Corner piece and cabinet frame

• US 6,179,398 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Alan Martin
• Original Assignee: Michael Alan Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Michael Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US09/239,846
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 403/169, 403/176, 403/170, 403/172, 403/231, 403/217, 403/288, 312/223.2, 312/265.1, 312/265.4, 411/399, 411/187
• US Class Current: 312/265.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0008 Three-dimensional corner connectors, the legs thereof being received within hollow, elongated frame members corner joints in general F16B12/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/50 Metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/014 Corner connections for frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/44 Three or more members connected at single locus

Abstract

A corner piece is configured for rigidly joining together a pair of beams to form a frame. A main body includes a pair of pegs diverging outwardly therefrom for being inserted in corresponding sockets in respective ends of the beams. The body includes a crotch laterally separating the pegs at an inside corner for engaging the beams. The crotch permits inside welding to the corner piece. And, in a preferred embodiment, a corner bezel extends from the body to define an outside corner, and a corner seat is disposed in the body for receiving a gasket.

Claims

1. A cabinet corner piece for rigidly joining a pair of beams and cross tie to form a frame comprising:

a body having three pegs including a pair of pegs and a third peg diverging outwardly therefrom for being inserted in corresponding sockets in respective ends of said beams and cross tie; and

a crotch disposed in said body and laterally separating said pair of pegs at an inside corner for welding said beams at said crotch, and said crotch extends obliquely between said pair of pegs for engaging said beams with an exposed land therebetween for welding said beams thereto.

2. A corner piece according to claim 1 wherein said pair of pegs are perpendicular to each other.

3. A corner piece according to claim 2 further comprising:

a corner bezel integrally joined to said body, and defining an outside corner extending perpendicular to said pair of pegs; and

a corner seat disposed in said body between said bezel and crotch for receiving a gasket.

4. A corner piece according to claim 3 wherein said corner seat is recessed in said body, and extends between said pair of pegs.

5. A corner piece according to claim 4 wherein said corner seat is arcuate along said corner bezel.

6. A corner piece according to claim 5 wherein said third peg is disposed orthogonally with said peg pair for being inserted in a socket in an end of said cross tie.

7. A corner piece according to claim 6 wherein:

said corner bezel extends in three orthogonal directions toward each of said three pegs to define a three dimensional outside corner; and

said body includes three of said corner seats bridging respective pairs of said three pegs.

8. A frame comprising:

a plurality of beams and cross ties each having sockets at opposite ends thereof;

a plurality of corner pieces joining respective pairs of said beams to define a rectangular opening; and

each of said corner pieces including;

a body having three pegs including a pair of pegs and a third peg diverging outwardly therefrom for being inserted in corresponding sockets in respective ends of said beams and cross ties; and

a crotch disposed in said body and laterally separating said pair of pegs at an inside corner for welding said beams at said crotch, and said crotch extends obliquely between said pair of pegs for engaging said beams with an exposed land therebetween for welding said beams thereto.

9. A frame according to claim 8 wherein:

said pegs of each corner piece are perpendicular to each other, and said crotch extends obliquely therebetween to engage respective pairs of said beams at said exposed land therebetween; and

said beam pairs are welded to said crotches.

10. A frame according to claim 9 wherein each of said corner pieces further comprises:

a corner bezel integrally joined to said body, and defining an outside corner extending perpendicular to said pair of pegs; and

a corner seat disposed in said body between said bezel and crotch and receiving a gasket.

11. A frame according to claim 10 wherein said corner seats are recessed in said bodies, and extend between said pair of pegs thereof.

12. A frame according to claim 11 wherein said corner seats are arcuate along said corner bezels.

13. A frame according to claim 12 wherein each of said beams further comprises:

a beam bezel extending between said beam opposite ends, and matching said corner bezel;

a recessed beam seat extending between said beam opposite ends, and matching said corner seat; and

said gasket extends continuously along said corner seat and adjoining beam seat.

14. A frame according to claim 13 wherein:

said corner pieces are solid; and

said beams are hollow, with said end sockets receiving respective ones of said pair of pegs.

15. A frame according to claim 14 wherein said beam bezels are spaced from said corner bezels to define respective gaps therebetween.

16. A frame according to claim 14 wherein:

four of said beams and corner pieces are joined together to define a front bezel;

an additional four of said beams and corner pieces are joined together to define a rear bezel; and

four of said cross ties join together said front and rear bezels at said respective third pegs thereof to define respective bottom, top, and two side bezels and openings therein.

17. A frame according to claim 16 wherein:

each of said corner bezels extends in three orthogonal directions toward each of said three pegs to define a three dimensional outside corner;

each of said bodies includes three of said corner seats bridging respective pairs of said three pegs;

each of said cross ties includes a recessed seat extending between said opposite ends thereof;

each of said corner seats matches said respective seats from said beams and cross ties to define continuous channels; and

respective ones of said gaskets are disposed in said seats around each of said six openings.

18. A frame according to claim 17 defining a cabinet further comprising:

a front door hinged to said front bezel to engage said gasket therein;

a rear door hinged to said rear bezel to engage said gasket therein;

a top panel affixed to said top bezel to engage said gasket therein;

a bottom panel affixed to said bottom bezel to engage said gasket therein; and

a pair of side panels affixed to said side bezels to engage said gaskets therein.

19. A frame according to claim 17 wherein each of said cross ties further includes a recessed slot extending between said opposite ends thereof, and behind said seat thereof for adjustably securing mounting rails thereto.

20. A frame according to claim 9 wherein said crotches are disposed only at said beams, and not at said cross ties.

21. A cabinet corner piece for rigidly joining a pair of beams and a cross tie to form a frame comprising:

a body having three pegs including a pair of pegs and a third peg diverging outwardly therefrom for being inserted in corresponding sockets in respective ends of said beams and cross tie;

a corner bezel integrally joined to said body, and extending in three orthogonal directions toward each of said three pegs to define a three dimensional outside corner; and

three corner seats recessed in said body and bridging respective pairs of said pegs at a root of said bezel for receiving respective gaskets, and each of said corner seats faces outwardly along a corresponding orthogonal direction for adjoining corresponding recessed seats in said beams and cross tie.

22. A corner piece according to claim 21 wherein said corner seats are arcuate along said corner bezel.

23. A corner piece according to claim 22 wherein said corner bezel includes a raised land at respective ones of said three pegs for abutting said beams and cross tie to define respective gaps thereat.

24. A corner piece according to claim 23 further comprising a crotch disposed in said body and laterally separating said pair of pegs at an inside corner for engaging both said beams for welding thereto.

25. A corner piece according to claim 24 wherein said crotch extends obliquely between said peg pair for engaging said beams with an exposed land therebetween for integrally welding said beams thereto.