Ventilated structural panels and method of construction with ventilated structural panels

Abstract

A single plenum structural panel comprising a top sheet and a bottom sheet. The top sheet and the bottom sheet being parallel to one another. A plurality of spacing structural elements fixedly attach the top sheet to the bottom sheet, such that a yield strength of an assembled single plenum structural panel is greater than a sum of individual yield strengths of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. A plenum is defined by a spacing between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. The plurality of spacing structural elements are formed such that a first plurality of spaced apart unobstructed pathways are created in the plenum for air to move in a first direction from at least one edge of the single plenum structural panel to at least one of an opposite and an adjacent edge of the single plenum structural panel.

Wherefore, I claim: 
     
         1 . A single plenum structural panel comprising:
 a top sheet and a bottom sheet, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being parallel to one another;   a plurality of spacing structural elements, fixedly attaching the top sheet to the bottom sheet, such that a yield strength of an assembled single plenum structural panel is greater than a sum of individual yield strengths of the top sheet and the bottom sheet;   a plenum defined by a spacing between the top sheet and the bottom sheet;   the plurality of spacing structural elements being formed such that a first plurality of spaced apart unobstructed pathways are created in the plenum for air to move in a first direction from at least one edge of the single plenum structural panel to at least one of an opposite and an adjacent edge of the single plenum structural panel.   
     
     
         2 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include one of extruded and deposited globs. 
     
     
         3 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the structural spacing elements include inserts. 
     
     
         4 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements have spikes that protrude into one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include one of elongated members arranged in a matrix and spacer blocks. 
     
     
         6 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the top sheet has a plurality of through holes. 
     
     
         7 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include barricade shaped inserts. 
     
     
         8 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include inserts with a caged surface. 
     
     
         9 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include inserts with spikes disposed on a surface of the inserts. 
     
     
         10 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include hollow inserts. 
     
     
         11 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include perforated inserts. 
     
     
         12 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements are a matt and block assembly, the matt comprising tabs that insert into either the block or one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements are one of molded and of unitary of construction with one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements comprise a three dimensional space truss. 
     
     
         15 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements comprise a three dimensional space truss and spikes are positioned at apexes where a plurality of diagonal truss members meet. 
     
     
         16 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include an engineered matrix member. 
     
     
         17 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the spacing structural elements include a branched and perforated engineered matrix member 
     
     
         18 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein each of the top sheet and the bottom sheet is one of multilayered, comprised of multiple materials, and has a coating or a lining. 
     
     
         19 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom sheet is multilayered with at least one layer of drywall material. 
     
     
         20 . The single plenum structural panel in  claim 1  wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are each between 0.125 inches and 1.0 inches in thickness, not including the thickness of any molded or integral spacing structural elements, and are between 3.0 and 4.5 feet by between 6.0 and 12 feet in planar dimensions, and the top sheet and the bottom sheet include one of plywood, Oriented Strand Board, and medium-density fiberboard.