CA1038131A - Easily replaceable wall panel structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Easily Replaceable Wall Panel Structure Abstract of the Disclosure The present invention relates to freely removable wall panel structure which is attached to the wall surface of con-crete buildings, other various constructions, interior walls of houses or the like, and wherein no other member is inter-posed between unit panels in viewing the surface thereof.

Description

` 103813i De~criPtion of the Prior Art In conventional concrete building~, the area occupied bywindows in the external walls has been extremely reduced due to the installation of air conditioners. Further, the wall surfaces have been becoming dirtier in the atmosphere sur-rounding cities which is ~everely polluted. Consequently, the appearance thereof has been extremely defiled, and the durabil-lty of the wall surface structure has inevitably deteriorated.
For these reasons, even if the inner structure of the building 18 sturdy, excessive expenses for new construction or recon-atruction have been inevitably required simply due to pollution oi wall surfaces.
In order to solve the abovegoing defects, several processes or attempts have been proposed heretofore; for e~ample, a process or periodical repainting or an attempt of preventing deterio-ratlon of the appearance due to the pollution of the wall sur-iaces by attaching individual coloured tiles, painted metal or plastic ~heets onto the wall surfaces to provide colour accent thereto. Xowever~ in accordance with the former process, a great deal of labour i~ required, and when several coats of paint are applied, the sesthetic effect is generally diminished. n the other hand, in accordance with the latter process, once adhered or fixed to the w~ll surfaces, the coloured tiles or painted metal or plastic sheets can not be replaced. Consequently, it is impossible to avoid colour fading of the coloured surfaces due to s~lnlight and pollutlon. Even if individual coloured tile, ooloured metal or plastic sheet mentioned above is provided with a design of one motlf over the entire wall surface, it is lmpos-~lble to draw one motif over the entire wall surface which is "~ . .
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' a marvel of order and neatness and gives no impression of un-balance since-there are-c~n~iderably wide spaces present between individual panels.
The present invention relates to an improved wall panel structure, comprising a plurality of stays screwed to a wall and in parallel relationship and a plurality of rectangular shafts positioned transversely to the stays and coupled thereto. The shafts are in parallel relationship, each of the shafts having a groove therein. The groove extends longitudinally of the shaft and has U-and T-shaped cross-sections at alternating intervals longitudinally of the shaft.
A panel having four sides is provided, opposite sides thereof being in parallel relationship. A plurality of engaging hooks extends from two oppo6ite sides of the panel and is adapted to be inserted into the grooves of two rectangular shafts in the region of the U-shaped cross-sections thereof, the panel there-after being siidably shifted along the grooves until the engaging hooks are in regions of the grooves having T-shaped cross-sections, whereby the panel may be firmly retained by two rectangular shafts.
The present invention can be more fully understood from the follow-ing description taken in conjunction with the accomp-anying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a partially open front view showing the state of attaching p~nels of a round shaft holdlng type of the firs~
embodiment of the present invention;
F~g. 2 is a sectional view taken along A-A line of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 i8 a sectional vie~ taken along B-~ line of Fig. 2;
Fig- 4 i8 a perspect~ve vie~ showing a modefted one of the round shaft holding type of the first embodiment;
Fig. ~ i8 also a perspective view of a modified one;
Fig. 6 i8 a partially open front vie~ 6ho~ing a modified one of the round shaft holding type;
Fig. 7 i8 a sectional view taken along ~-A line o~ Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 i8 a 6ectional view taken along R-~ line of ~ig. 6;
Pig. 9 i6 a partially open front vieYl of a rectangular 6haft holding type Or the second-embodlment;
Fig. 10 i8 a section~l view taken along A-A line of ~ig. 9;
Pig. 11 i8 a front ~ie~ of a modified one oi the secon~ -embodiment;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along A-~ line of Fig. 11;
Fig.13 i8 a ~ectional vie~ taken along ~-B line of Fig. 11;
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Fig. 14 is a front view of a panel attached to the rectangular shait of the second embodiment;
Fig. 15 i8 a perspective view oi a modified one of the second embodiment;
Fig. ~6 is al90 a per6~ective view oi a modified one of the cecond embodiment;
Fig. 17 is a front view oi a modiiied one of the se~ond em-bodiment;
Flg. 18 1B also a front view oi a modified one oi the second embodiment;
Flg. 19 i8 a sectional view taken along ~-A line Or Fig. 18;

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- ~03813i Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a shaft used in the third embodiment;
Figs. 21 and 22 are perspectLve views of panels used in the third embodiment;
Fig. 23 is a sectior.al view showing a state attaching a panel oP the third embodiment;
Flgs. 24 and 25 are perspective views of modified shafts used in the third embodiment;
Fig. 26 i9 a sectional view showing thcstate of attaching another panel of the third embodiment;

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Pigs. 27 and 28 are a front view and a section~l view show-ing states of attaching a gauge lod for positioning a panel used in the each embodiment;
Pigs. 29 through ~1 show states of connecting panels, Fig. 29 .
is a sectional view of one of the connections, Fig. 30 is a perspective view, and Fig. 31 is a front ~iew;
Fig. 32 is a front view of the state of attaching frames;
Pig. 33 is a schematic perspective view showing the state oi attaching panels of a rectangular shaft holding type to a . .
corner section of a concrete wall surface.

Detailed DescrlPtion of a Preferred Embodiment Hereinafter, the present irvention is described in more detail by way of e~ample reference being made to the accomany-ing drawings.

Flgs. 1 through 8 show the first embodiment of the present ~invention.
In the illustrations, reference numeral 1 designates panels msde of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, hard plastic or iron stock provided with a coating having a sufficient thickness.
The surface~ of said panels are coloured by painting or by attach-ing of a plastic foil~ or the like, and the colour fading thereof by sunlight is minimized by the use of enamel finishing and the like. The panels have a square or rectangular shape, and the re-verse eurfaces thereof have outwardly proJecting engaging portions

2 each having a shape for holding a shaft and for letting the shaft slide, in parallel at four portions. The engaging portions 2 are fixed to the panel 1 by a process such as welding, screw-ing, an integration type in case of hard plastic or the like.
In the illustraction, reference nu~eral ~ designates a wall sur-iace of concrete or the like. A plurality of stays 4 are scre~ed to said wall surface in the transverse direction. --Reference numeral 5 designates a round shaft, potions which the engaging portions 2 of the psnel 1 are fed to are fQrmed with dents. After fedding to the dented portions 5b, the engaging portions 2 of the panel 1 ars slid toward the panel fixing portions 5a, which are formed with a large dia~eter for retaining the panel 1 on the round shafts 5, having dented portions 5b at alternating intervals longitudinally of said shaft 90 that every panel can be easy attached or removed from them by being slid a distans equal to approx;mately 1/4 the width of the panel 1.
In case that there are no good scaffolds, the following two em-bodiments are effective for attaching or removing the panels 1.
One of which i9 illustrated in ~ig. 4, just two dented portions are formed near by one end portion of a shaft 5 so that engaging portions 2 of each panel 1 are fed from there then slid toward the direction of the other end portion of the ahaft 5 ones by ones.
The other of which is illustrated in Fig. 5, no dented portions `' ' .
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sre for~ed on a shaft 5. In this case, the engaging portions 2 of each panel are fed from one end portion of the shaft 5 then slid toward the other end portion of the shaft 5 ones by one~, in this case a thicknes~ and hight of a holding plate 4b are iormed with one being strong enough to hold the rou~d shafts 5.

As illu~trated in ~igs. 6 through 8, in said round shaft 5~ the portion 5a is formed with a large diameter for retaining the panel and correapond to the engaging portion 2 of said panel l and a portion 5b is formed with a small diameter so that the en-gaging portion 2 of the panel l may be easily inserted and slide therein.
In the structure mentioned above, when the panel l is attached to the wall surface 3, the engaging portion 2 of the panel l i9 iirst positioned adjacent the Portion 5b of the round shaft for iixing the panel and the~ caused to slide in the longitudinal direction one by one; whereby four engaging portions 2 of each panel l and the portion of the round shaft for fixing the panel are coupled to each other as shown Fig. 6. ~onsequently, the panel l is prevented from sliding and at the same time i~ re-movably fixed to the wall surface 3 via the round shaft 5. By a similar process, the panel~ l are successively caused to slide and sre fixed to the portions 5a of the round shaft 5, surface

3 18 con~tituted by the removable panels l.
It is also possible t~ directly press the engaging portion 2 oi the psnel 1 to the panel fixing portion 5a of the round shsit 5 irom the front with the use of hard elastic material, ior exai~ple, hard rubber or the like for coupling.
When the panel 1 i8 removed the panel l is cau~ed to slide r ln the opposite direction to the sliding dlrection at the time of attaching the panel 1, whereby thc engaging portions 2 of the panel 1 and the panel fixing partion~ 5a of the round shaft 5 are uncoupled. In case of the embodil~ent, it is possible to attach or remove the panel 1 by moving the panel a distance equal to a quarter of the width of the panel 1. Further in accordance with the embodiment, the attachment and removal o~ the panel 1 are conducted by movir.g the panel 1 in the longitudinal direction.
The attachment and removal of the ~anel 1 can also be conducted by tronsverse movement of the panel 1 when the stay 4 is provided , in the longitudinal direction and the round shaft 5 is attached ¦ to said stay 4 in the transverse direction.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 to Fig. 8, reference numeral 6 designates an outer frame, being attached to the end - portions of stays 4 and the round shafts 5 in order to pre~ent panels 1 from disengaging.
Hereinafter, a secona embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 through 19 is described.
In the illustratior. reference numeral ll designates panels.
The panels 11 are subjected to surface treatment similar to that Or the panels 1 described in the firs~ embodiment, and are formed as a plane having square or rectangular shape. The fold-up por-tlons are formed at two positions along opposite peripheral por-I tions of the reverse surface thereof and serve as engaging portions ! 22. Four engaging portion~ 22 are provided on each panel. The t rectangular shaft 55 i8 fixed to the stay 44 by means of bolts ! or the like and said stay 44 i~ screwed to the concrete wall sur-face. The entire sha~e of said rectangular shaft is such that I the panel attaching grooves 55a which ha~e a cross section of ~ . , . . .

a T shape, are pierced in the transverse directlon at the central portion. ~uther more rectangular spaces 55b comprising groove~
having a larger dia~eter than that of the grooves 55a for attach-ing the panels, are succes~ively formed at two portion for each portion equivalent to the length of the panel. In said rectangular grooves, two of the fold-up portions 22 of the panel 1 (the fold-up portion of the panel 1 at the left portion and the one thereof at the right portion) are housed, and said rectangular grooves have a spaca in which the panel 1 can slide.
Reference numeral 66 designate3 an outer frame which has a simllar structure to the outer frame 6 illustrated in the first embodiment.
The attachment and removal of the panels li i~ the ~econd embodiment are conducted in the following manner. The folded end of the engaging porti~n 22 of the panel is inserted into the rec-tangular groove 55b of the rectangular shaft and is caused to ~lide for appro~imately a quarter length of the panel to the right, whereby the upper and lower engaging portions of the fald-up en-gsging portion 22 are locked into the panel attaching groove 55a, the disengagement of the panel being prevented and the coupling thereof to the rectangular shaft 55 being firmly ensured.
More specipicP-ly, the engaging portion 22 of the panel 11 are positioned opposlte the right portion of the rectangular groove 55b of the left rectangular shaft 55 and the left portion of the rectangular groove 55b oflthe right rectangular shaft, respectively.
Thereafter the panels 11 are slid in the longitudinal direction, the engaging portion 22 of said panel3 11 being moved to the panel attaching grooves 55b; whereby the panels 11 are inserted lnto the panel attaching grooves 55a of the left and right , .

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' ~ ' ' . ' '' ;' ' , 103~3131 rec~angul~r shafta 55 and into the approx~mately ~ shaped gr~ove of the panel attaching groo~e$ 55a together with the engaging portions having a folded shape of other paneI~ 11 located at the upper and lower positions of aaid panel 11 and are prevented from disengaging from the panel attaching grooves 55a. Accordingly, the opening of the groove 55a for attaching panels i~ required to have a diameter at least as ~arge a~ the tnickness of t~Jo sheetg of the panel~ 11.
Further, when the panel ll is removed, the engaging portion~
22.or the panel 11 are moved from the groove 55a to the re-j - ctangular groove 55b, whereby the panel 11 is release~.
¦ lhe stay 44 for holding the rectanguIar shaft 55 and the ~all surface 33 are generally identical with the stay 4 and the w~ll surface 3 shown in the firs~ embodiment, respecti~e~y.
Purther, it is ~80 ~ossib~e to attach and remo~e the p~nel 11 ~y transverse mo~ement of the panel 1~ when the stay 44 is fixed in the longitudial direction and the round shaf~ ~5 is i!ixe~ to said stay 44 in the transverse dire~tion, simiIarl~
~ ~o the firat em~odiment.
3 Further, as illustrated in Fig. 15, in the enbodiment wherein the rectangular shaft 55 is e~posed on the ~vall sur-face 33, the groove 55-a, having an opening of the indentical diameter with the opening of the panel at~aching groove 55a may ~ be open over the entire length of the central portion without ~ forming the rectangular ~paces 55b and the panels 11 are 9U~-cessi~ely fed from one side end portion to the other side end port~on.
Purther more, as mentioned in an-embodiment in Pig. 4 - ~uch and embodiment i9 al~o applicable here in Fig. 16.
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' ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ 038131 ~ rectangular shaft 55 has just two rectangular groovcs 55b near by one end portlon of the rectangular ~haft. 55 ~o tha~
the engaging portions 22 of each panel ll are fed from there then ~lid tow.ard the direction of the other end portion of the rectangular shaft 55 ones by ones. In this case, ~hen a plurality of panel 11 to be fed are drawn out, said p~urality of panel~ ll may be conveniently connected to each other by means of connecting members such as cha~ns, hook members or the like.
~ his embodiment with respect to the re~tangular shaft 55 may be applied to any of the mechanisms for sliding the panels in the transverse direction or of sliding the same in the lon- -gitudinal direction.
- dnother embodiment of the rectangular shaft, illustrated $n ~ig. 17, i8 described hereinbelow. Here, the groove 55b' $a pierced over the entire length of the central portion of the rectangular shaft 55., and t~o plates 55c' having a notch groove 55a' at the central portion are connected to each panel by way of scre~ing, welding or the like, where~y a ~imilar effect can be obtained.
In accordance with this invention, it-is possible to eliminate the remarkably precise and complicated manufactur-ing process of the prior art by one such as the abovementione~ .
rectangular shaft wherein the rectangular spaces having a Iarge diameter and the panel attaching grooves having a small diameter must ~e pierced over the ehtire length of a single rectangular sh~ft 55, and manufacturing efficiency ia remarkabl~ improved~
Purther, as modifications of the structure for attachingthe panels in accordance with the pre~ent invention, the 1} ' :

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103813~
following arrengements are fully applicable; the stays may be embedded in the wall; the combination of the stay and the re-ctangular shaft may be embedded in the wall; or the rectangular shafts may be directly embedded in the wall while the distances between the rectangular shafts are accurately maintained. With such structures, it is possible to obtain results similar to those achieved in the first and second embodiments.
As illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, L shaped cross-section fringes S" engage engaging portions 2" and fastening plates 6"
are lay between the L shaped fringes 5" and the engaging por-tions 2" in order to fasten engagements of them. In this case the L shaped fringes 5" are fixed directly on stays 4" on the wall 3". The engaging portions 2" of each panel 1" are slid down to the places where the L shaped fringes 5" are.
A stopper on the low end portion of the stay 4" prevents panels 1" from sliding out. The panels 1" wherein are explained as being attached longitudinaly here too. However they may be embodyed as being also transverse here as other embodiments.
An out line of the above mentioned embodiments are simply discribed once more hereafter.
The subject invention relates to an improved wall panel structure. The wall panel structure includes a plurality of stays which are screwed to a wall and are parallel to one another. A plurality of shafts are positioned transversely to the stays and are coupled thereto. The shafts may be rectangular or round. Iflthe shafts are rectangular there is a groove running longitudinally of each shaft. The groove has an alternating cross-section which is either U-shaped or T-shaped. If the shaft is round, there are alternating sections ' ,: ' (` ` 1038131 of larger and smaller diameters. A plurallty of panels are pro-vided and are appropriately constructed for the rear thereof to engage the shaft. If the shafts are of a rectangular nature, then a plurality of hoocklike members are provided on two opposite side~ of the panel and are inserted into the U-shaped groove sec-tions of two shafts. The panel is then slid to a region of the groove having a T-~haped cross-section and the panel is thus ~irmly retained therein. Alternatively, if round shafts are used, the panel is so fashioned to be placed around the shafts and free-ly slid along the region thereof having a narrower diameter but is ilrmly retained by the region having a larger diameter.
The third embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 20 through 26.
~e~erence numeral 101 designates a H-shaped shaft in sectional vie~
having two plate portions lOla and lOlb as illustrated in Fig. 20, a plurality of the lOlb portions of the H-shaped shafts 101 are iised to the wall 102 with stays lG3, the plate lOlb may be screwed to the wall 1~2 directly. Reference numeral 105 designates a panel hav~ng four sides; oppo~ite sides thereof being in parallel rela-tionship, and having four U shaped engaging hooks cross-section lOSaaextending from two opposite sides of said panel 105 and adapted to be inserted into the grooves of two H-shaped shafts cross-section 101 as illustrated in Fig. 21, said panel thereafter being slidably shifted along said grooves untill said engaging hooks are in re-gions oi the grooves, whereby said panel may be firmly retained by two H-shaped shafts in sectional view. Four engaging hooks 105 may be C-shaped cross-section a~ illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23.
The means for attaching panels 105 to the H-shaped shafts 101 are the same as ones mentioned in the cases of round shafts and rectangular shafts in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

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103~131 This i~, the fooks 105a of each panel 105 are fed from the grooves of one end portions of the H shaped shafts 101 then lid toward the other end portion in case the shaft~ haveno dented portions for being fed the fooks 22 ones illustrated in Fig. 20; the fooks 105a of each panel 105 are fed from dented portions lOlc near by one end portion of the H shaped shafts 101 then slid toward the other end portion of the shafts 101 in case one shaft has just two dented portions as ones illusted in Fig. 24; or the fooks 105a of panels 105 are fed from the dented portions lOlc of the sha~ts 101 them slid longitudinally along the H shaped shafts 101 by a distance equ~l to approximately 1/4 the width o~ the panel 105 in case one shaft 101 has dented portions lOlc at alternating intervals longitudinally of said shaft as ones illustrated in Fig. 25.
The U shaped hook 105a illustrated in Fig. 21 is engaged with the plate lOla as illustrated in Fig. 26.
A gage rod is emplyed to adjast a distance between shafts in the ~irst, the second, and the third embodiments as illustrated in Figs. 27 and 28.
In acccrdance with this invention, it is possible to el~minate the remarkably precise and complicated manufacturing process by ordinal rectangular or round shafts whereby those shafta parmits llttle tolerance to slide the engaging portions of panels, since thls lnvention ma~e~ manufacturing process simpler and makes cost lower.
The shafts wherein arelexplained as being longitudinally here too. However they may be embodyed as being transverse here as well.
Reference numeral 6A illustrated in Fig. 27 designates a rod, adju~ting the distances between a plurality of the shafts 5A so that said panels are slidably and systematicaly shifted along said . ~ ' .
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shafts. Nuts 5C are mounted on the shaft 6A. Therefor a position of the shafts 5A is adjusted with the nuts 5C by a means of a spana through an opening 5D. Reference numeral 66A illustrated in Fig. 28 also designates a rod, adjusting the distances between round shafts 55A so that panels llA are slidably and systematicaly shifted along said shafts. Nuts 44A are mounted on the shaft 66A. Therefor a position of the shaft 55A is adjusted with the nuts 44A.
Furthere, in case of bad scaffolds, panels and shafts are engaged as mentioned in Figs. 4, 5, 20 or 24 since couplors 88A
are employed to connect panels llA as illustrated in Fig. 29, holes are made at the sides having no hooks nor engaging portions of the panels llA so that connecting bolts can be inserted into there and fastned with nuts 88C. Thereby neighboring each panel is connected each other longitudinally and a parallel to the shafts. Thereby every panel can be slide toward the fedding portion of the shaft.
In case of round shafts 5, as illustrated in Figs. 30 and 31, a fringe 7 is attached at a side of an engaging portion 2 of a panel 1, the fringe 7 has a hole to be hooked with a connector 8 so that neighboring each panel is connected each other longitudinally and a parallel to the shafts 5.
Reference numeral 100 disignates an outer frame, being employed to prevent panels from sliding out. In case of a round shaft, a low end portion with larger diameter of a shaft than that of an en-gaging portion is also effective to prevent panels from sliding out.
When the concrete wall has a corner section as illustrated in Fig. 33 and the panelslof the present invention are attached thereto, the rectangular shaft 155 (or the combination of the stay and the rectangular shaft 155) is embedded in the wall 133, the panels 111, having engaging pertions 22 are - ' ' ' 10;~131 attached to the rectangular shaft 155 comprising the rectan~ular space 155b whose two faces are reduced 45 and the panel attaching grooves 155a of a tr~nsverse T ~hape , whereby the panels 111 can be attached to or removed from the corner sections of thewall by means o~ an arrengement similar to the panel attachlng mechanism shown in the second embodiment.
In the component~ ~how~ in respective embodiments the panels, stays and shafts are of alluminum alloy,stainless steel, hard plastic, or iron stock provided with a coating of a sufficient thickness.
Thu3, for attaching panels to the wall of the present inven-tion, the engaging portions 2, 22 formed on the reverse surface oi the panel are caused to slide in the engaging portions at the rectangular shaft 55 or the round shaft 5 in the-transverse or longitudinal direction, whereby the panel can be readily and accu-rately sttached to the wall without the necessity of screws, bolts and the like, or removed therefrom by moving the panel in an oppo-site direction to the attaching direction. In this way, the wall iB always covered by the replaceable panels. Further, it is pos-sible to provides the most p~oferable wall surface having an attractive appearance by subjecting a unit panel to surface treat-ment for providing various colous and a design thereon, and it is 1 ~180 possible to draw one motif over the entire wal~ surface.
Acoordlngly, it is p~ssible to constantly maintain the fresh appearance of the wall surfaces of the buildings by the replacement of the panels, in contrast'to conventional walls of concrete build-~ngs wherein lt $s difficult to prevent to the fadine of the col-oured wall surfaces due to sunlight and pollution. Moreover, it ls possible to easily repair a partial colour change or damage on .

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the pecture by replacing the panels at said portion with the new ones.
Further, the spaces present between respective unit panels are hardly observed since the ends of respective unit panels direct-ly contact each other. One motif drawn over the entire surface of the wall gives no impression of unbalanced appearance, and a uni-fied pictorial design is drawn thereover. Furthermore, the panels of the present invention are applicable not only to concrete walls but also panels made of transparent synthetic resins are applicable to the interior decoration. Moreover, it is possible to provide an entirely new luminous decoration effect by housing lighting equipments in the unit panels. Thus, the present invention is applicable to many purposes and has various uses.

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Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An improved wall panel structure, comprising:
a plurality of stays screwed to a wall and in parallel relationship;
a plurality of rectangular shafts positioned transversely to said stays and coupled thereto, said shafts being in parallel relationship, each said shaft having a groove therein, said groove extending longitudinally of said shaft and having U-and T-shaped cross-sections at alternating invervals longitudinally of said shaft; and a panel having four sides, opposite sides thereof being in parallel relationship, a plurality of engaging hooks extending from two opposite sides of said panel and adapted to be inserted into the grooves of two rectangular shafts in the region of the U-shaped cross-sections thereof, said panel thereafter being slid-ably shifted along said grooves until said engaging hooks are in regions of the grooves having T-shaped cross-sections, whereby said panel may be firmly retained by two rectangular shafts.

2. The improved wall panel structure of claim 1 wherein two engaging hooks are provided on each of said two opposite sides of said panel.

3. An improved wall panel structure comprising:
a plurality of stays screwed to a wall and in parallel relationship;
a plurality of rectangular shafts positioned transversely to said stays and coupled thereto, said shafts being in parallel relationship, each said shaft having a groove therein, said groove extending longitudinally of said shaft and having a U-shaped cross-section, a pair of plates being positioned within said groove and spaced apart, said plates having grooves centrally located therein and extending parallel to said shaft groove, said plate grooves extending from a side of said plates and terminating centrally thereof, said plates being spaced apart a distance equal to approximately one-fourth the width of the panel; and a panel having four sides, opposite side thereof being in parallel relationship, a plurality of engaging hooks extending from two opposite sides of said panel engaging hooks on each side of said opposite sides and adapted to be inserted into grooves of said rectangular shafts, said panel thereafter being slidably shifted along said grooves until said engaging hooks are coupled to said plates in said grooves, whereby said panel may be firmly retained.

4. An improved wall panel structure, comprising:
a plurality of stays screwed to a wall and in parallel relationship;
a plurality of round shafts positioned transversely of said stays and coupled thereto, said shafts being in parallel relation, said shafts each having first sections having a first diameter and second sections interposed between said first sec-tions and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first sections;
a panel having a front surface and a back surface and having four sides, opposite sides thereof being in parallel relationship, and having four engagement portions on the back surface, said engagement portion being aligned in two rows for engagement with two of said round shafts, said panel sliding freely over the sections of said shafts having a smaller diameter and being firmly retained by said sections having a larger dia-meter.