# US 8,464,490 B2 · Construction panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,490 B2 - Document ID: US8464490B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/874,388 - Filed: 2007-10-18 - Published: 2008-11-13 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-09 - Applicants: Antonio Rapaz - Inventors: Antonio Rapaz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464490B2 ## CPC - E04C 2/20: of plastics - E01C 5/001: {on prefabricated supporting structures or prefabricated foundation elements except coverings made of layers of similar elements} - E01C 5/20: made of units of plastics, {e.g. concrete with plastics, linoleum}(E01C5/18 takes precedence; {of textiles made of synthetic fibres E01C5/008}) - E01C 9/086: {made of concrete, wood, bitumen, rubber or synthetic material or a combination thereof} - E01C 11/225: {Paving specially adapted for through-the-surfacing drainage, e.g. perforated, porous; Preformed paving elements comprising, or adapted to form, passageways for carrying off drainage (E01C9/004, E01C9/008, E01C9/08, E01C9/10, E01C11/228, E01C13/00 take precedence)} - E01C 11/26: Permanently installed heating or blowing devices {(specially for combating fog E01H; built-in melting devices for dislodged snow E01H5/102); Mounting thereof} - E04C 2/34: composed of two or more spaced sheet-like parts (E04C2/32 takes precedence; spacers for cavity walls E04B2/44) - E04F 15/02194: {Flooring consisting of a number of elements carried by a non-rollable common support plate or grid (E04F15/022 takes precedence)} - E04F 15/105: {of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials} - E04F 15/107: {composed of several layers, e.g. sandwich panels (layered products in general B32B; producing decorative panels or veneers B44C5/04)} - E01C 2201/20: Drainage details - E01C 2201/205: channels on the top - Y02A 30/30: in transportation, e.g. on roads, waterways or railways - Y10T 428/139: Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article - Y10T 428/24289: Embedded or interlocked - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract This application relates to a light-weight, multi-purpose construction panel. The panel may be formed, for example, from molded plastic. Each panel includes a substantially planar deck on a first side thereof and a second side comprising alternating male and female sleeves arranged in honeycomb-like compartments defined by a plurality of wall elements. A pair of panels may be releasably coupled together with their respective second sides facing inwardly to form a construction assembly. When a pair of panels is coupled together, the male sleeves of one panel matingly fit within the females sleeves of the other panel, and vice versa. Each panel may also include guide tubes which are aligned when the panels are coupled together. A plurality of channels may be formed in the deck on the first side of the panel and spaced-apart apertures may be arranged in the channels in alignment with the guide tubes for insertion of fasteners therein or to allow water drainage through the assembly. The wall elements may include spaced-apart notches which together define conduits extending through the interior of an assembly when a pair of panels are coupled together. The conduits are sized to receive fluid delivery tubes for delivering fluid, such as heated air or water, through the panel assemblies. The panel assemblies may be used for many different construction applications including flooring, roofing and wall structures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising a plurality of construction panels, each construction panel having a first side and a second side and a side wall extending between said first side and said second side at the perimeter of said panel, said side wall comprising a pair of opposed longitudinal side portions and a pair of opposed transverse side portions, wherein said first side comprises a substantially planar deck and said second side comprises: (a) a plurality of first wall elements defining a plurality of compartments therebetween; and (b) a plurality of open-ended sleeves each located in one of said compartments, wherein said sleeves comprise a first group of female sleeves having a first height and a second group of male sleeves having a second height exceeding said first height, wherein said male sleeves of a first one of said panels are sized to fit within said female sleeves of a second one of said panels when said first one of said panels and said second one of said panels are releasably connected to form an assembly, wherein said female and male sleeves are arranged within said compartments in an alternating array, wherein said female and male sleeves alternate regularly in said array in both longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein said first one of said panels and said second one of said panels are releasably and securely connectable in said assembly in either an aligned configuration or an offset configuration, wherein in said aligned configuration said side wall of said first one of said panels is aligned with said side wall of said second one of said side panels and in said offset configuration said side wall of said first one of said panels is at least partially misaligned with said side wall of said second one of said panels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first side is located directly opposite said second side and wherein said deck has a plurality of spaced-apart channels formed therein, each of said channels having a length extending on said first side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as defined in claim 2, wherein said channels subdivide said deck into a plurality of quadrilateral or triangular shaped deck segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system as defined in claim 2, comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through said panel between said first and second sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system as defined in claim 4, wherein said apertures are located in said channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeves are cylinders each having an open end at a location furthest from said deck. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system as defined in claim 6, wherein said female sleeves have a diameter exceeding a diameter of said male sleeves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first wall elements have a height substantially the same as said first height. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said compartments is further subdivided into a plurality of subcompartments defined by a plurality of second wall elements, each of said second wall elements extending between one of said first wall elements and one of said sleeves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The panel as defined in claim 9, comprising a plurality of guide tubes, wherein each of said guide tubes is located within one of said subcompartments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as defined in claim 10, comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through said panel between said first and second sides, wherein each of said guide tubes is aligned with one of said apertures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said guide tubes further comprises a support rib connecting said tube to a corresponding one of said sleeves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A construction assembly comprising at least two construction panels as defined in claim 1 extending in parallel planes and coupled together, wherein said second side of one of said panels releasably engages said second side of another one of said panels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said assembly comprises a first group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment and extending in a first one of said parallel planes and a second group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment and extending in a second one of said parallel planes, wherein said second sides of said first group of panels engages said second sides of said second group of panels, wherein at least some of said panels in said second group overlap multiple panels in said first group to connect said multiple panels together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein, in each of said panels, each of said of said compartments is further subdivided into a plurality of subcompartments defined by a plurality of second wall elements, each of said second wall elements extending between one of said first wall elements and one of said sleeves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said panels comprises a plurality of guide tubes, wherein at least some of said guide tubes are located within a corresponding one of said subcompartments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein said guide tubes of said one of said panels is aligned with said guide tubes of said another one of said panels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly as defined in claim 17, comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through each of said panels between said first and second sides thereof, wherein each of said guide tubes is aligned with an aligned pair of said apertures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein at least some of said guide tubes are located within said male and female sleeves. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly as defined in claim 19, further comprising support flanges connected to said guide tubes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The assembly as defined in claim 19, further comprising notches surrounding at least some of said apertures on said first side of said panel. ### Claim 22 A construction assembly comprising at least two construction panels coupled together, wherein each panel has a first side and a second side, wherein said first side comprises a substantially planar deck and said second side comprises: (a) a plurality of first wall elements defining a plurality of compartments therebetween; and (b) a plurality of sleeves each located in one of said compartments, wherein said sleeves comprise a first group of female sleeves having a first height and a second group of male sleeves having a second height exceeding said first height, wherein said male sleeves of one of said panels are sized to fit within said female sleeves of another one of said panels, wherein said female and male sleeves are arranged within said compartments in an alternating array, wherein said female and male sleeves alternate in said array in both longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein said second side of one of said panels releasably engages said second side of another one of said panels, wherein said assembly comprises a first group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment and extending in a first plane and a second group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment and extending in a second plane parallel to said first plane, wherein said second sides of said first group of panels engages said second sides of said second group of panels, wherein at least one of said panels in said second group overlaps multiple panels in said first group to connect said multiple panels together.