Method and corner panel for a veneer wall panel system

Abstract

A corner panel for a veneer wall panel system includes a body having a fastener section extending in a first plane and a fastenerless section extending in a second plane. The first and second planes define an included corner angle A. In addition, a method is provided for securing a corner panel of a veneer wall panel system to a corner of an underlying support structure. That method includes the step of positioning the corner panel on the corner of the underlying support structure, fastening the corner panel to the support structure only along a first section of the corner panel and maintaining a second section of the corner panel free of any fasteners. In this way, it is possible to decouple any corner stresses between the corner panel and the underlying support structure.

1 . A corner panel for a veneer wall panel system, comprising:
 a body including a fastener section extending in a first plane and a fastenerless section extending in a second plane wherein said first plane and said second plane define an included corner angle A.   
     
     
         2 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said body includes a facing and a backer. 
     
     
         3 . The corner panel of  claim 2 , wherein said facing is made from a cast material selected from a group consisting of concrete, reinforced concrete, gypsum, reinforced gypsum, reinforced cementitious material, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The corner panel of  claim 3 , wherein said facing includes at least one design element. 
     
     
         5 . The corner panel of  claim 4 , wherein said facing includes only one design element selected from a group of possible design element images consisting of brick, stone, and tile. 
     
     
         6 . The corner panel of  claim 2 , wherein said backer is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, composite, steel, corrosion-resistant steel, aluminum, stainless steel, zinc, copper, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said corner angle A is between about 90 to about 120 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said angle A is about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said body includes a projecting hem. 
     
     
         10 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said body includes a first hem projecting from a first edge of said fastener section and a second hem projecting from a second edge of said fastener section. 
     
     
         11 . The corner panel of  claim 10 , wherein said first hem and said second hem project in opposite directions. 
     
     
         12 . The corner panel of  claim 11 , further including fasteners received and held in said first hem and said second hem to secure said panel to an underlying support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The corner panel of  claim 2 , further including a plurality of dimples projecting from said backer away from said facing. 
     
     
         14 . The corner panel of  claim 1 , wherein said corner panel is reversible. 
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a corner panel of a veneer wall panel system to a corner of an underlying support structure, said method comprising:
 positioning the corner panel on the corner of the underlying support structure so that a first section of said corner panel extends along a first portion of said support structure extending away from said corner in a first direction and a second section of said corner panel extends along a second portion of said support structure extending away from said corner in a second direction;   fastening the corner panel to the support structure only along the first section of the corner panel; and   maintaining the second section free of any fasteners to fasten the wall panel to the underlying support structure so that said corner panel may accommodate imperfections in a corner angle formed by the underlying support structure while decoupling any corner stresses between the corner panel and the underlying support structure.