# US 10,309,098 B2 · Panel assemblies and methods to assemble the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,098 B2 - Document ID: US10309098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/843,429 - Filed: 2017-12-15 - Published: 2018-07-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-12 - Assignees: Harper Engineering Co. - Applicants: Harper Engineering Co. - Inventors: David Chadwell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309098B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/388: {Separate connecting elements (Connecting devices specially adapted for embedding in concrete E04B1/41; Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses E04B1/48)} - E04C 2/365: {by honeycomb structures} - F16B 5/01: by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels - F16B 5/0291: {the threaded element being driven through the edge of a sheet plate with its axis in the plane of the plate} - F16B 37/002: {cutting threads during screwing; removing paint or dirt layers covering threaded shanks} - B64C 1/066: {Interior liners} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract A panel assembly can include a first panel having a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel and a first opening. The panel assembly can also include a second panel having a second opening. An elongated insert can be coupled to the first panel, the elongated insert having a coupling side, where the first opening of the first panel can be sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side. The panel assembly can also include a fastening insert, where the second opening of the second panel can be sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert. A fastener can be received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert. Related methods for assembling the panel assembly are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the fastening insert includes a cap portion and a shaft portion, the cap portion including a fastener aperture and the shaft portion including a threaded insert aperture, the fastener aperture being substantially coaxial with the threaded insert aperture, the fastener aperture and the threaded insert aperture defining a fastener receiving aperture which is sized and shaped to receive the fastener. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated insert includes one or more recesses which define a flow region around a main body of the elongated insert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein a front side of the elongated insert is positioned opposite of the coupling side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated insert includes flow regions that are sized and shaped to receive a potting compound which flows around the elongated insert, a flow of the potting compound around the elongated insert bonding the elongated insert to the first panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener receiving aperture is located at an offset relative to a central axis of the fastening insert. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastening insert is located proximal to an edge of the second panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap portion includes a pair of openings disposed around a periphery of the cap portion, the pair of openings sized and shaped to receive a potting compound which flows into the second panel to bond the fastening insert to the second panel. ### Claim 8 A method of assembling a panel assembly, the method comprising: providing a first panel having a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel, and a first opening; coupling an elongated insert to the peripheral side of the first panel, the elongated insert including: a top side having a first surface area; a bottom side having a second surface area, the first surface area of the top side being larger than the second surface area of the bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; coupling a fastening insert to a second panel via a second opening of the second panel; and coupling the first panel to the second panel via a fastener which extends through the elongated insert and the fastening insert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein coupling an elongated insert to a peripheral side of a first panel includes: inserting the elongated insert in the first panel; injecting a potting compound, the potting compound flowing around the elongated insert to bond the elongated insert to the first panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein coupling a fastening insert to a second panel includes: inserting the fastening insert in the second panel; injecting a potting compound, the potting compound flowing into the second panel to bond the fastening insert to the second panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising locating the fastening insert proximal to an edge of the second panel. ### Claim 12 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the top side includes a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the bottom side. ### Claim 13 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the coupling side includes an aperture that extends partially through the elongated insert, the aperture sized and shaped to receive the fastener. ### Claim 14 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the top side includes a pair of apertures that extend therethrough, the apertures sized and shaped to allow potting compound to flow around a main body of the elongated insert. ### Claim 15 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the elongated insert includes a pair of bosses that protrude outwardly from the single web. ### Claim 16 A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having: a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel; and a first opening; and a second panel having a second opening; an elongated insert having: a top side; a bottom side; a single web spanning the top side and the bottom side, the single web extending to peripheral edges of the top side and the bottom side; and a coupling side, the first opening of the first panel sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side; a fastening insert, the second opening of the second panel sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert; and a fastener received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert, wherein the fastening insert includes a lower surface and a pair of boss elements protruding outwardly from the lower surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated insert includes a pair of solid, cylindrical bosses that protrude outwardly from the single web. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated insert includes a pair of solid cylindrical bosses, a first one of the pair of solid cylindrical bosses protruding outwardly from the single web in a first direction and a second one of the pair of solid cylindrical bosses protruding outwardly from the single web in a second direction, the second direction being opposite of the first direction.