US 6,314,701 · Granted 2001-11-13
The Snap-Together Panel Patent That Sealed the Deal on Modern Wall Systems
Imagine building walls that click together like LEGO bricks instead of requiring nails and screws. This patent describes lightweight foam panels with metal skins on both sides that lock together with a special joint that automatically creates a waterproof seal between panels, making construction faster and buildings more airtight.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a foam-core construction panel with thin metal facings on top and bottom, featuring a snap-together joint system that includes a built-in sealant pocket. What's protected here is the specific design of that joint: it incorporates stabilizing members and a protrusion or bead that creates a defined vertical space automatically filled with sealant when two panels connect. Anyone manufacturing a similar click-lock panel system with this integrated sealing mechanism would be using the patented technology.
Why it matters
This patent addresses a fundamental construction pain point: traditional panel assembly requires manual sealing, which is time-consuming and prone to gaps that leak air and water. By embedding the sealant chamber directly into the joint itself, this design eliminates a separate installation step, speeds up assembly, and improves building envelope performance. The combination of foam insulation with metal skins in a user-friendly snap system opens doors for modular building techniques that appeal to prefabrication and rapid construction markets.
Real-world use
You'd encounter this technology in prefabricated wall panels or modular building systems—snap two panels together on a job site and the joint automatically seals itself without additional caulking or sealant application.
Original USPTO abstract
An improved construction panel is diclosed comprising a foam core with thin metal skins attached to top and bottom surfaces of the foam core having am improved snap together joint. The joint includes a sealant pocket and stabilizing members. The sealant pocket further includes a bead or a protrusion to positively define a vertical sealant space between adjacent and connected construction panels.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,314,701
- Filing date
- 1999-02-09
- Grant date
- 2001-11-13
- Assignee
- Steven C. Meyerson
- Inventor(s)
- MEYERSON STEVEN C.
- CPC class
- E04F13/0876
Want to file your own patent?
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