Patent · US Expired

Cladding system and panel for use in such system

US6199337A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
52References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1996
Grant dateMar 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE06B2009/2627
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A cladding system for walls or ceilings of a building structure consisting of a panel or panels that are sectioned so as to provide a variety of aesthetics. The sections in the panel may be joined along articulated lines of joinder so that an entire panel comprised of a plurality of sections can be expanded or retracted to either cover or selectively expose the wall or ceiling across which the system is mounted. The sections in a panel may be cellular and may thereby form a honeycomb-type panel, and the materials from which the panels are made may vary between being rigid, flexible, hard, soft, flat, reflective, and the like. Panels can be supported with side rails extending along, each side of the panel while not requiring cross rails so that, for example, when a panel is used in a ceiling system and retracted from its expanded condition beneath a ceiling structure, generous access is provided to the ceiling structure for repair or other work on utilities such as plumbing, electrical, and the like that are found embedded in the ceiling. Intermediate rails, parallel to the side rails, can also be provided, if necessary, to support a panel along intermediate portions thereof or betw…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.