U.S. patent application number 11/124472 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-22 for brick veneer assembly.
Invention is credited to Passeno, James K..
Application Number | 20050204666 11/124472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31992227 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050204666 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Passeno, James K. |
September 22, 2005 |
Brick veneer assembly
Abstract
A brick veneer assembly having improved accommodation of brick
tolerances, simple assembly, and lower cost relative to the prior
art. A plurality of bricks having a tapered locating surface are
provided. A support panel includes horizontal rows of L-shaped
retainers and corresponding rows of holes. Each L-shaped retainer
further includes a leg portion extending away from the support
panel, and a foot portion that depends downwardly away from the leg
portion. The tapered locating surface of each brick is inserted
into the L-shaped retainer thereby elastically deforming the foot
portion away from the support panel such that the tapered locating
surface is subjected to a restraining force creating a force
component pushing the back of the brick against the support panel
and a force component downwards pushing the bottom of the brick to
seat on the adjacent row of L-shaped retainers defining a clearance
gap between the top of the brick and the adjacent row of L-shaped
retainers so that when mortar is applied between the bricks the
mortar will flow into the clearance gap and holes to interlock the
brick with the support panel.
Inventors: |
Passeno, James K.; (Grant,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN OPHEM & VANOPHEM, PC
REMY J VANOPHEM, PC
51543 VAN DYKE
SHELBY TOWNSHIP
MI
48316-4447
US
|
Family ID: |
31992227 |
Appl. No.: |
11/124472 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11124472 |
May 6, 2005 |
|
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10245978 |
Sep 18, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/384 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 13/0862 20130101;
E04F 13/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/384 |
International
Class: |
E04F 013/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1-17. (canceled)
18. A thin brick having: a front surface; a back surface opposite
said front surface; a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to
said front and back surfaces; and a top surface defining a tapered
surface portion between said front surface and said back
surface.
19. The thin brick as claimed in claim 18 wherein said top surface
is located between said back surface and said tapered surface
portion.
20. The thin brick as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a
stepped surface between said front surface and said tapered surface
portion.
21. The thin brick as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a
stepped surface located between said front surface and said tapered
surface portion.
22. A thin brick having: a front surface and a back surface
opposite said front surface, said front surface being shorter than
said back surface; opposed side surfaces; and at least one tapered
surface located between said front surface and said back
surface.
23. The thin brick as claimed in claim 22 further comprising a top
surface between said back surface and said at least one tapered
surface, and a bottom surface opposite said top surface.
24. The thin brick as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a
stepped surface between said front surface and said at least one
tapered surface.
25. The thin brick as claimed in claim 22 wherein said tapered
surface is a top surface and said brick further comprises a bottom
surface opposite said top surface.
26. The thin brick as claimed in claim 22 wherein said tapered
surface is a bottom surface and said brick further comprising a top
surface opposite said bottom surface.
27. The thin brick as claimed in claim 22 further comprising a
bottom surface between said back surface and said at least one
tapered surface, and a top surface opposite said bottom
surface.
28. The thin brick as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a
stepped surface between said front surface and said at least one
tapered surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention generally relates to an external wall
for a building. More specifically, this invention is directed to an
improved support panel to secure external wall forming members such
as brick, tiles or stones to complete an external wall assembly for
a building.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] Brick walls have been used for centuries as a premium
building material due to their strength, beauty, and durability.
Unfortunately, brick walls are typically laid brick-by-brick, which
tends to be time consuming, labor intensive, and therefore
expensive. Thin brick veneer was developed as a means for achieving
the beauty and durability of brick walls without the associated
expense.
[0008] Thin brick veneer is produced using a variety of
manufacturing methods including thin bed set, thick bed set and
prefabrication in cast molds. Thin brick panels can be
premanufactured or can be assembled to a wall of a building
on-site. Thin brick panels generally include a substratum, such as
steel, aluminum, plywood, asphalt-impregnated fiber board,
cementitious board, polyurethane, and polystyrene foam board. With
the on-site assembly method, the substratum is fastened to the
exterior wall of a building and an array of thin bricks are applied
to the substratum, typically with an adhesive. Then mortar, or
grout, is applied between the thin bricks to obtain a permanent
brick veneer wall assembly.
[0009] The prior art has suggested a variety of thin brick panel
constructions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,963 to Taylor et
al. teaches a method for attaching a clay veneer brick to
pre-existing buildings. Taylor et al. disclose a brick unit, a wall
clip, and mortar. The brick unit includes a back side, a face
section, and longitudinal ribs along the top and bottom. The
longitudinal ribs are beveled at a front side at a 45 degree angle.
The clip is made from sheet metal and is made to resiliently
receive the brick unit. The clip includes a flat upstanding lug and
a bent tail lug, both of which have fastener holes punched
therethrough. Extending perpendicularly from the clip are a
plurality of resilient clamping members, each having a downturned
lip to resiliently receive a respective longitudinal rib of a
respective brick unit. The downturned lip also has an upturned
flange, which, when the clip is fitted to the veneer brick, rides
against the longitudinal rib of the brick unit, causing the
downturned lip to deflect and resiliently retain the brick
unit.
[0010] Unfortunately the clip of Taylor et al. is unnecessarily
complex with many detailed bends. Moreover, an overabundance of
individual clips must be handled and secured to a building just to
construct a single wall, which is inefficient, labor intensive, and
costly. Finally, great amounts of care and time must be given to
the precise positioning of each clip to ensure that each brick is
squarely aligned with respect to the other bricks.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 2,087,931 to Wallace et al. teaches a means
for attaching bricks to a wall such that each brick is individually
supported so that its position in the wall is not dependent upon
the other bricks. Specifically, Wallace et al. disclose wall
sheeting having a plurality of spaced apart strap members secured
thereto by nails. A plurality of support clips are riveted to the
strap members at regularly spaced intervals. The support clips have
extending portions that are bent outwardly to form arms with
inwardly bent terminals for engagement with surfaces of the bricks.
The natural resiliency of the clip so constructed forces the
terminals into engagement with the brick surfaces. The terminals
are angularly disposed relative to the adjacent surfaces of the
brick such that a sharp edge of the terminals engage the brick
thereby materially increasing the tenacity of the holding
action.
[0012] The Wallace et al. disclosure relies on a plurality of strap
members and a plurality of support clips for applying bricks to a
wall. Manufacturing all the components required for the Wallace et
al. disclosure and the process of assembling the components to a
wall unnecessarily incur additional labor and material cost.
Furthermore, Wallace et al. do not teach a means for accommodating
oversized and undersized bricks.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,363 to Yaguchi teaches a support panel
for supporting external wall forming members, or bricks. The bricks
are of rectangular parallelpiped shape, meaning they have
oppositely parallel surfaces all over. The bricks each have a main
surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, and end surfaces. The side
surfaces include elongated upper and lower lateral extensions that
define flat ledges or minor surfaces that are parallel with the
main surface. The support panel includes a flat back plate and is
stamped from stainless metal sheet to form parallel rows of
C-shaped upper and lower engaging members terminating in respective
upper and lower securing fingers. The distance between the upper
and lower engaging members is substantially identical to the width
of a respective brick. A brick is inserted between the upper and
lower engaging members. This insertion pushes the upper lateral
extension of the brick into a space defined by the upper engaging
member and upper securing finger thereby causing the upper engaging
member to elastically deform while the lower lateral extension of
the brick is urged flat against the back plate of the support panel
within the lower engaging member. As a result, the brick is clamped
between the upper and lower engaging members and by the bent
securing fingers.
[0014] In an alternative embodiment, each brick only has an upper
lateral extension and an oppositely disposed flat side surface.
Respectively, the support panel includes only rows of upper
engaging members and securing fingers. Each upper engaging member
has an outer, top surface and an inner bottom surface. As before,
the upper lateral extension of each brick is pushed into the space
defined by the respective upper engaging members such that the
upper lateral extension of the brick engages the inner bottom
surface of the respective upper engaging member. Simultaneously,
the brick is pushed toward the back plate of the support panel
until the flat side surface locates against the top surface of the
respective engaging member below. Thus, the brick becomes pinched
between the upper engaging member and the top of an upper engaging
member from the row of upper engaging members below the brick.
[0015] In both of the Yaguchi embodiments, however, the support
panel clamps on oppositely disposed parallel surfaces of the brick.
This is detrimental because the size of the bricks varies
significantly compared to the stamping tolerances attainable with
the support panel. In other words, either one of two undesirable
conditions must occur. The bricks must be held to an extremely
close width tolerance to accommodate reliable and repeatable snap
fit insertion to the support panel. This is extremely costly, if at
all possible, on a mass production basis. Or, each brick must be
oversize with respect to the distance between the rows of engaging
members to ensure firm clamping of each brick. Oversize bricks will
fit fine in the first row of engaging members, but will start to
interfere when they are assembled to adjacent rows of engaging
members because the engaging members will be filled with bricks and
have no room to deflect. Alternatively, if the bricks are
undersize, they will fit loosely within the engaging members
thereby leading to problems. When the mortar gets applied, loose
bricks will shift due to the slack and hairline cracks in the
mortar may result.
[0016] From the above, it can be appreciated that thin brick panel
assemblies of the prior art are not cost effectively optimized to
accommodate typical brick tolerances, simplify assembly, and thus
lower costs. Therefore, what is needed is a combination of a thin
brick veneer assembly that incorporates novel and simple retaining
features in a substratum or support panel and related features in a
brick to advance the art of veneer brick assembly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a brick veneer assembly adapted for
mounting to a wall of a building structure. The method and
apparatus for making a brick veneer wall facing includes thin
bricks, a support panel and mortar.
[0018] The thin bricks are generally rectangular and each brick, as
viewed when assembled on a wall, has a front surface, a back
surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposed side
surfaces. The back surface of the thin brick is in contact with the
wall and is higher than the front surface of the thin brick. It is
an important feature of the present invention that a surface of the
brick is tapered and serves as a locater. In one embodiment, the
top surface of the thin brick is tapered between the front surface
and the back surface. However, the preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described hereinafter as having a stepped
surface extending generally perpendicularly from the front surface
toward the back surface, and a tapered locating surface between the
top surface and the stepped surface. The top surface, the stepped
surface and the bottom surface are approximately parallel in the
preferred embodiment.
[0019] The width of each thin brick is defined between the opposed
side surfaces, the height is defined between the top and bottom
surfaces, and the thickness or depth is defined between the back
and front surfaces. Most manufacturing processes known in the art
for producing the thin bricks introduce variation such that some
bricks are oversized and some are undersized. Manufacturing
variation thereby defines a maximum width, height and depth, and a
minimum width, height and depth.
[0020] The support panel is preferably composed of thin sheet
metal, and has a front surface, a rear surface, rows of L-shaped
retainers and corresponding rows of holes. The L-shaped retainers
are integrally stamped from the support panel such that the holes
are generated by the removal of the material from which the
L-shaped retainers are formed. Each L-shaped retainer has a leg
portion and a foot portion. The leg portion of each L-shaped
retainer has a top surface and a bottom surface. The foot portion
of each L-shaped retainer depends downward from the leg portion and
toward the support panel such that initial engagement of the
tapered locating surface of the thin bricks deforms the foot
portion away from the support panel thereby creating an
interference fit between the thin bricks and the foot portion of
the L-shaped retainer.
[0021] The vertical distance between the leg portions of adjacent
rows of L-shaped retainers is greater than the height of an
oversized brick so that a brick can be mounted between adjacent leg
portions and a clearance exists. Furthermore, the foot portion of
the L-shaped retainers is long enough to engage the tapered
locating surface of an undersized brick seated on adjacent L-shaped
retainers directly below. In this manner, the support panel is able
to accommodate variation of the thin bricks height in a manner that
does not interfere with the other bricks.
[0022] The back surface of the support panel is attached to a wall
of a building structure with fasteners such as nails or screws.
Then, each thin brick is mounted to the support panel by
approaching the panel holding the brick at an angle such that the
top of the brick having the tapered locating surface is introduced
into a space between the front surface of the support panel and the
foot portions of a respective L-shaped retainer. Each thin brick is
then pushed flat against the support panel to rest on the leg
portion of the lower row of retainers, thereby deforming the foot
portion of the upper row of L-shaped retainers and engaging with
the brick to create an interference fit. In this manner, the thin
bricks locate on the top surfaces of a respective lower row of
L-shaped retainers and are interferingly restrained by a respective
leg portion of the upper row of L-shaped retainers.
[0023] After the thin bricks are applied to the support panel,
mortar is disposed between the thin bricks. The mortar flows into
the holes and between the top surface of the thin bricks and the
bottom surface of the leg portion of the L-shaped retainers
creating an improved mortar lock between the bricks and the support
panel.
[0024] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved brick veneer assembly and related method.
[0025] It is another object to provide a brick veneer assembly
capable of accommodating dimensional variation of bricks in a
manner that does not interfere with other bricks.
[0026] It is still another object to provide a support panel that
offers improved brick retention compared to the prior art.
[0027] It is yet another object to provide a brick veneer assembly
and related method that does not rely on adhesive for brick
retention before the mortar is applied.
[0028] It is a further object to provide a brick veneer assembly
and related method that offers improved mortar interlock compared
to the prior art.
[0029] It is still a further object to provide a more positive
brick location means to prevent movement of the bricks while the
mortar sets.
[0030] It is yet a further object to provide a less expensive and
less labor intensive brick veneer assembly and related method.
[0031] These objects and other features, aspects, and advantages of
this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the
following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of a brick
panel assembly according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a front view of the brick shown in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view of the brick shown in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded side view of the brick shown in
FIG. 3;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a front view of the support panel shown in FIG.
1;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a side view of the support panel shown in FIG.
1;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a partial exploded side view of the support panel
shown in FIG. 6;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a side view of a brick being assembled to the
support panel;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a side view of a brick as assembled to the support
panel; and
[0041] FIG. 10 is an exploded side view of a support washer
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0042] Generally shown in the Figures, a brick veneer assembly is
provided in accordance with the present invention. While the
figures depict an embodiment of the present invention in which thin
bricks are applied to an exterior wall of a building, it should be
appreciated that the present invention also teaches the application
of other materials (i.e. tile, stone, etc.) to a variety of
surfaces (i.e. interior walls, floor, ceiling, etc.). Referring to
the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a brick veneer
assembly 10 that is constructed in accordance with a method of the
present invention. The brick veneer assembly 10 includes thin
bricks 20, a support panel 70, and mortar (not shown). The brick
veneer assembly of FIG. 1 depicts the thin bricks arranged in rows,
however, it should be understood that other thin brick arrangements
could be adopted by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0043] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the thin bricks 20 are
generally rectangular and each, as viewed when assembled on a wall,
has a front surface 22, a back surface 24, a top surface 26, a
bottom surface 28, opposed side surfaces 30, a stepped surface 32
and a tapered locating surface 34. Although the stepped surface 32
and the tapered locating surface 34 are taught as part of a
preferred embodiment, it is within the scope of this disclosure
that a top surface (not shown) of a thin brick (not shown) may be a
complete tapered surface between the front surface 22 and the back
surface 24.
[0044] The width of each thin brick 20 is defined between the
opposed side surfaces 30, the height is defined between the top
surface 26 and the bottom surface 28, and the thickness or depth is
defined between the front surface 22 and the back surface 24. Most
manufacturing processes known in the art for producing the thin
bricks 20 introduce variation such that some bricks are oversized
and some are undersized. The manufacturing variation thereby
defines a maximum width, height and depth, and a minimum width,
height and depth.
[0045] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the back surface 24 of each
thin brick 20 is higher than the front surface 22 of the thin brick
20. In the preferred embodiment, the top surface 26, the stepped
surface 32, and the bottom surface 28 are approximately parallel.
The stepped surface 32 extends generally perpendicularly from the
front surface 22 of the thin brick 20 in a direction toward the
back surface 24 of the thin brick 20. The tapered locating surface
34 connects the stepped surface 34 and the top surface 26 of the
thin brick 20, and tapers in a direction toward the back surface 24
of the thin brick 20.
[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the support panel 70 has a
front surface 72, a rear surface 74, a plurality of rows of
resilient L-shaped retainers 76 and a corresponding plurality of
rows of holes 78. The support panel 70 is preferably composed of
thin sheet metal or aluminum, and includes a plurality of
stiffening channels 79 configured to reinforce the support panel
70. The stiffening channels 79 extend along the entire length of
the support panel 70 and are fabricated in the panel so as to not
interfere with the positioning of the thin bricks 20 on the support
panel 70. This may be accomplished by locating the stiffening
channels 79 between the L-shaped retainers 76 in any conventional
manner. Each resilient L-shaped retainer 76 is punched out of the
support panel 70 such that the hole 78 is generated in the region
from which the material forming the L-shaped retainer 76 was
taken.
[0047] As best seen in FIG. 7, each L-shaped retainer 76 has a leg
portion 80 and a foot portion 82. The leg portion 80 has a top
surface 84 and a bottom surface 86, and extends away from the front
surface 72 of the support panel 70. The foot portion 82 extends
downward from the leg portion 80 and inward toward the front
surface 72 of the support panel 70 such that engagement of the
tapered locating surface 32 of the thin bricks 20 resiliently
deforms the foot portion 82 away from the support panel 70 thereby
creating an interference fit between the thin bricks 20 and the
resilient L-shaped retainer 76 as clearly shown in FIG. 9 which
will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0048] Referring again to FIG. 6, the vertical distance between the
leg portions 80 of adjacent rows of L-shaped retainers 76 is
greater than the maximum height of an oversized brick (not shown).
Furthermore, the foot portion 82 of the L-shaped retainers 76 is
sufficiently long to engage the tapered locating surface 34 of an
undersized brick (not shown) seated on an adjacent L-shaped
retainer 76 directly below. As best seen in FIG. 9, a clearance 85
(shown in FIG. 9) is provided between the top surface 26, of the
thin bricks 20 and the bottom surface 86 of a respective L-shaped
retainer 76 to accommodate oversized bricks. Additionally, the
interference fit between the foot portion 82 of the L-shaped
retainer 76 and the tapered locating surface 34 of the thin bricks
20 is adapted to accommodate undersized bricks.
[0049] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the rear surface 74 of the support
panel 70 is attached to a wall of a building structure with
fasteners such as nails or screws 96. Optionally, a support washer
90 (best seen in FIG. 10) may be implemented to prevent the support
panel 70 from tearing out around the fasteners 96 and to increase
the holding power of the fasteners 96. The support washer 90
preferably has an upper flange 92 adapted to engage the front
surface 72 of the support panel 70 above a corresponding stiffening
channel 79, and a lower flange 94 adapted to engage the front
surface 72 of the support panel 70 below the corresponding
stiffening channel 79, the remaining portion of the support washer
90 is disposed within the corresponding stiffening channel 79. The
stiffening channels 79 and support washer 90 are shown having a
radial cross-sections, however a person skilled in the art will
recognize that other cross-section configurations may be adopted.
The upper and lower flanges 92, 94 are configured to provide
preload upon engagement with the support panel 70. Accordingly, the
uppermost edge of the upper flange 92 and the lowermost edge of the
lower flange 94 taper inward toward the wall whereby the fastener
96 deforms the upper and lower flanges 92, 94 whereby the support
washer 90 is drawn into the support panel 70. The support washer 90
configured as disclosed hereinabove provides increased vertical
support such that incorporation thereof is particularly appropriate
for applications wherein the brick veneer assembly 10 covers a
large surface area, is excessively heavy, or is subjected to
extreme wind load.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the back surface 24 of each
thin brick 20 is then mounted against the front surface 72 of the
support panel 70 at an angled approach such that the tapered
locating surface 34 is introduced into the space between the front
surface 72 of the support panel 70 and the foot portion 82 of
respective L-shaped retainers 76. The angle of the tapered locating
surface 34 is provided so that the top surface 40 of the thin brick
20 is inserted between the front surface 72 of the support panel 70
and the foot portion 82 of the respective L-shaped retainer 76. As
the thin brick 20 is advanced toward the support panel 70, the foot
portion 82 of the respective L-shaped retainer 76 engages the
tapered locating surface 34 to create the interference fit.
[0051] After the thin brick 20 is initially inserted into the
L-shaped retainer 76 at an angled approach, the thin brick 20 is
pushed flat against the front surface 72 of the support panel 70
such that the bottom surface 28 rests on the top surface 84 of leg
portion 80 of the adjacent row below. As the foot portion 82 of
respective L-shaped retainers 76 engage the tapered locating
surface 34 during the initial angled insertion of the brick 20, the
process of pushing the thin brick 20 flat against the support panel
70 resiliently moves the foot portion 82 of the respective L-shaped
retainer 76 away from the support panel 70. In this manner, the
foot portion 82 of the respective L-shaped retainer 76 applies a
force to the tapered locating surface 34 of the thin brick 20 such
that the thin brick 20 is secured in place against the support
panel 70. The L-shaped retainer 76 holds the thin brick 20 against
the support panel 70 tightly enough to prevent the thin brick 20
from shifting while mortar is applied and/or setting, however,
additional retention is obtainable with the optional application of
a temporary adhesive (not shown) between the thin brick 20 and the
support panel 70.
[0052] Referring again to FIG. 1, after the support panel 70 is
attached to the wall structure (not shown), and the thin bricks 20
are applied to the support panel 70, mortar (not shown) is disposed
between the thin bricks 20. The mortar is preferably applied with a
single point applicator nozzle and mortar pump system or in
accordance with any other method well known in the art. The mortar
flows into the holes 78 and between the top surface 26 of the thin
bricks 20 and the bottom surface 86 of the leg portion 80 of the
L-shaped retainers 76 creating an improved mortar lock between the
thin bricks 20 and the support panel 70.
[0053] As is understood from the above discussion, the present
invention provides improved accommodation of the tolerance
variation of the bricks by providing a more resilient system for
locating and retaining the bricks. Specifically, the present
invention does not rely on oppositely disposed parallel surfaces of
the brick as in the prior art, but rather provides a retention
system based on an interference fit between a stepped locating
feature of the brick and resilient L-shaped retainers such that the
retention system is capable of accommodating both oversized and
undersized bricks regardless of tolerance variation of the brick.
Furthermore, the retention system is effective without the use of
adhesive relied upon by the prior art so that the present invention
is simpler to assemble and less expensive. Finally, the holes in
the support panel enable better interlocking of the mortar, the
bricks and the support panel.
[0054] While the present invention has been described in terms of a
preferred embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be
adopted by one skilled in the art. In other words, the teachings of
the present invention encompass any reasonable substitutions or
equivalents of claim limitations. For example, the structure,
materials, sizes, and shapes of the individual components could be
modified, or substituted with other similar structure, materials,
sizes, and shapes. A Specific example includes substituting the
steel support panel with aluminum or plywood. Accordingly, the
scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the
following claims.
* * * * *