GB1587224A - Plank system - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO A PLANK SYSTEM (71) We, THE BRITISH ALUMINIUM COMPANY LIMITED, a Company registered under the laws of Great Britain, of 7 Baker Street, London, W1M lAB, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a plank system.

Extruded planks of aluminium alloy having interlocking edge formations are well known.

Such planks are made to interlock for several reasons: (a) to allow loads or forces on one plank to be distributed to adjoining planks through the interlocking device so as to spread the effect of the load, (b) to allow methods of fixing to be simplified whereby one plank being fixed will automatically fix the sides of adjoining planks by virtue of the interlock, (c) to partly or fully seal the joint between the planks.

Existing plank systems generally employ a protruding tongue on one edge of the plank and a groove on the other edge. So that the tongue and groove may interlock, they are placed at the same level relative to the surface of the plank which when joined by the interlock will produce a substantially level joint between planks. The edges of an array of such planks joined by such a method are thus different; one having a protruding tongue and the other a slot. If the array is to be joined to a side section on both sides, then this section must be different on each side in order to interlock into the associated plank.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved plank for incorporation in a system with side sections therefor.

According to the present invention there is provided a plank system comprising a plank formed on each of its opposed edge faces with at least two interlocking formations each comprising a tongue and a groove, the tongue or tongues on one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking within the groove or grooves on the opposed edge face of a similar plank and the groove or grooves on said one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking with the tongue or tongues on said opposed edge face and at least one side section formed with a plurality of grooves corresponding with the number and spacing of the tongues and grooves on the side edges of the plank so that it may be located on either side of the plank with a selected one or ones of its grooves receiving the tongue or tongues on that side of the plank.

The system preferably incorporates a plurality of planks in side by side interlocked formation and a side section on each side of the formation.

The or each side section may have an upwardly extending part incorporating said grooves and an inwardly extending ledge to receive a foot of a side wall of a plank.

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawings which shows part of a plank system in transverse section.

Referring to the drawing an extruded aluminium alloy plank indicated generally at 1 has an upper wall 2 the upper surface 3 of which may be formed in known manner with a variety of upstanding rib formations such as 4 which may be raised above the general level of the upper surface 3 to provide water drainage channels and help to prevent the formation of ice in the ribbed parts.

The upper wall 2 may also be formed in well-known manner (not shown) with a variety of apertures of varying shape and disposition.

The plank is formed with depending side walls 5 and 6 terminating in inwardly directed feet 7 and 8 and intermediate walls 9 terminating in feet 10. The side wall 5 is formed on its outer surface 11 with a groove 12 and an outwardly projecting tongue 13 while the side wall 6 is formed on its outer surface 14 with a groove 12a (in register with the tongue 13 and of a size to receive as a sliding fit a similar tongue) and a tongue 13a (in register with the groove 12 and of a size to be a sliding fit in a similar groove).

The drawing shows how a second plank la may be located in edge to edge arrangement with the plank 1 the groove 12b and tongue 13b on its side wall 5a being respectively interlocked with the tongue 13a and groove 12a of the side wall 6 of the plank 1.

Side members such as 15 having an upwardly extending part 16 are formed with an inwardly directed ledge 17 to receive a foot 7 (or 8) of a side wall 5 (or 6) of a plank 1.

The part 16 is extended downwardly and is inwardly directed at 18 to constitute a supporting foot for the system. The inner face 19 of the part 16 is formed with a pair of grooves 20 and 21 in register with the groove 12 and the tongue 13 and both dimensioned to receive a tongue such as 13.

In the drawing the tongue 13 is in locking engagement with the tongue 21 (and no interlock occurs at the location of the grooves 12 and 20) but should the member 15 be located on the other side of the plank 1 (or the plank la) a tongue such as 13a would engage within the groove 20 (and no interlock would occur at the locations of the grooves 12a and 21). Thus the side member 15 may readily be located on either side of an array of planks such as 1, la.

To enhance the strength of the system and increase its watertightness weld seams may extend at 22, 23 and 24.

It will be understood that although pairs of tongues and grooves have to be described there may be a multiplicity of these on each side wall of each plank so long as the tongues and grooves on one side wall respectively register with grooves and tongues on the other. In addition the tongues (and the grooves in register therewith) could be of differing shapes and sizes.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a load bearing plank system of extruded aluminium planks it will be understood that it is applicable to plank systems of other materials for cladding or decorative purposes. The planks could for example be roll formed metal or moulded of plastics material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A plank system comprising a plank formed on each of its opposed edge faces with at least two interlocking formations each comprising a tongue and a groove, the tongue or tongues on one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking within the groove or grooves on the opposed edge face of a similar plank and the groove or grooves on said one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking with the tongue or tongues on said opposed edge face and at least one side section formed with a plurality of grooves corresponding with the number and spacing of the tongues and grooves on the side edges of the plank so that it may be located on either side of the plank with a selected one or ones of its grooves receiving the tongue or tongues on that side of the plank.

2. A plank system according to claim 1 incorporating a plurality of planks in side by side interlocked formation and a side section on each side of the formation.

3. A plank system according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the or each side section has an upwardly extending part incorporating said grooves and an inwardly extending ledge to receive a foot of a side wall of a plank.

4. A plank system according to claim 3 in which the foot is welded to the ledge.

5. A plank system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the upper side edge of each plank adjacent a side section is welded thereto.

6. A plank system according to any one of claims 2 to 5 in which adjoining planks are welded together.

7. A plank system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the planks and the side sections are extruded from an aluminium alloy.

8. A plank system substantially as herein described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. with the tongue 13 and of a size to receive as a sliding fit a similar tongue) and a tongue 13a (in register with the groove 12 and of a size to be a sliding fit in a similar groove). The drawing shows how a second plank la may be located in edge to edge arrangement with the plank 1 the groove 12b and tongue 13b on its side wall 5a being respectively interlocked with the tongue 13a and groove 12a of the side wall 6 of the plank 1. Side members such as 15 having an upwardly extending part 16 are formed with an inwardly directed ledge 17 to receive a foot 7 (or 8) of a side wall 5 (or 6) of a plank 1. The part 16 is extended downwardly and is inwardly directed at 18 to constitute a supporting foot for the system. The inner face 19 of the part 16 is formed with a pair of grooves 20 and 21 in register with the groove 12 and the tongue 13 and both dimensioned to receive a tongue such as 13. In the drawing the tongue 13 is in locking engagement with the tongue 21 (and no interlock occurs at the location of the grooves 12 and 20) but should the member 15 be located on the other side of the plank 1 (or the plank la) a tongue such as 13a would engage within the groove 20 (and no interlock would occur at the locations of the grooves 12a and 21). Thus the side member 15 may readily be located on either side of an array of planks such as 1, la. To enhance the strength of the system and increase its watertightness weld seams may extend at 22, 23 and 24. It will be understood that although pairs of tongues and grooves have to be described there may be a multiplicity of these on each side wall of each plank so long as the tongues and grooves on one side wall respectively register with grooves and tongues on the other. In addition the tongues (and the grooves in register therewith) could be of differing shapes and sizes. Although the invention has been described in connection with a load bearing plank system of extruded aluminium planks it will be understood that it is applicable to plank systems of other materials for cladding or decorative purposes. The planks could for example be roll formed metal or moulded of plastics material. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A plank system comprising a plank formed on each of its opposed edge faces with at least two interlocking formations each comprising a tongue and a groove, the tongue or tongues on one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking within the groove or grooves on the opposed edge face of a similar plank and the groove or grooves on said one edge face being in register with and capable of interlocking with the tongue or tongues on said opposed edge face and at least one side section formed with a plurality of grooves corresponding with the number and spacing of the tongues and grooves on the side edges of the plank so that it may be located on either side of the plank with a selected one or ones of its grooves receiving the tongue or tongues on that side of the plank.

2. A plank system according to claim 1 incorporating a plurality of planks in side by side interlocked formation and a side section on each side of the formation.

3. A plank system according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the or each side section has an upwardly extending part incorporating said grooves and an inwardly extending ledge to receive a foot of a side wall of a plank.

4. A plank system according to claim 3 in which the foot is welded to the ledge.

5. A plank system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the upper side edge of each plank adjacent a side section is welded thereto.

6. A plank system according to any one of claims 2 to 5 in which adjoining planks are welded together.

7. A plank system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the planks and the side sections are extruded from an aluminium alloy.

8. A plank system substantially as herein described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.