Abstract:
A cabinet leveling device has a first channel for receiving a first cabinet sidewall, a second channel for receiving a second cabinet sidewall, an intermediate section connecting said first and second channel, and an adjustable threaded member received through said intermediate section for providing leveling adjustability to said device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/019,986 filed on Jan. 9, 2008, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a leveling device for leveling cabinetry and more particularly for levelling one or more units of base cabinetry. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Proper installation of base cabinets is critical to the overall look, function and life of newly installed cabinets. Since the advent of modern cabinet fabrication techniques, cabinet installers have searched for better, faster, more convenient ways to install cabinets. Those experienced in the art, for many reasons, have relied on tapered, wooden shims to level, plumb and support base cabinets. There are numerous drawbacks associated with the use of shims. For example, they are cumbersome, they don&#39;t allow precise adjustment; and they require trial and error to use. They are very time-consuming and require the installer to work on his knees and elbows using a pry bar in one hand and a shim in the other. Shims absorb water which may wick up into the cabinets, causing damage and/or promoting the growth of mold. 
         [0004]    Over the years, there have been many attempts to design a more functional, faster device to install (level and plumb) cabinets—one that would eliminate the use of wooden shims. The marketplace today is full of such leg-leveling devices. Examples of such devices include the various cabinet levelers available from Specialty Supplies, Inc. (www.specialtysupplies.com). Most of these devices achieve the desired results but they significantly increase installation time and angst. As a practical matter, the devices that are commercially available today are seldom used. They are difficult to use even for the most experienced installer and practically impossible for the average do-it-yourselfer homeowner. 
         [0005]    The main reason professional installers do not like to use cabinet leveling devices is that they are very time consuming and difficult to work with. Most of these devices must be screwed to each inside corner of each cabinet and then adjusted individually while the cabinet is turned over on its top. The biggest problem with these devices that are attached to the inside of the cabinet carcass is that they are completely inaccessible from the outside of the cabinet. Thus, the cabinets are flipped over and set in place to evaluate if further adjustments need to be made. Most often repeated adjustments are necessary and require repeated removal and flipping of the cabinets in order to make these additional adjustments. The entire trial and error process is tedious, time-consuming and costly. 
         [0006]    Another type of device that has been developed is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0124810 A1, naming Peter Cotto as inventor (“Cotto Publication”). While the device disclosed in the Cotto Publication has some advantageous features, it still suffers from numerous drawbacks, including the need for drilling access holes through the bottom shelf of the cabinet; the device is only accessible from the interior of the cabinet; it only levels one cabinet at a time; it requires removal of all internal shelving/drawers prior to installation; and it requires precise alignment with the drilled hole. 
         [0007]    In spite of the many attempts to develop a better device and method, installers today still most frequently use tapered, wooden shims for installation. Yet they continue to seek a better, faster and more convenient solution that would get them off their knees and speed up the cabinet installation process. As described below, the present invention satisfies each of these needs in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, a novel device for cabinet installation has been developed. The device of the present invention is completely accessible from the outside of the cabinet, even when other cabinets are placed beside it. Additionally, it is easy to install and adjust with a standard Allen head tool. Adjustment is quick, easy and extremely precise. The device attaches to two adjacent cabinets with a pressure-fit and does not require screws or drilling of holes in the cabinet or flipping the cabinet over. Moreover, because the device is attached to two adjacent cabinets, it serves to level/plumb two cabinets at a time, which saves time and costs, as well as to space the cabinets. Because the device is easily accessible throughout the entire installation process from the outside of the cabinets, the ease of use and adjustment capabilities are remarkable. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the leveling device of the present invention includes a first channel for receiving a first cabinet sidewall, a second channel for receiving a second cabinet sidewall, an intermediate section connecting the first and second channels, and an adjustable threaded member received through a threaded opening in the intermediate section for providing leveling adjustability to the device. The device may also include inward projections such as dimples in the first and/or second channels to provide a friction fit with cabinet sidewalls. 
         [0010]    A variety of materials are suitable for making the leveling device of the present invention. These include aluminum, composite plastics, etc. Moreover, the material is something that should be workable with milling, extruding or stamping. 
         [0011]    Because the sidewalls of cabinets vary from one manufacturer to another, the leveling device of the present invention is designed to fit the differing cabinet sidewall dimensions. The most standard dimension is ½″ plywood, but other dimensions ranging from ⅜″ to ⅝″ to ¾″ plywood may be accommodated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a cabinet/counter combination showing the devices of the present invention in place; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of two adjacent cabinet walls with devices of the present invention in place; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of two adjacent cabinet walls with an alternative device embodiment in place at the bottom of the cabinet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a portion of a run of base cabinets  10  of the type typically installed in homes and/or businesses and which are finished with a countertop  12 . Based on the unevenness of the flooring upon which the base cabinets sit, it is necessary to provide leveling and plumbing of the cabinets  14  prior to installation of the countertop  12 . In accordance with the present invention, several leveling devices  16  are shown in place in  FIG. 1 . As can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , device  16  includes two channels  18 A and  18 B, along with an intermediate connecting section  20 . Connecting section  20  has a threaded through hole  22  which receives an adjustable threaded member  24 . Threaded member  24  preferably has a foot pad  26  at the base thereof which rests on the floor surface and a structure at the upper end thereof, such as an Allen-type female opening  28 , for securing a turning device. While the device  16  is shown with an Allen-type female opening, other structures such as flat and Phillips head screw driver structures may also be used. Allen-type opening  28  receives the end of an Allen-type wrench  30  which is turned in the clockwise direction to raise the leveling device  16  relative to the floor  31 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the Allen wrench  30  is an elongated member which can be activated from the top of the base cabinets and is easily accessible between the side walls  32 ,  34  of two adjacent cabinets. 
         [0018]    As will be understood with reference to  FIG. 1 , by using the leveling device  16  of the present invention at each of the four corners of a cabinet  14  and by connecting two adjacent cabinets  14 A,  14 B, the device simplifies the process of leveling adjacent cabinets side-to-side and front-to-back to readily position the cabinets for receiving the installation of countertop  12 . Based on the design of the device, the device  16  provides both a leveling action and a spacer action between the adjacent cabinet sidewalls  32  and  34 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an inverted leveling device of the present invention may be used at the top of the cabinets to both retain them in position with the required spacing and to provide a guide hole for Allen wrench  30 . It may be preferable to have the receiving channels  18 A and  18 B of slightly different dimensions. In that regard, as shown in  FIG. 2 , receiving channel  18 A is slightly wider than receiving channel  18 B. In addition, receiving channel  18 B has inwardly extending projections such as “dimples”  36  to provide a strong friction fit to sidewall  34  of cabinet  14 . By using a second leveling device  16  at the top edge of adjacent cabinets, the friction fit is on the adjacent sidewall  32  of cabinet  14  and thus both cabinets are rigidly secured together through the use of dual leveling devices  16 . Device  16  may have inwardly extending projections such as dimples  36  in both channels  18 A and  18 B. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein threaded member  24  does not include a foot pad  26 , but rather the device includes a separate component in the form of a base plate  38  which has indentations  40  for registering and receiving the distal end of threaded member  24 . 
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment,  FIG. 4  shows a leveling device  16  in all respects the same as that shown in  FIG. 2 , but also including a base wall  42  that partially encloses cavity  44 . Base wall  42  also includes threaded opening  46  for receiving threaded member  24  therethrough. 
         [0021]    While the foregoing description has set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention in particular detail, it must be understood that numerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specific embodiments as described but is only limited as defined by the following claims.