Building panels

Abstract

The invention concerns a building panel which comprises a main web of a form (when projected onto a plane surface) which is quadrilateral, preferably a parallelogram in shape, with a diagonal forming a ridge dividing the web into two triangular surfaces. Walls of triangular shape extend outwardly at an inclined angle away from the edges of the main web, the furtherest away points of the walls from the main web being along a plane through the ridge.

Description

This invention relates to building panels.

The present invention provides a building panel which comprises a main web of quadrilateral form (when projected onto a plane surface) with a diagonal of the quadrilateral forming a ridge dividing the web into two triangular surfaces, and walls of triangular shape extending outwardly at an inclined angle away from the edges of the main web, the furtherest away points of the walls from the main web being along a plane passing through the ridge.

The quadrilateral may have two pairs of parallel edges, i.e. it may be a parallelogram. One presently preferred parallelogram for the web is a rhomb, i.e. the four edges are of equal length.

Each triangular surface of the quadrilateral may be a planar surface extending downwardly away from the ridge. Alternatively, the surfaces of the web and/or walls may be provided with pleats or ribs for strengthening purposes. The distances of the furtherest away points of the walls from the main web at both ends of the ridge may be equal i.e. the form of the web and walls is symmetrical. Alternatively, the distances may be different, in which case the form defined by the web and walls together is asymmetrical.

Conveniently, triangular shaped aprons may extend outwardly from the edges of the walls. The aprons may be provided with ribs or pleats for strengthening purposes. If desired a side flange can extend outwardly from one outer edge of an apron, and an end flange may extend outwardly from the other outer edge of the apron. The side and end flanges may point in opposite directions. The panel, including the apron and side and end flanges may be symmetrical about its longitudinal and lateral axes.

The complete panel provided by the invention may be made from a single substantially rectangular sheet by bending, folding, pressing and cutting, or may be formed by casing or moulding. A large metal press may be used for pressing and folding a sheet. The panel may be made from any material that can be shaped in any of the abovementioned ways, for example any suitable metal.

Conveniently, the panel may be longer than it is wide and have the ridge extending across the shorter of two diagonals of the quadrilateral web. Side flanges may then extend upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the apron, and end flanges may extend downwardly from the lateral edges of aprons. The longitudinal ends of the quadrilateral web may terminate at points on the lines forming the longitudinal edges of the aprons.

If the panel is bent and folded from a single rectangular sheet the only cutting which need be effected is between the optional side and end flanges.

The panel provided by the invention can have structural properties which make it useful as a load-supporting panel, when supported at or close to its ends. It may function as a roof panel, wall panel, shuttering panel, truss member for a roof, or as part of a motor car body. A plurality of panels may be joined together along the sides or ends. Tension members may be used for joining the panels together so that intermediate supports may be unnecessary. The panels provided by the invention can be used for decorative purposes as well as for cladding or as load-bearing panels.

The invention also provides a method of making a panel according to the invention, which comprises folding or bending a sheet of foldable or bendable material to the desired shape using a press.

The invention also provides a second method of making a panel according to the invention, which comprises casting or moulding the panel to the desired shape.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a panel according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section of the shape of the centre of the panel,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the panel of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a sheet of metal marked with lines for shaping to form the panel of FIG. 1.

In these figures, fold lines are shown joining the points 10-12-14-16-10 and 10-18-14-20-10. By folding along these lines, a panel according to the invention is obtained. The panel has a rhomb-shaped web consisting of two triangular planar surfaces 22, 24 having a common ridge 26 and points at 10 and 14. The panel has triangular walls 28, 30, 32, 34 and triangular aprons 36, 38, 40, 42. Side flanges are shown at 44, 46 and end flanges at 48, 50. The part of the side flanges and walls adjacent to the ridge 26 are under tension, due to folding along the fold lines shown. The distances between points 12 and 18 and between points 20 and 16 are equal in the embodiment illustrated, but may be different in another embodiment (not illustrated).

It is seen that a sheet of length L + 2X.sub.1 and width W + 2X.sub.2 can be used for forming the panel.

The dimension t is related to the angle G, which is a function of L and c and angle a.

The panel illustrated can withstand loads while spanning the distance between the ends. This appears to be due to the size of dimension d. Very little material is required to form a panel of predetermined size according to the invention compared with panels of the same size known to the Applicant. The panel provided by the invention may be used with its ends in a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, or any angle in between. When placed with both ends at a level horizontal with each other, all surfaces of the panel slope in such a way that liquids deposited on the panel will drain off if the ridge points upwardly.

Claims

I claim:

1. A building panel having a rectangular configuration in plan view, said panel including an upper face comprising a main web including two planar isosceles triangular portions extending outwardly from a common inner side, the common inner side of said triangular portions joining said triangular portions to form a parallelogram, the planes of said triangular portions intersecting at an angle at the common side and sloping downwardly therefrom toward the opposed outer apices of the triangular portions, upwardly and outwardly inclined pairs of triangular walls adjoining the opposite sides of the outwardly extending isosceles triangular portions, the outer apices of the inclined triangular walls being contiguous with the opposed outer apices of the triangular portions of the main web, each pair of inclined triangular walls having a common inner side and lying in the same vertical plane as the common side of the triangular portions, and triangular apron portions adjoining the outer longitudinal side of each of the inclined triangular walls, the apices of said apron portions lying in said vertical plane, the outer end of each apron portion further lying in vertical planes containing the contiguous outer apices of the triangular walls and the triangular portions, whereby when the outer ends of the triangular apron portions are supported in a substantially horizontal plane, water falling on said building panel will drain toward at least one outer edge of said building panel.

2. A building panel as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising downwardly extending flanges adjoining the outer ends of said apron portions.