Method and apparatus for a wall panel system

Inventor: T. Richard Ferguson (Columbus, MS)

Assignee: ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS, INC.

E04F13/26 E04B1/34321 E04F13/0803 E04F13/0814 E04F13/083 E04F13/0891 E04F13/24 E04F13/30 E04B2001/2481

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12703983
App. No.: 18/301,731
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for a wall panel system having a plurality of wall panels arranged within a framework. The wall panels may include a plurality of retention devices releasably engaging the framework to position the wall panels relative to the wall panel system. One or more of the retention devices may be actuated to engage and disengage from the framework. The wall panel system may include trim releasably engaging the framework.

Claims (34)

1 . A method of installing a wall panel system comprising the steps of:

securing at least one first rail to a wall, wherein the at least one first rail includes a longitudinal groove;

securing at least one projection clip to a portion of the longitudinal groove of the at least one first rail, the at least one projection clip includes an inwardly extending flange extending away from the longitudinal groove to define a space from a wall;

providing at least one wall panel, wherein the at least one wall panel includes one or more retention devices;

releasably engaging the one or more retention devices between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when in the engaged position the one or more retention devices are engaged to the at least one projection clip and when in the disengaged position the one or more retention devices are disengaged from the at least one projection clip; and

magnetically actuating the one or more retention devices between the engaged position and the disengage position.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising releasably securing at least one second rail to the longitudinal groove of the at least one first rail.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one second rail includes a first member and a second member.

4 . The method of claim 2 further comprising pivoting the at least one second rail relative to the longitudinal groove of the at least one first rail.

5 . The method of claim 2 further comprising securing one or more trim members to the at least one second rail.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising securing at least one second projection clip to the at least one projection clip to define a second space from a wall adapted to engage the one or more retention devices of the at least one wall panel, wherein the second space is different from the first space.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more retention devices is positionable relative to the at least one wall panel between the engaged position and the disengaged position when the at least one wall panel is in an aligned position with the at least one first rail.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising securing one or more trim members to the at least one projection clip.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more retention devices do not extend beyond the extent of an outer periphery of the at least one wall panel in the engaged position and the disengaged position.

10 . A method of installing a wall panel system comprising the steps of:

securing a plurality of first rails and a plurality of second rails to a wall to define a plurality of cells to receive a plurality of wall panels, wherein at least one first rail of the plurality of first rails includes a longitudinal groove, and wherein at least one second rail of the plurality of second rails engages the longitudinal groove of the at least one first rail;

pivoting the at least one second rail within the longitudinal groove between an unlocked position and a locked position;

releasably engaging at least one wall panel of the plurality of wall panels to the at least one projection clip.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising orientating the at least one second rail relative to the at least one first rail in a plurality of pivot positions.

12 . The method of claim 10 further comprising securing trim to at least one of the at least one second rail and/or the at least one projection clip.

13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising securing at least one second projection clip to the at least one projection clip to define a second space from a wall, wherein the second space is different from the first space.

14 . The method of claim 10 further comprising releasably engaging one or more retention devices of the at least one wall panel to the at least one projection clip.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more retention devices includes a first retention device and a second retention device different from the first retention device, wherein the first retention device includes a magnetically actuated member releasably engaging the at least one projection clip.

16 . A method of installing a wall panel system comprising the steps of:

securing a pair of first rails to a wall, wherein the first rails include a longitudinal groove;

securing at least one projection clip to a portion of the longitudinal groove of each one of the first rails, the at least one projection clip includes an inwardly extending flange extending away from the longitudinal groove to define a space from a wall;

providing at least one wall panel, wherein the at least one wall panel includes one or more retention devices;

releaseably engaging the one or more retention devices of the least one wall panel to both of the projection clips engaged to the first rails, respectively; and

magnetically actuating at least one of the one or more retention devices when the at least one wall panel is in an installed position without visually seeing the position of the at least one of the one or more retention devices.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising engaging a second rail to at least one of the first rails.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the second rail includes a first member and a second member, wherein the first member of the second rail is attached to the at least one of the first rails and the second member of the second rails is attached to the other one of the at least one first rails.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising securing a trim to the first member and the second member.

20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising securing a second projection clip to the at least one first projection clip.