[0001] The present invention is concerned with an alveolar panel for windows or skylights,
made from polycarbonate. Said panel comprises a centre portion constituted by a couple
of peripheral planes joined by a set of adjacent baffles, so to form alveoli having
a triangular cross-section.
[0002] Said centre portion is comprised between two end portions bearing a female element
and a male elements engaged by the corresponding elements associated with the adjacent
alveolar panels.
[0003] At present, the alveolar panels for windows and skylights are made from polycarbonate
resin by means of a single extrusion, which leads to monolithic panels provided with
a centre portion at whose two ends the means for binding the same panel to the adjacent
panels are provided.
[0004] But the monolithic structure is known to give the panel the same technical characteristics
through all of its points, whilst it would be preferable, due to technical and economic
reasons, that such characteristics are different from point to point.
[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to obviate the above drawbacks.
[0006] The alveolar panel for windows ot skylights made from polycarbonate resin, comprising
a centre portion constituted by a couple of walls joined by a set of adjacent plates
forming alveoli having a triangular cross-section, with said centre portion being
comprised between a couple of end portions bearing binding elements, suitable for
being engaged by the corresponding binding means associated with the adjiacent alveolar
panels, is characterized in that said binding means are made from a polymeric material
which is different from the polymeric material which constitutes the centre portion.
[0007] The advantages achieved by means of the present invention essentially consist in
that by using different materials according to the different portions of the panel,
it is possible to privilege the characteristics of transparency in the centre portion,
and the characteristics of strength, flexibility, and adaptability, in the side portions
which constitute the binding means for binding the panel to the thereto adjacent panels.
[0008] In practice, in as much as it is relatively easy to fulfil the characteristics of
strength, flexibility and adaptability required for the side portion, in order to
produce said side portions the use is possible of also recycled materials, or anyway
of lesser value materials than the materials used for producing the centre portion
of the panel, with the advantages that cheaper panels are manufactured.
[0009] The invention is disclosed in greater detail in the following, with the aid of the
hereto attached drawing table, wherein Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a length
of an alveolar panel.
[0010] By referring to the above cited Figure 1, the panel of the present invention, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 1, is constituted by a centre portion 2 comprised
between a couple of binding means constituted by a female element 8 and a male element
9. The central portion 2 is constituted by a couple of peripheral walls 4 and 5 joined
by a set of adjacent baffles 6 forming alveoli 7 having a triangular cross-section.
[0011] The female binding element 8 shows a hollow 10 having a "C"-shaped cross-section,
and the male element 9 has a protruding portion 11 having a circular cross-section.
[0012] Both the female element 8 and the male element 9 have a structure also constituted
by alveoli 7 bounded by baffles 6.
[0013] The female element 8 and the male element 9 are obtained by co-extrusion, already
joined to the centre portion 2 along a couple of planes 12. The material used for
manufacturing the elements 8 and 9 is of polymeric nature, and can be selected, e.g.,
from the group consisting of: fibreglass-reinforced polycarbonate, recycled polycarbonates,
ABS resins, polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate.
[0014] The centre portion 2 is constituted, on the contrary, by polycarbonate to which a
traditional U.V.-protecting substance is added.
1. Alveolar panel for windows or skylights made from polycarbonate resin, comprising
a centre portion constituted by a couple of walls joined by a set of adjacent baffles
forming alveoli having a triangular cross-section, with said centre portion being
comprised between a couple of end portions bearing binding elements, suitable for
being engaged by the corresponding binding means associated with the adjacent alveolar
panels, characterized in that said binding means (8), (9) are made from a polymeric
material which is different from the polymeric material which constitutes the centre
portion (2).
2. Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the centre portion (2) is constituted
of polycarbonate, co-extruded with the polymeric material of the end portions (8),
(9), bearing the binding means.
3. Panel according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the binding means
are constituted by a male element (9) and a female element (8).
