US 4,378,663 AGranted

Structural panel

OwnerGordon A. Audetinventor

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Abstract

A prefabricated structural panel for use in constructing the walls and/or roof of a building, which comprises two laterally spaced, longitudinal rails, preferably of pressure-treated wood, each of which has a lengthwise extending channel formed in the side facing the other rail, the channel preferably having sides that converge toward the bottom; and each rail also having narrow slots formed therein along the top edges of the channel sides. Each of the longitudinal rails has a stepped configuration on the side opposite the channel, which interlock with a companionate stepped configuration of the rail on the next-adjacent panel. A plurality of ribs extends perpendicularly between the rails, and their ends are shaped to fit snugly down into the channels. On opposite sides of the ribs are panels of sheet material such as plywood, plastic laminate, sheet metal, fiberglass reinforced plastic and the like, the edges of which fit snugly into the slots. A plurality of battens is provided on opposite sides of the panel, each batten bearing against the outer surface of the sheet material directly over one of the ribs. A plurality of fasteners joins the assembly together, some of the fasteners being driven through the sheet material into the rails and into the ribs, and others being driven through the rails into the ribs, others being driven through the battens and sheet material into the ribs, and still others being driven through the rails into the rails of the next-adjacent panels.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A prefabricated structural panel for use with other like panels in the on-site construction of a building, comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced, elongated rails extending generally parallel to one another and forming two opposite longitudinal edges of the panel;
each of said rails having a lengthwise-extending channel formed in the surface facing the other rail, said channel being formed with sloping, downwardly converging sides;
a pair of lengthwise extending, narrow slots formed in said surface of each rail at the top edges of said sloping sides;
each of said rails having, on the side opposite said channel, a configuration that is adapted to interlock with a mating configuration on the rail of the next-adjacent panel;
a plurality of ribs extending perpendicularly between said rails, the ends of said ribs being beveled to fit snugly into said channels and bearing against the sloping sides thereof;
two panels of relatively flat, structural sheet material disposed on opposite sides of said ribs and having edges that fit snugly into said narrow slots;
said panels of sheet material cooperating with said rails and said ribs to enclose a dead air space between them;
and
a plurality of fasteners, some driven through said rails and through the edges of said panels that are seated in said narrow slots;
and others driven diagonally through opposite sides of said rails so that they penetrate the adjacent panel near the bottom edge thereof and also penetrate the beveled surfaces of said rib at an angle approaching the perpendicular thereto;
the projection of said rib ends down into said channels, with said beveled surfaces bearing against the sloping sides of said channel, providing a positive, mechanical interlock that prevents any forcible lateral displacement of the rib with respect to the rails.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.