U.S. patent application number 10/292070 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-10 for cabinet.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sandusky Cabinets, Inc.. Invention is credited to Stoever, John A..
Application Number | 20030127956 10/292070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26794975 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030127956 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stoever, John A. |
July 10, 2003 |
Cabinet
Abstract
An improved storage cabinet that is relatively light weight
while providing enhanced structural strength. The cabinet has
specially formed side panels and back panels which, when joined
together, form columns throughout the height of the cabinet's rear
corners to enhance the cabinet's structural strength. The cabinet
also has an end panel door stop, whose front edge is folded to
create a reinforcement section, for cabinet doors to bear against.
The cabinet also has double doors with complimentary forty-five
degree and one hundred and thirty-five degree angle bends at the
double doors' center line to prevent unauthorized line-of-sight
access to the contents contained within the cabinet.
Inventors: |
Stoever, John A.; (Cordova,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, HERRON & EVANS, LLP
2700 CAREW TOWER
441 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
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Assignee: |
Sandusky Cabinets, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
26794975 |
Appl. No.: |
10/292070 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10292070 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
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09454510 |
Dec 6, 1999 |
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6478391 |
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10292070 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
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09098672 |
Jun 17, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/257.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 47/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/257.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 043/00 |
Claims
1. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each having
an end wall, an end reverse side, a door stop and a facing located
at an angle of about 90.degree. relative to said end wall and
extending away from said end reverse side, said at least one top
and bottom end panel having a facing reinforcement section
overlaying said facing and being integrally connected therewith by
a door stop reinforcing fold, at least one side panel having a
reverse side and a trailing edge, said trailing edge forming a
first rear flange integral with said side panel and a second rear
flange integral with said side panel, said first and second rear
flange cooperating to partially form a structural column, said
first rear flange extending outwardly from said side panel reverse
side, and said reverse side of said second rear flange overlying
said side panel reverse side but being spaced therefrom by a gap,
at least one back panel having an obverse side and an outside edge,
said outside edge forming an edge flange adapted to cooperate with
said first and second rear flanges to form said structural column,
said edge flange extending outwardly from said back panel obverse
side, and a first door and a second door, each of said first and
second doors having a door reverse side and a door center edge,
said first door having a door center edge bend of about 135.degree.
towards said first door reverse side, and said second door having a
door center edge bend of about 45.degree. towards said second door
reverse side.
2. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each having
an end wall, an end obverse side, an end reverse side, an integral
door stop and an integral facing located at an angle of about
90.degree. relative to said end wall and extending away from said
reverse side of said end wall, said at least one top and bottom end
panel having an integral facing reinforcing section overlaying said
facing and being integrally connected therewith by a door stop
reinforcing fold, said facing having an integral return flange
located at an angle of about 90.degree. relative to said facing and
extending away from said obverse side of said facing.
3. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein said return flange has a return
flange reinforcement section overlaying said return flange and
being integrally connected therewith by a door stop reinforcing
fold.
4. A cabinet, comprising: at least one side panel having a reverse
side and a trailing edge, said trailing edge forming a first rear
flange and a second rear flange that cooperate to partially form a
structural column, said first rear flange extending outwardly from
said side panel reverse side, and said second rear flange overlying
said side panel reverse side but being spaced therefrom by a gap,
said second rear flange having a second rear flange reinforcement
section overlaying said second rear flange and being integrally
connected therewith by a trailing edge reinforcing fold, and at
least one back panel having an obverse side and an outside edge,
said outside edge being forming an edge flange adapted to cooperate
with said first and second rear flanges to form said structural
column, said edge flange extending outwardly from said back panel
obverse side.
5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said edge flange has an edge
flange reinforcement section overlaying said edge flange and being
integrally connected therewith by an edge flange reinforcing
fold.
6. A pair of doors for a cabinet, comprising: a first door and a
second door, each of said first and second doors having a door
reverse side and a door center edge, said first door having a door
center edge bend of about 135.degree. towards said first door
reverse side, and said second door having a door center edge bend
of about 45.degree. towards said second door reverse side, wherein
said first door has a second center edge bend of about 45.degree.
towards said first door reverse side, said first door center edge
having a first door reinforcing plate integrally connected
therewith by a first door fold, and wherein said second door has a
second center edge bend of about 135.degree. towards said second
door reverse side, said second door center edge having a second
door reinforcing plate connected therewith by a second door
fold.
7. In a cabinet formed of panels of sheet material and having
corner structures, at least one panel defining along a side thereof
a corner structure comprising a plurality of integral folds of
sheet material extending along the entire corner structure.
8. In a cabinet formed in part with top and bottom panels of sheet
material, each of said top and bottom panels defining a door stop
for a cabinet door, said door stop comprising a portion of the
sheet material forming said at least one panel being folded back on
itself to form said door stop with a double thickness of said sheet
material.
9. A cabinet, comprising: a top and bottom end panel each having an
end wall, an end reverse side, a door stop and a facing located at
an angle of about 90.degree. relative to said end wall and
extending away from said reverse side of said end wall, said at
least one top and bottom end panel having a facing reinforcement
section overlaying said facing and being integrally connected
therewith by a door stop reinforcing fold, at least one side panel
having a reverse side and a trailing edge, said trailing edge
forming a first rear flange and a second rear flange integral with
said side panel that cooperate to partially form a structural
column, said first rear flange extending outwardly from said side
panel reverse side, and said reverse side of said second rear
flange overlying said side panel reverse side but being spaced
therefrom by a gap, and at least one back panel having an obverse
side and an outside edge, said outside edge forming an edge flange
integral with said back panel adapted to cooperate with said first
and second rear flanges to form said structural column, said edge
flange extending outwardly from said back panel obverse side.
10. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each
comprising an end wall having an end reverse side; at least one of
said top and bottom panels having formed integral therewith a
support flange and a facing located at an angle of about 90.degree.
relative to said end wall and extending away from said reverse side
of said end wall, at least one side panel having a seat return
flange, a reverse side and a trailing edge, said seat return flange
being substantially coplanar with said support flange, said
trailing edge forming a first rear flange integral with said side
panel and a second rear flange integral with said side panel, said
first and second rear flange cooperating to partially form a
structural column, said first rear flange extending outwardly from
said side panel reverse side, and said reverse side of said second
rear flange overlying said side panel reverse side but being spaced
therefrom by a gap, a support bracket attachable to said support
flange and said side panel, a portion of said support bracket being
received against said end reverse side to enhance the structural
rigidity of the cabinet, at least one back panel having an obverse
side and an outside edge, said outside edge forming an edge flange
adapted to cooperate with said first and second rear flanges to
form said structural column, said edge flange extending outwardly
from said back panel obverse side, and a first door and a second
door, each of said first and second doors having a door reverse
side and a door center edge, said first door having a door center
edge bend of about 135.degree. towards said first door reverse
side, and said second door having a door center edge bend of about
45.degree. towards said second door reverse side.
11. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each
comprising an end wall, the end walls having an end wall obverse
side and an end wall reverse side; at least one of said top and
bottom panels having formed integral therewith a support flange and
a facing located at an angle of about 90.degree. relative to said
end wall and extending away from said reverse side of said end
wall, said support flange being spaced inboard of said facing; and
a support bracket attached to said support flange, a portion of
said support bracket being received on said end reverse side to
enhance the structural rigidity of the cabinet.
12. A cabinet comprising: at least one of a top panel and a bottom
panel having an end reverse side; at least one side panel having a
seat return flange; and a support bracket attached to said seat
return flange, a portion of said support bracket being received
against said end reverse side to enhance the structural rigidity of
the cabinet.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This present application is a continuation-in-part of
copending U.S. Ser. No. 09/098,672, filed on Jun. 17, 1998 the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to cabinets. More specifically, this
invention relates to a storage cabinet with improved structural
strength.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditional free standing unassembled storage cabinets made
from metal, plastic, or other materials generally suffer from a few
common problems. They are difficult to assemble, too heavy, and/or
lack structural strength. As is often the case, cabinets that are
too heavy result from attempts to provide structural strength by
either forming the cabinet components from material that is
relatively thick, or including in the cabinet's construction a
relatively large amount of structural reinforcement to attempt to
compensate for cabinet material that is too thin and weak to form a
structurally rigid cabinet without such reinforcement. Assembly of
free standing cabinets such as these may be time consuming and
difficult due to the large number of parts to assemble and/or the
increased weight of these parts. Unnecessary weight unduly
increases shipping costs.
[0004] Storage cabinets are used to hold many different items that
will fit, one additional limitation being the capacity of the
cabinet to bear a given weight upon its shelves, walls, and other
structural components. A free standing cabinet's structural
strength must be able to accommodate progressively heavier loads as
a user stores more and/or heavier items therein. Thus, as the
cabinet's intended load carrying capacity is increased, the
cabinet's structural reinforcement normally will be increased by
the methods mentioned above to strengthen the cabinet, resulting in
cabinets that may be heavy, difficult to assemble and/or expensive
due to the increased costs of producing and shipping a cabinet
strong enough to bear heavier loads.
[0005] Another problem associated with traditional free standing
cabinet construction is that cabinets such as these may have
abutting double doors with an open gap where the doors meet. This
is unsightly and produces an insecure overall appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
improved storage cabinet that is relatively light weight for
intended load capacity while having improved structural strength
and rigidity.
[0007] It is a further objective of the present invention to
provide an improved storage cabinet that is easy to assemble.
[0008] These and other objectives of the present invention are
achieved by providing, in one presently preferred form, a storage
cabinet that has specially formed back panels and side panels
which, when joined together to create each of the cabinet's rear
corners, form a column at each corner that can bear greater loads
than a traditional cabinet's rear corner. A traditional cabinet
corner is often simply formed by joining two overlapping sheets of
material. The structure of the cabinets' rear corner according to
the invention is much less prone to buckling under high loads than
is a traditional cabinet's rear corner, thereby enhancing the
cabinet's structural strength. The stability of the cabinet of this
invention is further enhanced by the construction of a door stop
formed from the front edges of the cabinet's top and bottom panels.
The leading edge of each top and bottom panel is folded so as to
create a double thickness of material along the leading edge to
form a door stop which is stronger than the same door stop formed
without the fold.
[0009] In another presently preferred form, a support bracket
replaces the door stop formed integrally with the cabinet top and
bottom panels.
[0010] The objectives of the present invention are further achieved
by providing double cabinet doors, the first and second door, in
preferred form, each having a center edge with complimentary bends
approximately equal to forty-five degrees and one hundred and
thirty-five degrees, respectively. These complimentary center edges
overlap so there is no direct line-of-sight problem associated with
the above mentioned traditional abutting edges on prior art cabinet
double doors. When closed and secured the double doors of the
present invention do not allow direct line-of-sight access to the
cabinet's contents.
[0011] In another presently preferred form. The stability of the
cabinet is enhanced by a support flange attached to the side panels
and the cabinet's end panels to help prevent lateral and other
forces from bending the side panels and top and bottom panels.
[0012] Other advantages of the invention will become more apparent
to those of ordinary skill upon review of the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled storage cabinet
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the bottom of
the cabinet of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partially disassembled perspective view of a
first preferred embodiment of the cabinet of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3A is an enlarged breakaway view of the edge of the
left door shown in FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line
5-5 of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5A-5A of
FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a partially cut away perspective view of an end
panel assembled to a side panel of the cabinet of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a door stop taken along
lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;
[0022] FIG. 7A is a similar view to FIG. 7 but showing the
construction of a second preferred embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 5 but showing the
construction of the second preferred embodiment of FIG. 7A; and
[0024] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the bottom of a
third preferred embodiment of the cabinet of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, in accord with the
principles of this invention and in preferred form, the cabinet 10
is generally comprised of a top panel 12a, a bottom panel 12b, a
left side panel 60a, a right side panel 60b, a back left panel
100a, a back right panel 100b, a left door 130 and a right door
132.
[0026] In a first preferred embodiment the top and bottom panels
12a, 12b have an obverse side 14, a reverse side 16, an end wall
17, a door stop 18, a rear lip 42, a left lip 34a, and a right lip
34b, as seen in FIGS. 2, 6, 7. For the purposes of better
describing the present invention, the top and bottom panels 12a,
12b are more particularly described as stated above in order to
make definite the interrelatedness of the elements defining the top
and bottom panels 12a, 12b. For example, the top and bottom panels
12a, 12b are described as having the end wall 17 so as to more
clearly describe the relationship with the facing 20, described
below. The bottom panel 12b, includes the facing 20, a return
flange 22 and a stop flange 24. When the stop 18 is viewed in cross
section as shown in FIG. 7, the reverse side 16 of the facing 20
forms an angle substantially equal to ninety degrees with the
reverse side 16 of the end wall 17. Similarly, the reverse side 16
of the return flange 22 forms an angle substantially equal to
ninety degrees with the reverse side 16 of the facing 20, overlies
the end wall 17, and is spaced therefrom by a gap 22a. The obverse
side 14 of the stop 24 forms an angle substantially equal to ninety
degrees with the obverse side 14 of the return flange 22 and
extends away from the end wall 17. The door stop 18 also has an
integrally connected door stop reinforcing fold 26 which defines an
integrally connected stop plate reinforcement section 28, a return
flange reinforcement section 30 and a facing reinforcement section
32, see FIG. 7.
[0027] Each of the top panel 12a and the bottom panel 12b have a
left lip 34a and a right lip 34b. The reverse side 16 of each left
and right lip 34a, 34b forms an angle of approximately ninety
degrees with the reverse side of the end wall 17. Each left and
right lip 34a, 34b has integrally connected left and right lip
reinforcing folds 38a, 38b which provides left and right lip
reinforcement sections 40a, 40b, as seen in FIG. 5A. Each of the
top panel 12a and bottom panel 12b also has a rear lip 42, the
reverse side 16 of the rear lip 42 forming an angle of
approximately ninety degrees with the reverse side of the end wall
17. Like the left and right lips 34a, 34b, the rear lip 42 has an
integrally connected rear lip reinforcing fold 44 which provides a
rear lip reinforcement section 46, as seen in FIG. 2. The door stop
18, the left lip 34a and the right lip 34b all define pairs 48 of
overlying apertures 50a and underlying apertures 50b. The overlying
and underlying apertures 50a, 50b of each aperture pair 48 align
approximately coaxially upon forming the stop reinforcing fold 26
and the lip reinforcing folds 38.
[0028] Both the left side panel 60a and right side panel 60b have
an obverse side 62, a reverse side 64, a side wall 65, a leading
edge 66, and a trailing edge 78, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. For the
purpose of better describing the present invention, the left and
right side panels 60a, 60b are more particularly described as set
forth above in order to make definite the interrelatedness of the
elements defining the left and right side panels 60a, 60b. When
viewed in cross section, the leading edge 66 of each left and right
side panel 60a, 60b defines a face wall 68, a door seat 70, 72, and
edge finish arm 74, 76. The reverse side 64 of the face wall 68
forms an angle approximately equal to ninety degrees with the
reverse side 64 of the side wall 65. The reverse side 64 of the
door seat plate 70 forms an angle approximately equal to ninety
degrees with the reverse side 64 of the face wall 68, and the
obverse side 66 of the door seat plate 72 forms an angle
substantially equal to ninety degrees with the obverse side 66 of
the door seat plate 70, to form the door seat. The door seat plate
70 is spaced from the side wall 65 by a gap 70a. The reverse side
64 of edge finish plate 74 forms an angle approximately equal to
ninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of the door seat plate 72,
and the reverse side 64 of the edge finish plate 76 forms an angle
approximately equal to ninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of
the edge finish plate 74, to form the edge finish arm. The edge
finish plate 76 is spaced from door seat plate 72 by gap 76a. A
pair of bottom hinge knuckles 92 is affixed to the surface 70 by
flange 90a of each left and right side panel 60a, 60b and secured
into place with rivets 90b, as seen in FIG. 3.
[0029] When viewed in cross section, the trailing edge 78 of each
side panel 60a, 60b has a first rear flange 80 and a second rear
flange 82 that cooperate to partially form a structural column in
the final cabinet assembly. The reverse side 64 of the first rear
flange 80 forms an angle approximately equal to ninety degrees with
the reverse side 64 of the side wall 65 having a first bend edge
81. The reverse side 64 of the second rear flange 82 forms an angle
approximately equal to ninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of
the first rear flange 80 having a second bend edge 83. The second
rear flange 82 overlies the side wall 65 but is spaced therefrom by
gap 82a. The trailing edge 78 is doubled over upon the second rear
flange 82 to form an integrally connected second rear flange
reinforcement section 85.
[0030] Each of the left and right side panels 60a, 60b has a top
edge 86 and a bottom edge 88, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the
top and bottom edges 86, 88 define side wall apertures 90. The
obverse side 62 of the side wall 65 adjacent to each of the top and
bottom edges 86, 88 of each of the left and right side panels 60a,
60b are placed inboard of the left and right lips 34a, 34b of the
top and bottom panels 12a, 12b, and in abutting engagement
therewith, and the side wall apertures 90 are aligned substantially
coaxially with the aperture pairs 48, when the cabinet 10 is
assembled. The leading edge 66 of each side panel 60a, 60b also
defines apertures 90 which align approximately coaxially with the
aperture pairs 48 defined in the door stop 18. Screws 186 are
received therethrough to affix the left and right side panels 60a,
60b to the top and bottom panels 12a, 12b when the cabinet is
assembled.
[0031] The cabinet 10 has a left back panel 100a and a right back
panel 100b, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each left and right back
panel 100a, 100b has an obverse side 102, a reverse side 104, a
back wall 105, an outside edge 106 and a center edge 108. For the
purpose of better describing the present invention, the left and
right back panels 100a, 100b are more particularly described as set
forth above in order to make definite the interrelatedness of the
elements defining the left and right back panels 100a, 100b. Both
outside and center edges 106, 108 on each left and right back panel
100a, 100b have an edge flange 110. When viewed in cross section at
FIG. 5, the obverse side 102 of the edge flange 110 forms an angle
approximately equal to ninety degrees with the obverse side 102 of
the back wall 105. Each edge flange 110 formed at the outside edge
106 and the center edge 108 has a reinforcing fold 114 and a flange
reinforcement section 116 formed by folding over upon themselves
each of the outside edge 106 and the center edge 108. The edge
flange 110 formed on both of the outside edge 106 and center edge
108 of each of the left and right back panels 100a, 100b defines
pairs of apertures with an overlying aperture 124 and an underlying
aperture 126. Apertures 124, 126 on the edge flange 110 of left
100a back panel center edge 108 align substantially coaxially with
the apertures 124, 126 on the edge flange 110 of right 100b back
panel center edge 108, and receive screws 186 therethrough to
secure the left and right back panels 100a, 100b together when the
cabinet is assembled.
[0032] When the left and right back panels 100a, 100b are assembled
with screws 186 to the left and right side panels 60a, 60b,
respectively, substantially square and hollow structural columns
188a, 188b are formed, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. In order to
facilitate ease of assembly of the cabinet, threaded inserts 190
are fitted into the apertures 124, 126 to receive the screws 186.
It will be appreciated that the threaded inserts 190 are fitted
into all apertures that receive screws 186 through out the
cabinet's construction to facilitate ease of assembly. This is
particularly important in blind applications such as the formation
of the structural columns 188a, 188b. Otherwise, it would be
difficult to provide nuts, by way of example, within in gap 82a
upon forming the columns 188a, 188b in order to secure the left
back panel 100a to the left side panel 60a.
[0033] The components are sized and seated so the reverse side 104
of edge flange 110 on each left 100a and right 100b back panel
outside edge 106 is received against the reverse side 64 of the
left 60a and right 60b side panel walls, respectively, and so each
left 60a and right 60b side panel second surface fold 84 is abutted
against the obverse side 102 of each left 100a and right 100b back
panel wall 105, respectively, thereby lending reinforcement to the
vertical structural columns 188a, 188b so formed. The obverse side
102 of each first end flange 106 on the left and right back panels
100a, 100b is disposed adjacent to the reverse side 64 of each side
panel 60a, 60b and positioned between the side panel's 60a, 60b
respective second rear flanges 82. Note these structural columns
188a, 188b are located outside the cabinet's interior so that a
rectangular shelf 180 may be located flush against the cabinet back
panels 100a, 100b without the structural columns 188a, 188b
interfering with the flush positioning of the shelf 180.
[0034] The cabinet has a left door 130 and a right door 132, both
of which have an obverse side 134, a reverse side 136, a cabinet
wall 137, and a hinge edge 138, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 3A. For
the purpose of better describing the present invention, the left
and right doors 130, 132 are more particularly described as set
forth above in order to make definite the interrelatedness of the
elements defining the left and right doors 130, 132. At the hinge
edge 138, each of the left and right doors 130, 132 has a first
door flange 140, the reverse side 136 of the first door flange 140
forming an angle of approximately ninety degrees with the reverse
side 136 of the cabinet wall 137. Also at the hinge edge 138, each
of the left and right doors 110, 112 also has a second door flange
142, the reverse side 136 of the second door flange 142 forming an
angle of approximately ninety degrees with the reverse side 136 of
the first door flange 140, overlying the cabinet wall 137, and
being spaced therefrom by a gap 142a. Each second door flange 142
has a reinforcing fold 144 with an integrally connected second door
flange reinforcement section 146.
[0035] As is seen in cross section in FIG. 4, the left door 130 has
a left center edge 148 with a left obtuse wall 150. The reverse
side 136 of the left obtuse wall 150 forms an angle of
approximately one hundred and thirty-five degrees with the reverse
side 136 of the left door wall 137. The left door 130 also has a
left acute wall 152. The left acute wall 152 forms an angle of
approximately forty-five degrees with the reverse side 136 of the
obtuse wall 150. The left door 130 further has a left acute fold
154 which is integrally connected to an acute wall reinforcement
section 156.
[0036] The right door 132 has a right center edge 158 with a right
acute wall 160. The reverse side 136 of the right acute wall 160
that forms an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with the
reverse side 136 of the right door wall 137. The right door 132
also has a right obtuse wall 162. The right obtuse wall 162 forms
an angle of approximately one hundred and thirty-five degrees with
the reverse side 136 of the right acute wall 160. The right door
112 further has a right obtuse fold 164 which is integrally
connected to an obtuse wall reinforcement section 166. Each of the
left and right doors 130, 132 has a pair of top hinge knuckles 168
placed in operational relationship with the bottom hinge knuckles
92 on each of the left and right side panels 60a, 60b when the
cabinet is assembled. It will be understood that the top hinge
knuckles 168 are riveted to the first door flange 140 in the same
manner as the bottom hinge knuckles 92 are affixed to surface 70
with flange 90a and rivets 90b. The top hinge knuckles 168 are
secured to the bottom hinge knuckles 92 with hinge pins 182.
[0037] The cabinet 10 has a shelf 180 fixed in position at
approximately mid-height within the cabinet 10. Additional shelves
(not shown) may be installed as desired. A locking door handle 184
is fixed to the right door 132 at approximately the same height at
which the shelf 180 is placed within the cabinet 10.
[0038] In a second preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 8,
the stop flange 24 is formed at an angle substantially equal to
ninety degrees with the obverse side 14 of the return flange
reinforcing section 30. In this embodiment, the edge finish plate
76 has a finish plate aperture 77 so when the left and right side
panels 60a, 60b are fitted for assembly to the top and bottom ends
12a, 12b a user may easily access the apertures 50a, 50b in the
stop plate 24 and stop plate reinforcement section 28,
respectively, in order to secure the side panels 60a, 60b to the
top and bottom ends 12a, 12b with the screws 186.
[0039] In a third preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 9, a pair
of top and bottom end panels 212 (only one shown, the other being a
mirror image thereof) has a return flange 222 and a support flange
224 defining flange apertures 224a, 224b. The support flange 224
has a safety hem 226 to prevent a user from injury during assembly.
A support bracket 278 is received against the support flange 224 in
order to enhance the structural rigidity of the support flange 224.
The support bracket 278 defines a pair of support apertures 282a,
282b which overlay and are coaxial with flange apertures 224a,
224b, respectively. Screws 386a, 386b are received through the
support apertures 282a, 282b and the flange apertures 224a, 224b to
secure the support bracket 278 to the support flange so that a
floor flange 286 is received against the end wall 217 of the end
panel 212.
[0040] As further seen in FIG. 9, a side panel 260 has a door seat
270 a seat return flange 272 and a finish plate 274. The seat
return flange 272 defines apertures 276a, 276b which underlie
apertures 284a, 284b, respectively, defined in the support bracket
278. Screws 386c, 386d are received through apertures 284a, 284b
and apertures 276a, 276b, respectively, to secure the support
bracket 278 to the side panel 260 in order to enhance the
structural rigidity of the cabinet 10. Thus, the support bracket
278 ties together the side panel 260 and the end panels 212 by
virtue with being secured to both, thereby further enhancing the
strength of the cabinet 10.
[0041] The support bracket 278 has safety hems 280a, 280b to help
prevent injury to a user during installation. The support bracket
278 also has shelf holes 288 (one of which being shown) which
receive a shelf tab (not shown) therein to support a shelf within
the cabinet 10.
[0042] It will be appreciated that use of the structure described
in the third preferred embodiment (FIG. 9) eliminates or replaces
at least elements 24, 28, 30, 32, 72, 74 and 76 in the other
embodiments described above and provides an alternative support
structure for strengthening and stabilizing the cabinet 10. More
particularly, the support bracket 278 rises above the return flange
222 to replace the stop flange 24 and, thereby, function as a stop
for the cabinet doors 130, 132. Alternatively, the support bracket
278 may be even with the return flange 222 for use in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, wherein the doors 130, 132 may be
eliminated from the cabinet 10.
[0043] Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear
to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects
is therefore not limited to the specific detail, representative
apparatus and illustrative example shown and described. This has
been a description of the present invention as currently known.
However, the invention itself should only be defined by the
appended claims, wherein we claim:
* * * * *