Patent ID: 7404273
Filing Date: 2008-07-29
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. An improved wall construction for positioning a plurality of rigid, self-supporting panels to provide exterior walls and/or divide or partition interior building space, said panels having a substantially rectangular shape with an inner and outer face and a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a rear edge, said wall construction comprising: a plurality of top rail members each having a substantially flat elongated rectangular shape with a first end and a second end and having a raised spine member spanning from first to second end, said rail members suitable for placement along the top of a wall line in end-to-end relative arrangement; a plurality of bottom rail members each having a substantially flat elongated rectangular shape with a first end and a second end and having a raised spine member spanning from first to second end, said rail members suitable for placement along the bottom of a wall line in end to end relative arrangement; and a plurality of vertically oriented flanged stud members each having a top end and a bottom end and a substantially hat-shaped cross section that includes a large flange and a small flange joined together by a spine channel located therebetween, said large flange, small flange, and spine channel each having a substantially flat outer surface with said outer surfaces in substantially parallel respective position and said large and small flanges being in planar respective position, said top and bottom ends each having a lateral slot for slidably receiving said raised spine members of said top and bottom rails therein, said lateral slot oriented substantially parallel to said small and large flange, each said flanged stud member further disposed between a top and bottom rail member, thereby providing a frame suitable for the reception of one or more rigid, self-supporting panels, and further comprising: a first panel positioned adjacent to said large flange on a first flanged stud member such that inner face of said first panel is in contact with outer surface of said large flange with said front edge of first panel in substantially parallel alignment with said first flanged stud member and inner face of said first panel partially covers outer surface of said large flange, said first panel further being connected to said first flanged stud member by means of a plurality of penetrating connectors positioned through said large flange and terminating within said first panel; a second panel positioned with inner face adjacent to said outer surface of spine channel on first flanged stud member such that said front edge of second panel is in substantially parallel alignment with said first flanged stud member and inner face of said second panel covers a portion of the outer surface of said spine channel, said second panel further being connected to said first flanged stud member by means of a plurality of penetrating connectors positioned through said spine channel and terminating within said second panel, said second panel further having a plurality of symmetric recesses centered along said front edge, said recesses each being furnished with a symmetric connector inserted therein such that one-half of each symmetric connector extends outward from said front edge; a third panel positioned with rear edge in abutted relation to front edge of said first panel and inner face adjacent to outer surface of both large and small flange of said first flanged stud member, said third panel further being connected to said first flanged stud member by means of a plurality of penetrating connectors positioned through said small flange and terminating within said third panel; and a fourth panel positioned with inner face adjacent to said outer surface of spine channel of said first flanged stud member, said fourth panel further having a plurality of symmetric recesses centered along said rear edge, said recesses positioned to receive protruding portions of symmetric connectors located along front edge of said second panel therein as rear edge of said fourth panel is placed in abutted relation to front edge of said second panel.