SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING WALL HANGINGS

Abstract

A system and method enabling a user to removably position and secure reusable, portable, independently hung wall hangings or panels, including wood panels, in any configuration or arrangement desired on a wall surface, which may be removed with limited damage to the wall surface.

Claims

1. A system for mounting wall hangings with attachments for removably positioning and securing independently hung wall hangings, including two or more panels, in any configuration desired while minimizing wall damage during removal, the panels comprising, a front decorative surface having a desired visual appearance, and a back attachment surface, the back attachment surface includes at least 2 attachment cutouts positioned parallel to one another and adjacent opposite edges of the removable, reusable, independently hung panels of the wall hanging, for receiving an attachment strip, and a handle cutout positioned adjacent an edge perpendicular to the attachment cutouts, and wherein edges and corners of the back attachment surface are preferably rounded to avoid damage to a wall during removal of the removable, independently hung wall hanging.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the panels are reusable in alternate wall hangings.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one panel is solid wood.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one panel is a composite panel and the front decorative surface is a thin wood veneer layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one panel is a composite panel having a layer of cork material adhered to a layer of material supporting the front decorative surface.

6. A kit for mounting a wall hanging arrangement comprising, a template for determining a desired position for the arrangement of the wall hanging, the template including a cutout for receiving a bubble level device therein, removable adhesive wall strips for attachment in desired locations for mounting the wall hanging arrangement determined using adhesive cutouts formed in the template, removable, independently hung wall panels, each having a front decorative surface, and a back attachment surface, and wherein edges and corners of the back attachment surface are rounded to avoid damage to the wall during removal, and panel attachment strips are secured to the back attachment surface and, where provided as 2-part attachment strips, are positioned for mating attachment to the removable adhesive wall strips.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the panels are reusable in alternate wall hanging arrangements.

8. The kit of claim 6, wherein at least one panel is solid wood.

9. The kit of claim 6, wherein at least one panel is a composite panel and the front decorative surface is a thin wood veneer layer.

10. The kit of claim 6, wherein at least one panel is a composite panel having a layer of cork material adhered to a layer of material supporting the front decorative surface.

11. The kit of claim 6, wherein the back attachment surface includes at least 2 cutouts positioned adjacent opposite panel edges for receiving the panel attachment strips, and a handle cutout positioned adjacent an edge perpendicular to the cutouts.

12. The kit of claim 6, further comprising a bubble level device for engagement within the template cutout for receiving the bubble level device.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the bubble level device is a level application on a mobile cellular telephone.

14. The kit of claim 6, wherein the panel attachment strips are 3M Dual Lock® low profile reclosable fastener strips.

15. The kit of claim 6, wherein the removable adhesive wall strips are 3M Command® picture hanging strips.

16. A method for hanging and rearranging a removable, reusable wall hanging arrangement on a wall surface, comprising the steps of: using a template for determining and marking on a wall surface a desired position for individual, independently hung, removable, reusable wall panels in a wall hanging arrangement, the template including a cutout for receiving a bubble level therein for ensuring the position of the template is level, securing at least two removable adhesive wall strips to the wall surface in desired locations determined using strip cutouts formed in the template, securing attachment strips in mating engagement with the removable adhesive wall strips for hanging the removable, reusable wall hanging arrangement, wherein the attachment strips are secured to each wall panel on a back attachment surface within cutouts positioned adjacent opposite edges of each wall panel, removing the attachment strips on each wall panel from engagement with the removable wall strips for rearranging the removable, reusable wall hanging arrangement using a handle cutout on each wall panel positioned adjacent an edge of each wall panel perpendicular to the handle cutout, and avoiding damage to the wall surface during removal of each wall panel by providing rounded edges and corners on the back attachment surface of each wall panel.

17. The method of claim 16 for hanging and rearranging a removable, reusable wall hanging arrangement on a wall surface further comprising the steps of: exchanging the independently hung, removable, reusable wall panels having one front decorative surface with an alternative desired front decorative surface of alternative, independently hung, removable, reusable wall panels which may be hung in an alternative removable, reusable wall hanging arrangement.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a wood wall panel.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a back plan view of the wood wall panel of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the wood wall panel of FIG. 1, showing the handle cutout.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the wood wall panel of FIG. 1, showing the rounded edges and corners of the back attachment surface.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the template for mounting wall panels using the present system and method.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective, right side view of the back attachment surface showing alternate adhesives for use within the adhesive cutouts.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a front plan view of one possible arrangement of wood panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a front plan view of another possible arrangement of wood panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a front plan view of still another possible arrangement of wood panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0026] FIG. 10 is another arrangement of mixed panel shapes, including rectangular and square panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0027] FIG. 11 is another arrangement of mixed panel shapes, including rectangular and circular panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0028] FIG. 12 is yet another arrangement of mixed panel shapes, including rectangular, square, triangular and circular panels mounted to a wall surface using the present system and method.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a front plan view of a wall panel with another possible mounting orientation.

[0030] FIG. 14 is a back plan view of the wall panel of FIG. 13.

[0031] FIG. 15 is a front plan view of a wall panel with an alternative shape.

[0032] FIG. 16 is a back plan view of the wall panel of FIG. 15.

[0033] FIG. 17 is a front plan view of the wall panel of FIG. 15 with another one of many alternative mounting orientations.

[0034] FIG. 18 is a back plan view of the wall panel of FIGS. 15 and 17, but with another one of many alternative mounting orientations.

[0035] FIG. 19 is a front plan view of a wall panel with an alternative shape.

[0036] FIG. 20 is a back plan view of the wall panel of FIG. 19.

[0037] FIG. 21 is a back plan view of the wall panel of FIGS. 19 and 20, but with another one of many alternative mounting orientations.

[0038] FIG. 22A is a schematic, exploded front perspective view of a composite panel having a back attachment surface formed in a cork material layer, a front decorative surface formed in a thin veneer wood material layer, and a thin adhesive layer attaching the back and front layers together.

[0039] FIG. 22B is a schematic, exploded front perspective view of an alternate composite panel having a back attachment surface formed in a thin wood material layer, a front decorative surface formed in a thin veneer wood or other decorative material layer, and a thin adhesive layer attaching the back and front layers together.

[0040] FIG. 22C is a schematic, front perspective view of a solid wood panel embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 22D is a schematic, exploded front perspective view of another alternate composite panel having a back attachment surface formed in a sustainable foam material layer, a front decorative surface formed in a thin veneer wood material layer, and a thin adhesive layer attaching the back and front layers together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 13 to 21, a variety of sizes, shapes and orientations of wall panels may be used with the present system to accomplish any desired visual appearance of a wall hanging arrangement H using the wall panels, a few possible sample alternatives of which are shown in FIGS. 7 to 12. Each of the wall panels includes a front decorative surface F and a back attachment surface B. FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate that the wall panel 1 may be a solid material, preferably wood, while FIGS. 22A, 22B and 22D illustrate an alternate composite panel. As shown in FIG. 22A, the front decorative surface F is a decorative veneer layer 20, of wood or other desired decorative surface, and may be secured by an adhesive layer 22 to a layer of light weight cork material 24. In FIG. 22B, the front decorative surface F is a decorative veneer layer 20, and may be secured by adhesive 22 to a layer of lighter weight or less expensive wood material 26. In FIG. 22D, a decorative veneer layer 20 may be secured by adhesive 22 to a layer of sustainable foam material 28. Depending on the flexibility of the wood or materials selected for the panel, a second and possibly a third layer of cork, thin wood or foam may be used within the composite panel.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, 6 and 13 to 21, the wall panel 1 includes a back attachment surface B having a recess or adhesive cutout 2 for positioning the adhesive fasteners. Additionally, a recessed handle or finger cutout 3 is also provided in the back attachment surface B. Each of the wall panels 1 also includes a front decorative surface F having a rounded over front edge 4 to ensure an appearance of wall uniformity. The back attachment surface includes a rounded over rear edge 5 to minimize damage to the wall or wall surface W during removal of the reusable wall panel 1.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 6, a variety of fastener systems may be used for removably attaching the wall panels 1 to a wall surface W. As previously discussed, a removable wall adhesive fastener or wall strip 8 is secured to the wall W, for removable engagement with a wall panel attachment strip 7. In one embodiment, a resin 6 may be provided within the adhesive cutout 2 to provide a permanent adhesive system, in which the attachment strip or wall panel adhesive fastener 7 is permanently secured to the wall panel 1. As schematically shown in FIG. 6, a 3M Dual Lock® low profile reclosable fastener may be used as one type of an attachment strip 7, and a 3M Command® picture hanging strip 8 may be used as one type of a wall strip 8. The adhesive system may be provided in a variety of different types and combinations, with optional resin adhesive, panel attachment strips 7, and removable wall strips 8.

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a template T having cutouts 9, 11 for enabling a user to properly position the removable wall strips 8 for attachment of the wall panels 1 to the wall surface W. A template T is provided with the wall panels 1 as a kit K to enable ease of positioning, and mounting or hanging of the desired arrangement of wall hangings H. Cutouts 10 are used for positioning of a bubble level device L, also included within the kit, to enable leveling of the template T prior to placement of the wall strips 8. Multiple wall strip cutouts 9 are also provided within the template T to position and place the wall strips 8, for example, Command® wall strips. Additional spaced wall strip cutouts 11 are also provided for placement of additional wall strips 8 that may be required depending on the weight of the wall panel 1 being hung on the wall surface W.

[0046] The present application provides an improved system and method for mounting wall hangings H. The wall panels 1, template T and level device L with an adhesive fastener system, including wall strips 8 and wall panel attachment strips 7, provide a kit K enabling a user to removably position and secure reusable, portable, independently hung wall hangings, panels and wood panels, in any configuration or arrangement desired on a wall surface W, and/or to remove the panels 1 with limited damage to the wall surface. Users may remove and reposition the wall panels in the event they desire to move the wall panels 1 to a different arrangement during mounting or hanging of the desired wall hanging arrangement H. Additionally, users may, after time, desire to rearrange the wall panels to a different wall hanging arrangement H, or to remove the wall hanging arrangement entirely, all with limited damage to the underlying wall surface W.

[0047] While the foregoing system and method for mounting wall panels has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments, and many details have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system and method are susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles set forth in the following claims.