Wall cabinet system

A wall cabinet system includes a bracket and a plurality of fasteners for connecting first and second side panels and first and second shelves. The bracket includes a plurality of fastener receiving holes. A first fastener extends through an upper side panel and a first fastener receiving hole; a second fastener extends through the lower side panel and a second fastener receiving hole; a third fastener extends through the upper side panel, a third fastener receiving hole, and the upper shelf; and a fourth fastener extends through the lower side panel, a fourth fastener receiving hole, and the lower shelf.

The present invention is directed to a wall cabinet system, and more particularly to a bracket for interconnecting the side panels and shelves of a wall cabinet system.

Wall cabinet systems are well known as an aesthetically pleasing way to organize household items. These systems generally include four outer panels that are connected together to contain an organizing unit, such as a set of drawers, a shelving unit, or a stack of storage baskets. In order to provide a tidy appearance, the system is mounted to a wall a desired distance off of the floor.

In many cases, the organizing unit of a single wall cabinet system may be sectioned into a number of smaller units. For instance, a shelving unit may be stacked on top of a drawer unit to provide the consumer with options for organizing items.

Difficulties arise in the packaging of wall cabinet systems for sale to consumers, because many retailers limit the size and weight of any single container. These limits typically prevent large wall cabinet systems from being packaged in one piece, and in many cases they require dividing the outer panels into more manageable sizes. These limitations provide advantages for consumers, because the smaller units, such as a shelving unit and a drawer unit, can be sold separately. Each individual unit simply includes a pair of side panels, a top shelf forming an upper surface of the unit, and a bottom shelf forming a lower surface of the unit. Consumers can buy only the units that they want, and then connect them together as desired. Manufacturers must provide a means for connecting the individual units together. The connection means must add only a minimal cost for manufacturers, while making the connection of units as easy as possible for consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wall cabinet connection system including separate wall cabinet units to be easily and securely interconnected. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a bracket and a plurality of fasteners for connecting first and second side panels and first and second shelves. The bracket includes a plurality of fastener receiving holes. A first fastener extends through an upper side panel and a first fastener receiving hole; a second fastener extends through the lower side panel and a second fastener receiving hole; a third fastener extends through the upper side panel, a third fastener receiving hole, and the upper shelf; and a fourth fastener extends through the lower side panel, a fourth fastener receiving hole, and the lower shelf.

In a more specific embodiment, the bracket is a plate that includes a pair of inner holes and a pair of outer holes. The bracket is positioned against the side panels, with at least one inner hole and at least one outer hole overlapping the first side panel, and at least one inner hole and one outer hole overlapping the second side panel. The shelves each include a first side edge that abuts the bracket. The side edge of the upper shelf is aligned with the inner hole that overlaps the first side panel. The side edge of the second shelf is aligned with the inner hole that overlaps the lower side panel.

The present invention also includes a method for connecting first and second side panels and first and second shelves of wall cabinet system, comprising the steps of (a) placing a bracket against the first and second side panels, such that a portion of the bracket overlaps the first side panel and a portion of the bracket overlaps the second side panel; (b) abutting each of the first and second shelves against the bracket opposite the first and second side panels; (c) inserting a first fastener through the first side panel and into a first hole in the bracket; (d) inserting a second fastener through the second side panel and into a second hole in the bracket; (e) inserting a third fastener through the first side panel, a third hole in the bracket, and into the first shelf; and (f) inserting a fourth fastener through the second side panel, a fourth hole in the bracket, and into the second shelf.

The present invention provides a simple and effective way for connecting the units of a wall cabinet system, allowing manufacturers to meet all necessary packaging requirements and providing consumers with a wall cabinet system that is easy to assemble.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

A wall cabinet system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1and generally designated10. In general, the wall cabinet system10is comprised of a number of upper side panels20, lower side panels22, and a number of shelves24and26. An upper20and lower22side panel, and first24and second26shelves are interconnected by one or more brackets30and a plurality of fasteners40.

As shown inFIG. 1, the wall cabinet system10is comprised of four individual wall cabinet units, including two upper units and two lower units. The upper units include a cabinet unit12, a drawer unit14, a shelving unit16, and a storage basket unit18. Notwithstanding the variety of units available, each unit generally includes a pair of side panels20or22, a first shelf24forming an upper surface of the unit, and a second shelf26forming a lower surface of the unit. A wall cabinet system10is formed by connecting two or more of these individual units together. The entire wall cabinet system10may be mounted on a wall by a conventional mounting method, such as a plurality of hooks extending from the rear surface32of the system10that hang on brackets (not shown) attached to the wall. When the system10is mounted on a wall, the second shelves26of any lower units are spaced above the floor. Alternatively, the system10may not be hung from a wall and may rest on the floor. Individual units may be arranged and connected together as desired by the consumer. The bracket30, as described below, is typically used to connect an upper unit (such as units12and16inFIG. 1) to a lower unit (such as units14and18inFIG. 1) disposed directly below the upper unit. Alternatively, the bracket30may be used to connect side-by-side units, for instance, in a configuration where the side panels20and22and shelves24and26are rotated 90 degrees and mounted on a wall.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, the side panels20and22each include an upper surface46, a lower surface,48, and opposing front and rear surfaces50and52. The side panels20and22may be comprised of a wide variety of materials, and may have a variety of shapes and sizes. In addition, the side panels may each include a plurality of fastener receiving holes56that extend through the front and rear surfaces50and52. The shelves24and26each include opposing side edges60and62, a top surface64, and a bottom surface66. The side edges60and62may include a number of pre-drilled, fastener receiving holes68.

As shown inFIG. 4, the bracket30is typically a flat plate with opposing front31and back33surfaces, however, it may be L-shaped, U-shaped, or a wide variety of alternative shapes. It may be comprised of a variety of materials, such as metal or plastic. The bracket30includes a plurality of fastener receiving holes. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket includes a pair of outer holes34and36, and a pair of inner holes38and42. The holes may be aligned in a row as illustrated, but this is not necessary. One outer hole34and one inner hole38are positioned in an upper portion70of the bracket30, and the other outer hole36and inner hole42are positioned in a lower portion72of the bracket30. As shown, the outer holes34and36are slightly larger than the inner holes38and42. The holes may otherwise all have the same size, or may each have different sizes. In an alternative embodiment, the bracket30may be a flat plate without any holes, and may be comprised of a material for receiving self-tapping fasteners. The fasteners40are typically conventional, such as screws. The fasteners40may all be the same size and length, or they may be of varying lengths. As shown, the two inner fasteners80are longer than the two outer fasteners82.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, when connecting an upper wall cabinet unit to a lower wall cabinet unit, an upper side panel20(forming part of the upper wall cabinet unit) and a lower side panel22(forming part of a lower wall cabinet unit) are positioned such that the bottom edge48of the upper side panel20abuts the top edge46of the lower side panel22. The bracket30is positioned against the inner surface50of the side panels20and22, such that the upper portion70of the bracket30overlaps the upper side panel20and the lower portion72of the bracket overlaps the lower side panel22. A first shelf24(forming part of the lower wall cabinet unit) and a second shelf26(forming part of the upper wall cabinet unit) are positioned perpendicular to the side panels20,22with a side edge62of each shelf abutting the bracket30. The shelves24,26are further positioned such that the side edge62of the first shelf24is aligned with the inner hole42on the lower portion72of the bracket and the side edge62of the second shelf26is aligned with the inner hole38on the upper portion70of the bracket30. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, there is a slight gap between the shelves24,26in this position; however, the shelves24,26may contact each other.

Once the side panels20,22, shelves24,26, and bracket30are positioned, they are secured into place with the fasteners40. A first fastener extends through the upper side panel22and the outer hole34in the upper portion70of the bracket30. A second fastener extends through the upper side panel22, the inner hole38on the upper portion70of the bracket30and into the edge62of the second shelf26. A third fastener extends through the lower side panel22, the inner hole42on the lower portion72of the bracket30, and into the edge62of the first shelf24. A fourth fastener extends through the lower side panel22and the outer hole36in the lower portion72of the bracket30. A second set of side panels20,22may be connected to the side edges64of the shelves24,26in the same manner. In the illustrated embodiment, two brackets are used for interconnecting each pair of side panels to one side of the shelves. While the illustrated embodiment shows only four fasteners and for fastener receiving holes in the bracket30, additional fasteners and holes may be used, for instance, by using two fasteners at each of the four positions for additional strength.

The above descriptions are those of a current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the Doctrine of Equivalents.