# US 12,000,146 B2 · Exterior wall system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,146 B2 - Document ID: US12000146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/808,834 - Filed: 2022-06-24 - Published: 2022-10-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-21 - Assignees: Mitek Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Mitek Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Kirt Smith; Chad Walswick; John Frank; Jeff Heymann; Alex Wilson; Ryan Raschke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000146B2 ## CPC - E04B 2/92: Sandwich-type panels - E04B 1/20: the supporting parts consisting of concrete, e.g. reinforced concrete, or other stonelike material - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract An exterior wall section forms a portion of an exterior wall of a building. The building has multiple floors and a framework defining the multiple floors. The exterior wall section includes a structural layer to be connected to the framework. The structural layer includes a plurality of studs connected together. An insulation layer is supported by the structural layer to insulate the building. Siding is supported by the structural layer and defines an exterior side of the exterior wall section. A perimeter of the exterior wall section is defined by the edge margins of the structural layer, the insulation layer and/or the siding. The exterior wall section includes an interlocking structure extending along the perimeter that mates with an interlocking structure of another exterior wall section to form a seal with said another exterior wall section when the exterior wall sections are connected to the building. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exterior wall section forming a portion of an exterior wall of a building having a framework, the exterior wall section comprising: a structural frame made of rigid components including a top plate, a sill, and studs, the studs including first and second exterior side studs extending between the sill and the top plate, the first exterior side stud being at one end of the structural frame and the second exterior side stud being at an opposite end of the structural frame, the studs including first and second intermediate studs disposed between and spaced apart from the first and second exterior side studs, the first and second intermediate studs extending between and connected to the sill and the top plate, the first and second exterior side studs and the first and second intermediate studs each being separate and distinct components relative to each other, the first and second exterior side studs and the first and second intermediate studs each being elongate, the structural frame having a perimeter extending along a length of the top plate, along a length of the first exterior stud, along a length of the sill, and along a length of the second exterior side stud; and an extruded metal border extending along the perimeter of the structural frame and being connected to and supported by the structural frame, the extruded metal border being configured to sealingly mate with one or more other exterior wall sections to form a water and air barrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the extruded metal border extends along a majority of the perimeter of the exterior wall section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the extruded border comprises a first interlocking connector and a second interlocking connector, the first interlocking connector being configured to form a seal with a second interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section to form a seal with said at least one other exterior wall section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The exterior wall section of claim 3, wherein the first interlocking connector is a male interlocking connector and wherein the second interlocking connector is a female interlocking connector, the male interlocking connector being configured to be inserted into a female interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section and the female interlocking connector being configured to receive a male interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exterior wall section of claim 4, wherein the male interlocking connector includes an arm configured to engage the female interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section to form at least a portion of the seal therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The exterior wall section of claim 5 wherein the female interlocking connector defines a channel extending along the perimeter of the exterior wall section, the channel of the female interlocking connector being configured to receive the arm of the male interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, further comprising a weather strip extending along the perimeter and disposed exteriorly of the extruded metal border, the weather strip being configured to operatively engage a perimeter of the at least one other exterior wall section to inhibit a liquid from the outside environment from reaching the extruded metal border when the exterior wall sections are connected to the framework of the building. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The exterior wall section of claim 7, in combination with the at least one other exterior wall section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the extruded metal border is secured to the structural frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The exterior wall section of claim 9, wherein the extruded metal border extends outward from the structural frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, further comprising a sheathing layer mounted on the structural frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The exterior wall section of claim 11, wherein the sheathing layer comprises a sheet of material made of magnesium oxide cement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The exterior wall section of claim 11, further comprising a moisture barrier mounted on an exterior side of the sheathing layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The exterior wall section of claim 13, further comprising an insulation layer mounted on an exterior side of the moisture barrier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The exterior wall section of claim 14, wherein the insulation layer comprises a first insulation layer, the exterior wall section further comprising a second insulation layer supported by the structural frame and spaced apart from the first insulation layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exterior wall section of claim 15, further comprising a window, the structural frame, the insulation layer, sheathing layer, the moisture barrier and the siding each including an opening aligned with the window. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The exterior wall section of claim 16, wherein the structural frame, the metal border, the sheathing layer, the moisture barrier and the insulation layer are connected together to form a self-contained modular unit that is configured to be connected to the framework of the building. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The exterior wall section of claim 14, further comprising siding mounted on an exterior side of the insulation layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The exterior wall section of claim 15, wherein the structural frame supports the entire weight of each of the extruded metal border, the sheathing layer, the moisture barrier and the insulation layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the exterior wall section has a height greater than a height of one floor of the building. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the extruded metal border extends along an entirety of the perimeter of the exterior wall section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the first and second intermediate studs have the same cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The exterior wall section of claim 22, wherein the cross-sectional shape is a C-shape. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the first and second exterior side studs and the first and second intermediate studs form an exterior face of the structural frame and an interior face of the structural frame. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, wherein the first and second exterior side studs and the first and second intermediate studs are all spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the length of the top plate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The exterior wall section of claim 1, further comprising fasteners fastening the extruded metal border to the structural frame.