Decorative panel including an installation assembly and method of use thereof
A panel for a wall treatment and a method of manufacture thereof. The panel includes a panel block cast from a material. During casting, a first bracket, a second bracket, and an insulator block are partially embedded within the material. The insulator block, which is a lighter weight foam material, is embedded between the first and second brackets such that part of the insulator block will extend beyond a rear of the panel block once cast. Once cast, part of the first bracket extends upwardly beyond a top of the panel block and part of the second bracket angles downwardly and outwardly from the rear of the panel block and a distance below the insulator block. The second bracket is used to align the panel on a support surface. The first bracket is used to secure the panel to the support surface.
1 . A panel for use in a wall treatment, said panel comprising:
a panel block having a front and a back;
an installation assembly engaged with the panel block, wherein said installation assembly comprises:
a first bracket partially embedded in the panel block;
a second bracket partially embedded in the panel block a distance vertically below the first bracket;
wherein the second bracket and the first bracket are separate from one another;
wherein the second bracket comprises a first section and a second section oriented at an obtuse angle to the first section, and wherein the first section is embedded in the panel block;
wherein a first portion of the second section is embedded in the panel block and a second portion of the second section extends outwardly from the back of the panel block;
wherein the second portion of the second section of the second bracket extends rearwardly and downwardly from the back of the panel block and at an angle relative thereto; and
wherein the panel block has a top and a bottom extending between the front and the back, and wherein the second portion of the second section of the second bracket exits the back of the panel block a distance vertically above the bottom thereof.
2 . The wall treatment according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first bracket and the second bracket is based upon a height of the panel block selected for use in the wall treatment, wherein the height is measured between a top and a bottom of the panel block.
3 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein a first region of the first bracket extends upwardly beyond a top of the panel block.
4 . The panel according to claim 3 , wherein the first bracket includes a second region extending perpendicularly outwardly from the first region, and wherein the second region spaces the first region rearwardly away from the back of the panel block.
5 . The panel according to claim 4 , wherein the first bracket further includes a third region extending outwardly and forwardly away from the second region, and wherein the third region is embedded in the panel block.
6 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein a first region of the first bracket extending outwardly from the panel block includes a sloped wall, wherein the sloped wall is located a distance vertically above a portion of the second bracket which extends outwardly from the back of the panel block, and wherein the sloped wall is oriented substantially parallel relative to the portion of the second bracket.
7 . The panel according to claim 6 , further comprising a weep hole defined in the first region of the first bracket, said weep hole extending between a front surface and a back surface of the first region, and wherein the sloped wall is located so as to direct moisture through the weep hole.
8 . The panel according to claim 1 , wherein the front of the panel block is decorative.
9 . A panel for use in a wall treatment, said panel comprising:
a panel block having a front and a back;
an installation assembly engaged with the panel block, wherein said installation assembly comprises:
a first bracket partially embedded in the panel block;
a second bracket partially embedded in the panel block a distance vertically below the first bracket;
wherein the second bracket and the first bracket are separate from one another;
wherein a first region of the first bracket extending outwardly from the panel block includes a sloped wall, wherein the sloped wall is located a distance vertically above a portion of the second bracket which extends outwardly from the back of the panel block, and wherein the sloped wall is oriented substantially parallel relative to the portion of the second bracket;
a weep hole defined in the first region of the first bracket, said weep hole extending between a front surface and a back surface of the first region; and
wherein the sloped wall is located so as to direct moisture through the weep hole.