Internal cabinet support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702615-B1
Application number	US-201614994209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A cabinet includes a shell having a top wall and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first compartment liner defining a first storage compartment. The cabinet further includes upper and lower support members provided on opposite sides of the first compartment liner and extending substantially parallel to the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the first side wall. The cabinet further includes a second vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the second side wall. The first and second vertical support bars have an L-shaped cross-section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet comprising:
a shell having a top wall and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall;
a first compartment liner provided within the shell, the first compartment liner defining a first storage compartment;
an upper support member and lower support member provided on opposite sides of the first compartment liner, the upper and lower support members extending substantially parallel to the top wall;
a first vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members, the first vertical support bar extending substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the first side wall; and
a second vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members, the second vertical support bar extending substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the second side wall,
wherein the first and second vertical support bars have an L-shaped cross-section along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls,
further comprising a second compartment liner provided within the shell, the second compartment liner defining a second storage compartment, wherein the upper support member extends between the first compartment liner and the second compartment liner,
wherein the upper support member comprises first and second end portions that extend parallel to the first and second side walls, further wherein the first end portion extends between the first side wall and the first and second compartment liners and the second end portion extends between the second side wall and the first and second compartment liners,
wherein the first and second end portions of the upper support member are in direct contact with the first compartment liner and the second compartment liner, and
wherein the first end portion of the upper support member is in direct contact with the first side wall and the second end portion of the upper support member is in direct contact with the second side wall.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the first vertical support bar comprises first and second members that longitudinally extend substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and are joined together along a longitudinal side thereof to form a right angle.

3. The cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the first vertical support bar is in direct contact with the first side wall and the second vertical support bar is in direct contact with the second side wall.

4. The cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a first side flange portion that extends substantially perpendicular from the first side wall and a second side flange portion that extends substantially perpendicular from the second side wall, further wherein the first vertical support bar is in direct contact with the first side flange portion and the second vertical support bar is in direct contact with the second side flange portion.

5. The cabinet of claim 1 , wherein said first and second end portions of the upper support member each comprise a shoulder, further wherein the shoulder of the first end portion rests upon the first vertical support bar and the shoulder of the second end portion rests upon the second vertical support bar.

6. The cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second vertical support bars are secured to the upper support member with a foam that holds the first and second vertical support bars against the upper support member.

7. The cabinet of claim 1 , further comprising a first base member and a second base member positioned below the first compartment liner, the first base member comprising a first vertical channel for receiving the first vertical support bar and the second base member comprising a second vertical channel for receiving the second vertical support bar.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 , wherein the first vertical channel is defined by a front wall of the first base member and a side wall of the first base member, further wherein the first base member comprises a vertical opening between the front wall of the first base member and the side wall of the first base member.

9. The cabinet of claim 1 , further comprising a tapping plate, wherein the tapping plate is in direct contact with the top wall, a top flange portion extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall, and a side flange portion extending substantially perpendicular from one of the first and second side walls.

10. The cabinet of claim 9 , wherein the tapping plate is secured to the shell with a foam that holds the tapping plate against the shell.

11. The cabinet of claim 9 , wherein the tapping plate is spaced from one of the first and second side walls.

12. The cabinet of claim 1 , further comprising a door and upper and lower hinge members, the upper hinge member being attached to the upper support member and movably coupling the door to the upper support member, the lower hinge member being attached to the lower support member and movably coupling the door to the lower support member.

13. A cabinet comprising:
a shell having a top wall and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall;
a first compartment liner provided within the shell, the first compartment liner defining a first storage compartment;
an upper support member and lower support member provided on opposite sides of the first compartment liner, the upper and lower support members extending substantially parallel to the top wall;
a first vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members, the first vertical support bar extending substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the first side wall; and
a second vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members, the second vertical support bar extending substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the second side wall,
wherein the first and second vertical support bars have an L-shaped cross-section along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls,
further comprising a first base member and a second base member positioned below the first compartment liner, the first base member comprising a first vertical channel for receiving the first vertical support bar and the second base member comprising a second vertical channel for receiving the second vertical support bar, and
wherein the first vertical channel is defined by a front wall of the first base member and a side wall of the first base member, further wherein the first base member comprises a vertical opening between the front wall of the first base member and the side wall of the first base member; wherein the first vertical support bar is received within the first vertical channel such that the first vertical support bar is in direct contact with an interior surface of the front wall of the first base member and an exterior surface of the side wall of the first base member, further wherein the first vertical support bar extends through the vertical opening.

14. The cabinet of claim 13 , wherein the first base member further comprises one or more apertures aligned with one or more apertures of the first vertical support bar.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Chartrand Scott
• Bannister Jeremy

Classifications

• F25D23/062

  defining a cabinet · CPC title

• F25D23/067 Primary

  Supporting elements · CPC title

• A47B96/14

  Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like (aspects of adjusting height or inclination of shelves or brackets A47B57/00) · CPC title

• F25D23/066 Primary

  Liners · CPC title

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title