# US 2018/0020849 A1 · Panel assembly, panel system including the panel assembly, and method thereof

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2018/0020849 A1
- Document ID: US20180020849A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/215,945
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21
- Assignees: Thinkterior Studio Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: Thinkterior Studio Pte. Ltd.
- Inventors: Christopher D. JONES; Anthony M. HUGHES; Matthew D. THORPE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020849A1

## CPC

- A47F 5/0823: {Article supports for peg-boards}
- A47F 5/0815: {Panel constructions with apertures for article supports, e.g. hooks}
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

A panel assembly, system, and method include upper and lower panels attached respectively to upper and lower back support, which are connectable to each other using linking beams. The upper back support is configured to be hung from a horizontal beam. The panels have through holes and the back supports have front blind holes that are aligned with the through holes in the panels. In another embodiment, rear blind holes are also provided in the back supports. A peg is securable to each of the blind holes. Multiple pegs can be secured to provide furniture options that can be used for storing, displaying, organizing, and merchandizing. Rear blind holes provides additional storage that can be hidden away from view.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A panel assembly that is hangable on a hanging horizontal beam mounted to a structural support and usable with at least one peg to display an object, the panel assembly comprising:
a first panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced first through holes extending between the front side and the back side; and
a first back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and secured to the back side of the first panel with the first side of the first back support confronting the back side of the first panel,
wherein the first back support includes, on the first side, a plurality of first blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of first through holes,
wherein the first back support is configured engage and hang from the hanging horizontal beam,
wherein each of the plurality of first through holes is dimensioned to permit the peg to pass therethrough,
wherein each of the plurality of first blind holes is dimensioned to receive the peg inserted through one of the plurality of first through holes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
the first back support includes, on the second side, a plurality of second blind holes, and
each of the second blind holes are configured to receive the peg inserted from the second side.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The panel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced second through holes extending between the front side and the back side of the second panel; and
a second back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side thereof, and secured to the back side of the second panel with the first side of the second back support confronting the back side of the second panel,
wherein the second back support includes, on the first side thereof, a plurality of second blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of second through holes,
wherein each of the plurality of second through holes is dimensioned to permit the peg to pass therethrough,
wherein each of the plurality of second blind holes is dimensioned to receive the peg inserted through one of the plurality of second through holes,
wherein the second panel is disposed below the first panel, and
wherein the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes are arrayed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first back support comprises:
a plurality of first vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of first vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other; and
a first horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of first vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a first slot sized to receive the first horizontal beam and allow the first side of the first horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of first vertical beams to contact the back side of the first panel, and
wherein each of the first vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of first blind holes in the first back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes in the plurality of first vertical beams.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein:
the first back support comprises:
a plurality of first vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of first vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other; and
a first horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of first vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a first slot sized to receive the first horizontal beam and allow the first side of the first horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of first vertical beams to contact the back side of the first panel, and
wherein each of the first vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of first blind holes in the first back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes in the plurality of first vertical beams, and
the second back support comprises:
a plurality of second vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of second vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other;
a second horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of second vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a second slot sized to receive the second horizontal beam and allow the first side of the second horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of second vertical beams to contact the back side of the second panel, and
wherein each of the second vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced second blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of second blind holes in the second back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced second blind holes in the plurality of second vertical beams.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second back support further includes:
a third horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of second vertical beams has a third slot vertically spaced from the second slot and sized to receive the third horizontal beam and allow the first side of the third horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of second vertical beams to contact the back side of the second panel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The panel assembly according to claim 6, further including:
a first linking beam that secures together one of the plurality of first vertical beams and one of the plurality of second vertical beams; and
a second linking beam that secures together another of the plurality of first vertical beams and another of the plurality of second vertical beams,
wherein the first and second linking beams secure the first and second back support together.

### Claim 8

A panel system comprising:
a hanging horizontal beam mountable to a structural support;
at least one locking peg; and
a panel assembly that is hangable on the hanging horizontal beam and comprising:
a first panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced first through holes extending between the front side and the back side; and
a first back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and secured to the back side of the first panel, the first side of the first back support confronting the back side of the first panel, and
wherein the first back support includes, on the first side, a plurality of first blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of first through holes,
wherein the first back support and the hanging horizontal beam are complementarily configured so that the hanging horizontal beam is engagable with the first back support,
wherein the locking peg securable to the first back support using one of the plurality of first blind holes,
wherein the locking peg has a locking mechanism at one end and is configured to extend through a first through hole, among the plurality of first through holes, and extend into and secure to a first blind hole, among the plurality of first blind holes, aligned with the first through hole, and
wherein the locking peg is configured to extend outwardly from the front side of the first panel when fully seated in the first blind hole.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The panel system according to claim 8, wherein:
the first back support includes, on the second side, a plurality of second blind holes, and
each of the second blind holes is configured to receive the locking peg inserted from the second side.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The panel system according to claim 8, further comprising:
a second panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced through holes extending between the front side and the back side of the second panel;
a second back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side thereof, and secured to the back side of the second panel, the first side of the second back support confronting the back side of the second panel;
wherein the second back support includes, on the first side thereof, a plurality of second blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of second through holes,
wherein the locking peg is extendable through a second through hole, among the plurality of second through holes, and extend into and secure to a second blind hole, among the plurality of second blind holes, aligned with the second through hole,
wherein the second panel is disposed below the first panel, and
wherein the plurality of through holes of the first and second panels are arrayed and aligned.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The panel system according to claim 8, wherein the first back support comprises:
a plurality of first vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of first vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other; and
a first horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of first vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a first slot sized to receive the first horizontal beam and allow the first side of the first horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of first vertical beams to contact the back side of the first panel, and
wherein each of the first vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of first blind holes in the first back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced blind holes in the plurality of first vertical beams.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The panel system according to claim 10, wherein:
the first back support comprises:
a plurality of first vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of first vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other; and
a first horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the first panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of first vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a first slot sized to receive the first horizontal beam and allow the first side of the first horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of first vertical beams to contact the back side of the first panel, and
wherein each of the first vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of first blind holes in the first back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced first blind holes in the plurality of first vertical beams, and
the second back support comprises:
a plurality of second vertical beams each having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the plurality of second vertical beams being horizontally spaced from each other;
a second horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of second vertical beams has, on the first side thereof, a second slot sized to receive the second horizontal beam and allow the first side of the second horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of second vertical beams to contact the back side of the second panel, and
wherein each of the second vertical beams has a plurality of vertically spaced second blind holes opening from the first side thereof, the plurality of second blind holes in the second back support comprising the plurality of vertically spaced second blind holes in the plurality of second vertical beams.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The panel system according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of first vertical beams has, on the second side, a second slot configured to hook onto an upper portion of the hanging horizontal beam.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The panel system according to claim 13, further including:
a third horizontal beam having a first side disposed confronting the back side of the second panel and a second side opposite the first side thereof,
wherein each of the plurality of second vertical beams has a third slot vertically spaced from the second slot and sized to receive the third horizontal beam and allow the first side of the third horizontal beam and the first sides of the plurality of second vertical beams to contact the back side of the second panel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The panel system according to claim 14, further including:
a first linking beam that secures together one of the plurality of first vertical beams and one of the plurality of second vertical beams; and
a second linking beam that secures together another of the plurality of first vertical beams and another of the plurality of second vertical beams,
wherein the first and second linking beams secure the first and second back support together.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The panel system according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fasteners securing the first linking beam to the one first vertical beam and the one second vertical beam, and the second linking beam to the another first vertical beam and the another second vertical beam.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The panel system according to claim 16, wherein:
a vertical length of each of the plurality of first vertical beams is substantially equal to a vertical length of the first panel,
a vertical length of each of the plurality of second vertical beams is substantially shorter than a vertical length of the second panel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The panel system according to claim 17, wherein:
each of the first horizontal beam and the plurality of the first vertical beams is secured to the back side of the first panel with an adhesive,
the first horizontal beam and the plurality of the first vertical beams are secured together with the adhesive,
each of the second and third horizontal beams and the plurality of the second vertical beams is secured to the back side of the second panel using the adhesive, and
the second and third horizontal beams and the plurality of the second vertical beams are secured together with the adhesive.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The panel system according to claim 8, wherein the locking peg comprises:
a bolt with a threaded shaft;
a tubular member having a first end and a second end; and
a wedge configured to be engage the second end of the tubular member and having a threading configured to receive the thread shaft inserted into the tubular member from the first end,
wherein drawing the wedge against the second end of the tubular member by rotating the bolt rotating in one direction secures the locking peg to the first blind hole in the first back support.

### Claim 20

A method of assembling and hanging a panel assembly comprising:
a first panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced first through holes extending between the front side and the back side;
a first back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and secured to the back side of the first panel, the first side of the first back support confronting the back side of the first panel;
a second panel having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of spaced through holes extending between the front side and the back side thereof;
a second back support having a first side and a second side opposite the first side thereof, and secured to the back side of the second panel, the first side of the second back support confronting the back side of the second panel,
wherein the first back support includes, on the first side thereof, a plurality of first blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of first through holes,
wherein the second back support includes, on the first side thereof, a plurality of second blind holes that each align with one of the plurality of second through holes,
wherein each of the plurality of first and second blind holes are configured to receive a peg extending through the respective one of the plurality of first and second through holes,
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing first and second linking beams;
providing a hanging horizontal beam;
mounting the hanging horizontal beam to a structural support;
securing together the upper and lower back support using the first and second linking beams;
hanging the assembled panel assembly on the hanging horizontal beam,
wherein the first back support and the hanging horizontal beam are complementarily configured so that the first back support engages and hangs from hanging horizontal beam.