Panel unit

Claim 2

A panel unit including a plurality of boards fitted together by tongue-and-groove elements, adapted to be applied to a wall with other panel units in mutual edge-to-edge engagement, and having an outer surface, and an inner surface directed to the wall, characterized in that, a fastening strip is secured to said inner surface, extending across the long axes of the boards, a mat of insulating material is glued to said inner surface, mounting screws are secured in the wall adjacent to but outwardly beyond the edge of a panel unit, extending transverse to the plane of the panel unit and wall and confined between said inner surface and the wall, and thereby covered by the adjacent panel unit, the fastening strips on adjacent panel units have mutually oppositely directed offsets of differet depths, extending parallel to the inner surface of adjacent panel units, an inner offset being adjacent the wall and an outer offset adjacent to but spaced from said inner surface, said offsets having slotted end elements engaging the securing screw spaced apart substantially the thickness of the mat of insulating material.

Claim 3

A panel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the secured screw has an outer end directed away from the wall and an inner end directed toward the wall, the securing screw includes a head at its outer end, and the said outer offset engages the securing screw at a position inwardly of the head.

Claim 4

A panel unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, the securing screw includes an inner end penetrated into the wall and a threaded stem extending outwardly therefrom, an intermediate threaded sleeve having an outer end away from the wall threaded on said stem and gripping said inner offset between said threaded sleeve and said inner end of the screw element, and said sleeve being of a length nearly the depth of the space between said offsets and thereby nearly the thickness of the mat of insulation material.

Claim 5

A panel unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, the securing screw is threaded in the sleeve with a head adjacent the outer end of the sleeve, and the outer offset is positioned between the sleeve and the head of said outer screw element.

Claim 6

A panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the side of the mat of insulation material engaging said inner surface is provided with naps and grooves.

Claim 7

A panel unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the fastening strips are so secured to the boards by clips spaced along the fastening strips, in which the fastening strips are loosely confined, thereby enabling limited transverse movement of the boards longitudinally of the fastening strips to avoid undesirable warping.

Claim 8

A panel unit according to claim 6, characterized in that, the fastening strips and clips are formed of aluminum material.

Claim 9

A panel unit assembly comprising, a plurality of units each having an inner surface adapted to engage a wall on which it is to be fitted, rigid securing strips mounted on said inner surface, extending transversely and each having offsets at its ends, a first offset at one end being spaced a relatively greater extend from said inner surface and a second offset at the other end spaced a relatively lesser amount therefrom, securing means operable for securing the first offset on a first panel to the wall, and holding the panel against displacement, and operable for receiving the second offset on a second panel by sliding the second panel transversely against the first panel, and the securing means being thereby operable for holding the second panel against separation from the wall, and similar securing means operable for securing the offset on the far edge of the second panel to the wall and thereby holding the second panel against separation from the first panel and holding the far edge of that panel against displacement, each unit including an outer board having an inner surface and a mat of insulation thereon.

Claim 10

A panel unit assembly comprising, a plurality of units each having an inner surface adapted to engage a wall on which it is to be fitted, rigid securing strips mounted on said inner surface, extending transversely and each having offsets at its ends, a first offset at one end being spaced a relatively greater extend from said inner surface and a second offset at the other end spaced a relatively lesser amount therefrom, securing means operable for securing the first offset on a first panel to the wall, and holding the panel against displacement, and operable for receiving the second offset on a second panel by sliding the second panel transversely against the first panel, and the securing means being thereby operable for holding the second panel against separation from the wall, and similar securing means operable for securing the offset on the far edge of the second panel to the wall and thereby holding the second panel against separation from the first panel and holding the far edge of that panel against displacement, each unit including an outer board having an inner surface and a mat of insulation thereon.