Abstract:
Furniture, such as a bed, dresser, cabinetry has a display system affixing a stack of interchangeable decorative panels to the furniture. The display system has an overlaying panelar frame that captures the stack of panels and has at least one elongated fastener securing the overlaying panelar frame on to a surface of the furniture item. The stack of interchangeable panels are each visually different such as having different colors and/or patterns and can be sandwiched between the overlaying panelar frame and the mounting surface in a pocket to immovably maintain the interchangeable panels against the furniture component. The overlaying panelar frame defines at least one opening or widow through which the outermost interchangeable panel is visible. The stack of interchangeable panels can then be rearranged such that a different panel is placed on top of the stack or the outermost position and thereby be visible through the opening in the overlaying panelar frame. The fastener may extend through each of the decorative panels to further secure them in place.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/659,277, filed on Jun. 13, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally directed to a display system for positioning panels on furniture item components to provide a desired aesthetic appearance to the furniture  5  item. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a display system for releasably positioning interchangeable panels that can be exchanged to change the aesthetic appearance of the furniture item. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Furniture is often selected as much for the aesthetic appearance of the furniture item as the intended function of the furniture item. As such, consumers often devote considerable attention to whether the appearance and color of the furniture item matches the decor of the intended room for the furniture item and the other furniture or other items in the room. Similarly, consumers often move or replace a furniture item if the decor in the room or the consumer&#39;s taste changes. In particular, children often have distinctive and constantly changing tastes that can result in a furniture item being deemed “unsuitable” even while the furniture item is still fully functional. 
         [0004]    A primary factor in the aesthetic appearance of a furniture item is the color and design of the exterior surfaces of furniture items. In particular, the color and general design or appearance of the headboard, footboard, the face of drawers, the cabinet doors and other portions of the furniture item that make up a substantial portion of the overall exterior surface of the furniture item can dramatically affect the overall appearance of the furniture item. As a result, certain furniture items comprise interchangeable panels integrated into various exterior furniture components. These can comprise beds, dressers, cabinets, night stands and the like. The interchangeable panels have different aesthetic appearances such that the panels can be swapped with panels to suit the consumer&#39;s changing tastes or decor. The inherent challenge of interchangeable panels is releasably engaging the panels by the furniture components and not having the attachment system be visible and obvious, such as openings cut into drawers for sliding the panels. Interchangeable panels can be integrated into furniture components by positioning the panel against the frame of the furniture component such that the panel can be viewed through the opening in the frame such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,071. A backing is then placed against the rear of the interchangeable panel and attached to the frame to maintain the interchangeable panel against the frame. A drawback of this approach is that interchangeable panels are often relatively thin or even flexible requiring that the backing provide the necessary structural support. Alternatively, the slot for receiving the interchangeable panel can be cut in the frame allowing panels to be slid into the frame such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,677. In this configuration, the frame often comprises a door or gate for maintaining the panel within the slot. 
         [0005]    A common drawback of the presently available systems for affixing interchangeable panels to a furniture item is that the frame of the furniture item must typically be modified or be specially constructed for receiving the interchangeable panel. As the current trends in furniture construction emphasize efficient construction where a single part may be used in several furniture item lines, a specially constructed or modified furniture component may form a bottleneck in the overall assembly of the furniture item. As such, there is a need for an efficient means of releasably integrating interchangeable panels into a furniture item. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to furniture with a display system affixing a stack of interchangeable decorative panels to the piece of furniture. In one embodiment of the present invention, the display system comprises an overlaying panelar frame that captures the stack of panels and has at least one elongated fastener securing the overlaying panelar frame on to a surface of the furniture item. The stack of interchangeable panels have each visually different such as having different colors and/or patterns and can be sandwiched between the overlaying panelar frame and the mounting surface to maintain the interchangeable panels against the furniture component. The overlaying panelar frame defines at least one opening or widow through which the outermost interchangeable panel is visible. The stack of interchangeable panels can then be rearranged such that a different panel is placed on top of the stack or the outermost position and thereby be visible through the opening in the overlaying panelar frame. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, the elongated fastener is extended through the overlaying panelar frame and the interchangeable panels by way of holes in the interchangeable panels and into the mounting surface to affix the overlay panelar frame and interchangeable panels to the mounting surface. In this configuration, the elongated fastener can further comprise an integrated handle protruding from the overlaying panelar frame for tool-less operation of the fastener to engage or disengage the overlaying panelar frame from the mounting surface. The integrated handle can be shaped and/or colored to match the overlaying panelar frame such that the handle matches or blends into the aesthetic appearance of the overlaying panelar frame when the fastener is inserted to retain the overlaying panelar frame against the mounting surface or the secondary panel. The integrated handle can also serve as the handle for manipulating furniture components such as drawers or cabinet doors. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the fastener can be threaded from a secondary panel having a mounting surface to which the stack of panels are to be mounted. The fastener, such as a bolt, extends through the secondary panel, through the stack of interchangeable panels, and through the overlaying panelar frame such that a portion of the elongated fasteners protrudes from the overlaying panelar frame. In this configuration, the fastener can further comprise an end cap defining a bore hole or threaded hole into which the fastener can be threaded into affix the overlaying panelar frame onto the secondary panel. As with integrated handle, the end cap can be shaped and/or colored to match the overlaying panelar frame such that the handle matches or blends into the aesthetic appearance of the overlaying panelar frame when the fastener is inserted to retain the overlaying panelar frame against the mounting surface or the secondary panel. In one aspect, the end cap can also serve as the handle for manipulating furniture components such as drawers or cabinets. In another aspect, the end cap can serve to conceal the end of the elongated fasteners and blend the end of the fastener into the aesthetic appearance of the overlay panel. 
         [0009]    In one aspect, the overlaying panelar frame can comprise a primary frame defusing a primary opening and a secondary structure positioned within the primary opening. The secondary structure can further comprise at least one ornamental frame portion defining at least one secondary opening within the primary opening. A picture or other printed image can be positioned beneath the ornamental frame portion such that the frame portion engages and frames the picture or printed image and to retain the picture or printed image within the ornamental frame portion. In this configuration, the consumer can further customize the aesthetic appearance by incorporating pictures or printed images into the overall aesthetic appearance of the furniture component. 
         [0010]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of releasably affixing at least one interchangeable panel to a mounting surface comprises providing an overlaying panelar frame defining at least one opening, the overlaying panelar frame having four frame member portions arranged in a rectangle and each having an inwardly elongate recess that is positioned at the mounting surface when the frame is attached to the furniture item, the collective recesses on the frame members defining a capture recess for securing the stack of panels, and further having at least one elongated fastener to secure the assembly together. The method further comprises positioning the interchangeable panel against the mounting surface and positioning the overlaying panelar frame over the interchangeable panel to sandwich the interchangeable panel between the overlaying panelar frame and the surface of the furniture component. The method also comprises extending the fastener through the overlaying panelar frame and interchangeable panels such that the end of the fastener passes through the mounting surface into the substrate therebelow to affix the overlaying panelar frame to the mounting surface, wherein the outermost interchangeable panel is visible through the opening. The visible panel can be switched by removing the fastener, separating the overlaying panelar frame from the mounting surface, reshuffling the stack of decorative panels, and replacing the overlaying panelar frame with the stack of decorative panels again between the overlying panelar frame and the mounting surface and attaching the fastener. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the mounting surface can comprise a planar surface of a furniture component. In yet another aspect, the mounting surface can comprise a secondary panel to form a modular display system for the interchangeable panels. In this configuration, the method further comprises affixing the secondary panel to a planar surface of a furniture component. 
         [0012]    In one aspect, a plurality of interchangeable panels can be positioned between the overlaying panelar frame and the mounting surface. In this configuration, the method can further comprise stacking the plurality of interchangeable panels such that the outermost interchangeable panel is visible through the opening in the overlay panel. The method further comprises securing the frame to the mounting surface. The method also comprises shuffling the plurality of interchangeable panels to change the outermost interchangeable panel. 
         [0013]    A feature and advantage is that there are not visible means of seeing that a stack of interchangeable panels is stored within the display system. That is there are no slots or the like and only the outermost panel is visible. Additionally, the mechanism to disassemble and switch the exposed panel is simply the removal of the knob in embodiments, removal of the exterior panel and reshuffling the stack and replacing the panel and knob. 
         [0014]    The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display system mounting to a furniture item according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a display system during assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a display system during assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a display system during assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention having images positioned within the display system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exploded elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in the context of a piece of furniture with a drawer. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an exploded elevational cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in the context of a piece of furniture with a drawer. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exploded elevational cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in the context of a piece of furniture with a drawer. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an elevational cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in the context of a piece of furniture with a drawer. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a piece of furniture  10 , such as a dresser, has a display system  20 , and according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises an overlaying panelar frame  22  and at least one elongated fastener  24 . The overlaying panelar frame  22  further comprises a primary frame  26  defining a primary opening  28 . As depicted, the primary frame  26  comprises a generally rectangular shape with a rectangular opening. The primary frame  26  can also comprise any conventional polygonal, circular or  20  elliptical shape, wherein the primary opening  28  can have a matching or different shape. The elongated fastener  24  can comprise a threaded shank  30  and a head  32  for rotating the shank  30 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , in one aspect, the overlaying panelar frame  22  can further comprise a secondary structure  34  configured as ornamental frame portions positioned within the primary opening  28  defined by the primary frame  26 . The primary frame has four frame members  35 . In one aspect, the secondary structure  34  can comprise a lattice structure for presenting a particular pattern within the primary frame  26 . The secondary structure  34  can be affixed or integral to the primary frame  26  as shown in  FIG. 3  or a separate component that can be separated from the primary frame  26 . In one aspect, the secondary structure  34  can further comprise at least one ornamental frame portion  36  each defining a secondary opening  38  within the larger primary opening  28 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 - 8 , in one aspect, the elongated fastener  24  can further comprise a handle  40  fitted over the head  32  for gripping and rotating the shank  30 . The handle  40  allows for tool-less operation of the elongated fastener  24 . In another aspect, the elongated fastener  24  can comprise an end cap  42  defining a threaded bore hole  44  for engaging the end of the shank  30 . In this configuration, the shank  30  is threaded from the opposite side of the display system  20 . The handle  40  and the end cap  42  can be colored and shaped to match the aesthetic appearance of the overlaying panelar frame  22 . The handle  40  and end cap  42  can be configured to serve as handles for certain furniture components such as drawers or cabinet doors. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in operation, the overlaying panelar frame  22  is releasably affixed to a mounting surface by threading the fastener  24  through the overlaying panelar frame  22  and into the mounting surface. In an embodiment of the present invention, the overlaying panelar frame  22  and the secondary structure  34  are integrated such that the integrated overlay panel-secondary structure assembly  22 ,  34  are affixed to the mounting surface as a single unit. In another embodiment, the secondary structure  34  is separately affixed to the mounting surface. The fastener  24  can be removed to separate the overlaying panelar frame  22  from the mounting surface. At least one interchangeable panel  46  can be positioned between the overlaying panelar frame  22  and the mounting surface such that the interchangeable panel  46  is sandwiched between the overlaying panelar frame  22  and the mounting surface to maintain the interchangeable panel  46  against the mounting surface. The interchangeable panel  46  is visible through the primary opening  28  to affect the aesthetic appearance of the mounting surface. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a picture or a printed image can be placed beneath the secondary structure  34  such that the ornamental frame portion  36  engages the edge of the picture or printed image to retain the picture or printed image such that the picture or printed image is visible through the secondary opening  38 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , in one embodiment, the primary frame  26  can capture and engage the edges of the interchangeable panels  46  to maintain the interchangeable panels  46  against the mounting surface. In this configuration, the secondary structure  34  can serve as a retention structure aiding the primary frame  26  in maintaining the panels  46  against the mounting surface. Alternatively, the primary frame  26  and the secondary structure  34  can be separately affixed to the mounting surface, wherein the primary frame  26  cooperates with the mounting surface to define a slot for receiving the interchangeable panels  46 . In this configuration, the secondary structure  34  is then placed over the interchangeable panels  46  and separately affixed to the mounting surface to maintain the interchangeable panels  46  within the slot defined by the primary frame  26 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting surface can comprise a planar surface  48  of a furniture component  10 . As depicted, the furniture component can comprises headboard, but can also include any furniture component with a planar surface such as a footboard, drawer, or cabinet. The description of the furniture component  50  is not intended to be limiting, but to aid in the description of the display system  20 . 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the mounting surface can comprise a secondary panel  52  that can be engage to furniture component  50 . Mounting the display system  20  to the secondary panel  52  rather than directed to the furniture component  50  permits the display system  20  to be installed as a pre-assembled modular component on the assembled furniture item. 
         [0032]    The interchangeable panels  46  can be arranged in a stack such that only the top most interchangeable panel  46  is visible through the primary opening  28 . In one aspect, the interchangeable panels  46  can comprise a thin polymeric material that can be colored or to which a pattern can be applied. A transparent panel  54  can be placed above the top-most interchangeable panels  46  to prevent discoloration of or damage to the interchangeable panels  46 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, each interchangeable panel  46  can define at least one bore hole  56  corresponding to each fastener  24 . In this configuration, the fastener  24  can intersect each bore hole  56  when inserted through the overlaying panelar frame  22  to prevent radial movement of the interchangeable panels  46  relative to the fastener  24 . In one aspect, a plurality of flexible fingers  58  can be positioned around each bore hole  56  to engage the fastener  24  to prevent tearing of the bore hole  56  by the threaded shank  30  of the fastener  24 . In this configuration, the elongated fastener  24  can further comprise a spacer  60  for preventing axial movement of the interchangeable panels  46  along the shank  30  to prevent tearing of the bore hole  56  by the threaded shank  30 . 
         [0034]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of releasably affixing at least one interchangeable panel  46  to a mounting surface comprises providing an overlaying panelar frame  22  defining at least one primary opening  28  and at least one elongated fastener  24 . The method further comprises positioning the interchangeable panel  46  against the mounting surface and positioning the overlaying panelar frame  22  over the interchangeable panel  46  to sandwich the interchangeable panel  46  between the overlaying panelar frame  22  and mounting surface. The method also comprises threading the fastener  24  through the overlaying panelar frame  22  and interchangeable panels  46  such that the end of the fastener engages the mounting surface to affix the overlaying panelar frame  22  to the mounting surface, wherein the interchangeable panel  46  is visible through the primary opening  28 . 
         [0035]    In one aspect, the mounting surface can comprise a planar surface  48  of a furniture component  10 . In yet another aspect, the mounting surface can comprise a secondary panel  52  to form a modular display system  20  for the interchangeable panels  46 . In this configuration, the method further comprises affixing the secondary panel  52  to a planar surface  48  of a furniture component  10 , which is a dresser with a drawer. 
         [0036]    In one aspect, a plurality of interchangeable panels  46  can be positioned between the overlaying panelar frame  22  and the mounting surface. In this configuration, the method can further comprise stacking the plurality of interchangeable panels  46  such that the outermost interchangeable panel  46  is visible through the primary opening  28  in the overlaying panelar frame  22 . The method also comprises shuffling the plurality of interchangeable panels  46  to change the outermost interchangeable panel  47 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , each interchangeable panel  46 , in the stack  62 , has opposing sides  64 ,  66 , and four side edges  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 . The overlaying panelar frame  22  has four frame members  80 ,  82 ,  83 , and  84 . Each frame member may have a recess  88  having two surfaces  93 ,  95  formed therein to face the mounting surface  48 . The recesses, in combination, capture all four side edges  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74  of the all of the decorative interchangeable panels. The recesses  88 , the planar mounting surface  48 , and the framework or lattice work  91  define a pocket  100  for retaining the stack of panels. The panels are retained by the peripheral inwardly facing surfaces  93 , as well as being physically pinched or constrained between the surface  48  and the inwardly, toward the door, surface  95  of the overlaying panelar frame, and by the fastener, the screw positioned in the hole of the panels in the stack. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates by way of the dashed lines  90  that an intermediary frame member can be positioned between the overlaying panelar frame and the planar mounting surface  48 . Said member can have a recess corresponding to the shape and depth of the stack or a partial thickness of the stack if the outer panel, the overlaying panelar frame member receives a portion of the thickness of the stack. A spacer  89  can securely position the individual decorative panel in the stack by matching or being slightly oversized to the aperture extending through the panels. 
         [0039]    As an example, the panels may be in an embodiment 0.015 to 0.025 inches thick, and have a length of 14 to 24 inches, and a height of 3.5 to 7 inches, and a surface area of one side, the front or the back, of 40 to 200 square inches. The stack can, in embodiments, have a thickness of 0.125 to 0.325 inches. Obviously, different thicknesses may be utilized. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment utilizes a recess  92  conforming to the size of the panels and a depth corresponding to the thickness of the stack in the mounting surface  48  of the furniture item  10  to receive the stack of panels. Then the overlaying panelar frame lays flush on the surface  48  with the uppermost panel essentially laying flush with the surface  48  as well. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , in an embodiment, the overlaying panelar frame  22 , may be formed of polymer, for example an injection molded polymer, that has the lattice work  118  on the outside surface formed as part of the molding and defusing viewing windows  119 . A locating nub  120  can also be part of the molded frame and fit into a cooperating hole  121  in the furniture item panel  122 . The stack  126  of decorative panels  128  is constrained on each side of a six sided pocket  131  and is immovable therein with respect to the pocket and mounting surface until the assembly is disassembled by detaching the knob  134  from the bolt  136  or screw. The 
         [0042]    In other embodiments, there may only be a single panel in the pocket  100 , with the depth, in the z direction, of the pocket being less and/or the thickness of the replaceable panel being greater. In embodiments, the overlaying panelar frame constrains the stack in both directions of each of the x, y, and z axis of the x-y-z coordinate system. The panels can be removed only by disassembly, the means of disassembly not obvious by the appearance of the furniture item. 
         [0043]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0044]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0045]    The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
         [0046]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail. It is understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. To the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.