Heater Module Panel Assembly and Method

Abstract

A modular panel assembly is provided for encasing a space heater device or electric fireplace deliverable as a kit including panels and optionally a space heater device. The kit may be assembled to create a decorative encasing for the space heater device or electric fireplace. The panels may include front, top, and side panels. The panels may include brackets attachable to the space heater device and/or connectable with additional brackets attached to other panels. The panels may be constructed using wood. The kit may be assembled at a geographic location other than a manufacturing origin. A method is provided for assembling the kit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular panel assembly, the modular panel assembly comprising:
 a space heater device to be at least partially encased by the assembly;   panels, further comprising:   a front panel and a front panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the front panel to a front of the space heater device;   a top panel and a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the top panel to a top of the space heater device;   a first side panel, a first side panel mounting bracket installable on the first side panel, and a first side panel sleeve bracket installable on the first side panel, for locating the first side panel adjacent to a first side of the space heater device; and   a second side panel, a second side panel mounting bracket installable on the second side panel, and a second side panel sleeve bracket installable on the second side panel, for locating the second side panel adjacent to a second side of the space heater device.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are installable to the space heater device at a geographic location different than a manufacturing origin of the panels. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panels comprise wood. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the wood comprises solid wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particle board, chipboard, or an at least partial combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is deliverable as a kit, and wherein the kit comprises the space heater device and the panels that are unassembled. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the kit enables the assembly to be assembled by performing steps comprising:
 (a) installing the front panel to the space heater device;   (b) installing the top panel to the space heater device, the top panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front panel; and   (c) installing the first side panel and the second side panel to the space heater device, the first side panel and the second side panel being positionable adjacent to the front panel and the top panel.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel in position relative to the top panel, and wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the second side panel in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the top panel attaches to the space heater device. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are connectable into a furniture casing to at least partially enclose and substantially conceal the space heater device. 
     
     
         10 . A modular panel assembly for decoratively encasing a space heater device, the modular panel assembly comprising:
 panels constructed using wood, the panels comprising:   a top panel and a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the top panel to a top of the space heater device;   a first side panel, a first side panel mounting bracket installable on the first side panel, and at least two first side panel sleeve brackets installable on the first side panel, for locating the first side panel adjacent to a first side of the space heater device; and   a second side panel, a second side panel mounting bracket installable on the second side panel, and at least two second side panel sleeve brackets installable on the second side panel, for locating the second side panel adjacent to a second side of the space heater device;   wherein the panels are connectable into a wooden furniture casing to enclose and conceal the space heater device.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the panels further comprise a front panel and a front panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the front panel to a front of the space heater device. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a front strip installable to a front of the space heater device. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the panels are installable to the space heater device at a geographic location different than a manufacturing origin of the panels. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wood comprise solid wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particle board, chipboard, or an at least partial combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly is deliverable as a kit, wherein the kit comprises the space heater device and the panels that are unassembled, and wherein the panels are includable as a sub-assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the kit enables the assembly to be assembled by performing steps comprising:
 (a) installing a front member comprising a front panel or a front strip to the space heater device;   (b) installing the top panel to the space heater device, the top panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front member; and   (c) installing the first side panel and the second side panel to the space heater device, the first side panel and the second side panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front member and the top panel.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel in position relative to the top panel, and wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the second side panel in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         18 . A heater panel assembly kit for encasing a space heater device, the heater panel assembly kit comprising:
 panels constructed using wood, the panels comprising:   a top panel and a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon,   a first side panel, a first side panel mounting bracket installable on the first side panel, and a first side panel sleeve bracket configured to receive the top panel mounting bracket installable on the first side panel, and   a second side panel, a second side panel mounting bracket installable on the second side panel, and a second side panel sleeve bracket configured to receive the top panel mounting bracket installable on the second side panel;   wherein the panels are packaged together in the kit;   wherein the kit is deliverable unassembled; and   wherein the top panel is mountable onto a top of the space heater device and the first side panel and the second side panel are locatable adjacent to the first side and the second side of the space heater device so as to be assembled into a casing to substantially enclose and conceal the space heater device.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising the space heater device. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a front panel or a front strip, wherein the front panel is mountable onto a front of the space heater device via a front panel mounting bracket installable thereon, and wherein the front strip is mountable onto at least part of the front of the space heater device. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the panels are installable to the space heater device at a geographic location different than a manufacturing origin of the panels. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein installation of the panels to the space heater at the different geographic location provides cost savings. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the wood comprises solid wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particle board, chipboard, or an at least partial combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein assembly of the kit comprises:
 (a) installing the front panel or the front strip to the space heater device;   (b) installing the top panel to the space heater device, the top panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front panel or the front strip; and   (c) installing the first side panel and the second side panel to the space heater device, the first side panel and the second side panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front panel or front strip and the top panel.   
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel in position relative to the top panel, and wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the second side panel in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         26 . A method of assembling a space heater device and panels from a kit, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) installing a front panel to the space heater device, the front panel comprising a front panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the front panel to a front of the space heater device;   (b) installing a top panel to the space heater device, the top panel being positionable adjacent to at least part of the front panel, the top panel comprising a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the top panel to a top of the space heater device;   (c) installing a first side panel to the space heater device, the first side panel being positionable adjacent to the front panel and the top panel, the first side panel comprising a first side panel mounting bracket and a first side panel sleeve bracket installable on the first side panel for locating the first side panel adjacent to a first side of the space heater device; and   (d) installing a second side panel to the space heater device, the second side panel being positionable adjacent to the front panel and the top panel, the second side panel comprising a second side panel mounting bracket and a second side panel sleeve bracket installable on the second side panel for locating the second side panel adjacent to a second side of the space heater device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket and the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel and the second side panel respectively in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the panels are installable to the space heater device at a geographic location different than a manufacturing origin of the panels. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the panels comprise wood. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the wood comprises solid wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particle board, chipboard, or an at least partial combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising before step (a) the step of:
 (e) receiving a modular panel assembly as a kit, wherein the kit comprises the space heater device and the panels that are unassembled. 
 
     
     
         32 . A modular panel assembly, the modular panel assembly comprising:
 an electric fireplace to be at least partially encased by the assembly;   panels, further comprising:
 a top panel and a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the top panel to a top of the electric fireplace; 
 a first side panel, a first side panel mounting bracket installable on the first side panel, and a first side panel sleeve bracket installable on the first side panel, for locating the first side panel adjacent to a first side of the electric fireplace; and 
 a second side panel, a second side panel mounting bracket installable on the second side panel, and a second side panel sleeve bracket installable on the second side panel, for locating the second side panel adjacent to a second side of the electric fireplace. 
   
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the panels comprise wood. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the assembly is deliverable as a kit, and wherein the kit comprises the electric fireplace and the panels that are unassembled. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the kit enables the assembly to be assembled by performing steps comprising:
 (d) installing the top panel to the electric fireplace; and   (e) installing the first side panel and the second side panel to the electric fireplace, the first side panel and the second side panel being positionable adjacent to the top panel.   
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel in position relative to the top panel, and wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the second side panel in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the top panel is attachable to the space heater device. 
     
     
         38 . A method of assembling an electric fireplace and panels from a kit, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) installing a top panel to the electric fireplace, the top panel comprising a top panel mounting bracket installable thereon for connecting the top panel to a top of the electric fireplace;   (b) installing a first side panel to the electric fireplace, the first side panel being positionable adjacent to the top panel, the first side panel comprising a first side panel mounting bracket and a first side panel sleeve bracket installable on the first side panel for locating the first side panel adjacent to a first side of the electric fireplace; and   (c) installing a second side panel to the electric fireplace, the second side panel being positionable adjacent to the top panel, the second side panel comprising a second side panel mounting bracket and a second side panel sleeve bracket installable on the second side panel for locating the second side panel adjacent to a second side of the electric fireplace.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the top panel mounting bracket is insertable into the first panel sleeve bracket and the second panel sleeve bracket to substantially hold the first side panel and the second side panel respectively in position relative to the top panel. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the panels comprise wood. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising before step (a) the step of:
 (d) receiving a modular panel assembly as a kit, wherein the kit comprises the electric fireplace and the panels that are unassembled.