초록 ▼

An interlocking panel system for top-down installation on an underlying structure including a plurality of panels, with an uphill course and a downhill course where each panel is generally rectangular, having an uphill edge and opposing downhill edge. An interlocking member is disposed along the uph

An interlocking panel system for top-down installation on an underlying structure including a plurality of panels, with an uphill course and a downhill course where each panel is generally rectangular, having an uphill edge and opposing downhill edge. An interlocking member is disposed along the uphill edge, and a receiving member adapted to receive the interlocking member and a joining flange are disposed along the downhill edge. A panel of the uphill course is affixed to an underlying structure via fasteners through the joining flange. The interlocking member of a panel of the downhill course is insertable into the receiving member of the uphill course, and the position of the panel of the downhill course is adjustable within the span of the receiving member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of installing interlocking panels over an underlying structure, the method including steps of: affixing a first panel to the underlying structure, wherein the first panel comprises a first planar panel body with a first uphill edge and an opposing first downhill edge wherein at least the

1. A method of installing interlocking panels over an underlying structure, the method including steps of: affixing a first panel to the underlying structure, wherein the first panel comprises a first planar panel body with a first uphill edge and an opposing first downhill edge wherein at least the first downhill edge is engaged with the underlying structure, and wherein a receiving member having a span is disposed along the first downhill edge of the first planar panel body, and wherein the first panel is affixed so that the first uphill edge is higher on the structure than the first downhill edge;providing a second panel, wherein the second panel includes a second planar panel body with a second uphill edge and an opposing second downhill edge, and wherein an interlocking member is disposed along the second uphill edge of the second planar panel body;inserting the interlocking member into the receiving member, wherein the second uphill edge rests on a portion of the first downhill edge and the second downhill edge rests on the structure, wherein the interlocking member includes a bevel that extends above the first planar panel body of the first panel;adjusting a position of the second panel in an uphill-downhill direction with respect to the first panel within the span of the receiving member; andaffixing the second panel to the underlying structure. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first panel further comprises: a joining flange disposed along a length of the first receiving member, and wherein the first panel is affixed to the underlying structure via attachment of the joining flange to the underlying structure. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first receiving member comprises: a trough having a downwardly depending wall, a top wall, a back wall and a bottom wall, wherein the back wall has a length which is longer than the length of the downwardly depending wall, and wherein the downwardly depending wall is disposed in a downhill direction from the back wall, and there is an opening on the downhill side of the trough. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second interlocking member comprises: a flange extending from the second uphill edge of the second planar panel body to form an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body, and wherein the flange is inserted into the opening on the downhill side of the trough at least far enough for the entire flange to be disposed inside the trough. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second panel can be adjusted in an uphill direction until the second uphill edge of the second planar panel body contacts the back wall of the trough of the receiving member, and in a downhill direction until an end of the flange contacts the downwardly depending wall. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the flange is capable of being inserted into the trough through the opening on the downhill side of the trough when the second panel is parallel with the first panel and the first and second panels are engaged with the underlying structure. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving member includes a joining flange disposed along a length of the receiving member for affixing the first panel to the underlying structure, and wherein the second uphill edge rests upon the joining flange. 8. A method of installing interlocking panels over an underlying structure, the method including steps of: affixing an uphill panel on the underlying structure, wherein the uphill panel includes a generally rectangular first planar panel body having a downhill edge;engaging an uphill edge of a downhill panel with the downhill edge of the uphill panel, wherein the downhill panel includes a generally rectangular second planar panel body, wherein an angled head of the uphill edge is slidably engaged with a receiving member of the downhill edge of the uphill panel, wherein the receiving member has a span which permits positional adjustment of the downhill panel within a space defined by the span; andaffixing the downhill panel to the underlying structure, wherein a joining flange is disposed along a length of the receiving member for affixing the uphill panel to the underlying structure, wherein the joining flange is disposed between the underlying structure and the downhill panel after the downhill panel is affixed to the underlying structure, wherein the angled head includes a bevel proximate the joining flange. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the angled head includes a flange that extends from the uphill edge of the downhill panel at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body, and wherein the flange is rotationally operable about the uphill edge at a living hinge. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving member includes a trough having a downwardly depending wall, a top wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the back wall has a longer length than the downwardly depending wall. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the bottom wall extends beyond the downhill edge of the first planar panel body to form the joining flange. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the angled head includes a flange which extends from the uphill edge of the downhill panel at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body, and wherein a height that the flange extends from the second planar panel body is greater than a difference in length between the back wall and the downwardly depending wall. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the angled head includes a flange which extends from the uphill edge of the downhill panel at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body, and wherein a length of the top wall is greater than a distance that the flange extends over the second planar panel body, wherein the angled head is capable of being inserted into the trough while the uphill and downhill panels are substantially co-planar and positioned on the underlying structure. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the difference between the length of the top wall and the distance that the flange extends over the second planar panel body is equal to or greater than about 0.25 inches. 15. A method of installing a system of interlocking panels in a top-down pattern, the method comprising steps of: attaching a generally rectangular first planar panel body to an underlying structure, the first planar panel body including a first uphill edge and an opposing first downhill edge, the first downhill edge having a receiving member;engaging a generally rectangular second planar panel body to the first planar panel body, wherein the second planar panel body including a second uphill edge and an opposing second downhill edge, the second uphill edge having a beveled interlocking member, wherein the receiving member loosely receives the beveled interlocking member and permits positional adjustment of the second planar panel body in an uphill-downhill direction within a space defined by a span, wherein the beveled interlocking member is capable of being received in the receiving member while the second planar panel body is positioned in a single plane and engaged with the underlying structure; andattaching the second planar panel body to the underlying structure. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving member includes a joining flange disposed along a length of the receiving member for affixing the first planar panel body to the underlying structure. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the beveled interlocking member includes a flange extending from the second uphill edge of the second planar panel body at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving member includes a downwardly depending wall extending from the first planar panel body, a top wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall, wherein a height of the back wall is greater than a height of the downwardly depending wall, and the difference in height between the back wall and the downwardly depending wall defines an entrance channel to a trough. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of engaging the generally rectangular second planar panel body to the first planar panel body includes sliding the flange through the entrance channel, wherein the downwardly depending wall biases the flange toward the underlying structure, and wherein when the flange is entirely within the trough, the flange is biased away from the underlying structure, wherein a height of the flange is greater than a height of the entrance channel. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the beveled interlocking member includes a flange extending from the second uphill edge of the second planar panel body to form an angle of less than 90 degrees from the second planar panel body, and wherein a height of the flange from the second planar panel body is greater than the difference between the height of the back wall and the height of the downwardly depending wall.