Wall panel locking mechanism

Claim 1

In a wall structure that includes a pair of laterally spaced apart, parallel, vertically arranged studs, each formed with a longitudinally extending, forwardly projecting, panel positioning rib and at least one laterally projecting base flange spaced rearwardly of said rib, and a panel disposed between the studs and provided with front and back surfaces and with opposite vertical side surfaces positionable between the panel-positioning ribs of said studs, said panel having elevated and lowered positions relative to said studs, a wall panel locking mechanism comprising: (a) at least one latch-receiving ledge integrally formed on each of said studs intermediately of the rib and base flange, said ledge being substantially longitudinally coextensive with and disposed laterally and rearwardly of said rib and having a forwardly opening, latch-receiving passageway formed therein; and (b) at least one pair of laterally spaced apart latch members connected with the back surface of the panel in proximity to the vertical side surfaces thereof, said latch members being insertable in and removable from the passageways formed in the ledges of said pair of studs with said panel in its elevated position and immovable through said passageways with said panel in its lowered position.