AND PANEL SUPPORT APPARATUS

This application claims the benefit of United States provisional patent application no. 61/481 ,681 filed May 2, 201 1 , the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to architectural finish elements and supporting apparatus therefor, and more particularly to architectural finish elements that employ real rock configured in a lightweight panel form. The invention also relates to apparatus for supporting architectural finish panels including the type that employ real rock configured in a lightweight panel form.

2. Description of Related Art

Various architectural finish elements have been used over the years to clad architectural structures such as buildings. Some of these architectural finish elements involve individual stone elements, individually secured to the architectural structure. Installation of this type of element is time-consuming, and such elements can be susceptible to release from the surface due to thermal expansion and contraction, which can loosen mortar adhesion systems that secure such elements to an architectural structure for example. Further, such individually secured stone elements are often joined by mortar joints having thicknesses of about 3/8 inches or more, and such mortar joints may have an undesirable appearance.

Some inventors have overcome the mortar adhesion problem by cutting grooves into the individual stone elements and using a support clip that cooperates with the groove to support the individual stone element, but this tends to secure the stone elements rather rigidly to the surface of the architectural structure, which can still be a problem due to wind loading and seismic loading. Forces due to these conditions can result in displacement of the individual stone elements from the clips, resulting in release of one of more of the stone elements from the structure. The appearance of dry-stacked individual stone elements (i.e. where there are no readily apparent joint lines between adjacent stone elements) is a highly desirable and attractive finish and is generally achieved only by actually dry stacking individual stone elements. Generally, individual stone elements are not aggregated together into unitary collections to form an architectural finish element because the stone elements themselves are generally relatively heavy such that any unitary collection of stone elements is generally too heavy to be lifted by a single person and would be too heavy to meet many building codes. To reduce weight, individual stone elements may sometimes be secured to a foam backing for example, but the foam can deform over time if subjected to point loading and can be susceptible to ultraviolet radiation degradation and can present challenges for fire proofing.

Artificially formed surfaces comprised of concrete painted and molded to look like a dry-stacked arrangement of individual stone elements have been used on foam to form building blocks but are still too heavy and therefore not suitable for cladding a building. Patio and walkway surfaces have been paved by masonry panels comprising a reinforced series of masonry elements such as stone or brick pavers bound together by a cement or mortar-like material, but these too are too heavy for cladding an architectural structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an architectural finish element operable to be placed adjacent similar architectural finish elements to form a finished surface on an architectural structure. The architectural finish element includes a body formed of a rock-based composite material including a low density solid particle additive. The architectural finish element also includes a plurality of unitary real stone veneer elements bonded to the body in courses extending in a first direction and in a random non-repetitive pattern, the real stone veneer elements having respective face surfaces generally lying in a plane to form an overall face surface of the architectural finish element. The low density solid particle additive is provided in an amount suitable to cause the architectural finish element to have a density of between about 10 pounds per square foot to about 15 pounds per square foot.

The real stone veneer elements may have a density of between about 8 pounds per square foot to about 11 pounds per square foot.

The solid particle additive may include at least one of recycled waste, non-toxic waste, post manufacturing waste, and post consumer waste.

The solid particle additive may include lightweight synthetic particles.

The lightweight synthetic particles may include polymer particles. The body may include about 25% to about 50% of the low density solid particle additive by volume.

The rock-based composite material may include pumice and cement.

The rock-based composite material may have a density of no more than about 4 pounds per square foot. The body may have top, bottom and left and right edges and the left and right edges may have complementary shapes for engaging with corresponding right and left edges of left and right adjacent similar architectural finish elements respectively.

The left and right edges of the body may have a complementary stepped-shape. The plurality of unitary real stone veneer elements may be bonded to the body such that a spacing between adjacent courses is generally between 0 inches to about 1/4 inches to cause the real stone veneer elements forming the overall face surface to have a dry-stacked appearance. The body may have a bottom edge and the courses of the unitary real stone veneer elements may be bonded to the body such that upper and lower edges of left side veneer elements adjacent the left edge of the body are generally the same distance from the bottom edge of the body as corresponding upper and lower edges of right side veneer elements adjacent the right edge of the body such that when a left edge of a first similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element is engaged with the right edge of the architectural finish element, corresponding courses of real stone veneer elements are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element and the similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element and such that when a right edge of a second similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element is engaged with the left edge of the architectural finish element corresponding courses of real stone veneer elements are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element and the second architectural finish element. The top and bottom edges may have top and bottom profiles respectively for cooperating with support apparatus to secure the architectural finish element to the architectural structure.

The body may have a rear portion disposed opposite the face surface and the rear portion may include an integral moisture path interference structure operably configured to interfere with seepage of moisture from between adjacent such architectural finish elements toward the architectural structure. The moisture path interference structure may include a rear surface opposite the face surface, on the body, the rear surface including generally planar portions and a plurality of parallel spaced apart spacers extending between the top and bottom edges of the body. The spacers may include dovetailed tenons.

At least some of the dovetailed tenons may have a recess to receive a portion of a mounting element.

At least some of the dovetailed tenons may be spaced apart between the top and bottom edges to form air passageways that may permit air to move in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the courses of the real stone veneer.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an architectural finishing method. The method involves mounting a mounting portion of a body of at least one dual architectural finish element support to a surface of an architectural structure, and causing a first holder on the body to hold a portion of a bottom edge of a first architectural finish element in a first holder. The method also involves causing a second holder on the body to hold a portion of a top edge of a second architectural finish element adjacent to the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and in alignment with the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element such that finish surfaces of the first and second architectural finish elements are generally coplanar. The method also involves causing the body to absorb mechanical forces between the first and second architectural finish elements and the architectural structure.

The first and second holders may hold the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and the top edge of the second architectural finish element within about 1/4 inches of each other. Mounting may involve causing a flat surface of a sheet portion of the body to rest against the surface of the architectural structure.

Absorbing mechanical forces may involve causing a force absorbing member to be held by a holder on the body, in a position to absorb the mechanical loads between the body and the surface of the architectural structure.

Causing a force absorbing member to be held may involve causing a portion of the force absorbing member to be held in an opening in the sheet portion and between the guides on opposite sides of the opening.

Causing the force absorbing member to be held may involve aligning the force absorbing member in the opening and aligning the force absorbing member between the guides.

Aligning the force absorbing member may involve causing a flat outer surface of a projection on the force absorbing member, having a shape complementary to a shape of the opening to bear against the surface of the architectural structure and a holding portion of the force absorbing member, adjacent the projection and having first and second opposite end portions extending outwardly on opposite sides of the projection to overlap with corresponding margins of the sheet portion on opposite sides of the opening when the projection is received in the opening.

Absorbing the forces may involve causing a fastening bar having a bearing surface having a shape corresponding to a shape of the holding portion of the force absorbing portion and an opening for receiving a fastener to receive a fastener through the opening and through the force absorbing member such that the fastener bears against the fastening bar to cause the bearing surface of the fastening bar to bear against the holding portion to press the opposite ends of the holding portion against the margins of the sheet portion, while holding the projection in contact with the surface of the architectural structure, such that differences in forces between the sheet portions and the surface of the architectural structure are absorbed by the force absorbing member.

Absorbing the force may involve causing a resilient body acting as the force absorbing member to resiliently deform in response to forces between the surface of the architectural structure and the mounting portion.

The resilient body may be comprised of Neoprene ^® .

Causing the first holder on the body to hold a portion of a bottom edge of the first architectural finish element may involve causing a first projection on the first holder to be received in a groove in a bottom edge of the first architectural finish element. The method may further involve causing the first holder to hold the edge of the first architectural finish element in a position spaced apart from the surface of the architectural structure.

The method may further involve receiving the edge of the first architectural finish element in a first receptacle defined by a first set of bent portions in a unitary piece of sheet metal acting as the body.

The method may further involve causing coplanar distal edges of the guides to touch a cooperating surface on a back side of the architectural finish element to position the first architectural finish element.

The method may further involve causing a second projection on the body to bear against a portion of the top edge of the second architectural finish element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a dual architectural finish element support apparatus including a body. The body includes a mounting portion facilitating mounting the second body to a surface of an architectural structure, a first holder operably configured to hold a portion of a bottom edge of a first architectural finish element, a second holder operably configured to hold a portion of a top edge of a second architectural finish element adjacent to the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and in alignment with the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element such that finish surfaces of the first and second architectural finish elements are generally coplanar, and a load absorber operably configured to absorb mechanical forces between the mounting portion and the architectural structure.

The first and second holders may hold the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and the top edge of the second architectural finish element within about 1/4 inches of each other.

The mounting portion may include a sheet portion having a flat surface for resting against the surface of the architectural structure.

The load absorber may include a force absorbing member, and the sheet portion may have a force absorbing member holder for holding the force absorbing member in a position to absorb the mechanical loads between the body and the surface of the architectural structure.

The force absorbing member holder may include a wall defining an opening in the sheet portion and guides extending from the wall and disposed adjacent the opening for holding a portion of the force absorbing member in the opening and between the guides.

The force absorbing member may include a first aligner operably configured to align the force absorbing member in the opening and a second aligner operably configured to align the force absorbing member against the guides.

The first aligner may include a projection on the force absorbing member. The projection may have a flat outer surface for bearing against the surface of the architectural structure and may have a shape complementary to a shape of the opening. The second aligner may include a holding portion on the force absorbing member adjacent the projection and having first and second opposite end portions extending outwardly on opposite sides of the projection such that the first and second opposite ends overlap with corresponding margins of the sheet portion on opposite sides of the opening when the projection is received in the opening.

The load absorber may further include a fastening bar having a bearing surface having a shape corresponding to a shape of the holding portion of the force absorbing portion, and the fastening bar may have an opening for receiving a fastener operable to extend through the fastening bar and through the force absorbing member such that the fastener bears against the fastening bar to cause the bearing surface of the fastening bar to bear against the holding portion to press the opposite ends of the holding portion against the margins of the sheet portion, while holding the projection in contact with the surface of the architectural structure, such that differences in forces between the sheet portions and the surface of the architectural structure may be absorbed by the force absorbing member.

The force absorbing member may include a resilient body resiliently deformable in response to forces between the surface of the architectural structure and the mounting portion. The resilient body may be comprised of Neoprene ^® .

The body of the architectural finish element support apparatus may be formed of a unitary piece of sheet metal bent into a form defining the mounting portion, the first holder and the second holder.

The first holder may include a first projection operably configured to be received in a groove in a bottom edge of the first architectural finish element. The first holder may include a first receptacle spaced apart from the mounting portion, for holding the edge of the first architectural finish element in a position spaced apart from the surface of the architectural structure.

The first receptacle may be defined by a first set of bent portions of the unitary piece of sheet metal.

The guides may have coplanar distal edges lying in a plane spaced apart from the first projection by a distance enabling the coplanar distal edges to touch a cooperating surface on a back side of the first architectural finish element.

The second holder may include a second projection operably configured to bear against a portion of a top edge of the second architectural finish element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an architectural finishing system. The system includes first and second architectural finish elements of the type described above, and at least one dual architectural finish element support system including a second body. The second body includes a mounting portion facilitating mounting the second body to a surface of an architectural structure, a first holder operably configured to hold a portion of a bottom edge of the first architectural finish element, and a second holder operably configured to hold a portion of a top edge of the second architectural finish element adjacent to the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and in alignment with the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element such that finish surfaces of the first and second architectural finish elements are generally coplanar. The at least one dual architectural finish element support system also includes a load absorber operably configured to absorb mechanical forces between the mounting portion and the architectural structure. The first and second holders may hold the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element and the top edge of the second architectural finish element within about 1/4 inches of each other.

The mounting portion may include a sheet portion having a flat surface for resting against the surface of the architectural structure.

The load absorber may include a force absorbing member, and the sheet portion may have a force absorbing member holder for holding the force absorbing member in a position to absorb the mechanical loads between the mounting portion and the surface of the architectural structure. The force absorbing member holder may include a wall defining an opening in the sheet portion and guides extending from the wall and disposed adjacent the opening for holding a portion of the force absorbing member in the opening and between the guides.

The force absorbing member may include a first aligner operably configured to align the force absorbing member in the opening and a second aligner operably configured to align the force absorbing member against the guides.

The first aligner may include a projection on the force absorbing member. The projection may have a flat outer surface for bearing against the surface of the architectural structure and may have a shape complementary to a shape of the opening. The second aligner may include a holding portion on the force absorbing member adjacent the projection and having first and second opposite end portions extending outwardly on opposite sides of the projection such that the first and second opposite ends overlap with corresponding margins of the sheet portion on opposite sides of the opening when the projection is received in the opening. The load absorber may further include a fastening bar having a bearing surface having a shape corresponding to a shape of the holding portion of the force absorbing portion, and the fastening bar may have an opening for receiving a fastener operable to extend through the fastening bar and through the force absorbing member such that the fastener bears against the fastening bar to cause the bearing surface of the fastening bar to bear against the holding portion to press the opposite ends of the holding portion against the margins of the sheet portion, while holding the projection in contact with the surface of the architectural structure, such that differences in forces between the sheet portions and the surface of the architectural structure are absorbed by the force absorbing member.

The force absorbing member may include a resilient body resiliently deformable in response to forces between the surface of the architectural structure and the mounting portion.

The resilient body may be comprised of Neoprene ^® . The body of the architectural finish element support system may be formed of a unitary piece of sheet metal bent into a form defining the mounting portion, the first holder and the second holder.

The first holder may include a first projection operably configured to be received in a groove in a bottom edge of the first architectural finish element. The first holder may include a first receptacle spaced apart from the mounting portion, for holding the edge of the first architectural finish element in a position spaced apart from the surface of the architectural structure.

The first receptacle may be defined by a first set of bent portions of the unitary piece of sheet metal. The guides may have generally coplanar distal edges lying in a plane spaced apart from the first projection by a distance enabling the coplanar distal edges to touch a cooperating surface on a back side of the architectural finish element.

The second holder may include a second projection operably configured to bear against a portion of a top edge of the second architectural finish element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an architectural finish element operable to be placed adjacent similar architectural finish elements to form a finished surface on an architectural structure. The architectural finish element includes a body formed of a plurality of unitary real stone elements adhesively secured together in courses, the real stone elements having respective face surfaces generally lying in a front plane to form an overall face surface of the architectural finish element and having respective rear surfaces generally lying in a rear plane facing in a direction opposite the face surface. The plurality of unitary real stone elements are arranged to form left and right edges each having complementary stepped-shapes and generally parallel top and bottom edges. The courses are parallel with the top and bottom edges and the stone elements at the left edge are of similar thickness and are disposed at the same distance from the bottom edge as corresponding stone elements at the right edge so that courses on left and right adjacently placed similar architectural finish elements are aligned with the courses of the real stone elements of the body.

The body may have a density of no more than about 15 pounds per square foot.

The rear surface may be flat planar, and may support a mesh backing or have grooves cut therein to cooperate with mortar to secure the architectural finish element to said architectural structure. Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an architectural finish element according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the architectural finish element of Figure 1, shown with left and right adjacent similar architectural finish elements engaged therewith;

Figure 3 is a left side view of the architectural finish element shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an oblique view of the architectural finish element shown in Figure 1

with adjacent left and right and top and bottom similar architectural finish elements to form an overall cladding on an architectural structure; Figure 5 is an oblique view of the architectural finish element of the type shown in

Figure 1, with an alternate rear surface;

Figure 6 is an oblique view of an architectural finish element according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a left side view of the architectural finish element shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a rear perspective of the architectural finish element shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a dual architectural finish element support apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the dual architectural finish element of Figure 9, shown fastened to an architectural structure and supporting first and second architectural finish elements;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional top view of the architectural finish element shown in

Figure 8, secured to an architectural structure;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an architectural finish element according to a third embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of glued real stone and veneer elements;

Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of the architectural finish element shown in

Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a rear view of the architectural finish element of Figure 12 with a mesh material on the rear surface thereof; and

Figure 15 is a rear view of an alternate rear surface of the architectural finish element of Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , an architectural finish element operable to be placed adjacent similar architectural finish elements to form a finished surface on an architectural structure is shown generally at 10. The architectural finish element 10 is in the form of a panel and comprises a body 12 formed of a rock-based composite material comprising a low density solid particle additive 14 and a plurality of unitary real stone veneer elements, such as shown at 16, 18 and 20 for example, bonded to the body.

In this embodiment, the rock-based composite material forming the body 12 is comprised of Portland cement mixed with water and an aggregate comprised of pumice in a ratio of 1.5:1 :2. In this embodiment, the veneer elements, such as shown at 16, 18 and 20 for example, may be bonded to the body 12 by casting the body adjacent the veneer elements.

The solid particle additive 14 may be recycled waste, non-toxic waste, post manufacturing waste, or post consumer waste, for example, such as is available under the trade name Re-Ad from CLP Technologies, LLC of Seattle, Washington, USA.

Alternatively, or in addition, the solid particle additive 14 may comprise lightweight synthetic particles such as polymer particles available from Syntheon Inc. of Moon Township, PA, USA under the trade name Elemix. The body 12 is formed such that it comprises about 25% to about 50% of the low density solid particle additive 14 by volume and such that the rock-based composite material and the low density solid particle additive are provided in amounts suitable to cause the body to have a density of no more than about 4 pounds per square foot. The real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are cut thinly such that they add no more than about 6 to 11 pounds per square foot so that the completed architectural finish element will have a density of between about 10 pounds per square foot to about 15 pounds per square foot. This provides a panel of a weight suitable for manipulation by most persons and one that complies with most building codes.

At the time of manufacture, the unitary real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are bonded to the body 12 in courses 22, 24, 26, 28, for example, extending in a first direction 30 and in a random non-repetitive pattern. The real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are bonded to the body 12 such that a spacing 32 between adjacent courses is generally between 0 inches to about 1/4 inches and such that respective face surfaces of the unitary real stone veneer elements generally lie in a common plane to form an overall face surface 34 of the architectural finish element, causing it to have a dry-stacked appearance. A dry-stacked appearance is one in which the individual stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are arranged so closely together that there are no "mortar" lines or "mortar joints", i.e. gaps between adjacent such elements.

Still referring to Figure 1 , the body 12 has a main portion 40 and top, bottom, and left and right edges 42, 44, 46 and 48. Referring to Figure 2, the left and right edges 46, 48 have complementary shapes for engaging with corresponding right and left edges 50 and 52 of left and right adjacent similar architectural finish elements 54, 56 respectively. In the embodiment shown, the left and right edges 46, 48 of the body 12 have a complementary stepped-shape, wherein the left edge has an upper projection 60 and the right edge has a lower projection 62, both projecting from opposite ends of the main portion 40 by the same distance, so as to form a lower receptacle 64 on the left side of the main portion and an upper receptacle 66 on the right side of the main portion. This permits a lower projection 68 of the adjacent left element 54 to be received in the lower receptacle 64, while the upper projection 60 of the left edge 46 is received in an upper receptacle 70 of the adjacent left element 54. Similarly, an upper projection 72 of the adjacent right element 56 is received in the upper receptacle 66, while the lower projection 62 of the right edge is received in the lower receptacle 74 of the adjacent right element 56.

Referring to Figure 3, which is an end view of the left edge 46, the top and bottom edges 42 and 44 have top and bottom edge profiles 80 and 82 respectively. Referring back to Figure 1 , the top edge profile 80 extends along the main portion of the body 12 and along a top portion 84 of the upper projection 60 on the left edge 46 of the body 12 and along a top portion 86 of the lower projection 62 on the right edge 48 of the body. The bottom edge profile 82 extends along the main portion 40 of the body 12 and along a bottom portion 88 of the upper projection 60 on the left edge 46 of the body and along a bottom portion 90 of the lower projection 62 on the right edge 48 of the body. In the embodiment shown, the top and bottom edge profiles 80 and 82 are flat planar surfaces that permit the top and bottom edges of adjacent architectural finish elements to be butted up against each with no readily visible joint line.

Referring back to Figure 3, the body 12 further has a rear portion 99 disposed opposite the face surface. The rear portion faces the architectural structure on which the architectural finish element is to be mounted. The rear portion has a rear surface opposite the face surface of the body. The rear surface is generally flat planar.

The architectural finish element may be directly secured to a flat surface of the architectural structure by placing wet mortar on the flat surface and then setting the architectural finish element into the mortar, like a wall title. The above-described architectural finish element provides a body 12 with an overall face surface 34 provided by a unitary collection of real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 having a dry-stacked appearance. In the embodiment shown, the overall length of the architectural finish element is about 30 inches and the height is about 8 inches. Each projection 60 and 62 extends about 4 inches from the main body and has a height of about 4 inches. The use of an architectural finish element according to the specific embodiment described provides about 1.33 square feet of coverage to the architectural structure and can be applied as a unit, avoiding individual placement of real stone veneer directly on the architectural structure. This enables rapid application of a finishing surface or outer cladding to an architectural structure 1.33 square feet at a time, rather than direct application of real stone veneer elements that cover only a few square inches at a time, while still achieving a dry- stacked appearance.

The courses of the unitary real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are bonded to the body 12 such that upper and lower edges 100 and 102 of left side veneer elements, one of which is shown at 16 adjacent the left edge 46 of the body 12, are generally the same distances from the bottom edge 44 of the body as corresponding upper and lower edges 104 and 106 of veneer elements adjacent the right edge 48 of the body such that when the left edge 52 of a first similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element 56 is engaged with the right edge 50 of the architectural finish element 10, corresponding courses of real stone veneer elements 16, 18, 20 are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element 10 and the similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element 56. Similarly, when a right edge 50 of a second similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element 54 is engaged with the left edge 46 of the architectural finish element 10, corresponding courses of real stone veneer elements are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element and the second architectural finish element 54. In addition, referring to Figure 4, due to the engagement of the stepped left and right edges 46 and 48 with left and right adjacent architectural finish elements 110 and 112 and due to the abutment of the top and bottom edges 42 and 44 with adjacent upper and lower architectural finish elements, and due to the consistent placement of the real stone veneer elements in courses aligned at each edge, when a plurality of such architectural finish elements are engaged as shown to form an overall surface on the architectural structure, the resulting overall surface has a consistent, uniform dry-stacked appearance with the randomness of stones in respective courses, but with the regularity of courses along the entire length of the finished surface.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the rear surface is flat planar. Referring to Figure 5, in an alternative embodiment, there is provided an architectural finish element as shown at 120, which is the same as the architectural finish element shown in Figures 1 to 4 but has a body 123 having a rear surface that is formed to have a plurality of generally coplanar portions 124 and a plurality of parallel spaced apart spacers 126 extending between top and bottom edges 128 and 130 of the body. In the embodiment shown, the spacers 126 comprise dovetailed tenons each having an outer surface 132 operable to contact a surface the architectural structure to which the associated architectural finish element 120 is to be secured. The architectural finish element 120 may be directly secured to a flat surface of the architectural structure by placing wet mortar on the flat surface and then setting the architectural finish element into the mortar such that the mortar becomes disposed between adjacent tenons and in contact therewith. When the mortar sets, it takes the shape of a complementary dovetail engaged with the dovetailed tenons of the architectural finish element and thus the dovetailed tenons of the architectural finish element are held securely by the mortar, which causes the architectural finish element to be secured to the surface of the architectural structure.

Referring to Figure 6 an architectural finish element according to a third embodiment is shown generally at 140. Referring to Figures 6 and 7 the architectural finish element 140 according to this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment with the exception that it has, a top edge 142 having a profile that includes first, second and third flat top surfaces 144, 146, 148 arranged in a step pattern and has a bottom edge 150 having a profile that includes generally rectangular outer and inner projections 152 and 154 spaced apart by a generally rectangular groove 156. These profiles of the top and bottom edges 142 and 150 enable the use of a dual architectural finish element support apparatus, such as shown at 160 in Figures 9 and 10 according to another aspect of the invention, to be used to secure the architectural finish element 140 to the surface of the architectural structure. Also, to facilitate the use of the dual architectural finish element support apparatus160, the dovetailed tenons 158 have recesses 159 as shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the dual architectural finish element support apparatus 160 comprises a second body 162 having a mounting portion 164 facilitating mounting the second body to the surface of the architectural structure, a first holder 166 operably configured to hold a portion of a bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element shown at 140 in Figure 6 and a second holder 168 operably configured to hold a portion of the top edge 169 of a second architectural finish element 170 of the type shown in Figure 6, adjacent to the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 and in alignment with the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element such that finish surfaces 172 and 174 of the first and second architectural finish elements 140 and 170 are generally coplanar. The first and second holders 166 and 168 hold the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 and the top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element 170 within about 1/4 inches of each other. Referring to Figure 9, in the embodiment shown, the body of the architectural finish element support apparatus is formed of a unitary piece of sheet metal bent into a form defining the mounting portion 164, the first holder 166 and the second holder 168. The mounting portion 164 comprises a generally planar sheet portion 180 of the sheet metal body having a flat surface 182, which in some embodiments may rest against the surface of the architectural structure, although in other embodiments the flat surface 182 may be spaced apart from the surface of the architectural structure. The mounting portion 164 cooperates with a load absorber shown generally at 183 that is operably configured to absorb mechanical forces between the mounting portion 164 and the architectural structure 11. The load absorber 183 includes a load absorbing member 184, a fastening bar 186 and a fastener 188 to secure the body 162 to the architectural structure.

Force Absorbing Member Holder The mounting portion 164 includes a force absorbing member holder 190 formed into the mounting portion of the sheet metal body.

The force absorbing member holder 190 has a wall 192 defining an opening 194 in the mounting portion 164, such that portions of the sheet portion about the opening define margins 196 and 198 around the opening. In the embodiment shown the opening 194 has a rectangular shape with first and second long side portions 197 and 199 and first and second short side portions 200 and 202. The force absorbing member holder 190 also has first and second guides 204 and 206 extending in parallel spaced apart relation from the wall 192 and disposed adjacent the first and second long side portions 197 and 199 of the opening 194 for holding a portion of the force absorbing member 184 in the opening and for holding another portion thereof between the guides. The guides 204 and 206 may be formed by cutting an 'h" form having a center cut into the planar mounting portion 164 of the body 162 and then bending solid portions on opposite sides of the "h" form to extend parallel to each other, perpendicularly to the plane of the mounting portion.

Force absorbing member

In this embodiment, the force absorbing member 184 comprises a resilient body 210 comprised of Neoprene ^® . The resilient body is formed to include a first aligner 212 operably configured to align the force absorbing member 184 in the opening 194 and a second aligner 214 operably configured to align the force absorbing member 184 against the guides 204 and 206. The first aligner 212 includes a projection 216 on the force absorbing member 184, the projection 216 having a flat outer surface 218 for bearing against the surface of the architectural structure and having a shape complementary to the shape of the opening 194 which, in the embodiment shown, is rectangular. The second aligner 214 comprises a rectangular holding portion 220 on the force absorbing member adjacent the projection 216 and having first and second opposite end portions 222 and 224 extending outwardly on opposite sides of the projection 216 such that the first and second opposite end portions overlap with corresponding margins 196 and 198 of the sheet portion on opposite short side portions 200 and 202 of the opening 194 when the projection 216 is received in the opening 194.

The load absorber fastening bar 186 has a bearing surface 230 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the holding portion 220 of the force absorbing member (i.e. rectangular). The fastening bar 186 also has an opening 232 for receiving the fastener 188. The fastener 188 is operable to extend through the fastening bar 186 and through the force absorbing member 184 and into the surface of the architectural structure as shown in Figure 10 such that the fastener engages with the architectural structure and, when tightened, bears against the fastening bar 186 to cause the bearing surface 230 of the fastening bar 186 to bear against the holding portion 220 of the force absorbing member 184 to press the opposite end portions 222 and 224 of the holding portion 220 against the margins 196 and 198 on opposite sides of the opening 194, while holding the flat surface 218 of the projection 216 in contact with the surface of the architectural structure.

First Holder The first holder 166 includes a first projection 250 operably configured to project upwardly when in use and operable to be received in the groove 156 in the bottom edge 150 of the architectural finish element.

The first holder 166 also includes a first receptacle 252 spaced apart from the mounting portion 164 and terminated in the first projection 250. The first receptacle 252 holds a portion of the bottom edge 150 of the architectural finish element 140 in a position spaced apart from the surface of the architectural structure. More particularly, the first receptacle 252 holds the inner projection 154 on the bottom edge 150 of the architectural finish element, while the first projection 250 is received in the groove 156 between the inner and outer projections 154 and 152 on the bottom edge 150.

To facilitate use of the dual architectural finish element support apparatus 160 in areas of the architectural finish element 140 which have dovetailed tenons, at least some of the dovetailed tenons 158 are configured with a recess 159 to receive the guides 204 and 206 extending from the mounting portion 164. In this case, the tenons 158 are configured to extend from the top edge 142 of the architectural finish element 140 to near the bottom edge 150 but not completely to the bottom edge. Rather, lower end portions 270 of the tenons 158 are spaced apart from the bottom edge 150 by the distance between the first receptacle 252 and a top 272 of the mounting portion 164, leaving only a planar surface portion 274 of the rear surface of the architectural finish element exposed in this area. The enables the entire mounting portion 164 to be received in the space defined by the lower end portion 270 of the tenon 158, and the planar surface portion 274 between the lower end portion of the tenon and the bottom edge 150 of the architectural finish element. In addition, the guides 204 and 206 on the dual architectural finish element support apparatus 160 are configured such that their distal surfaces 260 and 262 touch the flat planar surface 274 between the lower end portion 270 of the tenon 158 and the bottom edge 167 of the architectural finish element 140. In addition, distal flat surfaces 280 of the tenons 158 touch the flat surface 282 of the architectural structure. This provides for additional support.

The second holder 168 includes a second projection 290 operably configured to project downwardly when in use, in a direction opposite to the first projection 250 and operably configured to bear against a portion of a top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element 170. In particular, in this embodiment, the second projection 290 is configured to bear against the second flat top surface 146 and a vertical surface 292 between the first and second flat top surfaces 144 and 146 of the second architectural finish element 170 such that the top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element is aligned with the bottom edge 167 of the architectural finish element 140 held by the first receptacle 252 and first projection 250.

When architectural finish elements 140 and 170 of the type described are secured to the architectural structure in the above manner, adjacent tenons 158 and the planar surface portions 274 between adjacent tenons form air passageways 300 that extend parallel to the tenons and permit air to move therein, in a direction generally parallel to the orientation of the tenons. This enables moisture that may ingress between adjacent architectural finish elements 140 and 170 to reach an air passageway 300. Such air passageways 300 formed by respective vertically adjacent architectural finish elements 140 and 170 are in communication with each other and facilitate airflow vertically along the passageways, which facilitates drying of moisture therein, thereby impeding moisture from reaching the architectural structure to which the architectural finish elements are attached. Thus, the tenons 158 act as integral moisture path interference structures operably configured to interfere with seepage of moisture from between adjacent architectural finish elements toward the architectural structure.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in the event of any movement of the architectural finish elements 140 and 170 relative to the surface of the architectural structure to which they are attached, the force absorbing member 184 resiliently deforms in response to such movement between the mounting portion 164 and the surface of the architectural structure and more particularly, absorbs differences in forces between the margins 196 and 198 adjacent the opening 194 in the mounting portion 164 of the dual architectural finish element support apparatus 160 and the surface of the architectural structure. This provides for a non-rigid connection between the architectural finish elements 140 and 170 and the architectural structure to which they are attached and such connection is operable to absorb at least some seismic forces and/or wind loading forces that can be experienced in some areas. Further, the force absorbing member 184 may resiliently deform to accommodate for different thermal expansions or contractions of the architectural finish element 140 and the architectural structure.

A plurality of architectural finish elements as described in connection with Figures 6 to 8 and at least one dual architectural finish element support apparatus as described in connection with Figures 9 and 10 can be arranged according to an architectural finishing method according to an embodiment of the invention to cooperate to create an architectural finishing system. Generally, the architectural finishing method comprises mounting the mounting portion 164 of the body 162 of at least one dual architectural finish element support 160 to a surface 111 of an architectural structure 11 , causing the first holder 166 to hold a portion of the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 in the first holder 166, causing the second holder 168 on the body 162 to hold a portion of the top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element 170 adjacent to the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 and in alignment with the bottom edge of the first architectural finish element such that finish surfaces 172 and 174 of the first and second architectural finish elements 140 and 170 are generally coplanar and the method further involves absorbing mechanical forces between the first and second architectural finish elements and the architectural structure. The first and second holders 166 and 168 hold the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 and the top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element 170 within about 1/4 inches of each other.

Mounting involves causing the flat surface 182 of the body 162 to rest against the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11 and absorbing mechanical forces comprises causing the force absorbing member 184 to be held by the force absorbing member holder 190, in a position to absorb the mechanical loads between the body 162 and the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11.

Causing the force absorbing member 184 to be held comprises causing a portion of the force absorbing member to be held in the opening 194 in the mounting portion 164 and between the guides 204 and 206 on opposite sides of the opening 194.

Causing the force absorbing member 184 to be held also comprises aligning the force absorbing member 184 in the opening 194 and aligning the force absorbing member between the guides 204 and 206 as shown.

Aligning the force absorbing member 184 comprises causing the flat outer surface 218 of the first projection 216 on the force absorbing member 184 to project through the opening 194 and bear against the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11 and causing the first and second end portions 222 and 224 of the holding portion 220 of the force absorbing member 184 to overlap with corresponding margins 196 and 198 on opposite sides of the opening 194 when the first projection 216 is received in the opening 194. Absorbing forces comprises causing the fastening bar 186 to receive the fastener 188 through the opening 232 therein and through the force absorbing member 184 such that the fastener bears 188 against the fastening bar 186 to cause the bearing surface 230 of the fastening bar 186 to bear against the holding portion 220 to press the opposite end portions 222 and 224 of the holding portion 220 against the margins 196 and 198 of the mounting portion 164, while holding the projection 216 in contact with the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11 , such that differences in forces between the margins 196 and 198 and the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11 are absorbed by the force absorbing member 184.

Absorbing forces also comprises causing the resilient body of the force absorbing member 184 to resiliently deform in response to forces between the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11 and the mounting portion 164.

Causing the first holder 166 on the body 162 to hold a portion of a bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 comprises causing the first projection 250 on the first holder 166 to be received in the groove 156 in the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 and holding the bottom edge 167 of the first architectural finish element 140 in a position spaced apart from the surface 111 of the architectural structure 11.

The method further involves causing coplanar distal surfaces 260 and 262 of the guides 204 and 206 to touch the planar surface portion 274 on a back side of the first architectural finish element 140 to position the first architectural finish element on the surface 111. The method further involves causing the second projection 290 on the body 162 to bear against a portion of the top edge 169 of the second architectural finish element 170.

Although the method described above involves a dual architectural finish element support apparatus 160, in alternative embodiments, architectural finish element such as those illustrated in Figures 6 to 11 , for example, may be secured to a surface of an architectural structure by placing wet mortar on the surface of the architectural structure and then setting the architectural finish element into the mortar. In such embodiments, the mortar is admitted into dovetailed recesses (such as the air passageways 300 shown in Figure 11). Such admitted mortar hardens and contacts inward-facing surfaces of the dovetailed recesses, and may thus transmit a securing force to the inward-facing surfaces of the dovetailed recesses to secure the architectural finish element mechanically to the architectural structure. Such mechanical securing (in addition to securing from bonding of the mortar against the rear surface) may advantageously strengthen the securing of the architectural finish element to the architectural structure.

Glued Veneer elements

Referring to Figure 12 an architectural finish element in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, is shown generally at 400. In this embodiment individual unitary real stone elements 402 are lightweight stone elements that are pre-cut and glued together to form a body 404 having the basic form described above such that the overall architectural finish element has a density of more than about 8 pounds per square foot and no more than about 11 pounds per square foot. The unitary real stone veneer elements are glued, such as by epoxy for example, in courses 406 extending in a first direction 408 in a random non-repetitive pattern. The plurality of unitary real stone elements 402 are glued together such that a spacing between adjacent courses is generally between 0 inches to about 1/4 inches and such that respective face surfaces 410 of the unitary real stone veneer elements generally lie in a common plane to form an overall face surface 411 of the architectural finish element having a dry-stacked appearance.

Thus, in this embodiment, like the earlier embodiment, the body 404 has main portion 412 and top, bottom and left and right edges 414, 416, 418 and 420. The left and right edges 418 and 420 have complementary shapes for engaging with corresponding right and left edges of left and right adjacent similar architectural finish elements respectively as described above. In the embodiment shown, the left and right edges 418 and 420 of the body 404 have a complementary stepped-shape, wherein the left edge has an upper projection 422 and the right edge has a lower projection 424, both projecting from the main portion 412 by the same distance, to as to form a lower receptacle 426 on the left side of the main portion 412 and an upper receptacle 428 on the right side of the main portion 412. As above, this permits a lower projection of an adjacent left element (not shown) to be received in the lower receptacle 426, while the upper projection 422 of the left edge is received in an upper receptacle (not shown) of the adjacent left element. Similarly an upper projection (not shown) of the adjacent right element (not shown) is received in the upper receptacle 428, while the lower projection 424 of the right edge 420 is received in the lower receptacle (not shown) of the adjacent right element. Referring to Figure 3, the top and bottom edges 414 and 416 have top and bottom profiles respectively. The top edge profile extends along the main portion 412 of the body 404 and along a top portion of the upper projection 422 on the left side of the body and along a top portion of the lower projection 424 on the right side of the body. In the embodiment shown, the top and bottom edge profiles are flat planar surfaces such as shown in Figure 3 that permit the top and bottom edges of adjacent architectural finish elements to be butted up against each with no readily visible joint line. The courses of the unitary real stone elements 402 are glued together such that upper and lower edges of left side stone elements 402 adjacent the left edge 418 of the body 404 are generally the same distance from the bottom edge 416 of the body as corresponding upper and lower edges of right side veneer elements adjacent the right edge 420 of the body such that when a left edge (not shown) of a first similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element (not shown) is engaged with the right edge 420 of the architectural finish element 400, corresponding courses 406 of real stone veneer elements are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element 400 and the similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element and such that when a right edge (not shown) of a second similarly configured adjacent architectural finish element (not shown) is engaged with the left edge 418 of the architectural finish element 400, corresponding courses of real stone veneer elements are aligned to create the appearance of continuous courses of the real stone veneer elements across the architectural finish element and the second architectural finish element. In addition, due to the engagement of the stepped left and right edges 418 and 420 and the engagement of the top and bottom edges 414 and 416 with adjacent architectural finish elements, and due to the consistent placement of the real stone elements 402 in courses aligned at each edge, as described above, when a plurality of such architectural finish elements are engaged as described to form an overall surface on the architectural structure, the resulting overall surface has a consistent, uniform dry-stacked appearance with the randomness of stones in respective courses, but with the regularity of courses along the entire finished surface, in a manner similar to that described and shown in connection with Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 13, the body 404 has a rear portion 420 disposed opposite the face surface 411. The rear portion 430 faces the architectural structure on which the architectural finish element is to be mounted. In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the rear portion 430 has a rear surface 432 opposite the face surface 411 of the body 404 and the rear surface 432 has no dovetailed tenons, but rather has only a generally flat planar portion operable to be directly glued or secured with mortar to the architectural structure.

Alternatively, referring to Figure 14 a mesh material 434 such as wire or plastic mesh, for example, may be glued to the planar rear surface 432.

As a further alternative, referring to Figure 15, a plurality of dovetail-shaped recesses 436 may be cut into the rear surface 432 from the top edge 414 to the bottom edge 416 to admit mortar therein. Once hardened, the mortar admitted into the dovetailed recesses 436 of the architectural finish element shown in Figure 15 contacts inward-facing surfaces of the dovetailed recesses 436, and such admitted mortar may transmit a securing force to the inward-facing surfaces of the dovetailed recesses 436 to secure the architectural finish element mechanically to the architectural structure. Such mechanical securing (in addition to securing from bonding of the mortar against the rear surface 432) may advantageously strengthen the securing of the architectural finish element 400 to the architectural structure.

In any of the embodiments shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15, top and bottom edge profiles having single flat surfaces as shown, facilitating abutting adjacent similar surfaces such as described above, may be cut into the body or the body may be formed in a jig to automatically form these flat top surfaces when gluing the individual stone veneer elements together. An architectural finish element so formed would be used like the architectural finish element described in connection with Figures 1 to 4, i.e. directly secured to the architectural structure using mortar, without the use of the dual architectural finish support apparatuses of the type described herein. In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, mortar or glue alone would secure the architectural finish element to the architectural structure. In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the mesh material helps secure the architectural finish element to the mortar and in the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the dovetailed recesses 436 in the rear surface 432 of the architectural finish element admit mortar initially applied to the architectural structure when the architectural finish component is pressed into the mortar.

In alternative embodiments, the top and bottom edges 414 and 416 may have cut therein top and bottom edge profiles as shown in Figures 6 and 7, whereupon the architectural finish element so formed can be used with dual architectural finish support apparatuses of the type described herein in connection with Figures 9 and 10.

Like the architectural finish elements described in connection with Figures 1 to 8 and 11 , the architectural finish element formed by gluing individual stone veneer elements together, shown in Figures 12 to 15 provides a body 404 with a face surface 411 provided by a collection of real stone elements 402 arranged to have a dry-stacked appearance. An architectural finish element of this type can be made at least large enough, such as in the dimensions described above, to provide about 1.33 square feet of coverage to the architectural structure and can be applied as a unit, avoiding individual placement of real stone veneer element directly on the architectural structure. Again, this enables rapid application of a finishing surface or outer cladding to an architectural structure 1.33 square feet at a time, rather than direct application of real stone veneer elements that cover only a few square inches at a time, while still achieving a dry-stacked appearance.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.