Panel mounting clip assembly and wall or roof structure utilizing the same

In a roof or wall structure having horizontally extending panel support members, the combination of a plurality of panel members extending transverse of said panel support members and being erected in side-by-side edge interlocked relation, each of said panel members comprising alternating panel webs and upstanding longitudinal ribs, each of said ribs comprising a crest, depending rib sidewalls, and spaced-apart inturned base portions connecting said rib sidewalls to adjacent ones of said panel webs;

• and panel mounting clip assemblies, one connecting each of said ribs to said panel support member, each of said assemblies including a top clip disposed within the rib and including clamping wings extending generally parallel with the rib and having clamping edges engaging said inturned base portions, and connecting wings extending transversely of the rib and terminating in terminal flanges below the level of said clamping edges and angled relative to said connecting wings;
• a base member secured to said support member and including spaced-apart generally parallel, opposite faces extending transversely of said clamping wings;
• guide means associated with said opposite faces receiving said terminal flanges thereby connecting said top clip to said base member in moveable relationship to provide for movement of said top clip transversely of said base member into registry with the rib;
• and stop means limiting movement of said top clip relative to said base member.

In a rib-like joint formed by a male partial rib and an overlapping female partial rib of adjacent panels, the combination comprising:

• said female partial rib including an outer crest, first and second outer sidewalls, one depending from each edge of said outer crest, and a first inturned base portion connecting the first outer sidewall to a panel web of one panel member;
• said male partial rib including an inner crest adjacent to said outer crest, an inner sidewall depending from one edge of said inner crest and engaged with the second outer sidewall, and a second inturned base portion connecting said inner sidewall to a panel web of the other panel members;
• and a panel mounting clip assembly connecting said joint to a panel support member, said assembly including a top clip disposed between said inner sidewall and the first outer sidewall and including clamping wings extending generally parallel with said joint and having clamping edges engaging the first and second inturned base portions, and connecting wings extending transversely of said joint and terminating in terminal flanges below the level of said clamping edges and angled relative to said connecting wings;
• a base member secured to said support member and including spaced-apart generally parallel, opposite faces extending transversely of said joint;
• guide means associated with said opposite faces receiving said terminal flanges thereby connecting said top clip to said base member in movable relationship to provide for movement of said top clip transversely of said base member into registry with said joint;
• and stop means limiting movement of said top clip relative to said base member.

In a rib-like joint formed by a male partial rib and an overlapping female partial rib of adjacent panel members, the combination comprising:

• said female partial rib comprising an outer crest, first and second outer sidewalls, one depending from each edge of said outer crest, the second outer sidewall terminating in an arcuate hug edge, and a first inturned base portion connecting the first outer sidewall to a panel web of one panel member;
• said male partial rib comprising an inner crest adjacent to said outer crest, an inner sidewall depending from one edge of said inner crest adjacent to the second outer sidewall, a second inturned base portion connecting said inner sidewall to a panel web of the other panel member, and a partial sidewall depending from the other edge of said inner crest adjacent to the fist outer sidewall;
• and a joint retention clip including a top wall residing between said outer crest and said inner crest, a clip sidewall depending from one edge of said top wall and residing between the second outer sidewall and said inner sidewall, and terminating in an arcuate hug edge disposed between the first said arcuate hug edge and said first inturned base portion, a wall segment depending from the other edge of said top wall adjacent to the first outer sidewall, an inturned wall segment adjoining a remote edge of and cooperating with said wall segment to define a groove receiving said partial sidewall, and a second wall segment adjoining said inturned wall segment and terminating in a clamping edge, said second wall segment being elastically urged toward the second outer sidewall with said clamping edge engaged with an interior surface of said female partial rib.

A panel mounting clip assembly for interconnection with a longitudinal rib of a panel member and for attaching the panel member to a panel support member, comprising:

• a top clip having an upper wall including opposite sides and opposite ends, and clamping wings depending from said opposite sides and terminating in generally parallel clamping edges engageable with interior surfaces of the longitudinal rib;
• a base member;
• and
• connecting means distinct from said clamping wings and contiguous with said opposite ends of said upper wall, connecting said top clip to said base member for limited, substantially ree movement relative thereto, generally parallel with said upper wall and transversely of said clamping edges.