Compartmented assembly and method for making a compartmented assembly

Abstract

Compartmented assemblies related to customizable storage compartments. A bottom panel, side panels, and divider panels may be configured in any combination to form a compartmented assembly with a primary compartment comprising at least two sub-compartments. A method of designing and constructing compartmented assemblies is described. A graphical user interface may be used to format a design which may be transmitted to associated machinery for automated cutting of the component panels. Series of notches, tabs, and apertures are used for mating adjacent panels to one another. Adhesive may be inserted into joints for securing the panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the manufacture of a compartmented assembly, comprising the steps of:
 cutting a bottom panel from a first sheet of material, the cutting a bottom panel comprising cutting bottom panel edge attachment notches into at least three bottom panel edges, the bottom panel edge attachment notches defining bottom panel edge attachment tabs therebetween, wherein a bottom panel floor is disposed between the at least three bottom panel edges;   cutting at least three side panels each comprising a side panel wall from a second sheet of material the same as or different than the first sheet of material, the cutting at least three side panels comprising cutting a substantially smooth side panel top edge and cutting side panel bottom edge attachment notches into each side panel bottom edge, the side panel bottom edge attachment notches defining side panel bottom edge attachment tabs therebetween, and cutting at least a first side panel wall attachment aperture into at least two of the side panel walls;   cutting at least a first divider panel from a third sheet of material the same as or different than the first and second sheets of material, the cutting at least first divider panel comprising cutting a substantially smooth divider panel top edge and cutting divider panel bottom edge attachment notches into a divider panel bottom edge, the divider panel bottom edge attachment notches defining divider panel bottom edge attachment tabs therebetween, and cutting divider panel side edge attachment notches into divider panel side edges, the divider panel side edge attachment notches defining divider panel side edge attachment tabs therebetween;   attaching the at least three side panels to the assembly by mating the side panel bottom edge attachment tabs to the bottom panel edge attachment notches such that the at least three side panels are disposed substantially orthogonally from the bottom panel to define a primary compartment bounded by the bottom panel floor and the at least three side panel walls; and   attaching the at least first divider panel to the assembly by mating a divider panel side edge attachment tab to the first side panel attachment aperture disposed in the side panel wall to divide the primary compartment into at least first and second sub-compartments;   wherein at least one of the bottom panel, side panels, and first divider panel is acrylic.   
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 destaticizing at least one of the bottom panel, side panels, and first divider panel using ionized air.   
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 1 , comprising securing at least one of the side panels and the first divider panel to the bottom panel using an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 3 , comprising:
 applying an adhesive to a juncture between the side panel bottom edges and the bottom panel edges; and   applying an adhesive to a juncture between at least one of the divider panel side edges and at least one of the side panel walls.   
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive comprises a radiation curable adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The method recited in  claim 5 , wherein the adhesive comprises a UV curable adhesive and the method further comprises:
 curing the adhesive by subjecting the assembly to a UV source.   
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 6 , wherein the UV curable adhesive comprises an acrylated urethane adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein each side panel top edge and divider panel top edge are free from notches and tabs and the top edges are unattached to other panels such that the assembly has an open top opposite the bottom panel which permits access into the primary compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting steps comprise cutting with a laser. 
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the acrylic is one of transparent and translucent. 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the acrylic is cast acrylic. 
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the acrylic has a thickness of at least about 0.106 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the acrylic has a thickness of not greater than about 0.275 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 providing, over a network, an interactive template that enables a user to graphically design the compartmented assembly, wherein the interactive template provides the ability of the user to graphically input specifications for the compartmented assembly, including at least the following specifications:
 specification of a size and shape of the base panel; and 
 specification of the placement of the at least one divider panel within the primary compartment; 
   receiving, over the network, the specifications from the user;   inputting the specifications to a digitally controlled cutting device;   placing at least one of the first, second, and third sheets of material into the digitally controlled cutting device; and   performing the cutting steps with the digitally controlled cutting device.