Lightweight structual panel

Claim 2

A lightweight load-bearing building panel comprising a single, substantially rectangular slab of lightweight cellular concrete, a structural metal frame formed of angle or channel iron members extending continuously around the edge of the slab, the frame serving initially as a form for the concrete and subsequently as a connecting means for securing the panel in position in a building, and reinforcing means wholly embedded within the slab so as to be concealed from view, the reinforcing means including structural metal bar members of less width that the frame members the ends of which are rigidly secured to opposite sides of the frame and wire mesh members coextensive with and extending continuously across the frame, said wire mesh members being fixedly secured directly to the frame and to the bar members on opposite sides thereof so as to be held in spaced relation to one another separated by the bar members

Claim 3

A panel as defined in claim 1 together with a layer of high-density concrete bonded to at least one side of said lightweight cellular concrete.

Claim 4

A lightweight load-bearing building panel comprising a substantially rectangular slab of lightweight foamed concrete; a structural metal frame serving initially as a form for the concrete and subsequently as a connecting means for securing the panel in position in a building; the sides of the slab being substantially flush with the frame edges; and reinforcing means wholly embedded within the slab so as to be concealed from view, the reinforcing means being in the form of a double diaphragm the overall thickness of which is less than the thickness of the frame, the diaphragm including flanged structural metal bar members the ends of which are rigidly secured to one pair of opposite frame sides, structural metal rod members the ends of which are rigidly secured to the other pair of opposite frame sides, the rod members passing through the bar members and being rigidly secured thereto at the points of intersection, and a pair of wire mesh members fixedly secured directly to the bar member flanges so as to be held in spaced relation to one another by the members, the wire mesh members being coextensive with and extending continuously across the frame and being fixedly secured to the frame at the peripheral edges thereof whereby the mesh members increase the effective width of the bar member flanges without appreciably increasing the weight of the panel.

Claim 5

A lightweight load-bearing building panel comprising a substantially rectangular slab of lightweight foamed concrete; a structural metal frame serving initially as a form for the concrete and subsequently as a connecting means for securing the panel in position in a building; the sides of the slab being substantially flush with the frame edges; and reinforcing means wholly embedded within the slab so as to be concealed from view, the reinforcing means being in the form of a double diaphragm the overall thickness of which is less than the thickness of the frame, the diaphragm including flanged structural metal bar members the ends of which are rigidly secured to one pair of opposite frame sides, structural metal rod members the ends of which are rigidly secured to the other pair of opposite frame sides, the rod members passing through the bar members and being rigidly secured thereto at the points of intersection, and a pair of wire mesh members fixedly secured directly to the bar member flanges so as to be held in spaced relation to one another by the members, the wire mesh members being coextensive with and extending continuously across the frame and being fixedly secured to the frame at the peripheral edges thereof whereby the mesh members increase the effective width of the bar member flanges without appreciably increasing the weight of the panel.