Abstract:
A device is disclosed that replaces an existing panel or door with a reconfigurable modular panel. The invented panel additionally may function as a working door or screen, serving to more optimally employ a room volume. The invented panel can be configured to fit various styles of door frames thus being adaptable to various entry or floor space pattern situations. The invented panel may be electrified allowing modular plug-ins to house a wide array of elements.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/200,731, entitled “Modular Panel System”, Inventor: Michael Logue. Filed Dec. 3, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to workspace and domestic spatial organization. The present invention more particularly relates to dual or multi-functional wall, panel and door designs. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     The prior art and related art includes panel systems with specified uses and stowaway elements. These prior art designs fail to offer a full range of modularity to enable the reconfiguration of a wall, door or panel to offer dual or multifunctional utilities to optimally meet the changing desires of building inhabitants, occupants, workers or visitors. 
     There is therefore a long felt need to provide a panel system that includes modular components and enables configuration and reconfiguration of the door or separation panel to better address the desires of building inhabitants, occupants, workers and/or visitors. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Towards this object and other objects that will be made obvious in light of this disclosure, a first preferred configuration of the present invention includes a central panel frame which can be adapted to various configurations by attaching outlying variable end rails and a base plate and caster options. Various configurations of the invented panel include a door or panel usable (1.) in a hinged enabled state, (2.) in a sliding enabled state, (3.) in a folding (or “accordion”) enabled state, and/or (4.) in a free standing state, 5) wall mounted state and 6) fixed. 
     The invented panel may include a frame into which variable modular storage and utility components can be installed to fit a variety of different intentions, situations and rooms. The components&#39; functionality will often relate to the space the panel is used. 
     The invented panel may be configured as, or as an element within, a door or window. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred aspects of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,034 entitled, “Folding Screen environment System”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,010 entitled, “Work Station with Self-Storing Desk”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,203 entitled “Wall Mounted Modular Units”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,925 entitled, “Utility-Door Storage Container”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,745 entitled, “Door Closet” are incorporated herein by reference entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting preferred configurations, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the panel structure and its various attachments; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the panel structure with its secondary attachment brackets; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invented door panel with modular storage components installed; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of two varieties of possible office modular storage and work surface components in the opened position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a modular component in an both open and closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of two possible varieties of kitchen modular storage components; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a free-standing usage of three invented panels with modular plug-ins, daisy-chained together, e with a rotating floor caster for stability; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the assembly of invented panels of  FIG. 7  in a stored configuration and secured to a wall and showing a possible source of power for electrified components; 
         FIG. 9  is an open view of the wall secured assembly of invented panels of  FIGS. 7 and 8   
         FIG. 10  is a close up view of the daisy-chained end-rail attaching to two separate invented panels; 
         FIG. 11  is a multi-view of several invented panels in a sliding door configuration; 
         FIG. 12  is a close up view of the hinged door end rail attached to a single invented panel and installed in a doorway; 
         FIG. 13  is an assembled view of the panel frame with additional vertical and horizontal spacers to adapt the frame to multiple size situations; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded side view of the invented door panel with examples of variable end rail options; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded side view of the invented door panel with examples of variable base plate and caster options; 
         FIG. 16  is a cut away view of two invented door panels daisy-chained together with included electrical wiring within the framework to power the panel(s); 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of a fixed wall mount end rail attachment at use; 
         FIG. 18  is the invented panel in a sliding door configuration with single side non-flush modular elements; 
         FIG. 19  is the invented panel with use of double sided non-flush modular elements opening to both sides of the panel; 
         FIG. 20  a cut away diagram as it relates to the storage depth of modular elements in a single side non-flush condition, a flush condition, and a double sided non-flush condition.; 
         FIG. 21  is a cut away view of an in-use locking mechanism for the invented panel; and 
         FIG. 22  is a flow chart of a preferred method of marketing the invented panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In describing aspects of the invention, certain terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity. Such terminology is intended to encompass the recited example, as well as all technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner for a similar purpose to achieve a similar result. 
     It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. 
     Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described. 
     It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. 
     For purposes of this disclosure the term, obstruction element, refers to an object in which by the presence of said object prevents a human eye from viewing behind the object&#39;s surface area. Further the term, a construction, shall for the purposes of this disclosure be defined as a man-made object. Examples of a construction include a building, a watercraft, an aircraft, a submarine, and a spacecraft. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a panel structure  2  and various attachments while  FIG. 13  is an assembled view of a panel frame  4  with additional spacers  12  to adapt the panel frame  4  to multiple size configurations as required to provide a structure to meet a door, window or divider function. The door panel structure  2  is composed of a panel frame  4  which fills the portion of the door panel commonly known as the architrave, two variable end rails  6 , a primary bracket attachment  8 , and an optional base plate attachment  10 . The invented panel  3  includes modular storage components  16  and an interchangeable skin  18  which will both be discussed in more detail later. The panel frame  4  with a variable base plate  10  attached to its base may match the size and form specifications of the smallest of the standard of international and American doors sizes, e.g., a thirty inches by eighty inches cross-section. These size specifications can be modified by the addition of vertical and horizontal spacers  12  in appropriate vertical sections and horizontal sections for extenders and thus can accommodate other commonly standardized door frames or custom door requirements. The variable end rails  6  serve to define what the panel  3  will fasten to, and may allow the panel  3  to fit into various entry, window or separator situations. The variable base plate and floor caster  10  additionally serves to allow the panel  3  to fit into multiple situations that a door, window, or panel might require. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the panel structure  2  with its secondary attachment brackets  14 ; When assembled the panel structure  2  will include at least one secondary bracket attachment  14  for allowing the attachment of modular storage and utility elements  16 . These secondary attachment brackets  14  fasten to the primary attachment bracket  8  and allow for variable positioning of modular elements  16 . These secondary brackets  14  can be any size that fits inside the frame  4  and any number can be used. The panel frame  4  is then sheathed with an interchangeable skin  18  made of wood veneer and/or metal panels, plastic panels, flame retardant material, or any other finish known in the art. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 14 and 15 ;  FIG. 14  is an exploded side view of the panel  3  with some possible variable end rail options  6 A-G, while  FIG. 15  is an exploded side view of the invented panel  3  with some possible variable floor base plate and caster options  10 A-C and the lower segment of one end rail option  6 C. The variable end rails  6  serve to connect the invented panel  3  to a multitude of common door or separator configurations and could be adapted to fit more uncommon situations. The variable end rails  6  in conjunction with the variable floor casters  10  serve to create multiple preferred configurations of the presently invented panel  3 . The options depicted in  FIG. 14  are not intended to be limiting and are shown only to serve as possible variations  6 A-G on the end rail design  6  for the panel  3 . Such options could consist of: a place holder end rail  6 A to serve as a filler or to be used in cases where at least one side of the panel  3  might not be required to attach to anything, a hinged end rail  6 B to serve in a classic door frame, an end rail with a base mounted swivel wheel  6 C for mobile panel situations, a track wheel end rail  6 D for sliding door configurations, a daisy-chain end rail pair  6 E for connecting two adjoining door panels  3 , a daisy-chain end rail wall mount  6 F for a wall fastened but adjustable door panel, and/or a fixed wall mount end rail attachment  6 G for a wall fastened in a fixed position configuration panel. In conjunction with the variable end rails  6 , a variable floor caster  10  additionally serves to adapt a panel  3  to better address the desires of various sites and users. The floor caster options  10 A-C depicted in  FIG. 15  are not intended to be limiting and are shown only to serve as possible variations  10 A-C on the floor base plate design  10  for the invented panel  3 . Such options might include: a place holder floor base plate  10 A to serve as a space filler spanning the gap between the panel frame  4  and the floor, a track wheel floor caster  10 B would serve to align a sliding door configuration, and/or a lockable, rotating floor base  10 C to serve as a support mechanism for free standing door panels. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a side view of the panel  3  with modular storage components  16  installed. These modular storage components fit into the secondary attachment brackets. Most commonly these components will match flush with the door panel&#39;s frame  4  measuring between one to three inches thick, but in certain situations such as the inside of a closet door, will be able to protrude outward or inward and be significantly larger, within the range of three inches to twelve inches or greater. The modular elemtents  16  can be adapted to fit many different room environments, and can accommodate certain object(s) that fit within the thickness of the panel  3 . The modular components  16  may be designed to take advantage of thin profile technology devices in order to adapt to a greater variance in room environments and allow for the storage of a greater variety of items. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  is a close up view of the hinged door end rail  6 B attached to a single panel  3  and installed in a doorway. Use of the hinged door end rail  6 B in the panel  3  is a first configuration  3 A of the various applications that can be assembled in order to allow for specific or generalized doorway conditions and user desires. In this first configuration  3 A the end rail  6 B has a hinge  19  screwed in on the top and bottom to allow the panel  3  to be mounted to a standard door frame. Associated with this first configuration  3 A is a place holder floor base plate  10 A that may serve a function of covering a distance from the bottom of the panel  3  to meet flush with the floor so as to form a solid door. Finally in this first configuration  3 A door hardware and a handle  20  could optionally be mounted into the frame  4  of the panel  3 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  is a multi-view of several door panels  3  in a sliding door configuration. The sliding door configuration displays a second configuration  3 B of the panel  3  using a track wheel variable end rail  6 D which would be bolted on to the panel frame  4 . To the top and bottom of this variable end rail  6 D a set of track wheels  22  will be affixed in order to allow the panel  3  to slide freely in a standard door track  23 . Additionally associated with this second configuration  3 B of the panel  3  will be a track wheel floor caster  10 B in which a series of track wheels  22  would be encased for additional stability. In this configuration  3 B any number of door panels  3  may be affixed to the standard sliding door track  23  as may be needed. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 7 , and  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 7  is a side view of three invented panels  3  with modular plug-ins  16  daisy-chained together, using a rotating floor base  10 C for stability,  FIG. 10  is a close up of the daisy-chain end-rail  6 E attached to two separate door panels  3 . Use of the daisy-chain end rail  6 E in conjunction with the panel frame  4  is a third configuration  3 C of the invented panel  3 . This particular choice of variable end rail  6 E allows two or more invented door panels to be linked together and swing freely about each other. Additionally this choice of end rail  6 E has a lockable, swivel wheel  24  affixed to its base for easy movement and positioning. On the ends of the linked panels  3  a swivel wheel end rail  6 C is utilized to allow ease of movement. Associated with this third configuration is a rotating floor base plate  10 C which may be optionally placed on the base of any number of the door panels  3 . This rotating floor base plate  10 C covers the distance from the base of the panel to the floor and has a rotating bar  26  that can spin out orthogonally to allow a free-standing condition as well as provide additional support to the panel series 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 8 , and  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 8  is a compressed view of the assembly of invented panels  3  of  FIG. 9 , secured to a wall with a wall mount end rail  6 F and  FIG. 9  is an expanded view of the same assembly of wall mounted daisy-chained panels  3  of  FIG. 8 . Use of the wall mount end rail  6 F in conjunction with the panel frame  4  is a fourth configuration  3 D of the invented panel  3 . This configuration  3 D consists of two rails daisey-chained together  6 E much like the third configuration  3 C with the alteration on one or more sides having the ability to affix to a wall. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 16  is a cut away view of two door panels  3  daisy-chained together with included electrical wiring  28  within the framework to power the panel  3 . Electrifying the invented door panel may be enabled by an additional fifth preferred configuration  3 E that can be optionally combined with certain variations of the previously disclosed configurations  3 A-D. The panel  3  may optionally include electrical wiring  28  that may enter the invented panel through a small hole in the base of the frame  29  and then run throughout the panel&#39;s frame  4  in order to power certain items such as flat screen monitors  30 , lighting elements  32 , computer components  34 , or any other powered element that could be incorporated into the modular storage components  16 . Electrical wiring  28  can span more than one invented panel by being worked through a variable end rail  6  through small channels at their base  31 . 
     Such computer components  34  would not have to be limited to peripherals and could consist of entire computers. Computers such as a 2009 version of an Apple iMac 20″ will fit into non-flush modular elements  16 A-B (shown in  FIGS. 18-20 ), but with some minor changes would easily fit into flush modular elements  16  of the invented panel  3 E. With minor adjustments to other similar computer&#39;s designs, a full computer could be easily incorporated as a powered object within one or more modular plug-in elements  16 . Flat screen monitors  30  such as TV&#39;s may be configured to fit entirely within the invented panel  3 E with little to no modification. Among other suitable examples, such TV&#39;s would include the Sony XEL-1 OLED flat screen. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 4  is a side view of two varieties of possible office modular storage and work surface components  16 ,  FIG. 5  is a side view of two varieties of possible modular entertainment components, such as CD storage in an open position and a speaker  33  and MP3 player dock  35 , and  FIG. 6  is a side view of two possible varieties of kitchen modular storage components  16 . The modular components  16  can easy adapt to fold open to a desk  36  and in an electrified panel  3 E could be used to support a flat panel computer screen  30 , lights  32 , a speaker  33  connected to an music player dock  35  or optionally any other electrified item  34  that would fit inside the modular components  16 . Quite alternatively these components could be used to store various supplies  38 , utensils  40 , non-electrical components  42  or optionally various non-electrical items  44  that could reside within the collapsed space of the modular component  16 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 17  is a side view of a fixed wall mount end rail attachment  6 G at use. Use of the fixed wall mount end rail  6 G in conjunction with the panel frame  4  is a fifth configuration  3 E of the invented panel  3 . This configuration  3 E consists of two rails  6 G bolted to a wall in addition with a floor support  25  to stabilize the panel. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 18  is the invented panel in a sliding door configuration  3 B using single side non-flush modular elements  16 A. Single side non-flush modular elements  16 A can be used in any of the invented panel configurations  3 A-E, but are shown here in a sliding door configuration  3 B. By using single side non-flush modular elements  16 A there is more space to use for any function that the customizable panel  3  is to be used for. In the sliding door configuration  3 B and in other multi panel configurations, only the outer panel used may use a single sided non-flush modular element  16 A otherwise the panels  3  would not be fully mobile. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 19 ,  FIG. 19  is the invented panel  3  with use of double sided non-flush modular elements  16 B. Use of the non-flush modular elements  16 B can only be accomplished in configurations wherein the invented panel  3  does not have to meet with another surface flush. The purpose of the non-flush modular elements  16 B is simply to provide more space.  FIG. 19  also shows that the modular elements can be accessed from either the front face or the rear face of the panel, depending on how the modular elements were initially installed. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 20 ,  FIG. 20  a cut away diagram of various panel widths in different configurations  46 - 50 . A suggested width for a single sided non-flush modular element  16 A would be roughly two inches beyond the width of the door, though other sizes could be used in this particular configuration  46 . As shown by configuration  48 , when flush modular elements  16  are used, the panel  3  is no wider than the width of the frame  4 . A double sided non-flush modular element  16 B as used in configuration  50  could be the same width as the single sided non-flush modular element  16 A but instead of bulging out entirely on one side the width is shared equally on either side of the frame  4 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 21 ,  FIG. 21  is a cut away view of an in use locking mechanism for the invented panel  3 . In order to keep the present invention safe for a user it may become necessary when in use to lock the panel  3  closed in order to operate modular elements  16 . One method of accomplishing this is by sticking the first end of a pin  52  through a modular element hole  54  preventing the modular element  16  from being opened and affixing a second end of a pin  52  to a flange  56  that may be toggled to either remove the pin  52  from the modular element hole  54 , or replace the pin  52  back in the hole  54  preventing the opening of the modular element  16 . The flange  56  could be attached to a deadbolt toggle  58 , which when the deadbolt toggle  58  engages a deadbolt  60 , the toggle  58  additionally alters the position of the flange  56  such that the flange  56  removes the pin  52  from the modular element hole  54  thus allowing the modular element  16  to be opened while locking the panel  3 . Additionally more than a single pin  52  could be used such that additional pins  52  would fit into corresponding modular element holes  54  of secondary, tertiary and so forth modular elements  16  past a first. Other methods and apparatus could be used in order to accomplish this same effect. An additional example not pictured would involve causing the opening of a modular element  16  to force a deadbolt  60  to be engaged as opposed to the pictured example in which the deadbolt  60  must be engaged first in order to open a modular element  16 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 22 ,  FIG. 22  is a flow chart of a preferred method of marketing the invented panel. A preferred way to market the invented panel  3  would begin by allowing a customer to first select a frame  4 , potentially choose use of spacers  12  to select the frame&#39;s  4  size ( 2202 ). Then a customer would decide what sort of use the panel  3  would be put into by choosing relevant attachments  6 A-G,  10 A-C to cast the panel&#39;s  3  role ( 2204 ). A customer would then choose a veneer or skin  18  to coat the customized panel  3  ( 2206 ). In step  2208  a customer decides if the panel  3  should be configured for electricity. If a customer determines that the panel  3  should be configured for electricity, they would then determine the electrified modular element  16 , or elements  16  desired in the electrified panel  3 E ( 2210 ). Then the customer would choose powered and non powered items to be placed within the elements  16 , many of these could be created by a third party company ( 2212 ). 
     Alternatively, if the panel were chosen to not be electrified, much like step  2210 , a customer would determine the modular element(s)  16  to be placed within the frame  4  of their panel  3  ( 2214 ). In the following step  2216 , a customer would decide items to be placed within the chosen modular element(s)  16  such as storage elements as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  or table elements  36 . Additionally it is conceivable that non electrified 3 rd  party items could be developed for modular elements  16  and customers could pick those out in a following step ( 2218 ). The important aspects to take away from this method are that a customer starts with a base product and then can have a whole shopping experience involved in customizing a panel  3  specifically for that customer. 
     The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the Present Invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the Present Invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible examples of the Present Invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the examples of the Present Invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described examples can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the Present Invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the Present Invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.