Drained and Back Ventilated Thin Composite Wall Cladding System

Abstract

A wall panel includes a panel body, a first jamb clip, a second jamb clip, a bottom member, and an attachment clip. The first jamb clip is positioned adjacent to a right side of the panel body and the second jamb clip is positioned adjacent to a left side of the panel body. The first and second jamb clips are each configured to receive a portion of a spline. The bottom member has an engagement portion and is positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the panel body. The attachment clip is positioned adjacent to an upper end of the panel body and has an engagement receiving portion configured to engage an engagement portion of an adjacent panel. The bottom end of the panel body is configured to define a ventilation gap when joined to an adjacent panel.

1 . A wall panel comprising:
 a panel body;   a first jamb clip positioned adjacent to a right side of the panel body;   a second jamb clip positioned adjacent to a left side of the panel body, the first and second jamb clips each configured to receive a portion of a spline;   a bottom member positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the panel body, the bottom member having an engagement portion; and   an attachment clip positioned adjacent to an upper end of the panel body, the attachment clip having an engagement receiving portion configured to engage an engagement portion of an adjacent panel, the bottom end of the panel body configured to define a ventilation gap when joined to an adjacent panel.   
     
     
         2 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of the bottom member extends upward, and wherein the engagement receiving portion of the attachment clip comprises a downwardly opening channel. 
     
     
         3 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of the bottom member extends downward, and wherein the engagement receiving portion of the attachment clip comprises an upwardly opening channel. 
     
     
         4 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail member positioned adjacent to an upper end of the panel body, the panel body positioned between the attachment clip and the rail member. 
     
     
         5 . The wall panel of  claim 4 , wherein the rail member has an extension that extends outward. 
     
     
         6 . The wall panel of  claim 4 , wherein the rail member and the attachment clip have cooperating engagement members. 
     
     
         7 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a stiffener secured to the panel body, the stiffener secured to the bottom member via a stiffener clip. 
     
     
         8 . The wall panel of  claim 7 , wherein the stiffener clip has an extension extending downward, the extension engaging a stiffener receiving portion of the bottom member. 
     
     
         9 . The wall panel of  claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the stiffener clip is secured to the stiffener via a fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the panel includes a return portion configured to define a horizontal drain shelf. 
     
     
         11 . The wall panel of  claim 10 , wherein the return portion of the upper end of the panel is L-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . A wall panel system comprising:
 a first panel having a bottom member positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the first panel;   a second panel positioned adjacent to the first panel and defining a horizontal joint, the second panel having an attachment clip positioned adjacent to an upper end of the second panel,   wherein the attachment clip engages the bottom member, and wherein the bottom end of the first panel and the upper end of the second panel define a ventilation gap.   
     
     
         13 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the second panel has a rail member positioned adjacent to the upper end of the second panel, the rail member having an extension that extends outward, the extension defining an upper end of the ventilation gap and being configured to deflect fluid entering the horizontal joint. 
     
     
         14 . The wall panel system of  claim 13 , wherein the rail member and the attachment clip each have an engagement member, the engagement members of the rail member and the attachment clip being engaged with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom member has an engagement portion and the attachment clip has an engagement receiving portion, the engagement portion of the bottom member engaging the engagement receiving member of the attachment clip. 
     
     
         16 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the first panel has a jamb clip positioned adjacent to a right side of the first panel, the jamb clip configured to receive a portion of a spline. 
     
     
         17 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , further comprising a third panel positioned adjacent to the first panel and defining a vertical joint, the first panel and the third panel each having a jamb clip positioned adjacent to the vertical joint, the respective jamb clips of the first and third panels defining a receptor that receives a spline. 
     
     
         18 . The wall panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the upper end of the second panel includes a return portion configured to define a horizontal drain shelf. 
     
     
         19 . A wall panel system comprising:
 a panel having a first jamb clip positioned adjacent to a right side of the panel, a second jamb clip positioned adjacent to a left side of the panel, a bottom member positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the panel and between the first and second jamb clips, an attachment clip positioned adjacent to an upper end of the panel, and a stiffener extending along a longitudinal direction of the panel body;   a support; and   a stiffener clip having a stiffener receiving portion,   wherein the stiffener clip is secured to the support and the stiffener receiving portion engages the stiffener.   
     
     
         20 . The wall panel system of  claim 19 , wherein the stiffener is positioned at about a midpoint of a short dimension of the panel.