Wall Panel

Abstract

A wall panel includes a pair of plates and a plurality of vertical supports. The plates are spaced apart and parallel to one another. The vertical supports are affixed between the two plates. Each vertical support has a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other vertical support. Each vertical support has a width dimension parallel with the two plates and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical support. At least one of the plates extends beyond at least one of the vertical supports a distance of a partial width of the vertical support.

1 . A wall panel comprising:
 first and second spaced apart parallel plates;   a plurality of vertical supports affixed between the first and second plates, each vertical support having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other vertical support;   wherein each vertical support has a width dimension parallel with the first and second plates and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical support; and   wherein at least one of the plates extends beyond at least one of the vertical supports a distance of a partial width of the vertical support.   
   
   
       2 . The wall panel of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the vertical supports extends beyond at least one of the plates a distance of a partial width of the vertical support. 
   
   
       3 . The wall panel of  claim 1  wherein each vertical support has a thickness dimension perpendicular to the first and second plates and the width of the vertical support is equal to the thickness of the vertical support. 
   
   
       4 . The wall panel of  claim 1  wherein each vertical support is a tube. 
   
   
       5 . The wall panel of  claim 4  wherein each vertical support has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The wall panel of  claim 4  wherein each vertical support has a square cross section. 
   
   
       7 . The wall panel of  claim 1  further including a horizontal support affixed between the first and second plates, the horizontal support having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each vertical support. 
   
   
       8 . A wall panel system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels, each wall panel including:
 first and second spaced apart parallel plates; 
 a plurality of vertical supports affixed between the first and second plates, each vertical support having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other vertical support; 
 wherein each vertical support has a width dimension parallel with the first and second plates and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical support; and 
 wherein at least one of the plates extends beyond at least one of the vertical supports a distance of a partial width of the vertical support; and 
   wherein at least one plate of at least one of the wall panels overlaps at least one of the vertical supports of at least another one of the wall panels.   
   
   
       9 . The wall panel system of  claim 8  wherein at least one vertical support of at least one of the wall panels abuts at least one of the vertical supports of at least another one of the wall panels. 
   
   
       10 . The wall panel system of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the vertical supports extends beyond at least one of the plates a distance of a partial width of the vertical support. 
   
   
       11 . The wall panel system of  claim 8  wherein each vertical support has a thickness dimension perpendicular to the first and second plates and the width of the vertical support is equal to the thickness of the vertical support. 
   
   
       12 . The wall panel system of  claim 8  wherein each vertical support is a tube. 
   
   
       13 . The wall panel system of  claim 12  wherein each vertical support has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       14 . The wall panel system of  claim 12  wherein each vertical support has a square cross section. 
   
   
       15 . The wall panel of  claim 8  wherein each wall panel further includes a horizontal support affixed between the first and second plates, the horizontal support having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each vertical support of the wall panel. 
   
   
       16 . The wall panel system of  claim 8  further including at least one corner joint having:
 third and fourth spaced apart parallel plates;   fifth and sixth spaced apart parallel plates, the fifth and sixth plates nonparallel to the third and fourth plates, the fifth plate affixed at one end to one end of the third plate and the sixth plate affixed at one end to one end of the fourth plate;   at least one vertical support affixed between the third and fourth plates, each vertical support having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other vertical support;   at least one vertical support affixed between the fifth and sixth plates, each vertical support having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other vertical support;   wherein at least one of plates of the corner joint extends beyond at least one of the vertical supports a distance of a partial width of the vertical support; and   wherein at least one plate of at least one of the wall panels overlaps at least one of the vertical supports of at least one of the corner joints.