Modular Panel Interlocking and Reinforcing Mechanism For Building Enclosures

Abstract

The modular panel 20 interlocking and reinforcing mechanism for building enclosures pertains to assembling boxes 21 without using accessories. My mechanism joins modular panels 20 by interlocking between grooves 22 and grooves 22 and rods 18 attached to panel edges, thus creating the box 21. The embodiment of my mechanism joins modular panels 20 by interlocking both grooves 22 attached by living hinges 24 on the panel edges, thus creating the box 21. The living hinges 24 allow all the grooves 22 to turn forty five degrees at the corners. Upon interlocking both grooves 22, it completes the ninety degree dihedral angle transition from one panel 20 to another for corners. Another embodiment of present invention is to assemble a box 21 in expanded sizes by interlocking modular panels 20 flat or angled without extra accessories. An additional embodiment of my mechanism includes insertion of rods 18 attached to the panel edges into grooves 22 attached to another panel to form an interlocked rod and groove 60 on box 21. One type of the interlocking groove 22 mentioned above is a rolled sheet type with a smaller span at the opening than parallel spans at main sections in the groove in a cross-sectional view. The interlocked rod and groove 60 attached to panels on living hinges 24 can also serve as posts to take loads above them for a heavy-duty box.

Accordingly what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interlocking mechanism for panels to interlock for building enclosures comprises of said panels and a continuous or sectional sheet rolled grooves or rods attached along edges on said panels; the span of the opening on said sheet rolled grooves is smaller than parallel spans at main sections in said sheet rolled grooves in a cross sectional view; said sheet rolled grooves are inserted into one another or said rod is inserted to said rolled groove through the process that inner said sheet rolled groove or said rod is squeezed while outer said sheet rolled groove is expanded; inner said sheet rolled groove or said rod is gripped by outer said sheet rolled grooves with said smaller span at said opening. Whereby said panels join each other by said interlocked grooves or interlocked rods and grooves attached to each said panel, thus expanding surface areas or building enclosures. 
     
     
         2 . A mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein comprising living hinges connecting between said panel edges and said grooves or said rods, allowing said grooves or said rods turning on said living hinges to interlock at a dihedral angle between attached said panels on both sides. 
     
     
         3 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising reinforcing rods or reinforcing grooves of said sheet rolled grooves, embedded in said interlocked sheet rolled grooves to enhance the strength of said enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising said enclosure assembled by said panels to be disassembled into said panels, which can be reassembled into said enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising flexible said panel that interlocks sheet rolled grooves or both sheet rolled grooves and rods attached to the same said panel to form said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising of creases or hinges connecting said panels to form a bigger composite panel, folding said panels on said creases or said hinges, and interlocking adjacent said sheet rolled grooves attached to said panels or interlocking adjacent said rods to said sheet rolled groove attached to said panels to form an enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising of said composite panels combining vertically standing posts attached to said panels on crease or hinges interlocked by said sheet rolled grooves to each other or said vertically standing posts attached to said panels interlocked by said rod inserted into said sheet rolled grooves. Said vertically standing posts feature in supporting loads above. 
     
     
         8 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising of said rods in a variety of cross sectional peripherals that can be gripped by said sheet rolled grooves after interlocking; and said rods having a hollow portion extending throughout its length thus forming hollow rods. 
     
     
         9 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising of said composite panels combining vertically standing posts attached to said panels on said crease or said hinges are interlocked in all mechanical means besides claimed above by portions attached to said panels. 
     
     
         10 . A mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein comprising of said composite panels with said panels covering over the top of said enclosures as lids, positioning pins are installed to the down sides of said panels to lock into said hollow posts or pits for the stability and strength of said enclosure.