Pre-engineered brick panel and methods of making and installing same
AssigneeFmi Products, LLC
InventorsMark W. Klein, Leo Litonjua
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a pre-engineered brick panel formed of first and second adjacent bricks, spaced apart by a grout joint. The surface of the first brick is adjacent to a surface of the second brick. Each of the adjacent surfaces includes a grout channel and the grout channels in adjacent surfaces are aligned with one another. Grout is disposed in both of the grout joint and the aligned grout channels. Also disclosed are methods for making and installing such pre-engineered panels.
Claims18
A pre-engineered brick panel comprising:
- first and second adjacent bricks, spaced apart by a grout joint, a surface of the first brick adjacent to a surface of the second brick, each of the adjacent surfaces including a grout channel, the grout channels in adjacent surfaces aligned with one another;
- and
- grout in the grout joint and the aligned grout channels.
The pre-engineered brick panel of claim 11, wherein the top portion of the brick panel has a top surface and the support includes at least one attachment surface spaced above and apart from the top surface.
A method of manufacturing a pre-engineered brick panel, comprising:
- placing a first surface of a first brick, the first surface having a first grout channel, next to a second surface of a second brick, the second surface having a second grout channel, to align the grout channels and form a grout joint disposing grout in the grout channels and the grout joint.
A method of installing a pre-engineered panel having a bottom portion with a bottom surface and a top portion to a fireplace having a wall, comprising:
- inserting at least one panel flange into a corresponding slot in a bottom of the fireplace, the at least one panel flange formed on the bottom portion of the panel and extending below the bottom surface of the panel;
- placing the panel against the wall of the fireplace;
- and
- attaching a fastener to the top portion of the panel and to the wall of the fireplace to install the panel to the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.