Faux-stone architectural panel system

Abstract

A set of faux-stone architectural panel members can be installed to create a stone-look wall or facade. Each panel member is cast from a concrete mixture of a cement or bonding agent and a light-weight aggregate. The various panel member may have one, two or three courses, i.e., rows, with the courses being offset at their ends, so as to achieve mating tenons and voids in respect to adjacent successive panel members. The tenons and voids of the panel members interfit or dovetail at corners. A coloring agent is applied onto said stone faces of the panel members. Hanger straps are embedded in the panel members and protrude up from them for attaching to a wall substrate using drywall screws or similar fasteners.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 192,685, filed Jul. 29, 2005, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 592,473, filed Jul. 30, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to modes of applying decorative stonework or brickwork to interior and exterior walls, and is more particularly concerned with the application of a system of architectural panel elements, i.e., a faux-stone facade, that closely resemble natural stone (or brick, or brick-and-stone) construction. [0003] The practice of covering an interior wall or an exterior wall with stone for aesthetic purposes has traditionally involved standard masonry practices. That is, the stone mason arranges stones onto the wall and sets them in place using a mortar. The mason then fills in the joints between the installed stones with grout, or with additional mortar, to make the wall look as if it were a stone wall. The process of arrangi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a system of faux-stone wall elements that can be easily installed onto a vertical substrate, such as a wall or a facade. The faux-stone elements are made of a concrete mixture that includes a cement binder and a light-weight aggregate material, which are poured into a rubber mold and then formed into the desired shape. The faux-stone elements can be attached to the substrate using common fasteners and do not require special training or experience in masonry work. The faux-stone elements can be staggered up and down to create a natural stone look. The invention provides a lightweight and easy-to-install faux-stone system that achieves a natural stone look.

Problems solved by technology

The process of arranging the stones, which are of random shapes and sizes, and adhering the stones to the wall, is tedious and requires substantial skill.

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