US3328933A

US3328933A - Wall panels

Info

Publication number: US3328933A
Application number: US378703A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lutze Gunter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-02
Filing date: 1964-06-29
Publication date: 1967-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-04
Also published as: FR1400100A; CH427190A

Description

July 4, 1967 G. LUTZE 3,328,933

WALL PANELS Filed June 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, 1967 G. LUTZE 3,328,933

WALL PANELS Filed June 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "www"""flrwwww mi? G. LUTzE 3,328,933

WALL PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 4, 1967 Filed June 29, 1964 n: um: m: m: Q:

wm: ,|.l.|. um: -alli n m: m Q m: 2: w E l. E 2:.:

July 4, 1967 G. LUTzE 3,328,933

WALL PANELS Filed June 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 113e 113 ea 113 113 113ea113b'113c 115 United States Patent O 3,328,933 WALL PANELS Gnter Ltze, Untere Steigstrasse 32,

Reutlingen-Ohmenhausen, Germany Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,703

Claims priority, application Germany, July 2, 1963, L 45,249; Mar. 12, 1964, L 47,271 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-586) The present invention relates to walls of buildings.

More particularly, the present invention relates to wall panels which are adapted to be assembled together to form at least part of the wall of a building, and in particular the Wall panels ofthe invention are situated at the exterior of the building wall.

Wall panels of this type conventionally include metallic frames which extend along the peripheries of the wall panels, so that when the panels are assembled these metallic peripheral frames thereof dene gaps between themselves. During certain times of yea-r, particularly in the winter, the interior of the building is of cour-se at a higher temperature than the atmosphere at the ex-terior of the building, with the result that the metallic frames of the wall panels conduct a considerable amount of heat, outwardly from the building to the outer atmosphere. As -a result these metallic panel frames are generally quite cold and they form what is the equivalent of a thermal bridge between the interior of the buil-ding and the exterior thereof. As a result any moisture which happens to be in the atmosphere in the immediate vicinity of the metallic frames of the wall panels will condense to form undesirable liquid deposits at the gaps between the metallic panel frames, and this condensation is extremely undesirable.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a wall panel of the above type which will reliably avoid condensation of any moisture in the gaps between the Wall panels.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide `a wall panel stru-cture having elements capable of being inexpensively manufactured by suitable extruders, for example, and capable of being easily assembled so as to form the wall panel of the invention.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a structure which lends itself to quick and easy assembly for the purpose of forming a wall panel.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lstructure which enables the wall panel to form inner passages capable of accommodating elongated elements required to serve the building, such as, for example, electrical conductors.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a wall panel which can conveniently be provided with an exterior finish layer to provide -a desired exterior surface for the wall panel.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of a wall panel which can accommodate an inner foam plastic filling.

Among the objects of the present invention is also a process for manufacturing a wall panel, this process enabling in particular the filling of the foam plastic into the interior of the wall panel to be carried out in an extremely simple, rapid and eicient manner.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of a wall panel where fastening elements which hold the components of the wall panel together cannot damage articles such as elongated electrical conductors guided through spaces of the wall panel.

In addition, the objects of the present invention include a wall panel having peripheral frame portions joined to each other at bevelled ends which dene corners of the wall panel and having'an insulating filling of foam plastic which is reliably prevented from having access to the adjoining bevelled corners of the wall panel.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wall panel having peripheral frame components which can quickly and easily be snapped together during their assembly.

In addition, it is an object of t-he present invention to provide a wall panel which can easily be adapted to accommodate a socket for elements such as electrical conductors which extend along passages of the wall panels.

The objects of the present invention further include a wall panel capable of permitting air to -tlow between the interior and exterior of the wall panel.

Also, the objects of the present invention include a wall panel structure which in combination with adjoining wall panels forms the equivalent of an elongated compression assembly capable of absorbing forces which act on the building and transmitting these forces to the foundation of the building, for example.

With the above objects in -view the invention includes in a wall panel which is adapted to be assembled with additional wall panels to form at least part of a wall, an outer metallic frame extending along and defining the periphery of the wall panel, this outer metallic frame lextending from the region of anouter face of the wall panel toward but terminating short of an inner face thereof. An inner non-metallic frame also extends along and deiines the periphery of the wall panel, this inner frame being ixed to the metallic outer frame and extending therefrom inwardly to the Iregion of the inner face of the wall panel. Thus, with the structure of the invention the inner non-metallic frame will insulate the outer metallic frame from the interior of the building so that condensation resulting from the low temperature of the metallic frame during cold atmospheric conditions is reliably avoided.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with adidtional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l shows a longitudinal sectional illustration of one possible embodiment of a wall panel according to the invention, lthe central intermediate portion of the wall panel being eliminated from FIG. 1 so as to provide more space for ilustrating the details of the structure along the periphery of the wall panel;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, on a scale ysmaller than that of FIG. 1, of the non-metallic inner frame before it is shaped to extend along the periphery of the panel;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the panel of FIG. 1 as seen when looking downwardly on the wall panel of FIG. 1 with the inner plate of this Wall panel removed as to clearly illustrate the structure of the inner non-metallic frame at the corners of the panel;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional illustration of another embodiment of a wall panel according to the invention, FIG. 4 being taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows but showing the structure 3 at both ends of the panel although only one end thereof is illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 4 at one end of the panel as it appears when looking from below FIG. 4 upwardly toward the panel and with the inner plate of the panel removed, parts of FIG. 4 also being broken away to clearly show the details of the structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the wall panel illustrated therein includes a metallic outer frame 11, for example, of the aluminum sheet and having the configuration of a container. This container which forms the outer metallic frame 11 has an outer plate portion 11a which extends completely across the entire panel and the outer frame has side plate portions 11b which extend inwardly from the edges of the plate portion 11a so as to form a container therewith, the container being open at its end distant from its plate portion 11a. The four side plate portions 11b of the rectangular outer frame 11 extend along and dene the periphery of the panel, and the outer metallic frame 11 of the panel extends from the region of the outer face of the panel, shown at the bottom of FIG. l, inwardly toward but terminating short of the inner face of the panel which is situated at the top of FIG. 1. The end of the outer frame 11 which is nearest to the inner face of the panel has inwardly directed flanges 11e extending inwardly from the side plate portions 11bwhich are integral with the flanges 11C, and all the side plate portions 11b and flanges 11e are joined to each otherto form a continuous closed peripheral wall portion of the panel.

In accordance with the invention the panel includes an inner non-metallic frame 12 which also extends along and defines the periphery of the panel, this inner non-metallic frame 12 being made of a suitable plastic which is springy, and the inner frame 12 is formed from an elongated extrusion having the prole which is apparent from the sectional illustration of FIG. 1.

The inner frame 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the configuration which it has before it is shaped to define the rectangular inner non-metallic frame which extends along the periphery of the panel. As may be seen from FIG. 2 the inner frame 12 is a section of the continuous extrusion 12a, and when cut from the extrusion 12a the frame 12 has opposed inclined end faces 12e` which are bevelled as illustrated in FIG. 2. In addition the side of the extrusion which will be directed toward the interior of the panel is formed with the V-notches 12b which terminate short of the outer Wall of the frame `12 so that the entire elongated frame 12 will still be a unitary structure, and these V-notches 12b are defined by bevelled surfaces which abut against each other to form tight corners when the inner frame 12 is shaped to the configuration of the rectangular panel. This construction is shown most clearly in FIG. 3 where the bevelled surfaces 12b of the V-notches are shown engaging each other and where the bevelled end faces 12e are also shown engaging each other at the upper right corner of the panel structure illustrated in FIG. 3. These inclined bevelled surfaces 12b and 12C preferably extend at a 45 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame 12 before it is shaped to the configuration shown in FIG. 3.

The prole of the inner frame 12 includes the walls 12d, 12e, 12j and 12g which cooperate to define an elongated hollow tubular structure for the inner frame 12, this tubular structure having a rectangular cross section, and in the interior of this tubular structure the frame 12 includes the partition 12h which divides the interior of the tubular portion of the frame 12 into the

chambers

12i and 12k. The walls 12d and 12e are formed with openings 12m through which air can pass.

The Wall 12g is integrally formed with an angular portion 12n which extends at its free edge to the plane of the outer wall 12d and this angular portion 12n defines in the side of the panel a notch cooperating with a notch of an adjoining panel, as shown in dot-dash lines at the left of FIG. l, to form an elongated space for receiving the relatively rigid elongated strip 13 which serves to assemble the adjoining panels together in the coplanar relationship indicated in FIG. 1. The portion 12n of the frame 12 is additionally formed integrally with a further angular portion 12p which defines with the portion 12n an elongated groove which -receives the inwardly directed flanges 11C of the outer metallic frame 11, and the thickness of the groove corresponds to the thickness of the flanges 11C for receiving the latter in a fluid-tight manner, although if desired a suitable sealing material can be situated in this groove to assure fluid-tight connection between the inner and outer 4panels so that moisture cannot have access to the interior of the panel. It is possible to manufacture the portions 12u and 12p with a precision which is sufficient to provide for the flanges 11e` a fit which is tight enough to prevent the entry of moisture.

The plastic extrusion material used for the inner frame 12 is of a springy elastic nature so that it can, without the use of any special structure, simply expand due to its own inherent resiliency onto the flanges 11C. The frame 12 is shaped to the general configuration of the panel and then compressed inwardly to a size small enough to permit it to be introduced into the space surrounded by the flanges 11C, and when the groove formed by portions 1211 and 12p is at the elevation of the flanges 11c the frame 12 is released so that it will expand onto the flanges which are received in the groove, as indicated in FIG. l. In this way the inner non-metallic frame 12 is releasably fixed with the outer metallic frame 11 and extends therefrom inwardly to the region of the inner face of the panel.

The space which is defined by the interior of the container 11 and the extension thereof provided by the inner frame 12 is filled with a foam plastic mass 14 which is introduced into this space in a non-hardened and non-foamed condition, the space being filled by the plastic mass 14 after it foams and hardens. In order to retain the foam plastic in this interior space of the panel, the inner plate 15, which extends completely across the panel and which is made of gypsum, for example, is -placed against the wall 12jc of the frame 12 immediately after the foam plastic is introduced into the interior of the panel and is fastened to the frame 12, as by screws 16, the inner plate 15 thereafter forming a permanent part of the panel, so that in this way the foam plastic mass 14 has its expansion confined to the interior of the panel.

If the foam plastic material has the property of adhering to the inner plate 15, a fastening means 16 need not be used, and instead the inner plate 15 is pressed against the wall 12j with a suitable press until after the process of foaming and hardening of the plastic mass has been completed. The foam plastic by adhering to the plate 15 will in this case maintain it assembled with the frame 12. It is also possible to introduce into the interior of the panel a different type of insulation material which can either be poured in a loose, particulate condition into the panel or which can be introduced or glued to the interior of the panel in the form of one or more solid pieces which are placed in the interior of the panel.

Particularly where the outer frame 11 is made of aluminum sheet metal, the wall panel can be provided at the exterior of the outer plate portion 11a with an extremely thin layer 17 of a suitable finish material situated at the exterior of the plate portion 11a and having directed away from the latter an outer surface which forms the outer face of the panel. The inner face of the panel is formed by the exposed surface of the inner plate 15.

In order to be able to Iabsorb the pressure in the interior of the panel during foaming of the plastic mass 14 and pressing of the plate 15 against the inner frame 12, the panel is placed during the foaming process in a suitable form which is strong enough to withstand the foaming pressure.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a rectangular metallic outer frame part of which is formed by an element 110 made of sheet metal and having an outer plate portion 110a extending across the entire panel in the region of its outer face. This outer plate portion 110a is integrally joined at its edges to inwardly directed flanges 110b which are relatively narrow. These ilanges are connected with metallic side plate portions 111 which together with the sheet metal member 110 forms the outer metallic frame means of this embodiment. The side plate portions 111 are suitably bevelled at their ends so as to form tight corners where they abut each other. The side plate portions 11 are cut from an extrusion having the profile shown in FIG. 4, and along one edge this profile includes t-he legs 111a 4and 111b which are of different lengths and which are spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the lianges 110b so as to form the grooves 111e which receive the flanges 110b with a fairly tight fit, and in this way the

parts

110 and 111 are Huid-tightly fixed to each other to form the outer metallic frame of this embodiment. The depth of the groove 111c is greater than any possible tolerance variations in the width of the anges 110b so that these iianges do not completely ll the grooves 111C. The legs 111b are longer than the legs 111a and have at their free edges inwardly directed portions 111ba which directly engage the outer plate portion 110a.

At its portion which is directed toward Ithe inner face of the panel, each side plate 111 has a profile of substantially U-shaped configuration, and the prole portion 111d denes a notch in the side of the panel aligned with a notch of an adjoining panel, as shown in dot-dash lines at the right of FIG. 4, to dene the space which receives the strip 112 which maintains a pair of adjoining panels assembled together in coplanar relationship.

The exterior limb lllda of the U-shaped profile portion 111d is provided at its surface which is directed toward the inner face of the panel with a pair of integral elongated projections 111db which form V-grooves 111de providing an elongated dovetail channel 111dd directed ltoward the inner face of the panel, and it will be noted that each projection 111db is itself of a dovetail cross section.

The dovetail channel 111dd receives the springy dovetail projection'portion 113ml yof the inner non-metallic springy plastic frame 113 which at the sides of its dovetail projection has elongated projecting por-tions of dovetail cross section mating with and receiving -the dovetail projections 111db so that the inner non-metallic frame 113 of this embodiment is in this way fixed to the outer metallic frame and extends from the latter to the region of the inner face of the panel.

The inner frame 113 is in the form of a plastic extrusion of tubular rectangular profile, and the extrusion includes an inner partition 113b separating the interior of the frame 113 into a pair of elongated passages 113C and 113d. This partition 113b is perpendicular to the plate portion 11061 of the outer metallic frame and is situated approximately at the same distance from the outer surface of the side plate portions 111 as the nnermost part of the U-shaped prole portion 111d. As a result the passage 113d forms the interior of an inner hollow tubular peripheral portion of the inner frame which extends inwardly beyond the side plate portions 111 of the outer frame.

The inner frame 113 is made up of four elongated sections which, however, are not joined by beveled ends. Instead those sections of the inner frame 113 which extend along the top and bot-tom of the panel, in a horizontal direction, lhave ya length equal to the entire length of the panel and extend completely across the latter. The vertically extending end sections of the inner frame 113 extend between the horizontal sections of the inner 6 frame 113. This arrangement is shown most clearly in FIG. 5.

At their surfaces which are directed away from the metallic frame tow-ard the inner face of the panel, these sections of the frame 113 are formed with transverse ribs 113ea which extend completely across the frame and dene at these surfaces 113e elongated grooves. The inner plate 114 of the panel engages these ribs to form with these transverse grooves elongated passages through which air can escape from the interior of the panel during foaming of the foam plastic mass 115. In the event that this latter mass does not have the property of adhering to the inner plate 114 so as to hold the latter assembled with the remainder of the panel, the fastening means'117 in the form of suitable screws may be used for fixing the inner plate 114 to the inner frame 113. It is to be noted that these screws communicate only with the elongated passages 113C and are maintained separate from the passages 113d by the partitions 113b. The foam plastic mass 115 is introduced into the panel of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the same way as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

The plate portion l10n is provided at its exterior with a thin finish layer 118 of any desired material, and this layer 11S has an exposed surface which forms the outer face of the panel.

The inner face of the panel is surface of the inner plate 114.

FIG. 5 shows a notch 119 formed only in the passage 113d of the upper section of the frame 113 of FIG. 5. When the panels are assembled the open ends of the horizontal inner frame sections will adjoin each other so that the passages 113e and 113d of a series of horizontal frame sections will form continuations of each other so as to provide in this way elongated passages extending from panel to panel and capable of accommodating elongated elements such as electrical conductors. It is to be noted that the passage 113d of the vertical frame section 113 of FIG. 5 is also cut into by the notch 119. In this way there is formed in these adjoining frame sections 113 as well as in a corner of the foam plastic mass 115 a recess, which can also extend through the inner plate 114, if desired, to accommodate a connection box, plug assembly, or the like for the electrical conductors, so that these conductors can be guided out of the passages 113d of a series of .horizontal sections 113 through such a lbox, plug assembly or the like. By the arrangement of the passages 113d extending inwardly beyond the U-shaped prole portion 111d of the metallic outer frame, it is possible to cut the inner frame sections at the passages 113d thereof without any danger of simultaneously cutting the U-shaped profile portion 111:1'. The partitions 113a1 in addition to stiffening the frame sections 113 serve to separate the sections 113C from the passages 113d so that conductors, conduits, or the like extending through the latter passages cannot be damaged by fasteners such as screws, 117 which extend into the passages 113e, since the partitions prevent the structure extending in the passages 113d from having access to the passages 113e.

It is possible to provide the side plate portions 111 with a profile which includes structure forming from all of these side plate portions of a plurality of panels of a wall a known compression assembly or framework capable of absorbing forces acting on a corner of a wall of a Vbuilding which includes the panel of the present invention in such a way that when, for example, a horizontal force acts on such a corner, such a force resulting from the action of the wind pressing against the building, for example, this force will be transmitted by the framework formed by the series of plate portions 111 to the foundation of the building. l

It is to be noted that in order to join the inner frame sections 113 to the side plate portions 111 of the outer metallic frame it is not necessary to slide the sections 113 longitudinally of the plate portions 111 to be received in formed by the exposed the dovctail channels thereof. Instead it is only necessary to align the sections 113 with the plate portions 111 and press the sections 113 toward the front face of the panel so that the dovetail portions of the sections 113 will simply snap into the dovetail channels.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of walls differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in wall panels, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a wall panel adapted to be assembled with additional wall panels to form therewith at least part of a wall, in combination, an outer metallic frame extending along and defining the periphery of the wall panel, said outer metallic frame having in the region of an outer face of said panel an outer plate portion extending completely across the panel and said outer frame having a plurality of side plate portions respectively extending from the edges of said outer plate portion inwardly toward but terminating short of an inner face of said panel, said side plate portions and outer plate portion of said outer frame defining a container; an inner non-metallic frame of hollow tubular construction and consisting of springy elastic material also extending along and defining the periphery of said panel, said inner frame extending inwardly from said side plate portions to the region of said inner face of said panel and having a permanent tendency to flex away from said side plate portions; securing means for securing said inner and outer frames and including interengaging portions respectively provided on said outer and inner frames and being maintained in interengagernent by said tendency of said inner frame to flex away from said side plate portions; an inner plate extending completely across the panel and engaging an end surface of said inner frame distant from said outer frame, said inner plate closing said container and having an exposed surface dening the inner face of said panel; and a foam plastic filling said container and the space surrounded by said inner frame and engaging an inner surface of said inner plate which is directed toward said outer plate, said foam plastic adhering to said inner surface of said inner plate for holding the latter in engagement with said inner frame.

2. In a panel as recited in claim 1, said inner frame being constituted by a single elongated plastic body having a pair of adjoining ends, said panel having corners and said elongated plastic body being formed before it is shaped to the periphery of said panel with notches which provide at said corners bevelled surfaces on said frame which adjoin each other When the latter is shaped to the configuration of said panel.

3. A wall panel as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner frame comprises an elongated interior partition subdividing the interior of said inner frame into a pair of elongated cham-bers at least one of which is adapted to accommodate elongated elements, such as electrical conductors and the like.

4. A wall panel as defined in claim 1, one of said frames being provided with a longitudinal notch extending therealong and adapted to form with a similar notch of an adjoining panel a space for receiving a structure for determining the positions of adjoining panels relative to one another.

S. In a wall panel adapted to be assembled with additional wall panels to form therewith at least part of a wall, in combination, an outer metallic frame extending along and defining the peripheral outline of the wall panel, said outer metallic frame having in the region of an outer face of said panel an outer plate portion extending completely across the panel and having an inwardly directed surface, and said outer frame having a plurality of said plate portions respectively extending from the edges of said outer plate portion inwardly toward but terminating short of an inner face of said panel; an inner non-metallic frame of hollow tubular construction also extending along and defining the periphery of said panel, said inner frame extending inwardly from said side plate portions to the region of said inner face of said panel and being so configurated as to be located wholly within said peripheral outline defined by said outer frame, said inner frame defining with said side plate portions and said outer plate portion of said outer frame a container having an open end; securing means joining said inner and outer frames t0- gether and including interengaging portions respectively provided on said outer and inner frames and engaging one another; an inner plate extending completely across said container at said open end thereof, covering said inner frame and engaging an end surface of said inner frame of hollow tubular construction which is distant from said outer frame, said inner plate being secured to said inner frame closing said open end of said container, and having an exposed first surface defining the inner face of said panel and a second surface facing the interior of the container; and insulating material filling said container intermediate said inwardly directed surface of said outer plate portion and said second surface of said inner panel and being in engagement with both of these surfaces.

6. In a panel as recited in claim 5, said inner frame being formed from a section of elongated extruded plastic profile which is shaped to the configuration of the periphery of said panel.

7. A wall panel as defined in claim 5; and further comprising a longitudinal notch provided in at least one lateral face of one of said frames and being adapted to form with a similar notch of an adjoining panel a space for receiving a structure for determining the positions of adjoining panels relative to each other.

8. A wall panel as defined in claim 5, wherein said end surface of said inner frame is provided with a plurality of transverse ribs distributed therealong to define with said inner plate passages through which air can pass.

9. A wall panel as defined in claim 5; and further comprising an interior partition arranged within said hollow tubular inner frame and separating that hollow inner peripheral portion of said inner `frame which is located inwardly of said outer frame from the remainder of said inner frame.

10. A wall panel as defined in claim 5, wherein said side plate portions are releasably connected to said outer plate portion; said interengaging portions including elongated recesses extending along edge portions of the respective side plate portions, and free edge portions provided on said outer plate portion and received in respective ones of said elongated recesses.

11. A wall panel as dened in claim 5; and further comprising a longitudinal notch provided in at least one of said side plate portions extending along the latter and being adapted to form with a similar notch of an adjoining panel a space for receiving a structure for determining the positions of adjoining panels relative to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 9 UNITED STATES PATENTS Frohnapel 52291 Giard 49-386 X Eagles 52--404 X Kenedy 52--582 X Sanunders 52.--619 X Ries 52-619 X Soddy 52-309 X Carbary 49-483 X Heifner 52-309 X 1 0 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1960 Great Britain. 9/ 1962 Great Britain.

5 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

5. IN A WALL PANEL ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLED WITH ADDITIONAL WALL PANELS TO FORM THEREWITH AT LEAST PART OF A WALL, IN COMBINATION, AN OUTER METALLIC FRAME EXTENDING ALONG AND DEFINING THE PERIPHERAL OUTLINE OF THE WALL PANEL, SAID OUTER METALLIC FRAME HAVING IN THE REGION OF AN OUTER FACE OF SAID PANEL AN OUTER PLATE PORTION EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS THE PANEL AND HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE, AND SAID OUTER FRAME HAVING A PLURALITY OF SAID PLATE PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING FROM EDGES OF SAID OUTER PLATE PORTION INWARDLY TOWARD BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF AN INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL; AN INNER NON-METALLIC FRAME OF HOLLOW TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION ALSO EXTENDING ALONG AND DEFINING THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL, SAID INNER FRAME EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID SIDE PLATE PORTIONS TO THE REGION OF SAID INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL AND BEING SO CONFIGURATED AS TO BE LOCATED WHOLLY WITHIN SAID PERIPHERAL OUTLINE DEFINED BY SAID OUTER FRAME, SAID INNER FRAME DEFINING WITH SAID SIDE PLATE PORTIONS AND SAID OUTER PLATE PORTION OF SAID OUTER FRAME A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END; SECURING MEANS JOINING SAID INNER AND OUTER FRAMES TOGETHER AND INCLUDING INTERENGAGING PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED ON SAID OUTER AND INNER FRAMES AND ENGAGING ONE ANOTHER; AN INNER PLATE EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS SAID CONTAINER AT SAID OPEN END THEREOF, COVERING SAID INNER FRAME AND ENGAGING AN END SURFACE OF SAID INNER FRAME OF HOLLOW TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION WHICH IS DISTANT FROM SAID OUTER FRAME, SAID INNER PLATE BEING SECURED TO SAID INNER FRAME CLOSING SAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER, AND HAVING AN EXPOSED FIRST SURFACE DEFINING THE INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL AND A SECOND FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER; AND INSULATING MATERIAL FILLING SAID CONTAINER INTERMEDIATE SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE OF SAID OUTER PLATE PORTION AND SAID SECOND SURFACE OF SAID PANEL AND BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH OF THESE SURFACES.