Prefabricated wall panel with tongue and groove construction

A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to be attached to a substantially vertical supporting wall, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of other shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to said supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising:

• a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said interior surface configured to face said supporting wall, said decorative outside surface configured to face the same direction as does said supporting wall, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface;
• and
• a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body, said second segment configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall,
• said first edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being nonplanar and at least partially defining a recessed groove portion and a raised portion, said raised portion being intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface and said groove portion, and
• said second edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and at least in part defining a tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being sized and shaped to be at least partially received in the groove portion of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said plurality of said similarly shaped panels may be interconnected such that said tongue portion of said body is discouraged from movement having an outward horizontal component due to its interference with the raised portion of the groove of said another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto.

A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to be attached to a substantially vertical supporting wall, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of similarly shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to said supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising:

• a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said first edge opposite said second edge, said interior surface configured to face said supporting wall, said decorative outside surface configured to face the same direction as does said supporting wall, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface;
• and
• a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting from an exterior portion of said body and including a groove defining portion,
• said second segment configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall,
• said first edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being nonplanar and combining with said groove defining portion of said second segment of said mounting element to at least partially define a recessed groove portion, said first edge of said body also defining a raised portion, said raised portion being intermediate said first boundary of said outside decorative surface and said groove portion such that said groove portion is spaced from the front of said outside decorative surface, and
• said second edge of said body being formed from said single piece of material and at least in part defining a tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being sized and shaped to be received in the groove of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said plurality of said similarly shaped panels may be interconnected such that said tongue portion of said body is discouraged from outward horizontal movement due to interference by the raised portion of the groove of said another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto.

A wall panel including an outside decorative surface, said wall panel configured to fit within a plurality of similarly shaped panels such that said outside decorative surface faces outwardly relative to a supporting wall, said wall panel when oriented on said supporting wall itself comprising:

• a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body having a generally planar configuration generally defined by an interior surface, a decorative outside surface, and first and second edges each having a thickness, said first edge extending from a first boundary of said outside decorative surface to a first boundary of said rear surface, and said second edge extending from a second boundary of said outside decorative surface to a second boundary of said rear surface;
• and
• a mounting bracket including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body, said second segment including an attachment location configured to be fastened relative to said supporting wall such that said body is likewise fastened relative to said supporting wall, said bracket including a set back feature in said second segment projecting from said body, said set-back feature configured to provide spacing between said interior surface of said wall panel and said supporting wall,
• said first and second edges of said body being formed from said single piece of material and being configured such that the second edge of said body engages the first edge of the body of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto, such that said second edge is discouraged from movement having an outward horizontal component due to its interference with the first edge of the body of another wall panel mounted relatively adjacent thereto.

A prefabricated wall panel for attachment relative to a supporting structure, said wall panel comprising:

• a body integrally formed from a single piece of material, said body including at least one decorative design element;
• a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body, and a second segment projecting to the exterior of said body, said second segment itself including two sub-segments:
• a first sub-segment more proximally positioned relative to said body than is said second sub-segment;
• and
• a second sub-segment more distally positioned relative to said body than is said first sub-segment, said second sub-segment including a mounting location configured to facilitate mounting of said mounting element relative to said mounting structure;
• a groove formed between a portion of said body and said first sub-segment of said second segment of said mounting element, said groove being inset relative to a first edge of said body;
• and
• a tongue portion of said body, said tongue portion being defined by a second edge of said body opposite said first edge, wherein said second edge of said body is formed from said single piece of material, and wherein said tongue portion is sized and shaped to be received in said groove so that said prefabricated wall panels may be interconnected to form a wall defining a substantially flush rear surface.

A prefabricated wall panel, comprising:

• a body including at least one decorative design element and consisting essentially of a single piece of material, said single piece of material being selected from a group consisting of concrete, fiber reinforced concrete, gypsum, fiber reinforced gypsum, polymer modified gypsum, and any one of a variety of other cementitious materials;
• a mounting element including a first segment embedded substantially within an interior portion of said body and a second segment projecting to an exterior of said body;
• a groove formed between a portion of said body and said second segment of said mounting element, said groove being inset relative to a first edge of said body;
• and
• a tongue of said body, said tongue being defined by a second edge of said body opposite said first edge, wherein said tongue is sized and shaped to be received in said groove so that said prefabricated wall panels may be interconnected to form a wall defining a substantially flush rear surface.