Metal panel and mounting structure

Claim 1

A standing seam panel assembly including, a plurality of adjacently connected panels disposed atop supporting means, said panels each having a bottom joined to opposite first and second side walls, said first side wall having an uppermost fixed male seam and said second side wall having an uppermost female seam, said male seam provided with a top portion extending away from its respective said panel first side wall and joined to a nose portion in turn connected to an inwardly facing flange, said nose portion projecting outward from its respective said panel first side wall, said top portion and flange spaced apart to define an inwardly directed groove therebetween, each said male seam including a substantially straight upwardly and inwardly inclined section extending above said first side wall, said female seam provided with an outwardly extending top portion joined to a downwardly directed deformable flange defining an outwardly and downwardly facing cavity therebeneath, said female seam top portion and flange extending away from their respective said panel second side wall, a mounting clip disposed intermediate said first and second panel side walls of said adjacently connected panels and said female seam of one said panel adapted to overlie said male seam of another one said panel without significant relative pivotal displacement between said adjacently disposed panels whereby, said overlying deformable flange may be crimped downwardly into engagement with said male seam upwardly and inwardly inclined section to securely retain said male seam within said female seam cavity and provide a laterally and vertically locked panel assembly seam resulting in the interconnection of adjacent ones of said panels.