IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0026876
(2008-02-06)
|
등록번호 |
US-8782988
(2014-07-22)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wolf, David H.
- Belt, James S.
- Smith, William
- Vermilion, Donn R.
- Buoni, Wayne
- Stickel, Joy
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
66 |
초록
▼
A prefabricated wall panel has a precast body including at least one decorative design element. In addition, the wall panel includes a mounting element having a first end embedded in the precast body and a second end projecting from the precast body. A groove is formed between the precast body and t
A prefabricated wall panel has a precast body including at least one decorative design element. In addition, the wall panel includes a mounting element having a first end embedded in the precast body and a second end projecting from the precast body. A groove is formed between the precast body and the second end of the mounting element along a first edge of the precast body. A tongue is formed along a second edge of the precast body opposite the first edge. The tongue and groove cooperate to allow prefabricated wall panels to be more easily installed on a support substrate.
대표청구항
▼
1. A prefabricated wall panel, comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body including at least one decorative design element;a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting
1. A prefabricated wall panel, comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body including at least one decorative design element;a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body;a groove formed between a portion of said body and said second segment of said mounting element, said groove being inset relative to a first edge of said body; anda tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being defined by a second edge of said body opposite said first edge, wherein said tongue portion is sized and shaped to be received in said groove so that said prefabricated wall panels may be interconnected to form a wall defining a substantially flush rear surface. 2. The wall panel of claim 1, further including at least one protrusion in said second segment and at least one keying hole in said first segment of said mounting element. 3. The wall panel of claim 2, wherein said protrusion has an interior diameter of between approximately 0 and approximately 7.6 centimeters. 4. The wall panel of claim 3, wherein said protrusion has a depth of between approximately 0.30 and approximately 0.6 centimeters. 5. The wall panel of claim 4, further including at least one weep hole in said mounting element. 6. The wall panel of claim 1, wherein said first segment of said mounting element extends in a first plane and said second segment of said mounting element extends in a second plane wherein said second plane is parallel to said first plane. 7. The wall panel of claim 6, wherein said mounting element further includes a transition section that connects said first segment to said second segment, said transition section providing a transition between said first and second planes. 8. The wall panel of claim 7, wherein (a) said wall panel includes multiple decorative design elements and said groove is provided behind at least one of said multiple decorative design elements and (b) a weep hole is provided in said second segment of said mounting element adjacent said transition section. 9. The wall panel of claim 8, wherein said mounting element is made from a material selected from a group consisting of wood, concrete, cellulose fiberboard, polymer material, composite material, metal, plastic, reinforced plastic, thermoplastic, fiber composite, reinforced wood, steel, corrosion-resistant steel, aluminum, stainless steel, zinc, copper, and combinations thereof. 10. The wall panel of claim 9, wherein said mounting element is formed as a solid sheet, as a mesh or as a combination thereof. 11. The wall panel of claim 1, wherein said body is integrally formed from a material selected from a group consisting of concrete, fiber reinforced concrete, gypsum, fiber reinforced gypsum, polymer modified gypsum, and other cementitious materials. 12. The wall panel of claim 11, wherein said body further comprises reinforcing fibers selected from a group of fibers consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, mineral fibers, natural fibers, polymer fibers, E-glass fibers, and AR-glass fibers. 13. A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to be attached to a substantially vertical supporting wall, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of other shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to said supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said interior surface configured to face said supporting wall, said decorative outside surface configured to face the same direction as does said supporting wall, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface; anda mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body, said second segment configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall,said first edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being nonplanar and at least partially defining a recessed groove portion and a raised portion, said raised portion being intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface and said groove portion, andsaid second edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and at least in part defining a tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being sized and shaped to be at least partially received in the groove portion of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said plurality of said similarly shaped panels may be interconnected such that said tongue portion of said body is discouraged from movement having an outward horizontal component due to its interference with the raised portion of the groove of said another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto. 14. The wall panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein said recessed groove includes a recessed groove portion, and wherein the entirety of said recessed groove portion is lower than the entirety of said raised portion. 15. The wall panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein said body includes a base and a decorative design portion, said base defining said interior surface, and said decorative design portion defining at least a portion of said outside decorative surface. 16. The wall panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein said raised portion is intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface of said decorative design portion and said groove. 17. The wall panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base is substantially planar, and wherein said tongue portion extends the thickness of said base. 18. The wall panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein said mounting element is a mounting bracket having an attachment location, said attachment location being positioned beyond a perimeter defined by the entirety of said body, such that said body is configured to be entirely supported by support provided by said mounting bracket and any support provided by tongue-groove interaction with a similar wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto. 19. The wall panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein said mounting element is a mounting bracket having an attachment location configured to be attached relative to said supporting wall, said bracket including a set back feature in said second segment projecting from said body, said set-back feature configured to provide spacing between said interior surface of said wall panel and said supporting wall. 20. A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to be attached to a substantially vertical supporting wall, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of similarly shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to said supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said first edge opposite said second edge, said interior surface configured to face said supporting wall, said decorative outside surface configured to face the same direction as does said supporting wall, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface; anda mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting from an exterior portion of said body and including a groove defining portion,said second segment configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall,said first edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being nonplanar and combining with said groove defining portion of said second segment of said mounting element to at least partially define a recessed groove portion, said first edge of said body also defining a raised portion, said raised portion being intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface and said groove portion such that said groove portion is spaced from the front of said outside decorative surface, andsaid second edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and at least in part defining a tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being sized and shaped to be received in the groove of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said plurality of said similarly shaped panels may be interconnected such that said tongue portion of said body is discouraged from outward horizontal movement due to interference by the raised portion of the groove of said another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto. 21. The wall panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said recessed groove includes a recessed groove portion, and wherein the entirety of said recessed groove portion is lower than the entirety of said raised portion. 22. The wall panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said body includes a base and a decorative design portion, said base defining said interior surface, and said decorative design portion defining at least a portion of said outside decorative surface. 23. The wall panel as claimed in claim 22, wherein said raised portion is intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface of said decorative design portion and said groove. 24. The wall panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said base is substantially planar, and wherein said tongue is the thickness of said base. 25. The wall panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said mounting element is a mounting bracket having an attachment location, said attachment location being positioned beyond a perimeter defined by the entirety of said body, such that said body is configured to be entirely supported by support provided by said mounting bracket and any support provided by tongue-groove interaction with a similar wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto. 26. The wall panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said mounting element is a mounting bracket having an attachment location configured to be attached relative to said supporting wall, said bracket including a set back feature in said second segment projecting from said body, said set-back feature configured to provide spacing between said interior surface of said wall panel and said supporting wall. 27. A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of similarly shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to a supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface; anda mounting bracket including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body, said second segment including an attachment location configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall, said bracket including a set back feature in said second segment projecting from said body, said set-back feature configured to provide spacing between said interior surface of said wall panel and said supporting wall,said first and second edges of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being configured such that the second edge of said body engages the first edge of the body of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said second edge is discouraged from movement having an outward horizontal component due to its interference with the first edge of the body of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto. 28. The wall panel as claimed in claim 27, wherein said set back feature in said bracket is provided by the use of dimples. 29. A prefabricated wall panel for attachment relative to a supporting structure, said wall panel comprising: a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body including at least one decorative design element;a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body, and a second segment projecting to the exterior of said body, said second segment itself including two sub-segments: a first sub-segment more proximally positioned relative to said body than is said second sub-segment; anda second sub-segment more distally positioned relative to said body than is said first sub-segment, said second sub-segment including a mounting location configured to facilitate mounting of said mounting element relative to said mounting structure;a groove formed between a portion of said body and said first sub-segment of said second segment of said mounting element, said groove being inset relative to a first edge of said body; anda tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being defined by a second edge of said body opposite said first edge, wherein said second edge of said body is formed from said single piece of material, and wherein said tongue portion is sized and shaped to be received in said groove so that said prefabricated wall panels may be interconnected to form a wall defining a substantially flush rear surface. 30. The wall panel as claimed in claim 29, wherein said mounting element includes a free edge, which is located in said second sub segment. 31. A prefabricated wall panel, comprising: a body including at least one decorative design element and consisting essentially of a single piece of material, said single piece of material being selected from a group consisting of concrete, fiber reinforced concrete, gypsum, fiber reinforced gypsum, polymer modified gypsum, and any one of a variety of other cementitious materials;a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body;a groove formed between a portion of said body and said second segment of said mounting element, said groove being inset relative to a first edge of said body; anda tongue of said body, said tongue being defined by a second edge of said body opposite said first edge, wherein said tongue is sized and shaped to be received in said groove so that said prefabricated wall panels may be interconnected to form a wall defining a substantially flush rear surface.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.