Lightweight precast concrete wall panel system

Abstract

Wall system employing lightweight precast concrete wall panels. The precast wall panels include a concrete slab and a plurality of spaced-apart elongated generally parallel bent sheet metal channels that are partially embedded in the slab. Each wall panel can be coupled to a support wall by extending self-tapping screws through metallic wall framing members and the channels at locations where the framing members and channels cross.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A channel comprising: 
 an elongated cross member; and    a pair of elongated spaced-apart side members extending from the cross member,    said side members diverging from one another as the side members extend away from the cross member,    each of said side members including a proximal end proximate the cross member and a distal end spaced from the cross member,    said distal end presenting a plurality of projections defined between a plurality of open-ended notches in the side member.    
     
     
         2 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 said cross member being substantially flat.    
     
     
         3 . The channel of  claim 2 , 
 said cross member having a thickness in the range of from about 0.02 to about 0.1 inches.    
     
     
         4 . The channel of  claim 3 , 
 said cross member being formed of metal.    
     
     
         5 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 said side members extending from the cross member at a divergence angle in the range of from about 15 to about 45 degrees.    
     
     
         6 . The channel of  claim 5 , 
 said cross member being coupled to and extending generally between the proximal ends of the side members.    
     
     
         7 . The channel of  claim 6 , 
 said cross member presenting a substantially flat outer surface.    
     
     
         8 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 each of said notches extending in the range of from about 0.25 to about 2 inches into the side member.    
     
     
         9 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 each of said projections presenting a holding surface,    said holding surface extending generally transverse to the direction in which the side member with which that holding surface is associated extends from the cross member.    
     
     
         10 . The channel of  claim 9 , 
 said holding surface facing more towards the cross member than away from the cross member.    
     
     
         11 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 each of said projections including a substantially flat leg portion and a substantially flat foot portion,    each of said foot portions extending along a plane that is transverse to the plane along which the leg portion associated with that foot portion extends.    
     
     
         12 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 said cross member and side members being formed of a single piece of sheet metal.    
     
     
         13 . The channel of  claim 1 , 
 said cross member and side members being formed of a single piece of bent 14-26 gauge sheet metal.    
     
     
         14 . The channel of  claim 13  having a substantially hat-shaped orthogonal cross section.