Insulating panel system, panels and connectors therefor

• US 5,062,250 A
• Filed: 02/27/1990
• Issued: 11/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metal Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metal Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Buzzella, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US07/485,560
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 52/404, 52/461, 52/464, 52/467, 52/468, 52/471, 52/397, 52/580, 52/581, 52/584, 52/466
• US Class Current: 52/586.2
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7411 Details for fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/292 composed of insulating material and sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2003/3617 with locking or snapping edges located in the thickness of the slab or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/352 at least one insulating layer being located between non-insulating layers, e.g. double skin slabs or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/358 with at least one of the layers being offset with respect to another layer
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/362 by locking the edge of one slab or sheet within the profiled marginal portion of the adjacent slab or sheet, e.g. using separate connecting elements

Abstract

An insulating panel system, for roof or wall use, includes adjacent insulating panels joined by a connector. The panels include first and second skins adjacent and in contact with opposite faces of an insulating foam core. The first and second skins each terminate in an elongated C-shaped edge. A connector for joining adjacent panels includes an elongated T-shaped channel and an elongated I-shaped channel, for receiving the C-shaped elongated edges of the first and second skins of adjacent panels, and a sheet member joining the T-shaped channel and the I-shaped channel. The foam core is cut away around the C-shaped elongated edges and the remainder of the foam core abuts the sheet member of the connector when the panels are joined. The I-shaped channel and the T-shaped channel each terminates in an elongated lip for retaining the C-shaped elongated edges of the first and second skins. Alternatively both channels may be T-shaped or both channels may be I-shaped. The panels are in snapping or sliding engagement with the connector.

Claims

1. An insulating panel system comprising:

panel means for insulating, said panel means comprising a skin adjacent and in contact with a first face of an insulating foam core and a second skin adjacent and in contact with a second face of said insulating foam core opposite said first face, said first skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge and said second skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge, wherein portions of said foam core are cut away around said elongated C-shaped edges of said first and second skins, and wherein a plurality of said panel means are joined in adjacent relationship to form said insulating panel system; and

connecting means for joining said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin and said second skin of each of panel means to be joined in adjacent relationship, said connecting means comprising first channel means for receiving said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin of adjacent panel means to be joined, and a sheet member joining said first channel means and said second channel means, wherein at least one of said first and second channel means comprises lip means for retaining elongated edges of outer skins of panels to be joined, and wherein a portion of the foam core of each panel means substantially abuts said sheet member.

2. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first channel means is T-shaped and said second channel means is I-shaped.

3. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second channel means are T-shaped.

4. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second channel means are I-shaped.

5. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second channel means comprise arm portions terminating in elongated lip means for retaining said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin and said second skin.

6. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said foam core comprises polystyrene.

7. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises extruded plastic.

8. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises metal.

9. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first skin comprises metal sheet material.

10. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first skin comprises drywall.

11. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said second skin comprises metal sheet material.

12. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said first skin and said second skin each comprise aluminum sheet material.

13. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said panel means is in snapping engagement with said connecting means.

14. An insulating panel system according to claim 1 wherein said panel means is in sliding engagement with said connecting means.

15. An insulating panel system comprising:

first and second panel means for insulating, each of said panel means comprising a first skin adjacent and in contact with a first face of an insulating polystyrene foam core and a second skin adjacent and in contact with a second face of said insulating polystyrene foam core opposite said first face, said first skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge and said second skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge, wherein said foam core is cut away around said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin and said second skin; and

extruded plastic connecting means for joining said C-shaped elongated edges of said first and second skins of said first and second panel means to be joined, said connecting means comprising first channel means for receiving said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin of said first and second panel means to be joined and second channel means for receiving said C-shaped elongated edges of said second skin of said first and second panel means, wherein said first and second channel means comprise arm portions terminating in elongated lip means for retaining said C-shaped elongated edges of said first skin and said second skin, and a sheet member joining said first channel means and said second channel means, wherein a portion of the foam core of said first and second panel means substantially abuts each side

16. An insulating panel comprising a first skin adjacent and in contact with a first face of an insulating foam core and a second skin adjacent and in contact with a second face of said insulating foam core opposite said first face, said first skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge and said second skin terminating in an elongated C-shaped edge, wherein an end face of said foam core is substantially coplanar with end faces of said C-shaped edges of said first and second skins, and said foam core is cut away around said elongated C-shaped edges of said first and second skins.

17. A connector for joining insulating panels having a foam core positioned between a first skin and a second skin on opposite sides of the foam core, said connector comprising first channel means for receiving elongated edges of the first skin of panels to be joined together by the connector and second channel means for receiving elongated edges of the second skin of said panels, and a sheet member joining said first channel means and said second channel means wherein at least one of said first and second channel means comprises lip means for retaining elongated edges of outer skins of panels to be joined, and wherein a portion of the foam core of adjacent panels abuts each side of said sheet member.

18. A connector according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second channel means is substantially T-shaped.

19. A connector according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second channel means is substantially I-shaped.