Sidewall panel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10788065-B2
Application number	US-201815940657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A panel assembly that is configured to be secured to a frame that includes a panel having a top and a bottom, a first bracket assembly and a second bracket assembly. The first bracket assembly includes a first pivot member and a first bracket. One of the first bracket and first pivot member is secured to the panel and the other is configured to be secured to the frame. The first bracket includes a slot defined therein that includes a throat and a pivot opening. The throat is defined between first and second throat surfaces and the throat is narrower than the pivot opening. The second bracket assembly includes a second pivot member and a second bracket. One of the second bracket and second pivot member is secured to the panel and the other is configured to be secured to the frame. The second bracket includes a pivot opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel assembly that is configured to be secured to a frame, the panel assembly comprising:
a panel having a top and a bottom,
a first bracket assembly that includes a first pivot member and a first bracket, wherein one of the first bracket and first pivot member is secured to the panel and the other of the first bracket and first pivot member is configured to be secured to the frame, wherein the first bracket includes a slot defined therein that includes a throat and a pivot opening, wherein the throat is defined between first and second opposing throat surfaces, wherein the throat is narrower than the pivot opening, wherein the pivot opening defines a central axis and is dimensioned such that the first pivot member can rotate within the pivot opening between a starting position and an installed position, wherein the first pivot member defines a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the major axis extends laterally along a length of the first pivot member and the minor axis extends laterally along a width of the first pivot member, wherein the length is greater than the width, wherein the first pivot member can fit through the throat when the major axis is approximately parallel to at least one of the first and second throat surfaces, wherein the first pivot member cannot fit through the throat when the major axis is not approximately parallel to at least one of the first and second throat surfaces, wherein the first pivot member can enter the pivot opening in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the pivot opening, wherein the first bracket includes a pivot portion, wherein the slot is defined in the pivot portion, wherein the pivot portion includes a front surface, a back surface and first and second side surfaces, wherein at least one of the first and second throat surfaces defines a non-right angle with at least one of the front surface and the first side surface, and
a second bracket assembly that includes a second pivot member and a second bracket, wherein one of the second bracket and second pivot member is secured to the panel and the other of the second bracket and second pivot member is configured to be secured to the frame, wherein the second bracket includes a pivot opening defined therein.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the first bracket assembly is positioned adjacent the top of the panel and the second bracket assembly is positioned adjacent the bottom of the panel assembly, and wherein the pivot opening in the second bracket is a closed pivot opening.

3. The panel assembly of claim 2 wherein the first bracket includes a flange portion and the pivot portion that meet at an angle, wherein the flange portion is secured to a back surface of the panel.

4. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel includes a main body portion and an overlapping portion, wherein a thickness of the overlapping portion is less than a thickness of the main body portion.

5. The panel assembly of claim 4 wherein the overlapping portion is positioned on a first side of the panel and extends from the top to the bottom.

6. The panel assembly of claim 5 wherein the panel includes a seal member thereon, and wherein the seal member is positioned on a second side of the panel and on a back surface of the panel.

7. The panel assembly of claim 5 wherein the panel includes the first side, a second side, a front surface and a back surface, wherein the first side includes a first radius of curvature and the second side includes a second radius of curvature, and wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.

8. The panel assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first latch assembly that includes a first latch member and a first latch bracket, wherein one of the first latch bracket and first latch member is secured to the panel and the other of the first latch bracket and first latch member is configured to be secured to the frame.

9. The panel assembly of claim 8 wherein the first latch member includes a catch that is configured to engage a ledge on the first latch bracket.

10. The panel assembly of claim 9 wherein the first latch member is made of a material such that a magnet can unlatch the first latch member from the first latch bracket.

11. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-right angle is between 1° and 89°.

12. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein a first distance is defined between the first and second opposing throat surfaces, and wherein the first distance is greater than the width of the first pivot member.

13. A panel assembly that is configured to be secured to a frame, the panel assembly comprising:
a panel having a top and a bottom,
a first bracket assembly that includes a first pivot member and a first bracket, wherein one of the first bracket and first pivot member is secured to the panel and the other of the first bracket and first pivot member is configured to be secured to the frame, wherein the first bracket includes a slot defined therein that includes a throat and a pivot opening, wherein the throat is defined between first and second opposing throat surfaces, wherein the throat is narrower than the pivot opening, wherein the pivot opening is dimensioned such that the first pivot member can rotate within the pivot opening between a starting position and an installed position, wherein the first pivot member defines a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the major axis extends laterally along a length of the first pivot member and the minor axis extends laterally along a width of the first pivot member, wherein the length is greater than the width, wherein the first pivot member can fit through the throat when the major axis is approximately parallel to at least one of the first and second throat surfaces, wherein the first pivot member cannot fit through the throat when the major axis is not approximately parallel to at least one of the first and second throat surfaces, wherein the first bracket includes a pivot portion, wherein the slot is defined in the pivot portion, wherein the pivot portion includes a front surface, a back surface and first and second side surfaces, wherein at least one of the first and second throat surfaces defines a non-right angle with at least one of the front surface and the first side surface, and wherein the pivot opening is open from a top, a bottom and a side, wherein the side includes the first and second throat surfaces, and
a second bracket assembly that includes a second pivot member and a second bracket, wherein one of the second bracket and second pivot member is secured to the panel and the other of the second bracket and second pivot member is configured to be secured to the frame, wherein the second bracket includes a pivot opening defined therein.

Assignees

• C&D Zodiac Inc

Inventors

• Smithson Tyler
• Payne Jordan Thomas
• Merrell Tyson Dean
• Hills Stephen Michael
• Brooks Christopher
• Bangerter Matthew
• Ridges Michael D

Classifications

• F16B5/123

  Auxiliary fasteners specially designed for this purpose · CPC title

• F16B21/02

  Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) · CPC title

• F16B21/09

  Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot · CPC title

• F16B5/126

  at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• B64C1/066 Primary

  Interior liners · CPC title