Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR ORGANIZER
Field of the Invention
s This invention relates in general to a modular organizer and more
particularly to panels having a means for engaging adjacent panels, wherein
the panels
are adapted for attachment to a wall and has a reinforcement means for
improved
strength.
1 o Background of the Invention
There are a variety of display systems for organizing a host of articles,
which are well known in the art. Traditionally, display systems have included
display units or paneling that are mounted on the wall. These systems
typically
~ s included panels or boards having parallel slots or channels into which
hardware or
attachment mechanisms can be inserted and secured. The focus of these systems
has
been to provide the user a means for displaying articles, which comprise of
slots and
panels that are easy to install and are durable.
2o Prior art display paneling systems have been devised to address the issues
surrounding installation. For example, United States Patent No. 4,674,240
issued on
June 23, 1987 to Strausheim relates to a wall panel system comprising of units
of
extruded plastic strips having vertically-spaced, horizontally-extending C-
shape
channels for receiving prongs or clips of various types of hangers.
United States Patent No. 5,138,803 issued to Grossen on August 18, 1992
relates to a display panel assembly having a regular series of undercut slots
lined with
identical channel inserts that improve the appearance and strength of the
panel in the
slot areas. The channel insert is capable of being installed in a slot from
the face of the
3o panel with a resilient snap fit.
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United States Patent No. 5.655,674 issued on August 12, 1997 to Holztrager
relates to an exhibit panel comprising a backboard made of plastic material
having a
pair of spaced apart walls secured by a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal
ribs
disposed between the walls, and a plurality of parallel spaced apart
longitudinal
profiles glued to the blackboard.
Prior art inventions however are still cumbersome to install because of the
weight of the paneling, are costly to produce and are often are not strong
enough to
Io support a variety of articles. Thus a modular organizer that is cost
effective to
produce, lightweight yet able to support heavy articles, and is easy to
install with
minimum effort is desirable.
Summary of the Invention
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved
modular organizer and a method for installing it.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
2o panel comprising of a means for engaging adjacent panels. The panel is
adapted for
attachment to a wall and has a reinforcement means within the panel for
improved
strength.
Conveniently, the means for engaging adjacent panels may further comprise
2s of a tongue and groove on each panel for engagement with adjacent panels.
Preferably, the panel may be adapted for attachment to a wall by a fastening
means.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
paneling system comprising of a series of panels adapted for attachment to a
wall.
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The series of panels have a means for engaging one another and a reinforcement
means .
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method for installing a paneling system comprising of mounting a series of
panels to
a wall. The series of panels may have a reinforcement means within the panels
and
a means for engaging adjacent panels. The series of panels may be secured to
the
wall by engaging the means for engaging adjacent panels of at least two panels
to
one another.
In accordance with a final aspect of the present invention there is provided a
kit for a modular organizer comprising of a series of panels having a
reinforcement
means within each of the panels. The kit may further include a tongue and a
groove
associated with each of the panels for engagement of adjacent panels and a
fastening
means for securement of the series of panels to a wall.
Advantages of the present invention are: easy installation of the panel, the
paneling system and the method of installation as the panels are lightweight;
quick
installation as the panels are not cumbersome and connect to adjacent panels
quickly
2o and easily; simple securing of the panels to one another and to the wall;
improved
strength of the panels and paneling system as the panels contain reinforced
cross
members within the panels, therefore overcoming compressive and tensile
forces;
panels are made from durable material, such as polymer resin that improves the
longevity of the panel and paneling system and allows the installer to easy
handle
and cut the panels to the desired length.
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Brief Descr~tion of the Drawings
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments are provided herein
below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in
s which:
Figure 1 in a cross-sectional view, illustrates a panel in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
to Figure 2 in a perspective view, illustrates the panel of Figure 1 during
installation.
Figure 3 in a perspective view, illustrates the paneling system of Figure 1
during installation.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by
way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and
drawings
are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and
are not
intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated in a cross-sectional view, a panel
10
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The panel
10
2s includes a means for engaging adjacent panels 12 and a reinforcement means
14
within the panel 10. The panel 10 may be adapted for attachment to wall 16.
The means for engaging adjacent panels 12 may further comprise of a tongue
18 and a groove 20 for each panel 10. The tongue 18 of one panel 10 may engage
3o the groove 20 of an adjacent panel 10, and the groove 20 may engage the
tongue 18
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of another adjacent panel 10. The tongue 18 is presented on one side of the
panel 10
while the groove 20 is presented on an opposite side of the panel 10. The
opposite side
of the panel 10 includes a leg 29 extending outwardly from said opposite side
and
spaced from said groove 20 so as to define a channel 19. The groove 20 extends
outwardly beyond the leg 20 so that when the tongue 18 is engaged with the
groove 20
there is a space between the depending leg 29 of one panel and the adjacent
panel for
insertion of the fastening means 22 as best seen in figure 1. The panel 10 may
further
comprise of a channel 19 or recess that may be accessed from the front of the
panel
to allow the installer to secure attachment means 29 or hooks from which
articles
1 o may be attached for display on the panel 10.
The panel 10 may be adapted for attachment to a wall 16 by a fastening
means 22. The fastening means 22 may be further defined as a screw 24 or other
means of attachment. The fastening means 22 may attach the panel 10 to the
wall
t 5 16 at a point 26 where the groove 20 of one panel 10 and the tongue 18 of
another
panel 10 engage. The installer may use a minimum of two fastening means 22 to
secure the panel 10 to the wall 16. The fastening means 22 may be inserted
into a
stud 36 on a 2x4 or 2x6 piece of lumber in the wall 16 or into the wall 16
directly.
2o The reinforcement means 14 within the panel 10 may further comprise of a
profile 28 of cross members 30. More specifically, the arrangement of the
cross
members 30 allows for the force (ie. compressive and tensile forces) exerted
against
the panel 10 from the articles displayed on the panel 10, to be born against
the cross
members 30 at specific points 31a and 31b. The profile 28 does not require
cross
25 members 30 where little compressive force is exerted on the panel 10.
In particular where a hook 29 is inserted into the recess 19, the lower
portion
of the hook 59 will bear against the surface adjacent the cross member 30 at
point
31 and will resist compression forces A. The upper portion of hook 59 will
tend to
3o pull or bear against lip 33 and accordingly the cross members 30 at point
31 will
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resist the tensile forces B. Cross members 30 may be absent in the region
between
points 31a and 31b, particularly if the region does not experience appreciable
compressive or tensile forces.
s The cross members 30 within the panel 10 may be arranged in a number of
different profiles 28 to provide additional strength to the panel 10. The
different
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profiles 28 may be determined during the extrusion of the panel 10. The panel
10
may be extruded in a variety of materials, polymer resin being the preferred
material as it provides additional strength, yet is lightweight, easy to keep
clean,
may come in a variety of colours and is easy to handle by the installer.
Referring to Figure 3, another embodiment of the present invention includes
a paneling system 32 comprising of a series of panels 34 adapted for
attachment to a
wall 16. The series of panels 34 have a means for engaging one another 12 and
a
reinforcement means 14. The paneling system 32 may be further defined with the
to same elements as described above for the panel 10 embodiment. The paneling
system 32 allows for the interlocking of the series of panels 34 and the
securement
of these panels 34 to the wall 16 to form a modular organizer from which a
variety
of articles may be attached to.
t s In Figures 2 and 3 there is illustrated in perspective views the method of
installation of the panel 10 and paneling system 32 in operation. In
operation, a
panel 10 is leveled on the wall 16 at the appropriate or desired point for
attachment
to the wall 16. The panel 10 comprising of a tongue 18 and a groove 20 as
described above, is secured to the wall 16 using a fastening means 22 such as
a
2o screw 24 at a point on the groove 20. For easy installment of the paneling
system,
it is preferred that the first panel 10 is installed at the bottom of the wall
16 so that
the paneling system 32 is built from the bottom up. When installed in this
fashion,
it is easier for the installer to add additional panels 10 and ensure a tight
joint or fit
between adjacent panels 10.
A second panel 10 having a tongue 18 and groove 20 is placed adjacent to
the first panel 10 so that the tongue 18 of the first panel 10 engages the
groove 20 of
the second panel 10 and the panels 10 or series of panels 34 are joined or
interlocked together tightly. The fastening means 22 such as a screw 24 may be
3o screwed into the panels 34 at a point 26 where the tongue 18 and the groove
20
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interlock or engage and then into the wall 16 or the joist 36. The remaining
series
of panels 34 or the desired number of panels 10 may be attached to the wall 16
directly or to the joist 36 depending on the surface that the paneling system
32 is
being installed onto.
Additional fastening means 22 may be installed into the wall 16 or stud 36
for additional stability. End caps may be placed onto the edges of the
finished
paneling system 32 to provide a more finished or professional look to the
paneling
system 32.
to As can be seen from Figure 2 and 3, an entire wall 16 may be constructed
with a plurality of panels 10 abutting vertically one another as described, as
well as
horizontally abutting side edges 10a and lOb of each other. In other words, by
looking at Figure 3 one may abut side 10a of one panel 10 with side 10 b of
another
panel 10, and secure the other panel 10 to studs 36a and 36b.
is
The series of panels 34 may form part of a kit for a modular
organizer that comprises of the series of panels 34 having a reinforcement
means 24
within each of the panels 34. The kit may further include a tongue 18 and a
groove
20 associated with each of the panels 34 for engagement of adjacent panels 34
and a
2o fastening means 22 for securement of the series of panels 34 to a wall 16.
The kit
may be adapted for displaying specific articles associated with specific uses
such as
gardening or tools or the like. The kit will also include hook 59 or the like
which
can be manually displaced along the recess 19 at the desired location.
2s Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such
modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of
the
invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
