Modular panel assembly

Abstract

The modular panel assembly comprises a plurality of different design inserts that can be readily assembled into a panel using a plurality of structural members. The different kinds of design inserts and structural members have the same type of coupling mechanism so as to allow many different configurations based on insert members of many different appearances.

1 . A modular panel assembly comprising:
 a) a plurality of structural members for assembling to define a plurality of insert receiving spaces, wherein the plurality of structural members comprise a plurality of structural couplers for each insert-receiving space in the plurality of insert-receiving spaces; and,   b) a plurality of design inserts of a plurality of different design insert kinds, wherein
 each design insert kind in the plurality of different design insert kinds has a distinct appearance, and 
 each design insert of the plurality of design inserts i) is receivable into a corresponding insert-receiving space in the plurality of insert-receiving spaces, ii) is of a corresponding design insert kind in the plurality of different design insert kinds, and, iii) comprises a configuration of design members to provide the distinct appearance of the corresponding design insert kind, the configuration of design members including an external frame having a plurality of insert couplers for mating with the plurality of structural couplers to secure the design insert in the corresponding insert-receiving space; 
   
     such that when different design inserts are of different corresponding design insert kinds, the configurations of the different design members differ to provide the distinct appearances of the corresponding design insert kinds. 
   
   
       2 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein
 the plurality of design inserts comprises design inserts of different sizes; and,   the plurality of structural members comprises structural members of different sizes operable to form insert-receiving spaces of different sizes to accommodate the design inserts of different sizes.   
   
   
       3 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein, for each design insert of the plurality of design inserts, the configuration of design members defines an internal design area surrounded by the external frame and comprises an internal member extending into the internal design area. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein the internal member is one of a curved member for dividing the internal design area into two openings, a straight member for dividing the internal design area into two openings, an extended member for completely covering the internal design area, and a lattice for dividing the internal design area into at least four openings. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly as defined in  claim 4  wherein when different design inserts have different corresponding design insert kinds, the internal members of the different design inserts differ to provide the distinct appearances of the corresponding design insert kinds. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein, for each design insert of the plurality of design inserts, each design member in the configuration of design members is made of wood. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein each structural coupler in the plurality of structural couplers comprises a groove of a selected dimension, and each insert coupler in the plurality of insert couplers comprises an edge of the external frame dimensioned to engage with the groove of the selected dimension. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein each design insert in the plurality of design inserts comprises a lip on each side of the edge to define a non-planar sealing surface for abutting a corresponding sealing surface along the groove of the plurality of structural members. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural members comprises
 a plurality of external members for assembling to provide an external frame having an internal perimeter, wherein the structural coupler of each external member comprises a groove of a selected dimension along at least one side thereof such that after assembly the external frame comprises the groove along the internal perimeter; and,   at least one internal member for extending across the internal perimeter, wherein i) the structural coupler of the at least one internal member comprises a first groove of the selected dimension along a first side of the at least one internal member and a second groove of the selected dimension along a second side of the at least one internal member, the second side being opposite to the first side, and, ii) the at least one internal member comprises, at each end of the internal member, an end protrusion dimensioned to engage with the groove along the internal perimeter.