TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to a building panel system and, more particularly, to prefabricated building panels that utilize mating joints or connections therebetween and which permit panel interchangeability and assure structural integrity.
BACKGROUND ART
Many types of joint or connection arrangements are available to provide a strong, vapor-tight connection between building panels and which prevent excessive heat transfer from the outside into the building structure. In most instances, such joints or connections have involved complex building panel structures which incorporate sealing and/or insulating materials. In addition, such building panel systems have lacked structural integrity against wind loads. Structurally interlocking joints or connections have been utilized in the past to provide the needed strength. In most instances, however, this approach has further increased the complexity of the resulting mechanical structure because of the numerous components involved and the considerable labor required to assemble each panel which typically must be selected for its actual location within the building. Thus, the panels are not interchangeable or universal and the same panel cannot be used on any wall, roof or floor surface. In addition, with respect to the interior or exterior of any wall, the panels are not formed with mating joints which would permit their attachment to one another regardless of whether it is an interior or exterior surface, as long as the joints are opposed.
In view of the foregoing inherent disadvantages associated with the presently available building panel systems, it has become desirable to develop a building panel structure that is universal and interchangeable and can be used for any wall, roof or floor surface and which is formed with mating joints permitting the attachment of one panel to another panel regardless of whether an interior or exterior wall is being constructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problem associated with the prior art building panel systems and other problems by providing a panel system that utilizes a panel structure that is universal and interchangeable and which can be used for any wall, roof or floor surface. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing panels that have mating joints permitting the attachment of one panel to an adjacent abutting panel regardless of whether an interior or exterior wall is being constructed. Structurally, each building panel has a plurality of male projections along one end surface and plurality of mating female recesses along the oppositely disposed end surface. Since the plurality of male projections are aligned with the plurality of female recesses, the plurality of male projections on one building panel can be received within the plurality of female recesses in an adjacent abutting building panel forming a mating connection therebeteween. One or more threaded fasteners can be received through and along the length of the mating joint between adjacent abutting panels in order to secure same together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view through a building structure utilizing the building panel system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through an individual building panel of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through section-indicating lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 and illustrates a joint or connection between two abutting building panels of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through an alternate embodiment of an individual building panel of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through section indicating lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 and illustrates a joint or connection between two abutting individual building panels of the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings where the Figures are for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention described herein, FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view through a building structure 10 utilizing the building panel system of the present invention. As shown in this Figure, the building structure 10 includes a front or rear wall shown generally by the numeral 12, a side wall 14, a floor 16, a roof 18 and a center support 20 for the roof 18. The front or rear wall 12 includes building panels 22 and 24 in an upright orientation and in an abutting relationship. The building panels 22 and 24 are identical in cross-sectional configuration, structure and composition. A plurality of fasteners 26 are utilized to attach the panels 22 and 24 to one another along the line formed by the junction of the abutting panels 22 and 24 and to firmly secure the panels 22 and 24 together.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view through a building panel, such as panel 22 or 24, is illustrated. The building panel 22 or 24 is formed from metallic material and is comprised of a longitudinally extending outer surface 28 and a longitudinally extending inner surface 30 that is spaced apart from outer surface 28 and is substantially parallel thereto. Both the outer surface 28 and the inner surface 30 of the building panel 22 or 24 are formed from metallic material and enclose insulating material 32 therebetween. End 34 of outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24 is formed into a U-shape defining a male projection 36 having an end surface 38 and forming a female recess 40 substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24. A lead-in surface 42 joins end surface 38 of male projection 36 with female recess 40. Oppositely disposed end 44 of outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24 is formed into a U-shape defining a male projection 46 substantially parallel to outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24. A shoulder portion 48 joins male projection 46 to outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24. Male projection 46 in end 44 is aligned with female recess 40 in end 34 of the building panel 22 or 24. The width of shoulder portion 48 in end 44 of outer surface 28 of building panel 22 or 24 is slightly greater than the width of the portion of the building panel 22 or 24 between the outer surface 28 thereof and surface 50 of female recess 40. In addition, the width of female recess 40 is slightly greater than the width of male projection 46 permitting the receipt of male projection 46 of a building panel 22 or 24 within the female recess 40 of another building panel 22 or 24 when abutting building panels 22 or 24 are joined.
End 52 of inner surface 30 of building panel 22 or 24 is formed into a U-shape defining a male projection 54 having an end surface 56 and forming a female recess 58 defined by surface 60 of male projection 54 and surface 62 of insulating material 32. Male projection 54 is spaced apart from inner surface 30 of building panel 22 or 24 and is substantially parallel thereto. Oppositely disposed end 64 of inner surface 30 of the building panel 22 or 24 is formed into a U-shape defining a male projection 66 substantially parallel to the inner surface 30 of building panel 22 or 24. A shoulder portion 68 joins male projection 66 to the inner surface 30 of building panel 22 or 24. Male projection 66 in end 64 is aligned with female recess 58 in end 52 of the building panel 22 or 24. The width of male projection 66 in end 64 of inner surface 30 of building panel 22 or 24 is slightly less than the width of female recess 58 in end 52 of the aforementioned building panels permitting the receipt of male projection 66 of a building panel 22 or 24 within the female recess 58 in another building panel 22 or 24 when abutting building panels 22 or 24 are joined.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view taken across section-indicating line 3-3 in FIG. 1 is illustrated and shows a joint or connection between two abutting building panels 22 and 24 of the present invention. In this illustration male projections 46, 66 in building panel 24 are received within female recesses 40, 58 in building panel 22, respectively, and are positioned therein such that end surface 38 of male projection 36 on building panel 22 firmly contacts shoulder portion 48 on building panel 24 and that end surface 56 of male projection 54 on building panel 24 firmly contacts shoulder portion 68 on building panel 24. In this manner firm engagement between the abutting building panels 22 and 24 is ensured. A plurality of fasteners 26 are provided through male projections 36 and 46 on building panels 22, 24, respectively securing the outer surfaces 28 thereof and through male projections 56 and 66 on building panels 22, 24, respectively, securing the inner surfaces 30 thereof. The fasteners 26 that are utilized to secure the inner surfaces 30 of the building panels 22, 24 are recessed due to the shoulder portion 68 provided between the inner surface 30 of building panel 22 and male projection 66 thereon.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of building panel 22 or 24 is illustrated. Those structural elements or features of the building panel 22 or 24 shown in this Figure and in FIG. 5, which are the same as the structural elements or features in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, have the same reference numerals and will not be discussed any further. In FIG. 4, end 34 of outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24 is offset inwardly by a shoulder portion 70 before being formed into a U-shape. In addition, the width of shoulder portion 72 at the oppositely disposed end 44 of outer surface 28 of the building panel 22 or 24 is greater than the width of similar shoulder portion 48 in FIGS. 2 and 3 so that male projection 46 in end 44 is aligned with and is receivable within female recess 40 in end 34 of the building panel 22 or 24. In this manner the fasteners 26 joining the outer surfaces 28 of building panels 22 and 24 are also recessed, as shown ion FIG. 5. By recessing the fasteners 26 adjacent the inner surfaces 30 and the outer surfaces 28 of the building panels 22, 24, paintable filler material 74 can be received within the recesses containing the heads of the fasteners 26 in order to provide a smooth surface between the abutting building panels 22, 24 for finishing purposes.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing. It is understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20180016786
