Privacy panel and system
An engineered privacy panel comprising a recycled rubber composition, where the panel comprises one or more integral reinforcement members for reinforcement and providing fastening means for fastening the back of the panel to a support. The privacy panel can be used to make partitions and partition systems, each of which can be provided as a kit.
1 . A panel comprising:
a body having a front face and a back face;
one or more embedded reinforcement members over-coated and located within the body and configured to provide support for the panel along a top member and a bottom member; and
one or more fastening means accessible and visible only from the back face of the body, the one or more fastening means comprising one or more apertures formed in the one or more embedded reinforcement members and one or more threaded inserts, each threaded insert being received in a respective aperture of the one or more apertures and being configured to receive a fastener for securing the panel to a vertical support.
2 . The panel of claim 1 , comprising two, three or four embedded reinforcement members.
3 . The panel of claim 1 , wherein none of the one or more embedded reinforcement members extend a full length of the top member and bottom member of the body, the one or more embedded reinforcement members each having at least one of the one or more apertures formed at each of a first end and a second end of the one or more embedded reinforcement members.
4 . The panel of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more embedded reinforcement members extend a full length of the top member and/or the bottom member of the body, the embedded reinforcement members having at least one of the one or more apertures formed at each of a first end and a second end of the one or more embedded reinforcement members.
5 . The panel of claim 4 , wherein each threaded insert received by the one or more apertures extend through the one or more embedded reinforcement members but do not penetrate the front face of the body.
6 . The panel of claim 5 , the body further comprising a frame, wherein the top member and the bottom member are connected by side members, wherein the side members have a first end and a second end and comprise a top threaded insert and a bottom threaded insert at each of the first end and the second end, respectively, for mounting a wall bracket.
7 . The panel of claim 5 , wherein the top member and/or the bottom member further comprise a substantially central connection member aperture formed within the one or more embedded reinforcement members.
8 . The panel of claim 5 , further comprising a fastener driven into each of the threaded inserts of the one or more embedded reinforcement members via the back face of the panel, wherein the fastener being driven through a bracket means to fasten the panel to the vertical support.
9 . The panel of claim 4 , wherein the panel is interconnectable with one or more other panels.
10 . The panel of claim 1 , wherein the one or more embedded reinforcement members are made of metal.
11 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein the metal is steel or a steel alloy.
12 . The panel of claim 1 , wherein the front face and the back face comprise a decorative pattern; optionally wherein the decorative pattern is three dimensional; optionally wherein the decorative pattern permits a flow of air and/or sunlight to pass through.
13 . The panel of claim 12 , wherein the decorative pattern comprises slats, a knot design or a cross-weave design.
14 . The panel of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a recycled rubber composition.
15 . The panel of claim 14 , wherein the recycled rubber composition comprises one or more of: ground crumb SBR, EPDM, polyolefin, additives and colorants.
16 . The panel of claim 15 , wherein the recycled composition comprises the polyolefin, which is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyisoprene, polypentene and mixtures thereof.
17 . The panel of claim 15 , wherein the recycled rubber composition comprises ground crumb SBR and polyolefin, and wherein a ratio of ground crumb SBR to polyolefin is about 20:80 to 80:20 by weight.
18 . A kit comprising:
the panel of claim 1 ; and
one or more components selected from the group consisting of one or more posts, one or more brackets, one or more fasteners, one or more washers, one or more connection members, one or more wall mount brackets, and a plurality of base post supports.