Patent ID: 7677006

Claim:
A panel for use in constructing a modular structure, comprising a surface having at least three edges, at least one of said edges being one of a male edge and a female edge, said female edge having a channel formed therein, and said male edge having a protrusion formed therein, said protrusion being shaped to mate with a channel formed in a female edge of another panel; a latching edge transverse to said at least one of said male edge and said female edge, said latching edge including at least one channel therein, said at least one channel extending along said latching edge; a first slidable latch disposed at least partly within said channel in said latching edge, and positioned to slide along said channel in said latching edge between a first position substantially completely within said channel disposed in said latching edge and a second position partly within said channel in said latching edge and partly outside of said channel in said latching edge; said channel being positioned to receive a second latch of another panel; and means for releasably securing at least one of said first slidable latch and said second latch within said at least one channel in said latching edge, said means for releasably securing including at least one engagement means in said channel for engaging said at least one of said first slidable latch and said second latch; wherein said first slidable latch includes a first movable post, and wherein said engagement means includes at least one aperture for receiving said first movable post, whereby said first slidable latch is secured against movement relative to said panel by moving said first movable post into said at least one aperture; wherein said engagement means includes at least a first and a second aperture, each configured to receive said first movable post, whereby said slidable latch is secured in said first position by moving said first movable post into said first aperture, and secured in said second position by moving said first movable post into said second aperture; and wherein said means for releasably securing includes a sliding member disposed within said slidable latch, and capable of actuating the movement of said movable post by sliding from a first position in which said movable post is in said first position thereof to a second position in which said movable post is in said second position thereof.