Boltless cabinet assembly

Abstract

A boltless panel assembly for use in constructing a boltless cabinet comprises a panel having exterior and interior faces and side edge portions. At least one slot engaging member is attached to and extends interiorly from each side edge portion of the panel for insertion into slots of boltless support post. A releasable retaining member prevents disengagement of the slot engaging member from a slot once it has been inserted into and seated in a slot of a boltless support post.

1 . A boltless panel assembly comprising:
 a panel having exterior and interior faces and side edge portions;   at least one slot engaging member attached to and extending interiorly from each side edge portion for insertion into slots of boltless support posts;   a releasable retaining member for preventing disengagement of at least one slot engaging member from a slot once the slot engaging member has been inserted into a slot of a boltless support post.   
   
   
       2 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one slot engaging member comprises a rivet. 
   
   
       3 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one slot engaging member comprises a metal lance. 
   
   
       4 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the panel comprises at least one screw hole at a location that, when the slot engaging members are inserted and seated in slots of a boltless support post, is adjacent the uppermost portion of a slot, and wherein the releasable retaining member comprises a screw that can be threaded into the screw hole in the panel so that the screw extends into the uppermost portion of a slot. 
   
   
       5 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein he releasable retaining member comprises a pin or clip for engaging the end of at least one slot engaging member once the slot engaging member has been inserted and seated in a slot of a boltless support post to prevent disengagement of the slot engaging member from the slot. 
   
   
       6 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the side edge portions of the panel are bent to form side walls and the panel assembly further comprises at least one bracket attached to each side wall, the slot engaging members being attached to the bracket. 
   
   
       7 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the at least one bracket are hingedly attached to each side wall. 
   
   
       8 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one bracket comprises a screw hole at a location that, when the slot engaging members are inserted and seated in slots of a boltless support post, is adjacent the uppermost portion of a slot, and wherein the releasable retaining member comprises a screw that can be threaded into the screw hole in the bracket so that at the screw extends into the uppermost portion of a slot. 
   
   
       9 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the screws are not accessible from the exterior of the panel assembly when the panel assembly is mounted on support posts. 
   
   
       10 . A boltless panel assembly comprising:
 a panel having exterior and interior faces and side edge portions;   a side frame member along at least the side edges of the panel, the side frame members comprising a channel for receiving the side edges of the panel;   at least one slot engaging member attached to and extending interiorly from each side frame member for insertion into slots of boltless support posts;   a releasable retaining member for preventing disengagement of at least one slot engaging member from a slot once the slot engaging member has been inserted into a slot of a boltless support post.   
   
   
       11 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein the at least one slot engaging member comprises a rivet. 
   
   
       12 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein the at least one slot engaging member comprises a metal lance. 
   
   
       13 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein the side frame member comprises at least one screw hole at a location that, when the slot engaging members are inserted and seated in slots of a boltless support post, is adjacent the uppermost portion of a slot, and wherein the releasable retaining member comprises a screw that can be threaded into the screw hole in the side frame member so that the screw extends into the uppermost portion of a slot. 
   
   
       14 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein he releasable retaining member comprises a pin or clip for engaging the end of at least one slot engaging member once the slot engaging member has been inserted and seated in a slot of a boltless support post to prevent disengagement of the slot engaging member from the slot. 
   
   
       15 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 10  further comprising at least one bracket attached to each side frame member, and wherein the slot engaging members is attached to the bracket. 
   
   
       16 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein the at least one bracket is hingedly attached to a side wall. 
   
   
       17 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein at least one bracket comprises at least one screw hole at a location that, when the slot engaging members are inserted and seated in slots of a boltless support post, is adjacent the uppermost portion of a slot, and wherein the releasable retaining member comprises a screw that can be threaded into the screw hole in the bracket member so that the screw extends into the uppermost portion of a slot. 
   
   
       18 . A boltless front panel assembly comprising:
 a pair of door panels having exterior and interior faces and outer side edge portions;   at least one hinge attached to the outer side edge portion of each door panel;   at least one slot engaging member attached to and extending interiorly from at least one hinge associated with each door panel for insertion into and seating in slots of boltless support posts such that, when inserted into and seated in slots of boltless support posts, the door panels are afforded swinging movement between an open position and a closed position; and   a releasable retaining member for preventing disengagement of at least one slot engaging member from a slot once the slot engaging member has been inserted into a slot of a boltless support post.   
   
   
       19 . A boltless front panel assembly as recited in  claim 18  further comprising frame members extending along at least a portion of the side edges of the door panels, said side frame members carrying at least one slot engaging members and wherein the door panels are hingedly attached to the side frame members. 
   
   
       20 . A boltless front panel assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein the side frame member comprises at least one screw hole at a location that, when the slot engaging members are inserted and seated in slots of a boltless support post, is adjacent the uppermost portion of a slot, and wherein the releasable retaining member comprises a screw that can be threaded into the screw hole in the side frame member so that the screw extends into the uppermost portion of a slot. 
   
   
       21 . A boltless front panel assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the screws are not accessible from the exterior of the front panel assembly when the front panel assembly is mounted on support posts and the door panels are in their closed positions. 
   
   
       22 . A boltless panel assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein he releasable retaining member comprises a pin or clip for engaging the end of at least one slot engaging member once the slot engaging member has been inserted and seated in a slot of a boltless support post to prevent disengagement of the slot engaging member from the slot. 
   
   
       23 . A boltless front panel assembly comprising:
 a generally rectangular frame comprising a top frame member, bottom frame member and a pair of side frame members;   at least one slot engaging member attached to and extending interiorly from each side frame member for insertion into slots of boltless support posts;   at least one door panel hingedly mounted on a frame member; and   a releasable retaining member for preventing disengagement of at least one slot engaging member from a slot once the slot engaging member has been inserted into a slot of a boltless support post.   
   
   
       24 . A boltless cabinet comprising:
 a pair of spaced-apart front boltless support posts;   a pair of spaced-apart rear boltless support posts;   a plurality of generally horizontal front cross-beams extending between the front boltless support posts;   a plurality of generally horizontal rear cross-beams extending between the rear boltless support posts;   a shelf panel supported by a front cross beam at a first elevation and a rear cross beam at the same first elevation as the front cross beam for forming the floor of the cabinet;   a shelf panel supported by a front cross beam at a second elevation higher than the first elevation and a rear cross beam at the same second elevation as the front cross beam for forming the ceiling of the cabinet; and   at least one panel assembly comprising:
 a panel having exterior and interior faces and side edge portions; 
 at least one slot engaging member attached to and extending interiorly from each side edge portion for insertion into slots of boltless support posts; 
 a releasable retaining member for preventing disengagement of at least one slot engaging member from a slot once the slot engaging member has been inserted into a slot of a boltless support post.