초록 ▼

A panel system for walls, ceilings, and the like is disclosed in which the panels are provided with a flexible surface material which extends into resilient means that operate to press the surface material of adjacent panels into face-to-face contact to provide a closed, neat joint between adjacent

A panel system for walls, ceilings, and the like is disclosed in which the panels are provided with a flexible surface material which extends into resilient means that operate to press the surface material of adjacent panels into face-to-face contact to provide a closed, neat joint between adjacent panels. Because of the resiliency along the joints, brackets, screws, and the like may be inserted through the joints and secured to the panel supporting frame structure without damage to the panel materials. Subsequently, if the brackets, screws, and the like are removed, the resilient means returns the flexible sheet material into the face-to-face abutting condition, re-establishing the closed joint and concealing the fact that anything had previously been inserted through the joint. In some embodiments, the surface sheet material is provided with a loose flap which is inserted into the resilient means after the panels are installed. Shelf standards and the like may be provided behind the joint which are obscured from view, but which permit easy mounting of shelf brackets or the like through the joint.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A surface structure for rooms and the like, comprising support framing, a plurality of panels mounted on said support framing in edgewise alignment to provide closed joints therebetween, and resilient means positioned along said joint, said panels providing a flexible surface material extending a

1. A surface structure for rooms and the like, comprising support framing, a plurality of panels mounted on said support framing in edgewise alignment to provide closed joints therebetween, and resilient means positioned along said joint, said panels providing a flexible surface material extending along the exposed surface thereof and into said resilient means, said resilient means biasing said flexible surface material of adjacent panels into surface-to-surface contact to provide said closed joint between said panels, said resilient means permitting localized lateral separation of said flexible surface material along said joints when a separate member is inserted through said joint and causes said flexible material to establish said surface-to-surface contact when a separate member is removed from said joints, tubular sheath means being provided to separate said flexible surface material along said joint, said sheath means being adapted to permit insertion of a fastener through said joint into said support framing without damaging said flexible surface material. 2. A surface structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheath provides a closed inner end which can be ruptured by said fastener. 3. A surface structure for building structures comprising support framing, a plurality of panels, connecting means securing the edges of said panels to said support framing in edgewise alignment to provide joints between adjacent edges of adjacent panels, said support framing providing a frame member behind said joints and extending lengthwise thereof, a mounting standard positioned along at least one of said joints on the side of said panels remote from the associated of said frame members, and fasteners installed after said panels are secured to said support framing extending through said one joint securing said standard the said associated frame member without causing damage to said adjacent edges of said adjacent panels, said standard providing attachment means permitting attachment of accessories to said standard for support by said framing structure, said fasteners being removable to demount said standard, said one joint between said adjacent edges of said adjacent panels being returned substantially to its original condition after removal of said fasteners and standard. 4. A surface structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said standard provides a projection extending into said one joint between said adjacent edges of said adjacent panels, said fastener extending through said projection, said projection projecting the associated adjacent edges of said adjacent panels from damage when said fasteners are installed through said joint and removed from said joint. 5. A surface structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said panels provide resilient edge means which normally abut to close said joints, said projection operating to resiliently deflect said resilient joint means to open the joint between said panels and allow installation and removal of said fastener without damage to said edges of said panels. 6. A panel system for room surfaces comprising a plurality of planar panels having face and back sides and opposite panel edges, said panels being adapted to be connected to a support frame in a mounted position with adjacent of said edges abutting and said back sides of said panels adjacent to said edges secured to said support frame, said panels providing lock means spaced from and substantially adjacent to said panel edges accessible from said back sides and isolated from said front sides, said lock means being releasably connectible with said support frame to secure said panels in said mounted position without disturbing said face sides, said panels providing resilient means along said panel edges, flexible sheet material along said face sides extending around said resilient means and secured to said back sides at a location clear of said lock means, said resilient means maintaining said sheet material of adjacent panels in contact along said panel edges when said panels are in said mounted position to close the joint therebetween, said resilient means permitting localized lateral displacement of said flexible material when a separate member is inserted through said closed joint and operating to return said flexible material into engagement upon removal of said separate member. 7. A panel system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said panels provide a metal sheet along said face side beneath said flexible sheet material, said metal sheet being sent back from said face side to form said opposed edges and being inturned along said back side to provide said lock means. 8. A panel system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said metal sheet is formed with a J-lock to provide said lock means, and the edges of said flexible sheet are secured to said J-lock. 9. A panel system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said resilient means is provided by an extrusion of resilient material secured to said metal sheet along said opposed edges. 10. A panel system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said separate member is a fastener operable to extend through said closed joint and secure a bracket against said face side by connecting directly to said support frame. 11. A panel system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said fastener is a threaded fastener and a smooth sheet encloses said fastener to prevent the threads thereon from damaging said flexible sheet material. 12. A demountable wall system comprising metal studs providing panel-engaging flanges, a plurality of planar panels having face and back sides and opposite panel edges, said panels being connected to and supported by said studs in a mounted position with adjacent of said edges abutting and said back sides of said panels adjacent to said edges secured against said flanges, said panels providing lock means spaced from and substantially adjacent to said panel edges connected to said studs by a connection which is accessible from said back side and isolated from said front side, said lock means releasably connecting said panels to said studs without disturbing said face sides of said panels, said panels providing resilient means along said panel edges, and flexible sheet material along said face side of said panels extending around said resilient means and secured to said back side at a location clear of said lock means, said resilient means being operable to resiliently press said flexible sheet material into engagement with said flexible sheet material of an adjacent panel when said panels are installed to close the joint therebetween, said resilient means permitting localized lateral displacement of said flexible material when a separate member is inserted through said closed joint. 13. A demountable wall system as set forth in claim 12, wherein a bracket is secured along at least some of said closed joints and against said face side by fasteners extending through said closed joint and secured to said flanges. 14. A demountable wall system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fasteners are threaded fasteners and a smooth sheath is positioned around said threads to protect said flexible material from said threads when said fastener is installed within said closed joint.