Patent ID: 9650785
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: E04B,E04C,E04F

Claim:
1. A space-dividing architectural wall system comprising: a plurality of wall panels for defining work spaces in an open building area, said wall panels comprising a plurality of elongate internal support rails which extend lengthwise substantially in parallel wherein said internal support rails at least comprise a pair of edge support rails which are spaced apart in a cross-wise direction and are disposed at lengthwise extending side edges of said wall panels, said wall panels further comprising opposite facing panels that are non-removably fastened to opposite surfaces of said edge rails to prevent movement of said edge support rails to define a structurally rigid tubular wall structure; said edge rails maintaining said facing panels in spaced relation and being sidewardly spaced apart in said cross-wise direction wherein said facing panels and said internal support rails form a rigid box-like structure with said internal support rails providing lengthwise rigidity and said facing panels providing lengthwise rigidity in addition to said internal support rails and providing crosswise rigidity to said wall panels; said edge support rails at the opposite side edges of said facing panels having a rail profile which forms structurally rigid joints between two serially-adjacent wall panels, each of said edge support rails including locking flanges along a length thereof, and at least one intermediate locking key being provided which snap lockingly engages said locking flanges along a longitudinal length of each of said edge support rails of said adjacent wall panels to join said adjacent wall panels together.