Cladding system and panel for use in such system

Abstract

A cladding system for walls or ceilings of a building structure consisting of a panel or panels that are sectioned so as to provide a variety of aesthetics. The sections in the panel may be joined along articulated lines of joinder so that an entire panel comprised of a plurality of sections can be expanded or retracted to either cover or selectively expose the wall or ceiling across which the system is mounted. The sections in a panel may be cellular and may thereby form a honeycomb-type panel, and the materials from which the panels are made may vary between being rigid, flexible, hard, soft, flat, reflective, and the like. Panels can be supported with side rails extending along each side of the panel while not requiring cross rails so that, for example, when a panel is used in a ceiling system and retracted from its expanded condition beneath a ceiling structure, generous access is provided to the ceiling structure for repair or other work on utilities such as plumbing, electrical, and the like that are found embedded in the ceiling. Intermediate rails, parallel to the side rails, can also be provided, if necessary, to support a panel along intermediate portions thereof or between adjacent panels. The supporting rails for the panels can take on numerous configurations so as to support the panels in varied ways depending to some degree upon the particular panel construction being utilized.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including a plurality of side-by-side elongated hollow cells interconnected along longitudinal lines of articulation.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including a core of a sound absorptive materials in said cells.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cells define walls having perforations.  
     
     
         4 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including a plurality of side-by-side elongated cells interconnected along longitudinal lines of articulation, said cells including opposite ends and wherein said support structure supports said cells at said opposite ends, said support structure further including rails of generally L-shaped transverse cross-section and said ends of said cells having a slot formed therein adapted to be slightably received on a rail.  
     
     
         5 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel and substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including a plurality of side-by-side elongated cells interconnected along longitudinal lines of articulation and wherein said cells have opposite ends and said support structure supports said cells at said opposite ends, said support structure further including rails of generally J-shaped transverse cross-section and said ends of said cells having a slot formed therein of substantially L-shaped transverse cross-section adapted to be slightably received on a rail and wherein the rails further include an auxiliary leg adapted to externally support said cells.  
     
     
         6 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including at least one flexible sheet and substantially parallel lines of delineation establishing indentations at spaced intervals in said panel.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said lines of delineation are defined by pleats formed in said sheet.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said pleats have opposite ends, said support structure includes rails, and said opposite ends of said pleats are adapted to cooperate with said rails for supporting said panel.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said pleats include rigid support members at opposite ends adapted to operatively cooperate with said rails in supporting said panel.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said support structure includes support clamps secured to said pleats for suspending said panel.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said clamps are adapted to pierce said pleats.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6  further including a backing sheet secured to said first mentioned sheet so as to extend substantially parallel thereto.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said backing sheet and said first mentioned sheet define cells between said lines of delineation.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said cells confine a core of sound absorbing material.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said sheet is formed from a plurality of adjacent strips of flexible material.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said strips have side edges and further including clips for securing the adjacent side edges of adjacent strips together.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  further including a backing strip associated with each of said first mentioned strips.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said first mentioned strips are wider than said backing strips so as to droop relative to said backing strips.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said backing strips and said first mentioned strips are of substantially the same width but said backing strips are gathered adjacent at least one side edge thereof to make the effective width narrower than said first mentioned strips whereby said first mentioned strips droop relative to said backing strips.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 7  further including a plurality of backing strips extending perpendicularly to and being secured to said pleats.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 7  further including a plurality of backing cords extending perpendicularly to and being secured to said pleats.  
     
     
         22 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel comprising a plurality of adjacent elongated backing strips having side edges, a plurality of adjacent elongated facing strips having side edges confronting associated backing strips, elongated clips securing associated side edges of said backing strips and facing strips, anchoring strips for securing together adjacent clips, and fasteners for securing said anchoring strips to the support structure.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein cells are defined between said backing strips and facing strips and further including cores of sound absorptive material in said cells.  
     
     
         24 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure or for dividing space within said building structures, said panel including a backing sheet and a plurality of substantially incompressible, pivotally interconnected slats having first and second edges with said first edge of each slat being pivotally connected to said backing sheet and said second edge being pivotally connected to a corresponding edge of an adjacent slat whereby said backing sheet in combination with a pair of slats defines a cell of generally triangular cross-section.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said backing sheet is made of a flexible but substantially non-elastic material.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said slats are flat.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said slats are arcuate in transverse cross-section.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said slats are generally S-shaped in transverse cross-section.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said slats are integrally connected to adjacent slats.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said slats are laminates of two different materials.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said backing sheet includes pleats formed therein in alignment with a pair of interconnected slats.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein said pleats are directed outwardly.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein said pleats are directed inwardly.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said panel has side edges and said support structure includes rails adapted to support said side edges.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein said rails are of generally C-shaped cross-section so as to define a channel in which said side edges are confined.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein said rails include adjustments for varying the width of said channel.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein narrowing of said channel compresses the side edges of said panel causing said backing sheet to be drawn taut.  
     
     
         38 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including a backing sheet and at least one flexible facing sheet interconnected to said backing sheet at pre-selected intervals along lines of attachment so as to define a plurality of cells between said backing and facing sheets, and a substantially incompressible truss in each cell retaining a separated relationship of said backing and facing sheets except along said lines of attachment.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said facing sheets comprises a plurality of strips having side edges secured to said backing sheet.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein said side edges of said strips are secured to said backing sheet in overlapping relationship with an adjacent strip.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39  wherein said side edges of said strips are secured to said backing sheet in spaced relationship from the side edges of adjacent strips.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said backing sheet is made of a sound absorptive material.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said facing sheet is made of a laminate of two different materials.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said panel has side edges and said support structure includes generally C-shaped rails for supporting said side edges.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said trusses are of I-shaped transverse cross-section.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said trusses are of generally C-shaped transverse cross-section.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said trusses are corrugated.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45  wherein each of said trusses defines a main body portion extending substantially perpendicularly to said facing sheet and backing sheet and a pair of transverse legs secured respectively to said facing sheet and backing sheets, said transverse legs conforming to the contours of said facing sheet and backing sheet at the locations of securement.  
     
     
         49 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel including at least one substantially rigid sheet having formed therein a plurality of side-by-side elongated sections and parallel lines with indentation between said sections.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein said sections have a front face and a back face with a pocket formed in said back face.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  further including a core of sound absorbing material in said pockets.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51  wherein said panel is perforated.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 49  wherein said panel includes side edges and said support structure includes means for supporting said side edges.  
     
     
         54 . A cladding system for building structures comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall or ceiling of said building structure, said panel comprising a sheet having a plurality of parallel folds which alternate in direction.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  wherein said sheet is made of substantially semi rigid material.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54  further including at least one substantially non-elastic strip extending transversely to said folds and being secured to said folds.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54  wherein said panel has side edges and said support structure includes rails adapted to support said side edges.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein said side edges include slots adapted to cooperate with said rails in supporting said panel.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 54  wherein said sheet is folded upon itself at every other fold so as to define a plurality of pleats at every other fold.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59  further including a backing sheet secured to said first mentioned sheet at said pleats.  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 59  wherein said pleats include slots aligned with the slots in the other pleats and said support structure includes a rail adapted to cooperate with said aligned slots in supporting the panel.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 60  wherein said backing sheet includes folds between the locations of securement to said first mentioned sheet.  
     
     
         63 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel comprising a sheet of flexible material, said sheet having oppositely directed alternating parallel folds defining walls of said panel between said folds, said material being affixed to itself along at least one of said folds to define a tab and wherein said walls are arcuate.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63  further including passages through said tabs and an elongated member extending through said passages.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64  wherein said material is affixed to itself along both of said folds.  
     
     
         66 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel comprising a first sheet having a first set of pleats and a second set of oppositely directed pleats alternated with said first set of pleats and a second sheet having a first set of pleats and a second set of oppositely directed pleats alternated with said first set of pleats of said second sheet, said first set of pleats on said first sheet oriented in the same direction as said first set of pleats on said second sheet, said sheets being joined by connecting the first set of pleats on said one sheet with said second set of pleats on said second sheet.  
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66  wherein said sheets define a plurality of adjacent cells therebetween.  
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 66  wherein said second set of pleats on said second sheet define channels and said first set of pleats on said first sheet are joined to said second sheet in said channels.  
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 66  wherein said second sheet is comprised of a plurality of adjacent strips having side edges, the side edges of the adjacent strip being overlapped and secured together to form said second sheet.  
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 68  wherein said first sheet is comprised of a plurality of adjacent strips having side edges, the side edges of adjacent strips meeting within said channels in the second sheet and being secured to said second sheet in said channels.  
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70  wherein a side edge of one strip is folded within said channel of a side edge of an adjacent strip is received with said folded side edge.  
     
     
         72 . A panel for sue in a cladding system, said panel comprising in combination a first substantially flat sheet and a second sheet secured to said first sheet along spaced parallel lines of attachment so as to define cells between said lines of attachment.  
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72  wherein said second sheet has pleats between said lines of attachment so as to define walls of said cells, said walls being arcuate in configuration.  
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 73  wherein said second sheet is secured to itself along said pleats.  
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 72  wherein said second sheet has pleats between said lines of attachment so as to define walls of said cells, said walls being flat in configuration.  
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75  wherein said second sheet has flat surfaces along said lines of attachment.  
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 72  wherein said second sheet has at least two folds between said lines of attachment to define a plurality of flat walls.  
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 77  wherein said cells are quadrilateral in configuration.  
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 72  wherein said second sheet is scalloped to define substantially semi-circular configured cells.  
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 66  wherein said second set of pleats on said second sheet overlap and are offset from while being contiguous with said first set of pleats on said first sheet.  
     
     
         81 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel comprising a sheet of flexible material, said sheet having oppositely directed alternating sets of parallel folds defining walls of said panel between said folds, said material being affixed to itself adjacent to one set of said folds so as to define a passage within said fold, and an elongated support member in said passage.  
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 81  wherein said passage is formed by folding said fold upon itself and affixing the fold to itself.  
     
     
         83 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel having a first relatively flat sheet and a second sheet, said second sheet having oppositely directed and alternating sets of folds, said second sheet along one set of folds being secured to itself to define walls of double thickness and said one set of folds being secured to said first sheet along lines of attachment to define cells between said lines of attachment.  
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83  wherein said lines of attachment are variably spaced.  
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 84  wherein the other of said sets of folds are creases.  
     
     
         86 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel comprising in combination a plurality of interconnected cells being formed from strips of material having side edges secured to each other to define a projecting tab, said cells further having opposed flat walls with a flat wall of one cell being secured to a flat wall of an adjacent cell.  
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 96  wherein said tabs on said cells extend in parallel relationship to each other.  
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 86  wherein said cells further include a pleat formed therein on the opposite side of said cell from said tab.  
     
     
         89 . A panel for use in a cladding system, said panel comprising a first substantially flat sheet having a plurality of parallel creases formed therein and a second sheet having a plurality of parallel creases formed therein, said second sheet further being folded upon and secured to itself between the creases therein, said folds being secured to said first sheet along lines of attachment between said creases in the first sheet to thereby form a plurality of cells between said first and second sheets.  
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 89  wherein said creases in said first and second sheets are directed in the same direction.  
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 89  wherein said second sheet contains approximately three times as much material as said first sheet between lines of attachment.  
     
     
         92 . The system of claims  72 ,  83  or  89  wherein said first sheet is flexible.  
     
     
         93 . A panel for a cladding system, said panel including a flexible folded material that becomes substantially rigid upon expansion.  
     
     
         94 . A panel for a cladding system, said panel including a flexible folded material that becomes substantially rigid upon exposure.  
     
     
         95 . A cladding system for a building structure comprising in combination a panel and a support structure for retaining the panel in a substantially planar orientation covering a wall where ceiling of said building structure, said panel including at least one flexible sheet and substantially parallel lines of the delineation establishing at indentations at spaced intervals in said panel.  
     
     
         96 . Wherein said sheet droops between said lines of delineation.  
     
     
         97 . Wherein said lines of delineation are defined by pleats formed in said sheet.  
     
     
         98 . Wherein said support structure includes support clamps secured to said pleats for suspending said panel.  
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98  where said clamps are adapted to capture at least a portion of said pleat.