The present application relates to a folded architectural panel, in particular constructed from a sheet having respective portions of shape and size that may be folded to form the panel and that might be used, for example, as a suspended ceiling panel.

It is well known to provide three-dimensionally shaped blocks or panels for use in architectural structures. Such panels may be mounted vertically on walls or hung horizontally from ceilings and have particular application with respect to their acoustic absorption, reflection and diffusive properties. WO 2021/228638 describes a folded architectural panel which is folded from a flat sheet of material. The flat sheet of material includes various fold-lines configured to allow the flat sheet to be folded into an architectural panel as desired. Although this previous arrangement has many uses and advantages, it would be desirable to provide architectural panels having different appearances without the multiple fold/crease lines which might be considered “busy”. There is also the desire to provide an arrangement which can use thinner materials and reduce production time.

According to the present invention, there is provided a folded architectural panel folded from a flat sheet, the panel having opposite first and second longitudinal ends extending in a width direction, opposite first and second lateral sides extending in a length direction and a depth perpendicular to the width and length directions. The panel includes a first end fold along a first end fold-line adjacent the first longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel, a second end fold along a second end fold-line adjacent the second longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel. A main wall may extend between the first end fold-line and the second end fold-line through an intermediate portion of the panel. The first end fold-line and the second end fold-line may be configured to enable, with contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, the main wall to pivot about the first end fold-line, to pivot about the second end fold-line and to form an arc with an increase in the depth of the panel at the intermediate portion. The panel may further include a curved first side fold along a respective curved first side fold-line extending between the respective fold ends at the first lateral side of the first and second end fold-lines and a curved second side fold along a respective curved second side foldline not connecting with the first side fold-line and extending between the respective fold ends at the second lateral side of the first and second end fold-lines. As a consequence of the contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, a respective section of the first lateral side between the two respective fold ends is contracted inwardly towards a respective section of the second lateral side between the two respective fold ends and a respective sidewall is formed on each of the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel extending from the first and second side folds respectively in the depth direction.

In other words, according to the present invention, there is provided a folded architectural panel folded from a flat sheet, the panel having opposite first and second longitudinal ends extending in a width direction, opposite first and second lateral sides extending in a length direction and a depth perpendicular to the width and length directions. The panel includes a first end fold along a first end fold-line adjacent the first longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel, a second end fold along a second end fold-line adjacent the second longitudinal end, extending in the width direction, and having opposite fold ends at the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel. A main wall extends between the first end fold-line and the second end fold-line forming a convex central surface. The first end fold-line and the second end fold-line are configured to enable, with contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, the main wall to pivot about the first end fold-line, to pivot about the second end fold-line and to form the convex central surface with a depth. The panel further includes a curved first side fold along a respective curved first side fold-line extending between the respective fold ends at the first lateral side of the first and second end fold-lines and a curved second side fold along a respective curved second side fold-line not connecting with the first side foldline and extending between the respective fold ends at the second lateral side of the first and second end fold-lines. As a consequence of the contraction of the first and second end fold-lines towards each other, a respective section of the first lateral side between the two respective fold ends is contracted inwardly towards a respective section of the second lateral side between the two respective fold ends so that respective concave sidewalls are formed on each of the respective first and second lateral sides of the panel extending from the first and second side folds respectively in the depth direction.

In this way, as with the earlier arrangement, a three-dimensional architectural panel may be supplied as a flat sheet, thereby simplifying shipping and reducing the occupied space during shipping. At the point of installation, the architectural panel may easily be folded merely by contracting the opposite end fold-lines towards each other. A three- dimensional shape can be achieved by folding and without any cut-away scrap or wasted material. The resulting architectural panel nevertheless includes, on all four sides, surfaces/side walls that extend in the depth direction. In other words, a complete three- dimensional form is provided from folding of the flat sheet. In addition, compared to the previous arrangement, it is possible to provide simpler and more gentle forms that can be folded from flat elastic sheets, using non-linear crease patterns such as semi-circular and semi-parabolic fold lines. The combination of curved concave and convex surfaces can form a self-supporting tension structure within each tile. Compared to tiles of the previous arrangement using linear folding, it is possible to provide panels which can be manufactured substantially faster. In practice, it has been found that with non-linear crease designs, a 30% shorter crease length may be used and production time may be reduced by about 30%. There is no central fold-line parallel to the opposite first and second longitudinal ends. The folds may be non-linear and the installed panel/tile may remain under constant tension. This makes it possible to use thinner materials.

In order to maintain/hold the folded architectural panel in its folded three- dimensional form/ shape, it is enough merely to hold/secure only one of the longitudinal length and the lateral width of the folded architectural panel, for example the length in the length direction between the opposite first and second longitudinal ends or the width in the width direction between the respective sections of the lateral sides. The architectural panel may be provided with a clip member specifically intended to secure the lateral width of the panel, for example by attaching to the lateral sides. Alternatively or in addition, the architectural panel may be secured/held in its folded form merely by virtue of its attachment to a mounting structure. For example, when used as ceiling panels, the architectural panels may be suspended from a carrier structure including spaced elongate carriers. By attaching the respective first and second longitudinal ends of an architectural panel with respect to the carriers, the architectural panel will, as a consequence, be held in its folded/formed state.

In some embodiments, the intermediate portion extends in a width-wise direction parallel with the first and second end fold-lines. The inetmediate portion may be considered to be the apex of the curved main wall and that apex extends parallel with the first and second end fold-lines. The intermediate portion thus extends only in the width direction of the panel.

In other embodiments, the intermediate portion and, hence, the apex of the curve of the main wall extends in a direction angled relative to the first and second end fold-lines. This is in conjunction with an asymmetric form for the folded architectural panel. At least adjacent the intermediate portion, the respective section on one lateral side will be closer to one longitudinal end than the other longitudinal end and the respective section on the other lateral side will be closer to the other longitudinal end than the one longitudinal end.

It is possible, in some embodiments, for the centre of the intermediate portion in the width direction to be closer to one of the first and second end fold lines than the other. In this way, the folded architectural panel is asymmetric in the length direction. In other embodiments, at least the centre of the intermediate portion in the width direction may be mid-way in the length direction between the first and second end fold-lines.

Where the intermediate portion is closer to one of the first and second end foldlines than the other, the respective side fold-line is formed as a semi-parabolic fold-line with a peak closer to one longitudinal end. On the other hand, where the intermediate portion is to be formed mid-way in the length direction, the respective side fold-line may take the form of a semi-circular fold-line arranged symmetrically between the opposite first and second longitudinal ends.

In some embodiments, it is possible for the centre of the intermediate portion in the width direction to be closer to one of the opposite lateral sides than the other. In this way, the folded architectural panel will be asymmetric in the width direction. Alternatively, the centre of the intermediate portion in the width direction may be mid-way in the width direction between the opposite lateral sides.

Where the intermediate portion is to be closer to one of the opposite lateral sides, the semi-circular or semi-parabolic side fold lines have peaks which extend asymmetrically inwardly of the panel in the width direction, in particular with one side-fold line extending further inwardly than the other. On the other hand, where the intermediate portion is to be mid-way in the width direction between the opposite lateral sides, the semi-circular or semi-parabolic side fold-lines will be symmetric and extend inwardly in the width direction by the same amount.

Embodiments may combine the length and widths asymmetry and/or mid-way length and width positioning as desired.

Preferably, the respective sections curve inwardly towards each other. The innermost point of the curves may be closer to one longitudinal end than the other. The respective section on the first lateral side and the respective section on the second lateral side may curve inwardly closer to the same longitudinal end or closer to opposite longitudinal ends. In one embodiment, the respective inward most point of each respective section is mid-way between the fold ends of the first and second end fold-lines.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a flat sheet formed with respective portions of shape and size to form parts of the folded architectural panel noted above. In particular, the sheet may be folded so that those respective portions together form the folded architectural panel.

It is possible to provide an elongate sheet having a plurality of the architectural panels adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the one longitudinal end of one architectural panel is integral with the other longitudinal end of an adjacent architectural panel. In other words, the first end fold line of one architectural panel is adjacent and parallel with the second end fold line of the adjacent architectural panel. A fold-line may be provided where the one longitudinal end of one architectural panel is integrally connected with the other longitudinal end of the other architectural panel. A first portion at one longitudinal end of one panel may thus be folded onto the second portion at the other longitudinal end of the adjacent panel so as to form a folded portion to be supported by a carrier member for suspending the folded architectural panels.

The architectural panel at the end of a sheet may include an additional portion adjacent one of the first portion and the second portion, the additional portion being joined by a fold-line to said one of the first portion and the second portion and foldable against said 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. The additional portion may be smaller than the first and second portions and the corresponding one of the first and second portions at the opposite end may have a length corresponding to that shortened amount. In this way, it is possible to use a single design, or in other words style, of sheet having ends which may be mounted either against an adjacent sheet or at the edge of the mounted arrangement (and not adjacent another sheet). In particular, at the otherwise free respective one longitudinal end of the respective architectural panel at one end of the sheet, there may be provided a first additional portion adjacent to 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 additional portion may be joined by a fold line to the respective first portion and may be 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 may have an extent from the respective second end fold line to the respective other longitudinal end of substantially the predetermined amount. The first additional portion folded onto the respective first portion may thus define a space to receive the second portion of an architectural panel of another said sheet.

Thus, there may be provided a folded architectural panel for use with another folded architectural panel as explained above. The folded architectural panel may include a first 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 the another folded architectural panel having an extent of said predetermined amount from the respective second end fold line to the other longitudinal end.

Similarly, there may be provided a folded architectural panel for use with another folded architectural panel as explained above wherein the second portion has an 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 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.

The plurality of architectural panels provided in a single sheet may also take the form of an array extending in the width direction with an architectural panel adjacent another architectural panel in the width direction. With this arrangement, between two adjacent architectural panels in the width direction, a slot should extend through the depth of the sheet along the co-located lateral sides of the adjacent architectural panels and between the first end folds and the second end folds in this way, when the adjacent architectural panels are both/all folded with contraction of the end folds towards each other, the respective lateral sides of each architectural panel are able to contract inwardly towards each other.

Thus, the flat sheet may be provided with respective portions of shape and size to form the respective parts of a plurality of the folded architectural panels.

It will be appreciated that the sheet will have a thickness. Elongate recesses may be formed within that thickness. The recesses in the thickness may define the respective fold lines of the architectural panel or architectural panels. In some embodiments, the sheet may be of felt, such as polyester felt, woven or non-woven fabrics, PET etc.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1(a) and (b) illustrate perspective views of respective pluralities of panels embodying the present invention and arranged as arrays for suspension from a ceiling;

Figs. 2 to 5 illustrate alternative arrangements for an architectural panel;

Fig. 6 illustrates a sheet including a longitudinal array of architectural panels;

Fig. 7 illustrates schematically the sheet of fig. 6 partially folded;

Fig. 8 illustrates a sheet with an array of architectural panels in both longitudinal and lateral direction;

Fig 9 (a), (b) and (c) illustrate schematically steps of installing the architectural panels;

Fig 10 illustrates a cross section through a carrier member supporting the ends of two panels;

Fig 11 illustrates a cross section through a carrier member supporting the end of a panel; Fig 12 illustrates an alternative sheet including a longitudinal array of architectural panels; and

Figs 13(a) - (c) illustrate mounting of the ends of the sheet of fig 12.

A plurality of architectural panels may be provided together, for example in a two- dimensional array, to cover an architectural structure such as a wall or a ceiling. Fig. 1(a) illustrates a plurality of architectural panels 10 embodying the present invention and suspended from a ceiling. In particular, the panels 10 may be coupled to and suspended from a carrier. Each architectural panel 10 is folded from a flat sheet. It has a first end fold along a first end fold-line 12 adjacent/close to a first longitudinal end and a second end fold along a second end fold-line 14 adjacent/close to the opposite second longitudinal end. A main wall 16 is folded downward from the first end fold-line 12 and is folded down from the second end fold-line 14 to form a continuous curved wall. As illustrated in Fig. 1(a), on both opposite lateral sides (one lateral side labelled 20a) of an individual architectural panel 10, a respective concave sidewall (one sidewall labelled 22) is formed. The continuous curved main wall 16 is convex and includes an intermediate portion 28 intermediate the first end fold- line 12 and the second end fold-line 14. The continuous curved main wall 16 provides the depth of the folded panel 10. The intermediate portion 28 is substantially the apex of the continuous curved main wall 16 in the depth direction and extends linearly between the peaks of the opposite lateral sides.

Fig 1(b) illustrates a plurality of architectural panels which, within their array, alternate in being folded upward and being folded downward in the depth direction. As illustrated, rows of panels having main walls 16a which curve downwardly away from the ceiling and alternate with rows of panels having main walls 16b which curve upwardly towatds the ceiling.

Figs. 2 to 5 illustrate schematically alternative embodiments of a folded architectural panel both in its folded and its flat states.

As illustrated in fig. 2(a) and (b), a first longitudinal end 24 of the architectural panel extends in a width direction X of the panel and an opposite second longitudinal end 26 also extends in the width direction X of the panel. The architectural panel extends between the longitudinal ends 24, 26 with opposite lateral sides 20a, 20b extending in the length direction Y of the panel. The intermediate portion 28 including the apex of the main wall 16 in the depth direction Z is formed by the panel between the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14. The intermediate portion 28 extends linearly in a width-wise direction, parallel with the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14. In the illustrated arrangement, in the width direction X, a first end 28a of the intermediate portion 28 is closer to its respective lateral side 20a than a second end 28b of the intermediate portion 28 is to its lateral side 20b. In the illustrated arrangement, a main wall 16 extends from the first end fold-line 12 through the intermediate portion 28 to the second end fold-line 14.

It will be appreciated that when the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 are moved towards each other in the length direction Y, the main wall 16 pivots/folds out of the plane formed by the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14, forms an arc with an apex at the intermediate portion 28, and gives the architectural panel 10 a height or depth in the depth direction Z perpendicular to the width and length directions X, Y. In particular, there is a height or depth between the intermediate portion 28, in particular its apex, and the plane formed by the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14. When used as an architectural ceiling panel such as illustrated in fig 1(a) suspended from a ceiling, the intermediate portion 28 may form a downward depth away from a ceiling. In the arrangement of fig 1(b), some intermediate portions 28 have a downward depth away from the ceiling and some intermediate portions 28 have an upward depth towards the ceiling.

From each lateral side 20a, 20b of the panel 10, a respective side fold-line 30a and a respective fold-line 30b extends to and from the intermediate portion 28. In particular, on one lateral side 20a, the side fold-line 30a extends from a fold end 12a of the first end fold-line 12 to a fold end 14a of the second end fold-line 14. Similarly, on the opposite lateral side 20b of the architectural panel 10, the side fold-line 30b extends from the other fold end 12b of the first end fold- line 12 to the other fold end 14b of the second end foldline 14.

In the illustrated arrangement where the intermediate portion 28 has an elongate extent with a first end 28a and a second end 28b, the side fold-line 30a on one lateral side 20a extends to and from and meets at the first end 28a of the intermediate portion 28 at the peak of the side fold-line 30a. Similarly, the side fold-line 30b at the other lateral side 20b extends to and from and meets the other end 28b of the intermediate portion 28 at the peak of the side fold-line 30b.

With the arrangement as described with reference to fig. 2(a) and (b), it will be appreciated that when the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 are moved/contracted towards each other so as to cause the intermediate portion 28 to have the height or depth as described, respective sidewalls 34a, 34b are formed on each respective lateral side 20a, 20b of the panel 10. In particular, a respective sidewall 34a is defined extending between a lateral side 20a and the side fold-line 30a and a respective sidewall 34b is defined extending between a lateral side 20b and the side fold-lines 30b. With this arrangement, as illustrated in fig. 2(b), in the folded form of the architectural panel, with an appropriately flexible material for the panel, the edge of the lateral side 20a will naturally take a curved/arcuate form. Similarly, the edge of the other lateral side 20b will naturally take a curved/arcuate form.

In the folded state, a panel depth is defined between the plane containing the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 and the intermediate portion 28, in particular its apex. In order to provide a clear description of the various folds, fig. 2 (as well as figs. 3 to 5) illustrates a portion 36 between the first longitudinal end 24 and the first end fold-line 12 and a portion 38 between the second longitudinal end 26 and the second end fold-line 14 in a coplanar state with the main wall 16 and the intermediate portion 28 extending out of that plane. However, as will be explained below, particularly when a plurality of such panels 10 are provided end-to-end in the longitudinal direction, it may be advantageous for the portions 36, 38 to be folded in a direction opposite to the panel depth . For example, the portions 36, 38 may extend in planes defined by the width X direction and a Z direction opposite to the panel depth. This enables adjacent architectural panels 10 to be located immediately adjacent one another, in some arrangements being attached together by means of the portions 36, 38 or, in other arrangements, being formed integrally with a fold 44 connecting one portion 36 of one panel 10 to another portion 38 of an adjacent panel 10 as a folded portion 46. (see Figs. 6 to 13 and the description below) Advantageously, folded portions 46 (formed from folding together the adjacent portions 36,38) can be used to couple the folded panels to a carrier structure. In particular, the carrier structure (perhaps by means of carrier fasteners/clips) can attach to the folded portions 46 so that the panels between the folded portions 46 are suspended from the carrier structure.

In the arrangement of figs. 3(a) and (b), the intermediate portion 28 is located nearer one of the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 than the other. Actually, by way of example only, as illustrated, the intermediate portion 28 is located closer to the first end fold-line 12. In the arrangement of figs. 4(a) and (b), the intermediate portion 28 is angled relative to the width direction X and the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14. In this way, a first end 28a is located nearer one of the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 than the second end 28b is located relative to that one of the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14.

In the arrangement of figs. 5(a) and (b), the intermediate portion 28 is positioned mid-way in the length direction Y between the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14. This provides the folded architectural panel 10 with a symmetric appearance.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the architectural panel of fig. 5 is what is used for the plurality of panels 10 as illustrated in fig. 1(a) and the architectural panel of fig 4 is what is used for the plurality of panels 10 as illustrated in fig 1(b).

Considering each of figs. 2 to 5 and comparing the folded and flat states of the architectural panel, it will be appreciated that the flat sheets define respective portions of shape and size to form the parts of the folded architectural panel.

The panels can be arranged to span smaller or larger gaps. In order to span larger gaps, panels may be constructed from thicker material. In general, the minimum thickness may be about 2 mm and the maximum thickness may be about 15 mm. In preferred embodiments, thickness may be between about 3 mm and 8 mm. Examples of particular embodiments are thicknesses of about 5 mm.

The flat sheets may be pre-formed with appropriate creases configured to allow, and preferably facilitate, folding of the flat sheet to its three-dimensional shape merely by moving the parallel first and second fold-lines 12, 14 towards each other. Where the sheet has a thickness, such creases may be configured in the thickness of the sheet as grooves, cut outs, in particular V-shaped grooves. In one preferred embodiment, the side fold-lines are grooves of substantially 22.5°, the intermediate fold-lines are grooves of substantially 22.5°, and the first and second end fold-lines are grooves of substantially 45°. The depth of the grooves may depend on the thickness of the material and the characteristics of the material. In principle, the thickness of the material at the bottom of the grooves may be minimal.

In some arrangements, the sheet may be made of felt, such as polyester felt, woven or non-woven fabrics, PET etc. It should be appreciated that a single sheet could be provided with respective portions of shape and size to form an array (in width and length directions) of a plurality of the folded architectural panels, in particular as a single integral part.

Fig. 6 illustrates a plurality of panels 10 formed integrally in a single sheet as a longitudinal array. In other words, the plurality of panels 10 are arranged end-to-end in the longitudinal direction Y. The first longitudinal end 24 of one panel 10 adjoins the second longitudinal end 26 of the adjacent panel 10. In one arrangement, the adjoining ends 24, 26 of adjacent panels 10 may connect by means of an adjoining fold 44. In this way, as was discussed above in relation to fig. 2, the portions between a first longitudinal end 24 and a first end fold 12 and between a second longitudinal end 26 and a second end fold 14 may be folded in an opposite direction to the panel depth. By means of the adjoining fold 44, the adjacent portions of adjacent panels 10 may be folded onto one another. This is illustrated schematically in fig. 7 showing the arrangement of fig. 6 before the downward folds are moved/contracted towards one another so as to form the downward panel depth. The resulting upward folded portions 46 (formed from portions 36 and 38 of adjacent panels) may be useful in attaching/mounting the plurality of panels 10 to a carrier, for example suspending the panels from a carrier.

Fig. 10 illustrates a cross-section through a folded sheet with two integral panels 10 attached to one another via fold 44, and with a folded portion 46 formed from portions 36 and 38 of the adjacent panels. As illustrated, the folded portion 46 is held and supported by a carrier member 52. As illustrated, the carrier member 52 includes opposing parallel walls 52a, 52b defining an elongate channel 56 therebetween. The folded portion 46 is supported between the walls 52a, 52b in the channel 56. As illustrated, the distal ends 58a, 58b of the respective walls 52a, 52b may be turned in towards each other so as to form a narrowed entrance to the channel. The distal ends 58a, 58b may fit respectively into the folds 12, 14 of the adjacent panels 10 so as to more securely hold/support the folded portion 46.

For the end of a sheet of panels 10, of course, only end of only one panel will be supported by a carrier member 52. A different type of carrier member 52 could be provided, for example with a narrower channel 56. Alternatively, an additional part could be provided to extend along the portion 36 or 38 of the suspended panel 10. Fig. 11 illustrates an alternative arrangement for the end of a panel 10 in which an additional portion 36A is atached to the portion 36 by means of a fold-line 46. The additional portion 36A is substantially the same in form as the end portion 38 of another panel 10. In this way, when folded over against the portion 36, the portion 36 and additional portion 36A form a folded portion 46 to be held/supported by the carrier member 52 in the same way as the other folded portions. Of course, at the other end of a sheet of panels 10, the end panel 10 may similarly have an additional portion to be folded to form a folded portion 46.

Of course, two separate panels may be mounted adjacent one another and supported together by a common carrier member 52. The arrangement is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 10, but without the fold 44 joining portions 36 and 38 of the adjacent panels. In this case, considering a plurality of panels 10 formed integrally in a single sheet as a longitudinal array, one end of the sheet (for example at the top of Fig. 6 as illustrated) may be provided with the additional portion 36A to be folded over against the portion 36 so that that end of the sheet of panels may be supported by a carrier member 52. The other end of the sheet (the bottom as illustrated in Fig. 6) may terminate with the end portion 38 so that that end of the sheet can be mounted together with an adjacent another sheet of panels 10 by means of a common carrier member 52. Of course, sheets of panels 10 which are to be mounted adjacent other sheets of panels 10 at both ends need include only the portions 36 and 38 without any additional portion 36 A.

An alternative arrangement for a sheet of panels 10 is illustrated in Fig. 12. With this arrangement, the same design of sheet may be used irrespective of whether the sheet of panels is to be mounted at an end or adjacent other sheets of panels.

As illustrated, a shortened second portion 38S at one end (the bottom as illustrated) of the sheet of panels 10 has a smaller or shorter extent than the other second portions 38 of the sheet of panels 10. In particular, the extent of the shortened second portion 38S in the length direction (namely the direction from the second end fold line 14 to the other/second longitudinal end 26 (at the furthest extent of the sheet of panels 10)) is a predetermined extent. That predetermined extent is a predetermined amount and that predetermined amount is less than the extent of the first portion 36 and the (not shortened) second portion 38.

As illustrated, similar to the embodiment described with reference to Fig. 11, an additional portion is attached to the portion 36 by means of a fold-line 46. However, unlike the embodiment of Fig. 11, where the additional portion 36A has substantially the same extent as a second portion 38, the additional portion of the arrangement of Fig. 12 is a shortened additional portion 36 AS and has an extent less than that of a first portion 36 and a second portion 38 by the predetermined amount. In other words, the shortened additional portion 36AS of one sheet of panels 10 is arranged to abut with the shortened second portion 38S of another sheet of panels 10 so that the shortened additional portion 36AS of one sheet of panels 10 and the abutting shortened second portion 38S of the other sheet of panels 10 take the form of one of the intermediate second portions 38. This is illustrated in Fig. 13(a). The shortened additional portion 36AS adjacent the first portion 36 has, by a predetermined amount, an extent less in the length direction than the extent of the first portion 36 from the first end fold line 12 to the one longitudinal end 24, and indeed the fold line 46. To compliment this, the shortened second portion 38S of the adjacent sheet of panels 10 has an extent of the predetermined amount in the length direction from the second end fold line 14 to the other longitudinal end 26. With the shortened additional portion 36AS folded against the first portion 36, there is defined a space against the first portion 36 for receiving the adjacent shortened second portion 38S having the predetermined amount extent. In this configuration, as illustrated, the one longitudinal end of one sheet of panels 10 may be supported together with the other longitudinal end of an adjacent sheet of panels 10 with the same carrier member 52.

As illustrated in Fig. 13(b), where the one longitudinal end of the sheet of panels 10 is to be supported on its own, for example at the edge of the installed sealing arrangement, an additional part 37 (for example as mentioned above as an alternative to the Fig. 19 arrangement) may be provided to take the place of the shortened second portion 38S of an adjacent sheet of panels 10. As illustrated, the additional part 37 fills the space formed by the shortened additional portion 36 AS folded against the first portion 36. The resulting assembly may be supported by a carrier member 52 as illustrated.

Similarly, as illustrated in Fig. 13(c), it is possible to support the other longitudinal end without an adjacent other sheet of carrier panels 10. In this respect, an alternative additional part 39 is provided to take the place of the first portion 36 and shortened additional portion 36AS of an adjacent sheet of panels 10. The additional part 39 includes a part 39a taking the place of a first portion 36 and a second part 39b joined by the fold 39c taking the place of a shortened additional portion 36 AS of an adjacent sheet of panels 10. The second part 39b folded against the first part 39a defines a space matching the size and shape of the shortened second portion 38S having the predetermined amount extent. The resulting assembly, as illustrated in Fig. 13(c) may be supported by a carrier member 52.

Of course, a plurality of architectural panels 10 may similarly be formed from a flat sheet in an arrangement with the panels extending laterally side-by-side in the width direction X.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a flat sheet in which a plurality of architectural panels 10 are formed in an array extending both in the width direction X and the length direction Y.

It will be appreciated from the discussions above that, in order for first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 to be moved towards one another and the intermediate portion 28 to be moved in the depth direction, it may be necessary for the lateral sides 20 to be able to move towards one another in the width direction. Hence, as illustrated schematically in fig. 8, where panels 10 are arranged together in a width direction, a cut or slot 48, which extends in the length direction Y, is formed between adjacent panels 10. In particular, the cut 48 extends between the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14 of both adjacent panels 10 such that the adjacent lateral edges of the respective adjacent panels 10 are able to move away from each other when the sheet is folded to form the architectural panel.

Figs. 9(a), (b) and (c) illustrate schematically steps of installing architectural panels 10 as a suspended ceiling and the advantageous swing-down feature. Installation may be achieved in a very similar way to that described in WO 2021/228638.

In the illustrated arrangement, four architectural panels 10 are provided together as a flat sheet with an array of 2 x 2 panels 10. In the illustrated arrangement, the panels are to be suspended from a carrier 50 having a plurality of parallel spaced apart carrier members 52. The carrier 50 as a whole may be suspended from a ceiling for example by means of brackets (not illustrated).

First, as illustrated in fig. 9(a), one of the folded portions 46 (or at least a portion 36) at an end of the flat sheet is coupled/mounted to a carrier member 52. As illustrated, the flat sheet of panels 10 may hang flat from that carrier member 52.

At least the side-by-side upper two panels 10 are then folded such that the end foldlines 12 and 14 are contracted towards one another and, similarly, the opposite lateral sides 20 of both panels 10 contract towards one another respectively. For the preferred dimensions of the panel, especially in combination with the mounting structure and its dimensions, it is possible for the panel to hold its own shape on its own. However, for different relative dimensions or added strength/stability, a clip member may be provided as described in WO 2021/228638. The clip member may be attached to the opposite respective lateral sides of a respective folded architectural panel 10. This restricts 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. For the illustrated arrangement, this distance corresponds to a folded state in which the distance between the first and second end folds 12, 14 corresponds to the spacing between the carrier members 52. Thus, as illustrated in fig. 9(b) the portion 46 of the two panels 10 adjacent the second end fold-line 14 is mounted/coupled to a carrier member 52.

Fig. 9(b) also illustrates the next pair of panels 10 hanging or swinging down from the folded portion 46 mounted/coupled to the carrier member 52, but with clip members 60 attached across the opposite respective lateral sides 20a, 20b of the panels 10 so as to hold them respectively in their folded states. It will also be observed that the slot 48 between laterally adjacent panels 10 widens as a result of the opposite lateral sides 20a, 20b of respective panels 10 contracting towards one another when the respective panel 10 is folded.

In fig. 9(c), the folded portion 46 adjacent the second end fold- line 14 of the hanging panel in fig. 9(b) has been mounted/coupled to the next carrier member 52. Also, another flat sheet of panels 10 is suspended from that same carrier member 52 ready to be installed in the same manner as described above for fig. 9(a) and (b).

The feature of consecutive sections swinging down from the end portion or a previous section is highly advantageous. It facilitates installation. With an end portion or previous section securely installed, the installer has easy access to the section swinging down. The swinging down section may be conveniently formed into shape and then swung up for installation. Furthermore, with a fully installed ceiling, it is convenient to open the ceiling. Merely a single section may be opened by swinging it down whilst the adjacent section is still mounted/installed. It is not necessary to completely remove a panel.

According to the present invention, there may, thus, also be provided a method of installing, to a carrier, a folded architectural panel of the present invention using a flat sheet of the present invention. The method includes securing the one longitudinal end to the carrier with the remainder of the flat sheet swinging down from the first end fold line, folding at least the central fold and the two pairs of respective side folds to form the folded architectural panel, swinging the folded architectural panel about the first end fold line and securing the other fold end to the carrier. There is also provided a method of opening a part of a ceiling formed from a plurality of the folded architectural panels of the present invention by detaching the other longitudinal end of one of the folded architectural panels and allowing the folded architectural panel to swing down about the first end fold line.

As illustrated in the figures, the various respective folds at the respective fold lines can be folded inwardly or outwardly to form valley folds with an angle of less than 180° and mountain folds with an angle of more than 180°. Viewed from the intended visible side of the panels 10, for example as viewed in figs. 2 to 5, with the central portion extending towards the viewer, the following folds are preferred. The side folds are mountain folds. With the portions 36, 38 extending in the plane of the first and second end fold-lines 12, 14, the first and second end folds will be valley folds. However, with the portions 36, 38 folded away from the panel depth as illustrated in fig. 7, they will be mountain folds. Of course, for an alternative arrangement in which the underside of the panel is presented to the viewer and the central portion extends away from the viewer, then the valley and mountain folds will be reversed.