GB2452983A

GB2452983A - Mesh Reinforced Twin-Wall Panel

Info

Publication number: GB2452983A
Application number: GB0718533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Bridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-24
Filing date: 2007-09-24
Publication date: 2009-03-25
Also published as: GB0718533D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel structure 10 comprising a reinforcing member of malleable mesh 20, and a self supporting member comprising a twin-wall material layer 15 disposed between and outside the mesh as a continuous sheet. Lateral members of reinforcement 30 are inserted into the lateral profile of the sheet, and are joined together at their extremities by longitudinal reinforcement members 25. Additional longitudinal reinforcement 35 may be added within the extent of the twin-wall material, and or additional reinforcement 40 added outside the extent of the twin-wall material. Preferably the twin-walled material may be a plastics material such as polypropylene with multiple adjacent cavities separated by transverse internal walls.

Description

Mesh Reinforced Twin-Wall Panel The present invention relates to panel structures.

Panel structures are used for a wide variety of purposes, each having different performance requirements, such as strength, weight, cost and the like.

Reinforced panel structures such as mesh reinforced glass or glass reinforced plastics are rigid, and cannot be post-bent or post-formed. Reinforcement of plastics is difficult due to the differences of expansion and contraction between materials.

The present invention provides a panel structure having a reinforcing member of malleable mesh, and self supporting member comprising a twin-wall material layer disposed between the mesh, and outside the mesh as a continuous sheet. Lateral members of reinforcement are inserted into the lateral profile of the sheet, and are joined together at their extremities by longitudinal reinforcement members.

The self supporting material layer is held captive over and around the lateral members of mesh, and is held captive at its lateral extremity by the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members of the mesh are attached to the lateral members by means of welding, bonding, or mechanical means. The mesh is held captive within and at the extremities of the self supporting material. The reinforcement mesh may have added longitudinal members at any point between the extreme longitudinal members. The extreme longitudinal members may be disposed at any distance from the extremity of the self supporting material.

Longitudinal members may be added between the extreme longitudinal members and the extremity of the self supporting material. The self supporting material may be cut to enable positioning and or attachment of members, or may be cut to enable shape of the panel. More than one panel may be joined to another panel, either by rigid fixing, articulation, or removable fixing or joint.

The reinforcing member may be a mesh of solid mild steel wires disposed in a grid layout.

Preferably the self supporting member comprises sheet or sheets of twin-wall plastic. Twin wall plastic has multiple adjoining cavities separated by transverse internal walls situated perpendicular to and between and integral to the external walls, and only extending in one direction, which is referred to in this text as the lateral. The self supporting material may be typically between 3 and 12mm overall thickness, and the profile of the cavities typically between 2.5 and 10mm, as square or rectangular sections.

The lateral members of the mesh may be a tight or loose fit within the extent of the lateral cavities, and may be positioned at spacing appropriate to requirements of strength.

The lateral and or longitudinal members of the mesh may be bent or shaped, typically after insertion of lateral members to the cavities of the self supporting material. The material twin-wall material is typically of resilient plastic, such as Polypropylene, so that it follows the bend and or contour of the internal lateral mesh member[s]. In this way the self supporting material can be permanently shaped and this shape therefore reinforced in strength by the reinforcing member[s].

Thus, when assembled, a malleable but resilient panel structure is provided. The panel is relatively rigid and is strong, and can be post-formed or bent using appropriate means. Such panels may be used for making containers, formwork, separators, and the like. More than one sheet structure may be laminated together, to provide a multi-layered panel. These layers may embody inter-layered laminates of added different materials, therefore providing enhanced characteristics.

Embodiments of the present invention, and examples and methods for forming them, will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs 1A and lB are, respectively, views of the plan and edge of an example panel structure; Fig 1C is a side view of such a panel, having a bend; Figs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F represent diagrammatic plan and side elevation respectively and of different uses, as examples described below. The numeric annotations comply with those of Figs 1A, lB and 1C.

Fig 1A illustrates the plan and first example of a panel structure 10. The structure has a member 15 of self supporting material, and a mesh 20 of relatively rigid reinforcement 25 and 30. The self supporting material is disposed around at least most of the mesh by means now described.

The self supporting material 15 extends within the longitudinal members of the mesh 25 and the lateral members of the mesh 30 are disposed within lateral extending cavity[ies] of the self supporting material. The walls of the self supporting material 15 cover the lateral members, and the positioning of the self supporting material is within the longitudinal members. Further longitudinal members 35 may be added, by cutting away or stopping the extent of material. Longitudinal members may be positioned 40 remote to the extremity[ies] of self supporting material, as replacement or addition to longitudinal member[s] 25.

Fig 1 B illustrates a diagrammatic edge view of the panel structure 10. The mesh 20 is built up of wires set at axis 90° to each other. The layers 15 are shown to be generally continuous around the mesh 20, and are contiguous or continuous with vertical walls 50. The layer or layers of the self supporting material may be joined at one or more positions between and or through the mesh. Thickness of the panel structure is denoted by arrows 45.

Fig IC illustrates the sheet structure 10 having continuous self supporting material applied 15, and or inter-disposed added longitudinal member[s] 35 to increase strength as required.

The panel 10 may be bent as an integral structure, and as shown 45, or formed by press tool 50.

A wide range of materials and material combinations can be used for manufacturing the examples described above, as has been noted, and the preferred materials are wire mesh and twin-wall plastic sheet. Thus, panels can be designed to meet a wide range of economy to intrinsic specifications. Cost can be less than comparable strength materials, weight can be less, yet extremely high performances can be achieved for specific applications, such as fencing.

Typical applications might be channels, boarding, pallets, formwork, containers, lightweight building panels or roofing sections.

Enhanced structural performance for specific uses can be achieved by post-forming contours or bending into beam like sections. The ability to fold the material reduces the necessity of connectors and joints, although these may be incorporated in some structures. Where the strength of materials and or mesh combination inhibits bending or forming, pre-form tooling may be used.

Whilst endeavounng in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that I, the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patent-able feature or combination of features herein-before referred to and or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A panel structure having a reinforcing member of malleable mesh, and self supporting member comprising a twin-wall material layer disposed between the mesh, and outside the mesh as a continuous sheet. Lateral members of reinforcement are inserted into the lateral profile of the sheet, and are joined together at their extremities by longitudinal reinforcement members.
2. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting matenal layer is held captive over and around the lateral members of mesh, and is held captive at its lateral extremity by the longitudinal members.
3. A structure according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal members of the mesh are attached to the lateral members by means of welding, bonding, or mechanical means.
4. A structure according to claim 1, in which the mesh is held captive within and at the extremities of the self supporting material.
5. A structure according to claim 1, in which the mesh may have added longitudinal members at any point between the extreme longitudinal members.
6. A structure according to claim 1, in which extreme longitudinal members may be disposed at any distance from the extremity of the self supporting material.
7. A structure according to claim 1, in which longitudinal members may be added between the extreme longitudinal members and the extremity of the self supporting material. * Is
8. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting material may be cut to enable access for positioning and or attachment of members. *5 *
9. A structure according to claim 1, in which more than one panel may be joined to another panel, either by rigid fixing, articulation, or removable fixing or joint.

I
10. A structure according to claim 1, in which the reinforcing member may be a mesh of solid mild steel wires disposed in a grid layout.
II. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting material is a twin wall plastic having multiple adjoining cavities separated by transverse internal walls situated perpendicular to and between and integral to the external walls, and only extending in one direction.
12. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, in which reference to the lateral and longitudinal implies direction and not difference between length and width.
13. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, to which post bending can be done at any point and in either lateral and or longitudinal direction.
14. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, in which longitudinal reinforcement members are attached to lateral reinforcement members to increase stiffness of the structure.

14. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, in which longitudinal reinforcement members are attached to lateral reinforcement members to increase stiffness of the structure.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A bendable panel structure having a reinforcing member of malleable wire, and self supporting member comprising a twin-wall material layer disposed between the wire, and outside the wire as a continuous sheet, and lateral members of reinforcement are inserted into the lateral profile of the sheet, and are joined together at their extremities by longitudinal reinforcement members.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting material layer is held captive over and around the lateral members of wire, and is held captive at its lateral extremity by the longitudinal members.

3. A structure according to claim 1, in which the longitudinal members of the wires are attached to the lateral members by means of weld, bonding, or mechanical means.

4. A structure according to claim 1, in which the wire is held captive within and at the extremities of the self supporting material.

5. A structure according to claim 1, in which the wire may have added longitudinal members at any point between the extreme longitudinal members.

6. A structure according to claim 1, in which extreme longitudinal members may be disposed at any distance from the extremity of the self supporting material.

7. A structure according to claim 1, in which longitudinal members may be added between the extreme longitudinal members and the extremity of the self supporting material.

8. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting material may be cut to enable access for positioning and or attachment of members. S...

9. A structure according to claim 1, in which more than one panel may be joined to another panel, either by rigid fixing, articulation, or removable fixing or joint.

10. A structure according to claim 1, in which the reinforcing member may be an arrangement of solid mild steel wires disposed in a grid layout. *5*S

11. A structure according to claim 1, in which the self supporting material is a twin wall plastic having muftiple adjoining cavities separated by transverse internal :..: * walls situated perpendicular to and between and integral to the external walls, * and only extending in one direction. *.. * S

12. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, in which reference to the lateral and longitudinal implies direction and not difference between length and width.

13. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, to which post bending can be done at any point and in either lateral and or longitudinal direction.