PANEL SYSTEM CONNECTOR
A panel system connector may be used to connect a system of panels to be used as a structure, such as a temporary roadbed, for example. The panel system connector may include a latch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch may be biased to the locked position. The connector may include multiple portions with a first portion including the latch and a second portion including a receiver configured to receive the latch in the locked position to secure multiple panels together.
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The present disclosure relates generally to high strength-to-weight support platforms and temporary roadbeds. More specifically, it relates to platforms and temporary road beds on which motor vehicles can travel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn some instances, a construction site is located in a remote site with no established road leading to the site. Remote construction may require access of large equipment, but not require long-term access by road. When a permanent road is not required, a temporary road that is capable of supporting the traffic necessary to complete the construction may be utilized. Remote construction sites may be utilized for the erection of remote utility structures, such as towers for support of electrical lines, radio equipment, or cellular telephone equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure comprises one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:
A panel apparatus used as a structure, such as a roadbed, for example, comprises a first panel and a second panel. The first panel may include a locking assembly secured to the first panel, the locking assembly including a latch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second panel may include a bracket having a through-hole positioned to receive the latch of the locking assembly therethrough when the latch is in the locked position. When the latch is received within the bracket, the first and second panels may be secured to one another. The panel apparatus may further comprise a retainer positioned such that the latch may be displaced to engage with the retainer to maintain the latch in the unlocked position. The latch may translate in a first generally horizontal axis between the locked position and the unlocked position. Further, the latch may translate in a second generally horizontal axis between a position engaging the retainer and a position disengaged from the retainer. The latch may be biased to the locked position by an elastomer. In some embodiments, the elastomer may be omitted and replaced with another bias member such as a compression spring, for example. The first panel may further comprise a guide which supports the latch when the latch moves between the first locked position and the unlocked position.
In another embodiment, the panel apparatus may comprise a panel and a locking mechanism secured to a perimeter of the panel and extending laterally outwardly from the panel in a lateral direction therefrom. The locking mechanism may include a latch having an oblique surface transverse the longitudinal length of the latch. The oblique surface may extend substantially across a thickness of the latch and the latch may be movable along the longitudinal length of the latch between the first and second positions. The latch may be biased to the first position.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may further comprise a guide to support the latch. The locking mechanism may further comprise a bias member positioned between the latch and the guide. The locking mechanism may further comprise a retainer configured to engage with the latch to maintain the latch in the unlocked position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a panel connector assembly may comprise a first portion configured to be secured to the perimeter of a first panel and a second portion configured to be secured to a perimeter of a second panel. The first portion may have a latch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second portion may have a receiver configured to receive the latch of the first portion when the latch is in the locked position to thereby secure the first and second portions together. In some embodiments, the latch of the first portion may be biased to a locked position. In other embodiments, the latch may include a longitudinal length and have a surface transverse the longitudinal length the surface being oblique to the longitudinal length. In some embodiments the oblique surface may be engaged by a portion of the receiver when the first portion is engaged with the second portion. When the first portion engages with the second portion the oblique surface may act as a cam to displace the latch longitudinally until the latch is positioned to be received by the receiver to secure the first and second portions to one another.
Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The present disclosure includes a system of panels that may be interconnected to form a planar structure, such as a temporary roadbed, for example. Interconnected panels may also be used to construct other structures, such as the walls of buildings, for example. The present disclosure illustrates embodiments of the invention that transfer forces applied normal to a surface of a panel as to adjacent panels such that the adjacent panels assist in distributing the forces applied normal to a single panel.
In the illustrative embodiment of
Referring now to
Additionally, the protrusions 36 are formed in two alternating profiles about the perimeter of the connector portion 32. An upper profile 38 includes a first series of equally spaced protrusions 36 and a lower profile 40 includes a second series of equally spaced protrusions 36 with the center of each protrusion 36 of a lower profile 40 centered on the center of the cavities 34 of the upper profile 38. This creates an alternating lap joint which facilitates a first structure 22 to support a portion of a load applied to an adjacent structure 22.
The offset of upper profile 38 and lower profile 40 results in the formation of an upper surface 52 on the lower profile 40 protrusions 36 engaging a lower surface 54 on the upper profile 38 protrusions 36. Thus, engagement of a first structure 22 to a second structure 22 results in engagement of the upper surfaces 52 and lower surfaces 54. When the surfaces 52 and 54 are engaged, forces applied normal to a first structure 22 are supported by a second structure 22. This permits distribution of the normal force from the loaded structure 22 to adjacent panels.
Each protrusion 36 includes a through-hole 42 formed in the center of the protrusion 36. The through-holes 42 of the protrusions 36 in the upper profile 38 are positioned to be coaxial with the through-holes 42 formed in the protrusions 36 of the lower profile 40. When a first structure 22 is engaged with a second structure 22, through-holes 42 receive fasteners (not shown), such as pins, that secure the first and second structures 22 and provide for the transfer of forced between the first and second structures 22. Referring again to
Referring now to
In other embodiments, the alternating lap joint structure of the illustrative embodiments of
In the illustrative embodiment of
When the panel 30 is received in the connector 70, the surface 86 of the connector 70 engages the surface of 78 of the panel 30. Likewise, the surface 84 of the connector engages the surface 80 of the panel 30. The panel-receiving cavity 82 is sized to have the surfaces 84 and 86 simultaneously engage the surfaces 80 and 78 when the panel 30 and connector 70 are engaged. The connector 70 may be engaged with the lap surface 76 in either an upwardly facing orientation or a downwardly facing orientation. For the lap surfaces 76 of adjacent connectors 70 to engage, a first lap surface 76 must be oriented opposite that of a second lap surface 76. The connector 70 is symmetrical so that in either configuration, the connector 70 mates with an adjacent connector 70 while maintaining the adjacent panels 30 in substantially the same plane.
In the illustrative embodiment of
Since the lap surface 76 is oblique to the second surface 80, forces applied normally to the first surface 78 of the panel 30 are transferred to the surface 80 and lap surface 76. For example, if the panel 30 is supported by the surface 80 resting on a support surface such as the ground, for example, the force applied normally to the first surface 78 is transferred through the panel 30 and supported by the surface 80. When the lap surface 76 of a first panel/connector combination is engaged with the lap surface 76 of a second panel/connector combination, the force applied to surface 78 of a first panel 30 is transferred through the lap surface 76 of the first combination to the lap surface of the second combination such that the surface 80 of a second panel 30 assists in supporting the load applied to the first panel 30.
In another embodiment of a connector 170, shown in
In the illustrative embodiment of
Referring now to
The design of the connectors 70 and 170 provide the lap surface 76 as an open surface with no recesses. The absence of a requirement for engagement a first connector 70, 170 to engage a second connector 70, 170 through a recess in the connector 70, 170 eliminates the need to clean the recess during installation. In field-use conditions, panels may be assembled in wet and muddy conditions. Lap surface 76 may be cleaned of any mud or debris that may impede the engagement of two lap surfaces 76 during assembly of panels by sliding a cleaning instrument along the lap surface 76.
In further discussion, other embodiments of the panel and connector system will be discussed. Common features are retained and the same reference designators are used where common with the illustrative embodiment of
The orientation of fastener 196 allows the fastener 196 to resist separation of the connectors 171 when a panel 130 is loaded. The fastener 196 is loaded in shear when the connectors 171 are urged apart in the direction of arrow 200. In addition, the heads 198 tend to retain the connectors 171 together such that lap surfaces 76 stay in engagement.
In yet another embodiment, a connector 270 is shown in
In yet another embodiment illustrated in
Additional embodiments are shown in
In the illustrative connector 570 of
In the illustrative embodiment of
In still yet another embodiment shown in
The panel-engaging portion 272 of the connector 770 includes a cavity 270. The cavity 270 includes an upper cavity surface 282 and a lower cavity service 284 which are parallel opposing surfaces separated by a distance which is sufficient to allow the panel 30 to be received in the cavity 270 with the surface 78 and 80 of panel 30 engaging the surfaces 282 and 284 of connector 770. In addition, cavity 270 includes a blind surface 286 that abuts against the panel 30 when the panel 30 is inserted into cavity 270. A through-hole 994 is formed through flange 274 and flange 276. A second through-hole 894 is formed through a flange 288. The panel 30 includes a through-hole 1094. When two connectors 770 are engaged with adjacent panels 30, through-holes 894, 994, and 1094 are positioned so as to be substantially coaxial such that fastener 96 passes through flanges 274, 276 and 288 as well as the panel 30. Thus the panels 30 and connectors 770 are retained together to secure the two panels 30, 30 together. When the connectors 770 are connected together, the respective lap surfaces 376 of each connector 770 are engaged to transfer forces in the manner described in the illustrative embodiments of
In yet another embodiment, shown illustratively in
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have a structure to retain panels together without the need for inserting fasteners through the connectors to retain adjacent panels together. A panel assembly 1100, shown in
A lower connector 1104 includes two brackets 1116 secured to a perimeter surface 1110 of panel 1118 and spaced apart from the upper connector 1102. A rod 1114 having a circular cross-section is secured between the brackets 1116. Referring to
Referring now to
Each corner of panel assembly 1100 has a unique configuration. For example, corner 1100A includes a lower connector 1104 adjacent corner 1100D and an upper connector 1102 adjacent corner 1100B. Corner 1100B includes a lower connector 1104 adjacent to both corners 1100A and 1100C. Corner 1100C includes a lower connector 1104 adjacent corner 1100D and an upper connector 1102 adjacent corner 1100B. When all of the corners are engaged, the four panel assemblies 1100 are engaged in a locking pattern and are appropriately spaced apart from one another.
Referring again now to
In another embodiment, shown in
The loops 1202 and hooks 1206 of panel assembly 1200 are positioned about the perimeter of panel 1218 such that when multiple panel assemblies 1200 are placed adjacent one another, the hooks 1206 and loops 1202 engage to secure the panel assemblies 1200 together. For example, a first panel assembly 1200 is positioned adjacent a second panel assembly 1200 in
Referring now to
In yet another embodiment, a rectangular panel assembly 1300 includes a series of connector assemblies 1302, 1304, 1306 and 1308 secured to a panel 1310 at each of the four corners of the panel, as shown in
The corner cover 1312 includes an outwardly facing surface 1322 which is parallel to perimeter surface 1318 of panel 1310. A bracket 1324 includes a generally rectangular shape with a short side of the rectangular shape secured to surface 1322 such that bracket 1324 extends from surface 1322. The bracket 1324 includes an aperture 1326 communicating through bracket 1324. The aperture 1326 is also rectangular-shaped with sides that are parallel to the perimeter of rectangular bracket 1324. As will be discussed in further detail below, the bracket 1324 is configured to receive a portion of a latchkey 1328 of connector assembly 1304 when a second panel assembly 1300 is placed adjacent to a first panel assembly 1300.
The corner cover 1312 also includes an outwardly facing surface 1330 which is perpendicular to the surface 1322 and intersects the surface 1322 at the corner of panel assembly 1300. Another bracket 1332 is secured to the surface 1330 and extends perpendicular to the surface 1330. The bracket 1332 is also generally rectangular-shaped having an outer perimeter sized comparably to the bracket 1324 and includes an aperture 1334 communicating through the bracket 1324. The aperture 1334 is offset within the outer perimeter of the bracket 1332 so that the aperture 1334 is positioned near the surface 1330. The bracket 1332 serves as a keeper to maintain the latchkey 1328 in an unlocked position as will be described below.
The latchkey 1328 is supported within a support 1336 which is also secured to the surface 1330 of the corner cover 1312. The support 1336 includes a rectangular-shaped cross-section when viewed along an axis 1338 which is parallel to the surface 1330. The axis 1338 is parallel to a longitudinal length of the latchkey 1328. The latchkey 1328 moves relative to the support 1336 along the axis 1338 between a locked position shown in
The biasing assembly 1340 includes a flange 1342 and a bias member 1344. Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
With this configuration of the latchkey 1328, a first panel assembly 1300 may be positioned on the ground and a second panel assembly 1300 may be positioned so that complementary connector assemblies 1302, 1304, 1306, and 1308 are positioned adjacent one another. The second panel assembly 1300 may then be dropped so that latchkey 1328 engages with bracket 1324.
Multiple panel assemblies 1300 may also be assembled to one another by translating all of the latchkeys 1328 of adjacent panels so that the notch 1352 is engaged with bracket 1332 to retain the latchkey 1328 in the unlocked position. After positioning the adjacent panels, the latchkey 1328 may be disengaged from the brackets 1332 to allow the bias member 1344 to urge the latchkey 1328 to the locked position, engaging with the aperture 1326 of the brackets 1324 on the adjacent complementary connector assemblies.
To assist with the displacement of the latchkey 1328 to the unlocked position, latchkey 1328 includes an aperture 1366 which passes through latchkey 1328 and is configured to receive a tool 1365 (shown in phantom in
While in the illustrative embodiment of
The connectors 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may be secured to the panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310 through any of a number of the fasteners or securing methods. For example, connector 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may be secured to the panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310 through a fastener such as screws, nails, bolts, or the like. Connector 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may also be secured to panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310 through other securing means such as welding, heat staking, or any of a number of other securing/adhering methods. In still other embodiments, the connector 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 and panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310 maybe formed as a single unit or any of a number of molding and forming methods. For example, in some embodiments, the connector 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may be formed in an injection molding process or may be machined from a unitary piece of material to form the panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310.
The connectors 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may comprise any of a number of materials such as metal, plastic, rubber, or composite. Materials suitable for extrusion may be utilized including aluminum, various extruded plastics, or rubber such as Rexhide 168 EPDM compound. In addition, the connector 70, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 and 1170 may comprise a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) such as those described below.
The panels 30, 130, 1118, 1218 and 1310 may be embodied as one or more high strength composite panels. One exemplary type of composite panel is a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) panel. Such an FRP panel may be formed of a polymer matrix composite material which includes a reinforcing agent and a polymer resin. The FRP panel may be embodied as any type of FRP structure. Examples of such structures include, but are not limited to, a solid laminate, a sandwich panel (e.g., a panel having upper and lower skins with a core therebetween), a pultruded panel, or a panel having upper and lower skins with vertical or diagonal webs therebetween.
The matrix may include a thermosetting resin, although thermoplastic resins are also contemplated for use. Examples of thermosetting resins which may be used include, but are not limited to, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters, polyurethanes, epoxies, phenolics, and mixtures and blends thereof.
The reinforcing agent may include E-glass fibers, although other reinforcements such as S-glass, carbon, Kevlar, metal, high modulus organic fibers (e.g. aromatic polyamides, polybenzamidazoles, and aromatic polyimides), and other organic fibers (e.g. polyethylene and nylon) may be used. Blends and hybrids of the various reinforcing materials may be used. Other suitable composite materials may be utilized including whiskers and fibers such as boron, aluminum silicate, and basalt.
In the case of where the FRP panel is embodied as a sandwich panel, the core type may include, but is not limited to, balsa wood, foam and various types of honeycomb.
The FRP panel may be embodied as any of the structures disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,402; 6,023,806; 6,044,607; 6,070,378; 6,081,955; 6,108,998; 6,467,118 B2; 6,645,333; 6,676,785, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. It should be appreciated that the structures disclosed in the above-identified patents may be sized, scaled, dimensioned, orientated, or otherwise configured in any desired manner to fit the needs of a given design of the FRP panel.
There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the apparatus and methods described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of an apparatus and method that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A panel apparatus, comprising:
- a panel, and
- a locking mechanism secured to a perimeter boundary of the panel and extending laterally outwardly from the boundary, the locking mechanism including (i) a latch moveable along the boundary lengthwise relative thereto between first and second positions and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the first position.
2. The panel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a guide supporting the latch for movement relative thereto.
3. The panel apparatus of claim 2, wherein the latch further comprises a flange and the bias member is positioned between the flange and a portion of the guide.
4. The panel apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bias member comprises an elastomeric sleeve.
5. The panel apparatus of claim 4, the locking mechanism further comprising a retainer configured to be engaged by the latch to maintain the latch in the second position.
6. The panel apparatus of claim 1, the latch further comprising an oblique surface transverse the length of the latch and extending substantially across the latch.
7. A panel apparatus, comprising:
- a first panel,
- a bracket secured to a perimeter boundary of the first panel, the bracket including an aperture,
- a second panel, and
- a locking mechanism secured to perimeter boundary of the second panel, the locking assembly including (i) a latch moveable along the perimeter boundary between a locked position and an unlocked position, and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the locked position in which the latch is received by the bracket in the aperture to secure the first and second panels to one another.
8. The panel apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a guide and a retainer and the guide supports the latch for movement relative thereto and the latch is configured to engage with the retainer to maintain the latch in the unlocked position.
9. The panel apparatus of claim 8, wherein the latch translates in a first axis between the locked position and the unlocked position and in a second axis between a position engaging the retainer in the unlocked position and a position disengaged from the retainer.
10. The panel apparatus of claim 9, wherein the latch further comprises a cam surface engaged by a surface of the bracket to displace the latch longitudinally.
11. The panel apparatus of claim 10, wherein the latch further comprises a flange, and the bias member is positioned between the flange and a portion of the guide to act against the flange to move the flange away from the portion of the guide.
12. The panel apparatus of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a base member secured to the panel, the retainer and guide are secured to the base member, the retainer extends laterally from the base member and defines an aperture therethrough which receives the latch in the unlocked position, the guide extends laterally from the base member, the guide comprises a housing that encloses the bias member and a portion of the latch extending therethrough, and the latch defines (i) a notch which is configured to receive a portion of the retainer when the latch is in the unlocked position to engage with the retainer to maintain the latch in the unlocked position, and (ii) a tool receiving aperture configured to receive a tool to displace the latch relative to the guide.
13. The panel apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first panel, second panel, locking mechanism, and bracket are included in a mat.
14. A panel connector assembly, comprising:
- a first portion configured to be secured to a laterally outwardly facing perimeter boundary of a first panel, the first portion including (i) a latch moveable along the boundary lengthwise relative thereto between a locked position and an unlocked position and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the locked position, and
- a second portion configured to be secured to a perimeter boundary of a second panel, the second portion including a latch receiver configured to receive the latch of the first portion when the latch is in the locked position to secure the first and second portions together.
15. The panel connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the latch translates along a longitudinal axis of the latch between the locked and unlocked positions.
16. The panel connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the latch further comprises a cam surface configured to be engaged by a portion of the latch receiver of the second portion when the first portion is engaged with the second portion to displace the latch longitudinally.
17. The panel connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the cam surface extends substantially across the latch.
18. The panel connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the first portion further comprises a guide and a retainer, wherein the guide supports the latch and the bias member is positioned between a portion of the latch and the guide permitting the latch to cant relative to the guide and the retainer is configured to be engaged by the latch in the unlocked position.
19. The panel connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the bias member comprises an elastomeric sleeve at least partially surrounding a portion of the latch.
20. The panel connector assembly of claim 19, wherein the bias member comprises rubber.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 23, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 27, 2007
Applicant: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (Raleigh, NC)
Inventors: Paul Peterson (Cary, NC), Matthew Sams (Apex, NC), Joseph Seiter (Raleigh, NC)
Application Number: 11/277,280
International Classification: E04B 1/26 (20060101);