Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A modular building panel, comprising: (a) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; (b) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; and (c) a channel member assembly for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets, said assembly including at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said sheets with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web, portion defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A modular building panel, comprising: (a) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; (b) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; and (c) a channel member assembly for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets, said assembly including at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said sheets with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web, portion defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including a resilient insert adapted to be received by said noncontinuous space and to engage said channel member assembly, thereby forming a substantially air tight seal between said facing sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said insert is a closed-cell foam insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including a hardenable filler received by said noncontinuous space and engaging said channel member assembly, thereby forming a substantially air tight seal between said facing sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said hardenable filler is an expanded foam insulating material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
A channel member assembly for use in the construction of a building panel of the type having a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween and an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween, said channel member assembly comprising: (a) at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets for interconnecting said sheets with one another; (b) a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion defining a noncontinuous space; and (c) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
206 words
A channel member assembly for use in the construction of a building panel of the type having a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween and an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween, said channel member assembly comprising: (a) at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets for interconnecting said sheets with one another; (b) a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion defining a noncontinuous space; and (c) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The channel member assembly according to claim 6, further including means for retaining a sealant on the surface of said pair of opposing legs adjacent to said sheets, thereby providing a substantially air tight seal between said facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
A channel member assembly for use in the construction of a building panel of the type having a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween and an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween, said channel member assembly comprising: (a) at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets for interconnecting said sheets with one another; (b) a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs; and (c) means for retaining a sealant on the surface of said pair of opposing legs adjacent to said sheets, thereby providing a substantially air tight seal between said facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A channel member assembly for use in the construction of a building panel of the type having a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween and an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween, said channel member assembly comprising: (a) at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets for interconnecting said sheets with one another; (b) a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs; and (c) means for retaining a sealant on the surface of said pair of opposing legs adjacent to said sheets, thereby providing a substantially air tight seal between said facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The channel member assembly according to claim 8, wherein said means for retaining a sealant on the surface of said pair of opposing legs adjacent to said sheets includes a plurality of receiving grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The channel member assembly according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of receiving grooves are aligned parallel to the edge of said facing sheets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The channel member assembly according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of receiving grooves have a sinusoidal cross section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
236 words
A prefabricated building panel, comprising: (a) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; (b) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; and (c) a channel member assembly for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets, said assembly including at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said sheets with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion including an insulating bridge member positioned between the opposing legs adjoining said pair of facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said web portion, said insulating bridge member defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along diagonally opposite edges of said insulating bridge member, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
236 words
A prefabricated building panel, comprising: (a) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; (b) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; and (c) a channel member assembly for receiving the adjacent edges of said sheets and forming a joint between said sheets, said assembly including at least one pair of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said sheets with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion including an insulating bridge member positioned between the opposing legs adjoining said pair of facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said web portion, said insulating bridge member defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along diagonally opposite edges of said insulating bridge member, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
204 words
A building construction comprising: (a) a pair of building panels, each panel including: (i) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; and (ii) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; (b) a channel member assembly extending between for receiving the adjacent edges of said panels and forming a joint between said panels, said assembly including pairs of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said panels with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
204 words
A building construction comprising: (a) a pair of building panels, each panel including: (i) a pair of identically formed facing sheets arranged with adjacent edges extending parallel and spaced apart to one another to define a space therebetween; and (ii) an insulating core in the space between the central planar surfaces of said two facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through the space therebetween; (b) a channel member assembly extending between for receiving the adjacent edges of said panels and forming a joint between said panels, said assembly including pairs of opposing legs extending parallel and spaced apart to one another for interconnecting said panels with one another and a web portion extending between for interconnecting the opposing legs, said web portion defining a noncontinuous space; (d) wherein said web portion further includes a pair of structural elements offset with respect to one another and aligned along opposite edges of said noncontinuous space, at least one of said elements being adapted to abut the edge portion of said insulating core, thereby eliminating a substantial portion of said noncontinuous space to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said space.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The construction according to claim 13, including an insulating bridge member positioned between the opposing legs adjoining said pair of facing sheets to minimize the transfer of heat from one facing sheet to the other through said web portion.