Exterior wall system

Abstract

An exterior wall section forms a portion of an exterior wall of a building. The building has multiple floors and a framework defining the multiple floors. The exterior wall section includes a structural layer to be connected to the framework. The structural layer includes a plurality of studs connected together. An insulation layer is supported by the structural layer to insulate the building. Siding is supported by the structural layer and defines an exterior side of the exterior wall section. A perimeter of the exterior wall section is defined by the edge margins of the structural layer, the insulation layer and/or the siding. The exterior wall section includes an interlocking structure extending along the perimeter that mates with an interlocking structure of another exterior wall section to form a seal with said another exterior wall section when the exterior wall sections are connected to the building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exterior wall section forming a portion of an exterior wall of a building, the building having multiple floors and a framework defining the multiple floors, the exterior wall section comprising:
 a structural layer configured to be connected to the framework of the building and to support a weight of the exterior wall section, the structural layer including a plurality of studs connected together;   an insulation layer supported by the structural layer and including insulation configured to insulate the building from an outside environment;   siding supported by the structural layer and disposed exteriorly of the structural layer and insulation layer, the siding defining an exterior side of the exterior wall section;   a perimeter defined by edge margins of at least one of the structural layer, the insulation layer or the siding; and   an interlocking structure extending along the perimeter and configured to mate with an interlocking structure of at least one other exterior wall section to form a seal with said at least one other exterior wall section when the exterior wall sections are connected to the framework of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking structure extends along a majority of the perimeter of the exterior wall section. 
     
     
         3 . The exterior wall section of  claim 2 , wherein the interlocking structure extends along the entire perimeter of the exterior wall section. 
     
     
         4 . The exterior wall section of  claim 2 , wherein the interlocking structure includes a first interlocking connector and a second interlocking connector, the first interlocking connector being configured to form a seal with a second interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section to form a seal with said at least one other exterior wall section. 
     
     
         5 . The exterior wall section of  claim 4 , wherein the first interlocking connector is a male interlocking connector and wherein the second interlocking connector is a female interlocking connector, the male interlocking connector being configured to be inserted into a female interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section and the female interlocking connector being configured to receive a male interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section. 
     
     
         6 . The exterior wall section of  claim 5 , wherein the male interlocking connector includes a first arm configured to engage the female interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section to form at least a portion of the seal therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The exterior wall section of  claim 6 , wherein the male interlocking connector includes a second arm configured to engage the female interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section to form at least a portion of the seal therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The exterior wall section of  claim 7 , wherein the female interlocking connector defines a channel extending along the perimeter of the exterior wall section, the channel of the female interlocking connector being configured to receive first and second arms of the male interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section. 
     
     
         9 . The exterior wall section of  claim 8 , wherein the female interlocking connector includes first and second gaskets configured to engage the first and second arms, respectively, of the male interlocking connector of the at least one other exterior wall section. 
     
     
         10 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , further comprising a weather strip extending along the perimeter and disposed exteriorly of the interlocking structure, the weather strip being configured to operatively engage a perimeter of the at least one other exterior wall section to inhibit a liquid from the outside environment from reaching the interlocking structure when the exterior wall sections are connected to the framework of the building. 
     
     
         11 . The exterior wall section of  claim 10 , in combination with the at least one other exterior wall section. 
     
     
         12 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking structure is secured to the structural layer. 
     
     
         13 . The exterior wall section of  claim 12 , wherein the interlocking structure extends outward from the edge margins of the structural layer. 
     
     
         14 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheathing layer mounted on an exterior face of the structural layer, the sheathing layer including one or more sheets of sheathing. 
     
     
         15 . The exterior wall section of  claim 14 , wherein each sheet of sheathing is made from a magnesium oxide based material. 
     
     
         16 . The exterior wall section of  claim 14 , further comprising a moisture barrier mounted on an exterior side of the sheathing layer. 
     
     
         17 . The exterior wall section of  claim 15 , wherein the insulation layer is mounted on an exterior side of the moisture barrier and the siding is mounted on an exterior side of the insulation layer. 
     
     
         18 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , further comprising a window, the structural layer, the insulation layer and the siding each including an opening aligned with the window. 
     
     
         19 . The exterior wall section of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall section has a height greater than a height of one floor of the building. 
     
     
         20 . An exterior wall section forming a portion of an exterior wall of a building having a framework, the exterior wall section comprising a structural frame made of cold formed steel components including studs extending between a sill and a top plate, the structural frame having a perimeter extending along the length of the top plate, along the length of one of the studs at one end of the structural frame, along the length of the sill and along the length of another one of the studs at an opposite end of the structural frame, and an extruded metal border extending around the perimeter of the structural frame and being connected to and supported by the structural frame, the extruded metal border being configured to sealingly mate with other exterior wall sections to form a water and air barrier.