Interlocking panel sections

Claim 1

An interlocking construction panel adapted for interlocked engagement with other identical panels, said panel comprising: a planar wall of elongate rectangular configuration, one longitudinal edge of said wall having an integral open channel projecting downwardly therefrom with a bottom in parallel alignment therewith, said open channel having an inwardly projecting longitudinal latch member adjacent the open top thereof on one side thereof, the other side of said channel having first and second inwardly projecting members, said first inwardly projecting member being an extension of said planar wall and having upper and lower planar surfaces joined by a beveled edge at a fulcrum, said second inwardly projecting member having a resilient inwardly and upwardly projecting finger-like configuration terminating in a trough-like, upwardly concave portion, the other longitudinal edge of said planar wall remote from said channel having first and second downwardly projecting integral longitudinally extending interlock members, said first interlock member comprising a generally cylindrical bead-like member adapted to be received in said trough-like portion and a projecting lip having a planar top surface adapted to bear against said fulcrum, said planar top surface being connected to said planar wall along a beveled edge contacting said planar top surface at an apex, said second interlock member having a configuration adapted for latching engagement with said latch member, said fulcrum and the distal end of said concave portion being spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said apex and the point of contact between said bead-like member and said distal end when two of said panels are interlocked, and less than the distance between said apex and all other points on said bead-like member contacted by said distal end as two adjacent panels are being brought into interlocking engagement, whereby said second inwardly projecting member is resiliently deformed during interlocking of two adjacent panels so that said bead-like member is clamped between said first and second inwardly projecting members when two of said panels are in interlocked engagement.