Panel assembly with ornamental facade for use in skirting for manufactured/modular building or as hedging

Abstract

A panel having an ornamental façade adapted for securing to a foundation. The panel may be assembled to produce a skirting system for building structures or in hedging/retaining-walls/walkways and other such landscape features. The panel has a member, which may be plastic, comprising an outwardly-directed surface to which the ornamental façade is affixed, and an inwardly-directed surface to which a plastic support framework is integrally coupled. Framework comprises a first section (of suitably shaped cross-section, tubular or solid) located generally along the periphery of the inwardly-directed surface and further can include an interconnect section extending between the first section. Right and left vertical supports may be coupled to the inwardly-directed surface. Each vertical support comprises an angle iron shaped extension, a top-end and lower-end of which has a respective ledge permanently affixed. Also included is a method of producing the panel having an ornamental façade adapted for securing to a foundation.

1 . A panel having an ornamental façade and adapted for securing to a foundation, the panel comprising: 
 (a) a plastic member comprising an outwardly-directed surface to which the ornamental façade is affixed, and an inwardly-directed surface to which a plastic support framework is integrally coupled;    (b) said support framework comprising a first section located generally along the periphery of said inwardly-directed surface and at least one interconnect section extending between said first section; and    (c) a plurality of apertures through a lower length of said first section, each said aperture sized for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to the foundation.    
   
   
       2 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said outwardly-directed surface is generally planar and polygonal in shape;    (b) the ornamental façade comprises an illumination source; and    (c) said support framework and said plastic member are fabricated of a thermoplastic structural foam.    
   
   
       3 . The panel of  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) said outwardly-directed surface comprises a port-hole and said illumination source comprises an incandescent light source and a fixture arranged with an electrical cabling through said port-hole; and    (b) said support framework and said plastic member are integrally fabricated by reaction injection molding (RIM).    
   
   
       4 . The panel of  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) said illumination source comprises an arc light and a fixture arranged with a photo-voltaic cell and battery; and    (b) said support framework and said plastic member are integrally fabricated by structural foam molding.    
   
   
       5 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said outwardly-directed surface is generally planar and rectangular in shape;    (b) said first section further comprises right-side, left-side, and upper sections, each said section having a plurality of apertures therethrough; and    (c) said support framework and said plastic member are integrally fabricated by a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding, structural foam molding, blow molding, transfer molding, compression molding, thermoforming, and adhesion of said framework and plastic member having been separately extruded.    
   
   
       6 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said first section further comprises right-side, left-side, and upper sections, each said section having a plurality of apertures therethrough; and    (b) the ornamental façade comprises a plurality of items having been so affixed using an adhesive, said items selected from the group consisting of pebbles, glass block, artificial stone, log sections, wood siding, metal siding, vinyl siding, brick, tiles, sand, stucco, clay, and rock.    
   
   
       7 . A plurality of the panels of  claim 1  arranged as skirting for a manufactured building, and wherein: 
 (a) the foundation comprises a compressive-support material within a ground, said compressive-support material selected from the group consisting of cement, masonry, brick, slate, rock, structural soil fill, clay, and sand; and    (b) for each of the panels: each said section of said support framework is tubular in shape; and each said aperture through said upper section is sized for accepting a second fastener permitting the securing of the panel to a lower support of the manufactured building.    
   
   
       8 . The plurality of panels of  claim 7  wherein the manufactured building is a mobile home, said lower support comprises a floor joist of the mobile home, and the panels are arranged such that said left-side section of one of said plurality of panels is secured to said right-side section of an adjacent panel using a plurality of third fasteners through said apertures of said left-side and right-side sections.  
   
   
       9 . A plurality of the panels of  claim 1  arranged as hedging circumscribing a ground-area, and wherein: 
 (a) for each of the panels: said first section further comprises right-side, left-side, and upper sections, said upper section having a plurality of apertures therethrough; and said support framework further comprises a second interconnect section extending between said first section, each said interconnect section comprising a bend between distal ends from which said interconnect section extends from said first section; and    (b) the panels are arranged such that said left-side section of one of said plurality of panels is secured to said right-side section of an adjacent panel.    
   
   
       10 . A panel having an ornamental façade and adapted for securing to a foundation, the panel comprising: 
 (a) a member comprising an outwardly-directed surface to which the ornamental façade is affixed, and an inwardly-directed surface to which a plastic support framework and right and left vertical supports are coupled;    (b) said support framework comprising a first section located generally along a top periphery of said inwardly-directed surface;    (c) each said right and left vertical support comprising an angle iron shaped extension, a top-end and lower-end of which has a respective ledge permanently affixed.    
   
   
       11 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein: 
 (a) said outwardly-directed surface is generally planar and polygonal in shape;    (b) the ornamental façade comprises an illumination source; and    (c) each said lower-end ledge comprises an aperture for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to the foundation.    
   
   
       12 . The panel of  claim 11  wherein: 
 (a) said outwardly-directed surface comprises a port-hole and said illumination source comprises a visual light source and a fixture arranged with an electrical cabling through said port-hole; and    (b) said first section of said support framework is tubular in shape and has a plurality of apertures therethrough for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to a lower support of a manufactured building.    
   
   
       13 . The panel of  claim 11  wherein: 
 (a) said illumination source comprises an arc light and a fixture arranged with a photo-voltaic cell and battery; and    (b) each said angle iron shaped extension and said respective top-end and lower-end ledges are made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, and substantially rigid plastic.    
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein: 
 (a) the ornamental façade comprises a plurality of items having been so affixed using an adhesive, said items selected from the group consisting of pebbles, glass block, artificial stone, log sections, wood siding, metal siding, vinyl siding, brick, tiles, sand, stucco, clay, and rock;    (b) each said lower-end ledge comprises an aperture for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to the foundation; and    (c) each said angle iron shaped extension comprises a plurality of apertures for accepting second fasteners permitting the securing of said left vertical support with a respective of said right vertical support of an adjacent panel.    
   
   
       15 . The panel of  claim 14  wherein: 
 (a) said first section further comprises right-side and left-side sections coupled to said inwardly-directed surface a distance from a respective right and left periphery of said inwardly-directed surface;    (b) each said top-end ledge comprises an aperture for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to a lower support of a manufactured building; and    (c) said right vertical support is coupled to said inwardly-directed surface within said distance from said respective right periphery.    
   
   
       16 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein: 
 (a) said first section further comprises right-side and left-side sections coupled to said inwardly-directed surface a distance from a respective right and left periphery of said inwardly-directed surface;    (b) said support framework and said member are integrally fabricated by a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding, structural foam molding, blow molding, transfer molding, compression molding, thermoforming, and adhesion of said framework and plastic member having been separately extruded; and    (c) said coupling of said right and left vertical supports to said inwardly-directed surface comprises a plurality of fasteners.    
   
   
       17 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein: 
 (a) said first section further comprises right-side and left-side sections coupled to said inwardly-directed surface a distance from a respective right and left periphery of said inwardly-directed surface;    (b) said coupling of said support framework to said inwardly-directed surface comprises an adhesive;    (c) said right vertical support is coupled to said inwardly-directed surface within said distance from said respective right periphery; and    (d) said left vertical support is coupled to said inwardly-directed surface within said distance from said respective left periphery.    
   
   
       18 . A plurality of the panels of  claim 10  arranged as skirting for a manufactured building, and wherein: 
 (a) the foundation comprises a compressive-support material within a ground, said compressive-support material selected from the group consisting of cement, masonry, brick, slate, rock, structural soil fill, clay, and sand; and    (b) for each of the panels: said first section of said support framework is tubular in shape and has a plurality of apertures therethrough; and each said lower-end ledge comprises an aperture for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to the foundation.    
   
   
       19 . A plurality of the panels of  claim 10  arranged as hedging circumscribing a ground-area, and wherein: 
 (a) for each of the panels: said first section further comprises right-side and left-side sections coupled to said inwardly-directed surface a distance from a respective right and left periphery of said inwardly-directed surface; said right vertical support is coupled to said inwardly-directed surface within said distance from said respective right periphery; and said left vertical support is coupled to said inwardly-directed surface within said distance from said respective left periphery; and    (b) the panels are arranged such that said left vertical support of one of said plurality of panels is secured with a respective of said right vertical support of an adjacent panel.    
   
   
       20 . A method of producing a panel having an ornamental façade and adapted for securing to a foundation, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) integrally fabricating a plastic support framework comprising a first section located generally along the periphery of an inwardly-directed surface of a plastic member and at least one interconnect section extending between said first section, by a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding, structural foam molding, blow molding, transfer molding, compression molding, thermoforming, and adhesion of said framework and plastic member having been separately extruded; and    (b) affixing the ornamental façade to an outwardly-directed surface of said plastic member.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said process is injection molding using a thermoplastic structural foam; and further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of apertures through a lower length of said first section, each of said apertures sized for accepting a fastener permitting the securing of the panel to the foundation;    (b) providing a plurality of apertures through a right-side and left-side section of said first section; and    (c) arranging the panels such that said left-side section of one of the panels is secured to said right-side section of an adjacent panel using a plurality of fasteners through said apertures of said left-side and right-side sections.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said step of integrally fabricating a plastic support framework generally along the periphery of an inwardly-directed surface further comprises fabricating right-side and left-side tubular sections of said first section.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said providing said plurality of apertures is performed when said process is performed for said integrally fabricating said support framework to said plastic member; and further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) prior to said affixing the ornamental façade, the step of providing an illumination source within the ornamental façade; and    (b) arranging the panels such that a left-side section of said first section of one of the panels is secured to a right-side section of said first section of an adjacent panel.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein: 
 (a) said step of arranging the panels further comprises securing the panels to the foundation; and    (b) said step of providing said illumination source comprises arranging and securing a fixture and a visual light source on said plastic member.