Support panel for removable brackets and the like

Abstract

Support panels and modular assemblies thereof, the panels adapted for supporting removable load bearing members such as brackets. The panels comprise hollow bodies defining channels for receiving and supporting load bearing members. The hollow bodies further include support ribs extending between front and back walls of the panels to transfer forces exerted on flange portions of the channels by the load bearing members to the back walls and/or to other structural portions of the panels, the support ribs being offset from the perpendicular relative to the front and back walls of the panels. Pluralities of the panels may be joined by mating edges, which can define further channels for receiving and supporting load-bearing members, to form modular wall assemblies without the need for mounting overtop existing surfaces as said panels can be mounted directly on structural supports (e.g. stud walls).

1 . A support panel for supporting one or more removable load bearing members, said support panel comprising:
 a body having a front wall and a back wall;   at least one channel defined in said body for receiving at least one load bearing member, said channel having an opening defined in said front wall, a base portion, and a flange portion for engaging said load bearing member; and   at least one support rib extending between said front wall and said back wall, each support rib extending at an angle of between 30 and 85 degrees relative to the back wall.   
     
     
         2 . The support panel of  claim 1 , wherein each support rib extends at an angle of between 40 to 70 degrees relative to the back wall. 
     
     
         3 . The support panel of  claim 1 , wherein said support rib extends at an angle of between 50 to 60 degrees relative to the back wall. 
     
     
         4 . The support panel of  claim 1 , wherein said support rib is connected to said front wall at a location zero to four times the width of the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The support panel of  claim 1 , wherein said support rib is connected to said front wall at a location in the range of between about 0.5 times to about 3.5 times the width of the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The support panel of  claim 1 , wherein said support rib is connected to said front wall at a location in the range of between about 1.5 times to about 3.0 times the width of the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The support panel of  claim 1 , comprising at least one base reinforcement rib spanning said base portion and said back wall for reinforcing said base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The support panel of  claim 1  wherein said flange is u-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The support panel of  claim 4 , comprising a spanning member spanning two ends of the u-shape of said flange for strengthening said flange. 
     
     
         10 . The support panel of  claim 1 , comprising edges adapted for modular connection to mating edges of other panel structures. 
     
     
         11 . The support panel of  claim 10 , wherein the edges adapted for modular connection are configured such that when mated with edges of other panel structures the edges and mating edges form a channel for receiving at least one load bearing member, said channel having an opening, a base portion and a flange portion defined by the edges and mating edges. 
     
     
         12 . The support panel of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of support ribs extending between said front wall and said back wall, each of said support rib extending at an angle of between 30 and 85 degrees relative to the back wall. 
     
     
         13 . The support panel of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said support ribs is connected to said front wall at a location within approximately zero to four times the width of the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The support panel of  claim 12 , wherein at least two of said support ribs define angles with the back wall that are not equivalent. 
     
     
         15 . The support panel of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of channels defined in said body for receiving load bearing members, each said channel having an opening defined in said front wall, a base portion and a flange portion defined by said body for engaging at least one load bearing member. 
     
     
         16 . A support panel for supporting one or more removable load bearing members, said support panel comprising:
 a body having a front wall and a back wall;   at least one channel defined in said body for receiving at least one load bearing member, said channel having an opening defined in said front wall, a base portion, and two flange portions such that the channel forms a “T” shape; and   at least one support rib extending between said front wall and said back wall, each support rib extending at an angle of between 30 and 85 degrees relative to the back wall.   
     
     
         17 . A modular support panel system for supporting at least one removable load bearing member,
 said system comprising a plurality of support panels, each said support panel comprising:
 a body having a front wall and a back wall; and 
 first and second edges configured such that two adjacent panels can be linked by adjoining a first edge of one panel to a second edge of the second panel to form a wall structure; 
   the first and second edges of adjacent panels defining, when joined, a channel for receiving said at least one load bearing member, said channel having an opening defined by the front walls of the adjacent panels, a base portion, and a flange portion for engaging said load bearing member;   at least one of the support panels further comprising a support rib extending between its front wall and its back wall, said support rib extending at an angle of between 30 and 85 degrees relative to the back wall.   
     
     
         18 . A support panel for supporting a removable load bearing member, said support panel comprising:
 a body having a front wall and a back wall;   a channel defined in said body for receiving said load bearing member, said channel having an opening defined in said front wall, a side portion perpendicular to said front wall and said back wall, and a flange defined by said body for engaging said load bearing member; and   a support rib extending between said front wall and said back wall to transfer force exerted on said flange by said load bearing member toward said back wall, said support rib extending at an angle of between 10 and 50 degrees relative to the back wall.