Cabinet system

• US 6,267,462 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: M3 Gesellschaft Fur Modulare Einrichtungsysteme mbH
• Original Assignee: M3 Gesellschaft Fur Modulare Einrichtungsysteme mbH
• Inventors: Welke, Hans-Peter, Krause, Helge
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US09/274,466
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 312/107, 312/108, 312/109, 312/107.5, 312/111, 312/257.1, 312/351.1, 312/351.3, 312/326, 312/329, 312/138.1, 16D/IG.33
• US Class Current: 312/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/007 Linkable independent elements with the same or similar cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0276 Stackable modular units, each consisting of a closed periphery A47B87/0292 takes precedence; stackable containers B65D21/00

Abstract

A modular cabinet system is disclosed whereby a number of modules can be combined to form a unique cabinet configuration. Each module may be an accessory, such as a lamp or cable duct, or a storage compartment. The storage compartment may be configured as a square or rectangular box with one open side and side walls made of a multiplex. Each side wall has at least one system hole and at least one system thread positioned so that the holes and threads of one module line up with the holes and threads of another module for assembly. The pre-existing system holes and threads allow the modules to be separated and combined repeatedly without damage.

Claims

1. A modular cabinet system comprising:

a plurality of modules, each module having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, said walls of each module being permanently fixed to each other and made of a multiplex material;

each module having dimensions chosen from one of the following;

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a first size having dimensions height (H), width (W) and depth (D), wherein H, W and D are equal,

a second size having dimensions H, 2*W and D,

a third size having dimensions 2*H, W and D; and

a fourth size having dimensions 2*H, 2*W and D

each of said walls with a dimension H or W having one system hole and each of said walls with a dimension 2*H or 2*W having two spaced-apart system holes; and

said bottom wall further having four spaced-apart threaded through-holes;

said side and top walls being free of threaded through-holes,

said modules being positioned adjacent to one another in a side-to-side or top-to-bottom orientation so that at least one system hole of each module is axially aligned with at least one system hole of an adjacent module;

each of said modules being secured to each adjacent module by fastening means through said at least one axially aligned system hole.

2. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the modules can be attached to another module at any of said walls of said module.

3. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 further comprising at least one or a combination of attachable components comprising cable ducts, lamps, bases, adjusting feet, rolling coasters, acoustic rear walls, wardrobe bars, slanting compartment bottom plates, screens, high desk tops, or cover panels wherein each of said components have system holes positioned so that said system holes of said components are axially aligned with the system holes of said modules for securing said components to said modules.

4. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the threaded through-holes further comprise riveted bushings.

5. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the walls are mitred at their edges and joined together by angular dowels.

6. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 further comprising a table board having a sandwich board with an upper plate and a lower plate bonded by an adhesive, whereby said lower plate has holes and matching head millings arranged and constructed so that standard push-in bushings may be driven into said holes of said lower plate, said table board being positioned on the top wall of one of said modules so that at least one system hole of said top wall is axially aligned with at least one bushing of said lower plate, said table board secured to said top wall of said module by fastening means through said at least one axially aligned system hole and bushing.

7. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 wherein the module further comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of small holes drilled partly into at least two opposing walls and at least one door stop fixed to one of said opposing walls, whereby said plurality of horizontal rows correspond to variable positioning of said door stops to accommodate doors of different thicknesses.

8. The modular cabinet system of claim 7 wherein said door stops further comprise a rubber piece having a plurality of passage holes.

9. The modular cabinet system of claim 1 further comprising a footpiece having a base plate, a number of system holes for fixing said footpiece onto said threaded through-holes, and two independently adjustable feet positioned axially offset from said system holes whereby said footpiece is adjustable to achieve varying heights.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein D is approximately 350 mm.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each system hole is located at a distance ½

D from a front edge of a module, and ½

D from at least one side edge of a module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said modules are of at least two different sizes.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each system hole is a distance ½

H or ½

W from a nearest longitudinal edge of a wall on which said hole resides.