Wall panel systems, wall panel attachment apparatuses and mounting brackets for wall panels, and related methods

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to wall panel systems, attachment apparatuses and mounting brackets for wall panels and related methods. In particular, the present subject matter relates to wall panel systems, attachment systems and mounting brackets for wall panels which provide for four-way movement of the panel or facade.

1 . An attachment apparatus for securing a first panel and a second panel to a structure, the attachment apparatus comprising:
 a base bracket, comprising:
 a base body having a first section and a second section, the base body securable to the structure; 
 a first retention arm extending from the first section and forming a first cavity having an opening in a first direction; 
 a second retention arm extending from the first section and forming a second cavity having an opening in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the first retention arm and the second retention arm form a first holding track; and 
 a third retention arm extending from the second section and forming a cavity having an opening in the first direction directed away from the first section to form a second holding track; and 
   a first panel bracket and a second panel bracket for slidable insertion into the base body, each of the first and second panel brackets comprising:
 a panel engagement head securable to a wall panel to support the panel above the structure; and 
 a bracket foot connected to the panel engagement head, the bracket foot having a toe end and a heel end, the toe end configured to slideably fit within the first cavity of the first retention arm and the heel end configured to slideably fit within the second cavity of the second retention arm when the bracket foot is placed in the first holding track in the first section and the heel end configured to slideably fit within the third cavity of the third retention arm when the bracket foot is placed in the third retention arm in the second section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a height within the first cavity in the first retention arm is larger than a height within the second cavity in the second retention arm and the height within the second cavity in the second retention arm is substantially the same as a height within the third cavity in the third retention arm. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the toe end of each of the first and second panel brackets has a height such that each toe end is securably and slideably insertable within the first cavity in the first retention arm but is not insertable within the second cavity in the second retention arm or the third cavity in the second retention arm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the heel end of each of the first and second panel brackets has a height such that each of the heel ends is securably and slideably insertable within the second cavity in the second retention arm with the respective toe end inserted within the first cavity in the first retention arm when the respective panel bracket is inserted into the first holding track and each of the heel ends is securably and slideably insertable within the third cavity in the third retention arm when the respective panel bracket is inserted into the second holding track. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first retention arm of the base bracket comprises:
 an extension member having a first end and a second end, the extension member secured to the base body at the first end and extending upward from and about perpendicular to the base body;   a cover member attached to the second end of the extension member distal from the base body and extending outward in the first direction about parallel to the base body so that the first cavity is formed by the base body and the extension member and the cover member of the first retention arm with the opening formed between the cover member of the first retention arm and the base body.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second retention arm of the base bracket comprises:
 an extension member having a first end and a second end, the extension member secured to the base body at the first end and extending upward from and about perpendicular to the base body;   a cover member attached to the second end of the extension member of the second retention arm distal from the base body and extending outward in the second direction about parallel to the base body so that the second cavity is formed by the base body and the extension member and the cover member of the second retention arm with the opening formed between the cover member of the second retention arm and the base body and facing the first cavity of the first retention arm.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the third retention arm of the base bracket comprises:
 an extension member having a first end and a second end, the extension member secured to the base body at the first end and extending upward from and about perpendicular to the base body;   a cover member attached to the second end of the extension member of the third retention arm distal from the base body and extending outward in the first direction about parallel to the base body so that the third cavity is formed by the base body and the extension member and the cover member of the third retention arm with the opening formed between the cover member of the third retention arm and the base body.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein first retention arm and second retention arm form an opening therebetween through which a portion of the first panel bracket extends when the first panel bracket is inserted into the first holding track. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel engagement head of each of the first and second panel brackets comprises:
 a support arm that is capable of supporting a face forming portion of a wall panel;   a securement arm that extends about perpendicular to the support arm, the securement arm configured to abut a lip portion of the wall panel that extends about perpendicular to the face-forming portion of the wall panel and the securement arm capable of attaching to the lip portion of the wall panel; and   a base arm that extends about perpendicular to the securement arm and extends about parallel to the support arm, the base arm being secured to the bracket foot of the respective panel bracket.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the securement arm comprises a panel securement aperture that is alignable with an aperture in the lip portion of the wall panel and into which a fastener device is insertable upon alignment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the securement arm of the panel engagement head faces the first direction when the respective panel bracket resides in the first holding track and the securement arm of the panel engagement head faces the second direction when the respective panel bracket resides in the second holding track. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the bracket foot of each of the first and second panel brackets further comprises an attachment leg comprising a first end that is secured to the base arm of the panel engagement head and a second end that is distal from the first end and is secured to the toe end and heel end of the bracket foot. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a reveal strip support arm that extends outward from the attachment leg of the bracket foot and beneath the base arm of the panel engagement head, the reveal strip support arm and the base arm forming a reveal strip receiving chamber into which a side of a reveal strip is insertable. 
     
     
         17 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A wall panel system for securing wall panels to a structure, the wall panel system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels, each wall panel comprising a face-forming portion that comprises a face surface that extend to a perimeter and side lip portions extending downward from the perimeter of the face-forming portion;   a plurality of base brackets, each base bracket securable to the structure between two wall panels, comprising:
 a base body having a first section and a second section, 
 a first retention arm extending from the first section and forming a first cavity having an opening in a first direction, 
 a second retention arm extending from the first section and forming a second cavity having an opening in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the first retention arm and the second retention arm form a first holding track; 
 a third retention arm extending from the second section and forming a cavity having an opening in the first direction directed away from the first section to form a second holding track, and 
 the base body having a securement aperture between the first holding track on the first section and the third retention arm on the second section, the securement aperture configured to accommodate a fastener to secure the base body to the structure; and 
   a panel bracket for each side lip portion of each wall panel with each panel bracket securable to the corresponding side lip portion of a respective wall panel, each panel bracket comprising:
 a panel engagement head that abuts and is securable to the corresponding side lip portion of the respective wall panel to support the panel above the structure; and 
 a bracket foot connected to the panel engagement head, the bracket foot comprising an attachment leg, a toe end, and a heel end, the toe end configured to slideably fit within the first cavity of the first retention arm of a corresponding base bracket and the heel end configured to slideably fit within the second cavity of the second retention arm when the bracket foot is placed in the first holding track in the first section of the corresponding base bracket and the heel end configured to slideably fit within the third cavity of the third retention arm when the bracket foot is placed in the third retention arm in the second section of a corresponding base bracket. 
   
     
     
         24 . A panel bracket for securing to a lip portion of a wall panel to support the wall panel proximate to a structure, the panel bracket comprising:
 a panel engagement head that abuts and is securable to a lip portion of a wall panel to support the panel above a structure; and   a bracket foot comprising:
 an attachment leg having a first end and a second end, the attachment leg connected to the panel engagement head at the first end of the attachment leg; 
 a toe end extending from a first side of the second end of the attachment leg; 
 a heel end extending from an opposing second side of the second end of the attachment leg; and 
 the toe end having a greater height than a height of the heel end. 
   
     
     
         25 . The panel bracket according to  claim 24 , wherein the panel engagement head of the panel bracket comprises:
 a support arm that is capable of supporting a face forming portion of the wall panel;   a securement arm that extends about perpendicular to the support arm, the securement arm configured to abut the lip portion of the wall panel that extends about perpendicular to the face-forming portion of the wall panel and the securement arm capable of attaching to the lip portion of the wall panel; and   a base arm that extends about perpendicular to the securement arm and extends about parallel to the support arm, the base arm being secured to the attachment leg of bracket foot.   
     
     
         26 . The panel bracket according to  claim 25 , wherein the securement arm comprises a panel securement aperture that is alignable with an aperture in the lip portion of the wall panel and into which a fastener device is insertable upon alignment. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The panel bracket according to  claim 24 , further comprising a reveal strip support arm that extends outward from the attachment leg of the bracket foot and beneath the panel engagement head, the reveal strip support arm and the panel engagement head forming a reveal strip receiving chamber into which a side of a reveal strip is insertable. 
     
     
         29 . The panel bracket according to  claim 24 , wherein the toe end of the bracket foot comprises:
 a toe base arm that extends outward from the second end of the attachment leg;   a toe abutment arm that extends upward from an end of the toe base arm distal from and about parallel to the attachment leg; and   a toe support arm that extends inward toward the attachment leg from an end of the toe abutment arm that is distal from the toe base arm.   
     
     
         30 . The panel bracket according to  claim 24 , wherein the heel end of the bracket foot comprises:
 a heel base arm that extends outward from the second end of the attachment leg;   a heel abutment arm that extends upward from an end of the heel base arm distal from and about parallel to the attachment leg; and   a heel support arm that extends inward toward the attachment leg from an end of the heel abutment arm that is distal from the heel base arm, the heel support arm extending about parallel to the heel base arm.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled)