US3159438A

US3159438A - Connector spline for cabinet structures

Info

Publication number: US3159438A
Application number: US163472A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford R Carlson; Swiftney Robert
Original assignee: Bastian Blessing Co
Current assignee: Bastian Blessing Co
Priority date: 1962-01-02
Filing date: 1962-01-02
Publication date: 1964-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-01
Also published as: DE1429478A1

Description

c. R. CARLSON ETAL 3,159,438 CONNECTOR SPLINE FOR CABINET STRUCTURES Dec. 1, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 INVENTORS- Clifford R- Car/son Robert Swiftney 1954 c. R. CARLSON ETAL 3,159,438

CONNECTOR SFLINE FOR CABINET STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 Dec. 1, 1964 c. R. CARLSON ETAL 3,159,438

CONNECTOR SPLINE FOR CABINET STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 l I] .m/

INVENTORS. Clifford R. Car/son Robert Swift ey De 1964 c. R. CARLSON ETAL CONNECTOR SPLINE FOR CABINET STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 llllulllll y/lllllll'l INVENTORS. Clifford R. ar/son Robert wifiney 3,15%438 CONNECTGR SPLWE FOR (ZAEHNET STRUCTURES Clifford R. Carlson and Robert Swiftney, both of Grand Haven, Mich, assignors to The Bastian-Blessing Ionipany, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of lllinois Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,472 13 Claims. (El. 3l2--lll) This invention relates in general to cabinet construction and in particular to improvements in a connector spline arrangement for releasably securing adjacent cabinet structures together in side by side relationship.

In cabinet installations, especially in todays modern restaurant, drugstore and cafeteria, it has becomedesirable to align several individual cabinets in side by side relationship. Not only from the designers point of view, but to conserve space, efficient arrangement and operation for the employee, compact installation of service lines for the equipment within the cabinets and ease of maintenance, it has become necessary to secure the cabinets in contigusus relationship yet enabling removal of any one individual cabinet for maintenance or replacement.

Heretofore, a plurality of cabinets have been secured in side by side relationship by bolting each cabinet to the next through openings in the side wall or corners. Another more recently employed practice for securing cabinets in contiguous relationship is to utilize a tongue and groove arrangement whereby the continuous linear tongue fits into an oftsetarrangement in the cabinet top. This type of connection has caused the attachment of the upper portion of the cabinet to the cabinet top to be located some distance back from the peripheral edge of the cabinet top which creates an appreciable amount of leverage that usually pulls recesses or dimples in the cabinet top when a force is exerted thereon. Further, the peripheral edge of the cabinet top is supported only by the tongue member.

Another inherent disadvantage of the prior connecting devices is found when a plurality of cabinets are secured in a contiguous line in side by side relationship, an individual cabinet cannot be removed from the line without first starting at one end and pulling each successive unit away from the next until the one to be removed is reached. This could also involve considerable disconnesting of electrical connections and water and gas connections.

t is therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an improved connector spline for securing a plurality of cabinets in side by side relationship which eliminates the shortcomings of prior devices of this character.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a contoured spline for interconnecting adjacent cabinets whereby the cabinets are held in perfect alignment in all directions with abutting surfaces forming a smooth thin hairline seam.

Another object of this invention is to permit interconnection between adjacent cabinets which may be easily removed to permit removal of a cabinet for maintenance without prior side movement of adjacent cabinets.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved connection between-adjacent cabinets of a plurality of cabinets in side by side relationship which secures I United States Patent 3,159,438 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 ice the top surfaces of the cabinets in tight abutting relationship and maintains the top surfaces from subsequent separation or elevational changes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved connector for securing mating surfaces of adjacent panels together in secured relationship which is simple in design, rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and is easily installed and removed with a minimum of effort and tools.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which the preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating three cabinets secured in abutting relationship by the connector spline of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective illustrating the relationship of non-insulated cabinets with I the connector spline of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in side elevation taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the connector spline relative to the component parts of a full cabinet structure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view in perspective illustrating the mating of the connector splines with pre-formed channel members that are disposed on the cabinet;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the preferred connector spline of this invention utilized incabinets permitting access to abutting ffange members below the cabinet top;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view'taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned end view illustrating the relationship of the preferred connector spline with the abutting edges of non-insulated cabinets;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded'view in front perspective illustrating the relationship of the connector spline of this invention where bothrcabinets are insulated or not accessible from below the cabinet top;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the connector spline of this invention utilized on cabinets where both adjacent cabinets are insulated or not accessible frombelow the top surface;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line lit-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned end view illustrating the relationship of the connector spline of this invention when applied to cabinets having insulation mounted in the side walls thereof.

By way of generalization for a better understanding of the detailed description to follow, securement of adjacent cabinets is accomplished by the utilization of a plurality of contoured splines inserted in grooves transversely formed in the upper surface of channel members secured between the cabinet top and the cabinet. Coordinating with the plurality of contoured splines, to secure and align the cabinet. and to support the cabinet from the floor is a plurality of adjustable leg members slidably received in channel members secured on the under surface of the cabinet whereby horizontal movement is easily made to l, the reference numerals 1t), 12 and 14, indicate three cabinets secured in abutting side by side relationship by the connector spline arrangement of this invention. It is to be understood that the connector spline of this invention may be suitably used to secure various types of cabinets, such as, ofiice filing cabinets, book shelves, display cases, etc., and has been illustrated in the drawings and shall be described in the specification in relation to soda fountain and food service equipment by way of example only since it is in this line of cabinets that the connector spline finds its greatest functional application.

Cabinets

10, 12 and 14 may house any one of several different units, such as, a refrigerator or ice maker, a sink, a shelving unit or compressor enclosure, a soda fountain, a hot or cold food preparation unit, to name but a few of the many individual units necessary to complete a food service line. Each of the cabinets provides an upper portion consisting of a cabinet top 16, and a back splash board 18 and a lower supporting portion consisting of adjustable spaced apart legs 20. The body of the cabinet is substantially of conventional configuration and provides a back Wall 22, front wall 24, bottom wall 26 and

parallel side Walls

28 and 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and more specifically to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7 a preformed channel member 32 is secured preferably by welding, along the upper edges of the

parallel side walls

28 and 30. The channel members 32 provide contoured rear end portions 34 which extends rearwardly a substantial distance past the back wall 22 of the cabinet and contoured front end portions 36 which extends outwardly from the front wall 24 of the cabinet.

A back brace 38 is secured, preferably by Welding, to the rear end 34 of each of the channel members 32. It is to be noted that the back braces 33 and the channel members 32 are angularly contoured in a manner that upon being secured together, a rearmost surface 46 of the back brace 38 is at right angles to the top of the channel member 32 with a forward edge 42 of the back brace angularly disposed to the top of the channel member.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the channel members 32 are substantially of C configuration having a lower leg 44, an upper leg 46, a center web portion 43, and a lip 50 extending downwardly at right angles from the outer edge of the upper leg 46.

The lower legs 44 of the channel members 32 are secured to the cabinets with the outer edges thereof adjacent the upper edge of the

cabinet side walls

28 and 30 respectively.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4, the upper legs 46 of the channel'members are provided with a plurality of spaced grooves 52, which are formed transverse to the length of the channel members. The grooves may be readily formed by any suitable process, such as by stamping, whereby raised portions 54 are presented to be welded to the under surface of the cabinet tops 16. The front end 36 of the channel member 32 is contoured to angularly receive the cabinet top 16 and is similarly formed to provide a groove 56 with raised portions 58 being welded to the under surface of the cabinet top 16.

As is now readily understood and as best seen in FIG. 3, the

grooves

52 and 56, when formed, provide the bottom and side walls with the counter top 16 providing an upper wall for the groove when welded to the raised

portions

54 and 58.

The cabinet top 16 is preferably formed from one piece of material, such as, stainless steel, and is extended upwardly and welded to the back brace 38 with the upper portion of the top adjacent the peripheral edge thereof being angularly contoured outwardly and then backwardly,

as indicated by the numeral 60. A retaining strap 6-2 is received within the angular portion 63 and has one end secured by screw members 63 with the other end extending outwardly therefrom to be received in a simiiar angularly formed portion on the abutting cabinet.

As best seen in FIG. 3, cross support members 64 may be disposed across the cabinet top between the two channel members 32 to support the center pontion of the counter top 16 when a large surface area is to be covered.

Secured to the bottom wall 26 of each cabinet is a pair of channel members, a front channel 66 and a rear channel 68. Channels 66 and 68 are secured in parallel relationship and extend across the entire width of the cabinet. The front channel 66 is preferably set in, as seen in FIG. 3, to provide a spaced recess under the cabinet for sanitation, for the employees feet and to eliminate the channel member from view.

Adjustable supporting feet 20 are rigidly secured to a short channel member 70 which is slidably received within the channels 66 and 68 and may be easily slid along the width of the cabinet to provide support as desired, and as best seen in FIG. 2, the supporting feet are preferably positioned between the abutting cabinets. By providing only one supporting member between the abutting cabinets rather than two supporting members, one on each cabinet, the normally experienced difiiculty of cleaning between two closely spaced legs is eliminated and the chances for foreign particles to collect around one leg is considerably less than two.

The feet 20 may be vertically adjusted by the rotation of a lower portion 72 which is threadably received in an upper portion 74 that is rigidly secured to the channel 70.

A telescoping outer two piece housing, an upper portion 83 and a lower portion 35, is disposed over the feet 20. The upper housing portion 83 is secured against the portion 74 by a set screw 87. The lower housing portion 85 has an outside diameter which is slidably received in the upper housing portion 83 and is secured to the lowermost end of the rotatable portion 72. To insure full use of the vertical adjustment derived from the mating threaded portions 72 and 74, preliminary setting is readily obtained by removing housing portion 85 and cutting off the lower portion 72 to the approximate desired length. In similar manner, the lower edge of the upper housing portion 83 may be cut off if necessary.

When the feet 26 have been slid in channels 66 to 68 to the desired position, the channel member 70 is secured against further horizontal movement by a pair of spaced apart set screws 73. The set screws 73 are threadably received through the side of channel 70 and extend outwardly until the end engages the inner surface of the channel 66 or 68.

The

channel members

66 and 63 also provide a locking surface for attaching a releasable kick plate 75. As best seen in FIG. 3, the kick plate is secured to an angle bracket 77 by knurled locking screws 79. The bracket 77 is contoured to fit Within the channels 66 and 68 and is readily anchored by a hold down screw 81 in the identical manner as the feet 20 are anchored in the channels 66 and 68. The kick plate may be quickly removed, to permit cleaning under the cabinets, by removing the knurled locking screws 79.

With the cabinets constructed as just described, they are placed in side by side relationship with abutting edges of the cabinet tops 16 meeting in solid physical contact. The channels 32 will be adjacent one another, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, with the opposing

grooves

52 and 56 on each channel member in direct alignment with one another.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, a contoured spline 78, having substantially identical thickness, Width and length as two aligned grooves 52 of abutting channels 32, is inserted into the groves 52 to form an interlock between the adjacent cabinets. The contoured splines 78, as they are inserted into the grooves, will anchor the two cabinets into proper vertical alignment and brings the abutting edges of the cabinet tops 16 to exactly the same level or identical elevation. The splines 78 are provided with a leg portion 80, disposed at an angle greater than 90 from the plane of the spline surface, to facilitate insertion and subsequent removal of the splines. It being readily understood that by having the depending or angular leg 80 greater than 90, a screw driver or a wedging instrument may be easily inserted between the leg 80 and the side wall of the channel member 32 to aid in removing the spline.

A similar, but narrower spline 82 is disposed in the grooves 56 in the forward end 36 of channels 32 which further aids in proper front to back alignment and securement of the two adjacent cabinets.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of the splines 78 are spaced along the entire depth of the cabinet to insure over-all positive alignment and securement.

Having inserted all of the splines, it is desirable, but not necessary, to further secure the adjacent'cabin'ets by bolting them together. This is readilyaccomplished by inserting a bolt member 84 from one side of one of the channel members 32 for threading engagement with a securing clip 85 releasably disposed on the lip 50 on adjacent abutting channel member 32, as best seen in FIG. 7.

' The securing clip 85 is readily removed, and by providing a double set of holes, spaced apart at predetermined distances on both the lips 50 and the web portion 48, channels 32 may be bolted together from either side as desired.

It is now readily seen that the two adjacent cabinets are brought together and secured in proper alignment in all directions. The retaining strap 62g interlocks and secures theupper back portion of the splash bozirds 18,

the

splines

78 and 82 align and secure the upper portion of the cabinet top in perfect abutting relationship and the interconnection of the channel 79 in the channels 66 and 68 between the adjacent cabinets secures and aligns the lower portion of the cabinets.

To those skilled in the art, it is readily understood that not only is there provided a novel means to quickly and simply secure the adjacent cabinets, but securement 'is accomplished in such a manner to provide a solid, smooth, thin hairline seambetween the two cabinet tops which facilitates cleaning of the cabinets and eliminates any possible subsequent formation of a ridge or crevice for the collection of food particles which ultimately would lead to contamination and breeding of bacterial germs.

To further facilitate the speed of assembly, it has been found thatif the bolts 84 are provided with an Acme thread which conventionally has flat top crests they alone will serve to align the holes and preliminary precision alignment of the openings in the channels 32 will not be required. The two abutting channel members 32 are quickly and easily drawn together. As seen in FIG. 7,

the edges ofthe adjacent counter tops will abut before the adjacent channel members 32 come together. Thus, as thebolts 84 are'tightened, the abutting edges o'f'the counter tops will be drawn in tighter physical contact.

The above description of the contoured splines 78 and the bolt members 84 finds use when securing adjacent cabinets which do not require insulated top and walls and permits ready access beneath the cabinet top for insertion of the splines 78 and the bolts 84. Frequcntly, both ,The cabinets are pre-constructed and of similar configure: tion with the channel members 32 secured at the edges thereof as previously described.

As best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, a contoured spline 86 is provided having outer dimensions substantially equal to that of the dimensions of aligned grooves 52 of abutting channels 32. A pair of depending abutments 88 are formed in spaced apart relationship on the spline 86. As seen in FIG. 11, the abutments 88 seat in the space between the abutting legs of each of the channels 32 when the channels are brought together in secured relationship.

In securing insulated cabinets'together, the splines 86 are inserted into the

grooves

52 and 56 on one of the cabinets with the abutments 88 preventing it from passing on through the grooves. The other cabinet is then slid up adjacent the first cabinet with the extending ends of the splines 86 engaging the mating aligned

grooves

52 and 56. 'i

With the splines 86 disposed between thecabinets, the cabinets may be secured by bolts 90 which extend through the installationto engage the clip 85 on the opposing lip 50 in similar manner as previously described 7 and as best, seen in FIG. ll. Frequently, it isimpossibl'e to have access to the upper wall of the insulated cabinet as shown in FIG. 11 and the bolts 90 must pass through a lower portion of the cabinet side walls with a bearing plate 92 positionedbeneath the head of the bolt 9% and under the securing nut to transmit the securing force over a greater area as best seen in FIG. 8.

It is now readily understood that the securement of a plurality of cabinets in side by side relationship to form a food service line may be easily accomplished with a minimum of eifort whether adjacent cabinets have insulated walls ornot and'the desired smooth hairline seam between the abutting cabinets is attained which provides an over-all outer appearance of unitary construction. Another feature, previously mentioned, which is now readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, is that the cabinets which do not require installation, may be easily removed from the service line'without movement of either of the immediately adjacent units by simply removing the contoured

splines

78 and 82, removal of the bolts 84 and loosening of the screw members 63 on the upper surface of the splash panel 18 to release the retaining strap 62.

Although we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention for securing both insulated and non-insulated cabinets, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly of cabinets comprising a plurality of cabinets secured in side by side relationship, each of said cabinets having a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and parallel side walls, a pair of first channel members secured along the top of and parallel to the side walls having alignable pairs of opposing grooves disposed trans- "versely to the length of said first channel members; a

, past the edge of each of said first channel members, sec- 0nd channel members secured under each side edge of the bottom wall ofeach cabinet and extending in a direction transverse to the length of said first channel members in aligned pairs between cabinets when the cabinets are positioned side by side, an adjustable supporting foot slidably received within each aligned pair of the second a of opposing first channel member grooves of the adjacentcabinets for interlocking and aligning the cabinet top edges at anidentical elevation, and means interconnecting the adjacent cabinets cooperating with said splines to draw together and secure in weight-supporting relationship the abutting peripheral edges of the cabinet tops to form a fine hairline seam therebetween.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable supporting foot comprises an upper channel member slidably received within the aligned second channel members of the cabinet forhorizontal movement, an internal threaded member depending from and secured to said slidaole channel member, a pipe member threadably received in said internally threaded member for vertical adjustment and an outer housing disposed over said internally threaded member and said pipe member.

3. An assembly of cabinets comprising a plurality of insulated cabinets secured in side by side relationship; each of said cabinets consisting of a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and parallel side walls; first channel members secured along the upper edges of the side walls; a plurality of grooves formed in the first channel members transverse to the length of said first channel members; a cabinet top secured to the said first channel members, said cabinet top forming a top wall for said grooves; each peripheral edge of said cabinet top extending outwardly past each edge of each of said first channel members; second channel members secured to and under the bottom wall transverse to the length of said first channel members, said grooves in the first channel member of one cabinet being in register with the grooves in the first channel member of the next adjacent cabinet and said second channel members of" adjacent cabinets being in register when the cabinets are positioned side by side, a contoured spline disposed in each pair of opposing first channel member grooves of the adjacent cabinets interlocking and aligning the cabinets with the abutting peripheral edges of the cabinet top forming afine hairline seam and an adjustable supporting foot slidably received within the second channel members in interlocking relationship between the adjacent cabinets to support, secure and align the lower portion of the cabinets.

4. The structure as called for in claim 2 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially the width and thickness of said grooves and a length of two aligned grooves and a pair of spaced apart abutments centrally formed on the groove side of the plate portion.

5. An assembly of cabinets comprising a plurality of insulated cabinets secured together in side by side relationship, each of said cabinets having a body portion including a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and parallel side walls; channel members secured along the upper edges of the side walls and having a plurality of grooves formed transversely therein spaced from each other along the length of the channel members; each cabinet top secured at its bottom face along its edge to the top of each of said channel members between said grooves; said grooves in one channel member being in register with opposing grooves in the channel member of the next adjacentcabinet when the cabinets are positioned side by side, and a contoured spline slidable transversely of the channel members into each pair of opposing grooves of the adjacent cabinets to interlock and align at an identical elevation abutting edges of the cabinet tops of said adjacent cabinets.

6. The structure as called for in claim 5 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially a width, and thickness of said grooves and a length of two aligned grooves and abutment means centrally formed on the plate portion receivable between the channel members in seated relationship.

7. An assembly of cabinets comprising a plurality of cabinets supported in side by side relationship; each of said cabinets having a body portion consisting of a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and parallel side walls; channel members secured to the upper edges of the side walls; a plurality of grooves formed in the channel members transverse to the length of the channel members; a sheet metal cabinet top marginally secured to each of said channel members intermediate the grooves, said cabinet top forming a top wall for said grooves; the peripheral edges of said cabinet top margin extending outwardly past the edges of said channel members; said grooves in one of the channel members being in register with opposing grooves in the channel member of the next adjacent cabinet when the cabinets are positioned side by side, and a contoured spline disposed in each pair of opposing grooves of the adjacent cabinets interlocking, interengaging and marginally aligning the cabinet top edges at an identical elevation with each other at spaced points throughout their length, and means interconnecting said channel members for drawing the abutting marginal edges of the cabinet tops together to form a fine hairline seam.

8. The structure as called for in claim 7 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially the width, and thickness of said grooves and a length of two aligned grooves and a leg portion integrally formed on one end of said plate portion at an angle less than from the plane of said plate portion.

9. An assembly of cabinets comprising a plurality of cabinets secured in side by side relationship, each of said cabinets having a body portion including a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and parallel side walls; channel members secured to the upper edges of the side walls, one end of said channel members extending outwardly past the front wall defining an angular end portion; a plurality of grooves formed in the upper surface of said channel members and in said angular end portion transverse to the length of the channel members, a sheet metal cabinet top marginally secured to the top of each of said channel members at points intermediate said grooves, said cabinet top forming a top wall for said grooves, said marginal edges of said cabinet top extending outwardly past the edge of said channel members; said grooves in one of the channel members being in register with the grooves in the channel member of the next adjacent cabinet when the cabinets are positioned side by side, a contoured spline positioned in each pair of opposing grooves of the adjacent cabinets in laterally interlocking relationship and in engagement with the bottom faces of the marginal edges of the adjacent cabinet tops between said points of securement to maintain an identical elevation between said marginal edges; bolt members extending 1 through one of said channel members and threadably engaging a portion of a channel member of an adjacent cabinet for securing the marginal edges of the cabinet tops in abutting relationship to form a fine hairline seam therebetween.

10'. The structure as called for in claim 9 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially the same width and thickness as said grooves, and a length of two aligned grooves and a leg portion integrally formed on one end of said plate portion at an angle less than 90 from the plane of said plate portion.

11. In an assembly of cabinets disposed in side by side relationship, said cabinets having body portions with facing'side walls, means for leveling the cabinets in detachable supported relationship comprising first channel members, said means being secured respectively to the upper surfaces of the body portions at said side walls in parallel relationship facing each other; a plurality of spaced grooves formed in the first channel members transverse to the length of the first channel members in opposing pairs, a cabinet top marginally secured to each of said first channel members between said grooves, laterally spaced second channel members secured to the under surface of each body portion and disposed transverse to the length of said first channel members, the channels of said second channel members being in alignment in pairs when adjacent cabinets are positioned side by side; a weight bearing element received within the second channel members in interconnecting interlocking relationship between the adjacent cabinets to thereby place the grooves of said first channel members in registering alignment, a contoured spline disposed in each pair of opposing grooves each other on the upper portion of the cabinets, and

means interconnecting said first channel members for drawing and securing together the abutting edges of the cabinet tops to provide therebetween a fine hairline seam.

12. The structure as called for in claim 11 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially the width and thickness of one of said opposing grooves and a length of two aligned opposing grooves introduced into one of the opposing grooves and accessible only from inside one of the cabinets for insertion and removal from the other opposing groove, and a leg portion integrally formed on one end of said plate portion at an angle less than 90 from the plane of said plate portion for manipulation of said spline in said opposing grooves,

13. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said contoured spline comprises a solid plate portion having substantially the width, and thickness of said grooves and a length of a pair ofopposing grooves, and abutment means on said spline for engaging the marginal edge of one of said channel members at one of said opposing grooves to limit its slidable movement with respect there-j to while a free end extends beyond said one channel member and is slidably received in the other one of the opposing grooves of the other channel member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 341,481 Himes May 11, 1886 835,582 Tobey Nov. 13, 1906 1,080,874 Wilson Dec. 9, 1913 1,400,710 Yawman Dec. 20, 1921 2,121,190 Fellowes June 21, 1938 2,463,128 Vanderveld Mar. 1, 1949 2,489,493 Kuenzie Nov. 29, 1949 2,635,762 Shaw Apr. 21, 1953 2,702,732 McCarran Feb. 22, 1955 2,742,337 Reitzel Apr. 17, 1956 2,930,665 Budai Mar. 29, 1960 2,966,760 Brockway Jan. 3, 1961 r 3,001,844 Spring Sept. 26, 1961 3,033,635 Glass May 8, 1962 3,046,972 Pappas July 31, 1962 v FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 14,

Claims

1. AN ASSEMBLY OF CABINETS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CABINETS SECURED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID CABINETS HAVING A FRONT WALL, A BACK WALL, A BOTTOM WALL AND PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, A PAIR OF FIRST CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED ALONG THE TOP OF AND PARALLEL TO THE SIDE WALLS HAVING ALLIGNABLE PAIRS OF OPPOSING GROOVES DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBERS; A CABINET TOP MARGINALLY SECURED TO EACH OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE THE GROOVES AND FORMING A TOP WALL FOR SAID GROOVES WITH ITS EDGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY PAST THE EDGE OF EACH OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBERS, SECOND CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED UNDER EACH SIDE EDGE OF THE BOTTOM WALL OF EACH CABINET AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL MEMBERS IN ALIGNED PAIRS BETWEEN CABINETS WHEN THE CABINETS ARE POSITIONED SIDE BY SIDE, AND ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING FOOT SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN EACH ALIGNED PAIR OF THE SECOND CHANNEL MEMBERS IN INTERLOCKING INTERENGAGING RELATION-