Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~34230
.
This invention relates to prefabricated con~
struction materials and more particularly to prefabricated
metal or plas~ic cladding materials.
Sheet metal and plastic cladding materials
for cons-tructional use are well known and take many differ-
ent forms. Metals such as al~inum and 5teel may be pre~
coated to provide long lasting decorative finishes ana plas-
tic claddings may be provided with any desired colour or
,
surface finish. Cladding materials for ceilings, soffits,
sidings and the like are usually prefabricated in suitable
sized lengths and widths to provide a desired surface effect
and to facilitate handling of the individual pleces. Joints
between pieces are generally covered by an overlap, and ;~
each piece is generally interlocked or interconnected
wlth the next pleoe using any one~ of~a number-of known ~ -
interlocklng systems. ~ ~
Generally, however, because of the need to ~:
securely interlock the panels so as to ensure a weather-
tight surface, and a desire to provide a variety of decora-
tive surface configurations, each type of cladding material
is designed for a specific end use. Ceiling and soffit,
vertical siding~panels and at least one type of horizontal ;~
,
siding are usually applied so as to present a weathering or
decorativ~ surface that is essentially flush. ~Most other
prefabricated horizontal siding panels are designed to be
applied in a sllghtly zig zag con~figuration so as to simu~
late conventional lap or wood bevel siding. As with wood
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siding it is desirable to partially overlap each panel
with the lower edge of the panel immediately above it '
so that the cladding can readily shed water.
The inventory of differently shaped pieces
required by the stockist and applicator for various con-,
structional uses is relatively large and costly to main-
tain. Furthermore, the wastage during cutting and instal-
lation is also relatively high because it is not usually ,
possible to utilize the ine,vitable short lengths which ,~
accrue for other purposes. For example, auring theinstallation of preformed metal and plastic lap siding
it has heretofore not been possible to utilize the short '
scrap lengths for soffit panels, which are usually applied
; in flush configuration. It will be appreciated, thereore,
that inventory and installation of cladding could be much
simplified if a system could be devised which would enable
use of the same panel or both lap or flush application
for either siding or soffit and which could be produced
using the same dies on a single piece of forming equip- ~ ;
ment, such as rolls or extruders. ~ ,
U.S. Patent 2,642,968 to Roush et al
teaches a panel for use in a prefabricated house struc- ¦ ,
ture. The panel can be attached in both the flush and
overlap configurations and requires specially formed
uprights to receive the panels. For this reason the
panels taught by Roush could not ke used on buildings j~
generally. Also the Roush panels would require very
accurate alignment for proper interlocking with one ,~
another and such alignment would be ~ound only on i~
prefabricated structures. Further, if the alignment ' ,~
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is not accurate in the overlap condition gaps would appear
between adjacent panels at the point of ~isalignment re-
sulting in an unacceptable appearance. In the overlap
condition the underside of each panel displays an upwardly
extending channel which can shelter insects and which also
detracts significantly from the overall appearance of the
siding. For these reasons the Roush structure ~ould not
be acceptable for applicant's purpose.
It is an ob~ect of the present invention to
provide panels formed to permit using the panels as vertical
or horizontal siding, soffit or other application in either ,~
flush or lap relation as desired on existing as well as new
building structures.
Thus in one o its aspects this invention
provides a construction panel having, along a first marginal
edge thereof, first and second engaging means and, along `
a parallel second marginal edge thereof, third engaging
means for interengagement with either said first or said
:
second engaging means of an adjacent said panel whereby
adjacent said panels may be disposed in abutting relation
to selectively position and retain a face of the panels
alternatively flush or lapped.
The invention will be described in more
detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings in which:
; Fig. 1 is a sectional view of onè embodiment
of construction panels according to the present~invention,
the panels being in a lap configuration;
F~g. 2 is a sectional view of the panels of
Yig. 1 showing the panels in a flush configuratlon; and
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Figs. 3 to 10 are composite schematic sec-
tional views showing alternative embodiments of construc-
tion panels according to the pres~nt invention, each Fig.
showing one embodiment in both flush and lap configurations. -~
It will be appreciated that although the
embodiments are drawn to show panels in both flush and
lap configurations, in practice the panels would be
applied in one configuration or the other. I~ will fur-
ther be appreciated that the panels of the pxesent inven-
tion may be applied as siding in either the vertical orhorizontal mode, that is with the joints either perpen-
dicular or parallel to the base of the building, or as
soffit or ceiling panels 7 and that various decorative
effects can be achieved by mixing the manner of instal- ~;
lation. The present invention is applicable to any ;~
conventional panel material such as sheet metal or
plastic.
Reference is maae initially to Figs. 1 `
and 2 to describe a preferred embodiment of the inven=
tion. An aluminum panel is shown having a constant cross~
section and extending longitudinally on the side of a
building. The panel is formed of sheet material and has
a main portion 1 defining a front face which terminates ~ "
-I at transverse extremities. A first portion 2 extends ~ ~
longitudinally of the panel and depends from one of the ~;
transverse extremities. The portion extends rearwardly ~ -~
and defines a pair of longitudinally extending projecting
ribs 3 and 4~spaced in parallel wlth one another and term-
inating at a~flange 5 extending outwardly and through which
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iO84;Z30
nails ~ may be driven to secure the panel along its length
to a substrate or frame lO. A second portion 7~1depends
from the other transverse extremity and defines a longi-
tudinally extending chann~l 8 adapted to receive either
one of the ribs 3 and 4. When recess 8 is located on rib
; 3 as in Fig. 1, the panels are assembled in lap siding
configuration. A drop-in backer board 9 may be required
for insulation and rigidity of the finished structure.
~; When channel 8 is xeceived on rib 4 (as
in Fig. 2) the panels are assembled in flush conE~igurà-
tion and, depending upon the application, a backer board may
.
or may not be required. It will be appreciated that the flush
configuration of Fig. 2 is particularly suited for use as~a
soffit and no backer board is noxmally required for this
application. ~
It should be noted that as~seen ln Figs.~l
and 2 the xibs 3 and 4 axe both spaced;in~paxallel and
spaced transversely of the~ panel so that~when the~rib 4
is engaged in channèl 8 the rib 3 does not interfere with
the location of~the~rib 4 in channel 8. Also, in the overlap
condition the channel 8 contains a part of a front face of
the main poxtion l of the panel. Consequently, ie for~any ~;
reason the rib 3 does not engage fully in the channel 8 the
external appearance will not~be~affeated~because unlike the~
aforementioned Roush structure~no crack or opening will be
seen between the panels. Thls interengagement~ln~which~a
- part of the main portion is~contalned behind the~ad~acent
panel is therefore~of importance in understanding the re-
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~ quirements which the present structure~must meet when it
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is being installed on less than perfect building surfaces. ~ `
Variations in shape will be described with reference to
other embodiments which also exhibit this feature.
It will be evident that this overlap condi-
tion requires the ribs 3 and 4 to be staggered both outwardly
and rearwardly so that in the overlap condition the upper
panel (as drawn) is lower than it would be in the flush
condition.
Fig. 3 shows a modification of the embodi-
ment of Figs. 1 and 2 wherein modified ribs 33 and 34 are
also at different levels and in which there is provided a
; recess 35 adjacent rib 33 to receive and interlock a tail 36
of recess 37 when the panels are assembled in the lap con-
figuration. Tail 36 is received and interlocks with modi-
fied ribs 34 and an associated recess 38 when the panels ;~
are assembled in the flush configuration.
Fig. 4 shows a further modification of Fig. i-
: ~
3 in which modified ribs 43 and 44 are at different levels
and are hook-shaped and the recess 37 of Fig. 3 has been
repIaced by a hook 47 adapted to engage under hook-shaped
ribs 43 or 44 in locking engagement in the lap or flush
configurations respectively. It will be noted that in the
flush configuration, wherein hook 47 engages hook-shaped -
rib 44, there is provided a surface recess 48 which may
be filled with a decorative strip or batten if desired.
i Fi~ 5 is somewhat~similar to Figs. 1 and
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3 and shows channels or slots 63 and 64, at aifferent
levels, adapted to receive the single lockiny hook 65 of
an adjoining panel for assembly in either the f1ush or ~-
lap configuration.
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Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification
of the embodiment of Fig. S for application from the bottom
up. Slots 73 and 74 are provided with locking recesse5
75 and 76, and a hooX 77 has an additional locking device
78 adapted for reception by recesses 75 and 76. Nails
79 are driven through flange 80 to assemble the siding from
- the bottom up.
It will be appreciated that each of the
foregoing embodiments can only be installed from the bottom
up when used as horizontal siding, as is usual with conven-
tional lap siding material.
Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment which
differs from previous embodiments in that it is installed
from the top for flush application and from the bottom for
lap application.
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As seen in Fig. 7 a panel is provided which ~;
uses either regular nails ox specially shaped "L" or "T" nails
83 and 82 respectively which interlock with nailing flanges
... . . .
,~; on the~cladding material. Unlike FigO 6 however, the Fig. `i
7 embodiment has first and second engaging means 84 and 85
respectively along one marginal portion of the panel and a
third~and fourth engaging means 86 and 87 respectively along
the other or parallel marginal portion of the panel for sel-
ective engagement of engaging means 85 with engaging means
86 and engaging means 84 with engaging means 87 of a corres-
ponding adjacent panel so as to dispose the panel in lap
siding of flush~relation respectively.
Fig. 8 shows an embodiment which is particu-
larly suited for siding and soffits, and which has along
a first marginal edge a lug 93 and a hook-shaped recess
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means 94 for selective engagement with engaging means 91,
of an adjacent panel which is adapted to engage lug 93 in
lap relation or be received by recess 94 when disposed in
flush relation.
FigO 9 shows a further embodiment in which
the upper portion (as drawn) has a tongue 98, for engage-
ment in one of two channels 96, 97 in the lower portion
of an adjacent panel. The tongue is offset rearwardly from
a main portion of the panel by a land 99 which is received
in a recess 100 from which the channels 96, 97 both extend
inwardly. In the lap condition the tongue 98 is in the
channel 97 and the land 99 is contained in the xecess 100
so that a front portion 101 lies outwardly of the main por~
.:
tion of the panel. A part of the main portion is then con- ~;
tained in the recess 100.
Fig. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment.
This embodiment differs from most of the previous embodi-
ments in that the portion of the panel defining a flange
102 is associated with only one engagement means whereas
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~ 20 others have been associated with two. In this case a rib ..
103 is provided forwardly of the flange 102 and separated
from the flange by a rearward land 104. A forward land
105 extends between the ribs 103 and a main portion 106
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of the panel. This latter land is spaced inwardly from ~;
the land 104. ¦ ;
The other marginal portion of the panel ! - ?
de~ines a pair of channels 107, 108. IChannel 108 is
:
spaced inwardly and rearwardly with respect to channel
107 and an intermediate portion 109 extends between the
channels and is spaced inwardly with respect to a nose
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portion 110. Consequently~ a part of the front face of
main portion 106 is contained behind the nose partion
with the panels in khe lapped condition.
Although the invention has been illustrated
extensively with reference to rolled sections in aluminum
sheet, the invention is equally applicable to rolled
extruded, moulded or other sections in aluminum, steel,
: copper or other sheet metal and also to thermosetting
and thermoplastic resinous materials and to inorganic
materials such as asbestos, cement, wood and paper fibres
which are conventionally fabrlcated into sheet form for
cladding purposes.
It will also be appreciated that the draw-
ings are illustrative only of the concept of the invention
and are not limiting thereon, the scope of the invention
being defined y the apyended claims.
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