Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and system for locker wallpaper panels include perforations and features for adapting the panels to selected locker configurations. The system includes magnets that are configured to affix the wallpaper panels to corresponding surfaces of the locker.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/404,363, filed on Oct. 1, 2010, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to decoration for lockers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to perforated wallpaper for use decorating in lockers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lockers are often provided in schools, hospitals, gyms, factories, ski lodges, and other institutions for users to store books, belongings and other materials. The lockers are typically identical from locker to locker. Users often desire to decorate or otherwise personalize their lockers. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure provides a system, apparatus and method for wallpaper for use in lockers. 
     A wallpaper panel for use in a locker is provided. The wallpaper panel includes a decoration on a first face of the wallpaper panel, and a plurality of perforations configured to allow removal of a portion of the wallpaper panel to accommodate a fixture on a surface of the locker. 
     A system is also provided. The system includes a plurality of magnets, at least some of the magnets including covers. The system also includes a plurality of wallpaper panels. At least one wallpaper panel includes a decoration on a first face of the wallpaper panel, a plurality of perforations configured to allow removal of a portion of the wallpaper panel to accommodate a fixture on a surface of the locker. An appearance characteristic of at least one of the covers is based on the decoration of at least one of the wallpaper panels. 
     In one embodiment, magnets are configured to affix the wallpaper panels to corresponding surfaces of the locker. 
     Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a locker of the type typically provided in a school, hospital, gym, factory, or other institution; 
         FIGS. 2A through 2C  illustrate panels of locker wallpaper according to this disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3A through 3C  illustrate a first embodiment of reverse faces of the panels of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  according to this disclosure; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4C  illustrate a second embodiment of reverse faces of the panels of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  according to this disclosure; 
         FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate a third embodiment of reverse faces of the panels of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  according to this disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a magnet  600  that may be used to hold the wallpaper panels to the inside surfaces of the user&#39;s locker, according to this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the invention may be implemented in any type of suitably arranged device or system. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a locker  100  of the type typically provided in a school, hospital, gym, factory, or other institution. Two lockers of the type shown in  FIG. 1  may be stacked one above the other. The locker  100  includes a door  102 . The door  102  includes a latch mechanism  104  and louvers  106 . The locker further includes two side panels  108  (the interior of one side panel is not visible in  FIG. 1 ) and a back panel  112 . One or both of the side panels  108  include a hook  110 . The back panel  112  includes a hook  114 . 
     While the lockers in an institution are typically identical among themselves, lockers purchased from different manufacturers or different locker product lines from a single manufacturer may be different from each other. Such differences may include the dimensions of a locker, as well as the number, size, location, and/or shape of interior fixtures such as latch mechanisms, hooks, and louvers. Furthermore, a locker manufacturer may provide alternative or additional interior fixtures. 
       FIGS. 2A through 2C  illustrate panels of locker wallpaper according to this disclosure. In  FIG. 2A , a first wallpaper panel  200  includes a portion  202  outlined by perforations. Some or all of the portion  202  may be removed to leave an opening for the latch mechanism  104 , allowing the remainder of the panel  200  to lie flat against the inside surface of the locker door  102 . The perforations permit the removal of a desired sub-portion of the portion  202  without requiring the use of a knife or other tool. 
     The panel  200  has dimensions selected to fit on the inside surface of a locker door. Typically, the size of the panel  200  is selected to fit the largest locker likely to be encountered by a user. As will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3C ,  4 A- 4 C and  5 A- 5 C, the user may cut the panel  200  to fit into a smaller locker. 
     As seen on the left side of the portion  202 , a boundary of the portion  202  may be formed by a single line of perforations. As seen on the top and bottom of the portion  202 , boundaries may be formed by two or more lines of perforations. Such multiple lines of perforations allow the panel  200  to be adapted to locker doors of different manufacturers and/or product lines. A user may select the perforations that produce an opening having a suitable size and location for a configuration of a latch mechanism of the user&#39;s locker. The user may then “punch out” the selected portion(s) of the panel  200  to form the desired opening. 
     A decoration  204  may be printed or otherwise transferred onto the panel  200 . The decoration  204  may be a pattern, design, drawing, picture, photograph, slogan, name, or other graphical device that a manufacturer of the panel  200  may select in order to appeal to purchasers of locker wallpaper according to the disclosure. The decoration  204  may be a texture, flocking, or other treatment of the surface of the panel  200 . 
     In  FIG. 2B , a second wallpaper panel  220  includes a portion  222  outlined by perforations. The panel  220  has dimensions selected to fit on the inside surface of a back panel of the largest locker likely to be encountered by a user. The portion  222  includes a plurality of rectangular sub-portions outlined by lines of perforations. One or more rectangular sub-portions of the portion  222  may be removed to produce an opening having a suitable size and location for a configuration of a hook or other fixture on a back panel of the user&#39;s locker. 
     A decoration  224  may appear on the wallpaper panel  220 . The decoration  224  may be identical to the decoration  204  or may be selected to be complementary to the decoration  204 . 
     In  FIG. 2C , a third wallpaper panel  240  includes a portion  242  outlined by perforations. The panel  240  has dimensions selected to fit on the inside surface of a side panel of the largest locker likely to be encountered by a user. The portion  242  includes a plurality of rectangular sub-portions outlined by lines of perforations. One or more rectangular sub-portions of the portion  242  may be removed to produce an opening having a suitable size and location for a configuration of a hook or other fixture on a side panel of the user&#39;s locker. 
     A decoration  244  may appear on the wallpaper panel  240 . The decoration  244  may be identical to the decorations  204  and  224  or may be selected to be complementary to one or both the decorations  204  and/or  224 . 
     Typically, one panel  200 , one panel  220  and two panels  240  are packaged together for sale. However, individual panels may be provided as replacements or to permit the user to “mix and match” the decorations  204 ,  224  and  244 . 
     While the portions  222  and  242  are interior to the wallpaper panels  220  and  240 , respectively, it will be understood that, in other embodiments, additional or alternative portions of a wallpaper panel according to the disclosure may be perforated to adapt the panel to additional or alternative fixtures on the back panel of a locker. Furthermore, in still other embodiments, some or all of the portions may extend all the way to one or more sides of the wallpaper panel. Similarly, in other embodiments, the portion  202  of the panel  200  may be interior to the panel  200  or have any other suitable arrangement relative to the edges of the panel  200 . 
     While the portions  202 ,  222  and  242  of panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , respectively, have been described as outlined by lines of perforations, it will be understood that in other embodiments, lines may be printed on either face of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , rather than being perforated. In such embodiments, a user may remove a desired sub-portion by cutting the wallpaper on or near the printed lines using a knife, scissors, or other tool. 
       FIGS. 3A through 3C  illustrate a first embodiment of reverse faces of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240  of  FIGS. 2A  through  2 C according to the disclosure. In  FIG. 3A  a face  300  of the panel  200  opposite the face seen in  FIG. 2A  is presented. Guide lines  302 ,  304  and  306  are printed, scored, or otherwise transferred to the panel  200 . The guide line  302  is located on a vertical centerline of the panel  200 . The guide lines  304  and  306  are located symmetrically on opposite sides of the guide line  302 . Where the panel  200  is too large for a user&#39;s locker, the guide lines  304  and  306  assist the user in cutting equal amounts from each side of the panel  200 , so that a desired characteristic of the panel  200  is maintained after the cutting. For example, in this embodiment, the decoration  204  remains centered on the panel  200  after the cutting. 
     In  FIG. 3B , a face  320  of the panel  220  opposite the side seen in  FIG. 2B  is presented. Guide lines  322 ,  324  and  326  are printed, scored, or otherwise transferred to the panel  220 . The guide line  322  is located on a vertical centerline of the panel  220 . The guide lines  324  and  326  are located symmetrically on opposite sides of the guide line  322  to assist the user in cutting equal amounts from each side of the panel  220 , so that the decoration  224  remains centered on the panel  220  after cutting. 
     In  FIG. 3C , a face  340  of the panel  240  opposite the side seen in  FIG. 2C  is presented. Guide lines  342 ,  344  and  346  are printed, scored, or otherwise transferred to the panel  240 . The guide line  342  is located on a vertical centerline of the panel  240 . The guide lines  344  and  346  are located symmetrically on opposite sides of the guide line  342  to assist the user in cutting equal amounts from each side of the panel  240 , so that the decoration  244  remains centered on the panel  240  after cutting. 
     While the guide lines of  FIGS. 3A-3C  are features printed onto the faces  300 ,  320  and  340  of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , in other embodiments, those guide lines may be features such as perforations, to enable the user to reduce the width of the panel without requiring the use of a knife, scissors, or other tool. In still other embodiments, the guide lines may be features that are scored into the faces  300 ,  320  and  340 . Also, while only vertical guide lines are shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , in other embodiments horizontal guide lines may be included additionally or alternatively. 
       FIGS. 4A through 4C  illustrate a second embodiment of reverse faces  400 ,  420  and  440  of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , respectively, of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  according to the disclosure. Grids  404 ,  424  and  444  are printed on the faces  400 ,  420  and  440 , respectively. Lines  402 ,  422  and  442  of the grids  404 ,  424  and  444 , respectively, are located on vertical centerlines of the faces  400 ,  420  and  440 . The vertical and horizontal lines of the grids  404 ,  424  and  444  assist a user in trimming the panels  200 ,  220  and  240  to a desired size, while maintaining a desired characteristic of the panel after the cutting. For example, in this embodiment, the lines assist a user in keeping the edges of the panel straight and parallel. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate a third embodiment of reverse faces  500 ,  520  and  540  of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , respectively, of  FIGS. 2A through 2C  according to the disclosure. In  FIG. 5A , guide lines groups  502 ,  504 ,  506  and  508  are printed on the face  500 . In combination, a guide line from each of the groups  502 ,  504 ,  506  and  508  outline the boundary of a door for a particular locker manufacturer or product line. The lines representing the outline of a first manufacturer&#39;s door may be printed with a first dot pattern. The lines representing the outline of a second manufacturer&#39;s door may be printed with a second dot pattern. In this way, a user will be able to trim the panel  200  to fit a configuration of the door of his/her locker without the need for a trial and error fitting process. 
     Similarly, the faces  520  and  540  include guide line groups  522 / 524 / 526  and  542 / 544 / 546 , respectively. The guide lines of the faces  520  and  540  have dot patterns matching those of the face  500 , corresponding to the outlines of back panels and side panels of the same locker manufacturers and/or product lines. A list of manufacturers and product lines may be provided along with panels having the reverse faces  500 ,  520  and  540  as a guide to the appropriate dot patterns for use in removing portions of the panels  200 ,  220  and/or  240  to adapt to a configuration of a surface of the user&#39;s particular locker. 
     While horizontal guide lines are shown only along the bottom edges of the faces  520  and  540 , it will be understood that, in other embodiments, horizontal guide lines may additionally or alternatively be printed along the top edges of the faces  520  and  540 . For the horizontal and vertical guide lines of  FIGS. 5A-5C , individual lines may be placed nearer or farther from their respective edges so that, after trimming, the “punch out” portions of the resulting wallpaper panels are located appropriately for internal fixtures of the user&#39;s locker manufacturer or product line. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a magnet  600  that may be used to hold the wallpaper panels to the inside surfaces of the user&#39;s locker, according to this disclosure. A permanent magnet  602  is covered partially or completely by a cover  604 . The cover  604  may have a color, shape, design, or other appearance characteristic that is selected based on one or more of the decorations  204 ,  224  and/or  244  of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , respectively. For example, a color of the cover  604  may match or complement a color of one or more of the decorations  204 ,  224  and/or  244 . Or, a shape of the cover  604  may be selected to match or complement a shape in one or more of the decorations  204 ,  224  and/or  244 . As illustrated, because the permanent magnet  602  is opposite the cover  604  and the permanent magnet  602  is attached to the locker surface, when the magnet  600  is affixed to the surface of the locker, the decorative cover  604  of the magnet  600  and the decorations  204 ,  224  and/or  244  of the wallpaper panels are oriented in the same direction away from the surface of the locker. 
     A plurality of magnets  600  may be used to attach a panel to the locker. The style(s) of the covers  604  in the plurality of magnets  600  may be the same or may differ from some or all of the other covers  604 . The plurality of magnets  600  may be packaged with some or all of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 , or may be provided separately, to allow the user to “mix and match” styles of the covers  604  with the decorations  204 ,  224  and/or  244  of the panels  200 ,  220  and  240 . 
     Note that while the above description has described particular details of example wallpaper panels according to the disclosure, these details are for illustration only. Other techniques could be used to produce locker wallpaper panels according to the disclosure. In one example, the panel  220  may be combined with two of the panels  240  (one on each side) into a single panel that would cover both side walls and the back wall of the user&#39;s locker. 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
     While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8