US-12618428-B2 - Device and method of use for magnetic panel joint

US12618428B2US 12618428 B2US12618428 B2US 12618428B2US-12618428-B2

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems for a magnetic panel joint and magnetically joined, paneled storage units. The magnetic panel joint comprises a first magnetic panel including an angled protrusion defining a first receptacle, a second magnetic panel including a groove body defining a groove and a second receptacle, and a magnetic fastener. The angled protrusion can be removably inserted into the groove to enable alignment of the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and the magnetic fastener can be removably inserted into the aligned receptacles to enable secure coupling of the first magnetic panel and the second magnetic panel. The second magnetic panel may include a slot body defining a slot and a receptacle. An angled protrusion of a third panel can be removably inserted into the slot. Each individual panel may be a horizontal shelf, a vertical wall, or a rear wall or a storage unit.

Inventors

Neil Deshpande

Assignees

Neil Deshpande

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230818

Claims (17)

1 . A magnetic panel joint comprising: a first panel oriented in a first plane including an angled protrusion oriented in a second plane different from the first plane, the angled protrusion comprising a first through-hole; a second magnetic panel including a groove body or slot body defining a groove or slot oriented in the second plane, the groove body or slot body comprising a second through-hole; and a magnetic fastener; wherein the angled protrusion is configured to removably engage in the groove or slot to enable alignment of the first through-hole and the second through-hole along a first axis and the magnetic fastener is configured to removably engage in the first through-hole and the second through-hole along the first axis to couple the first panel and the second magnetic panel.
2 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is a vertical wall.
3 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic panel is a horizontal shelf.
4 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the groove body or slot body is a slot body and the groove or slot is a slot; and wherein the slot body comprises a c-shaped structure, the length of which extends from a first edge of the second magnetic panel towards the center, but not continuously to a second opposite edge of the second magnetic panel.
5 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 4 , wherein the first panel is a rear wall.
6 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 4 , wherein the second magnetic panel is a horizontal shelf.
7 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 4 , wherein the magnetic panel joint is part of a shelving system further comprising a third panel oriented in a third plane including a second angled protrusion oriented in the second plane, wherein the second angled protrusion comprises a third through-hole; and the slot body comprises a second slot and a fourth through-hole; and the shelving system comprises an additional magnetic fastener; and wherein the second angled protrusion is configured to removably engage in the second slot to enable alignment of the third through-hole and the fourth through-hole along a second axis and the additional magnetic fastener is configured to removably engage in the third through-hole and the fourth through-hole along the second axis to couple the second magnetic panel and the third panel.
8 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 7 , wherein the third panel is a rear wall.
9 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 7 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are in the same plane as the first plane.
10 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the groove body or slot body is a groove body and the groove or slot is a groove; and wherein the groove body comprises a c-shaped structure, the length of which extends from a first edge of the second magnetic panel to a second opposite edge of the second magnetic panel.
11 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 10 , wherein the first panel is a side wall.
12 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the second plane is offset 90 degrees from the first plane at a right angle.
13 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is in the same plane as the first plane.
14 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the first through-hole and the second through-hole have the same cross-sectional area.
15 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the first through-hole and the second through-hole are circular and have the same diameter.
16 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the angled protrusion comprises two or more first through-holes; the groove body or slot body includes two or more second through-holes; and the magnetic panel joint comprises two or more magnetic fasteners; and wherein the angled protrusion is configured to removably engage in the groove or slot to enable alignment of the two or more first through-holes with the two or more second through-holes along two more first axes and the two or more magnetic fasteners are configured to removably engage the two or more first through-holes with the at least two more second through-holes along the two or more first axes to couple the first panel and the second magnetic panel.
17 . The magnetic panel joint of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic fastener is removable and not permanently constrained within either the first panel or the second magnetic panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to joinery and, more particularly, magnetic panel joints. Magnetic panel joints enable quick assembly of magnetic panels for use in a variety of fields including shelving, cabinetry, and storage solutions. Furthermore, magnetic panel joints allow paneled structures to be easily expanded vertically or horizontally. The disclosed invention also enables a secure and aesthetically pleasing joint. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates in general to a magnetic panel joint, and more specifically, to removably connected magnetic panels. It is known in the prior art that there are paneled structures for use in shelving, cabinetry, and storage solutions. These paneled structures differ in construction and assembly methods. Many paneled structures have multiple panels joined by hardware such as brackets, pins, rods, screws, and bolts. Consumers must assemble these paneled structures using tools. These paneled structures are also difficult to disassemble. Many paneled structures, once assembled, are insecure and unsafe. The present disclosure differs from the above referenced disclosures and others that are similar in that the present disclosure allows for faster, tool-free, assembly and disassembly, and enables a secure and safe paneled structure. SUMMARY Embodiments of the disclosure provide a magnetic panel joint and magnetically joined, paneled storage units. The magnetic panel joint comprises a first magnetic panel including an angled protrusion defining a first receptacle, a second magnetic panel including a groove body defining a groove and a second receptacle, and a magnetic fastener. The angled protrusion can be removably inserted into the groove to enable alignment of the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and the magnetic fastener can be removably inserted into the aligned receptacles to enable secure coupling of the first magnetic panel and the second magnetic panel. According to some embodiments, the second magnetic panel may include a slot body defining a slot and a receptacle. An angled protrusion of a third panel can be removably inserted into the slot. Each individual panel may be a horizontal shelf, a vertical wall, or a rear wall or a storage unit. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the drawings: FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a magnetic panel joint in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a magnetic panel joint displaying a vertical side wall and a horizontal shelf; FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an assembled magnetic panel joint in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an assembled magnetic panel joint displaying a vertical side wall panel and a horizontal shelf panel; FIG. 3A is a bottom view of a horizontal shelf panel displaying external receptacles, a slot body, and a slot; FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a horizontal shelf panel displaying external receptacles, a groove body, and groove; FIG. 4 is a is a perspective view of a horizontal shelf panel in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an external vertical shelf wall in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an internal vertical shelf wall in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 6B is a is a perspective view of an internal vertical shelf wall in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 7A is a top view of a magnetic fastener in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a magnetic fastener in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 8A is an exploded view of a magnetic panel joint displaying a vertical rear wall and a horizontal shelf; FIG. 8B is an exploded view of a magnetic panel joint in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an assembled magnetic panel joint in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 9B is a perspective view of an assembled magnetic panel joint displaying a vertical rear wall panel and a horizontal shelf panel; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rear wall panel; FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a shelf assembly displaying a foot component and a tee component; FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a shelf assembly displaying a foot component and a tee component; FIG. 12B is a perspective view of a shelf assembly displaying a foot component and a