidably received in the channel of the plurality of polymeric brackets, and further wherein the support section is spaced apart from the connecting portion defining an interior space there between; a layer of insulating material disposed within the interior space; one or more exterior cladding units adapted to couple to the plurality of polymeric brackets at the support sections thereof; and wherein the plurality of polymeric brackets provides a thermal break between the one or more exterior cladding units and the building substrate.