Cleaning fasteners

Claim 2

A construction system comprising: at least first and second panels each having at least first and second edges and being of a geometric shape adapted for assembly in a contiguous, aligned relationship with a first edge of one panel in abutting relationship with the second edge of the adjacent panel; each of said panels being provided with a sheet of membrane material adhering to one surface of the panel; and coacting fasteners carried on each sheet along adjacent edges of said panels, said fasteners adapted to engage to provide a substantially continuous exterior seal between adjacent panels, each of said coacting fastener apparatus including a fastener body having coupling means arranged to include a dirt cavity when two such fastener apparatus are coupled together, so that when said apparatus are engaged and coupled together each coupling means wipes along the other coupling means to push dirt thereon into said dirt cavity and each of said fasteners further including an indicator means for providing a distinctive visual indication adjacent fasteners are not at least substantially fully engaged.

Claim 3

The construction system of claim 1 wherein said coupling means are male and female members.

Claim 4

The construction system of claim 1 wherein said male members include a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of grooves between them which form the female members for receipt of the ribs of another fastener to be coupled therewith.

Claim 5

The fastener of claim 3 wherein at least one of said ribs includes a hook-shaped extension for interlocking engagement with a similar such extension on a fastener to be coupled therewith.

Claim 6

A construction panel comprising: a structural core member having a geometric shape adapted to be cooperatively arranged in abutting relationship with other similar members to form a construction section; a membrane sheet substantially covering said core member and having its edge extending along the corresponding edge of the core member; a fastener adapted to be disposed along an edge of said membrane sheet and adapted to interlock with another fastener disposed along the adjacent edge of an adjacent panel in the construction section to provide a seal between the adjoining panels, said fastener including a fastener body having at least one male coupling and at least one female coupling member which forms a receptacle for receipt of the male coupling member of another fastener, the depth of such female coupling member being such that a cavity for collection of dirt is provided between the wall of said fastener body and the male coupling members received in said female coupling member, said fastener further including means for providing a distinctive visual indication when the fastener is not at least substantially fully fastened with another such apparatus; and a web portion extending from said body to provide for bonding of said fastener to said membrane sheet.

Claim 7

A construction panel comprising: a structural core member having a geometric shape adapted to be cooperatively arranged in abutting relationship with other similar members to form a construction section; a membrane sheet substantially covering said core member and having its edge extending along the corresponding edge of the core member; a fastener adapted to be disposed along an edge of said membrane sheet and adapted to interlock with another fastener disposed along the adjacent edge of an adjacent panel in the construction section to provide a seal between the adjoining panels, said fastener including a fastener body having at least one male coupling and at least one female coupling member which forms a receptacle for receipt of the male coupling member of another fastener, the depth of such female coupling member being such that a cavity for collection of dirt is provided between the wall of said fastener body and the male coupling members received in said female coupling member, said fastener further including means for providing a distinctive visual indication when the fastener is not at least substantially fully fastened with another such apparatus; and a web portion extending from said body to provide for bonding of said fastener to said membrane sheet.

Claim 8

The structural panel of claim 5 wherein at least one of said male coupling members includes a hook-shaped extension for interlocking engagement with a similar such extension on another such fastener.

Claim 9

A fastener adapted to be disposed along an edge of a panel in a construction system including a plurality of such panels arranged end to end, and adapted to interlock with a fastener disposed along the adjacent edge of an adjacent panel in the construction system to provide a seal between the adjoining panels, said fastener comprising, in combination: a fastener body including a plurality of rib members defining a plurality of grooves between them which form receptacles for receipt of rib members of another fastener including such rib members, the depth of such grooves being such that a cavity for collection of dirt is provided between the wall of said fastener body and rib members received in said grooves, said fastener body further including means for providing a distinctive indication when said fastener is not at least substantially fully fastened with a similar such fastener; and a web portion extending from said body to provide for bonding of said fastener to a structural panel.

Claim 10

A fastener adapted to be disposed along an edge of a panel in a construction system including a plurality of such panels arranged end to end, and adapted to interlock with a fastener disposed along the adjacent edge of an adjacent panel in the construction system to provide a seal between the adjoining panels, said fastener comprising, in combination: a fastener body including a plurality of rib members defining a plurality of grooves between them which form receptacles for receipt of rib members of another fastener including such rib members, the depth of such grooves being such that a cavity for collection of dirt is provided between the wall of said fastener body and rib members received in said grooves, said fastener body further including means for providing a distinctive indication when said fastener is not at least substantially fully fastened with a similar such fastener; and a web portion extending from said body to provide for bonding of said fastener to a structural panel.

Claim 11

The fastener of claim 7 wherein at least one of said rib members includes a hook-shaped extension adapted to interlock with a similar such extension on another such fastener.

Claim 12

The fastener of claim 8 wherein the thickness of said hook-shaped extension in the direction in which the rib member including such extension extends is substantially less than the depth in the same direction of the groove formed by said rib member.

Claim 13

The fastener of claim 8 wherein three rib members are provided to form two grooves, and said hook-shaped extensions are provided on two of said rib members, and wherein the thickness of said hook-shaped extensions in the direction in which the rib members extend is substantially less than the depth of said grooves in the same direction.