# US 10,870,990 B1 · Closed panel building systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,990 B1 - Document ID: US10870990B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/659,433 - Filed: 2019-10-21 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-10 - Assignees: Peter Baruch Mueller - Applicants: Peter Mueller - Inventors: Peter Mueller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870990B1 ## CPC - E04C 2/38: with attached ribs, flanges, or the like, e.g. framed panels (concerned with attaching to other panels or elements to form a structure, see the places for the relevant structure, e.g. E04B2/00) - E04B 1/10: the elements consisting of wood - E04B 1/24: the supporting parts consisting of metal - E04B 1/94: against fire ({fire protection of partitions E04B2/7403, E04B2/7409; supporting constructions for ceilings having the capability of expansion in case of fire E04B9/08}; fire-fighting A62C, {e.g. fire prevention or containment A62C2/00}; impregnation of wood or similar materials B27K; {fireproof paints C09D5/18; fireproofing materials C09K21/00; flame-resistant papers D21H5/0002; coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings, in general E04F13/00}; fireproof doors E06B5/16; {firebreak devices for pipes or the like passing through walls F16L5/04; protection of pipes by means of non-inflammable material F16L57/04}) - E04B 2/707: {obturation by means of panels} - E04C 2/526: {with adaptations not otherwise provided for, for connecting, transport; for making impervious or hermetic, e.g. sealings} - H02G 3/22: Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings - H02G 3/388: {in modular walls, e.g. wall panels} - E04B 2001/2481: {Details of wall panels} - 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) - 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}) - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract Approaches describe a panel system (e.g., a closed-, open-, and/or solid-panel system) that can be assembled quickly and easily in the field without field modifications to the panel. The panels can be precision engineered, and include a building connection system for structural and/or utility connection between building elements. An interpanel connector can include a structural connector, a utility connector, or a combination connector that is both a structural and utility connector. A control component or another appropriate component can be used to automatically facilitate coupling of one or more building elements, and provide feedback on the assembly process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A building system, comprising: a plurality of building panels, at least one building panel of the plurality of building panels used to build a structure, the at least one building panel being a substantially closed-panel, wherein the closed-panel is a prefabricated panel that includes housing to contain at least one interpanel connection component; a plurality of interpanel connection components configured to at least couple a first building panel of the plurality of building panels to a second building panel of the plurality of building panels, wherein coupling the first building panel to the second building panel enables at least one of supporting a portion of a load associated with the structure by at least one interpanel connection component of the plurality of interpanel connection components or enabling transfer of a utility through a portion of the structure by at the least one interpanel connection component; and a sensor configured to determine state information to facilitate coupling of the plurality of interpanel connection components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein embedded in the at least one building panel is a panel alignment element to facilitate alignment between a first interpanel connection component of the first building panel and a second interpanel connection component of the second building panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein the at least one building panel-includes at least one of a moisture control barrier, a temperature control layer, a weathering layer, an insulation layer, a fire protection layer, a window frame, or a door frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of material of the at least one building panel is at least one of plywood, densified wood, fiberboard, particle board, oriented strand board, laminated timber, laminated veneer, laminated veneer lumber, cross laminated timber, parallel strand lumber, laminated strand, transparent wood composites, composites, polymers, metals, glass fiber, carbon fiber, or structural fibers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein a width dimension, a length dimension, and a height dimension of the at least one building panel satisfies respective dimension thresholds over a range of values for at least one environmental condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interpanel connection components includes one of a structural connector, a utility connector, or a combination structural and utility connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The building system of claim 6, wherein the structural connector is configured to enable at least one of support a portion of a load associated with the structure or align a pair of building panels of the plurality of building panels, and wherein the utility connector is configured to enable transfer of a utility through a portion of the structure, and wherein the combination structural and utility connector is configured to enable at least one of the support the portion of the load associated with the structure, align the pair of building panels of the plurality of building panels, or transfer the utility through the portion of the structure, and wherein the utility includes at least one of fluid, gas, electricity, communications data, air, or waste. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein an interpanel connection component includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is coupled to the first building panel and the second portion is coupled to the second building panel, and wherein an interpanel connection is formed when the first portion couples to the second portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism engages an alignment element component prior to engaging the second coupling mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The building system of claim 1, further comprising: a notification component configured to communicate a notification when the state information satisfies a threshold. ### Claim 11 A building panel, comprising: a housing configured to contain at least one interpanel connection component; a set of interpanel connection components contained within the housing, the set of interpanel connection components including a structural connector and a utility connector, the structural connector configured to support a portion of a load associated with a structure, the utility connector configured to transfer of a utility through a portion of the structure; and a sensor configured to detect a position of a first building panel with respect to a second building panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The building panel of claim 11, further comprising: a panel alignment element to facilitate alignment between a first interpanel connection component of the first building panel and a second interpanel connection component of the second building panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The building panel of claim 12, wherein the panel alignment element is operable to reduce an amount of offset between the first interpanel connection component and the second interpanel connection component a threshold amount. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The building panel of claim 11, further comprising: one of a moisture control barrier, a temperature control layer, a weathering layer, an insulation layer, or a fire protection layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The building panel of claim 11, wherein a material of the building panel is one of plywood, densified wood, fiberboard, particle board, oriented strand board, laminated timber, laminated veneer, laminated veneer lumber, cross laminated timber, parallel strand lumber, laminated strand, transparent wood composites, composites, polymers, metals, glass fiber, carbon fiber, or structural fibers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The building panel of claim 11, wherein a width dimension, a length dimension, and a height dimension of the at least one building panel satisfies-respective dimension thresholds over a range of values for at least one environmental condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The building panel of claim 11, wherein an interpanel connection component includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is coupled to the first building panel and the second portion is coupled to the second building panel, and wherein an interpanel connection is formed when the first portion couples to the second portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The building system of claim 10, wherein the notification includes at least one of a visual notification, an audible notification, a haptic notification, a digital signal, an analog signal, or an electronic message notification.