GB2237040A - Wainscot panel and system - Google Patents

Abstract

A wainscot panel (22) has a rigid backing board (30), an outer skin (32) and a core (34) which rigidifies the skin (32) to limit flexing of the skin (32), and further provides the panel (22) with sounding characteristics resembling those of a solid panel. The panel (22) is securable to a wall (18) with fasteners (94) directed through marginal portions of the backing board (30) and can be framed with a skirt (24), pieces of vertical joint moulding (26) and a top rail (28) cooperatively joined to corresponding edges of the panel (22) so that the fasteners (94) are hidden from view and so that the framing components (24, 26, 28) can be attached and detached from the wall (18). <IMAGE>

Description

WAINSCOT PANEL AND SYSTEM The present invention relates to the panelling of interior walls and relates more particularly to wainscot panels and means by which wainscot panels are secured to walls.

Commonly, wainscot panels include a single layer of material molded in relief pattern for securement to a wall so that a hollow spacing is provided between the wall and major portions of the panel. Such a hollow spacing is undesirable in that it permits the panel to flex toward the wall if struck and provides the panel with a hollow, rather than solid, sound such as when knocked with the knuckles. In addition, such spacings may permit the panel to collapse against the wall or experience another type of impact-related damage.

The present invention provides a wainscot panel comprised of a backing board of relatively rigid material and an outer layer, or skin, molded in relief pattern arranged in overlying relationship with the backing board. The panel also includes a core sandwiched between the backing board and the relieved portions of the outer skin for rigidifying the skin in a manner limiting inward flexing of the skin when struck and for providing the panel with sounding characteristics simultating those of a solid panel.

The invention thus provides a wainscot panel having a construction which reduces the likelihood that the panel will flex toward the wall or sound hollow when its outer surface is struck and which has a high resistance to impact-related damage.

In a preferred embodiment, the edges of the skin and the backing board are dimensioned to permit shanked fasteners to be directed through the backing board adjacent the board edges and into the wall with no interference from the edges of the skin.

For securing the panel in an upright condition against a wall, there is provided a framing system including at least one bracket securable to a floor adjacent the wall, a skirt for bordering the panel adjacent its bottom edge, two pieces of joint moulding for bordering the panel adjacent its side edges, and a top rail for bordering the panel adjacent the top edge of the panel. The floor bracket includes a portion which projects upwardly when the bracket is secured to the floor, and the skirt is in the form of an elongated body having a bottom surface for overlying the floor and an opposite top surface. The skirt bottom surface defines a groove for accepting the upwardly-projecting portion of the bracket, and the skirt top surface defines a groove for accepting the bottom edge of the skin of the panel.Once the bracket is secured to the floor and the skirt is positioned upon the bracket so that the bottom edge of the skin is accepted by the groove defined in the skirt bottom surface, the panel is positionable in its upright condition against the wall so that the bottom edge of the panel skin is received by the groove defined in the skirt top surface.

Each piece of side joint moulding includes an elongated body having a vertically-positionable side surface defining a groove for accepting a corresponding side edge of the panel skin. Once the panel is operatively positioned in its upright condition against the wall, each piece of joint moulding can be interfitted with the panel skin in such a manner that each side edge of the skin is accepted by a corresponding groove defined in the joint moulding. The top rail is in the form of an elongated body having a back surface positionable so as to face the wall and a horizontally-positionable bottom surface. The rail back surface includes a slot for co-operatively accepting the head of a headed fastener secured to the wall in a manner keying the top rail to the wall above the panel.The rail also includes a lip portion for overhanging the top edge of the panel skin when the top rail is keyed to the wall.

Preferably, the floor bracket and skirt are dimensioned so that when the skirt is positioned upon the floor bracket, the bracket is hidden from view by the skirt. The pieces of joing moulding are preferably adapted to hide from view any shanked fasteners directed through the backing board and into the wall adjacent the corresponding side edge of the backing board. In addition, the top rail preferably co-operates with the head of the headed fastener secured to the wall so that when keyed to the headed fastener, the top rail hides the headed fastener from view.

The arrangement thus provides a system for affixing a wainscot panel to a wall wherein fasteners used for fixing the system to the wall are hidden from view and also permits the removal of the system from a wall in a quick and non-destructive manner.

The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the present invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wainscot panel system shown affixed to a wall; Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the Figure 1 system, shown exploded; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a panel of the Figure 1 system; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the Figure 3 panel; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the Figure 3 panel as seen from the right in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the Figure 3 panel, shown exploded; Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the floor-mounted brackets of the Figure 1 system; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, shown exploded;; Figure 10 is a front elevational view of adjacent panels of the Figure 1 system and illustrating the vertical joint moulding when positioned in a condition for installation between the adjacent panels; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the joint moulding illustrated in Fig. 11 but drawn to a slightly larger scale; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the Fig. 1 system, shown with the top rail removed; Fig. 14 is a back elevational view of the top rail of the Fig. 1 system; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative component for the wainscot panel system.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 an embodiment of a wainscot panel system, generally indicated 20, shown attached to a wall 18. The system 20 includes a plurality of panels 22 each including a layered structure which limits flexing of the outermost layer of the panel and which provides the panel with sounding characteristics simulating those of a solid panel. The system 20 also includes framing means positionable about each panel 22 and which aids in the securement of the panel 22 to the wall 18.

As best shown in Fig. 2, such framing means includes a skirt 24 for bordering the bottom edges of the panels 22, vertical joint mouldings 26 bordering the side edges of each panel 22 and a top rail 28 for bordering the top edges of the panels 22. The skirt 24, joint mouldings 26 and top rail 28 cooperate with the corresponding edges of each panel 22 so that the system 20 can be easily attached to and detached from the wall 18 quickly, with relative ease and without destruction of the various components of the system. In addition, any shanked fasteners directed into the wall 18 or underlying floor 19 adjacent the panel edges for purposes of secur ing the panel 22 to the wall 18 are hidden from view by the skirt 24, joint mouldings 26 and top rail 28 framing each panel 22.

As best shown in Figs. 3-6, each panel 22 includes a backing board 30, a decorative outer-skin 32 molded with a relief pattern and a core 34 of relatively stiff material sandwiched between the backing board 30 and skin 32. The backing board 30 is in the form of a relatively thin rectangular platen and is constructed of a relatively rigid material, such as medium-density fiberboard or hardboard. The backing board 30 has four peripheral edges 36, 38, 40, 42 providing, respectively, top, bottom and opposite side edges of the board 30 when the panel 22 is positioned in an upright condition against the wall 18. For present purposes and as best shown in Fig. 6, the backing board 30 includes a central portion 44 and marginal portions 46 bordering the top and side backing board edges 36, 40 and 42.

The skin 32 is in the form of a relatively thin rectangular platen having four peripheral edges 56, 58, 60, 62. When the panel 22 is in an assembled condition as shown in Fig. 3, the skin 32 is arranged in an overlying relationship with the backing board 30 so that each of the skin peripheral edges 56, 58, 60 or 62 corresponds with one of the top, bottom or side edges of the backing board 30. The skin 32 is preferably manufactured out of a material, such as fiberboard or plastic, capable of being formed or molded so as to provide the front face of the skin 32 with any of a variety of external appearances.In each of the depicted panels 22, the skin 32 defines a pair of indentations 64 projecting toward the backing board 30 and which each extend along rectangular paths so that the skin 32 is provided with a pair of rectangular regions 66 bordered by edge sections 68 extending along the peripheral edges 56, 58, 60 and 62 of the skin 32. The rectangular regions 66 and edge sections 68 are coplanar.

The skin 32 is of such size and positioned in such a relation to the backing board 30 that the skin 32 overlies the central portion 44 of the backing board 30 and the marginal portions 46 associated with the top and side edges 36, 40, 42 of the board overhang the corresponding top and side edges 56, 60, 62 of the skin 32. Hence, the top and side edges of the board 30 extend outwardly beyond the top and side edges of the skin 32 when the panel 22 is viewed frontally as in Fig. 3. Preferably, each board edge 36, 40 or 42 is spaced at least about 0.5 inches (1.3cm) from the corresponding edge 56, 60 or 62 of the skin 32 so that shanked fasteners 94 (Figs. 2 and 10) can be directed through the marginal portion 46 of the backing board 30 and into the wall 18 with no interference from the edges of the skin 32.The bottom edge 58 of the skin 32 is substantially flush with the corresponding bottom edge 38 of the backing board 30 as viewed in Fig. 3.

The core 34 of relatively stiff material is sized to maintain a spacing between the skin 32 and the backing board 30 and accommodate the indentations 64 of the skin 32.

In the depicted panel 22, the core 34 is comprised of a plurality of core pieces 70 each possessing a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.3cm) and arranged so that gaps formed therebetween accept the indentations 64 of the skin 32 when the panel 22 is assembled and the core 34 engages the back face of the skin 32. The core 34 can be constructed of any of a number of suitable materials, but in the depicted panel 22 is comprised of polystyrene.

To assemble the panel 22, the core pieces 70 are placed in overlying relationship with the back surface of the skin 32 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6 so that the pieces 70 engage the skin planar portions 64, 66 and are spaced inwardly from the peripheral edges 56, 58, 60, 62 of the skin by about 0.5 inches (1.3cm). The core pieces 70 are secured in place to the skin 32 by means of a suitable glue spread between the pieces 70 and the back face of the skin 32. The backing board 30 is then placed so as to overlie the core pieces 70 on the side thereof opposite the skin 32 and so that the marginal portions 46 associated with the top and the side edges 36, 40, 42 of the backing board 30 overhang the corresponding edges 56, 60, 62 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.The backing board 30 is secured to the core pieces 70 by means of a suitable glue spread between the board 30 and pieces 70 so that the skin 32 is securely joined to the backing board 30.

The panel 22 is advantageous in that the core pieces 70 rigidify the skin 32 in a manner limiting flexing of the skin 32 toward the backing board 30 such as may otherwise occur if the front face of the skin 32 were struck with a blow. Such a rigidifying of the skin 32 also provides the skin 32 with a resistance to impact-related damage such as, for example, a collapsing of the skin 32 against the backing board 30. In addition and because the core 34 substantially fills the space between the skin 32 and the backing board 30, the panel 22 is provided with sounding characteristics which simulate those of a solid panel. For example, if the front face of the skin 32 were tapped with the knuckles, the panel 22 would sound solid, rather than hollow.

For purposes of affixing the bottom edges of each panel 22 in a stationary condition with respect to the wall 18, the skirt 24 of the system 20 is secured to the floor 19 (Fig. 1) and the bottom edges of the panel 22 is interfitted with the skirt 24. For securement of the skirt 24 to the floor 19, the system 20 includes a plurality of steel Lshaped brackets 76 as shown in Figs. 2 and 7-9. Each bracket 76 has two legs 72, 74 (Fig. 7) and is securable to the floor 19 with headed fasteners 78 so that one bracket leg projects upwardly. For mounting the depicted panel 22 to the wall 18, the brackets 76 are secured to the floor at convenient intervals, such as for example about 2.0 foot (61 cm) intervals, and so that the upright leg 74 of each bracket 76 is spaced a relatively short distance from the wall 18.

With reference still to Figs. 8 and 9, the skirt 24 is in the form of an elongated body of wood having a top surface 80 and a bottom surface 82 which has been appropriately grooved to cooperate with the brackets 76 and bottom edges of the panel 22 so that the panel 22 is supported above the floor 19 by the skirt 24. More specifically, the skirt 24 has been grooved so that grooves 90 and 92 extend along the length of each of the top and bottom surfaces 80 and 82, respectively. The groove 92 defined in the skirt bottom surface 82 is shaped to accept the upright leg 74 of the bracket 76, and the groove 90 defined in the skirt bottom surface 80 is shaped to accept the bottom edge 58 of the skin 32. The skirt 24 also has a front surface 84 which is shaped to provide the skirt 24 with a decorative appearance and a back surface 86 which is planar in shape.

When affixing the skirt 24 and panels 22 to the wall 18, the brackets 76 are initially affixed to the floor 19 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 at convenient intervals. The skirt 24 is then positioned upon the brackets 76 so that its' groove 92 receives the upright leg 74 of each bracket 76 and so that the back surface 86 of the skirt 24 is positioned adjacent the wall 18. The panel 22 is then positioned upon the skirt 24 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 so that the bottom edge 38 of the backing board 30 is situated between the skirt back surface 86 and the wall 18 and the bottom edge 58 of the skin 32 is received by the groove 90. Positioned atop the skirt 24 in the aforedescribed manner, the panel 22 is supported above the floor 19 by the skirt 24. Once positioned upon the skirt 24, the panel 22 is affixed to the wall 18 with shanked fasteners 94 (Fig.

10) directed through the marginal portions 46 of the backing board 30. As mentioned earlier, the edges of the skin 32 are spaced inwardly of the corresponding backing board edges so as not to interfere with the directing or driving of the fasteners 94 through the marginal portions 46. In a like manner, adjacent panels are positioned upon the skirt 24 and affixed to the wall 18 with fasteners 94 so that the wall 18 is lined with the panels 22 as shown in Fig. 1. In the depicted system 20 and as illustrated in Fig. 9, adjacent panels 22 are secured to the wall 18 so that the side edges of adjacent panel backing boards 30 are spaced about 1.0 inch (2.5 cm) apart.

With reference to Figs. 10-12, each piece of vertical joint moulding 26 is shaped to inters it with and cover the side edges of adjacent panels 22. In this connection, the joint moulding 26 is in the form of an elongated body of wood, for example, having a length which corresponds generally with the height of each panel 22 and has opposite side surfaces 96, 98 within which are defined grooves 100, 102, respectively, provided along the length of the moulding 26. The groove 100 defined in the moulding side surface 96 is shaped to accept a side peripheral edge of the skin 32 of one panel 22 and the groove 102 defined in the moulding side surface 98 is shaped to accept a side peripheral edge of the skin 32 of the adjacent panel 22.The vertical moulding 26 also includes a front surface 104 providing a decorative front for the moulding 26 and an opposite planer back surface 106.

Once adjacent panels 22 are secured to the wall 18 as illustrated in Fig. 10, each piece of molding 26 is installed between two adjacent panels 22 by initially positioning the moulding piece directly above the gap provided between the panels 22 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10.

The moulding 26 is then directed endwise downwardly between the panels 22 so that each groove 100, 102 receives a corresponding side edge of the adjacent panel skins 32. The downward movement of the molding 26 is guided by the movement of the grooves 100, 102 along the length of the accepted skin side edges. The installation of the vertical joint molding 26 is complete when the lower most end of the molding 26 contacts so as to rest upon the top surface 80 of the skirt 24.

When the vertical moulding 26 is installed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 11, a portion of the moulding 26 is positioned between the side edges 60, 62 of the adjacent panel skins 32 and the backing boards 30. Accordingly, each grove 100, 102 is spaced from the molding back surface 106 a distance which is about equal to the spacing between the skin side edge 60 or 62 and the backing board 30 of each panel 22. Although one piece of vertical moulding 26 has been described for illustration on one. side of a panel 22, it will be understood that in order that both side edges of the panel 22 are appropriately bordered, a second piece of vertical moulding 26 (Figs. 1 and 2), is installed on the opposite side of the panel 22.

Once a row of panels 22 has been secured to the wall 18 and the pieces of joint moulding 26 have been positioned therebetween, the panels 22 are ready to be covered by the top rail 28 (Figs. 1 and 2). For securement of the top rail 28 to the wall 18 above the panel 22, headed fasteners 110 are directed into the wall 18 so that the head of each fastener 110 is spaced at a predetermined distance from the wall surface. As shown in Fig. 13, the fasteners 110 are spaced from one another at convenient intervals such as, for example, 2.0 foot (61.0 cm) intervals, and at locations slightly above the top edges of the panels 22.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 14 and 15, the top rail 28 is in the form of an elongated piece of wood, for example, having a length sufficient to span the top edges of the panels 22 and back and bottom surfaces 112, 114, respectively. The back surface 112 is substantially planar and defines a plurality of key holds 116 spaced apart by a distance which is about equal to the spaced-apart distance of the fasteners 110 so that each key hold 116 cooperates with a corresponding fastener 110 secured to the wall 18.

As best shown in Figs. 14 and 15, each key hold 116 includes a lower portion 120 which is of appropriate size and shape to accept the head of the fastener 110 when the rail back surface 112 is operatively moved against the wall 18 and an upper portion 121 which is appropriately sized and shaped to permit the top rail 28 to be shifted downwardly as the key hold upper portion 121 is guided onto the head of the fastener 110. Once positioned into the key hold upper portion 121, the key hold 116 is interlocked with the fastener 110 so that the top rail 28 is prevented from being pulled directly away from the wall 18.Fig. 15 illustrates in phantom the position of the top rail 28 when the head of a fasteners 110 has been accepted by tht key hold lower portion 120 and illustrates in solid lines the position of the top rail 28 when the head of the fastener 110 has been accepted by the key hold lower portion 121.

As best seen in Fig. 15, the bottom surface 112 of the top rail 28 is shaped so as to define a downwardlydepending lip 122 which is positioned in front of the skin 32 when the top rail 28 is positioned in its Fig. 15 lowered, or locked, position. Thus, the top rail 28 serves to cover the top edges of the panel 22 when positioned in place. The top and front surfaces of the top rail 28 provide the rail 28 with viewable portions which are decorative in appearance.

It follows from the foregoing that the panel system 20 is installable upon on a wall 18 in a secure manner with the skirt 24, joint moulding 26 and top rail 28 and so that the fasteners 78, 94, 110 used to affix the system components to the wall 18 are hidden from view. More specifically, fasteners 78 are hidden from view by the skirt 24, fasteners 94 are hidden from view by the vertical joint moulding 26, and fasteners 110 are hidden from view by the top rail 28.

If for some reason one of the system components must be replaced or the system 20 must be removed from the wall 18, the system 20 can be easily and non-destructively disassembled. To disassemble the system 20, the top rail 28 is initially removed from the fasteners 110 by lifting and pulling the rail 28 from the wall 18, and the pieces of vertical joint moulding 26 are then lifted from the gap defined between adjacent panels 22. Each panel 22 is then unfastened from the wall 18 by removal of the fasteners 94 and lifted out of the skirt groove 3C. The skirt 24 is then lifted from the brackets 76, and the brackets 76 are unfas tened from the floor by removal of the fasteners 78.

It follows from the foregoing that this invention accomplishes its intended objectives. In particular, a layered wainscot panel 22 is provided which has a rigidified, core-backed outer skin 32 which resists inward flexing when struck and which provides the panel 22 with sounding characteristics which simulate those of a solid panel. In addition, framing means positionable about each panel 22 enhance the securement of the panel 22 to the wall, hide panel-affixing fasteners from view and enable the system 20 to be attached and detached from the wall 18 quickly and with relative ease. If therefore, the system components are pre-finished when supplied to a customer, the finish of the components need not be altered when installing the system.

It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although each piece of vertical joint moulding 26 has been shown and described as including opposing side surfaces for cooperatively receiving the edges of adjacent panels 22, the joint moulding may be provided with a shape for use in a situation in which an edge of a panel 22 meets a corner of a wall or a door facing. For example, there is illustrated in Fig. 16 a piece of vertical joint moulding 126 having angularly-related legs 128, 130 for interconnecting the skins of panels positioned around a corner from one another. In this connection, each leq 128, 130 has an end surface which is appropriately grooved for receiving an edge of a corresponding panel skin. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiments are intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.

n1rthermre, the invention is not restricted to panels of fielded form as illustrated and is equally applicable to other forms of decorative panel whether embodyina additicnal moulding or other embellish- next. In addition the outer skin of the panel may be formed of other materials including plyod rather than be formed as a moulding.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A wainscot panel comprising: a backing board of relatively rigid material; an outer skin arranged in overlying relationship with said backing board; and a core sandwiched between the backing board and the outer skin for rigidifying the skin in a manner limiting inward flexing of the skin when struck and for providing the panel with sounding characteristics simulating those of a solid panel.

2. The panel as defined in claim 1, Wrein the skin and backing board are maintained in a spaced relationship by the core, and the core substantially fills the spacing between the skin and the core.

3. The panel as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the core is adhesively secured in overlying relationship with the backing board and the skin is adhesively secured in overlying relationship to the core so that the skin is thereby secured to the backing board.

4. The panel as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the backing board is substantially planar, the skin includes sections which are substantially planar, and the core includes portions of uniform thickness as measured between the backing board and skin for maintaining the planar sections of the skin in a parallel relationship with the backing board.

5. The panel as defined in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the skin is constructed of polystyrene.

6. The panel as defined in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said backing board includes peripheral edges and marginal portions extending along the peripheral edges of the board and the skin overlies the backing board so that the marginal portions of the board extend beyond corresponding edges of the skin so as not to interfere with the directing of shanked fasteners through the marginal portions from the skin-side of said panel.

7. The panel as defined in claim 6 wherein the marginal portions of the board extend beyond corresponding edges of the skin by at least about 0.5 inches.

8. A wainscot panel system comprising: a rectangular panel having o rectangular backing board and a relatively rigid rectangular outer skin attached in overlying relationship with the backing board, the panel being positionable in an upright condition against a wall so that two side edges of the backing board and corresponding side edges of the skin provide vertical side edges of the panel and the remaining edges of the backing board and skin provide horizontal top and bottom edges of the panel, at least one of the top and side edges of the backing board positioned outwardly beyond the corresponding edge of the skin to permit shanked fasteners to be directed through the backing board adjacent said one backing board edge and into the wall with no interference from the corresponding edge of the skin;; at least one bracket securable to a floor adjacent the wall and having a portion which projects upwardly when the bracket is secured to the floor; a skirt for bordering the panel adjacent its bottom edges and having an elongated body including a bottom surface for facing the floor and an opposite top surface, the skirt bottom surface defining a groove for accepting the upwardly-projecting portion of the bracket and the skirt top surface defining a grove for accepting the bottom edge of the skin of the panel so that once the bracket is secured to the floor and the skirt is positioned upon the bracket so that the bottom edge of the skin is accepted by the groove defined in the skirt bottom surface, the panel is positionable in its upright condition against the wall so that the bottom edge of the panel skin is received by the groove defined in the skirt top surface;; two pieces of joint moulding for bordering the panel adjacent the side edges thereof, each joint moulding piece including an elongated body having a vertically-posi tionable side surface defining a groove for accepting a corresponding side edge of the panel skin so that once the panel is operatively positioned in its upright condition against the wall, each piece of joint moulding can be interfitted with the panel skin in such a manner that each side edge of the skin is accepted by a corresponding groove defined in the joint moulding;; a top rail for bordering the panel adjacent the top edges thereof, said top rail including an elongated body having a back surface positionable so as to face the wall and a horizontally-positionable bottom surface, the rail back surface including a slot for cooperatively accepting the head of a headed fastener secured to the wall in a manner keying the top rail to the wall above the panel, and the rail bottom surface including a lip portion for overhanging the top edge of the panel skin when the top rail is keyed to the wall.

9. The system as defined in Claim 8, wherein the bracket and the skirt are of such size in relation to one another so that when the skirt is positioned upon the bracket as aforesaid, the bracket is hidden from view by the skirt, the pieces of joint moulding are adapted to hide from view any shanked fasteners directed through the backing board and into the wall adjacent the corresponding side edge of the backing board; and the top rail cooperates with the head of the headed fastener secured to the wall so that when keyed to the headed fastener, the top rail hides the headed fastener from view.

10. The system as defined in Claim 8 or Claim 9, Wein the panel further includes a core sandwiched between the backing board and the outer skin for rigidizing the skin in a manner limiting any inward flexing of the skin when struck and for providing the panel with sounding characteristics simulating those of a solid panel.

11. A wainscot panel system substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 15 or Figures 1 to 15 as modified by Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A wainscot panel substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A wainscot panel system substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 15 or Figures 1 to 15 as modified by Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A wainscot panel for lining an interior wall of a building comprising: a backing board of relatively rigid material for positioning adjacent an interior wall of a building when the panel is positioned so as to line the wall; an outer skin arranged in overlying and spaced relationship with said backing board; and a core sandwiched between the backing board and the outer skin in a manner physically separating the outer skin from the backing board and for rigidifying the skin in a manner limiting inward flexing of the skin when struck and for providing the panel with sounding characteristics simulating those of a solid panel; said core being secured in overlying relationship with the backing board and the skin being secured in overlying relationship to the core so that the skin is thereby secured to the backing board, said core being of a relatively stiff character so that the core fixedly holds the outer skin in a spaced and stationary relationship with respect to the backing boards; and said backing board including peripheral edges and marginal portions extending along the peripheral edges of the board and the skin overlying the backing board so that the marginal portions of the board extend beyond corresponding edges of the skin so as not to interfere with the directing of shanked fasteners through the marginal portions from the skin-side of said panel.

2. The panel as defined in Claim 1, wherein the skin and backing board are maintained in a spaced relationship by the core, and the core substantially fills the spacing between the skin and the core.

3. The panel as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the core is adhesively secured in overlying relationship with the backing board and the skin is adhesively secured in overlying relationship to the core.

4. The panel as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the backing board is substantially planar, the skin includes sections which are substantially planar, and the core includes portions of uniform thickness as measured between the backing board and skin for maintaining the planar sections of the skin in a parallel relationship with the backing boards.

5. The panel as defined in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the skin is constructed of polystyrene.

6. The panel as defined in claim 5 wherein the marginal portions of the board extend beyond corresponding edges of the skin by at least about 0.5 inches.

7. A wainscot panel system comprising: a rectangular panel having u rectangular backing board and a relatively rigid rectangular outer skin attached in overlying relationship with the backing board, the panel being positionable in an upright condition against a wall so that two side edges of the backing board and corresponding side edges of the skin provide vertical side edges of the panel and the remaining edges of the backing board and skin provide horizontal top and bottom edges of the panel, at least one of the top and side edges of the backing board positioned outwardly beyond the corresponding edge of the skin to permit shanked fasteners to be directed through the backing board adjacent said one backing board edge and into the wall with no interference from the corresponding edge of the skin;; at least one bracket securable to a floor adjacent the wall and having a portion which projects upwardly when the bracket is secured to the floor; a skirt for bordering the panel adjacent its bottom edges and having an elongated body including a bottom surface for facing the floor and an opposite top surface, the skirt bottom surface defining a groove for accepting the upwardly-projecting portion of the bracket and the skirt top surface defining a groove for accepting the bottom edge of the skin of the panel so that once the bracket is secured to the floor and the skirt is positioned upon the bracket so that the bottom edge of the skin is accepted by the groove defined in the skirt bottom surface, the panel is positionable in its upright condition against the wall so that the bottom edge of the panel skin is received by the groove defined in the skirt top surface; two pieces of joint moulding for bordering the panel adjacent the side edges thereof, each joint moulding piece including an elongated body having a vertically-posi- tionable side surface defining a groove for accepting a corresponding side edge of the panel skin so that once the panel is operatively positioned in its upright condition against the wall, each piece of joint moulding can be interfitted with the panel skin in such a manner that each side edge of the skin is accepted by a corresponding groove defined in the joint moulding;; a top rail for bordering the panel adjacent the top edges thereof, said top rail including an elongated body having a back surface positionable so as to face the wall and a horizontaily-positionable bottom surface, the rail bac surface including a slot for cooperatively accepting the head of a headed fastener secured to the wall in a manner keying the top rail to the wall above the panel, and the rail bottom surface including a lip portion for overhanging the top edge of the panel skin when the top rail is keyed to the wall.

8. The system as defined in Claim 7, wherein the bracket and the skirt are of such size in relation to one another so that when the skirt is positioned upon the bracket as aforesaid, the bracket is hidden from view by the skirt, the pieces of joint moulding are adapted to hide from view any shanked fasteners directed through the backing board and into the wall adjacent the corresponding side edge of the backing board; and the top rail cooperates with the head of the headed fastener secured to the wall so that when keyed to the headed fastener, the top rail hides the headed fastener from view.

9. The system as defined in Claim 7 or Claim e,wherein the panel further includes a core sandwiched between the backing board and the outer skin for rigidizing the skin in a manner limiting any inward flexing of the skin when struck and for providing the panel with sounding characteristics simulating those of a solid panel.

10. A wainscot panel substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.