Kit and assembly for compensating for coefficients of thermal expansion of decorative mounted panels

Abstract

A wall panel attachment system for use with a vertically supported sub wall. Pluralities of horizontal and vertical extending and elongated profiles intersect to define an overall grid pattern. Each of the profiles exhibit, in cross section, a flattened base portion adapted to being secured to the sub wall by a plurality of fasteners. A web extends from an intermediate location of the base portion and in turn supports both an intermediate lip and an outermost spaced lip extending outwardly in both directions from the web. A plurality of panels each have a thickness separating front and back surfaces and surrounded by four interconnecting side edges within which are defined recessed profiles. The recessed profile edges of the panels seat the outermost spaced lips such that the back surface contacts the intermediate lip. The panels are permitted movement in multi axial directions in response to experienced coefficients of thermal expansion without buckling or warpage.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wall panel attachment system for use with a vertically supported sub wall, said system comprising:
 a plurality of elongated profiles, each exhibiting in cross section a flattened base portion adapted to being secured to the sub wall, a web extending from an intermediate location of said base portion and in turn supporting both an intermediate lip and an outermost spaced lip extending outwardly in both directions from said web;   a protuberance formed upon an inwardly facing surface of at least one of said intermediate and outermost spaced lips;   a plurality of panels, each having a thickness separating front and back surfaces and surrounded by four interconnecting side edges within which are defined recessed profiles; and   said recessed profile edges of said panels seating said outermost spaced lips such that said back surface contacts said intermediate lip, said protruberance abuts each of said panels while permitting multi-axial induced displacement of said panels.   
     
     
         2 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , further comprising said plurality of elongated profiles including a first sub-plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending profiles which intersect a second sub-plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending profiles. 
     
     
         3 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , further comprising said protuberance configured upon either of an inner or outer facing location of either or both of said intermediate and outer lips in order to abut or support said edge of said panel. 
     
     
         4 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compression strip applied to at least one inner or outer facing edge of said intermediate or outermost web supported lip and against which a configured edge of said panel contacts. 
     
     
         5 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , further comprising said protuberance exhibiting at least one of an inner concave, outer concave, angled, stepped or pseudo stepped configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , said plurality of elongated profiles each further comprising primary profiles, a secondary supporting elongated profile adapted to being secured to the sub wall a spaced distance from the seating interface established between said panel and said primary profile. 
     
     
         7 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 6 , further comprising a cushioning cap supported upon an extending web edge of said secondary profile, said cap abutting said back surface of a selected one of said panels. 
     
     
         8 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , said protuberance further comprising inner and outer pairs of protuberances formed upon said outermost spaced lip on opposite sides of said web. 
     
     
         9 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , said protuberance further comprising an arcuate ramping surface profile extending outwardly from said web, said ramping surface converging into a raised surface and sloping back, along an outer seating edge, until merging back into said web. 
     
     
         10 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 1 , said protuberance further comprising a convex profile exhibited along an inner corner established between said outermost lip and said supporting web. 
     
     
         11 . A wall panel attachment system for use with a vertically supported sub wall, said system comprising:
 pluralities of horizontal and vertical extending and elongated profiles which intersect to define an overall grid pattern, each of said profiles exhibiting, in cross section, a flattened base portion adapted to being secured to the sub wall by a plurality of fasteners, a web extending from an intermediate location of said base portion and in turn supporting both an intermediate lip and an outermost spaced lip extending outwardly in both directions from said web; and   a plurality of panels, each having a thickness separating front and back surfaces and surrounded by four interconnecting side edges within which are defined recessed profiles, said recessed profile edges of said panels seating said outermost spaced lips such that said back surface contacts said intermediate lip, said panels being permitted movement in multi axial directions in response to panel expansion without buckling or warpage.   
     
     
         12 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , further comprising a protuberance formed upon an inwardly facing surface of at least one of said intermediate and outermost spaced lips, said protruberance abutting each of said panels. 
     
     
         13 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , further comprising said protuberance configured upon either of an inner or outer facing location of either or both of said intermediate and outer lips in order to abut or support said edge of said panel. 
     
     
         14 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , further comprising a compression strip applied to at least one inner or outer facing edge of said intermediate or outermost web supported lip and against which a configured edge of said panel contacts. 
     
     
         15 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , further comprising said protuberance exhibiting at least one of an inner concave, outer concave, angled, stepped or pseudo stepped configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , said plurality of elongated profiles each further comprising primary profiles, a secondary supporting elongated profile adapted to being secured to the sub wall a spaced distance from the seating interface established between said panel and said primary profile. 
     
     
         17 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 16 , further comprising a cushioning cap supported upon an extending web edge of said secondary profile, said cap abutting said back surface of a selected one of said panels. 
     
     
         18 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , said protuberance further comprising inner and outer pairs of protuberances formed upon said outermost spaced lip on opposite sides of said web. 
     
     
         19 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , said protuberance further comprising an arcuate ramping surface profile extending outwardly from said web, said ramping surface converging into a raised surface and sloping back, along an outer seating edge, until merging back into said web. 
     
     
         20 . The wall panel attachment system of  claim 11 , said protuberance further comprising a convex profile exhibited along an inner corner established between said outermost lip and said supporting web.