Panel assembly and accessories and method for the use and assembly thereof

Abstract

A panel assembly includes a vertical panel, an overhang panel and a curved transition panel disposed between the vertical panel and the overhang panel. A fabric layer may be applied to one or more of the various panels by way of a stay being engaged with fabric layer and inserted through an opening in the one or panels. A light assembly may be secured to the panel assembly with a mounting portion. A hook assembly includes vertical and horizontal flanges, with a magnet coupled to the horizontal flange and a hook connected to the vertical flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel comprising opposite first and second sides and at least one opening extending between the first and second sides;   a stay; and   a fabric layer covering at least a portion of the first side of the panel, the fabric layer having a first surface facing toward the first side of the panel and a second surface facing away from the first side of the panel, wherein the stay is engaged with the second surface of the fabric layer, wherein the stay and a portion of the fabric layer are inserted through the opening and disposed on the second side of the panel.   
     
     
         2 . The panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the panel comprises a substrate comprising a substrate surface defining in part the first side of the panel, and further comprising a mounting member coupled to the substrate and having a mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface is laterally spaced from the substrate surface and defines in part the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein the opening is formed in the mounting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the mounting member defines a cavity on a back side of the mounting surface in communication with the opening, wherein the stay and the portion of the fabric layer are positioned in the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The panel assembly of  claim 3  wherein the mounting member comprise a side wall extending from the mounting surface toward the substrate and defining in part the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The panel assembly of  claim 4  wherein the mounting member further comprises at least one tab extending from the side wall toward the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the opening comprises a plurality of line segments extending from a common vertex. 
     
     
         7 . The panel assembly of  claim 6  wherein the opening comprises three line segments extending from the common vertex. 
     
     
         8 . The panel assembly of  claim 7  wherein the three line segments are angularly spaced at 120 degree intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The panel assembly of  claim 7  wherein the stay comprises three arms joined at a stay vertex. 
     
     
         10 . The panel assembly of  claim 9  wherein the stay further comprises a locator protuberance extending from the stay vertex. 
     
     
         11 . The panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first side of the panel defined by the substrate surface and the mounting surface have a concave curvature. 
     
     
         12 . The panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the mounting member comprises at least one tab, and wherein the substrate comprises at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one tab is disposed in the at least one receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The panel assembly of  claim 12  wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least two first receptacles opening in a first direction and at least one second receptacle opening in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the at least one tab comprises at least two first tabs extending in the second direction and disposed in the at least two first receptacles, and at least one second tab extending in the first direction and disposed in the at least one second receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein the at least one second tab comprises a flex portion. 
     
     
         15 . The panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the mounting surface has a triangular shape. 
     
     
         16 . The panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the opening is shaped as a line segment. 
     
     
         17 . The panel assembly of  claim 16  wherein the line segment is linear. 
     
     
         18 . The panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the opening comprises a mouth with a tapered entry surface extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein ends of the stay are tapered. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a panel assembly comprising:
 covering a first side of a panel with a fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer has a first surface facing the first side and a second surface facing away from the first side, and wherein the panel comprises a second side opposite the first side and at least one opening extending between the first and second sides;   engaging the second surface of the fabric layer with a stay; and   inserting the stay and a portion of the fabric layer through the opening.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the panel comprises a substrate comprising a substrate surface defining in part the first side of the panel, and further comprising a mounting member coupled to the substrate and having a mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface is laterally spaced from the substrate surface and defines in part the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein the opening is formed in the mounting surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the mounting member defines a cavity on a back side of the mounting surface in communication with the opening, wherein inserting the stay and the portion of the fabric layer through the opening comprises positioning the stay and the portion of the fabric layer in the cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the opening comprises a plurality of line segments extending from a common vertex and wherein the stay comprises a plurality of arms joined at a stay vertex, wherein inserting the stay and the portion of the fabric layer through the opening comprises inserting the plurality of arms through corresponding ones of the plurality of line segments and inserting the stay vertex through the common vertex of the opening. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first side of the panel defined by the substrate surface and the mounting surface have a concave curvature.