Wall panel joint apparatus and system using same

Abstract

A wall panel joint apparatus and a system using same is disclosed. The wall panel joint includes a perimeter joint body having a predetermined size and shape. The perimeter joint body floatably attaches to at least two wall panels. Embodiments include where the wall panel joint includes one, two, or more chambers in addition to the wall cavity. The system includes at least two wall panel joints that attach the wall panels to an architectural wall. At the point of intersection of the joints, the joints are mitered. The system also includes a wall attachment device and a means for attaching the joint to the wall attachment device. The system is liquid water impermeable, air permeable, and water vapor permeable system, providing a ventilated, waterproof wall panel attachment joints for use in same.

1 . A wall panel system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panel units, each unit having a wall panel and a plurality of perimeter clips;
 each wall panel having a planar surface and a plurality of mounting flanges, the mounting flanges generally perpendicular to the planar surface; 
 each perimeter clip including:
 a body; 
 a panel flange extending from the body, the panel flange adapted to engage with one of the mounting flanges of one of the wall panels; and 
 at least a pair of strip flanges extending from the body, the at least a pair of strip flanges and the body defining at least a pair of pockets; 
 
   a pair of filler strips associated with a pair of perimeter clips of the plurality of perimeter clips, the filler strips with the pair of perimeter clips defining a wall panel joint, each of the filler strips having a pair of receiving edges, each of the filler strips extending between adjacent perimeter clips with a first receiving edge received in a pocket of one of the perimeter clips and the second receiving edge received in a pocket of the other perimeter clip, the pair of filler strips defining a chamber interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and the filler strip for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry; and   at least one attachment clip, the attachment clip engaging a pair of the perimeter clips for retaining the perimeter clips and the associated wall panel of the wall panel unit.   
   
   
       2 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein
 the plurality of mounting flanges of each wall panel are four mounting flanges including a top horizontal mounting flange, a bottom horizontal mounting flange, and a pair of vertical mounting flanges; and   each perimeter clip is identical and mountable on vertical mounting flanges and horizontal mounting flanges.   
   
   
       3 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein each perimeter clip is identical and the adjacent pair of perimeter clips with the filler strips defining the wall panel joint, are positioned mirrored to each other such that the pockets align with each other. 
   
   
       4 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  for securing to a wall of a building further comprising at least one wall securing device secured to the wall of the building, the at least one attachment clip carried by the at least one wall securing device wherein the wall panel units and the wall of the building define a wall cavity having a pressure equal to the outside atmosphere while not infiltrated by rain. 
   
   
       5 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein the at least a pair of strip flanges includes an outer strip flange projecting from the body of the perimeter clip, the outer strip flange defines an “U” shaped outer pocket of the at least a pair of pockets and the at least a pair of strip flanges includes a middle strip flange and an inner strip flange that project from the body of the perimeter clip, the middle strip flange and the inner strip flange define an “U” shaped inner pocket of the at least a pair of pockets. 
   
   
       6 . A wall panel system of  claim 5  wherein the middle strip flange is interposed between the outer strip flange and the inner strip flange, the inner strip flange having a varying thickness including a main portion and a thinner projection portion that extends from the main portion away from the body of the perimeter clip and a protrusion that projects from the body and the main portion away from the thinner projection portion. 
   
   
       7 . A wall panel system of  claim 6  wherein
 each perimeter clip is identical and the adjacent perimeter clips are positioned mirrored to each other such that the “U” shaped inner pockets align with each other;   the pair of filler strips including an inner filler strip that is received by and extends between the “U” shaped inner pockets of the adjacent perimeter clips;   the thinner projection portion and the inner filler strip define an arm receiving space for receiving a portion of the at least one attachment clip.   
   
   
       8 . A wall panel system of  claim 7  wherein the attachment clip has a pair of grooves for accepting the inner strip flange of one of the perimeter clips wherein one of the perimeter clips is for holding and supporting the weight of the perimeter clip and the wall panel of the wall panel unit and the upper arm portion of the attachment clip is received in the arm receiving space interposed for limiting motion of the perimeter clip in a direction perpendicular to the planar portion of the wall panel. 
   
   
       9 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  for securing to a wall of a building further comprising:
 at least one wall securing device secured to the wall of the building, the at least one attachment clip carried by the at least one wall securing device wherein the wall panel units and the wall of the building define a wall cavity;   the plurality of mounting flanges of each wall panel are four mounting flanges including a top horizontal mounting flange, a bottom horizontal mounting flange, and a pair of vertical mounting flanges;   the at least a pair of strip flanges of the perimeter clip includes an outer strip flange, a middle strip flange, and an inner strip flange, each flange projecting from the body of the perimeter clip, the outer strip flange defines an “U” shaped outer pocket of the at least a pair of pockets, the middle strip flange and the inner strip flange define an “U” shaped inner pocket of the at least a pair of pockets, the middle strip flange is interposed between the outer strip flange and the inner strip flange, the inner strip flange having a varying thickness including a main portion and a thinner projection portion that extends from the main portion away from the body of the perimeter clip and a protrusion that projects from the body and the main portion away from the thinner projection portion; and   each perimeter clip is identical and mountable on vertical mounting flanges and horizontal mounting flanges of the wall panels, the adjacent pair of perimeter clips with the filler strips defining the wall panel joint, are positioned mirrored to each other such that the pockets align with each other, wherein the outer flange has a tip flange portion that extends further towards the other wall panel of the wall panel joint than the respective mounting flange such that any water entering the outer pocket will drain over the mounting flange rather than enter the chamber.   
   
   
       10 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein
 each of the perimeter clips wherein the at least a pair of strip flanges includes at least three strip flanges, wherein the at least a pair of pockets being at least three pockets defined by the at least three strip flanges and the body;   the pair of filler strips includes at least three filler strips, each of the filler strips having a pair of receiving edges, each of the filler strips extending between adjacent perimeter clips with a first receiving edge received in a pocket of one of the perimeter clips and the second receiving edge received in a pocket of the other perimeter clip; and   the chamber being at least two chambers wherein each chamber is interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and a pair of the at least three filler strips for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.   
   
   
       11 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least a pair of strip flanges extending from the body includes an outer strip flange, a middle strip flange, and an inner strip flange, the outer strip flange defining a “U” shaped outer pocket of the at least a pair of pockets and the middle strip flange and the inner strip flange defining a “U” shaped inner pocket of the at least a pair of pockets; and   the pair of filler strips includes an outer filler strip extending between the “U” shaped outer pocket of an adjacent perimeter clip and an inner filler strip extending between the “U” shaped inner pocket of an adjacent perimeter clip, the outer filler strip and the inner filler strip defining a chamber interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and the filler strip for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.   
   
   
       12 . A wall panel system of  claim 1  wherein the wall panel system is secured to a building having a wall structure, the wall panel system wherein:
 the plurality of wall panel units includes at least four wall panel units;   the plurality of mounting flanges of each wall panel is four mounting flanges including a top horizontal mounting flange, a bottom horizontal mounting flange, and a pair of vertical mounting flanges;   each perimeter clip is identical and mountable on vertical mounting flanges and horizontal mounting flanges and the adjacent perimeter clips are positioned mirrored to each other such that the pockets align with each other;   at least one wall securing device associated with a corner of the plurality of wall panel units and secured to the wall structure of the building, the at least one attachment clip carried by the at least one wall securing device wherein the wall panel units and the wall of the building define a wall cavity having a pressure equal to the outside atmosphere while not infiltrated by rain.   
   
   
       13 . A wall panel system of  claim 12  wherein
 the at least a pair of strip flanges of each of the perimeter clips includes at least three strip flanges, wherein the at least a pair of pockets being at least three pockets defined by the at least three strip flanges and the body;   the pair of filler strips includes at least three filler strips, each of the filler strips having a pair of receiving edges, each of the filler strips extending between adjacent perimeter clips with a first receiving edge received in a pocket of one of the perimeter clips and the second receiving edge received in a pocket of the other perimeter clip; and   the chamber being at least two chambers wherein each chamber is interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and a pair of the at least three filler strips for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.   
   
   
       14 . A wall panel joint comprising:
 a pair of perimeter clips, each perimeter clip including:
 a body; 
 a panel flange extending from the body, the panel flange adapted to engage with one of the mounting flanges of one of the wall panels; and 
 at least a pair of strip flanges extending from the body, the at least a pair of strip flanges and the body defining at least a pair of pockets; 
   a pair of filler strips, each of the filler strips having a pair of receiving edges, each of the filler strips extending between adjacent perimeter clips with a first receiving edge received in a pocket of one of the perimeter clips and the second receiving edge received in a pocket of the other perimeter clip, the pair of filler strips defining a chamber interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and the filler strips for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.   
   
   
       15 . A wall panel joint of  claim 14  wherein each perimeter clip is identical and the adjacent perimeter clips are positioned mirrored to each other such that the pockets align with each other. 
   
   
       16 . A wall panel joint of  claim 15  further comprising at least one attachment clip, the attachment clip engaging a pair of the perimeter clips for retaining the perimeter clips. 
   
   
       17 . A wall panel joint of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of wall panels units, each unit having a wall panel and a plurality of the perimeter clips, each wall panel having a planar surface and a plurality of mounting flanges, the mounting flanges generally perpendicular to the planar surface. 
   
   
       18 . A wall panel joint of  claim 17  wherein the wall panel system is secured to a building having a wall structure, the wall panel system wherein:
 the plurality of wall panel units includes at least four wall panel units;   the plurality of mounting flanges of each wall panel is four mounting flanges including a top horizontal mounting flange, a bottom horizontal mounting flange, and a pair of vertical mounting flanges;   each perimeter clip is identical and mountable on vertical mounting flanges and horizontal mounting flanges and the adjacent perimeter clips are positioned mirrored to each other such that the pockets align with each other; and   at least one wall securing device is associated with a corner of the plurality of wall panel units and secured to the wall structure of the building, the at least one attachment clip carried by the at least one wall securing device wherein the wall panel units and the wall of the building define a wall cavity having a pressure equal to the outside atmosphere while not infiltrated by rain.   
   
   
       19 . A method of installing a wall panel system comprising:
 providing a building having a wall structure;   providing a plurality of wall panel units, each unit having a wall panel and four perimeter clips;
 each wall panel having a planar surface and four mounting flanges, the mounting flanges generally perpendicular to the planar surface; and 
 each perimeter clip including:
 a body; 
 a panel flange extending from the body, the panel flange adapted to engage with one of the mounting flanges of one of the wall panels; and 
 at least a pair of strip flanges extending from the body, the at least a pair of strip flanges and the body defining at least a pair of pockets; 
 
   mounting a plurality of wall securing devices to the wall structure of the building, the wall securing devices positioned on the wall structure such that there is at least one wall securing device associated with each corner of each of the plurality of wall panel units:   mounting a plurality of attachment clips to the perimeter clip associated with the top horizontal mounting flange of the wall panel of at least one of the plurality of the wall panel units by securing a pair of grooves on the attachment clip around an inner strip flange of the at least a pair of strip flanges of the perimeter clip;   mounting a plurality of attachment clips to the wall securing device located in proximity to where the bottom horizontal mounting flange of the wall panel of at least one of the plurality of the wall panel units is to be located;   positioning the perimeter clip of the bottom horizontal mounting flange of the wall panel of at least one of the plurality of the wall panel units such that the plurality of attachment clips mounted to the wall securing device have an upper arm portion located in an arm receiving space defined by the inner strip flange of the perimeter clip and a filler strip;   securing the plurality of attachment clips to the perimeter clip associated with the top horizontal mounting flange of the wall panel of at least one of the plurality of the wall panel units to the associated plurality of wall securing devices mounted to the wall structure of the building;   positioning a pair of filler strips with at least one of the perimeter clips of at least one of the plurality of the wall panel units;   repeating the mounting of a plurality of wall securing devices, mounting a plurality of attachment clips, positioning the perimeter clip, and securing the plurality of attachment clips until the wall panel system is completely secured to the building with defining a wall panel joint that has at least one chamber interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and the filler strips for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.   
   
   
       20 . A method of installing a wall panel system of  claim 19  wherein
 each of the perimeter clips wherein the at least a pair of strip flanges includes at least three strip flanges, wherein the at least a pair of pockets being at least three pockets defined by the at least three strip flanges and the body;   the pair of filler strips includes at least three filler strips, each of the filler strips having a pair of receiving edges, each of the filler strips extending between adjacent perimeter clips with a first receiving edge received in a pocket of one of the perimeter clips and the second receiving edge received in a pocket of the other perimeter clip; and   the chamber being at least two chambers wherein each chamber is interposed between the adjacent perimeter clips and a pair of the at least three filler strips for allowing pressure equalization while minimizing water entry.