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US4074486A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Panel wall construction

Assignee: MULTULOC CORP
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Filing: 1976-07-20
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Granted: 1978-02-21
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Expires: 1996-07-20
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Abstract

Abstract A panel wall construction using box-tee sheet metal shapes wherein the panels may be inserted in channels of the sheet metal shape or clips may be inserted in slots between the channels of the sheet metal shapes to hold the panels. These same shapes may be used for mullions, base sills, top caps and horizontal stiffeners and horizontal joint assemblies thereby producing a panel wall system wherein no screw-type fasteners are required to hold the panels in place. Disclosed clips hold the box-tee sheet metal shapes and the panels. The disclosed panel wall construction provides a very light weight construction which has great flexibility with respect to panel thickness and width as well as great flexibility of design to accommodate wind loadings.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth R. Grearson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 18:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/56; E04B2/58; E04B2/60; E04B2/88; E04B2/96

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 215 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: horizontal spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel to accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes to accept panels in the channel of said sill and cap shape; panels in said channels of each adjacent said spaced structural shapes and adjacent sill shape and cap edge locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shaped into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and vertical corner sheet metal structural shape assemblies comprising two of said sheet metal box-tee shapes having one flange of one shape inserted into the slot between opposing legs of the other box-tee shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 215 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: horizontal spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel to accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes to accept panels in the channel of said sill and cap shape; panels in said channels of each adjacent said spaced structural shapes and adjacent sill shape and cap edge locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shaped into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and vertical corner sheet metal structural shape assemblies comprising two of said sheet metal box-tee shapes having one flange of one shape inserted into the slot between opposing legs of the other box-tee shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The panel wall construction of claim 1 wherein multiple panels are used in the horizontal direction and the proximate edges of adjacent panels are sealed together by use of a caulk strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 240 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: horizontal spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel which may accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes which may accept panels in the channel of said sill shape and cap shape; and panels covering the space between the structural shapes, one surface of said panel abutting one of said legs of said shape, panel clips comprising a straight body portion having a locking end at one end and a clip leg at the other end so that said body portion may be inserted into the slot between opposing legs of said shape, the clip leg abutting the other surface of said panel and the locking end protruding into the hollow box portion of said shape locking the clip in position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 240 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: horizontal spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel which may accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes which may accept panels in the channel of said sill shape and cap shape; and panels covering the space between the structural shapes, one surface of said panel abutting one of said legs of said shape, panel clips comprising a straight body portion having a locking end at one end and a clip leg at the other end so that said body portion may be inserted into the slot between opposing legs of said shape, the clip leg abutting the other surface of said panel and the locking end protruding into the hollow box portion of said shape locking the clip in position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 71 words
The panel wall construction of claim 3 wherein said spaced sheet metal structural shapes are horizontal spaced sheet metal structural shapes and said panel wall has vertical end mullions having the same design as said spaced shapes and aligned with said spaced shapes to accept panels in the channel of said mullions locking said spaced shapes, sill and cap shapes and vertical end mullions into a rigid structure without separate fasteners.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 145 words
The panel wall construction of claim 3 wherein said structural shapes are attached to a building structure by a clip fastener, said clip fastener having a body portion terminating in a locking end, said body portion extending through the slot between opposing legs of said sheet metal structural shape and said locking end extending into said box section holding said clip, a slot in the body portion parallel to the legs of said structural shape and adapted to receive a wedge which holds said clip in secure locked position by force of one side of said wedge against the exterior end of said slot and the other side of said wedge against the flanges of said structural shape, the other end of said body portion having a clip leg at right angles to the body portion, said clip leg being secured to said building structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 314 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel to accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes to accept a panel in said channel locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shape into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and panels in said channels of each adjacent said spaced structural shapes and adjacent sill shape and cap edge; said structural shapes attached to a building structure by a clip fastener, said clip fastener having a body portion terminating in a locking end, said body portion extending through the slot between opposing legs of said sheet metal structural shape and said locking end extending into said box section holding said clip, a slot in the body portion parallel to the legs of said structural shape and adapted to receive a wedge which holds said clip in secure locked position by a force of one side of said wedge against the exterior end of said slot and the other side of said wedge against the flanges of said structural shape, the other end of said body portion having a clip leg at right angles to the body portion, said clip leg being secured to said building structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 314 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panels and panel carrying structural members comprising: spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired panels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel to accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes to accept a panel in said channel locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shape into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and panels in said channels of each adjacent said spaced structural shapes and adjacent sill shape and cap edge; said structural shapes attached to a building structure by a clip fastener, said clip fastener having a body portion terminating in a locking end, said body portion extending through the slot between opposing legs of said sheet metal structural shape and said locking end extending into said box section holding said clip, a slot in the body portion parallel to the legs of said structural shape and adapted to receive a wedge which holds said clip in secure locked position by a force of one side of said wedge against the exterior end of said slot and the other side of said wedge against the flanges of said structural shape, the other end of said body portion having a clip leg at right angles to the body portion, said clip leg being secured to said building structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The panel wall construction of claim 6 wherein said wedge has at least one step on an angular edge to lock said wedge in said slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 384 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panel and panel carrying structural members comprising: spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired paneels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel which may accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes which may accept a panel in said channel locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shape into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and panels covering the space between the shapes, one surface of said panel abutting one of said legs of said shape, panel clips comprising a straight body portion having a locking end at one end and a clip leg at the other end so that said body portion may be inserted into the slot between opposing legs of said shape, the clip leg abutting the other surface of said panel and the locking end protruding into the hollow box portion of said shape locking the clip in position; said structural shapes attached to a building structure by a clip fastener, said clip fastener having a body portion terminating in a locking end, said body portion extending through the slot between opposing legs of said sheet metal structural shape and said locking end extending into said box section holding said clip, a slot in the body portion parallel to the legs of said structural shape and adapted to receive a wedge which holds said clip in secure locked position by force of one side of said wedge against the exterior end of said slot and the other side of said wedge against the flanges of said structural shape, the other end of said body portion having a clip leg at right angles to the body portion, said clip leg being secured to said building structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 384 words
A panel wall construction of the type having alternating panel and panel carrying structural members comprising: spaced sheet metal structural shapes of generally box-tee shape having three adjacent box walls, the fourth box wall being split into two segments, opposing legs extending away from the box section at about 90° from the ends of the split box walls for a distance to accommodate desired paneels, the outer end of said legs extending away from each other forming flanges at about 90° to said legs and forming a channel which may accept the edges of a wall panel; lower sill sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; upper cap sheet metal structural shape having the same design as said spaced shapes; said sill shape and cap shape aligned with said spaced shapes which may accept a panel in said channel locking said spaced shapes, sill shape and cap shape into a rigid structure without separate fasteners; and panels covering the space between the shapes, one surface of said panel abutting one of said legs of said shape, panel clips comprising a straight body portion having a locking end at one end and a clip leg at the other end so that said body portion may be inserted into the slot between opposing legs of said shape, the clip leg abutting the other surface of said panel and the locking end protruding into the hollow box portion of said shape locking the clip in position; said structural shapes attached to a building structure by a clip fastener, said clip fastener having a body portion terminating in a locking end, said body portion extending through the slot between opposing legs of said sheet metal structural shape and said locking end extending into said box section holding said clip, a slot in the body portion parallel to the legs of said structural shape and adapted to receive a wedge which holds said clip in secure locked position by force of one side of said wedge against the exterior end of said slot and the other side of said wedge against the flanges of said structural shape, the other end of said body portion having a clip leg at right angles to the body portion, said clip leg being secured to said building structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The panel wall construction of claim 8 wherein said wedge has at least one step on an angular edge to lock said wedge in said slot.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1865131A Cited
US2013762A Cited
US2101952A Cited
US3457698A Cited
US3974608A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-02-20 1981-08-22 1982-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-02-20 1985-08-22 1986-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-02-20 1989-08-22 1990-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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