Systems for restoring, repairing, reinforcing, protecting, insulating and/or cladding structures with locatable stand-off components

A method for covering at least a portion of a surface of an existing structure with a repair structure, the method comprising:

• connecting a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending panels to one another in edge-adjacent relationship;
• connecting a plurality of standoffs to the panels such that the standoffs extend from the panels toward the existing structure;
• introducing a curable material into a space between the panels and the existing structure, the curable material providing a repair structure cladded at least in part by the panels once cured;
• wherein connecting the plurality of standoffs to the panels comprises, for each connection, connecting a panel connector component of a corresponding panel and a standoff connector component of a corresponding standoff, wherein connecting the connector components comprises deforming at least one of the panel connector component and the standoff connector component to create restorative deformation forces that prevent relative movement between the corresponding panel and the corresponding standoff under the force of gravity;
• wherein:
• connecting the connector components comprises exerting a force directed to create relative pivotal movement and relative movement between the corresponding standoff and the corresponding panel in a direction generally orthogonal to the interior surface of the corresponding panel at the location of the panel connector component;
• and
• each of the plurality of standoffs comprises an elongated shaft and each corresponding standoff connector component comprising a primary hooked arm and a secondary hooked arm, opposed to one another and extending from the elongated shaft to create an opening facing away from an end of the elongated shaft, the primary and secondary hooked arms each comprising distal ends curving continuously away from the panel as the distal ends extend toward one another.

An apparatus for cladding a structure to cover at least a portion of a surface of the structure with a cladding, the apparatus comprising

• a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending panels connected to one another in edge-adjacent relationship and positioned such that exterior surfaces of the edge-adjacent panels line at least a portion of an interior surface of a removable formwork;
• and
• a plurality of standoffs connected to the panels and extending from the panels toward an interior of the formwork;
• wherein each panel comprises a panel connector component which extends longitudinally along the panel and from the interior surface toward the interior of the formwork and each standoff comprises a standoff connector component which is complementary to the panel connector component and wherein the panel connector component and standoff connector component are shaped such that a connection formed therebetween involves deformation of at least one of the panel connector component and the standoff connector component and corresponding creation of restorative deformation forces that prevent relative movement between the panel and the standoff under the force of gravity;
• wherein:
• the panel connector component and standoff connector component are shaped such that the connection is formed therebetween by force directed to create relative pivotal movement and relative movement between the standoff and the panel in a direction generally orthogonal to the interior surface of the panel at the location of the panel connector component;
• and
• each of the plurality of standoffs comprises an elongated shaft and each corresponding standoff connector component comprises a primary hooked arm and a secondary hooked arm, opposed to one another and extending from the elongated shaft to create an opening facing away from an end of the elongated shaft, the primary and secondary hooked arms each comprising distal ends curving continuously away from the panel as the distal ends extend toward one another.

A method for cladding a structure to cover at least a portion of a surface of the structure with a cladding, the method comprising:

• connecting a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending panels to one another in edge-adjacent relationship;
• positioning the panels such that exterior surfaces of the edge-adjacent panels line at least a portion of an interior surface of a removable formwork;
• connecting a plurality of standoffs to the panels such that the standoffs extend from the panels toward an interior of the formwork;
• introducing a curable material into the interior of the formwork;
• and
• permitting the curable material to cure to provide a repair structure cladded at least in part by the panels;
• wherein connecting the plurality of standoffs to the panels comprises, for each connection, connecting a panel connector component of a corresponding panel and a standoff connector component of a corresponding standoff, wherein connecting the connector components comprises deforming at least one of the panel connector component and the standoff connector component to create restorative deformation forces that prevent relative movement between the corresponding panel and the corresponding standoff under the force of gravity;
• wherein
• connecting the connector components comprises exerting a force directed to create relative pivotal movement and relative movement between the corresponding standoff and the corresponding panel in a direction generally orthogonal to the interior surface of the corresponding panel at the location of the panel connector component;
• and
• each of the plurality of standoffs comprises an elongated shaft and each corresponding standoff connector component comprises a primary hooked arm and a secondary hooked arm, opposed to one another and extending from the elongated shaft to create an opening facing away from an end of the elongated shaft, the primary and secondary hooked arms each comprising distal ends curving continuously away from the panel as the distal ends extend toward one another.