Wall panel system

Abstract

A wall panel system includes a plurality of wall panels, and one or more hat channels each configured to be attached to a supporting wall and each configured to be attached to the one or more of the plurality of wall panels. The one or more hat channels maintains a predetermined distance between the supporting wall and the plurality of wall panels. One or more keeper members are each configured to be attached to one of the one or more hat channels. When the wall panel system is assembled, each keeper member at least partially supports the weight of the one or more wall panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall panel system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels;   one or more hat channels each configured to be attached to a supporting wall and each configured to be attached to the one or more of the plurality of wall panels, the one or more hat channels maintaining a predetermined distance between the supporting wall and the plurality of wall panels; and   one or more keeper members each configured to be attached to one of the one or more hat channels, wherein, when the wall panel system is assembled, each keeper member at least partially supports the weight of the one or more wall panels.   
     
     
         2 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hat channels are one or more vertical hat channels that extend vertically so as to maintain a horizontal distance between horizontally-adjacent wall panels. 
     
     
         3 . The wall panel system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more vertical hat channels maintain a uniform horizontal distance between horizontally-adjacent wall panels. 
     
     
         4 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hat channels are one or more horizontal hat channels that extend horizontally so as to maintain a vertical distance between vertically-stacked wall panels. 
     
     
         5 . The wall panel system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more horizontal hat channels maintain a uniform vertical distance between vertically-stacked wall panels. 
     
     
         6 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the one or more keeper members includes an upper portion and a U-shaped lower portion configured to receive a downward-extending flange from at least one of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         7 . The wall panel system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more keeper members includes one or more openings in the U-shaped portion to allow for the escape of moisture. 
     
     
         8 . The wall panel system of  claim 6 , wherein the U-shaped lower portion is positioned in front of a top flange for one of the plurality of wall panels directly below the at least one of the one or more keeper members. 
     
     
         9 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein a top-most wall panel includes a hanging flange on a top edge of the top-most wall panel, the hanging flange extending rearward from the top-most wall panel then downward. 
     
     
         10 . The wall panel system of  claim 9 , further comprising a top rail with a U-shaped portion configured to receive the downward-extending portion of the hanging flange. 
     
     
         11 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel is made from aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The wall panel system of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the aluminum ranges from 0.050 of an inch to 0.063 of an inch. 
     
     
         13 . The wall panel system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more keeper members and at least one of the one or more hat channels is made from aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the aluminum ranges from 0.050 of an inch to 0.063 of an inch.