AU782808B2 - Panel locking arrangement - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Stramit Corporation Limited 0V Actual Inventor(s): Christopher Lee Healy Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: PANEL LOCKING ARRANGEMENT Our Ref: 671877 POF Code: 237473/169406 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 2 PANEL LOCKING ARRANGEMENT The present application is a divisional of Australian patent application no. 52765/98, the contents of which are incorporated by cross reference.

The present invention relates generally to a cladding panel and has particular application to ribbed panels for roof or wall cladding. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader application and is not limited to that particular use.

Throughout the specification, the invention is described with reference to the panel oriented as external roof cladding. This however should not be construed as limiting the invention to that orientation. Accordingly, reference to a particular orientation is to be construed to include all other orientations.

Roof cladding systems incorporating panels which are typically made from metal, are well known. Panels used in these systems are typically produced using roll forming techniques and may include corrugations or upstanding ribs which extend in a longitudinal direction of the panel. To provide a structure of generally unitary appearance and function, the panels are often adapted to overlap at their overlapping edge regions.

In some arrangements, adjacent panels of these cladding systems are secured together at their overlapping regions by fasteners or the like which interconnect the adjacent panels. However, to facilitate installation of the panel, it is preferable if the adjacent panels are held together solely by interengagement of the adjacent edge regions. A problem with this latter arrangement is that the edge regions are susceptible to coming apart under high wind loading. This in turn may effect the function of the system such as causing leaking between adjacent panels or under more extreme conditions may cause failure of system by the panels lifting and peeling off from the underlying structure.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a panel with an improved locking arrangement for interconnecting the panel to like panels along its longitudinal edges.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a panel having spaced apart male and female longitudinal edge regions and including upper -om rni i ps urmonae Ga r-izpatricK vvea ii jui zvv) i):j);ii t~i rage J.L OT I/ 3 and lower major surfaces, the male and female edge regions being upstanding from the upper surface and the panel being arranged to be juxtaposed with another panel with the female edge region of one panel overlapping the male edge region of the other panel to form a longitudinal extending rib at the overlapping edge regions, the female edge region forming a rib part having opposed first and second side portions interconnected by a bridging portion, the first side portion extending upwardly from the upper surface of the panel and the second side portion extending downwardly from the bridging portion to the terminal end of the panel, the first side portion including a reentrant portion having nose portion which extends outwardly towards the second side portion and a recessed portion, and an upwardly facing abutment surface interconnecting said nose and recessed portions, the male edge region including a reentrant portion having an outwardly extending nose portion and a downwardly facing abutment surface, and a distal portion which extends outwardly from the re-entrant portion to the terminal end of the male edge region, wherein on engagement of the :15 panel with the other panel, the distal portion of the male edge region of the other panel locates within, and engages, the female edge region of the one panel to form a first connection, and the re-entrant portion of the male edge region locates on the re-entrant portion of the female edge region with the nose portion of the male edge region locating within the recessed portion of the female edge region to form a second 20 connection, and wherein the first and second connections cause the distal portion of the male edge region to be secured within the female edge region so as to inhibit the "re-entrant portions from moving out of engagement.

In a preferred form, a snap fit, or interference fit is provided on engagement of the male edge region with the female edge region. The advantage of this arrangement 25 is that providing a snap or interference fit ensures a tight connection between the panels. However, it should be appreciated that this resilient deformation does not fully maintain the edge regions in locking engagement as this is also provided by virtue of the orientation and configuration of the first and second connections.

WASXraWNC WORKRNC WORKV005RNC No D4elva 2 4o08om02 Sped page 13 Jidy O.00 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX'NO 6514] 1011 In a particularly preferred form, the first and second connections cause the distal portion to be under compression which biases the re-entrant portions into engagement.

In a particularly preferred form, the first connection is made on insertion of the male edge region into the female edge region when the panels are orientated in a mutually inclined position with an internal angle formed between the panels on the upper surface, and wherein the second connection is made to complete the interlocking of the panels, on movement of the panels from this mutually inclined position through an obtuse angle to a position where the panels are laterally adjacent.

This preferred form has substantial practical benefit. Interengagement between the edge regions does not rely solely on a snap fit engagement and therefore the interengagement is not solely reliant on the resilience of the panel material. By virtue of the position of the first and second connections and the locking action between the panels in the preferred form of the invention, the locking engagement between the edge regions may be provided without the need for substantial deformation of the panels.

Moreover, through this action, a more effective locking arrangement can be provided. Specifically, by having the connections spaced apart both laterally and vertically the interconnected panels can effectively form sections such as box sections or the like which exhibits inherent rigidity. This in turn, improves the resistance of interlocking engagement to wind loading. Furthermore, under high wind conditions, an uplift force induced on the panel may cause the panels to tend to bow outwardly. Under these conditions, interconnected panels according to the preferred form of the invention are well able to resist this loading as the panels are biased into tighter engagement. Moreover, the section formed by the interengaged panels may brace the edge regions to inhibit deformation under these loads.

Preferably on engagement of the panel with the other panel, the nose portion of the male edge region is caused to engage and move across the nose portion of the female edge region so as to cause at least one of either the male or female edge regions to resiliently deform whereafter on continued movement of the panels to move the respective re-entrant portions into full engagement and make the second connection, the or each deformed edge region is able to return at least partially to its natural state. In this arrangement, the respective nose portions resist release of the panels by movement of the panels from their fully engaged laterally adjacent position to a mutually inclined position.

In one form, the bridging portion is configured to received a fastener to secure the panel to a supporting structure with the head of the fastener being located within the female edge region. In this way the panel can be used either as wall cladding or as a suspended ceiling. Further, preferably when a panel is so secured by a fastener through the bridging portion, it is able to be connected to another panel with a male edge region of that other panel being sufficiently spaced from the bridging member to provide a clearance space to accommodate the head of the fastener within the engaged panel. In a particularly preferred form, the distal portion of the male edge region is arranged to extend across the bridging portion so that the fastener head is fully concealed within the engaged panels.

Preferably each of the male and female edge regions include a stiffening part which is located inboard of the respective re-entrant portion.

On engagement of the adjacent panels, these stiffening parts are operative to engage.

In one form, each of the male and female edge regions include a minor rib part located at a lower end of the respective stiffening parts.

Preferably the minor rib parts of the respective edge regions are adapted to move into abutting relationship on engagement of the second connection to form a downwardly facing channel in the lower surface of the panels at the overlapping edge region.

Preferably the panel includes at least one intermediate downwardly extending channel. Furthermore, preferably the profile of the intermediate channel is substantially the same as the profile of the channel formed at the overlapping edge region.

An advantage of this arrangement is that it provides a uniform appearance from the underside of the panel structure. This is desirable when the panel is used as a canopy or exposed roofing as may be the case -om mi I iip5 vrmonae ot t-1izpazricK vwea 1J Jul LVV? irijj~ll LDI rage i. or i./ 6 in patios, carports or the like or when used as wall cladding where the panels are fastened through the female edge regions.

A further advantage of the locking arrangement of the present invention is that the male and female edge region may be formed with few hidden angles. In view of the inter-relationship between the first and second connections, the panel does not solely rely on providing tightly formed sections to enable locking engagement between the panels as is the case in many previous systems. In this way, manufacture of those panels is simplified as compared to prior art systems.

Yet a further advantage of a preferred form of the present invention is that the first and second connections are located inboard from the terminal ends of the respective edge regions. As a consequence, the interengagement formed along the edge regions is not dependent on the feed width of the panel. Any variation in this feed length can be accommodated by varying the length of the second side portion of the female edge region or the length of the tail formed on the hook of the male edge 15 region. Neither of these are dimensional significant in the locking engagement of the first and second connections.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of interconnecting a plurality of the panels according to the first aspect, the method including the steps of: inserting the male edge region into the female edge region of another said 20 panel so that the distal end engages the female edge region to form a first connection, the panels being orientated in a mutually inclined position with an internal angle formed between the upper surfaces of the respective panels; and moving the panels from this mutually inclined position through an obtuse angle to a position where the panels are laterally adjacent such that the re-entrant 25 portion of the male edge region is received within the re-entrant portion of the female edge region of the other panel to form a second connection, wherein the first and second connections cause the distal portions of the male edge region [o be secured within WM.arolRNC WORCIRNO WORKW2005NC N Odta ZOtOO~4003 02 SOpe pas t3 July O.doc 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 6514] l 012 -om rnI Iiipb vr-muna ai ritzpa-LricJ wea ii jui 4vv D ;i;r tbi rage vi 7 the female edge region so as to inhibit the re-entrant portion from moving out of engagement.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of securing to a supporting structure a plurality of the panels according to the first aspect, the method including the steps of: securing a first panel to a supporting structure wherein at least one fastener is secured to the supporting structure through the bridging portion of the female edge region so that the head of the or each fastener is disposed within the femiale edge region; connecting another said panel to said secured panel by interconnecting the male edge region of the other panel within the female edge region of the first panel so that said male edge region is supported with said female edge region; and securing the other panel to the supporting structure by securing at least one 15 fastener to the supporting structure through the bridge portion of the female edge region of the other panel.

In yet a further aspect the present Invention relates to a panel in any of the forms described above when connected to an adjacent panel according to either of the above methods.

20 It will be convenient to hereinafter describe embodiments of the invention in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of these 0*o drawings in the related description is to be understood as not superseding the 0 generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

In the drawings: 25 Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a panel according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 1A Is an end view of the panel of Figure 1; Figure 2 is an end view of the panel of Figure 1 being interconnected to a like panel; Figure 2A is a detailed view to an enlarged scale of the interconnection between the panels of Figure 2; WSmraRNC WORIRNC WORK120U1RNC NO Dolste 20s1U48042 SpCI O( 13 July dO 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 6514] Z013 Figure 3 is an end view of the panels of Figure 2 interconnected together; Figure 3A is a detailed view of the interconnection between the panels in Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a profile of a panel according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is an end view of the panel of Figure 4 interconnected with a like panel and secured to an underlying structure; Figure 6 is an end view of the panel of Figure 4 interconnected with a like panel and secured to an overlying supporting structure; Figures 7A and 7B are detailed views of the interconnection of the panels of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a detailed view of the interconnection between the panels in Figure 6.

With reference to Figures 1 and 1A, a panel 10 is disclosed which is formed with a constant cross section and in continuous lengths typically by a roll forming operation. However, it is to be appreciated that the panel could be formed from other techniques known in the art such as by an extrusion or folding process. The panel in the illustrated form is adapted to form part of a cladding system for cladding roofs or the like. However, it will be appreciated that the panel has broader application and is not limited to that particular use.

The panel 10 includes an upper surface 11 and a lower surface 12 and incorporates longitudinal extending male and female edge regions (13 and 14 respectively). The edge regions extend upwardly from the plane of the panel on the upper surface 11. The panel 10 further includes a plurality of longitudinal extending minor ribs 15 upstanding from the upper surface 11 and pan sections 16 interspaced between the ribs. In the illustrated form, the panel 10 also includes a major rib 17 formed in a mid section of the panel Each of the ribs opens onto the lower surface 12 of the panel to form a plurality of downwardly extending longitudinal channels. It is to be appreciated that the configuration of the major surfaces of the panel may vary depending on its use. Specifically the panel may be formed with only the intermediate ribs or may be corrugated or the like. Furthermore, the -om rni i lips vrmonae at ri-zpatricv Reg 1i Jul 4VV2 12;52;11 C:11 rage 01U J.

9 number of ribs or corrugations may vary as may the profile of these elements.

The male edge region 13 includes a side portion 18 which incorporates first and second locking zones 19 and 20 respectively. These zones are regions where the male edge region contacts the female edge region of another panel to interconnect the panels as will be described in more detail below. The first locking zone 19 is formed proximate to the terminal end 21 of the panel and includes a convexly shaped arcuate region 22. In the illustrated form, the first locking zone is formed as part of an outwardly extending hook formed proximate to terminal end 21 and forms an upper edge of the male edge region 13. The arcuate region 22 is interconnected to the terminal end 21 by a tail portion 23.

The second locking zone 20 is located below and laterally outward Sfrom the first locking zone 19. The second locking zone is formed as an S15 inwardly stepped or re-entrant portion of the side portion 18 and includes nose portion 24 as well as first and second abutment surfaces (25, 26 respectively). The nose portion is arcuate and forms an outermost periphery of the panel whereas the first abutment surface faces downwardly and the second abutment surface 26 is located adjacent to and inward from the first 20 abutment surface 24 and faces outwardly. As best illustrated in Figures 1A, the side portion 19 of the male edge region 13 may be considered as incorporating a distal portion 27 that extends upwardly and inwardly from the nose portion 24 to the terminal end 21. The distal portion includes the first locking zone 19 and is disposed so that this locking zone is located over the panel The male edge region 13 also includes a longitudinal extending channel part 28 interconnecting the side portion 18 of the male edge region with an adjacent pan section 16. In the illustrated form, the profile of the channel part 28 is the same as one side of the minor ribs The female edge region 14 is generally in the shape of a rib part and incorporates opposed first and second side portions (29, 30) which are interconnected by a bridging portion 31. The female edge region 14 also incorporates first and second locking zones (32, 33 respectively) which in use 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 6514] 1I014 are co-operable with the locking zones of the male edge region of a like panel. Each of these female edge locking zones includes a recess (41, 38 respectively).

In the illustrated form, the bridging portion 31 is substantially parallel to the plane of the panel 10 whereas the second side portion 30 extends downwardly and inwardly from the bridging portion 31 to the terminal end 34 of the female edge region 14, such that an acute internal angle is formed between the bridging portion 31 and the second side portion 30. The recess 41 of the first locking zone 32 is located in the region of the juncture between the bridging portion 31 and the second portion The second locking zone 33 is formed as an outwardly extending step or re-entrant formed in the first portion 29 of the female edge region and includes first and second surfaces (35 and 36 respectively) which merge to form an outwardly extending nose portion 42. These surfaces form an engagement surface on which the male edge region of a like panel is arranged to move across on interconnection of like panels as will be described in more detail later. An intermediate portion 37 of the first side portion is located between the first and second locking zones and the recess 38 of the second locking zone is formed at the juncture between the intermediate portion 37 and the first abutment surface 35. With this arrangement, the female edge region forms a part enclosed section having an opening 40 which extends from the terminal end 34 to the outer edge of the nose portion 42.

The female edge region 14 also includes a longitudinal extending channel part 39 which interconnects the first side portion 29 of the female edge region with an adjacent pan section 16. In the illustrated form, the profile of the channel part 39 is a mirror image of the channel part 28 and is accordingly also the same as one side of the minor ribs Two panels of the type illustrated in Figure 1 are adapted to be interlocked together as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. To distinguish between these panels, one panel is designated 101 whereas the other panel is designated 10" with their respective parts being similarly designated.

The first panel 10' is arranged to be juxtaposed with the like second panel 10" with the female edge region 14" of panel 10" overlapping the male edge region 13' of the panel 101. The panels are adapted to interlock at these overlapping regions and moreover a longitudinal extending rib 40 is formed at this overlapping edge region as shown in Figure 3. This rib 40 is similar in profile to the major rib 17.

On installing the panels, the first panel 10' is located on the underlying structure 100 and is secured in place by fasteners (not shown) such as rivets or self tapping screws or the like located through the pan sections 16.

The second panel 10" is then positioned relative to the first panel with the female edge region 14" of the panel 10" located over the male edge region 13' such that the distal portion 27' male edge region 13' is inserted in the opening 40". Initially, the first locking zone 191 of the male edge region of panel 10' is engaged with the first locking zone 32" of the female edge region 14". To make this connection, the panels 101 and 10" are at a mutually inclined position with the female edge region 14" being hooked over the upper end of the distal portion 27'. This internal angle formed between the panel 10' and 10" in this mutually inclined position is dictated by the orientation of the intermediate portion 15' of the male edge region and the second side portion 30" of the female edge region. In this mutually inclined position, the second locking zones 20' and 33"1 are not engaged.

To complete the interlocking of the panels 10' and 10" at the overlapping edge region, the second panel 10" is rotated about the first locking zone 19', until the panels 10' and 10" move into a laterally adjacent position as illustrated in Figure 3.

This rotation of panel 10" causes the second locking zone 33" of panel 10 to move into engagement with the second locking zone 20 of panel 10'. Typically, this rotation of the panel 10" is achieved by the application of downward pressure on the outer corner of the female edge region 14" formed at the juncture of intermediate portion 37" and 31". This force causes the nose portion 241 to move across the surfaces 36" and and causes the angle formed at this corner to open thereby enabling the second locking zone 33" to move under the nose portion 24' of the male edge region 131 until the nose portion 241 moves into the recess 38". Furthermore, the first and second abutment surfaces (35" and 36") of panel 101 move into engagement with the corresponding first and second abutment surfaces 24 and 25') of panel 10'. Due to the dimensions of the male and female edge regions, the deformation of the female edge region 141 increasing the angle between the first side portion 29" and the bridging portion 31" produces an interference fit or snap fit between the panel 10' and the panel In this position, the panels 10' and 10" are interlocked by virtue of a first connection formed between the first locking zones 191 and 32" and a second connection formed by the inter-engagement of the second locking zones 20' and 33". Further the distal portion is secured within the female end region 14" by virtue of the first and second connections which inhibit the panels from coming apart. Moreover, with this inter-engagement, the edge region 131 and 14"11 interlock to form an enclosed section. Specifically, the section formed is a part box section which is diagonally braced. The female edge region 14" forms the part box whereas the distal portion 27' forms the diagonal bracing. The engagement between the sections is further improved by the inter-engagement of the respective outwardly facing abutment surfaces of the respective edge regions.

On interlocking of the panels 10' and 10", the channel part 39" is moved into abutting engagement with the channel part 28' such that a downwardly extending channel 43 is also formed at the overlapping edge region. In the illustrated form, the profile of the channel 43 is substantially the same as the profile of the intermediate channels 15' and The interlocking arrangement formed between the panel 10' and 10" at the overlapping edge region is well suited to withstand high loading.

Specifically, the first and second connections are co-operable to restrain the inter-engaged panels from relative movement both in an upward direction and in a lateral direction. Moreover, an enclosed section is formed on interengagement of the rib parts which by its inherent rigidity is well able to resist wind loading.

Figures 4 to 8 illustrate a panel 50 of a second embodiment of the present invention. As the panel 50 includes many of the features of the earlier embodiment 10, for convenience, like features have been given like reference numerals.

A primary difference in the panel 50 over the earlier embodiment 10 is that is that the respective second locking zones of the male and female edge regions (13 and 14 respectively) include a more pronounced re-entrant so as to form a more secure connection between the inter-engaged panels.

Specifically, the respective first abutments surfaces 26,36 are not perpendicular to the plane of the panel 50, but rather are inclined to that perpendicular. Similarly, the second abutment surfaces (25 and 35) are not parallel to the plane of the panel 50 but also are similarly inclined. As a result, the nose portion 24 of the male edge region 13 is more pronounced and the recess 38 in the female edge region is tighter.

In addition, the distal portion 27 of the male edge region 13 of panel 50 is formed with a kink so as to have a first part 51 and a second part 52 which are mutually inclined. The purpose of including this kinked region is to promote flexing of the distal portion 27 under compression to aid in installation of the panel as will be discussed in more detail below.

In the female edge region 14, the first and second side portions are configured so that they are angled towards the bridging portion 31. This has the effect of making the recess 38 tighter by making the angle between the surface 35 and the intermediate portion 37 at a more acute angle. In addition the second side portion 30 is extended so that the female edge region has the appearance of a more complete rib. Finally, the bridging portion 31 is not linear as in the earlier embodiment but rather is formed as a shallow rib.

Figure 5 illustrates the panel 50 interconnected with like panels and secured to an underlying structure 100. In a similar manner to the earlier embodiment, fasteners 101 are designed to be secured through the pan section 16 of the panel so as to secure the panel to the underlying structure 100.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative fixing arrangement for the panel In this arrangement, the panels are applied to the supporting structure 110 with the upper surface 11 facing the supporting structure 110 so that a fastener 101 can be located through the female edge region 14 and secured to the supporting structure through the bridging portion 31. In this arrangement, the lower surface 12 forms the exposed surface of the panel.

In the illustrated form of Figure 6, the supporting structure is located overhead with the panel being utilised as a suspended ceiling. However, it is to be appreciated that the panel 50 could equally be used as wall cladding where the supporting structure 110 is disposed generally vertically.

The panel 50 is able to be interconnected to an adjacent panel in a similar method as that described in relation to the earlier embodiment where the female edge region 14 is hooked over the male edge region of a previously secured sheet.

Alternatively, when the panel is operative to be secured to a supporting structure 110 by fasteners applied through the bridging portion 31, a slightly different coupling technique is utilised. This is illustrated in Figure 7A and 7B. To distinguish between the panels, one panel was designated 501 and the other panel is designated 50" with their respective parts being similarly designated.

The first panel 50' is secured to the supporting structure 110. This method of securement includes passing a fastener 101 through the bridging portion 31'.

To interconnect the second panel 501, the distal end 271 is located within the female edge region 14' with its outer end 22" locating between the fastener 101 and the second side portion 301. In this position the panels and 50" are in mutually inclined positions. The panel 50" is then rotated causing the nose portion 24" of the male edge region 131 to ride over the nose portion 42' of the female edge region until the nose portion 40" locates within the recess 38' in the position as illustrated in Figure 7B.

To enable the above movement to occur the panels 501 and 501 are caused to deform. Specifically, the distal portion 27" is caused to flex at its kinked region between parts 511 and 52" as it is placed under compression.

When the panel 50" moves into a laterally adjacent position with the panel the panels the panels are allowed to return at least partially to their natural state. However, preferably the distal portion 27 is maintained under compression to bias the nose portion 24" into tighter engagement with the recess 311.

As best illustrated in Figure 8, when a panel 50" is engaged with a panel 50', the male edge region 13" is fully supported within the female edge region 14'. A first connection is formed with the engagement of the upper end 22" of the distal portion 27" within the female edge region 14', and a second connection is formed by inter-engagement of the respective reentrant portions of the male and female edge regions with the nose portion 24" of the male edge region 13" locating tightly within the recess 38'.

A further connection is formed on engagement of the respective second surfaces 36' and 26". In addition, as best illustrated in Figure 8, when the panel 50' is secured by fasteners located through the bridging portion 31', the distal portion 27" of the male edge region encloses the head of fasteners 101 so that the fastener is fully concealed within the inter-engaged panels.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. A panel having spaced apart male and female longitudinal edge regions and including upper and-lower major surfaces, the male and female edge regions being upstanding from the upper surface and the panel being arranged to be juxtaposed with another panel with the female edge region of one panel overlapping the male edge region of the other panel to form a longitudinal extending rib at the overlapping edge regions, the female edge region forming a rib part having opposed firs and second side portions interconnected by a bridging portion, the first side portion extending upwardly from the upper surface of the panel and the second side portion extending downwardly from the bridging portion to the terminal end of the panel, the first side portion including a re-entrant portion having a nose portion which extends outwardly towards the second side portion and a recessed portion, and an upwardly facing abutment surface 15 interconnecting said nose and recessed portions, the male edge region including a re-entrant portion having an outwardly extending nose portion and a downwardly facing abutment surface, and a distal portion which extends outwardly from the re-entrant portion to the terminal end of the male edge region. 20 wherein on engagement of the panel with the other panel, the distal portion of the male edge region of the other panel locates within, and engages, the female edge region of the one panel to form a first connection, and the re-entrant portion of the male edge region locates on the re-entrant portion of the female edge region with the nose portion of the male edge region locating within the recessed portion of the female edge 25 region to form a second connection, and wherein the first and second connections cause the distal portion of the male edge region to be secured within the female edge region so as to inhibit the re-entrant portions from moving out of engagement.

2. A cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein on engagement of the panel with the other panel, the nose portion of the male edge region is caused to engage and move across the nose portion of the female edge region so as to cause at least one of either said male or female edge regions WmVnarOWORKV4UaB-02. 3t July 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 6514] a015 to resiliently deform whereafter on continued movement of the panels to move the respective re-entrant portions into full engagement and make said second connection, the or each deformed edge region is able to return at least partially to its natural state.

3. A panel according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second connections cause the distal portion to be under compression which biases the re-entrant portions into engagement.

4. A cladding panel according to any preceding claim, wherein said bridging portion is configured to receive a fastener to secure said panel to a supporting structure with the head of the fastener being located within said female edge region, and wherein the panel when so secured is able to be connected to the other said panel with the male edge region of the other panel being sufficiently spaced from said bridging member to provide a clearance space to accommodate the head of said fastener within the engaged panels. A cladding panel according to claim 4, wherein when the panels are engaged, the distal portion of the male edge region extends across said bridging portion so that said fastener head is concealed.

6. A cladding panel according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal portion of the male edge region includes first and second mutually inclined parts to facilitate flexure of said distal portion when under compression.

7. A cladding panel according to any preceding claim, wherein on engagement of the panels, said distal portion of the male edge region is operative to locate within the juncture between the bridging portion and the second side portion of the female edge region to form said first connection.

8. A cladding panel according to any preceding claim, wherein said upper extremity of the distal portion of the male edge region is operative to engage the female edge region of another said panel to form said first connection.

9. A cladding panel according to claim 8, wherein the male edge region is turned over adjacent its terminal end to form an arcuate surface at its upper extremity. -um rni i iip vrmonae ai riLZp4rGKv J VweU L J U 4VV ID 1 D 1 LD raye J. ui j./ 18 A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein the male and female edge regions each include an upwardly extending stiffening part inwardly of their respective re-entrant portions, and wherein on engagement of the panel with another said panel, the stiffening parts are adapted to move into abutting relationship.

11. A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein the male and female edge regions include a rib part and wherein on engagement of the panel with another said panel, tho rib parts of the respective edge regions are adapted to move into abutting relationship to thereby form a downwardly facing channel in the lower surface of the panels at said overlapping edge regions.

12. A panel according to claim 11, further including at least one downwardly extending channel located intermediate the male and female edge regions, the downwardly extending channel having a profile which is substantially the same as the profile of the channel formed at the overlapping edge region on engagement of the panel with said other panel. 15 13. A method of interconnecting in edge to edge relationship a plurality of panels according to claim 1, each panel having spaced apart male and female longitudinal edge regions, which upstand from an upper major surface of the panel, the male edge region including a re-entrant portion and a distal portion which extends from the re- entrant portion to its terminal end, the female edge region forming a part enclosed 20 section having a re-entrant portion on one of opposing side walls of said part enclosed section, the method including the steps of: inserting the male edge region into the female edge region of another said panel so that the distal end engages the female edge region to form a first connection, and panels being orientated in a mutually inclined position with an 25 internal angle formed between the upper surfaces of the respective panels; and moving the panels from this mutually inclined posiion through an obtuse angle to a position where the panels are laterally adjacent such that the re-entrant portion of the male edge region is received within the re-entrant portion of the female edge region of the other panel to form a second connection, wherein said first and second connections cause the distal portion of the male edge region to be secured within the female edge region so as to inhibit the re- entrant portions from moving out of engagement.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the re-entrant portion of the male and female edge regions each include an outwardly extending nose portion, and wherein when the panels are moved to their laterally adjacent position, the nose portion of the male edge region is caused to engage and move across the nose portion of the female edge region of the other panel to cause at least one of either the male or female edge W:\PWi1AWORK)40UI0)m I JuIy 0S.3Ac 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 6514] l016 -om rni i i ipz vrmonae ritzpatricJ Yvea ii jui Lvv2 i2;3D;ii t~i rage iL QT A/ 19 regions to deform and whereafter on continued movement to their laterally adjacent position where the re-entrant portions are fully engaged so as to form the second connection, the or each of the male and female edge regions is operative to return at least partially to its natural state.

15. A method according to either claim 13 or 14, wherein when in their laterally adjacent position, the first and second connections cause the distal portion to be under compression which biases the re-entrant portions into engagement.

16. A method of securing to a supporting structure a plurality of panels according to claim 1, each panel having spaced apart male and female longitudinal edge regions upstanding from a major surface of said panel, the female edge region being formed as a rib part having opposite side portions and a bridging portion interconnecting said side portions, the method including the .steps of: S* securing a first panel to a supporting structure wherein at least one fastener is secured to the supporting structure through the bridging portion of the female 15 edge region so that the head of the fastener is disposed within the female edge region; connecting another said panel to said secured panel by interconnecting the male edge region of the other panel within the female edge region of the first panei so that said maie edge. region is supported within said femaie edge 20 region; and WmlaWORK4 13 Ju 0 13/07 2005 WED 15:32 [TX/RX NO 8514] 1017 securing the other panel to the supporting structure by securing at least one fastener to the supporting structure through the bridge portion of the female edge region of said other panel.

17. A panel when secured to another said panel by a method according to any one claims 13 to 16.

18. A panel substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3A.

19. A panel substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. Dated: 21 June, 202 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED