Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In a rectangular shaped preformed wall panel having a rigid foamed plastic core with an exterior face comprising staggered rows of brick veneer bonded to the core, an interior rigid backing, and horizontal and vertical side surfaces adapted to mate with the horizontal and vertical side surfaces of similar wall panels to form a joint, the improvement wherein each of said side surfaces contains an element of a ridge and groove joint, said element extending throughout the length of said side surface, any groove element being recessed beyond the extremities of the ridge element with which it is to be mated so that, when said wall panel is mated with adjacent wall panels, horizontal and vertical cavities are formed, each cavity being connected to the front and rear surfaces of said wall panel by the cracks which form the remainder of the joints and acting as a capillary break to accumulate any liquid introduced into said joints, each upper horizontal cavity being further connected to the bottom side surface of said panel through said vertical cavities to permit drainage of any liquid accumulating in the joints between said wall panel and an adjacent wall panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a rectangular shaped preformed wall panel having a rigid foamed plastic core with an exterior face comprising staggered rows of brick veneer bonded to the core, an interior rigid backing, and horizontal and vertical side surfaces adapted to mate with the horizontal and vertical side surfaces of similar wall panels to form a joint, the improvement wherein each of said side surfaces contains an element of a ridge and groove joint, said element extending throughout the length of said side surface, any groove element being recessed beyond the extremities of the ridge element with which it is to be mated so that, when said wall panel is mated with adjacent wall panels, horizontal and vertical cavities are formed, each cavity being connected to the front and rear surfaces of said wall panel by the cracks which form the remainder of the joints and acting as a capillary break to accumulate any liquid introduced into said joints, each upper horizontal cavity being further connected to the bottom side surface of said panel through said vertical cavities to permit drainage of any liquid accumulating in the joints between said wall panel and an adjacent wall panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wall panel of claim 1 wherein a portion of said horizontal side surfaces slopes towards the face of said wall panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The wall panel of claim 1 wherein the element of said ridge and groove joint on the horizontal side surfaces comprises a stepped shoulder adjacent to said rigid backing; a sloping portion adjacent to said face and a horizontal portion extending from the stepped shoulder to the sloping portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wall panel of claim 3 wherein the vertical side surfaces have vertical and horizontal segments conforming to the staggered rows of brick veneer on the exterior face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wall panel of claim 1 wherein the depth of the groove recessed from the extremity of the ridge to the bottom of the groove is at least 1/8 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wall panel of claim 1 wherein the interior rigid backing extends beyond the upper horizontal surface of said wall panel to form a nailing strip.