Wall covering with stone appearance

Abstract

A wall covering having a plurality of panels. The panels are molded to disguise the panel's individuality after installation. The panel's outline is jagged to terminate horizontal and vertical partition lines of the panel's front surface. The partition of the panel's front surface is not aligned with the horizontal and vertical edges of the front surface's outline. The panels are attached to a wall to create a substantially random appearance. This invention is especially suited to create wall covering with the appearance of random ashlar stone layout. Multiple molded panels having different front face partitions may be used to increase the random appearance. Molding the panels is simplified by molding parts of the panel interlock mechanism separately.

1 . A wall covering comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of panels, and    (b) an appearance means for substantially disguising said panels' individuality after installation, and    (c) a partition of the front surface of said panels    whereby said panels will be attached to a wall to create a substantially random appearance.    
   
   
       2 . The panels in  claim 1  wherein said panels are not identically molded.  
   
   
       3 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said partition is not aligned with the horizontal and vertical edges of the outline of said panel's front surface.  
   
   
       4 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said panels have ajagged outline thereby terminating lines formed by said partition of the front surface of said panels.  
   
   
       5 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said partition is a plurality of stones.  
   
   
       6 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said panels interlock with neighboring said panels.  
   
   
       7 . The panels of  claim 6  wherein brackets used in said interlock are made separately from said panels thereby simplifying the manufacture of said panels.  
   
   
       8 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said panels have different appearance from each other to substantially increase the random appearance when installed.  
   
   
       9 . The panels of  claim 1  wherein said panels are made from vinyl, said panels have a jagged outline, said panel's front surface has the appearance of a partition of building elements, said front surface consists of a number of building elements separated by gaps, said gaps can vary in width to create a pleasing appearance, said panels has an attachment means located at said panel edges to the left and above the long axis of said panel, said nail hem has holes for fasteners to the wall, said nail hem has pockets that brackets from neighboring said panels fit into to secure said panels to its neighbors, some areas of said nail hem are thinner on the front so when the said panels are assembled the overlapping nail hems do not become too thick, said nail hems overlap to insure proper water shedding, said panels have a spacing means to separate the assembled said panels from each other, said spacing means are sized to be similar to the width of the gap between the stones on the face of the panel, said partition of said panel into individual stones is the means used to disguise the individuality of the panels after installation, said panels have sockets on the back of said panel, said sockets accept brackets used to secure the neighboring said panels to each other, said brackets fitted into pockets provide tension to maintain spacing between panels.  
   
   
       10 . A method for covering a wall with a plurality of panels, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing said panels that have a partition of the front surface and,    (b) attaching them to a surface in sequence thereby creating a wall covering where the panel's identity is substantially hidden whereby said method creates appearance of a random ashlar stone wall covering.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said panels overlap previous installed neighboring said panel's attachment means, and interlock with neighboring said panels.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said panels are installed using alternating different said panels.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said panels are installed in a diagonal manner.  
   
   
       14 . The panels of  claim 10  wherein said panels are manufactured with an injection molding process.  
   
   
       15 . The panels of  claim 10  wherein said panels are made separately from the brackets thereby making the manufacture of said panels easier.  
   
   
       16 . The panels of  claim 10  wherein said panels are made from vinyl, said panels have a jagged outline, said panel's front surface has the appearance of a partition of building elements, said front surface consists of a number of building elements separated by gaps, said gaps can vary in width to create a pleasing appearance, said panels has an attachment means located at said panel edges to the left and above the long axis of said panel, said nail hem has holes for fasteners to the wall, said nail hem has pockets that brackets from neighboring said panels fit into to secure said panels to its neighbors, some areas of said nail hem are thinner on the front so when the said panels are assembled the overlapping nail hems do not become too thick, said nail hems overlap to insure proper water shedding, said panels have a spacing means to separate the assembled said panels from each other, said spacing means are sized to be similar to the width of the gap between the stones on the face of the panel, said partition of said panel into individual stones is the means used to disguise the individuality of the panels after installation, said panels have sockets on the back of said panel, said sockets accept brackets used to secure the neighboring said panels to each other, said brackets fitted into pockets provide tension to maintain spacing between panels.  
   
   
       17 . A wall covering comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of panels, and    (b) a set of at least two differently molded said panels    (b) an appearance means for substantially disguising said panels panel-to-panel identity after installation, and    (c) a jagged outline of said panels, and    (d) a partition of the front surface of said panels    whereby said panels will be attached to a wall to create a substantially random stone appearance.    
   
   
       18 . The panels in  claim 17  wherein said panels are not identically molded.  
   
   
       19 . The panels of  claim 17  wherein said partition is not aligned with the horizontal and vertical edges of the outline of said panel's front surface, and said panel's have a jagged outline thereby terminating lines formed by said partition of the front surface of said panels, and said partition is a plurality of stones.  
   
   
       20 . The panels of  claim 17  wherein said panels are made from vinyl, said panels have a jagged outline, said panel's front surface has the appearance of a partition of building elements, said front surface consists of a number of building elements separated by gaps, said gaps can vary in width to create a pleasing appearance, said panels has an attachment means located at said panel edges to the left and above the long axis of said panel, said nail hem has holes for fasteners to the wall, said nail hem has pockets that brackets from neighboring said panels fit into to secure said panels to its neighbors, some areas of said nail hem are thinner on the front so when the said panels are assembled the overlapping nail hems do not become too thick, said nail hems overlap to insure proper water shedding, said panels have a spacing means to separate the assembled said panels from each other, said spacing means are sized to be similar to the width of the gap between the stones on the face of the panel, said partition of said panel into individual stones is the means used to disguise the individuality of the panels after installation, said panels have sockets on the back of said panel, said sockets accept brackets used to secure the neighboring said panels to each other, said brackets fitted into pockets provide tension to maintain spacing between panels.