Removable Wallboard System

Abstract

The present invention is a novel removable wallboard system. It includes a plurality of receiver strips [ 1 ] which are attached to framing members [ 8 ] of a structure to be paneled. Each receiver strip has a receiving channel [ 4 ]. Wall panels 7 are placed snugly between the receiver strips [ 1 ]. Trim units [ 2 ] are elongated strips having insertion strips [ 10 ] which are designed to fit into and be retained by receiving channels [ 4 ] of the receiver strips [ 1 ]. Since the trim units [ 2 ] are designed to have a low profile, and they cover the seams between the wall panels [ 7 ], there is no need for further finishing or caulking. Therefore, these wall panels [ 7 ] may be removed and replaced with minimal effort or cleanup. The system also includes easily installable, removable and replaceable base molding [ 16 ], crown molding [ 19 ], and chair rail molding [ 29 ]. These may be designed to create chase ways [ 18, 74 ] allowing hidden routing of electrical, utility cables, pipes and hoses. Since the system may interactively be constructed and removed, it is useful in business settings in which offices are constantly adjusted.

1 . A removable wallboard system  10  for holding a plurality of wall panels to a frame having a plurality of frame members, the system comprising:
 a) at least one receiver strip having
 i. a base strip capable of being attached to said frame member, and 
 ii. a receiving channel, and 
   b) a trim unit having
 i. at least one insertion strip  1  which are sized and shaped to fit inside of and be removably retained by the receiving channel, and 
 ii. a flat top sized and shaped to retain said wall panels between the flat top and the base strip of the receiver strip. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the insertion projection is one of the group consisting of insertion strip and an insertion tab. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base strip further comprises:
 a slot capable of receiving flat metal frame members.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the receiver strip is secured horizontally near the floor and further comprising:
 a base molding having insertion strips  1  shaped and positioned to be received and secured in receiving channel of receiver strip, the base molding also having a recess for defining a chase way.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the recess is formed within the base molding. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the receiver strip is secured horizontally near the ceiling and further comprising:
 a crown molding having insertion strips  1  shaped and positioned to be received and secured in receiving channel of receiver strip, the crown molding  19 ] also shaped to support a ceiling panel.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the crown molding is constructed of a flexible extruded plastic material. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wall panels are drywall panels. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wall panels are gypsum board. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wall panels are constructed of a material which is paintable. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wall panels are removable and replaceable providing easy access behind them. 
   
   
       12 . A removable wallboard system for holding a plurality of wall panels to at least one frame member having two surfaces which meet at a corner, the system comprising:
 a) at least one inner support attached to said frame member corner having:
 i. a first inner arm attached to one surface of said frame member, 
 ii. a second inner arm attached to said second surface of said frame member, 
 iii. an inner junction piece connecting the first and second inner legs at an angle approximately the same as the angle of surfaces of the frame supports to which inner support is attached, the inner junction piece  56 ] also having a receiving channel projecting outward from the inner junction piece, and 
   b) at least one outer support having:
 i. a first outer arm, 
 ii. a second outer arm, 
 iii. an outer junction piece connecting the first and second outer arms, at approximately the same relative angle between the inner arms, the outer junction piece also having an insertion projection projecting inward from the outer junction piece, which is received and secured in the receiving channel thereby holding outer support to inner support sandwiching wall boards and securing them to said frame member. 
   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the insertion projection is one of the group consisting of insertion strip and an insertion tab. 
   
   
       14 . A method of constructing removable walls on a frame having a plurality of frame members comprising the steps of:
 a) attaching a receiver strip having a base strip capable of being attached to said frame members and a receiving channel, to at least one frame member,   b) providing a trim unit having at least one insertion strip which are sized and shaped to fit inside of, and be removably retained by the receiving channel,   c) providing wall panels and placing the wall panels between the receiver strips,   d) pressing the insertion strip  1  of the trim units into the receiving channels of the receiver strips to removeably retain said panels between the trim unit  2 ] and the receiver strip.   
   
   
       15 . The method of constructing removable walls of  claim 14  wherein the step of attaching to at least one frame member comprises the step of:
 a) providing a receiver strip having a base strip with a slot  2  for receiving a metal frame member,   b) sliding the metal frame member into the slot of base strip to attach said receiver strip to said frame member.   
   
   
       16 . The method of constructing removable walls of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing wall panels comprises the step of providing drywall panels. 
   
   
       17 . The method of constructing removable walls of  claim 14  wherein the step of providing wall panels comprises the step of providing gypsum board. 
   
   
       18 . The method of constructing removable walls of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 a) attaching a receiver strip horizontally at a floor level which would be under a wall panel,   b) providing a base molding having at least one insertion strip which is sized and shaped to fit inside of, and be removably retained by the receiving channel, the base molding also having and upper edge capable of supporting the wall panel and recesses for creating chase ways,   c) pressing the insertion strip of the base molding into the receiving channels of the receiver strips to removeably retain and support said wall panels on the upper edge of base molding.   
   
   
       19 . The method of constructing removable walls of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 a) attaching a receiver strip horizontally at ceiling height,   b) providing a crown molding having at least one insertion strip which is sized and shaped to fit inside of, and be removably retained by the receiving channel, the crown molding also capable of supporting a ceiling panel,   c) pressing the insertion strip of the crown molding into the receiving channels of the receiver strips to removeably retain and support said ceiling panel.