Module panel and assembly

• US 5,768,845 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Skyline Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyline Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Slutsky, Igor, Beaulieu, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US08/725,725
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 52/585.1, 52/475.1, 52/656.9, 52/127.8, 52/36.1, 52/787.1, 52/793.1, 52/801.1, 52/239, 403/188, 403/217, 403/406.1
• US Class Current: 52/585.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6158 the connection made by formlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7468 using magnets
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/384 with a metal frame
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/02 Joints between panels and corner posts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/44 Three or more members connected at single locus

Abstract

A module panel for use in constructing different configurations of module assemblies. The module panel has an outer frame and a central core. The frame has outer shell and hollow interior. The frame has a plurality of frame members connected by frame connection member and a plurality of connector holes for inserting connection members for like connecting panels to construct a module assembly.

Connection members are anchored to the frame via connector fastener members which have a connector cavity. The connector fastener members are inserted into the frame through an opening and moved within the frame to align the connector cavity with a desired connection hole for insertion of a connector member. The connector member is secured relative to the frame within the connector cavity for connecting module panels. Connector members may also be received within the frame connection members at the corners of two adjoining frame members.

Claims

1. In combination:

a module panel including a frame and a central core, the frame being formed of a generally rigid member having a substantially closed outer shell defining an interior region, a connector hole communicating with the interior region, and an anchor opening communicating with the interior region;

a connector member having an end configured for insertion through the connector hole of the frame and an exposed end;

a connector anchor member for supporting the end of the connector member within the hollow interior of the frame, the connector anchor member defining a connector cavity sized to receive the end of the connector member therein the anchor opening positioned along the outer surface of the frame generally proximate to the connector hole and sized so as to receive the connector anchor member therethrough into the interior region of the frame such that the connector anchor member is moved within the interior region of the frame to align the connector cavity with the connector hole;

a first fastener element selectively securing the connector anchor member in position with the connector cavity generally aligned relative to the connector hole; and

a second fastener element selectively securing the end of the connector member within the connector cavity of the connector anchor member, the exposed end of the connector member for selectively connecting the module panel to a like module panel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the connector member is an elongated cylindrical rod and the connector cavity of the connector anchor member is a cylindrical bore.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first fastener element selectively securing the end of a connector member within the connector cavity of the connector anchor member includes a threaded fastener extending though a fastener hole defined by the frame and received within a fastener bore defined by the connector anchor member, the fastener bore intersecting the connector cavity, the fastener bore and the fastener hole being sized for insertion of the fastener and oriented relative to the connector cavity so that the fastener may be is inserted through the fastener hole and fastener bore to engage the end of the connection member and retain the connector member within the connector anchor member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the end of the connector member defines a notch and the fastener has a conical tip to engage the notch.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the fastener bore is aligned generally perpendicular to the connector cavity of the connector anchor member inserted into the interior region of the frame.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the fastener bore extends between a pair of opposed outer surfaces of the connector anchor member in alignment with the connector cavity so as to define a first fastener bore section and a second fastener bore section, and wherein the second fastener element selectively securing the connector anchor member relative to the connector hole includes an anchor fastener having a length sized such that a portion of the anchor fastener is aligned with and received within one of the first fastener bore section or the second fastener bore section.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the block fastener is a threaded and defines a wrench socket.

8. In combination:

a module panel having a frame and a core portion, the frame including a plurality of frame members and a plurality of frame connection members, each of the plurality of frame members being formed of an outer shell defining an interior channel and having open ends each of the plurality of frame connection members including a first extension and a second extension designed for insertion into the open ends of two of the plurality of frame members for connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of frame members to define a closed frame, the first extension and the second extension each defining a connector cavity extending therethrough, each of the plurality of frame members defining a plurality of connector holes, each of the plurality of connector holes extending through the outer shell of the frame members and aligned with the connector cavity of either the first extension or the second extension received within the corresponding ones of the open ends of the frame members;

a plurality of connector members each having an end and an exposed portion, the end sized for insertion through one of the plurality of connector holes of the frame members and received within the connector cavities; and

a first fastener element selectively securing the end of the connector member within the connector cavity, the exposed portion of the connector member permitting the module panel to be connected to a like module panel.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of frame members define a plurality of connector holes spaced along an extent thereof in addition to the connector holes disposed proximate to the open ends of the plurality of frame members and aligned with the connector cavity of the first extension or the second extension inserted therein, the frame members further defining a plurality of anchor openings each disposed generally proxmate to one of the connector holes spaced along the extent of each of the plurality of frame members and communicating with the interior channel, the combination further comprising:

a plurality of connector anchor members each for supporting one of the plurality of connector members, each of said plurality of connector anchor members being inserted through a one of the plurality of anchor openings into the interior region of one of the plurality of frame members, each connector anchor member defining a connector cavity receiving the end of one of the plurality of connection members therein; and

a second fastener element selectively securing the connector anchor member relative to and generally aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of connector holes.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein the first extension and the second extension of each of the frame connection members each include a pin cavity, and the plurality of frame members each define a pair of pin holes proximate to the open ends thereof, the pin cavity of each of the first extension and the second extension of the frame connection members being aligned with a corresponding one of the pair of pin holes when the extension and the second extension are inserted into the open ends of the plurality of frame members, and further including a plurality of pins, each of the plurality of pins being received within a corresponding one of the pair of pin holes and the pin cavity for fastening the plurality of frame members to the plurality of frame connection members.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein the first extension and the second extension are perpendicularly aligned for perpendicularly connecting adjacent frame members.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein the plurality of pins are each tapered for insertion into the pin cavity.

13. The combination of claim 8 wherein the first extension and the second extension each define a fastener bore generally intersecting the connector cavity proximate thereto and sized for receiving fastener therein selectively engaging the end of the corresponding one of the plurality of connector members.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of frame members is aluminum.

15. The combination of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of frame connection members is a high strength material.

16. The combination of claim 8 wherein the core portion of the module panel is a honeycomb cardboard material.

17. The combination of claim 8 including a first facing and a second facing covering the core portion of the module panel, the first facing and the second facing being formed of a magnetic material.

18. The combination of claim 17 including a first foam layer and a second foam layer having opposed tacky surfaces for adhering the first facing and the second facing to the plurality of frame members, one of the opposed tacky surfaces being adhered to a one of the plurality of frame members and another of the opposed tacky surfaces being adhered to the first facing and the second facing, respectively, the first foam layer and the second foam layer allowing relative movement between the corresponding one of the plurality of frame members and the first facing and the second facing.

19. A module panel construction assembly comprising:

a plurality of incrementally-sized module panels, each of the plurality of incrementally-sized module panels including a frame formed of a plurality of generally rigid frame members, each of the plurality of generally rigid frame members having an outer shell defining an interior region, the plurality of generally rigid frame members each defining a plurality of connector holes coordinatingly spaced along an extent of the plurality of frame members, the plurality of connector holes sized to receive a connector member for connecting two of the incrementally-sized module panels, the plurality of connector holes being spaced such that the distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of connector holes is generally the same for each of the plurality of frame members of each of the plurality of incrementally-sized module panels permitting any of the plurality of incrementally-sized module panels to be interconnected with one another.

20. A module panel for use with a plurality of connector members and a plurality of connector anchor members, said module panel comprising:

an outer frame and a central core, the outer frame being formed of a closed outer shell having a perimeter and defining an interior region, the frame defining a plurality of connector holes disposed at spaced locations around the perimeter of the frame, the connector holes extending through the outer shell of the frame and communicating with the interior region, the plurality of connector holes each being sized so as to receive one of the plurality of connector members therethrough, the frame further defining a plurality of anchor openings each disposed generally proximate to one of the plurality of connector holes and communicating with the interior region, each of the plurality of anchor openings being sized to receive a one of the plurality of connector anchor members therethrough into the interior region and permitting the one of the plurality of connector anchor members to be moved into alignment with the one of the connector holes for supporting a corresponding one of the plurality of connector members.

21. The module panel of claim 20 wherein the central core is a honeycomb cardboard material.

22. The module panel of claim 20 wherein the central core is translucent.