IE80714B1 - A panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel 1, particularly a transparent roof panel, comprises a profiled outer skin 2 and a profiled inner skin 3. Blocks 4 of insulating material extend transversely between the skins 2, 3. Strips 5 of insulating material extend longitudinally between the inner and outer skins 2, 3 to provide a thermal break. As the thermal insulating strips 5 extend along the full length of the panel 1, fixings 25 may be inserted at any desired location to fix the panel 1 to supports 20 .

Description

“A panel” The invention relates to a panel of the type comprising a profiled outer skin, a profiled inner skin, and a spacer means between the inner and outer skins.

Panels of this type are known. One of the problems with such known panels, however, is that because of the need to retain the integrity of a thermal barrier between the inner and outer skins, the manner in which the panels may be mounted is limited. More particularly, the position of the mounting must generally be predetermined and the panel manufactured for mounting at fixed predetermined locations.

This invention is directed towards providing an improved panel which will overcome this difficulty.

According to the invention there is provided: a profiled outer skin; a profiled inner skin; the profiles of the inner and outer skins extending generally parallel and having longitudinally extending surfaces which engage to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending mating portions for receiving a fixing means to fix the panel to a support; each mating portion having a thermal break extending longitudinally between the mating surfaces on the inner and outer skins; and a spacer means separate from the thermal break and extending transversely between the inner and outer skins. -2This arrangement facilitates the mounting of the panel at any desired location. The location of the mounting does not have to be predetermined. This allows for considerable flexibility in manufacture as the panels may now be manufactured to a standard length regardless of the mounting requirements for mounting the panel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the thermal break comprises a strip of insulating material extending longitudinally along the panel between a mating portion of the inner and outer skins. Preferably, for ease of manufacture of the panel, the strip of insulating material has adhesive on both sides thereof.

A thermal break of this type ensures the integrity of the insulation while providing flexibility for mounting the panel in position on a support.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the mating portions are directed inwardly of the panel and comprise a raised longitudinally extending castellated portion on one of the outer and inner skins, and a mating recessed portion on the other of the inner and outer skins. Preferably, the castellated portion is provided on the inner skin. This arrangement facilitates assembly and mounting of the panel in use.

To ensure integrity of the insulation, thermal breaking insulating strips extend longitudinally between each of the mating portions of the inner and outer skins.

In one arrangement, the spacer means includes a block of insulating material extending transversely between the inner and outer skins. The block may be of polyurethane foam. Usually, there are at least two blocks of insulating material which are longitudinally spaced-apart along the -3panel. This ensures that the panel has structural strength while providing insulation between the inner and outer skins.

In one embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer skins are of translucent material such as glass reinforced plastic. This allows the panels to be used, for example, as a roof light in part of a roofing structure.

The invention also provides a roofing structure including at least one panel of the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention in use; Fig. 2 is a view on the line II - II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line ΠΙ-III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of part of the panel; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a spacer block forming part of the panel; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of part of an insulating strip forming part of the panel.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a panel according to the invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The panel 1 comprises a profiled outer skin 2 and a profiled inner skin 3 which are spaced-apart. Spacer -4means between the inner and outer skins 2, 3 is provided by a pair of spaced-apart blocks 4 of insulating material extending transversely between the outer and inner skins 2, 3. The blocks 4 are typically of polyurethane foam, are spaced-apart longitudinally, and may be provided adjacent the ends of the panel as illustrated or indeed at any suitable location in the panel. Strips 5 of insulated material extend longitudinally along the panel 1 between the inner and outer skins 2, 3 to provide a thermal break. For ease of manufacture of the panel, the strips 5 are of foam material with adhesive on both sides. io In more detail, the inner skin 3 includes raised castellated portions 10. Similarly, the outer skin 2 includes raised castellated portions 11 and recess portions 12 which extend to face the raised castellated portions 10 of the inner skin 3 to sandwich the insulating strips 5 therebetween.

In use, the panel is fixed in position on supports 20 by fixings 25 (see particularly Fig. 3) which extend through the inner and outer skins 2, 3 at the mating surfaces defined by the recess portion 12 of the upper skin 2 and a castellated portion 10 of the lower skin 3. Because a thermal barrier in the form of an insulating strip 5 extends longitudinally along the full length of the panel, the fixings 25 may be inserted at any desired location in the panel. In this way, there is complete flexibility in the manufacture and installation of the panels of the invention. The panels do not have to be made to a predetermined length to suit a desired span between supports but can be made in standard lengths and cut to size, as required.

Typically, the inner and outer skins 2, 3 are of translucent material such as glass reinforced plastic and the panel, in use, forms a roof light. It will be noted that the longitudinal lines provided by the foam strips 5 in the roof light where the inner and outer skins are bonded together provides an aesthetically pleasing striped effect. There are no broad band internal fillers extending transversely across the panel. -5The panel may be readily manufactured by first manufacturing a lower inner sheet 3 of translucent material, applying foam insulating strips 5 to the raised castellated portions 10 of the lower inner sheet 3, fitting the transverse insulating spacers 4 and then applying the upper outer skin 2. The panels may have step portions at the side and one end thereof to facilitate mating engagement with the transversely and longitudinally adjacent similar panels.

Many variations on the specific embodiment of the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments io hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

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Claims (13)

1. A panel comprising: a profiled outer skin; a profiled inner skin; the profiles of the inner and outer skins extending generally parallel and having longitudinally extending surfaces which engage to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending mating portions for receiving a fixing means to fix the panel to a support; each mating portion having a thermal break extending longitudinally between the mating surfaces on the inner and outer skins; and a spacer means separate from the thermal break and extending transversely between the inner and outer skins.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thermal break comprises a strip of insulating material extending longitudinally along the panel between a mating portion of the inner and outer skins.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strip of insulating material has adhesive on both sides thereof.

4. A panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein each of the mating portions are directed inwardly of the panel and comprise a raised longitudinally extending castellated portion on one of the outer and inner skins, and a mating recessed portion on the other of the inner and outer skins. -75. A panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the castellated portion is provided on the inner skin.

5. 6. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein thermal breaking insulating strips extend longitudinally between each of the mating portions of the inner and outer skins.

6. 7. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spacer means includes a block of insulating material extending transversely between the inner and outer skins.

7. 8. A panel as claimed in claim 7 wherein the block is of polyurethane foam material.

8. 9. A panel as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the spacer means includes at least two blocks of insulating material which are longitudinally spacedapart along the panel.

9. 10. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner and outer skins are of translucent material.

10. 11. A panel as claimed in claim 10 wherein the translucent material is a glass reinforced plastic.

11. 12. A panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12.

13. A roof structure including at least one panel as claimed in any preceding claim. |/j (FORMAL)