Wall paneling assembly and system

Abstract

A wall panel assembly and panel pieces therefore are disclosed. The panel pieces have edges with tongues having interengageable angularly oriented surfaces arranged toward the rear side of the panels. When the edges of adjacent panels are engaged to form a wall panel assembly, a tongue on one panel is captured in overlying relation with a tongue on the adjacent panel. Arrangement of the tongues toward the rear side of the panels permits vertical loads on the panels to be carried by shear forces in the fasteners attaching the panel pieces to a structure, increasing the dynamic load that the panel pieces can withstand without failure. The panel pieces are advantageous for use in moving structures such as elevator cabs.

1 . A panel piece mountable on a structure and engageable with a substantially similar panel piece to form a wall panel assembly, said panel piece comprising: 
 a front side;    a rear side;    a first edge having a first tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said front side, said first tongue having a first end surface angularly oriented toward said rear side, a first flange being positioned between said first tongue and said front side; and    a second edge positioned opposite to said first edge and having a second tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said rear side, said second tongue having a second end surface, a second flange being positioned between said rear side and said second tongue, said second flange being angularly oriented toward said front side such that, upon engagement of said first edge of one of said panel pieces with said second edge of another of said panel pieces, said first tongue is captured in overlying relation with said second tongue upon engagement of said first end surface with said second flange, said second tongue being sized smaller than said first tongue so that said second end surface remains in spaced apart relation away from said first flange thereby defining a gap between said panel pieces in said front side.    
   
   
       2 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end surface is oriented at an angle that is complementary to the angular orientation of said second flange.  
   
   
       3 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said first flange is oriented substantially perpendicular to said first tongue.  
   
   
       4 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to said second tongue.  
   
   
       5 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said first tongue extends substantially along the entire length of said first edge.  
   
   
       6 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said second tongue extends substantially along the entire length of said second edge.  
   
   
       7 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures extending through said first tongue, said apertures being positioned in spaced apart relation lengthwise along said first tongue for receiving fasteners therethrough for attachment of said panel piece to said structure.  
   
   
       8 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said structure comprises an elevator.  
   
   
       9 . A panel piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said panel piece is formed from a laminate.  
   
   
       10 . A panel piece according to  claim 9 , wherein said laminate comprises wood and non-wood materials.  
   
   
       11 . A wall panel assembly mountable on a structure and comprised of a plurality of interengageable panel pieces, each of said panel pieces comprising: 
 a front side;    a rear side;    a first edge having a first tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said front side, said first tongue having a first end surface angularly oriented toward said rear side, a first flange being positioned along said first edge between said first tongue and said front side; and    a second edge positioned opposite to said first edge and having a second tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said rear side, said second tongue having a second end surface, a second flange being positioned along said second edge between said rear side and said second tongue, said second flange being angularly oriented toward said front side such that, upon engagement of said first edge of one of said panel pieces with said second edge of another of said panel pieces, said first tongue of said one panel piece is captured in overlying relation with said second tongue of said other panel piece, said first end surface of said first tongue engaging said second flange of said other panel piece, said second tongue is sized smaller than said first tongue so that said second end surface of said second tongue remains in spaced apart relation away from said first flange of said first panel piece thereby defining a gap between said panel pieces in said front side.    
   
   
       12 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said first end surface is oriented at an angle that is complementary to the angular orientation of said second flange.  
   
   
       13 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said first flange is oriented-substantially perpendicular to said first tongue.  
   
   
       14 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said second end surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to said second tongue.  
   
   
       15 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said first tongue extends substantially along the entire length of said first edge.  
   
   
       16 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said second tongue extends substantially along the entire length of said second edge.  
   
   
       17 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of apertures extending through said first tongue, said apertures being positioned in spaced apart relation lengthwise along said first tongue for receiving fasteners therethrough for attachment of said panel piece to said structure.  
   
   
       18 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said structure comprises an elevator.  
   
   
       19 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said panel piece is formed from a laminate.  
   
   
       20 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said laminate comprises wood and non-wood materials.  
   
   
       21 . A method of installing a wall panel assembly onto a support structure, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of panel pieces, each said panel piece comprising: 
 a front side;  
 a rear side;  
 a first edge having a first tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said front side, said first tongue having a first end surface angularly oriented toward said rear side, a first flange being positioned along said first edge between said first tongue and said front side;  
 a second edge positioned opposite to said first edge and having a second tongue extending lengthwise therealong and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation offset from said rear side, said second tongue having a second end surface, a second flange being positioned along said second edge between said rear side and said second tongue, said second flange being angularly oriented toward said front side;  
 attaching at least one of said panel pieces on said structure; and  
 engaging said second edge of another of said panel pieces with said first edge of said one panel piece such that said first tongue of said one panel piece is captured in overlying relation with said second tongue of said other panel piece, said first end surface of said first tongue engaging said second flange of said other panel piece, said second tongue being sized smaller than said first tongue so that said second end surface of said second tongue remains in spaced apart relation away from said first flange of said first panel piece thereby defining a gap between said panel pieces in said front side.