Composite panel fastening device having interlock feature

Claim 2

A fastening device adapted for attachment to the vertical ends of a pair of first and second vertically disposed planar wall boards mounted in parallel spaced relation to form a composite wall panel having a vertical end thereof capable of being interlocked with a complementary end of a second composite panel so the two panels may form part of an easily assembled and disassembled partition system, the fastening device comprising: an elongated transverse web continuous for a major portion of the length of the vertical end of the wall panel and having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction as substantially parallel spaced relation, the first flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first wall board so that the first flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the first wall board in a snug frictional fit, a pair of second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation and in the same general direction as the first flanges, the second flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the second wall board so that the second flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the second wall board in a snug frictional fit, whereby the two pairs of flanges hold the first and second wall boards in a fixed, parallel spaced apart relation, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web and extending ultimately in a direction generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the first ridge and the web, and an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web at a location spaced laterally from the first ridge and extending ultimately in the same direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped and being spaced apart sufficiently to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second recesses of an identical fastening device at the complementary end of the second composite panel to hold the first and second composite wall panels in a fixed position relative to each other, the first portion of the web being substantially longer than that portion of the first ridge which extends parallel to the web, the second portion of the web being substantially longer than that portion of the second ridge which extends parallel to the web, the first and second portions of the webs extending in the same general direction so that the first and second portions of the web are in continuous juxtaposition with identical first and second portions, respectively, of said identical fastening device and so that the web of the fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first and second recesses of said identical fastening device, the plane of the second portion of the web being offset from the plane of the first portion thereof So that the first portion of the web of one fastening device comes into contact with the second portion of the web of the other fastening device to interrupt relative lateral movement of the two fastening devices away from their interlocked position.

Claim 3

A fastening device according to claim 1 in which the pair of first flanges are slidable longitudinally relative to the first wall board, and the pair of second flanges are slidable longitudinally relative to the second wall board.

Claim 4

A fastening device according to claim 1 in which the first and second ridges are substantially coplanar, and the first and second recesses are substantially coplanar.

Claim 5

A fastening device according to claim 1 in which the web has an intermediate portion between the first portion and the second portion, and in which the fastening device further includes an indentation formed in the intermediate portion of the web to cooperate with a corresponding indentation in the web of the other fastening device to form an elongated vertically disposed passageway between the edges of the two composite wall panels.

Claim 6

A fastening device adapted for attachment to the vertical ends of a pair of first and second vertically disposed planar wall boards mounted in parallel spaced relation to form a composite wall panel having a vertical end thereof capable of being interlocked with a complementary end of a second composite wall panel so the two panels may form part of an easily assembled and idsassembled partition system, the fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally way therefrom in the same general direction, the first flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first wall board so the first flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the first wall board in a snug frictional fit, a pair of second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction as the first flanges, the second flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the second wall board so that the second flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the second wall board in a snug frictional fit, whereby the two pairs of flanges hold the first and second wall boards in a fixed, parallel, spaced apart relation, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web and extending ultimately in a direction generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the first ridge and the web, and an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web at a location spaced laterally from the first ridge and extending ultimately in the same direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second recesses of an identical fastening device at the complementary end of the second composite panel, the first portion of the web being substantially longer than the portion of the first ridge which extends parallel to the web, and the second portion of the web being substantially longer than that portion of the second ridge which extends parallel to the web, the first and second portions of the web extending in the same general direction so that the first and second portions of the web are in continuous juxtaposition with identical first and second portions, respectively, of said identical fastening device and so that the web of the fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first anD second recesses of said identical fastening device, the plane of the second portion of the web being offset from the plane of the first portion thereof so that the first portion of the web of one fastening device comes into contact with the second portion of the web of the other fastening device to interrupt relative lateral movement of the two fastening devices away from their interlocked position.

Claim 7

A fastening device adapted for attachment to the vertical ends of a pair of first and second vertically disposed planar wall boards mounted in parallel spaced relation to form a composite wall panel having a vertical end thereof capable of being interlocked with a complementary end of a second composite wall panel so the two panels may form part of an easily assembled and idsassembled partition system, the fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally way therefrom in the same general direction, the first flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first wall board so the first flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the first wall board in a snug frictional fit, a pair of second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction as the first flanges, the second flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the second wall board so that the second flanges can be releasably engaged with the vertical end of the second wall board in a snug frictional fit, whereby the two pairs of flanges hold the first and second wall boards in a fixed, parallel, spaced apart relation, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web and extending ultimately in a direction generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the first ridge and the web, and an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web at a location spaced laterally from the first ridge and extending ultimately in the same direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second recesses of an identical fastening device at the complementary end of the second composite panel, the first portion of the web being substantially longer than the portion of the first ridge which extends parallel to the web, and the second portion of the web being substantially longer than that portion of the second ridge which extends parallel to the web, the first and second portions of the web extending in the same general direction so that the first and second portions of the web are in continuous juxtaposition with identical first and second portions, respectively, of said identical fastening device and so that the web of the fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first anD second recesses of said identical fastening device, the plane of the second portion of the web being offset from the plane of the first portion thereof so that the first portion of the web of one fastening device comes into contact with the second portion of the web of the other fastening device to interrupt relative lateral movement of the two fastening devices away from their interlocked position.

Claim 8

A fastening device according to claim 5 in which the pair of first flanges are slidable longitudinally relative to the first wall board, with the pair of second flanges being slidable longitudinally relative to the second wall board.

Claim 9

A fastening device according to claim 5 in which the web includes an intermediate portion between the first portion and the second portion, and in which the fastening device further includes an indentation formed in the intermediate portion of the web to cooperate with a corresponding indentation in the web of the other fastening device to form an elongated vertically disposed passageway between the two composite wall panels.

Claim 10

Apparatus for forming a vertically disposed partition system comprising a first composite wall panel having a pair of outwardly extending elongated first ends extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the wall panel, a second composite wall panel having a pair of elongated second ends extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the second wall panel, the first and second wall panels being aligned edge-to-edge in a common vertical plane, a first fastening device releasably engaged with the first ends of the first composite wall panel and adapted to be releasably interlocked with an identical second fastening device releasably engaged with the second ends of the second composite wall panel to hold the two wall panels in a fixed relation forming a portion of the partition system, the first fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web continuous for a major portion of the length of the vertical edge of the first wall panel and having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction in substantially parallel spaced relation, the first flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of one first end of the first wall panel so that the pair of first flanges can be releasably engaged with said one first end in a snug frictional fit, a pair of elongated planar second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation and in the same general direction as the first flanges, the second flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the other first end of the first wall panel so that the second pair of flanges can be releasably engaged with said other first end in a snug frictional fit, the second fastening device being identical to the first fastening device but being engaged with its corresponding wall panel so as to be complementary to the first fastening device, the second fastening device including a pair of corresponding first flanges shaped so they can be releasably engaged with one second end of the second wall panel, a pair of corresponding second flanges shaped so they can be releasably engaged with the other second end of the second wall panel, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web thereof and extending ultimately in a direcition generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the first ridge and the web, and an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web at a location spaced laterally from the first ridge and Extending ultimately in the same general direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced apart from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second recesses of said second fastening device, with the first and second recesses being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second ridges of the second fastening device, the first portion of each web being substantially longer than that portion of its corresponding first ridge which extends parallel to the web, the second portion of each web also being substantially longer than that portion of its corresponding second ridge which extends parallel to the web, the first and second portions of each web extending in the same general direction so the web of the first fastening device is in continuous juxtaposition with the web of the second fastening device and so that the web of the first fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first and second recesses of the second fastening device, the plane of the second portion of the web of each fastening device being offset from the plane of the first portion thereof so that the first portion of the web of the first fastening device comes into contact with the second portion of the web of the second fastening device to interrupt relative lateral movement of the two fastening devices away from their interlocked position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for forming a vertically disposed partition system comprising a first composite wall panel having a pair of outwardly extending elongated first ends extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the wall panel, a second composite wall panel having a pair of elongated second ends extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the second wall panel, the first and second wall panels being aligned edge-to-edge in a common vertical plane, a first fastening device releasably engaged with the first ends of the first composite wall panel and adapted to be releasably interlocked with an identical second fastening device releasably engaged with the second ends of the second composite wall panel to hold the two wall panels in a fixed relation forming a portion of the partition system, the first fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web continuous for a major portion of the length of the vertical edge of the first wall panel and having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction in substantially parallel spaced relation, the first flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of one first end of the first wall panel so that the pair of first flanges can be releasably engaged with said one first end in a snug frictional fit, a pair of elongated planar second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation and in the same general direction as the first flanges, the second flanges being substantially continuous for the length of the web and being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the other first end of the first wall panel so that the second pair of flanges can be releasably engaged with said other first end in a snug frictional fit, the second fastening device being identical to the first fastening device but being engaged with its corresponding wall panel so as to be complementary to the first fastening device, the second fastening device including a pair of corresponding first flanges shaped so they can be releasably engaged with one second end of the second wall panel, a pair of corresponding second flanges shaped so they can be releasably engaged with the other second end of the second wall panel, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web thereof and extending ultimately in a direcition generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the first ridge and the web, and an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web at a location spaced laterally from the first ridge and Extending ultimately in the same general direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced apart from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second recesses of said second fastening device, with the first and second recesses being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug frictional fit with corresponding first and second ridges of the second fastening device, the first portion of each web being substantially longer than that portion of its corresponding first ridge which extends parallel to the web, the second portion of each web also being substantially longer than that portion of its corresponding second ridge which extends parallel to the web, the first and second portions of each web extending in the same general direction so the web of the first fastening device is in continuous juxtaposition with the web of the second fastening device and so that the web of the first fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first and second recesses of the second fastening device, the plane of the second portion of the web of each fastening device being offset from the plane of the first portion thereof so that the first portion of the web of the first fastening device comes into contact with the second portion of the web of the second fastening device to interrupt relative lateral movement of the two fastening devices away from their interlocked position.

Claim 12

A partition system according to claim 8 in which the vertical ends of each composite wall panel are formed by a pair of laterally spaced apart and parallel wall boards.

Claim 13

A partition system according to claim 9 including a layer of insulation material disposed between the wall boards of each composite wall panel.

Claim 14

A partition system according to claim 10 in which each layer of insulation defines a vertical edge spaced from the web of the fastening device associated with the wall boards between which the insulation is disposed, the spacing between the insulation and the web forming an elongated vertically extending passageway for electrical apparatus and the like.

Claim 15

A partition system according to claim 11 in which the innermost first flange and second flange of each fastening device includes a corresponding inwardly extending elongated lip at the end thereof, the lips of the flanges being in a common plane and in juxtaposition with the vertical edge of the insulation layer.

Claim 16

A partition system according to claim 8 in which the first and second ridges are substantially coplanar, and the first and second recesses are substantially coplanar.

Claim 17

A partition system according to claim 8 in which each web has a respective intermediate portion between the first portion and the second portion, and in which each fastening device further includes a respective indentation formed in the intermediate portion of the web to cooperate with a corresponding indentation in the web of the other fastening device to form an elongated vertically disposed passageway between the edges of the two composite wall panels.

Claim 18

A partition system according to claim 8 in which each composite wall panel is mounted on a foundation, the composite wall panels being disposed along a corner of the foundation defined by the intersection of a horizontal surface and a vertical edge of said foundation, each wall panel being mounted so that the innermost wall board of the wall panel rests on the horizontal surface of the foundation and the outermost wall board overlaps the corner of the foundation and has an inner vertical facing thereof abutting against the vertical edge of the foundation, the overlapping portion of the wall board being fastened to the foundation to hold the wall panel in a fixed upright position Thereon.

Claim 19

A partition system according to claim 15 in which both wall boards are longer than their associated interlocking fastening members, and further including a horizontally disposed elongated top plate above the outermost wall board, and in which the top plate has an inner vertical facing which is overlapped by the top portion of the innermost wall board.

Claim 20

A partition system according to claim 15 including a bearing plate disposed between the horizontal surface of the foundation and the bottom of the composite wall panel, the bearing plate including an upwardly projecting elongated lip abutting against and extending along the bottom of the inner vertical facing of the innermost wall board.

Claim 21

A partition system according to claim 17 in which the foundation means includes a sill plate at said corner of the foundation, the sill plate defining said horizontal surface and said vertical edge, the bottom portion of the outermost wall board being fastened against the vertical edge of the sill plate.

Claim 22

A partition system according to claim 18 in which the sill plate is a wood beam, and the bearing plate is made of metal.

Claim 23

Apparatus for forming a vertically disposed partiton system to be mounted along the corner of a foundation having a horizontal surface which intersects a vertical edge of the foundation to form a corner thereof, the partition system comprising: a composite wall panel to be mounted in a vertical position along the edge of the foundation, the composite wall panel including a longitudinally extending load-bearing outer panel having an inner and an outer vertical facing and a top edge and a longitudinally extending inner panel having an inner and an outer vertical facing, the inner panel being spaced from the outer panel, the inner and outer panels defining first and second outwardly extending elongated ends, respectively, extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the composite wall panel, an elongated fastening device releasably engaged with the first and second ends of the composite wall panel and adapted to be releasably interlocked with an identical fastening device on a complementary end of an adjoining wall panel aligned edge-to-edge with the composite wall panel in a common vertical plane to form an easily assembled and disassembled partition system, the fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction, the first flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first ends of the composite wall panel so the first flanges can be releasably engaged with said first end in a snug frictional fit, a pair of elongated second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction, the second flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the second end of the composite wall panel so the second flanges can be releasably engaged with said second end in a snug frictional fit, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web and extending ultimately in a direction generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the ridge and the web, an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web and extending ultimately in the same general direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug fit with corresponding first and second recesses of said identical fastening device at the complementary end of said adjoining wall panel, the load-bearing outer panel being posItioned to overlap the corner of the foundation such that the inner vertical facing of the outer panel abuts against said vertical edge of the foundation, whereby fastening of the overlapping portion of the outer panel to the foundation holds the composite wall panel in a fixed upright position on the foundation, the inner panel resting on the horizontal surface of the foundation and being of such length that it extends above the top edge of the outer panel, and an elongated top plate resting on the top edge of the outer panel and abutting against the outer vertical facing of the inner panel so that the portion of the inner panel which overlaps the top plate provides lateral support for the top plate, whereby fastening of the overlapping portion of the inner panel to the top plate holds the top plate in a fixed position above the composite wall panel.

Claim 24

Apparatus for forming a vertically disposed partiton system to be mounted along the corner of a foundation having a horizontal surface which intersects a vertical edge of the foundation to form a corner thereof, the partition system comprising: a composite wall panel to be mounted in a vertical position along the edge of the foundation, the composite wall panel including a longitudinally extending load-bearing outer panel having an inner and an outer vertical facing and a top edge and a longitudinally extending inner panel having an inner and an outer vertical facing, the inner panel being spaced from the outer panel, the inner and outer panels defining first and second outwardly extending elongated ends, respectively, extending in parallel spaced relation along a vertical edge of the composite wall panel, an elongated fastening device releasably engaged with the first and second ends of the composite wall panel and adapted to be releasably interlocked with an identical fastening device on a complementary end of an adjoining wall panel aligned edge-to-edge with the composite wall panel in a common vertical plane to form an easily assembled and disassembled partition system, the fastening device comprising an elongated transverse web having a first portion and a second portion, a pair of elongated planar first flanges integral with the first portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction, the first flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the first ends of the composite wall panel so the first flanges can be releasably engaged with said first end in a snug frictional fit, a pair of elongated second flanges integral with the second portion of the web and extending laterally away therefrom in the same general direction, the second flanges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the width of the second end of the composite wall panel so the second flanges can be releasably engaged with said second end in a snug frictional fit, an elongated first ridge integral with the first portion of the web and extending ultimately in a direction generally parallel to the web and spaced apart therefrom to form an elongated first recess between the ridge and the web, an elongated second ridge integral with the second portion of the web and extending ultimately in the same general direction as the first ridge and generally parallel to the web, the second ridge being spaced from the web to form an elongated second recess between the second ridge and the web, the first and second ridges being shaped to be releasably interlocked in a snug fit with corresponding first and second recesses of said identical fastening device at the complementary end of said adjoining wall panel, the load-bearing outer panel being posItioned to overlap the corner of the foundation such that the inner vertical facing of the outer panel abuts against said vertical edge of the foundation, whereby fastening of the overlapping portion of the outer panel to the foundation holds the composite wall panel in a fixed upright position on the foundation, the inner panel resting on the horizontal surface of the foundation and being of such length that it extends above the top edge of the outer panel, and an elongated top plate resting on the top edge of the outer panel and abutting against the outer vertical facing of the inner panel so that the portion of the inner panel which overlaps the top plate provides lateral support for the top plate, whereby fastening of the overlapping portion of the inner panel to the top plate holds the top plate in a fixed position above the composite wall panel.

Claim 25

A partition system according to claim 20 including a layer of insulation between the inner and outer panels.

Claim 26

A partition system according to claim 20 including a bearing plate disposed between the horizontal surface of the foundation and the bottom of the composite wall panel, the bearing plate including an upwardly projecting elongated lip abutting against and extending along the bottom of the inner vertical facing of the inner panel.

Claim 27

A partition system according to claim 22 in which the foundation includes a sill plate at the corner of the foundation, the sill plate defining said horizontal surface and said vertical edge, the bottom portion of the outermost wall board being fastened against the vertical edge of the sill plate.

Claim 28

A partition system according to claim 23 in which the sill plate is a wood beam, and the bearing plate is made of metal.

Claim 29

A partition system according to claim 20 in which the web of the fastening device has an intermediate portion between the first portion and second portion thereof, and in which the fastening device further includes an indentation formed in the intermediate portion of the web to cooperate with a corresponding indentation in the web of the identical fastening device at the complementary end of the adjoining composite panel to form an elongated vertically disposed passageway between the two composite wall panels.

Claim 30

A partition system according to claim 20 in which the first portion of the web is substantially longer than that portion of the first ridge which extends parallel to the web, and in which the second portion of the web is substantially longer than that portion of the second ridge which extends parallel to the web, and in which the first and second portions of the web extend in the same general direction so that the web of the fastening device is in continuous juxtaposition with the web of said identical fastening device so that the web of one fastening device provides means for guiding movement of the first and second ridges of the fastening device laterally into engagement with the first and second recesses of the other fastening device.