IP Library Granted Patent US 9,097,009
Granted Patent B2
US 9,097,009 · App. 13/706,349 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

Stronger wall system

Inventor: Michael Niemann (Tempe, AZ)
Assignee: HercuTech, Inc.
E04B1/7604E04B1/165E04B2/8629
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,097,009
App. No.
13/706,349
Granted
Aug 4, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A new prefabricated wall panel is the basic unit of a new, more efficient and stronger wall system. The wall panel is manufactured from a plurality of foam sections sized to leave vertical and horizontal voids into which concrete is later poured, each foam section having an inner and outer surface and two sides; and a plurality of fastening strips. The fastening strips are longitudinal metal strips being situated between the sides of two foam sections. Each fastening strip has two longitudinal fastening strips projecting perpendicularly to the longitudinal fastening strip and the fastening strips being adjacent to the outer surface of the two foam sections. The fastening strip also has a plurality of clearance holes in the longitudinal fastening strip, a plurality of embed tabs projecting from the edge opposite the fastening strips, each embed tab having at least one hole, and between each pair of embed tabs, a foam tab to hold the two inner sides of the foam sections in place and partially separate the foam sections from the concrete to be poured into a form.

Claims (19)

1. A partially prefabricated wall system comprising:

a. a plurality of wall panels, each panel comprising

i. a plurality of foam sections sized to leave voids into which concrete is later poured, each foam section having an inner and outer surface and two sides;

ii. a plurality of metal strips, the metal strips comprising

a) a longitudinal metal strip being situated between the sides of two foam sections,

b) two longitudinal fastening strips attached perpendicularly to the longitudinal metal strip, the fastening strips being adjacent to the outer surface of the two foam sections;

c) a plurality of clearance holes in the longitudinal metal strip;

d) a plurality of embed tabs projecting from an edge opposite the fastening strips;

e) each embed tab having at least one hole; and

f) between each pair of embed tabs, a foam tab to hold the two inner foam section in place and partially separate the foam from the concrete to be poured into a form;

b. a track into which one end of the wall panels is placed;

c. a cap which fits over the upper ends of a plurality wall panels; and

d. concrete poured into the top of the panels to fill the voids in the panels.

2. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 1 further including additional foam disposed between the inner surfaces of the foam section to form a longitudinal channel that is centered around the embed tab of the fastening strip.

3. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 1 further including additional foam disposed between the inner surfaces of the foam sections to form a top horizontal channel in the foam section accommodating an upper concrete beam and a bottom horizontal channel in the foam section accommodating a lower concrete beam, both the top channel and bottom channel being in fluid communication with the longitudinal channel.

4. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 3 wherein the concrete column, the upper concrete beam and the lower concrete beam are formed in situ by pouring a concrete slurry into the longitudinal channel, the top channel and the bottom channel.

5. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 4 wherein a complete wall is constructed using a plurality of the prefabricated panels secured within the retaining track and includes the upper concrete beam, the lower concrete beam and at least two concrete columns each located adjacent a longitudinal side end of the wall.

6. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 5 wherein the concrete columns located at the side ends of the wall are double concrete columns formed using two adjacent fastening strips with the embed tabs from two fastening strips being embedded within the double concrete column.

7. The partially fabricated wall system of claim 5 wherein a window is installed within the wall using a double concrete column located adjacent a longitudinal side of the window and two fastening strips disposed horizontally and located adjacent a bottom end of the window, the two horizontal fastening strips being adjacent to each other with embed tabs extending into the space created by the adjacent fastening strips, the two horizontal fastening strips being connected by a spanner, each of the two fastening strips having foam sections disposed between the longitudinal fastening strips and foam tabs, and a horizontal concrete sill is disposed between the inner surfaces of the foam section.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: WINDSAIL CAPITAL FUND, L.P.
To: HERCUTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 070791/0813 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2025
From: HERCUTECH INC.
To: TREMCO CPG INC.
Reel/Frame 070714/0195 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: HERCUTECH INC.
To: WINDSAIL CREDIT FUND, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040423/0030 →
CHANGE OF ASSIGNEE'S ADRESS Recorded Oct 6, 2015
From: HERCUTECH, INC.
To: HERCUTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 036796/0224 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2013
From: NIEMANN, MICHAEL
To: HERCUTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 030680/0518 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part PCTUS2012040079 · Jun 4, 2012
Provisional Application 61493345 · Jun 3, 2011
Related Publication 20140026508A1 · Jan 30, 2014