System for mounting building panels allowing bi-axial freedom of movement

A method for allowing limited movement of a framing member to which a building panel is rigidly connected when said building panel changes dimensionally due to thermal changes therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supplying a first device having a pair of clamps engaged on each side member of a U-shaped saddle slider and arranged for allowing limited movement of said framing member with said connected building panel in a selected direction relative to a stationary building component;
• (b) fastening a first one of said pair of clamps to said stationary building component;
• (c) fastening a second one of said pair of clamps to said stationary building component;
• (d) fastening said framing member to said saddle slider in a manner to allow said framing member with said connected building panel to move a limited amount in said selected direction relative to said stationary building component;
• (e) supplying a second device having a second pair of clamps and a slidingly engaged saddle slider;
• and
• (f) assembling said second device by fastening said second pair of clamps to said first device so that said second device resides in perpendicular relation to said first device and between said first device and said framing member so as to permit bi-axial movement of said assembled framing member and said building panel relative to said stationary building component.

A bearing bracket for permitting limited movement of a substantially planar building panel attached to a framing member in a plane substantially parallel to a substantially planar supporting substrate on which said bracket is mounted, said bearing bracket comprising:

• (a) a first member having a substantially planar first portion adapted to fixedly assemble to said supporting substrate;
• (b) a second member having a substantially planar surface and a pair of spaced apart, mirror image legs each being adapted for slidingly engaging said first member;
• (c) a framing member formed with a slot substantially parallel to a long dimension thereof;
• and (d) a fastener slidingly passing through said slot in said framing member to fixedly engage said substantially planar surface of said second member so that said framing member and its attached building panel are supported on said bearing bracket and are able to move a limited distance in a plane substantially parallel to said supporting substrate.

A bearing bracket for allowing limited movement of a framing member to which a building panel is rigidly connected when said building panel changes dimensionally due to thermal changes therein, comprising:

• (a) a first device having a first pair of clamps slidingly engaged with a first U-shaped saddle slider for allowing limited movement of said first saddle slider relative to a supporting substrate in a first selected direction, said first pair of clamps being fastened to a supporting substrate;
• (b) a second device having a second pair of clamps slidingly engaged with a second U-shaped saddle slider for allowing limited movement of said second saddle slider in a second selected direction, said second pair of clamps being fastened to said first saddle slider so that said second selected direction is substantially perpendicular to said first selected direction;
• and
• (c) wherein said framing member is fastened to said second saddle slider so as to permit bi-lateral movement of said assembled framing member and said building panel relative to said supporting substrate.