Interlocking wall reinforcement panels, wall reinforcement assemblies, and methods for wall reinforcement

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlocking wall panel having a wall panel surface extending in a plane defined by a first and a second direction and having lateral ends, at least one of which has: - an indentation extending in-plane and inwardly from the lateral end and configured to receive an associated protrusion of a further interlocking wall panel in a male-female and interlocking connection configured to prevent in-plane movement; and / or - a protrusion extending in-plane and outwardly from the lateral end and configured to be inserted into an associated recess of a second or further interlocking wall panel in a male-female and interlocking connection configured to prevent in-plane movement; wherein the protrusion and / or the indentation are configured to be connectable to a further interlocking wall panel in a third direction. The present invention further relates to a wall panel assembly, a reinforced wall, a method of reinforcing a damaged wall, and a timber frame structure.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to interlocking wall reinforcement panels, wall reinforcement assemblies, and methods for wall reinforcement. [Background technology]

[0002] As is known in practice, a building with damaged walls, for example due to a seismic event, needs to be reinforced or, alternatively, demolished, thereby ensuring the safety of its occupants or users.

[0003] Damaged walls, especially when caused by a seismic event, may exhibit one or more different types of damage. The first type of damage is in-plane damage to the wall, which occurs when parts of the wall are displaced relative to other parts. This is often visible as cracks or fissures and can occur in brick walls, concrete walls, and in some cases even in wood structures, such as timber frame construction.

[0004] The second type of damage is out-of-plane damage, in which part of the wall structure is displaced transversely to the lateral surface of the wall. This occurs most often in brick or concrete walls. It should be noted that in some cases, both types of damage can occur simultaneously in one wall.

[0005] In practice, strengthening a damaged wall ultimately amounts to stabilizing the wall structure, either in-plane, out-of-plane, or both, by applying a (rigid) timber framing structure to the side of the wall, often on the inside of the building, which is later covered with supporting wooden boards and plaster wallboards, thereby providing a straight interior wall.

[0006] Such timber frame construction for wall reinforcement has several disadvantages. First of all, timber frame construction has a relatively high thickness due to the posts that make up the timber frame. As a result, the interior space of the building is reduced after the timber frame is in place. Furthermore, many modifications are required to adapt the window and / or door posts, (plug) sockets and gas pipes to the new situation, which increases the costs significantly.

[0007] Secondly, the transfer of forces within the stabilizing structure of the wall occurs from the wall boards to the timber frame posts and to adjacent adjacent wall boards, which creates large forces in the connections between the different components and requires expensive connections to withstand these forces. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to eliminate or at least reduce the above mentioned disadvantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To this end, the present invention provides an interlockable wall panel for reinforcing a wall, the panel having a wall panel surface extending in a plane defined by a first and a second direction, the wall surface having a plurality of lateral edges, where at least one of the plurality of lateral edges: - one or more recesses extending inwardly from the lateral ends in a plane, where the one or more recesses are configured to receive associated protrusions of a second or further interlocking wall panel in a male-female and interlocking manner configured to substantially prevent movement in the plane; and / or - one or more projections extending in a plane and outwardly from the lateral ends, where the one or more projections are configured to be inserted into associated recesses of a second or further interlockable wall panel in a male-female and interlocking manner that is configured to substantially prevent movement in the plane; having The one or more protrusions and / or indentations are configured to be connectable to a second or further interlocking wall panel in a third orientation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1a shows an example of an interlocking wall panel according to the present invention. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b shows an example of an interlocking wall panel according to the present invention. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2a shows a detailed view of an example of a protrusion and / or recess of an interlocking wall panel according to the present invention. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2b shows a detailed view of an example of a protrusion and / or recess of an interlocking wall panel according to the present invention. [Figure 3a] FIG. 3a shows an example of a wall panel assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b shows an example of a wall panel assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 3c] FIG. 3c shows an example of a wall panel assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section of a wall reinforced with a wall assembly according to the invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Additionally, the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the plane and / or the first and second directions.

[0012] It should be noted that in this application, the term interlocking wall panels for wall reinforcement is used interchangeably with other similar terms, such as interlocking wall reinforcement panels, interlocking wall panels, wall panels, and interlocking panels, and generally refer to the same object, unless otherwise indicated.

[0013] It should also be noted that the terms "reinforcement" and "reinforcement" are used interchangeably with the terms "stability" and "stability." In this application, these terms can be thought of as relating to a change in the structural integrity of a wall.

[0014] It should also be noted that the term "indentation" is used interchangeably with the term "dimple" in this application, and these terms are to be considered to have similar meanings for purposes of this application.

[0015] Similarly, the term wall panel assembly may be used interchangeably with the terms interlocking wall panel assembly, interlocking wall reinforcement panel assembly, wall assembly, and panel assembly, which generally refer to the same object unless otherwise indicated.

[0016] An advantage of the interlockable wall panels according to the invention is that they have a relatively low thickness when viewed in the third direction (i.e. perpendicular to the wall) and therefore result in a relatively small increase in wall thickness after application to the wall panel. As a result, the costs of adapting window and / or door post and / or (plug) socket connections to the (only slightly) increased wall thickness are significantly reduced with respect to conventional solutions.

[0017] Another advantage of the interlockable wall panels according to the invention is that due to the fact that the wall panels can be connected in a third direction, they provide excellent stability both in-plane (parallel to the wall) and out-of-plane (perpendicular to the wall) (especially when connected with a second and / or further wall panel). As a result, improved stability (or reinforcement) is achieved compared to conventional solutions.

[0018] Another advantage of the interlockable wall panel according to the invention is that due to the fact that the interlockable wall reinforcement panel according to the invention can be connected to a second or further wall panel in a third direction, the connection is not subjected to tension, stress or deformation during the connection. Although in theory it is possible to provide a connection established in-plane, this would cause at least some stress and / or deformation in the material, thus reducing the effectiveness of the wall panel. When connecting the wall panel to a second or further wall panel in a third direction, no deformation occurs, so a connection with improved security is achieved.

[0019] Yet another advantage of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention is that due to the fact that the interlocking wall reinforcement panels are connectable in a third direction, it provides a seamless fit of protrusions and / or recesses between the wall panel and a second or further wall panel.

[0020] Another advantage of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention is that the wall panels are easily connected to the wall which is to be reinforced.

[0021] A further advantage of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention is that they can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, for example in a central manufacturing facility.

[0022] A further advantage of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention is that the wall panels can be provided in standardized forms, but also in customized dimensions for special situations. As a result, the interlocking wall panels provide a flexible arrangement for the reinforcement of damaged walls and can be applied to most buildings.

[0023] Yet another advantage of the interlocking wall panels according to the invention is that they can alternatively also be applied to reinforce ceilings and / or floors. For this purpose, interlocking wall reinforcing panels may be combined with other interlocking wall reinforcing panels, thereby building up a "box" of panels that can reinforce both one or more walls and ceilings and / or floors.

[0024] In an embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention, the interlocking wall panels may be manufactured based on a 3D scan of the wall or walls to be reinforced.

[0025] Interlocking wall panels, when manufactured based on a 3D scan of the wall or walls to be reinforced, offer several advantages.

[0026] First, interlocking wall panels are manufactured with great precision, particularly with respect to the dimensions of the panels required to cover a wall.

[0027] Another advantage is that it allows for highly accurate placement of interlocking wall panels that connect across multiple walls that are at angles to one another.

[0028] Yet another advantage of wall panels manufactured based on a 3D scan is that the wall panel or panels can be manufactured using prefabricated techniques, which allows for a more efficient production and at the same time provides a high-quality and precise fit to the wall being reinforced.

[0029] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels of the present invention, the wall panels may be combined with a number of standardized components, which increases the speed and reduces costs of manufacturing and distribution.

[0030] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the invention, the interlocking wall panels are not connectable in-plane, but only in a third direction and therefore not in the first and / or second direction.

[0031] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention, the interlocking wall panels are connectable to the wall to be reinforced using connection means which may include, for example, screws, bolt-and-nut connectors, or other suitable connection means.

[0032] Due to the low thickness (seen in the third direction) of the interlocking wall panels, the wall panels can be easily connected to the wall to be reinforced. This may be provided, for example, with screw or bolt-and-nut connections, which provide a reliable and strong connection. Due to the fact that the interlocking wall panels, in use, lie directly adjacent to the wall, the connection means may in principle be applied to any position of the wall panel. This represents a significant improvement over prior art solutions, which require connection to a timber frame.

[0033] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel according to the invention, the one or more protrusions and / or the one or more recesses extend through the entire thickness of the interlocking wall panel when measured in a third direction perpendicular to the plane.

[0034] An advantage of providing protrusions and / or indentations through the full thickness of interlocking wall panels is that they are easily connected to adjacent wall panels, another advantage is that they are relatively easier to manufacture and therefore more cost effective.

[0035] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel according to the invention, the interlocking wall panel may only be connected to a second or further interlocking wall panel in a third direction.

[0036] An advantage of providing connectivity only in the third direction, i.e., only in a direction substantially transverse to the plane formed by the first and second directions, is that in-plane movement of the connected interlockable wall panels is substantially prevented. This provides strong resistance to in-plane movement of the wall being reinforced. Surprisingly, it also provides strong resistance to out-of-plane movement of the wall being reinforced.

[0037] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention, the interlocking wall panels may have one layer or may have multiple layers.

[0038] An advantage of the interlocking wall panels of the present invention is that they can be provided as a single layer or in multiple layers, in most cases a single layer by itself will already provide sufficient support to a damaged wall without substantially increasing the thickness of this wall.

[0039] In some exemplary cases, further relatively strong reinforcement needs to be applied to reinforce the damaged wall. In this case, interlockable wall panels with increased thickness or multiple layers, often two layers, of interlockable wall panels are applied. This has particular advantages when different layers of wall panels are provided with different sizes of interlockable wall panels, resulting in interlocking protrusions and / or recesses being located in different positions in the wall after placement.

[0040] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention, the interlocking wall panels may be made from wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of one or more thereof, preferably from wood, preferably including composite, oriented strand board (OSB), cross-laminated timber (CLT), or glued laminated timber (GLT).

[0041] An advantage of providing the above materials, particularly wood, is that they can be easily manufactured to the required specifications in a central location, for example a manufacturing plant.

[0042] Furthermore, the panels, especially when made from wood, can be manufactured with great precision to specifications, especially when the panels are manufactured based on a 3D scan of the wall to be reinforced.

[0043] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel according to the present invention, the thickness of the interlocking wall panel, measured in the third direction, may be in the range of 6 to 30 mm, preferably in the range of 8 to 24 mm, more preferably in the range of 12 to 18 mm.

[0044] Panels, particularly wood panels, having a thickness ranging anywhere from 6 to 30 mm have been found to be useful for reinforcing walls. Furthermore, wall panels having a thickness ranging from 12 to 18 mm, particularly when made of wood or plastic, have been found to provide a good trade-off between the reinforcing strength required for the wall and the reduction in interior space of the building due to an increase in overall wall thickness.

[0045] Furthermore, in the case of wood, it should be noted that wood panels for building purposes are often manufactured in standard thicknesses, including, for example, 12mm and 18mm.

[0046] In one embodiment of the interlockable wall panels according to the present invention, the connection may be a slidable connection.

[0047] In this embodiment, the protrusion or recess of the wall panel may be configured to be slidably inserted into an associated recess or protrusion of the second or further wall panel. The advantage of sliding the (protrusion / recess) of the wall panels together is that this provides a snug fit of the protrusion in the recess of the second or further wall panel (or vice versa) and at the same time the protrusion and / or recess are relatively easy to manufacture.

[0048] In one embodiment of an interlockable wall panel according to the present invention, at least one lateral edge may include a plurality of alternating indentations and protrusions along the lateral edge.

[0049] The advantage of providing a lateral edge (or multiple lateral edges) with alternating multiple protrusions and multiple indentations is that a (semi-)continuous series of protrusions and indentations is formed which provides high in-plane and out-of-plane strength to the wall being reinforced.

[0050] Another advantage is that due to the alternating pattern of protrusions and recesses, the wall panels can be easily positioned in precise positions relative to each other before connecting them together.

[0051] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the invention, at least two lateral edges, preferably a pair of opposite lateral edges, of the interlocking wall panels may be provided with one or more recesses and / or one or more protrusions.

[0052] An advantage of providing interlocking wall panel ends with one or more protrusions and / or indentations is that the wall panel can be connected to multiple adjacent wall panels to provide a series of fully interlocking wall panels that can cover substantially the entire wall, which increases the stability and improves reinforcement of the wall.

[0053] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the invention, the interlocking wall panels may be substantially rectangular in shape or may be substantially square in shape. Preferably, each lateral edge of the interlocking wall panels may be provided with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of indentations arranged alternately along the lateral edge.

[0054] Interlocking wall panels according to the present invention may be provided in virtually any shape, but are preferably provided as rectangular or square shapes.

[0055] The advantage of these shapes is that they often match the shape of the wall being reinforced. Furthermore, interlocking wall panels having such above shapes can be easily connected with male-female type connections of second or further wall panels due to the similar shape.

[0056] Another advantage is that rectangular or square interlocking wall panels are easily transported from the manufacturing site to the site of use.

[0057] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel of the present invention, the one or more protrusions may have a T-shaped profile, preferably with the base of the T-shaped protrusion connected to and extending from a lateral edge of the interlocking wall panel.

[0058] The advantage of the above shape is that it allows a seamless fit with a corresponding (but oppositely shaped) recess of a second or further wall panel (according to the invention). As a result of this seamless fit, in-plane movements, i.e. in the first and / or second direction, are substantially prevented and improved wall stability is achieved. Surprisingly, it has been found that this shape also provides increased out-of-plane stability to the wall being reinforced, increasing the resistance of the wall to (further) out-of-plane damage.

[0059] The T-shape offers several advantages over other shapes, such as but not limited to rectangular, (isosceles) trapezoidal and square shapes.

[0060] Firstly, it was found that the failure load on (reinforced) walls under stresses, including earthquake-induced stresses, can be more easily calculated when a T-shape is used.

[0061] Secondly, T-shapes have been found to have improved resistance to disconnection of the connections, especially compared to square and rectangular shapes. The main reason for this is that such connections, especially square and rectangular connections, do not provide sufficient holding strength when subjected to forces induced by, for example, earthquakes. This is especially true with respect to sliding forces.

[0062] Furthermore, the T-shape has been found to be particularly resistant to earthquake-induced damage compared to other types of shapes, primarily due to the fact that the T-shape offers a mechanism for resisting multiple failures.

[0063] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panels according to the invention, the recess has a T-shaped profile, preferably the T-shape extends inwardly from a lateral end of the interlocking wall panel and / or the bottom of the T-shape is located at the lateral end of the interlocking wall panel.

[0064] The advantage of the above shape is that it allows a seamless fit with a corresponding (but oppositely shaped) protrusion of a second or further wall panel (according to the invention). As a result of this seamless fit, in-plane movements, i.e. in the first and / or second direction, are substantially prevented and improved wall stability is achieved. Surprisingly, it has been found that this shape also provides increased out-of-plane stability to the wall being reinforced, increasing the resistance to (further) out-of-plane damage to the wall.

[0065] Moreover, the advantages discussed above with respect to the T-shaped protrusion are equally applicable with respect to the T-shaped recess of this particular embodiment.

[0066] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel according to the present invention, the recess may have a trapezoidal shaped profile, preferably with a smaller base located at a lateral end of the interlocking wall panel and a larger base located inward from the lateral end, more preferably the trapezoidal shape is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

[0067] The advantage of the above shape is that it allows a seamless fit with a corresponding (but oppositely shaped) protrusion of a second or further wall panel (according to the invention). As a result of this seamless fit, in-plane movements, i.e. in the first and / or second direction, are substantially prevented and improved wall stability is achieved. Surprisingly, it has been found that this shape also provides increased out-of-plane stability to the wall being reinforced, increasing the resistance of the wall to (further) out-of-plane damage.

[0068] In one embodiment of the interlocking wall panel according to the invention, the protrusion may have a trapezoidal shaped profile, preferably with a smaller base of the trapezoid located at a lateral end of the interlocking wall panel and the protrusion protruding outwardly from the lateral end such that the wider base is located at a distance from the lateral end, more preferably the trapezoidal shape is that of an isosceles trapezoid.

[0069] The advantage of the above shape is that it allows a seamless fit with a corresponding (but oppositely shaped) recess of a second or further wall panel (according to the invention). As a result of this seamless fit, in-plane movements, i.e. in the first and / or second direction, are substantially prevented and improved wall stability is achieved. Surprisingly, it has been found that this shape also provides increased out-of-plane stability to the wall being reinforced, increasing the resistance of the wall to (further) out-of-plane damage.

[0070] The present invention also relates to a wall panel assembly having a plurality of interlocking wall panels according to the present invention.

[0071] The wall panel assembly according to the present invention provides the same effects and advantages as the interlocking wall panel according to the present invention. The above disclosed embodiments of the interlocking wall panel according to the present invention may be freely and separately combined with the wall panel assembly according to the present invention.

[0072] In one embodiment of the wall panel assembly according to the present invention, the wall panel assembly is configured to cover the entire wall to be reinforced.

[0073] Preferably, the interlocking wall panel assemblies cover substantially the entire wall to provide optimum stability.

[0074] In one embodiment of the wall panel assembly according to the present invention, the interlocking wall panels may be configured to be placed against a single side of the wall to be reinforced.

[0075] An advantage of connecting the wall panels of a wall panel assembly to a single side of the wall being reinforced is that this provides good wall stability while at the same time reducing the cost of stabilizing the wall.

[0076] In one embodiment of the wall panel assembly according to the invention, the wall panel assembly comprises a first subset of interlocking wall panels configured to be connected to a first side wall of the wall to be reinforced and a second subset of interlocking wall panels configured to be connected to a second side wall of the wall to be reinforced opposite the first side wall, such that the first and second subsets surround the wall to be reinforced, thereby forming a sandwich structure.

[0077] In some cases, a wall can be reinforced by providing a sandwich construction by providing two subsets of interlocking wall panels connected on opposite sides of the wall, which provides even greater stability of the reinforced and / or stabilized wall.

[0078] It should be noted that this is particularly useful when combining this embodiment with the above embodiment where interlocking wall panels are manufactured based on a 3D scan of the wall (or walls). A double-sided 3D scan allows both scan results to be linked together, thereby providing a good view of the wall to be reinforced.

[0079] Furthermore, the interlocking wall panels of the first and second subsets may in some cases, or at least in some locations, be connected using the same set of fittings (the same connectors).

[0080] Furthermore, this allows even more accurate detailing of the wall and / or floor and / or ceiling aspects, for example by determining the position of a floor beam or beams.

[0081] In one embodiment of the wall panel assembly according to the invention, a plurality of interlocking wall panels which are connected to one another during use of the assembly are substantially immovable relative to one another in the first and / or second directions.

[0082] An advantage of the wall panel assembly according to the present invention is that it provides a rigid structure that prevents movement in a first and second direction, thereby eliminating (further) in-plane damage to the wall. Furthermore, the rigidity of the wall panel assembly also prevents out-of-plane movement of the wall, thereby eliminating (also) further out-of-plane damage to the wall.

[0083] In one embodiment of the wall panel assembly according to the invention, the assembly comprises a support subset of interlocking wall panels configured to be connected to a ceiling or floor to be reinforced, a plurality of interlocking wall panels of the support subset having lateral ends with one or more recesses and / or protrusions shaped to provide a male-female, interlocking connection with an interlocking wall panel extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the interlocking wall panels of the support subset, the male-female, interlocking connection being configured to substantially prevent in-plane movement with respect to the substantially perpendicularly extending wall panels.

[0084] An advantage of the additionally provided support subset is that it allows the creation of a "box-like" structure that stabilizes the walls and ceilings and / or floors of a building. The use of a box-like structure provides a relatively higher stability to the building (including the walls, ceilings and / or floors) due to the increased stiffness of the entire assembly.

[0085] Another advantage is that a seamless transfer of forces is achieved between the wall on the one hand and the ceiling and / or floor on the other hand.

[0086] The present invention also relates to a reinforced wall of a building, comprising: - a wall of a building, preferably a damaged wall, having two substantially planar lateral surfaces and a thickness measured between said planar lateral surfaces; - a plurality of interlockable wall panels according to the invention, the wall panels being connected to planar lateral surfaces of a wall and interlocking with one another; having Each of the plurality of interlocking wall panels is interlocked with at least one adjacent interlocking wall panel of the plurality of interlocking wall panels.

[0087] The thickness of the wall is measured between the lateral surfaces and is generally less than the length and / or width of the planar lateral surfaces.

[0088] It should further be noted that a reinforced wall may comprise a wall panel assembly according to the present invention (instead of a plurality of wall panels according to the present invention).

[0089] The reinforced or stabilized wall according to the invention provides all the effects and advantages mentioned with respect to the interlockable wall panels and / or wall panel assemblies according to the invention, and therefore can be freely combined, together or individually, with the embodiments described with respect to the interlockable wall panels according to the invention.

[0090] An advantage of the reinforced wall according to the present invention is that due to the fact that the wall panels are connected to each other and to the wall of the building in an interlocking manner, the wall is provided with improved stability, and therefore has increased resistance to future (earthquake) damage.

[0091] Another advantage of the reinforced wall according to the invention is that the unity check of the wall is less than 1.0, often less than 0.8, and can even be less than 0.6. Unity check is the ratio between the maximum stress in the wall (before failure / collapse) compared to the stress induced by an external force, e.g. earthquake. The maximum stress is indicated as e.g. 10, while the actual stress is measured and in acceptable cases is less than 10, thereby providing a ratio of less than 1.0.

[0092] In one embodiment of a reinforced wall according to the present invention, a plurality of interlocking wall panels may cover substantially the entire planar lateral surface of the wall to be reinforced.

[0093] Preferably, the interlocking wall panels cover substantially the entire wall to provide optimum stability.

[0094] In one embodiment of a reinforced wall according to the present invention, the plurality of interlocking wall panels may include a first set of a plurality of interlocking wall panels connected to a first planar side surface of the wall and a second set of a plurality of interlocking panels connected to a second planar side surface of the wall opposite the first planar side surface.

[0095] Preferably, in this embodiment, the first and second sets both cover substantially the entire planar lateral surface of the wall being reinforced.

[0096] By providing the wall with two sets of interlocking wall panels on adjacent side surfaces, a further relatively high stability of the wall is achieved.

[0097] The present invention also relates to a building stabilization assembly, said assembly comprising a plurality of subsets of interlockable wall panels according to the present invention, said plurality comprising: - at least one wall subset of the plurality of interlockable wall panels, each of the at least one subset being configured to associate with and connect to a side wall of a building to be reinforced; - a floor subset configured to be connected to a floor of the building to be reinforced, the plurality of interlocking wall panels of the floor subset having lateral ends with one or more recesses and / or protrusions shaped to provide a male-female and interlocking connection with one or more interlocking wall panels of at least one wall subset; and / or - a ceiling subset configured to be connected to a ceiling of a building to be reinforced, the plurality of interlocking wall panels of the ceiling subset having lateral ends with one or more recesses and / or protrusions shaped to provide a male-female and interlocking connection with one or more interlocking wall panels of at least one wall subset.

[0098] The advantage of the building stabilization assembly is that it creates a "box-like" structure, which protects the building against earthquake damage. The main reason for this is that horizontal forces, especially earthquake-induced horizontal forces, are transferred through a floor or ceiling subset to a wall subset or subsets of walls, and then to the foundation of the building. This allows the stabilization assembly to effectively and efficiently cushion the foundation forces (i.e., stresses) in the building.

[0099] Another advantage of the stabilization assembly is that it provides increased rigidity by connecting at least one wall subset with a floor or ceiling subset. Preferably, a plurality of walls are covered with wall subsets, which are connected to the floor or wall subset; this is because each additional wall that is covered with a wall panel and connected to the floor or ceiling subset further increases the stabilization effect.

[0100] Another advantage is that a seamless transfer of forces is achieved between the wall on the one hand and the ceiling and / or floor on the other hand.

[0101] Another advantage is that the male-female and interlocking connections are configured to substantially prevent in-plane movement (of the floor or ceiling) relative to the wall panel, which preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the floor or ceiling panel.

[0102] The present invention also relates to a method of reinforcing a damaged wall, the method comprising: - providing a plurality of interlocking wall panels according to the invention or a wall panel assembly according to the invention; - connecting a plurality of interlocking wall panels to a wall to be reinforced and to each other; Includes.

[0103] The method according to the present invention provides the same effects and advantages as the interlockable wall panel, wall panel assembly and reinforced wall according to the present invention. The above disclosed embodiments of the interlockable wall panel according to the present invention may be freely and separately combined with the method according to the present invention.

[0104] In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the step of connecting a plurality of interlocking wall panels to a wall to be reinforced and to each other comprises: - positioning a plurality of interlocking wall panels against a wall to be reinforced; - interlocking adjacent interlockable wall panels with one another during placement; and - Fixing a plurality of interlocking wall panels to a wall with connecting means.

[0105] An advantage of positioning, locating and interlocking multiple interlockable wall panels relative to one another prior to fastening them to the wall is that the interlocking process can be carried out in a third direction (i.e. perpendicular to the wall).

[0106] The present invention also relates to a reinforcing construction kit for reinforcing a damaged wall, the construction kit comprising: - a plurality of wall panels according to the invention or an assembly according to the invention, and - connecting means suitable for fastening the interlockable wall panels to a wall; Includes.

[0107] The reinforced construction kit of the present invention provides the same effects and advantages as the interlockable wall panels, wall panel assemblies, reinforced walls and methods of the present invention. The above disclosed embodiments of the interlockable wall panels of the present invention may be freely and individually combined with the methods of the present invention.

[0108] It should be noted that, in addition to reinforcing or stabilizing, the interlocking wall panels of the present invention may also be used in the construction of new (undamaged) buildings having timber frame construction.

[0109] The invention therefore also relates to a timber frame structure, which comprises: - Timber frame, - a plurality of interlocking wall panels according to the invention connected to a timber frame, and - Optionally, gypsum board (plasterboard) connected to an interlocking wall panel on the side opposite to that to which the timber frame is connected. has.

[0110] An advantage of the timber frame construction according to the present invention is that it provides increased rigidity compared to conventional timber frame construction due to the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention.

[0111] As a result, a timber frame structure according to the invention has increased resistance to both in-plane and out-of-plane forces acting on the structure, due in part to the fact that forces are not only transferred through the connection means connecting the panels to the timber frame, but also through the connections between the interlocking male-female connected portions of the interlockable wall panels according to the invention.

[0112] The timber frame construction according to the present invention provides similar effects and advantages as the interlocking wall panels and wall panel assemblies according to the present invention. The above disclosed embodiments of the interlocking wall panels according to the present invention may be freely and individually combined with the timber frame construction according to the present invention.

[0113] In one embodiment of the timber frame structure of the present invention, the timber frame structure may additionally include one or more of the following: isolation material disposed between the posts of the timber frame, isolation layers disposed on the sides of the interlocking wall panels opposite the sides connected to the timber frame, or moisture reducing layers.

[0114] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will now be described on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0115] In the example (see Figs. 1a, 1b), the interlockable wall panels 2, 102 are wood boards, for example OSB-boards or composite boards, extending in a plane defined by a first direction x and a second direction y. At each lateral edge 4, 6, 8, 10, 104, 106, 108, 110 of the interlockable wall panels 2, an alternating pattern P of protrusions 12, 112 and recesses 14, 114 is provided. It should be noted that the presence of a protrusion 12, 112 or a recess 14, 114 at a lateral edge 4, 6, 8, 10, 104, 106, 108, 110 automatically entails the presence of the other protrusions 12 and recesses 14, 114. Also, Figure 1a shows trapezoidal protrusions 12,112 and recesses 14,114, whereas in Figure 1b the interlocking wall panels 2,102 are provided with T-shaped protrusions 12,112 and recesses 14,114.

[0116] More specifically (see Figures 2a, 2b) it is shown that the protrusions 112, 212 and the recesses 114, 214 can have different shapes in order to achieve an interlocking effect between the interlocking wall panel 102 and a second or further interlocking wall panel (not shown).

[0117] In a first example, the protrusion 112 has a T-shape with a bottom end 112b of the T connecting to and a top end 112a protruding from the lateral end 104 of the interlocking wall panel 102. Due to the shape of the protrusion 112, an inverted T-shape is automatically provided in the recess 114, where the bottom end 114b faces upwards in a second direction y and the bottom end 114a is located at the lateral end 104. This alternating pattern allows the interlocking wall panel 102 to be connected to a second or further interlocking wall panel in a third direction z (not shown), substantially preventing any movement in the plane formed by the first direction x and the second direction y.

[0118] In a second example (see FIG. 2b), the protrusion 212 has a trapezoidal shape, in which a small base 212b is located at and connected to the lateral end 204. A large or wide base 212a is located some distance outward from the lateral end 204. The recess 214 has a mirror position compared to the protrusion 212. This means that the small base 214b in this example is located upwards from the lateral end 204, while the wide or large base 214a is formed by the lateral end 204.

[0119] In the example of a wall panel assembly 250 (see Figs. 3a and 3b), the wall panel assembly 250 has a plurality of interlocking wall panels 2, 102 that are interlocked with each other. Also shown is a wall panel 254, which has two "flat" side ends and two side ends with an alternating pattern of protrusions and indentations, and also a wall panel 252, which has one "flat" side end and three side ends with an alternating pattern of protrusions and indentations. The wall panel assembly 252 can be easily connected to a wall (not shown), thereby stabilizing the wall. Figs. 3a and 3b show a wall panel assembly 250 with trapezoidal (Fig. 3a) and T-shaped (Fig. 3b) protrusions and indentations, respectively.

[0120] In the example of a reinforced wall W (see Figures 4 and 5), the wall W is reinforced or stabilized with interlocking wall panels 302, which in this example are located on opposite sides W1, W2 of the wall W. The interlocking wall panels 302 are connected to the wall W with connecting means 356, which may be, for example, bolt and nut connections. Similarly, the ceiling C in this example is stabilized by the interlocking wall panels 302'. The connection between the interlocking wall panels 302 and the interlocking wall panels 302' is in this case reinforced with a connecting beam 358. However, this connecting beam 358 is not necessary to achieve the stabilization.

[0121] The invention is in no way limited to its above-described preferred embodiments: the claimed rights are defined by the claims, within whose scope many variations are possible.

Claims

1. An interlocking wall panel for reinforcing a wall, the panel having a wall panel surface extending in a plane defined by first and second directions, the wall panel surface having a plurality of lateral ends, at least one of the plurality of lateral ends being: - one or more recesses extending inwards from the lateral end within the plane, the one or more recesses being configured to receive a corresponding protrusion of a second or further interlocking wall panel in a male-female and interlocking connection configured to substantially prevent movement in the plane, the one or more recesses and / or - one or more protrusions extending outwards from the lateral end within the plane, the one or more protrusions being configured to be inserted into a corresponding recess of the second or further interlocking wall panel in a male-female and interlocking connection configured to substantially prevent movement in the plane; having, the one or more protrusions and / or recesses being configured to be connectable to a second or further interlocking wall panel in a third direction. Interlocking wall panel.

2. The interlocking wall panel according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking wall panel is preferably connectable to the second or further interlocking wall panel only in the third direction.

3. The interlocking wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlocking wall panel has a single layer or the interlocking wall panel has a plurality of layers.

4. The interlocking wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlocking wall panel is manufactured from wood, the wood including oriented strand board (OSB), cross-laminated timber (CLT), or glued-laminated timber (GLT), preferably including a composite material.

5. The interlocking wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the interlocking wall panel, when measured in the third direction, is in the range of 6 to 30 mm, preferably in the range of 8 to 24 mm, more preferably in the range of 12 to 18 mm.

6. The interlocking wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection is a slidable connection.

7. The engageable wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one side end portion comprises a plurality of recesses and protrusions alternately arranged along the side end portion.

8. The engageable wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two side end portions of the engageable wall panel, preferably the end portions located on opposite sides, comprise one or more recesses and / or one or more protrusions.

9. The engageable wall panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engageable wall panel has a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially square shape, and preferably each side end portion of the engageable wall panel comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternately arranged along the side end portion.

10. The one or more protrusions have a T-shaped outer profile, and preferably the bottom of the T-shaped protrusion is connected to and extends from the side end portion of the engageable wall panel; and / or The one or more recesses have a T-shaped outer profile, and preferably the bottom of the T-shaped protrusion is located at the side end portion of the engageable wall panel, and the T-shape extends inwards within the panel. The engageable wall panel according to claim 1 or 2.

11. A wall panel assembly having a plurality of engageable wall panels according to claim 1.

12. The wall panel assembly according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of engageable wall panels are configured to be arranged on a single side of the wall to be reinforced.

13. The wall panel assembly according to claim 11, wherein the wall panel assembly: - A first subset of engageable wall panels configured to be connected to the first side wall of the wall to be reinforced, and - A second subset of engageable wall panels configured to be connected to the second side wall of the wall to be reinforced, which is opposite to the first side wall; A wall panel assembly having, whereby the first and second subsets surround the wall to be reinforced, thereby forming a sandwich structure.

14. The engageable wall panels, which are connected to each other when the assembly is in use, are substantially stationary relative to each other in the first and / or second directions, the engageable wall panel according to claim 11.

15. A building stabilization assembly, the assembly having a plurality of subsets of engageable wall panels according to claim 1 or 2, the plurality of subsets being: - At least one wall subset of engageable wall panels, the at least one subset being configured to be associated with and connected to the side walls of the building to be reinforced, respectively; - A floor subset configured to be connected to the floor of the building to be reinforced, the engageable wall panels of the floor subset having one or more recesses and / or protrusions on the side ends thereof having a shape that provides a male and engaging connection with one or more engageable wall panels of the at least one wall subset; and / or - A ceiling subset configured to be connected to the ceiling of the building to be reinforced, the engageable wall panels of the ceiling subset having one or more recesses and / or protrusions on the side ends thereof having a shape that provides a male and engaging connection with one or more engageable wall panels of the at least one wall subset An assembly including.

16. A reinforced wall of a building, comprising: - A wall of the building, preferably a damaged wall, having two substantially planar side surfaces and a thickness measured between these planar side surfaces; and - A plurality of engageable wall panels according to claim 1 or 2, connected to the planar side surfaces of the wall and engaged with each other Having, The plurality of engageable wall panels are each engaged with at least one adjacent engageable wall panel among the plurality of engageable wall panels, Reinforced wall.

17. The reinforced wall according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of engageable wall panels are - A first set of engageable wall panels connected to the first planar side surface of the wall, and - A second set of engagable panels connected to a second planar side surface of the wall, opposite the first planar side surface. A reinforced wall having the same. **Claim 18** A method of reinforcing a damaged wall, the method comprising: - Providing a plurality of engagable wall panels as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a wall panel assembly as claimed in claim 11; - Connecting the plurality of engagable wall panels to the wall to be reinforced and to each other; A method comprising the above. **Claim 19** A method of reinforcing a damaged wall as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of connecting the plurality of engagable wall panels to the wall to be reinforced and to each other comprises: - Positioning the plurality of engagable wall panels relative to the wall to be reinforced; - During positioning, engaging adjacent engagable wall panels with each other, and - Fixing the plurality of engagable panels to the wall using connecting means. A method comprising the above. **Claim 20** A reinforcement construction kit for reinforcing a damaged wall, the construction kit comprising: - A plurality of wall panels as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or an assembly as claimed in claim 11; - Connecting means suitable for fixing the engagable wall panels to a wall. A construction kit comprising the above. **Claim 21** A timber frame structure for a building, comprising: - A timber frame; - A plurality of engagable wall panels as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or an assembly as claimed in claim 11, connected to the timber frame; - Optionally, a plasterboard connected to the engagable wall panels on a side opposite to the side connected to the timber frame. A timber frame structure having the above.

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