A multifunction panel for use in a building defines an interspace, optionally for the passage of air, and includes a first layer having a plurality of first shaped through-holes of a first predetermined diameter; a second layer having a plurality of cells defining a honeycomb or ribbed structure; a third layer having a plurality of second shaped through-holes of a second predetermined diameter, the first and the second holes being selectively open at the opposite ends of respective cells, so as to create a first configuration of a cell providing for the transit of air between the interspace and the internal environment, or vice versa, when a first hole opens at a first end and of a cell at a second hole opens at a second end of the cell, and further generating a Helmholtz resonator.

Disclosed is a panel comprising a substrate (1), wherein the outer surface of the substrate (1) is covered with a coating layer (8), wherein one edge of the substrate (1) is provided with a recess (3), and a groove (4) is arranged inside the substrate (1) adjacent and interconnected to the recess (4), and wherein the opposite edge of the substrate (1) is provided with a protrusion (7) that can be fitted into the recess (3), and a tongue (6) is extended from the protrusion (7) that can fitted into the groove (4). The substrate is made of 100 parts by mass of PVC resin or PVC powder, 25-45 parts of styrene elastomer, 180-280 parts of stone powder, sawdust or rock, 1-10 parts of an additive, and 1-4 parts of an elastomer coupling agent. Also disclosed is a decorative panel formed by arranging and interlocking the panels in sequence by fitting the protrusion of a panel into the recess of a neighboring panel, as well as a panel installation process.

A water impervious wall panel system includes an intermediate first wall panel composed of a waterproof core and a decorative surfacing attached to the core, wherein the intermediate first wall panel is provided with tongue-and-groove edges. The water impervious wall panel system also includes an end second wall panel composed of a waterproof core and a decorative surfacing attached to the core, wherein the end second wall panel is provided with a tongue-and-groove edge and a rolled edge. One of the tongue-and-groove edges of the intermediate first wall panel and the tongue-and-groove edge of the end second wall panel form an interlocking system having a contact area adjacent to a front face of the intermediate first wall panel and the end second wall panel and a gap adjacent a rear face of the intermediate first wall panel and the end second wall panel, the contact area surface extending across less than the thickness of the intermediate first wall panel and the end second wall panel so as to provide a tight joint at the front face and eliminate visible gaps.

An article featuring a cladding system for a wall, the cladding system including: (a) a plurality of metal structural members connected together to form a rigid substrate having a front surface, and a rear surface in a spaced-apart relationship and parallel to the front surface; (b) an architectural facade featuring metal plate shaped in three dimensions; (c) a module of defined height and width featuring the architectural facade attached to the rigid substrate, and further featuring means for attachment of the module to the wall; (d) the module further characterized in that placing a plurality of modules adjacent and above or below one another forms a repeating pattern of the three-dimensionally shaped metal plate of the architectural facade.

A method for producing a hydrophobic element is disclosed and includes the following steps: a) preparing a mixture of water and an organic material from sustainably renewable resources, b) moulding the mixture prepared in step a) to obtain a moulded element, c) drying and densifying the moulded element obtained in step b) to obtain a dried and densified element-, and d) impregnating to the core the dried and densified element obtained in step c) with a binder composed of organic materials from sustainably renewable resources. A covering hydrophobic element containing more than 90%, and preferably more than 99%, of an organic material from sustainably renewable resources is also disclosed.

An apparatus for forming blanks from fibrous material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a die having a porous body with a plurality of perforations extending there through, the plurality of perforations having varying sizes and being layered from a top surface to a bottom surface of the porous body. A smooth molding surface is provided on the top surface to hold the fibrous material and allow water to drain from the fibrous material through the plurality of perforations.

A manufacturing process, and related products, for fabricating translucent articles in the form of tiles. The manufacturing process includes holding together a stack of corrugated cardboard pieces and saturating the cardboard pieces with an impregnating agent. Additional steps may include machining the cardboard pieces to define a block of a desired shape, slicing the block into tile components, and/or coating one or more tile components with a coating material to produce the article. Articles include translucent tiles made of corrugated cardboard pieces saturated with an impregnating agent. The tiles may be arranged to define a surface, such as a floor, a wall, a roof, a lighting installation, an architectural construction element, an architectural aesthetic element, or a solar panel.

Provided is a decorative building material and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a decorative building material which is manufactured by a simple process and has a print layer excellent in sharpness, realism, and stereoscopic effect as well as having a functional layer such as an impact absorbing property and a manufacturing method thereof. The method of manufacturing a decorative material includes the steps of: (S1) preparing a transfer film on which a pattern is printed; (S2) preparing a substrate comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, a white film comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, and a transparent film comprising polyvinyl chloride resin; (S3) laminating the white film, the transparent film, and the transfer film on the substrate in order and at the same time performing a heat treatment under pressure; and (S4) peeling off the transfer film.

A panel for a thin brick system comprises repeating and aligned peaks and valleys, with individual ledges associated with each valley, with at least a portion of each ledge protruding above an adjacent peak to provide a surface to support a product, such as a thin brick on the peaks of the panel.

A support-framework (1) supports a surface (2), or supported elements, at a designed variable spacing from a support surface (3), using elongate supports (4) of rod-from or tubular-form that act as ties or struts. Each support (4) is anchored at one of its ends to the supported surface (2) or element and, at the other end, to the support surface (3). The anchoring at each end is via a node N that involves an individual domed-member (5) which is secured to the relevant surface (2, 3) or supported element, and which has a part-spherical surface (6) to which the elongate supports (4) are anchored to extend radially by a coupling (12). The domed-members (5) are metallic or plastics, and may each be hemispherical having an outwardly directed equatorial flange (7) by which they are secured to the relevant surface (2, 3) or supported element.