Wall paneling system

Abstract

The present invention provides a wall paneling system that is completely mechanical and does not require the use of adhesives in attaching panels to the walls. The system comprises wall panels having a core with a decorative surface attached to one side and profiled edges that connect to each other by push click, panel connector clips (PCCs) that further connect and secure the interconnecting panels to the walls; and corner moldings for use in paneling adjoining walls meeting at a corner via tongue and groove. The PCCs and corner moldings attach to the walls by mechanical fastening and provide an air space between the walls and the wall panels. Since the wall panels are not directly connected or adhered to the wall, the system allows the panels to be easily replaced by removing and inserting from the PCCs and corner moldings. By using specially adapted bottom seals, seals in the corner moldings and sealant between the panels, the paneling system can be made impermeable to water and is therefore especially useful in area wet areas such as bathrooms.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A panel connector clip (PCC) comprising: a front extension portion, a back extension portion and a tongue portion, said PCC adapted to run along a vertical or horizontal axis of a wall and mechanically fastenable to the wall, said PCC connectable to a first wall panel due to a first and second vertical edge or a first and second horizontal edge of the first wall panel having a profile with a first portion capable of being disposed between the front extension portion and the tongue portion of the PCC, said PCC also connectable to a second wall panel due to the second wall panel having a first vertical edge or first horizontal edge profile configured to rest on the back extension portion of the PCC, wherein the PCC may be joined to the first and second wall panels by pushing or sliding in a direction coplanar to the first and second wall panels. 
     
     
         22 . The PCC of  claim 21  comprised of wood, plastic, PVC, extruded aluminum, or stamped metal. 
     
     
         23 . The PCC of  claim 21  which is 3D printed. 
     
     
         24 . The PCC of  claim 21  fabricated with openings for mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         25 . A wall panel comprising: an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side, said wall panel adapted to connect to a panel connector clip (PCC) comprising a front extension portion, a back extension portion and a tongue portion, said PCC adapted to run along a vertical or horizontal axis of a wall and mechanically fastenable to the wall;
 said wall panel comprising a first and second vertical edge or a first and second horizontal edge with a first portion capable of being disposed between the front extension portion and the tongue portion of the PCC, said first portion of the wall panel also having a first and second recess; or   said wall panel comprising a first vertical edge or a first horizontal edge configured to rest on the back extension portion of the PCC, wherein the first vertical edge and a second vertical edge or the first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge of the wall panel have a profile with a first portion having a protrusion thereon and a second portion having a lip thereon,   wherein the wall panel having the first and second recesses and the wall panel having the protrusion and lip portion thereon, are capable of joining together by sliding or pushing in a direction coplanar to the PCC.   
     
     
         26 . The wall panel of  claim 25  wherein the inner core of the wall panel is comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam board, wood, wood composite, calcium carbonate PVC or PVC marble, and the decorative surface attached to one side is made of porcelain or PVC marble. 
     
     
         27 . The wall panel of  claim 25  wherein the inner core of the wall panel is comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam board, wood, wood composite, calcium carbonate PVC or PVC marble, and the decorative surface attached to one side is made of porcelain or PVC marble. 
     
     
         28 . An inside corner molding, said inside corner molding having two adjoining sides forming a right angle, each of the adjoining sides adapted to run vertically along the length of, and mechanically fastenable to one or two adjoining corner walls, wherein the first adjoining side of the inside corner molding is adapted to connect to a first wall panel comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side and having a first vertical edge with a groove profiled therein;
 and the second adjoining side of the inside corner molding is adapted to connect to a second wall panel, said second wall panel comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side and having a first vertical edge profiled to fit flush within the second adjoining side of the inside corner molding;   wherein a tongue portion of the inside corner molding extends from and is parallel to one side of the corner molding, said tongue portion insertable into the groove profiled into the first vertical edge of the first wall panel.   
     
     
         29 . A wall panel comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side, said wall panel connectable to a PCC comprising a front extension portion, a back extension portion and a tongue portion, said PCC adapted to along a vertical axis of a wall and mechanically fastenable to the wall, said wall panel having a first vertical edge configured to rest on the back extension portion of a PCC, or having a first vertical edge having a profile with a first portion capable of being disposed between the front extension portion and the tongue portion of the PCC; and wherein a second vertical edge of the wall panel has a grove profiled therein, wherein the second vertical edge of the wall panel may be inserted into the inside corner molding of  claim 28  by pushing or sliding in a direction coplanar to the inside corner molding. 
     
     
         30 . A wall panel comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side, said wall panel connectable to a PCC comprising a front extension portion, a back extension portion and a tongue portion, said PCC adapted to along a vertical axis of a wall and mechanically fastenable to the wall, said wall panel having a first vertical edge configured to rest on the back extension portion of a PCC, or having a first vertical edge having a profile with a first portion capable of being disposed between the front extension portion and the tongue portion of the PCC; and wherein a second vertical edge of the wall panel is unprofiled and insertable into the inside corner molding of  claim 28  by pushing or sliding in a direction coplanar to the inside corner molding. 
     
     
         31 . An outside corner molding, said outside corner molding adapted to connect to a first wall panel and a second wall panel that meet at an exterior corner, said first and second wall panels comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side and having a first vertical edge with a groove profiled therein; wherein
 said outside corner molding is adapted to extend vertically along the length of, and mechanically fastenable to one or two adjoining corner walls, said outside corner molding having two intersecting sides which are perpendicular to each other, said first intersecting side having a first tongue portion extending therefrom, said first tongue portion parallel to the second intersecting side of the outside corner molding, and said second intersecting side having a second tongue portion extending therefrom, said second tongue portion parallel to the first intersecting side of the outside corner molding, said first tongue portion of the first intersecting side of the outside corner molding insertable into the groove profiled into the first vertical edge of the first wall panel and said second tongue portion of the second intersecting side of the outside corner molding insertable into the groove profiled into the first vertical edge of the second wall panel.   
     
     
         32 . A wall panel comprising an inner core with a decorative surface attached to one side, and having a first vertical edge having a groove profiled therein and a second vertical edge having a groove profiled therein, wherein said wall panel is connectable to the outside corner molding of  claim 31  by pushing or sliding in a direction coplanar to the outside corner molding.