Wall panel and associated apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021879-B2
Application number	US-201816183672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A wall panel comprising a front face, a return lip extending from at least one edge of the front face to define a flange lying behind the front face, and a mounting clip formed in the flange for attaching the wall panel to a support structure is provided. The mounting clip may comprise a curved formation, thereby having a distance from the front face that varies along its length. The formation may be shaped to include a local minimum distance. The mounting clip may be a tab or tongue defined by a U-shaped slot cut in the flange. The U-shaped slot can be located in the flange between a pair of through-holes or slots. According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for shaping the mounting clips, and a method of assembling a paneled wall using the device to manufacture the mounting clips are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wall panel, comprising:
a front face;
a return lip extending from at least one edge of the front face, wherein the return lip defines a first flange lying approximately parallel to and behind the front face; and
a first mounting clip, comprising a tab formed in the first flange and configured to attach the wall panel to a support structure;
wherein:
the first mounting clip further comprises a fixed end, a free end, an end portion in the free end that extends in a direction parallel to the front face, and at least three curves between the fixed end and the end portion such that a distance from the front face to the first mounting clip varies along a length of the at least three curves;
a first portion of the at least three curves is located closer to the end portion than a second portion and a third portion of the at least three curves and shaped to include a local minimum distance from the front face;
the second portion of the at least three curves is shaped to include a local maximum distance from the front face;
the end portion is disposed a distance greater than the local maximum distance from the front face; and
the front face, the return lip, and the first flange are formed integrally.

2. The wall panel of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting clip comprises a tongue defined by a U-shaped slot cut in the first flange.

3. The wall panel of claim 2 , wherein the U-shaped slot is located in the first flange between a pair of through-holes.

4. The wall panel of claim 1 , further comprising a material forming a channel, onto which the mounting clip is attached;
wherein a vertical displacement between the free end of the first mounting clip and a proximate portion of the first flange is less than a thickness of the material forming the channel.

5. The wall panel of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second mounting clips formed in the first flange.

6. The wall panel of claim 1 , wherein the first flange is spaced apart from a rear of the front face.

7. The wall panel of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second flanges on different edges of the front face.

8. The wall panel of claim 7 , wherein the second flanges comprise at least one mounting clip.

9. The wall panel of claim 8 , wherein the second flanges comprise a plurality of second mounting clips.

10. A kit, comprising:
at least one wall panel, comprising:
a front face;
a return lip extending from at least one edge of the front face, wherein the return lip defines a first flange lying approximately parallel to and behind the front face; and
a first mounting clip, comprising a tab formed in the first flange and configured to attach the wall panel to a support structure;
wherein:
the first mounting clip further comprises a fixed end, a free end, an end portion in the free end that extends in a direction parallel to the front face, and at least three curves between the fixed end and the end portion such that a distance from the front face to the first mounting clip varies along a length of the at least three curves;
a first portion of the at least three curves is located closer to the end portion than a second portion and a third portion of the at least three curves and shaped to include a local minimum distance from the front face;
the second portion of the at least three curves is shaped to include a local maximum distance from the front face;
the end portion is disposed a distance greater than the local maximum distance from the front face;
the front face, the return lip, and the first flange are formed integrally; and
a ledge configured to be fitted to a wall.

11. The wall panel of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the first mounting clip is vertically displaced from the first flange of the return lip.

Assignees

• Elekta ltd

Inventors

• Bourne Duncan Neil

Classifications

• E04F13/12

  of metal {or with an outer layer of metal or enameled metal (E04F13/0864 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E04F13/083 Primary

  Hooking means on the back side of the covering elements · CPC title

• E04F13/0851

  Hooking means on the back side of the covering elements · CPC title

• B21D28/26

  in sheets or flat parts · CPC title

• E04F13/0803 Primary

  with load-supporting elongated furring elements between wall and covering elements · CPC title