Patent Abstract:
A panel and panel systems are described herein and can include a rigid panel that includes a plurality of apertures and an undulating pattern. The panel acts to block sunlight and may otherwise protect the area behind the panel. In an example, the panel is fixed in a spaced apart relation to a building. The panel or panels block a portion of the direct sunlight to assist in the environmental control of the building. The panel can be strong enough to further protect the building from weather damage or other damage.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present description is directed to a component for building, and more specifically, to an exterior panel for a building. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Commercial buildings such as office buildings or apartments are expensive to build, maintain, and repair. The exterior of buildings can be damaged by weather or people. Other costs associated with buildings include temperature control. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An aspect of the present disclosure is a building component that protects an adjacent location, such as a building, from sunlight or other hazards. The component can be a panel that includes a body having a height and a width, a plurality of apertures in the body, and a series of undulations in the body, at least one of the undulations including a peak extending in a width direction. In an example, each of the undulations includes a peak extending in the width dimension and the undulations creating a repeating peak and valley pattern in the vertical direction. In an example, the plurality of apertures are parallelograms that include a corner at a respective one of the peaks of the undulations. In a further example, the plurality of apertures include a corner at respective valley of the undulation. In a further example, the plurality of apertures define an open area in the body in the range of about 40% to about 70%. In an example, the series of undulations include at least ten undulations in a height direction. In an example, the series of undulations form an angle from a peak to a valley up to an adjacent peak in a range of about 150 degrees to 170 degrees. In an example, the series of undulations form an angle from a peak to a valley up to an adjacent peak of about 160 degrees. In an example, the body includes a solid outer perimeter free of apertures. In an example, the body has a parallelogram shape and connection points at at least one of the corners. 
         [0004]    In a further aspect of the present disclosure, any of the above examples can be part of a building system or a building that include a wall, an exterior connection system fixed to the wall, and a panel system connected to the exterior connection system. The panel may include any of the above examples or other details recited herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel according to an example of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a panel according to an example of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a panel according to an example of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is top view of a system according to an example of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is view of a system according to an example of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is view of a building according to an example of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a panel  100  for use in construction of buildings. The panel  100  can also be adapted to be used as a protective device for the exterior of a building. Panel  100  has a solid, continuous body  105 . The body  105  made of a metal in an example. In an example, the body  105  has a thickness of less than ½ inch. In a further example, the body  105  has a thickness of about ¼ inch. In a further example, the body  105  has a thickness in the range of about ⅜ inch to about ⅛ inch, plus or minus 1/16 inch. The body  105  has a parallelogram shape with a first dimension and a second dimension. In an example, the first dimension is in the range of about 10 feet to 15 feet and the second dimension is about 6 feet to about 8 feet. In the embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the panel body has a rhombus or diamond shape with the first dimension being the height and the second dimension being the width. In a specific example, the panel is about 12¼ feet in height and about 7 and ¼ feet in width. In an example, the body has a thickness of greater than 3/16 inch. In a specific example, the body has a thickness of ¼ inch. 
         [0013]    The body  105  is defined by a continuous peripheral band  107  and an interior portion  109 . The band  107  is a continuous strip of material, such as a metal. The band has a width of about 4 inches in an example. The width of the band  107  can be in a range of about 1 inch to about 6 inches. At various locations in the band  107 , attachment points  113  are provided. These attachment points  113  can be through holes for receiving fasteners, such as bolts, screws, and rivets. In other examples, the attachment points  113  are adapted to receive other fasteners types, such as clamps, adhesives, etc. 
         [0014]    The interior portion  109  includes a plurality of apertures  110  extending through the body  105 . The plurality of apertures  109  are aligned in rows and columns. In an example, the number of rows equals the number of columns. In the  FIG. 1  illustrated example, there are eleven rows and columns. The number of rows and columns of apertures may depend on the desired amount of light to be blocked by the panel. However, in other example, there may be a non-equal number of rows and columns. The interior body portion  109  includes resembles a web of connecting strips  115  with some strips extending in a first direction and other strips extending in a second direction. In the illustrated example, the strips in the first direction extend in the same direction as the height of the panel. The strips in the second direction extend in the same direction as the width of the panel. Accordingly, when in a plan view, the first direction strips and the second direction strips are perpendicular to each other. In other examples, the various strips need not be perpendicular to each other but can be at various angles, e.g., greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The strips  115  have the same thickness as the band  107 . 
         [0015]    The panel  100  further includes an undulating pattern in the body  105 . The undulation patter creates peaks  121  and valleys  122  in the body  105 . At least one peak is aligned at one of the corners of the apertures  110  or at the intersection of the strips  115 . The peaks  121  and valleys  122  alternate in an example. The peaks  121  and valleys  122  alternate along the entire height of the panel  100 . The apertures  110  extend on two adjacent webs such that the aperture extends onto both an upslope and a downslope of a peak. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the undulating pattern of the panel  100 .  FIG. 3  shows a top end view of the undulating pattern of the panel  100 . In these views it is shown that the peaks  121  and valleys  122  extend through the band  107  to the edge of the panel body  105 . An angle  125  is formed from an adjacent peak  121  to adjacent peak  121  with a valley  122  forming the vertex. It will further be recognized from  FIG. 2  that a peak  121  on one face of the panel body  105  is a valley on the other face. The angle  125  is in the range of about 175 degrees to about 145 degrees. In an example, the angle  125  is in the range of about 170 degrees to about 150 degrees. The angle  125  is in the range of about 165 degrees to about 155 degrees. In an example, the angle  125  is about 160 degrees. The term about in the present paragraph refers to at least ±one degree or at least ±0.5 degree. Moreover, there are a plurality of peaks  121  in the panel body  105 , e.g., at least 3, at least 5, at least 8, or 10 or more peaks in a panel body. In an example, there are six peaks in the panel body  105 . As a peak  121  on one face is a valley on the other face, there are an equal number of peaks and valleys from face to face. 
         [0017]    The panel  100  for ease of construction, durability, and strength is free from glass or polymers in the apertures and in the remaining body  105 . The apertures are therefore through holes that allow light to pass through the panel  100 . However, the interior web of the panel body  105  and the peripheral band  107  block some of the light and reflect it away from the back side of the panel. When the panel  100  is mounted in front of a building wall only a portion of the available sunlight directly impinges on the building itself. In an example, the apertures  110  create a panel  100  that has an open area of about 43%. In an example, the open area of a panel is in the range of about 40-70%. In an example, the open area of a panel is in the range of about 45-60%. The amount of panel open area depends on the application of the panel. For example, in a warm climate, e.g. Saudi Arabia, where it is desirable to keep buildings cooler during the daylight, a lower open area may be used to block more sunlight from impinging on a building. Examples of such an open area are 45% or less. In other applications of the present panel  100 , it may be desirable to have more open area as the panel is adapted to protect the building from catastrophic events, such as severe weather, e.g., hurricane, typhoon, tornado, tsunami, etc. or human caused damage, e.g., riot, military action, etc. These applications may have an open area of 70% or less. In cooler climates, i.e., 45 degrees or greater north or south of the equator, there is a tradeoff in the amount of sunlight that is designed in the summer versus the winter. The undulations may assist in allowing sunlight from a lower elevations (winter sunlight), into the building while blocking light at higher elevations (summer sunlight). The webs in the panel  100  act to cover a portion of the aperture at higher inclinations and thus may block greater sublight in summer than in winter. 
         [0018]    To fabricate the panel  100 , a continuous sheet of material, such as a metal as described herein, is cut into individual panels  100 . The apertures  110  are cut or punched into the interior body portion  109 . The outside edge is left whole to form the band  105 . If needed, the attachment points are also punched or cut in the area of the band  105 . Various methods of cutting can be used, such as water jet, plasma, laser, etc. Thereafter, the panel  100  is placed in a press to form the undulation pattern, e.g., the peaks and valleys, in the entire body  105 , i.e., the band  105  and interior body portion  109 . In another embodiment, the panel  100  is roll formed after the apertures  110  are punched to form the undulation pattern. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of a panel system  400  that includes a panel  100 , a support system  405 , and a walkway  410 . The panel system  400  is adapted to be attached to a building with the panel  100  being spaced from the building. The support system  405  includes an elongate brace  407  that has a first end fixed to a building (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) and a second end that supports a fastener assembly  409 . Fastener assembly  409  is to fix to a connection point of the panel  100 . In the illustrated example, the fastener assembly includes a plate  411  to which is fixed a plurality of fasteners  413 . In an example, the fastener assembly  409  is in the shape of a plus sign (+) with a connection point at the distal end of at least two and, preferably each cantilevered arm. The plus sign design includes a central body that provides a connection to a support and the arms that extend therefrom to provide the connection points to the panel. Each arm can connect to one panel. At least fastener  413  is fixed to a connection point on the panel  100 . The fastener  413  can be a bolt, screw, or rivet. The fastener  413  has a portion engaging the panel that cannot be released from the outside of the panel  100  remote from the support system. The panel  100 , as shown, has a parallelogram shape, here a rhombus, with connection points at each vertex. One connection point is connected to a respective plate  411  with four different panels  100  connected to each plate. Thus, a plate  100  with four vertices is fixed to the support system  405  at four connection points. 
         [0020]    The walkway  410  includes one deck section  421  extending between and fixed to two adjacent braces  407 . An end of the deck section  421  extends onto half or less of the top surface of the brace  407  to allow adjacent deck sections to be fixed to the same brace  407 . The deck section  421  has a web interior with apertures therethrough to allow moisture, air, and light to pass through the deck section. Various patterns can be used for the web interior of the deck section. Any pattern with apertures therein to allow moisture to travel through the deck section  421  can be used. In another example, a solid deck section is used. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a plurality of panels  100  supported by a support system  405  on one side of a building  501 . The building  501  is a multi-floor  510  commercial building such as an office building, apartment building, or an industrial building. The building  501  can be a high rise building of the design with interior steel cages that support the weight of the building. Building  501  includes exterior walls  515  that define the interior space on each floor  510 . The support system  405  extends outwardly of the exterior wall  515  to support the panels  100  at a position remote from the building&#39;s exterior wall  515 . A walkway  410  can be positioned in the space between the exterior wall  515  and panels  100 . However, a walkway is not required at each floor. The walkway  410  can further be a temporary structure that can be inserted and removed from the support system  405  as needed, for example, if maintenance is required. 
         [0022]    The panel system  400  is shown on only one side of the building, nonetheless, it will be recognized that the panel system can extend around the entire building  501 , e.g., all sides. It is desired that the panel system face at least the southern direction to reflect light from the exterior of the building. In another example, the panel system may face the direction that severe weather may impact the building  501 . The panel system  400  can extend from the ground to the top of the building  501  in one example. In another example, the panel system  400  does not cover each floor, e.g., the first floor or lower floors may not be covered. Due to the modular nature of the panels  100  in the panel system  400 , some panels can be left off and others can be partial panels, here, triangle shaped panels so as not to cover entire floors where it is desired to received full sunlight. The panels  100  are aligned with windows on the building  501  as well as solid walls to assist in blocking sunlight and keeping the building cool. In an example, the panels  100  can be removed from the support and reversed and reattached. This may extend the life of any coating on the panels  100 . In a further example, different coatings can be applied to the two sides of the panel. The panels can be reversed as desired to change the exterior look of the building or the look of the panel system from inside the building. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a free standing panel system  600  that includes a plurality of panels  100  fixed to a support system  605 . The support system  605  is an essentially free standing system that can have some connection points to the building. The support system  605  does not include a walkway, optionally. Support system  605  includes a plurality of metal bars  607  that extend vertically and horizontally to form a frame on which the plates  613  are fixed. The plates  613  can be the same as plates  413  described herein. The panels  100  are fixed to the frame of bars  607 , for example, at plates  613 . The system  600  can be placed adjacent a location that needs to be shaded or protected as a free standing structure. 
         [0024]    The panels systems  400  and  600  are fixed in place, that is the panels remain in place once installed. The individual panels  100  in the systems  400 ,  600  are not slidable to control the amount of protection provided by the panel system. Accordingly, the amount of protection and strength of panel is calculated before installation and the panels are manufactured accordingly with a certain gauge of metal, size and shape of apertures, number of apertures, and the pitch of the undulations. The panel system  400  or  600  acts to block some sunlight from the building to assist in reducing cooling costs, while at the same time allowing some sunlight through to enhance the environment for the people working in the building and not require the building to be completely lit by artificial lighting. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the undulation pattern in the panel body  105  undulates in the vertical direction of the panel in its installed state. The peaks and valleys extend in a horizontal line across the entire width of the panel in its installed state. 
         [0026]    In a further example, the panels  100  of a system installed on a building are of different dimensions to create different effects and protections to the building. In an example, a plurality of panels  100  has a plurality of heights and widths. In an example, the open areas of different panels (percentage of aperture area as compared to the area of the whole of the panel) are different, e.g., a first group of panels can be solid, i.e., no open area and other groups of panels can have open areas as described herein. Accordingly, it can be said that a first group of panels has a first property and a second group of panels has a second property. The first property is different from the second property. The differing properties can be finishes as well as size of the panels or size of the apertures. 
         [0027]    The panel systems as described herein may also be installed inside buildings or around the exterior of the building to divide the interior space for flow control or security. Moreover, the use of the presently described panels can be used to emphasize sunlight in some regions of a building such as an atrium or the entryway. This way be useful in region that lack sunlight whereby the amount of sunlight in a particular interior volume of the building can be increased by reflecting the light in a certain direction utilizing the pattern in the panels. 
         [0028]    The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4