TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in panel connection. In particular panel connection between vertically adjacent panels forming part of a wall.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention provides improvements in panel connection between vertically adjacent panels. It has particular application to hollow roto-moulded plastic panels that can be used in noise walls. However, this should not be seen as limiting. For ease of reference the present invention will now be described in relation to noise panels and noise walls.

Motorway noise panels, used in noise walls; or noise barriers; (now simply referred to as noise walls), are commonly erected on the side of roads to provide a level of road noise reduction for houses, buildings and people nearby a motorway or road. Many different designs and construction materials exist for manufacturing noise walls, including: concrete panels fixed to upright l-Beams; Plastic panels fixed to upright l-Beams; - timber(plywood) panels on posts; - aluminium-perforated panels filled with absorptive material such as fiberglass.

However, all the existing systems suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks: being heavy and requiring cranes to lift and install; requiring additional sound shielding to be employed at the interface between vertically adjacent panels in a noise wall as these panels simply sit on top of one another (i.e. merely abut one another); the above drawbacks all increasing the cost and time required to install panels.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DEFINITIONS

The term "roto-moulded" as used herein refers to rotationally moulded and relates to a well- known plastic forming technique which uses a mould which is rotated in an oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roto-moulded panel which includes: - front and rear wall-surfaces connected by top, bottom, left and right edge-surfaces which define a hollow-interior; wherein the panel also includes opposed first and second tongue projections, extending along the top edge-surface thereof; wherein the panel further includes at least one groove extending along the bottom edge-surface thereof; and wherein said groove is dimensioned to contact the first and second tongue projections on a downwardly located adjacent panel; and wherein the groove is also dimensioned to receive a rigid elongate member (REM) therein.

According to the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a roto-moulded panel substantially as above wherein the opposed first and second tongue projections are spaced apart a distance so as to receive a rigid elongate member (REM) there between. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a road noise barrier wall wherein the road noise barrier includes roto-moulded panels substantially as described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a road noise barrier wall substantially as described above wherein each downwardly adjacent panel includes a rigid elongate member (REM); which sits in between the first and second tongue projections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a partial plan view of two linearly adjacent barriers connected to an I- Beam post including an REM, in accordance with one preferred aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of two vertically adjacent barriers of the type shown in

Figure 1 taken along line X-X (with the flange of the l-Beam removed for clarity);

Figure 3 is a perspective partial view of a plurality of vertically adjacent panels attached to an l-Beam post of the type shown in Figure 1 including the REM shown in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 is a perspective partial view of a plurality of vertically adjacent panels attached to an l-Beam post of the type shown in Figure 1 not including the REM shown in Figure 1.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In relation to Figure 1 , there is shown a partial view of two panels A and B, which form part of a noise wall 1. The panels A and B are both connected to flanges 2a, 2b on an l-Beam post 2, which is secured into the ground. Panels A and B are identical in terms of the physical features of the panel. In Figure 2, it can be seen that Panel A1 has a first tongue projection 3 and a second tongue projection 4 on the tope edge-surface 5 of panel A1. Nested on either side of the first and second tongue projections of panel A1 is a vertically adjacent panel A2. Panel A2 has a groove 7 into which the first and second tongue projections 3, 4 fit.

The panels A and A2 also have a rigid elongate member (REM) 6 made of RHS steel tube which sits in between the first and second tongue projections 3 and 4 -see also Figure 1.

The REM has end slots 7 which are dimensioned to receive the flanges 2a and 2b therein. In relation to Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a noise wall 100 having an l-Beam post 2 on which there is located a plurality of vertically adjacent panels A1-5. Figure 3 the wall 100 has an REMs 6 located between the first tongue projection 3 and second tongue projection 4 on each panel A1-5 whereas Figure 4 shows a wall 100 without the REM being located between the first tongue projection 3 and second tongue projection 4.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING ALTERNATE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

The REM may be made from any suitable rigid material. Preferably, it is made from a length of RHS steel.

In some embodiment there may be slots in the ends of the REM dimensioned to receive the flange of an l-Beam post.

In some high wind environments it may be desirable to connect the REMs in linearly adjacent panels. This may be done in a variety of ways. In some embodiments it may be undertaken with bolted fishplates.

The configuration of the first and second tongue portions may vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In one preferred embodiment the first and second tongue projections may be indented in, from the front and rear wall-surfaces, on the top edge-surface. Preferably, the first and second tongue projections are substantially trapezoid in shape. This shape or a triangular shape projection assisting with locating a groove on a vertically adjacent panel onto the first and second tongue projections. The groove in the base of the panel may have an interior wall which is shaped o correspond with the exterior shape of the first and second tongue projections. In alternate embodiments the first and second tongue members may be simple vertical projections having parallel side walls.

The first and second tongue projections may be hollow to assist with sound absorbance and sound resistance.

The groove may be dimensioned and shaped to provide a snug fit on the first and second tongue projections.

Most preferably the groove is dimensioned to have around 1 mm - 2mm of tolerance with respect to the outermost surfaces of the first and second tongue projections. For example, if the width between the outermost surfaces of the first and second tongue projections at a given height is 10mm the width of the groove at the corresponding height may be 11 mm-12mm (i.e. have 1-2mm tolerance).

Thus, preferred embodiments of the present invention may have a number of advantages over the prior art, which can include:

• increasing the sound resistance of the joint between vertically adjacent panels in a noise wall.

• increasing the wind loading capacity of the joints between vertically adjacent panels.

• ease of locating vertically adjacent panels on top of one another. The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.