APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INTERNALLY SUPPORTED WALL SYSTEM

• US 20200131760A1
• Filed: 10/16/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Paulin, Robert
• Application Number:
  US16/654,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20200131760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/08 by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0213 of round shape
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0243 Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins or keys
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0284 forming a unity with the building elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/004 Panels with profiled edges, e.g. stepped, serrated

Abstract

The present invention provides a light weight wall system including a wall supporting apparatus to install multiple panels simultaneously while resisting lateral and vertical forces applied to the wall system during installation. According to one aspect of the present invention, the wall system of the present invention includes an upper wall segment and a lower wall segment. According to further aspects of the present invention, the upper wall segment preferably includes a bottom panel including a central convex projection which extends through the length of the upper wall segment. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the lower wall segment preferably includes a top panel which includes a central convex projection which extends through the length of the lower wall segment. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes an internal supporting insert which includes an upper supporting insert configured to insert within the upper wall segment and a lower supporting insert configured to insert within the lower wall segment.

Claims

1. A wall system including an internal wall supporting apparatus, the wall system comprising:

an upper wall segment, wherein the upper wall segment comprises a left panel, a right panel and a bottom panel;

further wherein the bottom panel further comprises a left wall portion, an upward extending central concave projection, and a right wall portion;

further wherein the central concave projection extends through the length of the upper wall segment;

a lower wall segment, wherein the lower wall segment comprises a left panel, a right panel and a top panel;

further wherein the top panel further comprises a left wall portion, an upward extending central convex projection, and a right wall portion;

further wherein the central convex projection extends through the length of the lower wall segment; and

an internal supporting insert, wherein the internal support insert further comprises a left connecting flange, a right connecting flange, and a plurality of supporting internal vertical ribs which vertically extend through the body of the internal supporting insert;

wherein the internal supporting insert further comprises an upper supporting insert configured to insert within the upper wall segment and a lower supporting insert configured to insert within the lower wall segment;

wherein the lower supporting insert comprises left surface, a right surface, a first lower surface, and a second upper surface;

wherein the second upper surface comprises a left lower surface, a convex center surface, and a right lower surface;

wherein the upper supporting insert comprises a left surface, a right surface, a third top surface, and a fourth lower surface;

wherein the fourth lower surface comprises a left lower surface, a concave center surface, and a right lower surface;

wherein the internal supporting insert further comprises a plurality of back support extensions;

wherein the plurality of back support extensions are configured to stiffen the internal supporting insert and prevent the internal supporting insert from rotating on its central axis.

2. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the second upper surface and the fourth lower surface are uniform.

3. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the distance between the second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is greater than the combined thickness of the upward extending central concave projection of the upper wall segment and the upward extending central convex projection of the lower wall segment.

4. The wall system of claim 3, wherein the distance between the second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is within the range of 0.3 to 0.8 inches.

5. The wall system of claim 3, wherein the distance between the second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is within the range of 0.4 to 0.6 inches.

6. The wall system of claim 4, wherein the internal supporting insert has a thickness in the range of 2 to 5 inches.

7. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting insert has a total length in the range of 4 to 7 inches.

8. The wall system of claim 7, wherein the internal supporting insert has a total width in the range of 2 to 3 inches.

9. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting insert has a total length in the range of 5 to 6 inches.

10. The wall system of claim 9, wherein the internal supporting insert has a total width in the range of 2.4 to 2.8 inches.

11. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting insert has a total length in the range of 5.4 to 5.8 inches.