US3559359A

US3559359A - Building panel system

Info

Publication number: US3559359A
Application number: US790378A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Talbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-01-10
Filing date: 1969-01-10
Publication date: 1971-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-02

Abstract

A BUILDING PANEL SYSTEM WHEREIN ADJACENT PANELS ARE PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INTERFITTING LIPS WHICH ARE CONTOURED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT A CAMMING OR WEDGING ACTION IS SECURED WHEN THE LIPS ARE FITTED TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A HIGHLY EFFICIENT INTERLOCKED JOINT BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLED PANELS.

Description

w. L. TALBERT 3,559,359 BuiLaiue PANEL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 10, 1969 WILLIAM L. TALBERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,559,359 BUILDING PANEL SYSTEM William L. Talbert, 355 Folkstone Way, York, Pa. 17402 Filed Jan. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 790,378 Int. Cl. E0411 3/363 US. Cl. 52-394 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building panel system wherein adjacent panels are provided with longitudinally extending interfitting lips which are contoured in such a manner that a camming or wedging action is secured when the lips are fitted together in order to provide a highly efiicient interlocked joint between the assembled panels.

This invention relates to a building panel system of the type having a plurality of similarly formed sheet metal panels which are provided with interlocking lips or edge joints to enable the panels to be quickly assembled together to constitute a rigid wall, partition or other type of structural building unit.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel joint construction for building panels for enabling ready assembly of the panels in such a manner that they 'will be securely locked together throughout theirlength in order to provide a strong structural unit where tendencies toward relative sliding movement may be eliminated.

A further object is to provide a novel panel joint construction which enables the panels to be readily assembled and disassembled without the necessity of special tools and avoiding the use of fasteners which penetrate the exterior sheet and are thus visible from the exterior when the assembly of the panels is completed.

Another object is to provide a panel joint constructed in such a manner that the panel edges or lips forming the parts of the joint are formed with turned or rounded portions which not only cooperate to secure a joint of great strength but also avoids the use of sharp edges which might be bent or otherwise damaged in shipping and handling the panels.

Still another object is to provide in a panel joint of the above type, a novel construction whereby the panel system, when assembled, forms a weathertight, airtight and watertight structural unit especially adapted for us as an exterior wall.

A still further object enables the use of concealed fasteners for securing the panel system to structural framing members to provide an interlocked wall structure possessing symmetry in the joined exterior profiles with a minimum of exposure of the line of the joints between the panels. I

Still another object relates to the construction of the interlocking joint which provides a camming action when the panels are assembled, thus materially increasing the strength of the joint.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It will be expressly understood however, that the drawing is utilized for purposes of illustration only and is not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein severalembodiments of the invention are illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a panel system embodying the principles of the present invention and 3,559,359 Patented Feb. 2,, 1971 particularly illustrating the novel edge joint construction and the manner of assembling the panels;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a modified form of joint including a sealing member and a clip for securing the panel to a frame member;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the joint of FIG. 1 with a modified form of securing clip;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the joint of FIG. 1 with still another form of securing clip;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a modified form of joint and securing clip, and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the joint of FIG. 1 when used to connect flat panel members.

Referring to FIG. 1, the novel panel system and joint construction of the present invention is illustrated therein as comprising end portions of three similarly formed

sheet metal panels

10, 12 and 14, each of which is shaped to provide a pair of

flat faces

16 and 18 arranged in spacedapart parallel planes and interconnected by a longitudinal extending web 20. The side edges of each panel are formed with interengaging lips to provide a novel interlocking joint which constitutes an important feature of the invention.

As shown, the left edge of panel 12 is formed throughout its length with a lip 21 which is constituted by a pair of spaced-apart substantially

parallel wall portions

22 and 24 which are connected by a lower curved part 26, the upper part of the wall portion 24 being reversely curved to form a rounded edge 28 which is spaced from the wall portion 22. Preferably, the wall portion 22 is bent at an acute angle with respect to the face 16 so that the web 20 and the wall portion 22 bear substantially the same angular relationship with respect to the face 16 as illustrated. The opposite edge of panel 12 is formed with a cooperating lip 29 by bending the edge upwardly and over the face 18 at an acute angle to form a wall portion 30 which is connected to said face 18 by a lower curved part 32, the upper end of the wall portion 30 being reversely curved to provide a rounded edge 34 having substantially the same curvature as the rounded edge 28. It will thus be seen that the formation of the lip 29 as just described, forms a hollow recess 31 having an open mouth 33 defined by the spacing of the marginal part of the rounded edge 34 above the face 18 of the panel 12. Opposite edges of the panel 14 are formed with lips in a manner similar to the edges of the panel 12 and the right edge of the panel 10 is shaped in the same manner as the right edge of the panel 12.

Referring to the right portion of FIG. 1, the

panels

12 and 14 are angularly related with respect to each other and properly positioned for interconnection of the

lips

21 and 29. Therefrom it will be observed that the lip 21 is placed within the recess 31 with the curved part 26 of the lip 21 of panel 14 engaging the curved part 32 of the lip 29 of panel 12 throughout the longitudinal extent of the panels. Thereafter, it is only necessary to pivot the panel 14 downwardly with respect to the panel 12 to move the lips of the joint into the position shown in the left portion of FIG. 1 whereupon the panels are securely interlocked together with the

faces

18 and 16 of the respective panels in parallel relationship. In such interlocked condition, it is pointed out that the

parts

24, 26 and 28 of the lip 21 are positioned within the hollow recess 31 while the wall portion 22 of the lip substantially closes the open mouth 33 of the recess.

One of the important features of the interlocking joint above described resides in shaping the parts to provide a camming or wedging action between the right edge of one panel and the left edge of an adjacent panel as they assume the interlocked position at the left portion of FIG. 1. This is achieved by arranging the angularity between the wall portion 30 and the face 18 of the panel 10, for example, less than that between the wall portion 22 and the face 16 of the panel 12, and by making the height of the wall portion 30 greater than the height of the wall portion 24. Stated differently, the distance between the

curved parts

32 and 34 measured along a line substantially parallel to the wall portion 30 is greater than the distance between the curved part 26 and the rounded edge 28. It will thus be seen from the assembled interlocked position shown in the left portion of FIG. 1 that by reason of this arangement the distance between the face 18 and the rounded edge 34 measured normally to the face 18 is less than the distance between the rounded edge 28 and the curved part 26 measured parallel to the wall portion 22. Due to this construction and referring to the right portion of FIG. 1, as the panel 14 is pivoted downwardly with respect to the panel 12 and with the

curved parts

26 and 32 in engagement, the wall portion 24 of the lip 21 will first engage the wall portion 30 of the lip 29. Continued pivotal movement of the panel 14 will slide the curved part 26 to the left on face 18 and cam the rounded edge 28 into firm wedging engagement with the rounded edge 34, thus providing a tight interlocking joint between the panels after they assume the position shown in the left portion of FIG. 1. Therefrom, it will be appreciated that the line of contact between the curved part 26 and the face 18 forms a line of restraint which in effect, prevents or restrains any further movement of the curved part 26 toward the left, and the

lips

21 and 29 of the panels are wedged into a firm and interlocked position. It will be appreciated that the springiness of the material of the panels will greatly assist the firmness of the joint during the aforesaid camming action.

Referring to FIG. 2, a nailable clip 36 is adapted to cooperate with the wall portion 30 and rounded edge 34 in order to fasten the lip of one panel to a structural support 38 prior to interlocking of the adjacent panel, it being understood that the clips 36 are concealed from view from the exterior after the adjacent panel has been assembled. A longitudinally extending elastic seal 40 may be positioned at the curved part 32 which is compressed during assembly of the joint to secure a weather-tight seal and if desired, a ridge 42 may be formed in the face 18 to function as a stop for limiting the camming action between the parts during assembly.

A modified form of clip 44 is shown in FIG. 3 for use where the panel system is to be secured to an angle type of support 46. In this form, the clip is provided with a slot 48, which may be formed with serrated sides, for receiving a ledge 50 of the support 46, a striking tab 52 enabling ready assembly of the clip with respect to the panel and support.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the panel system similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a plurality of spaced notches 54 for receiving a locking web 56 formed on a snap-on clip 58. It will be clear that with this construction, any tendency for the panels to move longitudinally with respect to each other is eliminated. In FIG. 5, base 60 of clip 58 is bent in such a manner that the clip and panel system may be secured to a suitable structural support by means of nail 62. It will be understood that in both FIGS. 4 and 5, the clips 58 are positioned in place prior to assembly of the adjacent panel so that they are concealed by the adjacent panel.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified lip formation for panels and 12 wherein lip 64 of panel 12 is constituted by spaced parallel wall potrions 66, 68 and lip 70 of panel 10 has a wall potrion 72 which is bent over the face 18 of panel 10 and arranged at an acute angle with respect thereto. Wall portion 72 has a curved edge 74 against which the curved edge 76 of wall portion 68 is forced during the camming action incident to assembly of the panels as in the case of FIG. 1. If desired, the lower end of the Cal lip 64 may be formed to accommodate an elastic sealing strip like that shown at 40 in FIG. 2 in order to provide a weather-tight seal when the joint is completed. A securing clip 78, conforming to the shape of the wall portion 72 and the curved edge 74 may be utilized for fastening the panel 10 to a structural support prior to interconnection of the lips 64 and of the interlocking joint.

FIG. 7 illustrates the joint of FIG. 1 when used to interconnect a pair of

panels

78 and 80 which lie in a common plane. In this case, the face 16 may be bent downwardly at 82 to engage the curved part 26 thus providing a stop means for limiting relative pivotal movement of the panels during assembly.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that the present invention provides a novel interlocking joint for quick and ready assembly of structural building panels, the longitudinally extending edge lips of adjacent panels being contoured in such a manner as to attain a camming action in order to provide a joint possessing great strength. The novel construction also enables the use of concealed sealing strips in order to assure a weather-tight structure which is especially desirable in connection with exterior walls. The various forms of clips disclosed herein also provides an arrangement whereby the panels may be readily secured to structural framing members without being visible from the exterior when the panel system is assembled.

While the invention has been shown and described herein with considerable particularity it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the same is capable of a variety of expressions. For example, while the panels have been referred to herein as being formed of sheet metal it will be understood that they be of plastic or other suitable material capable of being shaped and contoured as disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A building panel construction comprising at least two panels each of which is provided with a face and a longitudinally extending edge, the edge of one panel being formed to provide a first lip extending upwardly from the face of said one panel and connected thereto by a curved part, said lip being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said face, the upper end of said first lip having an inwardly and downwardly curved part terminating in a free edge spaced above said face of said one panel to form an open month, said free edge being positioned more closely adjacent to said latter face than all portions of said inwardly curved part and the first lip forming with said latter face a hollow recess, the boundaries of said recess comprising a plane extending from said free edge normal to said latter face, said inwardly curved part, said curved part and the portion of said latter face between said curved part and the juncture of said plane and said latter face, the edge of the other panel being formed to provide a second lip extending downwardly from the face of the other panel and arranged at an angle with respect to said latter face which is greater than said acute angle, said second lip having a lower curved section and an upper section curved to form a rounded edge, the curvature of said rounded edge being substantially the same as that of said inwardly curved part, the other panel being angularly positioned with respect to said one panel with the lower curved section and the rounded edge of the second lip being positioned entirely within said hollow recess and with said lower curved section engaging the portion of the face of said one panel within said recess, the distance between the inwardly curved part of the first lip and the face of said one panel being less than the distance between the curved section and the rounded edge of the second lip, substantially pivotal movement of the other panel with respect to said one panel to bring them into interlocked assembled relation moving the lower curved section of said second lip along the face of said one panel toward said open mounth to effect a wedging action between the upper and lower curved sections of the second lip and the inwardly curved part of the first lip and the face of said one panel and moving the first wall portion of the second lip to a position substantially closing the open mouth of said recess.

2. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 which includes a clip engaging the curved part of the first lip for securing the one panel to a structural member prior to assembly of the other panel.

3. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein the clip is provided with a slotted edge portion for receiving a structural member.

4. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein the clip is provided with a striker tab on the edge opposite the slotted edge.

5. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second lip is arranged at an acute angle with respect to the face of the other panel.

6. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second lip comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart wall portions interconnecting said curved ends.

7. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein a deformable sealing strip is positioned between said lips and is compressed during the wedging action when said panels are pivoted with repect to each other.

8. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing strip is compressed between said lower section of the second lip and the face of said one panel.

9. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one panel is formed with longitudinally extending stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of the panels with respect to each other.

10. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second lips are provided with aligned slots for receiving a locking member to prevent relative sliding movement of the assembled panels.

11. A building panel construction comprising at least two panels each of which is provided with a face and a longitudinally extending edge, the edge of one panel being formed to provide a first lip extending upwardly from the face of said one panel and connected thereto by a curved part, said lip being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said face, the upper end of said first lip having an inwardly curved part terminating in a free edge spaced above said face of said one panel to form an open mouth and the first lip forming with said latter face a hollow recess, the edge of the other panel being formed to por- 6 vide a second lip extending downwardly from the face of the other panel and then upwardly toward the latter face, said second lip being arranged at an angle with respect to said later face which is greater than said acute angle, said second lip having a lower curved section and an upper section curved to form a rounded edge having an outer end, said outer end and said free edge extending substantially in the same direction, the curvature of said rounded edge being substantially the same as that of said inwardly curved part, the lower curved section and the rounded edge of the second lip being positioned entirely within said hollow recess when said other panel is angularly positioned with repect to said one panel, the distance between the inwardly curved part of the first lip and the face of said one panel being less than the distance between the curved section and the rounded edge of the second lip, substantially pivotal movement of the other panel with respect to said one panel to bring them into interlocked assembled relation moving the lower curved section of said second lip along the face of said one panel toward said open mouth to effect a wedging action between the upper and lower curved sections of the second lip and the inwardly curved part of the first lip and the face of said one panel and moving the first wall portion of the second lip to a position substantially closing the open mouth of said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 873,920 12/1907 Burris 52520 1,763,870 6/1930 Talmage 52531 2,812,813 11/ 1957 Zarwowski 52-529X 3,157,965 11/1964 Watson 52529X 3,233,382 2/1966 Graveley 5253l 3,253,376 5/1966 Straus 52394 3,269,075 8/ 1966 Marini 52-522 3,289,365 12/1966 McLaughlin 52....522

FOREIGN PATENTS 503,653 1951 Belgium 5252l 599,317 1959 Italy 52-52O JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 52-478, 522, 529