Panel System
The present disclosure relates to panel systems, including panel systems that provide one or more tensioned panel portions.
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A panel or wall system is particularly useful for providing privacy or shielding when the panel can be easily assembled or dismantled, to enable convenient privacy, advertising, shelter, or shielding barrier. Conventional outdoor use panel systems ordinarily consist of permanent posts spaced laterally apart and anchored into the ground while supporting vertical panels permanently secured to the vertical posts and often limit height to about 3 foot tall due to their utility. More particularly, wall systems, especially those taller than 3 feet in height, require strings anchored to the ground and tied to the top of the wall to keep the wall vertical and stable. However, such panel systems cannot be easily dismantled, transported, and/or reused. Ideal panel systems for portable privacy or shielding need to be temporary in nature as well as sturdy to avoid falling over. Public campgrounds or high traffic camping or picnicking areas often lack desired privacy or shielding barriers, and therefore, expose users to undesired noise, dirt, smoke, or visibility.
Certain terminology may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “vertically”, “horizontally”, “through”, “into” will refer to directions in the drawing to which reference is made. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present disclosure provides panel systems and methods for their setup and use. According to one implementation, a panel system includes a panel portion, an anchor portion configured to engage the panel portion, one or more first support portions configured to engage the anchor portion and the panel portion, and one or more second support portions configured to engage the panel portion in a direction orthogonal to the first support portion.
According to another implementation, a method of creating or assembling a panel system includes engaging a first anchor with a first anchor receptacle on a panel portion, engaging a second anchor with a second anchor receptacle on the panel portion, engaging a first end of a first support portion with the first anchor and a second end of the first support portion with the panel portion, engaging a first end of a second support portion with the second anchor and a second end of the second support portion with the panel portion, and engaging a cross-panel support member with the panel portion to provide support in a direction orthogonal to the first and second support portions. According to certain embodiments, engaging the first end of the first support portion with the first anchor and the second end of the first support portion with the panel portion places the panel portion in a tensioned state relative to the first support portion and engaging the first end of the second support portion with the second anchor and the second end of the second support portion with the panel portion places the panel portion in a tensioned state relative to the second support portion.
As shown with reference to
Anchor portions 104 may be configured to engage the panel portion 102. More particularly, and according to one implementation, a first portion 108 of the anchor 104 may be inserted through an anchor receptacle, such as a hole, grommet, slit, hook, loop, clip or opening in the panel portion 102. A second portion 110 of the anchor 104 may be configured such that it is too wide to fit through the anchor receptacle. The first portion 108 may be a spike or stake that is inserted, for example, through the slit or opening into the surface 106, such as an earthen or similar surface. Thus, the panel portion 102 maybe secured between the second portion 110 and the surface 106. The first portion 108 of the anchor 104 may engage the surface 106 in any know useful method, such as through a spike, stake, clip, pigtail, hook, or other similar surface-engaging configuration. As will be shown in further detail below, the anchor 104 may also include a spring or other suitable mechanism configured to allow the anchor 104, or a portion of the anchor 104, to flex independently of one or more other portions of the panel system 100.
According to certain implementations, the anchors 104 may extend through one or more slits in the panel portion 102 with generally a single anchor 104 for each available slit. However any number of slits may be used. For example, if one or more of the first portions 108 includes multiple stakes, screws or other securing mechanisms, multiple slits or openings may be provided. Moreover, a grommet or other similar device may be used to create or reinforce the opening.
As shown with regard to
According to certain implementations, one support portion 112 may be provided per anchor 104, as shown in
The panel system 100 may also include one or more support portions 118 (shown in dotted line) configured to engage the panel portion 102 in a direction orthogonal to the support portions 112.
According to an alternative implementation, pocket 122 may be omitted and the support portion 118 may engage the panel portion 102 in an alternative manner, such as through a clip, fastener, hook/loop fasteners, a pair of pockets at opposing ends of the panel portion 102, or any other method for securing the support portion 118 to the panel.
There is no limitation on which side of the panel portion the support portions 112 and 118 and anchors 104 are provided. For example, in
As shown with reference to
The panel system 100 is capable of standing erect without the use of wires or additional support. This advantage may be based upon the integrity of the panel portion 102, the anchors 104, the support portions 112, or a combination thereof. For example, the panel portion 102, the anchors 104, and the support portions 112 may be configured such that each support portion 112 may be inserted into the anchor 104 and may be inserted into the pocket 114 to place the panel portion 102 in tension. This tension may be accomplished by elastically bending the support portion 112 such that it can be inserted into the anchor 104 and into the pocket 114. When the support portion 112 is returned from its elastically bent state, the support portion 112 may press against anchor 104 and pocket 114 to place the panel portion 102 in tension. Tension, however, is not a requirement for the panel system to have the structural advantage of being freestanding, i.e. standing erect without the use of wires or additional support.
The panel system 100 may be configured to any dimensions. For example, the panel system 100 may be configured to be 6 feet tall, where height is measured in the direction parallel to the support portions 112. The panel system 100 may also be configured to be 12 feet long, where length is measured in the direction parallel to the support portion 118. The panel system 100 may have any suitable thickness, which may be based on the thickness of the material of which the panel portion 102 is constructed, the dimensions of the support portions 112 and 118 and of the anchor 104, user preferences, and so forth. Of course, the above dimensions are exemplary only and any suitable dimensions may be used for the panel system 100.
At 1002, a first anchor is engaged with a first anchor receptacle on a panel portion. For example, the first portion 108 of a first anchor 104 may be inserted through a slit, hole, or opening in the panel portion 102. According to certain embodiments, engaging the first end of the first support portion 112 with the first anchor 104 and the second end of the first support portion 112 with the panel portion 102 places the panel portion 102 in a tensioned state relative to the first support portion 102.
At 1004, a second anchor is engaged with a second anchor receptacle on the panel portion. For example, the first portion 108 of a second anchor 104 may be inserted through a slit, hole, or opening in the panel portion 102. According to certain embodiments, engaging the first end of the second support portion 112 with the second anchor 104 and the second end of the second support portion 112 with the panel portion 102 places the panel portion 102 in a tensioned state relative to the second support portion 102.
At 1006, a first end of a first support portion is engaged with the first anchor and a second end of the first support portion with the panel portion. For example, a first one of the support portions 112 may be engaged with the second portion 110 of the anchor 104 and with the pocket 114 formed on or in panel portion 102.
At 1008, a first end of a second support portion is engaged with the second anchor and a second end of the second support portion with the panel portion. For example, a first one of the support portions 112 may be engaged with the second portion 110 of the anchor 104 and with the pocket 114 formed on or in panel portion 102.
At 1010, a cross-panel support member is engaged with the panel portion to provide support in a direction orthogonal to the first and second support portions. For example, one or more support portions 118 (shown in dotted line in
The above described system and methods provide a panel system. Although the system and method has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the system and method defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed system and method.
Claims
1. A panel system comprising:
- a panel portion;
- one or more anchors configured to engage the panel portion;
- one or more first support portions configured to engage the one or more anchors and the panel portion; and
- one or more second support portions configured to engage the panel portion in a direction orthogonal to the first support portion.
2. The panel system of claim 1, wherein the panel portion further comprises two or more engagement portions to engage the one or more first support portions with the panel portion.
3. The panel system of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises two or more orthogonal support portion receptacles configured to receive two or more second support portions.
4. The panel system of claim 1, wherein said panel portion further comprises one or more anchor receptacles to engage the one or more anchors.
5. The panel system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the support or second portions is along a perimeter of the panel portion.
6. The panel system of claim 1, wherein the one or more anchors engage the panel portion at a hole, grommet, slit, hook, loop, or clip.
7. The panel system of claim 6, wherein a portion of the anchor extends through the hole, grommet, slit, hook, loop, or clip to protrude beyond a perimeter of the panel portion.
8. The panel system of claim 7, wherein the portion of the anchor portion extending through the hole, grommet, slit, hook, loop, or clip is configured to engage a surface.
9. The panel system of claim 7, wherein the portion of the anchor protruding beyond a perimeter of the panel portion is configured as a stake, hook, clip, or other fastener.
10. The panel system of claim 7, wherein the anchor includes a spring configured to allow the portion protruding beyond a perimeter of the panel portion to flex independently of the one or more first support portions.
11. The panel system of claim 7, wherein the first support portion and anchor portion place a portion of the panel portion in tension.
12. The panel system of claim 11, wherein the panel portion further comprises two or more engagement portions to engage the one or more first support portions with the panel portion.
13. A panel system comprising:
- a panel portion;
- one or more first support portions configured to engage the panel portion; and
- one or more second support portions configured to engage the panel portion in a direction orthogonal to the first support portion.
14. A method of creating a panel, the method comprising:
- engaging a first anchor with a first anchor receptacle on a panel portion;
- engaging a second anchor with a second anchor receptacle on the panel portion;
- engaging a first end of a first support portion with the first anchor and a second end of the first support portion with the panel portion;
- engaging a first end of a second support portion with the second anchor and a second end of the second support portion with the panel portion; and
- engaging a cross-panel support member with the panel portion to provide support in a direction orthogonal to the first and second support portions.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:
- engaging the first end of the first support portion with the first anchor and the second end of the first support portion with the panel portion places the panel portion in a tensioned state relative to the first support portion, and
- engaging the first end of the second support portion with the first anchor and the second end of the second support portion with the panel portion places the panel portion in a tensioned state relative to the second support portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2011
Applicant: (Spokane, WA)
Inventor: Aaron Inman (Spokane, WA)
Application Number: 12/646,741
International Classification: E04C 2/38 (20060101); E04B 2/72 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101);