Structural panel utilizing a lath and frame member and method for making the same
OwnerDonald A. Stevensinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structural panel and method of making the same are disclosed wherein the structural panel has at least one frame member with receptor pockets extending therein. Ribs protruding from a lath are resiliently engaged within the receptor pockets thereby securing the lath against the frame member. A structural coating is secured to the lath thereby providing a labor-efficient, low-cost structural panel available for use for a number of different construction projects.
Claims22
A structural panel comprising:
- a) at least one frame member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of receptor pockets extending within the frame member in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- b) a lath connected to the at least one frame member, wherein the lath has a plurality of resilient ribs extending therefrom and wherein the ribs resiliently engage corresponding receptor pockets within the at least one frame member to secure the lath to the at least one frame member, wherein the lath is further comprised of:
- 1) a generally planar sheet having a front side and a back side, wherein the sheet has a plurality of slats with openings extending therebetween through the sheet;
- 2) wherein the ribs are formed within the sheet and protrude from the back side of the sheet;
- 3) wherein each rib has a profile with a first side and a second side which diverge from one another as they extend away from the back side and then converge to a tip at the furthermost extension of the rib away from the back side;
- and
- 4) wherein the first side and the second side of each rib are spaced apart from one another with a gap therebetween as they extend away from the back side until they intersect at the tip.
A method of making a structural panel utilizing at least one frame member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of receptor pockets extending within the frame member in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a lath made of a sheet with a plurality of slats with openings extending therebetween through the sheet and wherein the lath has a plurality of resilient ribs extending therefrom and adapted to resiliently engage corresponding receptor pockets within the at least one frame member, wherein each rib has a profile with a first side and a second side which diverge from one another as they extend away from the back side and then converge to a tip at the furthermost extension of the rib away from the back side, and wherein the first side and the second side of each rib are spaced apart from one another with a gap therebetween as they extend away from the back side until they intersect at the tip, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- a) aligning the ribs of the lath with matching receptor pockets in each of the frame members;
- and
- b) urging each rib within the matching receptor pocket of the frame member until each rib snaps into position.
A structural panel comprising:
- a) at least one frame member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of receptor pockets extending within the frame member in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- b) a lath connected to the at least one frame member, wherein the lath is comprised of a generally planar sheet having a front side and a back side, wherein the sheet has a plurality of slats with openings extending therebetween through the sheet, and wherein the lath has a plurality of resilient ribs extending therefrom and wherein the ribs resiliently engage corresponding receptor pockets within the at least one frame member to secure the lath to the at least one frame member, wherein each receptor pocket extends continuously and entirely across the frame member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.