Wall panel mount system including frame and wall panel thereof having offset weep holes extending therethrough

Abstract

There is provided a wall panel assembly including a wall panel with one or more weep holes extending through a bottom side portion thereof. The wall panel assembly includes a frame coupled to the bottom side portion of the wall panel. The frame has one or more weep holes in fluid communication with the weep holes and inner side of the wall panel according to one aspect. The weep holes of the wall panel are offset from and/or longitudinally align with the weep holes of the frame according to another aspect. The frame includes a drainage gutter cavity or channel in fluid communication with the weep holes of the frame and wall panel according to another aspect. The channel includes a pair of side portions with longitudinally-extending ridges and grooves thereon and a closed end portion with the weep holes of the frame extending therethrough according to a further aspect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall panel assembly comprising:
 a wall panel with one or more apertures extending through a bottom side portion thereof; and   a frame coupled to the bottom side portion of the wall panel, the frame having one or more apertures in fluid communication with the one or more apertures and an inner side of the wall panel.   
     
     
         2 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to couple the wall panel to a wall or wall substrate and wherein the inner side of the wall panel is configured to face the wall or wall substrate. 
     
     
         3 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures of the wall panel are longitudinally spaced from the one or more apertures of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures of the wall panel are laterally offset from and align longitudinally with the one or more apertures of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each said aperture of the frame is an inner-facing aperture. 
     
     
         6 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures of the wall panel and the one or more apertures of the frame are arranged to one or more of: inhibit wind driven rain from entering through the wall panel assembly; and inhibit wind driven rain from contacting and/or spraying a wall or wall substrate to which the wall panel is connectable via the frame. 
     
     
         7 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures of the wall panel and the one or more apertures of the frame are arranged to promote pressure equalization. 
     
     
         8 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more apertures of the wall panel and the one or more apertures of the frame are in fluid communication via a longitudinally-extending channel of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinally-extending channel of the frame is a fastener or screw chase. 
     
     
         10 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinally-extending channel of the frame is configured to selectively threadably couple with one or more fasteners, with the frame and the bottom side portion of the wall panel coupling together via the one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one said aperture of the wall panel is centrally positioned. 
     
     
         12 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel includes left and right side portions between which extends the bottom side portion thereof, with the wall panel having a first said aperture near or adjacent the left side portion thereof and a second said aperture near or adjacent the right side portion thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel assembly and/or components thereof are configured to function as a rainscreen. 
     
     
         14 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each said aperture extends about an axis substantially parallel to a front face of the wall panel. 
     
     
         15 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each said aperture extends about an axis and wherein the axes of the apertures extend substantially in parallel with each other. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising:
 a plurality of frames and wall panels each according to  claim 1 ; and   a plurality of clips via which the frames couple the wall panels to a wall or wall substrate.   
     
     
         17 . A wall panel assembly comprising:
 a frame having one or more weep holes and a drainage gutter cavity in fluid communication with the one or more weep holes thereof; and   a wall panel having one or more weep holes offset from the one or more weep holes of the frame and in fluid communication with the drainage gutter cavity.   
     
     
         18 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said drainage gutter cavity and said weep holes align longitudinally. 
     
     
         19 . A wall panel assembly comprising:
 a wall panel having one or more apertures extending through a bottom side portion thereof; and   a frame configured to couple the wall panel to a wall or wall substrate, the frame including a channel in fluid communication with the one or more apertures of the wall panel, the channel including a pair of side portions with longitudinally-extending ridges and grooves thereon, the channel including a closed end portion extending between said side portions thereof and the channel having one or more apertures extending through said closed end portion thereof.   
     
     
         20 . A wall panel assembly according to  claim 19 , including one or more fasteners selectively engageable with the ridges and grooves of the frame, with the frame and the bottom side portion of the wall panel coupling together via the one or more fasteners.