PANEL SYSTEM
A panel system incorporating a plurality of side by side panels which are joined to one another with tongue and slot connectors. The connectors are configured to permit each panel to be attached to an underlying surface through the connector before a subsequent panel is attached to it.
It often is desirable to replace an existing wall quickly and easily with an updated wall without having to remove the original wall. One area where this need exists is with cruise ships and other large vessels where the interior surfaces are routinely refurbished. While it is possible to glue panels on top of the existing wall, it is difficult to remove these panels when subsequent renovations are required. However, it is desirable to remove the previously applied panel since multiple layered panels would eventually infringe upon the space bounded by the panels and would create problems with openings in the wall. Moreover, at times it is desirable to remove the existing wall down to the studs and a wall system used in this environment must also be capable of being attached directly to the studs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe subject invention provides a panel system which is constructed from panels having a tongue member along one edge and a receptacle member along the opposed edge. The receptacle member is configured to receive the tongue member of an adjacent panel with the edges of the panels abutting one another.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Attached to the support element 26 is an attachment element 28 which projects outwardly from the second edge of the base sheet 11. The attachment element 28 is attached to the support element in the same manner that the support element is attached to the base sheet 11. The side of the attachment element 28 that is not attached to the support element is an attachment surface which is configured to be attached to an underlying surface. This underlying surface can be an existing wall 30,
A wall is fowled with the panels by attaching the attachment element 28 of a first panel to the underlying surface. A second panel is attached to the first panel by inserting the tongue member 20 of the second panel into the slot 36 formed between the attachment element 28 and the base sheet 11 on the first panel. The attachment element 28 of the second panel is then attached to the underlying surface and the process is repeated to attach additional panels. Attaching the attachment element 28 of the second panel to the underlying surface locks the tongue member 20 of the second panel in place in the receptacle member 24 of the first panel. If there is a corner, a panel can be bent to extend around the corner,
Referring now to
Where it is desired to install the panels quickly, or to change them frequently, a hanger system 48 can be utilized,
The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. A panel system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of panels each having a first edge and a second edge which is parallel with and separated from said first edge;
- (b) said panels including a base sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- (c) a tongue member which is attached to said inner surface of said base sheet along a margin of said first edge, said tongue member having a defined thickness and projecting a first distance from said first edge;
- (d) a receptacle member which is attached to said inner surface of said base sheet along a margin of said second edge, said receptacle member having a support element and an attachment element; wherein
- (e) said support element is attached to said inner surface of said base sheet and is separated from said second edge by a second distance which is at least as large as said first distance and has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said tongue member; and
- (f) said attachment element projects from said second edge of said panel.
2. The panel system of claim 1 including a decorative cover attached to said outer surface of said base sheet.
3. The panel system of claim 2 wherein said decorative cover is wood veneer.
4. The panel system of claim 2 wherein said decorative cover is vinyl.
5. The panel system of claim 2 wherein said decorative cover is a plastic laminate.
6. The panel system of claim 2 wherein said decorative cover is tile.
7. The panel system of claim 1 wherein said tongue member and said receptacle member extend along the entire extent of said first and second edges respectively.
8. The panel system of claim 1 wherein said attachment element has an attachment surface on the side thereof which is opposite the side which is attached to said support element, said attachment surface configured to be adhered to an underlying surface by an adhesive.
9. The panel system of claim 8 wherein said underlying surface is an existing wall surface.
10. The panel system of claim 1 wherein said attachment element comprises one or more openings which allow said panel to be attached to an underlying wall surface with fasteners.
11. The panel system of claim 10 wherein said fasteners are screws.
12. The panel system of claim 1 wherein said panel is bent intermediate said first and second edges to provide a corner.
13. The panel system of claim 1 including an edge piece which is attachable to said panel adjacent said second edge of said base sheet after said attachment element has been shortened to be coterminous with said second edge, said edge piece comprising:
- (a) a molding piece; and
- (b) a tongue which projects from said molding piece by an amount approximately equal to said first distance.
14. The panel system of claim 13 wherein said molding piece is flush with said outer surface of said panel.
15. The panel system of claim 13 wherein said molding piece partially overlies said outer surface of said panel.
16. The panel system of claim 1 including a hanger system, comprising:
- (a) a hanger element which is attached to said inner surface of said base sheet and extends across said base sheet perpendicular to said first and second edges;
- (b) said hanger element having a body portion which contacts said base sheet, and a hook portion which projects downwardly from said body portion;
- (c) a mounted element which is attached to a wall;
- (d) said mounted element having a body portion which contacts to said wall; and
- (e) said mounted element having a body which contacts said wall, and a receptacle which is configured to releasably engage said hook portion of said hanger element.
17. The panel system of claim 16 wherein there are multiple hanger elements and multiple mounted elements.
18. A method for constructing a wall with the panels of claim 1, comprising:
- (a) placing a first one of said panels vertically against an underlying surface;
- (b) attaching the support element of said first one of said panels to said underlying surface;
- (c) inserting the tongue of a second one of said panels into the slot formed between the base sheet and receptacle member of said first one of said panels;
- (d) urging said second one of said panels towards said first one of said panels until the first edge of said second one of said panels abuts the second edge of said first one of said panels;
- (e) attaching a support element of said second one of said panels to said underlying surface; and
- (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the wall is constructed.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 16, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2012
Applicant: MARITIME SERVICES CORP. (Hood River, OR)
Inventor: Ken Mulhair (Oregon City, OR)
Application Number: 12/969,868
International Classification: E04F 13/21 (20060101);