Abstract: Modular building panels having central insulating cores and protected by bonded sheet material are joined in a roof, wall, or other building system by way of an interlock feature that also provides a deep water drainage channel. This interlock feature utilizes an outwardly facing channel formed of the end of one of the bonded sheets which is mated with an inwardly extending locking member formed of the opposite end an identical bonding sheet from an adjacent panel. The inwardly extended locking member is inserted into the outwardly facing channel and rides over a camming surface which locks the inwardly extending locking member into the outwardly facing channel. Once two adjacent panels are joined together, the interlock feature forms a deep water drainage channel to catch and carry water and moisture that penetrates seams between the panels due to imperfections of caulking seal.

Abstract: The invention provides a concealing trim assembly for a wall or ceiling panel system, comprising a trim member fastenable to a channel member of a ceiling or wall panel support, the trim member having a base portion and first and second means for slidably retaining a trim cap; means for fastening the trim member to the channel member; and a trim cap for concealing the means for fastening the trim member to the channel member. The trim cap has first and second edges matable with the first and second means for slidably retaining a trim cap, and at least one clip means for biasing the first and second edges of the trim cap with respect to the first and second means for retaining a concealment trim cap.

Abstract: A ceiling panel system for suspending a new and improverd ceiling panel from an assembly of inverted T-beam support members. The support members are suspended in a horizontal plane to form a desired grid pattern for supporting a plurality of ceiling panels to form a continuous ceiling. The T-beam support members comprise a vertical center leg having a pair of opposite horizontal arms, and a pair of opposite ribs projecting from the vertical center leg. The ceiling panel include a main body portion and integral resilient side walls. The side walls extend at an angle from body portion, and are adapted for captured engagement between the horizontal arms and ribs of the T-beam support members to resist removal of the panel from the support members. Each of the side walls includes a top edge spaced from said body portion having one or more slits extending transversely from the top edge toward the main body portion, to prevent the removal of the panel from captured engagement in the support members.

Abstract: A new and useful latch structure for suspending ceiling panels from a grid of inverted T-beam support members. The latch structure comprises a relatively rigid, hook-shaped member which is coupled to a respective ceiling panel so as to move with the ceiling panel relative to the inverted T-beam support members. Each hook-shaped member can tilt, or pivot, relative to its respective ceiling panel. Each hook-shaped latch member is biased by gravity toward a locking position. As a ceiling panel is brought upward against an inverted T-beam support member, the inverted T-beam support member engages the hook-shaped latch member and tilts the latch member away from its locking position, to allow the latch member to clear the inverted T-beam support member. Once the hook-shaped latch member clears the transverse leg of the inverted T-beam support member, the latch member tilts, or pivots, under the influence of gravity, to its locking position.

Abstract: A security panel system which may be assembled into security panels, having at least one pan member with interlockable ribs for formation of continuous, interlocking pan surface, at least one channel member having a web, a first flange and a second flange having at least one notch for passage of pan ribs therethrough for attachable abutment of the pan ribs against the first flange and at least one trim member attachable to the channel member, for placement against the pan member so that the pan member is captured between the channel member and the trim member. A pair of channel members may be combined along their webs to form a carrier member having pairs of first and second flanges that are oriented opposite each other.

Abstract: A ceiling system constituted of inverted T support members arranged in a horizontal grid, wherein T members aligned in end-to-end relation are interconnected by a splice member bridging the joint between them and having a pair of horizontally spaced clips respectively projecting through openings in end portions of the webs of the interconnected T members. The splice member is a sheet element having portions bent laterally and downwardly about horizontal bending axes to form the clips, and side edges bent obliquely about vertical bending axes for bearing against the webs of the T members to cooperate with the clips in securely interlocking the splice member and the T members.

Abstract: The conversion ceiling system disclosed may be installed immediately under a pre-existing ceiling without dismantling or removing the pre-existing ceiling. The conversion ceiling system includes pans which are adapted to cooperate with conventional inverted T-beams which, if pre-existing, support the pre-existing ceiling panels. The T-beams support the conversion pans in a side-by-side array to form a new ceiling surface. Each of the conversion pans includes a horizontally extending plate having a specially formed upwardly turned peripheral rim. At least two portions of the rim include laterally projecting tabs for engaging the flanges of T-beams and at least one of the tabs has an upstanding stop to limit the horizontal movement of the pan. The ceiling assembly may include a number of resilient clips securing the upstanding stops on the rims of the pans to the T-beams. Alternately, the pre-existing ceiling tiles may engage the stop to prevent horizontal movement of the pans.

Abstract: In a ceiling system wherein a plurality of horizontal C-shaped panels are carried by stringers extending above the panels, a device for securing a panel to a stringer at any desired angle relative thereto. The device includes a carrier member grippable in a fixed angular position between the side flanges of the panel and a hanger member, mountable in a fixed angular position on the stringer, for supporting the carrier member beneath the stringer for unobstructed rotation relative to the stringer about a vertical axis, thereby to suspend the panel from the stringer at a selected angle.

Abstract: An elongated ceiling conversion strip 28 comprising an elongated flat central web 32, an upper flange portion 34 extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal edge of web 32 and an array of spaced mounting brackets 42 depending from said web, each of said mounting brackets comprising a lower flange portion 44 extending downwardly from said web and a pair of mounting flanges 46 and 48 extending longitudinally from said lower flange portion, each of said mounting flanges extending in opposite directions from each other. A ceiling assembly for utilizing conversion strip 28 comprising a drop-in ceiling assembly 10 and a linear ceiling assembly 14 is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a ceiling assembly, a parallel array of horizontally elongated panels each having vertical major surfaces and a horizontal top flange and a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally elongated stringers extending above and transversely of the panels for supporting the panels, the stringers having horizontal flanges formed with slots in which the top edge portions of the panels are received. The slots are shaped to provide, in the stringer flanges, pairs of facing spring tabs to facilitate insertion of the top portions of the panels in the slots and to interlock with the panel top flanges.

Abstract: Production of a longitudinally striated coating on a strip article by advancing the article past an open side of an otherwise-enclosed trench so that the article surface to be coated closes the open trench side, while delivering concurrent laminar flows of two different liquid coating materials to the trench at least at one locality spaced from the trench open side, to keep the trench completely filled and to deposit a layer of coating material on the moving article surface. Liquid circulation in the trench caused by the motion of the article surface so distributes the two coating materials along the trench that the applied coating layer is constituted of alternating longitudinal striations of the two materials.

Abstract: In the coating of a major surface of a strip article, wherein the strip surface is advanced longitudinally past a dam and, immediately beyond the dam, past an extended wall spaced from the strip surface by a gap equal to a desired wet coating thickness, a first liquid coating material is applied to the strip surface ahead of the dam and a second liquid coating material is delivered under pressure to the gap beyond the dam through one or more apertures in the wall to produce a stripe or stripes of the second coating material. The apertures can be provided in a rotatable disk, constituting a portion of the wall; rotary movement of the disk angularly displaces the apertures so as to vary the location and spacing of the produced stripes, for example in a manner simulating the appearance of natural wood grain.

Abstract: In the coating of a strip article of indeterminate length, wherein the article is continuously advanced lengthwise past a dam while liquid coating material is supplied to a major surface of the article ahead of the dam, the article is passed through a gap of extended length immediately beyond the dam, the gap being defined between uniformly spaced walls one of which faces the article surface bearing the coating material. The spacing between the gap walls is equal to the thickness of the strip article plus a desired wet thickness of the layer of coating material. Coating material of different colors or shades may be supplied to different portions of the strip surface for producing coatings of varied patterns.

Abstract: For use with horizontal siding panels each having complementary first and second locking means respectively formed along their top and bottom margins for interlocking vertically adjacent courses of panels in overlapping array, a system for mounting, on a wall, a panel interposed between already-mounted upper and lower courses which are vertically spaced by a distance less than the height of the interposed panel.

Abstract: In a suspended ceiling assembly of panels carried by spaced, elongated stringers, stabilizer bars interconnecting the stringers for maintaining the stringers fixed in position relative to each other and preventing racking of the assembly. Each stabilizer bar is a rigid element having a tab at each end for snap-fitting insertion into a slot formed in a stringer, and also having flange portions adjacent each end for bearing against a stringer surface along spaced extended lines of contact, when the tab at that end is inserted in the stringer, to prevent angular movement of the stringer relative to the stabilizer bar.

Abstract: For use with horizontal siding panels each having complementary first and second locking means respectively formed along their top and bottom margins for interlocking vertically adjacent courses of panels in overlapping array, a system and method for mounting, on a wall, a panel interposed between already-mounted upper and lower courses which are vertically spaced by a distance less than the height of the interposed panel. The system includes clip means for securing the second locking means of the upper-course panels to the wall while permitting upward insertion of the first locking means of the interposed panel, behind the upper-course panels, to a level above that at which the second locking means of the upper-course panels would interlock therewith, and retaining means for securing the first locking means of the interposed panel to the wall at that level.

Abstract: In the coating of a major surface of a strip article, wherein the strip surface is advanced longitudinally past a dam and, immediately beyond the dam, past an extended wall spaced from the strip surface by a gap equal to a desired wet coating thickness, a first liquid coating material is applied to the strip surface ahead of the dam and a second liquid coating material is delivered under pressure to the gap beyond the dam through one or more apertures in the wall to produce a stripe or stripes of the second coating material. The apertures can be provided in a rotatable disk, constituting a portion of the wall; rotary movement of the disk angularly displaces the apertures so as to vary the location and spacing of the produced stripes, for example in a manner simulating the appearance of natural wood grain.

Abstract: Production of a longitudinally striated coating on a strip article by advancing the article past an open side of an otherwise-enclosed trench so that the article surface to be coated closes the open trench side, while delivering concurrent laminar flows of two different liquid coating materials to the trench at least at one locality spaced from the trench open side, to keep the trench completely filled and to deposit a layer of coating material on the moving article surface. Liquid circulation in the trench caused by the motion of the article surface so distributes the two coating materials along the trench that the applied coating layer is constituted of alternating longitudinal striations of the two materials.

Abstract: In the coating of a strip article by continuously advancing the article lengthwise past a dam while applying liquid coating material to a major surface of the article ahead of the dam, and advancing the article surface past a facing wall of extended length immediately beyond the dam, the article is restrained against movement away from the wall by an endless surface moving in the same direction and at the same rate as the article. The liquid coating material, in contact with the article major surface ahead of the dam, is fully confined within a reservoir or trench to which the coating material is supplied under positive pressure to maintain the reservoir or trench continuously entirely filled therewith.

Abstract: A siding panel system for use on an exterior building wall or the like, including an overlapping interlocked array of horizontal siding panels 12, wherein the siding panels are secured to the wall by modular insulating and mounting units each comprising an insulating panel 10 and means such as a plurality of horizontal retainer strips 11 disposed in vertically spaced relation on the outer surface thereof for correctly positioning and facilitatingly mounting successive courses of the siding panels in the array. The retainer strips 11 have horizontally extending inward projections 130 received in recesses 28 defined by the insulating panels 10 for positioning the retainer strips properly to engage the successive siding panel courses. The modular units are attached to a wall by fasteners such as nails 52.