Compressible structural panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A compressible structural panel comprising in combination:
- at least one outer sheet of material having an inner and outer face, and a plurality of independent resilient and compressible dividers that in a resting condition are fully expanded and secured to and protrude from said inner face, said dividers being made from strips of material having fibers embedded in resin which strips have been creased without using heat and without damaging many, if any, of the fibers so that a spring force is retained in the strips which are folded to form the dividers, said material further being inherently capable of moving said dividers from a fully compressed to said fully expanded rest condition, said panel further including connector means for securing said dividers together at locations distal from said outer sheet, and wherein said dividers are made from independent sheets of semi-rigid but foldable material, said independent sheets being folded so as to define flaps that are securable to said outer sheet and said connector means and a pair of partitions extending between said flaps, said partitions being collapsible.
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Abstract
A structural panel for use in building structures or in the formation, finish or decoration thereof includes an outer sheet and a connector sheet with a plurality of collapsible or compressible dividers therebetween. The panel in a rest condition is expanded and of a desired thickness for final use but can be compressed into a relatively thin thickness or profile for shipping purposes. The panel is very lightweight but structurally strong and can be selectively bent in one transverse direction if desired. The panel can be easily cut or formed into any predetermined size or shape.
138 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A compressible structural panel comprising in combination:
at least one outer sheet of material having an inner and outer face, and a plurality of independent resilient and compressible dividers that in a resting condition are fully expanded and secured to and protrude from said inner face, said dividers being made from strips of material having fibers embedded in resin which strips have been creased without using heat and without damaging many, if any, of the fibers so that a spring force is retained in the strips which are folded to form the dividers, said material further being inherently capable of moving said dividers from a fully compressed to said fully expanded rest condition, said panel further including connector means for securing said dividers together at locations distal from said outer sheet, and wherein said dividers are made from independent sheets of semi-rigid but foldable material, said independent sheets being folded so as to define flaps that are securable to said outer sheet and said connector means and a pair of partitions extending between said flaps, said partitions being collapsible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A compressible structural panel comprising in combination:
at least one outer sheet of material having an inner and outer face, and a plurality of independent resilient and compressible dividers that in a resting condition are fully expanded and secured to and protrude from said inner face, said dividers being made from strips of material having fibers embedded in resin which strips have been creased without using heat and without damaging many, if any, of the fibers so that a spring force is retained in the strips which are folded to form the dividers, said material further being inherently capable of moving said dividers from a fully compressed to said fully expanded rest condition, said panel further including connector means for securing said dividers together at locations distal from said outer sheet and wherein said connector means include a plurality of flexible but not extensible strands interconnecting said dividers.
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25. A compressible structural panel comprising in combination:
- at least one outer sheet of material having an inner and outer face, a plurality of independent resilient and compressible dividers that in a resting condition are fully expanded and secured to and protrude from said inner face, and connector means for securing said dividers together at locations distal from said outer sheet, said dividers being made from strips of material having fibers embedded in resin which strips have been creased without using heat and without damaging many, if any, of the fibers so that a spring force is retained in the strips which are folded to form the dividers, said material further being inherently capable of moving said dividers from a fully-compressed to said fully expanded rest condition.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
Specification