US3131793A

US3131793A - Frame assembly for defining and opening for use in cabinet construction

Info

Publication number: US3131793A
Application number: US233728A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bohn Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-10-29
Filing date: 1962-10-29
Publication date: 1964-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-05

Description

y 5, 1964 s. BOHN 3,131,793

FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR DEFINING AN OPENING FOR USE IN CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Samuel Bohn ATTORNEY y 1964 s. BOHN 3,131,793

FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR DEFINING AN OPENING FOR USE IN CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed 001?. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

Samuel Bohn ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,131,793 FRABE ASSEMBLY FOR DEFINING AN OPENING FOR USE IN CABINET CONSTRUCTION Samuel Bohn, 696 Crescent Ava, Plainfield, NJ. Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,728 4 Claims. (Cl. 189--75) This invention relates in general to a frame assembly, and more specifically to a frame assembly for defining an opening in a cabinet construction or the like.

Heretofore, frame assemblies for outlining an opening in a cabinet construction generally consisted of a frame defined by rectangularly disposed opposed side and end frame members that are fitted at the corners with a miter joint. Generally such corners had to be secured either by fasteners, such as nails, screws or the like, or clamps which required nailing or screwing, or glue and the like. Therefore securing the corners of the prior construction by any of the foregoing described means required time, labor and material, each of which increased the cost of the finished product.

Another difiiculty that was encountered with frame constructions having mitered or squared corners to define an opening was that it was dificult to clean in the corner crevices. This condition is especially aggravated when such frame constructions are utilized in cabinets for storing or containing food-stuffs as for example in cold storage cabinets, meat cabinets, shelf cabinets, and the like. The accumulation of dirt, dust and particles of comestibles that became trapped in the corner crevices of the prior squared corner frame constructions, and difl'iculty encountered in cleaning the same, tended to create unsightly and unsanitary conditions.

Therefore, an object of this construction is to provide a frame construction for framing an opening in a cabinet or the like that is relatively simple in construction, easy to assemble and which is positive in operation.

Another object is to provide a frame construction that can be readily cleaned at the corners thereof.

Still another object is to provide a frame construction that is constructed and arranged so that the component parts thereof may be securely fastened by cooperating friction-holding interlocking means.

Still another object is to provide a novel frame construction for defining an opening in a cabinet or the like which is able to accommodate sliding panels or doors.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the respective members defining the ends and side members of the frame assembly framing an opening can be fabricated of readily extrudable or moldable material which can be cut to desired length and which can then be secured together by the intermediary of a novelly constructed corner piece capable of frictionally interlocking with adjacent side and end frame members.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame construction shown partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a detail side elevation View of the top corner piece shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail side elevation view of the lower corner piece of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. FIG. 3.

FIG.

FIG. FIG. 3.

5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of 6 is a right end view of FIG. 3.

. 1 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a slightly modified corner piece.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the frame assembly of this invention as utilized on a food storage cabinet.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1, the frame assembly 20 of the instant invention. The frame assembly 29 is readily adapted to frame an opening 21 in a cabinet wall 22, as for example in a cold storage cabinet and the like. The assembly 20 comprises a pair of side frame members 23 and a pair of opposed end jamb members 24 which are rectangularly disposed, as shown in FIG. 10. In accordance with this invention the

respective frame members

23, 24 are substantially identical in cross-section. For this reason the

frame members

23, 24 can be readily fabricated from a continuous or elongated structural member as for example one formed by extrusion or molding, the

respective frame members

23, 24 being then cut to a desired length from the continuous piece. Consequently the

frame members

23, 24 may be made of any suitable metal or plastic material which can be extruded or molded to form.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the side and

end jamb members

23, 24 is formed of a structural member having a

web portion

25, 26 respectively which has connected thereto along one longitudinal edge portion thereof a laterally and outwardly extending

flange portion

25A, 26A. Connected along the other longitudinal edging of the

respective web portions

25, 26 is a front facing flange 25B, 268 which extends laterally to either side of the respective web portion. Intermediate the width of each

web portion

25, 26 is a rail means 27, 28 respectively, which protrudes inwardly of the frame assembly 20.

In the illustrated embodiment the rail means 27 of the side frame members defines a guide rail for accom- 'modating a sliding door or panel 29 utilized to close the opening 21 defined by the frame assembly. The rail means 28 of the end members 24 define the jamb rails to assure proper sealing or seating of the door 29 in the closed position. The embodiment illustrated employs a pair of such rail means 27, 28, each accommodating a door 23 capable of forming a closure for one-half of the opening as shown in FIG. 10. In this manner access may be had to the cabinet from either side of the opening, simply by sliding one of the doors toward the opposite side of the frame assembly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the web portion of the respective frame members is such that the thickness of the cabinet wall 22 can be accommodated between the

rear flange

25A, 26A and the

front facing flanges

25B, 26B thereof.

In accordance with this invention the respective frame members are secured to one another by a novel corner construction. As shown, the adjacent side and

end frame members

23, 24 in the assembled position have their adjacent ends spaced from one another and they are connected by a corner piece 30. Each corner piece 30 comprises a front facing flange 31 and a rear flange 32 each of which is adapted to abut against the edges of the

front facings

25B, 26B and

rear flanges

25A, 26A of the

adjacent frame members

25, 26. The

corner piece flanges

31, 32 are interconnected by an arcuate web portion 33. Intermediate the width of the web portion 33 of the corner pieces 36 are thickened portions 34 which are arranged to join the

rail portions

27, 23 of the adjacent side and

end frame members

23, 24.

Means are provided whereby the corner pieces 30 are frictionally secured to its associated end and

side frame members

23, 24. As shown, each of the

rail portions

27, 28 is provided with a

groove

27A, 28A formed in the rear surface of the respective rails. Projecting from each edge of the arcuate web 33 of the respective corner pieces 30 are lugs or tongues 35 which are adapted to be received in the

respective grooves

27A, 28A of the

adjacent frame members

23, 24. In this manner a friction-tight interlocking connection is provided for maintaining the

frame members

23, 24 and corners 39 in assembled position, as shown in' FIG. 1. Consequently the use of any extraneous fastening means such as nails, screws or glue is completely eliminated. In the assembled form the

front facings

25B, 26B, 31 of the

respective frame members

23, 24 and corner pieces 39 provide a clean, attractive frame about the opening 21. Also because the corners 30 are defined by an arcuate web 33 portion, cleaning is greatly enhance, and the sharp corner crevices conducive to the accumulation of dirt and the like are completely avoided.

FIG. 9 illustrates a slightly modified corner construction. In this form of the invention the corner piece 4% is the same as herein described except that its front facing flange 41 is provided with an offset shoulder portion 42 to define a seat for accommodating the butt end of the facing

flanges

43, 44 of the adjacent side and

end frame members

45, 46. To accomplish this, the facing flange 41 of corner piece 40 may be made somewhat thicker than the facing flange of corner pieces 30 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Consequently, the recessed shoulders 42 of corner piece provides for overlapping of the

marginal portions

41A, 41B of the corner flange 41 over the facing

flanges

43, 44 of the associated

frame members

45, 46. If desired the rear flange of corner piece (not shown) may be similarly formed.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame assembly for outlining an opening in a cabinet or the like comprising rectangularly disposed frame members including a pair of opposed end jamb members and a pair of opposed side members whereby the adjacent ends of the said rectangularly disposed members are spaced apart, each of said members being defined by a web having a laterally disposed flange extending outwardly from said web along the rear longitudinal edge thereof, and a front facing extending laterally to either side of said web along the front longitudinal edge thereof, each of said side members having a guide rail connected to said web portion between the longitudinal edges thereof, the guide rail of the respective side members being disposed along the inner surface of the respective side members, each of said jamb members having a jamb rail connected to the respective web portions thereof, said jamb rails and side rails being co-planarly disposed in the assembled position of said frame members, a corner piece disposed between the adjacent ends of said side and jamb members to define a corner junction thereat, said corner piece being coextensive in width to the web portion of the adjacent members, said corner piece including an arcuate web portion, end flanges connected to the ends of said arcuate web portion, said arcuate web portion defining a rounded corner at juncture of said frame members, said corner pieces each having an ar-' cuate rail portion connecting the rail portion of said adjacent side and end frame members, and means frictionally interlocking the respective corner piece between adjacent side and end frame members, said latter means including a groove formed in said rail portions of the adjacent side and end frame members, and each of said corner pieces having projecting lugs extending outwardly from the arcuate rail portions thereof and received in the grooves of the adjacent side and end frame members.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flanges of the respective corner pieces are formed with a recessed shoulder receiving the flange portion of the adjacent frame members.

3. A frame assembly for outlining an opening in a cabinet or the like comprising rectangularly disposed frame members including a pair of opposed end jamb members and a pair of opposed side members whereby the adjacent ends of the said rectangularly disposed members are spaced apart, each of said members being defined by a web having a laterally disposed flange extending outwardly from said web along a longitudinal edge thereof, and a front facing extending laterally to either side of said Web along the other longitudinal edge thereof, each of said side members having a guide rail connected to said web portion between the longitudinal edges thereof, the guide rails of the respective side members being disposed along the inner surface of the respective side members, said guide rails being substantially coextensive the length of said side members, the respective guide rails of said side members having a groove formed therein, each of said jamb members having a jamb rail connected to the respective web portions thereof, said jamb rails and side rails being co-planarly disposed in the assembled position of said frame members, said jamb rails having a groove formed therein, a corner piece disposed between the adjacent ends of said side and jamb members to define a corner junction thereat, said corner piece being coextensive in width to the web portion of the adjacent members, end flanges connected to the ends of each corner piece which are co-planarly disposed with respect to the flange and front facing of the respective frame members, each of said corner pieces having an arcuate inner surface to define a rounded corner at juncture of said frame members, said corner pieces having an arcuate rail portion connecting the guide rails of said adjacent side and end frame members, and means frictionally interlocking the respective corner piece between adjacent side and end frame members.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said latter means include projecting lugs formed on each of said corner pieces received in the groove defined in the respective rail portions of said adjacent side and end frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 714,310 Great Britain June 20, 1952

Claims

1. A FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR OUTLINING AN OPENING IN A CABINET OR THE LIKE COMPRISING RECTANGULARLY DISPOSED FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED END JAMB MEMBERS AND A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE MEMBERS WHEREBY THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE SAID RECTANGULARLY DISPOSED MEMBERS ARE SPACED APART, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING DEFINED BY A WEB HAVING A LATERALLY DISPOSED FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID WEB ALONG THE REAR LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF, AND A FRONT FACING EXTENDING LATERALLY TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID WEB ALONG THE FRONT LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A GUIDE RAIL CONNECTED TO SAID WEB PORTION BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF, THE GUIDE RAIL OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED ALONG THE INNER SURFACE OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID JAMB MEMBERS HAVING A JAMB RAIL CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE WEB PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID JAMB RAILS AND SIDE RAILS BEING CO-PLANARLY DISPOSED IN THE ASSEMBLED POSITION OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, A CORNER PIECE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID SIDE AND JAMB MEMBERS TO DEFINE A CORNER JUNCTION THEREAT, SAID CORNER PIECE BEING COEXTENSIVE IN WIDTH TO THE WEB PORTION OF THE ADJACENT MEMBERS, SAID CORNER PIECE INCLUDING AN ARCUATE WEB PORTION, END FLANGES CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF SAID ARCUATE WEB PORTION, SAID ARCUATE WEB PORTION DEFINING A ROUNDED CORNER AT JUNCTURE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, SAID CORNER PIECES EACH HAVING AN ARCUATE RAIL PORTION CONNECTING THE RAIL PORTION OF SAID ADJACENT SIDE AND END FRAME MEMBERS, AND MEANS FRICTIONALLY INTERLOCKING THE RESPECTIVE CORNER PIECE BETWEEN ADJACENT SIDE AND END FRAME MEMBERS, SAID LATTER MEANS INCLUDING A GROOVE FORMED IN SAID RAIL PORTIONS OF THE ADJACENT SIDE AND END FRAME MEMBERS, AND EACH OF SAID CORNER PIECES HAVING PROJECTING LUGS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE ARCUATE RAIL PORTIONS THEREOF AND RECEIVED IN THE GROOVES OF THE ADJACENT SIDE AND END FRAME MEMBERS.