Patent Publication Number: US-2022211175-A1

Title: Cabinet and method of manufacturing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cabinets, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a cabinet and a method of manufacturing wherein the cabinet is configured to be transported in a disassembled state and then assembled upon arrival to the destination wherein the present invention provides construction elements to the cabinet that provide improved durability and structural stability. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As is known in the art, cabinets of various types are installed in both residential and commercial building. Cabinets are deployed for numerous applications such as but not limited to kitchens and bathrooms for residential structures and various types of storage in commercial applications. Commonly there are two types of techniques for manufacturing for installation of cabinets in residential and commercial applications. One technique is to provide custom on-site building of cabinets from suitable material such as but not limited to wood. By way of example but not limitation, many high end residential homes will have custom cabinets built onsite from exotic woods or other materials. This technique is quite time consuming and very expensive due to the materials and labor cost. Alternatively, another technique is to have pre-manufactured cabinets that are available in common sizes. These types of cabinets are more cost effective and can be shipped assembled or shipped in a disassembled state and subsequently assembled upon arrival to the final destination. 
     Cabinets that are manufactured to be shipped disassembled are most commonly manufactured by automated machines commonly known as CNC machines. These machines will execute techniques on the cabinet pieces such as but not limited to routing wherein the cabinet pieces are machined with various elements that will facilitate assembly of the cabinet. These elements can be features such as but not limited to grooves and rabbet formations. Existing technology does not provide a cabinet constructed to be assembled at destination that has the structural integrity or load bearing capability equivalent to a cabinet built onsite with different techniques. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for cabinet that is manufactured to be shipped in a disassembled state wherein the pieces of the cabinet of the present invention include elements that provide improved durability, structural integrity, and load bearing capabilities once assembled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a cabinet that is manufactured from a plurality of pieces so as to be shipped in a disassembled state wherein the cabinet of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of pieces. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet comprised of a plurality of pieces that have elements formed thereon to facilitate assembly of the cabinet wherein the cabinet of the present invention includes side members. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet that is manufactured from a plurality of pieces so as to be shipped in a disassembled state wherein the cabinet of the present invention includes a top end member and a bottom end member. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet comprised of a plurality of pieces that have elements formed thereon to facilitate assembly of the cabinet wherein the members of the body of the cabinet of the present invention include barbed channel key slot cavities operable to receive barbed channel lock keys. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet that is manufactured from a plurality of pieces so as to be shipped in a disassembled state wherein the cabinet of the present invention includes a back panel member that includes edge and end rabbet dado formations. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet comprised of a plurality of pieces that have elements formed thereon to facilitate assembly of the cabinet wherein the back panel member is constructed to provide improved load bearing and structural integrity. 
     Another object of the present invention is to a provide a cabinet that is manufactured from a plurality of pieces so as to be shipped in a disassembled state wherein the elements formed in the back panel member improve the ease of assembling the cabinet. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet comprised of a plurality of pieces that have elements formed thereon to facilitate assembly of the cabinet wherein the cabinet is constructed with elements to facilitate initial assembly as well as subsequent disassembly and re-assembly. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is detailed view of a portion of the assembled cabinet of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of ends of panel members; and 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of side panels of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partially assembled view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of three panels operably coupled; and 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the back panel member of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of an assembled cabinet of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the inner surface of a side panel of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed view of an alternative embodiment of the rear panel of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a cabinet  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Now referring in particular to the Figures submitted herewith, the cabinet  100  includes a body  10  wherein the body  10  is comprised of a plurality of panel members  15 . The panel members  15  include assembly elements  20  that are operable to facilitate the assembly, disassembly and reassembly of the body  10  of the cabinet  100 . The panel members  15  are illustrated herein of a particular size and shape for illustration purposes only. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the panel members  15  could be formed in alternate sizes and shapes in order to create a body  10  of a desired assembled size and shape. It should be further understood within the scope of the present invention that the body  10  could be assembled from various quantities of panel members  15 . Furthermore, it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the panel members  15  could be manufactured from various materials such as but not limited to wood. As is further discussed herein, the panel members  15  will have dado grooves formed thereon. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the some of the dado grooves can be a stopped groove wherein the stopped groove does not extend the length of the panel member  15  while others can be a through groove extending the length of the panel member  15 . 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary portion of a cabinet  100  is illustrated therein. A top panel member  25  and bottom panel member  30  are configured to be operably coupled to a first side panel member  35  and a second side panel member  40 . The top panel member  25  is square in shape having a front edge  26 , a rear edge  27  and opposing lateral edges  28 , 29 . The top panel member  25  includes locking mechanisms  45  formed in the opposing lateral edges  28 , 29  generally located proximate the front edge  26  and rear edge  27 . The locking mechanisms  45  are configured to mateably engage with the locking receptacles  55  that are formed in the inner surface of the first side panel  35  and second side panel  40 . While various mechanisms can be utilized for the locking mechanisms  45 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the locking mechanisms  45  are lock dowels wherein the lock dowels are configured to mateably engage and releasably secure with the locking receptacles  55 . The top panel member  25  includes a groove  31  formed on the inner surface wherein the groove extends between the opposing lateral edges  28 , 29 . The groove  31  is formed using a dado technique and is configured to receive an edge of the back panel member  70  as is further discussed herein. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the groove  31  could be formed in alternate widths so as to accommodate a back panel member  70  having different thicknesses. The bottom panel member  30  is constructed identically as the top panel member  25  and is opposedly located on the cabinet  100  in its assembled state. The bottom panel member  30  includes locking mechanisms  45  that are configured to operably couple to the locking receptacles  55 . 
     The first side panel  35  and second side panel  40  are operably coupled to the top panel member  25  and bottom panel member  30  on opposing sides thereof. The first side panel  35  and second side panel  40  are identically constructed and as such the ensuing discussion of the second side panel  40  should be understood to be applicable to the first side panel  35 . The second side panel  40  includes a first longitudinal edge  46 , a second longitudinal edge  47 , a first lateral edge  48  and a second lateral edge  49 . The second side panel  40  is rectangular in the embodiment illustrated herein but it should be understood that the second side panel  40  could be provided in alternate shapes so as to provide a cabinet  100  of a different shape. The second side panel  40  includes groove  56  formed on the inner surface thereof. The groove  56  is adjacent the first longitudinal edge  46 . Groove  56  is formed intermediate the first lateral edge  48  and second lateral edge  49  extending the length of the second side panel  40 . 
     Referring now in particular to  FIG. 6 , the back panel member  70  is illustrated therein. The back panel member  70  includes opposing longitudinal edges  71 , 72  and opposing lateral edges  73 , 74 . The back panel member  70  is rectangular in shape in the embodiment illustrated herein but it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the back panel member  70  could be provided in alternate shapes. The opposing longitudinal edges  71 , 72  and opposing lateral edges  73 , 74  have formed thereon edge rabbet formations  77 . The edge rabbet formations  77  are formed utilizing a dado technique and fully extend between the opposing longitudinal edges  71 , 72  and the opposing lateral edges  73 , 74 . The back panel member  70  further includes apertures  80  that are operable to receive fasteners therethrough that will mechanically couple to the top panel member  25 . The combination of the dadoed edge rabbet formations  77  and fasteners provides a mateable coupling of the back panel member that offers improved durability, structural integrity and load bearing compared to alternate techniques. Furthermore, the structure of the back panel member  70  facilitates improved assembly time of the cabinet  100 . 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.