Patent ID: 6098363
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: E04F

Abstract:
A support panel for supporting a plurality of external wall forming members, each external wall forming member having a generally rectangular parallelpiped shape including a main surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, and elongated lateral extensions projecting on said side surfaces, said elongated lateral extensions having minor surfaces and rear surfaces, said main surface being higher than said minor surfaces, said support panel comprising:a back plate adapted to make contact with the rear surface of an external wall forming member;a plurality of first engaging members extending substantially perpendicular to said back plate and arranged along a first line;a plurality of second engaging members member extending substantially perpendicular to said back plate and arranged along a second line parallel to said first line;said first engaging members and said second engaging members being integrally formed with said back plate as a unit so that a plurality of external wall forming members can be secured between said first and second engaging members;said first engaging members comprising engaging members having first fingers bent toward said second line and engaging members having second fingers bent opposite to said first fingers, said engaging members having said first fingers and said engaging members having said second fingers being arranged alternately;said second engaging members comprising engaging members having third fingers bent toward said first line and engaging members having fourth fingers bent opposite to said third fingers, said engaging members having said third fingers and said engaging members having said fourth fingers being arranged alternately; andsaid back plate having cutouts formed therein by pressing the material of said back plate to form said first and second engaging members with said first, second, third, and fourth fingers, each one of said cutouts being located adjacent to an associated one of said first and second engaging members on the side thereof toward which associated one of said first, second, third and fourth fingers is bent.