Method and Apparatus For Spanning Gutter Gaps in Wall Panels

Abstract

The wall panel system of the present invention includes a flexible sheet interlock to flexibly seal a joint defined by adjacent perimeter framing members and a capillary break to inhibit the entry of water into drainage or weep holes in gutters in the perimeter framing member.

1 . A wall system including a plurality of wall panels attached to a structural member, comprising: 
 adjacent perimeter framing members, each framing member having a horizontal extent that: (a) extends horizontally to opposite ends of the framing member, and (b) extents horizontally beyond the horizontal extent of the other perimeter framing member;    wherein each of the perimeter framing members is attached horizontally to a different wall panel, the wall panels being located in a side-by-side relationship; and    a flexible sheet interlock, that is substantially impervious to fluids, wherein the flexible sheet interlock extends a channel for fluids across a gap between ends of first and second fluid channel segments, each fluid channel segment operably connected to one of the adjacent perimeter framing members for providing a corresponding predetermined fluid path, wherein the channel channels fluids across the gap and along the horizontal extents of each of the adjacent perimeter framing members.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: an upper perimeter framing member attached to an upper wall panel, and at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members attached to a lower wall panel, the upper perimeter framing member and the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members engaging one another at perimeter edges of the upper and lower wall panels to define a recess relative to the upper and lower wall panels, the recess having an opening between a lower edge of the upper wall panel and an upper edge of the lower wall panel; 
 wherein at least one of the upper perimeter framing member and the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members includes a plurality of drainage holes for the drainage of fluids located inside of the upper and lower wall panels, and at least one of the upper perimeter framing members and the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members includes a capillary break: (i) projecting into the recess and positioned between the upper and lower wall panels, (ii) positioned on the same side of the recess as the plurality of drainage holes, (iii) spaced from the plurality of drainage holes to inhibit fluids from entering the plurality of drainage holes, and (iv) dividing the opening from a circulating chamber of the recess, the drainage holes draining into the circulating chamber;    wherein the recess has a lower surface contoured for permitting fluids in the circulating chamber to discharge into an exterior environment via the opening.    
   
   
       3 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein a first space between a free end of the capillary break and an opposing wall of the recess has a first vertical cross-sectional area, and a second space between opposing walls of the recess at a point between the capillary break and the plurality of drainage holes has a second vertical cross-sectional area and the second vertical cross sectional area is at least about 125% of the first vertical cross sectional area for creating, in combination with a curved surface of the capillary break, a vortex between the opposing walls of the recess at a point between the capillary break and the plurality of drainage holes.  
   
   
       4 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the capillary break and a drainage hole is at least about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the centers of the plurality of drainage holes lie along a common axis.  
   
   
       6 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the capillary break adjacent to the plurality of drainage holes is concave.  
   
   
       7 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drainage holes are spaced at regular intervals along the at least one of the upper and lower perimeter framing members.  
   
   
       8 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drainage holes are located on the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing member and the capillary break is located on the upper perimeter framing member.  
   
   
       9 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drainage holes are located on a substantially horizontal surface.  
   
   
       10 . The wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drainage holes are located on one of the upper perimeter framing member and the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members, and the capillary break is located on the other of one of the upper perimeter framing member and the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members.  
   
   
       11 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet interlock is composed of silicone.  
   
   
       12 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet interlock is attached to each of the adjacent perimeter framing members by a sealant having a different composition than the flexible sheet interlock.  
   
   
       13 . The wall system of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially rigid insert and an upper perimeter framing member that is in an interlocking relationship with at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members, the substantially rigid insert being located between the upper perimeter framing member and the flexible sheet interlock to retain the flexible sheet interlock in position.  
   
   
       14 . The wall system of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper perimeter framing member that is in an interlocking relationship with at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members, the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members including a lip projecting inwardly and being located adjacent to an end of the flexible sheet interlock to retain the flexible sheet interlock in position.  
   
   
       15 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent perimeter framing members are positioned in an end-to-end relationship with one another.  
   
   
       16 . A wall including a plurality of wall panels attached to a structural member, comprising: 
 adjacent perimeter framing members, each framing member having a horizontal extent that: (a) extends horizontally to opposite ends of the framing member, and (b) extents horizontally beyond the horizontal extent of the other perimeter framing member, each of the perimeter framing members being attached horizontally to a different wall panel, the wall panels being located in a side-by-side relationship; and    a flexible sheet interlock, that is substantially impervious to fluids, wherein the flexible sheet interlock extends a channel for fluids across a gap between ends of first and second fluid channel segments, each fluid channel segment operably connected to one of the adjacent perimeter framing members for providing a corresponding predetermined fluid path, wherein the channel channels fluids across the gap and along the horizontal extents of each of the adjacent perimeter framing members, wherein at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members includes retaining means for retaining an end of the flexible sheet interlock in position when a third perimeter framing member is placed in an interlocking relationship with the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members.    
   
   
       17 . The wall system of  claim 1 , further including a retaining means for retaining the flexible sheet interlock in a position for conducting the fluids between the first and second fluid channel segments, the retaining means including at least one of a substantially rigid insert and a lip projecting from the at least one of the adjacent perimeter framing members.  
   
   
       18 . A method for erecting a wall from a plurality of wall panels, each respective wall panel being attached to a corresponding plurality of perimeter framing members, comprising: 
 engaging a first wall panel attached to a first plurality of perimeter framing members to a structural member;    engaging a second wall panel attached to a second plurality of perimeter framing members to a structural member, the second wall panel being located above the first wall panel;    wherein for at least one perimeter framing member (S) of the second plurality of perimeter framing members, and at least one perimeter framing member (F) of the of the first plurality of perimeter framing members, the perimeter framing member S engages a bottom edge of the second wall panel, and the perimeter framing member F engages a top edge of the first wall panel;    attaching a flexible sheet interlock to the perimeter framing member F;    engaging a third wall panel attached to a third plurality of perimeter framing members to a structural member, the third wall panel being located beside the first wall panel and below the second wall panel, and at least one perimeter framing members (T) of the of the third plurality of perimeter framing members engaging the perimeter framing member F;    wherein each of the perimeter framing members F and T have a horizontal extent that: (a) extends horizontally to opposite ends of the perimeter framing member, and (b) extents horizontally beyond the horizontal extent of the other of the perimeter framing members F and T; and    attaching the flexible sheet interlock to the perimeter framing member T for providing a channel for fluids across a space between ends of first and second fluid channel segments, each fluid channel segment operably connected to one of the perimeter framing members F and T for providing a corresponding predetermined fluid path, wherein the channel channels fluids across the gap and along the horizontal extents of each of the perimeter framing members F and T.    
   
   
       19 . A wall system for engaging a structural member, comprising: 
 a plurality of wall panels; and    adjacent perimeter framing members located in a side-by-side relationship, each of the adjacent perimeter framing members attached to a different wall panel, the wall panels being located in a side-by-side relationship; and    a flexible sheet interlock, that is substantially impervious to terrestrial fluids, overlaps each of the adjacent perimeter framing members to inhibit the passage of terrestrial fluids between the adjacent perimeter framing members.