Wall panel

Abstract

A universal corner panel includes a first surface comprising a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first surface topography with a first delta and the second portion has a second surface topography with a second delta. The first delta is substantially different than the second delta.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A panel, the panel comprising:
 a first surface having a central portion and at least two peripheral portions adjacent opposite sides of the central portion; 
 a second surface that is opposite and in a plane substantially parallel to the first surface, the first and second surfaces defining two opposing and spaced apart side edges of the panel; 
 the central portion having a first surface topography defined by a first plurality of design elements, the first surface topography defining a first change in thickness among the design elements of the central portion, the first change in thickness being a difference between a maximum thickness of a thickest one of the design elements of the central portion and a minimum thickness of a thinnest one of the design elements of the design elements of the central portion, wherein the thickness is measured from the first surface of the panel to a distal surface of each design element along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces; and 
 each of the two peripheral portions having a second and third surface topography, respectively, wherein the second surface topography is defined by a second plurality of design elements and the third surface topography is defined by a third plurality of design elements, the second and third surface topographies being substantially similar, the second surface topography defining a second change in thickness among the design elements of the second plurality of design elements, the second change in thickness being a difference between a maximum thickness of a thickest one of the second plurality of design elements and a minimum thickness of a thinnest one of the second plurality of design elements, and the third surface topography defining a third change in thickness among the design elements of the third plurality of design elements, the third change in thickness being a difference between a maximum thickness of a thickest one of the third plurality of design elements and a minimum thickness of a thinnest one of the third plurality of design elements, 
 wherein the first surface topography is substantially different from the second and third surface topographies and the first change in thickness is substantially greater than the second change in thickness, and 
 wherein the design elements extend outwardly from the first surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two elongate channels defined in respective portions of the second surface opposing the second and third plurality of design elements of the first surface, 
 wherein:
 each of the elongate channels extends substantially adjacent and parallel to a respective one of the two side edges of the panel. 
 
 
     
     
       3. A panel, the panel comprising:
 a precast body comprising: 
 a first surface having a first portion, and a second portion, and a third portion, 
 a second surface that is opposite and in a plane substantially parallel to the first surface; 
 the first portion comprising a first plurality of design elements, at least one design element of the first plurality having a maximum thickness of the first plurality and at least one design element of the first plurality having a minimum thickness of the first plurality; and  
 the second portion comprising a second plurality of design elements, at least one design element of the second plurality having a maximum thickness of the second plurality and at least one design element of the second plurality having a minimum thickness of the second plurality; and 
 the third portion comprising a third plurality of design elements, at least one design element of the third plurality having a maximum thickness of the third plurality and at least one design element of the third plurality having a minimum thickness of the third plurality, 
 wherein: 
 the design elements extend outwardly from the first surface, 
 the thicknesses are measured from the first surface to a distal surface of each design element along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, and 
 a first edge of the first portion is centrally disposed between the second portion and the third portion,abuts a first edge of the second portion and 
 a first difference between the maximum and the minimum thicknesses of the first portion is substantially greater than a second difference between the maximum and the minimum thicknesses of the second portion and a third difference between the maximum and the minimum thicknesses of the third portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The panel of  claim 3 , further comprising a mounting element including a first end embedded in the precast body and a second end projecting from the precast body, wherein the mounting element has a length less than a total length of the precast body. 
     
     
       5. The panel of  claim 3 , wherein:
 at least one design element is disposed on the first surface such that the at least one design element extends between the first and the second portions. 
 
     
     
       6. The panel of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the first and second surfaces defining at least one side edge of the panel; and 
 an elongate channel defined in a portion of the second surface opposing the second portion of the first surface, 
 wherein:
 the elongate channel extends substantially adjacent and parallel to the at least one side edge of the panel. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The panel of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one side edge of the panel extending between the first surface and the second surface adjacent the second portion of the panel, 
 wherein:
 a first design element of the second portion has a lateral portion having a first length as measured from the side edge to a distal edge of the first design element along an axis that extends parallel to the first and the second surfaces and a second design element of the second portion has a lateral portion having a second length that extends from the side edge to a distal edge of the second design element along the axis that extends parallel to the first and the second surfaces, 
 the first length is a maximum length of the lateral portions of the design elements of the second portion and the second length is a minimum length of the lateral portions of the design elements of the second portion, and 
 a third difference between the first and the second lengths of the lateral portions of the design elements extending from the side edge is substantially greater than the second difference in thickness. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting element extending outwardly from an upper surface of the central portion of the panel, the upper surface extending between the first surface and the second surface within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, wherein the mounting element has a length less than a total length of the central and the at least two peripheral portions. 
     
     
       9. The panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one design element is disposed on the first surface such that the at least one design element extends between the central portion and one of the at least two peripheral portions. 
     
     
       10. The panel of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the at least one design element tapers from the central portion to the peripheral portion. 
     
     
       11. The panel of  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of the at least one design element tapers from the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
       12. The panel of claim 3, wherein the first surface further comprises a third portion, the third portion comprising a third plurality of design elements, at least one design element of the third plurality having a maximum thickness of the third plurality and at least one design element of the third plurality having a minimum thickness of the third plurality, wherein the first portion is disposed centrally between the second portion and the third portion, and the first difference between the maximum and the minimum thicknesses of the first portion is substantially greater than a third difference between the maximum and the minimum thicknesses of the third portion.