Interlocked panel structure

Claim 2

In a panel structure, two panels facing each other and bearing opposed interlocking means thereon, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said panels interlocking means, a channel having flanges along two panel edges, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said channel flanges entered at assembly the former in between the latter, said panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in an interfit with said channel flanges at said matching means thereof.

Claim 3

In the panel structure of claim 1, said at least one keying member comprising a stress member interjacent said panels opposed interlocking means and bearing interlocking means in confronting positions thereto, and linear interlocking keys in a slidable engagement one with each panel and stress member interlocking means.

Claim 4

In the panel structure of claim 1, said channel extending at right angles to said at least one keying member, a second channel having flanges along the panels edges parallel with said first named edges, matching laterally intefitable means on said panels and on said second channel flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween the latter, said panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in an interfit of said matching means thereof with said second channel means, and one of said channels having a clearance hole over each said at least one keying member for the insertion thereof into said engagement.

Claim 5

In the panel structure of claim 3, said at least one keying member being a stress member and having one end thereof abutting the continuous one of said channels and having the other end projecting through said clearance hole in the other channel to the outer surface thereof.

Claim 6

In the panel structure of claim 3, two other channels having flanges along the panels edges on opposite sides parallel with said at least one keying member, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said two other chanels flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween the latter, and said panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in an interfit of said matching means thereof with said other two channels means.

Claim 7

In the panel structure of claim 3, a third panel meeting one of said facing panels edge-to-edge and facing the other panel jointly therewith, interlocking means borne on said meeting panels comprising the halves of a divided interlocking means forming jointly an equivalent of said means on said other panel, matching laterally interfitable means on said third panel and on said first named channel flanges and on said second channel flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween both channels means, and said third panel displaced laterally together with said meeting panel by said keying member engagement being in an interfit of said matching means thereof with said channel means.

Claim 8

In the panel structure of claim 1, said panels and said channel flanges forming a void under said matching interfit means thereof in the corners of said channel for fallen-in particles swept thereinto by said displaced panels.

Claim 9

In the panel structure of claim 1, one of said channel flanges having an extension protruding above said panel-with-channel matching interfit means and forming a gutter with the panel thereat, and a sealer contained in said gutter.

Claim 10

In the panel structure of claim 8, said channel extension being in the form of a lip turned toward said panel thereat, and a sealing strip mounted on said lip and compressed thereon by said laterally displaced panel.

Claim 11

In the panel structure of claim 1, a peripheral thin-walled closure member extending along the channel outer flange, and means on said channel for holding said closure member in place by an interfitted engagement of a portion of said thin wall thereof with said channel.

Claim 12

In the panel structure of claim 10, said channel having a rim aloNg the outer flange thereof and forming a slot therewith open in the direction reverse to said flange, said closure member having a portion thereof fitted into said slot.

Claim 13

In the panel structure of claim 1, said panel-with-channel matching lateral interfit means being discontinuous lengthwise of the structure on at least said panels.

Claim 14

In the panel structure of claim 12, stringers extending on said panels and bearing said opposed interlocking means thereon, said stringers having ends projecting beyond said panels into said channel and bearing said lateral interfit means thereon.

Claim 15

In the panel structure of claim 12, said panel-with-channel matching lateral interfit means residing in a number of dowels borne on each channel flange inner side, and each panel having apertures fitted onto said dowels.

Claim 16

In the panel structure of claim 1, said panel-with-channel matching lateral interfit means being continuous along said panels and on said channel flanges.

Claim 17

In the panel structure of claim 15, said panels having at least one outwardly open groove along the edges thereof, and said channel flanges having each at least one inner matching tongue thereon, said panels being in a continuous groove-and-tongue interfit with said channel flanges.

Claim 18

In the panel structure of claim 15, moldings extending on said panels at and along the edges thereof, said moldings bearing said continuous lateral interfit means on said panels.

Claim 19

In the panel structure of claim 17, said moldings bearing each at least one lengthwise ridge thereon, said channel flanges bearing each at least one lengthwise tongue on the inner side thereof, each said panel molding ridge being in an interfit with the underside of one channel flange tongue.

Claim 20

In the panel structure of claim 1, said panel-with-channel flanges lateral interfit means being borne on said panels and on said flanges offset inwardly from the panel exterior, and said channel flanges being substantially flush with said panel exterior.

Claim 21

In the panel structure of claim 17, said moldings extending on said panels inward face, and said continuous interfit means being borne on said moldings offset inwardly from the panels outer face.

Claim 22

In the panel structure of claim 1, stringers extending on said panels and bearing said opposed interlocking means thereof, at least one of said stringers having a flanged tubular section, one of said panels being of a limited span and forming the chordal web of said stringer tubular section.

Claim 23

In the panel structure of claim 3, a cover member extending over said channel having said clearance hole over each said at least one keying member, said cover member having spaced apart sides standing on said channel and an interconnecting web above said channel and forming a tubular stress member therewith, and means for attaching said cover member to said channel.

Claim 24

In a panel structure, panels in two parallel rows meeting at parting lines in each row, two opposite panels in said rows being short in height and meeting the other panels in four-panel joints at coincidental parting lines in both rows, a lintel under said short panels, two jambs meeting said other panels at the lintel ends and therebelow at said coincident parting lines, said short panels and said jambs as well as said other panels bearing juxtaposed interlocking means thereon at said parting lines, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said panels and jambs juxtaposed interlocking means interjacent each two coincident parting lines, said lintel having a web and flanges thereon astride said two short panels, said web having clearance openings for each said at least one keying member, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said lintel flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween the latter, said short panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-lintel flanges interfit of said matching means thereof.

Claim 25

In a panel structure, panels in two parallel rows meeting at parting lines in each row, two opposite panels in said rows being short in height and meeting the other panels in four-panel joints at coincidental parting lines in both rows, a lintel under said short panels, two jambs meeting said other panels at the lintel ends and therebelow at said coincident parting lines, said short panels and said jambs as well as said other panels bearing juxtaposed interlocking means thereon at said parting lines, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said panels and jambs juxtaposed interlocking means interjacent each two coincident parting lines, said lintel having a web and flanges thereon astride said two short panels, said web having clearance openings for each said at least one keying member, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said lintel flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween the latter, said short panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-lintel flanges interfit of said matching means thereof.

Claim 26

In the panel structure of claim 23, A lower lintel between said jambs in a window frame, two low opposite panels in said rows meeting the other panels in said four-panel joints at said coincident parting lines, said low panels and said other panels bearing juxtaposed interlocking means thereon at said parting lines, each said at least one keying member being in a slidable engagement with said low panels and said other panels juxtaposed interlocking means, said lower lintel having a web and flanges thereon astride said two low panels, said web having clearance openings for each said at least one keying member, matching laterally interfitable means on said low panels and on said lintel flanges entered at assembly the former inbetween the latter, said low panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-lintel flanges interfit of said matching means thereof.

Claim 27

In the panel structure of claim 24, said two low panels bearing opposite interlocking means thereon intermediate said parting lines, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said panels intermediate interlocking means, said low panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-lintel flanges interfit of said matching means thereof, said lintel web having a clearance opening around each said intermediate at least one keying member for the insertion thereof, a window sill having sides standing on said lintel web astride said clearance opening therein and having a web between said sides over said lintel web and forming a tubular member therewith, and means for attaching said sill to said lintel.

Claim 28

In the panel structure of claim 25, said lower lintel having a wall standing on said web thereof and having projections on said web along said lintel flanges, said sill abutting said wall and said projections in the same direction, and threaded fasteners securing said sill to said lintel wall.

Claim 29

In a wall structure, panels in two parallel rows meeting with each other at parting lines in random coincidental and non-coincidental relationships in both rows, said panels bearing interlocking means thereon at intervals apart from said parting lines, said meeting panels bearing at said parting lines juxtaposed halves of interlocking means jointly equivalent of one full such means apart from said parting lines, said full interlocking means and said juxtaposed halves thereof giving rise in opposed permutation to two-, three- and four-panel joints, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said opposed interlocking means at each panel joint, a door frame between two coincidental parting lines in both panel rows, a window frame between two coincidental parting lines in both panel rows, said door frame and said window frame having the jambs thereof bearing halves of interlocking means juxtaposed to such means on the adjoining panels thereat and having a lintel comprising a web and flanges thereon, two short facing panels having edges between said parting lines in both rows and between said lintel flanges, said window frame having a lower lintel comprised of a web and flanges thereon, two facing low panels having edges between said two parting lines in both rows and between said lower lintel flanges, each said at least one keying member interjacent said coincidental parting lines being in engagement with said juxtaposed adjoining panels, short panels, door and window jambs interlocking means and under said window frame additionally with said low panels interlocking means; a top channel and a bottom channel having each a web and having flanges astride the horizontal panels edges, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said top channel and bottom channel flanges and on said door lintel and window lintel and on said window lower lintel flanges and entered at assembly the panels inbetween said channel and lintel flanges, said panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-channel flanges and panels-with-lintel flaNges interfit of said matching means thereof, said top channel web and said lower lintel web having clearance openings therein at each panel joint for the keying member insertion therethrough, a window sill extending over said lower lintel web and said clearance openings therein, and means for attaching said sill to said lower lintel.

Claim 30

In a wall structure, panels in two parallel rows meeting with each other at parting lines in random coincidental and non-coincidental relationships in both rows, said panels bearing interlocking means thereon at intervals apart from said parting lines, said meeting panels bearing at said parting lines juxtaposed halves of interlocking means jointly equivalent of one full such means apart from said parting lines, said full interlocking means and said juxtaposed halves thereof giving rise in opposed permutation to two-, three- and four-panel joints, at least one keying member in a slidable engagement with said opposed interlocking means at each panel joint, a door frame between two coincidental parting lines in both panel rows, a window frame between two coincidental parting lines in both panel rows, said door frame and said window frame having the jambs thereof bearing halves of interlocking means juxtaposed to such means on the adjoining panels thereat and having a lintel comprising a web and flanges thereon, two short facing panels having edges between said parting lines in both rows and between said lintel flanges, said window frame having a lower lintel comprised of a web and flanges thereon, two facing low panels having edges between said two parting lines in both rows and between said lower lintel flanges, each said at least one keying member interjacent said coincidental parting lines being in engagement with said juxtaposed adjoining panels, short panels, door and window jambs interlocking means and under said window frame additionally with said low panels interlocking means; a top channel and a bottom channel having each a web and having flanges astride the horizontal panels edges, matching laterally interfitable means on said panels and on said top channel and bottom channel flanges and on said door lintel and window lintel and on said window lower lintel flanges and entered at assembly the panels inbetween said channel and lintel flanges, said panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-channel flanges and panels-with-lintel flaNges interfit of said matching means thereof, said top channel web and said lower lintel web having clearance openings therein at each panel joint for the keying member insertion therethrough, a window sill extending over said lower lintel web and said clearance openings therein, and means for attaching said sill to said lower lintel.

Claim 31

In the wall structure of claim 27, said two short panels over said door lintel and over said window upper lintel and said two low panels under said window lower lintel bearing opposed interlocking means thereon for two-panel joints apart from said coincidental panel parting lines, at least one said keying member in a slidable engagement with each said two panels interlocking means, said short and said low panels displaced laterally by said keying member engagement being in a panels-with-channels flanges and panels-with-lintel flanges interfit of said matching means thereof, said top channel web and said window lower lintel web having clearance openings therein at each said two-panel joint for keying member insertion therethrough.