Assembly for securing two juxtaposed panels to a structure
so as to allow thermal expansion and contraction
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to extruded, modular panel units for the
construction of walls, ceilings, roofs, canopies and windows, particularly of lighttransmitting
wall sections. More particularly, the present invention relates to assemblies
for constructing such walls, ceilings, roofs, canopies and windows from a plurality of
units while allowing for thermal expansion of the panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
EP 949 390 discloses two generally co-planar panels supported almost edge-toedge
by an intermediate beam. A coupling member is captive to the beam by interengaging
longitudinal formations and provides an interlocking engagement for the
edges of the panels. Opposite the coupling member the beam is proud of the panels and
receives and retains a cap which seals against the panels. Downwardly directed wings in
the cap engage upwardly directed channels in a base thereof and prevent side walls of
the cap from splaying apart.
WO 2008/149344 in the name of the present Applicant discloses an assembly
for securing to a structure two juxtaposed panels, each including a first surface, an
opposing second surface and a joining flange located at, or adjacent to, respective
juxtaposed edges thereof. The assembly is particularly configured to prevent splaying
apart of the juxtaposed panels under load and employs a retaining member that is
fixedly mounted to the support structure and to which there is attached a clamping
member having two spaced-apart legs depending from a web, each leg being configured
to engage a respective exposed surface of an adjacent joining flange. A fastening means
is provided for fastening the retaining member to a construction element that inhibits
angular displacement of the panels when force is applied to either the first or second
surfaces thereof.
US Patent No. 6,164,024 discloses a light transmissive glazing panel system for
overhead roof constructions where glazing panels are supported on a framework and
include upstanding seam flanges for connecting adjacent panels together with a joining
connector. Figs. 4 and 13 show arrangements where panels having upwardly projecting
flanges on their mating edges are juxtaposed on opposite sides of aluminum support
brackets that are bolted to the roof structure and a clamping member is then disposed on
the projecting flanges to secure and seal the structure.
The above publications are typical of prior art that discloses the mounting of
extruded panels to a construction element. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion
(a) of polycarbonate at 23°C is 65-70 x 10~ /°C, which is approximately three times
that of aluminum for which a at 20°C is 23 x 10~ /°C. To the extent that some kind of
retaining member is fixedly mounted to the construction element, it is to be understood
that this is incapable of movement. But the polycarbonate panels mounted thereto do
expand and contract, thus becoming subject to tensile and compressive forces. Specifically,
adjacent panels that expand will push against each other laterally, thus subjecting
their respective mounts to compressive forces. This gives rise to high frictional forces
between the panels and the mounts, which militates against thermal expansion of the
panels in the longitudinal direction, which can cause buckling or other distortion of the
panels.
Normally the clamping members are formed of the same or similar material to
the panels, e.g. polycarbonate, such that the clamping members tend to expand at the
same rate as the panels. Therefore in structures such as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 11 of
WO 2008/149344 where the clamping members are fixedly mounted to the support
structure, and are thus restrained from expanding, the panels being tightly clamped by
the clamping member are likewise unable to expand.
US Patent No. 6,536,175 discloses a panel assembly and joining elements
having reciprocally engaged inclined surfaces facing inwards. Fig. 7 of this patent
discloses a polycarbonate jointing element fastened to a metal plate in the form of a
track for connection to load bearing structures. However, the arrangement is not
directed to the need to allow for longitudinal thermal expansion. Moreover, in order to
ensure a waterproof seal there is provided a pressing element having a conical shape at
the tip, which is inserted between two downwardly projecting joining flanges of
adjacent panels so as to urge the flanges apart and thus press them tightly against
opposing internal walls of the polycarbonate jointing element. It is apparent from Fig. 7
of the patent that this also urges the walls of the jointing element against the metal track
thereby increasing friction between the track and the jointing element and militating
against sliding of the jointing element within the metal track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a broad object of the present invention to provide an assembly
consisting of extruded, modular panel units and a matching joining member for
constructing walls, roofs and the like, that is better adapted than hitherto -proposed
arrangements for allowing thermal expansion and contraction of the panels.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is therefore provided an
assembly having the features of claim 1 for securing a panel or two juxtaposed panels to
a structure so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panel or panels relative to the
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in
practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figs. 1 to 4 are cross-sectional views showing a panel assembly constructed
according to variations of a first embodiment;
Figs. 5 to 9 are cross-sectional views showing a panel assembly constructed
according to variations of a second embodiment;
Figs. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views showing a panel assembly constructed
according to variations of a third embodiment;
Fig. 12a is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative flange construction for
use with any of the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 9;
Fig. 12b shows a detail of an integral securing element and retaining member
used in the embodiment of Fig. 12a; and
Figs. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views showing a panel assembly constructed
according to variations of a fourth embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In the following description of some embodiments, identical components that
appear in more than one figure or that share similar functionality will be referenced by
identical reference symbols. The invention may be realized using a number of different
constructions and, therefore, the functionality of the invention will first be described
with reference to Fig. 1, after which different embodiments will be described with
reference to the other figures.
Fig. 1 shows an assembly 10 for securing two juxtaposed panels 11 and 12 to a
construction element (not shown) constituting a structure so as to allow mutual sliding
of the panels relative to the structure. Each of the panels 11 and 12 includes a first
surface 13, an opposing second surface 14 and a joining flange 15 mounted in
association with respective juxtaposed edges thereof. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the
joining flanges 15 are located at the edges of the respective panels and are flush
therewith. However, the flanges need not be flush with the edges of the panels and in
some embodiments may project inwardly from the panel edges. The flanges 15 are
clamped by a securing element 16 that limits lateral separation of the flanges and is
formed of a material having a similar coefficient of expansion to the panel. Typically,
the panels 11, 12 and the securing element 16 are formed of extruded plastic material,
such as polycarbonate and in a particular application of the invention the panels at least
are light transmissive.
Typically the joining flanges 15 are extruded with the panels 11, 12, such that
each flange is integrally formed along an edge 17 of the panel and is formed of the same
material. The edge 17 corresponds to the axis of extrusion and defines a longitudinal
axis 18 of the juxtaposed panels. Since the panels 11, 12 and the securing element 16
are formed of material having similar if not identical coefficients of thermal expansion
it thus follows that the joining flanges 15 and the securing element 16 expand and
contract at similar rates. As a result, frictional contact between the joining flanges 15
and the securing element 16 is maintained and mutual sliding along the axis of extrusion
is impeded if not altogether prevented. In hitherto-proposed constructions, this gives
rise to the problems identified above owing to the direct fixation of the panels to the
support structure, which prevents the panels 11, 12 and the securing element 16 from
moving together without inducing longitudinal and transverse distortion of the panels.
In order to allow longitudinal displacement of the joined panels relative to the
support structure, the panels are not fixed directly to the support structure but are fixed
via one or more support elements 20, each configured for slidably supporting the panels
relative to the support element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 of the
panels. This requirement may be met in different ways, of which some examples will
now be described.
Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the support element 20 is in the form of a
mounting bracket adapted for fixedly attaching to the structure and supporting opposing
side walls 22, 23 that form a channel 24. The manner of attaching the support element
20 to the support structure is not a feature of the invention. Commonly, self-tapping
screws 25 may be used since this simplifies assembly. But any other suitable form of
attachment may be employed, such as regular screws, bolts, rivets, welding and so on. It
should also be understood that the support element may be integral with the structure or
constituted by the structure itself.
The respective flanges 15 of a pair of juxtaposed panels are retained by a
generally I-shaped retaining member 30 having a base portion 3 1 supporting a central
vertical column 32 and a planar top portion 33 that extends parallel to the base portion
31. The base portion 3 1 is dimensioned for sliding accommodation within the channel
24 of the support element 20, which supports the panels 11 and 12 on opposing support
surfaces 35 and 36. The height, d, between the base portion 3 1 and the top portion 33, is
slightly greater than the combined height of the panels, joining flanges and the material
thickness of the support element 20 which are to be accommodated therebetween. This
leaves an air gap 37 that allows for thermal expansion of the base portion 3 1 without
obstructing the support element 20, thus maintaining the ability of the retaining member
30 to slide within the support element 20 regardless of climatic changes.
When assembled, the joining flanges 15 abut opposing surfaces of the vertical
column 32 of the retaining member 30 and are secured to each other and to the retaining
member 30 by the securing element 16, which is shown as a generally inverted C- or Ushaped
clamping member defining an axial bore 41. Opposing side walls 42 of the
securing element 16 are resiliently urged against the outer surfaces of the flanges,
thereby securing the retaining member 30 and the flanges 15 within the axial bore 41.
The outer surfaces of the joining flanges 15 may be tapered and provided with notches
43 e.g., saw-tooth or barb-shaped notches that engage complementary notches 44 (see
Fig. 5) formed along the opposing side walls 42 of the securing element 16. Alter
natively, the flanges may be tapered in a reverse direction so as to be wider at the tip
than at the base, thus forming a dovetail joint with a securing element having an axial
bore of complementary shape. It will thus be understood that the term "juxtaposed"
does not imply necessarily that the panels are in abutting relationship, although they
may be as described below with reference to Fig. 5.
The dimensions of the retaining member 30 ensure that, when assembled, the
panels 11, 12 are supported on the support element 20 and the tips of the flanges 15 abut
inner surfaces of the top portion 33. The upper bar of the retaining member 30 retains
the panels in contact with the support structure in the event of upward force, for
example by strong winds, applied to the lower surfaces of the panels. In this
embodiment, the retaining member 30 thus cooperates with the securing element 16 to
retain the panels 11, 12 and form a panel sub-assembly whose components are
substantially locked to each other and incapable of mutual thermal expansion or
contraction, while permitting thermal expansion or contraction of the panel sub
assembly relative to the support structure owing to the sliding accommodation of the
retaining member 30 within the support element 20.
Furthermore, in such an arrangement, the weight of the panels 11 and 12 is
borne by the support surfaces 35 and 36 of the support element 20. As is well known,
the frictional force F generated by a body acting on a surface is given by:
where: is the coefficient of friction between the object and the surface, and
N is the vertical component of force of the object.
In known structures such as described in WO 2008/149344, in addition to the
weight of the panels bearing on the construction element, the retaining member acts to
increase the force applied on the panels against the support structure. This significantly
increases the frictional force and militates against sliding of the panels relative to the
support structure.
In contrast thereto, in the present invention the only vertical force applied by the
panels on the support structure is their weight, there being no additional clamping force.
The coefficient of friction of plastic against metal is fairly low such that the frictional
force is not too high to prevent relative sliding of the panels on the support surfaces 35
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the support element 20 is a unitary
construction formed of extruded aluminum and having a base unit 45 supporting the
support element 20 and having toward opposing edges holes for accommodating the
screws 25. Fig. 2 shows a variation where the base unit 45 is split so as to form a pair of
opposing support elements 20a, 20b, whose base units may optionally have opposing
recesses 46, which cooperate to form a continuous planar support surface.
Fig. 3 shows a variation where the support surfaces 35 and 36 have downwardly
depending edges 50 that slidingly engage complementary channels 5 1 formed in an
upper surface of the base portion 3 1 of the retaining member 30. Fig. 4 shows another
variation similar in principle to that shown in Fig. 1 and having a T-shaped retention
member 30 adapted for sliding engagement in a low-profile support element 20.
Fig. 5 shows a different embodiment that operates on a slightly different
principle in that no T-shaped retaining member is required. Instead, the panels 11, 12
are inverted so that the flanges 15 face downward and are retained by the securing
element 16 also in the form of a clamping member, which is adapted for sliding
accommodation within the support member 20. To this end, the securing element 16
comprises a body portion 55 integrally formed with a planar base portion 56. The body
portion 55 has a longitudinal bore 57 configured for resiliently accommodating therein
respective joining flanges of a pair of juxtaposed panels. The base portion 56 supports
outwardly protruding ears 58 on opposing sides thereof for slidable accommodation
within the channel of the support element 20. In this embodiment, the securing element
16 serves as the retaining member 30 of the previous embodiment since it both retains
the joining flanges 15 and slidably engages the support element 20.
Since in this embodiment, the support element retains the securing element but
does not support the panels directly, the support element 20 may be simply a U-shaped
bracket that is secured to the support structure and provides a channel for slidably
accommodating the base portion 56 of the securing element 16. The support element 20
may be secured using screws or any other suitable fastener as described above. In the
embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the support element 20 is formed of a first portion 60 and
second portion 6 1 that interlocks with the first portion. The first portion 60 is a
generally U-shaped bracket that is adapted for fixedly attaching to the structure and the
second portion is a generally U-shaped channel. Thus in this embodiment, the securing
element is adapted for fixedly mounting to the structure via an intermediate element.
This is distinct from other embodiments where it is adapted for fixedly mounting to the
structure directly. Since the screw head protrudes above the inner surface of the
channel, it would foul the sliding base portion 56 of the securing element 16 if direct
contact were required. The two-part construction avoids such direct contact since the
base portion 56 is accommodated within the channel of the second portion 61. Both the
lower and upper portions 60, 6 1 may be formed of extruded aluminum that interlock via
complementary hooks 63 that snap fit together.
Also in this embodiment, the only vertical force applied by the panels on the
support structure is their weight, there being no additional clamping force thus
permitting relative sliding of the securing element 16 and attached panels within the
support element 20.
Fig. 6 shows a unitary construction where a recess 65 is formed in a lower
surface of the securing element that slidably engages a complementary recessed channel
66 in the support element 20, which accommodates the screw 25, thus avoiding direct
contact between the screw head and the retaining member 30.
Fig. 7 shows another two-part construction similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but
having inwardly projecting rails 67 that slidably engage complementary channels 68
formed in opposing side walls of the securing element 16.
Fig. 8 shows a similar construction, the only difference being the orientation of
the hooks 63.
Fig. 9 shows yet another construction where the lower portion 60 of the support
element 20 is of reduced profile compared with that shown in Fig. 8 and having an
upwardly projecting T-shaped rail 69 on its lower inside surface for slidably engaging a
complementary channel 70 formed in the lower surface of the securing element 16.
In all of the arrangements so far described, the joining flanges are perpendicular
to opposing major surfaces of the panels. Figs. 10 and 11 show alternative arrangements
where each panel has a single joining flange 15 protruding from a side surface of the
panel and adapted for interlocking engagement with a complementary recess 75 formed
in a side surface of an adjacent juxtaposed panel. In Fig. 10 adjacent panels are
interlocked via a retaining member 30 formed of a material having a similar coefficient
of thermal expansion to that of the panels and having on opposite side walls a respective
recess 76 and projection 77 each for engaging a respective complementary flange 15
and recess 75 on side walls of adjacent panels. The retaining member 30 is slidably
supported within a support element 20 that is fixed to the structure. The retaining
member 30 thus both locks the adjacent panels forming a sub-assembly comprising the
two juxtaposed panels 11, 12 and the retaining member 30 as well as allowing for
sliding engagement of the sub-assembly within the support element 20.
In the arrangement of Fig. 11, the retaining member 30 serves only to allow for
sliding engagement of two adjoined panels 11, 12 within the support element 20. It does
not lock the two panels together, this being achieved by complementary mortise and
tenon-type joints that may be adapted for snap fitting of two panels or may require that
they be joined by sliding the projecting male joint of one panel into the female recess of
the other panel.
It should be noted that when the flanges 15 are mounted at the side of the panels
11, 12 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, there is formed a seam 78, which is susceptible to
leakage of water into the structure. Also in the arrangement of Figs. 5 to 9 there is an
exposed seam between two juxtaposed panels. However, in this case any water seepage
will collect in the longitudinal bore 57 of the securing element 16 without seeping into
the structure. As opposed to this, there is no exposed seam in the arrangement shown in
Figs. 1 to 4, since the securing element 16 covers the seam between two juxtaposed
panels thereby preventing water seepage into the structure.
The panels 11, 12 are very typically used as roof structures and are therefore
particularly vulnerable to water seepage, which obviously should be avoided. For this
reason, the use of the securing element 16 of a type that forms a water impermeable
barrier between the panels 11, 12 and the structure is preferable. Such a securing
element 16 dictates that the flanges 15 protrude from one of the major surfaces 13, 14 of
the panel rather than from a mating surface as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Fig. 12a shows a structure 80 to which there are slidingly secured a pair of
juxtaposed panels 11, 12 having tapered flanges 15 that are wider at their respective tips
than at their bases. The tapered flanges 15 are secured within a securing element 16 that
is formed of material having a similar coefficient of expansion to the joining flanges 15
and which has a longitudinal bore 57 of complementary shape to the joining flanges 15
so as to form a dovetail joint. The securing element 16 is provided with lateral slots 81
best seen in Fig. 12b that slidably accommodate respective rails 82 of a support element
20 secured to the structure 80 by means of screws 25. It will be understood that such
flanges 15 may be used in any of the embodiments described above with reference to
Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings. Also in this embodiment, the securing element 16 serves
both to secure the adjoining flanges of a pair of juxtaposed panels and also to slidably
retain the panels within the support element 20.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a structure 80 to which there are slidingly secured a pair of
juxtaposed panels 11, 12 having flanges 15 that may tapered so as to be wider at their
respective tips than at their bases. More generally, and equally true for all the
embodiments, the flanges are of complementary shape to the hollow of the securing
element 16. Where the securing element 16 is provided with indents, the flanges are
likewise provided with indents, although again this is not mandatory as can be seen with
reference to Figs. 10, 11 and 12 where the flanges have no indents but are still of
complementary shape to the hollow of securing element 16.
Unlike the embodiments so far described where adjoining flanges of a pair of
juxtaposed panels are commonly supported within a single securing element, in this
embodiment a separate securing element is provided for each flange. Thus, each of the
flanges 15 is secured within its respective securing element 16 that may be formed of
material having a similar coefficient of expansion to the joining flange 15 and which
has a longitudinal bore 57 of complementary shape to the joining flange 15. Each
securing element 16 has a base supporting opposing ears 58 that are slidably mounted
within corresponding channels 24 of a support element 20 secured to the structure 80 by
means of screws 25. Thus, at its upper end the securing element 16 serves to secure the
respective panel while at its base it also serves to retain the panel within support
member 20.
Each of the support members 20 is supported by a respective mounting bracket
9 1 that is fixed to the structure 80 by corresponding screws 25. In order to ensure proper
abutment of the adjoining edges of the juxtaposed panels, the joining panels 15 are
mounted inward of the adjoining edges so as to leave sufficient overhang 93 that allows
for sufficient clearance between the two support members. In Fig. 13, the respective
mounting brackets 9 1 of adjacent support members 20 are spatially separated and each
is separately fixed to the structure 80. Thus, during assembly, each bracket is screwed to
the structure 80 by self-tapping screws 25, the securing elements 16 are then slidably
mounted within the channels of the support members 20 and the panels 11, 12 are then
mounted in the respective securing elements 16.
In Fig. 14 the respective mounting brackets 9 1 of a pair of adjoining support
members 20 overlap and are commonly fixed to the structure 80 by screws 25. In this
case, sufficient gap must be left between the respective support members of adjoining
panels to provide access to the screw 25. It is emphasized that all the figures are
schematic and are not drawn to scale.
It is also reiterated that in all embodiments, self-tapping screws 25 may be used
since this simplifies assembly. But any other suitable form of attachment may be
employed, such as regular screws, bolts, rivets, welding and so on. Likewise, in all
embodiments the support element may be integral with the structure or constituted by
the structure itself.
While the drawings show constructional panels having two major surfaces
defining the height of the panel, and covering sub-spaces formed therein, as known per
se, it is emphasized that the present invention is also applicable to other types of similar
panels, such as panels without inner sub-spaces, or panels in which the connecting
flanges are within the height of the panel, etc.
It should also be emphasized that while a large number of variations of joints
and support elements have been shown, it is not intended that each variation be confined
to the specific embodiment in connection with which it is illustrated and described.
Thus, different variations may be combined as required and all such permutations are to
be embraced by the appended claims as though they were separated illustrated and
described.
While in the embodiments described, the panels and adjoining flanges and the
securing element are formed of polycarbonate or other plastic materials having similar
temperature coefficients of expansion, the securing element 16 may be formed of metal
such as aluminum having a significantly smaller coefficient of expansion than the
joining flanges. This does not matter because buckling of the panels owing to
longitudinal expansion is prevented by virtue of the free sliding of the panels relative to
the support structure.
Likewise, it is to be understood that while the flanges are shown as tapered, this
is not essential. What is important is that the flanges be secured by the securing element
in a manner that ensures they both expand and contract together at similar rates of
thermal expansion. Likewise, in those embodiments having a retaining member, this
also should be formed of material having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to
the panels and securing element so that when the retaining member moves within the
channel of the support member, the panels and securing element move with the
retaining member. It is this property that ensures that the panels are able to slide freely
relative to the support structure and avoids buckling or other distortion of the panels.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the
details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the claims and
equivalents thereof.
CLAIMS:
1. An assembly (10) for securing a panel or two juxtaposed panels (11, 12) to a
structure (80) so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panel or panels relative to
said structure, each of said panels including a first surface (13), an opposing second
surface (14) and a joining flange (15) located in association with an edge thereof, said
edge defining a longitudinal axis of the panel, said joining flanges being configured for
fastening by at least one securing element (16), the assembly comprising
for each securing element (16), a respective support element (20) configured for
slidably supporting the panels relative to the respective support element in a direction
parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein:
each support element (20) is adapted for fixedly attaching directly or via an
intermediate element to the structure and supports opposing side walls (22, 23) that
form a channel (24) that is dimensioned to allow free sliding therein of the respective
securing element (16) or an associated retaining member (30), and
each panel is supported by the at least one securing element without applying
lateral pressure to the side walls (22, 23) of the respective support element (20).
2. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising a retaining member (30) adapted
to retain the respective joining flanges of a pair of juxtaposed panels and being
mountable within the support element and configured for longitudinal sliding relative
thereto ;
said at least one support element having a different coefficient of thermal
expansion than the retaining member.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein respective coefficients of thermal
expansion of the at least one support element and the retaining member differ by a
factor of at least two.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein respective coefficients of thermal
expansion of the at least one support element and the securing element (16) differ by a
factor of at least two.
5 . The assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said at least one support
element has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the retaining member.
6. The assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one
support element is formed of metal and the retaining member is formed of plastics.
7. The assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the at least one
support element (20) is formed of aluminum and the retaining member (30) is formed of
polycarbonate.
8. The assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the at least one
support element (20) comprises a base unit (45) adapted for fixedly attaching to the
structure and supporting opposing side walls (22, 23) that together with the base unit
form a channel (24) that is wider than the retaining member so as to slidably accom
modate the retaining member (30) therein.
9. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support
element (20) is formed of a first portion (20a) and second portion (20b) that interlocks
with the first portion.
10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first portion is a generally Ushaped
bracket that is adapted for fixedly attaching to the structure and the second
portion is a generally U-shaped channel.
11. The assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the second portion (20b) is
provided on an outer surface thereof with outwardly protruding hooks (63) for engaging
complementary hooks (63) in the first portion.
12. The assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein:
the retaining member (30) comprises a body portion (55) integrally formed with
a planar base portion (56),
said body portion having a longitudinal bore (41) configured for resiliently
accommodating therein respective joining flanges of a pair of juxtaposed panels, and
said base portion (56) supporting outwardly protruding ears (58) on opposing
sides thereof for slidable accommodation within the channel (24) of the mount.
13. The assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein:
the retaining member (30) is generally I-shaped and comprises a planar base
portion (31) and a planar top portion (33) interconnected by a central column (32),
said base portion being dimensioned for slidable accommodation within the
channel (24) of the support element (20),
the support element (20) having opposing support surfaces (35, 36) each for
supporting thereon one of the juxtaposed panels, and
the column (32) having a height that is slightly greater than a combined height
of the panels ( 11, 12), joining flanges (15) and material thickness of the support element
(20) so that when the respective first surfaces (13) of the panels are supported on the
support surfaces (35, 36) of the mount, respective tips of the joining flanges retained
between the base portion (31) and the top portion (33) of the retaining member;
the securing element (16) being configured for resiliently engaging the joining
flanges so as to prevent lateral displacement of the joining flanges relative to the
retaining member whereby the top portion (33) of the retaining member (30) retains the
tips (31) of the flanges and resists rotation thereof, thus anchoring the retaining member
to the panels to form a composite assembly that is able to slide within the channel of the
mount upon thermal expansion or contraction of the panels.
14. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 tol3, wherein the panels are
light transmissive.
15. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 tol4, wherein the panels are
formed of plastics.
16. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15 ,wherein the joining
flanges (15) protrude from one of the first and second surfaces (13, 14) of the panels
and the securing element (16) forms a water impermeable barrier between the panels
and the structure (80).
17. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the support
element (16) is integral with, or is constituted by, the structure (80).
18. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein each securing
element (16) has a base supporting opposing ears (58) that retain the securing element
(16) within a corresponding channel (24) of the support element (20) and serve as the
retaining element (30).
19. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein adjoining flanges
(15) of a pair of juxtaposed panels (11, 12) are commonly supported within a single
securing element (16).
20. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a separate
securing element (16) is provided for each joining flange.