U.S. patent application number 11/197973 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for retaining wall with plastic coated wooden panels.
This patent application is currently assigned to CMI Limited Company. Invention is credited to Steve E. Hargrave, John E. Irvine.
Application Number | 20060010819 11/197973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322395 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060010819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Irvine; John E. ; et
al. |
January 19, 2006 |
Retaining wall with plastic coated wooden panels
Abstract
A retaining wall (10) is formed by a series of structural panels
(18) arranged in edge-to-edge relationship, supported by
horizontally extending wales (16) and vertically extending piles
(14). The panels are formed of a rectangular board (40) with a
plastic envelope (42) adhered to the board. Strips (60 and 61) are
adhered to the plastic material at one edge portion of each panel,
with the strips forming protruding lips (58 and 50) that receive
the second edge of an adjacent panel, thereby guiding the new
panels into place and forming a barrier to the movement of water
and water borne debris between the panels.
Inventors: |
Irvine; John E.; (Atlanta,
GA) ; Hargrave; Steve E.; (Roswell, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Assignee: |
CMI Limited Company
|
Family ID: |
46322395 |
Appl. No.: |
11/197973 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10891930 |
Jul 15, 2004 |
|
|
|
11197973 |
Aug 5, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/583.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 29/0266
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/583.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 2/00 20060101
E04B002/00 |
Claims
1. A structural panel for forming vertical walls in harsh
environments comprising: an elongated board rectangular in cross
section and having opposed side surfaces and opposed first and
second edge surfaces, a plastic coating extending about and along
and applied to said elongated board for shielding said board from
contact with the environment adjacent said board, a pair of plastic
strips narrower than the side surfaces of said board and extending
along the length of the board at the opposed side surfaces of said
board and extending beyond said first edge surface, said plastic
strips each having one elongated segment applied to one of said
broad side surfaces of said board and an adjacent elongated segment
extending beyond the first edge surface of said board and forming a
pair of parallel lips said parallel lips together with said first
edge surface of said board forming a groove sized and shaped to
receive the opposed second edge surface of a duplicate structural
panel, such that duplicate ones of said structural panels can be
mounted in edge-to-edge nested connected relationship to form a
continuous wall structure without openings at the edge surfaces of
the wall structure.
2. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: said plastic strips
are heat sealed to said plastic coating of said board.
3. The structural panel of claim 2, wherein said board further
includes ends, and said plastic coating extends about said
ends.
4. The structural panel of claim 3, wherein: said lips are spaced
from each other a distance equal to the thickness of said board and
said plastic coating on the opposed side surfaces of said
board.
5. The structural panel of claim 4, and further comprising: a
series of said structural panels arranged in upwardly extending
edge-to-edge relationship each with its groove receiving a second
edge of an adjacent structural panel. at least some of said panels
partially embedded in the earth, at least one wale extending
horizontally across said series of panels, a water impervious
plastic coating applied to said wale, at least one piling extending
upwardly across said wale and partially embedded in the earth, a
water impervious plastic coating applied to said piling, such that
the piling supports the wale and the wale supports the structural
panels and forms a structural wall that is impermeable to marine
borers.
6. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: said board is formed
of natural wood and said plastic coating is water impervious.
7. The structural panel of claim 6, wherein: said plastic coating
is characterized by having been extruded onto said board.
8. The structural panel of claim 6, wherein: said plastic coating
is characterized by having been sprayed onto said board.
9. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: said plastic strips
are characterized by having been extruded onto said plastic
coating.
10. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: said plastic strips
are adhered to said plastic coating.
11. The structural panel of claim 7, wherein: said opposed side
surfaces of said structural panel are flat and parallel to each
other, with said opposed side surfaces being of greater width than
said opposed edge surfaces.
12. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: a series of said
structural panels are arranged with their edges juxtaposed and with
the plastic strips covering the juxtaposed edges without protruding
between said juxtaposed edges.
13. The structural panel of claim 1, wherein: a series of said
structural panels are arranged with their edges in contact with one
another without said lips projecting between said structural
panels.
14. A structural panel for forming vertical walls in harsh
environments comprising: an elongated board rectangular in cross
section and having opposed side surfaces and opposed first and
second edge surfaces, a water impermeable coating surrounding and
extending along and applied to said elongated board for shielding
said board from contact with the environment adjacent said board, a
pair of strips extending along the length of said coating at the
opposed side surfaces of said board and extending beyond said first
edge surface, said strips each extending beyond the first edge
surface of said board and forming a pair of parallel lips, said
parallel lips together with said first edge surface of said board
forming a groove sized and shaped to receive the opposed second
edge surface of a duplicate structural panel, such that duplicate
ones of said structural panels can be mounted with their second
edges and the grooves of an adjacent panel in interfitting
relationship to form a continuous wall structure with the strips
covering the openings between the structural panels.
15. The structural panel of claim 14, and further comprising: a
series of said structural panels arranged in upwardly extending
edge-to-edge relationship each with its groove receiving a second
edge of an adjacent structural panel, at least some of said panels
partially embedded in the earth, at least one wale extending
horizontally across said series of panels, and at least one piling
extending upwardly across said wale and partially embedded in the
earth.
16. The structural panel of claim 15, and further comprising: a
water impervious plastic coating applied to said wale, and a water
impervious plastic coating applied to said piling.
17. A retaining wall assembly comprising: a series of wall panels
each of duplicate cross sectional shape and covered by water
impervious coating and of rectangular shape with opposed side
surfaces and opposed first and second edge surfaces, each said wall
panels including a pair of lips extending about said first edge
surface spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the
width of said wall panel for receiving the second edge surface of a
duplicate wall panel, said series of wall panels oriented
vertically each with their second edges received between said pair
of lips of an adjacent wall panel and partially embedded in the
earth, at least one wale extending normal to and in supportive
relationship with said series of wall panels, and at least one pile
oriented vertically and partially embedded in the earth and
positioned in supportive relationship with said wales, such that
the wall panels are arranged in edge surface to edge surface with
the lips of each panel overlapping the spaces between the panels
without requiring a non-rectangular shape of the adjacent
panel.
18. The retaining wall assembly of claim 17, and further
comprising: a water impervious plastic coating applied to said
wale, and a water impervious plastic coating applied to said
piling.
19. The retaining wall assembly of claim 18, wherein: said water
impervious coatings are characterized by having been extruded onto
said panels, said wale and said pile.
20. A structural panel for use in constructing walls that is formed
of a rectangular wooden board having opposed first and second
edges, said board covered in an air tight plastic envelope with the
plastic envelope forming a groove at said first edge of said board
and no matching tongue at the second edge of said board, with the
groove sized and shaped to mate with the second edge of a duplicate
structural panel.
21. The structural panel of claim 20 wherein said air tight plastic
envelop is characterized by having been formed by vacuum
extrusion.
22. A wall structure comprising a series of upright elongate
supports spaced from one another, and a plurality of said
structural panels of claim 20 oriented horizontally between and
supported by adjacent ones of said upright supports with the
grooves of at least some of the structural panels in registration
with an adjacent structural panel.
23. A wall structure of claim 22, wherein said upright elongate
supports comprise I-beams with oppositely facing grooves, with said
structural panels received in said grooves of said I-beams.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/891,930, filed Jul. 15, 2004 in
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention concerns retaining walls of the type used for
retaining the earth at the water's edge of a body of water,
particularly where the wall is to be exposed to harsh environmental
conditions, such as extreme heat and cold, moisture, insects,
abrasion, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Barrier walls can be formed of a plurality of elongated
vertically oriented piles having their lower extremities driven
into the earth to a depth sufficient to support the piles and their
associated structural elements. Horizontally extending wales are
mounted to the piles, and vertically oriented structural panels are
partially driven into the earth adjacent the wales. Usually, the
panels have interlocking male and female opposed edges that are
used to connect to the edges of the panels together. Also, the male
and female edges of the panels are used for guiding the next panel
into position in the wall structure by engaging the male and female
edges of the adjacent panels as the oncoming panel is driven into
the earth. This causes the connected panels to form a continuous
barrier wall.
[0004] Because of the strength required for the panels when being
driven into the earth and the strength required under the load
conditions, the panels have to be strong. In the past, panels have
been made of wood, and the wood can be cut to specific sizes for
providing proper strength characteristics to the wall structure.
However, wooden panels are subject to deterioration from marine
borers and other insects, and rot and deterioration from impact by
other objects. In order to avoid deterioration from rot and marine
borers, wooden panels can be chemically treated. This slows the
deterioration process of the panels from marine borers but provides
the potential hazard of leaching of hazardous chemicals from the
panels into the water and adjacent surroundings, possibly causing
an environmental hazard. Also, wooden panels tend to shrink and/or
swell in response to their environmental conditions. This tends to
cause gaps between the panels in the wall structure, allowing
water, silt and other undesirable elements to pass with water
through the wall structure. In order to avoid the passage of
material through the panels, wooden panels have been formed with
tongue and groove edges that mate together in an attempt to reduce
the ease of passage of the materials between adjacent panels.
Another preventive measure is to use additional sheet material that
is spread across the panels so as to retard movement of particles
through the gaps between panels.
[0005] More recently, retaining walls have been formed with metal
panels, such as steel or aluminum that are stronger than wood. The
metal panels have been formed in cross sectional shapes such as
V-shapes, Z-shapes, etc. that provide lateral strength and
stability to the panels. This enables the thicknesses of the panels
to be reduced substantially so as to conserve on the weight and
expense in forming and handling the panels. However, the shaped
panels are sometimes considered undesirable because they do not
present a flat surface that is more visually and structurally
pleasing.
[0006] At the present time, the most popular panels for the
construction of retaining walls are extruded plastic panels. The
panels formed of plastic have good compression strength properties
so that they can be driven into the earth, but their lateral
strength properties are weaker than the metal panels. In order to
provide lateral strength to the panels, the V-shaped and Z-shaped
profiles of the panels have been increased and the thickness of the
panels has been increased.
[0007] While the metal and plastic panels have been successful in
avoiding deterioration by marine borers and other insects, the
profiles of the panels are still objected to by many since they do
not provide a pleasing, less industrial look like the flat
panels.
[0008] Recently, structural panels have been formed of wooden
boards with plastic surfaces that form envelopes about the boards
and protect the interior wood from marine borers, abrasion,
moisture, etc. In some instances, the plastic material has been
applied by spraying it onto the surface of wooden boards, as shown
by U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,675, or by vacuum extrusion of plastic
material onto the surface of the wooden boards, as disclosed in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/891,930. By
providing the protective plastic surfaces to the wooden boards,
there has been a beneficial result of reduction in deterioration of
the panels from marine borers, better moisture control of the
interior wooden boards of the panels, and reduced deterioration
from impact, abrasion, and other external sources.
[0009] However, the known panels made of wooden boards with plastic
exteriors have not been successful in forming panels that are
connected edge-to-edge to form a strong and continuous barrier that
retards the movement of water and water-borne particles through the
wall structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,295 discloses the use of
plastic tongue and groove edge attachments that are mechanically
attached to the opposed edges of wooden boards, requiring
attachments to both edges of the boards. This requires the
manufacture of the two plastic edge attachments and the additional
separate functions of attaching both of the edge attachments to the
boards. Also, the tongues and grooves are formed with voids between
the wood and the plastic material that forms the tongues and
grooves, thereby forming spaces that can receive and hold water.
The retention of water between the boards and their tongues at one
edge of the panels and/or between the boards and their grooves at
the other edge of the panels introduces the hazard of freezing of
the retained water in the panels in cold weather and deterioration
of the adjacent surfaces of the plastic and the wood of the panels.
Also, PVC plastic, for example, is about one third as strong as
wood and the connection of a plastic a tongue protruding from a
board into a plastic groove also protruding from the adjacent board
is a connection of the weakest portions of the boards that is more
likely to fail under lateral stress than with board-to-board
connection or with only one connector between adjacent boards.
[0010] Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved retaining
wall assembly for use in harsh environmental conditions that
utilizes wooden boards that are resistant to marine borers and that
have edges that fit together for ease in aligning and connecting
the panels in edge-to-edge relationship when being installed and
which reduce the likelihood of movement of water and water borne
material between the panels.
[0011] It would be desirable to produce structural panels for use
in retaining walls and the like that are formed of wood and covered
in an air tight plastic envelope with a groove formed at only one
edge and no matching tongue at the other edge, with the groove
sized and shaped to mate with the rectangular end of the panel.
[0012] Another object of this invention is to provide an improved
panel for use in retaining walls and the like that are formed of
wood and coated with plastic and have an improved connection
feature at its edges that is strong, reliable and inexpensive to
form and maintain.
[0013] Another object of this invention is to provide wooden panels
covered with plastic and that include a groove formed at one edge
that fits the conventional rectangular edge of the adjacent panel
with a strong fit and that does not require the presence of a
tongue at the edge of the adjacent panel.
[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a retaining
wall, showing a vertical pile, a horizontal wale, and a series of
panels supported by the wale, with a section of the plastic
envelope of the pile removed to illustrate that the core of the
pile is formed of wood, and with a portion of the anchor rod
removed.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an end cross sectional view of adjacent panels of
FIG. 1, showing on one side of the figure how the panels are
attached to each other, and showing on the other side of the figure
the panels expanded from each other to indicate how the panels fit
in edge-to-edge relationship.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of adjacent panels showing
the last of the panels being moved vertically into position and
guided by the lips of the previously positioned panel.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an edge portion of a panel
that has been installed in the earth, showing in dash lines how the
next adjacent panel will be installed.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of how the connector lips
are formed on the structural panels.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wall formed with the
structural panels of the preceding figures, but with the panels
oriented horizontally in the wall structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like
numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1
illustrates a retaining wall 10 that has been assembled for
placement between a body of water 11 and a land mass 12, for
separating the water from the land. While only a portion of the
retaining wall is illustrated, it will be seen that it includes a
plurality of vertical piles 14, horizontally extending wales 16,
and a plurality of elongated, vertically oriented structural panels
18 placed in edge-to-edge relationship. The piles 14 are oriented
vertically so that they can be driven downwardly through the water
11 and into the earth below so that the lower end portions of the
piles are embedded in the earth and remain stabilized by the earth.
Wales 16 are arranged in end-to-end relationship and extend
horizontally between the piles 14 and the land mass 12. The
structural panels are elongated and extend vertically. The
structural panels are driven downwardly so that their lower
extremities are driven through the water into the earth below. The
wales are used as a guide to orient the structural panels as they
are being driven and the wales support the panels when the
retaining wall structure is completed.
[0022] The piles, wales and structural panels preferably are made
of wood that is treated with chemicals for reducing the rate of
deterioration of the wood due to harsh environmental conditions,
and due to marine borers and other insects. Additionally, the piles
and wales and panels are coated with plastic, such as polyethylene,
polyvinyl chloride, or wood flour composites, by extrusion,
spraying, or other application methods. The plastic coatings may
cover the entire exterior surface of the work products, including
sides, edges and the end surfaces thereof. An example of a method
of extruding plastic envelopes about piles, wales and panels is
disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/891,1150.
[0023] Wale 16 includes a wooden core 20 that is covered with the
plastic envelope. Pile 14 is wooden, as illustrated at 22 and the
plastic envelope 24 is applied to the wooden core. The panels 18
are wood boards 40 with plastic coating forming the envelope
42.
[0024] A tie rod 26 extends through the piles 14, its wale 16, and
the adjacent structural panel 18. Tie rod 26 includes an enlarged
head 27 and a washer 28 on the outside surface of the pile to
spread the forces applied by the tie rod to the pile. Helical
threads 29 are formed on the tie rod at its distal end. An anchor
rod 30 includes helical threads 31 at one end and its other end is
connected to an anchor, such as poured concrete 32. A turnbuckle 34
connects the helical threads 29 and 31 together, thereby adjustably
connecting the anchor 32 by the anchor rod 30, turnbuckle 34, tie
rod 26, to the pile 14 of the wall structure 10, thereby
stabilizing the wall structure in its upright orientation.
[0025] FIGS. 2-4 show the structural panels 18. Each structural
panel is formed of a wooden board or plank 40 that is optionally
treated with chemicals that tend to reduce the rate of
deterioration of the boards. The boards 40 are rectangular in
cross-section and are elongated. For example, a typical board used
as a structural panel may be from one to four inches in thickness
and from four to twelve inches in width. Other dimensions are
available, depending on conditions such as the size of the boards
needed at the job site, the supply of stock available to the
manufacturer of the panels, and the price of the product. The
example illustrated in FIG. 2 is a board that is two inches in
thickness and eight inches in width, and is rectangular in
cross-section and would be of a length as may be desired at the
site where it is to be constructed, for example ten feet in
length.
[0026] The board 40 of the structural panel 18 is clad in a plastic
envelope 42, with the cladding being in abutment with the surfaces
of the board. For example, opposed side surfaces 44 and 45 of the
board are covered by side sheets 46 and 47 of the plastic envelope,
whereas opposed edge surfaces 48 and 49 are clad by edge sheets 50
and 51. The plastic envelope 42 will conform in shape to the
exterior surfaces of the board 40, which will be rectangular. The
thickness of the plastic may vary, depending upon the type of
plastic that is to be used. An example of an acceptable thickness
of a polyvinyl chloride envelope is 0.070 inches, with a variance
of plus or minus 0.015 inches.
[0027] Edge connector means 54 are applied to a first edge surface
55 of the structural panel 18, with the opposed second edge 56 not
requiring edge connector means. As shown in FIG. 2, the edge
connector means 54 includes a pair of lips 58 and 59 that overhang
the first edge 55. The lips 58 and 59 are formed by the application
of strips 60 and 61 to the opposing side sheets 46 and 47, with a
first longitudinal segment 62 of each strip adhered to the side
sheets 46 and 47, and a second longitudinal segment 63 protruding
on laterally beyond the side sheets to form the lips 58 and 59. The
lips 58 and 59, together with the first edge 55 of the structural
panel, form a U-shaped recess 65, with the lips being spaced apart
a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the board 40 and
the thicknesses of its side sheets 46 and 47.
[0028] The second edge 56 of the structural panel does not have a
tongue or groove, but remains with the conventional double right
angle edge or "right angle edge." When the second or right angle
edge 56 of a structural panel 18 is placed adjacent the first edge
55 of a panel that includes the edge connector means 54, the second
edge 56 fits snugly within the U-shaped recess 65, and the lips 58
and 59 extend about a portion of the adjacent side sheets 46 and 47
of the plastic envelope 42. The lips 58 and 59 cover the crack
between the adjacent panels.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when a series of panels have been
driven into the earth 67 below the water 11, the new panel 18B will
have its second edge 56 received in the U-shaped recess 65 formed
by the lips 58 and 59 of the previous panel. The lips guide the new
panel 18B as it is being driven in the direction indicated by arrow
68, so that the lips 58 and 59, as well as the first edge 55 of the
previously installed structural panel guide the new panel 18B as it
is being driven downwardly. This tends to guide the panels so that
they will be connected together in a straight wall.
[0030] After the panels have been installed as indicated in FIG. 1,
the strips 60 and 61 at the first edge 55 of each panel overlie the
adjacent edges of the adjacent panels, thereby tending to block the
passage of water and water-borne materials between the adjacent
panels.
[0031] Typically, the process of forming the structural panels 18
involves the cladding of the panels with the plastic envelopes. As
stated previously, this can be performed by a vacuum extrusion
process described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/891,930, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. Generally, the process may include vacuum extrusion of
the plastic about the boards so that the boards are enveloped by
the plastic and the vacuum draws the plastic into direct contact
with the boards, thereby substantially eliminating air from between
the plastic and the boards.
[0032] Once the panels have been clad with plastic, the strips 60
and 61 can be extruded into position on and adhered to the panels.
For example, FIG. 5 shows in schematic form an extruder 70 that
includes die openings 71 and 72 that are arranged in spaced
relationship in accordance with the anticipated thickness of the
structural panel 18 that includes the board 40 and its plastic
envelope 42 with its side sheets 46 and 47 and its edge sheets 50
and 51 previously applied thereto. The extruder 70 is shaped so
that it lays down the strips 60 and 61 that overlap the first edge
55 of the structural panel 18. The strips are formed of a material
that is compatible with the material of the plastic envelope of the
board, such as polyvinyl chloride, and the temperature and
consistency of the strips 60 and 61 is such that the strips become
adhered to the plastic material of the side sheets 46 and 47 of the
structural panel. The strips 60 and 61 are cooled so that they are
cured in place and are firmly adhered to the side sheets 47 and 48
at the edge sheets 50 and 51 of the plastic envelope 42. The over
hanging segments of the strips form the lips 58 and 59 as
previously described.
[0033] While the inventors have disclosed the strips 60 and 61
being attached by extrusion onto the panels 18, it is anticipated
that other connection methods may be used.
[0034] With the strips 60 and 61 being positioned on the panels the
overlying portions of the strips form the lips 58 and 59 of the
structural panels, and the lips function to guide the new panel,
such as new panel 18B of FIG. 3, as it is being moved downwardly as
indicated by arrow 68 into edge abutment with respect to previously
installed structural panel 18A. In addition, the strips 60 and 61
retard the movement of water and water borne items through the
panels. Moreover, the panels, being in edge-to-edge juxtaposition,
with the edge of one panel supported by the U-shaped recess 65
between the lips of an adjacent panel, form a stable wall
structure.
[0035] It will be noted that the structural panels 18 have only one
pair of edge connector lips 58 and 59 formed on one edge structure
51. The opposing edge structure 50 is free of any reconfiguration
and keeps its original rectangular shape with the pair of right
angle corners. This reduces the manufacturing expense and reduces
the likelihood of error in the manufacturing process.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows another wall structure 75 formed of the
structural panels 18. The panels are oriented horizontally, stacked
upon one another, with their first edges that have the protruding
lips facing vertically and in registration with the rectangular
second edge of the adjacent panel. The panels may be formed of
equal length and their ends aligned. A series of piers such as
upright I-beams 77 are driven into the earth and/or supported by
poured concrete 78 in lateral alignment with each other with their
oppositely facing grooves 80 facing the next adjacent I-beams. The
structural panels are assembled with their opposed ends 81 received
in the grooves 80 of adjacent I-beams. Other types of piers may be
used if desired.
[0037] The overlapping lips 58 and 59 of the structural panels
function to keep the panels 18 in a wall structure aligned and tend
to minimize effects of lateral displacement of the panels due to
warping of the panels or engagement of lateral forces against the
panels, both when the panels are oriented vertically or
horizontally.
[0038] While the piles 14 and panels 18 of FIGS. 1-5 are disclosed
as being vertically oriented, and the wales and panels horizontally
oriented, and the piles of FIG. 6 are disclosed as being vertically
oriented and the panels horizontally oriented, it will be
understood that these and other structural components may not be
precisely installed and the terms such as "vertically",
"horizontally" and "upright" are to generally describe the
orientation of the components of the wall structure with respect to
one another.
[0039] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
disclosed in detail herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that variations and modifications of the disclosed
embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *