Structural cap and composite structure for buildings and the like

Claim 1

A panel assembly in a building structure comprising: (a) a first panel connected between a second panel and a third panel, said panels having a bottom, a pair of sidewalls projecting from opposite side edges of the associated bottom providing an outer opening and a pair of interlocking flanges projecting in a first direction from the ends of said sidewalls and connected along a first seam structure and a second seam structure on the opposite sides of said first panel joining the sidewalls of said first panel with the adjacent sidewalls of said second and third panels, (b) a fourth panel connected along the opposite side edges to said first and second seam structures covering the outer opening of said first panel, said fourth panel having: (i) a body which includes a generally laterally extending intermediate portion in spaced overlying and covering relation to the bottom of said first panel providing a space closed on all sides, (ii) first and second side portions attached to, extending along and projecting from the opposite side edges of said intermediate portion, (a) said first side portion having: (i) a first sidewall section disposed within and extending along a first sidewall of said first panel, (ii) a first inside section angularly extending laterally in from said first sidewall section and away from said intermediate portion at a selected incline with the plane of said intermediate portion oppositely spaced from said first seam structure, (iii) a first substantially straight flange section extending laterally out from said first inside section substantially parallel to said intermediate portion covering and strengthening said first seam structure and held in place by a substantially straight lateral flange section and a terminal lateral edge fastening section of an adjacent panel similar to said fourth panel covering the opening in said second panel joining one side edge of said fourth panel to said first seam structure to form a first composite seam structure of a generally hollow triangular structural shape, (c) said second side portion located substantially laterally out from the associated intermediate portion and having: (i) a second sidewall section disposed within and extending along a second sidewall of said first panel, (ii) an arcuate section extending laterally generally in from and in horizontally spaced relationship to an associated intermediate portion providing a track for a seamforming device for fastening adjacent similar fourth panels to said first and second seam structures, (iii) a second substantially straight flange section extending laterally out from said arcuate section in spaced substantially parallel relation to an associated intermediate portion covering and strengthening said second seam structure, (iv) a terminal lateral edge fastening section projecting beyond said second flange section angularly folded back and laterally inwardly against a first inside section of a next adjacent panel similar to said fourth panel and said terminal lateral edge adapted initially to extend outwardly and toward an associated intermediate portion to form an inwardly facing channel-like configuration with a receiving opening of a sufficient lateral dimension in relation to the lateral dimension of the first lateral flange section and first inside section of said next adjacent panel similar to said fourth panel to receive them by insertion via said receiving opening, said receiving opening having been narrowed by a seam-forming device covering said receiving opening in said third panel joining the other side edge of said fourth panel to said second seam structure to form a second composite longitudinally continuous seam structure of a generally hollow triangular structural shape, (d) said interlocking flanges of said first and second panels being secured within the area formed by the first inside section and substantially straight flange section of the associated first side portion of said fourth panel and said next adjacent panel similar to said fourth panel.