Panel for modular construction

• US 7,017,311 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chagim Nechalim Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chagim Nechalim Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Weiss, Nir
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/635,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 491/92, 491/93, 493/82, 522/201, 522/208, 522/42, 522/381, 522/39, 528/001, 528/001.2, 528/011.1, 522/70, 522/71, 522/881, 522/821, 522/823, 525/881, 525/861, 160/135, 160/351, 403/169, 403/170, 403/174, 403/178
• US Class Current: 52/271
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6125 with protrusions on the one frontal surface co-operating with recesses in the other frontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/125 Small buildings, arranged in other buildings E04H1/1272 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a panel for modular construction of partitions and walled structures, the panel having a top, a bottom, two major surfaces and two minor side surfaces, a first of the side surfaces being provided with a first profile and a second of the side surfaces being provided with a second profile, wherein the first profile and the second profile are provided with means for complementary engagement with a profile of an adjacently-positioned panel, and wherein each of the first profiles is provided with two inter-engagement means arranged at angle of about 90° to each other enabling the alternative inter-engagement of two adjacent panels with an angle of 180° therebetween, and at an angle of about 90° therebetween.

Claims

1. A panel system for modular construction of partitions and walled structures, said panel system having a plurality of panels, each of said panels having a top, a bottom, two major surfaces and two minor side surfaces, a first of said minor side surfaces being provided with an integral first profile and a second of said minor side surfaces being provided with an integral second profile, wherein each of said first profile and said second profile are provided with means for direct complementary engagement with a profile of an adjacently-positioned panel, and wherein said first profile is provided with two substantially identical inter-engagement means arranged at an angle of about 90°

to each other enabling direct inter-engagement of said first profile of a first panel with one or two respective second profiles of two adjacent second panels, the arrangement being such that upon inter-engagement between said first panel and one of said second panels an angle of 180°

is formed therebetween, and upon inter-engagement between said first panel and a second of said second panels an angle of about 90°

is formed therebetween.

2. The panel system for modular construction according to claim 1, wherein said profiles and the minor side surfaces to which they are respectively, integrally attached are substantially co-extensive in height.

3. The panel system for modular construction according to claim 1, wherein a first of the two substantially identical inter-engagement means of said first profile comprises a first curved recess and a second of the two substantially identical inter-engagement means of said first profile is provided with a second substantially identical curved recess and said second profile is provided with a curved extending elongated hook-like means for inserting into said first recess and inter-connection of adjacent panels at an angle of 180°

therebetween, and inserting into said second curved recess and inter connection of adjacent panels at an angle of about 90°

therebetween.

4. The panel system for partition construction including panels according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second profiles have open ends and wherein said system further comprises elastomer end plugs for fitting into the open ends of said first and said second profiles, a first end plug having upper projections and a second end plug having upper recesses matching said projections of said first end plug.

5. The panel system for partition construction including panels according to claim 1, further provided with flat bottom U-shaped elements sized to fit over said panel tops, to retain a pair of adjacent panels at an angle of 180°

therebetween.

6. The panel system for partition construction in according to claim 5, wherein a recess is provided in said flat bottom of said U-shaped element to allow passage for end plugs.

7. The panel system for partition construction including panels according to claim 1, further provided with a door panel having a top, a bottom, two major surfaces and two minor side surfaces hingedly suspended between an upper and lower horizontal beam members, and having four corner areas formed at the respective junctures of said top, bottom and minor side surfaces.

8. The panel system for partition construction including a door panel according to claim 7, wherein said door panel is provided with four retractable hinge pins one retractable hinge pin being proximate to each of the corners of said door panel, said hinge pins when deployed engaging bush elements held by said beam members, said door panel being hinged proximate to a first minor side surface of the door panel when only the hinge pins adjacent said first minor side surface are deployed, said door panel being hinged proximate to a second minor side surface of said door panel when only the hinge pins adjacent said second minor side surface are deployed, said door panel being locked when at least three hinge pins are deployed and being removable when all hinge pins are retracted.

9. The panel system for construction of a walled tabernacle booth structure including panels according to claim 1, further provided with wooden beams which are adapted to be laid in an array over said booth, said beams being supported by opposing panels.

10. The panel system for construction of a walled tabernacle booth structure according to claim 9, further provided with flat bottom U-shaped elements sized to fit over said panel tops to retain a pair of adjacent panels at an angle of 180°

therebetween, wherein a leg of said U-shaped element is extended to provide a support and to horizontally hold a wooden beam adjacent to and parallel to said panels at a level lower than said top of said panels.

11. The panel system for construction of a walled tabernacle booth structure according to claim 10, further provided with wooden beams which are adapted to be laid in an array over said wooden beams supported in said extended U-shaped elements located at opposing walls of said booth.

12. The panel system for construction of a walled tabernacle booth structure according to claim 11, wherein said wooden beams are notched at a lower surface adjacent to each wooden beam extremity, said notch being sized to engage said top of said panel.