Cabinet structure

• US 5,809,714 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller
• Inventors: Kurrasch, Andrew J., Bekins, Michele, Teays, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US08/477,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 52/239, 52/582.2, 52/584.1, 160/351, 160/135
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/02 made of metal only
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/00 Combinations comprising two or more pieces of furniture of different kinds
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/00 Sectional furniture, i.e. combinations of complete furniture units , e.g. assemblies of furniture units of the same kind such as linkable cabinets, tables, racks or shelf units switchboards or switch cubicles for the distribution of electric power H02B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1234 Honeycomb, or with grain orientation or elongated elements in defined angular relationship in respective components [e.g., parallel, inter- secting, etc.]

Abstract

A cabinet having a wall comprising an inner wall and an outer wall attached to the inner wall. A strengthening piece or material is positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall to provide strength and rigidity to the wall. Preferably, the strengthening piece or material has a honeycomb structure.

Claims

1. A system for attaching a panel to a wall of a cabinet, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having an attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to an exterior surface of said panel, wherein said attachment piece comprises a first side leg, a second side leg and a third leg that joins said first and second legs so as to define said U-type shape and that lie on said exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and exterior surface define a U-shaped slot;

a wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded opening areas, wherein each area has a normal line that projects substantially parallel to said vertical direction;

a connector for connecting said panel to said wall, said connector comprising;

a first mating element engaging said wall by being inserted through said bounded opening area of said first slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said first slot;

a second mating element engaging said wall by being inserted through said bounded opening area of said second slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said second slot; and

an engagement piece that engages said attachment piece of said panel by being inserted into said U-shaped slot and compressively engaging said third leg.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first mating element extends downward through said first slot.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second mating element extends upward through said second slot.

4. The system of claim 1, said panel comprising a second attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to a second exterior surface of said panel, wherein said second attachment piece comprises a first side leg, a second side leg and a third leg exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and second exterior surface define a U-shaped slot;

and

said connector comprising a second engagement piece that engages said second attachment piece by being inserted into said U-shaved slot of said second attachment piece and compressively engaging said third leg of said second attachment piece.

5. The system of claim 1, said connector comprising a rod that extends through said first mating element, said second mating element and said engagement piece.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said height of said wall is smaller than said height of said panel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said height of said wall is greater than said height of said panel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said wall and said panel lie substantially along a plane.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said wall and said panel are angled approximately 90 °

with respect to each other.

11. The system of claim 10, said wall comprising a first L-shaped bracket attached thereto and comprising said first slot in which said first mating element is inserted therethrough.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said wall is a wall of a cabinet.

30. The system of claim 6, wherein said height of said wall is greater than said height of said panel.

31. The system of claim 30, said connector comprising a rod that extends through said first mating element, said second mating element and said engagement piece.

7. The system of claim 35, said engagement piece comprises a hook;

and

said attachment piece comprises a slot through which said hook is inserted.

13. A system for attaching a panel to a wall of a cabinet, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having an attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to an exterior surface of said panel said attachment piece further comprising a slot, wherein said attachment piece comprises a first side leg;

a second side leg and a third leg that joins said first and second legs so as to define said U-type shape and that lie on said exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and exterior surface define a U-shaped slot;

a wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction that is smaller than said height of said panel and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded openings that are open along said vertical direction;

a connector for connecting said panel to said wall, said connector comprising;

a first mating element engaging said wall by being inserted through said first slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said first slot;

a second mating element engaging said wall by being inserted through said second slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said second slot;

an engagement piece comprising a hook that is inserted through said slot of said attachment piece, said engagement piece engages said attachment piece of said panel by being inserted into said U-shaped slot and compressively engaging said third leg;

a second engagement piece; and

said panel comprising a second U-shaped slot that is engaged by said second engagement piece.

14. The system of claim 13, said connector comprising a rod that extends through said first mating element, said second mating element and said engagement piece.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said wall is a wall of a cabinet.

16. A system for attaching a panel to a wall of a cabinet, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having an attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to an exterior surface of said panel, wherein said attachment piece comprises a first side leg, a second side leg and a third leg that joins said first and second legs so as to define said U-type shape and that lie on said exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and exterior surface define a U-shaped slot;

a wall angled approximately 90°

with respect to the panel and having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded openings that are open along said vertical direction;

a connector for connecting said panel to said wall, said connector comprising;

a first matins element engaging said wall by being inserted through said first slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said first slot;

a second mating element engaging said wall by being inserted through said second slot of said wall and engaging an edge of said second slot;

an engagement piece that engages said attachment piece of said panel by being inserted into said U-shaped slot and compressively engaging said third leg;

wherein said wall comprising a first L-shaped bracket attached thereto and comprising said first slot in which said first mating element is inserted therethrough; and

wherein said wall comprising a second L-shaped bracket attached thereto and comprising said second slot in which said second mating element is inserted therethrough.

17. The system of claim 16, said panel comprising a second U-shaped slot;

and

said connector comprising a second engagement piece that engages said U-shaped slot.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said wall is a wall of a cabinet.

19. A system for attaching a panel to a first wall and a second wall, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having an attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to an exterior surface of said panel, wherein said attachment piece comprises a first side leg, a second side leg and a third leg that joins said first and second legs so as to define said U-type shape and that lie on said exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and exterior surface define a U-shaped slot;

a first wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded openings that are open along said vertical direction;

a second wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded opening areas, wherein each area has a normal line that projects substantially parallel to said vertical direction;

a connector for connecting said panel to said first and second walls, said connector comprising;

a first bracket attached to both said first slot of said first wall by being inserted through said bounded opening of said first slot of said first wall and engaging an edge of said first slot of said first wall and to said first slot of said second wall by being inserted through said bounded opening area of said first slot of said second wall and engaging an edge of said first slot of said second wall;

a second bracket attached to both said second slot of said first wall by being inserted through said bounded opening of said second slot of said first wall and engaging an edge of said second slot of said first wall and to said second slot of said second wall by being inserted through said bounded opening area of said second slot of said second wall and engaging an edge of said second slot of said second wall; and

an engagement piece that engages said attachment piece of said panel by being inserted into said U-shaped slot and compressively engaging said third leg.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first and second walls substantially lie along a plane and said panel is substantially perpendicular to said plane.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said first wall is a wall of a cabinet.

22. A system for attaching a panel to a first wall and a second wall, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having a first attachment piece having a U-type shape and attached to an exterior surface of said panel, wherein said attachment piece comprises a first side leg, a second side leg and a third leg that joins said first and second legs so as to define said U-type shape and that lie on said exterior surface so that said first leg, second leg, third leg and exterior surface define a U-shaped slot, wherein said panel comprising a second attachment piece; and

;

a first wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded openings that are open along said vertical direction;

a second wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction and having a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded openings that are open along said vertical direction;

a connector for connecting said panel to said first and second walls, said connector comprising;

a first bracket attached to both said first slot of said first wall by being inserted through said first slot of said first wall and engaging an edge of said first slot of said first wall and to said first slot of said second wall by being inserted through said first slot of said second wall and engaging an edge of said first slot of said second wall;

a second bracket attached to both said second slot of said first wall by being inserted through said second slot of said first wall and engaging an edge of said second slot of said first wall and to said second slot of said second wall by being inserted through said second slot of said second wall and engaging an edge of said second slot of said second wall;

an engagement piece that engages said attachment piece of said panel by being inserted into said U-shaped slot and compressively engaging said third leg; and

a second engagement piece that engages said second attachment piece.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said second attachment piece comprises a slot in which the second engagement piece is inserted.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said slot of said second attachment piece is U-shaped.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said first wall is a wall of a cabinet.

26. A system for attaching a panel to a wall of a cabinet, said system comprising:

a panel having a height as measured along a vertical direction and having an attachment piece;

a wall having a height as measured along said vertical direction;

a rod for connecting said panel to said wall and comprising an engagement piece that engages said attachment piece of said panel;

a guide attached to said wall and having an opening offset from said wall throughwhich said rod is inserted;

a first slot and a second slot spaced from each other along said vertical direction and wherein said first and second slots each have edges that form bounded opening areas, wherein each area has a normal line that projects substantially parallel to said vertical direction; and

said guide comprises a first mating element inserted through said bounded opening area of said first slot of said wall and a second mating element inserted through said bounded opening area of said second slot of said wall.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said wall comprises a first slot in which the engagement piece is inserted.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said slot of said attachment piece is U-shaped.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said height of said wall differs from said height of said panel.