US3253377A - Integratable structural panels - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1966 R. A. SCHAKEL INTEGRATABLE STRUCTURAL PANELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1964 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND A. SCHAKEL May 31, 1966 R. A. SCHAKEL INTEGRATABLE STRUCTURAL PANELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1964 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND A. SCHAKEL May 31, 1966 R. A. SCHAKEL INTEGRATABLE STRUCTURAL PANELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 51, 1964 United States Patent 3,253,377 HNTEGRATAELE STRUCTURAL PANELS Raymond A. Schakel, Lufldn, Tern, assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 394,381 12 Claims. (Cl. 52-595) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 282,356, filed May 22, 1963, now abandoned.

The invention relates in general to preformed rigid structural panel members or sections suitable for and capable of interlocking marginal edge assembly in the establishment of integrated sheathed areas, with specific reference to cargo-supporting surfaces, decks, roofs, walls, and similar load-bearing assemblies, whether the same be employed in static or mobile structures.

Regardless of the final use or installation of the structural panel members contemplated within the scope of the invention, it is a primary desideratum to provide a panel element or structural member, preferably in the form of an extrusion or similar substantially rigid accurately reproducible fabricated member, having opposite marginal longitudinal edge areas transversely configurated or profiled in a manner to provide interlocking integrated contiguous edge assembly of adjacent contacting panel elements to provide a sheathed and/ or load-supporting surface area in which the marginal joints between adjacent panel members may be water-proofed or sealed by a strip of resilient material secured in place by a groove especially configurated as a result of a pre-selected configuration or profile of the marginal longitudinal edge areas of each individual panel in a contiguous integrated structural assembly thereof.

It has been heretofore proposed and conventional practice to construct and install flooring, and similar panel members in overlapping or contacting longitudinal edge assembly and to rely entirely upon metal-to-metal sealing or hearing contact between the marginal edge portions of the adjacent panels to provide moisture or water-proof jointure therebetween. Such integrated metal-to-metal installations have obtained considerable acceptance as cargosupporting floors in refrigerated trucks and analogous installations subjected to moisture collection and liquid drainage resulting from refrigeration condensation, as well as liquid drainage from the cargoes themselves.

Regardless of the above referred to generally accepted and conventional practice, metal-to-metal contacting jointure between adjacent flooring and similar sheathing panels of the general type herein contemplated are anything but moisture or leak-proof, and particularly in mobile vehicle installations subject to vibration, many instances arise where moisture drainage from refrigerated cargo escapes through the cargo-supporting flooring joints into the conventional insulation below the flooring to thereby impair its effectiveness. This condition is'also greatly aggravated where liquid contents of cargoes contribute to refrigeration condensation and escape into the insulation conventionally installed below the flooring making it necessary in many such situations to replace the insulation to obviate an unsanitary condition. There is also the problem of corrosion of the vehicle or supporting framework below its cargo-supporting area from uncontrolled moisture drainage through the marginal edge metal-to-metal joints now in commercial use.

With these and other similar deficiencies facing conventional integrated sheathing and flooring systems, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide rigid metallic panel members or elements configurated along their opposite marginal areas in a manner to permit ready and facile interengaging marginal assembly thereof 3,253,377 Patented May 31, 1966 to provide jointed water-proof sheathed structures, such as a load-supporting area or cargo space.

Another object of the invention is to provide extruded metallic structural members or panels, opposite marginal longitudinal edges of which, in integrated interlocking assembly or connection therebetween, are so configurated as to provide a channel for receiving and restraining a preformedv resilient sealing trip, or moldable plastic sealing compound, to prevent moisture leakage through the marginal edge connection between adjacent panels.

The invention, and additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood by those skilled in the art to which the same appertains from consideration of the following description, taken in the light of the accompanying drawings selected for purposes of illustration, and not in a limiting sense, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary sectionalized view of a cargo-supporting area, such as a flooring system, suitable for use in a refrigerated truck, trailer, or the like;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but modified therefrom in its incorporation of a reversing key intermediate the width of the flooring system illustrated therein;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of an individual rigid panel element removed from either of the installations of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a marginal edging strip member such as depicted at the left-hand terminal edge of the flooring system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a marginal edging strip member such as depicted at the right-hand terminal edge of the installation of FIG. 1, as well as at both terminal edges of the installation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the reversing key member employed intermediate the width of the flooring installation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective fragmentary sectionalized view of a preformed resilient sealing strip capable of incorporation in the installations of FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as in the subsequently listed illustrations;

FIG. 8 is a transverse elevational view, in partial section, incorporating the improved integrated interlocking marginal edge joint of the invention in its application to a modified structural panel;

FIG. 9 is a transverse elevational view, in partial section, incorporating the joint structure of the invention in its application between another form of similar structural panels; and I FIG. 10 is a transverse elevational view, in partial section, substantially similar to the integrated joint and panel system of FIG. 9, but having the integrated marginal edge joint area thereof elevated and disposed in .the outwardly facing coplanar surface of the interconnected structural panels.

More specific reference is now made to a specific mode of practicing the invention in which a cargosupporting floor for a refrigerated vehicle, or the like, has been selected for purposes of illustration and description. In this practice of the invention, cargo-supporting floors have been constructed from individual extruded panels 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in integrated adjacent contiguous marginal edge interconnection with each other, as well as with dissimilar marginal terminating or edging extrusions l2 and 14 (FIGS. 4 and 5), in the installation of the flooring system of FIG. 1. Also, the same individual extruded panels 10 have been illustrated in adjacentcontinguous integrated marginal edge interconnected assembly with each other, as well as with the same marginal terminating or edging extrusion 14 (FIG. 5) by employing an intermediate reversing key element in the form of extrusion 16 (FIG. 6) in some position, preferably substantially centrally located, within the 3 transverse width of the flooring in the installed system of FIG. 2.

Each similar extruded panel has been selected, for purposes of describing this embodiment of the invention, in a form to provide a lower or bottom support, attaching or hearing web carrying parallel spaced vertically upstanding ribs 22 supporting load-bearing flanges 24 in a common plane parallel to and disposed above the supporting or attaching web 20. It will be observed that the upstanding ribs 22 form moisture draining channels therebetween in accordance with conventional practice in refrigerated cargo-supporting conveyances, and similar mobile or stationary installations, where it is a desideratum to support refrigerated goods and commodities above and out of contact with moisture draining areas in the form of gutters disposed below the elevated load-supporting flanges 24.

Opposite longitudinal marginal edge areas of each similar extruded panel 10 have been pre-selectively configurated or profiled to provide tongue-within-groove interlocking marginal connection in adjacent contiguous integrated lateral assembly of substantially similar panel elements. In this respect the left-hand marginal edge area of each extruded panel element 10 (FIG. 3) is configurated to extend outwardly beyond the upstanding rib carrying the outermost load-bearing flange 24 to provide a knee web extension 26 intermediate the flange 24 and parallel plane of the lower or' bottom bearing web 20 of the panel. The knee web 26 is also preferably offset or joggled to provide a contiguous downwardly depending outwardly directed web surface or knee bend 28, preferably lying in a vertical plane normal to the common plane of the load-bearing flanges 24 and lower parallel bearing web 20, below which it is angularly undercut to provide an inwardly extending groove 30 in contiguous connection with an outwardly extending horizontal male tongue or flange 32 formed integral with and offset below the knee web 26.

The transverse profile or configurated outline of the axially extending left-hand marginal edge area of the extruded panel 10, thus far described, preferably provides the outwardly extending knee web 26 and outwardly extending male tongue in contiguous parallel joggled or stepped interconnection with each other, the web interconnecting the same locating and providing the aforesaid groove 30 on its outwardly directed surface and a downwardly and outwardly inclined opposite surface 34 blending with a rib or protuberance 36 in contiguous connection with the underside surface of the male tongue 32.

The opposite axially extending or right-hand edge area of the panel 10, as best viewed in FIG. 3, outwardly beyond and including the upstanding rib carrying the outermost load-bearing flange 24, is formed by a contiguous outwardly extending portion of the bottom planar bearing flange or attaching web 20, the upper surface of which carries an upwardly extending foreshortened longitudinal rib or abutment 40 intermediate the outwardly extending width of the aforesaid extended flange. In addition, the outwardly facing surface of the outwardly disposed rib carrying the most outwardly located bearing flange 24- is locally thickened within its depth to provide an outwardly extending axial boss 44 having an outwardly directed or facing vertically flat boss surface 48 undercut therebelow to provide an angularly profiled groove 46 subtended by a shoulder 42 and a second furtherly inwardly directed or extending groove or recess 43. A longitudinal groove 50 in the upper surface of the outwardly extending marginal flange portion of the bearing web 20 is usually provided as a means for accurately locating apertures for machine fastening elements, such as screws, rivets, bolts, or the like, as will be hereinafter described in more detail.

Longitudinal marginal edge interlocking connection between similar adjacent extruded panels 10 provides a contiguous cargo-supporting surface or area defined by the upper or elevated load-bearing or cargo-supporting flanges 24 and their unitary supporting lower bearing or supporting webs 20. This is accomplished by tilting one panel or section 10 to present its male tongue 32 through the open top female channel formed between the upstanding rib 40 and outwardly extending boss 44, followed by oscillation of the tilted panel into coplanar disposition of adjacent similar panels to enter the preferably rounded nose of the male tongue 32 within the groove 43. In this latter condition of assembly, it will be observed that the downwardly disposed bulbous rib 36 and contiguous upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 34 provide stepped bearing contact with the upwardly facing surface of the extended attaching or bearing web 20 and an adjacent contigous upwardly and outwardly inclined surface 51 of the short upstanding rib 40, respectively, to laterally lock the marginally interconnected panels 10 against coplanar separation. In this respect, the inclined surfaces 34 and 51 are preferably angularly complementary and the male tongue 32 is selected in such length that its free extremity underlies the shoulder 42 and is restrained against vertical separation of the so marginally interconnected panels 10 in coplanar integrated assembly thereof, as is best illustrated in the transverse substantially central area of the assembled installation of FIG. 1.

It will be observed that the integrated interconnection between opposite marginal edges of adjacent similar panels 10, above-described, also provides a downwardly open or depressed channel formed between the separated or spaced and opposing vertically parallel surfaces 28 and 48, the channel being otherwise laterally enlarged or undercut below its parallel opposed wall surfaces 28 and 48 by means of the oppositely disposed cooperating undercut grooves 30 and 46 to thus provide a downwardly re-entrant channel configuration for reception and restraint of a preformed resilient sealing strip 18 (FIG. 7) of substantially the same, or preferably slightly larger, transverse cross-section to that of the aforesaid re-entrant channel configuration. The sealing strip 18 is preferably selected in natural or synthetic rubber, many available and fully equivalent commercial products being satisfactory for the intended purpose thereof. FIG. 7 illustrates the resilient sealing strip 18 as having a transverse cross-section providing a central web 114 and integral bottom flange 112 in substantial conformity to the transverse cross-section of the above-described re-entrant channel receiving the same.

It will be apparent from the hereinabove description of the integrated interconnection between opposite male tongue and female grooved marginal edges of contiguously adjacent similar extruded panels 10 that a cargosupporting floor system or area is provided having elevated load-carrying or supporting adjacently spaced coplanar flanges 24 separated by drainage channels therebetween, with a somewhat shallower drainage channel provided by the marginal knee webs 26 located in the marginal interlocked areas between adjacent similar panels 10. It is of further prime significance to observe that the aforesaid marginal interconnections do not rely upon metal-to-metal bearing contact for assurance against moisture leakage through and along such so formed joints, but in fact provide configurated re-entrant channels for reception and restraint of the preformed resilient sealing strips 18. In this connection the individual sealing strips 18 are preferably forced under pressure into their complementary configurated re-entrant channels and preferably form a flush surface in the plane of the upper exposed surface of each of the knee webs 26.

The individual similar or substantially similar panels 10 are preferably provided and stocked in several selected transverse widths, as distinguished from indeterminate longitudinal lengths thereof as in the case of their fabrication by extrusion. In this manner the panels 10 are selectable in their number, based on their individual transverse widths, to cover any required cargo area to be paneled or floored. As illustrated in FIG. 1, proper numerical selection of equal width panels could suffice to extend across the width of a refrigerator truck, or similar area, as defined by a prescribed or allowable width of cross frame or cross bolsters of a vehicle requiring the flooring system of the invention, the maximum width limits of which are conventionally fixed and estab lished in any particular instance by the location of the -marginal edge sections 12 and 14.

Installation of the flooring of FIG. 1 is accomplished by first installing the marginal edging section 12 (FIG. 4), which is selected to provide an interconnecting axially extending marginally grooved or female marginal edge configuration similar to the right-hand axially extending marginal edge area of the panel 10 of FIG. 3. The marginal edging section 12 is formed-with an upstanding outwardly disposed wall flange 54, to which body sheathing may be secured, and has an inwardly directed right angularly disposed integrally attached bearing flange 52. The flange 52 extends inwardly of the area to be floored and carries an inwardly spaced vertically upstanding rib 56 capped with a flange 58 lying in the plane of the cargosupporting flanges 24 of contiguously adjacent panels 10. Otherwise, and reference is made to FIG. 4, the upstanding rib is inwardly thickened at 60, downwardly and vertically faced at 62, angularly undercut at 64, shouldered at 68, and further grooved at 69 in identical manner to that of the marginal treatment and configuration of the grooved or female marginal edge area previously described for the right-hand marginal edge of the panel 10 of FIG. 3. In this connection the inwardly extending flange 52 carries an upstanding foreshortened rib 66 and is preferably grooved on its upper surface at 70 for accurate location of fastening elements, such as the screws 120, extending through the aforesaid flange into the cross bolsters or frame members 118 of a vehicle chassis (FIG. 1).

With the member 12 permanently secured to the vehicle frame, as hereinabove described, marginal interlocking interconnection is next made by tilted or inclined approach, insertion and downward coplanar oscillation of the male tongue 32 of a panel element 10 within the open top female channel formed between the boss 60 and foreshortened rib 66 to enter the extreme end or nose of the male member 32 within the groove 69 in the same manner as described above for interconnecting marginal edge assembly of two similar panel members 10, after which a first so installed panel 10 is mechanically secured, as by screws 120, and the sealing strip 18 installed to seal the joint adjacent the marginal edging section 12.

Additional required panels 10 are each thereafter marginally interconnected, as previously described, and each in turn is edge secured to the underlying bolsters 118 supporting the same in the order of installation. The re-entrant grooves thus formed, in the area of each of the interconnecting marginal joints, are thereafter packed or sealed with the configurated sealing strips 18.

The righthand side marginal edging section 14 (FIG. 5) is marginally configurated in substantial conformity with the left-hand axially extending marginal edge area previously described in connection with a panel 10 of FIG. 3. As thus configurated, the marginal edging section 14 comprises an upstanding flange 74 and inwardly extending right angularly disposed base flange 72 contiguously connected to an inwardly disposed or spaced upstanding rib 76 parallel to the outer flange 74. The rib 76 carries a load or cargo-supporting flange 78 in the plane of the flanges 24 of the contiguously adjacent coplanar panels 10, an integral inwardly projecting knee web 80 being downwardly offset or joggled to provide a perpendicular web surface 82 contiguous therewith and an undercut groove 84 terminating in an inwardly extending male tongue or flange 86 in the same manner as described for the male marginal profile or left-hand marginal area of the panel 10 of FIG. 3. The inclined thickness-defining surface 88 and contiguous downwardly projecting curvilinear rib 90 are likewise provided to complete the aforesaid similarity, with an added groove 92 being provided for accuracy in locating and securing the marginal edging section 14 following its interconnection with the earlier installed adjacent and laterally contiguous panel 10 of the flooring system of FIG. 1. As previously described, the configurated sealing strip 18 will be installed within the re-entrant axially extending joint channel to seal the interconnection between a panel 10 and right-hand marginal edging section 14, as clearly shown in FIG. ,1.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an integrated flooring system constructed in accordance with the invention in which a central reversing key member 16 (FIG. 6) is employed to reverse the transverse directional marginal interengaged installation of similar panel members 10 in the construction of a refrigeration type cargo-supporting area or truck floor.

It will be observed that the reversing key member 16 (FIG. 6) comprises a supporting or attaching base flange 94 and a central upstanding vertical rib 98 flanged at 102.

coplanar with the load or cargo-supporting flanges 24 of each of the panels 10. The member 16 is symmetrical on either side of its vertical central axis, the central web 98 being thickened to provide an axially extending boss 100 having outwardly extending flat boss surfaces 104, undercut at 106 and shouldered at 108 to provide lateral entrance grooves 109 thereunder in similar fashion to the female interconnecting members previously described in regard to the marginal edging member 12 (FIG. 4) and right-hand edge of each of the panels 10 (FIG. 3). The reversing key member 16 is also provided with upstanding outwardly spaced foreshortened ribs 96 and outwardly therefrom its base flange 94 is grooved at 110 for subsequent accurate drilling and installation of the same.

Installation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises first installing and rigidly securing the reversing key member 16 substantially centrally of its underlying cross bolsters 118, as by means of mechanical fasteners or screws 120. Individual panels 10 are thereafter marginally interconnected outwardly and laterally from the central reversing key 16 and each individually secured following its marginal interconnection therewith following the procedure described above in the erection and installation of the flooring system of FIG. 1. As will be apparent on comparison of the installations of FIGS. 1 and 2, identical terminating marginal edging sections 14 serve to complete a desired transverse width of the deck or flooring of the system of FIG.

2. It will also be observed that the sealing strips 18 are employed in completion of the installation of FIG. 2 in the same manner as described for the system of FIG. 1.

Analysis andscruitiny of the transverse configuration of the individual similar panels 10, opposite marginal edging members 12 and 14, and symmetrical reversing key section 16, will clearly establish that metal-to-metal marginal interlocking joints are obtained in the integrated assemblies thereof illustrated in the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this connection it will also be observed that the several marginal edge metal-to-metal interlocking connections or joints of FIGS. 1 and 2 provide lateral inclined abutment or contact between adjacent inclined surfaces 34 and 51, 33 and 49, 34 and 63, 33 and 71, 88 and 51, and 49 and 73 (FIG. 1); as well as between 49 and 73, 88 and 51, 34 and 107, and 33 and 122 (FIG. 2) of adjacent elements forming the marginal joints in each instance thus insuring against lateral coplanar separation of an installed system, while providing the re-entrant grooves required to receive and retain the preformed sealing strips 18.

The downwardly extending curvilinearly surfaced ribs or protuberances 36 and are also significant in retory entry and interconnection between the male and female marginally configurated elements comprising the metal-to-metal connections, as Well as insuring upwardly applied and resisting pressure of the male flange or tongue 32 in bearing contact against the underside of the shoulders 42, 68 and 108; and similar applied and resisting pressure of the male tongue 86 against the underside of the shoulder 42.

The assembled flooring or surfacing systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 have in both instances incorporated the preformed sealing strip 18 (FIG. 7). It will be understood and appreciated that conventional moldable type plastic sealing or caulking compounds may be substituted and installed in situ for the preformed sealing strip 18 without in any way departing from the intended scope of the invention.

The marginal edge interconnected panel assembly illustrated in FIG. 8 comprises two or more structural panels 124 having laterally spaced or separated outwardly or upwardly directed load-carrying surfaces 130 interconnected by channel configurations 128 providing downwardly or inwardly depressed web surfaces 132. It will be observed in this connection that the panels 124 are generally corrugated in transverse cross-section to provide alternate upwardly and downwardly directed parallel channel configurations 128 and 126, respectively, the webs 130 and 132 of which provide parallel spaced planar surfaces in more or less similar manner to the refrigerated vehicle cargo-supporting floor assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The opposite marginal edge portions or areas of each of the elongate panels 124, in the assembly of FIG. 8, are profiled or configurated in identical manner to the panel of FIG. 3 except in regard to the angular undercut recess 134, inwardly spaced from the male tongue or flange 136, into which the outermost end of the opposite marginal edge securing flange 138 of the female edge area of an adjacent panel extends on integrated marginal interlocking assembly of adjacent structural panels 124.

Assembly of the panels 124 follows the sequential order stipulated for the panels of FIG. 3, the female marginal edge extension 138 being in turn secured by a suitable fastener 140 to an underlying transverse structural supporting member 142 in the manner above described for the installations of FIGS. 1 and 2. also be observed on inspection of the integrated marginal joint of FIG. 8 that the interlocking marginal edges of the adjacent panels 124 provide the undercut re-entrant grooves 144 for receiving a resilient moisture-proofing sealing strip 146 selected in transverse cross-section in the same manner as strip 18 (FIG. 7), or if desired, an in situ moldable plastic sealing or caulking compound may be employed for this purpose.

FIG. 9 is illustrative of a further embodiment of integrated sheathed construction employing structural panels and joining practices falling within the scope of the invention. The structural elongate panels 150 in this embodiment provide outwardly or upwardly exposed fiat adjacent coplanar panel areas 152 supported over their transverse width by parallel spaced ribs or webs 154 terminating in a common plane in bearing flanges 156. Opposite parallel male and female marginal edges of each panel 150 are profiled or configurated in identical manner to that illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 8, with an undercutrecess 158 being preferred for receiving the outermost outwardly extending free end of the female marginal edge securing flange 160, similar to the mode of construction depicted in FIG. 8.

Erection and installation of the system of FIG. 9 follows precisely that described for the assemblies of FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, a transverse structural supporting member 162 and female marginal edge securing means It will 164 being employed and the re-entrant undercut grooves 166 overlying the interlocking marginal edges of adjacent panels being sealed against moisture by a preformed elastic sealing strip 168, or in situ applied moldable plastic caulking or sealing compound, in the same manner previously described for the integrated and assembled systems of FIGS. 1, 2 and 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a slight departure from the integrated interlocking marginal edge assembly shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 10 the marginal edge joint between adjacent outwardly facing flat surfaced panels 170 has been elevated from that disclosed in all of the integrated systems of the previously illustrated and described joint assemblies.

It will be observed in this connection that the outermost marginal web or rib 176, constituting the profiled or configurated female area or portion of a panel 170, terminates in an angularly disposed outwardly extended securing flange 172 in the plane of the bearing flanges 174 of the remaining rearwardly or downwardly extending ribs or webs 176. Elevated or spaced above the securing flange 172 a second outwardly extending foreshortened flange 178 is provided having an upwardly and outwardly extending inclined free terminal end or abutment 180. The outermost web or rib 176 is otherwise slightly thickened and profiled above the foreshortened extending flange 178 to provide therewith a flat outwardly facing boss surface 182, a subtending angularly undercut inwardly directed recess 184, and a further inwardly extending recess 186 therebelow to thereby constitute a female configuration substantially similar and analogous to that described and/or illustrated for the panels 10, 124 and 150.

The opposite marginal edge of a panel 170, constituting interlocking assembly between adjacent panels 170, is extended outwardly away from its most outwardly located rearwardly or downwardly extending rib or web 176 to provide a male profile or configuration in offset contiguous connection below the outwardly exposed flat surface of the panel. In this regard offset connection of the male configuration or profile includes an outwardly facing flat web surface 188 substantially normal to the exposed surface of the panel, a subtending angularly undercut recess 190, and an outwardly extending male tongue extension'or flange 192. The flange 192 is otherwise configurated to provide a rear inwardly directed thickness defining downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 194 complementary to the inclined female surface in bearing abutment therewith.

It will be observed that integrated assembly of adjacent panels in the system of FIG. 10 provides securement of the outwardly extending lowermost flange 172 of a panel 170 to an underlying transverse structural supporting member or members 202 by means of suitable fasteners 204, in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 9, the securing flange 172 being received within or beneath the angular undercut shoulder or recess 200 of an adjacent panel 170. Otherwise, the interlocking marginal edges of adjacent panels 170 provide the re-entrant channel or groove 206 for receiving a resilient preformed sealing strip 208, or in situ applied moldable plastic sealing or caulking compound, in the same manner as described for the previously illustrated interlocking panel structures. The main difference in the joint structure of FIG. 10, over the previously illustrated and described joints of the invention, lies in the provision therein of the elevated location of the interlocking joint thereof to position the sealing strip 208 with its upper or outwardly facing exposed surface substantially coplanar with the upper or outwardly facing fiat surfaces of adjacent panels 170.

It is significant to observe in respect to the several structural panels of the integrated assemblies of FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, as well as in respect to the edging strips and reversing key member (FIGS. 4, and 6) employed in the assemblies of FIGS. 1 and 2, that sheathed systems or panel areas have been provided which incorporate upwardly exposed moisture drainage channels particularly adaptable to application in the construction of refrigerator-cargcysupporting vehicle floors, as well as stationary deck surfaces, exposed to moisture and requiring drainage provision.

The outwardly facing fiat surfaced structural panels incorporated in the assemblies or systems of FIGS. 9 and 10, on the other hand, are broader in their application to sheathed structures in general provided with moisture sealed joints between the individual structural panels thereof, regardless of the end use of the integrated systems. For example, the systems or assemblies of FIGS. 9 and 10 are readily adaptable to floors or decks, walls and roofs, where it is essentialto insure against moisture penetration in the areas of joints between adjacent panels, regardless of the origin or cause of the moisture. In this respect the interlockingly joined and sealed systems of FIGS. 9 and 10 find ready use as flooring in dry freight carriers, where moisture seepage and penetration from the outside or underside of the flooring would be detrimental. The same condition could result in roof and wall construction, and any one or all of the panel structures providing the sealed joints of the invention could be employed to prevent egress or ingress of moisture through the joints incorporated therebetween, and prevent subsequent deterioration of adjacent joint areas as a result thereof, regardless of environmental end use of the improved structural panels and integrated joints of the invention.

Although five embodiments of integrated interlocking structural panels and moisture sealed joints there'between have been selected for purposes of describing and illustrating the benefits and advantages of the invention, it will be understood that the basic structural features there of are merely representative and not limiting of the scope and intent of the invention, except as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An elongate structural panel section of the character described for interlocking opposite marginal edge coplanar assembly with a similar adjacent section, said section having an axially extending uniform transverse cross-section comprising: 1

(a) an exposed surface and a parallel spaced supporting surface defining maximum thickness depth thereof,

(b) one marginal edge having a transverse profile comprising a laterally outwardly extending male tongue in offset connection below and parallel to the exposed surface,

(c) said offset connection of the male tongue defining an outwardly directed web surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly extending undercut groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder with the outwardly directed web surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting an adjacent parallel surface of the male tongue,

(d) the opposite marginal edge having an outwardly directed boss surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly directed undercut. groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder with the boss surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting a wall of a further inwardly directed recess below said undercut groove,

(e) an upstanding abutment carried by said last-mentioned marginal edge laterally outwardly disposed in respect to lateral axial coplanar inward entrance to the further inwardly directed recess,

(f) said outwardly directed boss surface and upstanding abutment forming a laterally outwardly open entrance female channel for angularly tilted entry and oscillation of said male tongue with said further inwardly directed recess into coplanar assembly between adjacent axially reversed similar sections and the upstanding abutment restricting lateral coplanar outward removal of the male tongue from the further inwardly directed recess, and

(g) said outwardly directed boss surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow respectively adapted to be in substantial coplanar lateral registration with the web surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow of a similar adjacent section to form'therebetween an outwardly open re-entrant recess adapted to receive a sealing material in coplanar interlocking assembly between adjacent opposite marginal edges of two similar sections.

2. An elongate structural panel section of the character described for interlocking opposite marginal edge coplanar assembly with a similar adjacent section, said section having an axially extending uniform transverse cross-section comprising:

(a) an exposed surface and a parallel spaced supporting surface defining maximum thickness depth thereof,

(b) one marginal edge having a transverse profile comprising a laterally extending knee Web and a further laterally extending male tongue offset below and in contiguous connections with the knee web,

(0) said knee web and male tongue being defined by opposite parallel surfaces in substantial parallelism with the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being confined within the maximum thickness depth therebetween,

(d) the offset contiguous connection between the knee web and male tongue defining an outwardly directed web surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly extending undercut groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder with the web surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting the adjacent parallel surface of the male tongue,

(e) the opposite marginal edge having an outwardly extending securing flange therefor in the plane of the supporting surface,

(f) said opposite marginal edge also having an outwardly directed boss surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly directed undercut groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder with the boss surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting a wall of a further inwardly directed recess below said undercut groove,

(g) an upstanding abutment carried by said outwardly extending securing flange laterally outwardly disposed in respect to lateral coplanar inward entrance to the further inwardly directed recess,

(h) said outwardly directed boss surface and upstanding abutment forming a laterally outwardly open entrance female channel for angularly tilted entry and oscillation of said male tongue within said further inwardly directed recess into coplanar assembly between adjacent axially reversed similar sections and the upstanding abutment restricting lateral coplanar outward removal of the male tongue from the further inwardly directed recess, and

(i) said outwardly directed boss surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow respectively adapted to be in substantial coplanar lateral registration with the web surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow of a similar adjacent section to form therebetween a re-entrant outwardly open recess adapted to receive a sealing material in coplanar interlocking assembly between adjacent opposite marginal edges of two similar sections.

3. An elongate structural panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the panel section between its opposite marginal edges comprises an exposed transversely uninterrupted flat surface area and the supporting surface therebelow comprises parallel spaced depending webs integral therewith.

4. An elongate structural panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the panel between its opposite marginal edges comprises alternate upwardly and downwardly directed parallel channel configurations in transverse crosssection the webs of which define the coplanar exposed and supporting surface areas respectively thereof.

5. An elongate structural panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the panel between its opposite marginal edges comprises in transverse cross-section a bottom fiat supporting surface and the exposed surface thereof is composed of upstanding parallel spaced coplanar T-section ribs.

6. An elongate structural panel section for interlocking oposite marginal edge coplanar assembly with a similar adjacent section, said section having an axially extending uniform transverse cross-section comprising:

(a) an exposed surface and a parallel spaced supporting surface defining maximum thickness depth thereof,

(b) one marginal edge having a laterally extending knee web and a further laterally extending male tongue offset below and in contiguous connection with the knee web,

(c) said knee web and male tongue being defined by opposite parallel surfaces in substantial parallelism with the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces, confined within the maximum thickness depth therebetween, and disposed below the exposed surface thereof,

(d) the offset contiguous connection between the knee web and male tongue defining an outwardly directed web surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly extending undercut groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder'with the web surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting the adjacent parallel surface of the male tongue,

(e) the opposite marginal edge having an integral outwardly extending securing flange therefor in the plane of the supporting surface,

(f) the opposite marginal edgehaving in addition an outwardly directed boss surface substantially normal to the parallel exposed and supporting surfaces and being subtended by an inwardly directed undercut groove forming a sharp inwardly directed shoulder with the boss surface and a contiguous angularly downwardly and outwardly inclined rear wall surface intersecting a wall of a further inwardly directed recess below said undercut groove,

(g) an upstanding abutment carried by said outwardly extending securing flange laterally outwardly disposed in respect to lateral coplanar inward entrance to the further inwardly directed recess,

(h) said outwardly directed boss surface and upstanding abutment forming a laterally outwardly open entrance female channel for angularly tilted entry and oscillation of said male tongue within said further inwardly directed recess into coplanar assembly between adjacent axially reversed similar sections and the upstanding abutment restricting lateral coplanar outward removal of the male tongue from the further inwardly directed recess, and p .(i) said outwardly directed boss surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow respectively adapted to be in substantial coplanar lateral registration with the web surface and inwardly directed angularly undercut groove therebelow of a similar adjacent section to form therebetween an outwardly open re-entrant recess adapted to receive a sealing material in coplanar interlocking assembly between adjacent opposite marginal edges of two similar sections.

7. An elongate structural panel section in accordance with claim 6 in which the undercut outwardly open reentrant recess adapted to be formed between adjacent opposite marginal edges of two similar sections is adapted to receive a preformed resilient sealing strip of substantially the same transverse cross-section as the re-entrant recess, I

8. An elongated panel section of uniform transverse cross-section over the axial length thereof and capable of providing one section in a contiguous marginal edge interlocking assembly of a plurality of sections to form a refrigerated cargo-supporting area, said transverse crosssection profile comprising:

(a) a base web supporting parallel spaced upstanding ribs normal to and terminating in a common plane above and parallel to a base web and providing axially extending open top air-conducting and drainage channels,

(b) the section along one of its axially extending marginal edges being profiled to provide a knee web extending normally outwardly from the most outwardly disposed adjacent upstanding rib intermediate the depth thereof,

(c) a downwardly projecting knee bend in the knee web presenting an outwardly directed fiat web surface,

(d) an angularly profiled inwardly directed angularly profiled groove below said flat web surface and an outwardly extending male tongue contiguous with the groove in a plane parallel to the base web and slightly above the same,

(e) the opposite marginal edge of the section being profiled to provide a coplanar outward extension of the base web beyond the most outwardly disposed upstanding rib adjacent thereto,

(f) said last-mentioned upstanding rib being locally thickened intermediate its depth to provide an outwardly projecting boss having an outwardly directed flat surface, an angularly profiled inwardly directed groove below said outwardly directed flat surface, and a second further inwardly directed groove below said first groove terminating in the plane of the outwardly extended base web,

(g) said outwardly directed fiat surfaces and angularly profiled inwardly directed grooves immediately below the same disposed at each side of the section being substantially dimensionally identical and elevationally coincident,

(h) an elevationally shorter rib carried by the extension of the base web outwardly disposed in respect to the second further inwardly directed groove and forming therewith an open top female channel,

(i) one such section adapted to be tilted to enter its male tongue through the open top female channel of an adjacent similar section in reverse axial disposition thereof and on oscillation from tilted to coplanar disposition of the two sections being adaptable to interlock the extreme outer edge of the male tongue within the further inwardly directed groove with the knee bend in outward abutment against the elevationally shorter rib,

(j) and said two sections being adapted to provide a downwardly open channel and subtending laterally outwardly directed re-entrant groove therebelow formed by the elevationally coincident flat surface areas and angularly profiled grooves therebelow respectively,

13 (k) and said downwardly open channel and subtending laterally outwardly directed re-entrant groove therebelow being adapted to receive an in situ plastic caulking compound for a laterally interlocked marginal joint between a pair of adjacent coplanar sections.

9. The elongated panel section according to claim 8 in which the downwardly offset knee bend is adapted to present an inclined surface complementary to an inclined surface carried by the shorter upstanding rib in effective lateral abutment therebetween.

10. The elongated panel section according to claim 8 in which the outwardly extending knee web is adapted to overlie the shorter upstanding rib of an adjacent interlocked panel section.

11. The elongated panel section according to claim 8 in which the male tongue carries a downwardly projected curvilinear rib on its underside adapted to provide a fulcrurn for oscillatory entry of the male tongue within the further inwardly directed groove of an adjacent section.

12. An elongate structural panel section of the character described according to claim 1 in which the outwardly open re-entrant recess adapted to be formed between two similar axially reversed sections is adapted to receive a preformed resilient sealing strip of substantially the same transverse cross-sectional configuration as the re-entrant recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ELONGATE STRUCTURAL PANEL SECTION OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR INTERLOCKING OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGE COPLANAR ASSEMBLY WITH A SIMILAR ADJACENT SECTION, SAID SECTION HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING UNIFORM TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION COMPRISING: (A) AN EXPOSED SURFACE AND A PARALLEL SPACED SUPPORTING SURFACE DEFINING A MAXIMUM THICKNESS DEPTH THEREOF, (B) ONE MARGINAL EDGE HAVING A TRANSVERSE PROFILE COMPRISING A LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING MALE TONGUE IN OFFSET CONNECTION BELOW AND PARALLEL TO THE EXPOSED SURFACE, (C) SAID OFFSET CONNECTION OF THE MALE TONGUE DEFINING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED WEB SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PARALLEL EXPOSED AND SUPPORTING SURFACES AND BEING SUBTENDED BY AN INWARDLY EXTENDING UNDERCUT GROOVE FORMING A SHARP INWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER WITH THE OUTWARDLY DIRECTED WEB SURFACE AND A CONTIGUOUS ANGULARLY DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED REAR WALL SURFACE INTERSECTING AN ADJACENT PARALLEL SURFACE OF THE MALE TONGUE, (D) THE OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED BOSS SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PARALLEL EXPOSED AND SUPPORTING SURFACES AND BEING SUBTENDED BY AN INWARDLY DIRECTED UNDERCUT GROOVE FORMING A SHARP INWARDLY DIRECTED SHOULDER WITH THE BOSS SURFACE AND A CONTIGUOUS ANGULARLY DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED REAR WALL SURFACE INTERSECTING A WALL OF A FURTHER INWARDLY DIRECTED RECESS BELOW SAID UNDERCUT GROOVE, (E) AN UPSTANDING ABUTMENT CARRIED BY SAID LAST-MENTIONED MARGINAL EDGE LATERALLY OUTWARDLY DISPOSED IN RESPECT TO LATERAL AXIAL COPLANAR INWARD ENTRANCE TO THE FURTHER INWARDLY DIRECTED RECESS, (F) SAID OUTWARDLY DIRECTED BOSS SURFACE AND UPSTANDING ABUTMENT FORMING A LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OPEN ENTRANCE FEMALE CHANNEL FOR ANGULARLY TILTED ENTRY AND OSCILLATION OF SAID MALE TONGUE WITH SAID FURTHER INWARDLY DIRECTED RECESS INTO COPLANAR ASSEMBLY BETWEEN ADJACENT AXIALLY REVERSED SIMILAR SECTIONS AND THE UPSTANDING ABUTMENT RESTRICTING LATERAL COPLANAR OUTWARD REMOVAL OF THE MALE TONGUE FROM THE FURTHER INWARDLY DIRECTED RECESS, AND (G) SAID OUTWARDLY DIRECTED BOSS SURFACE AND INWARDLY DIRECTED ANGULARLY UNDERCUT GROOVE THEREBELOW RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO BE IN SUBSTANTIAL COPLANAR LATERAL REGISTRATION WITH THE WEB SURFACE AND INWARDLY DIRECTED ANGULARLY UNDERCUT GROOVE THEREBELOW OF A SIMILAR ADJACENT SECTION TO FORM THEREBETWEEN AN OUTWARDLY OPEN RE-ENTRANT RECESS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SEALING MATERIAL IN COPLANAR INTERLOCKING ASSEMBLY BETWEEN ADJACENT OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGES OF TWO SIMILAR SECTIONS.

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