Modular composite building panel

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a composite building panel having at least a core portion, and at least four reinforcement members each fixed to an edge of the core. A first reinforcement member features a first reinforcement element at a first side portion thereof. A second reinforcement member features a second reinforcement element at a second side portion thereof. The first and second reinforcement elements each have a configuration to provide a rigid and load bearing relationship between first and second reinforcement elements of an adjacently connected second composite building panel, respectively. A channel is defined in the reinforcement members to allow services to be run therethrough. Multiple composite building panels can be interconnected and sandwiched between exterior side panels. The reinforcement elements can be a tongue and groove or a spline and groove configuration.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . A composite building panel comprising:
 a core portion; and   at least four reinforcement members each being fixed to an edge of said core, respectively, said reinforcement members featuring a first reinforcement member including a first reinforcement element at a first side portion thereof, and a second reinforcement member including a second reinforcement element at a second side portion thereof, said first and second reinforcement elements each having a configuration to provide a rigid and load bearing relationship between first and second reinforcement elements of an adjacently connected second composite building panel, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second reinforcement elements are located on opposite sides of said composite building panel. 
     
     
         3 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first reinforcement element is a tongue, and said second reinforcement element is a groove having a configuration capable of receiving a tongue of said adjacently connected second composite building panel. 
     
     
         4 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said tongue includes tapering side walls exteriorly converging, and said groove includes tapering side walls interiorly converging. 
     
     
         5 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said core portion and said reinforcement members each defines a thickness “t”, said groove defines a depth “d”, and a depth of said tongue substantially has a relationship of d−3 mm thereby defining a gap having a configuration capable of receiving an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a third and fourth reinforcement members each include said second reinforcement element. 
     
     
         7 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said core portion is a foam core portion. 
     
     
         8 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcing mesh provided to opposing sides of said core portion. 
     
     
         9 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a first side portion and an opposed second side portion, said first and second side portions being spaced apart and connected together by a plurality of adjacently connected said composite building panels. 
     
     
         10 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one divider located inside said reinforcement members to define channels through which services are distributed. 
     
     
         11 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second reinforcement elements are each a spline channel defining a groove with a configuration capable of receiving a portion of a spline. 
     
     
         12 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said core portion has a rebate having a configuration allowing said four reinforcement members to fit flush with an exterior surface of said core portion. 
     
     
         13 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a third and fourth reinforcement members each include said spline channel. 
     
     
         14 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said spline is a hollow rectangular member. 
     
     
         15 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said groove defines a depth “d” and a width “w”, and a width of said spline substantially has a relationship of w−2 mm, and a depth of said spline substantially has a relationship of 2d−2 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The composite building panel as claimed in  11 , wherein a gap is defined between said spline and a surface defining said groove, with said gap being filled with an adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The composite building panel as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising a first side portion and an opposed second side portion, said first and second side portions being spaced apart and connected together by a plurality of adjacently connected said composite building panels.