A LIGHT-TRANSMITTING PANEL

Abstract: A light-transmitting panel comprising two spaced-apart, elongated plates (2, 3), which are connected together near long sides (7, 14). The first plate is provided near a first long side (7) with a rib (8) extending away from the second plate (3), and with a strip (11) connected thereto, which extends towards the second plate (3), and which is connected to a flange (21) of the second plate disposed near the first long side (7). The first plate (2) is provided near the second long side (14) with a hook-shaped flange (15), which can be connected in use to a rib (8) of the adjacent plate.

Description: A light-transmitting panel. The invention relates to a light-transmitting panel comprising two spaced-apart, elongated plates, which are connected together near long sides. Such a panel is connected to a number of other panels to form a light-transmitting wall or roof. With a similar panel , which is known from German util ity model DE-91.15.940.7, the panel is formed by means of an extrusion process. The long sides of the panel are connected to long sides of adjacent panels by means of separate connecting pieces. A drawback of the known panel is the fact that the extrusion moulds which are required for a complete panel are relatively costly. The object of the invention is to provide a panel built up of individual plates which can be connected together in a simple manner. This objective is acco pl ished with the panel according to the invention in that the first plate is provided near a first long side with a rib extending away from the second plate, and with a strip connected thereto, which extends towards said second plate, and which is connected to a flange of the second plate disposed near said first long side, and that the first plate is provided near the second long side with a hook-shaped flange, which can be connected in use to a rib of the adjacent plate. The first and the second plate can be produced separately by means of relatively simple moulds. When the plates are connected together, a spacer may be fitted between the plates. The first and the second plate are connected together by means of the strip which is connected to the first plate. The embodiment of the panel according to the invention is characterized in that the flange of the second plate, which is disposed near the first long side, is provided with a rib extending towards said first plate, against which the strip connected to the first plate abuts. When the strip is being connected to the second plate, the strip is aligned relative to the second plate by means of said rib. This facilitates the mounting of the strip. Furthermore it is ensured in this manner that the plates are accurately positioned relative to each other. Another embodiment of the panel according to the invention is characterized in that the strip which is connected to the first plate is provided with a flange which extends in a direction away from the second long side, parallel to the flange which is connected to the second plate. The flanges connected to the strip and to the second plate can be connected together in a simple manner. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a panel according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the panel of Figure 1, with plates disposed in spaced-apart relationship; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the left-hand long side of the panel which is shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the right-hand long side of the panel which is shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the left-hand long side of the panel which is shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the right-hand long side of the panel which is shown in Figure 1. Parts that correspond with each other are indicated by the same numerals in the figures. Figure 1 shows a panel 1 according to the invention, which comprises two interconnected plates 2, 3, which extend transversely to the plane of the drawing. First plate 2 comprises a main surface 4 and ribs 5, 6 extending transversely to the main surface 4, in a direction away from second plate 3. First plate 2 is provided near the first, left- hand long side 7 with a rib 8 extending away from the second plate 3, which comprises a plate portion 9, a plate portion 10 extending parallel to main surface 4, and a strip 11 connected thereto, which extends at an angle with main surface 4 to a position near second plate 3. Strip 11 is provided at an end remote from plate portion 10 with a flange 12, which extends parallel to main surface 13 of second plate 3. Near the second long side 14 of panel 1, which is positioned on the right-hand side, plate 2 is provided with a hook-shaped flange 15, which comprises a plate portion 16, a plate portion 17 extending parallel to plate portion 10, and a plate portion 18. Second plate 3 is provided with a number of ribs 19 directed towards first plate 2, and with a rib 20 disposed near first long side 17, which is directed towards first plate 2. Rib 20 is provided on a side remote from ribs 19 with a flange 21, which extends parallel to main surface 13. Second plate 3 is provided near second long side 14 with a strip 22 extending towards first plate 2, with a strip 23 connected thereto, which extends away from first long side 7, with a plate portion 24 extending towards main surface 4, and with a lip 25 extending parallel to main surface 4, towards first long side 7. Rib 20 comprises a plate portion 26 extending parallel to main surface 13, and two sloping wall portions 27, 28 extending at an angle between plate portion 26 on the one hand and flange 21 and main surface 13 respectively on the other hand. Wall portion 27 extends at the same angle as strip 11, plate portion 24 and plate portion 16. The light-transmitting plates 2, 3 of plastic material can be produced by means of relatively simple moulds. After the individual plates 2, 3 have been produced, an insulation material is locally provided on plate 3, if desired, after which first plate 2 is positioned opposite second plate 3, in such a manner that flange 12 will be positioned opposite flange 21, and lip 25 will be positioned near hook- shaped flange 15. A glue 30 is applied to flange 21 and to lip 25, whereupon first plate 2 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow PI from the position shown in Figure 2 towards second plate 3, until flange 12 abuts against flange 21, whereby strip 11 is pressed against sloping wall portion 27. Then lip 25 is pressed against first plate 2, whereby plate portion 24 and plate portion 16 are positioned practically in line with each other. Because strip 11 abuts against wall portion 27, also the position of wall portion 24 with respect to wall portion 16 is precisely known. After plates 2, 3 have been connected together, panel 1 can be connected to an adjacent panel 1, whereby the hook-shaped flange 15 of one panel is moved over the rib 8 of said adjacent panel. The interconnected flanges 12, 21 will be positioned under strip 23 of said plate 3 thereby. The hook-shaped flange 15 fits precisely over rib 8, so that a proper connection between the panels positioned adjacent to each other is obtained. Plates 2 are usually positioned on the outside of a space, whereby a proper connection between hook-shaped flange 15 and rib 10 is also necessary in order to achieve a proper seal against water. Plate portion 2 can be produced in a simple manner by means of mould portions. The mould portions which are required for plate portion 3 are more complicated, because of the presence of lip 25 above strip 23. Leaving out lip 25 will cause problems, however, when plates 2, 3 are being connected together. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a panel 1 according to the invention, wherein second plate 3 is not provided near first long side 7 with a rib 20, but wherein flange 21 is directly connected to main surface 13. The aligning of the two plates 2, 3 can thereby take place by aligning edges 31, 32 of flanges 12, 21 with respect to each other. Figures 6 shows a third embodiment of a panel 1 according to the invention, which is provided near first long side 7 with a strip 11 connected to first plate 2, which strip terminates near sloping wall portion 27 of second plate 3, and which is connected to sloping wall portion 27 near its end. It is also possible to provide strip 11 with a flange near second plate 3 as well as near second plate 2, whereby one flange is connected to flange 21 of second plate 3. In that case the rib 8 of plate 2 will not be provided with strip 11, but with a plate portion which terminates in the same manner as plate portion 18. Strip 11 must be placed into strip 8 thereby, and be connected to strip 8. Since strip 11 is placed into rib 8, the outside dimension of rib 8 will correspond with the inside dimension of hook-shaped flange 15 at all times.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A light-transmitting panel comprising two spaced-apart, elongated plates, which are connected together near long sides, characterized in that the first plate is provided near a first long side with a rib extending away from the second plate, and with a strip connected thereto, which extends towards said second plate, and which is connected to a flange of the second plate disposed near said first long side, and that the first plate is provided near the second long side with a hook- shaped flange, which can be connected in use to a rib of the adjacent plate. 2. A panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange of the second plate, which is disposed near the first long side, is provided with a rib extending towards said first plate, against which the strip connected to the first plate abuts. 3. A panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strip which is connected to the first plate is provided with a flange which extends in a direction away from the second long side, parallel to the flange which is connected to the second plate. 4. A panel according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said strip is connected to said rib. 5. A panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip is an element which is separately connected to said plates, and which is provided near said first plate with a portion which can be fixed in said rib. 6. A panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second plate is provided near the second long side with a strip facing towards said first plate, with a strip connected thereto, which extends away from said first long side, with a plate portion connected thereto, which extends towards said first plate, and with a lip connected thereto, which extends towards said first long side, and which is connected to said first plate between said rib and said hook-shaped flange.

Inventors: HOREMAN JELLE, HOREMAN, JELLE
Applicants: HOREMAN JELLE, HOREMAN, JELLE
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E04C2
IPC codes: E04C2, E04D3