Building panel and joint

Abstract

A sheet metal building panel has opposite joint-forming margins including flat portions having flanges outturned therefrom and terminating in complementary edge beads or loops. To assemble the joint, one of the panels is advanced laterally and edgewise toward the adjacent panel to cause the edge loop of the later panel to engage the outturned flange of the first panel between the flat portion and edge loop of the latter. The first panel is then rotated into its final position flush with the adjacent panel which causes the complementary loops to lodge snugly together. In the assembled joint, the marginal flat portions of the panels abut for effectively resisting shear forces between the panels, as well as opposing forces in the general planes of the panels. Also, the interfitting marginal portions form a main load carrying rib, while transverse ribs carry loads from the center of the panel to the side edges thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to building panels, particularly of sheet metal, and to joint structures therebetween.

The prior art discloses many examples of joints between sheet metal panels for securing together the panels without the necessity of penetrating the panels with securing elements. For instance, in Curran U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,718 complementary bights or loops formed on abutting edges of such panels are snapped together in internesting relationship. However, the Curran patent and other prior art structures do not provide effective means for resisting shear forces between the panels and carrying loads from the center of the panel to the reinforced edges, which means, also, assist in snug interfitting of the terminal beads by pivoting action,

Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide such an effectively reinforced building panel with complementary joint-forming marginal structures involving interfitting, laterally projecting loops as well as overlapping and underlapping marginal portions which are assembled when one panel is brought edgewise into contact with the complementary marginal portion of the adjacent panel and then rotated into its final assembled position.

Another object is to provide a joint for sheet metal panels which may be readily assembled in the field and which incorporates improved means for resisting transverse or shear forces between the panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with our present invention, a sheet metal building panel is provided with opposite joint forming margins, each having outer flanges terminating in complementary edge beads or loops. The loop on a first of said marginal portions is open at the base and is of slightly greater width in a plane parallel to the panel than the opposite loop which is of less width than the distance between the edge of the first loop and its marginal portion. The first marginal portion inward of its flange is folded in general U-shape so that when the joint between adjacent complementary similar panels is assembled, the complementary edge loops will fit snugly together to seal the join and resist opposing forces substantially in the planes of the panels, while one of the marginal portions underlies and abuts the complementary marginal portion of the adjacent panel so as to effectively resist shear forces between the panels .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing which illustrate the invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of the novel panels joined together.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2, parts being broken away.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are schematic representations of adjacent similar panels during assembly of the complementary joint structures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a pair of adjacent panels A and B having complementary edge structures brought together to form the joint, generally designated C. The panels may be used for any building wall or roof structure and may be mounted on suitable cross framing, as the purlins E. The panels are provided with reinforcing corrugations 10 extending transversely between the complementary edge portions of the panel.

The novel joint structure, as detailed in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises the interengaging complementary edges of adjacent panels. The joint-forming edge of panel B comprises a marginal portion folded in substantial U-shape to form inner and outer flat legs or shelves 11 and 12 which generally parallel the general plane of panel B. Outer leg 12 terminates in an outwardly projecting flange 13 which with curved element 14 and re-entrant distal part 15 forms a first joint-forming bead or loop with an open side at one edge of the panel.

The opposite edge of the panel, which becomes the complementary edge of an adjacent panel A, has a flat marginal portion 18 substantially paralleling the general plane of panel A and with an outturned flange 19 at its outer edge terminating in a curved element 20 and a re-entrant distal part 21 forming a bead or loop with open side disposed oppositely to the first-mentioned loop 13, 14, 15. Loop 19, 20, 21 is of slightly less width in a plane parallel to the panel than the most restricted part of the first loop 13, 14, 15, and also of less width than the distance between the lower end of re-entrant member 15 and marginal portion 12, for a purpose to be described.

Received between the marginal parts of the assembled joint, as in FIG. 2, is the upper part 24 of a two-part clip which conforms in general with the shaping of these parts, as shown. The particular panel configuration illustrated has obtusely angled outturned parts 25 and 26 forming, in effect, a central corrugation between the panels and beneath the joint-forming beads or loops. This corrugation is in part filled in by the lower member 27 of the two-part clip which is of U-shaped configuration, as best shown in FIG. 3, having a bottom flange 27a which is secured by bolts 27b to the top flange of a modified Z-purlin E. At the upper ends of the legs of clip part 27 there are provided outturned lugs 27c about which the lower portions 24a of the clip upper parts are securely folded.

Assembly

The joint is assembled as illustrated in the schematic views of FIGS. 4 - 8, FIG. 2 showing the final assembly position. In FIG. 4 a first panel B is caused to approach marginal portion 18 of a second similar panel A until the male loop formed by elements 19, 20, and 21 on second panel A is engaged by flange 13, the distance between the extremity of re-entrant element 15 and outer or upper leg 12 of panel B being sufficient to permit this. FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show sealing material 30 lodged in the crest within loop 13, 14, 15. In FIG. 6, first panel B has been rotated clockwise about the intersection of shelf part 18 and flange 19 as a fulcrum to cause loop 19, 20, 21 of panel A to enter the interior of loop 13, 14, 15, the width of the first loop, of course, being sufficiently less than the width of the second loop to permit this entry. At the same time, the extremity of upper leg or shelf part 12 on panel B is brought into engagement with the extremity of shelf part 18 of panel A.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show further successive positions of first panel B in its rotation towards its final assembled position. Edge bead or loop 19, 20, 21 is now wedged in the upper part of loop 13, 14, 15 and against sealing material 30. In each of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 and, particularly, in the final assembly view, FIG. 2, upper leg or shelf 12 of the marginal portion of panel B supportingly underlies shelf part 18 of panel A. Preferably, both shelf parts 12 and 18 are flat and substantially parallel to the general planes of the panels, in the assembled position. Since shelf part 18 is of substantially greater width than the outer loop 15, 14, 13 there is broad abutment between shelf parts 12 and 18 which effectively resists transverse or shear forces between the panels.

Schematic view 4 also shows a somewhat different form of attaching clip, in this case a one-piece member having a bottom flange 31 which is attached to support purlin E by bolts or metal screws 32, and intermediate inclined part 33 and an upper part 34 following the marginal portions 18 and 19 of panel A. In the final assembly, the upper clip portion 34 is securely clamped between marginal portions 18 and 19 of panel A and 12 and 13 of panel B.

In the view shown, it is assumed that panel B is initially secured to purlins or other supports; it may, of course, be secured by the novel joint structure to an adjacent panel at the opposite edge, or may be constructed to form the edge of the roof. If desired, the re-entrant part 15 of the outer edge loop may be bent against the inner edge loop, as illustrated in dotted line at 15a in FIG. 2, for the purpose of improving the seal at the joint.

The particular configuration of the panel and the attaching clips may be varied. The exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

Claims

We claim:

1. A building panel having complementary joint-forming marginal edge portions,

A. the first of said edge portions having

1. a first shelf part substantially parallel to the plane of the panel,

2. a first flange extending outwardly from the outer edge of said shelf part and forming a pivotal corner therewith, and

3. a male terminal loop on said first flange,

B. said complementary edge portion having

1. inner and outer shelf parts and

2. a connecting part forming a "U" with legs substantially parallel to the plane of the panel,

3. a second flange extending outwardly at substantially 90.degree. from the reentrant edge of said outer shelf part, and

4. a female terminal loop on said second flange overlying said outer shelf part,

C. said male terminal loop being of a width sufficient to snugly fit within the female terminal loop of an adjacent similar panel, and

D. there being sufficient space between the extremity of said complementary female loop and said outer shelf part to receive said male terminal loop therebetween for engaging said second flange when said adjacent panel is moved edgewise toward siad first panel,

E. said first flange and said outer shelf part being of sufficient length to cause said outer shelf part to engage and slid on said pivotal corner during initial rotation of said adjacent panel about said male loop and thereby enforce snug interfitting of said male loop into said female loop during continued rotation of said adjacent panel to its fully assembled position and to undergird said first shelf part in said latter position to resist shear forces.