Divider panel systems and methods for their manufacturing and installation

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a panel assembly for partitioning a trailer cargo space is provided including a first insulated panel and a second insulated panel, each insulated panel including a first side vertical edge having a connecting edge, and a second side vertical edge having a connecting edge. One of the insulated panels includes one or more spaced apart vertical cut lines proximate the first side vertical edge, where, when a given cut line is cleaved, the cleaved cut line is configured to form a new second side vertical edge having a connecting edge. A first mating extrusion may secure with a second side vertical edge of the first insulated panel, and a second mating extrusion may secure with a first side vertical edge of the second insulated panel where, upon mating the first and second mating extrusions, an insulated wall is formed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated panel system for partitioning a trailer cargo space, the system comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel, wherein
 each of the first panel and the second panel comprises
 a first planar side, 
 a second planar side, 
 a longitudinal bottom edge, 
 a longitudinal top edge, 
 a first vertical edge, and 
 a second vertical edge, 
 
 the first panel comprises a first vertical connecting region defined by at least one pair of grooves including
 a first vertical groove disposed in the first planar side and formed parallel to the second vertical edge extending from the longitudinal top edge, and 
 a second vertical groove disposed in the second planar side and formed parallel to the second vertical edge extending from the longitudinal top edge, 
 wherein the first vertical groove is formed parallel to the second vertical groove, and 
 
 the second panel comprises a second vertical connecting region defined by at least one pair of grooves including
 a first vertical groove disposed in the first planar side and formed parallel to the first vertical edge extending from the longitudinal top edge, and 
 a second vertical groove disposed in the second planar side and formed parallel to the first vertical edge extending from the longitudinal top edge, 
 wherein the first vertical groove is formed parallel to the second vertical groove, and 
 
 a first mating extrusion for attaching to a first pair of the at least one pair of grooves of one of the first panel and the second panel, the first mating extrusion comprising
 a pair of inwardly extending members configured to mate with the first pair of grooves, and 
 at least one outwardly extending member configured to extend outward from the respective vertical edge of the respective panel; and 
 
 a second mating extrusion for attaching to a first pair of the at least one pair of grooves of the other of the first panel and the second panel, the second mating extrusion comprising
 a pair of inwardly extending members configured to mate with the first pair of grooves, and 
 at least one outwardly extending member configured to extend outward from the respective vertical edge of the respective panel and frictionally or tensionally mate with the at least one outwardly extending member of the first mating extrusion; 
 
 wherein, upon installing the first panel alongside the second panel,
 the first mating extrusion frictionally engages the first pair of grooves of the one of the first panel and the second panel, 
 the second mating extrusion frictionally or tensionally engages the other of the first panel and the second panel, and 
 the first mating extrusion frictionally or tensionally engages the second mating extrusion to maintain relative abutting positions of the second vertical edge of the first panel and the first vertical edge of the second panel.