Light transmitting wall panels

Abstract

There is provided an extruded, modular panel unit for the construction of wall-surface portions, especially of light-transmitting wall-surface portions. The panel comprises two sheet-like major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a plurality of web-like ribs dividing the space delimited by the major surfaces into a plurality of subspaces, and at least one joining flange extending in the direction of extrusion and projecting at an angle from an edge of the panel unit. In cross section, the sheet-like major surfaces and the ribs form a truss-like structure of which the major surfaces constitute the chords and the ribs constitute the webs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An extruded, modular panel unit for the construction of wall-surface portions, .[.including.]. .Iadd.especially of .Iaddend.light transmitting wall surface portions, comprising at least two sheet-like major surfaces interconnected and spaced apart by a plurality of the ribs dividing the space delimited by said major surfaces into a plurality of subspaces, .[.wherein a joining flange, extending in the direction of extrusion, projects at an angle from, and beyond, an outside face of one of said major surfaces, at each extruded edge of said panel unit, wherein, in cross section, said sheet-like major surfaces and said ribs form a truss-like structure of which.]. said major surfaces .[.constitute.]. .Iadd.constituting .Iaddend.the chords and said ribs .[.constitute.]. .Iadd.constituting .Iaddend.the webs, and wherein: (.Iadd.a) each panel has joining flanges which extend in the direction of extrusion and are located at each as-extruded edge of the panel unit, and project from one and the same major surface;   (b) each of said joining flanges has an outside .[.and.]. .Iadd.as well as .Iaddend.an inside face, .Iadd.the outside face of .Iaddend.each .[.face being adapted to.]. .Iadd.flange serves to make .Iaddend.contact .Iadd.with .Iaddend.a .[.corresponding.]. .Iadd.similar .Iaddend.face of a flange of an adjacent panel unit.Iadd.; and   (.Iadd.c) inside face of each of said joining flanges is provided with tooth-like first detent means for facilitating the joining of two connecting flanges of at least one pair of adjacent panel units..Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, .[.wherein said web-like.]. .Iadd.in which the .Iaddend.ribs zigzag between .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.major surfaces, and .Iadd.the zigzagging ribs .Iaddend.are connected to .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.major surfaces .[.via.]. .Iadd.by .Iaddend.relatively short auxilliary ribs .[.extending.]. .Iadd.which extend .Iaddend.from the inflection points of said zigzagging web-like ribs to the respectively .[.nearest.]. .Iadd.nearer .Iaddend.one of said major surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flanges project from the .[.the edges of said panel unit.]. .Iadd.the said major surface .Iaddend.at a substantially right angle. .[.4. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside faces of said flanges are provided with 
     
     
        tooth-like, first detent means..].5. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, .[.wherein said unit is further provided with at least one, separate,.]. .Iadd.further comprising .Iaddend.a joining member .[.adapted to be pushed over the contacting flanges of at least one pair of adjacent panel units, effecting the joining thereof.]. .Iadd.in form of an extruded rail of a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising a base portion and two wing portions, the inside of which wing portions is provided with tooth-like second detent means engageably matching said first detent means of said flanges, both detent means being shaped and oriented in such a way as to facilitate application of said joining member, while offering 
     
     
        resistance to the removal of said member once applied..Iaddend.6. The panel unit as claimed in claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein said joining member is in the form of an extruded rail of a .[.substantially.]. .Iadd.twin.Iaddend.-U-shaped cross section comprising a .[.base.]. .Iadd.mid.Iaddend.portion and two .Iadd.pairs of .Iaddend.wing portions, .[.the inside of which wing portions is provided with tooth-like second detent means engageably matching said first detent means of said flanges, both detent means being shaped and oriented in such a way as to facilitate application of said joining member, while offering resistance to the removal of said member once applied.]. .Iadd.one pair on each side of said 
     
     
        midportion..Iaddend..[.7.  The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside faces of said flanges are serrated..]..[.8. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside faces of said flanges are provided with a groove of a substantially semicircular cross section, which groove, in conjunction with a similar groove in the flange of the adjacent panel unit, constitutes a decompression chamber..]..[.9. The panel unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said joining member is in the form of an extruded rail of a twin-U-shaped cross section comprising a midportion and two pairs of said wing portions, one pair on each side of said 
     
     
        midportion..].10. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising .[.at least one.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.reinforcing rail slid over .[.the.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.transverse edge of said panel and fixedly attached thereto by means of pegs forced into at least one of said subspaces, a frame in which one of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said transverse .Iaddend.panel edges is fixedly held by means of a first type of retaining pieces .[.attachable.]. .Iadd.attached .Iaddend.to said frame, the other .Iadd.transverse .Iaddend.panel edge being slidingly held by a second type of retaining pieces, allowing for thermal expansion and contraction of said panel unit, and trimming profiles .[.attachable.]. .Iadd.attached .Iaddend.to said retaining pieces .[.for the covering thereof.]. .Iadd.to 
     
     
        cover said retaining pieces..Iaddend..[.11.  The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joining flanges essentially project transversely outwardly from said major surface of said panel unit..]..[.12. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel unit has an axis perpendicular to the major surfaces of said panel unit and located approximately mid-way between said joining flanges, and wherein said panel unit is symmetrical about said axis..]..[.13. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein longitudinal edges of said major surfaces are joined by edge members, and wherein the outside faces of said joining flanges are essentially coplanar with said edge members..]..[.14. The panel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each outside face is adapted to contact a corresponding outside face of a flange of an adjacent panel unit..].