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US 8,468,767 B1Granted
Wall panel system and method of assembling the same
AssigneeVertical Dimensions, LLC
InventorSteven J. McBride
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wall panel system includes a first wall panel and a second wall panel. The first wall panel has a first groove extending along a first end portion and a second groove extending along a second end portion. The second wall panel has a third groove extending along a third end portion. The wall panel system further includes a spline including first and second spline tongues, wherein the first spline tongue is mateable with the first groove and the second spline tongue is mateable with the third groove.
Claims20
A wall panel system, comprising:
- (a) a first wall panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first groove extending along a first end portion between the inner and outer surfaces, and a second groove extending along a second end portion between the inner and outer surfaces of the first wall panel, wherein the inner surface of the first wall panel is positioned against a wall;
- (b) a second wall panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a third groove extending along a third end portion between the inner and outer surfaces of the second wall panel, wherein the inner surface of the second wall panel is positioned against the wall;
- and
- (c) a spline, comprising:
- (i) a central polygonal portion having an inner surface, an outer surface in a spaced relationship with the inner surface, a first lateral surface extending from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and a second lateral surface extending from the outer surface toward the inner surface;
- (ii) a first spline tongue extending outwardly from the first lateral surface, the first spline tongue defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the first spline tongue is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the central polygonal portion, a second spline tongues tongue extending outwardly from the second lateral surface, the second spline tongue defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the second spline tongue is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the central polygonal portion and the outer surface of the first spline tongue, wherein the first spline tongue is mateable mated with the first groove of the first wall panel and wherein the second spline tongue is mateable mated with the third groove of the second wall panel, and wherein the inner surface of the central polygonal portion is positioned against the wall;
- and
- (iii) a spline recess defined within the outer surface of the central polygonal portion between the first and second spline tongues such that the spline recess extends from the outer surface toward the inner surface of the central polygonal portion, wherein at least one fastener is received within at least one opening defined in the spline recess such that a portion of the at least one fastener is housed in the recess.
5 more elements
A method of assembling a wall panel system on a wall, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a first wall panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first groove extending along a first end portion between the inner and outer surfaces, and a second groove extending along a second end portion between the inner and outer surfaces of the first wall panel, wherein the inner surface of the first wall panel is positioned against a wall;
- an inner surface, an outer surface, and a third groove extending along a third end portion between the inner and outer surfaces of the second wall panel, wherein the inner surface of the second wall panel is positioned against the wall;
- (c) providing a spline, comprising:
- (i) a central polygonal portion having an inner surface, an outer surface in a spaced relationship with the inner surface, a first lateral surface extending from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and a second lateral surface extending from the outer surface toward the inner surface;
- (ii) a first spline tongue extending outwardly from the first lateral surface, the first spline tongue defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the first spline tongue is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the central polygonal portion, a second spline tongues mateable with the first and third grooves tongue extending outwardly from the second lateral surface, the second spline tongue defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the second spline tongue is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the central polygonal portion and the outer surface of the first spline tongue;
- (iii) a spline recess defined in the outer surface of the central polygonal portion between the first and second spline tongues such that the spline recess extends from the outer surface toward the inner surface of the central polygonal portion, wherein at least one fastener is receivable within at least one opening defined in the spline recess when the first and second spline tongues are mated with the first and third grooves such that a portion of the at least one fastener is housed in the recess;
- (d) positioning the inner surface of the first wall panel against the wall
- (d) mating the first spline tongue with the first groove of the first wall panel such that the inner surface of the central polygonal portion is positioned against the wall;
- (f) securing the spline to the wall by passing at least one fastener through the at least one opening in the spline recess;
- and
- (h) mating the second spline tongue with the third groove of the second wall panel.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.