Corner construction system and method of installing same

Abstract

The present application discloses a wall panel and corner construction system for installation onto a building structure, and methods for installing same.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A corner construction system adapted for installation onto a structure, the structure having a corner, a first wall, and a second wall, the first and second walls meeting at and each extending away from the corner, the corner construction system comprising:
 a corner bracket comprising a corner protrusion having a first side, a second side, and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises a bend,   a first wall panel having an end and an exterior, and a second wall panel having an end and an exterior,   wherein when the corner bracket, first wall panel, and second wall panel are attached to the structure, the corner protrusion is adjacent to and overlies the corner of the structure, the end of the first wall panel is located adjacent to the first side of the corner protrusion, the end of the second wall panel is located adjacent to the second side of the corner protrusion, and the bend of the corner protrusion remains exposed to the exterior of the first wall panel and the exterior of the second wall panel.   
     
     
         18 . The corner construction system of  claim 17 , wherein the corner protrusion is disposed between the end of the first wall panel and the end of the second wall panel. 
     
     
         19 . The corner construction system of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the first wall panel includes a bend that separates a main portion of the first wall panel from a return portion of the first wall panel, the return portion of the first wall panel being routed towards the corner of the structure, wherein the bend has an interior angle having a value between 5 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The corner construction system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first flange having a flat portion and a protruding portion and a second flange having a flat portion and a protruding portion, the first and second flanges extending away from the corner protrusion,
 wherein when the corner bracket is attached to the structure such that the corner protrusion is adjacent to and overlies the corner of the structure, the flat portion of the first flange is located adjacent to the first wall, and the flat portion of the second flange is located adjacent to the second wall, the protruding portion of the first flange extends away from the first wall, and the protruding portion of the second flange extends away from the second wall.   
     
     
         21 . The corner construction system of  claim 20 , wherein the first wall panel further includes an interior surface opposing the exterior surface of the first wall panel, the interior surface of the first wall panel contacting the protruding portion of the first flange when the corner bracket, first wall panel, and second wall panel are attached to the structure. 
     
     
         22 . The corner construction system of  claim 20 , wherein the protruding portion of the first flange is located at an end of the first flange located opposite to the corner protrusion and the protruding portion of the second flange is located at an end of the second flange located opposite to the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         23 . The corner construction system of  claim 20 , wherein the corner protrusion extends away from the flat portion of the first flange at a first protrusion angle, the first protrusion angle having a value between 90 and 180 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . The corner construction system of  claim 20 , wherein the protruding portion of the first flange extends away from the flat portion thereof towards the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         25 . The corner construction system of  claim 20 , wherein the protruding portion of the first flange is hooked or curved. 
     
     
         26 . A method of installing a corner construction system onto a structure, the structure having a corner, a first wall, and a second wall, the first and second walls meeting at and each extending away from the corner, the method comprising:
 attaching a corner bracket to the structure such that a corner protrusion of the corner bracket is located adjacent to and overlies the corner of the structure, the corner protrusion extends away from the first wall and the second wall to a distal end having a bend;   attaching a first wall panel having an end and an exterior to the first wall such that the end of the first wall panel is located adjacent to a first side of the corner protrusion and the bend of the corner protrusion remains exposed to the exterior of the first wall panel; and   attaching a second wall panel having an end and an exterior to the second wall such that the end of the second wall panel is located adjacent to a second side of the corner protrusion that opposes the first side thereof and the bend of the corner protrusion remains exposed to the exterior of the second wall panel.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising placing the end of the first wall panel in contact with the first surface of the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising bending the end of the first wall panel to create a main portion of the first wall panel and a return portion of the first wall panel prior to the step of attaching the first wall panel to the first wall, wherein the step of attaching the first wall panel to the first wall further comprises placing the return portion adjacent to the first side of the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of attaching the first wall panel to the first wall further comprises placing the end of the first wall panel in contact with the first side of the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of bending the end of the first wall panel further comprises bending the end such that an interior angle having a value between 5 and 90 degrees is formed between the main portion and the return portion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising attaching at least one layer of underlayment to the first wall and second wall of the structure prior to attaching any of the corner bracket, first wall panel, or second wall panel to the structure. 
     
     
         32 . A corner bracket for use in a corner construction system that includes a first wall panel and a second wall panel, the corner construction system being adapted for installation onto a structure, the structure including a first wall adjoining a second wall to form a corner, the corner bracket comprising
 a corner protrusion having a distal end, a first side extending from the distal end to a first proximal end, and a second side opposite the first side and extending from the distal end to a second proximal end;   a first flange extending outwardly from the first proximal end of the first side of the corner protrusion, the first flange including a first flat portion and a first protruding portion; and   a second flange extending outwardly from the second proximal end of the second side of the corner protrusion, the second flange including a second flat portion and a second protruding portion;   wherein the first side and the second side of the corner protrusion are integrally connected at the distal end of the corner protrusion, creating a bend at the distal end of the corner protrusion.   
     
     
         33 . The corner bracket of  claim 32 , wherein the first protruding portion of the first flange extends away from the first flat portion towards the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         34 . The corner bracket of  claim 33 , wherein the first protruding portion of the first flange is hooked or curved. 
     
     
         35 . The corner bracket of  claim 33 , wherein the protruding portion of the first flange is located at an end of the first flange located opposite to the corner protrusion and the protruding portion of the second flange is located at an end of the second flange located opposite to the corner protrusion. 
     
     
         36 . The corner bracket of  claim 32 , wherein the first proximal end of the first side and the second proximal end of the second side are separate from each other.