GB2450135A

GB2450135A - A cabinet system

Info

Publication number: GB2450135A
Application number: GB0711471A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu-Ting Chen
Original assignee: BOCHIC IND CO Ltd
Current assignee: BOCHIC IND CO Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-14
Filing date: 2007-06-14
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-14
Also published as: GB2450135A8; GB0711471D0; GB2450135B; GB2450135B8

Abstract

A cabinet includes a bottom panel 11, two side panels 20, a back panel 50, a door panel 70 and a top panel 80. Each side panel includes parallel members 21 having a plurality of apertures 22,23 defined respectively. The back panel includes two fixing sections 51, with each fixing section being mounted to one of the parallel member of each side panel. Each fixing section has a plurality of apertures 53 corresponding to the same of the second parallel member. A plurality of fastening devices 54 are adapted to be inserted through the apertures to securely connect the side panels with the back panel. The door panel is pivotally mounted on the bottom panel. The top panel is provided to cap the side panels and the back panel. The top and bottom panels can be replaced with bigger panels having two extended parallel side. Pairs of connecting beams 30 having a partition 35 may be mounted at locations between the side panels to extend the width of the cabinet.

Description

I CABINET SYSTEM

2 BackEround of the Invention

3 l.Field of the Invention

4 The present invention relates to a cabinet system, in particular, to an easy assembled cabinet system which requires no aid of hand tools.

6 2. Descri,tion of the Related Art 7 GB 2,407,482 to Yu discloses a cabinet assembled without aid of hand 8 tools including a bottom plate, two frames, two side plates, a top plate, a rear plate, 9 at least two opposite separation bars, and at least one separation plate. The parts of the cabinet are combined in a snapping or insertion-locking manner therefore 11 facilitating a user assembling the cabinet. However, where it is desired to arrange a 12 series of cabinets in an array, each cabinet contained in the array has no means for 13 connecting to each other steadily and firmly.

14 The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate

the problems encountered in the prior art.

16 Summary of the Invention

17 A cabinet system includes a bottom panel having a first surface connected 18 to a plurality of supporting legs standing against the ground and a second surface.

19 Two side panels are mounted upright and threadly connected to the bottom panel.

The side panels, each includes a first and a second parallel member. The first and 21 second parallel members have a plurality of apertures defined thereon respectively.

22 A back panel is mounted upright to the bottom panel, with the back panel including 23 two fixing sections. Each fixing section is mounted to the second parallel member 24 of each side panel. Each fixing section has a plurality of apertures corresponding to the apertures defmed in the attached second parallel member. A plurality of I fastening devices, with one of the fastening devices being inserted through the 2 apertures respectively in order to securely connect the side panels with the back 3 panel. A door panel is pivotally mounted to the bottom panel. A top panel is 4 capped on the side panels and the back panel.

In another aspect of the invention, the cabinet system includes a top and 6 bottom panel having two extended parallel sides. Two side panels are mounted 7 upright to the bottom panel, with each panel including a first and a second parallel 8 member. The first and second parallel members have a plurality of apertures 9 defmed thereon respectively. At least a first beam and a second beam are mounted upright to the bottom panel, with the first beam being disposed opposite to the II second beam. The first and second beams have two columns of a plurality of 12 apertures defmed thereon respectively. At least one back panel is mounted upright 13 to the bottom panel. The back panel includes two fixing sections, with one of the 14 fixing sections mounted to the second beam and the other mounted to the second parallel member of the side panel. A plurality of fastening device, with one of the 16 fastening devices inserted through the apertures respectively in order to securely 17 connect the side panels with the back panel, and with one of the fastening devices 18 inserted through the apertures respectively in order to securely connect the second 19 beam with the back panel. At least one door panel is pivotally mounted to the bottom panel. A top panel is capped on the side panels and the back panel.

21 It is an objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet system 22 having the adjustability of number of cabinets contained in an array.

23 It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet system 24 having top and bottom panels which size are dependent upon number of cabinets contained in an array.

1 It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet 2 system that has one standard size side panels, back panels, door panels, connecting 3 beams, and partitions for the benefit of economical manufacture.

4 It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet system that has a plurality of fastening devices that enables an easy assembly of the 6 system without the aid of the hand tools.

7 Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will 8 become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in 9 conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief DescriDtion of the Drawin!s 11 For the present disclosure to be easily understood and readily practiced, the 12 present disclosure will now be described for the purpose of illustration not limitation, 13 in conjunction with the following figures, wherein; 14 Fig. I is a perspective view of a cabinet system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

16 Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 1.

17 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

18 Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the circled area in Fig. 3.

19 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cabinet system in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

21 Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 5.

22 Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

23 Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled area in Fig. 7.

24 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cabinet system in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

26 Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 9.

I Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

2 Referring to Figs. I through 4, a cabinet system in accordance with the first 3 embodiment of the present invention includes a bottom panel 10 having a first 4 surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a plurality of supporting legs 11 connected thereto for standing against the ground. The bottom panel 10 6 also has a periphery 12 formed about the sides thereof In this embodiment, the 7 bottom panel 10 has four sides that each side has a portion bent upwards so as to 8 form the periphery 12. Furthermore, the bottom panel 10 has one side including a 9 tab 13 which is bent with respect to the periphery 12.

Two side panels 20 are mounted upright and threadly connected to the 11 second surface of the bottom panel 10. The side panels 20 are confined within the 12 periphery 12 of the bottom panel 10. The side panels 20, each includes a first and a 13 second parallel member 21 extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and 14 second parallel member 21 have a plurality of fastening holes 22 and apertures 23 defined thereon respectively.

16 Each side panel 20 has a guiding device 40 mounted thereon. The guiding 17 device 40 includes a rail 41 and two blocks 42, wherein the rail 41 is affixed 18 between the blocks 42. In addition, the guiding device 40 includes one block 42 19 attached to the first parallel member 21 and the other attached to the second parallel member 21. The block 42 has two locking portions 421 adapted to insert into two 21 corresponding fastening holes 22.

22 A drawer 43 is engagable with the two guiding device 40. The drawer 43 23 includes a sliding member 431 adapted to move on the rail 41.

24 A back panel 50 is mounted upright to the second surface of the bottom panel 10. The back panel 50 includes two fixing sections 51 extending in the 26 longitudinal direction and each fixing section 51 is adapted to attach the second I parallel member 21 of one side panel 20. Furthermore, each fixing section 51 has a 2 cutout 52 adapted to surround the block 42 mounted on the second parallel member 3 21. Also, each fixing section has a plurality of apertures 53 corresponding to the 4 apertures 23 defmed in the second parallel member 21.

A plurality of fastening device 54 are provided, with one of which adapted 6 to insert through one corresponding group of apertures 23,53 respectively in order 7 to securely connect the side panels 20 with the back panel 50. Each fastening 8 device 54 is comprised of a plug 541 and a fastening member 542. The plug 541 is 9 adapted for reception of the fastening member 542. The plug 541 has a head portion 5411, a bottom portion 5412 and a gap 5413 defmed in the bottom portion 11 5412. The head portion 5411 is disposed outside the apertures 23,53, while the 12 bottom portion 5412 andthe gap 5413 are disposed inside thereof. An installer can 13 squeeze the bottom portion 5412 to make the gap 5413 become narrower for 14 insertion through the apertures 23,53. The bottom portion 5412 is allowed to resiliently returns to its original configuration and thereby the plug 541 is securely 16 restrained in the apertures 23,53.

17 A bracing 44 is mounted oppositely to the back panel 50. The bracing 44 18 has a first end mounted to the first parallel member 21 of one side panel 20 and a 19 second end mounted to the first parallel member 21 of another. Both ends of the bracing 44 have a bore 441 defined thereof respectively for allowing insertion of 21 one of the fastening devices 54. The fastening device 54 can insert through the bore 22 441 and the corresponding aperture 23 defmed by the first parallel member 21.

23 Furthermore, the fastening devices 54 has a head portion 5411 disposed outside the 24 bore 441 and the apertures 23. The head portion 5411 is level with the same disposed outside the apertures 23,53 one another. Thus a shelf 60 can be supported 26 horizontally by these head portions 5411. In the preferred embodiment of the 5.

I invention, the shelf 60 has two cutouts 61 adapted to surround the second parallel 2 member 21 of two side panel 20 respectively.

3 A door panel 70 is pivotally mounted to the second surface of the bottom 4 panel 10. The door panel 70 includes a first and a second protecting member 71 mounted adjacent to the top right and bottom right corners respectively and a 6 latching element 73 adjacent to the top left corner. The first and the second 7 protecting member 71 have a pivot 72 formed thereof respectively. In addition, the 8 first protecting member 71 adjacent to the top right corner is adapted to insert 9 through an orifice (not shown) defmed by the bracing 44. The second protecting member 71 adjacent to the bottom right corner is adapted to insert through an 11 orifice 13 defined by the tab 13.

12 A block 45 is mounted to the first parallel member 21 of the left side panel 13 20. The term left should not be construed as limitation of the invention. The block 14 45 includes two locking portions 421 adapted to insert into two corresponding fastening holes 22 defmed by the first parallel member 21. The block 45 also 16 includes a door catch 452 adapted to engage with the latching element 73. In this 17 embodiment, the door catch 452 and the latching element 73 are engagable to each 18 other by virtue of a magnetic force exists therebetween.

19 A top panel 80 is capped on the side panels 20 and the back panel 50. The top panel 80 has a periphery 81 formed about the sides thereof. In thsi embodiment, 21 the top panel 80 has four sides that each side has a portion bent downwards so as to 22 form the periphery 81 such that the side panels 20 and the back panels 50 are 23 confmed therein.

24 Referring to Figs. 5 through 8, a second embodiment of the present invention includes a bottom panel 10' having two extended parallel sides as 26 compared to that of the first embodiment. The bottom panel 10' includes a first I surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a plurality of supporting 2 legs 11' connected thereto. The bottom panel 10 has a periphery 12 formed about 3 the sides thereof. In this embodiment, the bottom panel 10' has four sides that each 4 side has a portion bent upwards so as to form the periphery 12'. Furthermore, the bottom panel 10' has one extended side including two tabs 13' which are bent with 6 respect to the periphery 12'.

7 Two side panels 20 are mounted upright and threadly connected to the 8 second surface of the bottom panel 10'. The side panels 20 are confined within the 9 periphery 12' of the bottom panel 10'. The side panels 20, each includes a first and a second parallel member 21 extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and 11 second parallel member 21 have a plurality of fastening holes 22 and apertures 23 12 defmed thereon respectively.

13 Each side panel 20 has one guiding device 40 mounted thereon. The 14 guiding device 40 includes one block 42 attached to the first parallel member 21 and the other attached to the second parallel member 21 respectively. Furthermore, 16 the block 42 has two locking portions 421 adapted to insert into two corresponding 17 fastening holes 22.

18 A first and a second beam 30 are mounted upright to the second surface of 19 the bottom panel 10'. The first beam 30 is disposed about the middle of one extended parallel side of the bottom panel 10' and between the two tabs 13'. The 21 second beam 30 is disposed about the middle of opposite extended parallel side.

22 The first and the second beam 30, each has a plurality of fastening holes 31 and 23 apertures 32 arranged in two groups thereon respectively. Each group has the same 24 number of fastening holes 31 and apertures 32.

A partition 35 is mounted between the first and the second beam 30. The 26 partition 35 separates two groups of fastening holes 31 and apertures 32 disposed I on the first and the second beam 30 respectively. Furthermore, the partition 35 2 includes two sides, each side has one guiding device 40 mounted thereon 3 respectively. The guiding device 40 has one block 42 attached to the first beam 31 4 and another attached the second beam 31. The block 42 has two locking portions 421 adapted to insert into two corresponding fastening holes 31.

6 In this embodiment, two blocks 45 are provided and mounted to the first 7 beam 30, with one block 45 disposed on different sides of the partition 35.

8 Two drawers 43 are also provided in this embodiment.

9 Two back panels 50 are mounted upright to the second surface of the bottom panel 10. Each back panel 50 has one fixing section 51 mounted to the 11 second beam 30 and the other mounted to the second parallel member 21 of the side 12 panel 20.

13 One of the fastening devices 54 is provided to insert through one 14 corresponding group of apertures 23,53 respectively in order to securely connect the side panel 20 with the back panel 50. The head portion 5411 of each of the 16 fastening device 54 is disposed outside the apertures 23,53, while the bottom 17 portion 5412 and the gap 5413 are disposed inside thereof. Furthermore, one of 18 fastening device 54 is inserted through one corresponding group of apertures 32,53 19 respectively in order to securely connect the second beam 30 with the back panel 50.

The head portion 5411 of each of the fastening device 54 is disposed outside the 21 apertures 32,53, while the bottom portion 5412 and the gap 5413 are disposed 22 inside thereof.

23 Two bracings 44 are mounted oppositely to the back panels 50. Each 24 bracing 44 has a first end connected to the first parallel member 21 ofthe side panel 20 and a second end connected to the first beam 30 by one fastening devices 54 26 respectively. One of the fastening devices 54 is inserted through the corresponding I bore 441 and aperture 23 of the first paraHel member 21. One of the fastening 2 devices 54 is inserted through another bore 441 and one of the apertures 32 of the 3 first beam 30.

4 Two shelves 60 and two door panels 70 are provided in this embodiment.

A top panel 80' is capped on the side panels 20, the beams 30, the partition 6 35 and the back panel 50. The top panel 80' has a periphery 81' formed about the 7 sides thereof. Similar to the bottom panel 10' the top panel 80' also has two 8 extended parallel sides as compared to that of the first embodiment.

9 Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, a cabinet system in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention structurally corresponds the second embodiment with 11 exception that the system includes a top 80" and a bottom panel 10" having two 12 extended parallel sides as compared to that of the second embodiment.

13 Furthermore, an additional portion 35 and a first and a second beam 30 are 14 provided so as to create three cabinets in the system.

Accordingly, it is one aspect of the cabinet system to provide the 16 adjustability of number of cabinets contained in an array.

17 It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet system 18 having top and bottom panels which size are dependent upon number of cabinets 19 contained in an array.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet 21 system that has one standard size side panels, back panels, door panels, connecting 22 beams, and partitions for the benefit of economical manufacture.

23 It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a cabinet 24 system that has a plurality of fastening devices that enables an easy assembly of the system without the aid of the hand tools.

I While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, 2 numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the 3 spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of 4 accompanying claims.

Claims

I What is claimed is: 2 1. A cabinet system comprising: 3 a bottom

panel (10'); 4 two side panels (20) mounted upright to the bottom panel (10'), with each panel (20) includes a first and a second parallel member (21), and with the first and 6 second parallel member (21) having a plurality of apertures (23) defined thereon 7 respectively; 8 at least a first beam and a second beam (30) mounted upright to the bottom 9 panel (10', 10"), with the first beam (30) being disposed opposite to the second beam (30) and with the first and second beam (30) defining a plurality of apertures 11 (32) arranged in two groups thereon respectively; 12 at least one back panel (50) mounted upright to the bottom panel (10'), with 13 the back panel (50) including two fixing sections (51), with one of the fixing 14 sections (51) mounted to the second beam (30) and the other mounted to the second parallel member (21) of the side panel (20);

16 a plurality of fastening device (54), with one of the fastening devices (54) 17 inserted through one corresponding group of the apertures (23,53) respectively in 18 order to automatically lock the side panels (20) and the back panel (50) without the 19 aid of tools and with one of the fastening devices (54) inserted through one corresponding group of the apertures (32,53) respectively in order to automatically 21 lock the second beam (20) with the back panel (50) without the aid of tools; 22 at least one door panel (70) is pivotally mounted to the bottom panel (10); 23 and 24 a top panel (80', 80") is capped on the side panels (20) and the back panel (50).

II

1 2. A cabinet system as claimed in claim I wherein the bottom panel (10') 2 has a periphery (12') formed about the sides thereof, with the periphery (12') 3 surrounding the side panels (20) and the first and second beams (30).

4 3. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom panel (10') has one side including at least one tab (13'), with the tab (13') being bent with 6 respect to the periphery (12) and with the tab (13') including the door panel (70) 7 pivotally mounted thereto.

8 4. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 3 wherein door panel (70) 9 includes a first protecting member (71) mounted adjacent to one of the bottom corners thereof, with the first proteèting members (71) having a pivot (72) formed 11 thereof and with the pivot (72) installed in the tab (13').

12 5. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the side panel (20) 13 and the first beam (30) includes a bracing (44) mounted therebetween, the door 14 panel (70) includes a second protecting member (71) mounted adjacent to one of the top corners thereof respectively, with the second protecting members (71) 16 having a pivot (72) formed thereof and with the pivot (72) installed in the bracing 17 (44).

18 6. A cabinet system as claimed in claim I wherein the first beam (30) 19 includes a door catch (452), the door panel (70) includes a latching element (73) adjacent to one of the top corners thereof, with the latching element (73) engagable 21 to the door catch by virtue of a magnetic force exists therebetween.

22 7. A cabinet system as claimed in claim I wherein the top panel (80') 23 has a periphery (81') formed about the sides thereof, with the periphery (81') 24 surrounding the side panels (20) and the first and second beams (30).

1 8. A cabinet system as claimed in claim I wherein each of the plurality 2 of fastening device (54) is comprised of a resilient plug (541) and a fastening 3 member (542).

4 9. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plug (541) has a head portion (5411), a bottom portion (5412) and a gap (5413) defined in the 6 bottom portion (5412), wherein an installer can squeeze the bottom portion (5412) 7 to make the gap (5413) become narrower for insertion through the apertures 8 (23,53;32.53), with the bottom portion 5412 being allowed to resiliently returns to 9 its original configuration.

10. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second 11 beam (30) include a plurality of fastening holes (31) arranged in two groups, with 12 each group of said fastening holes (31) respectively for receiving one guiding 13 device (40), each of the side panels (20) includes a plurality of fastening holes (22) 14 for receiving one guiding device (40) and a drawer (43) is installed between the two guiding derives (40).

16 11. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of the guiding 17 devices (40j includes two blocks (42) and a rail (41) affixed between the blocks (42) 18 and each block (42) has two locking portions (421) adapted to insert in two 19 fastening holes (31,22).

12. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 1 further includes at least one 21 shelf (60) horizontally supported by the fastening device (45).

22 13. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second 23 beams (30) includes a partition (35) mounted therebetween.

24 14. A cabinet system comprising: a bottom panel (10); I two side panels (20) mounted upright to the bottom panel, with each panel 2 (20) including a first and a second parallel member (21), and with the first and 3 second parallel member (21) having a plurality of apertures (23) defined thereon 4 respectively; a back panel (50) mounted upright to the bottom panel (10), with the back 6 panel (50) including two fixing sections (51), with each fixing section (51) adapted 7 to attach the second parallel member (21) of one side panel (20), with each fixing 8 section (51) having a plurality of apertures (53) corresponding to the apertures (23) 9 defmed in the attached second parallel member (21); a plurality of fastening devices (54), with one of the fastening devices (54) 11 being inserted through one corresponding group of the apertures (23,53) 12 respectively in order to automatically lock the side panels (20) with the back panel 13 (50) without the aid of tools; 14 a door panel (70) is pivotally mounted to the bottom panel (10); and a top panel (80) is capped on the side panels (20) and the back panel (50).

16 15. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the bottom panel 17 (10) has a periphery (12) formed about the sides thereof, with the periphery (12) 18 surrounding the side panels (20).

19 16. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the bottom panel (10) has one side including a tab (13), with the tab (13) being bent with respect to 21 the periphery (12) and with the tab (13) including the door panel (70) pivotally 22 mounted thereto.

23 17. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 16 wherein door panel (70) 24 includes a first protecting member (71) mounted adjacent to one of the bottom corners thereof, with the first protecting members (71) having a pivot (72) formed 26 thereof and with the pivot (72) installed in the tab (13).

1 18. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the side panels (20) 2 includes a bracing (44) mounted therebetween, wherein the cabinet system has the 3 door panel (70) including a second protecting member (71) mounted adjacent to 4 one of the top corners thereof, with the second protecting members (71) having a pivot (72) formed thereof and with the pivot (72) installed in the bracing (44).

6 19. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first parallel 7 member (21) of one side panel (20) includes a door catch (452), the door panel (70) 8 includes a latching element (73)adjacent to one of the top corners thereof, with the 9 latching element (73) engagable to the door catch by virtue of a magnetic force exists therebetween.

11 20. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the top panel (80) 12 has a periphery (81) formed about the sides thereof, with the periphery (81) 13 surrounding the side panels (20).

14 21. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of fastening device (54) is comprised of a resilient plug (541) and a fastening 16 member (542).

17 22. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the plug (541) has a 18 head portion (5411), a bottom portion (5412) and a gap (5413) defined in the 19 bottom portion (5412), wherein an installer can squeeze the bottom portion (5412) to make the gap (5413) become narrower for insertion through the apertures (23,53), 21 with the bottom portion 5412 being allowed to resiliently returns to its original 22 configuration.

23 23. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the side panels (20), 24 with each of the side panel (20) includes a plurality of fastening holes (22) for receiving a guiding device (40) and a drawer (43) is installed between the two 26 guiding derives (40).

1 24. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 23 wherein each of the guiding 2 devices (40) includes two blocks (42) and a rail (41) affixed between the blocks (42) 3 and each block (42) has two locking portions (421) adapted to insert in two 4 corresponding fastening holes (31,22).

25. A cabinet system as claimed in claim 14 further includes at least one 6 shelf (60) horizontally supported by the fastening device (45).