Panel attachment system
AssigneeA. Zahner Company
InventorL. ZAHNER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel attachment system (10) comprising a plurality of covering panels (12), a plurality of retaining members (16) to hold the panels (12), and a plurality of mounting structures (18) to secure the retaining members (16) to a surface (20). The panels (12) are held to the retaining members (16) through the use of protruding locking members (32) formed on the panels (12) which interlock with a slot (48) formed on the retaining member (16). The panels (12) may be coupled to the retaining members (16) without the need for precise alignment, thereby expediting the installation of the surface (20). The retaining members (16) additionally contain a drainage channel (50) to carry water and other debris away from the surface (20).
Claims19
A panel attachment system comprising:
- a plurality of covering panels each presenting a flange and a lip, wherein—
- the flange extends generally perpendicularly from the panel and includes at least one locking member protruding perpendicularly from the flange, and
- the lip is operable for mating engagement with a corresponding lip of an adjacent panel by at least partially overlapping the corresponding lip such that at least a portion of the lip rests on top of at least a portion of the corresponding lip;
- and
- at least one retaining member having a slot operable to be positioned substantially along the length of the flanges for receiving the flanges and interlocking with the locking member in order to secure the flanges to the retaining member such that the panels are positioned above the retaining member.
A panel attachment system comprising:
- a plurality of covering panels each presenting a flange and a lop, wherein—
- the flange extends generally perpendicularly from the panel and includes at least one locking member protruding from the flange, and
- the lip is operable for mating engagement with a corresponding lip of an adjacent panel by at least partially overlapping the corresponding lip such that at least a portion of the lip rests on top of at least a portion of the corresponding lip;
- and
- at least one retaining member having a slot for receiving the flanges and interlocking with the locking member in order to secure the flanges to the retaining member, wherein the slot substantially extends along the retaining member's entire length.
A panel attachment system comprising:
- a plurality of covering panels each presenting a pair of opposed longitudinal flanges, wherein each flange includes a plurality of discrete locking members protruding perpendicularly therefrom, at least two of the locking members positioned so as to not directly contact each other;
- a retaining member having a slot and a drainage channel positioned below the slot, wherein the slot substantially extends along the retaining member's entire length and is configured for receiving the flanges and interlocking with the locking members in order to secure the flanges to the retaining member;
- and
- a mounting structure for securing the retaining member to a surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.