Patent Publication Number: US-2007094965-A1

Title: Method and Apparatus For Spanning Gutter Gaps in Wall Panels

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/886,297, filed Jun. 20, 2001, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ERECTING WALL PANELS”, which is a continuation application of 09/334,124, filed Jun. 15, 1999, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ERECTING WALL PANELS” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,772, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/989,748, filed Dec. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,100, all the above identified references being fully incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed generally to apparatus and methods for erecting wall panels and specifically to perimeter framing members for attaching wall panels to structural members.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The exterior walls of many commercial and industrial buildings are formed by mounting a number of wall panels and attached perimeter extrusions on a grid framework of structural members attached to the building. The resulting grid of wall panels are aesthetically attractive and protect the building structure from fluids in the terrestrial environment.  
      In designing a wall panel mounting system, there are a number of objectives. First, the joints between the wall panels should be substantially sealed from terrestrial fluids. Penetration of terrestrial fluids behind the wall panels can cause warpage and/or dislocation of the wall panels, which can culminate in wall panel failure. Second, any sealing material used in the joints between the wall panels should be non-skinning and non-hardening. The sealing material is located in a confined space in the joint. To maintain the integrity of the seal between the wall panels when the panels expand and contract in response to thermal fluctuations and other building movements (e.g., seismically induced movements), the sealing material must be able to move with the wall panels without failure of the seal. If the sealing material hardens or “sets up”, the sealing material can break or shear, thereby destroying the weather seal. Third, the longevity of the sealing material should be at least as long as the useful life of the wall panels. Fourth, the sealing material should be capable of being pre-installed before erection of a wall panel beside a previously installed wall panel to provide for ease and simplicity of wall panel installation and low installation costs. Wall panel systems presently must be installed in a “stair step” fashion (i.e., a staggered or stepped method) because the sealing material must be installed only after both of the adjacent wall panels are mounted on the support members. Fifth, a drainage system or gutter should be employed to drain any fluids that are able to penetrate the seal in the joints. The gutter, which commonly is a “U”-shaped member in communication with a series of weep holes, must not overflow and thereby provide an uncontrolled entry for terrestrial fluids into the interior of the wall. During storms, winds can exert a positive pressure on the wall, thereby forcing terrestrial fluids to adhere to the surface of the wall (i.e., known as a capillary attraction). In other words, as the fluids follow the wall profile, the fluids can be drawn through the weep holes into gutter. The amount of terrestrial fluids drawn through the weep holes is directly proportional to the intensity of the storm pressure exerted on the wall exterior. If a sufficient amount of fluids enter the weep holes, the gutter can overflow, leaking fluids into the wall interior. Such leakage can cause severe damage or even panel failure.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      These and other design considerations are addressed by the wall panel attachment system of the present invention. In a first aspect of the present invention, the wall panel attachment system includes an upper perimeter framing member attached to an upper wall panel and a lower perimeter framing member attached to a lower wall panel. The upper and lower perimeter framing members engage one another at perimeter edges of the upper and lower, typically vertically aligned, wall panels to define a recess relative to the upper and lower wall panels. At least one of the upper and lower perimeter framing members includes a plurality of drainage (or weep) holes for the drainage of terrestrial fluids located inside of the upper and lower perimeter framing members. At least one of the upper and lower perimeter framing members further includes a capillary break or blocking means (e.g., an elongated ridge running the length of the perimeter framing members) that (a) projects into the recess, (b) is positioned between the exterior of the upper and lower wall panels on the one hand and the plurality of drainage holes on the other, (c) is positioned on the same side of the recess as the plurality of drainage holes, and (d) is spaced from the plurality of drainage holes. The portion of the recess located interiorly of the capillary break is referred to as the circulating chamber. The capillary break inhibits terrestrial fluids, such as rainwater, from entering the plurality of drainage holes and substantially seals the joint between the upper and lower perimeter framing members from penetration by fluids.  
      While not wishing to be bound by any theory, the capillary break induces vortexing of any air stream containing droplets, thereby removing the droplets from the air stream upstream of the weep holes. Vortexing is induced by a decrease in the cross-sectional area of airflow (causing an increase in air stream velocity) as the air stream flows towards and past the capillary break followed by a sudden increase in the cross-sectional area of flow downstream of the capillary break (causing a decrease in air stream velocity). Behind and adjacent to the capillary break, the sudden decrease in air stream velocity causes entrained droplets to deposit on the surface of the recess. To induce vortexing, the capillary break can have a concave or curved surface on its rear surface (adjacent to the circulating chamber). The rear surface of the capillary break is adjacent to the weep holes.  
      To inhibit entry of the droplets into the weep holes adjacent to the capillary break, the weep holes must be located at a sufficient distance from the capillary break and a sufficient distance above the free end of the capillary break to remove the weep holes from the vortex. Preferably, the capillary break and weep holes are both positioned on the same side of a horizontal line intersecting the free end of the capillary break. Typically, the distance between the rear surface of the capillary break and the adjacent drainage holes (which are typically aligned relative to a common axis) is at least about 0.25 inches. Commonly, the distance of the weep holes above the free end of the capillary break is at least about 125% of the distance from the free end of the capillary break to the opposing surface of the recess.  
      The drainage holes and capillary break can be located on the same perimeter framing member or on different perimeter framing members.  
      To form a seal between the perimeter framing members of adjacent, horizontally aligned wall panels, a second aspect of the present invention employs a flexible sheet interlock, that is substantially impervious to the passage of terrestrial fluids, to overlap both of the perimeter framing members to inhibit the passage of terrestrial fluids in the space between the perimeter framing members.  
      The flexible sheet interlock is preferably composed of a sealing non-skinning and non-hardening material that has a useful life at least equal to that of the wall panels. In this manner, the integrity of the seal between the wall panels is maintained over the useful life of the panels. The most preferred sealing material is silicone or urethane. The flexible sheet interlock, being non-skinning and non-hardening, can move freely, in response to thermally induced movement of the wall panels, without failure of the seal.  
      The flexible sheet interlock can be pre-installed before erection of an adjacent wall panel to provide for ease and simplicity of wall panel installation and low installation costs. The flexible sheet interlock can be installed on the wall panel and folded back on itself during installation of the adjacent wall panel. After the adjacent wall panel is installed, the interlock can simply be unfolded to cover the joint between the adjoining wall panels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  depicts a number of adjoining wall panels attached by a first embodiment of the wall panel mounting system according to a first aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of interconnected upper and lower perimeter framing members attached to panels  54   a  and  54   c  of the first embodiment viewed from in front of the wall panels, with a portion of the lower perimeter framing member  58   c  being cutaway to reveal the drainage holes  78  (in the lower perimeter framing member  58   c , as is also illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), and the capillary break  74  (in the upper perimeter framing member  66   a , as is also illustrated in  FIG. 2 );  
       FIG. 1B  is an exploded view of the lower perimeter framing member  58   b  of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 1C  is an exploded view of interconnected upper and lower perimeter framing members  66   b  and  58   d  of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 1D  is an exploded view of the upper perimeter framing member  58   d  of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the wall panel mounting system of the first embodiment taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the wall panel mounting system of the first embodiment taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  depicting the impact of the capillary break on airflow during a storm;  
       FIG. 4  is a second embodiment of a wall panel mounting system according to the first aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a third embodiment of a wall panel mounting system according to the first aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6A  depicts a number of adjoining wall panels sealed by a fourth embodiment of a wall panel mounting system according to the second aspect of the present invention briefly described in the Summary of the Invention section hereinabove;  
       FIG. 6B  is an exploded view of interconnected lower perimeter framing members, e.g.,  66   a  and  66   b , of adjoining wall panels  54   c  and  54   d  of  FIG. 6A  viewed from the front of the wall panels, with the upper perimeter framing member removed to reveal the flexible sheet interlock  250 ;  
       FIG. 7  depicts the behavior of the flexible sheet interlock  250  in response to thermal contractions in the wall panels;  
       FIG. 8  depicts a first method for installing the flexible sheet interlock to seal a joint between adjacent perimeter framing members;  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIGS. 10-11  depict a second method for installing the flexible sheet interlock which uses a rigid insert to protect the edges of the flexible sheet interlock;  
       FIGS. 12-13  depict a third method for installing the flexible sheet interlock which uses a shelf or lip on the perimeter framing member to protect the edges of the flexible sheet interlock;  
       FIG. 14  depicts the exposed edges of the flexible sheet interlock being folded back onto itself during installation of an adjacent wall panel;  
       FIG. 15  depicts a preferred sequence for installing wall panels using the flexible sheet interlock, wherein instances of the flexible sheet interlock are identified by the label “FSI”;  
       FIGS. 16-22  depict a fourth embodiment of a wall panel mounting system according to a third aspect of the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 23-28  depict a fifth embodiment of a wall panel mounting system according to the third aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The first aspect of the present invention is directed to retarding the passage of terrestrial fluids through the joint between adjoining upper and lower wall panels.  FIG. 1  depicts four adjacent wall panel mounting assemblies  50   a - d  and the attached vertically oriented wall panels  54   a - d  according to the first aspect of the present invention. Each wall panel mounting assembly  50   a - d  includes a number of perimeter framing members  58   a - d ,  62   a - d ,  66   a - d  and  70   a - d  engaging each edge of the wall panels  54   a - d . Lower perimeter framing members  58  engage upper perimeter framing members  66 , and perimeter framing members  62  engage perimeter framing members  70 . As can be seen from  FIGS. 1A and 1C , the upper perimeter framing members  66  (e.g.,  66   a  and  66   b ) are configured to interlock in a nested relationship with corresponding lower perimeter framing members  58  (e.g.,  58   c  and  58   d ). Referring to  FIG. 1A , at least one of the upper and lower perimeter framing members has a capillary break  74  ( FIGS. 1C and 2  as well), and a plurality of drainage holes  78   a - c  in communication with a gutter  83  ( FIG. 2  as well), defined by the lower perimeter framing member in the present embodiment.  
      The wall panels  54  can be composed of a variety of materials, including wood, plastics, metal, ceramics, masonry, and composites thereof. A preferred composite wall panel  54  is metal- or plastic-faced with a wood, metal, or plastic core. A more preferred wall panel  54  is a composite of metal and plastics sold under the trademark “ALUCOBOND ”.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1C, 2  and  3 , the upper and lower perimeter framing members  66  and  58  define a recess  82 . The capillary break  74  extends downwardly from the upper perimeter framing member  66  to divide the recess  82  into a circulating chamber  86  and an inlet  90 . The capillary break  74  is located nearer the wall panel  54  than the drainage holes  78  to block or impede the flow of droplets  94  ( FIG. 3 ) entrained in the air stream  98  into the drainage holes  78 .  
       FIG. 3  depicts the operation of the capillary break  74  and circulating chamber  86  during a storm. The air stream or wind  98  forces droplets of water  94  against the wall panels  54  (e.g.,  54   b  and  54   d ). A film  102  of water forms on, e.g., the exterior surfaces of the wall. The wind pressure forces entrained droplets of water  94  and the film  102  into the inlet  90  between the wall panels  54   b  and  54   d . The capillary break  74 , which runs continuously along the length of each upper perimeter framing member  66  (e.g.,  66   b  in  FIG. 3 ), decreases the cross-sectional area of air flow and therefore increases the velocity of the droplets  94 . As the entrained droplets  94  enter the circulating chamber  86 , the cross-sectional area of flow increases and therefore the velocity of the droplets  94  decreases forming a vortex  106 . As a result, the droplets  94  have insufficient velocity to remain entrained in the air and the droplets collect in the film  102  on the lower surface  110  of the recess  82 .  
      The degree of vortexing of the air stream depends, of course, on the increase in the cross-sectional area of flow as the air stream flows past the capillary break  74  and into the circulating chamber  86 . If one were to define the space between the free end  124  ( FIG. 2 ) of the capillary break and the opposing wall (i.e., lower surface  110 ) of the recess  82  as having a first vertical cross-sectional area, and the space between the vertically spaced apart opposing walls of the circulating chamber  86  (i.e., the distance “H v ”,  FIG. 2 ) as having a second vertical cross-sectional area, the second vertical cross sectional area is preferably at least about 125% of the first vertical cross sectional area and more preferably at least about 150% of the first vertical cross sectional area.  
      The rear surface  120  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the capillary break  74  has a concave or curved shape to facilitate the formation of the vortex  106 .  
      The relative dimensions of the capillary break  74  are important to its performance. Preferably, the height “H C ” ( FIG. 2 ) of the capillary break  74  is at least about 100%, and more preferably ranges from about 125% to about 200%, of the distance “D C ” ( FIG. 2 ) between the free end  124  of the capillary break  74  and the opposing surface  110  of the recess  82 .  
      The locations of the drainage holes  78  relative to the capillary break  74  is another important factor to performance. The drainage holes  78  are preferably located on the same side of the capillary break  74  as the circulating chamber  86  of the recess  82  (i.e., drainage holes  78  are in the upper portion of the circulating chamber  86  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) such that the wind does not have a straight line path from the inlet  90  to a drainage hole  78 . For a substantially horizontally oriented drainage hole  78 , the distance “D H ” ( FIG. 2 ) from the rear surface  120  of the capillary break  74  to the edge  128  ( FIG. 2 ) of the drainage hole  78  must be sufficient to place the drainage hole outside of the vortex and more preferably is at least about 0.25 inches.  
       FIG. 4  depicts a second embodiment of a wall panel mounting assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention (this first aspect briefly described in the Summary of the Invention section hereinabove). In this second embodiment, drainage holes  78  are located on a substantially vertical surface  154  of an embodiment of the lower perimeter framing member  58 . Because a vertically oriented drainage hole is more susceptible to the entry of fluids than the horizontally oriented drainage hole of  FIG. 2 , the preferred minimum distance “D H ” from the rear surface  120  of the capillary break  74  for this second embodiment is greater than the preferred minimum distance “D H ” from the rear surface for the first embodiment (e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). More preferably, the drainage hole  78  is located at least about 0.75 inches from the rear surface  120  of the capillary break  74 . The center of the drainage hole  78  is located above the free end  124  ( FIG. 4 ) of the capillary break  74  and more preferably the entire drainage hole  78  is located above the free end  124  of the capillary break  74 .  
       FIG. 5  depicts a third embodiment of a wall panel mounting assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention. In this third embodiment, drainage holes  78  are located above the free end  124  of the capillary break  74  with an inclined surface  212  extending from the drainage holes  78  to a point below the capillary break  74 . The inclined surface  212  facilitates removal of fluids from the recess  82  and thereby inhibits build-up of fluids in a corner of the recess  82  (i.e., a corner of the chamber  86 ).  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a fourth embodiment of a wall panel attachment system according to the second aspect of the present invention (this second aspect briefly described in the Summary of the Invention section hereinabove). The system uses a flexible sheet interlock  250  ( FIG. 6B ) to seal inline adjacent perimeter framing members (e.g., perimeter framing members  258   a  and  258   b , which may correspond to one of the pairs of lower perimeter framing members  58   a,b  or  58   c,d  of  FIGS. 1, 1A  and  1 C). At the joint or gap  284  between the perimeter framing members  258   a  and  258   b  of adjacent wall panels  54   a,b  (or  54   c,d ), a flexible sheet interlock  250  inhibits fluid migration along the joint defined by the adjacent ends  254   a,b  of the adjacent gutter segments (e.g.,  83   a,b  in  FIG. 6B ) of the perimeter framing members  258   a  and  258   b . The flexible sheet interlock  250  realizes this result by retaining fluids in the adjacent gutter segments  83   a,b. Accordingly, the interface  (e.g.,  260 ,  FIG. 7 ) between the flexible sheet interlock  250  and the gutter interior surfaces of the gutter walls  268   a,b,c  is substantially impervious to fluid migration. As can be seen from  FIG. 6B , the flexible sheet interlock  250  has sufficient flexibility to conform to the “U”-shaped contour of the gutter segments  83   a  and  83   b.    
      Referring to  FIGS. 6A, 6B , and  FIG. 7 , surface  251  of the flexible sheet interlock  250  between the adjacent ends  254   a,b  is shown, and in particular, in  FIG. 7 , this surface is shown in both an extended and bowed configuration. The interface  260  ( FIG. 7 ) can include an adhesive  264  between the flexible sheet interlock  250  and each of the three gutter walls  268   a,b,c  to retain the interlock  250  in position. Although the flexible sheet interlock  250  itself may possess adhesive properties, an adhesive, preferably having sealing properties, has been found to assist the formation and maintenance of an integral seal between the interlock  250  and the gutter interior surfaces of the gutter walls  268   a,b,c . The most preferred adhesive is a high performance compressed joint sealant that can “set up” or harden and bond to the gutter walls  268   a,b,c  and the interlock. Examples of such sealants include silicone, urethane, and epoxy. Because the interlock  250  itself absorbs all of the thermal movement of the wall panels, there is no requirement for the adhesive  264  to stay resilient and move. The end result is a more economical system for sealing the gap  284  between the gutter segments  83   a,b  of adjacent perimeter framing members (e.g.,  258   a, b ) that has a useful life equal to that of the exterior wall panel system.  
      As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , when the perimeter framing members (e.g.,  258   a, b ) are expanded due to thermal or building movements (e.g., the perimeter framing member positions denoted by arrows  274 ), the portion  280  of the interlock  250  in the gap  284  between the adjoining perimeter framing members deforms and thereby absorbs the movement without a failure of the seal provided by the adhesive  264 . When the perimeter framing members (e.g.,  258   a, b ) are in a relaxed state (e.g., the perimeter framing member positions denoted by arrows  288 ), the interlock  250  returns to its normal (i.e., extended) position.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , embodiments of lower perimeter framing members  58   e  and  58   f  are shown, and additionally these figures show that the dimensions of the flexible interlock  250  are sufficient to prevent fluids from spilling over the sides of the interlock  250  before the fluid depth in the gutter  83  (provided by gutter segments  83   a,b ) reaches the depth of the gutter. After installation of the interlock  250  in the gutter  83 , the two heights labeled “H F     1   ” and “H F     2   ” ( FIG. 9 ) of the respective sides  272   a,c  of the interlock  250  are substantially the same as the heights “H I     1   ” and “H I     2   ” of the corresponding (i.e., adjacent) side walls  268   a,c  of the gutter.  
       FIGS. 8-9  also depict a method for installing the interlock  250  across the adjacent ends of the gutter segments  83   a,b . The interlock  250  is pressed down in the gutter segments  83   a,b  until the interlock  250  substantially conforms to the interior shape of the gutter  83  as depicted in  FIG. 9 .  
      In  FIGS. 10-13 , alternative methods are depicted for installing the flexible sheet interlock  250  in the gutters  83  (e.g., gutter segments  83   a,b  in  FIG. 6B ). In a second method shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , a substantially rigid insert  292  can be employed to protect the exposed edge  293  of the interlock  250  during engagement of an upper perimeter framing member, and a lower perimeter framing member. In particular, the rigid insert  292  is shown in the context of another embodiment of the upper and lower perimeter framing members identified respectively in these figures by the labels  266  and  258 . Note that the upper perimeter framing member  266  adjoins an upper wall panel  54   k , and the lower perimeter framing member  258  adjoins a lower wall panel  54   m . As will be appreciated, in the absence of the insert  292 , the inner surface  296  of the upper perimeter framing member  266  can “roll up” the interlock  250  due to frictional forces during engagement of the upper and lower perimeter framing members  266  and  258  with one another. The “L”-shaped insert  292 , which can be any substantially rigid material such as metal or plastic, is received between the upper and lower perimeter framing members ( 266 ,  258 , respectively), and inhibits the rolling up of the interlock  250  when the perimeter framing members are placed into an interlocking relationship. The insert  292  and interlock  250  are positioned in a nested interlocking relationship as shown in  FIG. 10 . To operate effectively, the height “H A ” of the engaging surface  297  ( FIG. 11 ) of the insert  292  has substantially the same length as the height “H I ” ( FIG. 10 ) of the corresponding (i.e., adjacent) gutter wall  268   a . As will be appreciated, the insert  292  is not required to be an “L”-shape but can be any other shape that matches the inner contour of the gutter  83  such as a “U”-shape.  
      Note that  FIGS. 10-11  also show other features for the wall panel attachment system disclosed herein. In particular, a pocket  289  is shown in each of: the lower perimeter framing member  266 , and (in the dashed version of) the upper perimeter framing member  258 . Each pocket  289  is a recess into which a corresponding portion of a panel  54  (e.g.,  54   k  or  54   m ) can be received (e.g., a portion of the panel that is: (a) between the panel peripheral surfaces  55  and  57 , and (b) extending to the panel&#39;s peripheral edge  56 , wherein the panel surfaces  55  and  57  face substantially away from one another). Each pocket  289  is bounded by (and in part defined by) a pair of first and second opposing surfaces,  286  and  287  respectively. In addition to a panel&#39;s peripheral surfaces and edges, an attachment member  290  is also provided in each pocket  289 . For each of the lower and upper perimeter framing members  258  and  266 , one of the attachment members  290  is operably provided in the perimeter framing member&#39;s corresponding pocket  289  for securing a corresponding one of the panels  54   m  and  54   k  within the pocket (for example, wherein the peripheral surfaces  55  and  57 , and, the edge  56  of the panel are received within the pocket  289 ). More precisely, for each of the attachment members  290 :  
      (i) there is a corresponding semi-cylindrical grove or notch  285  within a surface of the corresponding adjacent panel  54  for mating with (or more generally, engaging) a corresponding surface portion  290   a  (also referred to as a “bearing surface”) of the attachment member  290 , and  
      (ii) there is a corresponding semi-cylindrical groove (or more generally, “grooved member”)  291  in each of the first of the opposing surfaces  286  for mating with (or generally, engaging) a corresponding surface portion  290   b  (also referred to as a “bearing surface”) of the attachment member  290 .  
      In a third method for installing the flexible sheet interlock  250  shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , the inner surface  299  of the gutter segment  83   a  includes a lip  302  extending inwardly to protect the edges of the interlock  250  during installation of the upper perimeter framing member  266 . The width of the lip “H L ” ( FIG. 12 ) is preferably at least the same as the thickness “T I ” ( FIG. 13 ) of the interlock  250 .  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  depict a preferred method for installing wall panel systems using the flexible sheet interlock  250  (identified by the label “FSI” in  FIG. 15 ). The numbers on the wall panels (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. in  FIG. 15 ) denote the order in which the wall panels are attached to the wall support members. Although the conventional “stair step” method can also be employed with the interlock  250 , the method of  FIG. 15  is simpler, less expensive, and has more flexibility in installation.  
      The installation method will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 8-9  and  14 - 15 . In a first step, the wall panel system  500   a  ( FIG. 15 ) is attached to the wall support members. In a second step, the adhesive  264  ( FIG. 7 ) is applied to either or both of a flexible sheet interlock  250  and adjoining interior gutter surfaces of walls  268   a - c  ( FIG. 14 ), and the flexible sheet interlock  250  is engaged with each end  254   a,b  ( FIGS. 6B and 14 ) of the wall panel system  500   a . In a third step, the wall panel systems  500   b,c  are attached to the wall support members, wherein the corresponding flexible sheet interlocks  250  are attached to the ends of each system&#39;s gutter segment (e.g.,  83   a  or  83   b ) as described above. In a fourth step, the protruding end  504  of the interlock  250  is folded away from the edge of the wall panel system  500   a  as shown in  FIG. 14 , and the wall panel system  500   d  is attached to the wall support members. A flexible sheet interlock  250  is then attached to the gutter segment (e.g.,  83   a  or  83   b ) at the end of the wall panel system  500   d  as described hereinabove. The above steps are repeated to install the remaining wall panel systems  500   e - 500   l.    
      Referring to  FIGS. 16-21 , a fourth embodiment according to a third aspect of the present invention is illustrated. The third aspect of the invention is used to attach embodiments of the wall panels to an alternative embodiment of the perimeter framing members denoted by the label  304  to distinguish it from the perimeter framing members described hereinabove. The wall panel assembly  300  (e.g.,  FIG. 19 ) includes a perimeter framing member  304 , a wedge-shaped member  306 , and an attachment member  308  (which secures a wall panel within a pocket  289 , but differently from attachment member  290 ,  FIG. 10 , and which is preferably a rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal). The attachment member  308  has an L-shaped member  312  that engages a grooved member  316  in the perimeter framing member  304 . The attachment member  308  has a cylindrically-shaped bearing surface  320  that is received in a groove  324  in a wall panel  54  (also identified as a panel member  54  herein) substantially along the length of the side of the panel member  54 . One end  336  of the wedge-shaped member  306  engages a step  332  in the perimeter framing member  304  and the other end  340  of the wedge-shaped member  306  engages a step  344  in the attachment member  308 . The wedge-shaped member  306  is suitably sized to cause the bearing surface  320  of the attachment member  308  to be forced against the groove  324  in the panel member, thereby holding the panel member in position. The bearing surface  320  can have any number of desired shapes, including v-shaped, star-shaped, and the like.  
      The steps to assemble the panel member assembly  300  are illustrated in  FIGS. 16-21 . In the first step illustrated by  FIG. 16 , the panel member  54  is positioned in the pocket  289  of the perimeter framing member  304 . In  FIG. 17 , the L-shaped member  312  (which is part of the attachment member  308 ) is engaged with the grooved member  316  ( FIG. 18 ) of the perimeter framing member  304 , and the bearing surface  320  is engaged with the groove in the panel member  54 . In  FIGS. 18-19 , the lower end  340  of the wedge-shaped member  306  is engaged with the step  344  of the attachment member, and the upper end  336  of the wedge-shaped member  306  is then forcibly engaged with the step  332  in the perimeter framing member  304 . Note that as shown in  FIG. 18 , for an axis  351 :  
      (i) having a first position  352   a  that is offset from the surface  353  of the panel member  54  on a side also having the surface  354  of the pocket  289 , and  
      (ii) having a second position  352   b  that is offset from the surface  353  on a side not having the surface  354 ,  
      the attachment member  308  includes a portion that traverses the extent or separation between the first position and the second position. In the present embodiment, one such portion is the part of the attachment member  308  that extends from the bearing surface  320  to the dashed line  355 . In  FIGS. 20-21 , the edge of the panel member  54  is bent at a 90 degree angle about a predetermined line in the panel member. Interlocking flanges of adjacent perimeter framing members can then be engaged to form the building surface.  
       FIGS. 22-28  depict a fifth embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention. The wedge-shaped member  306  of the previous embodiment of  FIGS. 16-21 ) is replaced with a screw  404  ( FIGS. 23-28 , alternatively, screw  404   a  or  404   b  in  FIG. 22 ) or other fastener to hold the perimeter framing member  304  ( FIGS. 23-28 , alternatively, perimeter framing member  304   a  or  304   b  in  FIG. 22 ), and the attachment member  308  ( FIGS. 23-28 , alternatively, attachment member  308   a  or  308   b  in  FIG. 22 ) in position on the panel member  54  ( FIGS. 23-28 , alternatively, panel  54   n  or  54   p  in  FIG. 22 ). The fastener passes through the attachment member and perimeter framing member.  
      The steps to assemble each panel member assembly  300  of  FIG. 22  are illustrated by  FIGS. 23-28 , with  FIG. 23  illustrating the first step,  FIG. 24  the second step,  FIGS. 25-26  the third step, and  FIGS. 27-28  the last step. Additionally, note that  FIG. 22  depicts a somewhat different embodiment from that of  FIGS. 23-28 ; e.g.,  FIG. 22  shows differently configured perimeter framing members  304   a,b  and attachment members  308   a,b  from the corresponding components in  FIGS. 23-28 .  
      The perimeter framing members  304   a,b  ( FIG. 22 ) are in the interlocked position for mounting the panels on a support surface. Note that  FIG. 22  shows the parallel surfaces  412   a  and  412   b  of the peripheral edges of the panels  54   n  and  54   p , wherein each of the surfaces  412   a  and  412   b  engage an interior surface of a corresponding pocket  289  of one of the perimeter framing members  304   a  and  304   b  (such perimeter framing members also referred to as panel receiving members herein). Moreover, the panels  54   n  and  54   p  are spaced apart from one another by a channel or gap  424 , wherein the channel or gap is bounded by facing sides, each side being provided by a different one of first and second perimeter framing members  304   a  and  304   b , and each side being an exterior surface of one of the pockets  289  receiving a corresponding peripheral edge of one of the panels  54   n  and  54   p.    
      While various embodiments have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the scope of these inventions, as set forth in the following claims.