Patent Application
20080155921
This invention relates generally to the construction field and, more particularly, to a veneer panel, more particularly to a cast veneer wall panel, and includes a backing panel for a cast veneer wall panel and a method of making a cast veneer wall panel.
Veneer panels have been developed as a quick and efficient way to provide a masonry appearance for a building while simplifying construction and lowering construction costs. Such panels typically include a substrate having a series of discrete design or masonry elements attached thereto. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,740,910, 6,516,578, and 6,990,778, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In such panel constructions, discrete thin bricks are manufactured, then attached to a substrate (such as fiberboard, foam or steel), the assembly then being attached to a wall. These design elements simulate brick, stone, tile and other masonry building components or materials commonly used in the construction of buildings. These panels are relatively expensive to manufacture, as one must first make the veneer product and the substrate, then utilize labor to attach the veneer to the substrate, then attaching the assembly to the structure. Additionally, some such products have potential issues with the attachment system and the finished appearance.
Examples of cast veneer wall panels are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,187 (Arcari) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,719 (Salazar), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Arcari '187 utilizes a matched mold wherein a first pour is required to get ½ of the veneer thickness; whereafter a mesh is placed on the first pour; and a matched mold is then laid over the mesh, while a second pour creates the back half of the veneer. This creates a lot of manufacturing complexity and does not achieve acceptable product properties. Salazar '719 creates a panel using a continuous fiber reinforced base and an unreinforced veneer attached to the base. Like the previously mentioned processes, this creates manufacturing complexity and waste, plus does not achieve the desired properties for the veneer panel.
Another simulated veneer panel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,279, which creates a polymer panel to simulate a veneer texture. These products are typically unattractive in appearance and do not have the properties desired in a veneer product. Cast veneer wall panels are typically made from reinforced construction materials such as fiberglass reinforced concrete.
Monolithic cast veneer wall panels made from such reinforced materials have been produced which are more resistant to damage from handling during packaging, shipping and installation. Such designs suffer from the cost, weight and aesthetics being typically unacceptable. Further improvements in durability to reduce loss due to breakage are still desired. As noted above, prior panels particularly fail to closely resemble real brick or stone veneer. The present invention relates to a cast veneer wall panel of enhanced durability providing significantly improved handling characteristics due to light weight construction and ability to fasten by nailing, and which has an appearance closely resembling real brick or stone veneer.
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved veneer panel is provided. The cast veneer wall panel preferably comprises a facing panel preferably made from a cast material. The facing panel includes at least one design element such as a simulated stone, brick or tile. Typically the facing panel includes multiple design elements at spaced locations. In addition, the cast veneer wall panel includes a backing panel preferably having a series of spaced apertures. The spaced apertures preferably receive a portion of the cast material used to make the facing panel in order to key the facing panel and backing panel together.
The cast material may be selected from a group of materials consisting of concrete and fiber reinforced concrete, gypsum, other reinforced cementitious materials and mixtures thereof where fibers are preferably utilized to reinforce the concrete. Preferred fibers may be selected from a group of materials including but not limited to glass fibers, mineral fibers, natural fibers, man-made fibers, such as polymer fibers, and mixtures thereof. Where glass fibers are used the fibers are typically of the E-glass, C-glass, R-glass, S-glass, ECR-glass or AR-glass types. Exemplary polymer fibers include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,065, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The backing panel preferably also includes at least one concavity that nests within each design element. At least one aperture of the series of spaced apertures is provided in the concavity. In addition, the backing panel includes a mounting flange projecting beyond an edge of the facing panel. The mounting flange may be divided into identifiable zones including, for example, a “no nail” zone.
Still further describing the invention the facing panel includes a mortar bed area adjacent each of the design elements. Further, the backing panel preferably includes a second flange in addition to the mounting flange. The second flange corresponds in width to the mortar bed area provided between the design elements. Still further, the backing panel includes a front fact and a rear face. The front face preferably engages the facing panel. In one possible embodiment the backing panel includes at least one stiffening rib on the rear face. In another possible embodiment the backing panel includes a series of spaced dimples projecting from the rear face.
Still further describing the invention the cast veneer wall panel may include a registration mark on at least one of the facing panel and the backing panel. The registration marks allow the installer to quickly and easily align the cast veneer wall panels so that the design elements on those panels are properly oriented and aligned to simulate top quality masonry construction.
The backing panel of the cast veneer wall panel may be made from metal (reinforced or unreinforced), wood or plastic including a polymer material, composite material, natural materials or mixtures thereof. The polymer material may preferably be selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester and mixtures thereof. The composite material includes (a) a reinforcing material selected from a group preferably including mineral fibers (such as basalt, metal, glass or ceramic), other man made fibers such as glass fibers (such as E-glass fibers, C-glass fibers, R-glass fibers, S-glass fibers, ECR-glass fibers, AR-glass fibers), carbon fibers, natural fibers, such as cellulose fibers (such as bast-including kenaf, jute, hemp, etc), and mixtures thereof and (b) a matrix binder selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester and mixtures thereof. One skilled in the art appreciates that foregoing lists are not meant to be exhaustive.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention a backing panel is provided for a cast veneer wall panel. The backing panel comprises a body having a main section and a mounting flange. The main section preferably includes a series of spaced apertures as described above to allow the backing panel to be keyed to the facing panel that includes the design or masonry elements.
More specifically, the backing panel preferably includes at least one concavity in the main body. At least one aperture of the series of spaced apertures is provided in the concavity. Further the body includes a front face and a rear face. The rear face may include at least one stiffening rib. Alternatively, the rear face may include a series of spaced dimples.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for making a cast veneer wall panel. The method comprises the steps of adding the casting material to a product mold, positioning a backing panel on the casting material prior to the setting of the casting material and removing the wall panel from said mold. The method may further include the step of pressing the backing panel into the casting material so as to force some casting material into a keying aperture provided in the backing panel.
In the following description there is shown and described several different embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of some of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Reference is now made to
Where constructing a veneer with the mortar bed area 16, such a panel may be grouted by positioning mortar between the design elements 14 so as to provide a finished masonry appearance. In a preferred embodiment, the panel is grouted at the jobsite by installing mortar after the panel is installed, as described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application to Attebery, entitled “Fiber Reinforced Concrete Stone Panel System” filed concurrently herewith, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (“Attebery”). While the design elements 14 illustrated in the drawing figure correspond to simulated bricks, it should be appreciated that substantially any other masonry material known in the art may be simulated including bricks of different sizes, stones of different shapes and sizes, tiles of different shapes and sizes and the like.
The base plate 12 is preferably made from a cast or molded material such as concrete, reinforced concrete, gypsum, reinforced cementitious material, polymeric material (reinforced or unreinforced), metal and mixtures thereof. Typically the cast material includes reinforcements comprising fibers selected from a group of materials consisting of glass fibers, mineral fibers, natural fibers, polymer fibers and mixtures thereof as described above. Where glass fibers are used, they are typically of the E-glass or AR-glass type which exhibits some alkali resistance.
The cast veneer wall panel 10 also comprises a backing panel generally designated by reference numeral 20. The backing panel is best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Reference is now made to
In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
Reference is now made to
Preferably the installer first installs a starter strip at the lowest point of the wall desired to be covered, so as to provide a straight line across the surface at the bottom of the wall in a manner known to one skilled in the art. The starter strip may comprise a trim board, a flange similar to a siding starter strip, or a trim piece to resemble a course of brick or stone. Alternatively, the installer may forego the starter strip and may optionally install a piece of trim after the veneer is installed below the lowest course of the veneer along the bottom to finish the job.
Next, the first course of panel 10′ is installed at the bottom of the wall. The installer then installs a second course of panel 10 by positioning the panel 10 to the top of the design elements 14′ of the first course of panel 10′ and aligning one of the registration marks 38 in the second flange 36 at the bottom of the wall panel 10 with the registration line 38 in the mounting flange 36 of the wall panel already installed, or may align one or more registration marks 38 with the mortar bed area 16′ between design elements 14′ (ref.
While the backer 20 is illustrated in
The wall panel 10 being installed is maintained in this desired position preferably by then driving one or more nails, screws, staples or the like through the portion 32 of the mounting flange 28 above the dashed line 30 into the underlying sheathing S. Alternatively, an adhesive or tape may be used to hold the panel in place. Additional screws or other fasteners may then be utilized to more securely fasten the wall panel 10 in position, preferably through the bottom flange 36, or in the mortar joint 16, and/or the top flange 28. Alternatively the panel 10 could be secured through the design elements 14 in a less preferred installation. More specifically, some screws may be driven through the second flange 36 at the bottom of the wall panel 10 at the point illustrated by action arrow A to tie the panels together, as well as secure both to the wall. These screws will pass freely through the second flange 36 of the upper wall panel 10 and the “no nail” portion of the mounting flange 28 of the lower panel 10 to secure both panels together, as well as to the sheathing S. Alternatively, the panels 10 may be installed with or without fasteners using an adhesive or mortar as known to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, one could use brackets to hold the panels to the sheathing as known to one skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the entire mortar bed area 16 is grouted after the panels 10 are installed, as described in the Attebery application. In another embodiment, the mortar bed area 16 is finished prior to installation and the joints between panels may be filed grouted after installation, if necessary.
The backing panel 20 used in the wall panel 10 includes a main section including the concavities 22 and apertures 24. In a preferred embodiment, the body also includes the mounting flange 28 and the second flange 36 as well as stiffening ribs 44 and/or dimples 46. The backing panel 20 may be made from wood, treated wood, metal, such as steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or copper, or as a molded piece from a polymer or composite material, preferably as a single unitary molded piece. Polymer materials useful for the making of the backing panel 20 include various thermoplastic and thermoset resins, including but not limited to polyolefins, polyesters, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, epoxy, vinyl ester, and mixtures thereof. Composite materials used to make the backing panel 20 include reinforcing material and a matrix binder. Appropriate reinforcing materials useful in the present invention include but are not limited to glass fibers, natural fibers, mineral fibers, basalt fibers, carbon fibers, kenaf fibers, jute fibers, hemp fibers, E-glass fibers, C-glass fibers, R-glass fibers, S-glass fibers, ECR-glass fibers, AR-glass fibers, polymer fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, other known reinforcement fibers and mixtures thereof. It should be appreciated that substantially any type of glass fiber may be used for reinforcement fibers. Glass fibers appropriate for use in the present invention may be loose chopped strand or glass mat and include those available under the trademarks Hypertex and Advantex from the assignee of the invention. Matrix binder materials useful for this purpose include but are not limited to polyolefins, polyesters, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and mixtures thereof. The backer may be made from any known operation for the materials, for example stamping for metal, injection molding or thermoforming for thermoplastics, spray-up, compression molding or other known technique for thermosets, or may comprise a molded reinforced concrete panel.
The cast veneer wall panel 10 may be easily made by adding, pouring or spraying uncured cast material 26 such as reinforced concrete into a product mold. Next the preformed backing panel 20 is positioned onto the cast material 26, preferably prior to the setting of the cast material 26. The backing panel 20 is pressed into the cast material 26 sufficiently to force some cast material 26 through the keying apertures 24 provided in the concavities 22 in the backing panel 20. Accordingly, the concavities 22 become partially filled with cast material 26 which laps over the margins of the backing panel 20 around the apertures 24. The cast material 26 passing through the apertures 24 is fully maintained within the concavities 22 so as not to interfere with the proper seating of the panel 10 on the sheathing S when installed. As the cast material 26 sets, it effectively secures the facing panel 18 formed from the cast material 26 to the backing panel 20. At that time the method includes removing the cast veneer wall panel 10 from the mold. Alternatively, the backer 20 may include projections from the front face 40 to engage the cast material 26. In a further embodiment, the cast material 26 may be adhered to the front face 40 during hardening or after the material is hardened. In yet another embodiment, the backer 20 is molded onto the cast material 26.
While typically described as a wall veneer panel, one skilled in the art appreciates that the instant invention could be utilized in a number of other forms, such as pavers, panelized systems for fireplace surrounds, furniture, grills, and the like.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims in their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
