Defined relative-motion tongue-and-groove building-surfacing-panel interface

Abstract

A plural-story, external, building-surface panel system securable to a structural building frame, wherein each panel in the system includes (a) a generally planar body having elongate upper, lower and lateral edge-defining structures, (b) elongate tongue structure operatively associated with, and extending along, the upper edge-defining structure generally in the plane of the body, and (c) elongate groove structure operatively associated with, and extending along, the lower edge-defining structure, fittingly compatible with the tongue structure and also disposed generally in the plane of the body. Vertically next-adjacent panels, when positioned appropriately relative to a building frame, are associated with one another in a manner of unidirectional interlock with respect to one another, with the groove structure in the upper panel complementarily and lateral load-transmissively receiving the tongue structure in the lower panel, thus to permit (a) substantially unhindered relative vertical and lateral in-plane motions between the panels, and (b) no appreciable relative inter-panel motion in a direction which is generally normal to the planes of the panels.

1 . A plural-story, external, building-surface panel system securable to a structural building frame, each panel in said system comprising 
 a generally planar panel body having elongate upper, lower and lateral edge-defining structures,    elongate tongue structure operatively associated with, and extending along, said upper edge-defining structure generally in the plane of said body, and    elongate groove structure operatively associated with, and extending along, said lower edge-defining structure, fittingly compatible with said tongue structure generally in the plane of said body,    vertically, and substantially coplanar, next-adjacent panels being associated with one another, when positioned appropriately relative to a building frame, in a manner of unidirectional interlock with respect and relative to one another, with the groove structure in the upper panel complementarily, and lateral load-transmissively, receiving the tongue structure in the lower panel to permit (a) substantially unhindered relative vertical and lateral in-plane motions between the panels, and (b) no appreciable relative inter-panel motion in a direction which is generally normal to the planes of the panels.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tongue and groove structures take the forms, respectively, of components which are operatively attached to the upper and lower edge-defining structures in said panel body.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tongue and groove structure are formed each as integral configurations in said upper and lower edge-defining structures, respectively, in said panel body.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, with respect to vertically, and substantially co-planar, next-adjacent panels, as installed with respect to a building frame, said tongue and groove structures form a connective interface structure between such panels, and the system further includes compliant sealing structure operatively interposed the tongue and groove structures.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, with respect to a pair of vertically, and substantially coplanar, next-adjacent panels as installed with respect to a building frame, said tongue and groove structures form a connective interface between the panels, and the system further includes elongate flashing structure extending along the lengths of, and operatively interposed, said tongue and groove structures.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, with respect to a pair of vertically, and substantially coplanar, next-adjacent panels as installed with respect to a building frame, and said tongue and groove structures form a connective interface between the panels, and the system further includes elongate compliant sealing structure, and elongate flashing structure, extending along the lengths of, and operatively interposed, said tongue and groove structures.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  which is configured whereby said sealing structure is UV-shielded in said connective interface.