Construction panel

Abstract

This application relates to a light-weight, multi-purpose construction panel. The panel may be formed, for example, from molded plastic. Each panel includes a substantially planar deck on a first side thereof and a second side comprising alternating male and female sleeves arranged in honeycomb-like compartments defined by a plurality of wall elements. A pair of panels may be releasably coupled together with their respective second sides facing inwardly to form a construction assembly. When a pair of panels is coupled together, the male sleeves of one panel matingly fit within the females sleeves of the other panel, and vice versa. Each panel may also include guide tubes which are aligned when the panels are coupled together. A plurality of channels may be formed in the deck on the first side of the panel and spaced-apart apertures may be arranged in the channels in alignment with the guide tubes for insertion of fasteners therein or to allow water drainage through the assembly. The wall elements may include spaced-apart notches which together define conduits extending through the interior of an assembly when a pair of panels are coupled together. The conduits are sized to receive fluid delivery tubes for delivering fluid, such as heated air or water, through the panel assemblies. The panel assemblies may be used for many different construction applications including flooring, roofing and wall structures.

1 . A construction panel having a first side and a second side, wherein said first side comprises a substantially planar deck and said second side comprises:
 (a) a plurality of first wall elements defining a plurality of compartments therebetween; and   (b) a plurality of sleeves each located in one of said compartments.   
   
   
       2 . The panel as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said deck has a plurality of spaced-apart channels formed therein. 
   
   
       3 . The panel as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said channels subdivide said deck into a plurality of quadrilateral or triangular shaped deck segments. 
   
   
       4 . The panel as defined in  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through said panel between said first and second sides. 
   
   
       5 . The panel as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said apertures are located in said channels. 
   
   
       6 . The panel as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeves comprise a first group of female sleeves having a first height and a second group of male sleeves having a second height exceeding said first height, wherein said male sleeves of one of said panels are sized to fit within said female sleeves of another one of said panels. 
   
   
       7 . The panel as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said sleeves are cylinders each having an open end at a location furthest from said deck. 
   
   
       8 . The panel as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said female sleeves have a diameter exceeding a diameter of said male sleeves. 
   
   
       9 . The panel as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said first wall elements have a height substantially the same as said first height. 
   
   
       10 . The panel as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said female and male sleeves are arranged within said compartments in an alternating array. 
   
   
       11 . The panel as defined in  claim 10 , wherein each of said compartments is further subdivided into a plurality of subcompartments defined by a plurality of second wall elements, each of said second wall elements extending between one of said first wall elements and one of said sleeves. 
   
   
       12 . The panel as defined in  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of guide tubes, wherein each of said guide tubes is located within one of said subcompartments. 
   
   
       13 . The panel as defined in  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through said panel between said first and second sides, wherein each of said guide tubes is aligned with one of said apertures. 
   
   
       14 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each of said guide tubes further comprises a support rib connecting said tube to a corresponding one of said sleeves. 
   
   
       15 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each of said tubes is said first height. 
   
   
       16 . The panel as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said first wall elements comprise notches located at positions where said at least some wall elements intersect with other wall elements. 
   
   
       17 . The panel as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said notches are linearly aligned. 
   
   
       18 . The panel as defined in  claim 17 , wherein each of said notches has a semi-circular profile. 
   
   
       19 . The panel as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said panel is rectangular and wherein some of said first wall elements extend longitudinally and other of said first wall elements extend transversely, whereby said compartments are generally square in shape. 
   
   
       20 . The panel as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said panel is approximately 32″×48″ in size. 
   
   
       21 . The panel as defined in  claim 19 , wherein at least some of said wall elements which extend longitudinally comprise said notches aligned linearly. 
   
   
       22 . The panel as defined in  claim 19 , wherein at least some of said wall elements which extend transversely comprise said notches aligned linearly. 
   
   
       23 . The panel as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least some of said first wall elements and said second wall elements comprise notches located at positions where said at least some wall elements intersect with other wall elements. 
   
   
       24 . The panel as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said notches are linearly aligned. 
   
   
       25 . The panel as defined in  claim 24 , wherein each of said notches has a semi-circular profile. 
   
   
       26 . A construction assembly comprising at least two construction panels as defined in  claim 1  coupled together, wherein said second side of one of said panels releasably engages said second side of another one of said panels. 
   
   
       27 . The assembly as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said assembly comprises a first group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment and a second group of said panels arranged adjacent one another with said first and second sides in alignment, wherein said second sides of said first group of panels engages said second sides of said second group of panels, wherein at least some of said panels in said second group overlap multiple panels in said first group to connect said multiple panels together. 
   
   
       28 . The assembly as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said sleeves of each of said panels comprise a first group of female sleeves having a first height and a second group of male sleeves having a second height exceeding said first height, wherein said male sleeves of said one of said panels are sized to fit within said female sleeves of said another one of said panels and vice versa. 
   
   
       29 . The assembly as defined in  claim 28 , wherein, in each of said panels, said female and male sleeves are arranged within said compartments in an alternating array. 
   
   
       30 . The assembly as defined in  claim 29 , wherein, in each of said panels, each of said of said compartments is further subdivided into a plurality of subcompartments defined by a plurality of second wall elements, each of said second wall elements extending between one of said first wall elements and one of said sleeves. 
   
   
       31 . The assembly as defined in  claim 30 , wherein each of said panels comprises a plurality of guide tubes, wherein each of said guide tubes is located within one of said subcompartments. 
   
   
       32 . The assembly as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said guide tubes of said one of said panels is aligned with said guide tubes of said another one of said panels. 
   
   
       33 . The assembly as defined in  claim 32 , comprising a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending through each of said panels between said first and second sides thereof, wherein each of said guide tubes is aligned with an aligned pair of said apertures. 
   
   
       34 . A construction assembly comprising at least two construction panels as defined in  claim 17  coupled together, wherein said second side of one of said panels releasably engages said second side of another one of said panels, and wherein said linearly aligned notches of said one of said panels are aligned with said linearly aligned notches of said another one of said panels to together define an elongated conduit extending through the interior of said assembly. 
   
   
       35 . The assembly as defined in  claim 34 , wherein each of said notches is semi-circular and wherein said conduit is generally cylindrical in profile. 
   
   
       36 . The assembly as defined in  claim 35 , comprising a tube insertable in said conduit. 
   
   
       37 . The assembly as defined in  claim 36 , wherein said tube is a fluid delivery tube for circulating fluid through said assembly. 
   
   
       38 . The assembly as defined in  claim 37 , wherein said fluid delivery tube is connected to a fluid supply and a pump for flowing fluid through said tube. 
   
   
       39 . The assembly as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said fluid is heated. 
   
   
       40 . The assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said tube is a cable for coupling a plurality of said panels together.