U.S. patent application number 10/671789 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-31 for cabinet structure.
Invention is credited to Chiang, Chien-I.
Application Number | 20050067926 10/671789 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34376187 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050067926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiang, Chien-I |
March 31, 2005 |
Cabinet structure
Abstract
A cabinet structure includes a main frame, several separation
boards, two side plates, a rear plate, and a top plate. Each
separation board is pivotally mounted to the main frame. Each side
plate is coupled to the main frame by hinges. Each side plate has a
vertical groove defined in a rear end of an inner side thereof.
Vertically spaced supporting blocks are formed on each vertical
groove for supporting the separation boards. Each side plate
includes engaging holes defined in a top side thereof. A fastener
is partially engaged in each engaging hole. Each of two lateral
sides of the rear plate is removably received in the vertical
groove of the respective side plate. The top plate is removably
mounted on top of the side plates and releasably engaged with the
fasteners.
Inventors: |
Chiang, Chien-I;
(Huntington, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STITES & HARBISON PLLC
1199 NORTH FAIRFAX STREET
SUITE 900
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
34376187 |
Appl. No.: |
10/671789 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/258 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 47/03 20130101;
A47B 43/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/258 |
International
Class: |
A47B 043/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cabinet structure comprising: a main frame including two
vertical rods and two horizontal rods, forming a rectangular frame,
each said vertical rod including a plurality of pin holes, each
said horizontal rods including a plurality of rails, with a
plurality of doors being slidably mounted on the rails; a plurality
of separation boards each having a pin on each of two lateral sides
thereof, each said pin being pivotally received in the respective
pin hole of the respective vertical rod; two side plates each
having a side, a plurality of hinges coupling the side of the
respective side plate to a side of the main frame, each said side
plate having a vertical groove defined in a rear end of an inner
side thereof, a plurality of vertically spaced supporting blocks
being formed on each said vertical groove for supporting the
separation boards, each said side plate including a top side having
a plurality of engaging holes, a fastener being partially engaged
in each said engaging hole; a rear plate having two lateral sides
each of which is removably received in the vertical groove of the
respective side plate via a top side of the vertical groove of the
respective side plate, and a top plate removably mounted on top of
the side plates and releasably engaged with the fasteners.
2. The cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
respective separation board includes a plurality of positioning
pegs on an underside thereof, the respective supporting block
including a positioning groove for engaging with the respective
positioning peg.
3. The cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
respective fastener includes a threaded portion, and wherein the
respective engaging hole of the respective side plate is a screw
hole for engaging with the threaded portion of the respective
fastener.
4. A cabinet structure comprising: a main frame including two
vertical rods and two horizontal rods, forming a rectangular frame,
each said vertical rod including a plurality of pin holes, at least
one door being hinged to the main frame; a plurality of separation
boards each having a pin on each of two lateral sides thereof, each
said pin being pivotally received in the respective pin hole of the
respective vertical rod; two side plates each having a side, a
plurality of hinges coupling the side of the respective side plate
to a side of the main frame, each said side plate having a vertical
groove defined in a rear end of an inner side thereof, a plurality
of vertically spaced supporting blocks being formed on each said
vertical groove for supporting the separation boards, each said
side plate including a top side having a plurality of engaging
holes, a fastener being partially engaged in each said engaging
hole; a rear plate having two lateral sides each of which is
removably received in the vertical groove of the respective side
plate via a top side of the vertical groove of the respective side
plate, and a top plate removably mounted on top of the side plates
and releasably engaged with the fasteners.
5. The cabinet structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
respective separation board includes a plurality of positioning
pegs on an underside thereof, the respective supporting block
including a positioning groove for engaging with the respective
positioning peg.
6. The cabinet structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
respective fastener includes a threaded portion, and wherein the
respective engaging hole of the respective side plate is a screw
hole for engaging with the threaded portion of the respective
fastener.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cabinet structure that is
easy to assemble, store, and transport.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A cabinet generally has at least one door that is mounted to
the cabinet body by a rail or hinge, which, in either case, is not
easy to a do-it-yourself (DIY) customer. Thus, the cabinet is
usually assembled in the factory and thus has a relatively large
volume, causing a problem to storage and transportation and adding
cost to the manufacturer and the agency selling the cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet
structure that is easy to assemble, store, and transport.
[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, a cabinet structure
comprises:
[0007] a main frame including two vertical rods and two horizontal
rods, forming a rectangular frame, each said vertical rod including
a plurality of pin holes, each said horizontal rods including a
plurality of rails, with a plurality of doors being slidably
mounted on the rails;
[0008] a plurality of separation boards each having a pin on each
of two lateral sides thereof, each said pin being pivotally
received in the respective pin hole of the respective vertical
rod;
[0009] two side plates each having a side, a plurality of hinges
coupling the side of the respective side plate to a side of the
main frame, each said side plate having a vertical groove defined
in a rear end of an inner side thereof, a plurality of vertically
spaced supporting blocks being formed on each said vertical groove
for supporting the separation boards, each said side plate
including a top side having a plurality of engaging holes, a
fastener being partially engaged in each said engaging hole;
[0010] a rear plate having two lateral sides each of which is
removably received in the vertical groove of the respective side
plate via a top side of the vertical groove of the respective side
plate, and
[0011] a top plate removably mounted on top of the side plates and
releasably engaged with the fasteners.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, a cabinet structure
comprises:
[0013] a main frame including two vertical rods and two horizontal
rods, forming a rectangular frame, each said vertical rod including
a plurality of pin holes, at least one door being hinged to the
main frame;
[0014] a plurality of separation boards each having a pin on each
of two lateral sides thereof, each said pin being pivotally
received in the respective pin hole of the respective vertical
rod;
[0015] two side plates each having a side, a plurality of hinges
coupling the side of the respective side plate to a side of the
main frame, each said side plate having a vertical groove defined
in a rear end of an inner side thereof, a plurality of vertically
spaced supporting blocks being formed on each said vertical groove
for supporting the separation boards, each said side plate
including a top side having a plurality of engaging holes, a
fastener being partially engaged in each said engaging hole;
[0016] a rear plate having two lateral sides each of which is
removably received in the vertical groove of the respective side
plate via a top side of the vertical groove of the respective side
plate, and
[0017] a top plate removably mounted on top of the side plates and
releasably engaged with the fasteners.
[0018] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet
structure in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of an upper circled portion in
FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a lower circled portion in
FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet structure
in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.
2.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of another
embodiment of the cabinet structure in accordance with the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating folding of the cabinet
structure in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a cabinet structure in
accordance with the present invention generally comprises a main
frame 1, two side plates 2, a rear plate 3, and a top plate 4. The
main frame 1 includes two vertical rods 11 and two horizontal rods
12, forming a rectangular structure. Each vertical rod 11 includes
a plurality of pin holes 111. A plurality of separation boards 13
are provided, and each separation board 13 includes a pin 131 on
each of two opposed sides thereof. 25 The respective pin 131 is
inserted into the respective pin hole 111 of the respective
vertical rod 11, allowing the respective separation board 13 to
pivot about the respective pin 131. The respective separation board
13 further includes a plurality of positioning pegs 132 on a bottom
side thereof. The horizontal rods 12 include a plurality of tracks
121 on two mutually facing inner sides thereof. The respective
track 121 allows engagement with at least one door 5; namely, the
door 5 may slide along the track 121.
[0027] A side of the respective side plate 2 adjacent to the main
frame 1 is coupled with a side of each of a plurality of hinges 21.
The other side of the respective hinge 21 is coupled to a side of
the main frame 1. Thus, the respective side plate 2 may pivot about
the hinge 21 relative to the main frame 1. The respective side
plate 2 further includes a vertical groove 22 in a rear end of an
inner side thereof. Two lateral sides of the rear plate 3 are
removably received in the vertical grooves 22 of the side plates 2.
The side plates 2 are thus spaced and positioned from each other
while preventing pivotal movement of the side plates 2. In order to
retain the rear plate 3 in the vertical grooves 22, a stop 23 is
formed in the respective vertical groove 22 and has a top face for
intimate contact with a bottom side of the rear plate 3. Further, a
plurality of vertically spaced supporting blocks 24 are formed on
the inner side of the respective side plate 2 and adjacent to the
respective vertical groove 22. The respective supporting block 24
has a positioning groove 241 (FIG. 1B) for securely engaging with
the respective positioning peg 132. Thus, the respective separation
board 13 rests on and is supported by the respective supporting
blocks 24. Further, the respective side plate 2 has a plurality of
screw holes 25 in a top side thereof for engaging with a threaded
portion 261 (FIG. 1A) of a respective fastener 26.
[0028] The rear plate 3 has a length substantially equal to that of
the respective vertical groove 22. The rear plate 3 had a width
substantially equal to a distance between the vertical grooves 22
of the side plates 2 in an unfolded state. Thus, the respective
lateral side of the rear plate 3 is insertable from top into the
respective vertical groove 22 on the respective side plate 2.
[0029] The top plate 4 includes a plurality of engaging holes 41,
with the respective fastener 26 being engaged with the respective
fastener 26 (FIG. 1A) being engaged with the respective engaging
hole 41, thereby fixing the top plate 4 on top of the side plates
2.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention,
wherein the cabinet includes more than one door 5' (two in this
embodiment) that are hinged to the outer side of the main frame 1
by hinges 21'. Thus, the doors 5' may pivot outward about the
hinges 21'.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, when not in use, the top plate 4 is
firstly dismantled from the side plates 2, and the rear plate 3 is
removed from the vertical grooves 22 of the side plates 2. Next,
the separation boards 3 are pivoted about the pins 131 to a
position located inside a space defined by the main frame 1. The
side plates 2 are then pivoted about the hinges 21 toward the main
frame 1 until the side plates 2 are superimposed on the separation
boards 13. Thus, the cabinet can be folded to a minimized volume
for storage and transportation. A DIY customer may unfold the
cabinet without any tools.
[0032] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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