Butyl-Free Multi-Gasket Panel Joint

Abstract

An insulated panel system includes a joint disposed between two insulated panels. The joint includes a gasket for increasing the efficiency of walk-in refrigerator and freezer spaces. A butyl-free gasket having a plurality of protrusions may be disposed between a first insulated panel, having a male portion, and a second insulated panel, having a female portion. A latch mechanism, disposed in part in the two insulated panels, operably engages to bring the male portion of the first insulated panel into a sealing engagement with the female portion of the second insulated panel, with the gasket disposed therebetween. The plurality of protrusions of the gasket are compressed between the male and female portions of the first and second panels, such that a plurality of sealing junctions are formed between the first and second panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated panel system, comprising:
 a butyl-free gasket having a plurality of protrusions;   a first insulated panel having a male portion with a first part of latch mechanism disposed within the first insulated panel;   a second insulated panel having a female portion with a second part of latch mechanism disposed within the second insulated panel,   wherein the first part of the latch mechanism in the first insulated panel operably engages with the second part of the latch mechanism in the second insulated panel to bring the male portion of the first insulated panel into a sealing engagement with the female portion of the second insulated panel, with the gasket disposed therebetween, and   wherein the plurality of protrusions of the gasket are compressed between the male and female portions of the first and second panels, such that a plurality of sealing junctions are formed between the male portion of the first panel and the female portion of the second panel.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the butyl-free gasket includes three or more protrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are pointed. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the butyl-free gasket is operably secured to the male portion of the first insulated panel. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the butyl-free gasket is operably secured to the female portion of the second insulated panel. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the butyl-free gasket is operably secured to both the female portion of the second insulated panel and the male portion of the first insulated panel. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated panel system of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusions of the butyl-free gasket on the female portion of the second insulated panel are offset between the protrusions of the butyl-free gasket on the male portion of the first insulated panel. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the latch mechanism of the first insulated panel extends into an opening in the second insulated panel to operably engage the second part of the latch mechanism disposed within the second insulated panel to bring the male portion of the first insulated panel into a sealing engagement with the female portion of the second insulated panel. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the latch mechanism of the second insulated panel extends into an opening in the first insulated panel to operably engage the first part of the latch mechanism disposed within the first insulated panel to bring the male portion of the first insulated panel into a sealing engagement with the female portion of the second insulated panel. 
     
     
         11 . A locking joint for securing insulated veneer panels to an existing structural panel wall, comprising:
 a butyl-free gasket having a plurality of protrusions;   a male portion and a female portion, wherein   the male portion comprises a top plate that terminates at its edge with a sealing flange, and a strut operable to be inserted into the female portion;   the female portion comprises a flange, sidewall, and base, and   wherein the flange of the female portion is operable to overlap an edge of an adjacent veneer panel, and the sidewall is operable to abut the edge of the adjacent veneer panel, and the base is operable to rest against an existing insulated structural panel, and   wherein the gasket is disposed on the flange of the female portion such that the plurality of protrusions of the gasket are adapted to sealably compress between the flange and the veneer panel.   
     
     
         12 . The locking joint of  claim 11 , wherein the butyl-free gasket includes three or more protrusions. 
     
     
         13 . The locking joint of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusions are rounded. 
     
     
         14 . The locking joint of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusions are pointed. 
     
     
         15 . The locking joint of  claim 11 , wherein the male strut comprises louvres operable to securely engage louvres disposed on the surface of the sidewall of the female portion to secure the male portion to the female portion. 
     
     
         16 . A sealing joint for use with an insulated structural panel wall, comprising:
 a butyl-free gasket having a plurality of protrusions; and   two lateral plate members connected by a vertical member that runs longitudinally between the lateral members, with an opening disposed in the vertical member operable to allow a latch mechanism disposed within the body of a first insulated structural panel to protrude therethrough to engage a latch bar disposed within a second insulated structural panel to secure the two insulated structural panels together, and   wherein the engagement of the latch and latch bar brings the first and second insulated structural panels in sealing engagement with the gasket disposed on one or more sides of the vertical member such that the plurality of protrusions of the gasket sealably couple the vertical member between the first and second insulated structural panels.   
     
     
         17 . The sealing joint of  claim 11 , wherein the butyl-free gasket includes three or more protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The sealing joint of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusions are rounded. 
     
     
         19 . The sealing joint of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusions are pointed. 
     
     
         20 . The sealing joint of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical member is shaped to engage contours of the first and second insulated structural panels. 
     
     
         21 . A sealing joint for use with an insulated structural panel wall, comprising:
 two lateral plate members connected by a vertical member that runs longitudinally between the lateral members,   an opening disposed in the vertical member operable to allow a latch mechanism disposed within the body of an insulated structural panel to protrude therethrough to engage a latchbar disposed within an adjacent insulated structural panel to secure the two insulated structural panels together, and   wherein the engagement of the latch and latch bar brings the adjacent insulated structural panels in sealing engagement with the sealing joint disposed therebetween, and   wherein the lateral plate members contact the surface of the insulated structural panel.   
     
     
         22 . The sealing joint of  claim 21 , further comprising, a sealing flange disposed at the edge of the plate member, wherein the sealing flange is operable to engage the surface of one of the insulated structural panels. 
     
     
         23 . The sealing joint of  claim 21 , wherein the lateral plate members are of substantially similar dimensions. 
     
     
         24 . The sealing joint of  claim 18 , wherein the lateral plate member in contact with an exterior surface of the insulated structural member is wider than the lateral plate member in contact with an interior surface of the insulated structural member. 
     
     
         25 . A method for sealing a joint between two insulated structural panel walls, comprising:
 disposing a sealing joint between two adjacent insulated structural panels; and   actuating a latch mechanism disposed within one of the adjacent insulated structural panels such that it engages a latch bar of the adjacent structural panel, wherein the sealing joint comprises two lateral members connected by a vertical member that extends the length of the lateral members, an opening in the vertical member operable to allow the latch mechanism to engage the latch bar.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the sealing joint further comprises a sealing flange at an edge of at least one of the lateral members operable to sealably contact the surface of at least one of the insulated structural panels. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the opening is created by the actuation of the latching mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the engagement of the latch bar by the latching mechanism draws the adjacent insulated structural panels in to sealed contact with the sealing joint.