Wall connecting assembly and method for connecting a wall panel to a wall structure

1. A wall connecting assembly for mounting a wall panel to a wall structure, the wall panel having an inner face and the wall structure having a face to be at least partially covered by the wall panel, the wall connecting assembly comprising:

a receiving plate to be mounted to the face of the wall structure, the receiving plate defining a receiving space and comprising a lower projection extending from a lower portion of the receiving plate;

a first connector comprising a mounting plate to be at least partially mounted within the receiving space and a first engaging portion extending from the mounting plate toward the inner face of the wall panel when the wall structure is at least partially covered by the wall panel, the mounting plate extending along a substantial vertical direction from an upper edge to a lower edge; and

a second connector being part of or being mounted to the inner face of the wall panel and defining a second engaging portion to register with the first engaging portion of the first connector

wherein, in use, (i) the receiving plate is mounted to the face of the wall structure, (ii) the mounting plate is slidably mounted along the substantial vertical direction toward the lower portion of the receiving plate such that the lower edge of the mounting plate contacts the lower projection for connecting the first connector to the receiving plate and thereby mounting the first connector to the wall structure, and (iii) the second engaging portion registers with the first engaging portion of the first connector such that the first and second engaging portions engage together for at least partially connecting the wall panel to the wall structure.

2. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate comprises a back-wall portion and left and right vertical protections spaced-apart from each other and extending outwardly from the back-wall portion and toward each other, the left and right vertical projections and the back-wall portion partially delimiting together the receiving space.

3. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the mounting plate of the first connector comprises left and right mounting grooves each extending along the substantial vertical direction from the upper edge to the lower edge of the mounting plate for slidably receiving the respective left and right vertical projections.

4. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving plate comprises a dampening element arranged between the lower edge of the mounting plate and an upper face of the lower projection and wherein the lower edge of the mounting plate contacts the dampening element.

5. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion of the first connector is of a male type engaging portion and the second engaging portion of the second connector is of a female type engaging portion.

6. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the mounting plate comprises an inner face facing the receiving plate when the mounting plate is within the receiving space of the receiving plate and an opposed outer face and wherein the first engaging portion comprising upper and lower projections extending from the outer face of the mounting plate.

7. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 6 , wherein one of the upper and lower projections comprises a proximal end proximate the mounting plate and an opposed distal end and wherein one of the proximal and distal ends defines an acute inclination angle with respect to a vertical axis when the wall panel is at least partially connected to the wall structure.

8. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 6 , wherein one of the upper and lower projections is at least partially made of a resilient material such that, when the first and second engaging portions engage together, said one of the upper and lower projections is biased toward the second engaging portion.

9. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the second connector comprises upper and lower wall portions for receiving the upper and lower projections therebetween.

10. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower projections are biased toward the respective upper and lower wall portions when the first and second engaging portions engage together.

11. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower wall portions comprise an inner face delimiting at least partially a connector receiving cavity and wherein at least one of the upper and lower projections comprises a longitudinal blocker configured to cooperate with a corresponding longitudinal blocker formed in the inner face of the corresponding one of the upper and lower wall portions.

12. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second connector is formed integral with the inner face of the wall panel.

13. The wall connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner face of the wall panel defines a cavity and wherein the second connector is at least partially received in the cavity.

14. A wall system, comprising:

a wall structure having a face;

a wall panel for at least partially covering the face of the wall structure, the wall panel having an inner face;

a plurality of wall connecting assemblies, each wall connecting assembly comprising: (i) a receiving plate to be mounted to the face of the wall structure, each receiving plate defining a receiving space and comprising a lower projection extending from a lower portion of the receiving plate, (ii) a first connector comprising a mounting plate to be at least partially mounted within the receiving space of the receiving plate and a first engaging portion extending from the mounting plate toward the inner face of the wall panel when the wall structure is at least partially covered by the wall panel, the mounting plate extending along a substantial vertical direction from an upper edge to a lower edge, and (iii) a second connector being part of or being mounted to the inner face of the wall panel and defining a second engaging portion to register with the first engaging portion, wherein, in use, (i) the receiving plate is mounted to the face of the wall structure, (ii) the mounting plate is slidably mounted along the substantial vertical direction toward the lower portion of the receiving plate such that the lower edge of the mounting plate contacts the lower projection for connecting the first connector to the receiving plate and thereby mounting the first connector to the wall structure, and (iii) the second engaging portion registers with the first engaging portion of the first connector such that the first and second engaging portions of each wall connecting assembly engage together for at least partially connecting the wall panel to the wall structure.

15. The wall system according to claim 14 , wherein the receiving plate of each wall connecting assembly comprises a back-wall portion and left and right vertical protections spaced-apart from each other and extending outwardly from the back-wall portion and toward each other, the left and right vertical projections and the back-wall portion partially delimiting together the receiving space.

16. The wall system according to claim 15 , wherein the mounting plate of the first connector of each wall connecting assembly comprises left and right mounting grooves each extending along the substantial vertical direction from the upper edge to the lower edge of the mounting plate for slidably receiving the respective left and right vertical projections.

17. The wall system according to claim 14 , wherein the mounting plate of each wall connecting assembly comprises an inner face facing the receiving plate when the mounting plate is within the receiving space of the receiving plate and an opposed outer face and wherein the first engaging portion comprises upper and lower projections extending from the outer face of the mounting plate.

18. The wall system according to claim 17 , wherein each second connector comprises upper and lower wall portions for receiving the upper and lower projections of the first engaging portion therebetween.

19. The wall system according to claim 18 , wherein the upper and lower projections are biased toward the respective upper and lower wall portions when the first and second engaging portions engage together.

20. The wall system according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second connectors of each wall connecting assembly are shaped and dimensioned so that the inner face of the wall panel is substantially flush with the face of the wall structure when the wall panel and the wall structure are connected.

21. The wall system according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second connectors of each wall connecting assembly are shaped and dimensioned so that the inner face of the wall panel is horizontally spaced apart from the face of the wall structure when the wall panel is connected to the wall structure.

22. The wall system according to claim 14 , comprising a connecting panel to at least partially cover the face of the wall structure, the connecting panel comprising the plurality of receiving plates, and wherein the connecting panel is arranged between the wall structure and the wall panel when the wall panel is connected to the wall structure.

23. A method for covering a face of a wall structure, the method comprising:

mounting a receiving plate to the face of the wall structure, the receiving plate defining a receiving space and comprising a lower projection extending from a lower portion of the receiving plate;

providing a first connector comprising a mounting plate to be at least partially mounted within the receiving space and a first engaging portion extending from the mounting plate, the mounting plate extending along a substantial vertical direction from an upper edge to a lower edge;

mounting the first connector to the receiving plate by sliding the mounting plate along the substantial vertical direction within the receiving space toward the lower portion of the receiving plate and then by contacting the lower edge of the mounting plate against the lower projection such that the mounting plate is within the receiving space of the receiving plate, the first connector is connected to the receiving plate and the first connector is mounted to the wall structure;

providing a wall panel having a second connector being part of or being mounted to an inner face of the wall panel, the second connector defining a second engaging portion to register with the first engaging portion of the first connector; and

engaging together the first and second connectors such that the wall panel is at least partially connected to the wall structure.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the receiving plate is a first receiving plate, the method comprising:

providing a connecting panel comprising the first receiving plate and a second receiving plate; and

mounting the connecting panel to the face of the wall structure such that the connecting panel is arranged between the wall structure and the wall panel when the wall panel is connected to the wall structure.