BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for pre- insulted structural panels. More particularly, the invention is directed to prε-insulated structural building panels configured with vertical support members, acoustical aspects and wiring friendly features, among other aspects.

2. Related Art

Building construction often employs pre-manufactiired. components such as building panels that may be assembled in the field to create walls and perimeters of buildings of all sorts. Often the components may include expandable polystyrene foam (EPS), or similar material. The EPS material may provide thermal insulating properties to a degree related to the thickness of the EPS panel. f 0006] Moreover, the various types of building components currently available typically have limited features that assist in the installation of the components or finishing off of the building wall surfaces and/or related building functions. Moreover, the currently available products provide limited acoustical dampening aspects.

[0007] Furthermore, current building components are often of relatively small size and may require multiple components to create a vertical dimension in the height of a wall, which may require extra installation time arid costs.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus that provides a pre- insulated building panel with improved features to reduce installation costs and time, while providing improved structural integrity to the resulting wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

100091 The invention meets the foregoing need and provides a method and apparatus for constructing a pre-insulated structural panel that includes vertical c- chamiels or profiles spaced apart for imparting structural integrity to the panel and the c-channels embedded in EPS foam to create the panel. One side of the panel may be configured with a tongue shaped edge that runs along one side of the panel. On the other side of the panel a groove shaped edge may be formed to mate with the tongue shaped edge of another panel when two panels arc arranged side-by-side to form a wall section, A fastening plate may be employed to fasten two panels together when placed side-by-side. fOOΪO] In one aspect, a horizontal chase may be provided from one side of the panel to the other side to permit running of wiring through the panel and in a resulting wall. The chase of one panel aligns with a respective chase in another panel when installed. Moreover, a vertical chase may be provided between mated panels proximate the tongue and groove mated surfaces for running wiring or for providing an additional a structural member for added structural strength. [001 1] In another aspect, an apparatus for a pre-insulated building component is provided that includes a plurality of vertical support channels embedded in an insulating material to produce a first panel and a second panel, a groove end configured in one side of each panel, and a tongue end configured in another side of each panel, wherein the tongue end of the first panel males with the groove end of die second panel to form a wall section.

[0012] In another aspect, an apparatus for a pre-insulatcd building component is provided that includes means for constructing an expandable polystyrene (EPS) wall section, wherein the means for constructing includes a means for attaching finishing materials at spaced apart intervals and the means for attaching provides lateral force resistance to the EPS wall section, means for accepting electrical wiring laterally through the interior of the EPS wall section and means for securing the wall section at a bottom end and at a top end, wherein die means for securing at the bottom end and the top end are connected by a means for connecting that traverses an entire height of the wall section,

[0013] In another aspect, a method for providing a pre-insulatcd building component is provided thai includes providing a plurality of vertical support channels embedded in an insulating materia! to produce a first panel and a second panel, providing a groove end configured in one side of each panel, and providing a tongue end configured in another side of each panel, wherein the tongue end of the first panel mates with the groove end of the second panel to form a wall section. [0014] Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims, Moreover, it is to be understood thai both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of die invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure IA illustrates in perspective view a pre-insulated structural panel configured according to principles of the invention;

[0017] Figure IB illustrates a frontal view of the embodiment of Figure IA; [0018] Figure 1C illustrates a first side-view of the embodiment of Figure IA, configured according to principles of the invention;

Figure ID illustrates a second side-view of the embodiment of Figure IA;

Figure I E illustrates an end-view of the embodiment of Figure IA;

Figure 2 A is a front-view of an embodiment of a plurality of pre-insulated structural panels of Figure IA configured to form a wall, according to principles of the invention;

Figure 2B is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2 A;

Figure 3 A is an illustration showing an embodiment of a wall section comprising a plurality of pre-insulated structural building panels constructed according to principles of the invention; Figure 3B is a top view of a section of a base plate and/or a header plate with attaching mechanisms, constructed according to principles of the invention; and [0026] Figure 3C is an end-on view of the section of Fig. 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0027] The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non- limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description, It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well- known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. [0028] Figure IA is a perspective view of a prc-insulated structural building panel, constructed according to principles of the invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 100. The pre-insulatcd structural building panel 100 includes a plurality of c- chamiels 105 that runs the extent of the length (L) of the panel 100. The panel 100 is typically installed with the length (L) oriented vertically, as shown perhaps more clearly in relation to Figure 2A. The plurality of c -channels 105 may comprise steel channels having lips 135 formed in the sides of the c-channels 105 to embed the c- channels 105 into the expandable polystyrene (EPS) 140 during fabrication of the panels 100, The EPS provides substantial structural support in combination with the c-channcls 105. In some embodiments, the c-channcls 105 may comprise any metal or plastic type material. During fabrication or molding, the EPS may be injected or molded between opposing c -channels 105 located on both sides of the panel 100, and also continuously between the c-channels 105, whereby the EPS may be substantially continuous along the entire length and height of the panel 100 including between the opposing c-channels.

100291 The panel 100 may be constructed to nearly any required dimension in thickness (t), width (w) and length (L), Common dimensions include about 4, about 8, about 10 or about 12 foot length, 4-6 inch thickness, and 4-6 feet width. But, nearly any dimensionality may be constructed, according to the application need or customer requirements.

[003Of The c-channels 105 may be placed at any spacing intervals, such as 4 foot centers, for example, and any spacing to imitate common (or traditional) spacing for "'studs." Two-foot center-to-center spacing is also quite common, as is 16 inch spacing. Nearly any spacing, including irregular spacing, may be provided. The c- channels 105 may comprise structural members to facilitate attaching finishing materials such as dry wall, panels, wood siding, vinyl siding, fiber-cement such as Hardiplank®, and the like. The surfaces of the panel 100 may be covered with stucco, gunite, resins, paints, or similar materials, as needed. The c-channels 105 laterally support the EPS and provide substantial weight bearing capability to support the building load generally and to provide attachment capability for siding materials. [0031 ] A tongue side 110 and a groove side 120 may be formed along the length (L) of the panel 100, and configured to form a tongue-in-groove assembly when two or more panels 100 are arranged side-by-side, to form a wall section 200 such as shown in relation to Figure 2A, for example. The tongue side 110 is configured to mate with the groove side 120 of another panel When so mated, a vertical chase 150 may be formed between the respective tongue and the groove edges as an interior chase along the length (L) of the mated panels 100. The vertical chase 150 may be about one inch in width (i.e., between the lateral tongue edge and the lateral groove edge) to permit installation of wiring between the mated panels 100. Alternatively, a structural strengthening member or stabilizer, such as a metal bar, perhaps having a length of about (L), may be inserted into the vertical chase 150 to provide added strength to the resulting wall, such as for added load bearing capacity, for example, An example of a structural strengthening member is described more fully in relation to Figure 3, below.

[0032] A horizontal chase 130 (as viewed when installed) may be formed (but not always necessary) during the molding fabrication process and configured to extend from the tongue side 1 10 to the groove side 120, through the interior of the panel 100, The horizontal chase 130 may be about 1 V?. inches in diameter, but any diameter suitable for a particular application may be constructed. This horizontal chase 130 may provide for accepting wiring runs such as electrical wiring (or perhaps even plumbing) so it may be inserted into or through the panel 100 at the building site to provide power and/or communications, for example, A chase 130 of one panel 100 may align with the chase of an adjacent panel 100, so that wiring may run substantially unimpeded through multiple panels 100, The horizontal chase 130 may be configured with a tapered opening 1 15, as a lead-in for aiding in guiding inserted wires into the horizontal chase 130, also assisting running of the wire from one panel 100 to an adjacent pane! 100.

|0033] The EPS portions 140 of the panels 100 may be molded to hold c-channels 105 in place relative Io one another using molding techniques of various types, The EPS portions 140 provide substantial structural strength in combination with the c- channels 105. The EPS portions 140 may be constructed with acoustical protrusions 125 on the outer surface of the EPS. The acoustical protrusions 125 may be about 1/8 inch in height, but may vary some. The acoustical protrusions 125 may provide a spacing factor or gap between the EPS outer surface and any applied siding or covering such as dry wall, for example. The extra spacing provided by the acoustical protrusions 125 significantly reduces acoustical noise from penetrating through a finished wall. The acoustical protrusions 125 may be spaced at regular (or perhaps irregular) intervals such as 2 indies, or so, from one another, but can vary, along an extent of a panel so that a sound barrier is also created in a vertical sense so that sound may be prevented, or at least reduced, in propagation ability in a vertical sense along the EPS surface. That is, the series of acoustical protrusions 125 may also inhibit sound propagation laterally along the EPS outer surface, in addition to creating a dampening effect by creation of the space factor or gap. Such a space factor or gap may be created between the EPS foam and any applied finishing materials such as dry wall sheet, siding, or finishing panels, for example, so that the protrusions 125 formed along the width of the EPS portions 140 thereby inhibit sound travel along the surface of the panel, especially, but not limited to, in a vertical sense. [0034] Figure 2A is a side view of a plurality of prc-insulated structural building panels 100, configured to form a wall section 200. The wall section 200 may be arranged so thai a tongue side 1 10 is mated with a groove side 120 of another panel 100. A fastening plate 160 may be used to fasten the plurality of panels 100 together. f0035] Figure 3 A is an illustration of an embodiment of a wall section comprising a plurality of pre-insulatcd structural building panels constructed according to principles of the invention, the wall section generally denoted by reference numeral 300. The pre-insulaled structural building panels 305, 310 comprising the wall section 300 are shown in two different lengths, for example 4 foot panels and 8 foot panels, arranged in a checkerboard fashion, with a longer size panel 310 layered on top of a shorter panel 305 (the pair shown in the left-hand side of Fig. 3A), and then the pair coupled laterally by tongue-in-groove mating, as described previously, with a second pair of panels (the pair shown in the right-hand side in Fig. 3A). The second pair of panels includes a shorter panel 305 layered on top of a longer panel 310. The longue-in-groove arrangement may be configured to form a vertical chase 150 for receiving a structural strengthening member 330, such as a metal bar, that may extend the entire height of the layered panels (in this example, about 12 feet of extent), In this way, extra strengthening and/or extra stabilizing characteristics may be provided to enhance structural integrity of the side-by-sidc sets of panels. The checkerboard pattern itself also provides additional resistance to lateral movement of the panels 100. The panels 305, 310 may comprise any embodiments of panel 100. Panels 305 and 310 are shown in Fig. 3 A without any c-channcls 105 (and several other features of Figs. IA-I C) to permit enhancement of particular features being described in relation to Fig. 3A, but the c-channels 105 (and the other features of Figs. 1 A-IC) may be interpreted as being included in the embodiment of Fig. 3 A. [O036J Further, an optional based plate 320, raountable to a floor or other surface, may have lips 322 configured to receive the lower side of the respective lower panels 305, 310. The base plate 320 may serve at least in part to stabilize the wall section 300 to a floor, or similar surface, and may be of any length to match any number of side -by-side panels being installed for an application, The base plate 320 may be configured with one or more attaching mechanisms 335 (see the top view of the base plate/header plate as shown in Fig. 3B), which may be holes, to secure the structural strengthening member 330 to the base plate 320. Moreover, an optional header plate 325 may be employed at the top of the upper panels 305, 310 to provide added structural integrity al the top of the wall section 300. The header plate 325 may be configured similarly to the base plate 320, as shown in relation to the end-on view of Fig. 3C. The header 325 may also have lips 322 and may also have attaching mechanism 335 to receive the structural strengthening member 330. The header 325 may be secured Io an appropriate structure for securing the wall section 300 at the lop and may be of any length to match any number of side-by-side panels being installed for an application. The structural strengthening member 330 may be cut to length, as needed, which may be more than 12 feet in this example. [0037] While the invention has been described in terms of exemplar}' embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention.