Stackable panels for a wall panel assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a panel configured to define a first panel for co-operating with a second panel for establishing a stacked configuration. In the stacked configuration: (i) a first coupling configuration counterpart, of the first panel, is configured for co-operation with an upper receiving space-defining portion, of the second panel, such that a first nested configuration is established, wherein the upper receiving space-defining portion, of the second panel, is nested within a cavity defined within the first coupling configuration counterpart, of the first panel, and (ii) an upper receiving space-defining portion, of the first panel, is configured for co-operation with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, such that a second nested configuration is established, wherein the upper receiving space-defining portion, of the first panel, is nested within a cavity defined within the first coupling configuration counterpart, of the second panel.

1 . A panel which is configured to define a first panel for coupling to a second panel, such that an assembled configuration is established, wherein the first panel is configured for co-operating with the second panel, a wall, and a fastener configuration for establishing a fastened panel assembly configuration, wherein, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, the assembled configuration is secured to the wall with the fastener configuration such that the assembled configuration covers at least a portion of a surface of the wall, and wherein the first panel is also configured for co-operating with the second panel for establishing a stacked configuration, wherein each one of the first and second panels, independently, comprises:
 a respective first coupling configuration counterpart;   a respective second coupling configuration counterpart; and   a respective mounting bracket-receiving space, recessed into a respective surface of the panel, for receiving emplacement of a mounting bracket with effect that the mounting bracket becomes vertically supported by the panel, wherein the respective mounting bracket-receiving space is defined within a respective receiving space-defining portion of the panel;   wherein:
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for coupling with the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, with effect that a first coupled configuration is established, and the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for coupling with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, with effect that a second coupled configuration is established, wherein the establishing of either one of the first coupled configuration or the second coupled configuration establishes the assembled configuration; and 
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for co-operation with the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the second panel, such that a first nested configuration is established, and the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for co-operation with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, such that a second nested configuration is established, wherein the stacked configuration includes the first nested configuration and the second nested configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for co-operation with the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the second panel, such that while the first nested configuration is established, the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the second panel, is nested within a cavity defined by the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel; and   the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for co-operation with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, such that while the second nested configuration is established, the receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the first panel, is nested within a cavity defined by the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel.   
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, and the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, are co-operatively configured such that, while the first coupled configuration is established:
 (a) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is: (i) parallel to the wall surface, and (ii) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first panel, is opposed; and 
 (b) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is parallel to an axis that is normal to the wall surface is opposed; and 
   the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, and the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, are co-operatively configured such that, while the second coupled configuration is established:
 (a) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is: (i) parallel to the wall surface, and (ii) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first panel, is opposed; and 
 (b) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is parallel to an axis that is normal to the wall surface is opposed. 
   
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coupling of the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, to the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, is effectuated in response to snap-fit engagement between first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, with the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel; and   the coupling of the coupling of the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, to the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, is effectuated in response to snap-fit engagement between the coupling of the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel.   
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein;
 each one of the first and second panels, independently, further includes a respective front surface that includes a respective planar surface portion;   the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the stacked configuration, the planar surface portion of the first panel defines an outwardly facing surface of the stacked configuration and the planar surface portion of the second panel defines an outwardly facing surface of the stacked configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion defines a visible surface.   
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of the first and second panels, independently, further includes a respective front surface that includes a respective planar surface portion; and   the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion defines a visible surface.   
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion is oriented in a parallel relationship with the wall surface.   
     
     
         9 . A panel which is configured to define a first panel for coupling to a second panel, such that an assembled configuration is established, wherein the first panel is configured for co-operating with the second panel, a wall, and a fastener configuration for establishing a fastened panel assembly configuration, wherein, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, the assembled configuration is secured to the wall with the fastener configuration such that the assembled configuration covers at least a portion of a surface of the wall, and wherein the first panel is also configured for co-operating with the second panel for establishing a stacked configuration, wherein each one of the first and second panels, independently, comprises:
 a respective front surface;   a respective rear surface disposed, relative to the respective front surface, on an opposite side of the panel; and   a respective first coupling configuration counterpart;   a respective second coupling configuration counterpart; and   a respective upper mounting bracket-receiving space, recessed into a respective upper surface of the panel, for receiving emplacement of a mounting bracket with effect that the mounting bracket becomes vertically supported by the panel, wherein the respective upper mounting bracket-receiving space is defined within a respective upper receiving space-defining portion of the panel;   a respective lower mounting bracket-receiving space, recessed into a respective lower surface of the panel, for receiving emplacement of a mounting bracket with effect that the mounting bracket becomes vertically supported by the panel, wherein the respective lower mounting bracket-receiving space is defined within a respective lower receiving space-defining portion of the panel;   wherein:
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for coupling with the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, with effect that a first coupled configuration is established, and the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, is configured for coupling with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, with effect that a second coupled configuration is established, wherein the establishing of either one of the first coupled configuration or the second coupled configuration establishes the assembled configuration; 
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the stacked configuration:
 one of the first and second panels is an upper panel and the other one of the first and second panels is disposed below the upper panel such that the other one of the first and second panels is a lower panel; 
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the upper panel, is configured for co-operation with the upper receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the lower panel, such that the upper receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the lower panel, is nested within a cavity defined by the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the upper panel; 
 the upper receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the upper panel, is configured for co-operation with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the lower panel, such that the upper receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the upper panel, is nested within a cavity defined by the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the lower panel; 
 the lower receiving space-defining portion, that is respective to the upper panel, is co-operable with the rear surface that is respective to the lower panel, such that, while the upper panel, to which the lower receiving space-defining portion is respective, is being urged in a downwardly direction by application, to the upper panel, of gravitational force only, the lower receiving space-defining portion is supported by the rear surface that is respective to the lower panel; and 
 the rear surface, that is respective to the upper panel, is co-operable with the lower receiving space-defining portion that is respective to the lower panel, such that, while the upper panel, to which the rear surface is respective, is being urged in a downwardly direction by application, to the upper panel, of gravitational force only, the rear surface is supported by the lower receiving space-defining portion that is respective to the lower panel. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the urging in the downwardly direction by the application, to the upper panel, of the gravitational forces only, is by only the weight of the upper panel.   
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the gravitational force is defined exclusively by the weight of the upper panel.   
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the upper panel is further urged in the downwardly direction by application, to the upper panel, of the weight of the atmosphere.   
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the stacked configuration, the first and second panels are co-operatively disposed in a nested configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, and the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, are co-operatively configured such that, while the first coupled configuration is established:
 (a) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is: (i) parallel to the wall surface, and (ii) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first panel, is opposed; and 
 (b) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is parallel to an axis that is normal to the wall surface is opposed; and 
   the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, and the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, are co-operatively configured such that, while the second coupled configuration is established:
 (a) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is: (i) parallel to the wall surface, and (ii) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first panel, is opposed; and 
 (b) relative displacement between the first panel and the second panel, along an axis that is parallel to an axis that is normal to the wall surface is opposed. 
   
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the coupling of the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, to the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, is effectuated in response to snap-fit engagement between first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, with the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel; and   the coupling of the coupling of the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, to the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel, is effectuated in response to snap-fit engagement between the coupling of the second coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the first panel, with the first coupling configuration counterpart, that is respective to the second panel.   
     
     
         16 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein;
 for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective front surface includes a respective planar surface portion;   the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the stacked configuration, the planar surface portion of the first panel defines an outwardly facing surface of the stacked configuration and the planar surface portion of the second panel defines an outwardly facing surface of the stacked configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion defines a visible surface.   
     
     
         18 . The panel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective front surface includes a respective planar surface portion; and   the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion defines a visible surface.   
     
     
         19 . The panel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first panel is configured for co-operation with the second panel such that, in the fastened panel assembly configuration, for each one of the first and second panels, independently, the respective planar surface portion is oriented in a parallel relationship with the wall surface.   
     
     
         20 . A kit for producing a wall panel assembly, wherein the kit comprises a plurality of panels, wherein each one of the plurality of panels, independently, is defined by the panel of  claim 9 .