Flexible panel

Abstract

The flexible panel is made of juxtaposed rectangular bars each having holes extending transversely therein and elastic cords threaded through these holes for keeping the bars closely positioned side-by-side. Adjacent bars have a shiplap joint there between comprising a first notch in the top surface and the first side surface of a first bar, and a second notch in the bottom surface and the second side surface of the second bar, wherein these notches have overlapping horizontal surfaces. In another aspect of the present invention, each hole along the shiplap joint is made of two separable cylindrical grooves facing each other and forming a closed cylindrical wall when the shiplap joint is integral and a separable segment when the shiplap joint is pulled apart.

1 . A flexible panel made of several juxtaposed rectangular bars wherein each of said bars has a hole extending transversely there through, and further comprising; 
 an elastic cord threaded through said holes in said bars for keeping said bars closely positioned side-by-side; and    each of a first and second of said bars in a pair of adjacent bars having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces and a shiplap joint there between, said shiplap joint comprising a first notch in a said top surface and said first side surface of said first bar, and a second notch in said bottom surface and said second side surface of said second bar; said first and second notches having overlapping horizontal surfaces.    
   
   
       2 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said bars has a same thickness and each of said notches has a depth dimension corresponding the one half of said thickness.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of said bars has a horizontal median plane and said hole has an axis extending along said horizontal median plane.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said hole has a separable segment along said shiplap joint.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said elastic cord has a diameter and said separable segment has a length which is about twice as long as said diameter.  
   
   
       6 . A flexible panel made of several juxtaposed rectangular bars wherein each of said bars has a pair of holes extending transversely therein, and further comprising; 
 a pair of elastic cords threaded through said holes in all said bars for keeping all said bars closely positioned side-by-side; and    each pair of said bars adjacent each other having an overlapping shiplap joint there between;    said shiplap joint being made of two longitudinal notches positioned on opposite corners of adjacent sides of said bars in said pair; said notches having respective horizontal surfaces overlapping each other, and    each of said holes having an axis that is contiguous with said horizontal surfaces.    
   
   
       7 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 6 , further having an end bar, and a cylindrical cavity in said end bar on an end of said hole, and said elastic cord has a knot thereon in said cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 7  further having a plug in said cavity.  
   
   
       9 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said hole comprises a separable segment along said shiplap joint.  
   
   
       10 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said bars are made of eastern white cedar.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said elastic cord has a diameter and said separable segment is about twice as long as said diameter.  
   
   
       12 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said hole between said separable segments has a length that is about 43% of a total width of said bar.  
   
   
       13 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 7 , further having a transverse hole in said end bar and a string attached to said end bar through said hole.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible panel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said bars have shiplap notches on the ends thereof.  
   
   
       15 . In combination, a flexible panel made of several juxtaposed rectangular bars each having a pair of holes extending transversely therein through, and further comprising; 
 a pair of elastic cords threaded through said holes in said bars for keeping said bars closely positioned side-by-side; and    each of a first and second of said bars in a pair of adjacent bars having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces and overlapping shiplap joint there between, said shiplap joint comprising a first notch in a said top surface and said first side surface of said first bar, and a second notch in said bottom surface and said second side surface of said second bar; said first and second notches having overlapping horizontal surfaces; wherein each of said bars having a same thickness and each of said notches having a depth dimension corresponding to about one half of said thickness; and    a bag enclosing said flexible panel; said bag having a cylindrical shape and a bottom surface, wherein said flexible panel is bent in a cylindrical form.    
   
   
       16  The combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein bag is made of a flexible fabric material.  
   
   
       17 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bottom surface of said bag is an open-mesh-like material.  
   
   
       18 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said flexible panel has side dimensions of about 16 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bag has an inside surface, an outside surface and pockets on said outside surface.  
   
   
       20 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising aeration channels between said inside surface and said flexible panel.