Abstract:
Disclosed is a kit and method for encasing an object such as a gun safe made out of a magnetic attracting material such as ferrous metal. The disclosed invention provides for the adhesion of heavy materials such as wood panels and related components to provide an ascetic appearance of fine furniture through the use of magnetic forces providing a solid and simple assembly allowing any user to improve the appearance of an existing object, such as a gun safe.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/072,719 filed Apr. 2, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Described here are kits, devices, methods and processes for enclosing i.e., covering the surface of box shaped objects such as safes, cabinets, appliances and other objects that have magnetic attracting properties for aesthetic purposes. In particular, the description relates to an assembly kit that can be easily installed by the user onto a variety of items such as, for example, gun safes, and other safes used to protect valuables. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The prior art reflects many various devices, methods and processes for adhering various items to walls, ceiling, floors, and appliances. The art, however, reveals that the primary use has been small magnetic items such as refrigerator magnets, or specific methods to apply other light weight items such as tiles. None have disclosed the use of magnetic forces to attach heavier weight items such as, for example, wood panels. The present invention discloses devices, methods, and processes that allow for the attachment of these heavier weight items to objects such as a metal gun safe. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,085, a magnetic decorative cover is disclosed for metal office furniture consisting of a magnetic sheet to which is adhered a decorative cover. The decorative cover appears to be composed of relatively light materials such cloth, leather, wood veneers and the like and do not include any molding or the like that gives the object the appearance of fine furniture. 
         [0004]    The invention allows for the adhesion of heavier panels and related components, made from, for example, wood panels, to encase or enclose magnetically compatible materials such as ferrous metals. Through a combination of the embedding of magnets into a wood panel such magnets having sufficient magnetic power to firmly adhere heavy panels and related components so as to provide precise placement of the panels components without risk of unintentional slippage due to contact. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Broadly, described here are kits, devices, methods, processes for enclosing, covering the surface of, metal objects such as safes, cabinets, appliances and other objects that have magnetic attracting properties for aesthetic purposes and the furniture made therefrom. Generally, the preferred embodiment described here comprises an assembly comprised of various panels and related components that utilize embedded magnets of sufficient magnetic force for adhesion of heavy panels or related components to a gun safe or other safe or cabinet that are made of magnetic attracting materials such as ferrous metals. 
         [0006]    Any combination of panels, molding, fluted wood columns, tiles or other related components might be utilized in the assembly of the invention to achieve the desired result. One embodiment might utilize two or more panels for enclosing the front and sides of an object such as a gun safe. In one variation panels incorporating the invention might be used to cover a metal garage door. In another embodiment there are also included corner moldings that are affixed to the panels and/or include magnets to give the object, such as a gun safe a look of fine furniture. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments or variations are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Objects, features, and advantages of inventive matter disclosed herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which the numerals indicate like structural elements and features in the various figures. The drawings are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. For clarity, not every element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a completed assembly of a preferred embodiment of the inventive features of the invention described herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an un-enclosed gun safe having a front door that fits flush with the front surface of the safe leaving a portion of the front edge surrounding the door exposed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a gun safe and various panels and related components in an exploded view before assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a metal gun safe and the back of various panels and related components before being assembled indicating an embodiment of the location of the magnets used to attach the panels to the gun safe. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a garage door. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows an assembly of panels secured to the face of the garage door. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of slotting and hooks connections for assisting in connecting front and side panels. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a completed assembly  100  of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention. The front panel  101  and side panels  103  and  103   a  are attached to the receiving object such as for example a gun safe as depicted in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1  the decorative top  105  of the assembly  100  slides down overlapping onto the front  101  and side  103  and  103   a  panels to provide a decorative top while providing additional securing of the front and side panels. The area of the front of the safe between the edge of the flush fitting door and the corners of the front of the safe are also covered with panels  102 ,  102   a  and  104  and  104   a.    
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the various panels and related components that comprise the assembly  100  of the invention in an exploded view prior to assembly. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  depicts the back sides of the front panel  401 , side panels  403 ,  403   a  and related components  402 ,  402   a,    404 ,  404   a  (these comprise for example additional strips of paneling that fit around the edge of the front of the gun safe between the top and side edges and the door of the safe that might be included for decorative and covering purposes on the front of the object to be encased, such as a gun safe  409 . Location of magnets is indicated by numbers  410 ,  411  and  413 . 
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment the panels might be made of fine, but heavy hard wood such as maple or veneers of the same. Magnets of sufficient strength to support the necessary weight to achieve secure and non-slidable adhesion to the gun safe are selectively located in several locations on the side of the panel that fits against the box shaped object such as a filing cabinet or gun safe. In the front panel  401  there might be embedded magnets  410  in the corners  411  and the middle of the side  413 . The magnets are preferably reset into the panel and securely fastened with an adhesive. In this manner the panels lie flat against the box shaped object to be decorated. For the decorative strips  402  and  404  the magnet force might be achieved with strips of magnetic material rather than embedded magnets. Any magnetic force might be utilized however that could achieve the desired function of secure and non-slidable adhesion of the desired components. 
         [0019]    While the preferred embodiment panels and related components are made of wood any material might be utilized that could encase a desired metal box shaped object such as a cabinet, desk, table, but preferably a safe such as a gun safe. 
         [0020]    While the preferred embodiment disclosed a storage cabinet or safe such as a gun safe or any other box shaped object any object made from magnetic attracting material could be covered by the disclosed invention. For example, various heavy materials might be utilized with the method and processes of the disclosed invention, such as a garage door  501  shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6  various panels  503  are arranged in a desired order and attached to the door  501  with the magnetic forces achieved with embedded magnets attached to the back of the panels similarly to those depicted in  FIG. 4 . By utilizing the disclosed methods herein square or rectangle panels  503  almost any material regardless of weight could be utilized to be attached to the door to give the door a different desired prospective. 
         [0021]    In one variation, depicted partially in  FIG. 7  the front panel  102  and side panel  103  containing column  110  is further secured by providing “T” slotting  715  in the lower end of the column portion  110  of the side panel that receives the head of a bolt, screw or other hooking device  716  secured into the lower front panel  102  to secure the connection between the front and side panels further preventing accidental slippage of the panels. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3  an example of the method and process for putting the assembly  100  together encasing a desired object such as a gun case is described. Half inch thick, ultra light fiberboard panels are cut to correspond with the outside dimensions of a safe to be covered. The panels are drilled in locations along the perimeter with a three inch Forstner bit three eights of an inch deep. Round flat Neodemyiam magnets are then glued into each of the holes leaving one eighth of an inch exposed above the surface of the fiberboard. Two part epoxy glue is used. Two side panels  103  and  103   a  and the panel for the door  101  were prepared in this manner. The crowned head top portion  105  is prepared and slides over the side panels and top front panel  102   a.  It relies on gravity to keep it in position. The door panel is drilled to provide two holes,  107  and  108  which permits access to the handle and lock  108  and  109  of the door to permit it to fit over them. The door and the two side panels are then coated with a common contact cement and hardwood veneer is applied to the sides opposite to the magnets and trimmed to a precision fit. Decorative hardwood trims and moldings such as fluted columns  110 . Crowns such as shown for the top  105  and bases are added to enhance the style of the panels. They can be pre-made or specially prepared and are fastened to the panels using common methods such as glue, nails screws and the like. When completely assembled each of the panels are applied to the safe to ensure a good fit. They are then finished, for example, by applying an application of nitro cellulose sanding sealer followed by two coats of nitro cellulose lacquer. After drying, the panels and parts are refit to the safe to assure proper fit and then can be packaged in protective packaging as a kit for shipment to an ultimate user with instructions and how to assemble the kit onto identified safes. They can also be fitted to a safe and the safe sold or used a final product. If the safe includes a door which is smaller than the front of the safe vertical and horizontal wood strips  102 ,  102   a  and  104  and  104   a  are prepared in the same manner as the door and side panels and can be placed on the front of the safe. 
         [0023]    In one variation additional smaller files such as wood files might be added to encase the opening mechanisms further enhancing the aesthetic appearance as well as concealing the obviousness that it is a safe. In another variation further decorative panels might also be added to the assembly. These panels or files could easily be removed and replaced with other files. Theses tiles might be removably rotated for example, based on the seasons, holidays or any other desire the user might have. 
         [0024]    While the above description depicts the assembly of one preferred embodiment any variation or embodiment might be utilized. For example while preferred variations would encase an object such as furnishing, appliances or a door such as a garage door which are made of a magnetic attracting material such as a ferrous metal, any material might be encased by adding of attaching metal strips to the desired object. For example, in one variation, magnetic attractive materials such as ferrous metal might be adhered to desired locations on a wood cabinet which could then be encased by the assembly of the disclosed invention. Any material could be encased. 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the described device as specifically shown here without departing from the spirit or scope of that broader disclosure. The various examples are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.