Reinforced slatwall assembly
A slatwall assembly and related slatwall for covering an existing wall. The slatwall assembly includes a surface profile and a reinforcing profile, at least one of the two being attachable to the existing wall. The surface profile includes a front vertical panel that is positionable with respect to the existing wall to define a gap therebetween and provide coverage thereto. The reinforcing profile is operatively coupled to the surface profile. The material of the reinforcing profile can be stronger than the material of the surface profile for reinforcement thereof when coupled together. The reinforcing profile can be operatively coupled to the surface profile so as to be held together for attachment onto the existing wall. The surface profile can be configured to cover at least a portion of the reinforcing profile, so as not to expose the reinforcing profile when an entire slatwall is assembled from the plurality of slatwall assemblies.
1 . A slatwall assembly for covering at least a portion of an existing building framework, the slatwall assembly comprising:
a surface profile defining a groove and comprising a front vertical panel that is positionable with respect to the existing building framework to define a gap therebetween and provide coverage thereto; and
a reinforcing profile being operatively couplable to the surface profile via insertion of the reinforcing profile into the groove of the surface profile and being configured to be held together with the surface profile when the slatwall assembly is mounted onto the existing building framework, the reinforcing profile including a rear profile surface configured to abut the surface profile when operatively coupled thereto, and a frontmost profile surface opposite the rear profile surface, and
the reinforcing profile being made of a different material than that of the surface profile, the material of the reinforcing profile having an enhanced ability to withstand an applied load without plastic deformation or failure, in comparison to the surface profile alone;
wherein the slatwall assembly, when the reinforcing profile is operatively coupled to the surface profile, defines a cavity that is recessed with respect to the front vertical panel of the surface profile and having a front opening to allow insertion and locking of at least one mounting bracket for hanging items onto the existing building framework;
wherein the slatwall assembly is a first slatwall assembly and the front vertical panel of the surface profile of the first slatwall assembly is adapted to at least partially lodge the reinforcing profile of a second slatwall assembly that is positionable below the first slatwall assembly,
the front vertical panel of the surface profile being shaped and dimensioned to conceal at least a portion of the frontmost profile surface of the reinforcing profile of the second slatwall assembly behind the front vertical panel of the first slatwall assembly.
2 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the surface profile further comprises:
a base wall that is horizontally extending, with the front vertical panel extending downwardly from the base wall so as to be spaced apart from the existing building framework and define the gap therebetween,
a rear lip extending upwardly from the base wall, the rear lip having a rear surface being positionable directly onto the existing building framework, and
a front lip extending upwardly from the base wall and being spaced apart from the rear lip to define the groove therebetween; and
the reinforcing profile comprises:
a reinforcing base wall that is horizontally extending, and
a rear vertical wall extending laterally from each side of a rear edge of the reinforcing base wall, thereby defining an upward tab and a downward tab;
wherein the reinforcing profile is operatively coupled to the surface profile via insertion of the downward tab of the reinforcing profile into the groove of the surface profile.
3 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein a rear surface of the rear vertical wall of the reinforcing profile defines the rear profile surface of the reinforcing profile and abuts a front surface of the rear lip of the surface profile.
4 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rear lip includes a top overhang extending from a top edge of the rear lip, and the top overhang abuts a top edge of the rear vertical wall when the reinforcing profile is operatively coupled to the surface profile.
5 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the groove of the surface profile is shaped to include a recess, and the downward tab of the rear vertical wall comprises an overhang that is nested in the recess of the groove when the reinforcing profile is operatively coupled to the surface profile.
6 . The slatwall assembly of claim 5 , wherein the recess is located in a bottom portion of the groove and the overhang of the downward tab extends from a bottom edge of the rear vertical wall.
7 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the front lip is sized differently from the rear lip of the surface profile.
8 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the front lip is sized to cover at least a portion of the reinforcing profile.
9 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the reinforcing profile and the surface profile is securable onto the existing building framework via at least one fastener.
10 . The slatwall assembly of claim 9 , wherein both the reinforcing profile and the surface profile are securable onto the existing building framework by being held together via the at least one fastener.
11 . The slatwall assembly of claim 9 , wherein the upward tab of the rear vertical wall of the reinforcing profile is adapted to cooperate with the fastener to hold the reinforcing profile and the surface profile together onto the existing building framework via the fastener.
12 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing profile further includes a downward locking tab extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the reinforcing base wall, with the downward locking tab, the reinforcing base wall, the front lip of the surface profile and the base wall of the surface profile forming the cavity.
13 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing profile is made of metal, carbon fibers or fiberglass.
14 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a top layer that is laminated on a front surface of the front vertical panel to provide a given color, pattern and/or texture thereto.
15 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the surface profile is made of at least one of plastic, polymer composite material, wood, wood composite material and cardboard.
16 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing profile made of metal, carbon fibers or fiberglass, and the surface profile is made of at least one of plastic, polymer composite material, wood, wood composite material and cardboard.
17 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front vertical panel of the surface profile is shaped and dimensioned to conceal an entirety of the frontmost profile surface of the reinforcing profile of the second slatwall assembly behind the front vertical panel of the first slatwall assembly.
18 . The slatwall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the front vertical panel of the surface profile is shaped and dimensioned to conceal both the reinforcing base wall and upward tab of the reinforcing profile of the second slatwall assembly behind the front vertical panel of the first slatwall assembly.
19 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement profile defines an abutment surface shaped to enable a reversible locking of the at least one mounting bracket within the cavity.
20 . The slatwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends an entire width of the slatwall assembly.