Interlocking panel

Abstract

An interlocking panel, and structures formed therefrom, are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a panel including a protruding end including a receiving member for engaging a complementary engaging member of a first adjacent panel, and a receiving end including two flanges, at least one of the two flanges including an engaging member for engaging a complementary receiving member of a second adjacent panel, one or both of the two flanges configured to flex to allow the complementary receiving member of the second adjacent panel to engage the engaging member.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first panel including a protruding end including a receiving member; and   a second panel coupled to the first panel, the second panel including a receiving end including two flanges, at least one of the two flanges including an engaging member;   wherein the engaging member engages the receiving member for coupling the first and second panels; and   wherein one or both of the two flanges flex to allow the protruding end to be inserted into the receiving end for engaging the receiving member with the engaging member.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel further includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, and further including at least one intermediate structure disposed between the first and the second outer surfaces to increase structural integrity. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second outer surfaces are generally parallel to each other, and wherein the at least one intermediate structure is oriented perpendicularly to the first and the second outer surfaces. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two flanges are generally parallel to each other, and wherein the engaging member is disposed on a surface of one of the two flanges, the surface facing the other one of the two flanges. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving end is configured to receive the protruding end along a direction substantially parallel to the two flanges. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel is fastened to the second panel by a fastener. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener is selected from a group consisting of a rivet, a screw, a bolt, a clip, a pin, glue, and solder. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one trim structure coupled to the first and second panels. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the trim structure is selected from a group consisting of a rail, a stile, and a carrying hinge. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking bar coupled to at least one of the first and second panels, the locking bar configured to lock the apparatus to a carrying structure. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking bar is coupled to an interior surface of the at least one of the first and second panels. 
   
   
       12 . An interlocking panel comprising:
 a protruding end including a receiving member for engaging a complementary engaging member of a first adjacent panel; and   a receiving end including two flanges, at least one of the two flanges including an engaging member for engaging a complementary receiving member of a second adjacent panel, one or both of the two flanges configured to flex to allow the complementary receiving member of the second adjacent panel to engage the engaging member.   
   
   
       13 . The panel of  claim 12 , further comprising a first outer surface and a second outer surface, and further including at least one intermediate structure disposed between the first and the second outer surfaces for resisting flexing of the first and the second outer surfaces toward each other. 
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the first and the second outer surfaces are generally parallel to each other, and wherein the at least one intermediate structure is oriented perpendicularly to the first and the second outer surfaces. 
   
   
       15 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the two flanges are parallel to each other, and wherein the engaging member is disposed on a surface of one of the two flanges, the surface facing the other one of the two flanges. 
   
   
       16 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving end is configured to receive the second adjacent panel along a direction substantially parallel to the two flanges. 
   
   
       17 . A method of interlocking panels comprising:
 providing a first panel including a protruding end including a receiving member;   providing a second panel including a receiving end including two flanges, at least one of the two flanges including an engaging member, and one or both of the two flanges being adapted to flex to allow the protruding end to be inserted into the receiving end allow the receiving member to engage the engaging member; and   engaging the engaging member with the receiving member to interlock the first panel with the second panel.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the engaging of the engaging member with the receiving member comprises flexing at least one of the two flanges, and inserting the protruding end into the receiving end. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the providing of the second panel comprising providing a second panel including two parallel flanges, and wherein the engaging of the engaging member with the receiving member comprises inserting the protruding end into the receiving end along a direction substantially parallel to the two parallel flanges. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising fastening the first panel with the second panel. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fastening of the first panel comprises fastening the first panel with the second panel using a fastener selected from the group consisting of a rivet, a screw, a bolt, a clip, and a pin. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fastening of the first panel comprises gluing the first panel with the second panel or soldering the first panel with the second panel. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising coupling at least one trim structure to the first and second panels. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling of the at least one trim structure comprises coupling at least one trim structure selected from a group consisting of a rail, a stile, and a carrying hinge to the first and second panels.