Patent Publication Number: US-2013229099-A1

Title: Sheet Assembly For Cabinet

Description:
The present invention is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/007,646 and claims the priority filing date of Jan. 16, 2011, which relates to a sheet assembly for a cabinet and, more particularly, to a sheet assembly for a cabinet providing convenience to transportation, storage, and assemblage. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional cabinet generally includes a horizontal top sheet, a horizontal bottom sheet, two vertical lateral sheets, and other sheets. Upper and lower ends of the lateral sheets are connected to two ends of the top and bottom sheets to form a frame. A rear sheet is mounted to a rear of the frame, and a door is mounted to a front of the frame, forming the cabinet with a compartment. 
     To reduce the space for storage and transportation, the sheets are not assembled after manufacture, so that the sheets can be stacked and packaged. Engaging holes are formed in predetermined locations of the sheets. In assembly, bolts are extended through the engaging holes of the sheets to form the cabinet. However, the assemblage requires a tool for tightening the bolts, causing inconvenience to the assemblage. Furthermore, insecure threading engagement between the bolts and the engaging holes causes loosening of the bolts and disengagement of the sheets. 
     In an approach to avoid the inconvenience of assemblage using bolts, the cabinet sheets include mortises and tenons. Examples of which have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,883,882; 6,474,759; 6,382,748; 6,099,095; and 5,921,646. However, the mortise and tenon joint is still insecure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a sheet assembly for a cabinet providing convenience to transportation, storage, and assemblage while providing secure assemblage. 
     A sheet assembly for a cabinet according to the present invention includes a plurality of sheets having a plurality of horizontal sheets and a plurality of vertical sheets. Each of the plurality of horizontal sheets includes a first insertion/coupling section. Each of the plurality of vertical sheets includes a second insertion/coupling section engageable with one of the first insertion/coupling sections. One of a pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes an insertion groove. The other of the pair of the first and second insertion/coupling sections includes a buckling slot. The sheet assembly further includes a plurality of buckle devices each having a fixed seat, a lever, and a buckle. The fixed seat is fixed to one of the first and second insertion/coupling sections having the insertion groove. The lever is pivotably connected to the fixed seat. The buckle includes an end pivotably connected to the lever. The buckle further includes a hooked portion releasably engaged with one the buckling slots. The lever is pivotable between first and second position. A spacing between the hooked portion and the fixed seat is increased when the lever is in the first position. The spacing between the hooked portion of the buckle and the fixed seat is decreased when the lever is in the second position. 
     The plurality of horizontal sheets and the plurality of vertical sheets are assembled together by engaging each of the first insertion/coupling sections with one of the second insertion/coupling sections. The hooked portion of each of the plurality of buckle devices is engaged in one of the buckling slots. 
     By use of the sheet assembly according to the present invention, the inconvenience of assemblage using bolts is avoided while providing rapid, convenient assemblage. Furthermore, the assemblage is secure by providing the insertion/coupling sections and the buckle devices. 
     Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded, perspective view of a bottom sheet and a lateral sheet of a sheet assembly of a first embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded, perspective view of buckle device of the sheet assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the buckle device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of  FIG. 1  with the buckle device in an unbuckling position. 
         FIG. 5  shows an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of  FIG. 4  according to section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  with the buckle device in the unbuckling position. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of  FIG. 1  with the buckle device in a buckling position. 
         FIG. 7  shows an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of the bottom sheet and the lateral sheet of  FIG. 6  according to section line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  with the buckle device in the buckling position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a cabinet formed by the sheet assembly according to the present invention with a door of the cabinet removed. 
         FIG. 9  shows an exploded, perspective view of a sheet assembly for a cabinet of a second embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  shows a sheet assembly of a first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein like reference number denotes like element. The sheet assembly includes a plurality of sheets and a plurality of buckle devices  3 . The sheets include a plurality of horizontal plates and a plurality of vertical plates. The horizontal plates include a bottom plate  1  and a top plate  4 . The vertical sheets include two lateral sheets  2 . Assemblage of one of the lateral plates  2  and the bottom plate  1  will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . The other lateral plate  2  and the top plate  4  can be assembled in the same way. 
     An insertion/coupling section  21  is provided on an inner face of the lateral plate  2  and includes an insertion groove  211 . An insertion/coupling section  11  is provided on an inner face of the bottom plate  1 . The insertion/coupling section  11  is engaged in the insertion groove  211  and includes a buckling slot  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each buckle device  3  includes a fixed seat  31 , a lever  32 , and a buckle  33 . The fixed seat  31  includes fixing holes  311 . Fasteners  34  are extended through the fixing holes  311  into the lateral sheet  2 , fixing the fixed seat  31  to the inner face of the lateral sheet  2 . The fixed seat  31  includes a pivotal portion  312 . The lever  32  includes an end having a first pivotal portion  321  pivotably connected by a pin  324  to the pivotal portion  312  of the fixed seat  31 . The lever  32  further includes a second pivotal portion  322  at a central section thereof. A gripping section  323  is provided on the other end of the lever  32 . The buckle  33  includes an end having a pivotal portion  331 . A hooked portion  332  is provided on the other end of the buckle  33 . The pivotal portion  331  is pivotably connected by a pin  325  to the second pivotal portion  322  of the lever  32 . The lever  32  is pivotable between first and second positions relative to the fixed seat  31 . A spacing between the hooked portion  332  of the buckle  33  and the fixed seat  31  is increased when the lever  32  is in the first position. The spacing between the hooked portion  332  of the buckle  33  and the fixed seat  31  is decreased when the lever  32  is in the second position. 
     The buckle devices  3  are mounted to upper and lower ends of the lateral sheet  2  after manufacture. The sheets  1  and  2  are not assembled to reduce to the volume for storage and transportation. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in assemblage, the lateral sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  1  are engaged together by engaging the insertion/coupling sections  21  and  11 . The insertion groove  211  receives the insertion/coupling section  11 . It can be appreciated that the top sheet  4  and the other sheet  2  can be assembled in the same way. The hooked portion  332  of the buckle  33  of each buckle device  3  is adjacent the buckling slot  12 . With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the hooked portion  332  of the buckle  33  is inserted into the buckling slot  12 . The lever  32  is moved to the first position relative to the fixed seat  31  such that the hooked portion  332  of the buckle  33  engages with an edge of the buckling slot  12 . By such an arrangement, bolts are not required during assemblage of the sheet assembly according to the present invention while providing rapid, convenient assemblage. Furthermore, the assemblage is secure by the engagement of the insertion/coupling sections  21  and  11  and the engagement between the hooked portions  332  of the buckle devices  3  and the edges of the buckling slots  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , after assemblage of the buckle devices  3 , the lateral sheets  2 , the bottom sheet  1 , and the top sheet  4  to form a frame, a back sheet  5  can be assembled to a rear of the frame by bolts or other provisions, and partitioning sheets  6  can be mounted between the top and bottom sheets  4  and  1 . A door can be mounted to a front of the frame. The assemblage of the sheet assembly according to the present invention is more convenient and more reliable than conventional cabinets. 
     The buckle devices  3  can be mounted to the top and bottom sheets  4  and  1  instead of the lateral sheets  2 . Furthermore, buckling slots can be provided on the insertion/coupling sections on the lateral sheet  2 . With reference to  FIG. 9  showing a second embodiment according to the present invention, insertion/coupling sections  41  and  11  are provided on the inner faces of the top and bottom sheets  4  and  1 . A buckle device  3  is mounted to each insertion/coupling section  11 ,  41 . Insertion/coupling sections  21  are provided on the inner faces of lateral sheets  2  and each include an insertion groove  211  for receiving one of the insertion/coupling sections  11 ,  41  and a bucking slot  23  for receiving the hooked portion  332  of one of the buckle devices  3 . The insertion/coupling sections  21  on each lateral sheet  2  are engaged with the insertion/coupling sections  41  and  11  of the top and bottom sheets  4  and  1 . Then, the buckle devices  3  are engaged with the buckling slots  23 , achieving the same effect. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.