Support panel

Abstract

The present invention concerns an air permeable panel ( 1 ) for an intermediate cladding layer having filtering characteristics. Such cladding layers are for use in breathing buildings where the building walls provide filtering characteristics. The panel comprises a plurality of projections ( 3 ) interconnected in a lattice configuration, said projections being arranged to face in a common direction for engagement in use with said intermediate cladding layer. The projections ( 3 ) are formed from pointed hollowed elements, which are interspersed with apertures.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . A breathing wall air permeable panel for an intermediate cladding layer having filtering characteristics, said breathing wall air permeable panel comprising: 
 a plurality of projections interconnected in a lattice configuration, said projections each having a tip portion, the respective tip portions being arranged to face in a common direction for engagement, in use, with said intermediate cladding layer, each said projection further having a base periphery at which adjacent projections are interconnected, the base peripheries being interconnected such that apertures are defined between the base peripheries in the lattice configuration.    
     
     
         37 . An air permeable panel according to  claim 36 , wherein said projections have a pyramidal form.  
     
     
         38 . An air permeable panel according to  claim 36 , wherein the projections are provided as a hollowed element.  
     
     
         39 . An air permeable panel according to  claim 36 , wherein the projections are configured to restrict penetration thereof into the intermediate cladding layer.  
     
     
         40 . An air permeable panel according to  claim 39 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each projection increases along its longitudinal axis away from their tip portion.  
     
     
         41 . A building cladding system incorporating an air permeable panel according to  claim 36;  wherein a panel is provided on one or both faces of said intermediate cladding layer.  
     
     
         42 . A building cladding system according to  claim 41 , further comprising a wall member, adjacent the panel and coupled thereto.  
     
     
         43 . A building cladding system according to  claim 42 , comprising internal and external wall members within which the panel and intermediate cladding layer are provided.  
     
     
         44 . A building cladding system according to  claim 42 , further comprising one or more edge members, configured to interconnect adjacent intermediate cladding layers.  
     
     
         45 . A building cladding system according to  claim 44 , wherein the edge members have limbs in a cross formation, the limbs being inclined similarly to surfaces of the projections on adjacent panels for abutment thereto.  
     
     
         46 . A breathing wall air permeable panel for an intermediate cladding layer having filtering characteristics, the panel comprising: 
 a plurality of hollowed elements interconnected in a planar lattice arrangement, said hollowed elements facing in a common direction and being interspersed with apertures, the hollowed elements being interconnected at their base peripheries to define said apertures therebetween.    
     
     
         47 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the hollowed elements have a pointed outer surface for engaging said intermediate cladding layer.  
     
     
         48 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein each hollowed element has a pyramidal form.  
     
     
         49 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the intermediate layer has a graduated filtering profile.  
     
     
         50 . A panel according to  claim 49 , wherein the filtering characteristics of the intermediate layer are such as to trap relatively large particles towards an outer surface thereof and to trap relatively smaller particles towards the inner surface thereof.  
     
     
         51 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the intermediate layer has thermal and/or sound insulating properties.  
     
     
         52 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein intermediate layer comprises one or more of: mineral wool, wet-blown cellulose and glass wool.  
     
     
         53 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the intermediate layer is provided in the form of one or more of: membranes, fibres, pulp or cellular based (foam or sponge) materials, or modified aerated concrete.  
     
     
         54 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the cladding material comprises filter materials for one or more of: particulate emissions, gas pollutants, chemical agents and biological agents.  
     
     
         55 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the cladding material is provided in the form of panel units.  
     
     
         56 . A panel according to  claim 55 , wherein the panel units are provided in modular format.  
     
     
         57 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed of a plurality of one or more separate filter layers, of different filtering characteristics.  
     
     
         58 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein each filter layer of the intermediate layer is selected to extract a specified range of particle sizes, gaseous pollutants, chemical pollutants, and/or biological agents.  
     
     
         59 . A panel according to  claim 58 , wherein the separate filter layers of the intermediate layer together define substantially the complete filter spectrum of particulate and other pollution.  
     
     
         60 . A panel according to  claim 57 , wherein the or each filter layer of the intermediate layer is independently replaceable.  
     
     
         61 . A panel according to  claim 57 , wherein the or each filter layer of the intermediate layer comprises one or more disposable filter elements.  
     
     
         62 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the panel is pressed from a single sheet.  
     
     
         63 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the panel is moulded from a plastics material.  
     
     
         64 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the panel is formed of fire retardant materials.  
     
     
         65 . A panel according to  claim 46 , wherein in use with the hollowed elements at or adjacent the intermediate layer, the apertures present an opening of expanding volume onto the intermediate layer.