Panel structure and assembly

Claim 2

A panel having a planar face portion and first and second longitudinal side edges adapted for side-by-side assembly of a plurality of such panels, comprising: a first projection of predetermined length extending outward from said first edge above and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion; a second projection extending toward said second edge from a position on said face portion inboard of said second edge in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion, the plane of said second projection being offset from said face portion by an amoUnt different from that of the plane of said first projection, whereby said projections overlap when two panels are assembled with their respective first and second edges in proximity; third and fourth projections extending orthogonally outward from said face portion at the root of said first and second projections respectively;

Claim 3

A panel as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second projections include cooperating means for securing adjacent panels against lateral displacement when two panels are assembled with their respective first and second edges in proximity.

Claim 4

A panel having a planar face portion and first and second longitudinal side edges adapted for side-by-side assembly of a plurality of such panels, comprising: a first projection of predetermined length extending outward from said first edge above and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion; a second projection extending toward said second edge from a position on said face portion inboard of said second edge in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion, the plane of said second projection being offset from said face portion by an amount different from that of the plane of said first projection, whereby said projections overlap when two panels are assembled with their respective first and second edges in proximity; third and fourth projections extending orthogonally outward from said face portion at the root of said first and second projections respectively; longitudinal indentations on the internal faces of said third and fourth projections; and longitudinal channels on the external faces of said third and fourth projections, the channel in one of said projections having parallel side walls and the channel in the other of said projections having the side wall nearest to said face portion of the panel disposed at an obtuse angle to the face of the projection.

Claim 5

A panel having a planar face portion and first and second longitudinal side edges adapted for side-by-side assembly of a plurality of such panels, comprising: a first projection of predetermined length extending outward from said first edge above and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion; a second projection extending toward said second edge from a position on said face portion inboard of said second edge in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion, the plane of said second projection being offset from said face portion by an amount different from that of the plane of said first projection, whereby said projections overlap when two panels are assembled with their respective first and second edges in proximity; third and fourth projections extending orthogonally outward from said face portion at the root of said first and second projections respectively; longitudinal indentations on the internal faces of said third and fourth projections; and longitudinal channels on the external faces of said third and fourth projections, the channel in one of said projections having parallel side walls and the channel in the other of said projections having the side wall nearest to said face portion of the panel disposed at an obtuse angle to the face of the projection.

Claim 6

A panel as defined in claim 3, including means in said first projection for securing said panel to a supporting surface.

Claim 7

A structure comprising in combination: a. a first panel having a planar face portion and a longitudinal edge, a first projection extending outward from said edge above and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion; b. a second panel having a planar face portion and a longitudinal edge, said edge being placed adjacent to and parallel with the edge of said first panel; a second projection extending toward the edge of said second panel from a position on the face portion thereof inboard of said edge and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion, the plane of said second projection being offset from the plane of the face portion of said second panel by an amount different from the offset of the plane of said first projection from the plane of the face portion of said first panel; c. third and fourth projections extending orthogonally outward from said face portions at the root of said first and second projections respectively; d. longitudinal indentations on the remote faces of said third and fourth projections; and e. a longitudinally extending batten having flexible side walls bridging said third and fourth projections and being secured by said longitudinal indentations on the remote faces thereof.

Claim 8

A structure comprising in combination: a. a first panel having a planar face portion and a longitudinal edge, a first projection extending outward from said edge above and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion; b. a second panel having a planar face portion and a longitudinal edge, said edge being placed adjacent to and parallel with the edge of said first panel; a second projection extending toward the edge of said second panel from a position on the face portion thereof inboard of said edge and in a plane substantially parallel to said face portion, the plane of said second projection being offset from the plane of the face portion of said second panel by an amount different from the offset of the plane of said first projection from the plane of the face portion of said first panel; c. third and fourth projections extending orthogonally outward from said face portions at the root of said first and second projections respectively; d. longitudinal indentations on the remote faces of said third and fourth projections; and e. a longitudinally extending batten having flexible side walls bridging said third and fourth projections and being secured by said longitudinal indentations on the remote faces thereof.

Claim 9

A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said third and fourth projections include longitudinal channels on the opposing faces thereof, the channel in one of said projections having parallel side walls and the channel in the other of said projections having the side wall nearest to said face portion of the panels disposed at an obtuse angle to the face of the projection, and a spline secured within said channels.

Claim 10

A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said third and fourth projections include longitudinal surface deformations on opposing faces thereof, and a spline secured by said longitudinal surface deformations.