Rock facade panel and methods of manufacturing a rock facade panel
The invention provides a building panel having a simulated natural rock face, for use as a rock facade in wall construction applications, and methods of manufacturing same. The wall panel is manufactured in a mold containing a masonry-permeable mesh, preferably flexible. In one embodiment the bottom of the mold is provided with the profile of the rock facade and the masonry permeable mesh is positioned on the mold, and a settable material is poured into the mold, creating the rock facade and simultaneously embedding the mesh in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel. In a further embodiment the mesh is placed on a mold, the settable material is poured over the mesh, and the rock facade pattern is pressed or stamped into the top surface of the settable material to create the desired pattern. Optionally the panel has a backing board having holes, the settable material intruding through the holes to anchor the rock façade (and embedded mesh) to the backing board. In a preferred embodiment the panel is provided with top and bottom edges having complementary profiles containing a repeating pattern so that panels can be laid against one another in either a linear or a staggered (overlapping) fashion, and the side edges of the panel are complementary and fit into the repeating portion of the top and bottom edge profile, so that the building panels can be laid either vertically or horizontally.
This invention relates to building construction. In particular, this invention relates to a rock facade panel for use in building construction, and a method of manufacturing same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNatural rock has been used as a structural element in masonry applications for centuries. A wall or structure constructed from natural rock has a classical appearance which remains highly desirable to this day.
However, modern construction techniques do not readily lend themselves to the use of natural rock as part of a house or other structure. Natural rock walls are typically bulky and irregularly shaped, provide poor insulation, and are extremely labour-intensive to construct so they are very expensive.
One known method of providing the appearance of natural rock on a modern structure without the disadvantages of natural rock is to simulate the look of natural rock by applying a rock façade to a wall. According to this technique rock faces, measuring up to a few inches in thickness, are affixed in a generally random fashion over a substrate or backing such as a steel mesh, which has been anchored to the exterior of a wall. Thus, according to this technique, the wall can be built using a sub-frame composed of modern construction materials, with attendant cost savings and high insulation values, but a simulated rock façade can be applied so that the wall looks like it has been constructed from natural rock.
However, this technique is also very labour intensive. After the mesh has been affixed to the wall a base coat of cementitious material is spread over the wire mesh and then scratched and allowed to dry. Then each rock face must be applied to the prepared wall by applying a cementitious material to the back of each rock face, pressing the rock face against the prepared wall and holding it until a preliminary set has occurred. This is a task that requires considerable skill and patience, since the rock faces are irregularly shaped and must be selected (and/or shaped) to provide a pattern that appears to be random while covering the entire wall, preferably with relatively uniform grout spacing about the rock faces. The rock faces themselves are costly, and due to the amount of skill and labour involved in properly applying a rock facade to the wall of a building, this is an extremely expensive technique which tends to be available only to the wealthy.
It is known to form construction panels by applying facing materials to a substrate or backboard, for example as described in Canadian Patent No. 2,174,573 issued Jun. 8, 1999 to Hesterman et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. However, while such panels are effective to provide a look of brick, block or some other regular facing material, such panels are ineffective when used with irregular facing materials such as natural stone. Since each panel has the same shape as every other panel, and particularly where the stone facing is pressed or molded onto the panel, each panel also has the same pattern as every other panel. Once a plurality of panels has been applied to a wall, a pattern starts to appear. It can be difficult or impossible to arrange a plurality of such identical panels in a manner which conceals the pattern of the facing; no matter how random the pattern is on each panel, over successive panels the pattern repeats and this becomes discernible to the eye. This significantly detracts from the effect of using the natural rock facade, since the repeating pattern over successive panels betrays the fact that the wall is a simulation of rock and not natural.
It would accordingly be advantageous to provide a construction panel having a natural rock facade which can be arranged with other identical construction panels to apply a rock facade in a manner which does not provide an obvious repeating pattern, and therefore more closely simulates the random or irregular pattern of natural rock. It would also be beneficial top provide a rock façade panel and a method of making same which simplifies the construction and installation of the rock façade and accordingly substantially reduces the cost and the level of skill required for installation. It would also be advantageous to have a construction panel which can be affixed to a wall without the need for the primary application of wire mesh and cementitious scratch coat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a building panel having a simulated natural rock face, for use as a rock facade in wall construction applications, and methods of manufacturing same.
In the preferred embodiment the wall panel is manufactured in a mold containing a masonry-permeable mesh, preferably flexible. In one embodiment of the method of manufacturing the panel, the bottom of the mold is provided with a negative of the profile of the natural rock façade, and the masonry permeable mesh is positioned spaced from the bottom of the mold. A settable material is poured or injected into the mold, creating the rock facade over the entire panel, optionally with a one-half grout façade along the edge profiles, and simultaneously embedding the mesh in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
Optionally a backing board having holes, preferably corresponding to the position of each simulated rock face, can be placed over the mesh before pouring or injecting the settable material mixture. With the backing board suspended in the mold above the mesh, the cement intrudes through the holes in the backing board to anchor the rock façade (and embedded mesh) to the backing board. The backing board can be removed prior to installation or additional backing boards may be added to increase insulation value.
Optionally a removable rubber insert which closely follows the shape of the simulated grout lines can be used instead of a backing board, which will act as a seal to prevent the settable material from entering the grout area, producing a panel with bare mesh in between simulated rock faces. This allows the panel to curve or bend, and improves its fire rating. The simulated grout lines between rock faces can be filled in by piping or otherwise after the panel is installed.
In a further embodiment of the method, the mesh is placed over the flat bottom of a mold (optionally overlaying the backing board if a backing board is used) and the settable material is poured over the mesh. Before the settable material sets, the rock facade pattern is pressed or stamped into the top surface of the settable material to create the desired effect.
The simulated grout lines between simulated rocks may be created when the rock facade is molded, and this is advantageous where a backing board is used because it eliminates the post-installation step of grouting around the simulated rock faces in the panel. However, where the panel is intended to curve or wrap around a corner or other structure, it is advantageous to form the simulated rock faces with bare mesh in between, allowing the panel to curve and bend and improve its fire rating.
In a further embodiment, the wall panel is manufactured in a similar fashion to the preferred embodiment in a mold with a bottom provided with a negative of the profile of the natural rock façade and a preferably flexible mesh provided with protrusions or anchors formed either integrally in the mesh or mounted separately thereon. The mesh is spaced from the bottom of the mold with the anchors extending towards the negative profile and a settable material is poured or injected into the mold, creating the rock facade over the entire panel, optionally with a one-half grout façade along the edge profiles, and simultaneously embedding the anchors in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
In a further embodiment of the method, the mesh is placed over the flat bottom of a mold with the anchors extending upwards and the settable material is poured over the mesh. Before the settable material sets, the rock facade pattern is pressed or stamped into the top surface of the settable material to create the desired effect. The anchors are thus embedded in the simulated rock face to integrate the panel, while the mesh may be partially anchored in the face as well.
In yet another embodiment, the wall panel is manufactured in a mold using staples or connective means, such as wires or masonry-permeable mesh portions, which are preferably flexible. Again, the bottom of the mold is provided with a negative of the profile of the natural rock façade, and the staples or connective means are positioned spaced from the bottom of the mold, such that a single staple or connective means extends from at least one simulated rock face to another. A settable material is poured or injected into the mold, creating the rock facade over the entire panel, optionally with a one-half grout facade along the edge profiles, and simultaneously embedding the staples or connective means in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
Optionally a backing board having holes, preferably corresponding to the position of each simulated rock face, can be placed over the staples or connective means before pouring or injecting the settable material mixture. Optionally a removable rubber insert which closely follows the shape of the simulated grout lines can be used instead of a backing board, which will act as a seal to prevent the settable material from entering the grout area, producing a panel with bare staples or connective means in between simulated rock faces.
Alternatively, the staples or other connective means may be placed over the flat bottom of a mold (optionally overlaying the backing board if a backing board is used) and the settable material is poured over the staples or connective means. Before the settable material sets, the rock facade pattern is pressed or stamped into the top surface of the settable material to create the desired effect.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rock facade panel is provided with top and bottom edges having complementary profiles, such that the bottom edge of one panel fits contiguously against the top edge of an adjacent panel. In the preferred embodiment, these profiles contain a repeating pattern so that panels can be laid against one another in either a linear or a staggered (overlapping) fashion. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment the side edges of the panel, which are complementary to one another, also fit into the repeating portion of the top and bottom edge profile. Thus, the building panels can be laid either vertically or horizontally. Optionally, the rock façade panel is provided with side edges also having complementary profiles containing the same repeating pattern as the top and bottom edges, the repeating pattern being configured so that the panels can be laid against one each other in a linear or staggered fashion with any of the top, bottom, or side edges of a first panel in contiguously abutting relation to an adjacent panel. Because of the variety of positions in orientations available for the building panels, it is much easier to conceal the pattern of the building panels.
The preferred embodiment of the invention further provides edge panels, having one straight edge for finishing the bottom, top or side of a wall; two dimensional corner pieces, having two straight edges for finishing the top or bottom corner of a wall; and three dimensional corner pieces, having a straight edge extending into orthogonal planes, for joining orthogonal abutting walls where the rock facade panels are laid over both walls. In each case, the edges of the accessory pieces that are not straight are provided with at least the repeating portion of the top and bottom edge profile.
Optionally, the panels are provided with cutting profiles that are complementary to the top or bottom edge of the panel, and also optionally complementary to the side edge of the panel, such that the panel may be cut without interrupting the simulated rock face to yield a smaller panel that can still be laid in a similar fashion to a full-sized panel.
The invention thus provides a natural looking stone facade which can be applied to a wall with screws, nails, clips or any other suitable fastener, in a fraction of the time presently taken to apply each individual rock face, and can be applied in a manner which results in a random or pseudo random distribution of natural rock faces, eliminating the repetitive pattern which would be formed by laying multiple identical panels in a like configuration and orientation over the area of a wall.
Moreover, the rock façade panel of the invention is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and simple to install using conventional tools and unskilled labour.
The present invention thus provides a construction panel for applying a simulated rock facade to a structure, comprising: a settable material having an exterior face formed to a desired appearance, and a mesh permeable to the settable material, embedded in the settable material, whereby the mesh integrates a plurality of simulated rock faces, and a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation to simulate a rock wall.
The present invention further provides a method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of: a. providing a mold with a bottom comprising a negative profile of a natural rock façade; b. suspending a masonry permeable mesh spaced from the bottom of the mold; and c. pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the mesh; whereby the settable compound sets in the negative rock façade profile to create a plurality of simulated rock faces and simultaneously embeds the mesh in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
The present invention further provides a method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of: a. laying a mesh over a bottom of a mold; b. pouring a settable material into the mold to above a level of the mesh; and c. before the material sets, pressing or stamping a rock facade pattern into the settable material to create the simulated rock facade pattern.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,
In the alternate embodiment shown in
As shown in
To further enhance the random or pseudo-random stone pattern in the wall, in a preferred embodiment the panel 10 comprises not only top and bottom edges 12, 14 having complementary profiles incorporating the repeating pattern 18, but also side edges 16 incorporating the repeating pattern 18, such that a side edge 16 fits contiguously against a top edge 12, a bottom edge 14, or a side edge 16 of an adjacent panel, as shown in
Preferably the settable material comprises a cementitious compound such as cement or grout, for example, but any suitable setting compound, polymer or the like may be used, depending primarily upon the weathering conditions to which the wall will be exposed and the desired look of the simulated rock.
The preferred embodiment of the invention further provides edge panels 30, having one straight edge for finishing the bottom, top or side of a wall; two dimensional corner pieces 32, having two straight edges for finishing the top or bottom corner of a wall; and three dimensional corner pieces 34, having a straight edge extending into orthogonal planes, for joining orthogonal abutting walls where the rock facade panels 10 are laid over both walls; as respectively illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5. In each case, the edges of the accessory pieces that are not straight are provided with at least one iteration of the repeating portion 18 of the top/bottom edge profile so as to be complementary to the top, bottom or side edges of the panels 10.
The panels 10 may be cut as needed where a partial panel is needed, and individual rock faces can be cut from the panel 10 (with the mesh 20 still embedded) and used to fill areas where a complete panel will not fit. In a preferred embodiment, the panel 10 is provided with at least one cutting profile 60 which traverses the panel 10, as shown in
In the preferred embodiment the wall panel 10 is manufactured in a mold.
If the mesh 20 with anchors 42 of the second embodiment shown in
If the staples 46 shown in
If a backing board 24 is used, the backing board is provided with holes 24a, which may be disposed in a pattern, randomly positioned, or preferably corresponding to the position of each simulated rock face 22 as shown. The backing board 24 is placed on the mesh 20 (if it is used) before pouring the settable material 44. The settable material 44 is poured through the holes 24a to above the bottom surface of the backing board 24, and the settable material 44 intrudes through the holes 24a in the backing board 24 to anchor the rock faces 22 (and embedded mesh 20, with optional anchors 42) to the backing board 24. If staples 46 are used to interconnect the rock faces, rather than a mesh 20, then the staples 46 are placed on the mold such that the ends extend into the negative profiles 40a, and the backing board 24 is then placed over the mold and the staples 46. The settable material 44 is poured or injected such that it intrudes through the holes in the backing board 24, thus anchoring the rock faces and staples 46 to the backing board 24. The backing board 24 may be composed of any suitable material, but high density foam insulation board is preferred for its light weight, rigidity and moisture resistance (except, as noted above, where the installation site is near a heat source). The backing board 24 can optionally be removed prior to installation, if desired.
A further mold 50 for manufacturing a rock facade panel 10 according to the invention is illustrated in
It may be possible to create the simulated grout lines 23 between simulated rock faces 22 when the rock facade panel 10 is molded, by positioning the mesh with a clearance between the mesh and the negative of the rock profile in the mold. This can be advantageous, especially where a backing board 24 is used, because the rock facade panel 10 is rigid through installation and casting the grout lines 23 with the rock faces 22 eliminates the post-installation step of grouting around the simulated rock faces 22 in the panel 10. However, it is advantageous to form the simulated rock faces with bare mesh 20 or bare staples 46 in between the faces, i.e. without casting simulated grout lines, where the panel 10 is intended to curve or wrap around a corner or other structure. This allows the panel 10 to curve, and to some extent bend, without having to break or dislodge rock faces 22. This can be accomplished by disposing the backing board 24 directly on the mesh 20 and in turn disposing the mesh 20 directly on the rock face pattern in the mold 40 or 50 (i.e. leaving no clearance between the mesh 20 and the negative of the rock profile in the mold 40 or 50) as shown in
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A construction panel for applying a simulated rock facade to a structure, comprising:
- a settable material having an exterior face formed to a desired appearance, and
- a mesh permeable to the settable material, embedded in the settable material,
- whereby the mesh integrates a plurality of simulated rock faces, and a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation to simulate a rock wall.
2. The construction panel of claim 1 in which the mesh is flexible.
3. The construction panel of claim 1 in which the rock faces and mesh are anchored to a backing board.
4. The construction panel of claim 3 in which backing board comprises a foam insulation board.
5. The construction panel of claim 3 in which the backing board comprises holes generally aligned with the simulated rock faces.
6. The construction panel of claim 1 in which the settable material forms grout lines between simulated rock faces.
7. The construction panel of claim 1 in which each panel has complementary top and bottom edges, each of said edges comprising a repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with either an entire top edge of one panel abutting an entire bottom edge of an adjacent panel or a portion of a top edge of one panel abutting a portion of a bottom edge of another panel.
8. The construction panel of claim 7 wherein the repeating profile is a periodic curve that is preserved by the transformation comprising an inversion operation and a phase shift equal to half the length of the repeating profile.
9. The construction panel of claim 8 wherein each panel has complementary side edges, each of said side edges comprising the repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a portion of a top, bottom or side edge of one panel abutting a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of another panel.
10. The construction panel of claim 7 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top or bottom edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top or bottom edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of either the new top or bottom edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a bottom or top edge of the adjacent panel.
11. The construction panel of claim 9 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top, bottom, or side edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top, bottom, or side edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of the new top, bottom, or side edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of the adjacent panel.
12. The construction panel of claim 7 in which each panel has side edges each having a profile corresponding to at least a portion of the repeating profile of one of the top or bottom edges whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a side edge of one panel abutting a portion of top or bottom edge of another panel
13. The construction panel of claim 12 in which the settable material forms a half grout line around a periphery of the panel.
14. A kit of parts for constructing a rock façade comprising a plurality of construction panels of claim 1 and one or more accessory panels having at least one flat edge for finishing an edge of the rock façade.
15. A method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a mold comprising a negative profile of a rock façade;
- b. placing a masonry permeable mesh on the mold; and
- c. pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the mesh; whereby the settable compound sets in the negative rock façade profile to create a plurality of simulated rock faces and simultaneously embeds the mesh in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, before step c., the step of laying on the mesh a backing board having holes generally aligned with the simulated rock faces, and wherein step c. comprises pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the backing board.
17. A method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of:
- a. laying a mesh on a mold;
- b. pouring a settable material into the mold to above a level of the mesh; and
- c. before the material sets, pressing or stamping a rock façade pattern into the settable material to create the simulated rock façade pattern.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising, before step a., the step of placing on the mold a backing board having holes generally aligned with the simulated rock faces, and wherein step a. comprises placing the mesh on the backing board.
19. A construction panel for applying a simulated rock façade to a structure, comprising:
- a settable material having an exterior face formed to a desired appearance, and
- at least one connector embedded in the settable material,
- whereby the at least one connector integrates a plurality of simulated rock faces, and a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation to simulate a rock wall.
20. The construction panel of claim 19 in which the connector is a flexible, masonry-permeable mesh embedded in a plurality of rock faces in a panel.
21. The construction panel of claim 20 in which the connector is a flexible, masonry-permeable mesh embedded in every one of the plurality of rock faces in a panel.
22. The construction panel of claim 19 in which the connector is a mesh provided with a plurality of anchors that are embedded within the plurality of rock faces.
23. The construction panel of claim 22 in which at least some of the plurality of anchors is formed integrally in the mesh.
24. The construction panel of claim 22 in which at least some of the plurality of anchors is formed separately from the mesh.
25. The construction panel of claim 19 in which the rock faces and at least one connector are anchored to a backing board.
26. The construction panel of claim 25 in which the backing board comprises holes generally aligned with the simulated rock faces.
27. The construction panel of claim 19 in which the settable material forms grout lines between simulated rock faces.
28. The construction panel of claim 19 in which each panel has complementary top and bottom edges, each of said edges comprising a repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with either an entire top edge of one panel abutting an entire bottom edge of an adjacent panel or a portion of a top edge of one panel abutting a portion of a bottom edge of another panel.
29. The construction panel of claim 28 wherein the repeating profile is a periodic curve that is preserved by the transformation comprising an inversion operation and a phase shift equal to half the length of the repeating profile.
30. The construction panel of claim 29 wherein each panel has complementary side edges, each of said side edges comprising the repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a portion of a top, bottom or side edge of one panel abutting a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of another panel.
31. The construction panel of claim 29 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top or bottom edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top or bottom edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of either the new top or bottom edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a bottom or top edge of the adjacent panel.
32. The construction panel of claim 30 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top, bottom, or side edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top, bottom, or side edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of the new top, bottom, or side edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of the adjacent panel.
33. The construction panel of claim 29 in which each panel has side edges each having a profile corresponding to at least a portion of the repeating profile of one of the top or bottom edges whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a side edge of one panel abutting a portion of top or bottom edge of another panel
34. The construction panel of claim 33 in which the settable material forms a half grout line around a periphery of the panel.
35. A kit of parts for constructing a rock façade comprising a plurality of construction panels of claim 19 and one or more accessory panels having at least one flat edge for finishing an edge of the rock façade.
36. A method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a mold comprising a negative profile of a rock façade;
- b. placing at least one connector on the mold; and
- c. pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the at least one connector; whereby the settable compound sets in the negative rock façade profile to create a plurality of simulated rock faces and simultaneously embeds the at least one connector in each simulated rock face to integrate the panel.
37. The method of casting a construction panel of claim 36, wherein the step of placing at least one connector spaced on the mold comprises the step of placing a masonry permeable mesh on the mold.
38. The method of casting a construction panel of claim 36, wherein the step of placing at least one connector on the mold comprises the step of placing a mesh provided with anchors on the mold, such that the anchors are generally oriented toward the negative profile.
39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of providing anchors on the masonry permeable mesh such that the anchors are generally oriented toward the negative profile when the mesh is placed on the mold.
39. The method of casting a construction panel of claim 36, wherein the step of placing at least one connector on the mold comprises the step of placing at least one staple on the mold.
40. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of pouring a settable material into the mold is executed prior to the step of placing at least one connector, and the step of placing the at least one connector comprises the step of embedding at least a portion of at least one connector in each simulated rock face.
41. The method of claim 37 further comprising, before step c., the step of laying on the mesh a backing board having holes, and wherein step c. comprises pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the backing board.
42. The method of claim 38 further comprising, before step c., the step of laying on the mesh a backing board having holes, and wherein step c. comprises pouring a settable material into the mold to at least a level of the backing board.
43. A method of casting a construction panel, comprising the steps of:
- a. placing at least one connector on a mold;
- b. pouring a settable material into the mold to above a level of the at least one connector; and
- c. before the material sets, pressing or stamping a rock façade pattern into a surface of the settable material to create a simulated rock façade pattern.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of placing at least one connector on a mold comprises the step of laying a mesh on the mold.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of placing at least one connector on a mold comprises the step of laying a mesh provided with anchors on the mold, such that the anchors are generally oriented toward the surface of the settable material.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of placing at least one connector on a mold comprises the step of placing at least one staple on a mold, such that the staple interconnects two adjacent faces in the rock façade pattern stamped in step c.
47. The method of claim 43 further comprising, before step a., the step of placing on the mold a backing board having holes, and wherein step a. comprises laying the at least one connector on the backing board.
48. A construction panel comprising a simulated rock façade for application to a structure, the panel being installable in contiguous abutting relating to simulate a rock wall, the panel comprising an integrated plurality of connected, simulated rock faces, wherein:
- the panel comprises complementary top and bottom edges, each of said edges comprising a repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with either an entire top edge of one panel abutting an entire bottom edge of an adjacent panel or a portion of a top edge of one panel abutting a portion of a bottom edge of another panel.
49. The construction panel of claim 48 wherein the repeating profile is a periodic curve that is preserved by the transformation comprising an inversion operation and a phase shift equal to half the length of the repeating profile.
50. The construction panel of claim 49 wherein the panel has complementary side edges, each of said side edges comprising the repeating profile whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a portion of a top, bottom or side edge of one panel abutting a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of another panel.
51. The construction panel of claim 48 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top or bottom edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top or bottom edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of either the new top or bottom edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a bottom or top edge of the adjacent panel.
52. The construction panel of claim 50 wherein the panel comprises a cutting profile complementary to the top, bottom, or side edge of the panel and comprising the repeating profile, such that the panel may be cut along the cutting profile to produce a panel with a new top, bottom, or side edge that can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with an adjacent panel, with at least a portion of the new top, bottom, or side edge of said panel abutting at least a portion of a top, bottom, or side edge of the adjacent panel.
53. The construction panel of claim 48 in which each panel has side edges each having a profile corresponding to at least a portion of the repeating profile of one of the top or bottom edges whereby a plurality of panels can be installed in contiguous abutting relation with a side edge of one panel abutting a portion of top or bottom edge of another panel
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 8, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2005
Inventor: John McGrath (Toronto)
Application Number: 11/101,525