Folded architectural panel

Abstract

A folded architectural panel folded from a flat sheet, the panel having opposite longitudinal ends extending in a width direction, opposite lateral sides extending in a length direction and a depth perpendicular to the width and length directions. The panel includes a first downward fold adjacent one longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective lateral sides of the panel; a second downward fold adjacent the other longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective lateral sides of the panel; and a central upward fold at a central portion of the panel between the first and second downward folds; the first downward fold, the second downward fold and the central upward fold enable contraction of the opposite end folds towards each other to cause folding of the first and second end folds and an increase in the depth of the panel at the central portion. The panel further includes two pairs of respective side upward folds extending from the four opposite fold ends of the first and second end folds to the central upward fold such that, with contraction of the opposite end folds towards each other, a respective section of each respective lateral side between two respective fold ends contracts inwardly towards the opposite lateral side and a respective sidewall is formed on each respective lateral side of the panel extending from the respective pair of side upward folds in the depth direction.

1 . A folded architectural panel folded from a flat sheet, the panel having opposite longitudinal ends extending in a width direction, opposite lateral sides extending in a length direction and a height perpendicular to the width and length directions, the panel including:
 a first end fold along a first end fold-line adjacent one longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective lateral sides of the panel;   a second end fold along a second end fold-line adjacent the other longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective lateral sides of the panel;   a central fold at a central portion of the panel between the first and second end fold-lines; and   a first main wall extending between the first end fold-line and the central fold and a second main wall extending between the second end fold-line and the central fold;   wherein the first end fold-line, the second end fold-line and the central fold are configured to enable, with contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, the first main wall to pivot about the first end fold-line and the second main wall to pivot about the second end fold-line to cause an increase in the height of the panel at the central portion; and   wherein the panel further includes two pairs of respective side folds along respective side fold-lines extending from the four opposite fold ends of the first and second end fold-lines to the central fold such that, as a consequence of the contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, a respective section of each respective lateral side between two respective fold ends is contracted inwardly towards the opposite lateral side and a respective sidewall is formed on each respective lateral side of the panel extending from the respective pair of side folds in the depth direction.   
     
     
         2 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central fold extends along a central fold-line in a width-wise direction parallel with the first and second end fold-lines. 
     
     
         3 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central fold is a point where the two pairs of respective side fold-lines meet. 
     
     
         4 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central fold is mid-way in the length direction between the first and second end fold-lines. 
     
     
         5 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central fold is mid-way in the width direction between the opposite lateral sides. 
     
     
         6 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , further including respective folds along respective intermediate fold-lines extending from a respective intermediate point of each said respective section to the central fold. 
     
     
         7 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 6 , wherein each respective intermediate point is mid-way between the opposite fold ends of the respective pair of side fold-lines. 
     
     
         8 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion between the one longitudinal end and the first end fold-line and a second portion between the other longitudinal end and the second end fold-line are both respectively folded to extend in a direction opposite to the height of the central portion and are both respectively configured to be coupled to a carrier so as to suspend the folded architectural panel. 
     
     
         9 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 8 , further including an additional portion adjacent at least one of the first portion and the second portion, the additional portion being joined by a fold-line to said at least one of the first portion and the second portion and foldable against said at least one of the first portion and the second portion so as to form a folded portion to be supported by a carrier member for suspending the folded architectural panel. 
     
     
         10 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 8  for use with another folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , the folded architectural panel including a first shortened additional portion adjacent the first portion having, by a predetermined amount, an extent less in the length direction than the extent of the first portion from the first end fold line to the one longitudinal end so as, when folded against the first portion, to define a space against the first portion to receive the second portion of another folded architectural panel shortened to have an extent of substantially said predetermined amount from the respective second end fold line to the other longitudinal end. 
     
     
         11 . The folded architectural panel of  claim 8  for use with another folded architectural panel of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a shortened extent of a predetermined amount in the length direction from the second end fold line to the other longitudinal end and less than the extent of the first portion from the first end fold line to the one longitudinal end so as to define a space to receive a first shortened additional portion of the another folded architectural panel adjacent to and folded against the respective first portion of the another architectural panel and having an extent in the length direction less than the extent of the first portion by substantially the predetermined amount. 
     
     
         12 . The flat sheet formed with respective portions of shape and size to form parts of the folded architectural panel of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The flat sheet of  claim 1  with respective portions of shape and size to form the respective parts of a plurality of folded architectural panels of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The flat sheet of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at the otherwise free respective one longitudinal end of the respective architectural panel at one end of the sheet, there is provided a first shortened additional portion adjacent the respective first portion of the respective architectural panel having, by a predetermined amount, an extent less in the length direction than the extent of the respective first portion from the respective first end fold line to the respective one longitudinal end, the first shortened additional portion being joined by a fold line to the respective first portion and foldable against the respective first portion so as to form a folded portion to be supported by a carrier member for suspending the respective folded architectural panel;   the respective second portion of the respective architectural panel at the other end of the sheet has a shortened extent from the respective second end fold line to the respective other longitudinal end of substantially the predetermined amount; and   the first additional portion folded onto the respective first portion defines a space to receive a shortened second portion of an architectural panel of another said sheet.   
     
     
         15 . The flat sheet of  claim 13 , wherein one longitudinal end of one architectural panel is integral with the other longitudinal end of an adjacent architectural panel and a fold line is provided where the one longitudinal end of the one architectural panel is integrally connected with the other end of the adjacent architectural panel. 
     
     
         16 . The flat sheet of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the one architectural panel is folded onto the second portion of the adjacent architectural panel so as to form a folded portion which may be supported by a carrier member. 
     
     
         17 . The flat sheet of  claim 13 , further including recesses in the thickness of the sheet defining the respective fold-lines. 
     
     
         18 . An architectural panel system including a folded architectural panel of  claim 1  and a clip member configured to attach to the opposite respective lateral sides of the folded architectural panel and restrict the relative spacing between the opposite respective lateral sides to a maximum predetermined distance whereby the folded architectural panel is maintained in the folded state.