Modular interlocking cabinets

• US 5,951,127 A
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary Helen Volentine Smith
• Original Assignee: John Houston Smith
• Inventors: Smith, John Houston
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US09/099,577
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 312/205, 312/204, 312/195, 312/198, 312/107, 312/257.1, 312/263, 312/245, 312/246, 312/199, 312/140.1, 312/297, 52/36.1, 52/36.5, 52/98, 211/94.01, 248/909, 108/51.3, 108/157.14
• US Class Current: 312/205
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/007 Linkable independent elements with the same or similar cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/909 Frangible component, e.g. having a score line or groove

Abstract

An improved prefabricated cabinet assembly similar in appearance to professionally installed customized cabinets, but that is easily, quickly and inexpensively installed in different configurations. The cabinet assembly comprises at least one cabinet unit having opposed sides and a rear wall. A hanger assembly is provided to suspend the cabinet units on a wall structure, comprising a horizontal bar mounted to the rear wall of the cabinet units having a downward-facing groove, interlocked with a horizontal bar mounted on the wall structure which has a corresponding upward-facing groove. The hanger assembly permits sliding cabinet units along the wall to a desired spaced-apart position. Spacer panels are mounted to span the spaces between adjacent cabinet units. Each of the spacer panels has a plurality of spaced apart grooves cut into its rear face, along with a plurality of visible, spaced apart cut lines to permit easy cutting of the spacer panels at desired widths. Dual, opposing hanger bars may be provided on the rear walls of the cabinet units to permit inverting each unit as desired for optimum door swing.

Claims

1. A cabinet assembly for mounting on a wall structure, comprising:

(a) at least one cabinet unit comprising two opposing sides and a rear wall;

(b) a cabinet hanger mounted on said cabinet unit, said cabinet hanger comprising;

(1) a substantially horizontal first bar attached to said rear wall of said cabinet unit, said first bar comprising a bottom-facing edge having a slot therein; and

(2) a second bar mounted on said rear wall of said at least one cabinet unit in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relationship with said first bar, wherein said second bar has a top-facing edge fitted with a slot for installing said cabinet unit upside down if desired;

(c) a wall hanger adapted to be attached to said wall structure, said wall hanger comprising a substantially horizontal bar having a top-facing edge with a slot interlocked with said cabinet hanger;

(d) at least one spacer panel connected to at least one of said sides of said at least one cabinet unit, said at least one spacer panel having a front face, a back face, two side edges, and a width;

(e) a plurality of substantially vertical slots spaced along said back face of said at least one spacer panel; and

(f) a plurality of visible cut lines on said back face of said at least one spacer panel, each of said cut lines running substantially parallel to said vertical slots,

whereby when said at least one spacer panel is cut along said cut line, said vertical slot forms a shoulder adapted to abut a side of said at least one cabinet unit and at least partially cover an outward edge of said side of said at least one cabinet unit.

2. The cabinet assembly of claim 1, wherein said vertical cut lines are positioned substantially along a centerline of each said vertical slots.

3. The cabinet assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one cabinet unit comprises at least two cabinet units.

4. The cabinet assembly of claim 1, wherein said vertical cut lines are positioned substantially intermediate each of said vertical slots.

5. The cabinet assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least one cabinet unit comprises at least two cabinet units.

6. An improved wall cabinet installation, comprising:

(a) at least two cabinet units, each of said at least two cabinet units comprising two spaced-apart opposed side walls and a rear wall;

(b) a cabinet hanger mounted on said at least two cabinet units, said cabinet hanger comprising;

(1) a substantially horizontal first bar attached to said rear wall of said at least two cabinet units, said first bar comprising a bottom-facing edge having a slot therein; and

(2) a second bar mounted on said rear wall of said at least two cabinet units in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relationship with said first bar, wherein said second bar has a top-facing edge fitted with a slot for installing said at least two cabinet units upside down if desired;

(c) a wall hanger fastened to a wall structure, said wall hanger comprising a a substantially horizontal bar having a top-facing edge with a slot adapted to interlock with said slot of said first bar or said second bar of said cabinet hanger,

wherein said at least two cabinet units are suspended in adjoining, spaced-apart relationship on said wall structure by interlocking said cabinet hanger and said wall hanger;

(d) at least one spacer panel disposed between adjacent cabinet units, spanning a space therebetween, each of said at least one spacer panels having a front face, a back face, two side edges, and a width;

(e) a plurality of substantially vertical slots spaced along said back face of said at least one spacer panel; and

(f) a plurality of visible cut lines on said back face of said at least one spacer panel, each of said cut lines running substantially parallel to said vertical slots,

whereby when said at least one spacer panel is cut along said cut line, said vertical slot forms a shoulder adapted to abut a side of said at least one cabinet unit and at least partially cover an outward edge of said side of said at least one cabinet unit.

7. A method of installing a cabinet assembly to occupy a desired span of wall space, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least two cabinet units, each of said at least two cabinet units comprising two spaced-apart opposed side walls, a rear wall, a first bar mounted on an exterior surface of said rear wall of each of said at least two cabinet units, said first bar mounted substantially horizontally and spanning a width of each of said at least two cabinet units, said first bar comprising a bottom-facing edge with a slot therein, and a second bar mounted on said rear wall of said at least two cabinet units in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relationship with said first bar, wherein said second bar has a top-facing edge fitted with a slot for installing said cabinet unit upside down if desired;

(b) fastening to a wall structure a substantially horizontal wall hanger bar having a top-facing edge with a slot adapted to interlock with said slot of said first bar or said second bar;

(c) mounting said at least two cabinet units on said wall structure by interlocking said first bar or said second bar and said wall hanger bar;

(d) laterally sliding each of said at least two cabinet units into position on said wall structure, leaving a desired space between each of said at least two cabinet units;

(e) determining the width of said desired spaces between each of said at least two cabinet units;

(f) providing a sufficient number of spacer panels to correspond to said desired spaces between said at least two cabinet units, each of said spacer panels comprising a plurality of substantially vertical slots spaced along said back face and a plurality of visible cut lines on said back face, each of said cut lines running substantially parallel to said vertical slots,

(g) cutting each of said spacer panels along said cut lines to an appropriate width to span said desired spaces between said cabinet unit, and to conform with said sides of said at least two cabinet units to enhance the professional appearance of said at least two cabinet units; and

(h) mounting said spacer panels to adjacent cabinet units, thereby spanning said spaces between adjacent cabinet units, and conforming with said sides of said at least two cabinet units thereby enhancing the appearance of said at least two cabinet units.