Sliding panels for providing selective access to service areas

Abstract

A combined service area, having a first service area; a second service area; and one or more panels movable between: a first configuration wherein the first service area is at least partially covered by the one or more panels and the second service area is accessible; and a second configuration wherein the second service area is at least partially covered by the one or more panels and the first service area is accessible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room, comprising:
 a plurality of service areas, the service areas being separate regions of a room; and   one or more panels, the panel(s) being selectively movable to in front of the service areas so as to block access to one or more room features while leaving at least one other room feature at least partially accessible, and wherein the panel(s) are movable such that a user may select a different room feature to expose or block.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support structure located above the panels; and   a sliding mechanism, the sliding mechanism being simultaneously attached to the panel(s) and the support structure, wherein the sliding mechanism enables the panel(s) to slide to selectively expose service areas.   
     
     
         3 . The sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the service areas include:
 a beverage preparation and serving area, including a plurality of shelves having horizontal surfaces for supporting bottles; and   a food preparation and serving area.   
     
     
         4 . The sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the room features include:
 a media center, including one or more electronic display devices, one or more electronic media playback devices, and an enclosure to support and display said electronic display devices and electronic media playback devices; and   a food preparation and serving area.   
     
     
         5 . The sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least two panels, the panels being movable such that they can overlap one another. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding panel system for blocking access to disparate features of a room as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is at least one non-functional area between two or more room feature(s). 
     
     
         7 . A combined service area, comprising:
 a first service area;   a second service area; and   one or more panels movable between:   a first configuration wherein the first service area is at least partially covered by the one or more panels and the second service area is accessible; and   a second configuration wherein the second service area is at least partially covered by the one or more panels and the first service area is accessible.   
     
     
         8 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , wherein the first service area comprises a bar. 
     
     
         9 . The combined service area of  claim 8 , wherein the second service area comprises at least one of a cooking area and a food service area. 
     
     
         10 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , wherein the second service area comprises at least one of a cooking area and a food service area. 
     
     
         11 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , further comprising a television projector for projecting an image onto the one or more panels. 
     
     
         12 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , wherein the number of panels is two. 
     
     
         13 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , wherein the first service area comprises a media center. 
     
     
         14 . The combined service area of  claim 13 , wherein the second service area comprises a breakfast bar. 
     
     
         15 . The combined service area of  claim 13 , wherein the media center comprises two televisions, and wherein the second configuration comprises two panels, one each in front of the two televisions. 
     
     
         16 . The combined service area of  claim 15 , further comprising a third configuration wherein the two panels are positioned, front to back, in front of one of the two televisions. 
     
     
         17 . The combined service area of  claim 13 , wherein the media center comprises two televisions, and wherein the second configuration comprises two panels positioned, front to back, in front of one of the two televisions. 
     
     
         18 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , further comprising a stop for aligning one of the panels at a position in the combined service area. 
     
     
         19 . The combined service area of  claim 18 , wherein the panels comprises at least two panels, the panels being movable such that they can overlap one another, and wherein the stop comprises a protrusion on one of the panels that is engaged by another of the panels. 
     
     
         20 . The combined service area of  claim 7 , wherein the panels comprises at least two panels, the panels being movable such that they can overlap one another.