Metal window sub-frame and wall structure

Claim 1

A combined metal window sub-frame and wall structure comprising: a base plate formed as a closed frame having parallel horizontal portions and parallel vertical portions; two parallel flange plates extending from the outer edge surfaces of said base plate; a plate extending from said outer surface intermediate said flange plates which is adjacent to and wider than one of said flange plates; metal wall panels being formed of modules of plates with major and minor edge walls, the minor edge wall of each module being nested in the major edge wall of the adjacent module, said metal wall panels having portions inserted between said intermediate plate and the other flange plate, said other flange plate having a groove extending along its inner surface; a seal strip anchored in said groove, said seal strip being compressed by the inserted wall panel portions so that said wall panel portions are wedged between said strip and said intermediate plate to secure said frame and wall panels together; said intermediate plate and said one flange plate being spaced to provide a return channel for receiving the edges of face wall panels; fasteners threaded through nested edge walls at a plurality of points outwardly of said frame, said fasteners having heads for engaging the face wall panels and securing them to said metal wall panels; and a plate extending from said inner surface of said base plate for use in supporting a window structure.