1. Field of the Invention
An in-fill wall system comprising a plurality of multi-layer panels secured vertically in place by a frame system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Building building construction of multiple stories typically comprise block or metal stud framing in-fill. Metal stud and block in-fill walls, however, have several disadvantages. Each type of such construction is expensive because of the significant time, labor and material required to construct such in-fill walls.
In contrast, the present invention employs multi-layer panels of known fabrication secured in place in building construction by a frame system affixed thereto. There are a number of existing multi-layer panel systems as disclosed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,489 relates to a monocoque concrete structure including a core structure of foam panels. A layer of concrete is applied to opposite sides of the core structure to form a double monocoque concrete structure having a load bearing concrete shell on each of the opposite sides of the core structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,685 describes an outside polystyrene plastic wall or fence constructed by anchoring each of at least two styrofoam H-columns to a concrete base in the ground supporting a steel reinforcing bar which extends up into a hollow of the column by filling the hollows with concrete.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,472 relates to a reinforced concrete building having vertical walls formed of prefabricated modules that may be assembled off site and then transported to the construction site for installation and application of concrete. The prefabricated modules are supported between lower and upper support members and spaced from each other a sufficient distance for a concrete column therebetween. A backing member is secured between adjacent modules and vertical reinforcing rods are provided adjacent backing member in the space between the modules for the concrete columns. Concrete is applied pneumatically against the backing member to fill the space between the modules to form the concrete column.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,248 describes a reinforced concrete building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules which may be assembled off site and then transported or shipped to the building construction site for installation and application of concrete. Each prefabricated module includes a rectangular frame having channel-shaped frame members which form the ends and sides of the frame. An insulation layer is mounted within the frame in spaced relation to one side frame member. A channel-shaped concrete column form is secured between the insulation layer and the adjacent side frame member to close the frame. A wire mesh layer is secured to the outer surface of the frame with an overhanging side portion. The prefabricated module when shipped to a construction site receives reinforcing bars and concrete is pneumatically applied for forming a reinforced concrete wall. A drywall panel is then mounted on modules for the interior of the building.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,659 teaches a building system for wall construction including a prefabricated panel having two layers of foamed insulating sheets sandwiched around a layer of concrete or other cementitious material. Channels are cut into an interior face of one of the panels. The channels receive cement which provides a reinforcing structure when hardened. Steel vertical channel studs encase the sandwiched layers on two sides of the panel. The vertical channel studs have a vertical surface which is fastened to a similar, opposing vertical channel stud of an adjoining panel to effectively create a vertical I-beam support when the panels are assembled together. The panels of the invention can be readily transported to a worksite, assembled, and finished on-site with a stress-skin to yield a wall which is extremely rigid, insulative, and resistant to forces such as fire, water, termites, and impact.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,530 shows a method of making a sandwich type insulation wall having internal framework formed by channel bars and transverse members bridging two adjacent channel bars. A plurality of channel bars having lateral wings are erected to form the main skeleton with insulating material inserted into the channels of the bars to secure them in place. Transverse members are positioned to cover the wall spaced from the insulating board by the wings and transverse members. Both sides of the structure are grouted with a grouting cement or vermiculite.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,686 describes a structural building system including a structural-load-bearing building component, such as a building panel, having front and back sections, an insulating core, integral symmetrical joinery, a thermal break, and at least one shear resistance connector. The panel is asymmetrical about one axis, and is designed to be directionally positioned with respect to the maximum anticipated force. A shear resistance connector array may be positioned between the front and back sections or may be integral to the front or back section. A face sheet may span one or more than one building panel, and provides structural support to the building system.
Additional examples of the prior art are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,820 and Publication 2002/0189182.
The present invention relates to an in-fill wall system comprising at least one multi-layer panel secured in place by a frame system.
Each multi-layer panel comprises a panel core that may be at least partially covered on at least one side by an outer member or layer of material.
The frame system comprises at least one lower attachment member and at least one upper attachment member affixed to the floor and ceiling respectively and at least one side attachment member affixed to a support column disposed on each side of the multi-layer panel
When assembled and constructed, a plurality of multi-layer panels may be secured together to extend across an extended opening or space between adjacent support columns. In turn, the exterior surfaces of the multi-layer panel and attachment members of the frame system may be coated or surfaced to finish and protect the in-fill wall system.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
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The upper panel retaining structure 30 comprises a first or outer upper retaining member and a second or inner upper retaining member generally indicated as 36 and 38 respectively. The first or outer upper retaining member 36 and the second or inner upper retaining member 38 each comprises a first or outer upper retainer element 40 and a second or inner upper retainer element 42 and a first or outer upper attachment element 44 and a second or inner upper attachment element 46 formed at a substantially right angle relative to each other respectively to cooperatively form a substantially L or V shaped configuration to engage the upper portions of the outer and inner surface of the in-fill wall 10 espectively and the ceiling 14.
The lower panel retaining structure 32 comprises a first or outer lower retaining member and a second or inner lower retaining member generally indicated as 48 and 50 respectively. The first or outer lower retaining member 48 and the second or inner lower retaining member 50 each comprises a first or outer lower retainer element 52 and a second or inner lower retainer element 54 interconnected by a lower attachment element 56 to cooperatively form a substantially C or U shaped configuration to engage the lower portions of the outer and inner surface of the in-fill wall 10 respectively and the floor 12.
Each side panel retaining structure 34 comprises a first or outer side retaining member and a second or inner side retaining member generally indicated as 58 and 60 respectively. The first or outer side retaining member 58 and the second or inner side retaining member 60 each comprises a first or outer side retainer element 62 and a second or inner side retainer element 64 and a first or outer side attachment element 66 and a second or inner side attachment element 68 formed at a substantially right angle relative to each other respectively to cooperatively form a substantially L or V shaped configuration to engage the upper portions of the outer and inner surface of the in-fill wall respectively and the ceiling 14.
When fully assembled, the various retaining structures 30, 32 and 34 are secured in place by a plurality of fasteners each indicated as 70 extending through retainer elements 40, 42, 44, 46, 62, 64, 66 and 68, and through attachment element 56 into the substantially horizontal floor 12, substantially horizontal ceiling 14 and substantially vertical support columns 16.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,