Abstract:
A wall cabinet arrangement having a frame construction includes a dry construction wall, with horizontal frame profiles, vertical post profiles, and side wall elements attached thereto. The post profiles and the side wall elements are assembled into a structural unit to achieve fast and easy installation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to wall cabinet arrangements.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Generally known in the prior art are dry construction walls, consisting of a frame construction and dry structural sheets attached thereto, especially gypsum plaster boards. The frame construction essentially consists of vertical post profiles, especially standardized CW profiles, which are inserted at top and bottom into horizontal frame profiles, especially standardized UW profiles, and joined to them. Each post profile has a c-shaped cross section and each frame profile a u-shaped one. Such dry construction walls are used as walls, forebuildings, and paneling.  
         [0003]     It is also generally known from the prior art how to install built-in elements such as shelves, cabinet carcasses or cabinets in such dry construction walls in order to be able to utilize the space inside the dry construction walls and possibly the space between a dry construction wall serving as a paneling or a cover wall and the other wall. The installation elements, which are made from wood or wooden materials, have to be individually adapted to the particular construction, which is labor and cost intensive.  
         [0004]     Moreover, it is generally already known from the prior art how to make room partitions by means of cabinets and/or built-in cabinetry. The open spaces remaining between the cabinets and an annex wall or a ceiling are paneled in this case with separate constructions and boards. Furthermore, walk-in closets are common, where shelves and cabinets are individually built behind a partition wall.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The basic problem solved by the present invention is to create a wall/cabinet arrangement with a frame construction, such as a dry construction wall, a facing wall, and/or a paneling, which is distinguished by a fast and easy installation.  
         [0006]     According to the invention, a wall cabinet arrangement having a frame construction includes a dry construction wall, such as a facing wall and/or paneling, with at least two horizontal frame profiles, such as standardized UW profiles, at least two vertical post profiles and at least two side wall elements attached thereto. The post profiles and the side wall elements are assembled into a structural unit to achieve a fast and easy installation. Thus, a new wall structure/furnishing element is produced, combining the functions of the post profile within a dry construction wall and a side wall of a cabinet. This does away with the installation steps of separate installing of the post profile and subsequent attaching of the side wall element in the dry construction wall. This is now done simply by swiveling in the side wall element with its post profile between the frame profiles at wall and ceiling.  
         [0007]     In an embodiment, the side wall element includes a post part and a cabinet part. The post profile is joined or connected to the post part, and the post profile with its post part is at spaced apart from the cabinet part by a notch. In this way, it is possible to make use of conventional frame profiles that do not have to be adapted to the side wall elements.  
         [0008]     In an alternative embodiment, the side wall element includes a side wall part and a cabinet part, and the post profile projects beyond the cabinet part at both ends. Also, in this way, it is possible to make use of conventional frame profiles. The post profile will now project beyond the cabinet part at both ends by means of a guide element, and a foot is attached to the cabinet part.  
         [0009]     To enhance the stability, the post profile has a greater wall thickness than the side wall element. A further enhancement of the stability and better fastening capability of the dry construction sheets results from the fact that the post profile extends laterally outward, i.e., outward to the side, in both directions, relative to the side wall element.  
         [0010]     In order to allow the side wall element to be joined close to a wall, and also be stabilized, it is proposed that the post profile extend laterally outward, i.e., outward to the side, in one direction, relative to the side wall element.  
         [0011]     A cabinet which projects from the wall in one direction into a room is achieved in that the post profile is arranged at one lengthwise edge of the side wall element.  
         [0012]     A cabinet which projects in both directions from the wall/cabinet arrangement is achieved in that the post profile is arranged with the post part in the middle region of the side wall element.  
         [0013]     Preferred materials for the post profile and the side wall element are wooden materials or fire retardant gypsum fiberboards.  
         [0014]     Inside the wall cabinet arrangement, two side wall elements are spaced apart from each other and are supported by UW frame profiles to form a cabinet interior space and thus form a cabinet with a wall construction. This cabinet receives its rear wall by the wall surface and is closed by means of a dry construction sheet. Thus, the wall cabinet arrangement forms the vertical construction of an upright wall and/or a facing wall, and thus a cabinet in a wall.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment, the cabinet includes a rear wall formed by a dry construction sheet of a dry construction wall, and the side wall elements stand out from the dry construction wall.  
         [0016]     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a frame construction of a wall cabinet arrangement;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective detail view of  FIG. 1  from the region of a lower end of a side wall element;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lower end of a side wall element per  FIG. 1  in a second embodiment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lower end of a side wall element per  FIG. 1  in a third embodiment;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the region of a lower end of a side wall element in a fourth embodiment; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lower end of the side wall element per  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     Referring now to the drawings and the embodiments illustrated therein,  FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of a frame construction  1  of a wall cabinet arrangement  2 . The frame construction  1  includes an upper horizontal u-shaped frame profile  3   o,  which may be formed as a standardized UW profile and which may be adapted to be fastened to a ceiling  4 . Frame construction  1  also includes an oppositely arranged lower frame profile  3   u,  which may likewise be formed as a standardized UW profile and may be adapted to be fastened to a floor  5 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  has two legs  3   b,  which are oriented vertical and parallel to each other in the installed condition and are held together in a U-profile at one end by a base part  3   c.  The legs  3   b  are spaced apart by a distance (see  FIG. 2 ) and thus bound an opening  3   a  at the sides. The openings  3   a  of the upper and lower frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  are turned to face each other in the installed condition and are bounded at the sides by legs  3   b.  In the fashion of a dry construction wall structure, at least two post profiles  6  are adapted to be inserted into the openings  3   a  of the upper and lower frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  and joined to them. The post profile  6  is assembled with a side wall element  7  of the wall cabinet arrangement  2  to form a structural unit.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment having a total of three side wall elements  7 , by means of which a wall/cabinet arrangement  2  may be constructed with two cabinets  10 . The side wall elements  7  each bound or form two cabinet interiors  10   i  at the sides. The back wall of the cabinets  10  is formed by a dry construction sheet  14 , such as a gypsum plaster board, fastened to the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  and the post profiles  6 . The cabinets  10  can also be closed by doors  15  at the front end. It is also possible to design them as open shelves. In either case, floors (not shown) are adapted to be fastened between the side wall elements  7 . In order to fasten these shelf floors and also the doors to the side wall elements  7 , rows of holes  8  may be provided there, serving to accommodate the floor beams or fasten the hinges. The configuration and orientation of such rows of holes  8  is sufficiently familiar from the prior art.  
         [0025]     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , complete partition walls may be realized with the wall cabinet arrangement  2  with its frame construction  1 , or the wall cabinet arrangement  2  can also be combined with normal dry construction walls. Then, for example, the left side wall element  7  will adjoin a dry construction wall with the usual post profiles made of sheet metal, in particular, standardized CW profiles. The wall cabinet arrangement  2  is also adapted to start directly at a wall and extend from it at an angle, preferably a right angle.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective enlarged view of  FIG. 1  from the region of the lower end  7   u  of a side wall element  7  in combination with the lower frame profile  3   u.    FIG. 2  shows details of the construction of the side wall element  7  and its connection to the lower frame profile  3   u.  In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall element  7  includes a rectangular and flat side wall sheet  7   a,  which is provided with the rows of holes  8 , with the post profile  6  passing into it. Thus, the side wall sheet  7   a  has a cabinet part  7   c  and a post part  7   b.  The cabinet part  7   c  of the side wall sheet  7   a  bounds the cabinet interior  10   i  at the sides and thus its width corresponds to a useful depth h, from which it will still be necessary to subtract room for the dry construction sheet  14 , forming the back wall of the cabinet  11 . To make the post profile  6 , one lath  6   a  is placed on each side of the side wall sheet  7   a,  so that the actual post profile has a squared timber cross section, formed as a sandwich by the first lath  6   a,  the post part  7   b  of the side wall sheet  7   a,  and the other lath  6   a.  The width b of the laths is chosen so that it corresponds roughly to the distance a between the legs  3   b  of the lower frame profiles  3   u.    
         [0027]     In order to be able to insert the post profiles  6  into the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  in the course of the construction of the wall cabinet arrangement  2 , a notch  9  may be provided in the side wall sheet  7   a,  the width c of which is at least broader than the thickness d of the leg  3   b  of the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u.  Optionally, the width c corresponds to twice the thickness d. Furthermore, notch  9  may have a length e that is at least slightly larger than the height f of the leg  3   b  of the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u.  As for the positioning of the notch  9  relative to the post profile  6 , the notch  9  adjoins the post profile  6  with its wall surface  6   b  and thus the notch  9  separates the post profile  6  from the cabinet part  7   c  of the side wall sheet  7   a.  Thus, the wall surface  6   b  of the post profile  6  facing the legs  3   b  of the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u  is flush with the cross sectional surface of the notch  9  and the post part  7   b  forms another component of the wall surface  6   b  of the post profile  6 . Hence, the post profile  6  is adapted to be inserted into the opening  3   a  of the frame profile  3   o,    3   u  without the side wall sheet  7   a  of the side wall element  7  being placed on the upper edge of one of the two legs  3   b  of the lower frame profile  3   u.    
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a lower end  7   u  of a side wall element  7 , with the post profile  6  and the side wall sheet  7   a  being configured in a second embodiment. The post profile  6  is fashioned as a cuboid squared timber with a groove  6   c,  into which the inner end  7   c  of the side wall sheet  7   a  is inserted and joined there. In this embodiment, the depth of insertion g is equal to the depth of the groove c and coordinated with the position of the notch  9  in the side wall sheet  7   a.  As already described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , the notch  9  is aligned with the wall surface  6   b  of the post profile  6 . Here, again, the width b of the post profile  6  basically coincides with the spacing a of the legs  3   b.    
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the side wall element  7  of  FIG. 2  in a third embodiment. This side wall element  7  differs from the side wall element  7  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in that the post profile  6  is arranged in the middle region of the side wall sheet  7   a.  The laths  6   a  needed to form the post profile  6  are thus secured in the middle region on the outer sides of the side wall sheet  7   a.  With such an element, a deeper cabinet or a cabinet  10  accessible from both opposite sides of the wall/cabinet arrangement  2  can be achieved. Thus, it is also possible to realize a wall/cabinet arrangement  2  with two cabinets  10  standing back to back. It is also shown in  FIG. 4  that the wall cabinet arrangement  2  can have different useful depths h.  
         [0030]     In some embodiments, because the side wall element  7 , when installed, projects forward and backward beyond the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u,  two notches  9  are provided accordingly. As for the dimensioning and positioning of these notches  9 , reference is made to the previous remarks.  
         [0031]     In the event that a side wall element  7  is to be joined directly to an existing wall at the side, the post profile  6  is produced with only a single lath  6   a,  so that the side wall element  7  can adjoin the wall flush.  
         [0032]     Wooden materials, gypsum plaster boards and/or comparable materials may be used for the wall construction elements  2 , i.e., the post profiles  6  and side wall elements  7 . In the event that the wall created by the wall/cabinet arrangement  2  is also supposed to be fire retardant, the side wall elements  7  and post profiles  6  will be made from fire retardant gypsum fiberboards having an appropriate fire protection certification.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective detail view of the region of a lower end  7   u  of a side wall element  7  in a fourth embodiment. This fourth embodiment differs from the preceding embodiments, for example, in that no notch  9  has been made. Also, the lower and the upper frame profile  3   o,    3   u  was configured as a wooden construction part. This frame profile  3   o,    3   u  also has two legs  3   b  and a base part  3   c,  as well as an opening  3   a.  Due to the use of wood as a possible material in this embodiment, the legs  3   b  and the base part  3   c  have greater wall thicknesses. The side wall element  7  has no notch between the post part  7   b  and the cabinet part  7   c.  This type of configuration can be achieved when the post part  7   b  lies on the legs  3   b  of the side wall element  7 . In this embodiment, the width b of the post profile  6  corresponds to the width k of the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u.  A foot  11  is arranged beneath the side wall sheet  7   a  so that the side wall element  7  achieves an adequate standing stability. The foot  11  is arranged in the region of the side wall sheet  7   a  away from the post profile  6  and is adjustable in height, in order to even out any irregularities in the floor  5 .  
         [0034]     Furthermore, a downward projecting guide element  12  in the form of a sheet metal shackle is secured at the lower end of the post profile  6  and in the middle relative to the width b of the post profile  6 , its width  1  corresponding to the width a (see  FIG. 5 ) of the opening  3   a.  The length of the guide element  12  roughly corresponds to the depth f of the opening  3   a,  but is can also be shorter, since its function lies in a horizontal orienting of the post profile  6  to the lower frame profile  3   u.  After the side wall element  7  has been inserted between the upper frame profile  3   o  and the lower frame profile  3   u,  it is vertically oriented and then joined to the frame profiles  3   o,    3   u.    
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the lower end of a side wall element  7  per  FIG. 5 . In particular, it can be noticed that the guide element  12  is a sheet metal shackle, having a pointed shape, and being secured by its ends to the post part  7   b  of the side wall sheet  7   a.  It can also be seen that the laths  6   a  are divided into two strips  6   a,  producing yet another groove  13 , whose width corresponds to the width of the opening  3   a.    
         [0036]     In the preceding specification, each time only the lower end  7   u  of the side wall element  7  has been described. The upper end of the side wall element  7  is configured accordingly. However, it can also be provided that the notch  9  is longer in form, so as to preserve the notch  9  even when lengths are shortened during installation in order to match the side wall element  7  to the spacing between ceiling  4  and floor  3 .  
         [0037]     Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.