Vented panel assembly and method of forming the same

Abstract

A wall system including one or more vented panels configured to be coupled to one another to form one or more wall structures and/or a roof structure of a building. Each vented panel may include a semi-hollow body portion defining one or more passageways therein. The one or more vented panels may be configured to fluidly communicate with one another at least by way of the one or more passageways defined therein, so as to provide continuous flow pattern of air throughout the wall and/or roof structure. The vented panels may be configured to provide a free flow of ventilation air between adjacent walls structures and/or the roof structure, thereby providing adequate ventilation of a building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vented panel assembly comprising:
 a first panel;   a second panel coupled to said first panel by way of at least one spacing member positioned between said first and second panels, said at least one spacing member having a first portion directly coupled an interior surface of said first panel and a second portion directly coupled to an interior surface of said second panel opposing said interior surface of said first panel; and   at least one passageway defined by said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels and said at least one spacing member positioned therebetween, said at least one passageway configured to allow movement of air between said first and second panels.   
     
     
         2 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spacing members positioned between said first and second panels, wherein said plurality of spacing members are spaced equidistantly apart from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of passageways defined by said plurality of spacing members and said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels. 
     
     
         4 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spacing member is coupled to said first and second panels by an adhesive 
     
     
         5 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spacing member is coupled to said first and second panel by one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more fasteners is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, bolts and rivets. 
     
     
         7 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels are spaced a distance apart from one another ranging from 0.025 inches to 24 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels are spaced a distance apart from one another ranging from 0.5 inches to 12 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second panels and said at least one spacing member comprise one or more materials configured to provide sufficient strength, rigidity and/or durability to withstand forces placed thereupon. 
     
     
         10 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said vented panel assembly is configured to serve as a portion of an upstanding wall structure and/or a roof structure. 
     
     
         11 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a third panel coupled to said second panel by way of at least one additional spacing member positioned between said second and third panels, said at least one additional spacing member having a first portion being directly coupled to an exterior surface of said second panel and a second portion being directly coupled to an interior surface of said third panel opposing said exterior surface of said second panel. 
     
     
         12 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said opposing exterior and interior surfaces of said second and third panels, respectively, and said at least one additional spacing member positioned therebetween define at least one additional passageway configured to allow movement of air between said second and third panels. 
     
     
         13 . A wall structure comprising:
 a first vented panel assembly comprising:
 a first panel; 
 a second panel coupled to said first panel by way of at least one spacing member positioned between said first and said second panels, said at least one spacing member having a first portion directly coupled an interior surface of said first panel and a second portion directly coupled to an interior surface of said second panel opposing said interior surface of said first panel; and 
 at least one passageway defined by said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels and said at least one spacing member positioned therebetween, said at least one passageway configured to allow movement of air between said first and second panels; and 
   a second vented panel assembly coupled to said first vented panel assembly, said second vented panel assembly comprising at least one additional passageway configured to allow movement of air within said second vented panel assembly;   wherein said passageways of said first and second vented panel assemblies are coupled to one another and further configured to fluidly communicate with one another to allow movement of air between said first and second vented panel assemblies by way of said passageways.   
     
     
         14 . The wall structure of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second vented panel assemblies form a single continuous structure. 
     
     
         15 . The wall structure of  claim 13 , wherein said second vented panel comprises:
 a third panel; and   a fourth panel coupled to said third panel by way of at least one additional spacing member positioned between said third and fourth panels, said at least one spacing member having a first portion directly coupled an interior surface of said third panel and a second portion directly coupled to an interior surface of said fourth panel opposing said interior surface of said first panel;   wherein said at least one additional passageway is defined by said opposing interior surfaces of said third and fourth panels and said at least one additional spacing member positioned therebetween, said at least one additional passageway configured to allow movement of air between said third and fourth panels.   
     
     
         16 . The wall structure of  claim 15 , wherein exterior surfaces of said first and third panels of said first and second vented panel assemblies, respectively, form a substantially planar first exterior surface of said wall structure and exterior surfaces of said second and fourth panels of said first and second vented panel assemblies, respectively, form a substantially planar second exterior surface of said wall structure. 
     
     
         17 . The wall structure of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second vented panel assemblies comprise one or more materials configured to provide sufficient strength, rigidity and/or durability to withstand forces placed thereupon. 
     
     
         18 . A vented panel assembly comprising:
 a first panel;   a second panel coupled to said first panel by way of a first set of a plurality of spacing members positioned between said first and second panels, each of said first set of spacing members having a first portion directly coupled an interior surface of said first panel and a second portion directly coupled to an interior surface of said second panel opposing said interior surface of said first panel;   a third panel coupled to said second panel by way of a second set of a plurality of spacing members positioned between said second and third panels, each of said second set of spacing members having a first portion being directly coupled to an exterior surface of said second panel and a second portion being directly coupled to an interior surface of said third panel opposing said exterior surface of said second panel;   a first passageway defined by said opposing interior surfaces of said first and second panels and said first set of said spacing members positioned therebetween, said first passageway configured to allow movement of air between said first and second panels; and   a second passageway defined by said opposing exterior and interior surfaces of said second and third panels, respectively, and said second set of said spacing members positioned therebetween, said second passageway configured to allow movement of air between said second and third panels.   
     
     
         19 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said first, second and third panels and said first and second sets of spacing members comprise one or more materials configured to provide sufficient strength, rigidity and/or durability to withstand forces placed thereupon. 
     
     
         20 . The vented panel assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said vented panel assembly is configured to serve as a portion of an upstanding wall structure and/or a roof structure.