Panel

Abstract

A composite cladding panel has an internal skin or backing tray ( 2 ), and an external skin ( 3 ) with foam insulation ( 4 ) between the tray ( 2 ) and skin ( 3 ). A pre-formed gasket ( 20 ) is bonded to the external skin ( 3 ) and a coating ( 30 ) is applied to the external skin ( 3 ) of the panel and to an outer face ( 21 ) of the gasket ( 20 ) to provide a surface finish such as a textured finish. No joint is visible between the coated skins ( 3 ) of adjacent panels.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A composite cladding panel comprising an internal skin and an external skin with insulation material therebetween, one of the skins having a gasket extending along one edge thereof, the gasket having a decorative coating on an external face thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the external skin and/or the internal skin have profiled joint forming portions for connecting adjacent panels. 
   
   
       30 . The panel as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the panel has a projecting part on one side and a corresponding recess on the opposite side of the panel. 
   
   
       31 . The panel as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the external skin has a projecting part on one side and a corresponding recess on the other side of the panel, the gasket being located in or on the projecting part and/or recess. 
   
   
       32 . The panel as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the gasket is located in the recess defined by the external skin. 
   
   
       33 . The panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the gasket is bonded to the skin. 
   
   
       34 . The panel as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the gasket is adhesively located to the skin. 
   
   
       35 . The panel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the gasket has an adhesive thereon for bonding to the skin. 
   
   
       36 . The panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the coating is applied to the gasket after mounting the gasket to the panel. 
   
   
       37 . The panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the coating comprises a screed-type finish. 
   
   
       38 . The panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the coating is applied to the external face of the gasket and to the external skin of the panel. 
   
   
       39 . The panel is claimed in  claim 38  wherein an edge coating is applied to an overlap region adjacent the edge of the panel opposite to the edge to which the gasket is applied. 
   
   
       40 . The panel as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the edge coating has a different formulation to that of the coating applied to the gasket. 
   
   
       41 . The panel as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the edge coating may comprise a paint/pigment. 
   
   
       42 . The panel as claimed in  41  wherein the edge coating is of the same colour as that of the coating applied to the gasket. 
   
   
       43 . A method for manufacturing a cladding panel of the type comprising an internal skin and an external skin with insulation material therebetween, the method comprising the steps, after forming the panel, of applying a gasket to one side of the panel, and applying a coating to the external skin of the panel and the external face of the gasket. 
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the coating is applied after applying the gasket to the panel. 
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the gasket is bonded to the panel. 
   
   
       46 . The method as claimed in  claim 45  wherein the gasket is adhesively bonded to the panel. 
   
   
       47 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the coating comprises a screed-type finish. 
   
   
       48 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the coating is applied to the external face of the gasket and to the external skin of the panel. 
   
   
       49 . The method as claimed in  claim 48  wherein an edge coating is applied to an overlap region adjacent the edge of the panel opposite to the edge to which the gasket is applied. 
   
   
       50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein the edge coating has a different formulation to that of the coating applied to the gasket. 
   
   
       51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50  wherein the edge coating comprises a paint/pigment. 
   
   
       52 . The method as claimed in  51  wherein the edge coating is of the same colour as that of the coating applied to the gasket.