Interconnecting plate system and method and structures formed therewith

• US 6,505,451 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Ksajikian
• Original Assignee: George Ksajikian
• Inventors: Ksajikian, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORSEY, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/598,587
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 525/18, 525/43, 525/19, 525/28, 525/36, 525/39, 525/45, 525/46, 525/47, 525/22, 525/29
• US Class Current: 52/518
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 1/00 Roof covering by making use of tiles, slates, shingles, or other small roofing elements roofing supports or underlayers E04D12/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 1/125 Diamond shaped elements specially adapted for being installed in diagonal lines
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 1/18 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 1/34 Fastenings for attaching roof-covering elements to the supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2001/3414 Metal strips or sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2001/3458 on the upper or lower transverse edges of the roof covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2001/3476 the fastening means taking hold directly on adjacent elements of the same row and fastening them simultaneously to the roof structure

Abstract

Systems and methods of connecting plates form structures such as roof coverings, awnings, wall coverings, floor coverings, ceiling coverings, decorative sculptures and the like. Each plate is configured to connect to at least one adjacent plate to form a structure of interconnected plates. Fastening surfaces are provided for securing the structure of interconnected plates to a further structure, such as a roof, a wall or framework of, for example, a window or door awning. Each plate has edges that are folded over toward opposing sides of the plate. The folded-over edges form channels on opposite facing sides of the plate which receive folded-over edges of other plates to. connect the plates together in a structure of interconnected plates. The plates may be rectangular, square, trapezoidal or triangle shaped.

Claims

1. A building system comprising:

a first group of generally triangular shaped plates, each plate having first and second opposite facing surfaces, a first edge folded-over toward the first surface and two second edges folded-over toward the second surface, wherein the first and second folded-over edges define first and second channels, respectively;

wherein each given plate in the first group is configured to connect with any other plate in the first group by interlocking a second folded-over edge of the given plate with a second folded-over edge of the other plate such that a portion of the second folded-over edge of the given plate is received in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the other plate, and a portion of the second folded-over edge of the other plate is received in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the given plate; and

wherein the first and second channels are dimensioned to provide a friction fit between the folded-over edge of the plates upon receipt of the folded-over edges within the channels.

2. A building system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plates in the first group includes a fastening surface located adjacent a comer between the two second folded-over edges of the plate, for engaging a fastening device.

3. A building system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a fastening surface located adjacent a comer between the two second folded-over edges of at least one of the plates in the first group; and

a fastening device for engaging the fastening surface.

4. A building system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second group of plates, each plate in the second group having first and second opposite facing surfaces, a first edge folded-over toward the first surface and two second edges folded-over toward the second surface, wherein the first and second folded-over edges define first and second channels, respectively;

wherein each given plate in the second group is configured to connect with any other plate in the second group by interlocking a second folded-over edge of the given plate with a second folded over edge of the other plate such that a portion of the second folded-over edge of the given plate is received in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the other plate, and a portion of the second folded-over edge of the other plate is received in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the given plate;

wherein each given plate in the second group is configured to connect with any given plate in the first group by interlocking the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the second group with the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the first group, such that a portion of the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the first group is received in the channel defined by the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the second group, and a portion of the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the second group is received in the channel defined by the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the first group; and

wherein the first and second channels are dimensioned to provide a friction fit between the folded-over edge of the plates upon receipt of the folded-over edges within the channels.

5. A building system as recited in claim 4, wherein each plate in the second group of plates is generally triangular shaped.

6. A building system as recited in claim 4, wherein a plurality of the plates in the first and second groups each include a fastening surface located adjacent a corner between the two second folded-over edges of the plate, for engaging a fastening device.

13. A building system as recited in claim 1, wherein upon a given plate in the first group being connected with said other plate in the first group, the apex of the given plate is directed opposite to the apex of said connected other plate.

7. A building process comprising:

providing a first group of generally triangular shaped plates, each plate having first and second opposite facing surfaces, a first edge folded-over toward the first surface and two second edges folded-over toward the second surface, wherein the first and second folded-over edges define first and second channels, respectively;

connecting each given plate in the first group with another plate in the first group by receiving a portion of the second folded-over edge of the given plate in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the other plate, while receiving a portion of the second folded-over edge of the other plate in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the given plate; and

wherein the first and second channels are dimensioned to provide a friction fit between the folded-over edge of the plates upon receipt of the folded-over edges within the channels.

8. A building process as recited in claim 7, wherein the process further comprises engaging a fastening device with a fastening surface located adjacent a corner between the two second folded-over edges of the plate of at least one of the plates in the first group.

9. A building process as recited in claim 7, wherein the process further comprises fastening at least one of the plates of the first group to a at least one of a roof, frame or wall, with at least one fastening device engaged with a fastening surface located adjacent a corner between the two second folded-over edges of the at least one plate.

10. A building process as recited in claim 7, wherein the process further comprises:

providing a second group of plates, each plate in the second group having first and second opposite facing surfaces, a first edge folded-over toward the first surface and two second edges folded-over toward the second surface, wherein the first and second folded-over edges define first and second channels, respectively;

connecting each given plate in the second group with another plate in the second group by receiving a portion of the second folded-over edge of the given plate in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the other plate, while receiving a portion of the second folded-over edge of the other plate in the channel defined by the second folded-over edge of the given plate; and

connecting each given plate in the second group with a given plate in the first group by receiving a portion of the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the first group in the channel defined by the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the second group, while receiving a portion of the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the second group in the channel defined by the first folded-over edge of the given plate in the first group;

wherein the first and second channels are dimensioned to provide a friction fit between the folded-over edge of the plates upon receipt of the folded-over edges within the channels.

11. A building process as recited in claim 10, wherein each plate in the second group of plates is generally triangular shaped.

12. A structure of plates made according to the process of claim 7.

14. A building system as recited in claim 7, wherein upon connecting a given plate in the first group with said other plate in the first group, the apex of the given plate is directed opposite to the apex of said connected other plate.