Joint for building panels

Claim 2

A joint comprising: adjacent central webs presenting confronting first and second web edges, a polysurfaced female lip adjoined to the first web edge and comprising, in sequence, relative to the first central web edge: an upwardly and inwardly extending first element, an upwardly and outwardly extending second element, an outwardly extending third element, an outwardly and downwardly extending fourth element, and a re-entrant terminal element; a polysurfaced male lip adjoined to the second web edge and comprising: an upwardly and outwardly extending first leg overlapping said first element, a re-entrant arcuate terminal leg engaged with said re-entrant terminal element, and said first leg and said terminal leg being joined by at least two distinct legs and intermediate thereof at least one arcuate bend, said arcuate bend being in engagement with an interior surface of said female lip; said male lip being interlocked with said female lip thereby to provide said joint which secures the adjacent central webs in fixed angular relation to each other.

Claim 3

The joint of claim 1 wherein the normal distance between the interior surfaces of said fourth element and of said first element is at least less than the maximum distance between the exterior surfaces of said re-entrant arcuate terminal leg and the juncture of said first leg and the adjoining one of said two distinct legs.

Claim 4

The joint of claim 1 including sealant material compressed between the interior surface of at least said second element, and the exterior surface of a confronting leg of said two distinct legs.

Claim 5

The joint of claim 1 wherein said arcuate bend engages said outwardly extending third element.

Claim 6

The joint of claim 1 wherein said arcuate bend is laterally offset from a plane extending normal to said third element and longitudinally through the center of said joint.

Claim 7

The joint of claim 5 wherein said arcuate bend is remote from said second element.

Claim 8

The joint of claim 5 wherein said two distinct legs are of different widths.

Claim 9

The joint of claim 5 wherein said two distinct legs have substantially equal widths.

Claim 10

The joint of claim 1 wherein the second and fourth elements converge toward a line spaced above and generally parallel with said third element.

Claim 11

The joint of claim 9 wherein said line resides in a plane extending normal to said third element and longitudinally through the center of said joint.

Claim 12

The joint of claim 1 wherein said arcuate bend, the juncture between said first leg and one of said two distinct legs, and said first leg of said male lip engage interior surfaces of said female lip along three distinct lines of contact which extend substantially the entire length of said joint.

Claim 13

The panel of claim 1 including a bead of sealant material applied along any line in a region of said female lip which includes the contiguous interior surfaces of said first element, said second element and said third element.

Claim 14

The panel of claim 12 wherein said region extends approximately from the mid-line of said first element to the juncture of said second element with said third element.

Claim 15

The panel of claim 1 including a bead of sealant material applied along any line in a region of said female lip which includes the contiguous interior surfaces of said first element and said second element.

Claim 16

The panel of claim 14 wherein said region extends approximately from the mid-line of said first element to the mid-line of said second element.

Claim 17

A roof structure comprising plural roofing panels assembled in side-by-side relation, supported on and secured to spaced-apart purlins, and connected in interlocked relation by plural upstanding joints, each of said joints comprising: adjacent ones of said roofing panels having central webs presenting confronting first and second web edges, an upstanding polysurfaced female lip adjoined to the first web edge and comprising: a first element extending upwardly from and inwardly over the first web edge, a second element extending upwardly from and outwardly of said first element, a third element extending laterally outwardly from said second element and beyond said first and second web edges, a fourth element extending outwardly of and downwardly from said third element, and a re-entrant terminal element adjoined to said fourth element and spaced above the central web of said first roofing panel; and an upstanding polysurfaced male lip adjoined to the second web edge and comprising: a first leg extending upwardly from and outwardly of the second web edge and overlapping said first element, a re-entrant arcuate terminal leg engaged with said re-entrant terminal element, said first leg and said re-entrant arcuate terminal leg being joined by at least two distinct legs and intermediate thereof at least one arcuate bend, said arcuate bend being in engagement with an interior surface of said female lip; said male lip being interlocked with said female lip thereby to secure adjacent roofing panels in fixed relation to each other.

Claim 18

A roof structure comprising plural roofing panels assembled in side-by-side relation, supported on and secured to spaced-apart purlins, and connected in interlocked relation by plural upstanding joints, each of said joints comprising: adjacent ones of said roofing panels having central webs presenting confronting first and second web edges, an upstanding polysurfaced female lip adjoined to the first web edge and comprising: a first element extending upwardly from and inwardly over the first web edge, a second element extending upwardly from and outwardly of said first element, a third element extending laterally outwardly from said second element and beyond said first and second web edges, a fourth element extending outwardly of and downwardly from said third element, and a re-entrant terminal element adjoined to said fourth element and spaced above the central web of said first roofing panel; and an upstanding polysurfaced male lip adjoined to the second web edge and comprising: a first leg extending upwardly from and outwardly of the second web edge and overlapping said first element, a re-entrant arcuate terminal leg engaged with said re-entrant terminal element, said first leg and said re-entrant arcuate terminal leg being joined by at least two distinct legs and intermediate thereof at least one arcuate bend, said arcuate bend being in engagement with an interior surface of said female lip; said male lip being interlocked with said female lip thereby to secure adjacent roofing panels in fixed relation to each other.

Claim 19

The roof structure of claim 16 wherein each of said joints includes sealant material compressed between the interior surface of at least said second element, and the exterior surface of a confronting one of said two distinct legs.

Claim 20

An interlocking panel having a central web presenting a first web edge and opposite thereto a second web edge, and complementary lips, one adjoined to and extending along each said web edge, said complementary lips comprising: a polysurfaced female lip including, in sequence, relative to said first web edge: an upwardly and inwardly extending first element, an upwardly and outwardly extending second element, an outwardly extending third element, an outwardly and downwardly extending fourth element, and a re-entrant terminal element; and a polysurfaced male lip including, in sequence, relative to said second web edge: an upwardly and outwardly extending first leg, a re-entrant arcuate terminal leg disposed over and spaced from said central web, said first leg and said terminal leg being joined by at least two distinct legs and intermediate thereof at least one arcuate bend, said arcuate bend residing at a level above said terminal leg; said lips being configured for snap-fit engagement with complementary lips of adjacent ones of said panel thereby to secure the central webs thereof in fixed angularly spaced-apart relation relative to each other.

Claim 21

An interlocking panel having a central web presenting a first web edge and opposite thereto a second web edge, and complementary lips, one adjoined to and extending along each said web edge, said complementary lips comprising: a polysurfaced female lip including, in sequence, relative to said first web edge: an upwardly and inwardly extending first element, an upwardly and outwardly extending second element, an outwardly extending third element, an outwardly and downwardly extending fourth element, and a re-entrant terminal element; and a polysurfaced male lip including, in sequence, relative to said second web edge: an upwardly and outwardly extending first leg, a re-entrant arcuate terminal leg disposed over and spaced from said central web, said first leg and said terminal leg being joined by at least two distinct legs and intermediate thereof at least one arcuate bend, said arcuate bend residing at a level above said terminal leg; said lips being configured for snap-fit engagement with complementary lips of adjacent ones of said panel thereby to secure the central webs thereof in fixed angularly spaced-apart relation relative to each other.

Claim 22

The panel of claim 18 wherein the normal distance between the interior surfaces of said fourth element and of said first element is at least less than the maximum distance between the exterior surfaces of said re-entrant arcuate terminal leg and of the juncture of said first leg and the adjoining one of said two distinct legs.

Claim 23

The panel of claim 18 wherein said arcuate bend is laterally offset from a plane extending normal to said central web and longitudinally through the center of said male lip.

Claim 24

The panel of claim 20 wherein said arcuate bend is remote from said first leg.

Claim 25

The panel of claim 20 wherein said two distinct legs are of different widths.

Claim 26

The panel of claim 20 wherein said two distinct legs have substantially equal widths.

Claim 27

The panel of claim 18 wherein the second and fourth elements converge toward a line spaced above and generally parallel with said third element.

Claim 28

The panel of claim 24 wherein said line resides in a plane extending normal to said third element and longitudinally through the center of said female lip.