Monument apparatus and method

Abstract

A monument assembly for a mobile platform. The monument assembly includes a removable wall panel enabling access to an enclosed compartment of the monument assembly. The removability of an entire wall panel enables full and unimpeded access to the enclosed compartment, and eliminates the need for a separate, smaller access panel to be incorporated within one of the walls of the monument assembly. The removable wall panel is secured along at least two of its edges to two or more adjacent wall portions of the monument assembly by fastening assemblies that can be attached and/or separated from one another using a simple hand tool, or by fastening assemblies that can be slidably engaged with one another.

1 . A monument apparatus for use on a mobile platform, the apparatus comprising:
 first and second walls spaced apart from one another;   a removable wall panel disposed adjacent to said first and second walls and having dimensions sufficient to form a third wall for said monument apparatus;   at least one of said first and second walls including a plurality of first fastening elements; and   said removable wall panel including a plurality of second fastening elements that cooperate with said first fastening elements to enable rapid removal and attachment of said removable wall panel to and from at least one of said first and second walls to enable access to an area adjacent said removable wall panel.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second fastening elements are secured adjacent a perimeter of said removable wall panel. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a stud; and   the other one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a rotatable cam member that engages and captures said stud.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first fastening element comprises a hook member;   said second fastening element comprises a member having an opening for engaging with said hook member; and   said first and second fastening elements are slidably engageable with one another.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first fastening member comprises a first dovetail shaped channel; and   said second fastening member comprises a second dovetail shaped channel; and   said dovetail shaped channels slidably engaging one another when said removable wall panel is installed in said monument apparatus.   
   
   
       6 . A monument apparatus for use on a mobile platform, the apparatus comprising:
 first, second and third walls cooperating to form an enclosure having an opening, with said opening bounded by edge portions of said first and second walls and a surface of said third wall;   a removable wall panel having dimensions sufficient to cover said opening;   at least two of said first, second, and third walls including a plurality of first fastening elements;   said removable wall panel including a plurality of second fastening elements disposed along two edge portions thereof, that cooperate with said first fastening elements to enable rapid removal and attachment of said removable wall panel to said two walls; and   said removable wall panel enabling access to a component disposed within said enclosure when said removable wall panel is removed, and blocking access to said component when said removable wall panel is installed.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second fastening elements comprise components that are slidably engaged with one another. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said first fastening elements each comprise a hook and said second fastening elements each comprise a component having an opening for slidably engaging with said hook of one of said first fastening elements. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a stud; and   the other one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a rotatable cam member that engages with said stud.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a threaded stud; and   the other one of said first and second fastening elements comprises a threaded insert for receiving said threaded stud.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second fastening elements comprise first and second dovetail shaped channels that slidably engage one another when said removable wall panel is installed in said monument apparatus. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second walls are arranged generally parallel to one another and spaced apart a distance that is sufficient to enable said removable wall panel to be inserted perpendicularly between said first and second walls. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said removable wall panel forms an interior wall portion of said monument apparatus. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second walls are disposed within a vertical plane, and wherein said third wall is disposed within a non-vertical plane. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said third wall is disposed perpendicular to said first and second walls. 
   
   
       16 . A method for forming a monument assembly for use on a mobile platform, the method comprising:
 arranging first, second and third walls to form an enclosure, said enclosure having an opening;   securing a plurality of first fastening elements to at least one of said first, second and third walls adjacent to said opening; and   securing a plurality of second fastening elements about a peripheral edge of a removable wall panel, said removable wall panel having dimensions sufficient to cover said opening;   positioning said removable wall panel within said enclosure and over said opening to cover said opening; and   securing said first and second fastening elements to one another to securely hold said removable wall panel, to thus cover said opening.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing said first and second fastening elements to one another comprises securing interlocking stud and cam fastening components to one another. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing said first and second fastening elements to one another comprises securing threaded stud and threaded insert fastening components to one another. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing said first and second fastening elements to one another comprises securing two slidably engageable fastening components to one another. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein positioning said removable wall panel within said enclosure comprises:
 positioning said first and second walls in vertical orientations parallel to one another;   positioning said removable wall panel in a vertical orientation perpendicular to said first and second walls, and between said first and second walls; and   positioning said third wall in a horizontal orientation perpendicular to said first and second walls, and perpendicular to said removable wall panel.