(19)
(11)EP 0 335 321 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
22.07.1992 Bulletin 1992/30

(21)Application number: 89105435.5

(22)Date of filing:  28.03.1989
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC)5E04B 7/10

(54)

Adaptive architectural cover panel system

System von anpassbaren Abdeckelementen

Système de panneaux de couverture architectonique adaptable


(84)Designated Contracting States:
CH DE ES IT LI

(30)Priority: 28.03.1988 US 174516

(43)Date of publication of application:
04.10.1989 Bulletin 1989/40

(73)Proprietor: Kotter, Rodman W.
Culver City California 90230 (US)

(72)Inventor:
  • Kotter, Rodman W.
    Culver City California 90230 (US)

(74)Representative: Howden, Christopher Andrew et al
FORRESTER & BOEHMERT Franz-Joseph-Strasse 38
80801 München
80801 München (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
FR-A- 1 280 028
FR-A- 1 340 142
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention concerns architectural structures, and more particularly, relates to an architectural cover panel system for covering structural support members. Architectural cover panels are typically employed to provide aesthetically pleasing coverings over structural support members such as bridge girders and building beam members such as I-beams. These cover panels also provide some protection to the structural support member from the elements and may otherwise serve to seal the underlying support structure from intrusions, such as for example bird nestings.

    [0002] Conventional architectural cover panels are generally configured as flat sheets of relatively thick material which are attached to an exposed side of a structural support member. One example of a conventional architectural cover panel is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,538,664 to L. Frandsen et al. Because of their generally planar configuration, conventional architectural cover panels require significant rigidity and strength to resist wind loading forces which could otherwise dismember or dislodge the panel. Accordingly, conventional cover panels can add significant weight to the entire load supported by the underlying structural member.

    [0003] Fitting conventional architectural cover panels to a structural support member can also be an expensive, labour and time intensive effort since the panels have to be cut and trimmed in order to fit a variety of complex curves and shapes of the structural support member. Thus, there still exists a need for a lightweight architectural cover panel which is adaptable to the varying dimensions and shapes of differing structural support members but adequately resistant to wind loading forces.

    [0004] FR-A-1280028 discloses a pent roofing arrangement using sheet materials, which may, for example, be sheet metal or plastics, and in which two corrugated surfaces slope down from a ridge region of the roof, the corrugation of each corrugated surface extending longitudinally from said roof ridge region to the eaves. Each corrugated surface is of zig-zag form in section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of its corrugations. In the ridge region of the roof, the two corrugated surfaces are joined in accordion fashion so that the peak of each corrugation on one of the two corrugated surfaces meets the trough of a respective corrugation of the other surface and vice versa.

    [0005] Briefly, and in general terms, an object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight architectural cover panel system which is both resistant to wind loading forces and also readily adaptable to structural support members having a variety of dimensions and surface shapes without excessive trimming or cutting of individual panels.

    [0006] More specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system of adaptive architectural cover panels made from relatively thin sheet material and formed in a generally convex cross-sectional shape, whether of curved or angular configuration or otherwise. The panels are provided with corrugations lying in the cross-sectional plane, allowing the panel the flexibility to either expand or contract along any desired axis so as to conform to the shape of a structural support member while further providing significant reinforcement against wind loading forces. Adjacent panels may be overlapped or nested at their ends with the result that a plurality of panels can be efficiently and economically joined contiguously to attractively cover the full extent of a complexly shaped structure.

    [0007] In one preferred embodiment of the architectural cover panel system of the present invention, the individual panels further may be provided with edge portions projecting from the longitudinal margins or sides of the convex portions of the panels. The edge portions also may be corrugated, with these corrugations lying generally parallel to and intersecting the corrugations of the convex panel portion. The edge portions provide a simple method of attaching the panel to a structural support member and further provide additional resistance to wind loading forces.

    [0008] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like elements. It should be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

    FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adaptive architectural cover panel system of the present invention installed over an illustrative architectural structure;

    FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an individual adaptive architectural cover panel of the present invention;

    FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of an individual adaptive architectural panel of the present invention;

    FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the individual architectural panel illustrated in FIG. 2 attached to an exemplary structural support member.



    [0009] Referring to the figures, and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an illustrative application of the present inventive adaptive architectural panel system 10 covering the edges of structural support members 13 forming a monorail track and monorail station platform. The ends of adjacent panels 10 may be overlapped and nested to obscure the junctures of the panels and provide a cleaner, more aesthetically appealing architectural appearance to the underlying support members. Although relatively light, and therefore adding little to the load born by the structural support members 13, the panels 10 are still sufficiently strong to resist normal wind loading.

    [0010] One preferred embodiment of an individual panel 16 that forms part of the panel system 10 is more fully illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the panel 16 is made from a square or generally rectangular sheet of relatively thin material and is formed into a panel having a generally convex cross-section. The panel 16 is also provided with a plurality of corrugations 18, oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the panel and parallel to the plane of the panel cross-section. The corrugations 18 add enhanced flexibility to the panel 16 while simultaneously providing additional structural reinforcement. The configurations illustrated in FIG. 2 characterize only one type of fold pattern contemplated by the present invention. As illustrated, the corrugations of the panel 16 provide generally flat surfaces 19 meeting at varying angles with alternating surfaces 20 lying in essentially parallel planes. Other corrugation patterns could also be used such as, for example, where the alternating flat surfaces 20 would lie in non-parallel planes and every third flat surface would lie in the same plane.

    [0011] The corrugations permit expansion or contraction along the entire width and length of the panel 16 to accommodate support members 13 of varying dimensions, and further allow for localized panel expansion or contraction so as to conform the panel 16 to the surface curvature of the support member 13. Thus, the corrugations allow the same adaptive cover panel 16 to be used in conjunction with several different types of structural support members of varying dimensions and surface shapes without the need for excessive cutting and trimming. At the same time, however, the corrugations further permit use of lighter materials, such as sheet metals, plastics or composite materials, for the construction of the panel 16 while still retaining sufficient rigidity to resist wind loading. The corrugations 18 also facilitate the overlapping placement of adjacent panels 16 so as to obscure the junction of the panels 16 and provide cleaner architectural lines as discussed above. Differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the panels 16 and support members 13 are also accommodated by the adaptive expansion and contraction of the panels 16.

    [0012] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the panel 16 is further provided with edge portions 21 projecting from the longitudinal sides of the convex body portion 24. The edge portions 21 are also provided with corrugations 27 which are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel and thus lie parallel to and intersect with or merge into the corrugations 18 of the convex body portion 24. These edge portions 21 permit the adaptive panels 16 to be very easily mounted on to a structural support member while maintaining the adaptive character of the panel 16 and adding to its wind loading resistance.

    [0013] As illustrated in FIG. 4, this preferred embodiment of the panel 16 may be mounted onto an illustrative structural support member 30 by attaching channel members 33 onto the opposing edges of the support member 30. The edge portions 21 of the panel 10 may then be affixed within the channels 33 by any convenient means such as, for example, suitable fasteners. It should be understood that for the purposes of the present invention, however, the panel 16 could also be directly attached to the structural support member 30.

    [0014] The present inventive adaptive architectural cover panel need not be restricted to convex configurations which are generally curved in cross-section such as the panel 16 shown in FIG. 2. By way of illustration, another preferred embodiment of an individual adaptive panel 22 of the present invention is further shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the panel 22 has a convex configuration which is generally truncated triangular in cross-section with the internal intersections 36 of the body portion 39 forming angles generally exceeding ninety degrees. The body portion 39 is also provided with corrugations 42 generally oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panel 22 and generally parallel to the cross-sectional plane of the panel 22. This embodiment may further, but need not necessarily, be provided with edge portions 45 attached to the lateral sides of the body portion 39 forming further corrugations 48 oriented parallel to and intersecting or merging with the corrugations 42 of the body portion 39. As with the embodiment discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, the panel 22 of this embodiment can similarly be expanded and contracted along its entire length or width to adapt the panel 22 to structural support members of varying dimensions without specialized tailoring. Additionally, localized expansion and contraction of the corrugations 42 and 48 permit curvature of the panel 22 so as to adapt to the complex surface curvatures of various structural support members.

    [0015] It will, of course, be understood that modifications of the present invention will be apparent to others skilled in the art.


    Claims

    1. A method for covering the structural support members of an underlying structure, comprising attaching to said support members a plurality of contiguously arranged architectural cover panels (16) characterised in that the cover panels (16) are of flexible material having a generally convex cross-section with corrugations (18) formed therein extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the panels (16), said corrugations (18) enabling said cover panels to conform to the dimensions and surface curvature of the support members, said cover panels (16) having edge portions (21) formed along the longitudinal sides of said flexible material with corrugations (27) formed therein oriented generally parallel to and intersecting the corrugations (18) of said convex cross-section portion of the flexible material.
     
    2. A method for covering the structural support members of an underlying structure with architectural cover panels (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the architectural cover panels (16) are intercorrugated such that the corrugations (18) of said convex cross-sections are formed reversely to the corrugations (17) of said edge portions (21), thereby strengthening the architectural cover panels (16) in order for them to resist loading forces while also allowing them to conform to the surface curvature of the support members.
     
    3. A method for covering the structural support members of an underlying structure with architectural cover panels (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the architectural cover panels (16) are attached to the underlying structural support members (30) by means of channel members (33) that are secured to the support members (30) and are configured to receive and retain said sheet edge portions (21).
     
    4. A method for covering the structural support members of an underlying structure, comprising attaching to said support members a plurality of contiguously arranged architectural cover panels (22), characterised in that said cover panels (22) are of flexible material having a convex cross-section of a generally truncated triangular configuration with corrugations (42) formed therein extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the panels (22), said corrugations (42) enabling said cover panels to conform to the dimensions and surface curvature of the support members.
     
    5. A method for covering the structural support members of an underlying structure with architectural cover panels (22) as set forth in claim 4, wherein the architectural cover panels (22) are intercorrugated such that the truncated triangular cross-sections have lateral sides and tops with the corrugations (42) on the lateral sides formed reversely to the corrugations (42) on the tops, thereby strengthening the architectural cover panels in order for them to resist loading forces while also allowing them to conform to the surface curvature of the support members.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verfahren zum Abdecken der strukturellen Trägerelemente einer eine Unterlage bildenden Struktur, unter Anbringen einer Mehrzahl von aneinander angrenzend angeordneten architektonischen Abdeckelementen (16) an die Trägerelemente, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckelemente (16) aus einem flexiblen Material mit einem im wesentlichen konvexen Querschnitt mit in diesen ausgebildeten, quer zur Längsachse der Elemente (16) verlaufenden Wellen (18) bestehen, die es den Abdeckelementen erlauben, sich der Erstreckung und der Flächenkrümmung der Trägerelemente anzupassen, wobei die Abdeckelemente (16) entlang der Längsseiten des flexiblen Materials ausgebildete Randabschnitte (21) aufweisen, die mit in diesen ausgebildeten Wellen (27) versehen sind, welche im wesentlichen parallel zu den Wellen (18) des Abschnitts mit konvexem Querschnitt des flexiblen Materials und diese schneidend verlaufen.
     
    2. Verfahren zum Abdecken der strukturellen Trägerelemente einer eine Unterlage bildenden Struktur mit architektonischen Abdeckelementen (16) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die architektonischen Abdeckelemente (16) derart gewellt sind, daß die Wellen (18) des Abschnitts mit konvexen Querschnitt umgekehrt zu den Wellen (27) der Randabschnitte (21) ausgeformt sind, wodurch die architektonischen Abdeckelemente gestärkt werden, um einer Last zu widerstehen, aber eine Anpassung an die Flächenkrümmung der Trägerelemente erlauben.
     
    3. Verfahren zum Abdecken der strukturellen Trägerelemente einer eine Unterlage bildenden Struktur mit architektonischen Abdeckelementen (16) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die architektonischen Abdeckelemente (16) mittels Kanalelementen (33), die an den Trägerelementen befestigt und zur Aufnahme und zum Halten der blattartigen Randabschnitte (21) ausgebildet sind, an die eine Unterlage bildenden Trägerelemente (30) angebracht sind.
     
    4. Verfahren zum Abdecken der strukturellen Trägerelemente einer eine Unterlage bildenden Struktur, unter Anbringen einer Mehrzahl von benachbart angeordneten architektonischen Abdeckelementen (22) an die Trägerelemente, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abdeckelemente (22) aus einem flexiblen Material mit einem konvexen Querschnitt eines im wesentlichen abgestumpften Dreiecks mit in diesen ausgebildeten, quer zur Längsachse der Elemente (22) verlaufenden Wellen (42) bestehen, die es den Abdeckelementen erlauben, sich der Erstreckung und der Flächenkrümmung der Trägerelemente anzupassen.
     
    5. Verfahren zum Abdecken der strukturellen Trägerelemente einer eine Unterlage bildenden Struktur mit architektonischen Abdeckelementen (22) nach Anspruch 4, wobei die architektonischen Abdeckelemente (22) derart gewellt sind, daß die Abschnitte, die im Querschnitt die Form eines abgestumpften Dreiecks haben, laterale Seiten und Dächer haben, wobei die Wellen (42) an den lateralen Seiten umgekehrt zu den Wellen (42) auf den Dächern verlaufen, wodurch die architektonischen Abdeckelemente gestärkt werden, um einer Last zu widerstehen, aber eine Anpassung an die Flächenkrümmung der Trägerelemente erlauben.
     


    Revendications

    1. Procédé pour recouvrir les éléments supports d'une structure sous-jacente comprenant la fixation sur lesdits éléments supports d'un ensemble de panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction, disposés côte à côte, caractérisé en ce que les panneaux de recouvrement (16) sont en matériau souple ayant une section transversale généralement convexe avec des ondulations (18) formées à l'intérieur, orientées perpendiculairement à un axe longitudinal des panneaux (16), lesdites ondulations (18) permettant auxdits panneaux de recouvrement de se conformer aux dimensions et à la courbure superficielle des éléments supports, lesdits panneaux de recouvrement (16) ayant des parties de bords (21) formées le long des côtés longitudinaux dudit matériau souple avec des ondulations (27) formées à l'intérieur, orientées en général parallèlement aux ondulations (18) et coupant ces ondulations de ladite section transversale convexe du matériau souple.
     
    2. Procédé pour recouvrir les éléments supports d'une structure sous-jacente avec des panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction ont des ondulations imbriquées telles que les ondulations (18) desdites sections transversales convexes sont inversées par rapport aux ondulations (17) desdites parties de bords (21), en renforçant ainsi les panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction afin qu'ils résistent aux forces de charge tout en leur permettant de se conformer à la courbure de la surface des éléments supports.
     
    3. Procédé pour recouvrir les éléments supports d'une structure sous-jacente avec des panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction, selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les panneaux de recouvrement (16) pour la construction sont fixés aux éléments supports (30) de la structure sous-jacente au moyen d'éléments (33) en forme de gouttières qui sont maintenus aux éléments supports (30) et sont configurés pour recevoir et retenir lesdites parties de bords (21) des plaques.
     
    4. Procédé pour recouvrir les éléments supports d'une structure sous-jacente, comprenant la fixation auxdits éléments supports d'un ensemble de panneaux de recouvrement (22) pour la construction, disposés côte à côte, caractérisé en ce que lesdits panneaux de recouvrement (22) sont en matériau souple avec une section transversale convexe de forme généralement triangulaire, tronquée, avec des ondulations (42) formées à l'intérieur, orientées perpendiculairement à un axe longitudinal des panneaux (22), lesdites ondulations (42) permettant auxdits panneaux de recouvrement de se conformer aux dimensions et à la courbure de surface des éléments supports.
     
    5. Procédé pour recouvrir les éléments supports d'une structure sous-jacente avec des panneaux de recouvrement (22) pour la construction selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les panneaux de recouvrement (22) pour la construction ont des ondulations imbriquées telles que les sections transversales triangulaires tronquées ont des côtés latéraux et des parties supérieures avec les ondulations (42) des côtés latéraux inversés par rapport aux ondulations (42) des parties supérieures afin de renforcer les panneaux de recouvrement pour la construction et leur permettre de résister aux forces de charge tout en les rendant aptes à se conformer à la courbure de surface des éléments supports.
     




    Drawing