Rear sealing bracket and cabinet including rear sealing bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085477-B2
Application number	US-202015930788-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2020
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A bracket for coupling at least three frame members to one another may include a structural portion including at least one relatively rigid first material, and a sealing portion including at least one second material different than the at least one first material. The bracket may also include first, second, and third receivers, each including a retainer portion configured to be coupled to an end of a respective frame member, and a sealing interface configured to provide a substantially dirt-resistant and fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the respective frame member and the respective receiver. The bracket and frame members may form a joint configured to be incorporated into a frame for forming a cabinet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket for coupling three or more frame members to one another, the bracket comprising:
a structural portion comprising at least one first material;
a sealing portion comprising at least one second material different than the at least one first material;
wherein the at least one first material is relatively more rigid than the at least one second material;
a first receiver defining a first longitudinal axis and configured to receive an end of a first frame member, the first receiver comprising:
a first retainer portion configured to be coupled to the end of the first frame member; and
a first sealing interface configured to provide a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the first frame member and the first receiver;

a second receiver defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver and configured to receive an end of a second frame member, the second receiver comprising:
a second retainer portion configured to be coupled to the end of the second frame member; and
a second sealing interface configured to provide a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the second frame member and the second receiver; and

a third receiver defining a third longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver or the second longitudinal axis of the second receiver, and configured to receive an end of a third frame member, the third receiver comprising:
a third retainer portion configured to be coupled to the end of the third frame member; and
a third sealing interface configured to provide a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the third frame member and the third receiver,

wherein the structural portion comprises the first retainer portion, the second retainer portion, and the third retainer portion, and
wherein the sealing portion comprises the first sealing interface, the second sealing interface, and the third sealing interface.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion at least partially encases the structural portion.

3. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion is formed onto the structural portion.

4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the structural portion comprises a plurality of apertures in which a portion of the at least one second material is received, providing engagement between the structural portion and the sealing portion.

5. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first retainer portion comprises:
a first attachment portion presenting an abutment surface facing a direction transverse to the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver; and
one or more holes extending through the first attachment portion configured to receive one or more fasteners configured to secure the end of the of the first frame member to the first retainer portion.

6. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein the second retainer portion comprises:
a second attachment portion presenting a second abutment surface facing a direction transverse to the second longitudinal axis of the second receiver; and
one or more holes extending through the second attachment portion configured to receive one or more fasteners configured to secure the end of the second frame member to the second retainer portion.

7. The bracket of claim 6 , wherein the third retainer portion comprises:
a third attachment portion presenting an abutment surface facing a direction transverse to the third longitudinal axis of the third receiver; and
one or more holes extending through the third attachment portion configured to receive one or more fasteners configured to secure the end of the of the third frame member to the third retainer portion.

8. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing interface comprises a seal stop comprising:
a first seal stop portion extending in a first direction transverse to the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver; and
a second seal stop portion extending in a second direction oblique with respect to the first direction,
wherein the first seal stop portion and the second seal stop portion present respective seal surfaces for providing a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between the first seal stop portion and a first portion of the end of the first frame member and between the second seal stop portion and a second portion of the end of the first frame member.

9. The bracket of claim 8 , wherein the second sealing interface comprises a second seal stop comprising:
a third seal stop portion extending in a third direction transverse to the second longitudinal axis of the second receiver; and
a fourth seal stop portion extending in a fourth direction oblique with respect to the third direction,
wherein the third seal stop portion and the fourth seal stop portion present respective seal surfaces for providing a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between the third seal stop portion and a first portion of the end of the second frame member and between the fourth seal stop portion and a second portion of the end of the second frame member.

10. The bracket of claim 9 , wherein the third sealing interface comprises a third seal stop comprising:
a fifth seal stop portion extending in a fifth direction transverse to the third longitudinal axis of the third receiver; and
a sixth seal stop portion extending in a sixth direction oblique with respect to the fifth direction,
wherein the fifth seal stop portion and the sixth seal stop portion present respective seal surfaces for providing a substantially dirt- and fluid-resistant seal between the fifth seal stop portion and a first portion of the end of the third frame member and between the sixth seal stop portion and a second portion of the end of the third frame member.

11. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing interface comprises opposing fluid barriers extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver and defining a pocket configured to receive therein an edge portion of the end of the first frame member.

12. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the second sealing interface comprises second opposing fluid barriers extending in a direction substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis of the second receiver and defining a second pocket configured to receive therein an edge portion of the end of the second frame member.

13. The bracket of claim 12 , wherein the third sealing interface comprises third opposing fluid barriers extending in a direction substantially parallel to the third longitudinal axis of the third receiver and defining a third pocket configured to receive therein an edge portion of the end of the third frame member.

14. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing interface comprises a first seal flange extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first receiver, the first seal flange configured to be biased against a surface of the first frame member.

15. The bracket of claim 14 , wherein the first sealing interface further comprises a first seal extension extending from the first seal flange in the direction substantially parallel to the first direction and substantially transverse to the first seal flange, thereby defining a partial sleeve configured to receive therein a portion of the end of the first frame member.

16. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the third sealing interface comprises a third seal flan

Assignees

• Corning Res & Dev Corp

Inventors

• Giraud William Julius Mcphil

Classifications

• A47B47/0033

  Corners · CPC title

• F16B12/50 Primary

  Metal corner connections · CPC title

• H02B1/014

  Corner connections for frameworks · CPC title

• F16B2012/443

  with two-dimensional corner element, the legs thereof being inserted in hollow frame members · CPC title

• H04Q1/09

  Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for · CPC title