Wood skin construction for partitions

Abstract

A skin for a panel system comprising a natural wood panel and marginal frame members for the natural wood panel. The marginal frame members include attachment members for connecting the skin to the panel system. The skin also includes wedge members for connecting the marginal frame members to the natural wood panel.

1 . A skin for a panel system comprising: 
 a wood panel;    marginal frame members for the wood panel, the marginal frame members including attachment members for connecting the skin to the panel system; and    wedge members for rigidly connecting the marginal frame members to the wood panel.    
     
     
         2 . The skin of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the wood panel is substantially rectangular; and    the marginal frame members comprise four marginal frame members, one frame member for each side of the wood panel.    
     
     
         3 . The skin of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the wood panel includes a plurality of slots; and    each marginal frame member includes a flange inserted into one of the slots of the wood panel; and    wedge members are inserted into the slots of the wood panel and engaged with the flanges of the marginal frame members to rigidly maintain the flanges in the slots and to thereby rigidly engage the marginal frame members with the natural wood panel.    
     
     
         4 . The skin of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the plurality of slots are T-shaped; and    the flanges are L-shaped.    
     
     
         5 . The skin of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the attachment members comprise first attachment members configured to be connected to a top one of the marginal frame members, second attachment members configured to be connected to a bottom one of the marginal frame members and third attachment members configured to be connected to the marginal frame members on a side of the wood panel;    the first attachment members, the second attachment members and the third attachment members each have a different configuration.    
     
     
         6 . The skin of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the top one of the marginal frame members and the bottom one of the marginal frame members have an identical configuration and are positioned in opposite orientations.    
     
     
         7 . The skin of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the third attachment members comprise hooks configured to be inserted into openings in a panel system to connect the wood skin to the panel system.    
     
     
         8 . A panel system comprising: 
 an open frame comprising a pair of substantially horizontal frame members and a pair of substantially vertical frame members connected to the horizontal frame members, the vertical frame members and the horizontal frame members including openings therein; and    a wood skin comprising a wood panel, marginal frame members for the wood panel and engaged therewith, the marginal frame members including attachment members for insertion into the openings of the vertical frame member and the horizontal frame members to connect the skin to the panel system, the wood skin further including wedge members for rigidly connecting the marginal frame members to the wood panel.    
     
     
         9 . The panel system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the wood panel is substantially rectangular; and    the marginal frame members comprise four marginal frame members, one frame member for each side of the wood panel.    
     
     
         10 . The panel system of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the wood panel includes a plurality of slots; and    each marginal frame member includes a flange inserted into one of the slots of the wood panel; and    wedge members are inserted into the slots of the wood panel and engaged with the flanges of the marginal frame members to rigidly maintain the flanges in the slots and to thereby rigidly engage the marginal frame members with the natural wood panel.    
     
     
         11 . The panel system of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the plurality of slots are T-shaped; and    the flanges are L-shaped.    
     
     
         12 . The panel system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the attachment members comprise first attachment members configured to be connected to a top one of the marginal frame members and inserted into openings in a top one of the horizontal frame members of the open frame, second attachment members configured to be connected to a bottom one of the marginal frame members and inserted into openings in a bottom one of the horizontal frame members of the open frame, and third attachment members configured to be connected to the marginal frame members on sides of the wood panel and inserted into openings in the vertical frame members of the open frame;    the first attachment members, the second attachment members and the third attachment members each have a different configuration.    
     
     
         13 . The panel system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the top one of the marginal frame members and the bottom one of the marginal frame members have an identical configuration and are positioned in opposite orientations.    
     
     
         14 . The panel system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the third attachment members comprise hooks configured to be inserted into openings in a panel system to connect the wood skin to the panel system.    
     
     
         15 . A skin for a panel system comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular natural wood panel including a plurality of slots;    at least two marginal frame members for the wood panel and engaged therewith, the at least two marginal frame members surrounding a periphery of the natural wood panel, the at least two marginal frame members each including a flange inserted into one of the slots of the natural wood panel; and    engagement members engaged with the at least two marginal frame members to rigidly maintain the flanges in the slots and to thereby rigidly engage the at least two marginal frame members with the natural wood panel;    wherein the at least two marginal frame members include an attachment member for attaching the skin to the panel system.    
     
     
         16 . The skin of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the at least two marginal frame members comprise four marginal frame members, one frame member for each side of the wood panel.    
     
     
         17 . The skin of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the plurality of slots are T-shaped; and    the flanges are L-shaped.    
     
     
         18 . The skin of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the attachment members comprise first attachment members configured to be connected to a top one of the marginal frame members, second attachment members configured to be connected to a bottom one of the marginal frame members and third attachment members configured to be connected to the marginal frame members on a side of the wood panel;    the first attachment members, the second attachment members and the third attachment members each have a different configuration.    
     
     
         19 . The skin of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the third attachment members comprise hooks configured to be inserted into openings in a panel system to connect the wood skin to the panel system.    
     
     
         20 . The skin of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the engagement members comprise wedge members inserted into the slots of the natural wood panel and engage the flanges of the at least two marginal frame members.