Building panel joint

Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Vertically curved arch with terminal support

Patent

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Details

52588, E04B 132

Patent

active

047591595

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements to building panels and particularly to building panels for use in the construction of self supporting building structures.


BACKGROUND ART

A number of different types of self-supporting building structures are presently available. One such type of building structure described in Australian Pat. No. 447,874, comprises a plurality of arcuate panels which are interconnected in such a manner as to define a self supporting building structure without the need for trusses, columns or other supports. In this arrangement a plurality of building panels of channel shaped cross section are interconnected by crimping together the respective adjacent longitudinal flanges to form a permanent connection means. Whilst this arrangement is suitable for providing a self supporting structure, expensive equipment is required to form the necessary joints between the panels, and furthermore, the joints formed comprise permanent joints. Other proposals have required the use of separate fastening means to interconnect respective panels. This necessitates in many instances, the formation of holes in the building panels to accommodate the fasteners which not only is time consuming but can lead to water leakage in an erected building.


DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages by providing an improved building panel which may be connected to adjacent similar building panels rapidly and effectively to form a self supporting building structure. The present invention also relates to the method of interconnecting such building panels and to the building structure formed with panels of the above type.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention resides broadly in a building panel including a main body portion and a pair of upstanding side portions extending along respective opposite longitudinal sides of said main body portion, one said side portion including a female rib and the other said side portion including a male rib adapted for interlocking engagement with a said female rib of an adjacent said panel whereby adjacent said panels may be interlocked in use, characterised in that each said side portion includes a flange portion generally upstanding from said main body portion and supporting a respective said male or female rib, said male and female ribs extending wholly to corresponding sides of their respective supporting flange portions such that adjacent said panels may be overlapped at their adjacent side portions and moved relatively towards each other in a direction generally parallel to said side portions to cause said male and female ribs to engage and interlock said panels, the respective adjacent flange portions of said panels when said panels are interlocked being disposed in a substantially juxtaposed attitude.
Preferably the building panel is generally arcuate in a longitudinal direction with the side portions arranged on the convex side thereof. Preferably also the main body portion of the panel has an arcuate cross section.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a self supporting building constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates in sectional view a building panel for forming the arcuate roof section of the building illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates the connection between adjacent building panels of the type illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the "snap-lock" connection between adjacent building panels;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative form of building panel for forming the arcuate roof section of the building of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a typical cross-sectional view of the panel along line A--A of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective view, a preferred method and tool for

REFERENCES:
patent: 2098717 (1937-11-01), Calkins
patent: 3276171 (1966-10-01), Brown
patent: 3606718 (1971-09-01), Curran
patent: 3902288 (1975-09-01), Knudson
patent: 4109437 (1978-08-01), Player
patent: 4192117 (1980-03-01), Heirich
patent: 4223503 (1980-09-01), Hagne
patent: 4463533 (1984-08-01), Mallet

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