Abstract:
A partitioning apparatus. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are apparatuses comprising a base, and a panel coupled to the base. The apparatus is configured to partition a space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/803,713 filed Jun. 2, 2006, entitled “Partitioning Apparatus”, which is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in full below. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Partitioning space is an issue encountered by businesses and individuals alike whether setting up an office space, a design display, or a living space. Current methods of partitioning spaces such as when setting up an office cubicle space may use heavy walls or slats that may be complicated to assemble. Further, specialized tools or training may be called for in the assembly of such partitions. Also, the materials and methods used to manufacture such partitions may be complex and costly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The problems noted above are solved in large part by a partitioning apparatus. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are apparatuses comprising a base, and a panel coupled to the base. The apparatus is configured to partition a space. 
         [0004]    Other illustrative embodiments are apparatuses comprising a base comprising a first recess, a panel comprising a second recess, and an interlocking assembly. The interlocking assembly couples the second recess of the panel to the first recess of the base. The apparatus is configured to partition a space. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partitioning apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention comprising a base and panels. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric view of a partitioning apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view of a partitioning system in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a partitioning apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of alternatively shaped embodiments of a base in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of alternatively shaped embodiments of a panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  illustrates alternatively shaped embodiments of a panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  illustrates an isometric view of a convex partitioning apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  illustrates a capping panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE 
       [0018]    Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. 
         [0019]    In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or a direct connection. Thus, if a first device coupled to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partitioning apparatus  100  comprising a first panel  60 . The first panel  60  comprises a first projection  40 , a second projection  41 , a first recess  42 , and a second recess  43 . The apparatus  100  further comprises a second panel  55  comprising a first projection  47 , a second projection  48 , a first recess  46 , and a second recess  45 . The second panel  55  is operatively coupled to the first panel  60  by way of the recesses and projections. Specifically, the first projection  40  couples within the first recess  46  and the second projection  41  couples within the second recess  45 . The apparatus  100  further comprises a base  50  comprising a first recess  51  and a second recess  52 . The base  50  is operatively coupled to the second panel  55  by way of the recesses and projections. Specifically, the first projection  47  is coupled within the first recess  51  and the second projection  48  is coupled within the second recess  52 . Moreover, the base  50  is configured to stabilize and support the weight of both the first and second panels  60  and  55 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the panels and the base  50  are substantially rectangular in shape. In alternative embodiments, the panels and the base  50  may be shaped as triangular, elliptical, round, square, trapezoidal, or an alternative polygon. Further, the base  50  and panels may comprise embellishments or decorative designs. Also, in alternative embodiments, a different number of panels may be coupled to the first or second panel or the base  50 . 
         [0021]    The first panel  60 , the second panel  55 , and the base  50  may be prefabricated modules manufactured from plastic. In alternative embodiments, the first panel  60 , the second panel  55 , and the base  50  may be manufactured from a material such as wood, polymer, metal, laminate, stone, or foam, among others. In yet other alternative embodiments, the panels and the base  50  may be manufactured from other, distinct materials. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a front view and a top view, respectively, of an individual panel  70 . The panel  70  comprises a first recess  75 , a second recess  76 , a first projection  71 , and a second projection  72 . Additionally, the panel  70  may optionally comprise (as indicated by the dashed lines) a first interlocking assembly  77  and a second interlocking assembly  78 . The interlocking assemblies  77  and  78  may comprise a hook, a latch, a snap, or alternative coupling assembly. In alternative embodiments, a selected group of panels of the partitioning apparatus  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may comprise the interlocking assemblies  77  and  78 . In yet other alternative embodiments, all of the panels of the partitioning apparatus  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may comprise the interlocking assemblies  77  and  78 . In alternative embodiments, the base  50  ( FIG. 1 ) may comprise the interlocking assemblies  77  and  78 .  FIG. 2C  illustrates an end view of the panel  70  comprising the first recess  75 , the first projection  71 , and the interlocking assembly  77 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a front view and a top view, respectively, of an individual panel  80 . The panel  80  comprises a first recess  85  and a first projection  81 .  FIG. 3C  illustrates an end view of the panel  80  comprising the first recess  85  and the first projection  81 . The panel  70  ( FIG. 2 ) and the panel  80  comprise two (2) and one (1) recesses and projections, respectively. However, in alternative embodiments, the panels may comprise a distinct number of recesses and projections. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a partitioning apparatus  400  comprising a first panel  10  operatively coupled to a second panel  15 . The second panel  15  is operatively coupled to a third panel  20 , and the third panel  20  is operatively coupled to a fourth panel  25 . The fourth panel  25  is further operatively coupled to a base  30 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view of a partitioning system  500  comprising a first partitioning apparatus  501  and a second partitioning apparatus  502  operatively coupled to the first partitioning apparatus  501  (e.g., by way of interlocking assemblies). The first partitioning apparatus  501  comprises the first panel  10  operatively coupled to the second panel  15 . The second panel  15  is operatively coupled to the third panel  20 , and the third panel  20  is operatively coupled to the fourth panel  25 . The fourth panel  25  is further operatively coupled to the base  30 . The second partitioning apparatus  502  comprises a first panel  11  operatively coupled to a second panel  16 . The second panel  16  is operatively coupled to a third panel  21 , and the third panel  21  is operatively coupled to a fourth panel  26 . The fourth panel  26  is further operatively coupled to a base  31 . In some exemplary embodiments, the partitioning system  500  may comprise a distinct number of partitioning apparatuses. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a partitioning apparatus  600  in accordance with embodiments of the invention comprising a first panel  610  operatively coupled to a second panel  620 . The second panel  620  is operatively coupled to a third panel  630 , and the third panel  630  is operatively coupled to a fourth panel  640 . The fourth panel  640  is further operatively coupled to a base  650 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of alternatively shaped embodiments of a base of the partitioning apparatus  100  ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 7A  illustrates a side view of a base  710  that is substantially trapezoidal in shape comprising a recess  712 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates a side view of a base  720  that is substantially irregular in shape comprising a recess  722 .  FIG. 7C  shows a side view of a base  730  that is substantially rounded in shape comprising a recess  732 .  FIG. 7D  illustrates a side view of a base  740  that is substantially square in shape comprising a recess  742 .  FIG. 7E  shows a side view of a base  750  that is substantially rectangular in shape comprising a recess  752 . In alternative embodiments, the base may comprise other distinct shapes. Additionally, the bases illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7E  may comprise a distinct number of recesses. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of alternatively shaped embodiments of a panel of the partitioning apparatus  100  ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Specifically  FIG. 8A  illustrates a front view of a panel  810  that is substantially rectangular in shape comprising a first recess  812 , a second recess  814 , a first projection  816 , and a second projection  818 .  FIG. 8B  illustrates a front view of a panel  820  that is substantially rounded in shape comprising a first recess  822  and a first projection  824 .  FIG. 8C  shows a front view of a panel  830  that is substantially trapezoidal in shape comprising a first recess  832 , a second recess  834 , a first projection  836 , and a second projection  838 .  FIG. 8D  illustrates a front view of a panel  840  that is substantially oval in shape comprising a first recess  842  and a first projection  844 .  FIG. 8E  shows a front view of a panel  850  that is substantially hexagonal in shape comprising a first recess  852 , a second recess  854 , a first projection  856 , and a second projection  858 . In alternative embodiments, the panels illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8E  may comprise other distinct shapes. In yet other alternative embodiments, the panels may comprise a distinct number of recesses and projections. 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  illustrates alternatively shaped embodiments of a panel. Specifically,  FIG. 9A  shows a top view of a panel  910  that is substantially convex in shape comprising a first recess  912  and a second recess  914 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates a top view of a panel  920  that is substantially S-shaped comprising a first recess  922  and a second recess  924 .  FIG. 9C  shows a top view of a panel  930  that is substantially triangular in shape comprising a first recess  932  and a second recess  934 .  FIG. 9D  illustrates a top view of a panel  940  that is substantially trapezoidal in shape comprising a first recess  942  and a second recess  944 . It will be understood that the alternatively shaped panels as illustrated in  FIG. 9A-9D  may also correspond to alternatively shaped bases. Regardless of the shape as illustrated by the top views of  FIGS. 9A-9D , the front view of the panels may remain substantially rectangular in shape as illustrated by the front view of a panel  950  of  FIG. 9E , wherein the panel  950  comprises a first recess  952 , a second recess  954 , a first projection  956 , a second projection  958 , and optionally comprises (as indicated by the dashed lines) the first interlocking assembly  77  and the second interlocking assembly  78 . Additionally, in alternative embodiments, the panels as illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9E  may comprise a distinct number of recesses and projections. In yet other embodiments, the front view of the panel  950  may be shaped as triangular, elliptical, round, square, trapezoidal, or an alternative polygon. 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of a convex partitioning apparatus  1000  comprising a first panel  1010  operatively coupled to a second panel  1020 . The second panel  1020  is operatively coupled to a third panel  1030 , and the third panel  1030  is operatively coupled to a fourth panel  1040 . The fourth panel  1040  is further operatively coupled to a base  1050 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a front view and a top view, respectively, of a capping panel  1100  in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The capping panel  1100  comprises a first projection  1171  and a second projection  1172 . Additionally, the capping panel  1100  may optionally comprise (as indicated by the dashed lines) the first interlocking assembly  77  and the second interlocking assembly  78 .  FIG. 11C  illustrates an end view of the capping panel  1100  comprising the first projection  1171  and the interlocking assembly  77 . As the capping panel  1100  does not comprise recesses, it may be used as the topmost panel of the partitioning apparatus  100 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate a front view and a top view, respectively, of an individual panel  1200 . The panel  1200  comprises a first recess  1271 , a second recess  1272 , a third recess  1273 , a fourth recess  1274 , wherein the panel  1200  may be operatively coupled to a second panel by the use of a coupling assembly which may comprise a dowel, a hook, a latch, a snap, or alternative coupling assembly. For example, in some embodiments, a first end of a dowel is inserted into each of the recesses  1273 ,  1274 , and a second end of a dowel is inserted into each of the corresponding recesses of the second panel, thereby operatively coupling the panel  1200  to the second panel. Additionally, the panel  1200  may optionally comprise (as indicated by the dashed lines) a first interlocking assembly  77  and a second interlocking assembly  78 . The interlocking assemblies  77  and  78  may comprise a hook, a latch, a snap, or alternative coupling assembly.  FIG. 12C  illustrates an end view of the panel  1200  comprising the first recess  1271 , the second recess  1274 , and the interlocking assembly  77 . 
         [0033]    The above description is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.