Patent Publication Number: US-2009224642-A1

Title: Modular cabinet, components therefor, kit and method

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS &amp; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of International Application No. PCT/US2007/013116, entitled “MODULAR CABINET, COMPONENTS THEREFOR, KIT &amp; METHOD,” filed Jun. 4, 2007, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/810,952, entitled “MODULAR CABINET, COMPONENTS THEREFOR, KIT &amp; METHOD,” filed Jun. 5, 2006. These related applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this continuation-in-part application or the PCT application and that in the related provisional application, the disclosure in this continuation-in-part application shall govern. Moreover, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents, hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. 
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
     The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. 
     “My system” as used in the specification, unless otherwise indicated, includes the components for my system, the kit for my system and my method. 
     “Rectangular” includes square. 
     The words “substantially” and “essentially” have equivalent meanings. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cabinets are typically constructed at a location remote from the site where they are installed. Such cabinets are usually attached to a vertical wall by conventional fasteners such as, for example, French cleats, screws, finger rail systems, etc. In some situations, cabinet components are shipped to the place of installation and assembled thereat and the on-site assembled cabinet is then mounted to the vertical wall. There are several problems with this manner of construction and installation, including for example: 
     (1) It is difficult for one individual to lift and hold an elevated cabinet during installation. Typically, a helper, scaffolding, or props are used to mount the cabinet onto a vertical wall. 
     (2) Such cabinets are usually expensive to construct and transport to the installation site. 
     (3) It is frequently difficult to properly square up or align the cabinet on the vertical wall. 
     (4) Prefabricated cabinets, or cabinets assembled on-site, sometimes do not have the correct dimensional relationships and do not fit in the space where they are to be installed, for example, the cabinet width may be greater than the width dimension of the space where it is to be installed. 
     Another problem in making cabinets is “racking.” A conventional cabinet has a top panel, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels having their respective top and bottom edges fastened to the top and bottom panels, and a fifth component such a back panel or diagonal back brace. The fifth component prevents racking. This problem of racking is discussed in international patent application PCT/US2005/006648, entitled “MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM, COMPONENTS THEREFOR, STORAGE METHOD &amp; KIT,” filed Mar. 2, 2005, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/550,252, entitled “MODULAR STORAGE SYSTEM, COMPONENTS THEREFOR, STORAGE METHOD &amp; KIT,” filed Mar. 3, 2004. 
     SUMMARY 
     My system has one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my system in terms that distinguish it from the prior art and point out its non-obviousness characteristics; however, without limiting the scope of my invention as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of the features of my system are: 
     One, my system comprises a combination of a corner connector and a pair of panels. The corner connector attaches the pair of panels together substantially at a right angle to form a corner with one panel oriented substantially horizontally and the other panel oriented substantially vertically. Each panel may have substantially the same predetermined width and may be positioned to be connected so that outer longitudinal edges thereof are aligned with each other. 
     Two, the corner connector is at a right angle junction where the panels meet. It includes a portion that projects outwardly away from the junction including a pair of substantially planar, rigid, elongated support members, one of which terminates in a finger element, and a connector member at a point of connection between the support members. Each support member may have an inner end and an outer end, with the inner ends being connected lengthwise to form a substantially right angle junction. The finger element may be substantially planar, rigid, and elongated and may extend lengthwise along an outer end of one of the support members. This finger element may form an acute angle with respect to this one support member and may project outwardly from an outer side of the one support member that is opposite the right angle junction. The support members and the finger element each may have substantially flat opposed surfaces. The finger element has a predetermined shape adapted to fit within an elongated slot in one panel. 
     Three, the connector member may include a gripping structure adapted to fit within and grip an elongated slot in one of the panels. The gripping structure may include an enlarged interior portion comprising a plurality of teeth, and it may be integral with the other portions of the connector member and formed concurrently by extrusion. The support members, finger element, and the connector member are substantially equal in length and connector member is elongated, rigid, and extends lengthwise along the junction. 
     Four, the horizontally oriented panel may have a pair of slots therein in an underside of the horizontally oriented panel. One slot may be near one opposed end of the horizontally oriented panel and may point towards the one opposed end and the other slot may be near the other opposed end of the horizontally oriented panel and may point towards the other opposed end. Each slot may have a terminal open end at a longitudinal edge of the horizontally oriented panel. Also, each slot may be (a) substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the horizontally oriented panel, (b) extending substantially across the entire width of the horizontally oriented panel and (c) at the same acute angle with respect to the underside. 
     Five, the substantially vertically oriented panel may have a slot in an inner side that is substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the vertically oriented panel and may be at a predetermined angle with respect to the inner side. 
     These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive. 
     My system includes a modular cabinet mounted onto a wall. A wall hanger is attached to the wall in a horizontal orientation. The wall hanger has a predetermined, substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along a predetermined length of the wall hanger. A pair of side panels are used, and each panel has a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, a rear edge portion having therein a cut-a-way section with a configuration substantially identical to the cross-sectional configuration of the wall hanger, an inner side, and an angular slot in the inner side of the panel that extends along at least a portion of the width of the side panel at substantially a right angle to the side panel&#39;s longitudinal centerline. The side panels are mounted to the wall hanger in a spaced apart substantially vertical orientation with the wall hanger received in the cut-a-way sections of the side panels. A horizontally oriented panel may be positioned between the side panels. The horizontally oriented panel may have opposed ends, an edge, a longitudinal centerline, a predetermined width, an underside with a pair of angular slots, each slot being near one of the ends of the horizontally oriented panel and being spaced the same predetermined distance from the ends. Each slot may be substantially a right angle to the longitudinal centerline of the third panel. The angular slots may be at an acute angle with respect to the underside and point away from each other. A pair of corner connectors as discussed above attach the panels together. 
     One embodiment of my method includes constructing a cabinet structure directly onto a wall. This method comprising the steps of 
     (a) attaching a wall hanger to the wall in a substantially horizontal orientation, 
     (b) mounting a pair of side panels on the wall hanger in a spaced apart substantially vertical orientation, each side panel having an inner side including a slot extending along at least a portion of the inner side, 
     (c) positioning adjacent the side panels a horizontally oriented panel to form corners where the side panels meet the horizontally oriented panel, said horizontally oriented panel having an underside with a pair of slots, each slot being near a corner and said slots being at an acute angle with respect to the underside, and 
     (d) connecting a corner connector to adjacent panels at each corner and beneath the horizontally oriented panel, each corner connector including portions that are received in the slots in the adjacent panels. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Some embodiments of my system will now be discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of my modular cabinet having its prefabricated components assembled directly onto and attached to a vertical wall. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of my kit. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged front view, with sections broken away, of my modular cabinet shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of one of the cabinet horizontal panels showing its underside. 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cabinet horizontal panels showing its slots partially extending across its width. 
         FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of one of the cabinet vertical panels showing its inside surface. 
         FIG. 1F  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cabinet vertical panels showing its slots partially extending across its width starting at one edge and terminating within the body of the panel. 
         FIG. 1G  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cabinet vertical panels showing its slots having opposed ends each terminating within the body of the panel. 
         FIG. 1H  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  1 H- 1 H of  FIG. 1G , showing connectors mounting the horizontal panels to the vertical panel shown in  FIG. 1G . 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of my corner connector. 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view showing a horizontally oriented panel connected to a vertically oriented panel using of an alternate embodiment of my corner connector. 
         FIG. 2C  is a corner cross-sectional view of a modular cabinet using still another alternate embodiment of my corner connector to attach a horizontally oriented panel to a vertically oriented panel. 
         FIG. 2D  is a cross-sectional view of a corner of a modular cabinet using yet another alternate embodiment of my corner connector to attach a horizontally oriented panel to a vertically oriented panel. 
         FIG. 2E  is a cross-sectional view of a corner of a modular cabinet using still another alternate embodiment of my corner connector to attach a horizontally oriented panel to a vertically oriented panel. 
         FIG. 2F  is a cross-sectional view of a corner of my modular cabinet using still another alternate embodiment of my corner connector to attach a horizontally oriented panel to a vertically oriented panel. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the wall hanger component used to mount onto a vertical wall the modular cabinet. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a fragmentary end view showing a sheath member covering a wall hanger for a panel. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the sheath member shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of my cabinet, identified by the numeral  10 , comprises prefabricated components that are mounted directly to a vertical wall  12  at an installation site, forming the cabinet directly on the wall as the components are connected together. Because the cabinet is constructed as its components are attached to the wall  12 , or to each other, or both, a single person can assemble the cabinet in place directly onto the wall without the assistance of anyone else or props. The installer may do this without the use of a tool or tools, although the installer may use a screwdriver if desired in some instances to attach some of the prefabricated components together. As discussed subsequently in greater detail, from time to time it may also be necessary to adjust the width dimension of the cabinet if the cabinet&#39;s predetermined width dimension is too wide to fit in the limited space where the cabinet is to be installed. 
     These modular components may be stored in a kit  14  ( FIG. 1A ) that is delivered to the installation site of the cabinet  10 . The kit  14  may comprise a box-type package P containing four panels  16   a - 16   d , four corner connectors  18 , and a wall hanger  20  ( FIG. 3 ). The panels  16   a - 16   d  may be rectangular and of identical or different dimensions and made from wood, plastic, particleboard, or other suitable materials. The corner connectors  18  are typically identical in cross-sectional configuration and may all be of substantially the same length, typically, substantially from 6 to 36 inches. The corner connectors  18  may all have the same length, which may be substantially equal to the width dimension w of the panels or their length may be less than this width dimension w. 
     A pair of panels forms each corner A through D of the cabinet  10 . Upon assembling the components of the cabinet  10  directly on the substantially flat, planar exterior surface of the vertical wall  12 , one panel of the pair is substantially horizontally oriented and the other panel of the pair is substantially vertically oriented. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1B , upon constructing the cabinet  10  on the wall  12 , the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  are substantially vertically oriented and the top panel  16   a  and bottom panel  16   c  are substantially horizontally oriented. The top panel  16   a  and bottom panel  16   c  each include a pair of angular slots S 1  near each opposed end E 4  of these panels. As best shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , each slot S 1  is spaced the same distance d 1  from these ends E 4 , and each slot is at a substantially right angle to a longitudinal centerline C 1  of these panels. Each angular slot S 1  is at an acute angle A ( FIG. 2A ) with respect to each panel&#39;s underside  13 . The pair of slots S 1  in each horizontal panel  16   a  and  16   c  point away from each other as best illustrated in  FIG. 1B . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , each slot S 1  extends across the entire width w of the panels  16   a  and  16   c  to terminate in an opening  11   a  ( FIG. 1C ) in an outer edge ED 2  ( FIG. 1B ) and an opening  11   b  ( FIG. 1C ) in an inner edge ED 3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , each side panel  16   b  and  16   d  has a rear edge portion ED 1  having therein a cut-a-way section  30  with a configuration substantially identical, at least in outline, to the cross-sectional configuration of the wall hanger  20 . Each cut-a-way section  30  in each side panel  16   b  and  16   d  is of the same shape and individual cut-a-way sections  30  are in registration when these side panels are hung on the wall hanger  20  mounted on the wall  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1E , in one embodiment, a pair of angular, elongated slots S 3  in an inner side S 4  of the side panel  16   b , each near one opposed edge ED 5 , extends at a substantially right angle to this side panel&#39;s longitudinal centerline C 1 . When the top panel  16   a  is flush with the top ends E 6  of the vertical panels  16   b  and  16   d , each of these slots S 3  is displaced inward from its adjacent top edge at a distance d 2  that is substantially equal to the thickness of the horizontal panel  16   a  that abuts its adjoining vertical panel. Each of these slots S 3  in the vertically oriented panels  16   b  and  16   d  may extend along only a portion of the width w of this panel as depicted in  FIG. 1F  or across substantially the entire panel&#39;s width as depicted in  FIG. 1E . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1B ,  1 E and  1 F, each of these slots S 3  in the vertically oriented panels  16   b  and  16   d  terminates in an opening  15  in the rear edge ED 3  of these panels. Using slots that do not extend across the entire width of the panels is desirable, because the strength of a panel is not unduly weakened. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each corner connector  18  includes a pair of substantially planar, rigid, elongated support members  22  and  24 . Each support member  22  and  24  has an inner end E 1  and an outer end E 2 . The inner ends E 1  and E 1  respectively of the support members  22  and  24  are integral and connected lengthwise to form a substantially right angle junction J. A substantially planar, rigid, elongated finger element  26  extends lengthwise along the outer end E 2  of the support member  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , this finger element  26  forms an angle A with respect to the support member  22  and projects outwardly from an outer side S 2  of this support member  22  that is opposite the right angle junction J. For example, the finger element  26  forms with respect to the support member  22  an acute angle substantially from 5 to 85 degrees. In the corner A, for example, the finger element  26  is adapted to fit snug within the elongated slot S 1  in the underside  13  ( FIG. 2A ) of the horizontally oriented panel  16   a  upon assembly of the cabinet  10  onto the wall  12 . 
     Each corner connector  18  also includes a connector member  28 , which may be elongated and rigid, and which may extend lengthwise along the junction J. The connector member  28  is at the junction J and projects outwardly away from this junction. It may be at an angle substantially from 5 to 175 degrees with respect to the other support member  24 . Along the length of the connector member  28  are a series of teeth  28   a  that provide a gripping structure. In corner A, for example, the series of teeth  28   a  is adapted to fit snug within and bite into and grip the slot S 3  in the vertical panel  16   b  upon assembly on the wall  12  of the cabinet  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1G and 1H , this configuration allows the connector member  28  to be snapped, or force fitted, into a slot S 12  that does not open at an edge of a vertical panel  16   d′.    
     Each corner connector  18  may be an integral, unitary structure. Typically, the corner connectors  18  are formed by extruding a metal or plastic. In one embodiment an aluminum rod is extruded to form the corner connector  18 . The support members  22  and  24 , finger element  26 , and connector member  28  may be substantially equal in length I 1 , which may be substantially equal to the width w ( FIG. 1 ) of the panels  16   a - 16   d . The support members  22  and  24  and the finger element  26  each may have substantially flat opposed surfaces. The support member  24  may include an elongated groove  24   a  in its exterior surface that facilitates driving a pointed tip screw through this support member to hold it firmly against an adjacent vertical panel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wall hanger  20  is an elongated, rigid component having a hook element  20   a  that extends outwardly from a back plate  20   b  that is fastened to the vertical wall  12  in a substantially horizontal orientation. It may also be formed by extruding, for example, an aluminum rod. The extruded structure has cavities  20   e  to reduce the amount of material used. An elongated groove  20   c  extends lengthwise along the length of the wall hanger  20  to provide a thin wall section  20   d  forming the bottom of the groove. Consequently, fasteners such as screws  20   f  easily penetrate the thin wall section  20   d  to secure the wall hanger  20  to the vertical wall  12 . The wall hanger  20  may have a length I 1  substantially equal to the distance d ( FIGS. 1 and 1B ) between the outer sides S 5  and S 6  respectively of the vertically oriented panels  16   b  and  16   d  upon assembly of the cabinet  10 , or it may be substantially longer for mounting thereon a plurality of vertically oriented panels. It may have a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along its entire length. 
     The components in the kit  14  are removed from the package P and assembled as follows, not necessarily in the order discussed unless stated expressly otherwise: 
     The wall hanger  20  is attached to the vertical wall  12  in a substantially horizontal orientation. Usually, the corner connectors  18  are first attached to the side panels  16   b  and  16   d . The corner connectors&#39; connector members  28  are individually inserted first into the slots S 3  near the ends E 4  of the side panels  16   b  and  16   d . Typically, the connector member  28  is aligned and in registration with the slot S 3  and pushed into this slot, forcing the teeth  28   a  of the connector member  28  into this slot. The teeth  28   a  resist withdrawing the connector member  28  from the slot S 3 . The support members  24  of the corner connectors  18  are positioned next to, and press against, an adjacent vertically oriented side panel  16   b  or  16   d , as the case may be. Each support member  24  has an inner side S 7  ( FIG. 1B ) that abuts and extends downward along the inside surface S 8  ( FIG. 1 ) of an adjacent side panel  16   b  or  16   d , as the case may be. 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the pair of side panels  16   b  and  16   d  with the pair of corner connectors  18  respectively near the top end E 6  and bottom end E 7  ( FIG. 1B ) of these side panels is mounted to the wall hanger  20 . The cut-a-way section  30  of each side panel  16   b  and  16   d  is aligned with a free end of the wall hanger  20 . Each side panel is hung on the wall hanger  20  with the wall hanger being received in the cut-a-way sections  30  to support the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  so that each panel extends outward from the vertical wall  12  at a right angle and is vertically oriented. The side panels  16   b  and  16   d  are located along the wall hanger  20  in a spaced apart relationship at the distance d. Because the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  have substantially identical length and width dimensions, they are in registration. 
     The top panel  16   a  and bottom panel  16   c  are lastly positioned between the side panels  16   b  and  16   d . This may be achieved prior to mounting the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  on the wall hanger  20 , although it is a better practice to mount the side panels onto the wall hanger first as discussed above. One panel, for example, the top panel  16   a  is first attached to the spaced apart side panels  16   b  and  16   d . The finger elements  26  of the corner connectors  18  at the top ends E 6  of the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  are aligned with the openings  11   b  of the pair of slots S 1 . The top panel  16   a  is pushed towards the vertical wall  12 . The finger elements  26  of each corner connector  18  are inserted endwise into the openings  11   b  and slide along the slots S 1  as the top panel  16   a  is pushed towards the vertical wall  12 . In essentially the same manner the bottom panel  16   c  is attached between the side panels  16   a  and  16   d.    
     When using the side panels  16   d ′, the connector member  28  is snapped into the slot S 12  in this panel, and then this panel is hung on the wall hanger  20 . A horizontal panel, for example, the top panel  16   a  is then connected between vertical panels by aligning the openings  11   b  of the pair of slots S 1  with the finger elements  26  and sliding in this top panel towards the wall  12 . 
     With the top panel  16   a  and bottom panel  16   c  so attached, the inner sides S 9  ( FIG. 1B ) of the support members  22  of the connectors  18  abut and firmly bear against the underside  13  of the top and bottom panels, which have their opposed ends E 4  positioned between and abutting the side panels  16   b  and  16   d  as illustrated in  FIG. 1B . Also, the inner sides S 7  of the support members  24  of the connectors  18  abut and firmly bear against the inside surface S 8  ( FIG. 1 ) of the side panels  16   b  and  16   d . When the panels  16   a  through  16   d  all have the same width w, their edges are substantially aligned and flush with each other. 
     In the cabinet  10 , each panel  16   a - 16   b  has substantially the same width w and upon assembly their opposed outer longitudinal edges ED 2  and ED 3  are substantially aligned with each other. As shown in ( FIG. 1C ), each slot S 1  in the horizontally oriented panels  16   a  and  16   c  terminates at a longitudinal edge in an opening: the opening  11   a  in the outer edge ED 2  and the opening  11   b  in an inner edge ED 3  at a longitudinal edge of the horizontally oriented panel and being (a) substantially at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the horizontally oriented panel, (b) extending substantially across the entire width of the horizontally oriented panel and (c) at the same acute angle with respect to the underside  13  The two slots S 1  in each horizontally oriented panels  16   a  and  16   d  point away from each other. Each corner connector  18  is symmetrical about its latitudinal centerline C 2 . This structural feature enables the corner connector  18  to be inserted into either one of the two slots S 1  in the horizontally oriented panels  16   a  and  16   d . The corner connector  18  is simply rotated 180 degrees so its finger element  26  may be inserted into either one of the two slots S 1  in the horizontally oriented panel by sliding the finger element endwise into the terminal open end of either one of the slots in a longitudinal edges ED 2  or ED 3 , as the case may be, of the horizontally oriented panel. 
     If the dimensions of the horizontal panels  16   a  and  16   c  are longer than the dimension of the space in which the cabinet  10  is to be installed, one end E 4  of each of these panels may be trimmed to reduce their lengths so the cabinet will fit into the space at the installation site. A conventional rotary table saw at the installation site may then be used to cut another slot in the underside  13  of the horizontal panels at the distance d 1  from the trimmed end of the horizontal panels  16   a  and  16   c . The saw blade will be set at the angle A. 
     Alternate Embodiments 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an alternate embodiment, the corner connector  18   a , having a differently sloping connector member  40 , which includes teeth  40   a . The main difference between the connectors  18  and  18   a  is that the connector member  40  of the corner connector  18   a  is at a different angle B than connector member  28  with respect to the support member  24 . This illustrates that the angle B may vary over a wide range, for example, substantially from 60 to 130 degrees. In the corner connector  18  the angle B between the connector member  28  and the support member  24  is greater than 90 degrees, for example, 115.5 degrees. In the corner connector  18   a , the angle B between the connector member  40  and the support member  24  is less than 90 degrees, for example, 72.5 degrees. 
     As discussed above, the horizontal panels  16   a  and  16   c  have their opposed ends E 4  between and abutting the sides S 8  of the vertical panels  16   b  and  16   d . As depicted in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the horizontal panels  16   a  and  16   c  are overlapping and abutting the top ends E 6  and bottom ends E 7 , as the case may be, of the vertical panels  16   b  and  16   d . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , a slot S 10  in the vertically oriented panel  16   b  points downward at an angle substantially equal to the angle B formed between the connector member  40  and the support member  24 , namely, 72.5 degrees. As discussed above, upon assembly of the panels  16   a  and  16   b , the connector member  40  is pushed into the slot S 10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2C , a corner connector  18   b  employs a connector member  40   a  that is displaced downward along the support member  24 . As discussed above, upon assembly of the panels  16   a  and  16   b , the connector member  40   a  is pushed into a slot S 11  in the panel  16   b.    
       FIG. 2D  illustrates an alternate embodiment, the corner connector  18   c , having a connector member  42  shaped as a “dove tail.” This shape may be used in some situations, but is not equivalent to the connector members  28 ,  40 , or  40   a  that have the teeth  28   a . For example, this “dove tail” or similar shape with an enlarged interior portion must slide into a slot having an opening at an inner edge of a vertically oriented panel and may not be used with the panel  16   d′.    
       FIG. 2E  illustrates yet an alternate embodiment, the corner connector  18   d , having the right angle support members  22  and  24  each having ends terminating in connector members  42   a  and  42   a ′ shaped as “triangular cross-sectional tails.” The connector member  42   a  and  42   a ′ are oriented at right angles from each other and the connector member  42   a  extends lengthwise along the outer end E 2  of the support member  22  and the connector member  42   a ′ extends lengthwise along the outer end E 1  of the support member  24 . This shape may be used in some situations, but is not equivalent to the connector members  28 ,  40 , or  40   a  that have the teeth  28   a . For example, the connector members  42   a  and  42   a ′ must slide into a slot having an opening routed out to accommodate the shape of the “triangular cross-sectional tails” of the connector members  26   a  and  42   a  at an inner edge of a vertically oriented panel  16   e  and a horizontally oriented panel  16   f.    
       FIG. 2F  illustrates an alternate embodiment, the corner connector  18   e , having similar to the corner connector  18   d , but “circular cross-sectional tails” at the ends the connector members  26   a  and  42   a . The two “circular cross-sectional tails”  42   b  and  42   b ′ are oriented at right angles from each other. The connector members  42   b  and  42   b ′ are oriented at right angles from each other and the connector member  42   b  extends lengthwise along the outer end E 2  of the support member  22  and the connector member  42   a ′ extends lengthwise along the outer end E 1  of the support member  24 . This shape may be used in some situations, but is not equivalent to the connector members  28 ,  40 , or  40   a  that have the teeth  28   a . For example, the connector members  42   b  and  42   b ′ must slide into a slot having an opening routed out to accommodate the shape of the “circular cross-sectional tails” of the connector members  42   b  and  42   b ′ at an inner edge of a vertically oriented panel  16   e  and a horizontally oriented panel  16   f.    
     The modular cabinet may include a sheath member covering at least a portion of an exterior of the wall hanger to inhibit splitting of a side panel. The sheath member is configured so that it fits snugly about the hanger and has essentially the same profile as the cut-a-way sections in the side panel. An embodiment of such as sheath member, which may be made of a plastic, is illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and designated by the numeral  100 . The sheath member  100  covers the wall hanger  20  and its configured so that it fits snugly about the hanger  20  and has essentially the same profile as the cut-a-way section  30  in each side panel  16   b  and  16   d . The width w 1  of the sheath member  100  is essentially equal to the thickness t ( FIG. 1 ) of, for example, the side panel  16   d . The thickness t 2  of the sheath member  100  is approximately ¼ inch. The sheath member  100  inhibits splitting to the panel. 
     After reading the above section, one skilled in the art will understand the benefits my invention provides. These benefits include, but are not limited to, providing cabinets: (a) that are delivered to the place of installation as prefabricated components which may be assembled directly and quickly by a single installer onto a vertical wall to form the cabinet, (b) that include a corner connector that is easy to manufacture and enables a pair of panels to be quickly connected to form a corner of the cabinet, (c) that are delivered as a kit that includes all the prefabricated components needed to assemble a cabinet directly onto a vertical wall, (d) that enable an installer at the installation site, using a conventional saw, to adjust the dimensions of the prefabricated panel components so the cabinet fits into the space, at the installation site, even though it has a dimension, particularly a width dimension, less than the width dimension of the cabinet, and (e) that provide a simplified method of installing a modular cabinet using prefabricated components that may be assembled without the use of tools onto a vertical wall by a single installer without the aid of props or other types of supports. 
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out my invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my invention. My invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit my invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention: