U.S. patent application number 16/654113 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-30 for apparatus, system and method for providing an internally supported wall system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Valmont Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Valmont Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Paulin.
Application Number | 20200131760 16/654113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70327984 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200131760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paulin; Robert |
April 30, 2020 |
APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INTERNALLY SUPPORTED
WALL SYSTEM
Abstract
The present invention provides a light weight wall system
including a wall supporting apparatus to install multiple panels
simultaneously while resisting lateral and vertical forces applied
to the wall system during installation. According to one aspect of
the present invention, the wall system of the present invention
includes an upper wall segment and a lower wall segment. According
to further aspects of the present invention, the upper wall segment
preferably includes a bottom panel including a central convex
projection which extends through the length of the upper wall
segment. According to a further aspect of the present invention,
the lower wall segment preferably includes a top panel which
includes a central convex projection which extends through the
length of the lower wall segment. According to a further aspect of
the present invention, the present invention preferably further
includes an internal supporting insert which includes an upper
supporting insert configured to insert within the upper wall
segment and a lower supporting insert configured to insert within
the lower wall segment.
Inventors: |
Paulin; Robert; (Irmo,
SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Valmont Industries, Inc. |
Omaha |
NE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Valmont Industries, Inc.
Omaha
NE
|
Family ID: |
70327984 |
Appl. No.: |
16/654113 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62749886 |
Oct 24, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2002/0243 20130101;
E04B 2002/0284 20130101; E04B 2002/0213 20130101; E04B 2/08
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04B 2/08 20060101
E04B002/08 |
Claims
1. A wall system including an internal wall supporting apparatus,
the wall system comprising: an upper wall segment, wherein the
upper wall segment comprises a left panel, a right panel and a
bottom panel; further wherein the bottom panel further comprises a
left wall portion, an upward extending central concave projection,
and a right wall portion; further wherein the central concave
projection extends through the length of the upper wall segment; a
lower wall segment, wherein the lower wall segment comprises a left
panel, a right panel and a top panel; further wherein the top panel
further comprises a left wall portion, an upward extending central
convex projection, and a right wall portion; further wherein the
central convex projection extends through the length of the lower
wall segment; and an internal supporting insert, wherein the
internal support insert further comprises a left connecting flange,
a right connecting flange, and a plurality of supporting internal
vertical ribs which vertically extend through the body of the
internal supporting insert; wherein the internal supporting insert
further comprises an upper supporting insert configured to insert
within the upper wall segment and a lower supporting insert
configured to insert within the lower wall segment; wherein the
lower supporting insert comprises left surface, a right surface, a
first lower surface, and a second upper surface; wherein the second
upper surface comprises a left lower surface, a convex center
surface, and a right lower surface; wherein the upper supporting
insert comprises a left surface, a right surface, a third top
surface, and a fourth lower surface; wherein the fourth lower
surface comprises a left lower surface, a concave center surface,
and a right lower surface; wherein the internal supporting insert
further comprises a plurality of back support extensions; wherein
the plurality of back support extensions are configured to stiffen
the internal supporting insert and prevent the internal supporting
insert from rotating on its central axis.
2. The wall system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the
second upper surface and the fourth lower surface are uniform.
3. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the distance between the
second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is greater than
the combined thickness of the upward extending central concave
projection of the upper wall segment and the upward extending
central convex projection of the lower wall segment.
4. The wall system of claim 3, wherein the distance between the
second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is within the
range of 0.3 to 0.8 inches.
5. The wall system of claim 3, wherein the distance between the
second upper surface and the fourth lower surface is within the
range of 0.4 to 0.6 inches.
6. The wall system of claim 4, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a thickness in the range of 2 to 5 inches.
7. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a total length in the range of 4 to 7 inches.
8. The wall system of claim 7, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a total width in the range of 2 to 3 inches.
9. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a total length in the range of 5 to 6 inches.
10. The wall system of claim 9, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a total width in the range of 2.4 to 2.8 inches.
11. The wall system of claim 6, wherein the internal supporting
insert has a total length in the range of 5.4 to 5.8 inches.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/749,886, filed Oct. 24, 2018, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related in general to wall sections
and, in particular, to a wall system including an internal wall
supporting apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are a variety of modular and segmented wall types
which are increasingly popular in construction. These may include
lightweight panels which are easily moved and stacked to allow for
barriers for enclosing areas and for providing sound, aesthetic and
security enhancements. These panels currently can only be installed
as a single segment. This increases the installation time of the
wall. What is needed is a system and method to assist in the
installation a light weight wall system which includes a wall
supporting apparatus to reduce the installation time of the wall
and decrease the cost of installation.
[0004] To overcome the limitations of the prior art, the present
invention provides a system and apparatus for creating and
supporting a light weight wall system including a wall supporting
apparatus to resist lateral and vertical forces applied to the wall
system during installation of multiple panels.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The present invention provides a light weight wall system
including a wall supporting apparatus to resist lateral and
vertical forces applied to the wall system during installation.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the wall system
of the present invention includes an upper wall segment and a lower
wall segment. According to further aspects of the present
invention, the upper wall segment preferably includes a bottom
panel including an upward extending central concave projection
which extends through the length of the upper wall segment.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the lower
wall segment preferably further includes a top panel which includes
a central convex projection which extends through the length of the
lower wall segment.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
present invention preferably further includes an internal
supporting insert which includes an upper supporting insert
configured to inserted within the upper wall segment and a lower
supporting insert configured to inserted within the lower wall
segment.
[0007] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
internal supporting insert preferably further includes back support
extensions which are configured and positioned to stiffen the
internal supporting insert and to prevent the internal supporting
insert from rotating on its central axis.
[0008] Other goals and advantages of the present invention will be
further appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction
with the following description and accompanying drawings. While the
following description may contain specific details describing
particular embodiments of the invention, this should not be
construed as limitations to the scope of the invention but rather
as an exemplification of preferable embodiments. For each aspect of
the invention, many variations are possible as suggested herein
that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A variety of
changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the
invention without departing from the spirit thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to
scale in order to enhance their clarity and to improve the
understanding of the various elements and embodiments of the
invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and
well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order
to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the
invention. Thus, it should be understood that the drawings are
generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a cutaway view of a wall system in accordance
with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of a wall system in accordance
with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
including an internal supporting insert.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a front view of an internal supporting insert
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an internal supporting insert in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a back view of an internal supporting insert in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6A shows a top view of an internal supporting insert in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 6B shows a bottom view of an internal supporting insert
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view an interconnected wall
system in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Various inventive features are described below that can each
be used independently of one another or in combination with other
features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any
of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems
discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed
above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described
below. In the following discussion that addresses a number of
embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is
made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in
which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which
the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0019] Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are
not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or
express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are
utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be
regarded as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or
illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which
may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification
and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the
scope of that term or terms.
[0020] Reference is now made in detail to the exemplary embodiments
of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts. As used throughout this application, the word "may"
is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning "having the potential
to`), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e. meaning "must").
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a cutaway view of a wall system 100 in
accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. As shown, the wall system 100 of the present invention
may preferably include an upper wall segment 102 and a lower wall
segment 104. As shown, the wall segments 102, 104 may preferably be
hollow. Alternatively, the wall segments 102, 104 may be filled
with any of a variety of materials. As shown, the upper wall
segment 102 may preferably include a left panel 106, a right panel
108 and a bottom panel 110. As shown, a bottom panel 110 of the
upper wall segment 102 preferably includes level left wall portion
112, an upward extending central concave projection 114, and a
level right wall portion 116. Preferably, the central concave
projection 114 of the bottom panel 110 extends through the length
of the upper wall segment 102.
[0022] As further shown in FIG. 1, the lower wall segment 104
preferably further includes a left wall panel 126, a right wall
panel 128 and an upper wall panel 118. As shown, the upper wall
panel 118 of the lower wall segment 104 preferably includes level
left wall portion 120, an upward projecting central convex
projection 124, and a level right wall portion 122. Preferably, the
central convex projection 124 of the upper wall panel 118 extends
through the length of the lower wall segment 104.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a further cutaway view of a wall system in
accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention including an internal supporting insert 130. As shown,
the internal supporting insert 130 preferably is inserted within
the upper wall segment 102 and the lower wall segment 104. As
shown, the internal supporting insert 130 preferably includes a
left connecting flange 132, a right connecting flange 134 and a
group of supporting internal vertical ribs 136 which vertically
extend through the body of the internal supporting insert 130. As
further shown, the internal supporting insert 130 preferably
further includes an upper supporting insert 140 which is inserted
within the upper wall segment 102. Further, the internal supporting
insert 130 preferably further includes a lower supporting insert
142 (shown in FIG. 3) which preferably inserts into the lower wall
segment 104. As still further shown, the internal supporting insert
130 preferably further includes one or more central supporting
extensions 138 as discussed in more detail below.
[0024] According to further aspects of the present invention, the
left connecting flange 132 and the right connecting flange 134 may
preferably be configured to further interlock with connecting
flanges from other internal supporting inserts (not shown) so to
connect the two supporting inserts together. In this way, the
present invention may laterally connect multiple wall
segments/system in series.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a front view of an internal supporting insert
130 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. As shown, the internal supporting insert 130 preferably
includes an upper supporting insert 140 for inserting within the
upper wall segment 102 and a lower supporting insert 142 for
inserting within the lower wall segment 104. As shown, the upper
supporting insert 140 preferably includes a lower surface 144 which
preferably includes a left lower surface 146, a raised center
surface 150 and a right lower surface 148. As further shown, lower
supporting insert 142 preferably includes a top surface 152 which
preferably includes a left lower surface 154, a raised center
surface 156 and a right lower surface 158.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the spacing and dimensions between the
lower surface 144 and the top surface 152 are preferably uniform
and of a consistent width to receive the combined widths of the
bottom panel 110 of the upper wall segment 102 and the upper wall
panel 118 of the lower wall segment 104. In particular, the
spacings and dimensions between the lower surface 144 and the top
surface 152 are preferably formed with a width and a shape for
receiving the combined thickness and shape of the concave
projection 114 of the upper wall segment 102 and the convex
projection 124 of the lower wall segment 104. As further shown, in
accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the distance between the lower surface 144 and the top
surface 152 may preferably be in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 inches.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the distance between
the lower surface 144 and the top surface 152 may preferably be in
range of 0.4 to 0.6 inches.
[0027] FIG. 4 further provides a side view of the internal
supporting insert 130. As shown, the internal supporting insert 130
preferably includes an upper supporting insert 140 for inserting
within the upper wall segment 102 and a lower supporting insert 142
for inserting within the lower wall segment 104. As shown, the
internal supporting insert 130 may preferably have a total width in
the range of 2 to 5 inches and a total length in the range of 4 to
7 inches. According to a further preferred embodiment, the internal
supporting insert 130 may preferably have a total width in the
range of 2 to 3 inches and a total length in the range of 5 to 6
inches. According to a further preferred embodiment, the internal
supporting insert 130 may preferably have a total width in the
range of 2.4 to 2.8 inches and a total length of 5.4 to 5.8
inches.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 5, a back view of an internal
supporting insert 130 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention shall now be discussed. As shown in FIG. 5,
the internal supporting insert 130 may preferably include a left
connecting flange 132, a right connecting flange 134, and vertical
ribs 136 extending through the body of the internal supporting
insert 130. A further shown, the internal supporting insert 130
preferably further includes a central supporting rib 160 which
extends horizontally across the body of the internal supporting
insert 130. As further shown, the central supporting rib 160
preferably further includes one or more back support extensions
138.
[0029] FIG. 6A further shows a top view and FIG. 6B further shows a
bottom view of an internal supporting insert 130 in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the
internal supporting insert 130 preferably includes an upper
supporting insert 140, a lower supporting insert 142, a right
connecting flange 134 and a left connecting flange 132. As further
shown, the internal supporting insert 130 preferably further
includes back support extensions 138. According to preferred
embodiments of the present invention, the back-support extensions
138 may preferably act to stiffen the internal supporting insert
130 and prevent the internal supporting insert 130 from rotating on
its central axis or otherwise acting like a hinge.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an inter-connected wall
system 170 in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, internal support inserts
180, 182, 184 are provided between respective lateral segments 172,
174, 176 178. As discussed with respect to FIGS. 2-6, the internal
support inserts 180, 182, 184 connect each pair of lateral wall
segments 172, 174, 176, 178 to resist lateral and vertical forces
applied to the wall system.
[0031] While this invention has been described and illustrated with
reference to particular embodiments, it will be readily apparent to
those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover numerous other modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
[0032] The above descriptions of illustrated embodiments of the
present invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
present invention to the precise forms disclosed. It should be
understood that various equivalent modifications are possible
within the scope of the described embodiments as those skilled in
the relevant art will recognize. Further, the elements of the
various embodiments described above can be combined to provide
further embodiments without limitation. These and other changes can
be made to the disclosed system and apparatus in light of the above
detailed description.
[0033] In the following claims, the terms used should not be
construed to limit the specific embodiments disclosed in the
specification and the claims, but instead the scope of the present
invention is intended to be determined entirely by the claims.
* * * * *