US 12,503,863 B2Granted

Constructional panel

AssigneeFergus Ardern

InventorFergus Ardern

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Abstract

A panel and accompanying method of construction thereof, the panel comprising a first panel element, the first panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, the second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween, a plurality of throughapertures defined in the first panel element, a second panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, and a second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween, the second panel element defining a plurality of throughapertures therethrough, one or more of the throughapertures opening into a tubular element extending from the second surface, a strengthening member located in a channel between paired walls of a panel element.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A panel, the panel comprising a first panel element, the first panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, a second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween,

a plurality of throughapertures defined in the first panel element,
a second panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, and a second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween,
the second panel element defining a plurality of throughapertures therethrough, one or more of the throughapertures opening into a tubular element extending from the second surface,
a strengthening member located in a channel between paired walls of a panel element,
the first and second panel elements being secured together in fluid-tight manner such that paired walls on the first and second panel elements co-operate to retain the strengthening member and that the free end of a tubular member passes through a throughaperture in the first panel element,
a rivet head formed of a plastics material, heat welded to the free end of the tubular member to seal the free end and the throughaperture in the first panel element.

3 more elements

A method of constructing a panel, the method comprising the steps of selecting a first panel element, the first panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, a second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween,

a plurality of throughapertures defined in the first panel element,
selecting a second panel element having a substantially planar outer surface, and a second, opposite surface having extending therefrom a plurality of paired walls, each pair extending laterally at least partway across the face of the second surface and defining a channel therebetween,
the second panel element defining a plurality of throughapertures therethrough, one or more of the throughapertures opening into a tubular element extending from the second surface,
selecting a strengthening member and inserting said strengthening member in the channel between paired walls of a panel element,
the method comprising the further step of bringing the first and second panel elements together such that paired walls on the first and second panel elements co-operate to retain a strengthening member and that the free end of a tubular member passes through a throughaperture in the first panel element, sealing the first and second panel elements together in fluid-tight manner,
placing a rivet head formed of a plastics material in contact with a free end of a tubular member and heat welding the rivet to the tubular member to seal the free end and the throughaperture in the first panel element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.